Savage Crowns

Starred review from April 1, 2023

Crache is a nation that knows war, but now the rebellion is gaining traction, led by Evie, the Sparrow General. Then Evie is captured by Crache's forces and is delivered to the Capitol, although there are many who will risk everything to free her. Dyeawan has grown from a young street beggar to the head of the Planning Cadre that secretly controls Crache; however, her own schemes are coming back to haunt her as the Protectorate Ministry deems her unfit to lead. Meanwhile, in the city, there is talk of a mysterious martyr who may be able to overthrow the Capitol. With the future of Crache on the line, it will take all of the wits and strength of the women at the forefront of the two sides to find a path of peace--or destroy everything in Crache itself. VERDICT The captivating finale (following Savage Bounty) to a series filled with action and themes of politics and classism features an epic world and showcases hidden power structures, family secrets, and women who believe in a better life for all.--Kristi Chadwick

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 10, 2023
Hugo Award winner Wallace’s conclusion to his epic fantasy Savage Rebellion trilogy (after Savage Bounty) is a mixed bag, neatly resolving multiple plotlines but relying on some hand-waving to get there. Readers return to Crache, an ostensible utopian nation, that’s in reality a “dark and brutal” entity. Crache’s secrets were discovered by a trio of capable and fearless women: Evie, a rebel army general; Dyeawan, who’s taken over the cadre covertly controlling the country in hopes of changing it from within; and Lexi, who was killed while advocating for change. Now Evie finds her forces dealing with threats to their rebellion, even after the successful conquest of a major urban center, and Dyeawan makes a foolish move that could cause her death. The two women are on a collision course, which keeps the tension high, but Wallace doesn’t make suspension of disbelief easy; illogical fight scenes—including one in which a character jumps atop a cage hanging from a chain without causing it to sway at all and another that hinges on a convenient deus ex machina—will take readers out of the narrative. Still, die-hard series fans will find this a satisfying conclusion. Agent: DongWon Song, Howard Morhaim Literary.

May 31, 2023
Having always followed someone else's orders, Waru the Undeclared must act on her own instincts to prevent the rebel army from being decimated by the much-vaunted Skrain army. Because the Rok Islanders' forces join the battle too late, the rebels are scattered in their victory. Their Sparrow General, Evie, has been captured, to be paraded through the streets of the Capitol. The Skrain army regroups with a ruthless recruitment of prisoners and the poor to resupply the Savage Legion. The attempt on Lexi's life has created a revolt within the city that the Protectorate Ministry must contend with. This revolt has affected Dyewan's status as the leader of the Planning Cadre, which was shaky from the start. These four women have independently put things in motion that will decide the fate of the ten cities of Crache in the thrilling conclusion of the Savage Rebellion series (after Savage Bounty, 2021). Hugo-winning Wallace offers representation in full measure with female heroics by a woman with a disability, a nonbinary woman, a bisexual enslaved woman, and one awakened to the plight of the poor, plus more in strong secondary roles.

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