Skirmish

The House War #4

by Michelle West

At long last, Jewel is preparing to announce her candidacy to become the next Terafin and claim the House Seat. But it is a decision that has her targeted by demons who will stop at nothing to destroy Jewel and her allies as the House War begins...

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy, Epic, Science Fiction Fantasy, Ebooks

598 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

See also:

Michelle Sagara West
Michelle Sagara

Michelle is an author, book­seller, and lover of liter­ature based in Toronto. She writes fantasy novels as both Michelle Sagara and Michelle West (and some­times as Michelle Sagara West). You can find her books at fine booksellers.

She lives in Toronto with her long-suffering husband and her two children, and to her regret has no dogs.

Reading is one of her life-long passions, and she is some­times paid for her opinions about what she’s read by the venerable Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. No matter how many book­shelves she buys, there is Never Enough Shelf space. Ever.

She has published as Michelle Sagara (her legal name), as Michelle West (her husband's surname), and as Michelle Sagara West (a combination of the two).

Reviews

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jewel ATerafin's To-Do List:
1. Pull off state funeral for murdered mentor.
2. Declare candidacy for aforementioned mentor's job.
3. Survive assassination attempts, if any.
4. Consolidate power.
5. Puzzle out mysterious illness.
6. Save the city from demonic attack. Repeat as necessary.
7. Get some sleep.

Some people (most people?) have George R. R. Martin. Me, I have Michelle West. I've been waiting for Skirmish since 2005, which I guess doesn't sound that long - except in 2005 I was in high school and now I'm starting my first year of graduate school. So, you know . . . kind of a long time in the life of a person. And of course, there have been books during that wait, but they've been books that fill in the background (meticulously! subtly! oftentimes quite interestingly!), rather than books that break new ground. And now, with Skirmish, we cover new ground. About a week of new ground.

Let's be fair, it's all not as bad as it sounds: The Sun Sword resolved an enormous plot, it just wasn't Jewel's plot, which breaks off rather suddenly in the first third of that book and doesn't start to move forward again until . . . now. Look, I remember waiting for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, so I enjoy tension and denial and yearning as much as any contemporary reader of serial fantasy, but I was worried about this book. I know that part of the reason I'm attached is that I happened to pick up The Broken Crown at a time when it was exactly the book I wanted (I suppose we could say also that I needed it - although it wouldn't be entirely true), that there are dynamics in these series that speak more to a fourteen-year-old self than to anything else, that I am as likely to find the writing style frustrating as sublime. So, I was worried.

But after all that, I turned out to be as invested in this story as I was when I started reading it at fourteen. I am a bit susceptible to developing feeling of dread as I read a book or watch a film or something, but I kind of enjoy that, because usually it's a sign that I actually care about the characters and what happens to them, that I have invested myself in the work. I expect to pick up the next book in this series - and all the books in the series that will follow this one - with an equal portion of anticipation (because really these books are good and I enjoy them) and dread (because I am really worried). The stakes are, at this point, incredibly high, and "winning" is going to be extremely costly - although I guess West could conceivably cheat her books out of the sweet-bitter ending they are working so hard to earn, but it seems unlikely (especially given the ending of The Sun Sword). I am confident that the Good Guys will win, because that is how fiction works (how incredibly gutsy if they don't, though! that would be exciting in itself!) but I don't know that anyone will be happy at the end. I have a handful of most favorite characters, and I'm not at all confident that they will survive - in fact, one of them is working with determination toward death (although I'm not sure how feasible that desired end is, really, given . . . stuff [but I am super worried anyway, and will probably be a quivering mess upon the arrival of all future books]).

Skirmish functions, I am guessing, mostly as a kind of bridge book: x, y, and z things happen in order to make other things possible. This does, thankfully, move the plot forward, and Skirmish actually has some very specific, self-contained goals (see above!) and it accomplishes many of them. But it also serves as a kind of connective tissue for the books that come before it and the books that come after it. I know this sounds self-evident, but usually there's a slightly amorphous quality to many of West's books, where they all read as one large book that's simply been broken down into component parts because we didn't have Kindles when she started writing. Think Deadwood, not The West Wing, right? (The Lord of the Rings is the other obvious comparison.) I assume this story will eventually end (given past events, probably around the time I'm up for tenure)(please let me be up for tenure), and when that happens it will be interesting to read everything together, although I guess that will be an enormous project. And to be fair, the publishing industry might collapse before that happens so who knows if my dream will be realized. Hopefully, at that point, I'll be able to approach these books with something like objectivity, having achieved artistic catharsis or something, but who knows.

[Emory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely not a book to read without being familiar with, at minimum, the earlier House War books. And really, you need to have read the Sacred Hunt duology and the Sun Sword books. It's a lot of reading, but absolutely worth it.

Skirmish picks up where The Sun Sword left off - the House War books finally caught up! I'd been SO SURE that House Name would pick up some of the events after Jewel's character and the rest of Terafin leave the narration, but it didn't quite make it. From The Sun Sword, we know: Amarais, The Terafin, lies dead after being killed by one of the kin dramatically, just as she was about to name her heir, in front of both the house council and the Kings. Jewel shows up just in time for Celleriant to kill the demon, but too late for the Terafin. Additionally, a "sleeping sickness" has been spreading throughout Averalaan, where people go to sleep and just never wake up. The healers can do nothing, except Adam of Arkosa, brought to Averalaan by Evayne (Levec in tow) during the events of Sea of Sorrows, who can wake the sleepers.

In Skirmish, we see the chaos of the aftermath of The Terafin's death: her funeral must be planned and go off without a hitch, since everyone important up to the Twin Kings will be there; there are four rivals for the seat of The Terafin, even before Jewel announces her intentions; Duvari of the Astari is all over the place, both because the Kings are coming to the manse and because of the demon; and someone is obviously summoning demons.

