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A Quiet Vengeance
Nimsah is an abandoned child living on the streets of Bengarath, surviving on her wits as part of a criminal gang in the City of Tents, home to the dispossessed. Dojan is the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Fujareen, enjoying a life of luxury in Bengarath Palace. Their lives are brought together as the threat of war looms in the neighbouring city state of Kandarah. However, Dojan and Nimsah share a secret, one that will set in motion a chain of events leading to vengeance.
- GenresFantasy
371 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2023
About the author
Tim Hardie
6 books68 followersTim Hardie grew up in the seaside town of Southport during the 1970s and 1980s. This was before anyone had even heard of the internet and Dungeons & Dragons was cutting edge. Living in a house where every available wall was given over to bookshelves, he discovered fantasy writers like JRR Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Ursula Le Guin, Alan Garner, Stephen Donaldson and Susan Cooper. Those stories led him into the science fiction worlds created by Frank Herbert, Philip K Dick, Arthur C Clarke and HP Lovecraft.
After training to become a lawyer Tim lived in London for three years before moving to Yorkshire in 1999, where he has worked ever since in a variety of legal, commercial, financial and management roles. His writing began as a hobby in his early twenties and has gradually grown into something else that now threatens to derail his promising career.
Tim writes epic fantasy that will appeal to fans of Joe Abercrombie, John Gwynne and Robin Hobb.
After training to become a lawyer Tim lived in London for three years before moving to Yorkshire in 1999, where he has worked ever since in a variety of legal, commercial, financial and management roles. His writing began as a hobby in his early twenties and has gradually grown into something else that now threatens to derail his promising career.
Tim writes epic fantasy that will appeal to fans of Joe Abercrombie, John Gwynne and Robin Hobb.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 21, 2024
Ever since I caught up with Hardie’s excellent The Brotherhood of the Eagle series, I have been hungering for more of his writing. So imagine my excitement when I learned of this new project, which takes place in the same fantasy world as his other series, but explores a completely different continent in the world of Amuran.
In A Quiet Vengeance, you will find immersive Middle-Eastern/North-African inspired world building, cutthroat political intrigue, intricate webs of conspiracy, morally gray characters with incredibly complex relationships, and of course, bittersweet vengeance.
This slow-burn and character-focused story is told in a dual POV narration, following Crown-Prince Dojan in the present and street-urchin Nimsah 17 to 13 years in the past. At first, you might wonder how the lives of these two people could ever end up intertwining, especially given that they come from such opposing backgrounds and have such different personalities. But then, we learn about how a single traumatic event in their childhoods has inextricably tied their fates together and get to see how seemingly innocent and insignificant actions can have serious and dire consequences, sometimes even years down the line.
I was completely invested in these characters’ lives from the very moment I met them. In my opinion, the dual timeline was executed to perfection here, allowing us to really get to know these characters intimately by following them both as children and as adults. It was so fascinating to see how their actions and experiences in their childhood have shaped them into the people they have become in the present timeline.
Nimsah was easily my favourite character, but that’s no big surprise given that I am always a sucker for a good street-rat type of character. She is a tough, resourceful and smart young girl with a heart of gold, but we quickly learn that she is also not afraid to be ruthless in order to survive in the brutal criminal underbelly of Bengarath’s City of Tents. And while you will quickly find yourself rooting for young Nimsah when reading from her POV, you can’t help but feel suspicious and wary of her older self when she shows up again in the present timeline. Just like Dojan, you will be left wondering if she is still the same loveable girl from the past or if she has gone down a much darker path since we last saw her.
Dojan himself is also an extremely fascinating character to follow. When we first meet him, he is just as spoiled, privileged and ignorant as you might expect from his status as the crown-prince. But when he is sent off on an important diplomatic mission, he is faced with the hard truth that he is completely and utterly out of his depth. I honestly found it quite amusing and endearing to see him stumbling around in the dark, desperately trying to survive a web of brutal politics and deadly conspiracies. His character development and personal growth over the course of the story is absolutely astounding though. In the end, he surprises everyone (and maybe most of all himself) with just how savvy and competent he turns out to be.
Now, I often find myself getting lost in slow-burn, complex and somewhat tedious political machinations, but here I was glued to the page by all the mystery and intrigue. I think it worked so well for me because of the astounding character work and intimate, emotionally-driven storytelling. It’s not only the protagonists who are crafted with incredible depth and complexity, but the entire supporting cast of characters just jumps off the page as well. Everyone has their own hidden agenda and you never know who to fully trust, which raises the tension and stakes to unimaginable heights. Honestly, Hardie is up there with GRRM in terms of character work and political intrigue, it’s SO compelling.
I am truly so impressed with how this story examines the brutality of politics and explores the lengths people are willing to go to obtain and secure positions of power. These two storylines are brimming with tension and political intrigue, both on a small and personal scale in Nimsah's case and on a much larger, geopolitical scale with Dojan. And when long-kept secrets come to light and conspiracies start to unravel, I can guarantee you that your jaw will be on the floor. What a riveting ride!
The world building is also absolutely entrancing and I loved how Hardie was able to completely transport me into this dazzling world with his vivid and evocative descriptions. We get to encounter a plethora of interesting and rich cultures, each with their own customs, histories, social structures and belief systems. This world feels so tangible and lived-in, which made for an incredibly immersive reading experience.
It was also really interesting to see how the Sight magic, which you will be familiar with if you have read The Brotherhood of the Eagle series, was implemented in exciting new ways in this story. I love this soft magic system, because it creates such an air of intrigue and wonder every time it is on display.
Safe to say, I am a big fan of this newest novel by one of my new favourite authors. I went in completely blind and was blown away by the captivating tale that unfolded before my eyes, THIS is how you write an exciting political fantasy! A Quiet Vengeance is a relatively short read and works perfectly as a standalone, so you can jump in here and get a taste of Hardie’s masterful storytelling if you haven’t already. I can’t recommend this one highly enough, it’s already one of my favourite books of the year. Go pre-order!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In A Quiet Vengeance, you will find immersive Middle-Eastern/North-African inspired world building, cutthroat political intrigue, intricate webs of conspiracy, morally gray characters with incredibly complex relationships, and of course, bittersweet vengeance.
This slow-burn and character-focused story is told in a dual POV narration, following Crown-Prince Dojan in the present and street-urchin Nimsah 17 to 13 years in the past. At first, you might wonder how the lives of these two people could ever end up intertwining, especially given that they come from such opposing backgrounds and have such different personalities. But then, we learn about how a single traumatic event in their childhoods has inextricably tied their fates together and get to see how seemingly innocent and insignificant actions can have serious and dire consequences, sometimes even years down the line.
I was completely invested in these characters’ lives from the very moment I met them. In my opinion, the dual timeline was executed to perfection here, allowing us to really get to know these characters intimately by following them both as children and as adults. It was so fascinating to see how their actions and experiences in their childhood have shaped them into the people they have become in the present timeline.
Nimsah was easily my favourite character, but that’s no big surprise given that I am always a sucker for a good street-rat type of character. She is a tough, resourceful and smart young girl with a heart of gold, but we quickly learn that she is also not afraid to be ruthless in order to survive in the brutal criminal underbelly of Bengarath’s City of Tents. And while you will quickly find yourself rooting for young Nimsah when reading from her POV, you can’t help but feel suspicious and wary of her older self when she shows up again in the present timeline. Just like Dojan, you will be left wondering if she is still the same loveable girl from the past or if she has gone down a much darker path since we last saw her.
Dojan himself is also an extremely fascinating character to follow. When we first meet him, he is just as spoiled, privileged and ignorant as you might expect from his status as the crown-prince. But when he is sent off on an important diplomatic mission, he is faced with the hard truth that he is completely and utterly out of his depth. I honestly found it quite amusing and endearing to see him stumbling around in the dark, desperately trying to survive a web of brutal politics and deadly conspiracies. His character development and personal growth over the course of the story is absolutely astounding though. In the end, he surprises everyone (and maybe most of all himself) with just how savvy and competent he turns out to be.
Now, I often find myself getting lost in slow-burn, complex and somewhat tedious political machinations, but here I was glued to the page by all the mystery and intrigue. I think it worked so well for me because of the astounding character work and intimate, emotionally-driven storytelling. It’s not only the protagonists who are crafted with incredible depth and complexity, but the entire supporting cast of characters just jumps off the page as well. Everyone has their own hidden agenda and you never know who to fully trust, which raises the tension and stakes to unimaginable heights. Honestly, Hardie is up there with GRRM in terms of character work and political intrigue, it’s SO compelling.
I am truly so impressed with how this story examines the brutality of politics and explores the lengths people are willing to go to obtain and secure positions of power. These two storylines are brimming with tension and political intrigue, both on a small and personal scale in Nimsah's case and on a much larger, geopolitical scale with Dojan. And when long-kept secrets come to light and conspiracies start to unravel, I can guarantee you that your jaw will be on the floor. What a riveting ride!
The world building is also absolutely entrancing and I loved how Hardie was able to completely transport me into this dazzling world with his vivid and evocative descriptions. We get to encounter a plethora of interesting and rich cultures, each with their own customs, histories, social structures and belief systems. This world feels so tangible and lived-in, which made for an incredibly immersive reading experience.
It was also really interesting to see how the Sight magic, which you will be familiar with if you have read The Brotherhood of the Eagle series, was implemented in exciting new ways in this story. I love this soft magic system, because it creates such an air of intrigue and wonder every time it is on display.
Safe to say, I am a big fan of this newest novel by one of my new favourite authors. I went in completely blind and was blown away by the captivating tale that unfolded before my eyes, THIS is how you write an exciting political fantasy! A Quiet Vengeance is a relatively short read and works perfectly as a standalone, so you can jump in here and get a taste of Hardie’s masterful storytelling if you haven’t already. I can’t recommend this one highly enough, it’s already one of my favourite books of the year. Go pre-order!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 3, 2023
Worlds collide, as, during an explosive event, a crown prince to a wealthy and powerful emirate, and a cunning and ambitious street child who lives in a city of tents, meet. This meeting leads both the prince and the street urchin down paths of intrigue, danger, and deciding the fate of nations, binding their fates together, for better or worse.
Such is the premise of the fabulous book, "A Quiet Vengeance", by brilliant writer, Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off 7 (SPFBO7) Finalist author (for "Hall of Bones", Book One of the "Brotherhood of the Eagle" series) Tim Hardie.
Full disclosure, I was provided an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) of this novel, in exchange for an honest review, which has in no way influenced the review itself.
In "A Quiet Vengeance", Hardie whisks us off to the Middle-Eastern and African inspired portion of his universe, established in his bestselling "Brotherhood of the Eagle" series, that we've never seen before. Instead of the land of Laskar, the action of "A Quiet Vengeance" begins in Bengarath, capital city of the emirate of Fujareen.
There, the emir, Haraq, a former elite warlord, but common by birth, has won his realm by conquest, replacing a long-established, high-blooded dynasty. Haraq has married into another prestigious noble house, and has several children with his princess, Tanah.
All of the children are noted for specific talents and abilities, such as cleverness, scholarly endeavours, or martial prowess. All except the one, that is. Unfortunately, that child is the one who's designated to rule after Haraq.
For Crown Prince Dojan is no Tyrion Lannister (GRRM's self-professed "god of tits and wine" in the famed "A Song of Ice and Fire"), but he's definitely somewhat of a layabout, more interested in bedding nubile women, drinking, and idling away his time as heir to the emirate, before he has to worry about taking the responsibilities of the crown.
Dojan is eventually tasked by his father to be Fujareen's primary representative on a diplomatic mission that is critical to the future of the emirate, with huge geopolitical implications. But Dojan's real purpose is simply not to muck things up too much, look handsome, be charming, let the advisors do the real work, and stay out of the way of the real political players.
Yet Dojan, for all his inexperience in the world of politics, has some skills, common sense, and underneath the foppish and haughty exterior beats a heart of gold. And Dojan isn't going to be content to be a passive bystander in the future of the emirate he'll rule one day. Nor is he going to allow the continent to be torn apart by unnecessary war, if he can prevent it.
But can he? And, can he stay alive while trying to preserve peace, and show that he's the right man to lead his nation into the future?
Meanwhile, Nimsah was abandoned by her parents, and is a denizen of the "City of Tents" in Bengarath. This place is a crude encampment where the downtrodden barely survive on scraps of food, their wits, and whatever scant amenities that the nominal leader of the encampment - and notorious crime boss - Farooq, doles out. Farooq manipulates the children of the City of Tents, using them as errand runners and spies in his vast and very lucrative criminal enterprise.
Nimsah has become favoured of Farooq, and rises to become one of his primary informants. Nimsah has a kind and benevolent mother-figure in her life, a widowed basket-weaver, who Nimsah sometimes works for, named Fenara. Fenara warns Nimsah of the dangers of being in Farooq's employ, and offers Nimsah a life of security, love and predictability in an honest, if relatively lower-class existence.
But Nimsah aspires to much more. She's daring, very cunning, and has big dreams she isn't quite sure of how to bring to fruition. Working for Farooq promises an undesirable future as, at best, a concubine when Nimsah blossoms into womanhood.
At worst, it promises death, if she fails in her duties to Farooq. No one just simply leaves Farooq's gang, and it seems there's no way out for Nimsah. Until involvement with a mysterious and powerful figure in the financial world, might provide Nimsah with the escape she's looking for.
But if she's caught, she'll meet a worse fate than those enemies of Emir Haraq's, hanging from the notorious Bridge of Sorrows.
"A Quiet Vengeance" is definitely character-driven fantasy, and the character work in this book is stupendous. Hardie masterfully weaves the stories of Dojan and Nimsah together, alternating between their points of view, going back into their past, then forward, then back, throughout the narrative.
The author crafts a spellbinding tale focused on two people from the opposite ends of the social spectrum, thrown together unexpectedly by a traumatic event early in life, who later encounter each other in very different circumstances. Both main characters are highly flawed, but with enough redeeming qualities that the reader will root for them to survive, and thrive.
Dojan is a product of his upbringing, as spoiled and sometimes arrogant and not as smart as he thinks he is. I absolutely loved his character (I have a weakness for defective princes) and seeing the way Hardie authentically maps out Dojan's character evolution, as the privileged prince, who doesn't really excel at anything, has a chance to do something meaningful, that could give him a chance for redemption.
Nimsah too, is a result of her paideia. She's raised tough, on the streets, earning every scrap of food, but kind enough to share it with those she cares about, and risk her own safety to cover for and protect weaker children. Yet she can be ruthless, and she has the capacity to do terrible things that she feels necessary for survival, or to achieve her goals.
As she grows, she learns that, if she wants to play on a bigger stage, and rise above her station, sacrifices will be necessary, and people will have to be those sacrifices. She is an amazing character, and kudos to Hardie for portraying both his main players with sensitivity, savvy, and realism.
That doesn't mean to say that Hardie hasn't created some incredible supporting characters. If you've read anything by Hardie before, like his "Brotherhood" series, you know he's in GRRM class with folding a huge, but amazing ensemble cast seamlessly around the protagonists.
These secondary players will all feel real, and Hardie gives us enough of them to make us either hope they get their comeuppance, or triumph in the end. Quizar, Ulan, Tanah, Hadir, Farooq, Nimsah, Kandilla, Rogesh, Chandra, and Fenara were all standouts, and their arcs were captivating, sometimes tragic, and they are all drawn to be highly believable.
"Breathtaking" is how I would describe worldbuilding in "A Quiet Vengeance". I'd already rated Hardie as one of the best worldbuilders in indie fantasy after reading his "Brotherhood of the Eagle" series, with the resplendent oral memory of the history of the clans, the various gods, the famed conflicts, dynastic lineages, and more.
Hardie takes this to another level, creating a lush Middle-Eastern and African inspired world, full of the type of food, customs, cultures, fashions, social structure, military organizations, weapons, and everything to give his world that tangible feel.
The use of the magical power of the "Sight", which is a feature of "The Brotherhood of the Eagle", is deployed in new and exciting ways in "A Quiet Vengeance". Wielded by powerful magi, and used to spy on both enemies and allies, the Sight is a valuable weapon, and its users are coveted but feared among the nobles.
Use of the Sight provides one of the books most shocking and plot-turning reveals, and Hardie adeptly keeps the reader on edge, whenever someone capable of Sight deploys their powers, creating a real sense of wonder, trepidation, and anticipation of the magic, and what it will uncover.
We also get a glimpse of a more advanced society than in the "Brotherhood of the Eagle" series, which was spectacular, and teased major implications for the universe Hardie has created, as a whole.
One of the reasons Tim Hardie is a must-buy author for me is that few authors I've ever read, save perhaps ones like GRRM, do complex political intrigue, royal court politics, deception and betrayal, alliance forging (and breaking), and divided loyalties, quite as effectively as Hardie.
That's what I discovered by reading his previous books, but Hardie ups his game considerably in "A Quiet Vengeance". In a tightly wound, yet intricate plot, Hardie made me feel like I was standing with Dojan, navigating the spider web of conspiracy as the young noble becomes wise to how complicated and nuanced the game he's playing is, or seeing how Nimsah grows from a life of penury, uncertainty, and a pawn for Farooq, into a savvy, politically astute and dangerous player in her own right.
While this book is definitely character-driven, there is lots of tension, heart-stopping moments, and when the fight scenes come, they come with a fury. There is one sequence in particular which was one of the best, most nerve-wracking ones I've read in fantasy. Hardie expertly foreshadows this scene earlier in the book, subtly ratchets up the unease as the scene emerges, and then everything explodes.
The Samarak fighting spear - a devastating weapon in the hands of an expert fighter, that Hardie has created in his world - will finally strike, blood will be spilled, and you'll be on the edge of your seat as this battle unfolds.
The prose is polished, and beautiful. Hardie’s elucidation and expressive writing has only gotten better with each book he writes.
The author had me completely spellbound by the way he intertwines a coming-of-age tale, with a tense military and political fantasy, and a compelling human drama that would appeal to any reader.
"A Quiet Vengeance" is a knockout! By far, Hardie's best work, and that's saying a lot, considering the brilliance of the author's previous books. Much more than five stars, but the rating, alas, only allows that much!
Such is the premise of the fabulous book, "A Quiet Vengeance", by brilliant writer, Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off 7 (SPFBO7) Finalist author (for "Hall of Bones", Book One of the "Brotherhood of the Eagle" series) Tim Hardie.
Full disclosure, I was provided an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) of this novel, in exchange for an honest review, which has in no way influenced the review itself.
In "A Quiet Vengeance", Hardie whisks us off to the Middle-Eastern and African inspired portion of his universe, established in his bestselling "Brotherhood of the Eagle" series, that we've never seen before. Instead of the land of Laskar, the action of "A Quiet Vengeance" begins in Bengarath, capital city of the emirate of Fujareen.
There, the emir, Haraq, a former elite warlord, but common by birth, has won his realm by conquest, replacing a long-established, high-blooded dynasty. Haraq has married into another prestigious noble house, and has several children with his princess, Tanah.
All of the children are noted for specific talents and abilities, such as cleverness, scholarly endeavours, or martial prowess. All except the one, that is. Unfortunately, that child is the one who's designated to rule after Haraq.
For Crown Prince Dojan is no Tyrion Lannister (GRRM's self-professed "god of tits and wine" in the famed "A Song of Ice and Fire"), but he's definitely somewhat of a layabout, more interested in bedding nubile women, drinking, and idling away his time as heir to the emirate, before he has to worry about taking the responsibilities of the crown.
Dojan is eventually tasked by his father to be Fujareen's primary representative on a diplomatic mission that is critical to the future of the emirate, with huge geopolitical implications. But Dojan's real purpose is simply not to muck things up too much, look handsome, be charming, let the advisors do the real work, and stay out of the way of the real political players.
Yet Dojan, for all his inexperience in the world of politics, has some skills, common sense, and underneath the foppish and haughty exterior beats a heart of gold. And Dojan isn't going to be content to be a passive bystander in the future of the emirate he'll rule one day. Nor is he going to allow the continent to be torn apart by unnecessary war, if he can prevent it.
But can he? And, can he stay alive while trying to preserve peace, and show that he's the right man to lead his nation into the future?
Meanwhile, Nimsah was abandoned by her parents, and is a denizen of the "City of Tents" in Bengarath. This place is a crude encampment where the downtrodden barely survive on scraps of food, their wits, and whatever scant amenities that the nominal leader of the encampment - and notorious crime boss - Farooq, doles out. Farooq manipulates the children of the City of Tents, using them as errand runners and spies in his vast and very lucrative criminal enterprise.
Nimsah has become favoured of Farooq, and rises to become one of his primary informants. Nimsah has a kind and benevolent mother-figure in her life, a widowed basket-weaver, who Nimsah sometimes works for, named Fenara. Fenara warns Nimsah of the dangers of being in Farooq's employ, and offers Nimsah a life of security, love and predictability in an honest, if relatively lower-class existence.
But Nimsah aspires to much more. She's daring, very cunning, and has big dreams she isn't quite sure of how to bring to fruition. Working for Farooq promises an undesirable future as, at best, a concubine when Nimsah blossoms into womanhood.
At worst, it promises death, if she fails in her duties to Farooq. No one just simply leaves Farooq's gang, and it seems there's no way out for Nimsah. Until involvement with a mysterious and powerful figure in the financial world, might provide Nimsah with the escape she's looking for.
But if she's caught, she'll meet a worse fate than those enemies of Emir Haraq's, hanging from the notorious Bridge of Sorrows.
