Review: Priest of Lies by Peter McLean

Hedwig's World

May 18

'Perhaps law and order is just another way of saying tyranny and oppression, but I wouldn't know. That was a philosophical question, and I couldn't give a fuck about philosophy.'

***Content warnings for war, death, gore, murder, rape (off and on page), PTSD, child abuse, homophobia, sexual abuse, substance and alcohol abuse, plague, death of a parent, mentions of torture and animal abuse***

So ya know when you're reading a series that really goes places you know are going to be dark, twisty and highly questionable? And it still somehow manages to make you go '....oh.' as you're reading it? Yeah that's this series, and most of all it is this book.

People are weak, and the poorer and more oppressed they are, the weaker they become--until they can't take it anymore. And when they rise up...may the gods help their oppressors.

When Tomas Piety returned from the war, he just wanted to rebuild his empire of crime with his gang of Pious Men. But his past as a spy for the Queen's Men drew him back in and brought him more power than he ever imagined.

Now, with half of his city in ashes and the Queen's Men at his back, the webs of political intrigue stretch out from the capital to pull Tomas in. Dannsburg is calling.

In Dannsburg the nobility fight with words, not blades, but the results are every bit as bloody. In this pit of beasts, Tomas must decide once and for all whether he is truly the people's champion...or just a priest of lies.

Not gonna lie, I still feel hollow after reading this. It's an excellent follow up to the previous book Priest of Bones and like I mentioned in my review for that book, this book has more nuance to it than I originally envisioned. If the first book was layered and complex, you can guarantee that this one just makes it that much more. We are back with Tomas Piety, a married man and now the defactor ruler Ellinburg, we follow him as he adjusts to his new position in high society. And he's not taking it well.

I don't often compare series that are so drastically different but this book is very similar in tone to Jade War in the Green Bone saga. Granted, I am reading this series alongside each other but if you know that book, you'll get what I mean when I say Priest of Lies has the same stakes. Tomas is married to Aelsa, a Queensman, all for appearance. Also to aid in a long secret struggle to prevent another war on the scale of Abingon. As he carries out Aelsa's plan, you begin to really see conflict in him.

Now he's not conflicted on being a 'business man', in his own words. Neither is he reconsidering the dirty work he has to get the Pious Men to do at times. But we are suddenly presented with his real unease with not having Bloody Anne, his best friend, totally on the same page. Same for his relationship with the Pious Men as a whole. As a lord now or a prince as he calls himself, he has to distance himself further and further from the bloodier street tactics. The relationship he has with his own men is what has made him so formidable, and when he's got to leave for Dannsburg he feels it strain further.

The world building continues further with the introduction of Dannsburg. We've heard about it, it's been hinted to. But it's here now and it's a whole different set of rules. High society in Elinburg is it's own set of rules, rituals and etiquette. But Dannsburg is where everyone watches you to check you are faithful to the Queen, and if you double cross a pal you might end up fed to a bear. This part was written so well and you can pick up on his discomfort at being in a place like this. Not only for having to act the part of an gentleman, experiencing the usual classist nonsense and subtle digs there, but witnessing the brutal way the city works. And the level of unknowns in it.

We get a lot more of Aelsa as well in this book. I actually at one point was rooting for her a lot more than Tomas. Aelsa is established as a woman of colour in the first book and this book sees a lot more background in terms of her family and her own culture. The brief glimpse we get into that and how she and Tomas handle the particulars of it is almost heart warming? Don't hope for many of those fellow readers. The author has confirmed it's not exactly optimistic from here.

I feel like the ending really blew me away the most, because I had that point where the story felt resolved but I had like 40 mins left on the audio and then it turned. Upside down, into a blade and back into my foolish heart. I commend any author who has you doubting your own perception of where this series might be going and especially here with how much of your expectations (mine at least) get turned upside down? Flawless, I can't compliment that enough.

Again, definite one for my fellow audio book fans. The narration is perfect, the distinction of voices and people is even better. I'm scared to continue this series but considering the final book release this year, I will be catching up soon. Thanks for checking in guys! Happy reading!

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