Azizi did a wonderful job creating a world where weapons, magic and loyalty play an integral role in the success of an empire. A fantasy is well written when you are transported to the world described. I found the premise of the story intriguing and with the rich descriptions, I felt as if I was walking alongside the characters. The story is detailed and complex, every connection and action is well planned and the way Natassa and Velamir’s paths crossed was interesting. Even though there are multiple POVs, the focus is still on Natassa and Velamir. I loved seeing glimpses into the different characters’ lives. I enjoy multiple POVs and got excited about the different POVs. This book is 500 pages plus, but the moment you start reading, you quickly forget the length and become so absorbed in the story. The Cavalier is the first book in the Heroes of the Empire series and it’s action-packed, filled with the sounds of weapons clashing and characters who face their fears.Ī list of characters is included at the beginning of the book and to be honest, I was quite intimidated by the length of the list and was worried that I’ll get lost between the characters, but a few chapters in, everyone fell into their place. Velamir must find the courage to face his past and Natassa must find the strength to face herself before the war consumes them both.

When she learns of her father’s intention to marry her to a man she loathes, Natassa crafts a risky plan of her own-one dangerous enough to get her killed.

But she’s a shackled prisoner, and somewhere under the mask is a spark of rebellion. The one who looks away from the torture her father, the emperor, inflicts on the Empire’s inhabitants. Natassa knows her role well: The silent and obedient girl. Burdened with the deaths of the unavenged and the chance of losing his own life, Velamir must decide if revenge is worth the cost. Calamity befalls the group as they trek through enemy territory, and Velamir learns a part of his past that makes the mission far more personal. When he’s sent on a mission with three fellow academy cadets, Velamir returns to the Empire, the land of his birth. As a student in the Chishman academy, he cannot escape the brutal war. He pledges to bring its downfall.ĭeath is Velamir’s close acquaintance.

Title: Heroes of the Empire: The CavalierĪdd on Goodreads! She calls the Empire home.

The Cavalier by Israh Azizi