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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
After King Anu’s death, Prince Anton emerges as the heir at the very moment Aries comes under threat. While Queen Falani works to keep the court united and the kingdom stable, Anton is pulled into direct action when attacks on a vital river crossing place Aries in immediate danger. As Ziras, known as the Serpent, drives the conflict closer to the capital, a shadowy assassin called the Messenger moves between palace machinations and open battle, further shaping the forces gathering around Anton. Anton’s decisions begin to change how the people view him and how power operates inside the crown itself. Lion and the Serpent, book one of John D. Rogers Man's Quest Chronicles, follows the rise of a prince whose move from heir to defender may determine whether Aries remains united long enough to withstand the enemy at its gates. "Shadow cuts. Fire burns. But the crown decides who rules."
John D. Rogers' Lion and the Serpent is a supremely ambitious epic fantasy, and Rogers is masterful in keeping all the plates spinning. Anton is a fully-fleshed out lead through whom readers can see the alteration of a kingdom’s fate. He is not just a symbolic heir; he's a guy who will go straight into a ford of submerged chains, burning pitch, and captive civilians used as bait, to break the deadlock and pull soldiers to safety. He's king material. He is a lion. I love Laleh, Anton’s closest battlefield adviser and trusted confidante. She's a powerhouse of intellect and courage, both commanding in battle and in grounding Anton. As far as antagonists go, Ziras is pitch-perfect in his ruthlessness. He's diabolical and spectacular as a bad guy. Hands down, where Rogers shines is in the world-building, from landscapes like the Basin of Aru to court hierarchy and intelligence networks like the 88 Stars. I am 100% invested in this series for the long haul. Very highly recommended.
