"Son of the Poison Rose: A Kagen the Damned Novel" by Jonathan Maberry is a thrilling addition to the world of supernatural suspense. Set in a gritty urban landscape where danger lurks around every corner, the novel follows the enigmatic protagonist Kagen as he confronts his dark past and battles against sinister forces that threaten to plunge the world into chaos. Maberry's masterful storytelling and vivid imagery draw readers into a world of ancient curses, forbidden magic, and pulse-pounding action. With its blend of supernatural intrigue and heart-stopping suspense, "Son of the Poison Rose" is a gripping read that will leave fans eagerly anticipating the next installment in this gripping series.

Loved this book. The book cover is amazing as well. I’m a sucker for fantasy and it sure did hit the spot.

In Son of the Poisoned Rose we once again find ourselves in the Silver Empire, Kagen's attempt to topple the Witch-King and wrest back control of the empire having come to a head in the first book and everything in turmoil in the aftermath, especially Kagen's heart. Magic has returned to the land in many forms, none of them truly good or evil so much as measured against the other. The Witch King is enraged at having his reign questioned and his plans scattered after all his hard work, and all too quick to lash out at his own forces as much as the hero who fought him on what was to be his coronation day.There are many truths to be confronted and battles to be won now, war is on the horizon and the empire itself is a chaotic mess of uncertainty. Which is the right path and how shall Kagen go about fighting all that has gone wrong?

This was a great follow-up to Kagen the Damned! Our characters have much to confront, more to fight for, and a whole host of monsters, elder gods, and other hostile forces to overcome. There's definitely progression here between plot, character development, and narrative, all of which create great pacing and a story we want to know more about. I wasn't fond of the repeated issue of SA in the first book, but while the past prevalence is referenced here there certainly aren't accounts of it happening to characters as there was with first book either. This is definitely a series for fans of Michael Moorcock's Elric, Karl Edward Wagner's Kane, and Robert E. Howard's Conan who will like it's blend of sword and sorcery, cosmic horror, and political intrigue.

While not terrible, Son of the Poison Rose lacks the snap and excitement that I feel Kagen the Damned had. Unfortunately this is a sequel that pales in comparison.

Because this book is about zombies... I was already not a fan. I feel like the world building was great, but the fact that the author writes pretty graphic sexual violence and abuse scenes is a lot. It just seems like it was there in abundance and it was unnecessary.

This story has promise. I appreciate the writer for keeping me very entertained. The battles or actions was splendidly detailed. I have images in my head that are hard to comeback from. The story was very telling about Kagen, his brother and the deaths of his family. Karen’s story as well as the Therians goals to the plot are deeply edged into this book. The plot worked well with the fantasy plot. The war between brothers was almost a Kane and Able. Like I said I loved action, the plots of attacks, assassins and conquerors of lands. The story moved the plot with efficiency. The characters are entertaining and easily remembered. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This series feels like an homage to the old-school Conan-style fantasies. The main characters’ reactions to all the events seemed honest and realistic—a great follow-up novel to Kagen the Damned. This genre is outside my reading preference, but I enjoyed it

Draw me a beautiful map cause I’m just a girl who loves exploring an epic fantasy world & I like pretty things. Also pretty gory things like fierce battles gone awry. And leading men who say saucy things & act exceptionally raunchy, but also secretly would love to cuddle. Probably likes to cuddle. But that’s besides the point.

I’m not going to say much about the synopsis of book two of the Kaigen the Damned series because spoilers, but in book two Jonathan Maberry is setting the stage. Magic & family, cannibal warriors & secret plots, and a wannabe Witch-king & the most wanted man in the world—Kagen the Damned fighting tooth & nail for the fate of their world.

“The world we know is only a thin coat of paint on a canvas upon which infinite images have been wrought.”

The characters are fierce. The plot & prose is wickedly smart. The pace is set to grueling, so make sure you fasten that seatbelt because you are in for a wild ride with a whiplash cliffhanger ending that will make you curse the gods because you have to wait for the next book in the series.

If you’re a fan of adult fantasy, be sure to check out Kagen the Damned first, have Son of the Poison Rose queued & ready. I absolutely cannot wait to see what’s next for Kagen.

Thank you @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read & review Son of the Poison Rose by Jonathan Maberry.

If you enjoyed book 1, I think this will land for you! If you’ve not read book 1 definitely read it first. These are excellent bets for anyone who enjoys fantasy adventure & doesn’t mind a bit of world building - overall super engaging!

Thank you so much Netgalley & ss, St. Martin's Griffin!

There was so much action packed into book #2 of the Kagen the Damned series and I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in this series (that is me assuming there will be a third book based on how this book finished). I also just found out there was a novella that takes place between books 1 and 2 called I Say Your Name in the Dark Nights and I am going to have to read that one as well! I love that this story literally starts where book 1 ends, which allows us to jump straight into the story. I love that we got to see a glimpse of Kagen and what he is capable of and I am hoping we will get to see more of that in the next book. Overall, I am super excited for book #3!

