Trilogy Review: Knights of Tin & Led by Emily Hayse
- Lavay Byrd
- Jul 25
- 4 min read
Surprise! I'm back. Let's just say July snuck up... and came in a whirlwind of life-happenings. So much so that I barely wrote in my WIP. (Too many distractions). And yet, I was able to get some reading done, which leads me to this epic triple book review of a trilogy. Because this series... is so awesome that I need to do it all in one post.
Oh, and did you know that tomorrow, the 26th is National Cowboy Day? What better day to celebrate than a review of an epic western fantasy series?
Warning, this is a mashup of three reviews in one.
About the series
Book 1: These War-Torn Hands
Rosamund Lacey has crossed a continent to marry Archer Scott—a man with a destiny. However, Alexander Mortimer, Outlaw King of the western territory, kidnaps the governor’s bride and wreaks havoc on the land around Glory Mesa. When Archer refuses to choose between the woman he loves and the land he has sworn to protect, he is forced into a showdown that may cost more than his life.
Book 2: The Beautiful Ones
New hope brings new challenges and new blood from the East as Glory Mesa is poised to enter a new golden age. But the hard-won peace is marred by rumblings of trouble on the horizon and the shadow of the ancient curse. Yet, unknown to all but a few, this season of range wars, breakneck rides, lone gunslingers, and gentle romances is building to a deadly day that will alter the territory and its people forever.
Book 3: In the Glorious Fields
With the true villain unmasked at last and an ancient terror awakened to ravage the land, Archer’s heroes set out on a quest that will ask more of them than they know if they are to break the curse that threatens the land they love. Yet as friendships are broken and allies topple one by one, the men and women of the Western Territory begin to realize that the greatest threat of all lies not in the curse, but in themselves.
My Thoughts
As a lover of fantasy and many things western, I've been searching for a good western-fantasy tale worthy to read and fall in love. Too many times I've been turned off by books labeled "weird western" or "western fantasy" that were either too dark, or boring or just... WEIRD. (As in "Cowboys & Aliens" weird).
And then came Emily Hayse's announcement of "Knights and Tin and Lead", a trilogy reimagining the legends of King Arthur and his knights set in a world inspired by the Old West-- with subtle hints of dragons and ancient curses. I was hooked.
Each of these three books held me captive from the first page of These War-Torn Hands to the end of In the Glorious Fields. I was in awe of the beautiful description of the wild western lands to the heart-pounding gun-shooting and rail-road action scenes!
It felt as if I was reading an actual western saga, from the breath-taking descriptions of the wild western lands to the heart-pounding gun-shooting action, to the beautiful scenes of gentle romance and friendships. At the same time, there were subtle hints that would make the series like an epic fantasy from dragons to prophecies and curses on the land! Think "Tombstone" meets "Lord of the Rings", in this epic saga of men and women who would become heroes and heroines... and then legends for fighting and living for the land they love.
Speaking of characters, there are so many I could root for. There's Archer Scott himself, the chosen governor with a destiny that's both an honor and a burden. Rosamund... a woman who I admired in her journey (except for a certain action in book 3 that made me mad at her until she realized her mistake. NO ADULTERY, thank goodness, but it's just as a betrayal that leads to a heartfelt reunion and healing). Her brother, Raymond Lacey, who becomes an awesome marshal. Jesse Thatcher, Archer's loyal and stubborn cousin. Quiet yet deadly Jack Selby with a painful past but a beautiful redemption. And then there's the mysterious Doctor Sikes...
But... my all-time favorite is Kate Carnegie. I LOVE that she's not your typical "overly kick-butt boss-girl". She's so loving to her friends, yet incredibly brave but also so vulnerable with her feelings and her strong longing for adventure. And the fact that the men she respects respect her for the incredible brave woman that she is!
If I go on and on, this post will take FOREVER to read. All I can say is that this is an incredible series I will come back to again and again!
About the Author
Emily Hayse is a lover of log cabins, strong coffee, NASCAR, and the smell of old books. Her writing is fueled by good characters and a lifelong passion for storytelling. When she is not busy turning words into worlds, she can often be found baking, singing, or caring for one of the many dogs and horses in her life. A proud Michigan native, she currently resides in SoCal.
Website: emilyhayse.com
Facebook Page: The Hero Singer
Instagram: @SongofHeroes
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