Reviewed by Elizabetta
TITLE: A Taste for Poison
SERIES: Memory of Scorpions, book 3
AUTHOR: Aleksandr Voinov
PUBLISHER: Riptide Publishing
LENGTH: 265 pages
BLURB:
Even a king gets stung when he reaches for a scorpion.
After barely surviving an assassination attempt, King Adrastes is a changed man—one who mistrusts even his allies and friends. He readies his Empire for war against an enigmatic enemy, the Elder of Vededrin, but not everyone approves. While courtiers dare only to whisper dissent, an outrider called Death foments rebellion in the mountains, aided by a prophecy that promises he’ll stop the Black King.
Kendras—former lover to Adrastes and leader of the Scorpions—is sent with his elite mercenary force to bring Death to justice. But when Kendras learns who’s hiding behind the mask, he must choose between his lover Graukar, newly-appointed general to the king—and King Adrastes himself.
With no man to call master, the Scorpions could flee the danger and intrigue. But Kendras cannot abandon the man he once loved—or the man he’s growing to love—without first uncovering the real threat to the Empire.
REVIEW:
Things come to a full boil in this one, and everyone gets a taste of poison.
Scorpions, assassins, traitors, and back stabbers… no one is safe from them.
The two previous books, Scorpion and Lying with Scorpions perfectly set up for all the great action and secrets that unfold in this one. We’ve come to know and care about Kendras and his Scorpions (Riktan, Dev, Kiran, Selvan, Blood, Runner, and the Jaishani trio) as well as Grauker and Shadow. Reading this continuation in their story was like sipping a fine wine… delicious, sensual, so easy to consume.
Kendras, again, stands out. I’ve said it before, he seems an unassuming kind of guy, the perfect MC, really, because he never gets in the way of the plot even as he carries it. But, it’s deceptive. We can’t ever forget that Kendras is a larger-than-life guy, too. The author tells us this in sweetly subtle ways through his actions and how people interact with him. We know he is physically commanding and quietly confidant with a sharp, analytical mind. And he’s as hot as sin. But, he’s not egotistical; he doesn’t seek self aggrandizement.
Kendras is more than just a hardened warrior. He has a vision. He wants to lead the Scorpions and wants the freedom to do it by their sacred rules. He’s so wedded to that conviction, and I love that about him.
So things have definitely unravelled between Kendras and Adrastes; no longer lovers or even confidants, they now disagree over the future of the Scorpions. Kendras would cling to tradition but Adrastes wants to morph the small group into an impersonal legion of hundreds at his beck and call.
Maybe Kendras was more in love with the idea of Adrastes, Scorpion Officer, than the man, himself. He sees how power has greatly changed Adrestes. Once a comrade in arms, Adrastes now trusts no one: he has enemies at court and abroad and everyone’s actions are under close scrutiny. And there’s still the issue of the attacks on his life. The mysterious cult of Raven assassins ever lurks in the shadows. And, as Adrastes moves from King to tyrant, a new threat springs up– a kind of Robin Hood of the time named ‘Death’ who is working among the common folk to subvert Adrastes’ authority.
Even Kendras comes under suspicion. He and Graukar (our cover model) are lovers, soul mates, so close is their connection.
“Being with Graukar and being close to him seemed enough. It gave Kendras peace.”
But Graukar is now one of Adrastes’ Generals and Kendras fears for him. How can it all work out when Adrastes could see even this relationship as a betrayal?
I have to include mention of Amrash, the powerful Jaishani ambassador who may be working with King Adrastes… or keeping a close eye on him. It’s clear that Amrash has bonded with Kendras because of their shared heritage, and he becomes a kind of mentor to him. Amrash is a singular character– colorful, enigmatic, and wonderfully gender fluid. With him, we never know what we’ll get from one scene to the next: at times Amrash is a seductive gold-painted Lady, at others, a fearless, commanding Lord. That everyone accepts this fluidity without question speaks to the position and charisma of this compelling character. I could read a whole book just about Amrash.
I loved A Taste of Poison. In fact, kudos for the whole series. This is the kind of reading I want, action-packed, where you are held captive, drinking in the complex characters with all their intricacies, foibles and passions. Where good and bad, and light and dark become fluid, too. A Taste of Poison ends on a very satisfying note for Kendras and his people, but I would be very happy to read more, especially if it has anything to do with the Jaishani and Amrash. Amrash!!! Recommended.
RATING: 
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