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Shadowed Path #3
The Iron Palace (Shadowed Path Trilogy) by Morgan Howell
BLOOD WILL TELL Seventeen years have passed since Yim, an ex-slave blessed by the benevolent goddess Karm, sacrificed her body—and perhaps her very soul—to Lord Bahl, avatar of the evil Devourer. In that selfless act, Yim stripped Lord Bahl of his power but became pregnant with his son. Now that son, Froan, is a young man. And though Yim has raised him in the remote Grey Fens and kept him ignorant of his past, the taint of the Devourer is in his blood.Even now an eldritch call goes out—and the slumbering shadow stirs in Froan’s blood, calling to him in a voice that cannot be denied. Armed with a dark magic he barely understands, Froan sets out to claim his destiny. When Yim seeks to stop him, her sole hope is that Honus—the love she abandoned—will take up the sword again for Karm’s sake and hers. Only then can she hope to face the impregnable bastion of unspeakable the Iron Palace.
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First published January 1, 2010
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About the author
Morgan Howell
12 books73 followersMorgan Howell is the pseudonym of author Will Hubbell. Hubbell uses his own name when writing childrens' picture books and for his science fiction novels published by Ace. He uses the name Morgan Howell for his recent fantasy writing, citing the darkness of the writing.
A graduate of Oberlin College and the Rochester Institute of Technology, MORGAN HOWELL is a full-time writer who lives in upstate New York.
A graduate of Oberlin College and the Rochester Institute of Technology, MORGAN HOWELL is a full-time writer who lives in upstate New York.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 31, 2019
Having enjoyed Morgan Howell's Queen of the Orcs trilogy and the first two books in this one, I was eager to complete the trilogy. I was disappointed in the last book because Yim and Honus had to suffer even more and be parted seemingly forever.
Seventeen years have passed and Yim and her son have been living in relative safety in the Gray Fens while mother tries to keep a dark secret from her son. Of course, such an effort has come to naught as the servants of Lord Bahl are determined to have their Lord back and usher in another dark era. There's three different main storylines in this - Froan's search for his destiny, Yim's search for her son, and Honus' search for Yim. There's a few other storylines (revolving around Gorm, for example)
Morgan Howell's writing ability alone deserves five - no, ten - stars. He has a skillful pen and can describe things wonderfully and realistically, and I am in awe of his creativity.
However, what made me drop the overall rating to three stars is the way this story ended. Yim has been through so much, god dang it, and then for Gorm to do what he did to her just crushed me. She has been through so much, I wanted her to have a break for once! But nooo... :( Her connection with Karm is revealed, and that also affected the rating of this book - it made no sense to me and was a letdown. If this book had ended differently, I would have given it a higher rating.
Seventeen years have passed and Yim and her son have been living in relative safety in the Gray Fens while mother tries to keep a dark secret from her son. Of course, such an effort has come to naught as the servants of Lord Bahl are determined to have their Lord back and usher in another dark era. There's three different main storylines in this - Froan's search for his destiny, Yim's search for her son, and Honus' search for Yim. There's a few other storylines (revolving around Gorm, for example)
Morgan Howell's writing ability alone deserves five - no, ten - stars. He has a skillful pen and can describe things wonderfully and realistically, and I am in awe of his creativity.
However, what made me drop the overall rating to three stars is the way this story ended. Yim has been through so much, god dang it, and then for Gorm to do what he did to her just crushed me. She has been through so much, I wanted her to have a break for once! But nooo... :( Her connection with Karm is revealed, and that also affected the rating of this book - it made no sense to me and was a letdown. If this book had ended differently, I would have given it a higher rating.
July 15, 2019
The final volume in the trilogy.
Leaves me glad I finished it. At the same time, knowing.
I would never read this arc again.
Yes, I get some of the ideas of sacrifice.
Still the added cruelty, to Yims character.
Just seems simply to mean spirited by the author and serves no purpose.
Her sons wanton brutality and cruelty. As he struggles between toe good and evil inside of himself.
Having no real repercussions to him. No penalty, just move on.
Things made all nice and good for him.
Sorry, just does not seem real.
I had figured out part of the plot, Yims character before the end.
Still, just seems like overkill. By the author to inflict torment on her.
Even in the Bible. Jesus character, was recorded. As having some good times along the way.
Even knowing his fate to be.
Yim barely had any and did not have that knowledge herself.
All in all, just way to dark for my tastes.
The finish and pay off. Not making up for the strife through three novels.
Leaves me glad I finished it. At the same time, knowing.
I would never read this arc again.
Yes, I get some of the ideas of sacrifice.
Still the added cruelty, to Yims character.
Just seems simply to mean spirited by the author and serves no purpose.
Her sons wanton brutality and cruelty. As he struggles between toe good and evil inside of himself.
Having no real repercussions to him. No penalty, just move on.
Things made all nice and good for him.
Sorry, just does not seem real.
I had figured out part of the plot, Yims character before the end.
