Horizon Storms - Kevin J Anderson

Published by Orbit Books/Hachette Book Group, Inc.: New York, NY, 2007 (2004).
Book Three of 'The Saga of Seven Suns' series: 'Hidden Empire'; 'A Forest of Stars'; 'Horizon Storms'; 'Scattered Suns'; 'Of Fire and Night'; 'Metal Swarm'; 'The Ashes of Worlds'.

Spoilers for the first two books.

Horizon Storms continues the story set up in the previous installments, with this one feeling perhaps a little more action-packed, now that the set-up has finished for many of the subplots. Particularly, the Klikiss robot subplot finally kicks into gear, with the robots beginning to turn against both the human and Ildiran races.

Jora'h gets a lot of focus in this installment as he steps into the role of Mage-Imperator, realising how much of his father's scheming he needs to continue (reluctantly) while also seeking to change many of the long-standing Ildiran traditions, almost as a reaction against his father's rule. One scene, involving an interaction between Jora'h and his daughter by Nira, Osira'h, allows Jora'h to show both his frustration at what has happened as well as his determination to do right by his people. Another subplot that develops in Horizon Storms is the rebellion of Jora'h's brother Rusa'h, which looks like it will cause far more conflict in future installments.

My only bigger complaint about this book (despite my earlier statement) is that it feels like it is still setting up the next books. This means that some arcs that are already set up - especially the ongoing conflict between Basil Wencelas and King Peter - don't have as much air-time in this book. This is relatively minor though - the book, like its predecessors, is engaging and Anderson continues to excel in leaving you wanting more. I also was a bit frustrated by the inclusion of a slightly more explicit scene between Basil and his lover than the rest of what has been portrayed in the series so far. I don't enjoy those sort of scenes, and it would be something that could lead me to give up the series if it got too bad or common.

Still, at this point, I am looking forward to the next book.

Completed 23 April 2022.


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