The first was The Jackal of Nar. This book is a military fantasy novel that takes place in the world created in the first book of the series. Marco delves into the characters deeper in his second book and reveals more about the world that they live in. You learn more about the church, the power struggles in the land of Nar, not only with Biagio and Herrith, but also with the other lords, and Biagio, who has a much bigger role in this story then the last. The characters in this book are extremely ruthless and hungry for either power or land.
Revenge is the central theme of The Grand Design.
Biagio want revenge on Richius. Richius wants revenge on Biagio. One of the twin brothers of Dragon's Beak wants revenge upon his own brother. A toymaker wants revenge upon Herrith. At first it is hard to define who the bud guy is in the story, but as the plot thickens, you learn that Biagio has a plan, a grand design, to not only enact his revenge upon Richius, but also to get Herrith and have himself take Arkus' place as Emperor.