Books like The Warlords of Nin

I ended up giving up on this book. I tend to like Stephen Lawhead's writing, or I certainly did when I was little, but this is really, really purple prose. There's thinly veiled references to Christianity, which don't ordinarily bother me, but which began to build up. There was a terrible love scene, from which I have a quote that makes me die a little:"There is trouble, Bria. I feel it, though all about me appears peaceful and serene. I start at shadows, and night gives no rest; it is as if the wind itself whispers an alarm to my ears, but no sound is heard."Bria sighed deeply and clutched him tighter. "What is happening? What will become of us, my darling?""I do not know. But I promise you this: I will love you forever."They held each other for awhile, and the sun rose and filled the sky with golden light."See how the sun banishes the darkness. So love will send our troubles fleeing far from us -- I promise.""Can love accomplish so much, do you think?" Bria said dreamily."It can do all things."Seriously? Ugh.Add to that my growing feeling that women are reduced to wives in the story -- even in the first book, now I actually think about it. Alinea can't possibly rule in her husband's stead, it seems. Bria isn't even considered for the succession. No, it's the big brave strong religious men must save the world.Okay, I get writing in a kind of medievalish world. But seriously, it's another world! You don't have to carry our medieval society over!I'd still be reading, though, despite this, if the characters were somewhat more than cardboard cutouts, or the story at all original. Not impressed.