The Chernagor Pirates: Book Two of the Scepter of Mercy

by Dan Chernenko

Book Overview

With the barbarous Menteshe holding the Scepter of Mercy and civil war raging in the north, Avornis is threatened on two fronts. But the longer its kings go without the Scepter of Mercy-the key to Avornis's destiny-the greater the chance that the Banished One's evil will dominate the world.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451459687
• ISBN13: 9780451459688
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Roc
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.5" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Second in an interesting Turtledove fantasy trilogy

This is the second of the three "Scepter of Mercy" books, which are 1) The Bastard King 2) The Chernagor Pirates 3) The Scepter's Return Although he used the pen-name Dan Chernenko, these books were actually written by Harry Turtledove. Apparently he felt the books were different from his usual subject matter and wanted to see the reaction they would get without his name. The most recent printings actually do have his name on the cover, followed by "writing as Dan Chernenko". In the first volume, unusual political manouvers resulted in the unusual situation where the Kingdom of Avornis had two kings at the same time: King Lanius, descended from a long line of kings, and King Grus, son of a guardsman. The Kingdom of Avornis is beset by enemies on all sides, particularly by barbarians to the south, in territory ruled by the immortal "Banished one" who used to be a God before the other Gods expelled him from heaven. Though this information was deliberately forgotten centuries ago, King Lanius has discovered that the Banished one was previously worshipped as Milvano, the principal god. While there is strong rivalry between Lanius and Grus, neither wants to tear the country apart in civil war when they have so many dangerous enemies: both would like to get the Scepter of Mercy back from the Banished one. But first they have to deal with the pirates who are attacking the northern borders of Avornis. Strongly recommended. This series does have both the strengths and weaknesses of many of Harry Turtledove's books. For example, there is a strong storyline, well crafted and believable characters - but he does tend to repeat things an awful lot. If you can put up with that minor flaw you will greatly enjoy this trilogy.

Entertaining mixture of realism and adventure

This second book of a trilogy about an uneasy partnership and rivalry of two kings in Avornis, complete with gritty battles, personal strengths and weaknesses, and low-key but overarching mystical struggle works very well. The characters are engaging, and the book provides a satisfying ending while building up excitement for the next volume. --inotherworlds.com

Wonderfully Entertaining and Unique

Dan Chernenko's second book in his Scepter of Mercy Trilogy takes the winning aspects of the first volume and improves on them, making The Chernagor Pirates a great read.This book has only two perspective characters, the two Kings of Avornis, Lanius and Grus. Each chapter is broken down into a series of vignettes, alternating between the two characters. Each vignette deals with a particular event in running the kingdom of Avornis, from the greatly signifigant to the trivial, that each of the Kings face in their day to day lives. These events are often humorous, and the interactions between the characters can't help but draw you into their world.Magic is present here but limited in what it can accomplish. There are no sorcerous battles in which lightning and fire is cast between dueling wizards until one prevails. In Mr. Chernenko's world, it is often the most creative use of limited magic that wins the day.My only problem with this book is the author's disturbing views on marriage and fidelity, but they do not lessen the work in any way. I only mention it so that those that feel strongly about those things can steer clear.

Great fantasy

In the Kingdom of Avornis, two monarchs sit on the diamond throne; King Lanius has royal blood running through his veins while King Grus is a commoner who seized power when the young ruler's mother tried to kill him through sorcery. King Grus forced Lanius to marry his daughter to further consolidate his base of power and to keep the young monarch on a very short leash. Both men want what is best for the realm so when the Banished One gains dominion over one of the city-states of Chernagor, King Grus gathers his armies to topple the ruler who worships the Banished One.The army of Avornis breaks off its northern attack of the Nishevetz to confront the threat of the nomadic Menteshe who worship the Banished One; who have the magical artifact the Scepter of Mercy that rightfully belongs to the Kings of Avornis. The Mentshe have invaded the southern portion of the realm. Kings Grus and king Lanius want them out before they turn the people into mindless thralls.Book two of THE SCEPTER OF MERCY is an entertaining sword and sorcery novel that gives equal attention to the characters as it does to the action scenes. The relationships between the two kings evolve over the years so that one is accepting of the other. The magical duels between good and evil sorcerers are very colorful and imaginative but it is the not so mundane skirmishes that are fascinating because they are so detailed the audience can imagine being in the midst of the battlefield. Dan Chernenko's star is on the rise.Harriet Klausner

Bogged Down in Chernagor

The Chernagor Pirates is the second novel in The Scepter of Mercy series, following The Bastard King. In the previous volume, King Dagipert of Thervingia died and his son preferred peace and prayer to war; the years of Therving invasions have ended. Of course, soon thereafter hundreds of thralls cross over the Stura River to Avornis under the orders of the Banished One, but they just mill around and none of the wizards know why.King Grus had family problems, especially when Estrilda discovered that he had been having an affair with the witch Alca. To appease his wife, Grus banished Alca from the city. Not much later, some of the thralls got lose and tried to kill Estrilda. Grus saved her life and Estrilda soon forgave him for his extramarital affair. Grus also had problems with his son Ortalis, who has a sadistic streak. He had been abusing the maid servants, despite some heavy punishments. Grus decided to marry off Ortalis to some suitable lady to calm him down. However, when Grus suggested to Lepturus, King Lanius' chief bodyguard, that he might betroth his daughter to Ortalis, the offer was firmly rejected. Lepturus chose to be exiled to the Maze rather than have his daughter marry Ortalis.In this novel, Grus begins to suspect problems among the Chernagors and consults with Lanius. Soon thereafter, a delegation comes from the Chernagor city-state of Nishevatz, requesting assistance in putting down a rebellion against Prince Vsevolod lead by his son, Prince Vasilko. Prince Vsevolod has evidence that the Banished One is assisting the rebels. Grus rides out with the Avornan army to help put down the rebellion, but, as they near the city-state, Grus finds that the Chernagors have started without him.While Grus is assaulting Chernagor fortifications, Lanius receives the ambassador of Prince Ulash of Yozgat, a Menteshe lord and vassal of the Banished One. Lanius wins a battle of insults and then learns that Prince Ulash wants his thralls back. Lanius refuses and the ambassador threatens war as he departs.Grus lays siege to Nishevatz. He tries to sneak men in the city using a hidden tunnel, but the defenders ambush them. He tries a direct assault on the walls and is repulsed. Then an army of Chernagors from another city-state appears and charges the Avornan lines. The Avornans defeat that group as well as a sally from the city, but Grus decides that he doesn't have enough men to take the city and returns to Avornis.In this story, Grus tries several times to retake Nishevatz, but various problems interfere with his plans. Among other things, the Chernagors raid the coast and rivers of Avornis. Then the Menteshe invade again.Although Lanius stills wishes that he was sole king, he starts to cooperate in active ways with Grus, including exiling a baron to the Maze for violation of the land grabbing laws while Grus is tied up in Chernagor. However, Lanius has learned the joys of extramarital affairs and is about to learn that kings