Still, just seems like overkill. By the author to inflict torment on her.
Even in the Bible. Jesus character, was recorded. As having some good times along the way.
Even knowing his fate to be.
Yim barely had any and did not have that knowledge herself.
All in all, just way to dark for my tastes.
The finish and pay off. Not making up for the strife through three novels.
September 3, 2016
The Iron Palace doesn’t read exactly as advertised: Yim and Honus are apart for the vast majority of the story, traveling alone on their own separate quests. Yim wasn’t quite as strong as I remembered from the first two books, but that could be because she’s spent years hiding, attempting to be as dull as possible. Honus is more interesting to return to, as he’s become bitter and hateful toward the goddess Karm. He turns around quickly though, and a “retired” Sarf tells him more of the story of the runes on his back. His return to the faith and his true path is a little too easy for a guy whose heart was broken for almost two decades, but hey, I’m not one to crush his hopes.
The strongest aspect of The Iron Palace was the son Froan’s characterization. The reader knows that Froan literally has the spirit of evil living inside his body because of his lineage. Yim has raised him away from blood and violence of absolutely every kind, even going so far as to have her neighbor’s husband butcher their goats. Yet Froan can’t escape the spirit within him. He’s manipulative even before he becomes violent, and once he leaves home and he’s no longer under Yim’s thumb, the violence in his nature comes out. Yet his villainy isn’t pure black-and-white. There are brief moments of conscience, when he remember his mother, and then the evil spirit overwhelms them and twists his mind into thinking that his mother is at fault. He even falls in love, his gentle and caring nature to his lover standing in stark opposition to the bloodshed and terror he spreads as he and his growing army ravage the countryside.
Spoiler regarding the ending:
To Sum It Up:
The review "The Iron Palace" first appeared on StarlightBookReviews.com.
The strongest aspect of The Iron Palace was the son Froan’s characterization. The reader knows that Froan literally has the spirit of evil living inside his body because of his lineage. Yim has raised him away from blood and violence of absolutely every kind, even going so far as to have her neighbor’s husband butcher their goats. Yet Froan can’t escape the spirit within him. He’s manipulative even before he becomes violent, and once he leaves home and he’s no longer under Yim’s thumb, the violence in his nature comes out. Yet his villainy isn’t pure black-and-white. There are brief moments of conscience, when he remember his mother, and then the evil spirit overwhelms them and twists his mind into thinking that his mother is at fault. He even falls in love, his gentle and caring nature to his lover standing in stark opposition to the bloodshed and terror he spreads as he and his growing army ravage the countryside.
Spoiler regarding the ending:
To Sum It Up:
The review "The Iron Palace" first appeared on StarlightBookReviews.com.
July 2, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this series up to its climactic ending. As I’ve found with Morgan Howell’s books he always has a very bittersweet ending to his books. The story continues off seventeen years after Yim gives birth to her son Froan. The story revolves around the struggle of The Devourer (a “god” who literally wishes to devour all good in the world) and the goddess Karm who is the epitome of love and compassion. Karm’s power is failing in the world and the fight is close to ending with The Devourer seemingly close to winning.
I won’t give anything away other than to say I cried. The struggles Yim has to go through to reach her destiny. Honus, poor sweet Honus, truly he is a Karmamatus (meaning Beloved of Karm). That phrase has taken on a whole new meaning for me when I finished this book. This story is so complex and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to understand all of it in one sitting. It didn’t though and I loved it for what it was: A story of love, sacrifice, and divinity.
It is a very multifaceted ending that I find hard to grasp but leaves me feeling sad and happy all in one. I am overjoyed that I received the chance to read this series. It was worth the wait to read this book and I am anticipating whatever Morgan Howell writes!
I won’t give anything away other than to say I cried. The struggles Yim has to go through to reach her destiny. Honus, poor sweet Honus, truly he is a Karmamatus (meaning Beloved of Karm). That phrase has taken on a whole new meaning for me when I finished this book. This story is so complex and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to understand all of it in one sitting. It didn’t though and I loved it for what it was: A story of love, sacrifice, and divinity.
It is a very multifaceted ending that I find hard to grasp but leaves me feeling sad and happy all in one. I am overjoyed that I received the chance to read this series. It was worth the wait to read this book and I am anticipating whatever Morgan Howell writes!
January 7, 2017
The final stop in the story of Yim, the slave, bearer, and Chosen of the goddess Karm; and her love Honus, a sarf sworn to protect her.
They have been through so much up until now. Honus' bretheren have been slaughtered and the religion of Karm almost wiped off the face of the earth. Yim and Honus have almost lost their lives time and time again, trying to defeat the evil lord Bhaal and prevent the final arising of the Destroyer. Yim sacrified her body and her innocence to take the final step on the path of Bhaal's destruction, and leaves Honus behind, shattering him mind, body, and soul.