Although the events of the book take place over a short period of time, there is more than enough going on to keep things moving and interesting. Jewel must begin to step up to the plate and begin to take responsibility, despite wanting nothing more than to take the time to mourn the death of Amarais. And she must also integrate the day-to-day life of Terafin and Averalaan with the more supernatural elements she acquired or was exposed to during her time in the south (including, as indicated by the cover, the return of the three cats she met with the Winter King! I love these three characters so much, and was very pleased to see them return - I suspect Ms. Sagara must have cats, because she nailed them! Makes me glad my cats can't talk and aren't the size of mastiffs...).

All in all, this was an amazing book, and well worth reading. If, that is, you enjoy fantasy that has several different threads that weave together and gets into politics and intrigue. If you just want hack 'n slash, this is probably not for you. I had to read a bit slower than normal (I'm normally a speed-reader), just to make sure I caught everything. But that's part of the joy of the book, catching the little details here and there.

[Caroline Mersey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skirmish is a book I've waited ten years to read. Expectations were always going to be high, particularly after City of Night, which managed to sparkle with life and feel like a comfy pair of slippers at the same time.

So I had mixed feelings about starting this book. Part of me would like to leave Jay and Avandar standing on a bridge in the Dominion, as they were at the end of The Riven Shield, as she finally accepts that he's just as broken as anyone else in her den. My heart fears the end that my head tells me is coming, but I desperately want to know the end of this vast, braided narrative. The world-building is exquisite. The ensemble cast of characters are compelling and very believable as distinct characters each pursuing their own arc. The female characters are among the best I've read and the treatment of friendship, which is so rarely looked at, is dealt with very well indeed.

But this is at times a frustrating book. It starts tremendously well, with a very political section as various members of the House Council start jockeying for position after the Terafin's death. But the strangeness Jay brings back with her from her time in the South starts to take over and dominate the narrative. Both Jay and Avandar have changed, and grown beyond Terafin, and much of this novel is about trying to place the seer, the Warlord and her strange entourage back into a merchant House. The level of power Jay has is clearly unmatched and a threat to the other players in the Empire, but the ending felt a little pat and rushed. And while it is understandable that in the chaos of the funeral and various assassination attempts and demonic attacks there has been little time for Jay and Avandar to talk about what's happened and how their relationship has changed (apart from a very brief conversation in the middle of the night while standing in the middle of a fountain) it is incredibly frustrating.

Some of West's storytelling tics are increasingly pronounced to the point where they start to interfere with one's immersion in the text (at one stage I was tempted to start a tally of how many times the phrase "Avandar raised a brow" had been used - it seemed to happen on average every five pages). I wish she had a better editor (or were more willing to take editorial guidance). But if those tics bothered me I would have abandoned West long ago, and not 10 books in when I've loved them all enough to get them specially imported to the UK from the USA because of the strange geographical restrictions on her publishing deal.

I really enjoyed this but part of me worries that West might be about to jump the shark. It certainly felt at times as if she'd been calculating the run up. I desperately hope she doesn't, and she continues in the same awesome vein as before.

Oh, and don't even think about reading this one without having read The Sun Sword first. Not only will large parts of Skirmish not make sense, but you'd be missing one of the finest pieces of modern fantasy going.

[Hacen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.75

[Patrick St-Denis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you can see, in the end I elected to jump to the fourth volume to read about the aftermath of the Sun Sword series instead of beginning with The Hidden City. Given the fact that I gave The Sun Sword another 10/10, there was no way I could go back in time and go through more than 2000 pages of Jewel's backstory before returning to what truly interested me.

Since about half of Michelle West's fans agree that you can skip the first three House War books and enjoy the rest, my excitement made me cave in and I decided to go down that road. If at any point I feel as though I'm missing out on something important, I'll go back to the beginning. Otherwise, I'll read the first three volumes when I'm done with the House War. With Skirmish under my belt and halfway through Battle, I can say that, so far at least, I haven't encountered any problems. As was the case with the Sun Sword, the author refers to a lot of past events/relationships regarding Jewel and her den, but she always provides enough context for readers to understand what's going on. You get that there's more to this or that story, and I'm persuaded that there are some nuances that I failed to grasp to their full extent, but other than that it's all good. In any case, at least for the fourth and fifth installments, the plotlines have more to do with that took place in the previous series and not necessarily with what occurred during Jewel's childhood and teenage years, or during that fateful Henden sixteen years before.

So are the House War novels as good as the Sun Sword books? Unfortunately, they aren't. At least not up to the point I've reached so far. They're not bad, mind you. Trouble is, personally I don't feel that Jewel alone can carry such a complex tale on her shoulders. It will never help that Jewel is now the sole star taking center stage, no matter how fascinating some of the plot twists involving her turned out to be. She remains an insufferable and annoying young woman for the most part, which makes her a somewhat difficult female lead to root for. The Sun Sword really benefited from its diverse cast, all of whom having important roles to play in the outcome of the series. The downsizing, so to speak, is definitely detrimental to the House War. Still, even though it doesn't recapture the epicness and the awesomeness of the previous series, in scope and vision these new books remain as impressive as their predecessors. It's just that instead of being great, they are merely good.

Here's the blurb:

In this epic fantasy series for fans of George R. R. Martin and Robin Hobb, Jewel Markess must contend with deadly court politics, and visions of looming magical threats.

When Jewel ATerafin returns home from the war in the South, she arrives moments too late to prevent the demonic assassination of Amarais ATerafin—The Terafin, head of House Terafin. Now the battle to become The Terafin and claim the House Seat will begin. Four candidates have declared themselves, but Jewel, The Terafin’s own secretly designated choice to become the next head of the House, has yet to announce her intentions.

Jewel does not want to make any decisions before The Terafin is laid to rest. But as enemies of the House and Empire mobilize, it becomes terrifyingly clear that everyone—including Jewel and her otherworldly allies—must survive the three days of the funeral rites before they can even be certain there will be a House Terafin left to fight over…

Skirmish and the rest of the House War books don't have the structural problems that plagued the Sun Sword series. Indeed, West no longer needs to backtrack and focus on events occurring in Essalieyan Empire and then return to what is taking place in the Dominion. The novel begins at the exact point where Jewel's storyline ended in The Sun Sword and only covers a period of three days afterward. This short span of time and the small number of perspectives from which we watch events unfold make Skirmish a decidedly more self-contained work. And yet, compared to the sprawling and convoluted Sun Sword yarns, it also makes Skirmish West's weakest Essalieyan novel I've read thus far. Having said that, I must point out that it's still better than most fantasy books out there. Just not up to par with what the author has accustomed us to in the past.

The worldbuilding continues to be what is probably my favorite aspect of the Essalieyan saga. In my past reviews, I claimed that there was a depth to Michelle West's universe that rivals, and might even surpass, that of Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker. Each Sun Sword book built on the storylines of its predecessors, adding layers upon layers to an already elaborate plot that often blew my mind. Even though Skirmish is limited to the story arcs of Jewel and her entourage, there is more than enough for West to continue to push the envelope in that regard. Though she remains unaware of the full extent of her seer-born powers, Jewel's strength grows in unexpected ways that will leave their mark on the capital city of Averalaan Aramarelas. Revelations about Avandar, Lord Celleriant, and the Winter King will also add new layers to what is undoubtedly one of the most multilayered fantasy series ever written. Hence, as far as the worldbuilding facet is concerned, Skirmish is a worthy sequel to the Sun Sword.

The characterization leaves something to be desired, however. And in this, your mileage will vary. Readers who love Jewel will likely enjoy this novel as much as the others. Perhaps more. For those for whom, like me, Jewel was just one of the protagonists and not their favorite by any strech of the imagination, this is where it gets tricky. As mentioned, I don't feel that on her own Jewel can carry this series. I'm missing the thoughtful perspectives of such flawed protagonists as Diora, Teresa, Kallandras, Margret, Valedan, Alina, Ser Anton, etc. So far, no other characters have really stepped up to the plate, which means that the characterization is decidedly weaker in this series. Everything that has to do with House politics/business is rather boring, and Finch and Teller's POVs are dull for the most part. The cats were a nice touch, but I'm not sure how long the author can keep them entertaining. The amount of disparate perspectives is what made the Sun Sword such a memorable read. This more limited approach for the House War isn't working well for me at the moment. It gets a bit better in Battle, yet it's obvious that this series needs more POVs from both sides of the conflict. Time will tell if we'll get them or not.

In terms of pace, throughout Skirmish the rhythm can be quite uneven. One would have thought that a novel covering a span of only three days couldn't possibly have any pacing issues. And yet, at times this one is as slow-moving as The Broken Crown. The main problem with the first half is that it mostly deals with Jewel being brought up to speed and being told what to do/what not to do now that she's back. It's mostly about House politics and relies on big info-dumps disguised as conversations. The second half is much better than the first, which was a relief. Everything that has to do with the greater scheme of things is interesting and the implications for the future quite engrossing. But dealing with the minutiae of House business makes for long and tedious chapters. True to form, West brings this book to its conclusion with a rousing finale that helps you forget some of the more monotonous moments that plagued it early on.

Hopefully Skirmish is just a transition book meant to bridge the Sun Sword and the House War, and what will follow will match the previous series in greatness and imagination.

For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

[Aildiin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book by Michelle West that I have been waiting to read since I first encountered Jewel Markess more than 15 years ago as a side character in one of her earlier books ( Hunter's Death).
This book takes place right after the event of Sun Sword and tells of the War for House Terrafin following the death of The Terrafin.
The first few chapters were up to my expectations and then things got a little too weird for me with heavy involvement of Celeriant, the Winter Court, elemental forces and flying talking cats that look like ponies...
Aside from too much over the top things, we meet again many characters we had met again in previous books( Devon, Haval, Jarden) and see them slowly coming to Jewel's side in the House War.

The good news is that the House War isn't resolved ( Jewel doesn't even officially declare herself to the House Council in this book) so there is hope for the next book ( Skirmish only covers a period of 3 days dealing with The Terrafin funerals)but still, overall, it was a bit of a letdown with a few very good chapters hidden in the middle.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved returning the Essalieyan world, beautifully written as always. But I wished this book had covered either a slightly longer time period, and I wish it had focused more on some of the minor characters, especially in the den. (The big reveal on Haval was very gratifying.) I'm also concerned Jewel is becoming a little too overpowered. Mainly just left me wanting the next volume ....

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

West cast her spell once again over me. I devoured the book in a day.

[Alecia · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are starting to feel like a job. A job with benefits and perks, but a job nonetheless. We've known for several books now that the Terafin is going to get assassinated. We know that Jewel won't save her because she already had the vision, and yet another vision called her to be in the Dominion during the time of most danger so it was set in stone. Therefore, the assassination happens almost immediately and most of the book is spent on the events leading up to and during The Terafin's funeral. It's. . . slightly more interesting than it sounds.

Since Amarais Handernesse is a boss, she not only told Jewel that she was going to be her heir but put plans in place. She put two of Jewel's closet denmates on the House Council so she would have allies; made the Chosen promise to support her in the coming hostilities; hid Rath's sword and ring so that Jewel would get them; and wrote an encrypted will naming Jewel heir that could only be read by the Twin Kings. She did all of this after having her impending death confirmed by the ghost of the Terafin founder. And what does Jewel do?

She stalls, of course. And resents her den for surviving without her. And stalls. And whines about how she doesn't want to have power, but she wants to have the power to protect her den, but not if that means she has to be a person of power. And snaps at Avandar. And wonders "what would Amarais do?" as if the woman didn't fight tooth and nail to become The Terafin and spend fifteen years grooming her into the role. And hides behind her grief as if Amarais didn't tell Jewel to her face, repeatedly, that she was going to have to take the house and hold it in order to prevent bloodshed and tyranny. And yet, Jewel stalls some more.

Jewel doesn't announce herself as heir until she has no choice. The demons try to assassinate the princes of Averalaan during the funeral. They call up the elements. But it isn't until Jewel speaks to the Terafin ghost and he tells her he can't protect the house, that Jewel figures out how to calm down the wild elements to keep her city from being torn apart. Her words are heard across the entire Isle, she remodels the damaged palace and creates a magical forest on the Terafin grounds, seemingly out of thin air.

It would be interesting to see just how powerful Jewel can be, except for the fact that she has absolutely no fun with it. She can barely be grateful that unlike most mere mortals, she actually has the power to protect the people she wants to keep safe. It's weird because she has this weird complex about power. Understandably, she doesn't trust people with too much of it. She professes to want to save lives but doesn't seem to understand that she probably could have saved more, and stopped the demons much earlier in their plotting, if she took the time to train her powers. But the only casualties on Jewel's radar are the ones right in front of her. She is deathly afraid that her den won't love her anymore if she grows into her purpose, even though not a single one of them has given her anything but unwavering support. Jewel had a loving family and it's terrible that her parents and grandmother died when she was young. Finch's family SOLD HER TO A PEDOPHILIC BROTHEL and yet she manages to be much more secure and levelheaded than Jewel. It's infuriating because she had so many people help her along the way. Jewel is the picture of the denial and it makes me sick. Her personal bodyguards are a demigod of war, a lord of the Wild Hunt, a mystical stag and three winged cats but she insists on thinking she can just be normal.

Le sigh. On to the next book...

[Khari · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, in my review of the last book, I made a mistake about Jewel's age. The timeline is fine across the series, Jewel is actually 32 years old which is enough time for Allaskar's child to have been born. So, the problem with the series is not a misplaced couple of years, or a confusion of times, the problem with the series is that West cannot write from the perspective of a child, and cannot show that child's perspective or voice changing as they age.

Jewel sounds the same at 11 as she does at 16 as she does at 32. The only thing that changes is that she doesn't struggle with reading as much.

This is somewhat annoying. I like to watch my characters grow and change and adapt and mature, Jewel doesn't really do those things. Come to think of it, neither do Finch or Teller. It seems odd that everyone is so unsure of themselves and talking about how little they know to be on the council when according to the timeline, they've been working for the Terafin for 16 years. In a house where blood ties are not important and people are adopted in all the time, surely 16 years of solid service would be sufficient to quell such insecurities?

Maybe not. Afterall, I grew up in a classless society so I have trouble envisioning the effects that would have on the psyche of someone who rose from nothing.

Anyway, other than slight irritation caused by Finch, Teller, Carver, and Jewel all sounding the same from their first decade to their third, I loved this book. I devoured it. I demolished it. I jumped straight into the next one.

Although Jay doesn't really mature, her knowledge and understanding of her gift comes in drips and drabs and apparently that's enough to satisfy my longing for growth. I love her Oma, I love the acerbic wisdom that Jay attributes to her. I like the characters, I like the cats, I just like this story. I'm glad we are getting into new material for the series, however, I am sorely disappointed by the abrupt gap between this book and the next one. I know that Marrick promises to support Jay in her bid for the Terafin, but we don't actually get to see the moment when she takes it up?! The next book skips ahead several weeks to after she's been enthroned. What?! Why?! What happened?! Did Haerrad die? Did Rymark?! What happened!?!?!? There had better be a flashback or I will be incensed. All that build up, all that politicking, and I don't even get to see how it plays out?!

That is cruel. Cruel, I tell you.

[Sherrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting one to review , it's was quite the political book , but not really at the same time . it mostly revolved around jewel navigating the terafin's funeral and her eventually coming into power as the terafin.

I felt there was alot of meandering within the book as michelle took her time writing dragging out the whole 3 day funeral affair. There was very little in terms of excitement as the POV was always jewel . There was little in alternative POVs to the whole 3 day story.

Coming off from the sunsword books , this was obviously always going to be a non action packed book first book as it was always about Jewel navigating the house war and taking her place. But it was honestly quite the bit boring as some sequences felt wholly dragged out too long , the whole hidden paths tree thingy went on way too long , the actual end of funeral service and post events too were way too long

They good parts of the book was when everything kinda went tits up from jewel's vision leading a frenzy and with cellriant / avandar vsing the demons , which was eventually cut off with jewel ending it off quickly.

haval i assume was previous lord of compact ? loved that duval acknowledged him and promised to protect jewel and protected adam / angel and carver i think from rymark at the gates.

the book was overall okay , but overbearing exposition of wisdom to serve jewel's ascenion into power was very ewww . Hopefully the next few books are much better

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the epic saga that was the Sun Sword series, I appreciated that this one had a narrower focus on just the city of Averalaan and the House Terafin/Jewel and co.

I felt that Jewel grew up a ton in this book, in a way she couldn’t completely when she was more of a side character, and I really enjoyed that. All the info about the Paths was fascinating to me, the themes of leadership and power and intention were great, the cats were pretty fun, and the people in the House felt real.

It probably isn’t objectively a 5 star book - West’s writing foibles remain, along with an over abundance of old men who treat every conversation like a chess match - but I don’t even care. I could put the book down, and can’t wait to read the next one, where presumably Jewel will progress to officially taking the House.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book four in the House War, but there is a significant gap between book three and this one during which most of the events of the Sun Sword series take place. This was my second time through this book, but the first time I had not yet read the Sun Sword series and was very confused about many of the "new" characters and their relationship to Jewel.

I would strongly recommend reading in the following order:
Hunder Duology
House War Books 1-3
Sun Sword
House War Books 4-end

Granted, I have not read anything in House War beyond this book, so my recommendations in that regard might change. Either way, I love the series and the world she has created, but this isn't the best book in it.

[Bree Pye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of dreamscape in this book, which makes sense. West does such a beautiful job with dream and think spaces... they flow well and are easily envisioned. Love the nods to Alice in Wonderland and LOTR in this one! Lots of set up in this book, we move into where the Sun Sword series left off, when Jewel is just having to confront her future. Lots of action and character development in this one. Definitely read it!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm tough on fantasy series - so many of them start well and then sort of peter out and become uninteresting. For whatever reason I don't typically read a single fantasy novel (with some exceptions) because I like series, but it's hard to find series, and on and on in an endless self-imposed do loop. I do adore two series, however: George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and all of Michelle Sagara West's Averalaan books. I like them equally and continually recommend them every time I get a chance.

West's books are different than Martin's - more magic, for one thing, but just as many varied characters making lots of choices and trying to survive in preparation for the final onslaught of demons. Yes, demons.

Skirmish is the latest in House Wars series and I do not recommend starting here if you haven't read these books. I'll give you a list later on so you can start at the beginning. I swear you won't regret it.

I loved Skirmish even though it actually only takes place across about 3 days. There's plenty going on in that 3 days and there are very, very many difficult choices to be made by many people - especially Jay (Jewel) the protagonist. At some points I wanted to yell at her to grow a spine, but the decision to go to war for leadership of an important House with everyone you love backing you and in danger is not a light one. It's the only one, though - it just takes awhile for Jay to come around to it.

This book begins to have a lot more intrigue and behind-the-scenes double-dealing than the others and I like that, too. A House War is logically different than a more typical war and the English proved long ago that having good intelligence is crucial to maintaining power. Honestly, this just feels like the preview to the next book where the action will really start rolling, but it was also intensely pleasing.

Ms. West is able to develop in the reader a true sense of emotional connection to the characters. These are people who've been in my life since the late '90's and, like George R.R. Martin's characters, they feel like family. I'm much closer to Sagara's characters, but that's not surprising since that emotional attachment and the growth and development of the characters is central to the story of struggle. It's harder to get attached to Martin's characters - he's just so brutal with them it makes you want to keep a safe distance (even though I often can't).

There's a lot of beauty in the this book and the thick sense of grief that hangs over it all due to the death of the former House leader - much loved by the entire house. Jay clings to the idea that a funeral will somehow bring closure and this delays much of her necessary decision-making. Anyone who's been through a great loss knows that closure is a great word and that the living matter more, but it's hard to accept - you just have to walk the path and see where it leads.

I loved this book, as I've loved all of her books. If you're new to this kind of writing and have read George R.R. Martin's series and enjoyed it, I highly recommend these books. If you've read neither - what are waiting for?!

Averalaan Universe Books:

The Sacred Hunt

(as Michelle West, DAW Books)

The Kingdom of Breodanir is facing a threat unlike any seen for centuries. An orphan boy and his adopted brother struggle against the ties that bind them together (and to their land) as they complete an impossible journey to save the world - at the risk of their own destruction. These are the first books set in the Essalieyan universe to be published.

Hunter's Oath (October 1995)
Hunter's Death (June 1996)

The Sun Sword
(as Michelle West, DAW Books)

Sixteen years after the events of The Sacred Hunt, the Empire of Essalieyan and the Dominion of Annagar are at war due to machinations of the Kialli. The resulting struggle for power will define the lives of those who would bring an end to the Kialli threat. Events laid out in The Sacred Hunt are referenced, but are not necessary to follow the story.

The Broken Crown (July 1997)
The Uncrowned King (September 1998)
The Shining Court (August 1999)
Sea of Sorrows (May 2001)
The Riven Shield (July 2003)
The Sun Sword (January 2004)

The House War
(as Michelle West, DAW Books)

Set in the Essalieyan universe, The House War chronicles the story of Jewel and her rise in House Terafin. The first three novels return to the origin of Jewel and the discovery of her den. They also revisit some of the narrative from Hunter's Death, though told from different (and complementary) character perspectives. The concluding two volumes, beginning with Skirmish, take place after events of The Sun Sword. Because of this timeline juxtaposition, the author recommends reading The Sun Sword series before Skirmish to maintain character consistency.


The Hidden City: A Novel of the House War, Book 1 (March 2008)
City of Night: A Novel of the House War, Book 2 (February 2010)
House Name: A Novel of the House War, Book 3 (January 2011)
Skirmish: A Novel of the House War, Book 4 (January 2012)
War: A Novel of the House War, Book 5 (tentative title)

[Crystal Ledbetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jewel returns from the South, the epic series continues!,

Demons, Immortals, and Gods, are the things Jewel wants to protect her home from, what she faces and discovers is so much more. The epic Sun Sword series that starts with The Broken Crown continues.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Jewel and her den and it's nice to see them rising to the challenge of House Terafin. Lots of cool magic--I especially loved riding the stag UP the tree.

Quibble: I expected the sleeping sickness to come into the plot more, but I guess that's building for the next book.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

[Nadine Kaelber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story picks back up after the Sun Sword series (still one of my favorite epic fantasy series). This is the 10th book of this fantasy world and I'm loving where she's taking this story.

[Estara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This in no way is a book to start reading the Essalieyan epic fantasy world with - or in other words for us long-time fans it's the fulfilment of many hopes and dreams and the revelation and a tiny look into the future.

I know some readers would prefer Jewel not to play such a big role, but if you think about it, she's this timeline's version of Evayne a'Nolan as seer-born and therefore a catalyst for lots of things that need to happen. Where Evayne had to sacrifice all to gain a vague hope that her loved ones would survive the coming days, Jewel first and foremost wants to protect her adopted family, having lost all her blood family as a very young girl.

And this desire and certain lines she won't cross make her the candidate that the Terafin wishes to take the house after her. Now the title of the book is Skirmish, and if you consider it in terms of the interior House War, then it actually is just a first flurry of fights (unless every other contender folds in the next book, but I can't see Hearrad or Rymark doing that - poor Gabriel).

What is the main focuse of this book is Jewel's decision to go after the House not just for the Terafin's sake but for her and her family's sake, because there is no one else among the contenders she can trust the house with. It is also Jewel coming head to head with the various powers that have been developing inside of her for pretty much all the series AND - more interestingly - being revealed to the powers of Averalaan as the power that she is.

I enjoyed that the signs for these powers are mostly in the vein of current and former magical allies which we met in the previous books accompanying her (and helping out as needed during demon attacks). Averalaan is made aware that even if the war in the South goes well, they will have to deal with demons in the North anyway. In the way of allies Avandar reveals his true powers, Celleriant finds a reason to personally swear himself to Jewel for as long as she lives and three cats (I don't think that's a spoiler if you look at the cover) appear and budge their way into Jewel's family. Not even those appear just deus-ex-machina: there's an attack on the Terafin garden and the scene for that and what happens here is, to my mind, the loveliest and most exiting bit of action which the book has to offer.

We do get more fighting in the city and in Terafin, but the truly magical fight here, less brute force, more allegorical - that's what I enjoyed. I LOVED the solution to this attack (it's also on the cover when you look).

And then we get Haval integrated and revealed even more, and finally I think I understand Duvari's role in the empire totally. Maybe at some point there will be more personal interaction with the den members, but in this book - with its time span of a week or two at most - we have lots of intrigue, attack, feverish preparation for a funeral and Jewel starting to actively look for support and making her candidacy clear before the House as such, if not the house council.

Even so we get the lovely fencing between Haval and his mirrors, I would like to call them, and the lovely tuned reveal of his emotional life where it regards Hannerle. There's a tiny cameo of the current head of a smaller House and his granddaughter's situation as one of the sleeping sick (the sleeping sickness isn't cured in this book). There's Jewel having it out with Ellerson and vice versa.

In recent years I have not finished a MSW book without wanting to start the next one right away (and last year I did two rereads - of the Essalieyan books and the Elantra books - which I wholly enjoyed): I feel exactly that now.

Addendum: If you're one of the people who can't get all of the Sun Sword (the ebooks aren't out yet, but in the pipeline) - then get the pdf-files Michelle West is offering at her site that should bring you up to date. One is a summary but the other ones are actual dialogue scenes, so that's an added bonus.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you look at the inside cover, this is the fourth book of six in the "House War" series. In reality: this is the start of the second Jewel Markess trilogy. The first Jewel trilogy can be read on its own, and I did; it's about a young girl growing up on the streets, who gathers unexpected friends and allies. It ties up reasonably well, albeit with sequel hooks and a slightly awkward "Now she leaves on a journey!" roll-off.

Then you've got eight books in two series, written earlier but set later. I haven't read those. Then Jewel's second trilogy starts. This is a problem. The author has synopses up on her web site (http://michellesagara.com/books/skirm...) and that's fine, but reading about sixteen years of the protagonist's life isn't the same as experiencing them.

(Yes, I know what I just said.)

Jewel returns from her journey (or set of journeys) to find that The Terafin has been killed by a demon. She would prefer to put off the all-out political struggle until after the funeral is over. Good luck with that, Jewel.

I said of the Elantra series: "it alternates between esoteric discussions about magical theory and incredibly uncomfortable social interactions. Occasionally they're the same thing." The description applies equally to this series. (Yes, I should have included "rampaging magical catastrophes" as the third element. But the discussions occur during those too.) Jewel, like Kaylin, has magical talents not matched by (but also not matching) the older, wiser, more studied mages around her. Like Kaylin, she works on instinct; her role in catastrophes is "does the right thing at the right time."

(Which is why the social interactions are important! A character who just walks into a tidal wave or a faerie court or a demon-tree or a whatever, and walks out covered with roses and sparkles -- repeat per chapter -- is not a protagonist. She's a Mary-Sue-oid or, at best, an allegory. Both Jewel and Kaylin have to do things they're *not* good at; usually *people* things, like office politics or hiring spies or not pissing off someone who can breathe fire on you.)

(Also, they have to figure out *why* what they did was right. That's where the esoteric discussions come in.)

Kaylin works for me, because her beat-cop life grounds her. Young Jewel worked for me in the first trilogy; her struggle to survive with her den played the same role. Adult Jewel is *almost* working for me, and I don't think the author has slipped; I think I missed Jewel growing up. Her concerns as a Terafin House member and Council member are as valid as her long-ago street concerns, but I don't have a handle on them.

At the same time, I don't feel like reading eight books to catch up. So much the worse for me, and I will struggle through.

Tangential and possibly pointless complaint: there are talking cats. I also complained about the talking ferrets in Kari Sperring's latest book. (Although, it turns out, I was wrong in guessing that Sperring keeps ferrets.) I don't know. I have liked talking cats in other books. Tanya Huff writes a hell of a talking cat. Kit's dog Ponch is terrific. Jewel's talking cats, I do not like. Maybe I'm over this trope. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood this year.

They're not *annoying* -- I mean, they're annoying the way cats are, but that's not annoying to *read*. They even do some interesting things. (Sometimes in non-cat-like ways; sometimes in *extremely* cat-like ways.) I just kept thinking, "Why did it have to be cats? They could have been people. Or rocks. Or anything that isn't a cute fuzzy animal that readers like."

Crap, I *am* in a bad mood this year. Go ahead, enjoy the cats. Don't mind me. I'll be smirking about the fact that Jewel also has a pet stag and a pet elf-warrior, and they're not *remotely* cute or fuzzy.

[SueM · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some odd reason, I don't write reviews for many of fantasy novels I read, even when I rate them 5 stars. Usually, I lets the stars say it all. But Skirmish has inspired me to write as I was once again blown away by Michelle Sagara West's writing.

