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The Song of Naga Teot #1
Teot's War
A swordsman held captive by his oath of vengeance, and a king held captive by his position. Together they would start a war. Together they would free their land, or die. A lethal song of the sword sings across the desert.
264 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 27, 2009
Originally reviewed for Uniquely Pleasurable.
Cars become antiques when they hit the age of 20 years. But they don’t necessarily become classics when they hit that age. What goes into making an antique car a classic is harder to define…the smoothness of the ride, the quality of the craftsmanship, the beauty of the design, the reaction of the audience as it looks back and remembers the times of their lives spent with that car. The same can be said about literature. Many books have withstood the test of time, but how many are classics. Well, Teot’s War was originally published in 1987 and though it has taken me 22 years to discover it, this novel is anything but dated. It may be antique in the best sense of the word, but what is even more impressive is that–in my eyes anyway– it is a classic in every sense of the word. Classic adventure. Classic fantasy. And classic homoerotic fiction.
The blurb on the cover is a bit misleading when it comes to this book. Yes, Teot’s War is about war, but it is about two wars: the war raging inside Naga and the genesis of an actual war where wrongs must be righted. Naga Teot is a man without a country, without land or family. Of noble birth, Naga is the survivor of a massacre of his people, the Upai. He saw his family burned to death in a raid upon his lands, he saw his people tortured, forced to wander the land, enslaved. At the beginning of the novel he finds himself (along with his prized gana–think of a cross between a horse and a Taun Taun) part of a band of marauders, many of whom were responsible for the genocide of his people and who are intent on overthrowing the ruler of Tan, a great land. Naga is an outcast even amongst these mercenaries. His skin is dark, his ways are foreign. And when the band of marauders is confronted by Tanman, the Liege Lord of Tan himself, they are quick to give him up to their enemy. He is nothing more than a sacrifice–a pawn in a plot they have kept hidden. A wounded Naga is taken captive by Tanman and there begins the story, one of friendship and loyalty and, the need for redress. We go on a journey with these two men as they learn to trust one another. A friendship develops and though Tanman is counseled by his highest advisors that Naga is nothing more than a “Black Man,” a barbarian who could turn on him in an instant, Tanman seemingly knows better and accepts Naga’s Oath to him and his land. Only when that bond is complete, does the novel move toward the beginning of the physical war.
One of the things with speculative fiction that is always important is the world building. When done well, the author weaves a world we’ve never been to but doesn’t drown us in a plethora of made-up techno babble. Good spec fiction for me builds the world with enough references to our own that I don’t spend all of my time trying to figure out what a “dwizzledworp” is (my own made-up word). Bad speculative fiction floods us with terminology we are hopelessly lost to understand, and is most often a sign that an author is enamored with their own abilities, lost within that self-admiration. In Teot’s War, Gladney creates her world brilliantly. Everything is clear, the prose and foreign words used exceptionally well. When she introduces Naga and his gana, we can picture them immediately. And because Naga has such a bond with that beast, it becomes a character in its own right even though it does not appear in more than thirty pages. Likewise, the political and social dynamics are set up well. There’s no confusing web of lands and conquests to memorize. It is kept simple, but still rich in detail so that you can feel the humidity of the place, know the lighting, and even smell the smells.
But where Teot’s war really excels is in the lead two characters. Yes, Naga Teot is a broken and battered man, one with much anger in his heart. But he never, ever wallows in it. He never allows his anger or his drive to eat him alive. He has seen the things he has. He has watched almost his entire people massacred. It eats at him, troubles him. It burns in his nightmares. But it also spurs him on, keeps him focused. He knows that the wrongs visited upon his people must be righted. And they will be. He simply needs to be patient. He simply needs to have a plan. And he does.
A nice dichotomy Gladney weaves in to Naga is that while he is patient for the big picture, he often is terribly impatient and rash when it comes to the more immediate circumstances. He needs, he finds, to temper himself. And, blessedly, he does. That balance of patience and impatience is really defining in him and makes him slightly dangerous in a very good way. And how refreshing to find a hero who is intent on what needs to be done, but is smart enough to work out the best way to get there. Naga is smart enough, patient enough not to just go hacking his way into the unknown. He is, even though he may not think it, methodical.
But Gladney doesn’t stop there. Though trained and expertly skilled as a warrior, Naga Teot is also a harpist, one who understands the beautiful things in the world and the songs that tell of the history of the people and its lands. In less trained hands, this aspect of Naga could have turned into a cloying literary trick, a trait that takes a well defined, wonderfully masculine character and feminizes him. But not so here. It is simply another aspect of his character and, thankfully, Naga does not go off spouting love songs. His harp talents and his songs are the way he keeps his people alive in his heart and for the world.
One of the ways that Gladney builds Naga early on is to give us a glimpse into his more noble self. When Tanman takes charge of him, his is severely wounded and treated with less than kid gloves. Despite all of his wounds and all of the rough treatment, his thoughts turn to his gana who died on the battlefield. His only request to the Liege Lord of Tan who could have him killed at any instance is that his gana be buried. That one moment perfectly defined Naga to me. His loyalty. The connection to his people. His sense of what is right, even for a beast of burden…a beast that served him well.
Tanman is equally complex. Here he has this strange man in Naga that for some reason he is compelled to trust. Perhaps it is that, as a boy, he knew Naga’s brother and family. Perhaps it is something more: Naga is a breath of fresh air compared to the politicos and responsibilities with which he is surrounded. Perhaps Naga represents a simpler time. Tanman is a strong man, an even-handed, fair ruler who truly wants to be the benevolent monarch. Yet, this doesn’t weaken him, either. The reader is very aware that this man can be brutal if he needs to. Like Naga, Tanman’s weariness with ruling is never once overwhelming. It is simply a condition of his being.
The relationship between Naga and Tanman is the driving force in this book. The bonding of the two men is wonderfully handled and what is so refreshing is that the homoeroticism of this pairing is so subtle. This is a book my father could have (and would have) read and loved, and he would have been oblivious to what was so appealing about the book for me. Their connection isn’t born out of lust. The homoeroticism comes from the loyalty and respect and friendship that slowly develops. These men do not moon after one another. They do not crave some quick, satisying roll in the hay. They never speak of any attraction for each other. That is blessedly left for us to discern, and in a day and age where m/m fiction seems intent upon being as graphic and sex-ridden as possible, this was like a breath of fresh air.
Like all good spec fiction, Teot’s war also touches on social and political issues. Racism, genocide, religious discrimination, intra-ethnic racism are all touched on but is all done so subtly that, while it washes over you, it leaves an indelible impression. Never does Gladney get heavy-handed or preachy. We see it and feel it through Naga, but like Naga we are simply resolved to find a way to do something about it.
Gadney also does well with her minor characters. Lado, another harpist, and Tanman’s sister are but two of the characters who are so much more than stock, cardboard characters. Not all the minor characters fare as well, but in a nation of peoples, not all can be spelled out in intricate detail. The action in this book–while not as all encompassing as the blurb might lead one to believe–is really well handled, exciting and brisk. I think if there was any nit-picking to be done is that the the desciption of the plot going on behind the scenes to assasinate Tanman felt a little too expository, too explained rather than shown at the end of the novel. But that is a really minor quibble and the final chapter is a rousing closing that makes me long to get into the second book where Teot’s War truly begins.
This book is the first in a trilogy. The second book has lept to the top of my reading list. The third book has yet to be completed, but I cannot wait to see where the entire series goes; so it better be finished by the time I reach the end of the second book. In the end, Teot’s War, for me, is a classic. I don’t know what the rights situation is with this book, but some publisher would be wise to go in and scoop up the rights. It deserves a shiny new edition. Perhaps a combined three-volume set. I cannot recommend this book more highly.
Cars become antiques when they hit the age of 20 years. But they don’t necessarily become classics when they hit that age. What goes into making an antique car a classic is harder to define…the smoothness of the ride, the quality of the craftsmanship, the beauty of the design, the reaction of the audience as it looks back and remembers the times of their lives spent with that car. The same can be said about literature. Many books have withstood the test of time, but how many are classics. Well, Teot’s War was originally published in 1987 and though it has taken me 22 years to discover it, this novel is anything but dated. It may be antique in the best sense of the word, but what is even more impressive is that–in my eyes anyway– it is a classic in every sense of the word. Classic adventure. Classic fantasy. And classic homoerotic fiction.
