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Chronicles of the Cheysuli #3-4
Wolfssohn
Magie und Liebe – Jennifer Robersons Meisterwerk der Fantasy »Dämonen! Gestaltwandler!« So rief man ihnen lange Zeit höhnisch hinterher. Einst Verbündete des Königs, sind sie nun Verbannte und Verfolgte im eigenen Reich: das geheimnisvolle Volk der Cheysuli. Nun soll ein Prinz, halb Cheysuli, halb Mensch, den Fluch brechen. Doch er wird er zum Spielball beider Völker und gerät in tödliche Gefahr …
942 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2001
1 person is currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Roberson
123 books807 followersOver a 40-year career (so far), Jennifer Roberson has published four fantasy series, including the Sword-Dancer Saga, Chronicles of the Cheysuli, the Karavans universe, and urban fantasy series Blood & Bone. Other novels include historicals LADY OF THE GLEN, plus two Robin Hood novels, LADY OF THE FOREST, and LADY OF SHERWOOD.
New novels are percolating in her always-active imagination.
Hobbies include showing dogs, and creating mosaic and resin artwork and jewelry. She lives in Arizona with a collection of cats and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.
New novels are percolating in her always-active imagination.
Hobbies include showing dogs, and creating mosaic and resin artwork and jewelry. She lives in Arizona with a collection of cats and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 2, 2016
These aren't great books, but they're solidly good books. I've been engrossed in the story every time, wanting to hurry through and find out what happens to the House of Homana. Each book is somewhat formulaic, which I suppose can be somewhat explained away by the nature of the protagonist family being linked with a prophecy, but it does get slightly predictable. The characters are all somewhat similar as well, but since each book is essentially about the characters in their early 20s, it's to be expected that they're going to sorta be assholes who think they know best. The subsequent books in the series do treat the female characters somewhat better than the very first book, but the female characters are sadly mostly relegated to being motivation for the male characters rather than fully fleshed and interesting in their own right. I said in my review for the first omnibus that I think that's a product of when they were written, and I still think that's true, but it doesn't make it any less unfortunate.
April 24, 2011
Book 1: Legacy of the Sword
Out of the three books in the series I've read so far, this one is the quietest. The focus is more on Donal being honed to be king and how he and others react to that than the actual conflicts that are used to prepare him. And the one plot arch I thought would be strongest, Aislinn's, ends up the weakest. As a result, this isn't my favorite of the three, but it's still good enough to keep me reading and for me to read the books that follow.
The characters are generally well developed. Donal could have easily come across as a whiney prince, but he doesn't. He genuinely wants to remain among the cheysuli, but realizes he has a responsibility no other can fill. The mistakes he makes aren't usually the stupid kind—they come either from kindness or from logical conclusions, and he's humble enough to realize his wrongs. This all makes him an easy main character to journey through the story with. But the author also manages to make the reader see how the other character's actions make sense from that character's position without actually going into the characters' heads.
However, so far I'm not sure the book is necessary to read the next book in the series, and if there's any flaw in the story, this is it. The events that occur could easily be conveyed as part of the past in the next novel without much loss to the reader. Everything comes to its logical conclusion, there's little doubt it will all work out the way it should, and really, the only surprise is Aislinn's actions near the end. I understand them, but had a hard time seeing them coming from her even with what had gone on before.
So I can't say I recommend this book, but neither would I tell people not to read it. It's a bridge between book two and book four, but not a bridge that seems required to cross. The writing isn't bad, the story isn't bad, and it's not that I didn't enjoy it, I did. It just didn't have the immediacy of the previous books. It was okay. And sometimes okay is enough, as it was for this story.
Book 2: Track of the White Wolf
This has to be my favorite from the series so far—I cried several times, the tension and tangles had my heart in my throat, and there was more than once when I wanted to yell at characters for actions that made so much sense for them but would get them in trouble. Towards the end, I couldn't put it down—I had to finish to make sure everyone would come out all right (they didn't, and it broke my heart). This is the kind of reaction you WANT from a book: where you have to keep reading, where you're so involved in the characters that their pain hurts you and their victories bring you joy. And the author managed to leave the reader wondering what was real even as the characters wondered.
The characters are well developed, their actions make sense for them even when they make no sense, and the author did a wonderful job of keeping them focused on their motivations and keeping track of the various tangled character plots. Nothing is simple in this book except the reading of it, and there is more than one surprise as the story winds its way to the end. By the same token, there are a few things that happen that aren't so surprising. If there's one flaw in this book, it's that characters adhere to the good/evil already assigned to their race, particularly the Ihlini. When an Ihlini shows up, a reader knows something bad is about to happen. May not know exactly what it is, or when the timing will be, but it will happen. But for this story, that works. In fact, it's almost necessary, and it in no way detracts from the story told.
I highly recommend this novel, and no, readers do not have to have read the previous books to read this. It would help, so the reader is familiar with the characters involved (the loss of one character won't be as upsetting without having read the previous novels), but the author manages to work "what has gone on before" into the story without it being too intrusive and so readers know the events that have lead up to the current circumstances. As a result, the reader will have no problem following the story and getting involved in with the characters, the story, and the intrigue. I thinkt he book would work for the mid-to-older YA audience and up.
Out of the three books in the series I've read so far, this one is the quietest. The focus is more on Donal being honed to be king and how he and others react to that than the actual conflicts that are used to prepare him. And the one plot arch I thought would be strongest, Aislinn's, ends up the weakest. As a result, this isn't my favorite of the three, but it's still good enough to keep me reading and for me to read the books that follow.
The characters are generally well developed. Donal could have easily come across as a whiney prince, but he doesn't. He genuinely wants to remain among the cheysuli, but realizes he has a responsibility no other can fill. The mistakes he makes aren't usually the stupid kind—they come either from kindness or from logical conclusions, and he's humble enough to realize his wrongs. This all makes him an easy main character to journey through the story with. But the author also manages to make the reader see how the other character's actions make sense from that character's position without actually going into the characters' heads.
However, so far I'm not sure the book is necessary to read the next book in the series, and if there's any flaw in the story, this is it. The events that occur could easily be conveyed as part of the past in the next novel without much loss to the reader. Everything comes to its logical conclusion, there's little doubt it will all work out the way it should, and really, the only surprise is Aislinn's actions near the end. I understand them, but had a hard time seeing them coming from her even with what had gone on before.
So I can't say I recommend this book, but neither would I tell people not to read it. It's a bridge between book two and book four, but not a bridge that seems required to cross. The writing isn't bad, the story isn't bad, and it's not that I didn't enjoy it, I did. It just didn't have the immediacy of the previous books. It was okay. And sometimes okay is enough, as it was for this story.
Book 2: Track of the White Wolf
This has to be my favorite from the series so far—I cried several times, the tension and tangles had my heart in my throat, and there was more than once when I wanted to yell at characters for actions that made so much sense for them but would get them in trouble. Towards the end, I couldn't put it down—I had to finish to make sure everyone would come out all right (they didn't, and it broke my heart). This is the kind of reaction you WANT from a book: where you have to keep reading, where you're so involved in the characters that their pain hurts you and their victories bring you joy. And the author managed to leave the reader wondering what was real even as the characters wondered.
The characters are well developed, their actions make sense for them even when they make no sense, and the author did a wonderful job of keeping them focused on their motivations and keeping track of the various tangled character plots. Nothing is simple in this book except the reading of it, and there is more than one surprise as the story winds its way to the end. By the same token, there are a few things that happen that aren't so surprising. If there's one flaw in this book, it's that characters adhere to the good/evil already assigned to their race, particularly the Ihlini. When an Ihlini shows up, a reader knows something bad is about to happen. May not know exactly what it is, or when the timing will be, but it will happen. But for this story, that works. In fact, it's almost necessary, and it in no way detracts from the story told.
I highly recommend this novel, and no, readers do not have to have read the previous books to read this. It would help, so the reader is familiar with the characters involved (the loss of one character won't be as upsetting without having read the previous novels), but the author manages to work "what has gone on before" into the story without it being too intrusive and so readers know the events that have lead up to the current circumstances. As a result, the reader will have no problem following the story and getting involved in with the characters, the story, and the intrigue. I thinkt he book would work for the mid-to-older YA audience and up.
April 11, 2008
As always very well written and it starts off with a BANG. Captures you right from the very beginning like the other books. I really appreciate how it captures your imagination and you almost feel like you are a part of the characters. I cried when a tragedy happened and I rejoiced when something wonderful happened. I love books that do that to me
June 29, 2007
The third and fourth books in the Cheysuli series get more and more convoluted. I think the author attempts too much in this series and can't adequately handle it. There's still a good story line, but I had a hard time reconciling that with some of the characters' actions and plot twists.
November 27, 2007
I thought this was great! I really enjoyed the characters and even though it took a few pages to "get into it" after the first chapter it flew by! Lots of twists and turns and i can't wait to read the next one!
November 10, 2013
I've read this book twice. Jennifer writes with such magnificent detail and gives you a great feel for all the drama that takes place in this world of Shapshifters magic. I've read all four Omnibus stories twice. I look forward to reading more of her work.
December 5, 2007
This entire series was hard to put down. It felt like I was living what I was reading.
June 22, 2010
I liked it, Kinda reminded me of like Native American stuff ya know?
September 2, 2009
2-in-1 Books 3 and 4 of the Cheysuli
December 27, 2009
A long read but ok.
August 10, 2010
I love book series - I am enjoying this adventure!
March 29, 2012
Can't wait to get into the next!
June 15, 2012
i definitely like this series the more i read it. and i REALLY don't like the bad guys, but then that's why they ARE the bad guys, eh? i look forward to reading the rest of the series!
January 7, 2014
great collection of stories about family and legacy
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews