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Emberverse #4
The Sunrise Lands
National bestselling author S. M. Stirling introduces us to the first generation of people to come of age on an Earth where technology no longer functions.
18 pages, Audiobook
First published January 1, 2007
222 people are currently reading
1858 people want to read
About the author
S.M. Stirling
170 books1,653 followersStephen Michael Stirling is a French-born Canadian-American science fiction and fantasy author. Stirling is probably best known for his Draka series of alternate history novels and the more recent time travel/alternate history Nantucket series and Emberverse series.
MINI AUTO-BIOGRAPHY:
(personal website: source)
I’m a writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin and American by naturalization, living in New Mexico at present. My hobbies are mostly related to the craft. I love history, anthropology and archaeology, and am interested in the sciences. The martial arts are my main physical hobby.
MINI AUTO-BIOGRAPHY:
(personal website: source)
I’m a writer by trade, born in France but Canadian by origin and American by naturalization, living in New Mexico at present. My hobbies are mostly related to the craft. I love history, anthropology and archaeology, and am interested in the sciences. The martial arts are my main physical hobby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
September 15, 2008
I loved the idea of a follow up to the Dies the Fire books that centers around the younger generation. Most of the characters were either born after the Change or were very young when it happened, so to them, the post-Change traditions and factions seem normal. But at the same time they have a direct connection to the earlier world in the stories of their parents, even if they don't always understand some of the concepts or references.
The book is about the start of a quest. A stranger has a mysterious experience (which includes visions of a sword) on the East Coast, near the area that some think the Change began. This leads him to seek out Rudi Mackenzie, who you may remember was associated with some type of Serious Prophecy in the earlier books. Rudi decides to travel across the continent and look for the sword. He's joined by a group of young people associated with the other societies of his area, and there's a powerful tyrant that wants to keep them from their goal. (Those who have read the previous books can easily imagine how exciting this is to the two young Rangers that come along.)
It's extremely action heavy, and there are a series of flashbacks that sometimes broke the flow of the story for me. Those who disliked the mysticism in the previous books should be aware that there's even more of it here. But if we're accepting that the laws of nature changed enough that most technology stopped working, it's not much more of a stretch to say that there was some kind of shift towards magic. The only times when it really bothers me is when the mystical stuff overwhelms the story and the descriptions of it take priority over what's really happening.
The book is about the start of a quest. A stranger has a mysterious experience (which includes visions of a sword) on the East Coast, near the area that some think the Change began. This leads him to seek out Rudi Mackenzie, who you may remember was associated with some type of Serious Prophecy in the earlier books. Rudi decides to travel across the continent and look for the sword. He's joined by a group of young people associated with the other societies of his area, and there's a powerful tyrant that wants to keep them from their goal. (Those who have read the previous books can easily imagine how exciting this is to the two young Rangers that come along.)
It's extremely action heavy, and there are a series of flashbacks that sometimes broke the flow of the story for me. Those who disliked the mysticism in the previous books should be aware that there's even more of it here. But if we're accepting that the laws of nature changed enough that most technology stopped working, it's not much more of a stretch to say that there was some kind of shift towards magic. The only times when it really bothers me is when the mystical stuff overwhelms the story and the descriptions of it take priority over what's really happening.
January 1, 2009
The Sunrise Lands is the first book in Stirling's 3rd set of 3 interconnected series. I love the idea behind the sets of series, so I thought I'd jump in. In the "Island in the Sea of Time" trilogy, the island of Nantucket is flung backwards in time to 1250 BC. In the "Dies the Fire" trilogy, Stirling tells what happened to the world left behind: The Change has caused electricity, high gas pressures, and fast combustion (including explosives and gunpowder) to stop working in the rest of the world. The four books of "The Sunrise Lands" are about the 1st generation which has grown up in the world affected by The Change.
While I find the idea fascinating and want to know what caused The Change to happen to the world, I don't know that I can slog through any more of these books. The author spends a ridiculous amount of time describing what everyone's wearing and what their weapons look like. At one point, the main characters all jump out of their beds when they hear a sound, and then the author spends 3 pages describing their garb before they charge up the stairs to fight the intruders. It also seems that the majority of the scenes of the book are either practice fighting scenes or fighting scenes. The only other thing that ever really happens are people getting together to eat and have boring conversations about who owns what land and who knows who. Sadly, most of the important scenes are confusing to understand because the author has not mastered the use of pronouns well enough for the reader to understand which "he" and "she" belongs to which character in the scene. Thus, in one place, I found myself not knowing whether a son had killed his father or whether the son committed suicide in front of his father.
Most of this novel takes place in former Washington and Oregon where a group of Ren-faire fanatics have modeled their new world in true Ren-faire fashion: people talk Elvish, wear kilts, practice longsword techniques, etc. A stranger comes to town and tells of his exploits on the island of Nantucket. Sadly, the telling of this tale is the only interesting chapter in the book. A voice the man heard on Nantucket demanded that he come to this part of the world to find a specific person to journey back with him to Nantucket. The vast majority of the rest of the book concerns gathering the group who will travel back to Nantucket and traveling only as far as from Oregon to Idaho on this journey across the former USA.
Nothing happens in this book except a group of people banding together, fighting a lot of people, and making it a few miles down the road. The book doesn't come full circle in any way. The ending isn't an end or even a cliffhanger. It doesn't stand on it's own as a novel in any definition I know.
I want to know the answers to the questions posed in the first 7 books, but I don't think I'm willing to read 3 more novels full of this boring drivel at 400 pages each. Maybe someone can spoil it all for me when they've read the final book after it comes out in 2010?
While I find the idea fascinating and want to know what caused The Change to happen to the world, I don't know that I can slog through any more of these books. The author spends a ridiculous amount of time describing what everyone's wearing and what their weapons look like. At one point, the main characters all jump out of their beds when they hear a sound, and then the author spends 3 pages describing their garb before they charge up the stairs to fight the intruders. It also seems that the majority of the scenes of the book are either practice fighting scenes or fighting scenes. The only other thing that ever really happens are people getting together to eat and have boring conversations about who owns what land and who knows who. Sadly, most of the important scenes are confusing to understand because the author has not mastered the use of pronouns well enough for the reader to understand which "he" and "she" belongs to which character in the scene. Thus, in one place, I found myself not knowing whether a son had killed his father or whether the son committed suicide in front of his father.
Most of this novel takes place in former Washington and Oregon where a group of Ren-faire fanatics have modeled their new world in true Ren-faire fashion: people talk Elvish, wear kilts, practice longsword techniques, etc. A stranger comes to town and tells of his exploits on the island of Nantucket. Sadly, the telling of this tale is the only interesting chapter in the book. A voice the man heard on Nantucket demanded that he come to this part of the world to find a specific person to journey back with him to Nantucket. The vast majority of the rest of the book concerns gathering the group who will travel back to Nantucket and traveling only as far as from Oregon to Idaho on this journey across the former USA.
Nothing happens in this book except a group of people banding together, fighting a lot of people, and making it a few miles down the road. The book doesn't come full circle in any way. The ending isn't an end or even a cliffhanger. It doesn't stand on it's own as a novel in any definition I know.
I want to know the answers to the questions posed in the first 7 books, but I don't think I'm willing to read 3 more novels full of this boring drivel at 400 pages each. Maybe someone can spoil it all for me when they've read the final book after it comes out in 2010?
May 9, 2012
Disappointed. It doesn't end - to find out what happens one, presumably needs to read the subsequent 3,4,5,6, however many sequels and I just can't be bothered.
Its just a complete mish-mash. The evil prophet and his equally wicked followers (the Cutters) - the clean cut invincible all American hero (who just happens to wear a kilt and has a mother who is a witch and has been sent on a crazy quest) - cowboys wearing armour - add some crackpots who think they are elves from the Lord of the Rings and tens of thousands of men on horses with lances (where did they all come from in a post apocalyptic world) and you about have it.
All such a shame when the 'Island in the sea of time' series is so good.
Its just a complete mish-mash. The evil prophet and his equally wicked followers (the Cutters) - the clean cut invincible all American hero (who just happens to wear a kilt and has a mother who is a witch and has been sent on a crazy quest) - cowboys wearing armour - add some crackpots who think they are elves from the Lord of the Rings and tens of thousands of men on horses with lances (where did they all come from in a post apocalyptic world) and you about have it.
All such a shame when the 'Island in the sea of time' series is so good.
May 20, 2008
I love the Change Novels, the setting is very interesting to me and Dies the Fire was a great, startling, thought provoking book; and its sequels all lived up to its example while takeing the story in slightly different directions.
However I can't help but feel that Mr. Stirling was reaching for a second series for some reason, and he just didnt pull it off with this book. He steps away from the harsh realities shown in Dies the Fire, and into a more mystical realm here, and it didnt sit well.
Read it if you really feel like it, but try not to let it devalue the previous works in the setting.
However I can't help but feel that Mr. Stirling was reaching for a second series for some reason, and he just didnt pull it off with this book. He steps away from the harsh realities shown in Dies the Fire, and into a more mystical realm here, and it didnt sit well.
Read it if you really feel like it, but try not to let it devalue the previous works in the setting.
May 17, 2025
This is the fourth in Stirling's Change series. In this one, we're in the 21st year since the Change with a new generation emerging...
March 2, 2015
Fourth in the Emberverse dystopian science fiction series. This is the first in the second trilogy in the Emberverse, and it revolves around Rudi, a.k.a., Artos. It's the fall of 2020 and twenty-two years since the EMP and twelve years since the War of the Eye in which Mike died.
