Priest of Lies: War for the Rose Throne, Book 2

This is by far one of the best novels I have read in the last few years. Peter McLean continues the story not long after it left off in the previous novel and cranks the intensity up to the next level. Father Tom Piety is one of the most interesting characters I have ever had the pleasure of getting into the mind of and it was a pleasure spending the entire novel in his perspective and mindset. Which for me is saying something as I prefer a third person perspective when reading novels. As I do not want to spoil the novel for anyone, all I will say is. Definitely give this one a read, and if you haven't read the first one go and read that one too.

Good development for our hero and his crew. The book starts to move a little further from peaky blinders and into its own, admittedly similar, arc. There is lots of significant movement within this book, but also fairly clear allusion to what may be coming next.I did feel that the start was a little clumsy, but it smoothed well and by 35% we were in full stride.I’m a fan of (funny how they’re both Tomas even) being strong and reasonably intelligent. I like seeing him hold his own, somewhat, even outside his comfort zone. I’ll be glad if a certain main character from this and the last book is gone in the next. As they’re pretty annoying (no spoilers).

In my review of Peter McLean’s first book in this series, Priest of Bones, I said I kind of hated Tomas Piety. I still do, and his “wife” even more so, but this time around I feel much more satisfied with how things go for him and his band of criminals. What was simply set up and implied in the last book is brilliantly paid off here, with interest.The first book covered gang leader Tomas Piety’s return from war to retake his rackets in the industrial city of Ellinburg from other syndicates, only to get pulled into a darker cold war between a foreign power fronting as a rival gang and the Queen’s Men, the crown’s shadowy enforcers. Priest of Lies begins a few months after the end of Bones, where five hundred more or less innocent people were immolated by the Queen’s Men to keep the city of Ellinburg out of the hands of the foreigners. The mood is set right away, with Tomas in a deep despondence. When outwardly it seems he should be at the height of his power, he is in fact being used as a puppet in the same way he himself uses others. The architect of the massacre has forced Tomas into a sham marriage while ordering him about like a common hired thug. Oh, the irony.There is a brief expository reintroduction to the story and its characters, just enough to remind you what’s going on in case it’s been awhile. There is some humor with a parody of a nagging wife but with vastly more dangerous implications. Tomas cannot enjoy his victory but must continue to battle the foreign-backed gang under the guise of taking even more territory. When his wife/handler insists on gathering up anyone gifted with magical abilities to use in the fight, the plot thickens and they are called to the capital city, where Tomas confronts new enemies in a society whose rules he doesn’t understand.This book is a little bit less Peaky Blinders and a little more Godfather Part 2. It shows in graphic detail the notion that the higher up you go, the crookeder it becomes. The legitimate rules are no better than the gangsters, and in many ways much worse. I get the same sense in some parts of Michael Corleone at his lowest, when his plans come back to haunt him. In this at least, there is some satisfaction.I love series that slowly grow in scale like this. I know it’s a vestigial adherence to video games with their stepwise questlines and boss fight progression, but the sense of growth is so satisfying, and it’s used to great effect here. You go from the provincial city, now to the capital, then to…what? How high will the lowly crime boss rise? What will he turn into and how many innocent people will pay the price for it? The short, action-packed chapters keep the pace barreling along to the final explosive conclusion, but I felt they could be longer in some places, just to give the reader a breather. The voice is clear but very affected, and one might start to get tired of the constant refrains of “to my mind” and “years to him.” But I know that’s intentional. These are the thoughts of an intelligent but classically uneducated man.In grimdark fiction you got no call to expect good guys, only bad and worse. But one thing I absolutely hate, can’t stand is unacknowledged hypocrisy. In this volume, McLean throws me a bone or two, and at least a few chickens come home to roost, and the truth that violence never truly comes without consequence is laid bare. The attempts to humanize Ailsa fail for me, but importantly, not for Tomas, though he acknowledges the cognitive dissonance in his feelings. Speaking of which, McLean’s depiction of PTSD is something the reader won’t soon forget, and adds a searing layer of realism over the whole saga and this volume in particular.I won’t spoil the ending, but I can say I felt completely vindicated in my opinion of Piety, and I will definitely read on when the next volume comes out, if only to see if he gets his comeuppance.

The scope of the story grows & delves into how Tomas will navigate a new kind of power- political. This story reflects many current trends seen in today's politics, but McClean makes it far more entertaining!

Very good second book in the series, didn't seem a bit like filler or a build up to book three. Nicely written and paced. There were a couple of overly predictable portions, but it flowed well with the storyline. Looking forward to the next book already.

Book 2 takes everything you love about book 1 and adds even more details from the world it is set in and introduces some wonderful new characters while continuing to build out your existing favorites. The plot has only grown more satisfying and intriguing! 10/10!

I loved the writing and the format but the constant redundant explanations of information already covered and understood seemed like an attempt to meet a word count. A few times it felt like the author got lost in his own world and spent too much time getting the story back on track. The ending seems like another project had presented itself and this one was wrapped up haphazardly and without the feeling of resolution or conclusion. Still, I really loved the narrative and style. This is good grimdark fantasy and fans of that genre will enjoy it.

This series is filled to the brim with intrigue and unexpected plot twists. And its unafraid to take a dive into the darker side of the humanity and the effects of war on the human psyche. For the most part this series has a locomotive of a plot that drags you in behind it and sweeps you along towards the finish, wherever that may be. Hard to put this one down once you start.

Everything you could wish for in a sequel. The world has expanded, new characters join the cast, existing character story arcs are developed, and the violence escalates. This is another five star book, in what is so far a five star series.In what is a grim, violent, and dark setting, Peter McLean’s writing shines. There is just the right amount of humour, never forced, and dialogue and character interactions are excellent, and once again, the short chapters make this a book you just can’t put down. And once again, it is astonishing how much character development we get in what is a relatively short (by fantasy standards) book.This would make an amazing tv series (and no, I still haven’t watched Peaky Blinders)

Love the book. Can’t wait for book 3

Not as good as the first book, but still pretty great

Binge-read this in three days. Very readable and enjoyably nasty! It's been a while since I read book one but I had no trouble picking up the story. Peter McLean's style instantly pulls you in and you end up reading a few chapters within no time.We're back with Tomas and his unholy family of Ailsa, Billy, Jochan and his aunt. And all the other Pious Men. Tomas Piety is under pressure from several angles (four of those angles being the above mentioned family!) and the only way he can handle it is by plunging deeper into the mire and blood. And blood there is, in buckets, with the body-count being quite high in this sequel. Saying that though, it never feels like McLean just opted to go for bigger, badder and bloodier. The stakes are higher but his road to Hell makes sense. You might not feel sorry for Tomas but I don't think he has much choice in the decisions he makes. Poor chap!Tomas is a nasty piece of work but he's not an out-and-out sadist. I'm not sure I could read a book where the protagonist was just cruel for the fun of it. Perhaps there is more of a correlation with Michael Corleone in this one, with there basically being no exit from this murky world once you're in.Book three promises a great deal with the way things are left. You sense there will be some tragic tales that arise between Tomas and his family. I doubt it will end well!If you like Grimdark, I reckon you'll love this series. If you like gangster crime, you'll lap it up. If you like morally grey anti-heroes who get stuck between a rock and a noose, you'll storm through it. Grab your small beer, salted pork and dive in!

What a great second book in the series. We explore the world through the eyes of Tomas who is the leader of a street gang. This point of view allows the author to flesh out the relationships between the major characters. This I particularly enjoyed. The story also touches on the psychological damage war can do to a person be they combatant or civilian.This is a gritty well told story of power, corruption, intrigue and personal relationships.Book one was one of my favourite reads of last year and I therefore had high expectations coming into this sequel. Peter McLean has delivered a thoroughly enjoyable story full of action, intrigue while maintaining a human element which surpassed my expectations.