"A Quiet Vengeance" is definitely character-driven fantasy, and the character work in this book is stupendous. Hardie masterfully weaves the stories of Dojan and Nimsah together, alternating between their points of view, going back into their past, then forward, then back, throughout the narrative.
The author crafts a spellbinding tale focused on two people from the opposite ends of the social spectrum, thrown together unexpectedly by a traumatic event early in life, who later encounter each other in very different circumstances. Both main characters are highly flawed, but with enough redeeming qualities that the reader will root for them to survive, and thrive.
Dojan is a product of his upbringing, as spoiled and sometimes arrogant and not as smart as he thinks he is. I absolutely loved his character (I have a weakness for defective princes) and seeing the way Hardie authentically maps out Dojan's character evolution, as the privileged prince, who doesn't really excel at anything, has a chance to do something meaningful, that could give him a chance for redemption.
Nimsah too, is a result of her paideia. She's raised tough, on the streets, earning every scrap of food, but kind enough to share it with those she cares about, and risk her own safety to cover for and protect weaker children. Yet she can be ruthless, and she has the capacity to do terrible things that she feels necessary for survival, or to achieve her goals.
As she grows, she learns that, if she wants to play on a bigger stage, and rise above her station, sacrifices will be necessary, and people will have to be those sacrifices. She is an amazing character, and kudos to Hardie for portraying both his main players with sensitivity, savvy, and realism.
That doesn't mean to say that Hardie hasn't created some incredible supporting characters. If you've read anything by Hardie before, like his "Brotherhood" series, you know he's in GRRM class with folding a huge, but amazing ensemble cast seamlessly around the protagonists.
These secondary players will all feel real, and Hardie gives us enough of them to make us either hope they get their comeuppance, or triumph in the end. Quizar, Ulan, Tanah, Hadir, Farooq, Nimsah, Kandilla, Rogesh, Chandra, and Fenara were all standouts, and their arcs were captivating, sometimes tragic, and they are all drawn to be highly believable.
"Breathtaking" is how I would describe worldbuilding in "A Quiet Vengeance". I'd already rated Hardie as one of the best worldbuilders in indie fantasy after reading his "Brotherhood of the Eagle" series, with the resplendent oral memory of the history of the clans, the various gods, the famed conflicts, dynastic lineages, and more.
Hardie takes this to another level, creating a lush Middle-Eastern and African inspired world, full of the type of food, customs, cultures, fashions, social structure, military organizations, weapons, and everything to give his world that tangible feel.
The use of the magical power of the "Sight", which is a feature of "The Brotherhood of the Eagle", is deployed in new and exciting ways in "A Quiet Vengeance". Wielded by powerful magi, and used to spy on both enemies and allies, the Sight is a valuable weapon, and its users are coveted but feared among the nobles.
Use of the Sight provides one of the books most shocking and plot-turning reveals, and Hardie adeptly keeps the reader on edge, whenever someone capable of Sight deploys their powers, creating a real sense of wonder, trepidation, and anticipation of the magic, and what it will uncover.
We also get a glimpse of a more advanced society than in the "Brotherhood of the Eagle" series, which was spectacular, and teased major implications for the universe Hardie has created, as a whole.
One of the reasons Tim Hardie is a must-buy author for me is that few authors I've ever read, save perhaps ones like GRRM, do complex political intrigue, royal court politics, deception and betrayal, alliance forging (and breaking), and divided loyalties, quite as effectively as Hardie.
That's what I discovered by reading his previous books, but Hardie ups his game considerably in "A Quiet Vengeance". In a tightly wound, yet intricate plot, Hardie made me feel like I was standing with Dojan, navigating the spider web of conspiracy as the young noble becomes wise to how complicated and nuanced the game he's playing is, or seeing how Nimsah grows from a life of penury, uncertainty, and a pawn for Farooq, into a savvy, politically astute and dangerous player in her own right.
While this book is definitely character-driven, there is lots of tension, heart-stopping moments, and when the fight scenes come, they come with a fury. There is one sequence in particular which was one of the best, most nerve-wracking ones I've read in fantasy. Hardie expertly foreshadows this scene earlier in the book, subtly ratchets up the unease as the scene emerges, and then everything explodes.
The Samarak fighting spear - a devastating weapon in the hands of an expert fighter, that Hardie has created in his world - will finally strike, blood will be spilled, and you'll be on the edge of your seat as this battle unfolds.
The prose is polished, and beautiful. Hardie’s elucidation and expressive writing has only gotten better with each book he writes.
The author had me completely spellbound by the way he intertwines a coming-of-age tale, with a tense military and political fantasy, and a compelling human drama that would appeal to any reader.
"A Quiet Vengeance" is a knockout! By far, Hardie's best work, and that's saying a lot, considering the brilliance of the author's previous books. Much more than five stars, but the rating, alas, only allows that much!
August 13, 2023
The worldbuilding is exquisite, inventive, and refreshing. The plot is repetitive, slow, and lacking personal stakes.
Read
March 26, 2023I received a free copy of this book from the author. This did not influence my review.
A Quiet Vengeance is an amazing book. Buy it. Oh, wait. I promised myself to sound articulate.
It's difficult to write a book with dual timelines and two narrators, but you wouldn't guess that from the ease with which Hardie's book reads. Nimsah is a child of the street… and, years later, a mysterious high-ranked representative of the Bank that effectively owns kingdoms. How did Dojan, the Crown Prince of Bengarath get involved with her back when her livelihood depended on how much she could steal or overhear for a glorified thug? Who were they to each other back then, and who are they now? Out of the two, the Crown Prince is the simpleton… perhaps I am doing him slight disservice, like many others in the book… and Nimsah – fit to be a queen, if not for the fact that a mere throne is below her. Nimsah's power and influence reach far beyond those Dojan hopes for, and so does her sometimes ruthless understanding of reality Dojan is merely aware of.
The worldbuilding is vast, which some authors struggle with, because (I know from experience) finding the balance between info-dumping and confusion is very hard. Apart from a few (really a few) "as you will know" paragraphs in the beginning, A Quiet Vengeance eased me in at just the right pace. Speaking of pace, I prefer my books slower, character-based, with a plot, rather than rollercoaster-paced action-action-action. I got exactly what I hoped for. The characters, even secondary ones, felt fully fleshed-out. The Middle-Eastern/African-inspired world is glorious, too – customs, cultures, food, architecture so real in my imagination that filming the book might harm it.
I am enamoured with Nimsah and her evolution. Dojan, hmmm, let's say he needs a bit more, ah, schooling – some of it provided by Nimsah herself. The true mastery and my favourite thing about A Quiet Vengeance is the skill with which Hardie alternates between the timelines and narrators, never disappointing, always keeping me on the edge of the seat without letting me either fall or doze off. Okay, I have two favourite things, the other being unpredictability of the plot. Towards the end, I guessed that *mhmmhm hmhmmm* would happen, yet I was still surprised by how it did. I shouldn't have been. In retrospect, it was obvious. But Nimsah doesn't just outsmart Dojan, she outsmarted me, too. Reader, I loved it. Can you tell?
I swore an oath to myself not to rate books written by authors I have a personal relationship with and I will not sway. I'm just going to say this – it might only be end of March, but A Quiet Vengeance is bound to rank among my favourite books of 2023. It's simultaneously dark, escapist, fascinating, elegant, visceral, and entertaining. I read wide, to put it mildly. A Quiet Vengeance was a delightfully satisfying dish I dreaded finishing. Indie fantasy at its finest. Now guess how I would have rated it.
A Quiet Vengeance is an amazing book. Buy it. Oh, wait. I promised myself to sound articulate.
It's difficult to write a book with dual timelines and two narrators, but you wouldn't guess that from the ease with which Hardie's book reads. Nimsah is a child of the street… and, years later, a mysterious high-ranked representative of the Bank that effectively owns kingdoms. How did Dojan, the Crown Prince of Bengarath get involved with her back when her livelihood depended on how much she could steal or overhear for a glorified thug? Who were they to each other back then, and who are they now? Out of the two, the Crown Prince is the simpleton… perhaps I am doing him slight disservice, like many others in the book… and Nimsah – fit to be a queen, if not for the fact that a mere throne is below her. Nimsah's power and influence reach far beyond those Dojan hopes for, and so does her sometimes ruthless understanding of reality Dojan is merely aware of.
The worldbuilding is vast, which some authors struggle with, because (I know from experience) finding the balance between info-dumping and confusion is very hard. Apart from a few (really a few) "as you will know" paragraphs in the beginning, A Quiet Vengeance eased me in at just the right pace. Speaking of pace, I prefer my books slower, character-based, with a plot, rather than rollercoaster-paced action-action-action. I got exactly what I hoped for. The characters, even secondary ones, felt fully fleshed-out. The Middle-Eastern/African-inspired world is glorious, too – customs, cultures, food, architecture so real in my imagination that filming the book might harm it.
I am enamoured with Nimsah and her evolution. Dojan, hmmm, let's say he needs a bit more, ah, schooling – some of it provided by Nimsah herself. The true mastery and my favourite thing about A Quiet Vengeance is the skill with which Hardie alternates between the timelines and narrators, never disappointing, always keeping me on the edge of the seat without letting me either fall or doze off. Okay, I have two favourite things, the other being unpredictability of the plot. Towards the end, I guessed that *mhmmhm hmhmmm* would happen, yet I was still surprised by how it did. I shouldn't have been. In retrospect, it was obvious. But Nimsah doesn't just outsmart Dojan, she outsmarted me, too. Reader, I loved it. Can you tell?
I swore an oath to myself not to rate books written by authors I have a personal relationship with and I will not sway. I'm just going to say this – it might only be end of March, but A Quiet Vengeance is bound to rank among my favourite books of 2023. It's simultaneously dark, escapist, fascinating, elegant, visceral, and entertaining. I read wide, to put it mildly. A Quiet Vengeance was a delightfully satisfying dish I dreaded finishing. Indie fantasy at its finest. Now guess how I would have rated it.
July 15, 2023
Excellent story. Complex plot and characters. A superb standalone.
February 8, 2024
*I got an ARC from the author. All my thoughts are my own*
A Quiet Vengeance is one of a series of standalones in a new series by Tim Hardie called Samarak Tales. It is set in the world of Amuran, the same world as Hardie's other series. The book is set on a different continent and you don't need to read Brotherhood of the Eagle first to read A Quiet Vengeance. I went into A Quiet Vengeance completely blind, without having read anything by Hardie before and I was left utterly spellbound!
The story follows Nimsah, a street urchin in the city of Bengarath and Dojan, the Crown Prince of the emirate of Fujareen. Nimsah works for a local crime boss to gather important information about the various moving pieces in the city and dreams of someday leaving behind this life. Dojan is a spoilt prince whose life intertwines with that of Nimsah and sets into motion a series of events that can result in war or worse.
The story is comprised of two timelines. The past timeline outlines Nimsah’s life as a child in the streets of Bengarath. The present timeline is from Dojan’s point of view as he gets embroiled in a political struggle between neighbouring city states. What drives the story forward is the incident that bound Nimsah' and Dojan together when they were children and therefore dictates their fate. The story slowly reveals what happened between them all those years ago that leads to vengeance of a quiet kind.
Hardie has done the impossible in this book. He has made me care about political machinations in this book which I usually find dull. I'm more of a stabby stab stab person and find extensive talks about war and politics a bit boring. This book proved that I can like political intrigue if it's done a certain way. We are introduced to the conversation about war in the neighbouring city state of Kandarah from the pov of Dojan, who isn't aware of the details and nuances of the conversation. Through his eyes we are slowly introduced to the intricacies of the conflict and Hardie deftly pulls back the layers to present to us the meat of the problem. I was thoroughly engaged throughout the meetings and negotiations and found the entire affair fascinating. Also, there was so much heart woven into the story, it made you care for the people and left you unsure as to what was the right thing to do
Speaking of heart, let's talk about our star of the show- Nimsah. We see a young Nimsah growing up in the streets of Bengarath and fighting her own fights to survive. Nimsah has a talent for picking up information for her master and is therefore exploited by the crime lord to increase his influence. Nimsah strikes up a friendship with the widow Fenara in the market and finds warmth and comfort in her company. The difference between the two worlds is striking and although Nimsah wants a simple life with Fenara, she is also fiercely loyal to Farooq, the crime lord. Nimsah’s chapters alternate between wholesome scenes with Fenara to often violent and gruesome scenes with Farooq and his gang. Nimsah is resourceful, practical and clever- attributes that make her stand out in the eyes of Farooq. Which is a dangerous thing because Farooq will never let someone as useful as Nimsah leave.
The story is a quiet story full of thoughtful character work and intriguing political maneuvering. As we proceed, things become increasingly complex, both emotionally and politically. The inciting event that links Nimsah to Dojan is impactful, sad and infuriating. The twists and turns in the last third of the book will leave you breathless and shocked.
The world building kind of left me wanting but that might be because I haven't read the other series by Hardie which is set in the same world. This is a world in the aftermath of a terrifying God war and that has shaped the world. I wish we got more information on the God war and what led to it.
The book is first in a series of standalones in the same world and therefore has a few loose threads at the end. The story is overall a coming of age story of Nimsah and a story of how revenge is best served cold. It's a wonderful story full of heart and you should definitely give it a try, even if you don't like political fantasy like me.
A Quiet Vengeance is one of a series of standalones in a new series by Tim Hardie called Samarak Tales. It is set in the world of Amuran, the same world as Hardie's other series. The book is set on a different continent and you don't need to read Brotherhood of the Eagle first to read A Quiet Vengeance. I went into A Quiet Vengeance completely blind, without having read anything by Hardie before and I was left utterly spellbound!
The story follows Nimsah, a street urchin in the city of Bengarath and Dojan, the Crown Prince of the emirate of Fujareen. Nimsah works for a local crime boss to gather important information about the various moving pieces in the city and dreams of someday leaving behind this life. Dojan is a spoilt prince whose life intertwines with that of Nimsah and sets into motion a series of events that can result in war or worse.
The story is comprised of two timelines. The past timeline outlines Nimsah’s life as a child in the streets of Bengarath. The present timeline is from Dojan’s point of view as he gets embroiled in a political struggle between neighbouring city states. What drives the story forward is the incident that bound Nimsah' and Dojan together when they were children and therefore dictates their fate. The story slowly reveals what happened between them all those years ago that leads to vengeance of a quiet kind.
Hardie has done the impossible in this book. He has made me care about political machinations in this book which I usually find dull. I'm more of a stabby stab stab person and find extensive talks about war and politics a bit boring. This book proved that I can like political intrigue if it's done a certain way. We are introduced to the conversation about war in the neighbouring city state of Kandarah from the pov of Dojan, who isn't aware of the details and nuances of the conversation. Through his eyes we are slowly introduced to the intricacies of the conflict and Hardie deftly pulls back the layers to present to us the meat of the problem. I was thoroughly engaged throughout the meetings and negotiations and found the entire affair fascinating. Also, there was so much heart woven into the story, it made you care for the people and left you unsure as to what was the right thing to do
Speaking of heart, let's talk about our star of the show- Nimsah. We see a young Nimsah growing up in the streets of Bengarath and fighting her own fights to survive. Nimsah has a talent for picking up information for her master and is therefore exploited by the crime lord to increase his influence. Nimsah strikes up a friendship with the widow Fenara in the market and finds warmth and comfort in her company. The difference between the two worlds is striking and although Nimsah wants a simple life with Fenara, she is also fiercely loyal to Farooq, the crime lord. Nimsah’s chapters alternate between wholesome scenes with Fenara to often violent and gruesome scenes with Farooq and his gang. Nimsah is resourceful, practical and clever- attributes that make her stand out in the eyes of Farooq. Which is a dangerous thing because Farooq will never let someone as useful as Nimsah leave.
The story is a quiet story full of thoughtful character work and intriguing political maneuvering. As we proceed, things become increasingly complex, both emotionally and politically. The inciting event that links Nimsah to Dojan is impactful, sad and infuriating. The twists and turns in the last third of the book will leave you breathless and shocked.
The world building kind of left me wanting but that might be because I haven't read the other series by Hardie which is set in the same world. This is a world in the aftermath of a terrifying God war and that has shaped the world. I wish we got more information on the God war and what led to it.
The book is first in a series of standalones in the same world and therefore has a few loose threads at the end. The story is overall a coming of age story of Nimsah and a story of how revenge is best served cold. It's a wonderful story full of heart and you should definitely give it a try, even if you don't like political fantasy like me.
April 13, 2023
I had read Tim Hardie’s other book Hall of Bones for spfbo, and was impressed with that story- enough that I wanted to continue on with the series. But life has gotten in the way as it tends to do, and here I am still not having finished the Brotherhood of the Eagle series, when lo and behold- a new shiny book from Tim began circulating twitter, and I knew I had to read this one too (especially after hearing Bjorn Larssen, sing its praises).
The fact that it’s totally separate from the other series while still residing in the same world, meant that I could jump in without any qualms about spoilers. Thank you to Tim Hardie for the ARC of A Quiet Vengeance and also your patience with me still not having read Sundered Souls.
Anyway, enough with the disclaimers and on with the review!
*
A Quiet Vengeance is not a big battle-filled sprawling fantasy. Though the world is large and political intrigue is center- the story itself is a smaller-focussed, character-oriented piece with far-reaching ripples, that alternates the two pov’s. between the past and the present, with around a fourteen-year jump between them.
The characters-
There are quite a few that are noteworthy (I especially loved Fenara, Jandral and Quizar) but I’m going to talk about the two leads only.
Nimsah is smart and adaptable. A street child of the tents, most of her story unfolds in the past and I found those chapters absolutely engrossing. Even though we meet her in the now time, and we know she gets out of that life- that journey wasn’t lessened by the knowledge (I had so much anxiety over her run through the streets to meet Jandral).
Nimsah as an adult, represents the Bank of Illesh- the biggest money lenders around and with a well-earned, scary reputation. You don’t want to get on their wrong-side because their influence stretches far and wide, and they can break countries with it.
There was something about Nimsah that captured my attention and kept it. I never once doubted her capabilities in the position she has with the Bank of Illesh. She has a hard edge to her, even as a child.
But she still manages to have a softness that allows her to be approachable- which is such a tricky thing to balance in a character- without teetering into unlikeable, or just plain old gullible. There are a lot of great capable women characters out there, but not all of them have endeared me to them, like Nimsah has done.
Dojan, the crown prince, is a bit of a laze-about. He, at first, seems a bit bland and uninteresting. He has no goals and is a bit spoiled. The most curious thing about him in the beginning is how he and someone like Nimsah, could possibly have met in the past.
That is until his father sends him on a mission to Kandarrah with a delegation to help negotiate between the tribes over a safe passage route to Amonduras- a city that was long ago cut off from everyone do to the poisonous swamps and jungle surrounding it.
Then we get to know more about Dojan, and we see that given the opportunity, he is ready to be more than the careless prince. He is honorable and isn’t going to be bullied into just following what he is told.
His naivety is rather endearing- though likely to get him killed. Luckily, he is a quick-study.
*
I enjoyed the split-timeline for several reasons.
Nimsah’s chapters felt a little faster in pacing, mostly I think because the focus was smaller with fewer characters to keep track of (plus Nimsah is just amazing, and I just couldn’t get enough of her).
But they also helped balanced out the politics and character-heavy chapters of the present time with Dojan.
This went a long way in keeping the pacing steady, and flowing nicely, until the present reached a point that we were familiar with the goings on in the world and there wasn’t so much heavy-lifting involved in reading them. If that makes sense.
I’m staying away from too many details about the plot. It’s heavily-tied to the characters stories and I don’t want to spoil anything important.
*
The setting and magic are low fantasy. The world is recovering after a huge war, and society collapse. There is sight magic (a mind reader type of thing) and among other things- mentions of ancient casket of an unknown fading power, that are used to power the city, and the hopes of rekindling its source. There is just enough of this to explain how things work now, without pulling the story down with lots of exposition explaining how it all came about. Which was more than fine by me.
*
TLDR:
A Quiet Vengeance weaves a tightly-plotted and layered, political fantasy which excels at revealing the long game- while still keeping it all about these two characters whose lives have intersected over the years. It’s incredible story and the characters steal the show. I can’t sing its praises enough and hope Nimsah and Dojan will worm their way into others hearts as quickly as they did mine..
Other thoughts-
Fans of Richard Nell’s Ash and Sand, or William Ray’s Tales of Verin might appreciate A Quiet Vengeance.
4.5
The fact that it’s totally separate from the other series while still residing in the same world, meant that I could jump in without any qualms about spoilers. Thank you to Tim Hardie for the ARC of A Quiet Vengeance and also your patience with me still not having read Sundered Souls.
Anyway, enough with the disclaimers and on with the review!
*
A Quiet Vengeance is not a big battle-filled sprawling fantasy. Though the world is large and political intrigue is center- the story itself is a smaller-focussed, character-oriented piece with far-reaching ripples, that alternates the two pov’s. between the past and the present, with around a fourteen-year jump between them.
The characters-
There are quite a few that are noteworthy (I especially loved Fenara, Jandral and Quizar) but I’m going to talk about the two leads only.
Nimsah is smart and adaptable. A street child of the tents, most of her story unfolds in the past and I found those chapters absolutely engrossing. Even though we meet her in the now time, and we know she gets out of that life- that journey wasn’t lessened by the knowledge (I had so much anxiety over her run through the streets to meet Jandral).
Nimsah as an adult, represents the Bank of Illesh- the biggest money lenders around and with a well-earned, scary reputation. You don’t want to get on their wrong-side because their influence stretches far and wide, and they can break countries with it.
There was something about Nimsah that captured my attention and kept it. I never once doubted her capabilities in the position she has with the Bank of Illesh. She has a hard edge to her, even as a child.
But she still manages to have a softness that allows her to be approachable- which is such a tricky thing to balance in a character- without teetering into unlikeable, or just plain old gullible. There are a lot of great capable women characters out there, but not all of them have endeared me to them, like Nimsah has done.
Dojan, the crown prince, is a bit of a laze-about. He, at first, seems a bit bland and uninteresting. He has no goals and is a bit spoiled. The most curious thing about him in the beginning is how he and someone like Nimsah, could possibly have met in the past.
That is until his father sends him on a mission to Kandarrah with a delegation to help negotiate between the tribes over a safe passage route to Amonduras- a city that was long ago cut off from everyone do to the poisonous swamps and jungle surrounding it.
Then we get to know more about Dojan, and we see that given the opportunity, he is ready to be more than the careless prince. He is honorable and isn’t going to be bullied into just following what he is told.
His naivety is rather endearing- though likely to get him killed. Luckily, he is a quick-study.
*
I enjoyed the split-timeline for several reasons.
Nimsah’s chapters felt a little faster in pacing, mostly I think because the focus was smaller with fewer characters to keep track of (plus Nimsah is just amazing, and I just couldn’t get enough of her).
But they also helped balanced out the politics and character-heavy chapters of the present time with Dojan.
This went a long way in keeping the pacing steady, and flowing nicely, until the present reached a point that we were familiar with the goings on in the world and there wasn’t so much heavy-lifting involved in reading them. If that makes sense.
I’m staying away from too many details about the plot. It’s heavily-tied to the characters stories and I don’t want to spoil anything important.
*
The setting and magic are low fantasy. The world is recovering after a huge war, and society collapse. There is sight magic (a mind reader type of thing) and among other things- mentions of ancient casket of an unknown fading power, that are used to power the city, and the hopes of rekindling its source. There is just enough of this to explain how things work now, without pulling the story down with lots of exposition explaining how it all came about. Which was more than fine by me.
*
TLDR:
A Quiet Vengeance weaves a tightly-plotted and layered, political fantasy which excels at revealing the long game- while still keeping it all about these two characters whose lives have intersected over the years. It’s incredible story and the characters steal the show. I can’t sing its praises enough and hope Nimsah and Dojan will worm their way into others hearts as quickly as they did mine..
Other thoughts-
Fans of Richard Nell’s Ash and Sand, or William Ray’s Tales of Verin might appreciate A Quiet Vengeance.
4.5
March 2, 2023
A Quiet Vengeance
I was fortunately given the opportunity to pick up this book as an ARC, directly from the author.
I had recently finished reading book 1 to 3 of The Brotherhood of the Eagle series and was desperately excited to read more from this author.
I went into AQV with an expectation I would get more swashbuckling fighting, Nordic themes and some intrinsically linked magic flowing through the world. That isn’t what this book is about and that is the first thing that blew me away. Hardie delivers in this book, something that is so different to his other series, that’s it was at times difficult to believe it was the same author. The good news, is that I would 100% percent subscribe to everything these “different” authors would ever commit to paper. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you see it) for Hardie, hes one author and that means I am now a fully fledged fan and will be ready to read everything he produces.
AQV is set in the same world as Hardie’s other books, but on a different continent and timeline. We are transported into the Empire of Fujareen and the political intrigue of the empire and the surrounding cities, tribes and kingdoms.
The story is told through two POV’s – Nimsah a street child who lives within the City of Tents in the outskirts of Fujareen and Crown Prince Dojan – Al-Haraq , the eldest son of Emir Haraq (ruler of Fujareen) and heir to the empire.
These two main POV stories are entangled from an early age despite their completely opposing backgrounds and opportunities. This entanglement drives the structure of the book, with the story itself split between events happening within the empire at present day and details of Nimsah’s childhood and events 15 years before .
I adore Nimsah as a character and she is written with the depth and consideration of emotions, that only the likes of Robin Hobb and George RR Martin have ever managed to accomplish for me personally. I felt for Nimsah, I believed in Nimsah and I hoped for Nimsah. Her journey through the 300 plus pages was the absolute highlight for me. I was totally infatuated with the way she battled against all odds, to become something she was always destined to be.
Dojan, our other POV was a more conflicting character. At times I found him whiney, whingey and a little insufferable. Normally that’s a turn off to a character. However in this story, it makes sense. Dojan is an entitled prince who has been treated as such, through his entire life. Hardie again shows his incredible ability to transform you through Dojan’s life events to a position where you are hoping for the best outcomes for him.
The character writing in this book, really did land for me. Anyone who knows me and discusses books with me via discords and twitter, will know my enjoyment of a story is normally driven by how connected I become to the characters. This book completely nails that.
The main element of the story is the political intrigue of the empire. This gives you those GoT vibes with the position of not knowing who to trust, who’s lying, who’s pulling the strings. I really liked that this was not super complex with 100s of characters with similar sounding names (Martin, I am looking at you) but complex enough, that it was impossible until the reveals throughout the book, to know what was going to happen next.
The pacing of the story might not be to everyone’s taste. I have noticed recently a lot of people want Wham, Bam, Action on every page. That is not what this book is about. It’s a journey in which you
understand the decisions people make, due to the events that take part around and to them. I actually found that this makes the story considerably more believable and impactful
This book is a winner for me. Its an imaginative, splendidly layered story with compelling and captivating characters, set in a remarkably believable world setting. I was drawn in and I envisioned every word, sword strike and emotion in my minds eye
I was fortunately given the opportunity to pick up this book as an ARC, directly from the author.
I had recently finished reading book 1 to 3 of The Brotherhood of the Eagle series and was desperately excited to read more from this author.
I went into AQV with an expectation I would get more swashbuckling fighting, Nordic themes and some intrinsically linked magic flowing through the world. That isn’t what this book is about and that is the first thing that blew me away. Hardie delivers in this book, something that is so different to his other series, that’s it was at times difficult to believe it was the same author. The good news, is that I would 100% percent subscribe to everything these “different” authors would ever commit to paper. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you see it) for Hardie, hes one author and that means I am now a fully fledged fan and will be ready to read everything he produces.
AQV is set in the same world as Hardie’s other books, but on a different continent and timeline. We are transported into the Empire of Fujareen and the political intrigue of the empire and the surrounding cities, tribes and kingdoms.
The story is told through two POV’s – Nimsah a street child who lives within the City of Tents in the outskirts of Fujareen and Crown Prince Dojan – Al-Haraq , the eldest son of Emir Haraq (ruler of Fujareen) and heir to the empire.
These two main POV stories are entangled from an early age despite their completely opposing backgrounds and opportunities. This entanglement drives the structure of the book, with the story itself split between events happening within the empire at present day and details of Nimsah’s childhood and events 15 years before .
I adore Nimsah as a character and she is written with the depth and consideration of emotions, that only the likes of Robin Hobb and George RR Martin have ever managed to accomplish for me personally. I felt for Nimsah, I believed in Nimsah and I hoped for Nimsah. Her journey through the 300 plus pages was the absolute highlight for me. I was totally infatuated with the way she battled against all odds, to become something she was always destined to be.
Dojan, our other POV was a more conflicting character. At times I found him whiney, whingey and a little insufferable. Normally that’s a turn off to a character. However in this story, it makes sense. Dojan is an entitled prince who has been treated as such, through his entire life. Hardie again shows his incredible ability to transform you through Dojan’s life events to a position where you are hoping for the best outcomes for him.
The character writing in this book, really did land for me. Anyone who knows me and discusses books with me via discords and twitter, will know my enjoyment of a story is normally driven by how connected I become to the characters. This book completely nails that.
The main element of the story is the political intrigue of the empire. This gives you those GoT vibes with the position of not knowing who to trust, who’s lying, who’s pulling the strings. I really liked that this was not super complex with 100s of characters with similar sounding names (Martin, I am looking at you) but complex enough, that it was impossible until the reveals throughout the book, to know what was going to happen next.
The pacing of the story might not be to everyone’s taste. I have noticed recently a lot of people want Wham, Bam, Action on every page. That is not what this book is about. It’s a journey in which you
understand the decisions people make, due to the events that take part around and to them. I actually found that this makes the story considerably more believable and impactful
This book is a winner for me. Its an imaginative, splendidly layered story with compelling and captivating characters, set in a remarkably believable world setting. I was drawn in and I envisioned every word, sword strike and emotion in my minds eye
March 15, 2023
AHHHHH, this book is SOOOO GOOD! The character work was incredible, the politics were perfection, the world building was rich and the writing was extremely well executed.
I’ve been a fan of Tim’s writing for a while, having read the first two books in his other trilogy, but there’s something about this book that hits different. It’s much more character focussed and the writing seems sharper, which just goes to show his growth as a writer.
I also loved the backdrop of this book, being influenced by Middle Eastern (and potentially, South Asian?) cultures. We all know I love non-Western fantasy and I’m always on my hunt for my next favourite one. This one definitely fits the bill. The world felt authentic and real. I always have doubts when someone who doesn’t directly come from those cultures attempts to write about them but Tim did it justice. I felt a deep sense of respect for those cultures and I suspect he did a lot of research, which can be felt in the book.
There’s so much more I loved but I’ll go into more detail in my YT review, which I’ll aim to film and release in the coming weeks.
This has to be one of my favourite books of 2023 so far. The fact that I have been dying to read it at the end of each day goes to show how much I loved it. Phenomenal work. I can’t wait to read the next standalone in this world.
Thanks Tim, for giving me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been a fan of Tim’s writing for a while, having read the first two books in his other trilogy, but there’s something about this book that hits different. It’s much more character focussed and the writing seems sharper, which just goes to show his growth as a writer.
I also loved the backdrop of this book, being influenced by Middle Eastern (and potentially, South Asian?) cultures. We all know I love non-Western fantasy and I’m always on my hunt for my next favourite one. This one definitely fits the bill. The world felt authentic and real. I always have doubts when someone who doesn’t directly come from those cultures attempts to write about them but Tim did it justice. I felt a deep sense of respect for those cultures and I suspect he did a lot of research, which can be felt in the book.
There’s so much more I loved but I’ll go into more detail in my YT review, which I’ll aim to film and release in the coming weeks.
This has to be one of my favourite books of 2023 so far. The fact that I have been dying to read it at the end of each day goes to show how much I loved it. Phenomenal work. I can’t wait to read the next standalone in this world.
Thanks Tim, for giving me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
April 12, 2024 Price Drop!
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.99 on Kindle April 12, 2024
June 12, 2023
This was my first time I read a book by Tim Hardie. I did not know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. What a fantastic book! Tim makes writing look easy, it all felt so balanced and compact. The characters really come to life and the world building is superb. The main 2 characters, Crown Prince Dojan and Nimsah, the street urchin, are very interesting. Prince Dojan is spoiled and doesn't do much with his life until he is sent on a mission by his father.
"Your father wanted to give you the chance to be a man, Ulan hissed. "do you know what they call you around the palace? The idle prince. What qualities do you possess, other than the happy accident of your birth, that places you next in line? Adina is more charming, Saraj a promising warrior and Beneth a gifted student. Compared with your siblings, what are your notable qualities, Crown Prince?"
We see Dojan change into a thoughtful and compassionate man. Nimsah on the other hand always knew her own worth and the path she takes is something she has always dreamt of.
I really appreciated that Tim points out at the beginning of the book that there is a character list and a glossary at the back of the book.
I loved this book from the start and couldn't put it down. I loved it so much that I definitely will check Tim's other books out.
Well done Tim!
"Your father wanted to give you the chance to be a man, Ulan hissed. "do you know what they call you around the palace? The idle prince. What qualities do you possess, other than the happy accident of your birth, that places you next in line? Adina is more charming, Saraj a promising warrior and Beneth a gifted student. Compared with your siblings, what are your notable qualities, Crown Prince?"
We see Dojan change into a thoughtful and compassionate man. Nimsah on the other hand always knew her own worth and the path she takes is something she has always dreamt of.
I really appreciated that Tim points out at the beginning of the book that there is a character list and a glossary at the back of the book.
I loved this book from the start and couldn't put it down. I loved it so much that I definitely will check Tim's other books out.
Well done Tim!
June 9, 2023
I really enjoyed how fast the author got me into the story and kept me there to the bitter end. The characters are superb, dialogue, perfect, story, winding.
If I had to criticise: at the beginning I got really confused as there were two different timelines going on and I didn't pick up how it fit together. Later, a reference to a past event was made but I thought I had missed something until a chapter or two later.
There's a lot of names, a ton of world, and I would have liked a bit more description. At times I was a bit white spaced. But that could just be me.
An excellent story. Bravo to the author
If I had to criticise: at the beginning I got really confused as there were two different timelines going on and I didn't pick up how it fit together. Later, a reference to a past event was made but I thought I had missed something until a chapter or two later.
There's a lot of names, a ton of world, and I would have liked a bit more description. At times I was a bit white spaced. But that could just be me.
An excellent story. Bravo to the author
March 2, 2023
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of ‘A Quiet Vengeance’ in exchange for an honest review.
Tim Hardie’s fantasy world, Amuran, has had me hooked since he initially explored the lands of Laskar in his Viking-inspired dark fantasy, ‘The Brotherhood of the Eagle’. ‘A Quiet Vengeance’ takes the reader to Arabian-inspired Samarakand, another part of Amuran, in a different kind of tale. Expect less war and more political, personal and criminal machination among the high and low born.
This is the story of Nimsah, originally an urchin with murky connections from the City of Tents, and Dojan, the Crown Prince of Bengarath, whose worth and skills have yet to be determined when he is thrown into the spotlight on the world stage. Aladdin, this is not, belying the street-rat/royalty dynamic in a desert setting.
Through dual timelines, the reader spends time with the characters as both children and adults. AQV is an intimate examination of their intersecting lives until they eventually reunite to navigate a tense political situation while under many kinds of threats in a part of the world in which arcane power is used more commonly and overtly than it is by the clans of Laskar. Dojan’s father’s rule may be at risk, and as for Nimsah, who knows what she truly desires?
‘A Quiet Vengeance’ is a mix of nostalgic, cutthroat, homely, brutal, familial, political, cynical and naive. I tore through ‘A Quiet Vengeance’, eating up the political plot and enjoying the flashbacks to the characters’ childhood years. I became fond of the adult characters through their younger years.
Fans of ‘The Brotherhood of the Eagle’ will enjoy exploring more of Amuran and seeing some of the abilities featured in the original series, but from a different angle. ‘A Quiet Vengeance’ not only had me geeking out about Easter eggs and connections to the TBotE, but kept me invested in its own right, which is impressive when you consider AQV has such a different setting with no crossover characters. Hardie has successfully fostered trust and created connection between author and reader, so that the fog is clearing over what feels like a newly discovered world. I care about what happens in Amuran, no matter to whom or on which continent.
Hardie has a talent for producing solidly-written, well-structured stories that evoke belief in the work, as well as affection and fear for his characters. The plot tears along at a good pace, pulling the reader with it. It’s a cliche, but ‘unputdownable’ comes to mind.
When I pick up a Tim Hardie book, I don’t think ‘let’s see what he’s written now’, but ‘what happened next?’ There’s a difference, and it’s important. It suggests storytelling of a quality that allows me to forget I’m reading fiction.
What’s going to happen next?
Tim Hardie’s fantasy world, Amuran, has had me hooked since he initially explored the lands of Laskar in his Viking-inspired dark fantasy, ‘The Brotherhood of the Eagle’. ‘A Quiet Vengeance’ takes the reader to Arabian-inspired Samarakand, another part of Amuran, in a different kind of tale. Expect less war and more political, personal and criminal machination among the high and low born.
This is the story of Nimsah, originally an urchin with murky connections from the City of Tents, and Dojan, the Crown Prince of Bengarath, whose worth and skills have yet to be determined when he is thrown into the spotlight on the world stage. Aladdin, this is not, belying the street-rat/royalty dynamic in a desert setting.
Through dual timelines, the reader spends time with the characters as both children and adults. AQV is an intimate examination of their intersecting lives until they eventually reunite to navigate a tense political situation while under many kinds of threats in a part of the world in which arcane power is used more commonly and overtly than it is by the clans of Laskar. Dojan’s father’s rule may be at risk, and as for Nimsah, who knows what she truly desires?
‘A Quiet Vengeance’ is a mix of nostalgic, cutthroat, homely, brutal, familial, political, cynical and naive. I tore through ‘A Quiet Vengeance’, eating up the political plot and enjoying the flashbacks to the characters’ childhood years. I became fond of the adult characters through their younger years.
Fans of ‘The Brotherhood of the Eagle’ will enjoy exploring more of Amuran and seeing some of the abilities featured in the original series, but from a different angle. ‘A Quiet Vengeance’ not only had me geeking out about Easter eggs and connections to the TBotE, but kept me invested in its own right, which is impressive when you consider AQV has such a different setting with no crossover characters. Hardie has successfully fostered trust and created connection between author and reader, so that the fog is clearing over what feels like a newly discovered world. I care about what happens in Amuran, no matter to whom or on which continent.
Hardie has a talent for producing solidly-written, well-structured stories that evoke belief in the work, as well as affection and fear for his characters. The plot tears along at a good pace, pulling the reader with it. It’s a cliche, but ‘unputdownable’ comes to mind.
When I pick up a Tim Hardie book, I don’t think ‘let’s see what he’s written now’, but ‘what happened next?’ There’s a difference, and it’s important. It suggests storytelling of a quality that allows me to forget I’m reading fiction.
What’s going to happen next?
March 26, 2023
Set in the same deep fantasy world as the Brotherhood of the Eagle series, A Quiet Vengeance takes place in a Middle Eastern inspired society of feuding Emirates, disciplined warriors, magic-wielders, a lost city of riches, and enough deep lore to fill your boots with.
The characters are so vividly developed that you eventually feel as though you know them and they always act in ways that you can understand. Even when they act foolishly or unexpectedly there were clear reasons why. In some instances, their pride or desires would get the best of them, in others, it was the yearning for a moment of respite or enjoyment from a cruel and harsh reality.
Nimsah, one of the two MCs is a complex, streewise young girl hardened while battling for survival on the unforgiving streets of the City of Tents. What I loved most about her is that despite growing up around calloused killers, she recognises the dangers of letting that life swallow her, and she forces herself to remain in touch with her softer, caring side else she’ll lose her humanity. Whether caring for another orphan, doing honest work making wicker baskets at the markets, or taking risks on account of the young Crown Prince, Dojan for whom she has a fond history with.
Hardie sets up a powder keg of tenuous political relationships that seems set to explode at any minute, both at the individual and the geopolitical level. It was the case with the Brotherhood of the Eagle series and it’s very much the same here. You get the feeling things could go South for the characters at any second and they must make hard choices to serve their own self-interests and keep themselves and their people alive. The stakes couldn’t be higher and it makes for a thrilling read.
Love this book and can’t wait to read more about this deep, varied and intriguing world.
The characters are so vividly developed that you eventually feel as though you know them and they always act in ways that you can understand. Even when they act foolishly or unexpectedly there were clear reasons why. In some instances, their pride or desires would get the best of them, in others, it was the yearning for a moment of respite or enjoyment from a cruel and harsh reality.
Nimsah, one of the two MCs is a complex, streewise young girl hardened while battling for survival on the unforgiving streets of the City of Tents. What I loved most about her is that despite growing up around calloused killers, she recognises the dangers of letting that life swallow her, and she forces herself to remain in touch with her softer, caring side else she’ll lose her humanity. Whether caring for another orphan, doing honest work making wicker baskets at the markets, or taking risks on account of the young Crown Prince, Dojan for whom she has a fond history with.
Hardie sets up a powder keg of tenuous political relationships that seems set to explode at any minute, both at the individual and the geopolitical level. It was the case with the Brotherhood of the Eagle series and it’s very much the same here. You get the feeling things could go South for the characters at any second and they must make hard choices to serve their own self-interests and keep themselves and their people alive. The stakes couldn’t be higher and it makes for a thrilling read.
Love this book and can’t wait to read more about this deep, varied and intriguing world.
March 26, 2023
Hardie writes characters that stay with you, that you root for and cry for. You feel their hurts and their pain. You also experience their wins and rejoice right alongside of them.
All of this in a non-Anglo world that Hardie brings to life right before your eyes.
I am already a fan of Hardie’s writing and so was given an ARC.
Am I biased?
Well somewhat, but I would also say that I had quite high expectations for him to meet.
Hardie was a finalist in the SPFBO last year, beating out many other authors to win this place with his last series, quite deservedly!
I found this book an easier read as we were closely following the two main characters.
Is it better than Hall of Bones? I don’t know, because it’s quite different.
Is it as good? Definitely!
All of this in a non-Anglo world that Hardie brings to life right before your eyes.
I am already a fan of Hardie’s writing and so was given an ARC.
Am I biased?
Well somewhat, but I would also say that I had quite high expectations for him to meet.
Hardie was a finalist in the SPFBO last year, beating out many other authors to win this place with his last series, quite deservedly!
I found this book an easier read as we were closely following the two main characters.
Is it better than Hall of Bones? I don’t know, because it’s quite different.
Is it as good? Definitely!
July 15, 2023
Two timelines are interwoven chapter by chapter showing how our two POV’s life’s interconnect to great effect. One a Crown Prince and one a street girl; two very different backgrounds.
The story and characters are great, fast paced and engaging. What made me waver between a three and four star rating was all the similar names, titles, places; it made it hard to follow at times because it’s so fast paced. The character list and glossary are at the back of the book rather than the front, reading on ebook I wasn’t aware they were there until the end.
The story and characters are great, fast paced and engaging. What made me waver between a three and four star rating was all the similar names, titles, places; it made it hard to follow at times because it’s so fast paced. The character list and glossary are at the back of the book rather than the front, reading on ebook I wasn’t aware they were there until the end.
April 19, 2023
Wow. I'm not a huge fan of political intrigue, but this story gripped me from the beginning and never let me go. Fantastic characters and settings, smart dialogue, and excellent storytelling. It left me wanting more - so I am eagerly awaiting the next in this new series.
May 3, 2024
Excellent
One of the best fantasy novels I've read for a long time.
The politics and world building is excellent, engaging characters with consistent and understandable motivations. Highly recommended
One of the best fantasy novels I've read for a long time.
The politics and world building is excellent, engaging characters with consistent and understandable motivations. Highly recommended
Want to read
February 13, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
A girl weaves baskets with an old woman at the bazar, and then gives the money to the young headman of the city's poor, tent district.
This has wonderfully competent, rock solid prose that immerses me in the world of the story. The Arabian-inspired setting is richly described. The air is redolent with spices.
This has a slow beginning, taking its time to draw a portrait of our not-quite-teenage MC living her ordinary life. She is poor, but she does not seem hardened by it. The tone is not grim. She laughs and goes about her business.
The dialogue serves to illustrate her character, and is natural and absorbing. There is no significant conflict as yet, but there is some allusion to our headman of the tent city being no good.
Furthermore, our MC is essentially offered a home by our basket weaver, but she doesn’t take it. She does not feel her poverty and does not feel she is in need of saving. That’s interesting.
I am left scratching my head over the prologue, which seems to do much to little. A boy meets his baby brother, both of them children of the wife of the emir, and he isn’t excited about it. The baby mews and wiggles. There isn’t much to it. It hardly seems important.
2 years later, the story starts in ch1, which is clearly going somewhere. Both are written with the same utter competence, however. I especially appreciated the readiness with which ch1 told me things about the characters and setting. Superbly done.
This is pleasant to read, reminding me of the Lies of Lock Lamora, only I feel it feels more original. The MC is youthful and sincere. The setting is unique and well rendered. I’ve got the quiet part. Whence comes the vengeance? I’m in!
A girl weaves baskets with an old woman at the bazar, and then gives the money to the young headman of the city's poor, tent district.
This has wonderfully competent, rock solid prose that immerses me in the world of the story. The Arabian-inspired setting is richly described. The air is redolent with spices.
This has a slow beginning, taking its time to draw a portrait of our not-quite-teenage MC living her ordinary life. She is poor, but she does not seem hardened by it. The tone is not grim. She laughs and goes about her business.
The dialogue serves to illustrate her character, and is natural and absorbing. There is no significant conflict as yet, but there is some allusion to our headman of the tent city being no good.
Furthermore, our MC is essentially offered a home by our basket weaver, but she doesn’t take it. She does not feel her poverty and does not feel she is in need of saving. That’s interesting.
I am left scratching my head over the prologue, which seems to do much to little. A boy meets his baby brother, both of them children of the wife of the emir, and he isn’t excited about it. The baby mews and wiggles. There isn’t much to it. It hardly seems important.
2 years later, the story starts in ch1, which is clearly going somewhere. Both are written with the same utter competence, however. I especially appreciated the readiness with which ch1 told me things about the characters and setting. Superbly done.
This is pleasant to read, reminding me of the Lies of Lock Lamora, only I feel it feels more original. The MC is youthful and sincere. The setting is unique and well rendered. I’ve got the quiet part. Whence comes the vengeance? I’m in!
May 14, 2023
This book is exactly the kind of exciting I was looking for. The storyline is amazing, a well thought out and written story with depth, complex characters, enough fantasy elements, amazing world building as well as good pacing of the storyline. The writing in itself is also amazing and pulls you into the story, which makes it even easier to get into and a much more enjoyable read.
If you enjoy different POV's and past to present chapters, this is definitely for you!
The only minus point regarding this book for me is the back and forth from the past-present between chapters. Because the chapter pulls you into that flow that keeps you at the edge of your seat, you want to keep reading and reading. But because of switching, it takes you out of that flow and out of the story, to have to adept and get into it all over again.
I would have preferred the 'past' chapters leading up to the present, because that way I would have been pulled in from start till end without missing the depth that I did now, merely because of the switching from every chapter pulling me out. I do have to say the story and characters are good enough that I kept going regardless, but I genuinely think the book would be much better in another order of those chapters, from past leading to present naturally.
There are great dynamics between characters, but I did miss a romance connection or a more in depth meaningful connection between friends, family or people who consider each other family.
If you enjoy different POV's and past to present chapters, this is definitely for you!
The only minus point regarding this book for me is the back and forth from the past-present between chapters. Because the chapter pulls you into that flow that keeps you at the edge of your seat, you want to keep reading and reading. But because of switching, it takes you out of that flow and out of the story, to have to adept and get into it all over again.
I would have preferred the 'past' chapters leading up to the present, because that way I would have been pulled in from start till end without missing the depth that I did now, merely because of the switching from every chapter pulling me out. I do have to say the story and characters are good enough that I kept going regardless, but I genuinely think the book would be much better in another order of those chapters, from past leading to present naturally.
There are great dynamics between characters, but I did miss a romance connection or a more in depth meaningful connection between friends, family or people who consider each other family.
April 18, 2023
*I recieved a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Review originally published at The Fantasy Review
Tim Hardie does it again with another political fantasy brimming with explosive moments, slow burn political intrigue, and jaw dropping twists.
A Quiet Vengeance tells the story of Dojan and Nimsah, former childhood friends who get embroiled in complex political maneuverings involving invading empires, powerful banks, and long lost magical cities. In a world inspired by West Asian cultures, while feeling completely original, this is a book that explores the interplay between politics and money, and their combined uncaring agenda of taking what they want. And what they want here is a long locked away magical power that can change the world.
A Quiet Vengeance is set in the same world as Hardie’s other series, The Brotherhood of the Eagle (starting with Hall of Bones), but it otherwise unconnected. The only significant amount of overlap that comes into play in this book is the magic system (“The Sight”), but magic plays a significantly smaller role in this book than it does in the Brotherhood of the Eagle series. The magic system might be slightly confusing to someone who is just jumping into Hardie’s world here because The Sight is not well-defined in A Quiet Vengeance, but it’s not a significant enough issue to ruin anyone’s enjoyment of the book.
The book is structured as a dual timeline narrative. In the “present day”, we follow Dojan, the Crown Prince of Fujareen, who is trying to prove to his father that he is a worthy successor to the Emirate. In the “past timeline” (set roughly a decade earlier), we follow Nimsah as a young girl living in the slums of Fujareen who we know (from Dojan’s chapters) becomes a high-ranking authority of an all-powerful bank. These dual timelines worked beautifully. Most of the time when books are structured like this, they are in service of some twist, “gotcha” moment, or other plot device. Now, the dual narratives in A Quiet Vengeance do have some plot-related consequences, but what I loved most was that Hardie used the two timelines in service of developing the characters. Nimsah is present in both timelines – as the POV character of one and as a side character in the other (although we do get her perspective for the current events late in the book). Therefore, what Hardie does so well is allows us as readers to get to Nimsah as a young girl, but then keeps her at arm’s length in the present timeline. Through Dojan’s eyes we only see her as the mysterious and powerful banker; the girl he once knew. We know who Nimsah was as a child, but we don’t quite know who she is now. It really makes Nimsah the best of both worlds – she’s the readers best friend and a total mystery. This is how you use dual narratives for full effect.
If there is one thing to know about Tim Hardie, it is that he loves a large cast of characters. The dramatis personae in this book is not nearly as extensive as his other series, but there are still a lot of named characters in this book. While I thought the extensive character roster in Brotherhood of the Eagle made that series a bit cumbersome at times, here Hardie has found the perfect Goldilocks spot. There are enough characters to make the world feel complete and the different political factions distinct and fully realized without being overwhelming. No individual side of the political conflict is overly demonized, and no one side of the conflict comes out looking great, which only works because of Hardie’s wonderfully complicated and layered character work. I recently recommended The Brotherhood of the Eagle for fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, but if this series keeps up the quality, the Samarak Tales might be my go to recommendation!
Tim Hardies also loves his complex politics, and A Quiet Vengeance comes through in spades. Fans of court politics will absolutely adore this book. There are lot of royal family infighting, international intrigue, and lots of scheming and plotting. This does mean that the book spends a significant amount of time with “people sitting around a room talking”; this book is far from action heavy or with characters doing things. Not a critique of the book itself, but this book won’t be for readers who like their plots to be action heavy or move swiftly. While I really enjoyed the pacing of the book, it is a political slow burn. Luckily, the Nimsah flashback chapters are a bit less political (although lots of intrigue here as well!) that nicely break up the tone/pace of the book.
And ooh yeah, once the book picks up in its final act it doesn’t let go. Betrayals, backstabbing, assassinations and more all fly at the reader as the political maneuverings of the early parts of the novel finally come to their full fruition. I always appreciate how Hardie structures his novels – he really appreciates the gradual and methodical place setting before completely ripping out the tablecloth and watching all of the plates come crashing down.
The other thing that readers should know is that the level of magic in this book is very low. I mentioned that the magic system for Hardie’s world is “The Sight”, which factors prominently into his previous trilogy and much less so here. I actually like the low magic feel of this particular book – the magical elements never game the political players an easy “out”, and yet the magic of this world was the main driver of everything going on in the novel. I guess I would compare it to CL Clark’s The Unbroken in that there is magic, but the focus is not on the magic (at least in this first book in the series).
Concluding Thoughts
An exciting low-fantasy novel full of court and political intrigue, Tim Hardie here shows readers another part of his ever expanding world. Nimsah in particular is a compelling character, and Hardie uses the dual timeline structure of the novel to both develop her while keeping her distant. The first half is a bit slow (but never plodding), and then the final act brings everything together in a jaw dropping climax. Whether you have read Hardie’s books before or not, this is a great read.
Review originally published at The Fantasy Review
Tim Hardie does it again with another political fantasy brimming with explosive moments, slow burn political intrigue, and jaw dropping twists.
A Quiet Vengeance tells the story of Dojan and Nimsah, former childhood friends who get embroiled in complex political maneuverings involving invading empires, powerful banks, and long lost magical cities. In a world inspired by West Asian cultures, while feeling completely original, this is a book that explores the interplay between politics and money, and their combined uncaring agenda of taking what they want. And what they want here is a long locked away magical power that can change the world.
A Quiet Vengeance is set in the same world as Hardie’s other series, The Brotherhood of the Eagle (starting with Hall of Bones), but it otherwise unconnected. The only significant amount of overlap that comes into play in this book is the magic system (“The Sight”), but magic plays a significantly smaller role in this book than it does in the Brotherhood of the Eagle series. The magic system might be slightly confusing to someone who is just jumping into Hardie’s world here because The Sight is not well-defined in A Quiet Vengeance, but it’s not a significant enough issue to ruin anyone’s enjoyment of the book.
The book is structured as a dual timeline narrative. In the “present day”, we follow Dojan, the Crown Prince of Fujareen, who is trying to prove to his father that he is a worthy successor to the Emirate. In the “past timeline” (set roughly a decade earlier), we follow Nimsah as a young girl living in the slums of Fujareen who we know (from Dojan’s chapters) becomes a high-ranking authority of an all-powerful bank. These dual timelines worked beautifully. Most of the time when books are structured like this, they are in service of some twist, “gotcha” moment, or other plot device. Now, the dual narratives in A Quiet Vengeance do have some plot-related consequences, but what I loved most was that Hardie used the two timelines in service of developing the characters. Nimsah is present in both timelines – as the POV character of one and as a side character in the other (although we do get her perspective for the current events late in the book). Therefore, what Hardie does so well is allows us as readers to get to Nimsah as a young girl, but then keeps her at arm’s length in the present timeline. Through Dojan’s eyes we only see her as the mysterious and powerful banker; the girl he once knew. We know who Nimsah was as a child, but we don’t quite know who she is now. It really makes Nimsah the best of both worlds – she’s the readers best friend and a total mystery. This is how you use dual narratives for full effect.
If there is one thing to know about Tim Hardie, it is that he loves a large cast of characters. The dramatis personae in this book is not nearly as extensive as his other series, but there are still a lot of named characters in this book. While I thought the extensive character roster in Brotherhood of the Eagle made that series a bit cumbersome at times, here Hardie has found the perfect Goldilocks spot. There are enough characters to make the world feel complete and the different political factions distinct and fully realized without being overwhelming. No individual side of the political conflict is overly demonized, and no one side of the conflict comes out looking great, which only works because of Hardie’s wonderfully complicated and layered character work. I recently recommended The Brotherhood of the Eagle for fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, but if this series keeps up the quality, the Samarak Tales might be my go to recommendation!
Tim Hardies also loves his complex politics, and A Quiet Vengeance comes through in spades. Fans of court politics will absolutely adore this book. There are lot of royal family infighting, international intrigue, and lots of scheming and plotting. This does mean that the book spends a significant amount of time with “people sitting around a room talking”; this book is far from action heavy or with characters doing things. Not a critique of the book itself, but this book won’t be for readers who like their plots to be action heavy or move swiftly. While I really enjoyed the pacing of the book, it is a political slow burn. Luckily, the Nimsah flashback chapters are a bit less political (although lots of intrigue here as well!) that nicely break up the tone/pace of the book.
And ooh yeah, once the book picks up in its final act it doesn’t let go. Betrayals, backstabbing, assassinations and more all fly at the reader as the political maneuverings of the early parts of the novel finally come to their full fruition. I always appreciate how Hardie structures his novels – he really appreciates the gradual and methodical place setting before completely ripping out the tablecloth and watching all of the plates come crashing down.
The other thing that readers should know is that the level of magic in this book is very low. I mentioned that the magic system for Hardie’s world is “The Sight”, which factors prominently into his previous trilogy and much less so here. I actually like the low magic feel of this particular book – the magical elements never game the political players an easy “out”, and yet the magic of this world was the main driver of everything going on in the novel. I guess I would compare it to CL Clark’s The Unbroken in that there is magic, but the focus is not on the magic (at least in this first book in the series).
Concluding Thoughts
An exciting low-fantasy novel full of court and political intrigue, Tim Hardie here shows readers another part of his ever expanding world. Nimsah in particular is a compelling character, and Hardie uses the dual timeline structure of the novel to both develop her while keeping her distant. The first half is a bit slow (but never plodding), and then the final act brings everything together in a jaw dropping climax. Whether you have read Hardie’s books before or not, this is a great read.
November 15, 2023
This is the story of Nimsah and Dojan, who live in the city of Bengarath, the capital of the Emirate of Fujareen.
Nimsah is a street kid, running errands for the gang leader of the tent city she lives in, and Dojan is the crown prince of Fujareen. Their lives intertwine in interesting ways throughout the story, as the neighboring city state of Kandarah has war looming.
Nimsah is an easy character to root for, so the story was easy to get into at first. The one problem I had with immersion is that each chapter is from not only a different point of view, but on a different timeline. Nimsah’s chapters take place in the past, when she and Dojan are children, and Dojan’s chapters take place in the present, when he and Nimsah are adults. Admittedly, this was really offputting at first, but once I got used to it, it was actually a really interesting way of seeing the story unfold.
The world has an interesting history with dragons, and while it wasn’t really detailed in this volume, I imagine that will become perhaps more and more relevant in future books.
The best thing about this one is that there was no forced romance between Nimsah and Dojan, and it was honestly a bit refreshing. I say that as someone who reads romance more or less the same amount as I read fantasy. I was waiting for it the e ntire novel, and in the end when they parted as no more than friends it was… surprising, shall we say.
So, in conclusion, the prose was nice, not too simplistic but not too dense, and the story was easy to get into for a few hours at a time. It wasn’t too long, in fact it felt just long enough for what it was. So, I give A Quiet Vengeance 7/10 stars.
Nimsah is a street kid, running errands for the gang leader of the tent city she lives in, and Dojan is the crown prince of Fujareen. Their lives intertwine in interesting ways throughout the story, as the neighboring city state of Kandarah has war looming.
Nimsah is an easy character to root for, so the story was easy to get into at first. The one problem I had with immersion is that each chapter is from not only a different point of view, but on a different timeline. Nimsah’s chapters take place in the past, when she and Dojan are children, and Dojan’s chapters take place in the present, when he and Nimsah are adults. Admittedly, this was really offputting at first, but once I got used to it, it was actually a really interesting way of seeing the story unfold.
The world has an interesting history with dragons, and while it wasn’t really detailed in this volume, I imagine that will become perhaps more and more relevant in future books.
The best thing about this one is that there was no forced romance between Nimsah and Dojan, and it was honestly a bit refreshing. I say that as someone who reads romance more or less the same amount as I read fantasy. I was waiting for it the e ntire novel, and in the end when they parted as no more than friends it was… surprising, shall we say.
So, in conclusion, the prose was nice, not too simplistic but not too dense, and the story was easy to get into for a few hours at a time. It wasn’t too long, in fact it felt just long enough for what it was. So, I give A Quiet Vengeance 7/10 stars.
April 14, 2023
This was my first time reading one of Tim’s books, safe to say if won’t be my last!
A Quiet Vengeance is set within a Middle Eastern / North African inspired world. The brilliant writing and engaging story sucked me from the start whilst the language and imagery of the book transported me to the hot, dusty streets and markets of Bengarath as well as the rich opulence of the ruling elites palaces. You really feel immersed within the respect worlds, as we learn about their customs, food, social & military hierarchies.
The world that Tim has created is rich and extravagant on one hand and then ruthless and visceral on the other. We see both extremes of society from the wealthy ruling elite and down to the struggling poor underclass. And its from these two extremes that our two main characters emerge, Dojan the foppish prince and Nimsah the street-smart gang member. Much of the story focussed on are their respect POV’s both in the present and importantly in the past. As we learn more of their respective histories it really drives the story forward in the present.
The dual timeline approach is executed superbly and kept me engaged throughout. Through this we see both Nimsah & Dojan develop far beyond where we first meet them. These are flawed characters but those flaws and how the characters grow throughout the story was a major reason why I enjoyed the book so much.
This is very much a character driven story with well-developed characters to get your teeth stuck into, aside from our main protagonists there is raft of intriguing secondary characters from merchants, soldiers, street gang members and government functionaries. That’s not say there isn’t any action, there certainly is and without giving away any spoilers the significant battle towards the end of the book had me on tenterhooks.
I really enjoyed the political intrigue that’s woven into the story, we find a world that has been racked by war and in the aftermath, there are several groups & individuals looking to advance their positions (not least a certain all powerful bank). It will be particularly interesting to see how these develop in (fingers crossed) subsequent books.
I have greatly enjoyed dipping my toe into the world of Amuran. I’m keen to explore it further and have already bought the Tim’s Hall of Bones series that is set in the same world.
A Quiet Vengeance is set within a Middle Eastern / North African inspired world. The brilliant writing and engaging story sucked me from the start whilst the language and imagery of the book transported me to the hot, dusty streets and markets of Bengarath as well as the rich opulence of the ruling elites palaces. You really feel immersed within the respect worlds, as we learn about their customs, food, social & military hierarchies.
The world that Tim has created is rich and extravagant on one hand and then ruthless and visceral on the other. We see both extremes of society from the wealthy ruling elite and down to the struggling poor underclass. And its from these two extremes that our two main characters emerge, Dojan the foppish prince and Nimsah the street-smart gang member. Much of the story focussed on are their respect POV’s both in the present and importantly in the past. As we learn more of their respective histories it really drives the story forward in the present.
The dual timeline approach is executed superbly and kept me engaged throughout. Through this we see both Nimsah & Dojan develop far beyond where we first meet them. These are flawed characters but those flaws and how the characters grow throughout the story was a major reason why I enjoyed the book so much.
This is very much a character driven story with well-developed characters to get your teeth stuck into, aside from our main protagonists there is raft of intriguing secondary characters from merchants, soldiers, street gang members and government functionaries. That’s not say there isn’t any action, there certainly is and without giving away any spoilers the significant battle towards the end of the book had me on tenterhooks.
I really enjoyed the political intrigue that’s woven into the story, we find a world that has been racked by war and in the aftermath, there are several groups & individuals looking to advance their positions (not least a certain all powerful bank). It will be particularly interesting to see how these develop in (fingers crossed) subsequent books.
I have greatly enjoyed dipping my toe into the world of Amuran. I’m keen to explore it further and have already bought the Tim’s Hall of Bones series that is set in the same world.
April 7, 2023
Awesome Middle Eastern fantasy, a very underserved sub-genre. Vivid worldbuilding, crisp prose, a plot with more layers than an onion, and lifelike characters made it a fantastic read!
If you're looking for a character-focused low fantasy in a fresh setting, this is it!
If you're looking for a character-focused low fantasy in a fresh setting, this is it!
September 9, 2023
First time reading Tim Hardie's work and I have to say I was thorough impressed. The world building was excellent, the characters well drawn. The story was well paced and thought out.
I'll be reading more of his work in future.
Highly recommended.
I'll be reading more of his work in future.
Highly recommended.
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