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The Golden Queen #2
Beyond the Gate
Book 2 of the Golden Queen Series
When Gallen O'Day is hired as a bodyguard to escort a young woman through the woods to the forbidden ruins at Geata Na Chruinn, it seems like an ordinary job--but all too soon, he finds himself fleeing for his life from creatures that seem like escapees from a nightmare--the alien dronon, led by their golden queen. With his best friend, a genetically engineered talking bear named Orick, and his girlfriend Maggie, Gallen soon finds himself tangled in an interstellar war that he never knew existed, racing across a host of worlds, confronted by a future unlike any that he had ever imagined.
When Gallen O'Day is hired as a bodyguard to escort a young woman through the woods to the forbidden ruins at Geata Na Chruinn, it seems like an ordinary job--but all too soon, he finds himself fleeing for his life from creatures that seem like escapees from a nightmare--the alien dronon, led by their golden queen. With his best friend, a genetically engineered talking bear named Orick, and his girlfriend Maggie, Gallen soon finds himself tangled in an interstellar war that he never knew existed, racing across a host of worlds, confronted by a future unlike any that he had ever imagined.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
10 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
12 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Dave Wolverton
66 books152 followersDave Wolverton (born 1957) is a science fiction author who also goes under the pseudonym David Farland for his fantasy works. He currently lives in St. George, Utah with his wife and five children.
(Wikipedia entry: Dave Wolverton)
(Wikipedia entry: Dave Wolverton)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 27, 2023
I had a lot of fun reading the first book in this trilogy "The Golden Queen". I thought it was pulpy and fun Sci-Fi/Fantasy storytelling, feeling like a Sci-Fi version of Willow. This book keeps up the same feeling, but doesn't have the excellent level of storytelling, action, or worldbuilding of book 1.
First of all, this book starts out with the premise that Maggie's relative, Thomas, is unhappy with her decision to marry Gallen and he tries to prevent the marriage. He ends up following them on the beginning of their quest. I was so excited, because Thomas brought just the right energy and entertainment that the group needed. He was like a more chaotic "Thom Merrilin" from Wheel of Time. Unfortunately, Wolverton writes him out almost as soon as the adventure starts, never to be seen again. (He might show up in book three, but he should have been in this whole book).
I followed the pacing and storytelling at the beginning. Unfortunately, the journey wasn't clearly enough defined and the objectives were also not clearly enough defined, mostly that our characters were just running away from danger. I think that Farland knew where he wanted book 1 to go, and was able to turn it into a trilogy based off of sales and an idea for book 3, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was a filler book because he wanted to make it a whole trilogy. This really suffers from "middle-book syndrome".
On another hand, the character stuff with Gallen and Maggie is really great here, and some of the other characters like Ceravanne and the Bock were really interesting, its just that the plot itself wasn't interesting. This is unfortunately the same problem that Farland's (Wolverton's) book "Sons of the Oak" suffered from.
Overall, this is an ok book, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I loved book 1. Hopefully, Farland sticks the landing with book 3 and I end up loving the trilogy overall. But this book gets a 6.0 out of 10 for me.
First of all, this book starts out with the premise that Maggie's relative, Thomas, is unhappy with her decision to marry Gallen and he tries to prevent the marriage. He ends up following them on the beginning of their quest. I was so excited, because Thomas brought just the right energy and entertainment that the group needed. He was like a more chaotic "Thom Merrilin" from Wheel of Time. Unfortunately, Wolverton writes him out almost as soon as the adventure starts, never to be seen again. (He might show up in book three, but he should have been in this whole book).
I followed the pacing and storytelling at the beginning. Unfortunately, the journey wasn't clearly enough defined and the objectives were also not clearly enough defined, mostly that our characters were just running away from danger. I think that Farland knew where he wanted book 1 to go, and was able to turn it into a trilogy based off of sales and an idea for book 3, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was a filler book because he wanted to make it a whole trilogy. This really suffers from "middle-book syndrome".
On another hand, the character stuff with Gallen and Maggie is really great here, and some of the other characters like Ceravanne and the Bock were really interesting, its just that the plot itself wasn't interesting. This is unfortunately the same problem that Farland's (Wolverton's) book "Sons of the Oak" suffered from.
Overall, this is an ok book, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I loved book 1. Hopefully, Farland sticks the landing with book 3 and I end up loving the trilogy overall. But this book gets a 6.0 out of 10 for me.
July 19, 2014
I try to take into consideration my mood at the time I read a book, but the truth is I rarely know if it's just me or the writing, especially if others enjoy it. That is the case with this series.
The first book in this series is a fantastic romp, perfect for my mood at the time. This one is merely okay. It doesn't live up to the promise of the first. It gets a bit grim and drags through the middle and even waxes preachy in places, trying unsuccessfully to present both sides of a Big Philosophical issue much in the way Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead does. I felt there is little or no place for that in an adventure romp. At least it did not seem to fit into this one. I suppose I'm motivated enough to go on to the third and final volume, but not immediately. I need a break from all the doom and gloom.
The first book in this series is a fantastic romp, perfect for my mood at the time. This one is merely okay. It doesn't live up to the promise of the first. It gets a bit grim and drags through the middle and even waxes preachy in places, trying unsuccessfully to present both sides of a Big Philosophical issue much in the way Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead does. I felt there is little or no place for that in an adventure romp. At least it did not seem to fit into this one. I suppose I'm motivated enough to go on to the third and final volume, but not immediately. I need a break from all the doom and gloom.
August 12, 2013
When last we left our reluctant heroes, they were just returning home from an adventure where they discovered a wider universe, learned unimaginable things, gained powerful weapons, fell in love, and acquired the greatest amount of power in the universe. If you missed all of that, perhaps you should read my review of THE GOLDEN QUEEN and then return here for the next installment of the story.
How does someone have a further adventure beyond what they have already achieved? Simple! Try to find a mate for the bear Orick! This tale begins, as did The Golden Queen on the backwoods-rustic-Ireland planet of Maggie Flynn and Gallen O'Day's birth. In an awesome time paradox, the owner of the inn where Maggie worked has just been killed and his will leaves the inn to Maggie. Up pops Maggie's uncle (apparently her long deceased mother had a brother who is a minstrel and took his sweet time in getting to Maggie) to act as her trustee as she is one year shy of being a legal adult. He also puts the breaks on the wedding plans between her and Gallen O'Day as were discussed at the end of The Golden Queen.
After some finagling, a message is received fromEveryone Everynne that once again summons our heroic troupe (plus Uncle Flynn) off-planet and on to once again helping a Tharrin in a task, this one also against a Borg-like hive-mind called the Inhuman and unlike last time, there actually is some hot cybernetics here.
Also of note:
- Orick-the-bear bemoans his lack of a life-mate as, apparently, she-bears want little companionship other than the mating act and Orick wants a proper life partner.
- Maggie is only the Golden Queen for the sixth swarm and there are other Dronnon swarms.
- Despite using the word "species" (definition: cannot produce sexually viable offspring), apparently all the separate and distinct human-derivative species are able to sexually reproduce with abandon and so are their offspring.
- If you have read JRR Tolken books, you will love the guest appearance by Bock the Ent.
This book is much better written than the first and it is clear that the author is hitting his stride in writing. All in all, three stars because I "liked it" (which is the mouse-over text for three stars).
How does someone have a further adventure beyond what they have already achieved? Simple! Try to find a mate for the bear Orick! This tale begins, as did The Golden Queen on the backwoods-rustic-Ireland planet of Maggie Flynn and Gallen O'Day's birth. In an awesome time paradox, the owner of the inn where Maggie worked has just been killed and his will leaves the inn to Maggie. Up pops Maggie's uncle (apparently her long deceased mother had a brother who is a minstrel and took his sweet time in getting to Maggie) to act as her trustee as she is one year shy of being a legal adult. He also puts the breaks on the wedding plans between her and Gallen O'Day as were discussed at the end of The Golden Queen.
After some finagling, a message is received from
Also of note:
- Orick-the-bear bemoans his lack of a life-mate as, apparently, she-bears want little companionship other than the mating act and Orick wants a proper life partner.
- Maggie is only the Golden Queen for the sixth swarm and there are other Dronnon swarms.
- Despite using the word "species" (definition: cannot produce sexually viable offspring), apparently all the separate and distinct human-derivative species are able to sexually reproduce with abandon and so are their offspring.
- If you have read JRR Tolken books, you will love the guest appearance by Bock the Ent.
This book is much better written than the first and it is clear that the author is hitting his stride in writing. All in all, three stars because I "liked it" (which is the mouse-over text for three stars).
April 16, 2013
I have given this book a five star for one very simple reason. As a lifelong reader of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, the litmus test is being able to put yourself in the characters shoes and be able to feel like you are in the story. This book does that. It is well written, but in most Sci-Fi there has to be a slow down to get all of the proper background into the story line so it makes sense. This book is no exception to that. Once you get into character reading the book, the is someone you can identify with that will keep you reading...on to book three...
March 28, 2013
A descent middle book in the series. Things carry along much like in the original.
Plot was a bit weaker in this one, however. Certain elements of the story were built up to be big horrible threats, but then turned out to be almost nothing in reality. Book could have benefited from being shortened a bit.
Plot was a bit weaker in this one, however. Certain elements of the story were built up to be big horrible threats, but then turned out to be almost nothing in reality. Book could have benefited from being shortened a bit.
October 8, 2012
From an Amazon review I posted long ago: I enjoyed this middle novel in the Golden Queen trilogy. It has doesn't have quite the same wide scope as the other two books, but is fun to read. I sometimes got lost in the ethical discussions. But the story is fast paced and intriguing and the characters ring true to what Wolverton had set up in the first novel. I highly recommend it!
August 7, 2012
Felt a bit trite in the beginning, but quickly improved. I liked the pacing, the story, and the underlying message, which you'll have to find out for yourself as I don't feel like writing anything about it (freedom, agency, etc.).
December 1, 2012
A Christmas Story, loved it all the way through, glad I stopped on page three and read "The Golden Queen" first book in series and I can not wait for the next book hint hint.
June 8, 2013
An excellent read. Even better than the first. Yeah, there are some formatting glitches here and there, but the story is so good they're easy to forgive. (And not worth removing a star over.)
June 14, 2013
I hoped this would be better than the first of the trilogy but it really wasn't. I am finishing the trilogy and hope #3 will improve
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews