Ten Arrows of Iron, The Grave of Empires Book 2
Author: Sam Sykes
Publisher: Orbit Books
Publishing Date: 2020
Pgs: 701
Dewey: F SYK
Disposition: Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
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REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
Sal the Cacophony -- outlaw, outcast, outnumbered -- destroys all that she loves. Her lover lost and cities burned in her wake, all she has left is her magical gun and her all-consuming quest for revenge against those who stole her power and took the sky from her.
When the roguish agent of a mysterious patron offers her the chance to participate in a heist to steal an incredible power from the famed airship fleet, the Ten Arrows, she finds a new purpose. But a plot to save the world by bringing down empires swiftly escalates into a conspiracy of magic and vengeance that threatens to burn everything to ash, including herself
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Genre:
Science Fiction
Science Fantasy
Fantasy
Swords and Sorcery
Dystopia
Horror
Post Apocalypse
War

Why this book:
Cause I loved the first one.
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The Page 100 Test:
√ ◄ - good to go.
$ ◄ - this is money.
⸮ ◄ - the sarcasm is strong with this one.
∞ ◄ - read on.
ᕦ(ò_óˇ) ◄ - strong
ᕦ(ò_ó)ᕤ ◄ - stronger

The Feel:
Sykes writing is immersive.

Favorite Character:
Sal the Cacophony is an asshole. God, I love her. I can hear Sal the Cacophony's voice. it's gruff and world-weary. It's like this writing plugs directly into my audio-visual cortex. I love it. “To hear the stories, Sal the Cacophony was a woman whose very appearance made the wind hold its breath and birds flee from the sky. they spoke of a woman hard as the blade she carried who came out of the dark and carried fire in her hands, wearing her Vagrant tattoos like they were armor and her scars like trophies, striding across the land and leaving ashes and screams in her wake.”

Favorite Scene:
The "yeah, like that." scene is greatness.

"Holy shit," he whispered, "is that the xxxcking Caco... " I pulled the trigger.

Darrishana's last scene with Sal.

Favorite Quote:
The dedication: For every reader who still carries scars.
Woof. Hit us where we live.

I rounded a corner. And hell came with me.

Favorite Concept:
A skymage who calls hurricanes and focused the power around a spear is pretty awesome. Hurricane spear would make a great RPG weapon.

Uhm Moments:
Sal the Cacophony is a hot mess. I keep thinking she's too badassed for that to happen. Then, I remember, ah...yeah, that's right.

Missed Opportunity:
Wish the crash of the airship had been a bigger scene. Course with flashbacks we may get back to it. Especially since all Sal The Cacophony stories seem to be told in flashback. Reminds me of the final scene in The Mechanic: Resurrection.

Dreamcasting:
My brain keeps thinking of a transgender Keanu playing Sal the Cacophony...and no that my brain has done that I keep seeing Sindra as Carie Anne Moss. Maybe not actually Keanu, but someone similar in demeanor.

Who could be a female Clint Eastwood? Not Eastwood today. Spaghetti Western Clint Eastwood.

Tilda Swinton as Sal. Wow.

Charlize Theron as Agne the Hammer.

The Poker Game/DND Table:
Sal would be awesome to play poker with. The twins too. …Agne too.

Movies and Television:
There are scenes in this that would be great in a movie. The WTF scene when the Giant whatever the hell that is that the Havenites made came crashing through the window.

Soundtrack:
Too Late For Love - Def Leppard
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Pacing:
The pace is incredible. This is a page turner.

Last Page Sound:
Sal being Sal she should've shot Two Lonely Old Men after she finished her wine and then walked away. I loved this book.

Author Assessment:
Love his work.

Editorial Assessment:
Well done.

Reread Pile:
I’d say that when I finish the next book in the trilogy I should re-read it.
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