The Ikessar Falcon

by K. S. Villoso

Overview

"Intricate, intimate, and intensely plotted." - Nicholas Eames on The Wolf of Oren-yaro

"The Ikessar Falcon retains the excellent characterization and intrigue of The Wolf of Oren-yaro while expanding both its world and the plot at a head-spinning rate. It does everything the middle book of a trilogy should with an uncommon degree of authorial skill, and is a thoroughly entertaining read in its own right."―BookPage
 
The stunning sequel to The Wolf of Oren-yaro where the queen of a divided land struggles to unite her people. Even if they despise her. K. S. Villoso is a "powerful new voice in fantasy." (Kameron Hurley)
 
The spiral to madness begins with a single push.
 
Abandoned by her people, Queen Talyien's quest takes a turn for the worst as she stumbles upon a plot deeper and more sinister than she could have ever imagined, one that will displace her king and see her son dead. The road home beckons, strewn with a tangled web of deceit and impossible horrors that unearth the nation's true troubles - creatures from the dark, mad dragons, and men with hearts hungry for power.
 
To save her land, Talyien must confront the myth others have built around her: Warlord Yeshin's daughter, symbol of peace, warrior and queen, and everything she could never be.
 
The price of failure is steep. Her friends are few. And a nation carved by a murderer can only be destined for war.
 
The Chronicles of the Wolf Queen
The Wolf of Oren-yaro
The Ikessar Falcon
The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316532716
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	09/22/2020
Series:	Chronicles of the Wolf Queen , #2
Pages:	640
Sales rank:	209,973
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.80(d)

About the Author

K.S. Villoso writes speculative fiction with a focus on deeply personal themes and character-driven narratives. Much of her work is inspired by her childhood in the slums of Taguig, Philippines. She is now living amidst the forest and mountains with her husband, children, and dogs in Anmore, BC.

Editorial Reviews

07/20/2020

The jam-packed second fantasy in Villoso’s Chronicles of the Bitch Queen series (after The Wolf of Oren-Yaro) finds Tali, Queen Talyien of Jin-Sayeng, fighting against schemes, soldiers, and sorcerers to return home to her son, Thanh. Tali’s betrothed, Prince Rayyel, vows to kill Thahn if it turns out the boy is not his son—a distinct possibility as Tali turned to an old flame after learning of Rayyel’s own infidelity. Tali is stranded across the sea in the Empire of Ziri-nar-Orxiaro with no way of protecting Thahn. After being captured by political adversaries and thrown into a dungeon, Tali escapes with the help of Lahei, one of a mysterious group called the Shadows who once fought alongside Rayyel’s clan, the Ikessars, but now serve their own purposes. She flees the empire with con man and love interest Khine Lamang, but must weigh whether to accept Lahei’s offer of further help, not wanting to owe the Shadows any favors. Before she can decide, an old enemy that Tali left for dead attacks. Villoso crafts believable, complex characters and spices up the politics with dragons and magic. Fantasy readers will enjoy this intricate epic and be pleased by the broadening scope of the series. Agent: Hannah Bowman, Liza Dawson Assoc. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"The power plays are woven tightly into the action, as Villoso broadens her worldbuilding and adds some surprising twists ... A must for epic fantasy readers."—Library Journal (starred review)

"The Ikessar Falcon retains the excellent characterization and intrigue of The Wolf of Oren-Yaro while expanding both its world and the plot at a head-spinning rate. It does everything the middle book of a trilogy should with an uncommon degree of authorial skill, and is a thoroughly entertaining read in its own right."—BookPage

"Villoso crafts believable, complex characters and spices up the politics with dragons and magic. Fantasy readers will enjoy this intricate epic and be pleased by the broadening scope of the series."—Publishers Weekly

"The Wolf of Oren-yaro is intricate, intimate, and intensely plotted. Full of subtle poignancy and remarkably genuine characters - even the rotten ones. I loved this book."—Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld, on The Wolf of Oren-yaro