The blurb on the cover is a bit misleading when it comes to this book. Yes, Teot’s War is about war, but it is about two wars: the war raging inside Naga and the genesis of an actual war where wrongs must be righted. Naga Teot is a man without a country, without land or family. Of noble birth, Naga is the survivor of a massacre of his people, the Upai. He saw his family burned to death in a raid upon his lands, he saw his people tortured, forced to wander the land, enslaved. At the beginning of the novel he finds himself (along with his prized gana–think of a cross between a horse and a Taun Taun) part of a band of marauders, many of whom were responsible for the genocide of his people and who are intent on overthrowing the ruler of Tan, a great land. Naga is an outcast even amongst these mercenaries. His skin is dark, his ways are foreign. And when the band of marauders is confronted by Tanman, the Liege Lord of Tan himself, they are quick to give him up to their enemy. He is nothing more than a sacrifice–a pawn in a plot they have kept hidden. A wounded Naga is taken captive by Tanman and there begins the story, one of friendship and loyalty and, the need for redress. We go on a journey with these two men as they learn to trust one another. A friendship develops and though Tanman is counseled by his highest advisors that Naga is nothing more than a “Black Man,” a barbarian who could turn on him in an instant, Tanman seemingly knows better and accepts Naga’s Oath to him and his land. Only when that bond is complete, does the novel move toward the beginning of the physical war.
One of the things with speculative fiction that is always important is the world building. When done well, the author weaves a world we’ve never been to but doesn’t drown us in a plethora of made-up techno babble. Good spec fiction for me builds the world with enough references to our own that I don’t spend all of my time trying to figure out what a “dwizzledworp” is (my own made-up word). Bad speculative fiction floods us with terminology we are hopelessly lost to understand, and is most often a sign that an author is enamored with their own abilities, lost within that self-admiration. In Teot’s War, Gladney creates her world brilliantly. Everything is clear, the prose and foreign words used exceptionally well. When she introduces Naga and his gana, we can picture them immediately. And because Naga has such a bond with that beast, it becomes a character in its own right even though it does not appear in more than thirty pages. Likewise, the political and social dynamics are set up well. There’s no confusing web of lands and conquests to memorize. It is kept simple, but still rich in detail so that you can feel the humidity of the place, know the lighting, and even smell the smells.
But where Teot’s war really excels is in the lead two characters. Yes, Naga Teot is a broken and battered man, one with much anger in his heart. But he never, ever wallows in it. He never allows his anger or his drive to eat him alive. He has seen the things he has. He has watched almost his entire people massacred. It eats at him, troubles him. It burns in his nightmares. But it also spurs him on, keeps him focused. He knows that the wrongs visited upon his people must be righted. And they will be. He simply needs to be patient. He simply needs to have a plan. And he does.
A nice dichotomy Gladney weaves in to Naga is that while he is patient for the big picture, he often is terribly impatient and rash when it comes to the more immediate circumstances. He needs, he finds, to temper himself. And, blessedly, he does. That balance of patience and impatience is really defining in him and makes him slightly dangerous in a very good way. And how refreshing to find a hero who is intent on what needs to be done, but is smart enough to work out the best way to get there. Naga is smart enough, patient enough not to just go hacking his way into the unknown. He is, even though he may not think it, methodical.
But Gladney doesn’t stop there. Though trained and expertly skilled as a warrior, Naga Teot is also a harpist, one who understands the beautiful things in the world and the songs that tell of the history of the people and its lands. In less trained hands, this aspect of Naga could have turned into a cloying literary trick, a trait that takes a well defined, wonderfully masculine character and feminizes him. But not so here. It is simply another aspect of his character and, thankfully, Naga does not go off spouting love songs. His harp talents and his songs are the way he keeps his people alive in his heart and for the world.
One of the ways that Gladney builds Naga early on is to give us a glimpse into his more noble self. When Tanman takes charge of him, his is severely wounded and treated with less than kid gloves. Despite all of his wounds and all of the rough treatment, his thoughts turn to his gana who died on the battlefield. His only request to the Liege Lord of Tan who could have him killed at any instance is that his gana be buried. That one moment perfectly defined Naga to me. His loyalty. The connection to his people. His sense of what is right, even for a beast of burden…a beast that served him well.
Tanman is equally complex. Here he has this strange man in Naga that for some reason he is compelled to trust. Perhaps it is that, as a boy, he knew Naga’s brother and family. Perhaps it is something more: Naga is a breath of fresh air compared to the politicos and responsibilities with which he is surrounded. Perhaps Naga represents a simpler time. Tanman is a strong man, an even-handed, fair ruler who truly wants to be the benevolent monarch. Yet, this doesn’t weaken him, either. The reader is very aware that this man can be brutal if he needs to. Like Naga, Tanman’s weariness with ruling is never once overwhelming. It is simply a condition of his being.
The relationship between Naga and Tanman is the driving force in this book. The bonding of the two men is wonderfully handled and what is so refreshing is that the homoeroticism of this pairing is so subtle. This is a book my father could have (and would have) read and loved, and he would have been oblivious to what was so appealing about the book for me. Their connection isn’t born out of lust. The homoeroticism comes from the loyalty and respect and friendship that slowly develops. These men do not moon after one another. They do not crave some quick, satisying roll in the hay. They never speak of any attraction for each other. That is blessedly left for us to discern, and in a day and age where m/m fiction seems intent upon being as graphic and sex-ridden as possible, this was like a breath of fresh air.
Like all good spec fiction, Teot’s war also touches on social and political issues. Racism, genocide, religious discrimination, intra-ethnic racism are all touched on but is all done so subtly that, while it washes over you, it leaves an indelible impression. Never does Gladney get heavy-handed or preachy. We see it and feel it through Naga, but like Naga we are simply resolved to find a way to do something about it.
Gadney also does well with her minor characters. Lado, another harpist, and Tanman’s sister are but two of the characters who are so much more than stock, cardboard characters. Not all the minor characters fare as well, but in a nation of peoples, not all can be spelled out in intricate detail. The action in this book–while not as all encompassing as the blurb might lead one to believe–is really well handled, exciting and brisk. I think if there was any nit-picking to be done is that the the desciption of the plot going on behind the scenes to assasinate Tanman felt a little too expository, too explained rather than shown at the end of the novel. But that is a really minor quibble and the final chapter is a rousing closing that makes me long to get into the second book where Teot’s War truly begins.
This book is the first in a trilogy. The second book has lept to the top of my reading list. The third book has yet to be completed, but I cannot wait to see where the entire series goes; so it better be finished by the time I reach the end of the second book. In the end, Teot’s War, for me, is a classic. I don’t know what the rights situation is with this book, but some publisher would be wise to go in and scoop up the rights. It deserves a shiny new edition. Perhaps a combined three-volume set. I cannot recommend this book more highly.
July 19, 2008
What I remember most about this book is the stunning prose style. It opens with some of the most beautiful fantasy description that I've read. I've put this one on my inspirational shelf, which is the shelf I look at when I need inspiration for my own writing.
May 26, 2016
I'm writing this review for the Teot's War entry, but my comments cover both it and Bloodstorm, the second book in the Song of Naga Teot.[return][return]The story is, as the series title suggests, about Naga Teot, a desert-dwelling Upai warrior/harper, who risks life and limb to deliver an urgent warning to Caladrunan, the Liege Lord of Tan. Teot's people have been nearly wiped out by the vicious flame-throwing machines of the Osa, and he has to convince the Tannese that the Osa threat is much greater than they think, and that they should prepare for a much worse war.[return][return]But that's only the plot. [return][return]For me, one of the two great strengths of the story lies in the rich, complex detail that Gladney has put into her world. Every sentence, nearly every word, gives the reader another clue about the culture, another insight in the characters. It's a dense read, and I pick up missed details nearly every time I read the books again. I admit, I tend to dislike the "toss the reader into the deep end" school of explication, mostly because so few writers can pull it off without leaving the reader confused and frustrated. Gladney, though, completely made it work for me.[return][return]That's not to say that the story drags down in detail. Even though the details are crucial, the broad strokes of the plot flow along well enough even if--as I did on my first reading--the reader doesn't quite absorb all the nuances. The different cultures are all well-crafted, and the author has done an especially good job of portraying the alliances and conflicts and shifts of power between them.[return][return]And then, of course, there's the other aforementioned strength: the relationship between Naga and Caladrunan. It's a strong "duo" partnership, founded on mutual respect and trust, and I hope very much that Gladney is able to explore it in a future book.
September 21, 2007
I picked it up on a whim while on vacation in bali - it was one of the only things in the genre in english that I could find in the little hotel book swap - and haven't let it out of my grasp since. It's such a compelling world and cast of charcters, from the honor-prickly native-born protagonist Naga to the shrewd king of the people who have (generations ago) settled on Naga's people's lands, and who was once a childhood friend of Naga's family. It's a look at a people displaced, but also a not stereotypical look at the people who are displacing them - at two disimilar cultures trying to co-exist, portrayed in both the larger picture and in micro focus of the main characters.
