Intrigue and ambition at the highest levels of society. A gutsy protagonist fallen into a desperate situation. Rulers of the Universe who will use any means to achieve their ambitions. A society where honor is revered and trust hard to come by.
The second volume in the Twelve Systems Chronicles, Bright Star continues Lilian’s saga as Lucius Mercio’s motivations and ambitions are revealed. They are far more extraordinary than Lilian could have imagined. With the role Lucius has designed for her, Lilian believes she is well on her way to proving her bond and redeeming her honor. She is about to realize her trial has barely begun.
Lilian’s enemies are more determined than ever to see her destroyed. A ghost from her past will imperil her future threatening to destroy Lucius’ slowly developing trust. To survive the next set of challenges Lilian will need to find new reserves of courage, wit and determination.
Lucius’ rival are about to increase the number and ferocity as they seek to limit his expanding wealth and power. They will use any means to undermine and destroy his plans including his notorious apprentice. To advance his ambitions, Lucius must be more ruthless and devious than ever before. To succeed, Lucius requires Lilian’s brilliance. To make use of it, he must keep her alive. It is going to prove more difficult than he anticipated.
Excerpt
I am the sum of my ancestors. I am the foundation of my family. Eyes closed, Lilian resolutely forces her breathing to even, forces her panic into a small cold knot she can surround and contain with her discipline. Honor is my blade and shield.
The hard cot on which she sits is bolted to the stone walls of the Incarceration Halls, an intimidating stone edifice that predates the Fourth Warrior, Jonathan Metricelli. Honor knows not fear. As she has countless times in the past bells, Lilian reaches for the reassurance of her thorn and conservator’s seal only to find them gone, taken with her belt and racing shoes.
A day that began so pleasantly has deteriorated into disaster. Racing in the Garden Center with the rising of the Seventh Day sun is one of Lilian’s few pleasures. The great parkland of Crevasse City offers miles of trails, and at her preferred bell, quietude that is so often lacking the other six days of a sevenday.
Honor endures. Even Lilian’s extraordinary discipline is unable to ignore the scent that is unmistakably an incarceration cell. A miasma formed from harsh cleansers overlaying the scent of anger, pain and desperation that has seeped into the very stones.
Adelaide’s aid, I erred. Lilian pulls her knees to her chest and then drops them quickly as the stench of drying blood overwhelms her senses. I am the sum of my ancestors.
Honor acts as duty commands. She should have been more attentive. This morning, enjoying the exercise, caught up in her expectations for the coming sevenday, Lilian paid little heed to her surroundings …
…the Shrine beggar came out of nowhere. Normally those desperate denizens of the Garden Center cling to the shielding walls of the Five Warriors’ Shrines, subsisting on the twice daily Shrine gifts of soup and the pittance the tender-hearted yield. Lurking in the shadow of dense foliage, the beggar is invisible as Lilian rounds the turn…
The unmistakable sound of the cell door recessing has Lilian straightening her shoulders, and raising her chin. She will not rise for the guard, she will not cower either.
It is not the guard. Sergeant D’Angelo enters followed by the unmistakable figure of Master Trevelyan.
Milord! Lucius Mercio has not abandoned his apprentice and conservator. Although unknown outside of Blooded Dagger Cartouche and Serengeti, Master Trevelyan is milord’s spymaster and enforcer. He is here to execute the will of Monsignor Lucius Mercio, Lilian’s bondholder.
“Mistress Lilian, what say you?” Master Associate Trevelyan is a tall robust man of fifty plus years. His erect posture, precisely creased suit, close-cropped brown hair and sharp, no nonsense manner bring to mind the militia.
Rising as Trevelyan speaks, Lilian summons control with the Warriors’ Litany, I am the sum of my ancestors. Deep breath, respond, “If you please Master Trevelyan, the beggar had a garrote …”
…a blur of movement caught in the corner of her eye has Lilian reaching for her thorn as decades of training and recent experience warn her of peril. Her assailant crashes into her from behind, tumbling them both hard onto the pathway. A knee attempts to pin her to the path as a sharp bite scrapes along her face and neck. Garrote! Awkwardly striking up and out, Lilian slips her three-sided blade between her throat and death. The cord that would strangle yields and Lilian tumbles free of her attacker. Rolling to her feet, Lilian spins defensively, thorn at the ready.
The ragged figure of her attacker is on his knees, gazing at something in his hands.
Stunned by the suddenness of the attack, poised for continued battle, it is several long breaths before Lilian comprehends the sight before her. The man is frantically attempting to press his partially severed hand back onto his bleeding wrist. In slicing free of the cord, Lilian half-severed one of the hands holding the garrote.
Blood, so much blood. Lilian’s blow opened the major arteries. The man on his knees will be dead in moments. Seizing a section of the garrote from the pathway where it fell, Lilian frantically attempts to tie off the wound.
The now keening man hampers her efforts as he continues his futile efforts to reattach the damaged limb by will alone.
The wire that was once a garrote does not serve. It cuts rather than constricting the flesh. Tossing it aside, Lilian rips her nape ties free of her queued hair and slices the leather lacings to gain one of sufficient length.
The beggar has collapsed, curled inward around his wounded limb. Ruthlessly, Lilian shoves the moaning figure onto his back and reaches for the gory stub. Swallowing her rising gorge Lilian resolutely ignores the gruesome, partially severed hand that flops against her fingers. The leather slips off the blood-slick wrist. Lilian grabs again for the wrist as the beggar pulls away.
“Rimon Condemn you! Be still or you die,” Lilian profanes as she once again wrestles the man into position. So much blood, it is everywhere. Her slick hands slip as she again attempts to lash the leather around the stump.
“Crevasse swallow it!” Lilian scrubs her hands on her tunic and once again reaches for the gory wrist. This time she succeeds in lashing the leather around the stump. The flow of blood is slowing.
Raising his head, the beggar captures Lilian’s gaze. “May the Five Warriors…”
Whatever the shrine beggar might have asked of the Five Warriors, or offered, is forever lost. Lilian will not soon forget the staring eyes in a face so emaciated as to be fleshless.
“Self-slaughter by proxy,” Trevelyan shakes his head.
Professional Reviews
World-building at its best!
Engrossing read! Both books grab your attention as the world of the Twelve Systems is brought to life. I LOVE our H, Lilian-she is so brilliant and so determined to survive. Our "h", Lucius is, I think, starting to care very much for his little indentured apprentice...can't wait for the next book! Please HURRY!!
An epic read with interesting characters
Bright Star is book two in E.G.Manetti’s epic Apprentice Trilogy (book three is expected next year). I thought this was a well-constructed story and not having read book one was not actually a disadvantage although it left me wanting to read book three to find out what happens to Lilian and her master Lucius next. You know me, I hate spoilers with a vengeance, so I won’t go there! Suffice it to say that an Apprentice is a kind of indentured assistant or bondswoman (bondsman if male) who sells their services as a personal assistant for a three year period. The duties include those of a carnal nature so it is more in line with slavery than apprenticeship in our world.
E.G.Manetti’s characters are well drawn and seeing their personalities develop through the course of the story is interesting. Lilian grows from being quite fearful at the start to quite confident at the end and Lucius, her owner, mentor and protector, is responsible for that. Their relationship is not one you would expect from master and slave and the love scenes are just that; explicit, erotic and yet tastefully written.
The world constructed here is complex and well thought out, a kind of sci-fi, space warrior with ancient Roman overtones. The story is full of politics and intrigue and makes a fascinating read. Copy is not perfect, but errors are few and minor and did not affect my enjoyment of the story which pulled me in more as time progressed. At the point of writing this, I am eagerly awaiting book three. I want to see what transpires between Lucius and Lilian, find out who the traitor is and hopefully see Lilian reinstated as a warrior with honour. Time will tell!
A five star read for me.
Epic sicfi, complex and absorbing
The continuing epic story of the twelve systems, a complex and intricately crafted world which centres on Lilian and Lucius, but with a supporting cast of interesting characters who each had their own specific voices and personalities, an admirable job considering the number.
Political and commercial intrigue intermixed with proud warrior and religious traditions provide a book that isn't an easy read, you have to concentrate on this one, but once read, I wanted to go back and pick up on the parts you missed the first time round.
I gave this one another star compared with the first book as the characters come to life a little more as their background are explained, I particularly liked the spymaster and Rebecca and I hope E. G. expands upon their story further in the next book.
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