Books like The Born Queen

Greg Keyes manages something very special here, and that is to tell a big and fairly complex epic fantasy tale without allowing it to become bloated. This is a sleek and sure footed affair. It’s all here: intrigue, pitched battles, fearsome creatures, likeable characters, sorcery, and then some, and written very competently to boot. All this, without resorting to tomes of 900+ pages stretched over 10 books? Impressive.The story started in The Briar King and continued through The Charnel Prince and The Blood Knight concludes here. The pieces fall into place, but it is not always an easy experience. Keyes takes us to some very dark places. Some of the revelations regarding the true nature of the world of Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone are mind boggling. Everything gets turned around and twisted inside out, not least of which the characters. Forget what you think you know. In the same breath, I hope you've been paying attention.As everything spiralled out of control, I just could not put the book down, even though I struggled to fathom what was happening at times. Yes, it does get weird and apocalyptic at the end, but given the circumstances and the revelations preceding the climax, it also makes sense. An uneasy but magnificent read. Read the whole quartet, it’s something else.