This picks up directly after the events of Kagen the Damned so it is vitally important to read that before starting Son of the Poison Rose.

This is a very complex plot with an abundance of characters. Almost too many characters in my opinion. Some of these are only introduced for a chapter or a few pages, but it just adds something else in your brain that you have to keep track of and figure out why those two pages were important to the overall plot. It worked well for showing the scope of the events and who it affected the common people, but all those extra plot threads made it so difficult to keep track of everything and to know if things were wrapped up or what mysteries still need to be resolved. I almost felt like I needed to be taking extensive notes.

That being said, I still really enjoy Maberry’s writing. The ‘main’ characters’ reactions to all the events seemed honest and realistic. And it was interesting to see how the events of Kagen the Damned continued on. There were some revelations that I didn’t really see coming and we did get further explanation of some things that were hinted at in book one. I’m definitely going to be reading further in this series to find out what happens.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin Griffin, and Jonathan Maberry for an e-arc of Son of the Poison Rose in exchange for an honest review.

Jonathan Maberry is a magician. He is the author of over 60 books in a wide variety of genres. While his name is not as recognizable as Steven King, John Grisham, or Margaret Atwood, I can’t think of another author who has accomplished so much. I first stumbled upon the Maberry name online. Day after day, I found myself confronted by zombies. And as any human would do, I ran. But he persisted, and I finally was bitten. There was no better place for me to start than Patient Zero. The virus was hot and ran through me as quickly as I read through the entire ten novel arc of one of his most beloved characters, Joe Ledger. Think Jack Reacher meets The X-Files. I read or listened to most of them in my mother’s days in her battle with dementia. I spent many nights in the hospital in an uncomfortable chair in the dark, listening to Ray Porter bring Jonathan Maberry’s creations to life. The stories, while fast-paced and terrifying, distracted from the buzz of the fluorescent lights seeping in from the hallway and the beeping of the monitors and machines that were often the only things that confirmed that my mother was still here. Ten books, then done. As I age, the memories of my mother are sometimes difficult to hold on to, but she lives on. And so does Joe Ledger. The first ten-book run completed an arc, but Maberry is keeping him alive in a second series. The next, his third, is Cave 13, and will be out soon.
So, there you have it. The origin story of my literary relationship with Jonathan Maberry. Or, possibly a more apt description, my Bore-igin Story. This is a weird way to ease into a review of his latest novel, The Son of the Poison Rose.

The Son of the Poison Rose is the second book of a proposed trilogy and continues the story of Kagen the Damned. Sword and sorcery is a new genre for Maberry—at least for the reader. Getting blurbed by Michael Moorcock should be a clue that he has long been a fan. I won’t go into the plot of the story. There are plenty of places you can find that. Maberry’s writing is rich and pointed, his characters colorful and unique, especially for a sword and sorcery tale. Kagen is a very damaged character who wields his daggers with skill and bloodlust, especially when dealing with those from the Silver Empire. The story itself is a boiling cauldron—part sword and sorcery, part cosmic horror. Maberry’s world-building is fresh and engaging. I’m hoping we get a little more of Vespia in the next book. The author barely touched the cannibal-infested rainforest. Then there are the Hollow Monks, a Razor Knight, the royal twins are coming along nicely. Or horribly. Whichever you prefer. They’re you and impressionable, but have a mind of their own. My bet is that we’ll see much more of them and be off to the frozen wastelands known as the Winterwilds as the third book, A Dragon in Winter, teases. Maberry has a lot of threads and stories all moving toward a blood-soaked conclusion. And Kagen has a score of scores to settle with the Witch-king.

If the book has a weak link, it is in its pacing. While the plot and sub-plots were all engaging, there were a few times I found myself wanting the author to speed things up, but there were also times I wanted more, and that’s with almost 700 pages of story.

Reading Kagen the Damned, the first in the series, is not 100% required reading. Maberry weaves this tale so you can jump right in, but I recommend doing so as there is so much world-building. His next novel in the series is supposed to wrap things up, and on some level, I’m sure he will, but I have a feeling that we will be seeing a lot more from Kagen.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin, and the author for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’d encourage you to buy this book from your favorite indy bookseller or you could buy it from one of Jonathan Maberry’s favorite booksellers, Mysterious Galaxy, where you should be able to request an autographed edition. I have purchased a number of books from them. They are great people. Or buy from the big A. Whatever you do, buy the book.

This one reeked me in immediately just as the first one did. I loved this second installment just as much as the first and really look forward to more from this author.

Son of the Poison Rose is the continuation in the Kagen the Damned series. Kagen Vale is the captain of the palace guard, and protector of the royal's children, his family. His world is ripped apart after the Silver Empire is overtaken by the Witch King of Hakkia. After the big reveal at the end of book #1, this novel begins with Kagen on the run.

After months of self-loathing and grief, Kegan befriends Filia and Tuke. Together, they scheme up a plan to destroy the most evil person known throughout the kingdoms. More than an army, they will need magic on their side. The supporting cast characters, and multiple story lines help in the world-building.. Maberry truly immerses the reader in the experiences, the elements and milestones throughout the story culminating in an epic ending.

This genre is definitely outside my reading preference, but I enjoyed this action packed dark fantasy. It's twists, turns and surprises kept me turning the page of this 704 page novel.

Thank you St. Martins Press for the complimentary copy.

Jonathan Maberry has really hit the nail on the head with the character of Kagen Vale. He has all the internal turmoil and self loathing that I am looking for from my protagonist; on top of that he gets treated with the ideal amount of humor so that I don’t great dragged down into the depths of despair. Kagen is as close to my perfect protagonist as you can get.

But a great story needs more than just protagonist perfection. It needs the most vile villain; with the Witch-king, Maberry has given us that. If you’ve read Kagen the Damned then you know who this is, if you haven’t, then please read book one in the series. The Witch-king is everything that Kagen is not and exemplifies all that Kagen is.

What would a character like Kagen be without a wondrous world surrounding him? Again, Maberry delivers a rich world filled with a detailed history, topography, and cultures. There is nothing lacking in the world of the Silver Empire. It is easy to picture Kagen’s travels across mountains, through jungles, and with dark forests.

Soundly rounding out Son of the Poison Rose is the supreme supporting cast. With Tuke and Filia featured prominently, the supporting cast brings this book to the next level. They add exactly what needs to be added, precisely when it needed to be added. Even the cannon fodder is allotted the time to make them complete characters. Maberry has gone above and beyond with this book. And with thanks to Tuke, this book has more balls than a stud farm.

Did I like Son of the Poison Rose, you ask. You know I did! Will I read the next book? Yes, please! My only request is that it gets tied up nicely with a trilogy. This is too good to get bogged down in a never-ending series.

*5 Stars

I had a lot of mixed feelings about this book. Objectively, there wasn't anything bad about it. Plot, pacing, character development, world building, etc., were all improvements over the first book. I felt as those Maberry did a great job of building on the framework he laid in Kagen the Damned to raise the stakes across the board. However... I struggled to get through the first half of the book. It literally took over a month, when typically a book of this length takes days. The last third of the book was much improved, and I AM still invested in the story but I was dreading picking it up everyday for a while.

A wonderful sequel in a fantastic series! This is fantasy genre writing at its very best. Kagen Vale is a hell of a character, and the world setting is like it's own character in this story. The Witch-king is a masterful antagonist. The pacing here is quick and captivating. I loved this very much and am truly thankful to Jonathan Maberry and the publisher for the opportunity to review an advance copy.

This fantasy novel was definitely the sequel that I needed. It was so intense absolutely loved it! It’s full of adventure, politics. Battles and more!

I am loving this series. Kagen and Co. are still trying to find a way to defeat the Witch King.
They may have more allies than before, but there are also more obstacles too. Cannibal warriors and a disease that turns the infected into mindless killing machines are just a couple of the things they need to overcome.

I love these characters so much! I can't wait to read the next one.

Title: Son of the Poison Rose
Author: Jonathan Maberry
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

The Silver Empire is in ruins. War is in the wind. Kagen and his allies are on the run from the Witch-king. Wild magic is running rampant everywhere. Spies and secret cabals plot from the shadows of golden thrones.

Kagen Vale is the most wanted man in the world, with a death sentence on his head and a reward for him—dead or alive—that would tempt a saint.

The Witch-king has new allies who bring a terrible weapon—a cursed disease that drives people into a murderous rage. If the disease is allowed to spread, the whole of the West will tear itself apart.

In order to build an army of resistance fighters and unearth magical weapons of his own, Kagen and his friends have to survive attacks and storms at sea, brave the haunted wastelands of the snowy north, fight their way across the deadly Cathedral Mountains, and rediscover a lost city filled with cannibal warriors, old ghosts, and monsters from other worlds. Along with his reckless adventurer brothers, Kagen races against time to save more than the old empire… if he fails the world will be drenched in a tsunami of bloodshed and horror.

I enjoyed this read a lot! It took a while to read, but that wasn’t a bad thing. The first book, it took me a bit to get into. This one did not. Kagen’s banter with his friends is the best part to me, but I loved all the action and trying to guess what would happen next. This is a very solid epic fantasy—and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Jonathan Maberry is a bestselling author. Son of the Poison Rose is his newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)