The Heart of the Sands

The Gods Within #3

by J.L. Doty

Now a Benesh'ere slave, every whiteface in the tribe hungers for Morgin's death. But he is Harriok's property, and while Harriok remains in a coma, a victim of the venom of the sand cat's sixth claw, the warriors wait and bide their time. As Morgin accompanies them on the March, an affinity for steel is slowly awakening within him, and he truly fears the truths his growing knowledge may reveal.


Rhianne, thinking Morgin is dead, leads a lonely life as a hedge witch in a small village near the Lake of Sorrows. But as she matures, her powers grow far beyond those of a mere village healer. She now has a personal connection to the deadly talismanic sword Morgin brought onto the Mortal Plane, and as she begins to glean its true nature, she fears the fate of all mankind.


As summer approaches and the heat of the sands of the Munjarro grows unbearable, the Benesh'ere are in the midst of their annual migration to the Lake of Sorrows. During the two days it takes to cross the Plains of Quam, their column is repeatedly attacked by companies of Kulls, a game of sport for the halfmen. Morgin fights beside the Benesh'ere to protect the column, and he reluctantly develops empathy for the whitefaces and their way of life


Morgin knows he must overcome Jerst and Blesset's hatred of him, and he regrets the heated words he threw at them shortly before the battle at Csairne Glen. But his only recourse may be to fight them in individual, mortal combat. And as he tries to find a resolution to that situation, he has no idea that he must again face Salula. For thrice and thrice must a blade be born.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Fiction

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2013

About the author

Jim is a full-time SF&F writer, scientist and laser geek (Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, specialty laser physics), and former running-dog-lackey for the bourgeois capitalist establishment. He's been writing for over 30 years, with 15 published books. His first success came through self-publishing when his books went word-of-mouth viral, and sold enough that he was able to quit his day-job, start working for himself and write full time--his new boss is a real jerk. That led to contracts with traditional publishers like Open Road Media and Harper Collins Voyager, and his books are now a mix of traditional and self-published.

The four novels in his new hard science fiction series, The Blacksword Regiment, are scheduled for release in July 2020. Right now he’s fleshing out ideas for the next book in The Dead Among Us, he’s writing another episode in The Treasons Cycle, and he’s working on a new fantasy series The Deck of Chaos.

Jim was born in Seattle, but he's lived most of his life in California, though he did live on the east coast and in Europe for a while. He now resides in Arizona with his wife Karen and three little beings who claim to be cats: Tilda, Julia and Natasha. But Jim is certain they're really extra-terrestrial aliens in disguise.

Reviews

[Paps · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book we see some changes in Morgin and Rhianne, as both grow the control over their powers and learn to accept their roles. This book builds toward an explosive end with understanding the real nature of 'The Sword' or Talisman, that more that the physical aspect of asword it is in fact a power deep in Morgin soul.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like there are more and more inconsistencies the more I read this series. Something is difficult and then 100 pages later, they talk about how easy it is. He gains all these memories of fighting, which translates into other skills, but not fighting. I enjoy the series, but every time I see something like this it throws me out of the story for a bit.

Also, why does it seem like for all these powerhouse wizards running around, pretty much nobody uses it to fight, or do anything except to brow beat the main character. At least for the benesh'ere have the reason that they don't allow it. This last book was screaming Wheel of Time.

[Fredrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as I enjoyed books one and two of the series. They grab your attention and are hard to put down as you keep wanting to know what is next. I am looking forward to getting the 4th and last book of this series. I like read a book and pass it on to someone else to enjoy but ones that I really enjoy are set aside so I can reread them again. And I have added J L Doty authors that I look for when ever I am where book are sold.

[Jonathan Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it to be a bit short but it did progress the story well and illuminated some of the more confusing elements of the previous entries to the series. It doesn't feel like the story is three-quarters done but apparently the next novel is the final one.

As an aside, the names Tullelcoe and Tullalane are way too similar.

[Zurlo Enrico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. This book resembles the first one leaving behind the failure that was book 2. The only suggestion i can make is to drop the POVs of the secondary characters since they didn't add much to the story but just broke the steady rythm of the plot.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

No ending, arrrrghhh!!

[Shady Lubbad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly one of the best books i have ready, can't wait till the next book, i am going to see some of the other books by Doty....

[JL Lucaban · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I know at this point is that, I NEED TO KNOW THE ENDING!

If I get to this point of a series, book or otherwise, it simply means the story's so good it gives me shivers and excitement.