In Iron Palace we pick back up where Yim is now a mother, whose only thought throughout the entire book is protecting her son and walking him down the right path. He goes astry at one point, and on Yim's journey to find and save him, she finds Honus again, and the two lovers are united body and soul at long last, before Yim is tortured and gives everything to finally save her son, and leave him in Honus' capable hands.
I cried at the end, I felt so sad for Yim and Honus, yet so happy too. They deserved what they got at the very end, and it was quite an interesting twist as well! Was not expecting that.
A wonderful trilogy. I'm sorry it had to end, but glad with the way it ended.
They have been through so much up until now. Honus' bretheren have been slaughtered and the religion of Karm almost wiped off the face of the earth. Yim and Honus have almost lost their lives time and time again, trying to defeat the evil lord Bhaal and prevent the final arising of the Destroyer. Yim sacrified her body and her innocence to take the final step on the path of Bhaal's destruction, and leaves Honus behind, shattering him mind, body, and soul.
In Iron Palace we pick back up where Yim is now a mother, whose only thought throughout the entire book is protecting her son and walking him down the right path. He goes astry at one point, and on Yim's journey to find and save him, she finds Honus again, and the two lovers are united body and soul at long last, before Yim is tortured and gives everything to finally save her son, and leave him in Honus' capable hands.
I cried at the end, I felt so sad for Yim and Honus, yet so happy too. They deserved what they got at the very end, and it was quite an interesting twist as well! Was not expecting that.
A wonderful trilogy. I'm sorry it had to end, but glad with the way it ended.
September 30, 2011
At first I had a hard time getting through this book. A lot of it was from Froan's perspective and he was a pretty unlikable character. However, when the tale turned to Yim and Honus the book really got my attention.
Yim and Honus have a very endearing relationship. They both understand that even though they may love each other there are other things that come before each other.
I am conflicted by the ending. It seems Morgan Howell has a revulsion to a typical happy ending. He prefers the bittersweet variety (also like the Queen of the Orcs series).
Overall I enjoyed the series. Morgan Howell is a master at Dark Fantasy and will continue to be an avid reader of his work.
Yim and Honus have a very endearing relationship. They both understand that even though they may love each other there are other things that come before each other.
I am conflicted by the ending. It seems Morgan Howell has a revulsion to a typical happy ending. He prefers the bittersweet variety (also like the Queen of the Orcs series).
Overall I enjoyed the series. Morgan Howell is a master at Dark Fantasy and will continue to be an avid reader of his work.
June 26, 2012
If I hadn't been on the subway in my makeup for work first thing this morning, I'd have cried at the end of this book. It's not a super-happy-ending, but it was the right ending for the series. I loved following Yim and Honus' journeys in all three books, and I'm excited to read the next trilogy that Morgan Howell comes up with... Hopefully it will also be another tale told in the same world, as I WAS delighted to find that the Shadowed Path was in the same world, if not the same age, as the Orc Queen series. :)
Recommended for fantasy lovers (who don't mind a little gore). ;)
Recommended for fantasy lovers (who don't mind a little gore). ;)
August 13, 2016
Some parts of this book were very good, particularly those involving Thistle. But I did find my attention wander a lot. There were a few possible outcomes and the one that should have been done was the one that was done.
I didn't like the blatant reference to Christianity in the denouement - it was there to explain a detail from an earlier book but wasn't necessary otherwise. The denouement was a curious mix of satisfying and pushing the limits of what had been set up in the books.
Overall an acceptable ending to the trilogy.
I didn't like the blatant reference to Christianity in the denouement - it was there to explain a detail from an earlier book but wasn't necessary otherwise. The denouement was a curious mix of satisfying and pushing the limits of what had been set up in the books.
Overall an acceptable ending to the trilogy.
January 29, 2012
I find this trilogy very hard to review. I enjoyed them and wanted to find out what would happen next, but I found the writing to be pretty flawed throughout the books, and it was repetitive at times. I am glad I read them and will probably check out his other trilogy, but I am spoiled with fantasy books because I have read some truly fantastic writers over the years in the genre. Overall, a decent read but not great.
April 12, 2012
OMG talk about dark fantasy...!
April 22, 2011
A bittersweet ending for a morbid tale. Well written satisfying conclusion. My favorite character throughout this series was Honus and I was happy with his evolution
December 17, 2011
Basically, what the other reviewers have said. Really good read, hard ending, because it's not the way you really want it to end, but still a good ending.
June 20, 2013
Way too dark.
March 7, 2014
Fantastic
I have read all of this author's works and loved every one of them. We can only hope he writes more!
I have read all of this author's works and loved every one of them. We can only hope he writes more!
September 5, 2014
Wow, an amazing conclusion to the series. I loved it.
December 5, 2014
This was just ghastly. I am going to stay far away from anything by this writer.
Really, really awful.
Really, really awful.
May 10, 2016
If interested, see book one for trilogy review
November 5, 2012
A very fitting end to the trilogy. Maybe a little rushed at the end, but I can live with it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews