Darien (Empire of Salt book 1)

What a fabulous book from the consummate Historical Saga expert Conn Iggulden, this is a much more whimsical affair of course where magic and Millitary Might meld in equal measure. We are dropped into a world run by twelve ruling families with a nominal head who takes on the role of head of state. This fragile hierarchy is balanced precariously and this book, the first in the Empire of Salt series begins with that hold unravelling after a military coup.

The action revolves around a core group of ordinary folk who turn out to be rather extraordinary and whose personal journeys begin to impact and drive the destinies of the others. The richness of the dynasties are evidence of Conn’s mastery of a long historical view and the battle which takes up the final third of the book is indicative of his skill in military matters.

It is in the addition of the more fantastical elements that makes this sword and sorcery romp so light and frothy. The plot clips along at a fair old pace and the characters are likeable and irksome where necessary.

I thoroughly enjoy it!

This was such a cool book! A fun read, with an interesting way of pulling together multiple viewpoints.

We follow Elias, Tellius, Arthur, Daw, Nancy, and Deeds as they get wrapped up in the schemes of the Twelve Ruling Families of Darien, to catastrophic results.

Some of these characters are not normal human beings. They have "knacks", magical gifts which allow them to do extraordinary things, but also makes them ripe for exploitation. Control is a central theme of the book: how to take it and keep it. It's done cleverly. There's no simple route to control, or power, or anything else in here and it's awesome.

The characters themselves are quite strong. Deeds in particular has a great voice. The others could be a little more full of character, but given there are so many people to follow, I'm happy with the amount we have. Balancing that many characters is a tough job anyway, and it works well here, giving lots of threads for the reader to keep track of, and lots of moments of "Ohhhh, well if they're doing X, then Y can do Z!!!!! This could be amazing or terrible, either way I'm excited to find out", and also lots of "Ohhhhhhh that's clever." I like that in a book.

The plot is centred around the city Darien and the power struggles going on there. Our main antagonist wants the king dead, and with knacks floating about, everyone else having plots, and the general populace feeling unloved, it's a perfect time for it. Watching it all come together is incredibly fascinating, and it felt very realistic to me.

<spoiler>Most of the second half of the book is about the antagonist leading an army into Darien. In any other book I'd get bored with military actions that take up so much space, but Iggulden does it really well.</spoiler> There's actual fighting for the fight lovers, there are tactics for the tactics lovers, and lots of character development still going on the whole time. I read the last 25% of the book in one sitting, despite being really tired and having that itchy-eyes-I've-been-reading-too-much thing. Haven't done that in a while.

If I had to find a criticism, it was that the point of view was ... loose. It floated somewhere between third person limited and third person omniscient. I guess it was omniscient, but it would switch focus from being in one character's head to being in another's at really odd points and it was jarring from time to time. Especially when it jumped from one of the main character's heads to some minor character you don't see much of. I really don't care, though.

I am definitely going to pick up the next book in this series (again, I curse/love the folk at NetGalley who give me free books in return for an honest review, then make me wait longer than everyone else to get the next book). I'll probably go look at Iggulden's back catalogue too, because it wasn't just the fantasy aspects that make this book good, and I'd like to read some pure historical stuff from a great author.

You cannot go wrong with any of his work. Another gripping tale of days gone by with the added twist of magic interspersed. I was rooting for so many of the key players. You feel as though you know them and want them to succeed. Brilliantly gripping

Fantasy is my favourite genre and so when I was given this ARC by Netgalley I was thrilled to bits. I've never read any of Conn Igulden's historical fiction and so this was a completely new author for me.
The magic in this world was done with a light touch- my favourite was the boy Arthur. The strongest magical elements seem to have been remnants from a time long past, but here and there people had 'knacks' for certain magical skills. The story is told from multiple points of view, not all with a clear distinct voice.
I generally prefer more character development and for me, there was a disconnect between me as reader and the characters, for which I knocked off a star. The most interesting development for me was between Tellius and Lady Sallet.
There was plenty of action to keep the most blood thirsty fantasist happy and I am interested to see how the story continues in the next instalment.

This is more 3.5 stars than just 3. I liked parts of this book quite a bit.

I really enjoyed Arthur's character, and I would have loved to see more of his POV. I felt that it was kind of unique at times, although this wasn't always consistent.

I feel like there wasn't enough backstory. I would have liked to see more of the motivations of the main characters for the way the actions they took.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read with some room for future improvement.

First part of new fantasy series – very good

This first part of a new fantasy series by Conn Iggulden is a very good start and shows that this author (who I have not read before) knows what he is doing. It deals with a world with a major city, Darien of the title. It has links with our own world as the Bible is known here. It is a world where magic occurs and three main characters all possess some link to magic. Elias has a knack of avoiding danger, Nancy can absorb and channel magic and Arthur is a golem with photographic reflexes. Their lives intertwine as power struggles break out in Darien.

The writing is successful although a little repetitive at times, especially in the fighting in the last act. The plot is engaging, the characters are well-defined and I am certainly curious as to where this goes next. The series shows a great deal of promise and I recommend it to lovers of fantasy.

So we have the classic epic fantasy multiple POV set up with six men and one woman (sigh) all of whom were supposed to be quite different but I just kept mixing them all up because I didn’t feel that they had particularly distinctive voices. The possible exceptions to this were Arthur and Nancy (given that these were a child and a woman it’s not that surprising that they were more distinctive than the sea of violent men that were the other characters).

But I hate being negative about books so let’s look to the positive. I do think this is a classic epic fantasy world clearly created by someone with an interest in historical fiction (the genre this author normally writes in). We have an older society with the addition of magic, largely based in artefacts though some can wield it in various ways. While this isn’t particularly innovative it was handled well, and the simplicity of the setting lends itself to a series as you can expand on principles later on if needs be.

Unsurprisingly, I liked the character of Nancy best, call me a cliché but I like a strong female character. I thought that the mystery surrounding her skills was handled well and that she developed well throughout the book. Arthur was also an interesting element to the story (not going to spoil that for you though).

So as I say, I think this book could have been really quite good, it just fell short in a few ways (for me, you might love it). I felt like the concept of the twelve families wasn’t expounded as much as it could have been, just to make the political system feel a bit more fleshed out, and I felt as though we jumped from calm to action really quite quickly with not much of a sense of continuity between the two. The flow was just a bit off for me which hindered my enjoyment of the book as a whole.

My rating: 3/5 stars (I liked it but I wouldn’t read it again)

Darien publishes on July 13th so if you fancy a trip to this fantasy world you can preorder now!

By the way: I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher (Penguin Uk-Michael Joseph) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

I can barely follow what's going on in this book, it jumps about a lot between characters, which makes it hard to follow. I reckon I could really get into this book and enjoy it, but I'd have to be in the right mood for it, and now is not the time sadly.

Darien is a city in the new fantasy series by Conn Iggulden. He is more known for his historical fiction books. This is his first journey into fantasy and is aimed at Teen and YA readers, but also works very well for adult audiences as well.

Darien is ruled over by Twelve families, with overall control lying with the King. He is only a weak figurehead, with all the decisions being made behind the scenes by the Families. The main characters are Elias Post from the village of Wyburn, he is the main food hunter of the village. When the plague arrives he decides that he needs medicine for his family, along with Vic Deeds they make their way to the city. Vic Deeds has his own reasons for accompanying Elias. Daw and Nancy are associates of sorts, their own paths meet and events occur that require a special kind of partnership. Tellius and his group of ragged boys, who work their own trade for the benefit of Tellius and their group, he is a very likeable Fagin type character. Then there is Arthur, a boy who does not speak. They all have their own reason for being in the city. There are a couple of the characters who have an ability, or a knack. This becomes more apparent as the story unfolds.

The author has created some great characters, as well as the ones previously mentioned, there are also ones who I feel will make themselves known more in future books. The emphasis for this book seems to be more on the characters than on the setting. With this being the first in a series, the foundations have been set, I would like to think more detail about the history of this world will be explored in future books. The writing is a bit disjointed at times with character changes mid chapter, but not so much as to lose track of the story. Once the stories of the individuals start to merge, towards the latter half of the book, it really does becomes a brilliant, imaginative and action packed read.

I will be keeping my eye out for further books in this series and will definitely be reading more.

I would recommend this book to more mature YA readers as well as Adult fantasy readers.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and also C.F.Iggulden for my ARC of this book, for my honest and unbiased opinion

I went into this one with very high expectations and a lot of excitement. I'm a big fan of Iggulden's HistFic, and love fantasy, so it seemed like a perfect match.

Initially, however, i was vaguely disappointing. The build up seemed a little slow, and there didn't appear to be the worldbuilding and scope that I've come to expect from fantasy.

However the pace was good, and after the first 3rd, i was hooked. The book raced through then, switching seamlessly through PoV characters, and building to an immense and hugely satisfying conclusion.

If book 2 can expand on this ending, and develop this world further (which appears to be a post-apocalyptic earth), then Iggulden is onto a winner here.

I don’t get to read many fantasy novels and this novel went a long way in making sure I make amends for that. I enjoyed the book from the get go, getting wrapped into the world and plot generation as we learn about 3 specific characters/character groups and how a little something special harboured by each of them will shift the fate of Darien.

Ah, magic! Always so good when you can get absorbed into something that isn’t real.
I loved the way magic was incorporated into the story and the greater history of Darien. The perfect amount of back story and world building was provided whilst still ensuring that there is still so much more to be offered and explained. Enough to make the story flow, and enough to make sure you will await the second in the series with great anticipation.

At times I felt that more could be portrayed when it came to the emotional/physical interactions between key characters, but then I also felt that the way it was portrayed was akin to the setting and the way Iggulden intended it to be.

All in all a great book.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin UK for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Conn Iggulden's historical fiction, especially the Ghengis Khan series and Dunstan, but couldn't get into this and didn't finish it. I used to read a lot of fantasy and I think I just overdid the genre so now it doesn't hold the appeal that it did. That said, it's clearly well-written, thoughtful and I could see an interesting emergent story for those who are fans of this type of fiction, so I gave it 3 stars on the basis of the author's proven track record.

I decided to try a slightly different genre for a change. I found the book a little slow going at first but it gained pace as the story went on. I liked the magical elements and the way the different characters came together towards the end of the book. If there was a follow up book to this one I would definitely be interested to read it.

Conn Iggulden hasn't just entered the fantasy genre he's gone in swinging and held his own with the best of them.

The characters are developed in a way that builds attachment and the story is set at a pace that lures you in before shaking you up.

Fantastic book, well written and well executed.

I've always enjoyed Iggulden's historical fiction, so I was intrigued to try his fantasy offering. I was not disappointed. It's epic, detailed in its plot, darkly humorous and utterly believable. Fantastic world building and characterisation make this a really unique blend of history and fantasy.

Darien

Plot
3 concurrent stories are woven together. The story telling ability of the author cannot be denied; neither can his characterisation and backstory development. However, the constant jumping from one thread to another that comes without warning becomes frustrating very quickly. I tried really hard to get into the overall story but there is just not enough time given for any scene to hold your attention. Just as soon as you think you are getting into it the story lurches to another group of characters. As the book continues there is a clear drawing together of threads around the city of Darien and there is a weeding out of characters but by that time I had no investment in the story and just wanted the book to end.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a good story and some of the themes and plot twists are interesting. The pace of the story is well handled with a balance of story development and action. The use of magic, magical objects and extrasensory perception was credible, but it should be noted that there is a clear moral aspect to this side of the story concerning the effects of power on the individual. Innocence is a tool to be used and as such there are no unsullied heroes, similarly there are an awful lot of victims.

All of the themes resolve themselves in the end and there is a drawing together of a number of them into a more understandable and focussed dénouement. This closer binding makes the latter part of the book a much better and easier read, oh that it had been done much sooner.

I asked for this for my partner who is a big Iggulden fan.
It must be a great read as I haven't heard a word out of him since he started reading!

Conn Iggulden is better known for his historical fiction, which I love, so jumped at the chance to read Darien, the first in the Empire of Salt series.
This is a fast-paced high action fantasy which I loved and look forward to the next. 5*

I received an advanced copy of Darien: Empire of Salt via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank C.F. Iggulden, Michael Joseph, and Penguin Random House UK.

C.F. Iggulden is an alias of Conn Iggulden. The master of historical fiction who has released the critically acclaimed Emperor series and Conqueror series. The slight change of pen name is due Darien being his first foray into creating a fantasy tale. Darien is the name of a huge city in this fantasy world that houses over a quarter of a million citizens and the majority of the narrative is set within the city walls. There are twelve ruling family's in this complex political set-up. Each has great influence and almost act as puppeteers controlling the weak figurehead monarch. Unlike a lot of recent fantasy that has staggeringly grandiose fantasy worlds featuring a score of cities and hundreds of characters, Darien focuses more on the individuals, their actions and relationships in a more enclosed environment. There are about 10 main characters that we get to know relatively well in these 350 or so pages. The first half of the book follows about five points of view perspectives and the action sometimes switches mid-chapter to another players antics elsewhere. This switching of perspectives is administered well and it never becomes confusing or disorientating. Towards the end of the book a couple of extra POV's are added but they are usually in the presence of a person we are familiar with so this is also a seamless transition. There seem to be two types of characters presented here. Individuals that have stunning, special and perhaps even magical abilities and others that seem more normal and human, but this isn't to say that they lack unique talents. All in all, I think that the characters presented are expertly sculptured. The youth, Arthur Quick, and the hunter, Elias were my personal favourites.

The world does feature magic including rumours of sorcerers or witches, certain individuals knacks, and magic devices. I won't say too much about this aspect. It isn't earth-shatteringly original but it is well crafted and creates a real sense of intrigue. There is one scene which bizarrely reminded me of Disney's Aladdin that is excellent and magic focused.

This story is of quite an adult nature featuring destruction, murder, battles, kidnapping, and blackmail. The narrative is brimming with astonishing set-pieces. A segment at 60% through was as gripping and exciting as the finales of many great stories. Perhaps because I was treated with this gem of a sequence, the ending, although very good, fulfilling and expertly composed seemed a bit flatter in comparison. Although the majority of threads are tied up nicely there were a couple of loose ends and questions are presented as to what will come next. For example, will we follow the same characters? Will it be set a different city entirely somewhere else in the empire? Whatever comes next, I do not doubt Iggulden knows his craft and what follows Darien will be just as good, if not better. To conclude, this is an impressive, action-packed, character focused take on fantasy by the excellent Iggulden. I am looking forward to what the author has in store for us next on his fantasy venture.

James x

Have been a fan of Mr Iggluden since his Emperor series I jumped at the chance to read his epic new novel that starts off a new series of books. Darien introduces us to great new characters from gunslingers and magicians to a Fagan like character who teaches street urchins the secrets of a long lost art of sword fighting. Add to this a hunter who has the power to Reach and dodge swords and bullets and we have stunning story that follows the lives of these characters as they become intertwined in an attempt to assassinate the king and overthrow the thrown. An excellent story and a sure fire hit with characters you would love to read about in standalone books. The Golum is a fascinating boy who can mimic correctly after only one viewing and is the books standout character, an ancient assassin in the body of a 10 year old boy. A stunning start to what hints to be an exciting series.