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Avaryan Rising #1
The Hall of the Mountain King
He came while she kept vigil in the Temple of Han-Gilen where is his most sacred image. He came, and he loved her. Of that union I was conceived.
As was foretold, the stranger passed between the Towers of Dawn, towards the end of the rule of the King, and entered the stronghold of Han-Ianon.
He was a man like none other. Offspring of the god of light, his eyes were finely tempered steel, and in the palm of his hand he carried the sun.
As had been foretold, he was the King's true heir. In his heart resided love, behind his back...betrayal and dark forces.
But the throne of Ianon would demand more than prophecy in the claiming. It would demand a war that set kinsman against kinsman, dark against light. The reckoning would be measured in lost souls and blood.
As was foretold, the stranger passed between the Towers of Dawn, towards the end of the rule of the King, and entered the stronghold of Han-Ianon.
He was a man like none other. Offspring of the god of light, his eyes were finely tempered steel, and in the palm of his hand he carried the sun.
As had been foretold, he was the King's true heir. In his heart resided love, behind his back...betrayal and dark forces.
But the throne of Ianon would demand more than prophecy in the claiming. It would demand a war that set kinsman against kinsman, dark against light. The reckoning would be measured in lost souls and blood.
278 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1986
7 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Judith Tarr
121 books419 followersAKA Caitlin Brennan, Kathleen Bryan.
Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.
She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.
Judith Tarr (born 1955) is an American author, best known for her fantasy books. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin and writing at Wesleyan University from 1988-1992, and taught at the Clarion science-fiction-writing workshops in 1996 and 1999.
She raises and trains Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature dancing horses modeled on those that she raises.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 2, 2013
Vadin is a squire, new to the service of Han-Ianon. His greatest wish is to serve Moranden, greatest warrior in the land and bastard son to the king. The king is old and knows he nears the end of his reign, and so day after day he stands on the battlements, hoping that his daughter will return home. Decades ago she traveled south to be a priestess, and has sent no word since.
But then a small young man in shabby priest's garb walks into the capital. He resembles the late princess and in fact, is her sole child, fathered by no less than the god Avaryan himself. The king immediately proclaims that Mirain to be his heir. Moranden has always hoped he would get the throne, and is incensed. Vadin is ordered to be Mirain's squire and watches their rivalry unfold from an intimate vantage point.
Although the characters have complex and emotional inner lives, this book is otherwise quintessentially High Fantasy. It's told in a stylized, portentous tone, and although there are no prophecies, the gods really do interfere in the lives of mortal men. In fact, this felt a bit like a Greek epic, complete with gods playing favorites, incredible feats of strength and endurance, and intense (and sometimes homoerotic) bonds between men.
But then a small young man in shabby priest's garb walks into the capital. He resembles the late princess and in fact, is her sole child, fathered by no less than the god Avaryan himself. The king immediately proclaims that Mirain to be his heir. Moranden has always hoped he would get the throne, and is incensed. Vadin is ordered to be Mirain's squire and watches their rivalry unfold from an intimate vantage point.
Although the characters have complex and emotional inner lives, this book is otherwise quintessentially High Fantasy. It's told in a stylized, portentous tone, and although there are no prophecies, the gods really do interfere in the lives of mortal men. In fact, this felt a bit like a Greek epic, complete with gods playing favorites, incredible feats of strength and endurance, and intense (and sometimes homoerotic) bonds between men.
July 13, 2015
I loved this book. It almost feels like it was written from a "things Nick is a sucker for" list: excellent, almost Le Guin-level language; Bronze Age-ish fantasy setting; main characters who are people of color (in this case, every single character is a person of color); strong characterization and character development; a female author; magic that remains quite mysterious without being befuddling or serving a deus-ex-machina function (again very Le Guin-like); very strong heterosocial bonding and physical affection between men that is neither sensationalized in its representation nor presented as taboo; and I could go on and on. I so dearly hope the rest of the series lives up to the high bar this book has set for it in my mind. Even if it doesn't, I'm going to come back to this book, perhaps many times.
