Saevus Corax deals with the dead

Set in a similar Roman Empire--inspired world as Parker's Siege series, this trilogy opener follows Saevus Corax, the fast-talking leader of a battlefield salvage crew, as he thwarts "the biggest, most destructive war in human history," which, incidentally, he probably started. Saevus, who narrates his unreliable metafictional story directly to the reader, is not using his real name. His real name belongs to a man who has several bounties on his head set by vengeful family members, and who is also heir to the throne of Sirupat, a wealthy island that occupies a singular place in global politics, precariously balanced between multiple warring factions. This is the kind of past that catches up with a man, as Saevus finds out when his salvage crew is framed for robbing a tax ship, just to flush him out of hiding. Thus begins a series of captures, imprisonments, escapes, near-death experiences, expected betrayals, and surprise rescues that Saevus weathers with cynical aplomb, scheming equally well from a prison as a throne. Part political intrigue, part underdog tale, part acerbic commentary on humanity, Parker's dryly funny low fantasy is off to a strong start.

In this epic trilogy opener, Parker (A Practical Guide to Conquering the World) offers dark humor and bloody conflict alongside a cutting examination of the cost of war and the people who exacerbate and profit from it. The man calling himself Saevus Corax, self-described as "arrogant, callous, selfish and utterly devoid of any redeeming qualities," has a perfectly good life as a battlefield salvage contractor, taking advantage of the ever more frequent conflicts between Sirupat and its neighboring nations. But when a routine stop to deposit fresh inventory in his supposedly secret storehouse goes awry, Saevus discovers that his checkered past is catching up to him. Soon, it looks like he'll have to return to the real family business: ruling Sirupat. Retaking his place among the royal family puts Saevus smack in the middle of the two most powerful factions in the world. With a massive war looming that Saevus wants no part of, he'll need to rely on every bit of his devious nature to escape unscathed. Saevus is not so much an active protagonist as one to whom things just happen, resulting in an extended, bloody travelogue dotted with humor and snark. As told through Saevus's self-aware voice, it's a promising series starter that's sure to appeal to Parker's fans. (Oct.)