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War for the Rose Throne #4
Priest of Crowns
'Praise be to Our Lady of Eternal Sorrows, and blessed be the Ascended Martyr.' Those were the words on lips of the faithful: Blessed be the Ascended Martyr, and woe betide you if you thought otherwise. The word Unbeliever had become a death sentence on the streets in those days.
Gangster, soldier, priest. Governor, knight, and above all, Queen's Man.
Once, Tomas Piety looked after his men, body and soul, as best he could. Then those who ran his country decided his dark talents would better serve in the corridors of power.
Crushed by the power of the Queen's Men and with the Skanian menace rising once more on the streets of Ellinburg, Tomas Piety is forced to turn to old friends, old debts and untrustworthy alliances.
Meanwhile in the capital city of Dannsburg, Dieter Vogel is beginning to wonder if the horror he has unleashed in the Martyr's Disciples might be getting out of control.
With revolution brewing and tragedy and terrorism running rife in the cities, Piety and Vogel must each weigh the cost of a crown.
Gangster, soldier, priest. Governor, knight, and above all, Queen's Man.
Once, Tomas Piety looked after his men, body and soul, as best he could. Then those who ran his country decided his dark talents would better serve in the corridors of power.
Crushed by the power of the Queen's Men and with the Skanian menace rising once more on the streets of Ellinburg, Tomas Piety is forced to turn to old friends, old debts and untrustworthy alliances.
Meanwhile in the capital city of Dannsburg, Dieter Vogel is beginning to wonder if the horror he has unleashed in the Martyr's Disciples might be getting out of control.
With revolution brewing and tragedy and terrorism running rife in the cities, Piety and Vogel must each weigh the cost of a crown.
438 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2022
87 people are currently reading
2157 people want to read
About the author
Peter McLean
44 books1,036 followersPeter McLean was born near London in 1972, the son of a bank manager and an English teacher. He went to school in the shadow of Norwich Cathedral where he spent most of his time making up stories.
He has since grown up a bit, if not a lot, and spent 25 years working in corporate IT. He is married to Diane and is still making up stories.
He is the author of the War for the Rose Throne series, beginning with Priest of Bones, the Burned Man series, and numerous short stories for Warhammer.
Agent: Jennie Goloboy at DMLA
He has since grown up a bit, if not a lot, and spent 25 years working in corporate IT. He is married to Diane and is still making up stories.
He is the author of the War for the Rose Throne series, beginning with Priest of Bones, the Burned Man series, and numerous short stories for Warhammer.
Agent: Jennie Goloboy at DMLA
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
September 23, 2022
Priest of Crowns is a heartbreaking, ferociously blood-soaked, and unforgettable ending to the War for the Rose Throne.
After four years, Priest of Bones was published in 2018, War for the Rose Throne is officially finished. And with it, McLean has shown he is the right man for the right task of delivering the final pages of Tomas Piety’s memoir. I am not exaggerating when I continuously state War for the Rose Throne quartet is one of the most underrated, engaging, and page-turning series I’ve read. I first opened the first pages of Tomas Piety's memoir in 2019, and even then, I already considered myself late to the series. It is an injustice and a shame how underrated this series is. The criminally underhyped status of War for the Rose Throne proved how unfair the publishing business and life are. Think about it, War for the Rose Throne was very close to being discontinued! For those who asked, that is why it is impossible to find any physical US edition of Priest of Gallows and Priest of Crowns. And I think it is the publisher's loss to discontinue such a great series. Yes, yes, money matters most, blablabla. Unfortunately, I am admittedly a selfish reader who prioritizes reading a terrific series to completion. Thankfully, Jo Fletcher (the UK publisher) is willing to push forward with publishing the rest of the series to the end. And here we are, at the end of the bloody road.
Seeing that this is the final book of the series, and this is not a spoiler-filled review, I will refrain from talking about the details of the plot in Priest of Crowns. I will assume that if you have read the series up to this installment, or if you have not started the series at all, you will want to read everything inside this book as blindly as possible. And I can allow that. Allow me to, however, mention some elements that were done so brilliantly in this book or throughout the series. I may sound a bit repetitive in my review, but allow me your forgiveness. Honestly speaking, there is close to zero praises about the novel that I haven’t shouted about in my past three reviews for Priest of Bones, Priest of Lies, and Priest of Gallows. If you loved the previous three books, you are guaranteed to love Priest of Crowns as well. Every strength of the narratives in the past three books is back one last time. McLean is exceptionally consistent with his storytelling quality. Deadly deceit, blades unsheathed, merciless torment, inevitable betrayal, harsh truth, and gory explosions were evident in the text of Priest of Crowns. This magnificent novel provided a dark and very fitting finishing touch to Tomas Piety's memoir with a lot of food for thought. To my mind, the last page of this novel will direct readers to retrace Tomas's Piety journey in Ellisburg and Dannsburg from the beginning of Priest of Bones. You will see everything in a new light, and I think you will love it.
If you have heard praises about War for the Rose Throne, I am pretty damn sure you will have heard reviewers, myself included, talking about the insanely distinct narration of the main character. And this is true from the first page of Priest of Bones to the last page of Priest of Crowns. Maybe even more so in the entire Priest of Crowns. So far, I have read more than 600 fantasy novels, and I can say with temerity that Tomas Piety has one of the most distinct and memorable voices in the entire fantasy genre. His manner of speech and speaking has become a character of its own. When I praise Abercrombie's books and writing, one of the things I always appreciate from his writing is how easy it is to tell which character is speaking or which character we're reading about without names being mentioned. Abercrombie nailed down his character voices and inner thinking superbly well. And this is the level of immersion McLean, or should I say, Tomas Piety, demonstrated impeccably in his writing, too.
Throughout my time reading the series, there were many moments when I was fully immersed that I forgot this is a series of books written by a real author for us to read. Tomas Piety sounded like a REAL person, and I mean that in every sense of the word. McLean is a messenger to tell his story. This Peaky Blinders-inspired series infused with swords and magic never once felt like any of the characters behaving out of character. Never. If there were any, there are explanations for them eventually. Also, War for the Rose Throne is a grimdark fantasy series with profoundly deep character study. Tomas Piety always says we, as a person, always have levers that move us. Whether they are love, money, ambition, respect, power, authority, family, or something else, no human is exempt from their respective levers. This point revolving around motivation is constantly backed up by the narrative, and in Priest of Crowns, we get to witness the truth of what moved Tomas Piety the most, and it may not be what you think.
It's safe to say that Tomas Piety has become one of my favorite characters in fantasy. But it is also worth acknowledging that my admiration for his character doesn't mean I agree with all of his actions. No way. Especially NOT in Priest of Crowns. I feel this is not something I have to say as I think it should be common sense already, and I am not just speaking about this book. However, some readers still think a fictional character's behavior, even when they're villains or anti-heroes, is immediately representative of the author's real views or philosophies. This is simply not true; it's not that simple. And deluding yourself into thinking IT IS just feels incredibly childish, self-righteous, and practically begging for so many books to be banned. How can you write villain or anti-hero POV chapters without them thinking or doing questionable actions? I can think of Tomas as one of my favorite characters while disagreeing with many of his actions. I am sure readers won't agree with many of Tomas's actions in Priest of Crowns as it was the same for me. But it matters more to me that Tomas, or any character, feels on-point and logical with their character development and personality. How he always acts like he owns any place or environment he enters for the first time, how he struggles in choosing friends or ambition, and more. And the characterizations and development were undoubtedly executed so nicely in Priest of Crowns and the entire series. This notion is not exclusive to Tomas Piety but to other supporting characters in the entire series. Bloody Anne, Rosie, Jochan, Billy, Mina, and many more are characters I will remember.
Lastly, before I close this review, I want to say McLean's balance in handling political machinations & pulse-pounding action scenes. War for the Rose Throne is a series filled with scheming and manipulations, and none of them ever felt bored. If anything, they are some of the best parts of the series. I noted that Priest of Gallows was a book embedded with more political intrigues than any other books in the series, and in a way, that is clearly true. But not entirely correct because the entire series has always been full of that. What I really loved about Priest of Crowns, though, is the balance that McLean handled. In terms of pacing and execution, it felt like a return to Priest of Lies, my favorite book of the series with Priest of Crowns now. The set pieces of the story are constantly moved from one place to another. And devastating and tension-packed confrontations always follow where the money goes. I have so many praises for this book and series. I declared so many times on my Youtube channel that War for the Rose Throne should be titled the slump-killer, and that title feels more unmistakable now in Priest of Crowns. I never felt bored reading Priest of Crowns, not even for one page. The fatal lies we tell ourselves, the explosive cunning and its repercussion, and the unstoppable descent into chaos were all remarkably put on the pages. And everything eventually leads toward the jaw-dropping ending that will make you think of every Tomas's action for the entirety of the series.
Priest of Crowns is a relentlessly gripping, grim, and emotional conclusion to the War for the Rose Throne. With this series completed, McLean has moved War for the Rose Throne from my list of favorite ongoing series into becoming one of my favorite completed series. I will certainly miss Tomas Piety and his narration. So few fantasy series in the market reached such an outstanding level of distinctive narration. This absolutely suspenseful series that started clearly inspired by Peaky Blinders has transformed into its own thing since Priest of Lies, and now I am grateful to have read the series to its completion. Among other things, the words inside a great book and series are the levers that moved me. And for the rightly suitably grimdark fantasy (or dark fantasy, whatever you want to call it) reader, War for the Rose Throne contained all the right words, phrasing, and story guaranteed to satisfy our endless thirst for great books. Bravo to Peter McLean and Tomas Piety for delivering this amazing grimdark fantasy series. If you haven't started War for the Rose Throne yet, you are missing out. Please, read this series. Especially if you're a reader who loves morally grey main characters, gangster stories, a soft magic system, and addicting narration. You can't go wrong with giving the page-turning War for the Rose Throne a read.
Series Review:
Priest of Bones: 4.5/5 stars
Priest of Lies: 5/5 stars
Priest of Gallows: 4.5/5 stars
Priest of Crowns: 5/5 stars
War for the Rose Throne: 19/20 stars
You can order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Andrew W, Amanda, Annabeth, Casey, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Ellis, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Lana, Leigh, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Nanette, Neeraja, Nicholas, Reno, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
“This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector.”
After four years, Priest of Bones was published in 2018, War for the Rose Throne is officially finished. And with it, McLean has shown he is the right man for the right task of delivering the final pages of Tomas Piety’s memoir. I am not exaggerating when I continuously state War for the Rose Throne quartet is one of the most underrated, engaging, and page-turning series I’ve read. I first opened the first pages of Tomas Piety's memoir in 2019, and even then, I already considered myself late to the series. It is an injustice and a shame how underrated this series is. The criminally underhyped status of War for the Rose Throne proved how unfair the publishing business and life are. Think about it, War for the Rose Throne was very close to being discontinued! For those who asked, that is why it is impossible to find any physical US edition of Priest of Gallows and Priest of Crowns. And I think it is the publisher's loss to discontinue such a great series. Yes, yes, money matters most, blablabla. Unfortunately, I am admittedly a selfish reader who prioritizes reading a terrific series to completion. Thankfully, Jo Fletcher (the UK publisher) is willing to push forward with publishing the rest of the series to the end. And here we are, at the end of the bloody road.
“There’s a thing I’ve noticed about people, especially rich people: the face they present in public is often very different to their true selves.”
Seeing that this is the final book of the series, and this is not a spoiler-filled review, I will refrain from talking about the details of the plot in Priest of Crowns. I will assume that if you have read the series up to this installment, or if you have not started the series at all, you will want to read everything inside this book as blindly as possible. And I can allow that. Allow me to, however, mention some elements that were done so brilliantly in this book or throughout the series. I may sound a bit repetitive in my review, but allow me your forgiveness. Honestly speaking, there is close to zero praises about the novel that I haven’t shouted about in my past three reviews for Priest of Bones, Priest of Lies, and Priest of Gallows. If you loved the previous three books, you are guaranteed to love Priest of Crowns as well. Every strength of the narratives in the past three books is back one last time. McLean is exceptionally consistent with his storytelling quality. Deadly deceit, blades unsheathed, merciless torment, inevitable betrayal, harsh truth, and gory explosions were evident in the text of Priest of Crowns. This magnificent novel provided a dark and very fitting finishing touch to Tomas Piety's memoir with a lot of food for thought. To my mind, the last page of this novel will direct readers to retrace Tomas's Piety journey in Ellisburg and Dannsburg from the beginning of Priest of Bones. You will see everything in a new light, and I think you will love it.
‘No one cared what the common folk said. No one ever does, until they finally rise in fire and violence.’
If you have heard praises about War for the Rose Throne, I am pretty damn sure you will have heard reviewers, myself included, talking about the insanely distinct narration of the main character. And this is true from the first page of Priest of Bones to the last page of Priest of Crowns. Maybe even more so in the entire Priest of Crowns. So far, I have read more than 600 fantasy novels, and I can say with temerity that Tomas Piety has one of the most distinct and memorable voices in the entire fantasy genre. His manner of speech and speaking has become a character of its own. When I praise Abercrombie's books and writing, one of the things I always appreciate from his writing is how easy it is to tell which character is speaking or which character we're reading about without names being mentioned. Abercrombie nailed down his character voices and inner thinking superbly well. And this is the level of immersion McLean, or should I say, Tomas Piety, demonstrated impeccably in his writing, too.
‘Be very wary of an old man in a young man’s game.’
Throughout my time reading the series, there were many moments when I was fully immersed that I forgot this is a series of books written by a real author for us to read. Tomas Piety sounded like a REAL person, and I mean that in every sense of the word. McLean is a messenger to tell his story. This Peaky Blinders-inspired series infused with swords and magic never once felt like any of the characters behaving out of character. Never. If there were any, there are explanations for them eventually. Also, War for the Rose Throne is a grimdark fantasy series with profoundly deep character study. Tomas Piety always says we, as a person, always have levers that move us. Whether they are love, money, ambition, respect, power, authority, family, or something else, no human is exempt from their respective levers. This point revolving around motivation is constantly backed up by the narrative, and in Priest of Crowns, we get to witness the truth of what moved Tomas Piety the most, and it may not be what you think.
‘Sometimes a leader has to make hard decisions, and the simple fact of the matter is that sometimes, inevitably, the decision will be the wrong one. Wrong decisions have consequences, always, and this was no different.’
It's safe to say that Tomas Piety has become one of my favorite characters in fantasy. But it is also worth acknowledging that my admiration for his character doesn't mean I agree with all of his actions. No way. Especially NOT in Priest of Crowns. I feel this is not something I have to say as I think it should be common sense already, and I am not just speaking about this book. However, some readers still think a fictional character's behavior, even when they're villains or anti-heroes, is immediately representative of the author's real views or philosophies. This is simply not true; it's not that simple. And deluding yourself into thinking IT IS just feels incredibly childish, self-righteous, and practically begging for so many books to be banned. How can you write villain or anti-hero POV chapters without them thinking or doing questionable actions? I can think of Tomas as one of my favorite characters while disagreeing with many of his actions. I am sure readers won't agree with many of Tomas's actions in Priest of Crowns as it was the same for me. But it matters more to me that Tomas, or any character, feels on-point and logical with their character development and personality. How he always acts like he owns any place or environment he enters for the first time, how he struggles in choosing friends or ambition, and more. And the characterizations and development were undoubtedly executed so nicely in Priest of Crowns and the entire series. This notion is not exclusive to Tomas Piety but to other supporting characters in the entire series. Bloody Anne, Rosie, Jochan, Billy, Mina, and many more are characters I will remember.
‘To be prepared to lay down your own life to save that of someone you love is the greatest love of all. It is perhaps the very definition of what love is, and I knew Anne understood that.’
Lastly, before I close this review, I want to say McLean's balance in handling political machinations & pulse-pounding action scenes. War for the Rose Throne is a series filled with scheming and manipulations, and none of them ever felt bored. If anything, they are some of the best parts of the series. I noted that Priest of Gallows was a book embedded with more political intrigues than any other books in the series, and in a way, that is clearly true. But not entirely correct because the entire series has always been full of that. What I really loved about Priest of Crowns, though, is the balance that McLean handled. In terms of pacing and execution, it felt like a return to Priest of Lies, my favorite book of the series with Priest of Crowns now. The set pieces of the story are constantly moved from one place to another. And devastating and tension-packed confrontations always follow where the money goes. I have so many praises for this book and series. I declared so many times on my Youtube channel that War for the Rose Throne should be titled the slump-killer, and that title feels more unmistakable now in Priest of Crowns. I never felt bored reading Priest of Crowns, not even for one page. The fatal lies we tell ourselves, the explosive cunning and its repercussion, and the unstoppable descent into chaos were all remarkably put on the pages. And everything eventually leads toward the jaw-dropping ending that will make you think of every Tomas's action for the entirety of the series.
‘That was war, and so was this: a different sort of war, perhaps, but a war, nonetheless. Lies had replaced cannon, aye, and there were fewer soldiers on the field, but this action was no less deadly.’
Priest of Crowns is a relentlessly gripping, grim, and emotional conclusion to the War for the Rose Throne. With this series completed, McLean has moved War for the Rose Throne from my list of favorite ongoing series into becoming one of my favorite completed series. I will certainly miss Tomas Piety and his narration. So few fantasy series in the market reached such an outstanding level of distinctive narration. This absolutely suspenseful series that started clearly inspired by Peaky Blinders has transformed into its own thing since Priest of Lies, and now I am grateful to have read the series to its completion. Among other things, the words inside a great book and series are the levers that moved me. And for the rightly suitably grimdark fantasy (or dark fantasy, whatever you want to call it) reader, War for the Rose Throne contained all the right words, phrasing, and story guaranteed to satisfy our endless thirst for great books. Bravo to Peter McLean and Tomas Piety for delivering this amazing grimdark fantasy series. If you haven't started War for the Rose Throne yet, you are missing out. Please, read this series. Especially if you're a reader who loves morally grey main characters, gangster stories, a soft magic system, and addicting narration. You can't go wrong with giving the page-turning War for the Rose Throne a read.
‘That was how it was done: it was all in the phrasing. The right choice of words can normalise the most insane of ideas, and fast. These are the levers that move people, as I have written.’
Series Review:
Priest of Bones: 4.5/5 stars
Priest of Lies: 5/5 stars
Priest of Gallows: 4.5/5 stars
Priest of Crowns: 5/5 stars
War for the Rose Throne: 19/20 stars
You can order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Andrew, Andrew W, Amanda, Annabeth, Casey, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Ellis, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Lana, Leigh, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Meryl, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Nanette, Neeraja, Nicholas, Reno, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Xero, Wendy, Wick, Zoe.
August 22, 2022
The storming best of War For The Rose Throne - Priest of Crowns is utterly superb and that ending will shock everyone! What an amazing book.
Read
August 27, 2022 This fourth and final instalment in the War for the Rose Throne offered a riveting and satisfying end to the series. I have thoroughly enjoyed each instalment, and Priest of Crowns is quite possibly my favourite.
It was great to be back with Tomas Piety and the whole gang. Peter McLean crafts complex characters who feel real and vivid with ease, and he displays his skill as a writer once again with this tense finale.
Full Review to Come
It was great to be back with Tomas Piety and the whole gang. Peter McLean crafts complex characters who feel real and vivid with ease, and he displays his skill as a writer once again with this tense finale.
Full Review to Come
February 16, 2024
What an end to a fantastic series
July 14, 2022
4.5/5
War for the Rose Throne is one of my favorite series of recent years. Considering how much I enjoyed the first three books, my expectations for Priest of Crowns were certainly high. Fortunately, it more than met them.
The series started as a brutal gangster family drama but evolved into a complex political thriller as the plot unfolded. After the events depicted in Prince of Gallows, Thomas returns to Ellinburg to sort things out and perhaps find proof of something he suspects.
Fans of the series know Thomas. He's a complete bastard, BUT McLean makes you root for him and his companions. He is also the archetypal gangster, the abused child, and the traumatized war veteran who has risen in society through violence. Archetypal gangsters usually die or go into politics. Thomas chose politics.
He fits in well with other politicians. In McLean's world, government and organized crime aren't so different. Perhaps ambitious politicians who seek ever more power are even more despicable. For them, people aren't even pawns, but mere cannon fodder and means to an end.
Thomas likes to understand people and the levers that move them. In Priest of Gallows, he admits that his levers are respect, power, and authority. Sure, he's gained some power, but not all. And there's a chance to get more. All it takes is a bloody rebellion. No spoilers but if you know Thomas Piety, you know what to expect.
The thing is, the price for more power may be too high in this case. I loved Thomas' distinct voice and his way of describing events. His voice remains rough and brutally honest. Thomas knows he's not quite right in the head and makes no secret of it. He knows who he cares about, though, and the moments he spends with his friends and adopted son add some lightness to the otherwise dark story. Well, at least until it becomes an even darker story.
Priest of Crowns provides a fitting (if brutal) ending to the series. It offers an excellent conclusion to Thomas Piety's story but leaves plenty of room to explore the world of the Rose Throne. If you love classic gangster movies, dark fantasy, amoral politics, and sympathetic anti-heroes you sometimes despise, you can't miss it. It ranks right up there with the best the genre has to offer.
ARC through NetGalley
War for the Rose Throne is one of my favorite series of recent years. Considering how much I enjoyed the first three books, my expectations for Priest of Crowns were certainly high. Fortunately, it more than met them.
The series started as a brutal gangster family drama but evolved into a complex political thriller as the plot unfolded. After the events depicted in Prince of Gallows, Thomas returns to Ellinburg to sort things out and perhaps find proof of something he suspects.
Fans of the series know Thomas. He's a complete bastard, BUT McLean makes you root for him and his companions. He is also the archetypal gangster, the abused child, and the traumatized war veteran who has risen in society through violence. Archetypal gangsters usually die or go into politics. Thomas chose politics.
He fits in well with other politicians. In McLean's world, government and organized crime aren't so different. Perhaps ambitious politicians who seek ever more power are even more despicable. For them, people aren't even pawns, but mere cannon fodder and means to an end.
Thomas likes to understand people and the levers that move them. In Priest of Gallows, he admits that his levers are respect, power, and authority. Sure, he's gained some power, but not all. And there's a chance to get more. All it takes is a bloody rebellion. No spoilers but if you know Thomas Piety, you know what to expect.
The thing is, the price for more power may be too high in this case. I loved Thomas' distinct voice and his way of describing events. His voice remains rough and brutally honest. Thomas knows he's not quite right in the head and makes no secret of it. He knows who he cares about, though, and the moments he spends with his friends and adopted son add some lightness to the otherwise dark story. Well, at least until it becomes an even darker story.
Priest of Crowns provides a fitting (if brutal) ending to the series. It offers an excellent conclusion to Thomas Piety's story but leaves plenty of room to explore the world of the Rose Throne. If you love classic gangster movies, dark fantasy, amoral politics, and sympathetic anti-heroes you sometimes despise, you can't miss it. It ranks right up there with the best the genre has to offer.
ARC through NetGalley
Read
August 29, 2022What a fantastic ending. The last 4 words turn the series from Bloody Amazing to Fucking Glorious!
November 28, 2022
This fourth and final instalment of Peter McLean's War for the Rose Throne series was an excellent conclusion to one of the very best series I’ve read in the dark fantasy genre. It is dark and gritty but does not fall into the sort of over the top misery porn that plagues a lot of modern day grimdark takes.
The series is basically a gangster story set in a fantasy world with a bit of political intrigue thrown in. There is not a ton of magic but there is enough to keep things interesting and the world is an interesting and well drawn one. The focus is fairly tight, what with this being the tale of a gangster rise to power and up the social ladder, but there is enough intrigue and worldbuilding to establish a fairly interesting sounding wider fantasy world. McLean is a talented storyteller and he has an engaging writing style so it is fairly easy to get sucked into the story!
This fourth instalment was the full on war for the Rose Throne as Thomas set himself against Vogel. It was exciting stuff was plenty of action, intrigue, and twists and turns.
Thomas Piety is definitely a bit of an antihero, as one might expect given the fact he is a soldier and gangster turned spy and politician. The good news is that despite the fact that Thomas has a ton of flaws and is clearly a guy with a peculiar set of morals he (and most of his team) tend to be fairly easy characters for the reader to root for over the course of the story. It can be hard to pull that off but McLean has managed it successfully over the course of the whole series.
I ended up loving this final instalment. It took me ages to finish as I hit a bit of a reading slump but this book was definitely not to blame as I was sucked into the story every time I picked it up! The conclusion was satisfying and felt right for the tone of the story. We got a couple of brutal twists and turns but I felt like McLean handled them all very well so they made a good impact and added an emotional punch and ratcheted up the tension in the story.
I particularly enjoyed the moral musings of Thomas over the course of the story and it was fascinating to see how his character developed as he gained more and more power and how that in turn affected his relationships.
All in all I rate this as one of the best dark fantasy series the genre has to offer. I look forward to reading whatever McLean puts out next!
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Audio Note: I still slightly prefer John Lee (who narrated the US version of the opening two books in the series) but David Morley Hale is also a solid narrator and his performance here is good. If you had to switch to the UK versions from the US versions for this third book then the transition is a fairly smooth one.
The series is basically a gangster story set in a fantasy world with a bit of political intrigue thrown in. There is not a ton of magic but there is enough to keep things interesting and the world is an interesting and well drawn one. The focus is fairly tight, what with this being the tale of a gangster rise to power and up the social ladder, but there is enough intrigue and worldbuilding to establish a fairly interesting sounding wider fantasy world. McLean is a talented storyteller and he has an engaging writing style so it is fairly easy to get sucked into the story!
This fourth instalment was the full on war for the Rose Throne as Thomas set himself against Vogel. It was exciting stuff was plenty of action, intrigue, and twists and turns.
Thomas Piety is definitely a bit of an antihero, as one might expect given the fact he is a soldier and gangster turned spy and politician. The good news is that despite the fact that Thomas has a ton of flaws and is clearly a guy with a peculiar set of morals he (and most of his team) tend to be fairly easy characters for the reader to root for over the course of the story. It can be hard to pull that off but McLean has managed it successfully over the course of the whole series.
I ended up loving this final instalment. It took me ages to finish as I hit a bit of a reading slump but this book was definitely not to blame as I was sucked into the story every time I picked it up! The conclusion was satisfying and felt right for the tone of the story. We got a couple of brutal twists and turns but I felt like McLean handled them all very well so they made a good impact and added an emotional punch and ratcheted up the tension in the story.
I particularly enjoyed the moral musings of Thomas over the course of the story and it was fascinating to see how his character developed as he gained more and more power and how that in turn affected his relationships.
All in all I rate this as one of the best dark fantasy series the genre has to offer. I look forward to reading whatever McLean puts out next!
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Audio Note: I still slightly prefer John Lee (who narrated the US version of the opening two books in the series) but David Morley Hale is also a solid narrator and his performance here is good. If you had to switch to the UK versions from the US versions for this third book then the transition is a fairly smooth one.
March 1, 2025
4.5
wow.
this series was incredible. not in the sense of traditional fantasy aspects like worldbuilding, but in the moral complexities and themes it explored.
the characters
piety is ruthless and violent and generous. he's ambitious and selfish and stubborn and cares for his family deeply. he takes advantage and takes command wherever he goes. he's not evil, but he's not good either.
piety has never been traditionally 'good' main character and it gets insidiously more obvious as the series goes on. i love how the author's created his character, and no doubt he going to be one of the most memorable fantasy characters i will ever come across.
the other side characters are almost as admirable as piety himself. bloody anne, who is piety's "conscience" and sticks to it, unlike piety. jochan and cutter and billy and the veterans, so utterly ruined by battle shock and forges their way through it, all in different ways. the side characters also contain a multitude of complexities.
the characters and their intricacies are the best part of this series.
the plot
the plot was pretty good. while it wasn't the best - the political plot was pretty predictable - the character's fates? i should have seen some of them coming. there's also plenty of scheming and manipulation and the atmosphere of dannsburg - "where someone is always watching and the watcher is always watched" - is perfecto for the entire vibe. there was so much death and violence and grief in this book, no one can finish this with dry eyes. usually i'd prefer epilogues, but the ending feels more powerful if there isn't one.
the worldbuilding
while the worldbuilding isn't the strongest, it's relatively informative when it comes to politics and the common people. even though it's a fantasy, it has quite some aspects that are relevant to our own society: power, ambition, corruption, bitterness.
the flaw
given the titles of the books, i would have expected a deeper religious aspect. even in this book, where religion plays a bigger part, it's more of a tool for piety to gain power.
---
this was really a fantastic series, it's gonna be so hard to find a book that can beat it in terms of characters 🤧
wow.
this series was incredible. not in the sense of traditional fantasy aspects like worldbuilding, but in the moral complexities and themes it explored.
the characters
piety is ruthless and violent and generous. he's ambitious and selfish and stubborn and cares for his family deeply. he takes advantage and takes command wherever he goes. he's not evil, but he's not good either.
piety has never been traditionally 'good' main character and it gets insidiously more obvious as the series goes on. i love how the author's created his character, and no doubt he going to be one of the most memorable fantasy characters i will ever come across.
the other side characters are almost as admirable as piety himself. bloody anne, who is piety's "conscience" and sticks to it, unlike piety. jochan and cutter and billy and the veterans, so utterly ruined by battle shock and forges their way through it, all in different ways. the side characters also contain a multitude of complexities.
the characters and their intricacies are the best part of this series.
the plot
the plot was pretty good. while it wasn't the best - the political plot was pretty predictable - the character's fates? i should have seen some of them coming. there's also plenty of scheming and manipulation and the atmosphere of dannsburg - "where someone is always watching and the watcher is always watched" - is perfecto for the entire vibe. there was so much death and violence and grief in this book, no one can finish this with dry eyes. usually i'd prefer epilogues, but the ending feels more powerful if there isn't one.
the worldbuilding
while the worldbuilding isn't the strongest, it's relatively informative when it comes to politics and the common people. even though it's a fantasy, it has quite some aspects that are relevant to our own society: power, ambition, corruption, bitterness.
the flaw
given the titles of the books, i would have expected a deeper religious aspect. even in this book, where religion plays a bigger part, it's more of a tool for piety to gain power.
---
this was really a fantastic series, it's gonna be so hard to find a book that can beat it in terms of characters 🤧
April 22, 2023
Priest of Crowns is the final thrilling installment of the War for the Rose Throne quartet. Don’t start here. Get the first book and read in chronological order because there are themes that McLean starts in the first book that are followed through to book four.
One of those themes is propaganda and manipulation. Tomas Piety begins his story as an ordinary soldier, orphan son of a bricklayer, stepping up his game as leader of the Pious Men in Ellingrad, eventually as one of the Queen’s Men, and then a Knight, and a member of the Council. But, as the story goes on, Piety goes from unquestioning believing in what he is told to realizing how many layers of manipulation the rulers have foisted upon the masses. The People are told whatever suits the ruling class and whatever will motivate them to fight and work and pay homage. The news is but a tool of the ruling class and the newsmen will only report what they are told to or face Ilse in the dungeons of the House of Law. As part of the ruling cabal, Piety explains with regard to the elected council: “We manipulated them in ways that ensured they never agreed to anything we didn’t want them to; they spent most of their days in endless arguments about things that usually didn’t even matter.”
Another theme that keeps resurfacing here is how the quest for power, perhaps in the beginning to do good, will corrupt absolutely until one becomes “as close to a devil walking as I ever wanted to see, a man made of razors and hate.” Anything can be logically justified for the greater good. In the end, though, the question becomes whether once you have power, what are you going to do with it, except use it to maintain power. Piety sees that the Queen’s Men are ultimately ruthless gangsters no different than the petty gangs back home.
And, Tomas Piety finds that the quest for power leaves one alone, friendless, not knowing if there is anyone you can trust. In the capital city, everyone is watched and even the watchers are watched. Fear, too, is so great that no one can be sure who is a conspirator and who is loyal. Even one’s closest friends cannot be trusted in such a system.
Perhaps what makes this novel (and indeed this series) so great, besides the dark, brooding, atmosphere, is that McLean doesn’t just give us swashbuckling swordsmen and assassins and crazed magic princesses, but takes us down the road of wondering what the war is all about, what the revolution is worth, and what difference it makes which power-mad elite we put in charge. The book is not just grim in mood and subject matter, but grim in outlook, ultimately asking us as the Who once did, whether “We Don’t Get Fooled Again” by corrupt leaders and their petty propaganda and manipulations.
One of those themes is propaganda and manipulation. Tomas Piety begins his story as an ordinary soldier, orphan son of a bricklayer, stepping up his game as leader of the Pious Men in Ellingrad, eventually as one of the Queen’s Men, and then a Knight, and a member of the Council. But, as the story goes on, Piety goes from unquestioning believing in what he is told to realizing how many layers of manipulation the rulers have foisted upon the masses. The People are told whatever suits the ruling class and whatever will motivate them to fight and work and pay homage. The news is but a tool of the ruling class and the newsmen will only report what they are told to or face Ilse in the dungeons of the House of Law. As part of the ruling cabal, Piety explains with regard to the elected council: “We manipulated them in ways that ensured they never agreed to anything we didn’t want them to; they spent most of their days in endless arguments about things that usually didn’t even matter.”
Another theme that keeps resurfacing here is how the quest for power, perhaps in the beginning to do good, will corrupt absolutely until one becomes “as close to a devil walking as I ever wanted to see, a man made of razors and hate.” Anything can be logically justified for the greater good. In the end, though, the question becomes whether once you have power, what are you going to do with it, except use it to maintain power. Piety sees that the Queen’s Men are ultimately ruthless gangsters no different than the petty gangs back home.
And, Tomas Piety finds that the quest for power leaves one alone, friendless, not knowing if there is anyone you can trust. In the capital city, everyone is watched and even the watchers are watched. Fear, too, is so great that no one can be sure who is a conspirator and who is loyal. Even one’s closest friends cannot be trusted in such a system.
Perhaps what makes this novel (and indeed this series) so great, besides the dark, brooding, atmosphere, is that McLean doesn’t just give us swashbuckling swordsmen and assassins and crazed magic princesses, but takes us down the road of wondering what the war is all about, what the revolution is worth, and what difference it makes which power-mad elite we put in charge. The book is not just grim in mood and subject matter, but grim in outlook, ultimately asking us as the Who once did, whether “We Don’t Get Fooled Again” by corrupt leaders and their petty propaganda and manipulations.
December 17, 2022
That was how it was done: it was all in the phrasing. The right choice of words can normalise the most insane of ideas, and fast. These are the levers that move people, as I have written.
Peter McLean has proved those words in his own pages, time and time again. No matter how dark things got, no matter the decisions made, no matter the consequences, the deaths, I still believed in Tomas Piety. An insane idea, given the evidence to the contrary. I liked him even. He made the right choices at the right time. Decisions that had to be made, given the circumstances. He was doing the best with what he had. Right?
The power of words, indeed.
I'll miss you, Tomas. Despite it all. Or maybe because of it.
ARC via Netgalley
Peter McLean has proved those words in his own pages, time and time again. No matter how dark things got, no matter the decisions made, no matter the consequences, the deaths, I still believed in Tomas Piety. An insane idea, given the evidence to the contrary. I liked him even. He made the right choices at the right time. Decisions that had to be made, given the circumstances. He was doing the best with what he had. Right?
The power of words, indeed.
I'll miss you, Tomas. Despite it all. Or maybe because of it.
ARC via Netgalley
August 30, 2022
3.5 stars
Please note this review will contain spoilers for the previous books in the War for the Rose Throne series.
“Even then, even back in Abingon, I had been building my legend. I think I have been doing that my entire life, truth be told.
The legend of the devil Tomas Piety.”
The Princess Crown Royal is dead, becoming the Ascended Martyr who sacrificed herself for the good of her country, her people. Or so it is believed, and Our Lady take you if you don’t believe. Dannsburg had always been a dangerous place but even more so now as even the slightest offence would see you hanging. This was the time our Tomas Piety lived in, a time of political upheaval, a time where Dieter Vogal ruled with an iron fist and coveted ultimate power. Though Tomas has come a long way from the slums of Ellingburg, to mob boss of the Pious Men, to Priest, knight and Queen’s Man, he now faces his biggest challenge. Firstly he must return to Ellingburg and secure the streets from the Northern Sons and Skanian uprising, and then he must return to Dannsburg and outmanoeuvre Vogel, for he simply cannot let a tyrant rule the Rose Throne, can he?
Priest of Crowns begins not long after the dramatic ending of Priest of Gallows. McLean wastes no time in getting his readers knee-deep in Queen’s Men politics, their shady dealings and their lies. We see Tomas, using every ounce of knowledge and experience he’s gained being in their service start to unravel the truth, and he doesn’t like what he finds one bit. Immediately McLean raises the tension as we watch Tomas tread on very thin ice. However, news from Ellingburg, focuses his attention in another direction, and though he is no longer in charge of the Pious Men, he returns with Bloody Anne to find the Northern Sons wreaking havoc on what was once his streets, where he was prince. We have watched Tomas rise throughout each book, but in this final instalment Tomas Piety reconnects with the man he used to be, arguably the man he will always be. A soldier, a ruthless killer, a man who will do whatever it takes.
“‘There's a thing you have to understand about us old cunts,’ I said as I looked the lad in the eyes. 'We were once young cunts like you, full of piss and vinegar, but now we're tired and we ain't got the energy for a long fight any more. That means we're going to fight dirty and end it fast.’”
In the first half of the novel we see Tomas and his brother Jochan make some amends to their estranged relationship, and I thoroughly appreciated this, I had missed Jochan as he’s only featured briefly in the previous instalment. It was lovely to see his character find a sense of peace within his family set up with his lover Cutter, and his wife Hanne, yet we also see the other side of the coin and are shown he’s still as troubled as ever. After all, the effects of a life of violence and abuse never quite leaves you. In many ways Tomas finally grows to understand his brother, finally has a taste of what it’s like to be inside his mind. Once again, McLean gives us a deep psychological account of what warfare does to a veteran, the imprint it leaves upon them. “Battle shock, it’s just battle shock” was the repeated mantra whenever Tomas lost track of his own actions, lost control of himself, which in this final act, was very often. Tomas Piety is haunted by Abingon, the smell, sights and sounds never far from his mind no matter how far he pushes it away, no matter how much success, wealth or power he gains.
Tomas Piety has always been a man who demands respect, a man you wouldn’t dare double cross. Looking back at the entire series we’ve watched him make some dark choices which resulted in much bloodshed, men and women dying on his orders, yet there was always something about Tomas I found extremely likeable, something that made me root for him. He was never bigoted towards others, he had zero tolerance for violence against women, and then there was his fatherly affection towards his son Billy, and most of all his friendship with Bloody Anne. As I’ve always said, Tomas is no hero by any means, he may use the right man for the right job to achieve his goals, but his decisions and actions have always seemed justified. He’s seen his fair share of hardship and so seeing him rise above that, to go beyond a street urchin pleased me in many ways.
Yet in Priest of Crowns his actions became less justifiable, the consequences became too damn high, and in all honesty the way he began to treat people close to him, those who had stood by him from the very beginning, angered me immensely. I had to reevaluate my perception of his character and ask myself, had this been the real Tomas Piety all along and I just chose not to see it? Sure, he fought for ‘the good of his country’ but who’s idea of good? His plans of revolution felt a lot like it was just bringing war to his own country, the very thing he’d always said he’d wanted to avoid. That is the fantastic complexity of McLean’s characters, they have a myriad of sides to them, they are characters with demons as he’s always illustrated, it’s just we don’t always see those demons with true clarity.
Did I feel comfortable with the way Tomas Piety’s story arc ended? Not in the slightest and I don’t believe we’re meant to. But did I appreciate what McLean was showing us all along with his character? Absolutely. After finishing Priest of Bones in my review I questioned Tomas’s true motives and I guess now I got my answer. This is Tomas’ memoirs after all, and it’s an honest portrayal of what gaining power costs you in the end.
Priest of Crowns is a bold, explosive conclusion with a real gut-punch of an ending. McLean will leave you thinking of our Tomas Piety long after you’ve closed the last page.
“Sometimes a leader has to make hard decisions, and the simple fact of the matter is that sometimes, inevitably, the decision will be the wrong one.”
Review copy provided by Ella at Jo Fletcher Books. Thank you for the copy!
Priest of Crowns is out now.
Please note this review will contain spoilers for the previous books in the War for the Rose Throne series.
“Even then, even back in Abingon, I had been building my legend. I think I have been doing that my entire life, truth be told.
The legend of the devil Tomas Piety.”
The Princess Crown Royal is dead, becoming the Ascended Martyr who sacrificed herself for the good of her country, her people. Or so it is believed, and Our Lady take you if you don’t believe. Dannsburg had always been a dangerous place but even more so now as even the slightest offence would see you hanging. This was the time our Tomas Piety lived in, a time of political upheaval, a time where Dieter Vogal ruled with an iron fist and coveted ultimate power. Though Tomas has come a long way from the slums of Ellingburg, to mob boss of the Pious Men, to Priest, knight and Queen’s Man, he now faces his biggest challenge. Firstly he must return to Ellingburg and secure the streets from the Northern Sons and Skanian uprising, and then he must return to Dannsburg and outmanoeuvre Vogel, for he simply cannot let a tyrant rule the Rose Throne, can he?
Priest of Crowns begins not long after the dramatic ending of Priest of Gallows. McLean wastes no time in getting his readers knee-deep in Queen’s Men politics, their shady dealings and their lies. We see Tomas, using every ounce of knowledge and experience he’s gained being in their service start to unravel the truth, and he doesn’t like what he finds one bit. Immediately McLean raises the tension as we watch Tomas tread on very thin ice. However, news from Ellingburg, focuses his attention in another direction, and though he is no longer in charge of the Pious Men, he returns with Bloody Anne to find the Northern Sons wreaking havoc on what was once his streets, where he was prince. We have watched Tomas rise throughout each book, but in this final instalment Tomas Piety reconnects with the man he used to be, arguably the man he will always be. A soldier, a ruthless killer, a man who will do whatever it takes.
“‘There's a thing you have to understand about us old cunts,’ I said as I looked the lad in the eyes. 'We were once young cunts like you, full of piss and vinegar, but now we're tired and we ain't got the energy for a long fight any more. That means we're going to fight dirty and end it fast.’”
In the first half of the novel we see Tomas and his brother Jochan make some amends to their estranged relationship, and I thoroughly appreciated this, I had missed Jochan as he’s only featured briefly in the previous instalment. It was lovely to see his character find a sense of peace within his family set up with his lover Cutter, and his wife Hanne, yet we also see the other side of the coin and are shown he’s still as troubled as ever. After all, the effects of a life of violence and abuse never quite leaves you. In many ways Tomas finally grows to understand his brother, finally has a taste of what it’s like to be inside his mind. Once again, McLean gives us a deep psychological account of what warfare does to a veteran, the imprint it leaves upon them. “Battle shock, it’s just battle shock” was the repeated mantra whenever Tomas lost track of his own actions, lost control of himself, which in this final act, was very often. Tomas Piety is haunted by Abingon, the smell, sights and sounds never far from his mind no matter how far he pushes it away, no matter how much success, wealth or power he gains.
Tomas Piety has always been a man who demands respect, a man you wouldn’t dare double cross. Looking back at the entire series we’ve watched him make some dark choices which resulted in much bloodshed, men and women dying on his orders, yet there was always something about Tomas I found extremely likeable, something that made me root for him. He was never bigoted towards others, he had zero tolerance for violence against women, and then there was his fatherly affection towards his son Billy, and most of all his friendship with Bloody Anne. As I’ve always said, Tomas is no hero by any means, he may use the right man for the right job to achieve his goals, but his decisions and actions have always seemed justified. He’s seen his fair share of hardship and so seeing him rise above that, to go beyond a street urchin pleased me in many ways.
Yet in Priest of Crowns his actions became less justifiable, the consequences became too damn high, and in all honesty the way he began to treat people close to him, those who had stood by him from the very beginning, angered me immensely. I had to reevaluate my perception of his character and ask myself, had this been the real Tomas Piety all along and I just chose not to see it? Sure, he fought for ‘the good of his country’ but who’s idea of good? His plans of revolution felt a lot like it was just bringing war to his own country, the very thing he’d always said he’d wanted to avoid. That is the fantastic complexity of McLean’s characters, they have a myriad of sides to them, they are characters with demons as he’s always illustrated, it’s just we don’t always see those demons with true clarity.
Did I feel comfortable with the way Tomas Piety’s story arc ended? Not in the slightest and I don’t believe we’re meant to. But did I appreciate what McLean was showing us all along with his character? Absolutely. After finishing Priest of Bones in my review I questioned Tomas’s true motives and I guess now I got my answer. This is Tomas’ memoirs after all, and it’s an honest portrayal of what gaining power costs you in the end.
Priest of Crowns is a bold, explosive conclusion with a real gut-punch of an ending. McLean will leave you thinking of our Tomas Piety long after you’ve closed the last page.
“Sometimes a leader has to make hard decisions, and the simple fact of the matter is that sometimes, inevitably, the decision will be the wrong one.”
Review copy provided by Ella at Jo Fletcher Books. Thank you for the copy!
Priest of Crowns is out now.
July 12, 2022
If you're going through Hell, walk like you own the place. Walk like the devil.
Aye, I could do that.
I can't say I'm not still just a tad miffed about the giant twist that was the last half of the previous book, but it took us to this ending, and that was freaking perfect.
I loved watching Thomas Piety manipulate his way to where he ends up (finding the levers that move people is all I'm saying, and boy did he find his own), and it was -as ever- a brutal, fascinating, and enthralling journey. It's a fitting ending for his journey, and although I'm still not sure exactly how McLean did this, I'm going to miss the old bastard.
4.5 stars
*I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Aye, I could do that.
I can't say I'm not still just a tad miffed about the giant twist that was the last half of the previous book, but it took us to this ending, and that was freaking perfect.
I loved watching Thomas Piety manipulate his way to where he ends up (finding the levers that move people is all I'm saying, and boy did he find his own), and it was -as ever- a brutal, fascinating, and enthralling journey. It's a fitting ending for his journey, and although I'm still not sure exactly how McLean did this, I'm going to miss the old bastard.
4.5 stars
*I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
July 25, 2022
It's easy to label this series as 'Peaky Blinders with swords and magic' but that doesn't really do it justice. Over the course of four books, Peter McLean examines the dark underbelly of human beings and the lies we tell each other and ourselves to justify doing awful things for an imagined greater good. It reflects on modern life using a fantasy setting with characters that are so well crafted that it's easy to imagine being in the room with them as the mayhem ensues, with the mud and blood of the city streets on our boots and clothes.
In this book, Pete turns up the tension, the thrills, the heartbreak and especially the hope that good will win out in the end before reminding us that we were walking with the devil all along.
I'm sad the series is over but, by God, what an amazing series it is. A masterpiece.
In this book, Pete turns up the tension, the thrills, the heartbreak and especially the hope that good will win out in the end before reminding us that we were walking with the devil all along.
I'm sad the series is over but, by God, what an amazing series it is. A masterpiece.
January 26, 2025
’Look at me, Ma. Please, look at me’
Priest of Crowns ends the War for the Rose Throne series on a bitter sweet note. Beginning simply as the story of Tomas Piety, a war priest and gangster returning home to take back his territory, to the story of Tomas Piety, knight, Queen’s Man and Prince Regent who may one day be King. Seriously, this series took turns I never thought I’d see.
My relationship with this series has been strange since the first book. I loved Priest of Bones and was more than happy to give it 5 stars. It was simple but effective, a story set in one city with a fantastic set of characters, and a plot that made sense. I knew the second that Ailsa was introduced and the Queen’s Men were brought in that this wouldn’t be the same gangster story I originally fell in love with anymore. And that’s the reason I’ve given every book since 4 stars. Because while the plot remains engaging, writing and dialogue are still brilliant, and pacing is quick and snappy, that I would forever miss the story I thought I was getting about a small town mob boss and his ragtag group of friends.
I still think Tomas Piety is one of the most fascinating main characters I’ve read in fantasy. He started off as a sort of anti-hero, but by the end of the series I can’t really say I ultimately liked him anymore. His descent into becoming more and more what he hated the most was very well done, and I loved his own inner standoff against the side of him that wanted power and the side of him that wanted to better Dannsburg.
I loved the many side-characters that populated this world, most notably being Bloody Anne, Jochan, Cutter, Iagin and, as much as I hate her, Ailsa. Each was so unique which such fascinating backgrounds and voices within this book. I enjoyed how no character was completely perfect, all were flawed and at parts awful, but all so human.
Of course the way in which McLean explored PTSD was a highlight to this entire series. The way in which Tomas’s ‘battle shock’ grew as he himself became a worse person was masterfully done, and I thought the many different forms PTSD took for differing characters was captivating.
Of course McLean’s commentaries on corrupt governments, the use of media to manipulate the public, the class divide, and dictatorships were thoroughly interesting and well crafted. I myself feel that I have a lot in common politically with McLean, and I resonated a lot with the points he made. I think urban fantasy is a fantastic tool in which to explore real world political and social issues, and I’m more than glad he took the time to do this.
Overall, Priest of Crowns gets 4/5 stars and the War for the Rose Throne series also gets 4/5 stars. Certainly one of my favourite urban fantasies, even if I wasn’t a fan of the scope this ended up having.
Priest of Crowns ends the War for the Rose Throne series on a bitter sweet note. Beginning simply as the story of Tomas Piety, a war priest and gangster returning home to take back his territory, to the story of Tomas Piety, knight, Queen’s Man and Prince Regent who may one day be King. Seriously, this series took turns I never thought I’d see.
My relationship with this series has been strange since the first book. I loved Priest of Bones and was more than happy to give it 5 stars. It was simple but effective, a story set in one city with a fantastic set of characters, and a plot that made sense. I knew the second that Ailsa was introduced and the Queen’s Men were brought in that this wouldn’t be the same gangster story I originally fell in love with anymore. And that’s the reason I’ve given every book since 4 stars. Because while the plot remains engaging, writing and dialogue are still brilliant, and pacing is quick and snappy, that I would forever miss the story I thought I was getting about a small town mob boss and his ragtag group of friends.
I still think Tomas Piety is one of the most fascinating main characters I’ve read in fantasy. He started off as a sort of anti-hero, but by the end of the series I can’t really say I ultimately liked him anymore. His descent into becoming more and more what he hated the most was very well done, and I loved his own inner standoff against the side of him that wanted power and the side of him that wanted to better Dannsburg.
I loved the many side-characters that populated this world, most notably being Bloody Anne, Jochan, Cutter, Iagin and, as much as I hate her, Ailsa. Each was so unique which such fascinating backgrounds and voices within this book. I enjoyed how no character was completely perfect, all were flawed and at parts awful, but all so human.
Of course the way in which McLean explored PTSD was a highlight to this entire series. The way in which Tomas’s ‘battle shock’ grew as he himself became a worse person was masterfully done, and I thought the many different forms PTSD took for differing characters was captivating.
Of course McLean’s commentaries on corrupt governments, the use of media to manipulate the public, the class divide, and dictatorships were thoroughly interesting and well crafted. I myself feel that I have a lot in common politically with McLean, and I resonated a lot with the points he made. I think urban fantasy is a fantastic tool in which to explore real world political and social issues, and I’m more than glad he took the time to do this.
Overall, Priest of Crowns gets 4/5 stars and the War for the Rose Throne series also gets 4/5 stars. Certainly one of my favourite urban fantasies, even if I wasn’t a fan of the scope this ended up having.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2023
What a series! It ticked all my boxes and I loved every single book, which is why I burned through them quickly. The short and fast paced chapters made it really difficult to put the books down. And even when I managed to put them down I couldn't stop thinking about them. I even lost sleep because I couldn't stop thinking of the books. Bonus points to the author for having a country named after the region in which I live in (Skania/Scania)!!
5 stars for each of the books in the series, and 5 stars for the series as a whole. I wish that more people would disover it. It's very underappreciated.
5 stars for each of the books in the series, and 5 stars for the series as a whole. I wish that more people would disover it. It's very underappreciated.
June 6, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! I have been a huge fan of this series from the beginning and I was eager to read this final installment. I thought that this was a fitting end to the series and I am satisfied with how things turned out. This wasn’t a happy ending but it felt very real.
Tomas goes through a lot in this book and he will stop at nothing to get the vengeance he feels that he is owed. The politics kept me guessing and I was never quite sure who could be trusted. This book had all of the bloody action and excitement that I have come to expect from the series which kept me glued to the pages. I loved the fact that there were some pretty big surprises worked into this story. Tomas paid a huge price to get what he felt he needed and I felt a little sad for him in the end.
I would recommend this series to others. This is a darker fantasy that I have found to be incredibly entertaining and well-written. This is a series that should be read in order since each book builds on the events of the previous installment. I look forward to reading more of this author’s books in the future.
Book source: Purchased
This was great! I have been a huge fan of this series from the beginning and I was eager to read this final installment. I thought that this was a fitting end to the series and I am satisfied with how things turned out. This wasn’t a happy ending but it felt very real.
Tomas goes through a lot in this book and he will stop at nothing to get the vengeance he feels that he is owed. The politics kept me guessing and I was never quite sure who could be trusted. This book had all of the bloody action and excitement that I have come to expect from the series which kept me glued to the pages. I loved the fact that there were some pretty big surprises worked into this story. Tomas paid a huge price to get what he felt he needed and I felt a little sad for him in the end.
I would recommend this series to others. This is a darker fantasy that I have found to be incredibly entertaining and well-written. This is a series that should be read in order since each book builds on the events of the previous installment. I look forward to reading more of this author’s books in the future.
Book source: Purchased
July 3, 2023
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum.
I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I probably don’t reveal a big secret if I say Priest of Crowns was my most anticipated release of 2022. The War for the Rose Throne series had become one of my favorite series over the years and I was super excited to see where McLean intended to take the finale. I’m happy to say I was not disappointed by the delivery at all and if you’ve been following the series thus far, then you definitely don’t want to miss the ending. Believe me. I know. And I want to talk about ALL THE SPOILERS BUT I CAN’T.
I literally read 90% of the book over a weekend, so that probably will tell you everything you wanted to know, but nonetheless, I’ll try to put my thoughts into a somewhat coherent review, trying not to spoil Priest of Crowns itself. However, spoilers for previous books might be found, so proceed with caution!
With the queen’s death, Vogel and the Queen’s Men face a problem no one saw coming: the rise of a zealous religious group claiming her to be a Martyr. Things in Dannsburg are already near to the boiling point and this doesn’t help matters at all. It also gives Vogel a new pretext under which he can get rid of people who might be dangerous. Things between Tomas and Vogel get icier by the day too, and Tomas is ready to set his plans into motion. And we know there are factions within even the Queen’s Men.
In the meantime, Ellinburg knows no piece as atrocities between the Northern Sons and the Pious Men become a daily occurrence. Once again, it’s down to Tomas to get the city under order to keep the country safe from the Skanian threat and pay the price for it.
I won’t go into further details regarding the plot, let’s just say Priest of Crowns ties up all the plotlines and events giving a satisfying closure. It has some damn powerful emotional moments, some of which still make me reeling, a healthy amount of political intrigue, more than a few (gruesome) deaths, and a couple of revelations. In short, everything that the previous books brought to the table and then some more.
The fourth book didn’t put many new people on the board, mostly side characters, some of whom proved to be an essential driver for the plot, and one who is important to me on a personal level. All I’m going to say is, go and see if you’ll find a familiar name 😉 And then there is Sister Galina, the leader of the new religious group, who used to work for the crown before becoming a cult leader. Her inclusion and the way she is used in the plot is just pure genius. I loved it. But then, I really enjoyed the addition of the religious aspect as it’s totally in my wheelhouse.
As for the older characters, all of them – who are alive yet, that is – make an appearance. Such as Johann, Cutter, Aunt Enaid, Lady Lan Yetrova, Ailsa, Mr. Shapoor, and all of the Queen’s Men and Pious Men. Bloody Anne continues to be Tomas’ voice of conscience, although it proves to be more difficult by the day. She is indeed the best friend a person could ask for. She stands by Tomas no matter what, even if she doesn’t always agree with him. But she also has the balls to tell him off when she has hard feelings. Bloody Anne continues to be one of the greatest characters in this series.
I also want to mention Ailsa with whom I had a kinda love/hate relationship. I never warmed up to her, although I tended to have my doubts as we saw things progressing through Tomas’ eyes, who clearly loves her. She was the only one who kept me guessing until the end. I saw two possible ways her character could go and McLean definitely didn’t disappoint there. I had my questions and they got answered magnificently. The right man, for the right job, indeed.
My personal favorite still remains Billy though. He got me worried all through the book with his mysterious illness. And my favorite moments were those that showed the connection between him and Tomas, as father and son. Tomas might not be the most virtuous man or even a good one for that matter, but he definitely has a soft spot for Billy, which makes him all the more human.
That said, halfway through the book I started to have very conflicted feelings about Tomas. I always liked him as a character – not that I would want to meet him in person – and I mostly did here in Priest of Crowns too, but as we got nearer to the end, I started questioning if I really do. I definitely didn’t agree with some of his decisions, and while I could see his reasoning, I wasn’t sure he got the right of it all. Now I finally understand while McLean says he is the villain because he really is. It’s interesting how much about a character’s actions you can write off until it becomes just one too many things where you start to see them differently. Just like in real life, I guess. And even so, until the very end, I didn’t really think he would do what he did. And still, it just makes perfect sense.
Reaching the end of a series is always exciting because every piece gets into place, questions get answered – mostly – and you get affirmation whether you were right or wrong about certain things. One of my suspicions I had since Priest of Lies just got confirmed, which was pretty satisfying even if it didn’t come as a big surprise. I saw it coming, but it gave me a victorious feeling because I was totally right. That’s not to say I didn’t get a surprise or two – or rather a punch in the gut or two – because holy shit, I did. Did I mention I’m still not over the book? Because I’m not, and that’s all McLean‘s fault. It’s such a shame we have to say goodbye to these characters.
As I said, Priest of Crowns is an absolute page-turner, and through the last 80%, I literally sat on the edge of my seat. I had absolutely no idea where things will land and it all came about with a BANG. Is Priest of Crowns a perfect book? No. The ending seemed a bit rushed and at places, the prose was a bit repetitive, but on the whole, I didn’t fucking care about that. And I already can’t wait to reread it in audiobook format, narrated by the most amazing David Morley Hale.
Peter McLean brings the War for the Rose Throne series to a gut-punching end with Priest of Crowns, one that will be remembered for a long time coming. One of the best books of 2022 for sure. Praise be to Our Lady.
I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“I wondered just how many other members of the general public were this fucking stupid, and found myself realising with a sinking feeling that the answer was probably most of them. No, not stupid, perhaps; ta t was being harsh, but unobservant, nonetheless. The common people were so wrapped up in the minutiae of their own lives, of making a living and putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads, that they had no time to observe the bigger picture unfolding around them. They didn’t see the upheavals and shifts in government until they were personally affected, and by then it was always far too late.”
I probably don’t reveal a big secret if I say Priest of Crowns was my most anticipated release of 2022. The War for the Rose Throne series had become one of my favorite series over the years and I was super excited to see where McLean intended to take the finale. I’m happy to say I was not disappointed by the delivery at all and if you’ve been following the series thus far, then you definitely don’t want to miss the ending. Believe me. I know. And I want to talk about ALL THE SPOILERS BUT I CAN’T.
I literally read 90% of the book over a weekend, so that probably will tell you everything you wanted to know, but nonetheless, I’ll try to put my thoughts into a somewhat coherent review, trying not to spoil Priest of Crowns itself. However, spoilers for previous books might be found, so proceed with caution!
With the queen’s death, Vogel and the Queen’s Men face a problem no one saw coming: the rise of a zealous religious group claiming her to be a Martyr. Things in Dannsburg are already near to the boiling point and this doesn’t help matters at all. It also gives Vogel a new pretext under which he can get rid of people who might be dangerous. Things between Tomas and Vogel get icier by the day too, and Tomas is ready to set his plans into motion. And we know there are factions within even the Queen’s Men.
In the meantime, Ellinburg knows no piece as atrocities between the Northern Sons and the Pious Men become a daily occurrence. Once again, it’s down to Tomas to get the city under order to keep the country safe from the Skanian threat and pay the price for it.
I won’t go into further details regarding the plot, let’s just say Priest of Crowns ties up all the plotlines and events giving a satisfying closure. It has some damn powerful emotional moments, some of which still make me reeling, a healthy amount of political intrigue, more than a few (gruesome) deaths, and a couple of revelations. In short, everything that the previous books brought to the table and then some more.
The fourth book didn’t put many new people on the board, mostly side characters, some of whom proved to be an essential driver for the plot, and one who is important to me on a personal level. All I’m going to say is, go and see if you’ll find a familiar name 😉 And then there is Sister Galina, the leader of the new religious group, who used to work for the crown before becoming a cult leader. Her inclusion and the way she is used in the plot is just pure genius. I loved it. But then, I really enjoyed the addition of the religious aspect as it’s totally in my wheelhouse.
As for the older characters, all of them – who are alive yet, that is – make an appearance. Such as Johann, Cutter, Aunt Enaid, Lady Lan Yetrova, Ailsa, Mr. Shapoor, and all of the Queen’s Men and Pious Men. Bloody Anne continues to be Tomas’ voice of conscience, although it proves to be more difficult by the day. She is indeed the best friend a person could ask for. She stands by Tomas no matter what, even if she doesn’t always agree with him. But she also has the balls to tell him off when she has hard feelings. Bloody Anne continues to be one of the greatest characters in this series.
I also want to mention Ailsa with whom I had a kinda love/hate relationship. I never warmed up to her, although I tended to have my doubts as we saw things progressing through Tomas’ eyes, who clearly loves her. She was the only one who kept me guessing until the end. I saw two possible ways her character could go and McLean definitely didn’t disappoint there. I had my questions and they got answered magnificently. The right man, for the right job, indeed.
My personal favorite still remains Billy though. He got me worried all through the book with his mysterious illness. And my favorite moments were those that showed the connection between him and Tomas, as father and son. Tomas might not be the most virtuous man or even a good one for that matter, but he definitely has a soft spot for Billy, which makes him all the more human.
That said, halfway through the book I started to have very conflicted feelings about Tomas. I always liked him as a character – not that I would want to meet him in person – and I mostly did here in Priest of Crowns too, but as we got nearer to the end, I started questioning if I really do. I definitely didn’t agree with some of his decisions, and while I could see his reasoning, I wasn’t sure he got the right of it all. Now I finally understand while McLean says he is the villain because he really is. It’s interesting how much about a character’s actions you can write off until it becomes just one too many things where you start to see them differently. Just like in real life, I guess. And even so, until the very end, I didn’t really think he would do what he did. And still, it just makes perfect sense.
Reaching the end of a series is always exciting because every piece gets into place, questions get answered – mostly – and you get affirmation whether you were right or wrong about certain things. One of my suspicions I had since Priest of Lies just got confirmed, which was pretty satisfying even if it didn’t come as a big surprise. I saw it coming, but it gave me a victorious feeling because I was totally right. That’s not to say I didn’t get a surprise or two – or rather a punch in the gut or two – because holy shit, I did. Did I mention I’m still not over the book? Because I’m not, and that’s all McLean‘s fault. It’s such a shame we have to say goodbye to these characters.
As I said, Priest of Crowns is an absolute page-turner, and through the last 80%, I literally sat on the edge of my seat. I had absolutely no idea where things will land and it all came about with a BANG. Is Priest of Crowns a perfect book? No. The ending seemed a bit rushed and at places, the prose was a bit repetitive, but on the whole, I didn’t fucking care about that. And I already can’t wait to reread it in audiobook format, narrated by the most amazing David Morley Hale.
Peter McLean brings the War for the Rose Throne series to a gut-punching end with Priest of Crowns, one that will be remembered for a long time coming. One of the best books of 2022 for sure. Praise be to Our Lady.
September 24, 2022
Priest of Crowns is one of the boldest and most explosive endings to a series I have ever read. What started out in Priest of Bones as a Peaky Blinders style gangster drama has ended in an intricate and brutal political fantasy thriller. And yet, it never lost its distinct and unique flair the entire way through. The War for the Rose Throne series truly is grimdark fantasy at its finest.
There are endless praises I could give about this series, but the main standout is undoubtedly the character work for me. Tomas Piety is one of the most complex and well-rounded characters I have ever read. Over the course of these four books, which are presented as Tomas’ memoirs, we have come to know our messed up protagonist intimately. The good, the bad, the ugly, it’s all here, without apologies. Yet, despite knowing about all his darker sides and wholly disagreeing with some of the choices that he makes, you just can’t help but love him and root for him.
And then there are the side characters, who all feel just as well-developed and real as Tomas does, despite never reading from their perspective. The character relationships and found family vibes in this series are truly unmatched and I wish I could adopt myself into the Pious Men (although I doubt I would survive long, lol). I adore these characters, not because these characters are so lovable (most of them aren’t, in fact), but because they are so real, flawed and human.
From the very first page, we know that this is a grim and brutal world. But what I love is that we don’t just get told that this is the case, no my friends, we get to experience it first-hand. Each and every character has been left scarred and broken by the horrors that they have had to endure, which allows for some raw, deep and vulnerable discussions around mental health, trauma, redemption and healing.
Also, I don’t hear people talk about the amazing queer representation in this series and I think that is a damn shame. There are multiple queer characters and I loved seeing them be unapologetically themselves. There are some beautiful, if somewhat unconventional, relationships established, which really warmed my heart. The romances never become a main focus here, but they certainly added some much needed touches of hope and light to this dark story.
Now, don’t think that all this impeccable character work takes anything away from the plot, because the opposite couldn’t be more true! Over the course of the series, the plot only continued to get more and more complex. It’s full of pulse-pounding action, intricate political schemes, jaw-dropping revelations, gut-wrenching losses and a whole heck of a lot of betrayals and backstabbing. You come to care deeply for these characters, so I guarantee that you will be on the edge of your seat with worry and anticipatory dread the entire way through this series. Also, our dear Tomas Piety has a knack for making trouble and getting into dangerous situations, so that kept the story very engaging, indeed.
The ending was bold and bitter-sweet, but there really was no other way this series could have ended. I can’t say that I am satisfied, but I don’t think that we are supposed to be… I mean, this is a grimdark series after all.
I am so sad to have to part ways with these characters now, but I have no doubt that I will return to them in the future. I had a blast with this series.
If you still haven’t picked up Priest of Bones yet, then I highly encourage you to do so as soon as possible. I can now say with certainty that McLean 100% stuck the landing with this finale, so you have no excuse not to binge your way through this series!
There are endless praises I could give about this series, but the main standout is undoubtedly the character work for me. Tomas Piety is one of the most complex and well-rounded characters I have ever read. Over the course of these four books, which are presented as Tomas’ memoirs, we have come to know our messed up protagonist intimately. The good, the bad, the ugly, it’s all here, without apologies. Yet, despite knowing about all his darker sides and wholly disagreeing with some of the choices that he makes, you just can’t help but love him and root for him.
And then there are the side characters, who all feel just as well-developed and real as Tomas does, despite never reading from their perspective. The character relationships and found family vibes in this series are truly unmatched and I wish I could adopt myself into the Pious Men (although I doubt I would survive long, lol). I adore these characters, not because these characters are so lovable (most of them aren’t, in fact), but because they are so real, flawed and human.
From the very first page, we know that this is a grim and brutal world. But what I love is that we don’t just get told that this is the case, no my friends, we get to experience it first-hand. Each and every character has been left scarred and broken by the horrors that they have had to endure, which allows for some raw, deep and vulnerable discussions around mental health, trauma, redemption and healing.
Also, I don’t hear people talk about the amazing queer representation in this series and I think that is a damn shame. There are multiple queer characters and I loved seeing them be unapologetically themselves. There are some beautiful, if somewhat unconventional, relationships established, which really warmed my heart. The romances never become a main focus here, but they certainly added some much needed touches of hope and light to this dark story.
Now, don’t think that all this impeccable character work takes anything away from the plot, because the opposite couldn’t be more true! Over the course of the series, the plot only continued to get more and more complex. It’s full of pulse-pounding action, intricate political schemes, jaw-dropping revelations, gut-wrenching losses and a whole heck of a lot of betrayals and backstabbing. You come to care deeply for these characters, so I guarantee that you will be on the edge of your seat with worry and anticipatory dread the entire way through this series. Also, our dear Tomas Piety has a knack for making trouble and getting into dangerous situations, so that kept the story very engaging, indeed.
The ending was bold and bitter-sweet, but there really was no other way this series could have ended. I can’t say that I am satisfied, but I don’t think that we are supposed to be… I mean, this is a grimdark series after all.
I am so sad to have to part ways with these characters now, but I have no doubt that I will return to them in the future. I had a blast with this series.
If you still haven’t picked up Priest of Bones yet, then I highly encourage you to do so as soon as possible. I can now say with certainty that McLean 100% stuck the landing with this finale, so you have no excuse not to binge your way through this series!
August 11, 2022
For three books, Tomas Piety’s memoirs have tracked his evolution from soldier to priest to gangster to Queen’s Man. Priest of Crowns takes what you know and burns it all down into glorious wreckage, and it was a brilliant and unexpected journey that caught me flat-footed.
Be very wary of an old man in a young man’s game.
Tomas Piety is a meticulous man. He plays every move close to his chest, and his clever and careful actions have allowed him to ascend far up the ladders of both politics and crime. But living in the capital city of Dannsburg, it’s not just about ascension anymore, it’s about survival. As a Queen’s Man, rubbing elbows with those who turn the gears of government, one wrong move—hell, one wrong comment—and Piety will find himself swinging from the gallows come morning. Thus, one of the more interesting struggles that McLean writes for Piety is a deep insecurity about the amount of respect he gleans from his companions. He is compelled to be the boss, even from those he calls friends. He craves respect and is willing to sacrifice the bonds of friendship to fulfill his need to be the alpha, in all situations. Therefore, it was great fun seeing Tomas out of his comfort zone, facing enemies more powerful than himself, or dealing with allies who were unreliable and borderline insane.
Priest of Crowns is full of surprises and savage heartbreak. Tomas’ evolution from man to boogeyman is a brilliant journey to witness, ingeniously constructed over four books and blown apart in its final moments. It questions the nature of sacrifice, and it dares you to re-read the series from the start with new perspective on it all.
‘Sometimes you have to weigh two evils in your hands and choose the lighter one.’
‘I’m not sure I believe that,’ Anne said.
I’m going to miss one of my favorite narrative voices in fiction, though he got the ending he deserved. A screen adaptation of War for the Rose Throne could easily stand beside prestige dramas like Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders, and Better Caul Saul. McLean has crafted a remarkable story with a distinct voice on the state of modern politics, and a cast of colorful, vibrant characters that brought the story to life. Unputdownable.
5/5 stars
Be very wary of an old man in a young man’s game.
Tomas Piety is a meticulous man. He plays every move close to his chest, and his clever and careful actions have allowed him to ascend far up the ladders of both politics and crime. But living in the capital city of Dannsburg, it’s not just about ascension anymore, it’s about survival. As a Queen’s Man, rubbing elbows with those who turn the gears of government, one wrong move—hell, one wrong comment—and Piety will find himself swinging from the gallows come morning. Thus, one of the more interesting struggles that McLean writes for Piety is a deep insecurity about the amount of respect he gleans from his companions. He is compelled to be the boss, even from those he calls friends. He craves respect and is willing to sacrifice the bonds of friendship to fulfill his need to be the alpha, in all situations. Therefore, it was great fun seeing Tomas out of his comfort zone, facing enemies more powerful than himself, or dealing with allies who were unreliable and borderline insane.
Priest of Crowns is full of surprises and savage heartbreak. Tomas’ evolution from man to boogeyman is a brilliant journey to witness, ingeniously constructed over four books and blown apart in its final moments. It questions the nature of sacrifice, and it dares you to re-read the series from the start with new perspective on it all.
‘Sometimes you have to weigh two evils in your hands and choose the lighter one.’
‘I’m not sure I believe that,’ Anne said.
I’m going to miss one of my favorite narrative voices in fiction, though he got the ending he deserved. A screen adaptation of War for the Rose Throne could easily stand beside prestige dramas like Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders, and Better Caul Saul. McLean has crafted a remarkable story with a distinct voice on the state of modern politics, and a cast of colorful, vibrant characters that brought the story to life. Unputdownable.
5/5 stars
December 21, 2023
3.75. Full series review to come.
August 9, 2022
The final book in the story of Tomas Piety, traumatised ex-soldier, battlefield priest, gangster, dangerous politician (of a sorts). I thought the finale lived up to the previous three books in the series, and the ending is pretty good, a rarity I find, in epic series.
It is a character led story, principally that of Tomas but also supported by a fair amount of violent action. It is unusual in that I felt that the main character, Tomas, doesn’t develop much. He is always comfortable in his skin from the start; used to violence as a means to an end, intelligent and a risk taker. Only a handful of people that he truly ever trusts and even fewer of them that he claims to love. None of that changes much over the series, but the interesting part is how his streetwise character adapts to the different circumstances he faces, from street hoodlum fighting to ‘games of thrones’ politics. It’s no surprise that as a gangster he doesn’t find it hard to adapt to politics. He regularly reflects on how his circumstances have changed and what his path should be. I’ve heard it compared to the BBC Peaky Blinders gangster TV series by other reviewers but as I’ve not seen that I can’t comment.
This final volume deals with how he manages his role as a ‘Queen’s Man’ in the capital, these being a small elite of secret agents charged with manipulating affairs in the country, mainly under their own initiative. His boss is as ruthless as Tomas and Tomas discovers it’s all going in a direction he doesn’t like. Maybe only one or two caveats about plot details towards the end of the story as it reached a climax - but still a good climax and ending to such a powerful story.
I’ve enjoyed Tomas’ first person narration all the way through the series, especially his blunt, no nonsense, view of his increasingly privileged position as those in power have tried to control him to their ends. A distinctive down to earth voice, contrasting with some other powerful people he now rubs shoulders with.
A warning maybe to those of a more ‘tender flower’ disposition; plenty of violence and the full range of expletives but I found them very much in tune with the nature of the story. Grimdark to a degree, but a deeper story than just violent action and dark deeds.
Personally these four books will be remembered by me as one of the best Grimdark fantasy series I’ve read in recent years, right up there with Mark Lawrence, Abercrombie and even GRRM.
4.75* for this book but rounded up as this is a 5* series.
It is a character led story, principally that of Tomas but also supported by a fair amount of violent action. It is unusual in that I felt that the main character, Tomas, doesn’t develop much. He is always comfortable in his skin from the start; used to violence as a means to an end, intelligent and a risk taker. Only a handful of people that he truly ever trusts and even fewer of them that he claims to love. None of that changes much over the series, but the interesting part is how his streetwise character adapts to the different circumstances he faces, from street hoodlum fighting to ‘games of thrones’ politics. It’s no surprise that as a gangster he doesn’t find it hard to adapt to politics. He regularly reflects on how his circumstances have changed and what his path should be. I’ve heard it compared to the BBC Peaky Blinders gangster TV series by other reviewers but as I’ve not seen that I can’t comment.
This final volume deals with how he manages his role as a ‘Queen’s Man’ in the capital, these being a small elite of secret agents charged with manipulating affairs in the country, mainly under their own initiative. His boss is as ruthless as Tomas and Tomas discovers it’s all going in a direction he doesn’t like. Maybe only one or two caveats about plot details towards the end of the story as it reached a climax - but still a good climax and ending to such a powerful story.
I’ve enjoyed Tomas’ first person narration all the way through the series, especially his blunt, no nonsense, view of his increasingly privileged position as those in power have tried to control him to their ends. A distinctive down to earth voice, contrasting with some other powerful people he now rubs shoulders with.
A warning maybe to those of a more ‘tender flower’ disposition; plenty of violence and the full range of expletives but I found them very much in tune with the nature of the story. Grimdark to a degree, but a deeper story than just violent action and dark deeds.
Personally these four books will be remembered by me as one of the best Grimdark fantasy series I’ve read in recent years, right up there with Mark Lawrence, Abercrombie and even GRRM.
4.75* for this book but rounded up as this is a 5* series.
August 27, 2022
Very disappointing. Predictable, repetitive episodes, inconsistent, unrealistic characters with plot-holes in their development and actions, and ham-handed, unnecessary, and unrealistic messaging. I felt like I had to read it because I was so invested in the series, but honestly could have read to the end of book 2, predicted the ending, and been happy with the fantastic story up to that point.
November 8, 2022
Peter McLean's quartet wont let anyone down and was such a good series that my wife read it after me it was discovery, but she insisted she read this last book before me and thats pretty impressive. If your a fan of Peaky Blinders this series is for you.
Want to read
September 12, 2021GIMME
July 7, 2023
An amazing conclusion to an epic series.
Magic and intrigue, thriller and political satire, swearing and bloodshed… and swearing.
Tomas. Priest, politician, parent, patriarch… gangster. It’s all the same isn’t it? Just another level of social aggrandisement?! Gangster… priest with menace.
If there was a War for the Rose Throne drinking game I’d be smashed three ways until Christmas… more brandy is consumed than oxygen breathed! Oh, and some wine and small beer…
The Pious Men (and Bloody Anne…) light up this final instalment, the characters are well rounded, lovable rogues that you couldn’t trust with your gold teeth. Even if they were still in your head… especially. But this crew sticks together, from Abingdon to the Capital they will bring their justice to all. Even those in power. They will bring violence to avert a war.
McLean succeeds in writing arseholes that you like and creates twists that will keep you reading until you drop. Quality, quality story.
I’ll miss you Tomas Piety, until next time?
Magic and intrigue, thriller and political satire, swearing and bloodshed… and swearing.
Tomas. Priest, politician, parent, patriarch… gangster. It’s all the same isn’t it? Just another level of social aggrandisement?! Gangster… priest with menace.
If there was a War for the Rose Throne drinking game I’d be smashed three ways until Christmas… more brandy is consumed than oxygen breathed! Oh, and some wine and small beer…
The Pious Men (and Bloody Anne…) light up this final instalment, the characters are well rounded, lovable rogues that you couldn’t trust with your gold teeth. Even if they were still in your head… especially. But this crew sticks together, from Abingdon to the Capital they will bring their justice to all. Even those in power. They will bring violence to avert a war.
McLean succeeds in writing arseholes that you like and creates twists that will keep you reading until you drop. Quality, quality story.
I’ll miss you Tomas Piety, until next time?
August 20, 2022
Really disappointed with the last two books of the series after the promise of the first two. The plot was so linear - a to b to c. The twists were handled so easily it made the setup feel like a waste of pages. Other plot points resolved with a big thud. By the end I was just skimming to finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2022
Jesus H Fucks Sake Christ, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant Mr McLean you are one bloody good writer, what a series what a feck sake ending. READ THIS FLAMMING SERIES.... NOW!!!!!
April 27, 2023
A steady flow of tension and conniving moved right through until the end. It was stupid of me to think that the result would bring happiness to Tomas. His whole life was about lies, deception, and backstabbing. I hoped for his sake that someone he really cared about would be there for him.
I was surprised by some decisions of characters. I couldn’t believe one death actually happened. I’m quite depressed by it. I don’t think I can forgive McLean for this particular character’s death. I was worried throughout the book about it. And I thought it would happen differently but nonetheless it still occurred!
Brilliant and explosive. A wild ending to a roller coaster of a ride!
A favorite series for sure.
I was surprised by some decisions of characters. I couldn’t believe one death actually happened. I’m quite depressed by it. I don’t think I can forgive McLean for this particular character’s death. I was worried throughout the book about it. And I thought it would happen differently but nonetheless it still occurred!
Brilliant and explosive. A wild ending to a roller coaster of a ride!
A favorite series for sure.
January 11, 2025
3,5 stars, but rounding up.
This has been a highly enjoyable and easy to read series. I had lots of fun with it. It pushed many of my buttons with its grit and brutalness. I like most of the characters. Bloody Anne is my girl.
I will say, however, that my enjoyment did go down a little as the books got more political. I think that was partly why I didn’t read book 3 and 4 as they were released, and I also don’t think I would have enjoyed them as much if I had.
There is a repetitiveness in the books. Both in narrating style and plot. I did not mind it in the first half of the series but it did start grate on me a little by the end. It was the same plot, only on another level being repeated over again, which makes the ending very predictable. A lot of things seem to go too easy and convenient as well and no big enough consequences to make drawbacks hit hard enough. It could also have taken one step further, like sometimes I felt a little something lacking.
It's still a solid, enjoyable series and I'm excited for the spin-off book set in the same world coming soon.
This has been a highly enjoyable and easy to read series. I had lots of fun with it. It pushed many of my buttons with its grit and brutalness. I like most of the characters. Bloody Anne is my girl.
I will say, however, that my enjoyment did go down a little as the books got more political. I think that was partly why I didn’t read book 3 and 4 as they were released, and I also don’t think I would have enjoyed them as much if I had.
There is a repetitiveness in the books. Both in narrating style and plot. I did not mind it in the first half of the series but it did start grate on me a little by the end. It was the same plot, only on another level being repeated over again, which makes the ending very predictable. A lot of things seem to go too easy and convenient as well and no big enough consequences to make drawbacks hit hard enough. It could also have taken one step further, like sometimes I felt a little something lacking.
It's still a solid, enjoyable series and I'm excited for the spin-off book set in the same world coming soon.
September 6, 2022
This is the end (dum dum dum), my only friend …. The end!
Yep here we are at the end of the road guys. The War for the Rose Throne has reached its epic conclusion with Priest of Crowns, and I am here to tell you that the final installment of Tomas Piety's journey has ended in fulffy bunnies, unicorns and the unexpected twist that Tomas is now a bonie fide businessman and that he has a soft marshmallow centre and he has opened a rescue centre for alley cats and stray puppies!
Believe me?
No?
Why ever not?
Well, whilst we do know that Tomas does have a more amenable side to him, I think we have come to the conclusion that Tomas is in this world entirely for his own ends, and I don't think fluffy bunnies is on the menu for the end of this story! No way!
I have to say, I didn't know how Peter McLean was going to top the end of Priest of Gallows in all honesty, but he certainly did with Priest of Crowns.
The book starts with the fallout from Priest of Gallows and the events following this. We see the social explosion the events have caused and we see Tomas navigate his way through this to use the uphevel for his own ends. Say one thing about Tomas Piety, say that he knows how to use a situation for his own ends, and with religious fanaticism running rife on the streets he manoeuvres himself to use his clergyman title for his own ends.
In amongst this, he is trying to uncover the true depths of Vogel's plans and lies and when the situation in Ellinsberg with the Northern Sons demands his attention, he finally cracks that walnut and we get to see just how much of a political and social engineer Vogel is and how long these plans have been constructed. We get to learn that Vogel is a true artist in his endeavours but the way Tomas sees it, he's a lying bastard and a tyrant and it is up to Tomas to bring the tyrant down.
Peter McLean does a stellar job of moving priest of Crowns to its explosive conclusion. It is full of simmering tension and when the kettle finally blows its lid, the ending is truly spectacular, and let me tell you the streets do run with a river of blood.
However, there are casualties and I did not expect them to be who they were. Yes, we always knew that there was going to be a body count, but these are not the main casualties of Tomas's fight against tyranny. It is the relationships that he has built all the way through the story. And as Tomas drives towards his goal, these relationships become the true casualties of his ambition.
As usual, Peter McLean's writing is brilliant, putting in pointers to give an indication of how the story will end but totally without giving the game away. Am I one of those people that stand there and say that the ending didn't surprise me and I knew it was coming all the way through? Nope! I am not, but looking back on it, there are some markers to follow. However, I was totally surprised by how Tomas's story ends.
In my opinion, The War for the Rose Throne is a classic of the genre. Yes it doesn't have loads of wizards flying about on Dragons, or little people taking rings to some fiery crack of doom but what it does show is the genre can be pushed and that it can show the human side of the genre whilst incorporating fantastical elements.
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