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The Sun Sword #6
The Sun Sword
Now, at last the Sun Sword has been delivered into the hands of its rightful owner, and the armies of the Dominion and the Empire are about to rendezvous for their final battle. But no one can know how the Lord of Night's daughter Kiriel will change both the nature and the course of the war. And no one can foresee whether mortals or the demon Kialli will prove the final victors.
957 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 6, 2004
32 people are currently reading
844 people want to read
About the author
Michelle West
73 books467 followersSee 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).
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).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 20, 2011
I picked this series up used. Read it straight through, non-stop. I couldn't put it down. In fact, I considered it one of the best fantasy series I'd read.
Unfortunately, as beautifully written and unforgettable as they are, nothing... nothing on this earth would coerce me into giving them more than 1 star. I will never read another MSW novel again. As soon as I finished the last book, I nearly threw them away. Instead, I traded them in at a used book store for the next sucker to fall into her trap.
The reason I'm so highly emotional about them is precisely because they were so good, that when I got to the end; I'd never been so disappointed in my life. (except maybe that one time when I did actually throw a book across the room, but that's another story.)
The time and care put into the story and characters is so apparent with every word. So why? Why did the ending feel so rushed? So tacked on? So cut short, thrown together, hurriedly written...? I felt as if I'd been b!+ch slapped. I felt the fool for having spent months worth of time investment into these books only to be dropped on my head like so much garbage. It hurt because I loved the books so much.
I don't know why an author would do that. Was she so sick of the world/characters by then she just wanted to get it over with? Did the publishing company/editor tell her to just hurry it up already? Whatever happened, it was a huge disservice to the reader and she lost a potential lifetime fan.
Unfortunately, as beautifully written and unforgettable as they are, nothing... nothing on this earth would coerce me into giving them more than 1 star. I will never read another MSW novel again. As soon as I finished the last book, I nearly threw them away. Instead, I traded them in at a used book store for the next sucker to fall into her trap.
The reason I'm so highly emotional about them is precisely because they were so good, that when I got to the end; I'd never been so disappointed in my life. (except maybe that one time when I did actually throw a book across the room, but that's another story.)
The time and care put into the story and characters is so apparent with every word. So why? Why did the ending feel so rushed? So tacked on? So cut short, thrown together, hurriedly written...? I felt as if I'd been b!+ch slapped. I felt the fool for having spent months worth of time investment into these books only to be dropped on my head like so much garbage. It hurt because I loved the books so much.
I don't know why an author would do that. Was she so sick of the world/characters by then she just wanted to get it over with? Did the publishing company/editor tell her to just hurry it up already? Whatever happened, it was a huge disservice to the reader and she lost a potential lifetime fan.
December 27, 2014
Notes on rereread: One thing that's different about reading ebooks is that you aren't always faced with a sense of how far along you are, the way you are when you're holding a physical book. I got to the end of Jewel's part here, and happened to check where I was. Shocked to see that I was barely maybe a fifth of the way through. What could possibly follow that? Oh, right, the whole war thing, the sword, the girl, the end of the world.
*spoilernotspoiler* Falloran! Good dog!
*spoilernotspoiler* Falloran! Good dog!
December 6, 2011
As someone who fell in love with this series when the first book (originally promoted as part one of a trilogy) was published, I was frustrated and disappointed that I waited through seven years, three extra books, and a lot of unnecessary fluff only to have the final book in the series leave half the plot hanging.
Anyone trying them now that they're all out may have a better experience. But after the way these books and their publication played out, I haven't been able to bring myself to read either the spinoff series or West's other work.
Anyone trying them now that they're all out may have a better experience. But after the way these books and their publication played out, I haven't been able to bring myself to read either the spinoff series or West's other work.
January 22, 2024
I'm sorry, we're just not going to see everyone from the North again, Jewel and her man servant/sorcerer I can't remember his name, Celleriant, her cool mount? Where's Margret? Where's the Tor Arkosa? You're going to make me go to Google and find out there's another EIGHT BOOK SERIES and MAYBE I'll get some closure?
Hell no.
The ending was incredibly disappointing. We've been building up for this big battle for 6 books, it happened mostly off-screen and quickly, and all the allies we spent those 6 books gathering didn't even show up. I did gasp out loud at one reveal (Anya), but then she just waltzes off stage and there's no closure there either.
I honestly love this world and the characters in it, but no thank you ever again.
Hell no.
The ending was incredibly disappointing. We've been building up for this big battle for 6 books, it happened mostly off-screen and quickly, and all the allies we spent those 6 books gathering didn't even show up. I did gasp out loud at one reveal (Anya), but then she just waltzes off stage and there's no closure there either.
I honestly love this world and the characters in it, but no thank you ever again.
September 14, 2023
I had a love/hate relationship with this series. I really didn’t like the culture of the Dominion and I dreaded every time Diora showed up. She was an annoying Mary Sue that had the biggest ego of them all.
June 15, 2011
I'm not going to lie: I couldn't get through this series the first time around. I stopped reading around the fourth book, for two reasons - one, I didn't know if I could stomach any more of the subtlety inherent in every single scene, and two, I was probably just too young. But now I'm glad I reread it all and reached, at long last, this final chapter in a really intense, emotion-filled epic.[return][return]In THE SUN SWORD all the characters are finally coming face-to-face and learning to deal with their greatest fears. Valedan kai di'Leonne must lead his followers into a civil war while Kialli demons endeavor to gain control of Annagar; Jewel ATerafin is finally called back home to face the rest of her House; and Serra Diora di'Marano, Flower of the Dominion, must learn to live up to the memory of her dead family and step forward in life. And of course, there is everyone else: Kiriel, Auralis, Ramiro, Mareo, Alfredo, Isladar, Telakar, Elena, Yollana... Everybody goes through some sort of test that will ultimately prove their worth.[return][return]What I love about Michelle West's writing is that she doesn't neglect to fill in any gaps about these characters. Sure, she leaves some things up to reader imagination - but none of this has anything to do with the characterization itself. In fact, once you've got that characterization down, you know the characters so well that you're able to read into their actions as much (or as little) as you like. It's all extremely well-done: these characters are as close to human beings as you will find in books. West does this with constant perspective-switching and tons of description - but it's description that's definitely worth it. In fact, I don't think she could have pulled off this series without all that serious attention paid to detail in her characters.[return][return]So what does this amount to? It gives readers a lot to read, for one thing, but I see this as a plus; if you know what you're getting yourself into when you start these books (and you probably do if you're reading the review for book six!), you'll understand that long chapters full of seemingly random events actually lend themselves very well to the series as a whole. In the end, all those pages of pondering and character interaction and small events add up to the really BIG events that make the books.[return][return]And boy, does West know how to write great "big events." Those long pages serve as wonderful lead-in to confrontations brimming with legend, symbolism, magic, and emotion. And I mean it: there is TONS of symbolism and metaphor in these books. Light versus darkness, cradle songs, rings, slavery, and family among others are all issues that are dealt with. West also delves into the pros and cons of power, lineages and meritocracies. I could write a research paper as long as at least one of her books about it all.[return][return]This whole series was just such a huge endeavor. It's not for the faint of heart, certainly, but it's so REAL and yet at the same time - the stuff of legends. I loved this, and I will strongly recommend all of Michelle West's works from here on out. One of my new favorite authors!
June 20, 2009
I always think it's a bad sign when an author intends to finish a series but can't stop writing and feels compelled to add another nearly 1000 page book to the pile. That's what West did with The Sun Sword books 5 and 6. Instead of one book that actually followed the characters in a reasonably efficient fashion that didn't leave me wanting to stop reading before the ending, she chose to write two extremely long-winded tales that cover so little ground for so many characters I felt like she should have shortened each one by three fourths. While I've read worse books, these two really make me glad I've finished the series. Which is unfortunate since some of the characters were interesting and compelling and if West could have just settled for telling a smaller story about one or two of them, the books would have been wonderful. It actually makes me feel more disappointed since I could see the potential that the stories had.
May 3, 2016
Again this wordy author milks the market with 800 pages!...and end still isn't in sight.
May 24, 2017
It's been years, seven at least, since I started Michelle West's Sun Sword series, and coming to the end of a long-running series is always bittersweet. While there are other books in this universe, finally getting to the end makes it all the more difficult to review.
In short, I wouldn't have come this far if I weren't deeply attached to the characters and world West has created here, and I was unlikely to give a poor score to this book. That being said I do wish I could give it a perfect score, and I'll deal with the reasons why I didn't.
It's common in epic fantasy these days to have multiple point of view characters. This typically serves to assist in providing broader world information or giving us different perspectives on the same set of events. Often it's a device to present two different plot-threads that meet up eventually. West is using several of these devices and they mostly work. A few of the 'big reveals' at the end of the book are especially effective because they have been subtly woven into the text.
However, because the plot in the previous book and now this one are coming to a head, there are plot threads that feel out of place, disjointed or just kind of wasted. Jewel and her little group were to me the most interesting set of characters, and yet they vanish from the main narrative completely. The first set of the book deals with the brewing House War in the north, which might have been interesting on its own, but juxtaposed against a potential invasion by a supreme dark lord and his army of demons seems a bit trite. I had to push through those first chapters to eventually get to the 'meat' of the story.
That meat though is very satisfying. It resolves several important questions while leaving a few others hanging. The final reveal with Anya, which I won't spoil, was gratifying and yet left me wanting to see more of that particular arc. If I had one big criticism it would be that after six books I felt like I should have had more of an ending. A part of me feels like this could have been condensed into a trilogy without losing much.
In any case, if you enjoyed the last five books you're in for a good ride, and I'll be seeking out the rest of Michelle West's catalogue.
In short, I wouldn't have come this far if I weren't deeply attached to the characters and world West has created here, and I was unlikely to give a poor score to this book. That being said I do wish I could give it a perfect score, and I'll deal with the reasons why I didn't.
It's common in epic fantasy these days to have multiple point of view characters. This typically serves to assist in providing broader world information or giving us different perspectives on the same set of events. Often it's a device to present two different plot-threads that meet up eventually. West is using several of these devices and they mostly work. A few of the 'big reveals' at the end of the book are especially effective because they have been subtly woven into the text.
However, because the plot in the previous book and now this one are coming to a head, there are plot threads that feel out of place, disjointed or just kind of wasted. Jewel and her little group were to me the most interesting set of characters, and yet they vanish from the main narrative completely. The first set of the book deals with the brewing House War in the north, which might have been interesting on its own, but juxtaposed against a potential invasion by a supreme dark lord and his army of demons seems a bit trite. I had to push through those first chapters to eventually get to the 'meat' of the story.
That meat though is very satisfying. It resolves several important questions while leaving a few others hanging. The final reveal with Anya, which I won't spoil, was gratifying and yet left me wanting to see more of that particular arc. If I had one big criticism it would be that after six books I felt like I should have had more of an ending. A part of me feels like this could have been condensed into a trilogy without losing much.
In any case, if you enjoyed the last five books you're in for a good ride, and I'll be seeking out the rest of Michelle West's catalogue.
March 29, 2021
It's finished! It's done!
Never will I ever read another word by West/Sagara!
I'm still not sure how I managed to finish this series. It's without a doubt my greatest feat as a reader so far.
What I liked: West has created a truly magnificently complex and complete world for her stories, it almost rivals Erikson of the Malazan. I found the Dominion story line interesting and engaging, and several of her characters deeply fascinating: Diora, Kiriel, Valedan, Auralis, Kallandras, Ania.
What I didn't like: The Terafin story line was mostly unbearably boring an uninteresting, a waste of paper and ink and the readers time. I absolutely loathe Jewel, and I don't care at all about her den. I can not describe my joy and relief when I realized that after suffering through the first 80 pages, where West hastily ties off this story for later (go figure!), the rest of the book is about the goings on of the Dominion.
Wests writing style is at it's best beautifully poetic, at its worst endlessly long winded and imprecise to the degree its hard to figure out what's going on.
After reading the last page, there's still a lot of questions unanswered, I'm sure West tackles them in her later books. It's with infinite relief I can conclude I feel no need what so ever to read them.
Never will I ever read another word by West/Sagara!
I'm still not sure how I managed to finish this series. It's without a doubt my greatest feat as a reader so far.
What I liked: West has created a truly magnificently complex and complete world for her stories, it almost rivals Erikson of the Malazan. I found the Dominion story line interesting and engaging, and several of her characters deeply fascinating: Diora, Kiriel, Valedan, Auralis, Kallandras, Ania.
What I didn't like: The Terafin story line was mostly unbearably boring an uninteresting, a waste of paper and ink and the readers time. I absolutely loathe Jewel, and I don't care at all about her den. I can not describe my joy and relief when I realized that after suffering through the first 80 pages, where West hastily ties off this story for later (go figure!), the rest of the book is about the goings on of the Dominion.
Wests writing style is at it's best beautifully poetic, at its worst endlessly long winded and imprecise to the degree its hard to figure out what's going on.
After reading the last page, there's still a lot of questions unanswered, I'm sure West tackles them in her later books. It's with infinite relief I can conclude I feel no need what so ever to read them.
March 28, 2021
8.5/10* for this book.
8/10* for the series.
Wow! Where the 1st five books were beautifully written, yet paced somewhat slowly, this last book had so much action that it actually caught me off guard.
Overall this series was very enjoyable with very good world and character building. The writing by West was beautiful and you could tell she loved the story she was telling.
Read it!!
8/10* for the series.
Wow! Where the 1st five books were beautifully written, yet paced somewhat slowly, this last book had so much action that it actually caught me off guard.
Overall this series was very enjoyable with very good world and character building. The writing by West was beautiful and you could tell she loved the story she was telling.
Read it!!
June 26, 2023
After promising myself to finally read it after so long, I brought Michelle West's The Broken Crown in my suitcase when I flew to Colombia last January. I had absolutely no expectations when I started the novel, so little did I know that I was beginning what would ultimately rank among my favorite fantasy series of all time. Here we are, five months down the line, with this review of the sixth and final volume of the Sun Sword. And the only question that remained was whether or not the author could close the show with the same sort of style and aplomb that characterized the series thus far.
The answer is a resounding yes! There are same pacing issues at the beginning, but The Sun Sword delivers on all fronts. It was great to see so many plotlines come full circle and reach their resolution, all the while also setting the stage for the already published House War series and the End of Days series West is currently working on. All in all, this last installment was everything I wanted it to be.
Here's the blurb:
The final novel of the acclaimed Sun Sword series concludes the epic of a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed...
The armies of Alesso di’Marente and Valedan kai di’Leonne are massing in the Terrean of Averda for the battle that will at last determine the rule of the Dominion. The Sun Sword is about to be delivered by Serra Diora to its “rightful” holder, Valedan, last surviving heir of the clan Leonne. But whether Valedan will be able to wield the sword, or—like the former kai el’Sol—will be consumed by its magic, remains to be seen.
The demon kin are gathering as well, and a dread spell is being worked which will—should it successfully reach completion—finally open the way for the Lord of Night to once again enter the mortal realm.
And though many of the truly powerful have gathered upon the field, the entire course of the future may ultimately rest in the hands, heart, and soul of one being, Kiriel di’Ashaf, daughter of the Lord of Night...
Structurally, The Sun Sword suffers from the same advantages and shortcomings as its predecessors. As I've mentioned before, it often feels as though six books (none of them slim volumes) were not enough to recount the full tale Michelle West wanted to tell. This means that her editor forced her to keep a lid of things, thus preventing West from getting lost in the mire of extraneous plot threads that plagued the sagas of other fantasy writers like Robert Jordan, George R. R. Martin, Steven Erikson, and Brandon Sanderson. However, the downside remains that it forces West to juggle with several storylines, all of them important in the greater scheme of things, and somehow write them in a way that creates a compelling and cohesive whole. Given the series' complex timeline, that is easier said than done. Other than The Uncrowned King, the bulk of the other installments takes place in the Dominion. Which forces West to backtrack and elaborate on the events that concurrently took place in the Essalieyan Empire. As I've said, this wouldn't be so bad if it still held some importance in the current series. Alas, the vast majority of those scenes, and they amount to hundreds of pages spread out throughout the six volumes, mostly exist to lay the groundwork for the subsequent House War series. Which is why such sequences involving the Terafin household and Jewel's den always feel somewhat incongruous and unnecessary. The first 150 pages or so of The Sun Sword is another case in point in that regard. I understand that we needed to reach the conclusion of Jewel's plotline, but I felt that it took too long. After all, the war that could bring on the end of the world is nigh. . .
The worldbuilding is simply astonishing. There is a depth to Michelle West's universe that rivals, and might even surpass, that of Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker. The Sun Sword continues to build on the storylines of its predecessors, adding layers upon layers to an already elaborate plot that should satisfy even the most demanding and jaded fantasy aficionados. About a third into the book, something totally unexpected just blew my mind. A seemingly innocuous detail from the prologue of The Broken Crown that completely flew under the radar and failed to ring any bell later on just came back to kick me in the balls with its implications. Makes me wonder if there are additional details that I might have missed in what pretty much every reader considers an overlong and sometimes boring prologue. West can keep her cards pretty close to her chest when she wants to, yet there appears to be a lot of secrets hiding in plain sight for discerning readers.
Weighing in at 957 pages, The Sun Sword is another doorstopper, and as such it covers a lot of plot threads and locales. As mentioned, the first part focusing on Jewel breaks the rhythm that the ending of The Riven Shield created. What follows can best be described as a slow burn gradually building up to the finale. I can't say that I minded, for Michelle West continues to bring threads together, tying up loose ends and elevating her game as she moves the tale forward. This goes on until the eve of the last battle. Like George R. R. Martin, I love how West allows us to see momentous events through the eyes/perspectives of various characters, great and small. Though vast in scope in the greater scheme of things, you experience everything on a much smaller scale that makes the reader live these moments more vicariously. And when at last the battle starts, it is glorious!
As anticipated, the characterization is amazing. Like Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey, Michelle West has a knack for fleshing out a cast of endearing and fascinating three-dimensional characters. As a matter of course, Teresa, Kallandras, the Ospreys, Serra Alina, Ramiro kai di'Callesta, Meralonne APhaniel, Ser Anton di'Guivera, and many more have their part to play before the end comes. Having said that, I loved the character growth shown by Diora, Valedan, Kiriel, and Auralis. Aidan's role in the grand finale, though small, was a nice touch. I was glad to see more of Anya and discover more about her backstory. Yollana, the old Matriarch of the Havalla Voyani clan, continues to play a crucial role as the tale unfolds.
Simply put, The Sun Sword was the perfect ending for a sensational series. I knew beforehand that Jewel's plotline ended in a cliffhanger and I was afraid that it would be the case for other storylines as well. Though not everything gets resolved (I understand that some threads will be explored in the House War series, while others will have to wait for the one the author is working on), West does a great job tying up loose ends and bringing everything together with enough closure to make this a totally satisfying read.
Michelle West is a truly gifted writer and the Sun Sword is a superior series. One of the best I've ever read! So what are you waiting for? Read these books ASAP!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
The answer is a resounding yes! There are same pacing issues at the beginning, but The Sun Sword delivers on all fronts. It was great to see so many plotlines come full circle and reach their resolution, all the while also setting the stage for the already published House War series and the End of Days series West is currently working on. All in all, this last installment was everything I wanted it to be.
Here's the blurb:
The final novel of the acclaimed Sun Sword series concludes the epic of a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed...
The armies of Alesso di’Marente and Valedan kai di’Leonne are massing in the Terrean of Averda for the battle that will at last determine the rule of the Dominion. The Sun Sword is about to be delivered by Serra Diora to its “rightful” holder, Valedan, last surviving heir of the clan Leonne. But whether Valedan will be able to wield the sword, or—like the former kai el’Sol—will be consumed by its magic, remains to be seen.
The demon kin are gathering as well, and a dread spell is being worked which will—should it successfully reach completion—finally open the way for the Lord of Night to once again enter the mortal realm.
And though many of the truly powerful have gathered upon the field, the entire course of the future may ultimately rest in the hands, heart, and soul of one being, Kiriel di’Ashaf, daughter of the Lord of Night...
Structurally, The Sun Sword suffers from the same advantages and shortcomings as its predecessors. As I've mentioned before, it often feels as though six books (none of them slim volumes) were not enough to recount the full tale Michelle West wanted to tell. This means that her editor forced her to keep a lid of things, thus preventing West from getting lost in the mire of extraneous plot threads that plagued the sagas of other fantasy writers like Robert Jordan, George R. R. Martin, Steven Erikson, and Brandon Sanderson. However, the downside remains that it forces West to juggle with several storylines, all of them important in the greater scheme of things, and somehow write them in a way that creates a compelling and cohesive whole. Given the series' complex timeline, that is easier said than done. Other than The Uncrowned King, the bulk of the other installments takes place in the Dominion. Which forces West to backtrack and elaborate on the events that concurrently took place in the Essalieyan Empire. As I've said, this wouldn't be so bad if it still held some importance in the current series. Alas, the vast majority of those scenes, and they amount to hundreds of pages spread out throughout the six volumes, mostly exist to lay the groundwork for the subsequent House War series. Which is why such sequences involving the Terafin household and Jewel's den always feel somewhat incongruous and unnecessary. The first 150 pages or so of The Sun Sword is another case in point in that regard. I understand that we needed to reach the conclusion of Jewel's plotline, but I felt that it took too long. After all, the war that could bring on the end of the world is nigh. . .
The worldbuilding is simply astonishing. There is a depth to Michelle West's universe that rivals, and might even surpass, that of Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker. The Sun Sword continues to build on the storylines of its predecessors, adding layers upon layers to an already elaborate plot that should satisfy even the most demanding and jaded fantasy aficionados. About a third into the book, something totally unexpected just blew my mind. A seemingly innocuous detail from the prologue of The Broken Crown that completely flew under the radar and failed to ring any bell later on just came back to kick me in the balls with its implications. Makes me wonder if there are additional details that I might have missed in what pretty much every reader considers an overlong and sometimes boring prologue. West can keep her cards pretty close to her chest when she wants to, yet there appears to be a lot of secrets hiding in plain sight for discerning readers.
Weighing in at 957 pages, The Sun Sword is another doorstopper, and as such it covers a lot of plot threads and locales. As mentioned, the first part focusing on Jewel breaks the rhythm that the ending of The Riven Shield created. What follows can best be described as a slow burn gradually building up to the finale. I can't say that I minded, for Michelle West continues to bring threads together, tying up loose ends and elevating her game as she moves the tale forward. This goes on until the eve of the last battle. Like George R. R. Martin, I love how West allows us to see momentous events through the eyes/perspectives of various characters, great and small. Though vast in scope in the greater scheme of things, you experience everything on a much smaller scale that makes the reader live these moments more vicariously. And when at last the battle starts, it is glorious!
As anticipated, the characterization is amazing. Like Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey, Michelle West has a knack for fleshing out a cast of endearing and fascinating three-dimensional characters. As a matter of course, Teresa, Kallandras, the Ospreys, Serra Alina, Ramiro kai di'Callesta, Meralonne APhaniel, Ser Anton di'Guivera, and many more have their part to play before the end comes. Having said that, I loved the character growth shown by Diora, Valedan, Kiriel, and Auralis. Aidan's role in the grand finale, though small, was a nice touch. I was glad to see more of Anya and discover more about her backstory. Yollana, the old Matriarch of the Havalla Voyani clan, continues to play a crucial role as the tale unfolds.
Simply put, The Sun Sword was the perfect ending for a sensational series. I knew beforehand that Jewel's plotline ended in a cliffhanger and I was afraid that it would be the case for other storylines as well. Though not everything gets resolved (I understand that some threads will be explored in the House War series, while others will have to wait for the one the author is working on), West does a great job tying up loose ends and bringing everything together with enough closure to make this a totally satisfying read.
Michelle West is a truly gifted writer and the Sun Sword is a superior series. One of the best I've ever read! So what are you waiting for? Read these books ASAP!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
January 20, 2012
This last title in the Sun Sword series ends with a bang!
Luckily, it is only the end of the second arc in a larger story sequence.
If you like juicy sagas with intelligent writing, rich characterisation and a depth that surpasses the more traditional fantasy, then look no further. One of the things that captivates me about this author is her unique ability to string a sentence together, gradually unfolding a story and presenting distinct ideas, cultures and philosophies. Although her prose can seem dense in parts, it opens up vistas so real that you can’t help feeling you’re actually there. Intricate plotting allows her the space to explore relationships between families, friends and Kingdoms that deepen an already vibrant tale of magic, wonder and human triumph. You will remember this book long after you’ve put it down.
Luckily, it is only the end of the second arc in a larger story sequence.
If you like juicy sagas with intelligent writing, rich characterisation and a depth that surpasses the more traditional fantasy, then look no further. One of the things that captivates me about this author is her unique ability to string a sentence together, gradually unfolding a story and presenting distinct ideas, cultures and philosophies. Although her prose can seem dense in parts, it opens up vistas so real that you can’t help feeling you’re actually there. Intricate plotting allows her the space to explore relationships between families, friends and Kingdoms that deepen an already vibrant tale of magic, wonder and human triumph. You will remember this book long after you’ve put it down.
September 20, 2018
I read this series years ago and just noticed (when looking at an upcoming book by the author) that I never rated them. I don't often stop and go back to add books to the list years later, but this series was one of my all time favorite fantasy series. I've learned that it's not for everyone, largely because she has a lot of poetic descriptions of the magic. And she has complex cultures that she reveals through implication (rather than the cheap data dump most authors use). So it requires a bit more mental effort to read. And I'm usually not a big fan of unexplained powers or purple prose, but I was deeply moved by this series.
April 18, 2008
I devoured this series as whole, so my review of one book has to cover my review of all the books. This is one of my favorite series (and Michelle West is one of my favorite authors). When I finished the series the first time through I was compelled to go back and re-read just the parts that featured my favorite character (Jewel). I keep this series handy, because it's one I reach for time and again when I'm in the mood for a good book. Sometimes I re-read the whole series and other times I just re-read my favorite parts.
February 7, 2012
The entire series rates a 6. I'd have read it years ago, but it isn't available electronically. With the publication of Skirmish (perhaps the most beautiful story I've ever read) it suddenly became imperative to read Sun Sword. $64 later and a mixed bag of new and used books ($32 for the 5th book "The Riven Shield"!!!)I have now read Sun Sword and have a better understanding of the House War series.
I hope the teasers in Sun Sword will be fulfilled in House War!
I hope the teasers in Sun Sword will be fulfilled in House War!
September 20, 2011
By this point, I was just reading the series to finish it. There were very few characters I liked, and about halfway through Jay just... disappeared. As if West forgot about her.
March 14, 2018
I liked this series (which I'm reading smack dab in the middle of the House War series, per the instructions for read-order in that series), but not as much as I wanted to.
I think the primary reason for that is Serra Diora. I don't despise her - she's got moments of genuine compassion - but at the end of the day, the vast majority of the book is focused on her, and she's the least interesting character in it. Valedan, the Ospreys, Kiriel, Auralis, Kalakar, Yollana, Serra Teresa, Ramiro Callesta... not to mention Kallandras, Meralonne, Jay, Avandar and the den ... are all vastly more interesting characters with so much more depth.
With Diora, it feels like an endless commentary on how beautiful she is - which, I'm sorry, is just always going to be the least interesting, and least valuable, character trait for any character - and her ego. For example, her insistence that it was only through her that Valedan would find legitimacy - and this is a thing she said multiple times - literally made me want to punch her in the throat. It is critical to note that no other character ever made this comment. EVER. This made Diora's opinion of herself seem laughably naive and egotistical. It also did not AT ALL mesh with his character arc. Valedan is a tremendously well-written leader, who - despite his questionable claim - has won every single person that he has met to his side. This includes people who had every reason to despise him, as well as people who were sent to freaking assassinate him!!! They became his most devoted allies. He had won all of his allies - ALL - to his side before Diora even met him. Lamberto, Callesta, and the Kings of the North... who were so impressed by him that they sent their armies south under his command ... were all at his side before the pretty pretty princess showed up and claimed that she alone can give him the crown.
Had Diora just offered herself as another ally, I'd have respected that. She brings some formidable people with her - the Voyani, not least of all - and has some skills (her voice). She makes a strong ally, and frankly is probably the best informed person at the table when it comes to her father and Alesso. She unquestionably has value. But the way it was done made me despise her. Because look, asshole, Valedan has legitimacy with or without you. Just because you tried to elevate yourself to a place where you are tied to the crown, doesn't mean that Valedan couldn't claim it without you. Because - as has been hammered into our brains for this whole series - the ONLY thing the South respects is strength. If he won the war, he was king. As we've also been told, the South is a misogynistic shithole place. I do not believe that they would have given many fucks if Diora wasn't married to him. And yes, bringing the Sun Sword to him was helpful - obviously - but given that no one can draw the sword except Valedan, at the end of the day she didn't give him anything that wasn't already his.
In this book, Diora became even more annoying because she suddenly developed abilities no one else has - her voice was suddenly even more powerful than Kallandras (lol) and she could apparently make friends with the wild earth (??) - which put her firmly into Mary Sue territory. That combined with her precious pretty princess crap just put her way beyond what I can tolerate.
Plus, Jewel and her people were pretty much not in this book at all. So that was lame.
So, now at the end of the Sun Sword series, I'm going to say...
Overall Sun Sword series story: B
Diora: D ... just push through her parts, because everyone else is great
I think the primary reason for that is Serra Diora. I don't despise her - she's got moments of genuine compassion - but at the end of the day, the vast majority of the book is focused on her, and she's the least interesting character in it. Valedan, the Ospreys, Kiriel, Auralis, Kalakar, Yollana, Serra Teresa, Ramiro Callesta... not to mention Kallandras, Meralonne, Jay, Avandar and the den ... are all vastly more interesting characters with so much more depth.
With Diora, it feels like an endless commentary on how beautiful she is - which, I'm sorry, is just always going to be the least interesting, and least valuable, character trait for any character - and her ego. For example, her insistence that it was only through her that Valedan would find legitimacy - and this is a thing she said multiple times - literally made me want to punch her in the throat. It is critical to note that no other character ever made this comment. EVER. This made Diora's opinion of herself seem laughably naive and egotistical. It also did not AT ALL mesh with his character arc. Valedan is a tremendously well-written leader, who - despite his questionable claim - has won every single person that he has met to his side. This includes people who had every reason to despise him, as well as people who were sent to freaking assassinate him!!! They became his most devoted allies. He had won all of his allies - ALL - to his side before Diora even met him. Lamberto, Callesta, and the Kings of the North... who were so impressed by him that they sent their armies south under his command ... were all at his side before the pretty pretty princess showed up and claimed that she alone can give him the crown.
Had Diora just offered herself as another ally, I'd have respected that. She brings some formidable people with her - the Voyani, not least of all - and has some skills (her voice). She makes a strong ally, and frankly is probably the best informed person at the table when it comes to her father and Alesso. She unquestionably has value. But the way it was done made me despise her. Because look, asshole, Valedan has legitimacy with or without you. Just because you tried to elevate yourself to a place where you are tied to the crown, doesn't mean that Valedan couldn't claim it without you. Because - as has been hammered into our brains for this whole series - the ONLY thing the South respects is strength. If he won the war, he was king. As we've also been told, the South is a misogynistic shithole place. I do not believe that they would have given many fucks if Diora wasn't married to him. And yes, bringing the Sun Sword to him was helpful - obviously - but given that no one can draw the sword except Valedan, at the end of the day she didn't give him anything that wasn't already his.
In this book, Diora became even more annoying because she suddenly developed abilities no one else has - her voice was suddenly even more powerful than Kallandras (lol) and she could apparently make friends with the wild earth (??) - which put her firmly into Mary Sue territory. That combined with her precious pretty princess crap just put her way beyond what I can tolerate.
Plus, Jewel and her people were pretty much not in this book at all. So that was lame.
So, now at the end of the Sun Sword series, I'm going to say...
Overall Sun Sword series story: B
Diora: D ... just push through her parts, because everyone else is great
December 13, 2022
This is a great end to this series. Michelle West is excellent at world-building and characterization. What she is not good at is wrapping up a story.
You might have noticed that there were a lot of one-star and two-star reviews from people who say things like, "This was a great series, but absolutely nothing was resolved." If I didn't know better, I probably would have been saying and rating the same.
But I was first introduced to Michelle West through the House War series. I read the first three books and learned this is a series that takes place mostly between books 3 and 4 in that series. So I put it on hold and read this one. With that in mind, I realize that there is still five books to go in this "universe" before the bigger plot is finally wrapped up.
With that said, this book does nicely conclude the war in the south. Diora finally redeems herself. After two books of being annoyed whenever her pov came up, I find I am starting to like her again. I think she will be a good balance to Valedan. They work well together. Who do not work well together is Jewel and Avandar. So far they are only hinting in that direction, but I really really hope it is nothing more than red herring.
Anyways, I'm going to jump right back into House War. Right now, this is the only fiction I am reading as my MDiv classes and being a full-time teacher take so much of my days. I wonder if I would like it less if it wasn't my only breath of fresh air from the world of academia.
You might have noticed that there were a lot of one-star and two-star reviews from people who say things like, "This was a great series, but absolutely nothing was resolved." If I didn't know better, I probably would have been saying and rating the same.
But I was first introduced to Michelle West through the House War series. I read the first three books and learned this is a series that takes place mostly between books 3 and 4 in that series. So I put it on hold and read this one. With that in mind, I realize that there is still five books to go in this "universe" before the bigger plot is finally wrapped up.
With that said, this book does nicely conclude the war in the south. Diora finally redeems herself. After two books of being annoyed whenever her pov came up, I find I am starting to like her again. I think she will be a good balance to Valedan. They work well together. Who do not work well together is Jewel and Avandar. So far they are only hinting in that direction, but I really really hope it is nothing more than red herring.
Anyways, I'm going to jump right back into House War. Right now, this is the only fiction I am reading as my MDiv classes and being a full-time teacher take so much of my days. I wonder if I would like it less if it wasn't my only breath of fresh air from the world of academia.
November 22, 2023
There are many loose ends that are left hanging for this arc, but I enjoyed the books enough that I'm not too frustrated. Knowing there are more books in this universe to distract from the loose ends helps a bit. If I hadn't been a child in the 90s and read the series as published, waited 4 years only to start over from Jewel's beginning, I would probably feel different.
As for the book itself, I really liked that Kiriel's storyline led to her being accepted as herself, but was complex. It was nice to see Valedan and Diora's relationship develop, but it didn't feel like enough when their relationships with others were so much more fleshed out.
Also, I was strangely touched by Sendari's thoughtfulness towards Mikalis. His end was sadder than expected. Throughout the books Sendari and Alesso's friendship was more believable than their need to conquer the Dominion. It didn't feel like their hearts were in it...
As for the book itself, I really liked that Kiriel's storyline led to her being accepted as herself, but was complex. It was nice to see Valedan and Diora's relationship develop, but it didn't feel like enough when their relationships with others were so much more fleshed out.
Also, I was strangely touched by Sendari's thoughtfulness towards Mikalis. His end was sadder than expected. Throughout the books Sendari and Alesso's friendship was more believable than their need to conquer the Dominion. It didn't feel like their hearts were in it...
March 12, 2024
Another satisfying read from Michelle West.
I’m currently trying to decide if I like these books enough to reread them.
I’m sure that there are some things that I am missing while reading them, but, man, they are an investment. Each one is at least 700 pages. I don’t think I’ll have the energy to reread them.
But, at the very least, I will keep reading them. I still don’t know what’s going to happen! When are we going to have the main conflict resolved? Why did we leave Jewel high and dry? I want Rymark to suffer for murdering the Terafin and for trying to manipulate and blackmail his own father. Grrrrrrrr. I also want to find out what’s going on with Avandar and Jewel.
I’m currently trying to decide if I like these books enough to reread them.
I’m sure that there are some things that I am missing while reading them, but, man, they are an investment. Each one is at least 700 pages. I don’t think I’ll have the energy to reread them.
But, at the very least, I will keep reading them. I still don’t know what’s going to happen! When are we going to have the main conflict resolved? Why did we leave Jewel high and dry? I want Rymark to suffer for murdering the Terafin and for trying to manipulate and blackmail his own father. Grrrrrrrr. I also want to find out what’s going on with Avandar and Jewel.
November 5, 2023
A very satisfactory end to this series. I've really enjoyed the way the author uses language and there were definitely instances in this book that evoked a lot of emotion. With the ending still leaving potential for other sequels, I'll probably wait a bit before diving into the world of Essalieyen.
November 30, 2018
It was good.
The book left open many smaller characters destinies but resolved main ones. It was well written and thought provoking. Overall it was very good.
The book left open many smaller characters destinies but resolved main ones. It was well written and thought provoking. Overall it was very good.
January 13, 2019
Pretentious
As with all the books in this series, it was twice as long as it needed to be and, of course, it was pretentious. It was pretentious. Just that.
As with all the books in this series, it was twice as long as it needed to be and, of course, it was pretentious. It was pretentious. Just that.
March 19, 2024
11 books down, 5 books to go in the Essalieyan saga! Given the way the last book dragged, this wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped. There were parts I liked, and one true shocker moment, but they didn't add up to an ending that justified the three weeks it took to read this series. Moreover, despite the books being billed as a separate series from The House War, it doesn't stand on its own. The Jewel and Kallandras parts don't make sense or form a full arc on their own without reading THW, and the Meralonne parts would feel extraneous. I was left with a lot of questions and very few answers.
The Diora parts got annoying. I generally like her character but she was almost Jewel-level bratty here. She mopes about how she's been treated like a mere object all her life, then criticizes Valedan for treating her like an autonomous human being. I know she's supposed to be grieving, and in all reality it hasn't been much more than a year since her harem got slaughtered. It's a classic example of familiarity breeding contempt. Some editing would have kept us from being explicitly reminded in every Diora scene of how much her sisterwives' deaths haunt her, so it would have more emotional impact when the reminder was explicit. When every baby is her dead baby, every laugh is a dead wife's laugh, every song is a dead wife's favorite song, and on and on ad nauseam, I just want to roll my eyes.
Once again we spend a LOT of time with the various demons and their warring factions. I appreciate that the villains here aren't totally one dimensional but it felt like we spent more time on them than the heroes, which is a problem. Kiriel has a really intriguing turn but it's kind of rushed and also confusing. Her conversations with Auralis are fun though. Jewel's disappears early on in the book because Terafin needs her, but not before we get some insight into Avandar. She has a revelation that she trusts Avandar because he can't die and leave her, but doesn't care for him in the same way as she does her den. She realizes that maybe she should, because he's broken much in the same way Duster was. (This girl is the most oblivious character I've read in a while, possibly ever.)
The battle between the warring Tyr'agars and the demons was underwhelming and lagged except for one bright spot. MAJOR SPOILER! I truly wasn't expecting that and I almost threw my Kindle across the room, I was that gobsmacked! If we had gotten a few more of those kind of moments, this would have been a 5 star read. Still, I enjoyed the final showdown between Valedan and Alesso. It wasn't too quick, but it was quite well done and reminded me very much of some of the fight sequences on Game of Thrones (the books and the TV show).
Going into the last leg, THW books 4-8, I'm left with a ton of questions. Spoilers throughout.
The Diora parts got annoying. I generally like her character but she was almost Jewel-level bratty here. She mopes about how she's been treated like a mere object all her life, then criticizes Valedan for treating her like an autonomous human being. I know she's supposed to be grieving, and in all reality it hasn't been much more than a year since her harem got slaughtered. It's a classic example of familiarity breeding contempt. Some editing would have kept us from being explicitly reminded in every Diora scene of how much her sisterwives' deaths haunt her, so it would have more emotional impact when the reminder was explicit. When every baby is her dead baby, every laugh is a dead wife's laugh, every song is a dead wife's favorite song, and on and on ad nauseam, I just want to roll my eyes.
Once again we spend a LOT of time with the various demons and their warring factions. I appreciate that the villains here aren't totally one dimensional but it felt like we spent more time on them than the heroes, which is a problem. Kiriel has a really intriguing turn but it's kind of rushed and also confusing. Her conversations with Auralis are fun though. Jewel's disappears early on in the book because Terafin needs her, but not before we get some insight into Avandar. She has a revelation that she trusts Avandar because he can't die and leave her, but doesn't care for him in the same way as she does her den. She realizes that maybe she should, because he's broken much in the same way Duster was. (This girl is the most oblivious character I've read in a while, possibly ever.)
The battle between the warring Tyr'agars and the demons was underwhelming and lagged except for one bright spot. MAJOR SPOILER! I truly wasn't expecting that and I almost threw my Kindle across the room, I was that gobsmacked! If we had gotten a few more of those kind of moments, this would have been a 5 star read. Still, I enjoyed the final showdown between Valedan and Alesso. It wasn't too quick, but it was quite well done and reminded me very much of some of the fight sequences on Game of Thrones (the books and the TV show).
Going into the last leg, THW books 4-8, I'm left with a ton of questions. Spoilers throughout.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2021
This covered a lot and I really did enjoy it, but it truly felt slow and drawn out at parts in ways that I never felt that the other books in the series were.
July 22, 2023
Really good. Ties up just about everything
December 19, 2023
Absolutely amazing…
August 19, 2024
Long but ultimately satisfying end to the series.
March 3, 2025
I really loved reading this series.
The author is meticulous in tying up all the loose ends in the last book. It's not everyday that you find this caliber of storytelling.
The author is meticulous in tying up all the loose ends in the last book. It's not everyday that you find this caliber of storytelling.
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