Blood and Coin by Philip C. Quaintrell
Blurb:
From Philip C. Quaintrell, author of the popular fantasy series 'The Echoes Saga':
Monsters breed legends... and legends breed monsters. This is the way of things. This is the way of the Ranger.
Turned from the path of the assassin, Asher roams the world no better than a nomad, with naught to offer but his sword and grit. But woe betide the monster that believes his sword and grit will not be enough...
In a twisted chance of fate, the brash actions of Doran Heavybelly - a dwarven hunter with a lot to say - forces Asher back into the world of man. And so the ranger is brought into the light, into the gaze of Illian's greatest crime guilds and onto the lawless island of Dragorn.
A deal must be made, and with a creature far worse than any of the fiends Asher has put to his sword. To save those who cannot save themselves, the ranger must choose between his life and theirs. Should he make such a deal, 'tis not his life that would be forfeit but the man he has worked so hard to become.
In the end, it will all come down to blood and coin...
Review:
Spoiler filled review
Blood and Coin is a bloody, violent exploration of Asher’s core identity as he battles between the deathly efficient Assassin and the dangerous, atoning Ranger. Set a few years after The Court of Assassins, Asher has made his way in the world, finding and killing (or capturing when the money is right) monsters that are terrorizing the populace. He does it for coin. But, he also does it as an internal way to quiet his demons and atone for his past sins as an Assassin of Nightfall. Early in Blood and Coin, Asher makes acquaintances with a dwarven family, where he is crucial in saving their daughter. He develops a close relationship with this family, spending time with them and enjoying familial relations that have eluded him for most of his life. Unfortunately, due to a number of situations and circumstances, their safety is placed in jeopardy, and Asher is forced to travel to the criminal island of Dragorn to fight for their, and his, lives. It is while in the gladiatorial pits of Dragorn that the Assassin begins to emerge after nearly 4 years when the Ranger held prominence.
Now, it is important to note: I have not read the Echoes Saga. I don’t know which of these characters (other than Asher) are important for the greater story. I don’t know which stick around, and which are going to be killed off or be lost in Verda before the main event of the Echoes Saga starts.
Quaintrell has another fantastic, masterpiece of a story on his hands with Blood and Coin. Asher is quickly turning into one of my favorite characters in fantasy. His abilities as a Arakesh are fascinating to read and imagine. Quaintrell does a phenomenal job of zeroing in and dialing up the details to the point where you’re counting the pages in single breaths because you’re experiencing all of the minute details and input that Asher is processing as the Night Elixir takes effect. While at the same time, the story zips along at breakneck pace; Asher leaving blood and gore and broken bodies in his wake. Asher, as he descends into the mind and magics of the Arakesh, remains some of my favorite parts of the story.
I also really enjoyed the interactions between Asher and Doran Heavybelly and the Stormshields. The forging of the silvyr sword by Danagarr Stormshielf was awesome and, I can only assume, plays into the larger story of the Echoes Saga, though I will find out in time. Doran had a larger-than-life personality, and his intense fighting tactics, coupled with his comedic relief, was a nice foil for Asher. He’s the perfect mix of stoic heart and violent efficiency to realistically provide Asher with legitimate companionship that he can count on when trouble comes. After a rocky start, and even a middle that made me concerned we were going to have a repeat of Geron from The Court of Assassins, Doran proved his worth.
Quaintrell truly shined in his framing of the duality of Asher as the Assassin or the Ranger, as his personality and perspective shifted throughout the story. At the beginning of the book, when he was solely hunting monsters for coin and reconciliation, he was solidly within the Ranger frame of mind. However, as he is forced to kill within the battle arenas of Dragorn for Varga, the Assassin is forced to take over as he fights for his life. The Assassin remains as he destroys the underpinnings of Dragorn and then hunts Varga down to exterminate him. This juxtaposition of who Asher truly is: the man he longs to be—the Ranger who is seeking for atonement—or the man he was groomed to be—the Assassin, a specter of death and destruction. The internal conflict is fascinating and is destined to continue into the next book.
“It is only by falling that we learn to rise. It is in my heart to help you, child, but we all rise alone...or not at all.”
The Ranger Archive has been a fantastic entry into Verda. While there are multiple POVs in Blood and Coin, the main focus is still definitely on Asher and his development and struggles. This narrowed in focus has allowed me to really marinate with Asher as a character, understanding who he is, who he wants to be, and who he is running from. I anticipate that this in-depth understanding and study of Asher will significantly increase my enjoyment of the Echoes Saga, but time will tell.
Quaintrell has created one of my favorite assassins with Asher. He is nuanced, grumpy, and extremely deadly. I cannot wait to continue reading this series and then jumping into the Echoes Saga. Quaintrell has created an epic world in the land of Verda that is so obviously rich in characters, lore, adventure, and obviously....monsters.
