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Caelum SunSoar has succeeded Axis as supreme ruler of tencendor, but simmering tensions threaten to tear his country apart. Acharites are deeply unhappy with their place in the new order and want Zared, son of Rivhak and Magariz, to reclaim their realm. Caelum strongly opposes any resurrection of the troublesome Achar throne and is preparing to fight it when a brutal murder occurs, unleashing mayhem among his family. Chief suspect is Drago SunSoar. Divested of his Icarii powers as a babe, Drago has harboured a life-long resentment of Caelum and yearns to dispossess his brother of his birthright. Caelum's troubles seem overwhelming. then they are completely eclipsed by news of abominable forces from beyond the Star Gate that threaten to wreak destruction on a divided tencendor. Caelum SunSoar has succeeded Axis as supreme ruler of tencendor, but simmering tensions threaten to tear his country apart. Acharites are deeply unhappy with their place in the new order and want Zared, son of Rivhak and Magariz, to reclaim their realm. Caelum strongly opposes any resurrection of the troublesome Achar throne and is preparing to fight it when a brutal murder occurs, unleashing mayhem among his family. Chief suspect is Drago SunSoar. Divested of his Icarii powers as a babe, Drago has harboured a life-long resentment of Caelum and yearns to dispossess his brother of his birthright. Caelum's troubles seem overwhelming. then they are completely eclipsed by news of abominable forces from beyond the Star Gate that threaten to wreak destruction on a divided tencendor.
656 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
61 people are currently reading
1834 people want to read
About the author
Sara Douglass
65 books1,030 followersDouglass was born in Penola, South Australia. She attended Annesley College, in Wayville, a suburb of Adelaide. She studied for her BA while working as a Registered Nurse, and later completed her PhD in early modern English History. She became a lecturer in medieval history at La Trobe University, Bendigo. While there she completed her first novel, BattleAxe, which launched her as a popular fantasy author in Australia, and later as an international success.
Until the mid-2000s, Douglass hosted a bulletin board on her website, with the aim of encouraging creative thinking and constructive criticism of others' work. She maintained an online blog about the restoration project of her house and garden entitled Notes from Nonsuch in Tasmania.
In 2008, Douglass was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She underwent treatment, but in late 2010 the cancer returned. She died on 27 September 2011, aged 54.
She also wrote under her real name Sara Warneke.
Until the mid-2000s, Douglass hosted a bulletin board on her website, with the aim of encouraging creative thinking and constructive criticism of others' work. She maintained an online blog about the restoration project of her house and garden entitled Notes from Nonsuch in Tasmania.
In 2008, Douglass was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She underwent treatment, but in late 2010 the cancer returned. She died on 27 September 2011, aged 54.
She also wrote under her real name Sara Warneke.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
April 22, 2018
Faraday & Zenith I just love and a few others. But there are a good bit of assholes in the book, both men and women!
Mel 🖤🐾🐺
Mel 🖤🐾🐺
June 27, 2014
Disclaimer: Gifs.
I really liked this.
Yes, it will make you hate (or seriously dislike) Axis, Azhure, and Caelum.
While some people would think these next three books weren't necessary, but they were IMHO. There were a lot of foreshadowing in the first three books, that have led to events in the last three books in the series.
I love how Faraday returns to kick even more ass, and has turned into a BAMF Queen.
I love how Drago has depth to his character, and I am, by the end of this book rooting for him to be the hero.
Zenith is a new, awesome, and interesting character.
Stardrifter has really grown as a character.
There were some problematic things in the book, but were eventually resolved and dealt with in a positive way.
I really liked this.
Yes, it will make you hate (or seriously dislike) Axis, Azhure, and Caelum.
While some people would think these next three books weren't necessary, but they were IMHO. There were a lot of foreshadowing in the first three books, that have led to events in the last three books in the series.
I love how Faraday returns to kick even more ass, and has turned into a BAMF Queen.
I love how Drago has depth to his character, and I am, by the end of this book rooting for him to be the hero.
Zenith is a new, awesome, and interesting character.
Stardrifter has really grown as a character.
There were some problematic things in the book, but were eventually resolved and dealt with in a positive way.
June 27, 2020
Wait, was it November when I finished the first trilogy?? How is it June already? Wow. Anyway, as promised, I’m back with the first book of the second trilogy set in Sara Douglass’ Tencendor universe. Whereas I am certain I read the first trilogy as a teenager, I’m not sure if I ever read the entire second trilogy. So some of these books might be new to me? They all kind of blurred together. If you want to read my reviews “from the beginning,” here’s my review of The Wayfarer Redemption, aka BattleAxe, book 1 of the Axis Trilogy.
Sinner picks up 40 years after the conclusion of Starman, just in time for everything to go to shit again because Axis and Azhure are the worst parents in the universe. This is not hyperbole. We shall put them on trial soon, but first … the plot summary.
Minor spoilers in this review for this novel.
So yeah, it’s 40 Years Later. All the SunSoar children are all growed up. Caelum is in charge but doesn’t know what he’s doing, and there’s strife between two of the human princes because one of them can’t manage money and the other is weak-willed enough to be swayed by power-hungry noblemen into demanding concessions he should know better than to expect Caelum to grant him. Meanwhile, an existential threat from beyond the StarGate looms ever closer. It’s coming for artifacts buried beneath the magical lakes of Tencendor, and it’s bringing all the children that WolfStar threw into StarGate 4000 years ago. WolfStar is back, by the way, and not happy about this turn of events. So he has to work with the Star Gods, and with Caelum and the others, because as this enemy approaches, the Star Dance fades and therefore the Icarii enchanters are losing their powers. Meanwhile, Drago SunSoar, whom you may remember as the little shit of an evil baby who tried to have his older brother killed when Caelum was still a child, is moping around now that he’s a boring mortal like the rest of us. Embittered by his treatment at the hands of … well, everyone, almost … and unable to remember being an evil baby, Drago becomes a fugitive. Is he evil? Or just misunderstood? You be the judge!!
I’d forgotten how redonkulous these books are! Seriously, Douglass’ characterization is all over the place. One minute a character is thoughtful, seemingly three-dimensional, cognizant of the weightiness of their deeds. The next, they’re petty and flying off into rages. Yes, we humans contain multitudes, and no one can be sensible all the time. But Douglass seems to think that everyone has two modes: totally rational, thoughtful, honourable versus completely batshit psychotic. Some minor examples: Leagh vacillating every two pages about whether or not she wants to be with Zared; Caelum flipping out the moment anyone suggests he even consider being a little nicer to Drago (this is why you should talk to a therapist about your childhood trauma, especially if you’re the ruler of a multi-racial empire, just saying). The most significant offenders, far and away, however, are obvious Axis and Azhure.
Let the trial begin. The charges? Gross parental negligence.
Exhibit A: Axis and Azhure left Caelum on his own to rule Tencendor by himself. You might argue that, at about 40 years old, Caelum is an “adult” capable of making his own decisions. I would counter by reminding you that this is a very special circumstance. Axis and Azhure are directly responsible for the current state of Tencendor because they carved it up into its current territories. Now they’ve left to go play at being gods while their son has to deal with some cantankerous princes? It’s inadvisable for Axis to step in and save Caelum’s butt, of course. But that shouldn’t stop him from showing up and advising behind the scenes. (Then again, maybe we are all better off not having rocks-for-brains Axis around.)
Exhibit B: Axis and Azhure don’t care about Zenith and what she’s going through with Niah. Indeed, when Faraday so much as hints to Azhure that Zenith might not enjoy what’s happening, Azhure flips into complete-batshit-psycho mode and justifies Niah supplanting Zenith’s consciousness like NBD. Azhure literally doesn’t care about her daughter.
Exhibit C: Axis and Azhure’s mistreatment of Drago. This is a big one, and I’m totally on Drago/Zenith/Faraday’s side here. Was DragonStar wrong to help Gorgrael abduct Caelum? Of course! Yet Drago does not remember that crime, and he has paid for it. Worse still was the decision to keep him around his family in Sigholt when he could never truly belong to them or be trusted by them. If you were going to exile him the way you did instead of executing him, then exile him and get it over with.
Exhibit D: RiverStar. Because Axis and Azhure let her grow up into a shallow, self-entitled twit who is fridged for vague plot purposes.
The prosecution rests.
Speaking of fridging RiverStar … can we pause for a moment to reflect on all the violence against women in these books? To be fair, terrible things happen to men as well—yet the violence is still quite gendered. People single out Game of Thrones for its grimdark reading of fantasy, but Douglass is particularly inventive in the ways women are violated. From Leah to Faraday to RiverStar to Zenith to StarLaughter … I’m struggling to name a female character in this series who hasn’t been raped, assaulted, gaslit, or otherwise abused and mistreated, often in the name of “destiny” or something like that.
It’s very interesting to me, how many fantasy authors decide to replicate the structural injustices of our world in their fantasy worlds when you can literally build your worlds however you want.
Douglass’ world runs on prophecy, of course. Destiny. I’ve reflected in previous books why I find that boring, and that hasn’t changed here. Is the science-fictionalesque nature of the Star Gate and Timekeeper Demons and the ancient craft intriguing? Absolutely. I don’t think I would ever deny that Douglass has creativity and talent, nor do I question her ability to plot.
At the end of the day, Sinner is exactly what you would have come to expect, had you read the first three books of this series.
Sinner picks up 40 years after the conclusion of Starman, just in time for everything to go to shit again because Axis and Azhure are the worst parents in the universe. This is not hyperbole. We shall put them on trial soon, but first … the plot summary.
Minor spoilers in this review for this novel.
So yeah, it’s 40 Years Later. All the SunSoar children are all growed up. Caelum is in charge but doesn’t know what he’s doing, and there’s strife between two of the human princes because one of them can’t manage money and the other is weak-willed enough to be swayed by power-hungry noblemen into demanding concessions he should know better than to expect Caelum to grant him. Meanwhile, an existential threat from beyond the StarGate looms ever closer. It’s coming for artifacts buried beneath the magical lakes of Tencendor, and it’s bringing all the children that WolfStar threw into StarGate 4000 years ago. WolfStar is back, by the way, and not happy about this turn of events. So he has to work with the Star Gods, and with Caelum and the others, because as this enemy approaches, the Star Dance fades and therefore the Icarii enchanters are losing their powers. Meanwhile, Drago SunSoar, whom you may remember as the little shit of an evil baby who tried to have his older brother killed when Caelum was still a child, is moping around now that he’s a boring mortal like the rest of us. Embittered by his treatment at the hands of … well, everyone, almost … and unable to remember being an evil baby, Drago becomes a fugitive. Is he evil? Or just misunderstood? You be the judge!!
I’d forgotten how redonkulous these books are! Seriously, Douglass’ characterization is all over the place. One minute a character is thoughtful, seemingly three-dimensional, cognizant of the weightiness of their deeds. The next, they’re petty and flying off into rages. Yes, we humans contain multitudes, and no one can be sensible all the time. But Douglass seems to think that everyone has two modes: totally rational, thoughtful, honourable versus completely batshit psychotic. Some minor examples: Leagh vacillating every two pages about whether or not she wants to be with Zared; Caelum flipping out the moment anyone suggests he even consider being a little nicer to Drago (this is why you should talk to a therapist about your childhood trauma, especially if you’re the ruler of a multi-racial empire, just saying). The most significant offenders, far and away, however, are obvious Axis and Azhure.
Let the trial begin. The charges? Gross parental negligence.
Exhibit A: Axis and Azhure left Caelum on his own to rule Tencendor by himself. You might argue that, at about 40 years old, Caelum is an “adult” capable of making his own decisions. I would counter by reminding you that this is a very special circumstance. Axis and Azhure are directly responsible for the current state of Tencendor because they carved it up into its current territories. Now they’ve left to go play at being gods while their son has to deal with some cantankerous princes? It’s inadvisable for Axis to step in and save Caelum’s butt, of course. But that shouldn’t stop him from showing up and advising behind the scenes. (Then again, maybe we are all better off not having rocks-for-brains Axis around.)
Exhibit B: Axis and Azhure don’t care about Zenith and what she’s going through with Niah. Indeed, when Faraday so much as hints to Azhure that Zenith might not enjoy what’s happening, Azhure flips into complete-batshit-psycho mode and justifies Niah supplanting Zenith’s consciousness like NBD. Azhure literally doesn’t care about her daughter.
Exhibit C: Axis and Azhure’s mistreatment of Drago. This is a big one, and I’m totally on Drago/Zenith/Faraday’s side here. Was DragonStar wrong to help Gorgrael abduct Caelum? Of course! Yet Drago does not remember that crime, and he has paid for it. Worse still was the decision to keep him around his family in Sigholt when he could never truly belong to them or be trusted by them. If you were going to exile him the way you did instead of executing him, then exile him and get it over with.
Exhibit D: RiverStar. Because Axis and Azhure let her grow up into a shallow, self-entitled twit who is fridged for vague plot purposes.
The prosecution rests.
Speaking of fridging RiverStar … can we pause for a moment to reflect on all the violence against women in these books? To be fair, terrible things happen to men as well—yet the violence is still quite gendered. People single out Game of Thrones for its grimdark reading of fantasy, but Douglass is particularly inventive in the ways women are violated. From Leah to Faraday to RiverStar to Zenith to StarLaughter … I’m struggling to name a female character in this series who hasn’t been raped, assaulted, gaslit, or otherwise abused and mistreated, often in the name of “destiny” or something like that.
It’s very interesting to me, how many fantasy authors decide to replicate the structural injustices of our world in their fantasy worlds when you can literally build your worlds however you want.
Douglass’ world runs on prophecy, of course. Destiny. I’ve reflected in previous books why I find that boring, and that hasn’t changed here. Is the science-fictionalesque nature of the Star Gate and Timekeeper Demons and the ancient craft intriguing? Absolutely. I don’t think I would ever deny that Douglass has creativity and talent, nor do I question her ability to plot.
At the end of the day, Sinner is exactly what you would have come to expect, had you read the first three books of this series.
April 11, 2011
This is the first book in the second series to the Axis Trilogy. If you liked the first three books, you will not like these three. However, if you didn't like the first three books, you might like these three. Everything I liked about the Axis Trilogy was basically ripped apart and set on fire, making it completely pointless to read. Sinner, Pilgrim, and Crusader ruined the Axis Trilogy as a whole.
Bottom line: If you have read the Axis Trilogy, do yourself a favor and erase these next books from your "to read" list and your mind. Trust me.
Bottom line: If you have read the Axis Trilogy, do yourself a favor and erase these next books from your "to read" list and your mind. Trust me.
September 6, 2009
The characters in the first three books of Wayfarer Redemption all share flaws and weaknesses, often times causing the reader to outright dislike them. Yet each character also had their redeeming qualities, and external influences that attributed to their actions.
In Sinner, almost every character is abrasive, arrogant, rude or stupid. Axis and Azhure seem hollow shells of the complex characters evolved over the previous books. Caelum acts like a four year old, not a man of 40 years!
The imminent threat through the StarGate is the only thing which keeps this book interesting. If not for the history built up earlier in the series readers would have trouble making it through the first half of the book.
The characters seem to wake up to themselves towards the end of the book, at which point the story is quite intriguing. Characters evolve and regain some redeeming features that allow the reader to empathise. The final chapters accelerate to the conclusion which sets up for the sequel, Pilgrim.
Sara Douglass is known for creating complex, flawed characters, but in this novel they stray to far towards unbelievably moronic for too long.
In Sinner, almost every character is abrasive, arrogant, rude or stupid. Axis and Azhure seem hollow shells of the complex characters evolved over the previous books. Caelum acts like a four year old, not a man of 40 years!
The imminent threat through the StarGate is the only thing which keeps this book interesting. If not for the history built up earlier in the series readers would have trouble making it through the first half of the book.
The characters seem to wake up to themselves towards the end of the book, at which point the story is quite intriguing. Characters evolve and regain some redeeming features that allow the reader to empathise. The final chapters accelerate to the conclusion which sets up for the sequel, Pilgrim.
Sara Douglass is known for creating complex, flawed characters, but in this novel they stray to far towards unbelievably moronic for too long.
Read
March 17, 2019I have no idea how to rate this book because I have so many thoughts on it. Full warning ahead for spoilers.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Rape, abuse, mental abuse/rape, abortion/miscarriage, potential child abuse
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Okay, so, where to begin. I picked this up several months after finishing the Axis Trilogy, and it hooked me from the beginning. The story is captivating, the characters enticing, and it feels like you're coming home. The mash-up of the story becoming a fantasy and sci-fi is not original, but it is fascinating and so unlike anything else I've read. The sci-fi elements are super subtle since the only mention of that are the ships in the lakes and the ships in the cosmos past the gate.
I do agree that Draco is a victim of negligence. Whatever he did as a child, he is a different person, but Axis and Azhure shoved him away. To be fair, with all of their kids and with what happens in this book as a whole, they definitely DO NOT win Parents of the Year awards. They suck as parents to anyone by Caelum. What was it about him and then turning into Star Gods that made them care so little about their children that they would demonize one, ignore another, and allow one to be mentally raped?
WolfStar is disgusting. I can see where he could be liked, but his actions toward Zenith and his obvious disregard for really anyone else once his life is on the line or affected shows what an absolute joke he is. He's the most powerful Enchanter, and all he does is jump around through the country, have sex, and make vague mentions of things that may happen. I definitely feel like his character could have been written better, but it's also obvious that this IS his character for a reason.
As for Axis and Azhure's children, on one hand I like them a lot, on another hand I feel like there's something lacking from them that existed in the original series, a spark or some characterization that added to the story. The one prevailing emotion toward each is pity for what they have been through, and it feels more like emotional manipulation on the author's part than characterization.
The Demons have the feel of a Marvel supervillain, and I'm not impressed. They feel like they will be too strong but then someone gets a power-up when all hope is lost and can defeat them.
Personal preference, but what happened to both Zenith and Leagh was not OK. I don't like Leagh and Zared together--their relationship is so toxic. She technically was raped multiple times by him but she accepts him and just goes along with their marriage even though she questions it throughout the book. While they may have reconciled, I don't know if I can trust it or trust Zared. He's gone against her wishes so much already and disrespected her as a woman and a human so many times when he forced himself on her despite her saying no or ignored what she's asked/said about getting married or politics. Really anything.
The whole Niah/Zenith thing was total BS. I cannot believe that her parents would be so dismissive of Zenith and just let her vanish and not think once about the fact that WolfStar may have hurt her. HE RAPED HER, and the only people unhappy about this are StarDrifter and Faraday--her grandfather and her dad's ex. Oh and the whole thing when Zenith woke back up and caused herself to miscarry/gave herself an abortion and then flung the fetus in WolfStar's face--his child from his rape of her--was....intense. It was disgusting.
Speaking of Faraday... I love that's she's been able to come back as herself without the ties to Axis and Azhure or the prophecy, but now she's bound to another one, and she keeps talking about how free she is buuuuuuut is she? Is she truly free or is she another pawn to another prophecy.
All-in-all, I'm going to have to think for a while on this. At the moment, I definitely don't want to go on to the next books, but maybe, in time, I'll be ready for it.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Rape, abuse, mental abuse/rape, abortion/miscarriage, potential child abuse
.
.
.
.
.
.
Okay, so, where to begin. I picked this up several months after finishing the Axis Trilogy, and it hooked me from the beginning. The story is captivating, the characters enticing, and it feels like you're coming home. The mash-up of the story becoming a fantasy and sci-fi is not original, but it is fascinating and so unlike anything else I've read. The sci-fi elements are super subtle since the only mention of that are the ships in the lakes and the ships in the cosmos past the gate.
I do agree that Draco is a victim of negligence. Whatever he did as a child, he is a different person, but Axis and Azhure shoved him away. To be fair, with all of their kids and with what happens in this book as a whole, they definitely DO NOT win Parents of the Year awards. They suck as parents to anyone by Caelum. What was it about him and then turning into Star Gods that made them care so little about their children that they would demonize one, ignore another, and allow one to be mentally raped?
WolfStar is disgusting. I can see where he could be liked, but his actions toward Zenith and his obvious disregard for really anyone else once his life is on the line or affected shows what an absolute joke he is. He's the most powerful Enchanter, and all he does is jump around through the country, have sex, and make vague mentions of things that may happen. I definitely feel like his character could have been written better, but it's also obvious that this IS his character for a reason.
As for Axis and Azhure's children, on one hand I like them a lot, on another hand I feel like there's something lacking from them that existed in the original series, a spark or some characterization that added to the story. The one prevailing emotion toward each is pity for what they have been through, and it feels more like emotional manipulation on the author's part than characterization.
The Demons have the feel of a Marvel supervillain, and I'm not impressed. They feel like they will be too strong but then someone gets a power-up when all hope is lost and can defeat them.
Personal preference, but what happened to both Zenith and Leagh was not OK. I don't like Leagh and Zared together--their relationship is so toxic. She technically was raped multiple times by him but she accepts him and just goes along with their marriage even though she questions it throughout the book. While they may have reconciled, I don't know if I can trust it or trust Zared. He's gone against her wishes so much already and disrespected her as a woman and a human so many times when he forced himself on her despite her saying no or ignored what she's asked/said about getting married or politics. Really anything.
The whole Niah/Zenith thing was total BS. I cannot believe that her parents would be so dismissive of Zenith and just let her vanish and not think once about the fact that WolfStar may have hurt her. HE RAPED HER, and the only people unhappy about this are StarDrifter and Faraday--her grandfather and her dad's ex. Oh and the whole thing when Zenith woke back up and caused herself to miscarry/gave herself an abortion and then flung the fetus in WolfStar's face--his child from his rape of her--was....intense. It was disgusting.
Speaking of Faraday... I love that's she's been able to come back as herself without the ties to Axis and Azhure or the prophecy, but now she's bound to another one, and she keeps talking about how free she is buuuuuuut is she? Is she truly free or is she another pawn to another prophecy.
All-in-all, I'm going to have to think for a while on this. At the moment, I definitely don't want to go on to the next books, but maybe, in time, I'll be ready for it.
September 24, 2010
This is the 4th book in the Wayfarer redemption series but I personally think this is the start of a new trilogy. The story starts out 40 year after the big battle. It does bring back the old characters but they are not the main players. The children are the main focus of the book.
This book captured me just as much as the other books in the series. I found that the characters seemed to have a little more depth to them. I found Caelum being the weakest character out of all of them. He annoyed me just as much as Axis did in, Starman.
I'm eager to start the 5th book in this series.
This book captured me just as much as the other books in the series. I found that the characters seemed to have a little more depth to them. I found Caelum being the weakest character out of all of them. He annoyed me just as much as Axis did in, Starman.
I'm eager to start the 5th book in this series.
September 21, 2020
It's nothing like the first trilogy and somehow similar. It feels like Sara Douglass wanted to make an even worse fate than Gorgrael and I guess she managed.
My favorite characters Zenith and Faraday go to hell twice and back.
Content warning for rape, abuse, forced abortion and violent death of a fetus (those scenes are not for the faint-hearted).
My favorite characters Zenith and Faraday go to hell twice and back.
Content warning for rape, abuse, forced abortion and violent death of a fetus (those scenes are not for the faint-hearted).
January 15, 2019
Majorly impressed by this one. A hundred times better than the last.
May 22, 2022
I wish I could rate this higher than 5 stars.
This book is like something J. R. R. Tolkien would write. It’s that good.
This book is like something J. R. R. Tolkien would write. It’s that good.
November 14, 2024
There was very little I liked about this book.
July 14, 2019
4 Stars
Sinner is the fourth book in The Wayfarer Redemption series by Sara Douglass. When this book was released back in in mid 1990’s, when I first read it, it was originally called Battleaxe and was book one of the Axis Trilogy- the series later got expanded and so the name change. Part of my 2019 reading challenge was to read an Australian author- well how do I narrow that down, there are so many great Aussie authors, but Ms. Douglass was one of the first Aussie authors whose work I fell in love with. I have devoured everything she had ever written and was devastated when she lost her battle with cancer back in 2011. Her books really stuck with me over time, and I don’t revisit them as often as I’d like. The last few months have been emotionally draining for me, and I really wanted/needed to lose myself in another world- so I chose to revisit some old favourites that have a comforting nostalgia associated with them. I couldn’t choose just one of her books, they are all great, and quite a few of them are interconnected- so I chose to read them all.
I still love The Wayfarer Redemption series as much as I did the first time I read it. It is an epic fantasy interwoven with prophecy, demons, evil Baddies, adventure, action, drama, a bit of a love triangle, good vs evil, magic, mystery, and so much more. Ms. Douglass weaves her stories quite masterfully, crafting a truly believable and sumptuous world in which to set her story. Her attention to detail brings her world and stories to life- with its own culture, history, language, religion, folklore, magic, laws, tensions, and communities. So cleverly done that I feel like I have ‘been’ there before.
The Wayfarer Redemption series books are:
-The Wayfarer Redemption (Book One)
-Enchanter (Book Two)
-Starman (Book Three)
-Sinner (Book Four)
-Pilgrim (Book Five)
-Crusader (Book #6)
If you like epic fantasy, adventures in new worlds, plenty of action, good vs evil, some violence, wonderful character, and interesting stories- then this book series is definitely one you will want to read!
Happy Reading!
Sinner is the fourth book in The Wayfarer Redemption series by Sara Douglass. When this book was released back in in mid 1990’s, when I first read it, it was originally called Battleaxe and was book one of the Axis Trilogy- the series later got expanded and so the name change. Part of my 2019 reading challenge was to read an Australian author- well how do I narrow that down, there are so many great Aussie authors, but Ms. Douglass was one of the first Aussie authors whose work I fell in love with. I have devoured everything she had ever written and was devastated when she lost her battle with cancer back in 2011. Her books really stuck with me over time, and I don’t revisit them as often as I’d like. The last few months have been emotionally draining for me, and I really wanted/needed to lose myself in another world- so I chose to revisit some old favourites that have a comforting nostalgia associated with them. I couldn’t choose just one of her books, they are all great, and quite a few of them are interconnected- so I chose to read them all.
I still love The Wayfarer Redemption series as much as I did the first time I read it. It is an epic fantasy interwoven with prophecy, demons, evil Baddies, adventure, action, drama, a bit of a love triangle, good vs evil, magic, mystery, and so much more. Ms. Douglass weaves her stories quite masterfully, crafting a truly believable and sumptuous world in which to set her story. Her attention to detail brings her world and stories to life- with its own culture, history, language, religion, folklore, magic, laws, tensions, and communities. So cleverly done that I feel like I have ‘been’ there before.
The Wayfarer Redemption series books are:
-The Wayfarer Redemption (Book One)
-Enchanter (Book Two)
-Starman (Book Three)
-Sinner (Book Four)
-Pilgrim (Book Five)
-Crusader (Book #6)
If you like epic fantasy, adventures in new worlds, plenty of action, good vs evil, some violence, wonderful character, and interesting stories- then this book series is definitely one you will want to read!
Happy Reading!
October 10, 2010
At the end of the 'Axis Trilogy' my like of Sara Douglass as a fantasy author was waning, after reading the opener to the 'sequel' trilogy, it has almost been obliterated.
There is not much charm or eloquence to this novel at all. I found her writing to be crudely designed to shock, especially in the way she romanticises incest and condones the brutal murder of a child.
I believe she also has isolated fans of the original trilogy by making her 'old favourite' characters into hollow, unlikeable shodows of what they previously were.
On the positive side, it did manage to hold my interest, but only in the way that the trashiest of novels do: because it was easy to read on the bus after a long day at work.
There is not much charm or eloquence to this novel at all. I found her writing to be crudely designed to shock, especially in the way she romanticises incest and condones the brutal murder of a child.
I believe she also has isolated fans of the original trilogy by making her 'old favourite' characters into hollow, unlikeable shodows of what they previously were.
On the positive side, it did manage to hold my interest, but only in the way that the trashiest of novels do: because it was easy to read on the bus after a long day at work.
December 2, 2013
I liked this better than the first trilogy, I think for one reason: because I wasn't supposed to like the characters I didn't like. I never warmed to Axis in the first trilogy. In fact, I think I liked him less as the novels went on. Caelum, on the other hand, isn't supposed to be likable, which is good, because I think he's a total dick. Actually, there aren't many characters I like at all. Zenith, and perhaps StarDrifter.
The rest of my complaints about the original trilogy apply here - dumb names, unexciting writing, lots of editing errors.... However, the plot feels less derivative and the characters are a tiny bit more realistic.
The rest of my complaints about the original trilogy apply here - dumb names, unexciting writing, lots of editing errors.... However, the plot feels less derivative and the characters are a tiny bit more realistic.
August 7, 2014
It's hard to find anyone to like, much less root for in this book. This book even managed to kill whatever love I had for Azhure in the first 3 books with her reaction to Zenith's troubles. The universe is compelling as ever and the story is interesting, but I hate everyone at this point and am kind of hoping the Timekeeper Demons eat all of them.
Seriously. Death to Tencendor. It's filled with jerks.
Seriously. Death to Tencendor. It's filled with jerks.
February 10, 2018
Well written and engaging, comments of other reviews had a different experience to mine. The first trilogy gets us in with minimal investment, the second gives more, the characters have more depth in a world with more at risk, more nuance and complexity.
June 12, 2018
Took the few redeeming qualities of the original trilogy and pooped. All. Over. Them.
Infanticide. IS. NOT. A. PLOT. POINT. Incest SHOULD NOT BE USED TO MAKE A POINT.
So much nope. Erase this book from existence.
Infanticide. IS. NOT. A. PLOT. POINT. Incest SHOULD NOT BE USED TO MAKE A POINT.
So much nope. Erase this book from existence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2018
I give this book 2.5 stars... SPOILERS AHEAD so be warned.
I read the trilogy before this one, earlier in the year and found these three at a secondhand book fair. It was good to get back to a familiar world and characters that I knew after reading so many other books in between.
The writing is not particularly sophisticated - the sentences don't always flow and the editing could have been tighter. Every once in a while weird words like diminution, impinge and vacillation were used and they just jolted me out of the action for a moment so they were useless lol. The chapters are relatively short though, so it gives a good pace to the action in the story - and that is really the strength of the author, and what gives it a 2.5 stars instead of a 2 from me. The plot is always advancing and their is a full cast of different characters to push it through. It's a 600+ page novel but it only took me a week to read because the story has a very good pace for characters and their obstacles.
The shifting viewpoints are not handled very well - I would prefer to hear from the characters' inner thoughts one at a time please, not every character in the scene in every paragraph. It gets messy and seems childish.
I find this author better at writing female characters than the male ones. I was pleasantly surprised that so many of the previous characters came back to this story, particularly Faraday - she always seemed such a waste in the Axis trilogy. Her course was set by a prophecy and she was a doomed, ragged and bitter shell by the end of those books. I am enjoying seeing her return now, and have her chance to shine and be the carefree woman that she had the potential to be. The storyline with Caelum and Zared was the least interesting one for me. They just seemed to be on a collision course with neither one being justified in their actions. Hopefully they will grow and in a good way in the next books.
This author often has a lot of fresh ideas (even if some do get a bit far out and weird) for the plot and characters. There are unexpected twists, and even if I as the reader don't always love them, they are not predictable. The characters often have their own agendas and it is intriguing to see how that impacts on the others and how they interact. The world of Tencendor is well developed and believable, with a good map and well described places.
My previous views on the author's 'evil baby' plot line still stand. It is a negative for me; and in this one, the Niah death was too over the top. Sometimes the story gets overly violent and bloody for no reason. I actually thought that Zenith (who I am enjoying as a character and am interested to see her arc) would force Niah to move her soul into 'their' baby, give birth and send Niah on her way... nope, it went way beyond that. I think my way would have been better... I don't love violence against ANY babies, thank you. Another reason why I gave 2.5 stars instead of more. Niah is going to come back and haunt them for sure, if WolfStar has anything to do about it (also, the Icarii names drive me up the wall with their layout - StarDrifter SunSoar et al).
I have the next book here ready to go!
I read the trilogy before this one, earlier in the year and found these three at a secondhand book fair. It was good to get back to a familiar world and characters that I knew after reading so many other books in between.
The writing is not particularly sophisticated - the sentences don't always flow and the editing could have been tighter. Every once in a while weird words like diminution, impinge and vacillation were used and they just jolted me out of the action for a moment so they were useless lol. The chapters are relatively short though, so it gives a good pace to the action in the story - and that is really the strength of the author, and what gives it a 2.5 stars instead of a 2 from me. The plot is always advancing and their is a full cast of different characters to push it through. It's a 600+ page novel but it only took me a week to read because the story has a very good pace for characters and their obstacles.
The shifting viewpoints are not handled very well - I would prefer to hear from the characters' inner thoughts one at a time please, not every character in the scene in every paragraph. It gets messy and seems childish.
I find this author better at writing female characters than the male ones. I was pleasantly surprised that so many of the previous characters came back to this story, particularly Faraday - she always seemed such a waste in the Axis trilogy. Her course was set by a prophecy and she was a doomed, ragged and bitter shell by the end of those books. I am enjoying seeing her return now, and have her chance to shine and be the carefree woman that she had the potential to be. The storyline with Caelum and Zared was the least interesting one for me. They just seemed to be on a collision course with neither one being justified in their actions. Hopefully they will grow and in a good way in the next books.
This author often has a lot of fresh ideas (even if some do get a bit far out and weird) for the plot and characters. There are unexpected twists, and even if I as the reader don't always love them, they are not predictable. The characters often have their own agendas and it is intriguing to see how that impacts on the others and how they interact. The world of Tencendor is well developed and believable, with a good map and well described places.
My previous views on the author's 'evil baby' plot line still stand. It is a negative for me; and in this one, the Niah death was too over the top. Sometimes the story gets overly violent and bloody for no reason. I actually thought that Zenith (who I am enjoying as a character and am interested to see her arc) would force Niah to move her soul into 'their' baby, give birth and send Niah on her way... nope, it went way beyond that. I think my way would have been better... I don't love violence against ANY babies, thank you. Another reason why I gave 2.5 stars instead of more. Niah is going to come back and haunt them for sure, if WolfStar has anything to do about it (also, the Icarii names drive me up the wall with their layout - StarDrifter SunSoar et al).
I have the next book here ready to go!
October 14, 2020
Sinner singlehandedly takes everything that worked about the Axis Trilogy and improved it, then took everything that didn't work about it and ground it into the dust. This novel, contrary to anything I might have expected of it, blew the previous three books out of the water and made me unprecedentedly excited for the fifth instalment.
Sinner takes place forty years after the conclusion of Starman, the final novel of the Axis trilogy. Tencendor is at relative peace. The Icarii, with their new Talon FreeFall, and the Avar, led by Faraday and Axis's son Isfrael, have essentially integrated into the realm of humans. Caelum, StarSon, son of Axis and Azhure, helms the land on the Throne of Stars, which all others pay fealty to. The lords of the humans, Zared (son of Rivkah and Magariz), and Askam (son of Belial and Cazna), however, are at odds. Askam has racked up a massive debt, and he and Caelum believe that Zared's people should be the ones to settle it. This leads to one of the two major conflicts of the novel, being Zared, Caelum, and Askam's clash over the human lands of Tencendor--which has absolutely no right being as interesting as it is.
On the other hand, we have the conflict that seems to be the overarching one of this trilogy. Drago, previously named DragonStar, has grown from the abhorrent little infant into a very mortal and very misunderstood man. Zenith, his sister, is the only one who goes to any lengths to reach out to Drago. When Drago is found with the body of their sister RiverStar and he's holding the knife, he is sentenced to death. Zenith, however, believes in Drago and his claims of innocence, and the pair escapes with the help of the mysterious Lake Guard, who claim only to serve the StarSon.
I have to say that Drago and Zenith are far, far more interesting and multifaceted than Axis or Azhure ever were. Hated and misunderstood, yet at his core good, Drago manages to carry this story in more ways than one, and where he ends up at the end of the novel (and where it seems that his character is going) is extremely satisfying and well-written. Zenith struggles with the fact that she holds within her Niah, mother of Azhure reborn. This leads to one of the most heart-wrenching and visceral sequences in the whole book. As I said in my opening, the writing and sequence of events laid out in Sinner absolutely makes reading the prior trilogy worth it, and in some ways even redeems the issues I had with them.
One last, more personal note: it is amazing to see an author who is completely unafraid to admit to herself and to the audience that her primary characters are unrelenting asses. Especially after all of the self-righteous, self-aggrandizing actions that Axis and Azhure took in the Axis Trilogy, to see them be so consistently wrong and to have things so consistently backfire for them is immensely satisfying.
All told, I am extremely glad I made it through the Axis trilogy and read Sinner. For anyone who may have been disgruntled with their reading of that trilogy, try Sinner. In my opinion, it is well worth it.
Sinner takes place forty years after the conclusion of Starman, the final novel of the Axis trilogy. Tencendor is at relative peace. The Icarii, with their new Talon FreeFall, and the Avar, led by Faraday and Axis's son Isfrael, have essentially integrated into the realm of humans. Caelum, StarSon, son of Axis and Azhure, helms the land on the Throne of Stars, which all others pay fealty to. The lords of the humans, Zared (son of Rivkah and Magariz), and Askam (son of Belial and Cazna), however, are at odds. Askam has racked up a massive debt, and he and Caelum believe that Zared's people should be the ones to settle it. This leads to one of the two major conflicts of the novel, being Zared, Caelum, and Askam's clash over the human lands of Tencendor--which has absolutely no right being as interesting as it is.
On the other hand, we have the conflict that seems to be the overarching one of this trilogy. Drago, previously named DragonStar, has grown from the abhorrent little infant into a very mortal and very misunderstood man. Zenith, his sister, is the only one who goes to any lengths to reach out to Drago. When Drago is found with the body of their sister RiverStar and he's holding the knife, he is sentenced to death. Zenith, however, believes in Drago and his claims of innocence, and the pair escapes with the help of the mysterious Lake Guard, who claim only to serve the StarSon.
I have to say that Drago and Zenith are far, far more interesting and multifaceted than Axis or Azhure ever were. Hated and misunderstood, yet at his core good, Drago manages to carry this story in more ways than one, and where he ends up at the end of the novel (and where it seems that his character is going) is extremely satisfying and well-written. Zenith struggles with the fact that she holds within her Niah, mother of Azhure reborn. This leads to one of the most heart-wrenching and visceral sequences in the whole book. As I said in my opening, the writing and sequence of events laid out in Sinner absolutely makes reading the prior trilogy worth it, and in some ways even redeems the issues I had with them.
One last, more personal note: it is amazing to see an author who is completely unafraid to admit to herself and to the audience that her primary characters are unrelenting asses. Especially after all of the self-righteous, self-aggrandizing actions that Axis and Azhure took in the Axis Trilogy, to see them be so consistently wrong and to have things so consistently backfire for them is immensely satisfying.
All told, I am extremely glad I made it through the Axis trilogy and read Sinner. For anyone who may have been disgruntled with their reading of that trilogy, try Sinner. In my opinion, it is well worth it.
July 22, 2025
So, I finished the first half of this series... at least 5 or six years ago. But, I've been working my way through my physical TBR, and I decided to go ahead and start on the second half of the series.
I'm going to start this review by saying that I've never read a Douglass book I didn't like. If you enjoy the Malazan Book of the Fallen or Game of Thrones, you'll love this series. That said, the violence/messed-up-stuff (mostly incest), is GoT level... if not a bit more. So, you know. I'd say check your trigger warnings but this book was written before that was really a thing.
Anyway, this book picks up about 40 years after where the first half of the series left off.
What did I love? I love epic high fantasy with tons of PoVs and stories woven together. And I think Douglass does this phenomenally well. She somehow makes me want to root for her characters and smack them all at the same time, which is rare for me. Not to mention how creative her whole world is.
Who would like this book? As I mentioned before, comp titles are GoT and Malazan Book of the Fallen. These books are thick and, yes, you really do have to read the whole series to get it. And there's a lot of messed up stuff that happens, so, you know. Buckle up for that.
I'm going to start this review by saying that I've never read a Douglass book I didn't like. If you enjoy the Malazan Book of the Fallen or Game of Thrones, you'll love this series. That said, the violence/messed-up-stuff (mostly incest), is GoT level... if not a bit more. So, you know. I'd say check your trigger warnings but this book was written before that was really a thing.
Anyway, this book picks up about 40 years after where the first half of the series left off.
What did I love? I love epic high fantasy with tons of PoVs and stories woven together. And I think Douglass does this phenomenally well. She somehow makes me want to root for her characters and smack them all at the same time, which is rare for me. Not to mention how creative her whole world is.
Who would like this book? As I mentioned before, comp titles are GoT and Malazan Book of the Fallen. These books are thick and, yes, you really do have to read the whole series to get it. And there's a lot of messed up stuff that happens, so, you know. Buckle up for that.
June 9, 2020
I struggled through this the first time, and kept putting it aside. After not reading it for over a year, I picked it up. Finding myself missing memories of earlier events I went back to re-read the beginning... and found significantly more context than I saw on my first read. I ended up reading it cover to cover in a single day.
It's a deeply tangled plot with lots of internal references that intrigues me. I think it suffers because there are so few characters one can have sympathy for, that don't violate their own morals and beliefs... that I found it tricky to have feelings for the characters the first time. On the re-read I focused on the plot and the larger context, and through that found many characters that I could care for... just not front and center. So it's got a bit of an anti-hero thing going on.
It's a deeply tangled plot with lots of internal references that intrigues me. I think it suffers because there are so few characters one can have sympathy for, that don't violate their own morals and beliefs... that I found it tricky to have feelings for the characters the first time. On the re-read I focused on the plot and the larger context, and through that found many characters that I could care for... just not front and center. So it's got a bit of an anti-hero thing going on.
May 4, 2025
This book leans heavily into the high fantasy genre, and I’ll be honest, the start was a bit of a struggle for me. There’s a lot of world building, long and unique character names, and a formal way of speaking that took some time to get used to. But once I got my head around the characters and places, I started to really get into it.
It’s definitely a plot-heavy story, with multiple threads running at once, and that complexity ended up being one of the things I enjoyed most. There’s always something happening, and it kept me engaged and curious.
That said, the middle to late parts of the book did feel like they dragged a bit. I found myself pushing through some slower chapters, but, I’m so glad I did, because the ending hooked me completely. And the cliffhanger was crazy. I need answers immediately.
It’s definitely a plot-heavy story, with multiple threads running at once, and that complexity ended up being one of the things I enjoyed most. There’s always something happening, and it kept me engaged and curious.
That said, the middle to late parts of the book did feel like they dragged a bit. I found myself pushing through some slower chapters, but, I’m so glad I did, because the ending hooked me completely. And the cliffhanger was crazy. I need answers immediately.
August 19, 2025
DNF at Chapter 19. Really weird book, and not at all due to the fact I started reading in the middle of the series rather than the beginning. Intriguing first few chapters with the forbidden romance between Leagh and Zared. The economic unrest and political tension between the North and the West was believable. I just wish Douglass committed more to that plot, instead of essentially sidelining it into obscurity for whatever's going on with the SunSoar family. I know the plot of the first three books was fully SunSoar, but this seemed liked the perfect opportunity to start a fresh storyline. Instead, Douglass muddies it with too many characters and too much incest.
Edit: I am open to reading the original trilogy. I've heard it's worlds better than this mess.
Edit: I am open to reading the original trilogy. I've heard it's worlds better than this mess.
July 22, 2017
Captivating, as the first series are. I was a bit doubtful at first, for the first series ended so complete, the villains neutralized, heroes became gods, peace rules over all; what else could be said? But Douglass proved this sequel could bring as much excitement as before, and I'm glad she did. Gods now became human, the weaker hero now became the strongest, the former villain now became the reluctant hero. I really like how Drago and Faraday turned out to be!
January 19, 2025
Wow, I have moved twice before I finally managed to finish this book. I kept getting stuck at the same part, Niah become central to the plot. I hate Axis and Azhure, I will ride for my Queen Faraday and surprise surprise I am warming up the StarDrifter in this book. The weird incest is still gross but if a man can do that in GOT who am I to turn my nose at a woman doing it. Still so much about this book pissed me off. We shall see where this goes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2017
I remember where I was when I finished this book. As soon as I saw the title again after so many years. I nearly threw my pristine hard copy of the book! I was outraged that I had to wait to find out what happened next. I even went back and read the book again to see if I'd missed something that would help me predict what was going to happen. I was just left in awe.
January 16, 2022
This series took a wild turn from the first three books. I admit I am still enthralled and desperately want to know what happens, but it's almost a completely different genre that perhaps I would not have been as interested in had I not already been invested in the characters from the first three books.
October 29, 2025
I read this series as a teenager and it remains one of me favourite fantasy series to date. The characters are amazing and the setting pulls you in. There are twists and turn, beautiful magic, heartwenching betrayals and so much more. I will forever recommend this incredible series to anyone looking for a captivating read that you just won’t be able to put down. 25 out of 10 stars recommend.
August 10, 2021
Can I give it half a star? Absolutely not a fan of this book. The inconsistencies are frustrating and make the book hard to read. I don't mind the taboo subjects and the shocking content but the character names were an issue.
January 14, 2025
If I recall correctly, this is the continuation of my absolute favorite book series, and I could not get into it. The story felt different, in a way I did not enjoy. I never managed to finish this book, or the rest after this one.
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