April 21, 2019
8/10
Rivalry and loyalty are the themes of this book—rivalry between gods and between princes, loyalty to god and to princes as well. What makes a friend, a lover, a traitor, a soldier? When does courage become foolhardiness, and when does fear become betrayal? A well-told tale, the first in the Avaryan Chronicles.
Rivalry and loyalty are the themes of this book—rivalry between gods and between princes, loyalty to god and to princes as well. What makes a friend, a lover, a traitor, a soldier? When does courage become foolhardiness, and when does fear become betrayal? A well-told tale, the first in the Avaryan Chronicles.
Read
July 14, 2024dnf 60 pages in. I can’t tell if I don’t like classic high fantasy, or if I just need to stop taking recommendations from this one coworker.
August 12, 2009
I think I just need to accept that Judith Tarr ain't my cup of tea. As with the previous books of hers I read, this one has a focus character I simply can't stand--and I'm supposed to love him.
November 6, 2018
3.5 stars
I’ve wanted to read more by Judith Tarr ever since finishing A Wind in Cairo and, thanks to a very bountiful visit to Hay-on-Wye, I now have quite a few of her books lined up. The opening salvo was this high-fantasy trilogy, combining court intrigue with an elemental struggle between light and dark. It begins with a loss: the disappearance of the old king’s daughter, chosen as his heir but consecrated to the Sun God. She leaves on the traditional Journey of a trainee priest; and never returns. For twenty-one years, the old king stands waiting every morning on the battlements of his mountain-locked castle, hoping that his beloved heir will return. One morning, he has an answer, in the form of a young man, a stranger, who bears an almost incredible message. He is Mirain, the son of the lost princess, fathered by the Sun God himself, and he has come home. His arrival brings joy to the heart of his aged grandfather, but alarm to the court – for this stranger has, at one stroke, destabilised all the hopes of the king’s illegitimate son…
For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2018/08/17/t...
I’ve wanted to read more by Judith Tarr ever since finishing A Wind in Cairo and, thanks to a very bountiful visit to Hay-on-Wye, I now have quite a few of her books lined up. The opening salvo was this high-fantasy trilogy, combining court intrigue with an elemental struggle between light and dark. It begins with a loss: the disappearance of the old king’s daughter, chosen as his heir but consecrated to the Sun God. She leaves on the traditional Journey of a trainee priest; and never returns. For twenty-one years, the old king stands waiting every morning on the battlements of his mountain-locked castle, hoping that his beloved heir will return. One morning, he has an answer, in the form of a young man, a stranger, who bears an almost incredible message. He is Mirain, the son of the lost princess, fathered by the Sun God himself, and he has come home. His arrival brings joy to the heart of his aged grandfather, but alarm to the court – for this stranger has, at one stroke, destabilised all the hopes of the king’s illegitimate son…
For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2018/08/17/t...
April 3, 2019
It was pretty good, although I would have preferred more of a wrap-up at the end.
May 13, 2020
Forgot how much I liked this series. Nice revisiting an old friend of a book.
January 3, 2023
I read this series probably 25 years ago, and loved it but didn't really remember much about it. Rereading it now and loving it.
May 19, 2024
A good fantasy. Had a slow start until about 100 pages. Enjoy Tarr's prose.
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November 28, 2025Goodreads rating probably accurate, I'd chalk it up as not my cup of tea. BECAUSE purple prose, I could not follow well. I won't read 3rd book, which moves at a glacial pace and is LONGER.
I'm team Elian.
I'm team Elian.
August 30, 2016
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Every day, for years, the King of Ianon has stood on his castle’s battlements, hoping to see his daughter coming home. He is old and she is his heir. When someone finally arrives, the king is told that his daughter is dead, but she had a son, Mirain, whose father is the god Avaryan. The grieving king opens his heart to this unknown grandson, but there are others who are not pleased with the new development — especially the king’s concubine and her son Moranden, the king’s bastard and a great warrior. Stuck in the middle is Vadin, a boy who’s assigned to be Mirain’s squire. It is Vadin who has the best vantage point and is able to witness the struggles, trials, and triumphs of two young men who want to be king.
The Hall of the Mountain King, first published in 1986, is the first in Judith Tarr’s AVARYAN RISING trilogy. You can tell by my description that it’s high epic fantasy and its premise is nothing new. In this story you’ll find much of what you’d expect of this genre — swords, horses, castles, kings, bastards, concubines, squires, soldiers, battles.
But even though I’m a little tired of epic high fantasy, and even though I’ve read dozens of stories like this, I nevertheless enjoyed the audio version of The Hall of the Mountain King. First of all, it’s performed by the masterful Jonathan Davis, one of my very favorite narrators. Honestly, I’ve got a bit of a crush on Jonathan Davis. His smooth gorgeous voice can cover over a multitude of sins. I don’t think too much covering was necessary here, but still Davis’s voice probably had a lot to do with how much I enjoyed The Hall of the Mountain King and, if the story appeals to you, I highly recommend the audio version. I know you’ll agree that the performance is wonderful.
Tarr’s story is far from original and doesn’t stand out from the hundreds of high epic fantasies on the market, but her style elevates it somewhat. In fact, it wouldn’t be far out of line to compare Judith Tarr’s style to that of Guy Gavriel Kay. Her characters are deeply developed and spend much time in thoughtful introspection and discourse which sometimes borders on the melodromatic. We’d love to hate Moranden, the bastard warrior, but because we sense his inner turmoil and the guilt he feels, it’s impossible to hate him. Mirain, the upstart prince, spends much time examining his motives and considering what it means to be a king. Although they’re very young (around 16 years old), Mirain and Valdin talk maturely about the proper role of government in society and how to balance justice and mercy. The only character who I think gets short shrift from Tarr is the King’s concubine. Her motivations are simple and obvious, of course — she wants her own son on the throne — but a little more depth to the main female character (who’s also the main villain) would have been an improvement.
The Hall of the Mountain King is a story about love, hate, jealousy, revenge, betrayal, triumph and defeat. It can stand alone, but if you enjoy it, you’ll probably want to read the next book in the trilogy, The Lady of Han-Gilen which features a feisty red-headed heroine. I’m looking forward to it.
Every day, for years, the King of Ianon has stood on his castle’s battlements, hoping to see his daughter coming home. He is old and she is his heir. When someone finally arrives, the king is told that his daughter is dead, but she had a son, Mirain, whose father is the god Avaryan. The grieving king opens his heart to this unknown grandson, but there are others who are not pleased with the new development — especially the king’s concubine and her son Moranden, the king’s bastard and a great warrior. Stuck in the middle is Vadin, a boy who’s assigned to be Mirain’s squire. It is Vadin who has the best vantage point and is able to witness the struggles, trials, and triumphs of two young men who want to be king.
The Hall of the Mountain King, first published in 1986, is the first in Judith Tarr’s AVARYAN RISING trilogy. You can tell by my description that it’s high epic fantasy and its premise is nothing new. In this story you’ll find much of what you’d expect of this genre — swords, horses, castles, kings, bastards, concubines, squires, soldiers, battles.
But even though I’m a little tired of epic high fantasy, and even though I’ve read dozens of stories like this, I nevertheless enjoyed the audio version of The Hall of the Mountain King. First of all, it’s performed by the masterful Jonathan Davis, one of my very favorite narrators. Honestly, I’ve got a bit of a crush on Jonathan Davis. His smooth gorgeous voice can cover over a multitude of sins. I don’t think too much covering was necessary here, but still Davis’s voice probably had a lot to do with how much I enjoyed The Hall of the Mountain King and, if the story appeals to you, I highly recommend the audio version. I know you’ll agree that the performance is wonderful.
Tarr’s story is far from original and doesn’t stand out from the hundreds of high epic fantasies on the market, but her style elevates it somewhat. In fact, it wouldn’t be far out of line to compare Judith Tarr’s style to that of Guy Gavriel Kay. Her characters are deeply developed and spend much time in thoughtful introspection and discourse which sometimes borders on the melodromatic. We’d love to hate Moranden, the bastard warrior, but because we sense his inner turmoil and the guilt he feels, it’s impossible to hate him. Mirain, the upstart prince, spends much time examining his motives and considering what it means to be a king. Although they’re very young (around 16 years old), Mirain and Valdin talk maturely about the proper role of government in society and how to balance justice and mercy. The only character who I think gets short shrift from Tarr is the King’s concubine. Her motivations are simple and obvious, of course — she wants her own son on the throne — but a little more depth to the main female character (who’s also the main villain) would have been an improvement.
The Hall of the Mountain King is a story about love, hate, jealousy, revenge, betrayal, triumph and defeat. It can stand alone, but if you enjoy it, you’ll probably want to read the next book in the trilogy, The Lady of Han-Gilen which features a feisty red-headed heroine. I’m looking forward to it.
February 19, 2014
I ordered this book because I remember being thoroughly en armoured of one later in the series, and being unable at that time to track down the first in the series. When I held it in my hand and read the blurb I very nearly put it back again unread. A story I've heard/read a thousand times.s However! I soon found myself enjoying the read. Possibly, enjoying the Prince's Squire more than anything else. Some of the ritual experiences were pretty impressive, worth a ponder, and the rest was not exactly a shadow play. I hover between three and four stars, in other words about average,for reviewers of this book. This is mostly because I could envisage other people enjoying it, and even lay it on my 'share if you fancy it pile', because there are quirkynessess, some great moments of self awareness in the characters, and though Madam Baddie was a bit lacking in originality, that goes with the territory. IN other words, it does make for a reasonable beginning and was good enough for me to go order the next in the series..
June 9, 2014
Every day, for years, the King of Ianon has stood on his castle’s battlements, hoping to see his daughter coming home. He is old and she is his heir. When someone finally arrives, the king is told that his daughter is dead, but she had a son, Mirain, whose father is the god Avaryan. The grieving king opens his heart to this unknown grandson, but there are others who are not pleased with the new development — especially the king’s concubine and her son Moranden, the king’s bastard and a great warrior. Stuck in the middle is Vadin, a boy who’s assigned to be Mirain’s squire. It is Vadin who has the best vantage point and is able to witness the struggles, trials, and triumphs of two young men who want to be king.
The Hall of the Mountain King, first published in 1986, is the first in Judith Tarr’s AVARYAN RISING trilogy. You can tell by my description that it’s ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
The Hall of the Mountain King, first published in 1986, is the first in Judith Tarr’s AVARYAN RISING trilogy. You can tell by my description that it’s ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
September 12, 2021
Retroactive Review (12 Sep 2021): I don't usually read books without even a hint of what they're about, but I did that with this book. I literally had no idea what to expect and enjoyed the mystery while I read it. I really enjoyed Mirain's struggles, his friendship with Vadin, and the seneldi!
September 8, 2015
Ok. Yes. This book was really amazing. It was filled with so many emotions that were wonderfully described. I also really love the way that "love" worked in the book. There was love of so many different kinds but they were all treated with the same respect. I really loved that.
April 13, 2015
Another world
Once again,dragged into some other place,where magic lives,and there are kingdoms to be fought for.Friendships to be made and lovers to be found.A basis for many a story but Judith Tarr manages to combine them in a way I can sink into that world.
Once again,dragged into some other place,where magic lives,and there are kingdoms to be fought for.Friendships to be made and lovers to be found.A basis for many a story but Judith Tarr manages to combine them in a way I can sink into that world.
October 29, 2024
I have read this series several times.
I enjoy books 1 and 2 most because it is all character development and action. The sweetest part of discovery.
Not your typical fantasy but very well written. I find so many of the characters believable whether reprehensible or noble.
I enjoy books 1 and 2 most because it is all character development and action. The sweetest part of discovery.
Not your typical fantasy but very well written. I find so many of the characters believable whether reprehensible or noble.
July 17, 2008
I love this writer and I just can not get into this book. I'm finding it incredibly hard to read. I hope the next one is better.
March 31, 2011
could not get into it, not sure I want to finish trilogy
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews