Usurpers (Foundation of the Dragon: Book 2)
After generations of subjugation, the descendants of the Ordovices are no longer the fighters they were once renowned as. Their fate rests upon Elen, daughter of the Roman governor, and Magnus, a banished Roman general. Britannia needs warriors to keep its land safe, and Elen is the bridge to unite the native and Roman peoples. For that, she’ll need Magnus. But Elen’s brother Kenon has his eye on ruling Britannia for his own selfish pleasures, and after being banished from home, Kenon plots his father’s downfall. Could an alliance with tribes beyond the Wall be his answer?
Set 300 years after Book 1, Brethren, this novel can be read as a standalone. There are more editorial errors in this book than the last. For instance, “hat” instead of “that,” “ant” instead of “any,” along with split paragraphs and missing spaces between an apostrophe and the next word. But what’s most difficult for me as a reader are the characters. Unlike Pritchard’s first novel, in which characters are easy to empathize with, Magnus, Kenon, and Elen are wealthy Roman citizens who take advantage of their privilege. Kenon believes he can use and discard everything (women especially) as the governor’s son. Cunning Magnus tortures slaves to death, sees himself above everyone around him, and often desires to put others “in their place.” His motivation is solely for gaining power. Elen grows more confident in her role, but her learning happens between the chapters, which readers aren’t privy to. After the powerful ending of book 1 and the fact this is a retelling of a Welsh legend, I’d hoped the native culture would have a stronger role.
This is an impeccably researched story of high-stakes Roman ambition penned by a talented author. If you like Roman protagonists and power struggles, I’d highly recommend this.
