I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Eye of Scales by Tracy Hickman, Richard Garriott
Published by Tor Publishing Group on July 26, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Epic, Fiction / Media Tie-In
Pages: 288
Format: eBook
Source: Netgalley
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Fantasy great Tracy Hickman teams up with the video game legend Richard Garriott in this epic novel The Eye of Scales, based on the award-winning game, Shroud of the Avatar.

The sword rules all.

Aren Bendis, former soldier in the Obsidian army, has managed to protect a rebel city from his former friends and now finds his fate bound to a weapon once wielded by the Avatars themselves. Now, he is being secreted away to the capital of the last alliance of free nations with the hopes that the Hero of Opalis will lead their army against his former masters.

What Aren doesn't know is that his former friend Evard Dirae, a Craft Master of the Obsidian Order, is seeking Aren out. Worried that Aren is being manipulated against his will by the magic of the Avatars, Evard seeks to find the sword and break its hold over Aren once and for all.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Eye of Scales is the second book in the Blade of the Avatar series, set in the richly detailed world of Shroud of the Avatar. Written by fantasy veteran Tracy Hickman, the novel aims to blend epic storytelling with game-inspired lore.

THE STORY

Following the events of Blade of the Avatar, this installment continues the struggle between Chaos and Virtue as the fate of New Britannia hangs in the balance. The battle for magical relics intensifies, and dark forces gather in a world shaped by prophecy, power, and choice. But as the protagonists seek their destinies, the burden of exposition may weigh heavier than the blade they wield.

THE CHARACTERS

The characters in The Eye of Scales feel like they’re more designed to serve the lore than to live on the page. While there are hints of personality, they often get lost in overly elaborate worldbuilding. Their motivations felt vague, and their relationships lacked depth. It was hard to feel connected to anyone.

FANTASY FRAMEWORK

This book leans hard into classic high-fantasy tropes: prophecies, artifacts, ancient magics, and kingdoms in peril. It’s set in a game-based universe, which shows in the sprawling scope and terminology. Unfortunately, the complexity of the world often overwhelms the story. The lore is dense, and rather than immersing, it sometimes alienates.

STEAMOMETER

0 out of 5 🔥

No romantic or steamy content in this one—purely political intrigue and magical warfare.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Despite clever word choices and detailed descriptions, I struggled to stay engaged. The pacing lagged after a promising start, and the story got buried under layers of lore. If you’re deeply familiar with the Shroud of the Avatar universe, you might enjoy it more—but for casual fantasy readers, this might be a tough climb. I give it 2 stars.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tracy Hickman is best known as the co-author of the Dragonlance series. His writing often blends deep fantasy lore with heroic journeys. Explore more by Tracy Hickman