The Ladies of Mandrigyn is a fantasy novel where a group of women, after their city is conquered by an evil wizard enslaving most of the men, take matters into their own hands by kidnapping a famous mercenary, Sun Wolf, to train them in combat. As they prepare to fight back, relationships develop, strategies are formed, and the power of women emerges as a key force in the story. The plot weaves together elements of warfare, romance, and societal change, offering a fresh take on traditional fantasy tropes.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, featuring strong, complex female leads and flawed male figures, with evolving relationships that add depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging, weaving together various genres while emphasizing realistic characters and strong dialogue.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a mercenary abducted by women seeking to rescue their enslaved men, leading to unexpected developments regarding personal freedom and societal change.

Setting:

The setting is a medieval-inspired world with magic, highlighting societal issues and a struggle against an evil wizard.

Pacing:

The pacing is uneven, with some events feeling hurried while others drag, affecting the overall excitement of the action.

Starhawk, his tall, rawboned second-in-command, glanced up from cleaning the grime of battle off the hilt of her sword and raised dark, level brows inquiringly. Outside, torchlight reddened the windy ...

Notes:

The book features strong female characters, often warriors, in a fantasy setting.

Sun Wolf is a mercenary captain who initially refuses to help the women of Mandrigyn.

The women kidnap Sun Wolf and force him to train them in combat skills.

Sun Wolf develops new powers after being poisoned, which he later purges from his system.

The story presents themes of gender roles and women's empowerment in a male-dominated society.

There is a blend of adventure, fantasy, horror, and romance in the narrative.

Hambly explores complex character relationships, particularly between Sun Wolf and Starhawk.

The villain, Altiokis, is revealed not to be a true wizard but rather someone manipulating a magical portal.

The plot touches on moral complexities, including the ambiguity of servitude and rebellion.

The book manages to stay fresh despite common fantasy tropes through its character development and societal commentary.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of slavery, potential sexual assault, and violence related to war.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance, primarily between Sun Wolf and Starhawk, developed alongside the main plot.

From The Publisher:

First in the series from a New York Times–bestselling author and “fabulously talented writer” featuring a brilliant mercenary and his fierce female partner (Charlaine Harris).

Gifted with courage, strength, and the intelligence to know when to fight, Sun Wolf is the greatest mercenary in a land overrun by war. With his first lieutenant, Starhawk—a woman more deadly than any man—at his side, he has laid waste to countless cities, taking the best of their treasures for himself, and distributing the rest among his bloodthirsty crew.

Then a woman comes to him, an emissary from the town of Mandrigyn, a lush port city recently sacked by a powerful, mad wizard of unmatched abilities. She offers Sun Wolf untold riches for the use of his army, but the captain is not fool enough to wage war against a magician. He refuses her offer, but that is not the end of it.

The women of Mandrigyn can be very persuasive. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Barbara Hambly, including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author’s personal collection.

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The Ladies of Mandrigyn

Barbara Hambly

Book 1 in the series:Sun Wolf and Starhawk