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The Fey #3
The Rival
A LAND SCARRED BY WAR FACES A CONQUEROR WITHOUT MERCY.
The Fey have conquered half the world with their great skills—not just at combat and with powerful magicks. The Fey have another weapon, a greater weapon: Patience.
Twenty years after their first invasion, the Fey try again to conquer Blue Isle. This time, the greatest tactician the Fey have ever known, the Black King Rugad, leads the fighting force. He’s after not only the strategic island, but he’s also after his own great-grandchildren.
The oldest of those children has just come of age. He’s first in line to inherit Blue Isle’s throne. But as Rugad appears on Blue Isle, that Isle’s King Nicholas must move beyond guerrilla war to an out-and-out fight for dominance, using a magic created in the union of Fey and Islander, a magic that no one from Rugad to Nicholas himself could ever have expected…
The Fey have conquered half the world with their great skills—not just at combat and with powerful magicks. The Fey have another weapon, a greater weapon: Patience.
Twenty years after their first invasion, the Fey try again to conquer Blue Isle. This time, the greatest tactician the Fey have ever known, the Black King Rugad, leads the fighting force. He’s after not only the strategic island, but he’s also after his own great-grandchildren.
The oldest of those children has just come of age. He’s first in line to inherit Blue Isle’s throne. But as Rugad appears on Blue Isle, that Isle’s King Nicholas must move beyond guerrilla war to an out-and-out fight for dominance, using a magic created in the union of Fey and Islander, a magic that no one from Rugad to Nicholas himself could ever have expected…
589 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 1997
10 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
1,366 books721 followersKristine Kathryn Rusch is an award-winning mystery, romance, science fiction, and fantasy writer. She has written many novels under various names, including Kristine Grayson for romance, and Kris Nelscott for mystery. Her novels have made the bestseller lists –even in London– and have been published in 14 countries and 13 different languages.
Her awards range from the Ellery Queen Readers Choice Award to the John W. Campbell Award. In the past year, she has been nominated for the Hugo, the Shamus, and the Anthony Award. She is the only person in the history of the science fiction field to have won a Hugo award for editing and a Hugo award for fiction.
In addition, she's written a number of nonfiction articles over the years, with her latest being the book "A Freelancer's Survival Guide".
She has also published as:
Sandy Schofield (collaborations with husband Dean Wesley Smith)
Kristine Grayson - romances
Kathryn Wesley (collaborations with husband Dean Wesley Smith)
Kris Nelscott - mysteries
Kris Rusch - historical fiction
Kris DeLake - romances
Her awards range from the Ellery Queen Readers Choice Award to the John W. Campbell Award. In the past year, she has been nominated for the Hugo, the Shamus, and the Anthony Award. She is the only person in the history of the science fiction field to have won a Hugo award for editing and a Hugo award for fiction.
In addition, she's written a number of nonfiction articles over the years, with her latest being the book "A Freelancer's Survival Guide".
She has also published as:
Sandy Schofield (collaborations with husband Dean Wesley Smith)
Kristine Grayson - romances
Kathryn Wesley (collaborations with husband Dean Wesley Smith)
Kris Nelscott - mysteries
Kris Rusch - historical fiction
Kris DeLake - romances
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 5, 2022
This series just keeps getting better and better. The story is up, down, and all over the place. I can’t tell where it’s going and I love that. I’m constantly surprised with it. I’m dying to see where it ends. I don’t think I’ve gotten this caught up in a series in ages.
May 3, 2021
Same horrid narrator but I'm getting used to him I guess.
2.5 stars rounded up
Review from 2017:
Almost too much action in this one. Still the Black King is quite a character.
2.5 stars rounded up
Review from 2017:
Almost too much action in this one. Still the Black King is quite a character.
June 2, 2014
Quite a good third book in this series, though one of my favorite characters dies. Sigh. I wish there was a way to keep that from happening!
I must say though, this and the other books I've read in the series so far really prove that traditionally published books are not necessarily higher quality in terms of typos and other editing issues.
I must say though, this and the other books I've read in the series so far really prove that traditionally published books are not necessarily higher quality in terms of typos and other editing issues.
September 7, 2019
I love the way the story flows and the past still holds a place.
November 23, 2014
This series continues to improve, although not a lot happens in this one; It seems more of a bridge between the last book and the next one, it is still nicely self-contained and moves the plot forwards. The ending is a little less neat than the previous two books, there's more left clearly unresolved than in those two, but it really sets the stage for the next one very well, and pays off a lot of stuff that's been building since the first book.
A lot of what happens in The Rival feels fairly inevitable - we knew that Black King would arrive eventually, and there was no way that Blue Isle could hold off the full force of the Fey army, but that doesn't mean the story is over, it just changes the focus. It's no longer about keeping the Fey from taking Blue Isle, it's now about how to deal with the fact that they're there.
I have some idea of where the next book may go, but there are a lot of little variables that could have unexpected consequences, and in this series it's hard to know what's going to be important later or which characters will suddenly die with their plans incomplete.
A lot of what happens in The Rival feels fairly inevitable - we knew that Black King would arrive eventually, and there was no way that Blue Isle could hold off the full force of the Fey army, but that doesn't mean the story is over, it just changes the focus. It's no longer about keeping the Fey from taking Blue Isle, it's now about how to deal with the fact that they're there.
I have some idea of where the next book may go, but there are a lot of little variables that could have unexpected consequences, and in this series it's hard to know what's going to be important later or which characters will suddenly die with their plans incomplete.
March 8, 2015
7,5/10
[Recensione cumulativa per i libri dal 2 al 5 della serie]
Il primo e l'ultimo libro della serie sono, IMO, i peggiori: mentre nel primo l'autrice si prende il suo bel tempo per delineare l'ambientazione e mettere le basi per l'avventura (e nel frattempo l'autore prende sonno), e nell'ultimo cade nella tentazione del deus ex machina paraculissimo che lascia con l'amaro in bocca, nei tre volumi centrali fa centro con una storia che non ha niente da invidiare - anzi, IMO ha qualcosa da insegnare - alle Cronache del Ghiaccio e del Fuoco: un intreccio di varie linee narrative che convergono nel finale, un cast eccezionale di personaggi sfaccettati e ben caratterizzati tanto che sarei in difficoltà ad indicare chi è il protagonista e chi l'antagonista, e colpi di scena e morti a volontà (una in particolare mi ha spezzato il cuore). Anche l'ambientazione fa la sua figura, con un sistema magico al contempo semplice e versatile che gioca un ruolo determinante in diverse svolte della trama.
[Recensione cumulativa per i libri dal 2 al 5 della serie]
Il primo e l'ultimo libro della serie sono, IMO, i peggiori: mentre nel primo l'autrice si prende il suo bel tempo per delineare l'ambientazione e mettere le basi per l'avventura (e nel frattempo l'autore prende sonno), e nell'ultimo cade nella tentazione del deus ex machina paraculissimo che lascia con l'amaro in bocca, nei tre volumi centrali fa centro con una storia che non ha niente da invidiare - anzi, IMO ha qualcosa da insegnare - alle Cronache del Ghiaccio e del Fuoco: un intreccio di varie linee narrative che convergono nel finale, un cast eccezionale di personaggi sfaccettati e ben caratterizzati tanto che sarei in difficoltà ad indicare chi è il protagonista e chi l'antagonista, e colpi di scena e morti a volontà (una in particolare mi ha spezzato il cuore). Anche l'ambientazione fa la sua figura, con un sistema magico al contempo semplice e versatile che gioca un ruolo determinante in diverse svolte della trama.
December 8, 2014
Summary:Another really well thought out brilliant story of the fey and blue Isle. Full of the expected and the unexpected. Story telling at its best
Plotline: Many elements of the plot are predicted but its the surprises and strengths of character that keep us going. Incredible stuff.
Premise: Still a lot to learn but blue isle magic, completely unknown is everywhere and the Fey are often on the receiving end
Writing: I really like KKR's style building up arguments, really descriptive.
Ending: Unexpected - plenty more to come
Pace: Never a dull moment
Plotline: Many elements of the plot are predicted but its the surprises and strengths of character that keep us going. Incredible stuff.
Premise: Still a lot to learn but blue isle magic, completely unknown is everywhere and the Fey are often on the receiving end
Writing: I really like KKR's style building up arguments, really descriptive.
Ending: Unexpected - plenty more to come
Pace: Never a dull moment
July 3, 2016
I was rereading this book, and I believe this was the best one so far. I loved the first one, because of Jewel, and the second was good, however this one is the most exciting in the series. It had a lot of action, and a lot of different characters to show the extent of the action. The opposing view points were excellent, and it was nice to see that there are more new characters, and we aren't so focused on the religious side of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2017
Ms. Rusch has created an amazing and dangerous world
This book continues her very well written series that is frankly amazing in the things it covers. In this volume it is war. As the Fey again try to take over the island. Once again they are victorious and a failure. Interestingly war brings out many talents in various people, from the magical to the most normal. Very interesting series.
This book continues her very well written series that is frankly amazing in the things it covers. In this volume it is war. As the Fey again try to take over the island. Once again they are victorious and a failure. Interestingly war brings out many talents in various people, from the magical to the most normal. Very interesting series.
November 3, 2011
The more I read of this series, the more I love it. I plan to continue reading the rest of the series. It's a very odd fantasy set, creatures, magic and all, but there is a secret magic that the author is just starting to hint about that might save Blue Isle (or get them in more trouble!) It's gripping.
May 11, 2014
Another big time jump (15 years) between books. I like this style of storytelling. It makes things feel epic (though I already started 4 and it picks you right after #3 ends). In some ways the whole series feels like 1 part "History of Blue Isle" and 2 parts narrative/story.
Not a lot more to say. If you've read and enjoyed the first two, well what's stopping you? Read this one next!
Not a lot more to say. If you've read and enjoyed the first two, well what's stopping you? Read this one next!
February 7, 2015
Loved it: sets the tone for the last two volumes of the series and raises the stakes even higher than the beginning of the series did. Unrelentingly grim all the way through: I suspect Ms Rusch could teach George R. R. Martin a thing or two about dark plotting and not getting attached to characters... as well as making a series continually interesting.
December 11, 2008
The children are grown up and the Black King has come to Blue Isle to claim an heir. The story gets even better. Definitely a middle book in a series. When I finished, I wanted more. Not surprising that I started book 4 today then.
August 20, 2008
This is one of my all-time favorite fantasy series!
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August 23, 2008isbn,original
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July 30, 2011Love this series.
September 26, 2011
Wonderful Book
March 6, 2012
Třetí díl Kroniky Feyů byl zatím nejlepší a rád se pouštím do dalšího dílu. V tomto díle boj o moc opravdu vrcholí...
December 2, 2024
Author: I see you like these characters. It’d be a shame if anything were to happen to them.
Me: ….
Author: Oops.
Me: ….
Author: Oops.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews