A review by smiorganbaldhead
In Conquest Born by C.S. Friedman

5.0

This book is dark, brutal, sometimes confusing, and awesome. At first, it can feel disjointed, as it starts out feeling like a fix-up novel of connected short stories. Some stories/chapters are told in third person and some in first, some in past tense and some in present. Some are epistolary, and some have sub-chapters. However, these stories are very good, with many memorable moments. Gradually, plot threads from different stories begin to weave together into a complex but cohesive narrative with great characters and a lot of psychological and emotional depth. The world-building in this book is great, with multiple well-realized cultures. In many ways, depth, style, and some plot elements reminded me of Dune. Neither side of the conflict is necessarily the "good guys:" both the Braxins and Azeans can be incredibly brutal in different ways, though the Braxins' brutality is more open and sadistic. Many plot elements might be disturbing for some readers, and the darkness of the story is nearly constant (apart from one humorous episode involving an important side character). It's certainly not for everyone. However, I really enjoyed this book, and I plan to read more from C.S. Friedman.