January 10, 2014
On of my favorite books ever! Actually, this and the sequel are. I am one of the many fans still waiting for the next book. And we've been waiting for a long time! I like to read these books every year, and as another reviewer described, every time you read these books you find new things. My book group decided to talk about our favorite books and I didn't have to think long. Now, I just have to find them again. I have temporarily misplaced them during my last move. I may have to replace them. Hope she gets the books out in the next few years.
April 22, 2013
My copy of Teot's War will be 26 years old next month, and it is not aging well. I need to find another copy, so that I can read the new one as many times as the old.
October 21, 2019
4.5? Though I loved the characters (the bromance (maybe romance between the lines) is strong in this) sometimes the world building and war plotting went a bit over my head.
August 2, 2014
Still one of my favorite books and authors; I actually found her online a few years ago and sent her an email raving about how much I loved her books. She actually responded and asked for feedback to apply toward the third in the series -- I was terrified I might change what I loved so much and never responded. I still regret not even saying as much, though; she has yet to publish that third book and I hope it wasn't from lack of encouragement!
This book sets the stage with a world that is both familiar and strange. It is never clear if this is our own after some catastrophe, or another entirely; but knowing is never actually necessary and keeps a sense of mystery that is intriguing. It follows a man who should be a ruler in a country where he is an alien, and barely considered human, yet dedicates himself to saving and serving that same country that despises him -- all because he has devoted himself to serving its current lord and ruler. He becomes the Lord of Tan's best friend and right-hand man, though his presence causes as many troubles as he solves. The amount of detail and depth of character and intricacy of relationships is amazing; from the bond between the Tanman and Naga, to the tense partnership between the Tanman and his wife. Each character is unique and memorable. I do hope she writes the third book!
This book sets the stage with a world that is both familiar and strange. It is never clear if this is our own after some catastrophe, or another entirely; but knowing is never actually necessary and keeps a sense of mystery that is intriguing. It follows a man who should be a ruler in a country where he is an alien, and barely considered human, yet dedicates himself to saving and serving that same country that despises him -- all because he has devoted himself to serving its current lord and ruler. He becomes the Lord of Tan's best friend and right-hand man, though his presence causes as many troubles as he solves. The amount of detail and depth of character and intricacy of relationships is amazing; from the bond between the Tanman and Naga, to the tense partnership between the Tanman and his wife. Each character is unique and memorable. I do hope she writes the third book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2017
This was a great read. The opening drew me right in, with our main character in the midst of having to euthenize a mount that we're given to understand has been with him for a long time and has been a friend... immediately giving us a glimpse of the sense of loss that pervades the character's POV without him ever explicitly expounding on it. I love a good book about damaged characters working toward healing, and this captured that vibe really well. The only semi-negative I feel like potential readers should be aware of is that this book is almost entirely setup. It closes on a significant event that sets the stage for more action to come, but overall, it reads as if this and the next volume were originally one book and the publisher just picked a good stopping point to split them. I don't know if that was the case or not, and it's not a bad thing by any means, since it's left me excited to see things go in the next book, but I can see how it might do to have a little warning of what to expect (or not to expect).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2013
I started off thinking that this was fantasy, and gradually realised that the world Heather Gladney has created is actually science fiction - there are ancient machines that are no longer properly understood.
Naga Teot is an interesting character, too, because he isn't a classic hero - he suffers from post-traumatic stress, and channels it into extreme violence, but he's also a very sympathetic character.
I do hope the third part of the trilogy will be finished one day.
Naga Teot is an interesting character, too, because he isn't a classic hero - he suffers from post-traumatic stress, and channels it into extreme violence, but he's also a very sympathetic character.
I do hope the third part of the trilogy will be finished one day.
July 28, 2007
The m/m relationship is all subtext, but it's very hard to ignore.
October 16, 2016
I received this at a gift swap, either for Christmas 1987 or graduation June 1988. I did not read it immediately. Once I did, I was hooked.
March 5, 2013
If I had the money I would pay Ms Gladney money to write the final trilogy. Great characters and world building.
May 1, 2015
This book drove me to actually send a letter as feedback. The world is detailed and haunting, the characters alive and real, and frankly, some of the best writing I have found.
June 14, 2020
I read this book shortly after the original paperback was published, and liked it so much that I bought a copy of the sequel, Bloodstorm, which was at least as good as Teot's War. No third book ever was published.
That is too bad, because this book series is really good. The world building and character development is not rushed, leaving nice gaps to be filled in when appropriate. The characters become more interesting as they are fleshed out, and their behavior is consistent with what has been established about them, providing more meaning to their actions as the story and the relationships between characters progress. This is classic world building, and it is well done.
The world of Naga Teot will seem familiar in many ways, which I feel engages the reader, as parallels can be perceived with our own world and personal experiences.
Plus the story is a rollicking good ride! It sucked me in immediately and carried me right along, and left me wanting more. I have tried contacting Heather Gladney over the years (she is a local author). I finally was able to share some emails with her, and discovered that the third book in the series is mostly written, and it is enough material that it should possibly be split into a fourth book as well. I have offered to help with the process, and would like to engage others to support the project as well. Maybe we can get that series finished at some point. I really want to know what happens!
That is too bad, because this book series is really good. The world building and character development is not rushed, leaving nice gaps to be filled in when appropriate. The characters become more interesting as they are fleshed out, and their behavior is consistent with what has been established about them, providing more meaning to their actions as the story and the relationships between characters progress. This is classic world building, and it is well done.
The world of Naga Teot will seem familiar in many ways, which I feel engages the reader, as parallels can be perceived with our own world and personal experiences.
Plus the story is a rollicking good ride! It sucked me in immediately and carried me right along, and left me wanting more. I have tried contacting Heather Gladney over the years (she is a local author). I finally was able to share some emails with her, and discovered that the third book in the series is mostly written, and it is enough material that it should possibly be split into a fourth book as well. I have offered to help with the process, and would like to engage others to support the project as well. Maybe we can get that series finished at some point. I really want to know what happens!
April 22, 2020
An absolutely exceptional fantasy novel (that's actually very much post-apocalyptic) about Naga Teot, desert warrior, fighting prodigy, loyal man, and PTSD ridden emotional wreck as he pledges his service to Caladrunan, Leige Lord of Tan, and the developing relationship and political intrigue that ensue.
I'm usually not one for first person narratives, but the way this was written drew me in. Only knowing Naga's perspective was excellent in creating drama. Plus the prose is just... Really good.
And their relationship. *kisses fingers*
THEY LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH.
The level of loyalty drama is enough to set me on FIRE and I live for it.
I'm usually not one for first person narratives, but the way this was written drew me in. Only knowing Naga's perspective was excellent in creating drama. Plus the prose is just... Really good.
And their relationship. *kisses fingers*
THEY LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH.
The level of loyalty drama is enough to set me on FIRE and I live for it.
June 3, 2020
The major strengths here are snappy dialogue and a wonderful depiction of a deep and enduring friendship between the main character and his Liege. But things happen so quickly at the beginning that it’s hard to feel the emotional impact because the necessary context is missing, and once the pieces start to fall into place, you’re left with a political intrigue in which it’s pretty easy to tell the honorable from the nefarious and the schemes aren’t clever enough to deliver the missing tension.
September 12, 2022
Short review: I am still composing my thoughts about this one. My short verdict as that it is a shame that this book isn't better known and more widely-read, hence my tagging it as an "underrated gem". More thoughts later.
September 7, 2022
One of my favorite books, but this is the start of an incomplete series. Excellent read, continues into a second book, but no ultimate conclusion. Strong characterization and world building.
June 7, 2024
I read this book when it was first published. I was in my late teens with a job paying $2.65 an hour and I bought it at Walden books. I only say this because it cost me 2 hours of my time to buy this book. And I think it was worth it. For years, I have wished a third book was written. I had so many questions. I thoroughly enjoyed this Duo of books. I'll tell you I cried when I read the first book. The main character, Naga, is so broken. I still think about him at times when I'm having difficulty. I also call nick-knacks troll shit. My kids don't understand the reference but I get a chuckle out of it every time. Would I recommend this book to someone? Yes. With the warning that the series is not complete. That there will be no more books after the second.
November 12, 2018
Perhaps this is a dystopian SF military tale, or maybe it's a fantasy about the remnants of a lost empire living on the edge of the kingdom of their conquerors. Whatever it may turn out to be if revealed in a long awaited third in the trilogy, I love the story of Naga Teot. I rarely give 5 stars. It was one of the books that established my love of speculative fiction. If you are another patiently waiting fan (we are talking decades now), try R. Melech, or P. Hodgell in the meantime.
And Ms. Gladney, we would so love to read more of Naga. I know I would be thrilled to see a self published ebook, or any format! These books so deserve to see print or eprint!
And Ms. Gladney, we would so love to read more of Naga. I know I would be thrilled to see a self published ebook, or any format! These books so deserve to see print or eprint!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews