Reviewed by Elizabetta
TITLE: Lying with Scorpions, book 2
SERIES: Memory of Scorpions
AUTHOR: Aleksandr Voinov
PUBLISHER: Riptide Publishing
LENGTH: 317 pages
BLURB:
Now that Kendras’s lover Adrastes has claimed the throne of Dalman, Kendras is tangled deeper than ever in politics and intrigue. As the new leader of the Scorpions and Adrastes’s one true friend, he and his men stand between Adrastes and those who wish him dead.
And many do. Adrastes openly challenges the ocean priesthood for power while establishing himself at court and brokering with the realm’s various factions. He means for the Scorpions to become a fearsome legion again, but Kendras must first learn how to be a good officer and recruit to replace the fallen. His choices will determine the future of a group steeped in hundreds of years of history and tradition.
As both Kendras and Adrastes settle old scores, a new enemy arises in Commander Graukar, a war hero loyal to the old order. In his formidable mountain fortress, Graukar may hold the balance of power. But while Adrastes aims to either rule or destroy Graukar, Kendras finds himself doubting Adrastes for the first time, and sharing more with Graukar than he ever thought possible.
REVIEW:
“If you lie with scorpions, you’d better have a taste for poison.”
Previously, Kendras and Adrastes had a common goal– strengthen the Scorpions. But what happens when the lure of power gets in the way and changes everything?
While this is Kendras’ story, Adrastes (our cover model) is certainly the catalyst that pushes it forward. And what a great follow-up to the first book, Scorpion, as we move from character and world building to a study on how ambition and power can change men. The story, of course, is delivered with a deft hand– it’s like coming home, entering this world again.
Adrastes has shown his stuff; he’s a brilliant warrior and leader. Add to that gifted tactician. He brings Kendras and the Scorpions along for the ride, and as we saw at the end of book one, he’s set to make his move for something bigger than ruling the band of mercenaries.
It’s clear that things have to change for the two lovers as their ambitions shift. Kendras had signed on with Adrastes, warrior and Officer of the Scorpions, after all, but he gets Adrastes, Lord Protector who would be king. It seems that the Scorpions has mostly been a stepping stone for Adrastes.
But Kendras isn’t interested in kingdom-making; he’s a soldier at heart. He’s the quiet, right-hand man, preferring to remain in the background, leaving the politics to others. So, one could get the sense that he drifts along with the flow, like a leaf picked up in the eddy of a whirlpool, ready to go wherever led. But we are reminded that Kendras has been honed to be a leader, too. And he has gotten where he is by cleverness and willpower. As he and Adrastes drift apart, pulled by separate ambitions, Kendras must learn how to adjust and stand up to Adrastes and exert his own authority as the new head of the Scorpions.
Lying with Scorpions becomes more of a game of strategy, not only between Adrastes and those he would rule but for Kendras too. He must decide where his loyalties lie. When he meets the mysterious Commander Graukar (“Straight like an arrow. Loyal to a fault.”), a fellow warrior, he’s pulled towards this man who better matches himself.
And this historical fantasy gets an injection of romance, finally. Graukar seems to be a kindred spirit and gives Kendras affection and tenderness as well as acceptance. It’s not all sweetness, though, as Kendras has growing concerns about his changing affection and what it will mean to his relationship with Adrastes.
The author plays it all out wonderfully. I like this second book even more than the first because of all the intricate jockeying and subtle intrigue and the slowly uncovered secrets. If I have any quibbles it’s that we don’t get Adrastes’ view point at all– it’s clear that he is a big a player here– and his metamorphosis is kept at a distance because of it. I really wanted to get into his head. I think this also makes Kendras’ move to Graukar seem rather nimble no matter that it is very welcome.
Back to the positives… I like how women are treated in this world… not the usual slave or prostitute, they play important parts in the plot and hold fairly high positions of power: Adrastes’ sister, The Lady Protector; Runner, a Scorpion recruit; and Amrash, leader of the Jaishani legion. Mostly the sexually ambiguous Amrash, who goes from a she to a he and back again all within the breadth of a couple sentences. And it’s from Amrash that Kendras learns more about his Jaishani heritage.
Some great, colorful characters populate the story. This second book is much more layered and complex, it takes on a larger scope and I can’t wait to see what becomes of Kendras and these two men who have a hold on his heart.
RATING: 
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