The Traitor: Book Three of the Covenant of Steel

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As the kingdom braces itself for one final battle, Alwyn’s conscience fights its own war with his heart. Now, more than ever, he must decide whose side he’s really on. Ryan’s thoughtful characterizations and complex plotting are on clear display, enhanced by his evocative prose. This sends the series out on a high note."— Publishers Weekly(starred review) The Pariah and The Martyr were so good, I expect most readers who’ve finished the first two to read The Traitor.

The tale of Alwyn Scribe, outlaw, murderer, sometime knight and, I like to think, scholar of some renown, would have been told."

Alwyn was there, blood, then here, then death, then over there, betrayal, more death, no they alive, caged, wait, they are not, more betrayals, more blood, and on and on... So then, I will write this review more as a series overview so that new readers can ponder if this is for them.

Female characters, especially Lorine and Lorraine, were great and I felt like Ryan did a very good job with bringing more depth to them. When it comes to Evadine, though, she remains the most detached character, more the object of worship than the person and one I think was kind of left surface-level. We got a conclusion to the story and and an explanation, but, in a sense, it's a perfect Alwyn explanation and he is too good at saving his hind to be considered a perfectly reliable narrator and too skilled of a storyteller not to leave us intrigued. :) If you pay careful attention, you may see the patterns Ryan weaves with his other stories and books. Mayhap you’ll notice past histories, or future possibilities. Internationally bestselling fantasy author Anthony Ryan – writing as A. J. Ryan – delivers a nerve-shredding thriller in which seven strangers must undertake a terrifying journey into the unknown. As lives and empires clash and intertwine, as the unknown and the known collide, all three must fight to turn the tide of a coming war, or drown in its wake. I’d recommend this series if you enjoy complex historical fantasy full of gritty battle scenes and religious and political maneuverings.Alwyn doesn’t embark upon such a difficult and taxing journey alone. He is joined by semi-loyal, questionably honourable, and a particularly humorous cast of characters.

When I was reading The Pariah, I noticed that each Part of the story was preluded by a quote 'from the Pretender's account to Sir Alwyn Scribe'. And I kept asking myself: Ryan writes with such conviction about the reality behind roles, court, and powers. Notably, how people’s attitudes and lives shapes their perceptions of others. These judgements can cause deceptive fallacies that Alwyn knows to twist and wield as well as any sword. Yet Evadine is not the woman Alwyn once knew. As puritanical fury increasingly replaces her benevolent faith, Alwyn begins to question what her true motives really are. As the kingdom braces itself for one final battle, Alwyn’s conscience fights its own war with his heart. Now, more than ever, he must decide whose side he’s really on.Fantastic writing, an amazing world, a plot that won't quit, and an unforgettable character . . . Anthony Ryan is one of the best epic fantasy authors out there' Bookworm Blues I have often observed that a surfeit of faith will walk hand in hand with a dearth of common sense. I am first to tell you that out of all significant figures in Alwyn's life in previous novel, Evadine was the one I was most baffled with. It's pretty clear she was inspired by Joan of Arc due to religious aspect of her convictions and the fact her sanity was questioned several times in previous novel. It's not the first time Ryan brings up in his writing cult of personality theme, zealotry and devotion charismatic figure can inspire in others and dangers it brings with it. He's touched upon it in Queen of Fire and Raven's Blade duology, but in this novel he's done the best job jet. Because of the role he played in her resurrection, Alwyn is constantly surprised by the number of people Evadine's martyrdom/sainthood seems to attract and why they follow her. And because there is no Toria ( shut up, I'm still dealing with it) to ask Alwyn why is he doing the same thing, you figure out the answer on your own. Evadine still remains the most detached character to me, because you can see in his own words as he describes the events, she is this, almost mythological figure and you actually realize he fell under her spell just the same despite knowing the secret behind Risen Martyr. In this way Ryan showed that Alwyn's cleverness doesn't mean he's immune.

Honestly this book did not go the way I expected it to at all. And I'm really glad it didn't because I think, I hope that because of the completely out of left field plot twists there will be a book four and as this series has rapidly became my favorite of Ryan's I'm 100% for it!I think anything I would say becomes spoilers in one way or another for those who didn't read this book or the entire series. Anthony Ryan is a Scottish writer of fantasy and science fiction, best known for his books about Vaelin Al Sorna, which started in 2013 with Blood Song. He worked as a full-time researcher before switching to full-time writing. He currently lives in London, England. He has a degree in Medieval History. Following the first two books of the series, Alwyn realises he is completely wrapped around Evadine’s finger. Now he must decide between peace, deception, lies, and ruin. Where does his own beliefs and values fit in? Can they? Anthony Ryan excels at crafting fully fleshed characters, whether they are likeable or villainous, or somewhere in between. I missed one particular character from the first book, but maybe she’ll make a reappearance in the final instalment. Besides Alwyn, Lilat might be my second favourite character. Evadine is not a likeable character per se, but it is intriguing to read how different people react to her. When a message appears on the onboard computer – Proceeding to Point A – the group agrees to work together to survive whatever is coming.