I have been a fan of Sagara West's writing since I first came across her Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death in 1996. The Broken Crown, the first of 6 books in The Sun Sword series, was released in 1997 and having enjoyed her previous novels set in the same world, I started reading this series too. With each book in this series, it soon became obvious that Sagara West's writing was evolving, as her world building, which had been good, developed into truly outstanding. Two of my favorite supporting characters from the Sacred Hunt duology, Kallandras and Jewel Markess, were also in this series but as the series concluded, I hungered for more of these two characters, particularly Jewel Markess, as her story seemed unfinished. And so it proved, as Sagara West started the House Wars series, featuring Jewel Markess.

This is the third novel in the House Wars saga, and it was everything I could have desired. Odd as it may seem, this is the first book that actually continues on from The Sun Sword series in the same time-line, with the previous two novels providing the background and development of Jewel from the time of the Sacred Hunt series - a period of about 15 years. It is also probably why that this is my favorite so far, as the Jewel I knew in the Sun Sword saga finally matches the Jewel in this series. As I mentioned before, Sagara West's world-building is outstanding. It is incredibly complex and well rounded, with the complexity giving rise to a cast of characters that is a mile long. (As in the Sun Sword series too) If keeping track of a wide variety of characters is something you don't enjoy, then this may not be for you. I enjoy the challenge, I must admit, of so many characters, particularly as Sagara West fills each character with its own distinct personality, with even the most minor of supporting characters having more depth than what you'd expect.

For those readers reading the House Wars series without having read The Sun Sword series beforehand, much of this book will not fit or make sense as it should, and for that reason, Sagara West has writing short synopsis of what had happened in the past and it may be found on her website. Personally, I'd suggest reading the Sun Sword series before tackling this novel, partly because it's a series that is definitely worth reading, and partly as it will add so much to this series, giving the reader a greater understanding of why the characters respond as they do.

Sagara West remains in my top five fantasy writers with the likes of Anne McCaffrey, David Eddings, Robert Jordan and Mecedes Lackey. As 3 of these authors are no longer alive, Sargara West's writing has become even more appealing and I hope her writing will continue for many years to come.

[Shen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Ms West work, you create such amazing imagery with your words. I can see the movie play in my head.
spoiler altert!!!
With that being said. I did not like Skirmish. while part of the reason I didn’t like it was because I have waited through the end of Sun Sword and 3 prequels for house war to begin. This ended up being a tease for me it was a 500 page book that took place over 3 days I felt that what occurred, could have been done in 200 pages and been part of house war. or packaged as a short story. I am not saying that this story was unnecessary I’m just saying that it didn’t have to be that long.

I had expected that at the end of Sun Sword we would find Jewel an adult she has gone through some rough journeys. gone up against Arianne not to mention some other children of gods. journeyed to the south accepted her roles as part of the house council accepted that she would lead Terafin. And throughout the Sun Sword(SS) we see this growing into adulthood but with skirmish i found that she was written with the voice of a child. there are times i wanted to slap her and tell her to grow up and stop whining. For me it was a bit of a devolution of character. Finch and Teller were more mature and more grown up than she was. I also think younger Jewel was more grown up than Skirmish Jewel.

I found the way that she still has to get lessons from Haval annoying. it's one thing to ask advice it's another thing for an adult to act as a child in lessons.I did not find this trait charming. I kept wishing she would grow up.

I found the sending off of Cellerient and Avandar to save the Princes storyline sort of I need to (a) get rid of these characters so that Jewel is the one that tames the elements because if both of them are there then Jewel speaking to the earth and water are sort of unnecessary it’s something that they can do.( b) find a way to make the kings not to mention the queens indebted to Jewel so they will be unlikely to want to kill her. I bring this up because i found this part of the story quite Jarring. it was almost out of left field (you can argue the point that it’s a vision so it is out of left field ;) but every other vision of Jewels flowed with the story.

I LOVED the cats. They are my favourite characters in the skirmish. Even though they are other worldly and magical in nature, I found them to be the most human element in the story. The more “Fantastical” Jewel became the more the cats were used to keep her grounded, we have barely touched the surface of their abilities. I was really happy to “hear” their voices come out of the dark.

I eagerly await and look forward to house War I wouldn’t mind if it was two books but what I also enjoy about Michelle west is That she knows when to end her stories.

[Veronica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book one left me entranced, but I couldn't figure out quite why. The book didn't really have a focus, and it felt like The Action was happening somewhere else. I liked Rath, and I liked Jewel and I wanted to see what they built. It felt like chapter one. I gave it a pass because this was a five-volume series.

Book two was more of the same. Another pass, though I started to get little inklings of "Wait a minute, I would have liked to read about that. Why was it just a mention?"

Book three emphasized the "Off Screen" issue, highlighted in neon, blinking letters. The characters I was following weren't where Things Were Happening, even if they were somehow involved. It's not that it wasn't fun, but I felt like half the story was happening somewhere else, and even though there were a dozen character viewpoints, the story never felt completed.

I reached book four, and I'm table-flippingly angry. This isn't Book 4 of The House War, it's some part of some other series, but it didn't bother to appropriately label itself. In a good book, "off screen" events are referenced in such a way that, either, they are boiled down to essential elements to act as a building block for the current scene, or they are a whimsical throwaway line that adds a little private nod and a wink to the true fans who have read all the material, but provides no stumbling block to new readers. I was off-balance from the beginning and never regained it. Last I checked, Jewel had just had a part with friends, had just joined the House Council, was just getting used to her new Domicis. Next thing I know, the domicis is some kind of warlord and Jay has made piece with that. At some point she went to the south and met the wild hunt, and did some kind of Seery walkabout, but now she's back. There's some kid who should be dead but isn't. Some little kid hiding in a bedroom, that I don't know anything about, and Ellerson is back. The big guy is now Chosen instead of a House Guard... there's a whole book I'm missing in between 3 and 4.

In short, if I'd read whatever series this was originally from, I would probably like it. I like many of this author's other works. But I didn't come to this world through a recommendation. I found it on Amazon, and the description never gave me any reason to think this wasn't a standalone work. I'm really disappointed that the feeling I had of waiting for everything to fall together in a glorious mosaic was completely off. The pieces don't fit. There is no cohesive story.

Oh, and if I read the phrase "tendered a perfect bow" one more time, I'm going to scream.

[WillowBe · Rating 3 out of 5]

FYI: if you read the prolouge and first chapter on Ms. West's wordpress site, it does NOT include the author's note, which recommends reading Sun Sword first. I have yet to find the "story so far" peice she promised for those who haven't read SS. Seems I need to start at the beginning of both series to fully appreciate the story arc/events. And that's OK- I'm looking for a new series.

However, most of these books are NOT available for ereaders or at my local library; SUN SWORD in particular is nowhere to be found. Perhaps by the time I read my way to it,this situation will have changed.

So, I actually went all the way back. As in to the Hunter's duology. I figured by the time I finish, It will be time for War to come out, so why not. Anyway I liked it. I started with the Unbroken Crown which was hard, bec I don't like to read books where women's rights are so repressed. But I got over it and it was worth it.

Now, I have read the Sea of Sorrows, but the Riven Shield is nowhere to be found despite promises by the stupid $%*@)!!! publisher to put it in ebook format. These guys could be making money. What's the hold-up? So I am kind of stuck as I don't want to go to the Sun Sword with a big chunk missing, which means I can't read Skirmish with full knowledge or comfort either. Geez. It's true- who DOES write a whole series and then make you go back and read 8 other out of print!! books??

Yet, i have decided to start reading Skirmish. I skip over spoiler/story recount stuff and go on to the current action. Not sure how far I will read- likely halfway through and then I'll stop.

OK, so I read the book, though I skipped Riven Shield wherefore art thou? and Sun Sword. Which can be done. It was nce to get awa from the super macho Dominion culture and the gracefully submissive yet manipulative wives. but Jay/Kaylin is as stupid as ever, though I liked the story and the action. But all this stuff she does is just too muh. A bit to - dare I say?- Mary Sue. And I've never called any character a MS in my life! I was embarrassed at the spectacles she made. Yes she saved lives, but still. But beliebe it or not i did like the book. When I get RS, I am going to start at UC and go all the way through bc I have skipped a LOT and by then War should be out.

[Laurla2]

"it is what the young forget: one failure does not render all past success - or future success - meaningless. it is only if we surrender to despair that we fail in perpetuity, because we cease to try at all."

"the past is part, always, of the present. we cannot leave it behind in its entirety because it is the foundation of who and what we are now."

"there were some angers that slept without dying. when she touched them, they woke, and they burned as if they were still new."

"she said nothing. ellerson said nothing as well - his was just louder."

"she wondered if this was the danger the gods presented to mortals: the sense that someone, somewhere, knew it all, and knew it well enough that there was no point and no need to struggle to reach a decision; one could leave it, for eternity, in their hands. if the Mother were here, jewel would have gratefully handed the whole of the war into her keeping. what did you become, in the end, if you never had to make those decisions and those mistakes?"

"what we appear to be to others is never what we look like to ourselves."

"i had forgotten, how hard it was not to strangle you."

"idiots. they think they'll rule small parts of the world if they can only learn the art of summoning creatures that are older, smarter, and more powerful than they are."

"you are ready."
"i dont feel like it."
"no. that is the sad truth of power: when facing the unknown, you will never feel ready. but you are."

"life doesnt have time for your tears girl. you shed them, fine. you're still a child. but you keep moving while you cry. if you dont move, the vultures will think you're carrion."

[Nevada · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first. The winter cats from The Sun Sword series book 3 The Shining Court are back and this time they aren't stone gargoyles. While the cats may find everything else boring and stuuupid, I promise they are anything but. They made me chuckle several times.

This book has full involvement from characters such as Avandar, Celleriant, the Winter King, Angel, Finch, Teller, the House Council, and Haval. To me, the diverse characters and the depth of their background and personality are some of the very best parts of these books. Michelle West does a phenomenal job writing characters that you care about. I would have liked more backstory involving the Kialli and Allasiani, but that probably would have added an extra 300 pages to the book...

There is so much plot and world building in this book, so much inference and foreshadowing that I almost feel like I should do a re-read right now. This book will require your attention and thought, I love that in a fantasy book. Word to the wise though, you really won't understand the nuances of the political context if you haven't read The Sun Sword series, sorry - but not sorry because that book series is ah-mazing!

[kvon · Rating 4 out of 5]

One point off for being slow--most of the action takes place over about 4 days. Which works out to about 10 minutes/page? And now I need to go back and look at Sun Sword again, since the online summary isn't finished yet (and leaves out a lot, while filling in bits I don't think I grokked). Man, this series has been going on for a while--over 8000 pages if LT's data is correct. Six times longer than LotR.

Yes, the cats with wings on the front make a prolonged appearance here.

So we're getting ready for a funeral, and getting ready for the succession fight, but all this other stuff is happening--sleeping sickness, mysterious trees, hiring dressmakers and assassins, assassination attempts, healers, god talk, more demons. Plus exploring why Jewel is uncertain about her right to rule, and making up with old servants, and catching up with her friends. Lots of politics; less economics in this book. Plenty of magic.

Things I like--multiple points of view. No reason to limit yourself.
Princess Mirialyn has such a small role, but she always shines. Dreamlike sequences.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, ok, I think I missed a lot. There was a lot of back story and undercurrents that went right over my head because I didn't read her main series. Hrm, I think I'm going to need to go back and start her Sun Sword series as well so I get a bit more of what is going on within this story.

With that said, I did enjoy this book but sadly not as much as the earlier ones. I'm still giving this a 4 because I liked the writing style and it was a lot of fun dipping back into Jay's world and the new power struggles she has to go through now that The Terafin is dead. This book really brings Jay into her power compared to the prior book and she is doing some amazing feats of talent and magic here. Jay is really growing into herself as a strong individual who is gearing up towards taking on the reigns to be the next Terafin. I look forward to the next book because I still want to know where this is going!