Title: Legacy of the Sword
Author: Jennifer Roberson
Series: Chronicles of the Cheysuli
Sexual Content: mild
Objectional Content: Violence
Synopsis (from Goodreads):For decades, the magical race of shapeshifters called the Cheysuli have been feared and hated exiles in their own land, a land they rightfully should rule. Victims of a vengeful monarch’s war of annihilation and a usurper king’s tyrannical reign, the Cheysuli clans have nearly vanished from the world.
Now, in the aftermath of the revolution which overthrew the hated tyrant, Prince Donal is being trained as the first Cheysuli in generations to assume the throne. But will he be able to overcome the prejudice of a populace afraid of his special magic and succeed in uniting the realm in its life and death battle against enemy armies and evil magicians?
My Review
Legacy of the Sword picks up 15 years after the events of The Song of Homana. Donal, the son of Alix and Duncan, and now Carillon’s heir, is travelling to the Crystal Isle to bring home Aislinn, Carillon’s daughter and Donal’s betrothed. Aislinn has spent the last two years there with her mother, the exiled Queen, Electra. It quickly becomes evident that Electra has tampered with her daughter’s mind, turning Aislinn against the idea of marrying Donal. This presents some interesting challenges along the way and causes Aislinn to act out in violent ways that she would normally never do.
From the beginning, I didn’t particularly like Donal. He seemed very selfish, often thinking and even expressing out loud, that he doesn’t want to be king or marry Aislinn. He has a lover and children among the Cheysuli who he wants to be with instead. Perhaps if the book had begun when Donal was younger and these relationships were being established, I might have felt more sympathy for him. Instead, I thought him a cruel person and felt sympathy for Aislinn, who is treated as a pawn. She knows from a young age that her only purpose is to bear children, especially sons.
At the end of The Song of Homana, Alix had been abducted by the enemy sorcerer, Tynstar, and it was revealed at the end of the book that Alix was pregnant. That child was what I really wanted to know about in this book. Oh, the child, Bronwyn, is there, but she’s such a minor character it felt like a wasted plot point.
There were several events in this book that I thought should have had more weight to them, to the point where I thought some things were actually a fake out. It just didn’t seem like enough of an impact for the importance of what happened. I’m trying really hard not to spoil anything so apologies if this sounds really vague.
For all my dislike of the characters, the Chronicles of the Cheysuli have a really rich world that I enjoy. The overall narrative still has me wanting to know more so I will continue with the series.
My rating for Legacy of the Sword is 3 out of 5 stars.
Thanks for reading!