My Take
It starts with a bang-up fight and death and an introduction to the pivotal character who will send Rudi and friends on their trek. It also introduces us to a grown-up Rudi, Mathilda, and Mary and Ritva among others.
The Sunrise Lands takes us back east hunting down a terrifying experience, and there's no lack of battle or surprises along the way.
Part of me was disappointed that it's a generation after A Meeting at Corvallis , 3, and a bigger part of me is damned grateful. I hated how A Meeting at Corvallis ended, and I did not want to have to revisit the grief it had to have caused.
The Sunrise Lands starts Rudi's trilogy — there is that prophecy, after all.
There are chunks of back history in The Sunrise Lands. A part of Nigel's past shows up at Clan Mackenzie along with some very welcome news. Mathilda talks about how her dad pulled his "kingdom" together after the EMP and provides some very good reasons why members of the Society for Creative Anachronism would be successful in this brave new world. The Mackenzies still honor the deaths of Aoife and Liath. Then there is the recurring bewilderment of the kids who were either very young when the world Changed or who were born after. It's weird "listening" them talk about how odd the before times sound. That RenFaires, the Lord of the Rings, and fantasy tales of knights sound more real to them than computers, television, or Star Trek. It's a nice touch Stirling uses to make us feel how different this world is from the technological one, but it doesn't really work. It's awkward.
That mesh matting Vogeler and his people use as protection sounds terrifying — and extremely practical.
There's something odd about the people Vogeler and his people meet near Nantucket. It sounds as though there's a time warp there. Ingolf has some split-self experiences there as he is given visions of himself in different timelines.
This trip Rudi undertakes is so useful for so many reasons. He learns other ways of governing. He learns of the other entities out there. He's making some very good impressions all around.
Whoa, that term that Chief Juniper laid down twelve years ago after the War of the Eye that peons could leave the Association is still in force and has resulted in improved conditions. Snicker. Seems all those "lords" want someone else to work their land, ahem.
Crack me up *she says laughing*. Tiph points out that "here in the land of the Iron-Shirted Machos, and the people making the decisions at the top are nearly all women". Be afraid, men, be very afraid, lol.
I like that a woman as vicious as Sandra loves her daughter and does her best to teach her how to rule. She's very open and honest with her daughter. Mostly. It's curious that Mathilda's conscience is questioning the things her father did and her mother does. She's worried that she'll turn into her mother. She's also quite impressed by how Thurston and his wife raise their family and rule their land.
Mathilda does make her confession to Father Ignatius, and it's with a sad smile that you'll read along. She is so earnest and her worries would warm a parent's heart. The words Father Ignatius says to her are brilliant. Compassionate and realistic. Not what I was expecting. It's encouraging after my worries about his thoughts about the Mackenzie religion. And his belief that his is the only correct one. I suppose when the world ends as this one did, a need to believe in something becomes more important, at least as a way to join a group for support.
Tolerance is an important topic in this story, and it comes very close to home with Boise and New Deseret. For want of tolerance, two kingdoms may fall to evil.
Too funny. Wait'll you read how Edain learns what sept he belongs to. Not at all spiritual or mythical. More of an oy veh moment with that wolf, lol.
Astrid does drive me nuts with her insistence on speaking Elvish and translating everything into "the common tongue". It is heavy handed and rude, but thoroughly in keeping with the sub-theme of the Lord of the Rings that runs throughout the series. It is traditional for nine to go on a quest, lol.
Impressive. Thurston and Anderson went back to Washington D.C. after the Change to rescue Cecile and Martin.
Do pay attention to the epigrams at the start of assorted chapters as Stirling goes back and forth in time. It is a tiny bit confusing, although it will make sense as you read along. It does provide background information on events that are mentioned in the current time.
The Story
It's betrayal and ambush along with that Nantucket Voice that sends Ingolf riding for Clan Mackenzie. The news he brings will force Rudi on a trek east. Not one his mother wants him to travel, but duty requires it.
The Characters
Vogeler's Villains
Ingolf Vogeler is a scavenging explorer now that his war is over. Only he ran into something scary in Nantucket, a voice insisting he "seek the Son of the Bear Who Rules". Boy is his horse; Billy is his packhorse. His father was the Sheriff of Readstown in Kickapoo County in the Free Republic of Richland (what we know as southern Wisconsin). Ingolf's brother, Edward, is now sheriff, and it's more than Ingolf could stomach. Kaur and her brother Singh are Sikhs, formidable fighters, and first-class scouts. Jose Menendez is his second-in-command and loyal friend. Ranjeet, Smith, Alterman, Montoya, Sauer, Grey, Tommy, and Dave are more of the men in his troop.
Nantucket
Juanita Johnson is now Sun Hair and seems to be the leader of their tribe. She and their family (Uncle John, Aunt Sally, Mr. Granger and Lindy, the Smiths, and the kids) were cast ashore near Nantucket. Frank is the son Sun Hair and her husband lost to time.
Clan Mackenzie
Dun Juniper
Rudi Mackenzie is Juney's son and her tanist , her heir. Rudi's father was Mike Havel who died in A Meeting at Corvallis. Epona is still with him and just as ornery as ever. Epona has her own daughters: Macha Mongruad and Rhiannon. Juniper "Juney" Mackenzie is the chief of the clan and High Priestess to the whole Clan. She's married to Sir Nigel Loring (he's an armsman, one of Juney's military advisors), and they have two daughters: Maude and Fiorbhinn. Lady Eilir is Juney's deaf daughter, one of the leaders of the Dúnedain Rangers, and married to John Hordle with two children: Beregond and Iorlas. She's also Astrid's soul sister. Mabor is an apprentice bard. Judy Barstow Mackenzie is the healer and a High Priestess married to Chuck, the High Priest. One of their daughters is Tamsin, and she's helping with Ingolf's healing. Niamh is an apprentice from Dun Laurel and a sometime lover of Rudi's. Dechtire Smith is a moaner.
Dun Fairfax was…
…the Fairfaxes' farm before the Change. Now Sam "Aylward the Archer" Aylward is its lord and a retired armsman — he is in his sixties after all. Edain Aylward Mackenzie is his son. Garbh is Edain's dog. Dick and Fand are Edain's siblings. His half-sister Tamar and her man, Eochu, help with the farming; they have a child, Forgall. Eithne is the girl (and second-degree priestess) who's sweet on Edain.
Sutterdown is…
…the biggest and best-walled town in the Mackenzie territory. Saba Brannigan Mackenzie is the daughter of Tom Brannigan, the mayor, High Priest, brewer, and the innkeeper for the Sheaf and Sickle. She's standing guard that night she meets her bane. Raen was her husband, and they had two children: Ioruath and Emer. Brannigan's wife, Moira (she changed her name from Mona) is the High Priestess. Cethern is a wagoner who will enjoy a practice bout with Ignatius.
The Dúnedain Rangers are…
…an independent troop of soldiers who hire out to escort caravans, run down bandits and bad guys, kill maneaters, carry messages and valuable parcels, and more. They are led by Eilir and Lady Astrid, one of Kenneth Larsson's daughters, sister-in-law to Mike Havel, and the twins' aunt. She's married to Lord Alleyne Loring, Sir Nigel's son, and they have three children: Diorn and the twins, Fimalen and Hinluin. Mary and Ritva are ohtar, warrior-squires. Their horses are Rochael and Duélroch respectively.
Stardell Hall was a park headquarters, now its the largest of the Ranger stations.
The Bearkillers of Larsdalen are…
…the mercenary troop Mike Havel built and is governed well by Signe, Mike's widow, as their leader; Will Hutton has retired. Mary and Ritva are the twins and Mike and Signe's daughters. Signe also have a son, Mike Jr.
Mount Angel is…
…a military monastery and Mother House for the order led by Abbot Dmowski. Father Ignatius is one of his spies — a priest, monk, and knight-brother of the Order of the Shield of Saint Benedict and will attach himself to Rudi's company. Mt. Angel is growing its university, and its daughter settlements are doing well.
CORA is…
…the Central Oregon Ranchers Association, a very loosely organized and brawling group of ranchers who have allied themselves with the Bearkillers and Clan Mackenzie. Rancher John Brown is one of its leaders and strong for the Bearkillers and the Mackenzies. Mabel Brown is his second wife, and they have three children together. His ranch is the Seffridge. Smitty, Cody, Hank, and Tommy are some of the ranch hands. Some of the others don't look kindly on witches. The blacksmith trained at Dun Carson.
His oldest son, Bob, will be moving a herd of horses to a New Deseret buyer, and the two groups — the cowboys and Mackenzies — will protect each other along the way. Mrs. Jason and her daughter manage the chuck wagon.
The Portland Protective Association (Association)
Princess Mathilda Arminger is the ruler-in-waiting for the Association; her mother, Lady Sandra, a.k.a., the Spider, is acting as regent. Agnes is a maid-cum-secretary. Lady Catherine is one of Mathilda's chaperones.
Sir Odard Liu is a knight of the Association and seems to be a good ruler. His father was Eddie Liu, the Baron Gervais, who was killed by Mackenzies. His mother, Mary Liu, the dowager Baroness Gervais is a menace to all around her, including her son. Sergeant Gavin and Armand are some of his men-at-arms. Romarec is his steward. Alex Vinton is his very capable valet. Sir Guelf is his mother's brother. Yseult and Huon are his younger sister and brother.
Baroness Tiphaine d'Ath, a.k.a., Lady Death, is the Grand Constable now, and still in a relationship with the now-Lady Delia de Stafford, the miller's daughter, who is married (on paper) to a gay knight. Conrad Renfrew, the Count of Odell, is now chancellor. There's a new cardinal-archbishop in Portland now; the Church healed the schism with Pope Leo who is now dead. Count Piotr Stavarov is still around. He'll be appointed Marchwarden of the West. Dowager Baroness of Dayton and the dowager Baroness of Molalla (Lord Chaka Jones is her son) are formidable women.
Fulk De Wasco is just one of many who lost his duel with Tiph.
The trip to Tillamook in 2019
Rudi, Edain, Rinn Smith, and Otter Carson have come along to introduce Raen and his people to Juhel Strangeways, Lord de Netarts who is holding County Tillamook in ward for Lady Anne. Gaston Strangeways is Juhel's son. Sir Brandic is one of the baron's men. Haida are an Indian tribe from the north who raid for slaves.
Bend, Oregon
Mr. Denks owns the stables there that the Dúnedain frequent. Isherman sells quality weapons. Isaac and Reuben are two of his sons.
Boise
General Lawrence Thurston is in charge there with an obsession for restoring the old U.S. of A. His way. It seems he's mad keen on a very neat and tidy capital with everyone working constantly. Cecile is his charming wife. Captain Michael Thurston is his oldest and married to Juliet while Lieutenant Frederick Thurston is a younger son with two daughters: Jaine and Shawonda. Sergeant-Major Anderson has been with Thurston since before the Change. Colonel Moore is the vice-president.
Commander Lamont was part of the group who investigated the infiltration. Colonel Winder is in Lewiston. Major Winters, Captain Valiers, Smith, Rojas, Sergeant Rosita Gonzales, and John Gottberg are some of their soldiers.
Major Hanks is in engineering and has a hot air balloon, the Curtis LeMay, to show Father Ignatius.
New Deseret are…
…the Mormons, a.k.a., the Saints. Bishop Joseph Nystrup, of the Church Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, is the buyer. His daughter Rebecca also acts as his secretary and assistant. His son will be one of the dead.
England
We don't actually go to England, rather England comes to Sutterdown in the person of King William V's ambassador: the Count of Azay, Tony Knolles, Nigel's old friend with an offer from the king. Tony has brought his son and Nigel's godson, Robert. Seems Tony has been busy as well with another two daughters and a son. Named Nigel.
Italy
The New Vatican is in Badia. The current pope is Pius XIII.
Corwinites are…
…followers of the Prophet and his Church Universal and Triumphant, a.k.a., Cutters, are based in Montana. Before the Change, the Prophet was bughouse nuts and a terrorist blowing up everything in sight. Sethaz is the Prophet's adopted son; he suffocated his mother who was suffering from Alzheimer's. Geraldine is his secretary.
Joseph Kuttner was the governor's man (of Des Moines); he's sent with Vogeler's Villians to get the treasures from back East that the governor has on a list.
Councilor of the Way Charom is one of the ecclesiastical bureaucrats. The Sword of the Prophet is like the priesthood and functions as a path to office and power. Commander Sean is training them. General Walker, the Prophet's main commander, is smart and mean. He was army before the Change. General Graham.
The Rovers are…
…a savage bunch in eastern Oregon who ally with the Cutters. Most of the Rovers' problems stem from not being on very good land and not having the tools and supplies to survive the Change very well. They've become wanderers, moving their herds from one patch of grazing to another.
The Morrigú is the goddess of battle. The First Levy is the primary army for the Mackenzies. Cowan is an impolite term for anyone who doesn't follow the Mackenzie religion. The War of the Eye was that last battle between the Association and our side when Arminger and Havel fought in single combat. The treaty that resulted is known as the Meeting at Corvallis. Winnemucca is an Indian whom Mathilda, Odard, and Ignatius encounter on their way. Pierre Walks Quiet was an Anishinabe who worked for Ingolf's father and taught Ingolf some survival skills.
Nantucket appears to have been the epicenter of the EMP. A passenger pigeon has made a reappearance.
The Cover and Title
The cover is in the trademark browns with the dark brown of the road at the base and gradating up into cream in the top half. That sky is terrifying with the feeling of brown dust hovering in the air while the mountains in the distance and the curving road give the impression of a long journey ahead. It's Rudi front and center in leathers and a fur jacket with his back to us and slightly turned to the right, his crossbow dangling from his belt.
The title is where Rudi and his company are heading on a Quest to The Sunrise Lands.
My Take
It starts with a bang-up fight and death and an introduction to the pivotal character who will send Rudi and friends on their trek. It also introduces us to a grown-up Rudi, Mathilda, and Mary and Ritva among others.
"Love is like money — the more you give away the more you get back, and the more you have to give."
The Sunrise Lands takes us back east hunting down a terrifying experience, and there's no lack of battle or surprises along the way.
Part of me was disappointed that it's a generation after A Meeting at Corvallis , 3, and a bigger part of me is damned grateful. I hated how A Meeting at Corvallis ended, and I did not want to have to revisit the grief it had to have caused.
The Sunrise Lands starts Rudi's trilogy — there is that prophecy, after all.
There are chunks of back history in The Sunrise Lands. A part of Nigel's past shows up at Clan Mackenzie along with some very welcome news. Mathilda talks about how her dad pulled his "kingdom" together after the EMP and provides some very good reasons why members of the Society for Creative Anachronism would be successful in this brave new world. The Mackenzies still honor the deaths of Aoife and Liath. Then there is the recurring bewilderment of the kids who were either very young when the world Changed or who were born after. It's weird "listening" them talk about how odd the before times sound. That RenFaires, the Lord of the Rings, and fantasy tales of knights sound more real to them than computers, television, or Star Trek. It's a nice touch Stirling uses to make us feel how different this world is from the technological one, but it doesn't really work. It's awkward.
That mesh matting Vogeler and his people use as protection sounds terrifying — and extremely practical.
There's something odd about the people Vogeler and his people meet near Nantucket. It sounds as though there's a time warp there. Ingolf has some split-self experiences there as he is given visions of himself in different timelines.
This trip Rudi undertakes is so useful for so many reasons. He learns other ways of governing. He learns of the other entities out there. He's making some very good impressions all around.
Whoa, that term that Chief Juniper laid down twelve years ago after the War of the Eye that peons could leave the Association is still in force and has resulted in improved conditions. Snicker. Seems all those "lords" want someone else to work their land, ahem.
Crack me up *she says laughing*. Tiph points out that "here in the land of the Iron-Shirted Machos, and the people making the decisions at the top are nearly all women". Be afraid, men, be very afraid, lol.
I like that a woman as vicious as Sandra loves her daughter and does her best to teach her how to rule. She's very open and honest with her daughter. Mostly. It's curious that Mathilda's conscience is questioning the things her father did and her mother does. She's worried that she'll turn into her mother. She's also quite impressed by how Thurston and his wife raise their family and rule their land.
Mathilda does make her confession to Father Ignatius, and it's with a sad smile that you'll read along. She is so earnest and her worries would warm a parent's heart. The words Father Ignatius says to her are brilliant. Compassionate and realistic. Not what I was expecting. It's encouraging after my worries about his thoughts about the Mackenzie religion. And his belief that his is the only correct one. I suppose when the world ends as this one did, a need to believe in something becomes more important, at least as a way to join a group for support.
Tolerance is an important topic in this story, and it comes very close to home with Boise and New Deseret. For want of tolerance, two kingdoms may fall to evil.
Too funny. Wait'll you read how Edain learns what sept he belongs to. Not at all spiritual or mythical. More of an oy veh moment with that wolf, lol.
Astrid does drive me nuts with her insistence on speaking Elvish and translating everything into "the common tongue". It is heavy handed and rude, but thoroughly in keeping with the sub-theme of the Lord of the Rings that runs throughout the series. It is traditional for nine to go on a quest, lol.
Impressive. Thurston and Anderson went back to Washington D.C. after the Change to rescue Cecile and Martin.
Do pay attention to the epigrams at the start of assorted chapters as Stirling goes back and forth in time. It is a tiny bit confusing, although it will make sense as you read along. It does provide background information on events that are mentioned in the current time.
The Story
It's betrayal and ambush along with that Nantucket Voice that sends Ingolf riding for Clan Mackenzie. The news he brings will force Rudi on a trek east. Not one his mother wants him to travel, but duty requires it.
The Characters
Vogeler's Villains
Ingolf Vogeler is a scavenging explorer now that his war is over. Only he ran into something scary in Nantucket, a voice insisting he "seek the Son of the Bear Who Rules". Boy is his horse; Billy is his packhorse. His father was the Sheriff of Readstown in Kickapoo County in the Free Republic of Richland (what we know as southern Wisconsin). Ingolf's brother, Edward, is now sheriff, and it's more than Ingolf could stomach. Kaur and her brother Singh are Sikhs, formidable fighters, and first-class scouts. Jose Menendez is his second-in-command and loyal friend. Ranjeet, Smith, Alterman, Montoya, Sauer, Grey, Tommy, and Dave are more of the men in his troop.
Nantucket
Juanita Johnson is now Sun Hair and seems to be the leader of their tribe. She and their family (Uncle John, Aunt Sally, Mr. Granger and Lindy, the Smiths, and the kids) were cast ashore near Nantucket. Frank is the son Sun Hair and her husband lost to time.
Clan Mackenzie
Dun Juniper
Rudi Mackenzie is Juney's son and her tanist , her heir. Rudi's father was Mike Havel who died in A Meeting at Corvallis. Epona is still with him and just as ornery as ever. Epona has her own daughters: Macha Mongruad and Rhiannon. Juniper "Juney" Mackenzie is the chief of the clan and High Priestess to the whole Clan. She's married to Sir Nigel Loring (he's an armsman, one of Juney's military advisors), and they have two daughters: Maude and Fiorbhinn. Lady Eilir is Juney's deaf daughter, one of the leaders of the Dúnedain Rangers, and married to John Hordle with two children: Beregond and Iorlas. She's also Astrid's soul sister. Mabor is an apprentice bard. Judy Barstow Mackenzie is the healer and a High Priestess married to Chuck, the High Priest. One of their daughters is Tamsin, and she's helping with Ingolf's healing. Niamh is an apprentice from Dun Laurel and a sometime lover of Rudi's. Dechtire Smith is a moaner.
Dun Fairfax was…
…the Fairfaxes' farm before the Change. Now Sam "Aylward the Archer" Aylward is its lord and a retired armsman — he is in his sixties after all. Edain Aylward Mackenzie is his son. Garbh is Edain's dog. Dick and Fand are Edain's siblings. His half-sister Tamar and her man, Eochu, help with the farming; they have a child, Forgall. Eithne is the girl (and second-degree priestess) who's sweet on Edain.
Sutterdown is…
…the biggest and best-walled town in the Mackenzie territory. Saba Brannigan Mackenzie is the daughter of Tom Brannigan, the mayor, High Priest, brewer, and the innkeeper for the Sheaf and Sickle. She's standing guard that night she meets her bane. Raen was her husband, and they had two children: Ioruath and Emer. Brannigan's wife, Moira (she changed her name from Mona) is the High Priestess. Cethern is a wagoner who will enjoy a practice bout with Ignatius.
The Dúnedain Rangers are…
…an independent troop of soldiers who hire out to escort caravans, run down bandits and bad guys, kill maneaters, carry messages and valuable parcels, and more. They are led by Eilir and Lady Astrid, one of Kenneth Larsson's daughters, sister-in-law to Mike Havel, and the twins' aunt. She's married to Lord Alleyne Loring, Sir Nigel's son, and they have three children: Diorn and the twins, Fimalen and Hinluin. Mary and Ritva are ohtar, warrior-squires. Their horses are Rochael and Duélroch respectively.
Stardell Hall was a park headquarters, now its the largest of the Ranger stations.
The Bearkillers of Larsdalen are…
…the mercenary troop Mike Havel built and is governed well by Signe, Mike's widow, as their leader; Will Hutton has retired. Mary and Ritva are the twins and Mike and Signe's daughters. Signe also have a son, Mike Jr.
Mount Angel is…
…a military monastery and Mother House for the order led by Abbot Dmowski. Father Ignatius is one of his spies — a priest, monk, and knight-brother of the Order of the Shield of Saint Benedict and will attach himself to Rudi's company. Mt. Angel is growing its university, and its daughter settlements are doing well.
CORA is…
…the Central Oregon Ranchers Association, a very loosely organized and brawling group of ranchers who have allied themselves with the Bearkillers and Clan Mackenzie. Rancher John Brown is one of its leaders and strong for the Bearkillers and the Mackenzies. Mabel Brown is his second wife, and they have three children together. His ranch is the Seffridge. Smitty, Cody, Hank, and Tommy are some of the ranch hands. Some of the others don't look kindly on witches. The blacksmith trained at Dun Carson.
His oldest son, Bob, will be moving a herd of horses to a New Deseret buyer, and the two groups — the cowboys and Mackenzies — will protect each other along the way. Mrs. Jason and her daughter manage the chuck wagon.
The Portland Protective Association (Association)
Princess Mathilda Arminger is the ruler-in-waiting for the Association; her mother, Lady Sandra, a.k.a., the Spider, is acting as regent. Agnes is a maid-cum-secretary. Lady Catherine is one of Mathilda's chaperones.
Sir Odard Liu is a knight of the Association and seems to be a good ruler. His father was Eddie Liu, the Baron Gervais, who was killed by Mackenzies. His mother, Mary Liu, the dowager Baroness Gervais is a menace to all around her, including her son. Sergeant Gavin and Armand are some of his men-at-arms. Romarec is his steward. Alex Vinton is his very capable valet. Sir Guelf is his mother's brother. Yseult and Huon are his younger sister and brother.
Baroness Tiphaine d'Ath, a.k.a., Lady Death, is the Grand Constable now, and still in a relationship with the now-Lady Delia de Stafford, the miller's daughter, who is married (on paper) to a gay knight. Conrad Renfrew, the Count of Odell, is now chancellor. There's a new cardinal-archbishop in Portland now; the Church healed the schism with Pope Leo who is now dead. Count Piotr Stavarov is still around. He'll be appointed Marchwarden of the West. Dowager Baroness of Dayton and the dowager Baroness of Molalla (Lord Chaka Jones is her son) are formidable women.
Fulk De Wasco is just one of many who lost his duel with Tiph.
The trip to Tillamook in 2019
Rudi, Edain, Rinn Smith, and Otter Carson have come along to introduce Raen and his people to Juhel Strangeways, Lord de Netarts who is holding County Tillamook in ward for Lady Anne. Gaston Strangeways is Juhel's son. Sir Brandic is one of the baron's men. Haida are an Indian tribe from the north who raid for slaves.
Bend, Oregon
Mr. Denks owns the stables there that the Dúnedain frequent. Isherman sells quality weapons. Isaac and Reuben are two of his sons.
Boise
General Lawrence Thurston is in charge there with an obsession for restoring the old U.S. of A. His way. It seems he's mad keen on a very neat and tidy capital with everyone working constantly. Cecile is his charming wife. Captain Michael Thurston is his oldest and married to Juliet while Lieutenant Frederick Thurston is a younger son with two daughters: Jaine and Shawonda. Sergeant-Major Anderson has been with Thurston since before the Change. Colonel Moore is the vice-president.
Commander Lamont was part of the group who investigated the infiltration. Colonel Winder is in Lewiston. Major Winters, Captain Valiers, Smith, Rojas, Sergeant Rosita Gonzales, and John Gottberg are some of their soldiers.
Major Hanks is in engineering and has a hot air balloon, the Curtis LeMay, to show Father Ignatius.
New Deseret are…
…the Mormons, a.k.a., the Saints. Bishop Joseph Nystrup, of the Church Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, is the buyer. His daughter Rebecca also acts as his secretary and assistant. His son will be one of the dead.
England
We don't actually go to England, rather England comes to Sutterdown in the person of King William V's ambassador: the Count of Azay, Tony Knolles, Nigel's old friend with an offer from the king. Tony has brought his son and Nigel's godson, Robert. Seems Tony has been busy as well with another two daughters and a son. Named Nigel.
Italy
The New Vatican is in Badia. The current pope is Pius XIII.
Corwinites are…
…followers of the Prophet and his Church Universal and Triumphant, a.k.a., Cutters, are based in Montana. Before the Change, the Prophet was bughouse nuts and a terrorist blowing up everything in sight. Sethaz is the Prophet's adopted son; he suffocated his mother who was suffering from Alzheimer's. Geraldine is his secretary.
Joseph Kuttner was the governor's man (of Des Moines); he's sent with Vogeler's Villians to get the treasures from back East that the governor has on a list.
Councilor of the Way Charom is one of the ecclesiastical bureaucrats. The Sword of the Prophet is like the priesthood and functions as a path to office and power. Commander Sean is training them. General Walker, the Prophet's main commander, is smart and mean. He was army before the Change. General Graham.
The Rovers are…
…a savage bunch in eastern Oregon who ally with the Cutters. Most of the Rovers' problems stem from not being on very good land and not having the tools and supplies to survive the Change very well. They've become wanderers, moving their herds from one patch of grazing to another.
The Morrigú is the goddess of battle. The First Levy is the primary army for the Mackenzies. Cowan is an impolite term for anyone who doesn't follow the Mackenzie religion. The War of the Eye was that last battle between the Association and our side when Arminger and Havel fought in single combat. The treaty that resulted is known as the Meeting at Corvallis. Winnemucca is an Indian whom Mathilda, Odard, and Ignatius encounter on their way. Pierre Walks Quiet was an Anishinabe who worked for Ingolf's father and taught Ingolf some survival skills.
Nantucket appears to have been the epicenter of the EMP. A passenger pigeon has made a reappearance.
The Cover and Title
The cover is in the trademark browns with the dark brown of the road at the base and gradating up into cream in the top half. That sky is terrifying with the feeling of brown dust hovering in the air while the mountains in the distance and the curving road give the impression of a long journey ahead. It's Rudi front and center in leathers and a fur jacket with his back to us and slightly turned to the right, his crossbow dangling from his belt.
The title is where Rudi and his company are heading on a Quest to The Sunrise Lands.
February 26, 2025
Do love when the protagonist role gets passed down to the next generation
July 6, 2018
*heavy groan* By all the gods and goddesses, this was miserable...
First of all, I felt like I was reading a poorly written fantasy by some teenager that had just discovered paganism. There was an air of "trying too hard" when it comes to Celtic mythology, witchcraft, and paganism, as if they author only just recently found out about paganism and felt a compulsion to tell everybody about it at every given opportunity.
Also, seems to me it's a little more respectable to The Lady to refer to her as the Maiden, Mother, and CRONE, not HAG. I dunno, maybe that's something personal to me, but that really ticked me off when I read it. Yeah, yeah, I know that by official definition they're pretty much two words for about the same idea, but it's the principle of the thing!
Okay, I'll stop complaining about the way the Old Religion was stomped on and talk about other stuff.
Come on now, Scots in Oregon? That's what I'm getting from this. That somehow, even though such a thing isn't logical whatsoever, this one little settlement in Oregon is full of Scots. It's like the author couldn't decide if this was supposed to be a historical fiction or a futuristic fiction novel and tried to combine the two and it just works all wrong. These two things really don't mesh well. Although, if this were taking place in SCOTLAND, I'd probably be able to suspend my disbelief a little more, but it's not. It's all the way on the other side of the world, and yet these people dress, act, and speak like Scots from medieval times? Are you kidding me?
The story was really slow. There was too much babbling about things that didn't matter (the author goes into strict detail about their various meals and snacks, for example), and the perspectives swap out too much. There's too much "history" and politics going on here and not enough focus on what's happening NOW of enough attention to real character development. I get that there are apparently a lot of other books in this universe, and when you have something like that going on, you do need to explain a few things that have happened in previous books within that universe, but this goes beyond that. It's like the author was explaining everything that happened to everybody and their mama's grandma's sister's lover's niece's best friend's life, but not enough about the characters we're supposed to be most focused on and following here.
I didn't give a flying leap about any of the characters, either. I found not a one of them at all compelling or interesting.
This book is a real snore and I'm really glad I paid 30 cents for it. It's maybe worth that much, but not a penny more.
First of all, I felt like I was reading a poorly written fantasy by some teenager that had just discovered paganism. There was an air of "trying too hard" when it comes to Celtic mythology, witchcraft, and paganism, as if they author only just recently found out about paganism and felt a compulsion to tell everybody about it at every given opportunity.
Also, seems to me it's a little more respectable to The Lady to refer to her as the Maiden, Mother, and CRONE, not HAG. I dunno, maybe that's something personal to me, but that really ticked me off when I read it. Yeah, yeah, I know that by official definition they're pretty much two words for about the same idea, but it's the principle of the thing!
Okay, I'll stop complaining about the way the Old Religion was stomped on and talk about other stuff.
Come on now, Scots in Oregon? That's what I'm getting from this. That somehow, even though such a thing isn't logical whatsoever, this one little settlement in Oregon is full of Scots. It's like the author couldn't decide if this was supposed to be a historical fiction or a futuristic fiction novel and tried to combine the two and it just works all wrong. These two things really don't mesh well. Although, if this were taking place in SCOTLAND, I'd probably be able to suspend my disbelief a little more, but it's not. It's all the way on the other side of the world, and yet these people dress, act, and speak like Scots from medieval times? Are you kidding me?
The story was really slow. There was too much babbling about things that didn't matter (the author goes into strict detail about their various meals and snacks, for example), and the perspectives swap out too much. There's too much "history" and politics going on here and not enough focus on what's happening NOW of enough attention to real character development. I get that there are apparently a lot of other books in this universe, and when you have something like that going on, you do need to explain a few things that have happened in previous books within that universe, but this goes beyond that. It's like the author was explaining everything that happened to everybody and their mama's grandma's sister's lover's niece's best friend's life, but not enough about the characters we're supposed to be most focused on and following here.
I didn't give a flying leap about any of the characters, either. I found not a one of them at all compelling or interesting.
This book is a real snore and I'm really glad I paid 30 cents for it. It's maybe worth that much, but not a penny more.
June 23, 2011
** "The Sunrise Lands" (Emberverse #4, but my first) by S.M. Stirling explains enough alternate western/ medieval technology-less future U.S. background to incorporatet earlier "Change" books. But I have divided the star rating for demanding I read a sequel. After major bloody fights, the ending leaves the questers heading east to Nantucket for answers in a big pickle. Ingol gets to Oregon and finds the Clan Mackenzie Chief's successor to be called "The Sword of the Lady" from old prophecy. The intrepid band swells, but the narrative flows well even as focus shifts to different characters.
I managed Lord of the Rings when I was nine, because my speed reading was at its peak. Every Elvish and Gaelic expression or invented expression here made me stumble and lose momentum. Not fun.
I like learning new words, but RenFair, for Renaissance Fair, and related costume terms I couldn't find with google or wikipedia stretches my patience. Cotte-hardie is a "hardy coat", medieval French unisex tunic, usually sleeveless and high-neck. Hodden, the color of the Toronto Scottish militia, is gray-pinkish-brown, supposedly plain to not favor a specific clan plaid. Two generations past WW1, my impression of the conflict is blood and mud, so I would suggest the choice was based on camouflage. Unfulled wool has not been washed (with fuller's earth, or earlier, urine). A rood cross is a full-sized crucifix with male hanging figure. A sallet is a war helmet. Brigadine is light armor, small rectangular metal plates riveted to cloth or leather. Arsaid may be a plaid cloth strip, large and wide enough for a hood or cape. Menies seems made-up.
The large number of acknowledgements suggests others are partly to blame for too much fiddly detail. I think the author would have been better to stick to his own limited imagination. At least songs are mostly in English and relevant.
I managed Lord of the Rings when I was nine, because my speed reading was at its peak. Every Elvish and Gaelic expression or invented expression here made me stumble and lose momentum. Not fun.
I like learning new words, but RenFair, for Renaissance Fair, and related costume terms I couldn't find with google or wikipedia stretches my patience. Cotte-hardie is a "hardy coat", medieval French unisex tunic, usually sleeveless and high-neck. Hodden, the color of the Toronto Scottish militia, is gray-pinkish-brown, supposedly plain to not favor a specific clan plaid. Two generations past WW1, my impression of the conflict is blood and mud, so I would suggest the choice was based on camouflage. Unfulled wool has not been washed (with fuller's earth, or earlier, urine). A rood cross is a full-sized crucifix with male hanging figure. A sallet is a war helmet. Brigadine is light armor, small rectangular metal plates riveted to cloth or leather. Arsaid may be a plaid cloth strip, large and wide enough for a hood or cape. Menies seems made-up.
The large number of acknowledgements suggests others are partly to blame for too much fiddly detail. I think the author would have been better to stick to his own limited imagination. At least songs are mostly in English and relevant.
July 24, 2013
I wanted to give this book 4 stars until I got to the end and was disappointed that it left so many story threads open. I understand it is the first of a three book trilogy, which is itself the third trilogy in this this series; but I expected more closure at the end. I would really be upset if I didn't already have the next book in hand.
The story is about the quest of Rudi McKenzie who is one of the first generation born after the change and is in line to someday take over the clan which lives in Oregon. The first three novels in the second trilogy dealt with the events shortly after the change and by now the post-change world has settled in somewhat and the new normal is slowly being established.
On this quest, Rudi and his group run into several challenges as they discover the various political and territorial lands east of their home. This is the first time we get to know more about some of these groups and Stirling does a good job of painting the picture of life under different groups.
The action scenes are well-written and small taste we get of what happened on Nantucket Island on this side of the change (the original trilogy deals with Nantucket on their side of the change) which is very mysterious and hopefully more fully explained in the next book or two. The characters are real and easy to understand and the book reads d\faster than many in this series, but that ending...Oh well. I guess I will have to get going to the next volume soon.
As a side note, I would not read this until you have at least read the three books in the second trilogy because you need to understand what has been happening in the last 20 years and as this trilogy proceeds, knowledge of Nantucket form the first three books is likely to be helpful. Overall a series that should be read in order.
The story is about the quest of Rudi McKenzie who is one of the first generation born after the change and is in line to someday take over the clan which lives in Oregon. The first three novels in the second trilogy dealt with the events shortly after the change and by now the post-change world has settled in somewhat and the new normal is slowly being established.
On this quest, Rudi and his group run into several challenges as they discover the various political and territorial lands east of their home. This is the first time we get to know more about some of these groups and Stirling does a good job of painting the picture of life under different groups.
The action scenes are well-written and small taste we get of what happened on Nantucket Island on this side of the change (the original trilogy deals with Nantucket on their side of the change) which is very mysterious and hopefully more fully explained in the next book or two. The characters are real and easy to understand and the book reads d\faster than many in this series, but that ending...Oh well. I guess I will have to get going to the next volume soon.
As a side note, I would not read this until you have at least read the three books in the second trilogy because you need to understand what has been happening in the last 20 years and as this trilogy proceeds, knowledge of Nantucket form the first three books is likely to be helpful. Overall a series that should be read in order.
December 17, 2012
This book follows the adventures of the children from the first trilogy set after The Change. That's also the reason it took me so long to read this, and why I checked it out from the library, rather than buying it.
The pace of this book feels slower than the previous three, and not in a good way. At times, it felt ponderous and difficult to continue through, especially coming at it straight after the fast-reading books by John Scalzi I was reading previously.
In this book, a man from the eastern end of the former United States travels west to the former Oregon to bring back Rudi Mackenzie, who must be taken to Nantucket. The man from the east is driven by dreams after his own visit to Nantucket, and Rudi and his mother both know the danger of defying the Gods.
The story brings up a lot more supernatural elements than previous books, and I always felt those were a weak point in the story. There has to be something going on to explain The Change, but adding more just feels goofy.
I also don't care much for the children, and found myself wanting to know more about the adults from the previous books. Rudi always kind of irritated me, and I liked the main characters from the previous groups. Additionally, my favorite nation was the Bearkillers, and they don't feature at all in this book.
Despite all my little disappoints with the book, it was okay. It's still a setting I like, and I want to see what happens from here. I'll finish this series, but I don't know if I'm going to keep reading beyond this, if any more do come out.
The pace of this book feels slower than the previous three, and not in a good way. At times, it felt ponderous and difficult to continue through, especially coming at it straight after the fast-reading books by John Scalzi I was reading previously.
In this book, a man from the eastern end of the former United States travels west to the former Oregon to bring back Rudi Mackenzie, who must be taken to Nantucket. The man from the east is driven by dreams after his own visit to Nantucket, and Rudi and his mother both know the danger of defying the Gods.
The story brings up a lot more supernatural elements than previous books, and I always felt those were a weak point in the story. There has to be something going on to explain The Change, but adding more just feels goofy.
I also don't care much for the children, and found myself wanting to know more about the adults from the previous books. Rudi always kind of irritated me, and I liked the main characters from the previous groups. Additionally, my favorite nation was the Bearkillers, and they don't feature at all in this book.
Despite all my little disappoints with the book, it was okay. It's still a setting I like, and I want to see what happens from here. I'll finish this series, but I don't know if I'm going to keep reading beyond this, if any more do come out.
July 22, 2011
This book is the beginning of a new story arc set in the same world as the first three books of the Emberverse but the main characters are the children of the ones in the first story arc. It starts out 12 years later and we quickly find out that Rudi Mackenzie, Mathilda, Mary, and Ritva are all going to take center stage with a couple of new characters and a scary new group as villans. This story is going to let Stirling explore more of the country and is set up as a quest early on. The action is still good and the plot moves at a good pace though there is some flash backs to help get the back story established and so you learn enough to get a feel for some new characters. One thing that is woven through this entire series is how stuff from before the Change has morphed into a more central role in the society and especially in the sub cultures in the post Change world. You really start to see this now with the main characters more of the post Change world and it is just a fun element when reading. The other shift is that the villian has more of a evil mystical feeling and the fantasy elements of the story really become more key with the quest the main characters are on as well. This was my first reread of this part of the series and I was pleasantly surprised at how much more of the story I had forgot particularly the back story so it was almost like reading it new again which was nice also.
June 27, 2013
First of all, you can definitely read this book without having read the first three in the series. Stirling provides plenty of context, so I never felt lost.
Sunrise follows the basic quest trope, with a group of well-drawn characters setting out in a dystopic America where swords and longbows are the norm. There's a good bit of politics, since the country has been divided up into petty kingdoms that are always either at war or nearly so.
This is a character-driven adventure, and Stirling spends a lot of time creating context and backstory. There's always a lot going on, so this never became dull (though it's clear that Stirling is really into archery and the mechanics of defensive armour). There's some romantic potential here, but it's only hinted at in this book. Significantly, Stirling writes very strong female characters who are just as deadly as the men--something I really enjoyed.
Read this book if you'd like to start an adventure by getting to know some young heroes-to-be. While there's a ton of action, there is no resolution of the main conflict in this book. I'll definitely be reading on.
A note on the audiobook version: very well done. Though I imagine the Gaelic accent might annoy some people, I was able to buy into the idea of a reinvented medieval world complete with a lilt. The narrator does a fabulous job of giving Rudi, in particular, a voice that expresses his clever, wry character.
Sunrise follows the basic quest trope, with a group of well-drawn characters setting out in a dystopic America where swords and longbows are the norm. There's a good bit of politics, since the country has been divided up into petty kingdoms that are always either at war or nearly so.
This is a character-driven adventure, and Stirling spends a lot of time creating context and backstory. There's always a lot going on, so this never became dull (though it's clear that Stirling is really into archery and the mechanics of defensive armour). There's some romantic potential here, but it's only hinted at in this book. Significantly, Stirling writes very strong female characters who are just as deadly as the men--something I really enjoyed.
Read this book if you'd like to start an adventure by getting to know some young heroes-to-be. While there's a ton of action, there is no resolution of the main conflict in this book. I'll definitely be reading on.
A note on the audiobook version: very well done. Though I imagine the Gaelic accent might annoy some people, I was able to buy into the idea of a reinvented medieval world complete with a lilt. The narrator does a fabulous job of giving Rudi, in particular, a voice that expresses his clever, wry character.
March 30, 2013
Fantastic. Anytime that a writer decides to end a trilogy or a series, skip a decade or two and then pick up with the previous character's children you have to wonder if something is going to be lost in the transition. In this case I was really worried because I really liked the older characters and it didn't help that one of my favorites (Mike Havel) died at the end of the last book.
All that aside, this was a great book and I'll definitely continue the series from here as I can happen to find the books at the library, or beg, borrow, and steal to get them.
I like Rudi, and I love Ingolf and Edain. More than that, I love post apocalyptic fiction and this is great because after confining the first few books to the pacific northwest the writer is now taking the reader across the old continental United States in an epic Lord of the Rings style quest and we get to see how the rest of the country has fallen apart.
Personally, I hope that the Roman Legions reborn out of Boise make more of an appearance as well because there's something heartwarming to me about someone resurrecting them. Maybe because it's what I personally would choose as well. I mean, horses would be in short supply after the change but a legionary will always have his legs!
All that aside, this was a great book and I'll definitely continue the series from here as I can happen to find the books at the library, or beg, borrow, and steal to get them.
I like Rudi, and I love Ingolf and Edain. More than that, I love post apocalyptic fiction and this is great because after confining the first few books to the pacific northwest the writer is now taking the reader across the old continental United States in an epic Lord of the Rings style quest and we get to see how the rest of the country has fallen apart.
Personally, I hope that the Roman Legions reborn out of Boise make more of an appearance as well because there's something heartwarming to me about someone resurrecting them. Maybe because it's what I personally would choose as well. I mean, horses would be in short supply after the change but a legionary will always have his legs!
October 7, 2010
I was really excited to start on this next chapter of the Emberverse series and it doesn't disappoint! Rudy MacKenzie is finally all grown up and having his own adventures in pursuit of peace. Now that the Protectorate is essentially neutered, a new menace sets in to fill the vaccuum. Enter The Prophet, a faceless entity who rules the downtrodden and helpless by making them his slaves and imposing a bizarre religion with himself as the word of God. As the Prophets army spreads itself like a plague ruining trading routes and killing peaceful villages, the MacKenies, Corvallians and debunked Protectorate communities need to work together to fight this new threat. Fortunately, Ingolf Vogeler, a mercenary and metals dealer is not only betrayed by one of the Prophets men, but has an important dream about Rudy MacKenzie. He heads west and eventually is able to find the MacKenzie clan and relay his tale. Rudy, Ingolf, Matilda, Rudy's twin sisters and others set off to discover the meaning behind Ingolf's dream...a quest that includes plenty of fights with the Prophet's men, but is ultimately destined for the shores of Nantucket, the source of whatever caused the "Change" of 1998.
March 13, 2009
We're now 20+ years after "the change" (as the characters name the event in 1999 when the laws of physics changed out of nowhere and prevented electricity and internal combustion) and the first generation of "changlings" has grown up. Rudi, son of Juniper McKenzie finds himself on an unanticipated and not quite desired quest which takes him to parts east, thus letting us see how other parts of the former US have fared. The various societies that have formed and shaken out are fairly believable, and I was especially amused by the Ted Kaczinski-esque "Prophet" of the Church Universal and Triumphant.
Oh, and I definitely appreciated getting a genuine Christian character into the mix in the figure of Father Ignatius. Catholic though he may be, his theology is strongly CS Lewis. :)
Of course, the story ends abruptly with our heroes separated from one another and in great danger, so I must of course immediately obtain "The Scourge of God!"
Oh, and I definitely appreciated getting a genuine Christian character into the mix in the figure of Father Ignatius. Catholic though he may be, his theology is strongly CS Lewis. :)
Of course, the story ends abruptly with our heroes separated from one another and in great danger, so I must of course immediately obtain "The Scourge of God!"
January 21, 2014
Pretty disappointing to be left completely handing at the end, after investing hours listening to this book. I read the first "change" trilogy -- Island in the Sea of Time -- and liked it. It never left you hanging like this one does. The story was okay but to leave it dangling is just wrong. The flashbacks made the audio a challenge, as I did not always catch the date at the beginning of a chapter.
I doubt I will bother with the rest of the series unless I find the audio at a very deep discount somewhere. I'm not even going to describe the plot, as other reviewers have done it masterfully. This was not a bad book at all. The 2 stars is solely a result of just leaving everything hanging. A book is not the last TV show of the season. And this series is not up to the standard of The Game of Thrones to get away with ending it with cliffhanger. There are just to many books that I want to read to put up with this type of series nonsense.
I doubt I will bother with the rest of the series unless I find the audio at a very deep discount somewhere. I'm not even going to describe the plot, as other reviewers have done it masterfully. This was not a bad book at all. The 2 stars is solely a result of just leaving everything hanging. A book is not the last TV show of the season. And this series is not up to the standard of The Game of Thrones to get away with ending it with cliffhanger. There are just to many books that I want to read to put up with this type of series nonsense.
September 30, 2008
I like SF/Disaster-type novels. Rebuilding civilization even. Heck, I liked the tv series Jericho.
I don't care for fantasy. This series is rapidly becoming fantasy. I feel kind of cheated. I thought in this part of the series we were going to find out why the Change happened. While it's interesting to see what went on east of Oregon, it's getting more and more like fantasy. While no one seems to have developed magical powers yet and little fairies and elves have not cropped up, I had to just skim the last part.
Oh wait. There *are* magical visions and powers cropping up! D'oh! It's getting fantastical. Drat.
I expect I'll keep hanging on just to see what the Change is all about, but I'll be doing it skimming style.
I don't care for fantasy. This series is rapidly becoming fantasy. I feel kind of cheated. I thought in this part of the series we were going to find out why the Change happened. While it's interesting to see what went on east of Oregon, it's getting more and more like fantasy. While no one seems to have developed magical powers yet and little fairies and elves have not cropped up, I had to just skim the last part.
Oh wait. There *are* magical visions and powers cropping up! D'oh! It's getting fantastical. Drat.
I expect I'll keep hanging on just to see what the Change is all about, but I'll be doing it skimming style.
August 14, 2012
I enjoyed Stirling's Nantucket books, so I looked forward to the Emberverse series. The first two were ok, but things started going downhill quickly. By the time I got to this volume, it was a struggle to keep reading. Stirling is trying too hard to be J.R.R. Tolkien -- and failing at it. The long, long, descriptions of battle scene minutiae became unbearable to read after awhile. I finished The Sunrise Lands -- with difficulty -- and gave up on the rest of the series.
March 3, 2009
I'm kind of over the series... however, there is one more and I feel like I need to know how it's going to end. Stirling has gotten away from the main characters in the first series, and didn't do as much character development but with a few key characters. Furthermore, it has become more SciFi in a prophecy spiritual nonsensical way.
December 26, 2008
See my review of "The Protector's War."
The Sunrise lands is moderately more interesting than the previous books in the series in that the characters begin to get hints about the nature of "The Change" and start to explore it.
I won't talk about the plot except to say that Stirling appears to be repeating / drawing heavily on the quest for the holy grail.
The Sunrise lands is moderately more interesting than the previous books in the series in that the characters begin to get hints about the nature of "The Change" and start to explore it.
I won't talk about the plot except to say that Stirling appears to be repeating / drawing heavily on the quest for the holy grail.
June 24, 2016
I had high hopes for this series. It started with an interesting and unique idea that left the reader wondering what was going on in the world and how everyone is struggling to survive in it.
Then the author apparently became a Tolkien fan and the characters actually believe they live in Middle Earth.
Then the author apparently became a Tolkien fan and the characters actually believe they live in Middle Earth.
June 16, 2019
A confusing book with so many themes.
August 19, 2023
This series began very weakly with "Dies the Fire" and particularly the 2nd in the series, "The Protector's War". It took off significantly with the third one, "A Meeting at Corvallis". Now we bounce ahead another 12 years, almost passing the generation that grew up and faced the Change and now starting to open up a world increasingly lived and run by people who grew up after the Change.
As such, there's a constant divide that exists between the older characters and the younger; its remarked upon directly a few times, almost a sort of "old world blues", where the people who knew the modern world of computers and electronics are still existing in this post-apocalyptic pre-industrial world and still feeling a bit as though they were not wholly 'there', not truly belonging to the new world.
The sense that the needs of survival, not just physical but mental and emotional, meant that they had to essentially roleplay as a new version of themselves. There's still a sense of play about the whole lording around, calling people "Barons" or "Lords", wearing metal armor and using long spears and swords. There's a sense that if the Change were suddenly undone, they would be shocked, possibly suffer a lot of PTSD, but would ultimately be relieved and return to their old way of lives.
The so-called "Changelings", kids who grew up after the Change, are absolutely in their element. This is the real world for them. If the Change were undone, they would be the strangers in a strange land, forced to adapt to a world of utter fantasy to them.
As Ken Larson said in an earlier book, him and his daughter's and Mike Havel's generation is essentially going to be the last to know the stuff of easy access to resources, air conditioning, cars, instant electronic entertainment, and more than that, a level of freedom from base survivalism, one where leisure and thinking beyond the thoughts of crops and livestock and life or death politics. Their generation will become the stuff of legends, like Heracles, Romulus, Gilgamesh, Huangdi.
As well, we now start to see a very, very subtle, growing sense of the mystical starting to emerge from this world. And because of how the Change worked, changing the laws of physics, it's entirely possible that this sudden seepage of supernatural elements is something directly related to the Change, and warranting further contemplation, particularly for the older folk before they begin to grow old and die.
A newcomer enters the series, Ingolf Vogeler, a rancher turned mercenary from Wisconsin who was tasked to investigate the unusual occurrences in Nantucket in the far east, where the events of the "Island in the Sea of Time" series began, starting off the Change and this series.
All grown up now as well are the likes of Rudi Mackenzie, son of Juniper Mackenzie, Mathilda Arminger, daughter of Norman Arminger, Odard Liu, son of Eddie Liu, and Ritva and Mary Havel, daughters of Signe and Mike, Lord Bear. A supernatural incident experienced by Vogeler (including a possible teasing of alternate universes or timelines) leads him west to Rudi and his gang, and to the grand quest to Nantucket to get ahold of this "Sword of the Lady" or whatever it is.
That means this group, including a Benedictine warrior-monk, has to travel across the entire continental US. The journey massively opens up the world of the Change, as we get to see colorful additions such as the United States of Boise, clinging to the dream of old America while taking on vaguely Roman style military composition, or the Mormon Republic of New Deseret, in a dangerous position as buffer state between the western factions and the vast, Montana-based cult, the Church Universal and Triumphant (an actual real life cult) which has taken on a "Fallout New Vegas Caesar's Legion" style, swarming the lands, massacring men, enslaving women, and conscripting children to be indoctrinated and trained to be warriors of their faith.
The CUT, led by their Prophet, initially come across as something of an almost one-dimensional cartoonish evil faction, with hints of supernatural abilities among themselves as well, and a seemingly unrealistic sense of invincibility in their nonstop conquests.
But later on in the book we get to see the Cutters, as they're called, at the ground level; from the point of view of the conquered, forced to adopt the religion and take part in the atrocities. It's a typical but necessary and realistic narrative device to depict large swaths of the "ravenous horde" enemy as actual normal humans, some of them being forced by circumstance and others simply thriving in a new life where their old ones promised them only a hard life on a small farm or ranch.
The greater realm of politics unfolding in this new world is immensely entertaining and if you've already read the Nantucket series beginning with "Island in the Sea of Time", then Rudi's quest also takes upon a much larger significance and level of interest.
As such, there's a constant divide that exists between the older characters and the younger; its remarked upon directly a few times, almost a sort of "old world blues", where the people who knew the modern world of computers and electronics are still existing in this post-apocalyptic pre-industrial world and still feeling a bit as though they were not wholly 'there', not truly belonging to the new world.
The sense that the needs of survival, not just physical but mental and emotional, meant that they had to essentially roleplay as a new version of themselves. There's still a sense of play about the whole lording around, calling people "Barons" or "Lords", wearing metal armor and using long spears and swords. There's a sense that if the Change were suddenly undone, they would be shocked, possibly suffer a lot of PTSD, but would ultimately be relieved and return to their old way of lives.
The so-called "Changelings", kids who grew up after the Change, are absolutely in their element. This is the real world for them. If the Change were undone, they would be the strangers in a strange land, forced to adapt to a world of utter fantasy to them.
As Ken Larson said in an earlier book, him and his daughter's and Mike Havel's generation is essentially going to be the last to know the stuff of easy access to resources, air conditioning, cars, instant electronic entertainment, and more than that, a level of freedom from base survivalism, one where leisure and thinking beyond the thoughts of crops and livestock and life or death politics. Their generation will become the stuff of legends, like Heracles, Romulus, Gilgamesh, Huangdi.
As well, we now start to see a very, very subtle, growing sense of the mystical starting to emerge from this world. And because of how the Change worked, changing the laws of physics, it's entirely possible that this sudden seepage of supernatural elements is something directly related to the Change, and warranting further contemplation, particularly for the older folk before they begin to grow old and die.
A newcomer enters the series, Ingolf Vogeler, a rancher turned mercenary from Wisconsin who was tasked to investigate the unusual occurrences in Nantucket in the far east, where the events of the "Island in the Sea of Time" series began, starting off the Change and this series.
All grown up now as well are the likes of Rudi Mackenzie, son of Juniper Mackenzie, Mathilda Arminger, daughter of Norman Arminger, Odard Liu, son of Eddie Liu, and Ritva and Mary Havel, daughters of Signe and Mike, Lord Bear. A supernatural incident experienced by Vogeler (including a possible teasing of alternate universes or timelines) leads him west to Rudi and his gang, and to the grand quest to Nantucket to get ahold of this "Sword of the Lady" or whatever it is.
That means this group, including a Benedictine warrior-monk, has to travel across the entire continental US. The journey massively opens up the world of the Change, as we get to see colorful additions such as the United States of Boise, clinging to the dream of old America while taking on vaguely Roman style military composition, or the Mormon Republic of New Deseret, in a dangerous position as buffer state between the western factions and the vast, Montana-based cult, the Church Universal and Triumphant (an actual real life cult) which has taken on a "Fallout New Vegas Caesar's Legion" style, swarming the lands, massacring men, enslaving women, and conscripting children to be indoctrinated and trained to be warriors of their faith.
The CUT, led by their Prophet, initially come across as something of an almost one-dimensional cartoonish evil faction, with hints of supernatural abilities among themselves as well, and a seemingly unrealistic sense of invincibility in their nonstop conquests.
But later on in the book we get to see the Cutters, as they're called, at the ground level; from the point of view of the conquered, forced to adopt the religion and take part in the atrocities. It's a typical but necessary and realistic narrative device to depict large swaths of the "ravenous horde" enemy as actual normal humans, some of them being forced by circumstance and others simply thriving in a new life where their old ones promised them only a hard life on a small farm or ranch.
The greater realm of politics unfolding in this new world is immensely entertaining and if you've already read the Nantucket series beginning with "Island in the Sea of Time", then Rudi's quest also takes upon a much larger significance and level of interest.
February 22, 2023
In the second three book ark of the Change series, we're dealing primarily with a second generation of characters. The children of the rulers/leaders of the various groups and factions from the initial trilogy, plus new characters introduced throughout the arc that are children of rulers/leaders of other groups around the continent. There's a pretty clear thematic focus on heredity and feudalism, as well a more supernatural good v. evil theme. I think there's a bit of the hero's journey combined with the long journey of LotR as the ever expanding party journeys across the continent gathering allies and facing challenges before reaching the goal of their quest. The story also skews a lot harder into Fantasy territory, with magic becoming a real thing...though by the end of this three book ark I think there's an attempt to reign it back around to pseudo-science. The magic elements give us some nice material teasing the edge of horror, but honestly I think I would have preferred the story stay grounded primarily in the low-fantasy/no magic space with the function and cause of the Change left entirely unexplained. There's also a little bit of the weirdly specific and unsettling anti-lesbian commentary from the prequel trilogy rearing its head here, though in a much more subdued way. Its strange that its so specific given that no other part of the lgbtqia+ community gets that treatment in the books. By the second book there are some of the pacing issues and repetitive plot element problems that I think the final book of the initial trilogy suffered from, though nothing that flat out made me quit reading. There's an effort made to acknowledge that the characters themselves feel a bit frustrated with the pacing of their own adventures around the time it gets burdensome here as well, so Stirling was undoubtedly aware of it. That begs the question, why not alter the pacing instead though? I'll probably read through at least one more arc, which should bring me to the conclusion of this particular generation's story and the 'return of the king' and vanquishing of the supernatural foes arc, as they were in the pile I was given, but unless a few of the factors that lead me to feel indifferent to the story overall change that's probably where I'll stop.
March 4, 2018
22 years after the Change (a phenomenon where all electronics, machines and anything requiring an explosive nature - firearms and combustion engines) all suddenly stopped working), and the world is starting to somewhat settle into the new "norm".
Sword for hire, Ingolf Vogeler finds himself having recurring dreams after visiting the strange area around Nantucket Island. These dreams driving him across the country to what was the Portland, Oregon area to meet up with the group known as the Mackenzie clan. There he finds Rudi Mackenzie, son and heir of the Clan Chief and Priestess and knows he's found the person he must escort back to Nantucket.
Rudi, having been told since birth that he was destined for something great, now understands that the "something great" means having to leave home with this strange Easterner. He takes with him a strange group... his twin half sisters who were raised in a community that venerates the works of Tolkein and treat his books as histories and use Elvish as their main language, a dear friend who is the Royal Princess of the Portland Protectorate (a community created around the Society for Creative Anachronism) and this Easterner. Along the way they encounter folks of the Reunited States of America (military from the former USA who are trying to bring the country back together). The USA folk and Rudi find themselves both being the focus of the Church Universal and Triumphant, or CUT, a theocratic community lead by a power crazed Prophet, who seems determined to end both groups.
Even though this is book for of the Change World series, this is the first book in the second trilogy and I had no problem with reading this book, even though I have not read the first trilogy. I captured my attention and ended in such a way that I definitely want to continue to see what happens next.
Sword for hire, Ingolf Vogeler finds himself having recurring dreams after visiting the strange area around Nantucket Island. These dreams driving him across the country to what was the Portland, Oregon area to meet up with the group known as the Mackenzie clan. There he finds Rudi Mackenzie, son and heir of the Clan Chief and Priestess and knows he's found the person he must escort back to Nantucket.
Rudi, having been told since birth that he was destined for something great, now understands that the "something great" means having to leave home with this strange Easterner. He takes with him a strange group... his twin half sisters who were raised in a community that venerates the works of Tolkein and treat his books as histories and use Elvish as their main language, a dear friend who is the Royal Princess of the Portland Protectorate (a community created around the Society for Creative Anachronism) and this Easterner. Along the way they encounter folks of the Reunited States of America (military from the former USA who are trying to bring the country back together). The USA folk and Rudi find themselves both being the focus of the Church Universal and Triumphant, or CUT, a theocratic community lead by a power crazed Prophet, who seems determined to end both groups.
Even though this is book for of the Change World series, this is the first book in the second trilogy and I had no problem with reading this book, even though I have not read the first trilogy. I captured my attention and ended in such a way that I definitely want to continue to see what happens next.
September 30, 2019
This can almost be classified as the start of a new series. There is a significant time jump of 10 or more years. We know follow the younger generation and things being to get ... strange.
My first complaint is that several characters who were key in the first 3 installments of the series mysteriously disappear and you have to piece together that they were killed off screen without so much as a mention most of the time. Outside of that this book does a good job of setting the stage for the next leg of the series. There is a good mix of action and filler, though with such separation from the events of the first book we are now firmly planted in the realm of alternate universe fantasy. In a way I find this sad as I know that is the entire premise of the series, but the first book was a really stellar post apocalyptic piece. Alas, what could have been had the pacing been slowed down and more focus placed on post apocalypse vs alternate history fantasy but this is what we have.
Similar to book #2 this book is largely filler with the primary characters preparing for their grand quest. Although I believe that the execution in this book is superior to that of book #2 due to less usage of flash backs and a more linear progression. Still there is a good amount of action straight from the word go. You get introduced (and re-introduced) to the new main cast. Overall a solid entry that still suffers from generally pedestrian writing.
My first complaint is that several characters who were key in the first 3 installments of the series mysteriously disappear and you have to piece together that they were killed off screen without so much as a mention most of the time. Outside of that this book does a good job of setting the stage for the next leg of the series. There is a good mix of action and filler, though with such separation from the events of the first book we are now firmly planted in the realm of alternate universe fantasy. In a way I find this sad as I know that is the entire premise of the series, but the first book was a really stellar post apocalyptic piece. Alas, what could have been had the pacing been slowed down and more focus placed on post apocalypse vs alternate history fantasy but this is what we have.
Similar to book #2 this book is largely filler with the primary characters preparing for their grand quest. Although I believe that the execution in this book is superior to that of book #2 due to less usage of flash backs and a more linear progression. Still there is a good amount of action straight from the word go. You get introduced (and re-introduced) to the new main cast. Overall a solid entry that still suffers from generally pedestrian writing.
February 8, 2025
Having enjoyed the initial three books in the series, I was curious to see where S.M. Stirling would take the story next. While this book maintained the familiar elements I appreciated before, it also seemed to follow a pattern reminiscent of *The Fellowship of the Ring* with its own unique twists.
One of the striking parallels is the formation of an expedition composed of individuals from different places and backgrounds. Much like Tolkien's famous fellowship, this group bands together with a shared purpose, navigating dangers and overcoming challenges along the way. It’s clear that the characters themselves are inspired by stories like *The Lord of the Rings*, which creates a fun meta-layer for readers familiar with those literary influences.
A main theme in these books is that if you take away the usage of engines, electricity, and any type of explosives, many parts of the world will go back to feudalism—an interesting concept that Stirling explores in depth. The societal shifts and adaptations in this post-technological world offer thought-provoking moments throughout the story.
Overall, this book offers a satisfying return to the Emberverse for readers who love the blend of post-apocalyptic adventure and epic fantasy elements. It’s a good read, though for me, it lacked the spark of originality that made the earlier books so memorable.
One of the striking parallels is the formation of an expedition composed of individuals from different places and backgrounds. Much like Tolkien's famous fellowship, this group bands together with a shared purpose, navigating dangers and overcoming challenges along the way. It’s clear that the characters themselves are inspired by stories like *The Lord of the Rings*, which creates a fun meta-layer for readers familiar with those literary influences.
A main theme in these books is that if you take away the usage of engines, electricity, and any type of explosives, many parts of the world will go back to feudalism—an interesting concept that Stirling explores in depth. The societal shifts and adaptations in this post-technological world offer thought-provoking moments throughout the story.
Overall, this book offers a satisfying return to the Emberverse for readers who love the blend of post-apocalyptic adventure and epic fantasy elements. It’s a good read, though for me, it lacked the spark of originality that made the earlier books so memorable.
December 18, 2018
S.M. Stirling keeps writing them, and I keep reading them - they're like candy. They are solid, and if you liked the first one (or three), you'll enjoy these later books in this long-running series, but seriously, his writing style is so detail heavy that I have started to skip small sections just to speed things up. Each camp is described in minute detail (even though they are all laid out the same way), each piece of armor and weapon is explained, and every death is laid out in graphic minutiae (even though everyone seems to die the same way - by emptying their bowels).
A welcome addition this this volume is a deeper exploration of some new factions as the party heads further east, and some big clues dropped about the cause of the whole thing (Alien Space Bats, anyone?). A great entry, and I look forward to the next one (and the next one, and the next...).
A welcome addition this this volume is a deeper exploration of some new factions as the party heads further east, and some big clues dropped about the cause of the whole thing (Alien Space Bats, anyone?). A great entry, and I look forward to the next one (and the next one, and the next...).
November 17, 2020
This book was engaging and well put together from the very start. The first chapter sucked me back into the world of post-Change North America and its various cultures. I loved the numerous references to literature and fandom, everything from the Terminator to H.P. Lovecraft to Lord of the Rings pops up in this story, which is really no different from the previous works in the series. The more you know about the world, the more there is to discover in this book. I was shocked when I came to the end of the book because there's so much more of this tale to be told. Bring on book 5!
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