This review may contain spoilers; read at your own risk.
After thoroughly enjoying The Coward, I was eager to see how Stephen Aryan would conclude this compelling duology. The Warrior picks up two years after the events of the first book, with Kell now crowned King of Algany and married to former Princess Sigrid. If you’re expecting more of the same reluctant hero journey, prepare to be surprised. This sequel takes the story in a dramatically different direction.
The Plot
The Warrior picks up two years after the end of The Coward, with Kell now King of Algany but miserable in his new role. Bound by duty and responsibility, Kell is King only in name, trapped in a loveless marriage with Sigrid while leaving the actual governing to her. When his old friend Willow arrives asking for help, Kell jumps at the chance to escape his royal duties.
Willow’s homeland is being devastated by something called the Malice, a malevolent poison that corrupts everything it touches. Her cousin Ravvi is so desperate to find a cure that he’s willing to attempt a dark ritual that could damn their entire people forever. Kell must journey to this distant, corrupted land to stop Ravvi before it’s too late.
Meanwhile, back in Algany, Reverend Mother Britak’s long-brewing plans finally come to fruition. With Kell away on his quest, Queen Sigrid must navigate political intrigue and protect both her family and her kingdom from this ruthless religious leader’s machinations.
A Different Kind of Story
What I really loved about The Coward was how it reminded me of classic fantasy with its quest trope and band of misfits working together to vanquish evil. That nostalgic feel was one of the book’s greatest strengths. The Warrior maintains some of that classic fantasy charm, but it’s a much broader, more complex story.
The most significant change is that Kell is no longer the sole focus. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say he’s not quite the main character anymore. While book one focussed closely on Kell, the second one uses him more sparingly and instead splits the narrative between various characters. We get multiple POVs, including Sigrid, Kell’s wife, and this shift completely changes the scope of the story.
Instead of centering on Kell’s personal adventure, the narrative zooms out to encompass the entire kingdom. When Kell leaves to fulfil his promise to Willow, Sigrid must defend their realm against the brewing threat of war and the machinations of Reverend Mother Britak.
One of my few criticisms of The Coward was the confusing subplot involving Reverend Mother Britak. I understood that Aryan needed to establish world-building, but her role felt disconnected from the main story. I’m happy to report that The Warrior fully addresses this issue.
While Kell is away Reverend Mother Britak’s plans come to a head. Queen Sigrid must find a way to protect her family and her nation, but against such a ruthless opponent, something has to give. The political machinations that seemed peripheral in the first book become central to the plot, and suddenly everything clicks into place. The religious tensions, the power struggles between kingdoms, it all makes sense now.
This dual narrative structure works brilliantly. Where I wanted to skip the Reverend Mother sections in the first book, here I found myself equally invested in both storylines. The political intrigue at home is just as compelling as Kell’s quest to help Willow’s people.
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What Doesn’t Quite Work
Despite these improvements, The Warrior has some issues that kept it from reaching the heights of its predecessor.
The Empty World of the Alfar
My biggest disappointment was how underdeveloped Willow’s homeland feels. We don’t get much description of how Willow’s people (the Alfar) actually live. Most of the descriptions feel abstract. Like the author is telling us about this magnificent civilisation rather than showing it to us. I did love the visuals of the Alfár housing, especially the multicolored windows and descriptions of their culture and dwellings, but these glimpses only made me want more detail.
Even in the jungle regions, the world feels strangely empty. The majority of the threats come from Alfar who have been corrupted by the Malice, but we never get a strong sense of what they were like before the corruption. It’s hard to feel the tragedy of their loss when we don’t fully understand what was lost.
The Odd Situation with Odd
Then there’s the character of Odd, whose storyline left me completely baffled. So we have this serial killer character with supernatural powers who eventually sacrifices himself… for what exactly? I struggled to understand Odd’s character arc and motivations throughout the entire book.
Odd’s … Thing … What the heck was it? I was interested in learning and unsatisfied with the resolution to the point that I didn’t care about what happened. Even his supposed sacrifice at the end doesn’t make sense, I don’t think he needed to transform to fight the horde. The whole subplot feels disconnected from the main story and ultimately pointless.
The Rushed Ending
The conclusion feels hurried, with several plot points resolved too quickly and conveniently. How do the Alfar suddenly agree to leave their homeland? There are so many interesting things happening in this novel and it sometimes feels as though they are constrained by the length of the series. At times, it did feel like the plot points were being crammed in and it did knock the pacing in a few places.
Most frustratingly, we never get a satisfactory explanation about the Malice itself. What is it? Where did it come from? I know Aryan reminds us repeatedly through Willow that “nobody knows where the malice came from,” but as a reader, I expected some kind of revelation by the end. The mystery just… remains a mystery.
What Still Works
Despite these issues, The Warrior has plenty of strengths that make it worth reading. As a duology, Coward and Warrior have similarities, but also feel vastly different. This is because the character of Kell is not the same man in both. His maturity and sense of self is far more formed when he is older, and this reflects in his actions and his thoughts.
The character development remains excellent. Kell’s evolution from reluctant farmer to reluctant king is handled skillfully, and his relationship with Sigrid adds emotional depth to the political storyline. Sigrid herself is a compelling character: intelligent, pragmatic, and politically savvy in ways that Kell isn’t.
The Warrior is a compelling story with memorable characters and a riveting pace. Aryan has improved on everything that made The Coward great—though I’d argue he’s also introduced some new problems along the way.
If you enjoyed The Coward, you’ll likely find enough to appreciate in The Warrior to make it worth reading. The duology works as a complete story, even if not every element lands perfectly. Aryan has created an interesting world with compelling characters, and while this particular story may be concluded, I’d be curious to see what else he might explore in this setting.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Muse points.
About the Author
Stephen Aryan is the author of the Age of Darkness and Age of Dread trilogies. His first novel, Battlemage, was a finalist for the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for best debut fantasy novel and won the inaugural Hellfest Inferno Award in France. The Quest for Heroes duology represents his most recent work in epic fantasy.