"Intimate and epic. It compels you to read on, because it's a story about people not characters, civilizations not settings, and deadly power plays not sanitized throne-room politics."—Evan Winter, author of The Rage of Dragons, on The Wolf of Oren-yaro

"A powerful new voice in epic fantasy. Villoso deftly creates an intricate and compelling world of high fantasy intrigue and adventure dominated by a crafty, whip-smart heroine determined to unite her kingdom at any cost."—Kameron Hurley, author of The Light Brigade, on The Wolf of Oren-yaro

"A tale balanced on the blade's-edge between intrigue and action - and then Villoso twists the knife."—Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer, on The Wolf of Oren-yaro

"Deeply compelling and wonderfully entertaining, The Wolf of Oren-yaro feels at once timely and timeless. K. S. Villoso's lush and finely crafted world envelops readers from the first page, as she takes us on an adventure full of heartache, hope, and triumph. It's a fabulous read!"—Josiah Bancroft, author of Senlin Ascends, on The Wolf of Oren-yaro

"Delivers complex and intriguing characters, and an action-packed plot full of surprising twists and deep, vivid world building."—Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage, on The Wolf of Oren-yaro

"[A] remarkable tale of nonstop tension, action, and betrayal . . . This excellent work will appeal to all readers of epic fantasy."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Wolf of Oren-yaro

"Readers will be swept in by this strong protagonist and stunning worldbuilding, with a plot full of questions and surprises. Villoso's cunning, exciting debut is a new fantasy epic that readers will clamor for."—Library Journal (starred review) on The Wolf of Oren-yaro

"Villoso's debut draws on Filipino culture and myths to create a detailed fantasy world and uses the first person narrative of a beleaguered queen to explore a tale of secrets, lies, betrayal, and treason."—Booklist on The Wolf of Oren-yaro

From the Publisher

★ 08/01/2020

Queen Talyien has barely escaped with her life, but now is on the run back to Jin-Sayeng to catch up with her husband, Prince Rayyel, who plans to kill her son if he is the result of her affair and not of their marriage. Chased by the past machinations of her father, Warlord Yeshin, the deaths of her unknown brothers, and her own mistakes, Tali must travel with uncertain friends and allies, untangling lies from truths. With dark magic, dragons, and the rumbles of war approaching, Talyien must prove she is both a woman of heart and the Bitch Queen, if only to protect her land and save those that she loves. The power plays are woven tightly into the action, as Villoso (Blackwood Marauders) broadens her worldbuilding and adds some surprising twists. VERDICT Political intrigue and personal angst abound in this exciting sequel to The Wolf of Oren-Yaro, making this a must for epic fantasy readers.—Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Library Journal

In this sequel to THE WOLF OF OREN-YARO, the Chronicles of the Bitch Queen continue with narrator Catherine Ho telling the story from the queen’s point of view. Ho captures the queen’s imperiousness in dealing with others as well as her vulnerability in private moments. Intricate plot turns and complex characters require Ho to be quick with shifts in dialogue. Tensions run high, and Ho’s tone and pace suggest the many layers of history underlying the dialogue. The queen is sometimes mercurial and strikes out at everyone, including those trying to protect her. Ho is adept at conveying tentative pushback as well forceful resistance made at the risk of banishment or worse. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2020 - AudioFile

In this sequel to THE WOLF OF OREN-YARO, the Chronicles of the Bitch Queen continue with narrator Catherine Ho telling the story from the queen’s point of view. Ho captures the queen’s imperiousness in dealing with others as well as her vulnerability in private moments. Intricate plot turns and complex characters require Ho to be quick with shifts in dialogue. Tensions run high, and Ho’s tone and pace suggest the many layers of history underlying the dialogue. The queen is sometimes mercurial and strikes out at everyone, including those trying to protect her. Ho is adept at conveying tentative pushback as well forceful resistance made at the risk of banishment or worse. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2020 - AudioFile