Publishers Weekly
04/27/2020
A warrior, an assassin, and a princess pursue their destinies against a backdrop of war and political intrigue in this dense epic fantasy, the first in Madson’s Reborn Empire series. Princess Miko Ts’ai lives on a razor’s edge—the potential heir of the Asian-influenced Kisian Empire, her life is in daily peril thanks to her proximity to her stepfather’s throne. Assassin Cassandra Marius is hired by a Kisian courtier to prevent a politically expedient marriage between Miko and a nobleman from the Europesque Chiltaen Empire. Meanwhile, warrior Rah e’Torin is exiled from his Levanti tribe and struggles to keep his people safe from the Chiltaen Empire, which sees them as barbarians. When all three paths intersect in the midst of a re-eruption of hostilities between Kisia and Chiltae, Madson (the Vengeance trilogy) cleverly uses the characters’ distinct perspectives to piece together a crafty political chess game, hitting all the hallmark tropes of epic fantasy in the process. Though the result feels more like setup for the next in the series than a narrative in its own right, the intricate worldbuilding and memorable characters will appeal to genre fans. Agent: Julie Crisp, Julie Crisp Literary. (June)
From the Publisher
"With prose that rises above most novels, Devin Madson paints evocative scenes to build an engaging story. Highly entertaining, We Ride the Storm is certainly worth your attention and Madson is an exciting new author in fantasy."—Mark Lawrence, author of Red Sister
"A tale that hits all the right spots. Imaginative world building, a pace that builds perfectly to a heart-pounding finale and captivating characters. There's a lot to love here. Highly recommended."—John Gwynne, author of The Faithful and the Fallen series
"Intricate, compelling and vividly imagined, this is the first in a new quartet that I am hugely excited about. Visceral battles, complex politics and fascinating worldbuilding bring Devin's words to life."—Anna Stephens, author of Godblind
"Fans of George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series will appreciate the feudal political maneuvering, shifting alliances, and visceral descriptions of combat and its aftermath in this series starter."—Booklist
"An utterly arresting debut,Storm's heart is in its complex, fascinating characters, each trapped in ever tightening snarls of war, politics and magic. Madson's sharp, engaging prose hauls you through an engrossing story that will leave you wishing you'd set aside enough time to read this all in one sitting. One of the best new voices in fantasy."—Sam Hawke, author of City of Lies
"A complex tale of war, politics and lust for power."—The Guardian
"A brutal, nonstop ride through an empire built upon violence and lies, a story as gripping as it is unpredictable. Never shying away from the consequences of the past nor its terrible realities, Madson balances characters you want to love with actions you want to hate while mixing in a delightful amount of magic, political intrigue, and lore. This is not a book you'll be able to put down."—K. A. Doore, author of The Perfect Assassin
"Darkly devious and gripping epic fantasy boasting complex characters, brutal battle and deadly intrigue. We Ride the Storm is breathtaking, brilliant and bloody -it grips you hard and does not let go."—Cameron Johnston, author of The Traitor God
"Madson has built a living, breathing world of Empire and fury. We Ride The Stormgrabs you by the throat and doesn't let go."—Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones
Kirkus Reviews
2020-05-04
The first in a bold new series, Madson's novel interweaves the lives of its narrators to tell the story of three civilizations on the brink.
Miko is a princess of Kisia, an empire left in fragments following the recent coup that cost her father his life and saw her stepfather take the Crimson Throne. Rah hails from the loosely associated clans of Levanti—horse riders without kings who resist fighting others' wars. Cassandra makes her living in sex and murder and moves through the world with another woman's voice in her head. They do not know one another, but their lives will soon become hopelessly entangled. Miko's family falls apart, shattering their alliance with Chiltae, the rival nation that has forced Rah and his Swords into its service and whose agent Cassandra has agreed to assassinate. Although Madson takes her time putting the critical pieces into play, the betrayal that dooms the Kisian nobility to ruin sets off narrative fireworks, exposing the questionable motives of three nations' leaders in a seemingly unending struggle for dominance.
A slow-building tale of court intrigue that picks up lots of steam on its way to a shocking finish.
