Condemned: Book 5

Lord Valevsky: Last of the Line, Book 5

By: Vasily Mahanenko, Taylor Margvelashvili - translator

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

A tournament to name the best mage in the empire. What could go wrong when everything is carefully planned down to the last detail, and only the best of the best are invited to participate? The answer is obvious: everything!

Once again, Maximilian Valevsky will have to save everyone to preserve the integrity of the empire. This time, however, forces far more powerful than anything he has encountered before have taken an interest in his affairs.

What will Maximilian do? Will he back down, or will he remember the main maxim of the doomed soldiers? Do or die! Die, but save!

©2024 V. Mahanenko; English translation copyright 2024 by Taylor Elise Margvelashvili (P)2024 Tantor

Seems like the mc became a power.

From prisoner to arch-duke. Mc doesnt just get stronger magicly or physicaly but also does some smart moves to survive.

Filler

Good story but I was hoping that eventually Victor would understand who the true enemies are and do something about it. Right now he just seems a bit of a bad guy. I don't like bad guy stories so hopefully it is just a temporary thing.

Hyper.

This just barely holds together. The world building and plot doesn't really make sense from book to book. The plot is constantly on 1.5 speed with bursts of afterburner acceleration. This goes for most every aspect of the story other than any real and tangible progression with this book like all the others leaving the reader more or less getting the mushroom treatment.
The flow just feels wrong.