Book Review: The Scarlet Tides by David Hair
The Scarlet Tides by David Hair
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of The Moontide Quartet
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (UK: October 24, 2013, US: October 7, 2014)
Author Information: Website
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Open up The Scarlet Tides and the first things you’ll see are several gorgeously illustrated maps depicting the world of the Moontide Quartet. Needless to say, the maps became indispensable to me while I was reading. I’ve never come across a fantasy series with such a comprehensive and detailed approach to world-building. David Hair goes well beyond simply describing the different peoples and places — what he’s created here actually feels like a living, breathing system. These books take place across two huge continents following about half a dozen characters of different creeds and cultures, with the alliances and conflicts that arise between nations forming the basis for multiple threads of the story and driving the plot forward.
Middle books of a series can also be mighty tricky; I’ve had enough disappointing experiences with sequels myself, which makes me understand why some readers would be nervous when approaching them. However, I jumped into The Scarlet Tides with no reservations whatsoever. This series has grown on me, as I stated in my review of the preceding volume, Mage’s Blood. The first book may have been slightly encumbered by a lengthy introduction and a slow build-up as Hair established the players and set the stage, but it all culminated into one explosive climax and conclusion. And I knew we were going to be heading right into the action with book two.
In this sequel, the Moontide is at hand and the mighty Leviathan Bridge now stands open, creating a corridor between the two continents Yuros and Antiopia, which are normally separated by a vast ocean. The last two Moontides have involved lofty ambitions and crusades of conquest, and this one is no different. Rondion legions and the Inquisition’s windships waste no time storming their way across Antiopia, but very few know of a troubling secret eating at the heart of their empire. A very powerful and valuable artifact called the Scytale of Corineus has slipped through Emperor Constant’s fingers, and he has tasked his inquisitors to scour the world searching for the ones who have absconded with it.
Enter Alaron Mercer, a failed mage who had the Scytale in his hands, then lost it to the girl of his dreams who stole the artifact along with his heart. Cymbellea, who believes she knows the best use for the Scytale, has taken it with the intention of delivering it to Antonin Meiros, the most powerful mage in the world. Little does she know, Meiros is dead, leaving his pregnant widow Ramita on the run from his killers. Several more story arcs run in tandem, including the one which follows Ramita’s former lover Kazim, who ends up with the mercenary Elena Anborn after a botched attack on Emperor Constant’s pureblood mages. Polar opposites in political sides and backgrounds, both nevertheless come to realize they may have a common enemy in Gurvon Gyle, the empire’s spymaster. Some comic relief is also provided by Alaron’s former classmate Ramon, whose storyline involves him running a pyramid scheme, all while his legion marches towards battle. Amusing as this is, Ramon’s point of view also gives readers a boots-on-the-ground view of looming war.
Everything and everyone is connected, the vast distances between the some of the characters and the spheres of conflict notwithstanding. And yet, despite of the sheer scale of it, David Hair manages to make his characters and their stories feel deeply intimate and personal. It’s another reason why this world feels so alive, with all its elements working in tune with one another. Nations and their diverse populations are woven into an intricate web of magic and religion, which are two sides of the same coin. Both play a huge part in nearly all the societies, and as more factions emerge from the shadows we see how much more complex the situation can get.
As things heat up, the net tightens and gradually we are starting to see events converge, bringing the various players closer together. We have betrayals, shifting loyalties, unlikely friendships, and even love. With a dramatis personae so large, it’s inevitable some characters will emerge as my favorites. In Mage’s Blood, the top spot went to Ramita, whose touching yet complicated relationship with Antonin Meiros made me enjoy reading her perspective the most. In this book, however, I came to relish the chapters that follow Kazim and Elena. It’s probably not a coincidence that my favorite storyline yet again involves two people from disparate backgrounds who begin at odds with each other, with the hostility turning to understanding, understanding turning to respect, and the respect eventually turning into love. David Hair has an incredible talent for writing these types of dynamic relationships, making them engaging to read without resorting to clichés and cloying platitudes.
He also does a good job giving each perspective character the attention they deserve. Every one of them has an important role to play, and nobody feels left behind or “parked” while something more exciting happens elsewhere. I learned more about the world from each person, whether it be through meeting Ramon’s new friends from faraway lands, or from Alaron’s encounter with a new race of sentient beings with an astounding origin. And before I could fret myself over how everything will come together, the climax converges most of these storylines, serving up a conclusion and epilogue that tie things up quite nicely.
Overall, an excellent follow up to the first novel, continuing the tradition of vivid, dynamic characters and terrific world building. The intriguing storylines kept me glued to the pages. I honestly found it hard to put down, which was how I ended up reading all 700 pages of this in a little more than three days. Readers of epic fantasy should definitely check out this series.
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Jo Fletcher Books!
The BiblioSanctum 
It’s always interesting to discover how the characters are all connected ina story like that. I didn’t know this one I confess but it sounds well done. I confess that I don’t use maps in books even if I look at them at first I don’t return to them in my reading. Maybe I should try.
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I usually skip over maps too, but these ones were truly quite excellent and they caught my eye.
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I neeeed to read book 1, stat
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Yes, you do! Especially since I think book three just came out already (in Europe).
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I really want to read these. I think that you took a picture of the maps in one of the books and they really were stunning.
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Yep, I took some pics of the maps and tweeted it to show how gorgeous they were!
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Maps? Who has time for maps, there are words to be read! I read this one in record time too, funny how that works sometimes. ONTH these big books are sometimes easier to snuggle in a chair with, so perhaps that explains it.
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I never understood the map thing either, but once in a while some really nice ones catch my eye, and this book had some of the most beautifully illustrated ones I’ve ever seen in a fantasy.
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I think maps are a fun bonus, my current read has one, however I must confess that other than glancing at ’em when I first open the book, I rarely ever refer to them again. I can’t remember the last time I inhaled 700 pages in 3 days, but good sequels have a way of making time fly.
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Oh yeah, I never refer to maps either. I see them at the beginning of books sometimes and I just move on without giving them a second thought, but sometimes I am surprised to see some that are just like works of art. This is one of those books. And I’m shocked it took me only 3 days to read too, normally a book this size would have taken me at least a week.
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Oooh I have higher expectations when a book starts with maps! Mages and artifacts are my kind of thing. I’m glad the sequel didn’t disappoint. I’ll have to check this series out. I love epic fantasy with multiple povs.
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Yay, a map lover! I confess I’m actually quite ambivalent about maps in fantasy novels, but I definitely thought thee ones in here deserved some mention (they’re beautiful!). And if you love mages and artifacts, this series is right up your alley!
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I do like maps but I confess they’re a problem when you’re reading on kindle – just not as easy to flip back and forwards plus a smaller visual space!!
This is very positive for a second in series. I must make a note.
Ta
Lynn 😀
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Yeah, I love my Kindle, but it’s hard to see illustrations and maps. I don’t really mind not seeing maps, but when a book has nice drawings (like the Memories of Lady Trent books, for example) I’d rather go for the hard copy to enjoy them in all their glory 🙂
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I just finished the Tropics books – it was ace. Not done a review yet. I’m all with the dragon love at the moment. Copper Promise, Tropic of Serpents and now reading Dreamwalker. Then onto some vamps for Halloween.
Lynn 😀
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They’re good, aren’t they?! I know some people were disappointed by the relative lack of dragons in that series, but I love the character of Isabella and the whole looking at dragons as a natural sciences angle.
I’m looking to do some horror closer to Halloween too, but I already finished Broken Monsters! It was awesome, like you said 😀
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I love the Memoirs – they’re so good and Brennan has managed to give them this lovely olde world type voice which is pretty awesome. I also like the way that we’re watching Isabella grow into herself. I think it’s a brilliant idea. I mean it’s not all blazing, firefighting but then she’s supposed to be a natural historian after all not a hunter/adventurer. I thought this one was great with the travel through the swamps and getting in with the locals. Really good. Have you read the next one? Don’t think it’s out over here yet?
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No, haven’t read the next one, it’s not out til early next year. I’ll have to look at my reading load for the rest of the year before I even think about requesting a review copy! But yeah, I’m definitely anticipating it!
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My experience with maps is that the books that need them the most are usually the ones that don’t have them, LOL! Or maybe it’s just the ARCs I’ve read that don’t have the maps yet. In any case, yay for maps that are necessary, and even if they aren’t, I love the feeling I get when I see a map in a book and think I’m in for an awesome adventure. Oh and the book sounds really good too!
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Ooh wow, looks like I need to read book 1 like, yesterday. This sounds like a series I could completely get lost in! I love the sound of the maps and of course,the world-building you described 😀 I can definitely relate to your experience with middle books so it’s a relief to see that this series avoids that altogether! Fantastic review Mogsy ^^ thanks for bringing this one to my attention!
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This series is definitely on my list. I still haven’t gotten around to reading much high fantasy this year, but I love it, so I’ll get back to eventually. I’m glad book 2 didn’t let you down 😉
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Mogsy…why do you do this to me?! I have too many big-ass fantasy novels to read as it is, you can’t go around making other series sound good to! Between you and Nathan I’ll never have a moment’s peace from all these cool sounding high fantasy recs.
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This sounds really cool. Awesome review 🙂
PS: New follower ♥
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