Fourteen years of peace is enough tp drive any two dedicated warriors to distraction. But, when those warriors are the Prince and Princess of Helium it is a fundamental waste of resources. Their first son, Carthan, is approaching seventeen years old and is already a fine swordsman and ready to join the exalted ranks of the Warriors of Helium. What they do not know, what no one in Helium knows, is that an enemy from their past has arisen again, better equipped and funded than ever before and he has a diabolical scheme to attack Helium from no only the outside but the inside as well. Turning parent against child and friend against friend, he seeks to devide the great city to soften it for his final blow. Darus and Zurah maintain their loving bond and are fortunate to have close friends upon whom they can count when things turn nasty. When the monster attacks, where can they turn, who can they trust in the final and climatic volume of The Barsoom Pentalogy in which scores are settled and true friends arrize. In the end, great sacrifices are required to save all they love, but will it work? This book will make you want to read the other four. 438 pages, mild language and implied sexual situations. Fine for late teens.
Review :
Reviewed By Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite 5-Stars
Tyrant Queen of Mars by Rob Dorsey is the fifth and final book in The Barsoom Pentalogy. It's been fourteen years since their last battle, since they faced Zurah's brother. As they enjoy a time of peace, Val Tar enacts a treacherous plan and turns to Dejah's secretary for help starting the first step in his plan. Zurah and Darus decide their son, Carthan, and his friend, Elon, son of Elona and Skola, are ready for their first mission. Meanwhile, Dejah and John Carter appear to change overnight, turning on their family and the kingdom in cruel and unthinkable ways. As Dejah grows colder, she turns on Zurah completely, seeing her as the enemy and striking against her by taking the science project she was working on and threatening to also take away her son. Zurah and Darus have no choice but to turn to their closest friends, Elona and Skola, to escape Dejah's tyranny. It's soon discovered that the worst enemy may just be within.
Rob Dorsey finishes The Barsoom Pentalogy with an exciting adventure and a dangerous battle for a kingdom! After fourteen years, two of the prominent couples are more settled into their lives and relationships with routines and even the family strife has reached a peaceful resolution. Elona has settled into a life with Skola and their teenage son, Elon, while Zurah has been welcomed into the family despite the curse of her last name. Val Tar is the final villain they face. He takes a psychological approach as he uses Dejah and John Carter to tear apart not only their family but their kingdom. He brings out their worst traits while those they love have to confront the worst traits in them and find a way to save them from themselves. Dejah becomes a tyrant, cold and cruel, while John Carter is aggressive yet submissive to Dejah. The kingdom becomes twisted and, living under so much pressure, they plan to revolt. Dorsey explores these characters who've been developed over the previous four books by directly addressing every negative quality they have and the issues still bubbling under the surface between them. The foundation this family has built begins to crumble as Zurah and Darus have to fight not only against Val Tar, but their own family. The friendship Darus and Zurah have with Elona and Skola has only gotten stronger and more charming, forming a sweet family unit and fierce allies.
Dorsey introduces two new family members in the guise of teenage sons Carthan and Elon. These two younger characters bring a fun outlook to the story as they're a new generation. Elon and Carthan each experience coming of age journeys as they take on their first mission and then having to understand this internal battle in their family. They stand out among their warrior family members as for the first time they have to confront the reality of battle and the guilt of killing someone. They have to understand what bravery and courage mean while discovering for themselves what sort of warriors they will be. Tyrant Queen of Mars is a dazzling conclusion with the characters you love facing their worst enemy, with the same adventure, wit, and heart as the previous books while introducing new characters and a surprising turn of events.
