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Burning Crown #1
Hunter's Redoubt
THE SHINING COURT IS RISING
The Lord of the Hells has damaged the barriers between the ancient wilderness and the world of man, and that wilderness has begun to seep into mortal lands. His war to rule the entirety of the mortal world has begun.
ONE KINGDOM STANDS AGAINST THE FALL OF THE WEST
The kingdom of Breodanir is in turmoil. Even the merchant roads in the heart of Breodanir can become wild, unknown places between one step and the next; some have walked those roads, never to return. Now, more than ever, Breodanir has need of Hunter Lords as symbols of strength and stability.
Stephen of Maubreche and his huntbrother Nenyane have been summoned in disgrace to the King’s City. They, and other hunters who have rejected Hunter oaths, are to be schooled in the necessity of the oaths they’ve rejected.
If only it were that simple.
The problem students soon find themselves tested against the forces of the wilderness, the shadows of demons—and even each other.
If they fail these tests, Breodanir will fall—and the entirety of the West will become the Lord of the Hells’ domain.
The Lord of the Hells has damaged the barriers between the ancient wilderness and the world of man, and that wilderness has begun to seep into mortal lands. His war to rule the entirety of the mortal world has begun.
ONE KINGDOM STANDS AGAINST THE FALL OF THE WEST
The kingdom of Breodanir is in turmoil. Even the merchant roads in the heart of Breodanir can become wild, unknown places between one step and the next; some have walked those roads, never to return. Now, more than ever, Breodanir has need of Hunter Lords as symbols of strength and stability.
Stephen of Maubreche and his huntbrother Nenyane have been summoned in disgrace to the King’s City. They, and other hunters who have rejected Hunter oaths, are to be schooled in the necessity of the oaths they’ve rejected.
If only it were that simple.
The problem students soon find themselves tested against the forces of the wilderness, the shadows of demons—and even each other.
If they fail these tests, Breodanir will fall—and the entirety of the West will become the Lord of the Hells’ domain.
1054 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2023
About the author
Michelle West
79 books473 followersSee also:
Michelle Sagara West
Michelle Sagara
Michelle is an author, bookseller, and lover of literature based in Toronto. She writes fantasy novels as both Michelle Sagara and Michelle West (and sometimes as Michelle Sagara West). You can find her books at fine booksellers.
She lives in Toronto with her long-suffering husband and her two children, and to her regret has no dogs.
Reading is one of her life-long passions, and she is sometimes paid for her opinions about what she’s read by the venerable Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. No matter how many bookshelves she buys, there is Never Enough Shelf space. Ever.
She has published as Michelle Sagara (her legal name), as Michelle West (her husband's surname), and as Michelle Sagara West (a combination of the two).
Michelle Sagara West
Michelle Sagara
Michelle is an author, bookseller, and lover of literature based in Toronto. She writes fantasy novels as both Michelle Sagara and Michelle West (and sometimes as Michelle Sagara West). You can find her books at fine booksellers.
She lives in Toronto with her long-suffering husband and her two children, and to her regret has no dogs.
Reading is one of her life-long passions, and she is sometimes paid for her opinions about what she’s read by the venerable Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. No matter how many bookshelves she buys, there is Never Enough Shelf space. Ever.
She has published as Michelle Sagara (her legal name), as Michelle West (her husband's surname), and as Michelle Sagara West (a combination of the two).
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 21, 2023
This is the first book in West’s final Essalieyan arc ‘Burning Crown’ and I totally loved it. It’s set in Breodanir and draws heavily on the Hunter’s duology and novella while being set in the aftermath of the consequences of Jewel’s completion of the Oracle’s Path.
Stephen of Maubreche and his huntbrother Nenyane are clearly very important to the arc; experienced readers (and honestly inexperienced readers would be better off going back to the beginning and working through the earlier books because they are wonderful and also because you’ll miss so much if you don’t) will have some very solid guesses as to their fated roles in the coming war. In this installment we see the impact of the awakening of the recondite world (to borrow from Greg Keyes). Stephen is being brought to see that he is required in the wider world not just in Breodan, if he wants to help save what he can of his country.
There’s not as many characters as in the Jewel books, nor does it range as widely and I feel it benefits from this tighter focus. Jarvon does have a small pov which will probably lead us to the next installment but there’s not too much distraction from the main plot and thankfully far less mercantile scheming. Much as I loved House War I much preferred the mystical to the mercantile and this book hits that spot.
I’m so excited for the next book already!
Stephen of Maubreche and his huntbrother Nenyane are clearly very important to the arc; experienced readers (and honestly inexperienced readers would be better off going back to the beginning and working through the earlier books because they are wonderful and also because you’ll miss so much if you don’t) will have some very solid guesses as to their fated roles in the coming war. In this installment we see the impact of the awakening of the recondite world (to borrow from Greg Keyes). Stephen is being brought to see that he is required in the wider world not just in Breodan, if he wants to help save what he can of his country.
There’s not as many characters as in the Jewel books, nor does it range as widely and I feel it benefits from this tighter focus. Jarvon does have a small pov which will probably lead us to the next installment but there’s not too much distraction from the main plot and thankfully far less mercantile scheming. Much as I loved House War I much preferred the mystical to the mercantile and this book hits that spot.
I’m so excited for the next book already!
Read
June 19, 2024This was a behemoth of a book! The novel revisits Breodanir, the kingdom of hunters at the center of the first duology in this gigantic fantasy series, but also brings in some characters from throughout the entire saga. I always thought Breodanir was a really neat concept for a kingdom, but the first two books from waybackwhen were really rough and hard to follow, and then Breodanir was dropped for other areas of the world. It's great to have a well-written story back in the land of huntbrothers, but still attached to the overarching saga.
August 24, 2025
I'm sure I don't have to remind you that I was a huge fan of Michelle West's the Sun Sword. It is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. Sadly, I was far less enthused about the House War sequence which came after. Especially the finale, War, which is without a doubt the most underwhelming ending to a fantasy series that I've ever read. It took me a year to give West another shot. Invested as I was in this story, I knew I'd eventually return to her grand Essalieyan saga at some point.
It took me such a long time because, according to most fans, the Sacred Hunt duology is West's first and weakest work. And yet, since you cannot read her latest novel, Hunter's Redoubt, without having first read the duology, I had no choice but to go through both Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death. True, my expectations weren't particularly high to begin with, yet I found myself enjoying both novels a lot more than I expected. There is a much tighter focus to the writing, which was a welcome change from everything Michelle West has written after the Sacred Hunt.
Hunter's Redoubt is the first volume in the Burning Crown series, which will focus on the events of the End of Days period. It's a return to the kingdom of Breodanir nearly thirty years following the release of Hunter's Oath. It is also West's first self-published Essalieyan title after being dropped by Daw Books. Given that this is the beginning of the end, so to speak, I was dearly hoping that it would be more Sun Sword and less House War in both scope and execution. Alas, it was more the latter.
Here's the blurb:
THE SHINING COURT IS RISING
The Lord of the Hells has damaged the barriers between the ancient wilderness and the world of man, and that wilderness has begun to seep into mortal lands. His war to rule the entirety of the mortal world has begun.
ONE KINGDOM STANDS AGAINST THE FALL OF THE WEST
The kingdom of Breodanir is in turmoil. Even the merchant roads in the heart of Breodanir can become wild, unknown places between one step and the next; some have walked those roads, never to return. Now, more than ever, Breodanir has need of Hunter Lords as symbols of strength and stability.
Stephen of Maubreche and his huntbrother Nenyane have been summoned in disgrace to the King’s City. They, and other hunters who have rejected Hunter oaths, are to be schooled in the necessity of the oaths they’ve rejected.
If only it were that simple.
The problem students soon find themselves tested against the forces of the wilderness, the shadows of demons—and even each other.
If they fail these tests, Breodanir will fall—and the entirety of the West will become the Lord of the Hells’ domain.
Given how verbose and repetitive Michelle West is, my biggest concern was that without an editor who can put her foot down (even though the author got away with way too much repetition and focus on pointless extraneous plotlines for years), Hunter's Redoubt would be a bit of a mess. Unfortunately, it is that and more. Clocking in at more than a thousand pages, it's is an absurdly long book considering how little actually occurs from start to finish. One would have thought that it would at least conclude the Breodanir storyline of the saga, but to all ends and purposes it's just the start of it. Yes, West is as repetitive as in her previous works, perhaps more. Another problem that plagues this new novel is the fact that West feels the need to retell everything that took place in the Sacred Hunt duology on multiple occasions. A What Has Gone Before section at the beginning of the book would have worked wonders and would have prevented the narrative from getting bogged down time and time again with various details from the earlier novels. I understand that it's been nearly thirty years and that some readers may not remember much more than the key plot points, but such a section would have been the perfect reminder and would have allowed the author to go along with the End of Days elements instead of being forced to go through all the pertinent information from both Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death in several scenes. All told, you could probably cut at least 250 pages from Hunter's Redoubt without losing anything important. It looks as though the absence of a editor will be detrimental to this final series in more ways than one.
As a mater of course, the worldbuilding remains the most amazing aspect of this saga. It's evident that there is a depth to Michelle West's universe that rivals those of Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker, and it's a depth that keeps growing with each new installment. Which continues to be quite a feat, considering how high the bar has been raised thus far. Though the tale doesn't progress quite as much as I would have expected, Hunter's Redoubt unveils new secrets about Breodanir, the firstborn, the Ariani, the Sleepers, the gods and goddesses, Meralonne, the Wilderness, and more. All of which added yet more layers to what is already one of the most convoluted fantasy series of all time. Trouble is, worldbuilding is only the backdrop of the tale. No matter how detailed and complex that facet turns out to be, it's all a matter of execution on the part of the author that will allow it to shine or not. And as mentioned, West's newest has more in common with the House War books, and that's not necessarily a good thing.
Characterization is what ultimately sunk the House War series. Unfortunately, the poor characterization and the weird choice of perspectives often undermined what should have been key and emotionally charged moments. It is a bit better with Hunter's Redoubt. Having said that, it couldn't really be worse. The very best addition is Gervanno di’Sarrado, a former Annagarian soldier and now a caravan guard who'll have the misfortune of getting swept into events when demons decimate his companions and reality continues to unravel in Breodanir. Coming from the Dominion, his perspective is fresh and interesting. Not surprisingly, Stephen of Maubreche, son of the Breodanir god, and his huntbrother Nenyane, a strange girl with no memories of her past, were also intriguing new faces. A little too much air time was given to those sent to the King's City, especially about the tension between Ansel and Heiden. It was nice having things come full circle and have Kallandras and Meralonne return to Breodanir. But did we really need Jarven ATerafin's POV? In true House War fashion, his perspective served no purpose yet kept returning at times when it just got in the way of better things. As far as the supporting cast is concerned, the Master Gardener of Maubreche remains the most fascinating surprise.
The novel starts with a bang with a prologue focusing on the Shining Court which brings various threads from previous titles together. Gervanno di’Sarrado's introduction is also quite good, and for a while it seemed that Michelle West was back on track. However, as the Wilderness keeps encroaching and reality continues to unravel throughout Breodanir, and as demons and strange creatures lay waste to villages, too much focus is put on the students sent to Hunter's Redoubt. Finally, when the major players are sent to do something about it, à la House War West concentrates on the little things that are not always important in the greater scheme of things. Why was the Lord of the Wilderness that must be defeated in order for the people of Margen to be saved never named, even though she was known to Meralonne? How did she bind the Silences? It's the End of Days, Allasakar and the armies of the Shining Court are about to be unleashed on the world, and the Burning Crown is meant to be comprised of four installments. Yet the first volume, weighing in at more than 1000 pages, is only about saving one small village and its people that disappeared in the Wilderness?
This is a Michelle West novel, so of curse there are pacing issues. The middle portion of Hunter's Redoubt is by far the slowest and most problematic. Things start picking up when we finally leave the King's City, but the endgame is not that exciting. Nor is the resolution, as you realize that essentially all that you've read over the course of more than a thousand pages was just about saving one small village in the middle of Breodanir. True, it establishes Stephen and Nenyane as important protagonists with a stake in the conflict to come with the Shining Court, and Gervanno di’Sarrado's link with the fox known as Eldest (as seen on the cover art), yet that's about it. I was hoping that this would match the scope and vision of the Sun Sword series. I guess it wasn't meant to be. . .
As I said, I'm totally invested into this saga and I can't wait to discover how it will end. Here's to hoping that the next volume, The Wild Road, will take the story further and will weave the threads from West's previous series together in a fashion that will make the End of Days a great ending to what has been one of the most complex fantasy series ever written.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
It took me such a long time because, according to most fans, the Sacred Hunt duology is West's first and weakest work. And yet, since you cannot read her latest novel, Hunter's Redoubt, without having first read the duology, I had no choice but to go through both Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death. True, my expectations weren't particularly high to begin with, yet I found myself enjoying both novels a lot more than I expected. There is a much tighter focus to the writing, which was a welcome change from everything Michelle West has written after the Sacred Hunt.
Hunter's Redoubt is the first volume in the Burning Crown series, which will focus on the events of the End of Days period. It's a return to the kingdom of Breodanir nearly thirty years following the release of Hunter's Oath. It is also West's first self-published Essalieyan title after being dropped by Daw Books. Given that this is the beginning of the end, so to speak, I was dearly hoping that it would be more Sun Sword and less House War in both scope and execution. Alas, it was more the latter.
Here's the blurb:
THE SHINING COURT IS RISING
The Lord of the Hells has damaged the barriers between the ancient wilderness and the world of man, and that wilderness has begun to seep into mortal lands. His war to rule the entirety of the mortal world has begun.
ONE KINGDOM STANDS AGAINST THE FALL OF THE WEST
The kingdom of Breodanir is in turmoil. Even the merchant roads in the heart of Breodanir can become wild, unknown places between one step and the next; some have walked those roads, never to return. Now, more than ever, Breodanir has need of Hunter Lords as symbols of strength and stability.
Stephen of Maubreche and his huntbrother Nenyane have been summoned in disgrace to the King’s City. They, and other hunters who have rejected Hunter oaths, are to be schooled in the necessity of the oaths they’ve rejected.
If only it were that simple.
The problem students soon find themselves tested against the forces of the wilderness, the shadows of demons—and even each other.
If they fail these tests, Breodanir will fall—and the entirety of the West will become the Lord of the Hells’ domain.
Given how verbose and repetitive Michelle West is, my biggest concern was that without an editor who can put her foot down (even though the author got away with way too much repetition and focus on pointless extraneous plotlines for years), Hunter's Redoubt would be a bit of a mess. Unfortunately, it is that and more. Clocking in at more than a thousand pages, it's is an absurdly long book considering how little actually occurs from start to finish. One would have thought that it would at least conclude the Breodanir storyline of the saga, but to all ends and purposes it's just the start of it. Yes, West is as repetitive as in her previous works, perhaps more. Another problem that plagues this new novel is the fact that West feels the need to retell everything that took place in the Sacred Hunt duology on multiple occasions. A What Has Gone Before section at the beginning of the book would have worked wonders and would have prevented the narrative from getting bogged down time and time again with various details from the earlier novels. I understand that it's been nearly thirty years and that some readers may not remember much more than the key plot points, but such a section would have been the perfect reminder and would have allowed the author to go along with the End of Days elements instead of being forced to go through all the pertinent information from both Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death in several scenes. All told, you could probably cut at least 250 pages from Hunter's Redoubt without losing anything important. It looks as though the absence of a editor will be detrimental to this final series in more ways than one.
As a mater of course, the worldbuilding remains the most amazing aspect of this saga. It's evident that there is a depth to Michelle West's universe that rivals those of Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker, and it's a depth that keeps growing with each new installment. Which continues to be quite a feat, considering how high the bar has been raised thus far. Though the tale doesn't progress quite as much as I would have expected, Hunter's Redoubt unveils new secrets about Breodanir, the firstborn, the Ariani, the Sleepers, the gods and goddesses, Meralonne, the Wilderness, and more. All of which added yet more layers to what is already one of the most convoluted fantasy series of all time. Trouble is, worldbuilding is only the backdrop of the tale. No matter how detailed and complex that facet turns out to be, it's all a matter of execution on the part of the author that will allow it to shine or not. And as mentioned, West's newest has more in common with the House War books, and that's not necessarily a good thing.
Characterization is what ultimately sunk the House War series. Unfortunately, the poor characterization and the weird choice of perspectives often undermined what should have been key and emotionally charged moments. It is a bit better with Hunter's Redoubt. Having said that, it couldn't really be worse. The very best addition is Gervanno di’Sarrado, a former Annagarian soldier and now a caravan guard who'll have the misfortune of getting swept into events when demons decimate his companions and reality continues to unravel in Breodanir. Coming from the Dominion, his perspective is fresh and interesting. Not surprisingly, Stephen of Maubreche, son of the Breodanir god, and his huntbrother Nenyane, a strange girl with no memories of her past, were also intriguing new faces. A little too much air time was given to those sent to the King's City, especially about the tension between Ansel and Heiden. It was nice having things come full circle and have Kallandras and Meralonne return to Breodanir. But did we really need Jarven ATerafin's POV? In true House War fashion, his perspective served no purpose yet kept returning at times when it just got in the way of better things. As far as the supporting cast is concerned, the Master Gardener of Maubreche remains the most fascinating surprise.
The novel starts with a bang with a prologue focusing on the Shining Court which brings various threads from previous titles together. Gervanno di’Sarrado's introduction is also quite good, and for a while it seemed that Michelle West was back on track. However, as the Wilderness keeps encroaching and reality continues to unravel throughout Breodanir, and as demons and strange creatures lay waste to villages, too much focus is put on the students sent to Hunter's Redoubt. Finally, when the major players are sent to do something about it, à la House War West concentrates on the little things that are not always important in the greater scheme of things. Why was the Lord of the Wilderness that must be defeated in order for the people of Margen to be saved never named, even though she was known to Meralonne? How did she bind the Silences? It's the End of Days, Allasakar and the armies of the Shining Court are about to be unleashed on the world, and the Burning Crown is meant to be comprised of four installments. Yet the first volume, weighing in at more than 1000 pages, is only about saving one small village and its people that disappeared in the Wilderness?
This is a Michelle West novel, so of curse there are pacing issues. The middle portion of Hunter's Redoubt is by far the slowest and most problematic. Things start picking up when we finally leave the King's City, but the endgame is not that exciting. Nor is the resolution, as you realize that essentially all that you've read over the course of more than a thousand pages was just about saving one small village in the middle of Breodanir. True, it establishes Stephen and Nenyane as important protagonists with a stake in the conflict to come with the Shining Court, and Gervanno di’Sarrado's link with the fox known as Eldest (as seen on the cover art), yet that's about it. I was hoping that this would match the scope and vision of the Sun Sword series. I guess it wasn't meant to be. . .
As I said, I'm totally invested into this saga and I can't wait to discover how it will end. Here's to hoping that the next volume, The Wild Road, will take the story further and will weave the threads from West's previous series together in a fashion that will make the End of Days a great ending to what has been one of the most complex fantasy series ever written.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
March 29, 2024
I decided to pick up the Sun Sword series during quarantine 2020. It was actually recommended to me by my 9th grade English teacher but at the time, I didn't have patience for the wordiness to action ratio. These are excellent books- the world is intriguing, the characters are well drawn, and the story has layers you can sink your teeth into. However, unnecessary verbosity is the author's greatest weakness. This is a 1,054 page book and you could easily cut 20% of it. I appreciate that in a saga of this link that has been developing over 20 years, we get reminders of who the major players are. But I don't need a character's essential traits, biggest emotional issue, and current motivation reiterated EVERY SINGLE TIME that they come on the page. Tell me once that Jarven ATerafin is old, canny and ruthless; that he plays political games for fun and desires power on par with the god-like figures who have stepped into his world. Remind me of it again when he's at a crossroads and has to decide if he will help or hinder the book's protagonist. Otherwise, trust my intelligence as a reader and just get on with the plot! It's frustrating because this exposition isn't just one or two paragraphs. It's literally page after page of narration and a character's inner thoughts. The only improvement I've seen is that lines of dialogue in conversations are no longer broken up with pages of exposition, like they were in The House War series.
That being said, I finished this book and will come back for another because the story is simply fantastic. The Breodani are unique in that their god's power comes from human sacrifice in a yearly Hunt. Stephen of Maubreche is the godborn son of Breodan and the spirit of Stephen of Elseth, who was sacrificed in Hunter's Death. He has a huntbrother, who is controversial both for the fact that she is female and because they are huntbrothers in name only- he refuses to let her take the oath because he doesn't want to lose her. It's a recurring fight in the book and it's clear it will continue to drive conflict moving forward. We meet the children of Gilliam of Elseth and Espere, as well as some new Breodani folks and mysterious Southern warrior Gervanno di Serrado. It's a satisfying story that has a conclusion while setting up future events and if you've come this far, it's a must read.
That being said, I finished this book and will come back for another because the story is simply fantastic. The Breodani are unique in that their god's power comes from human sacrifice in a yearly Hunt. Stephen of Maubreche is the godborn son of Breodan and the spirit of Stephen of Elseth, who was sacrificed in Hunter's Death. He has a huntbrother, who is controversial both for the fact that she is female and because they are huntbrothers in name only- he refuses to let her take the oath because he doesn't want to lose her. It's a recurring fight in the book and it's clear it will continue to drive conflict moving forward. We meet the children of Gilliam of Elseth and Espere, as well as some new Breodani folks and mysterious Southern warrior Gervanno di Serrado. It's a satisfying story that has a conclusion while setting up future events and if you've come this far, it's a must read.
November 29, 2023
First of all, full disclosure... I was thrilled to support the Patreon that allowed this wonderful book to come to fruition! Hunter's Redoubt, the first entry of The Burning Crown series, continues the saga that began decades ago in Breodanir with the Hunter Duology, on through the six-volume Sun Sword series, and the eight-volume House War series. It is Michelle West's magnum opus and I am so excited to once again re-visit the country where it all began.
Longtime fans of the "West novels" as they are affectionately known, will find much to love in this installment which shifts the focus away from Jewel's territory of Averalaan. Instead, we follow Stephen and Nenyane of Maubreche, as Hunter and huntbrother struggle to understand both their power and their role in the long war against Allasakar. New faces they meet join familiar allies, Meralonne APhaniel and Kallandras, as the group urgently tries to reverse or prevent the unpredictable encroachment of High Wilderness on the mortal plane, encroachment that shouldn't be possible under the protection of Bredan's Covenant.
Those, like myself, who love these books beyond all reason are thrilled to continue the story, both here and in future novels, the next of which is already being written! For new fans, I would highly recommend reading Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death as an entry point to the full series of West novels. They were recently reprinted in trade paperback format as The Sacred Hunt Duology and can also be found in ebook format. If you enjoy complex, intelligent characters and excellent world-building in a fantasy setting, you'll find yourself drawn in and anxiously awaiting the next chapters with the rest of us!
Longtime fans of the "West novels" as they are affectionately known, will find much to love in this installment which shifts the focus away from Jewel's territory of Averalaan. Instead, we follow Stephen and Nenyane of Maubreche, as Hunter and huntbrother struggle to understand both their power and their role in the long war against Allasakar. New faces they meet join familiar allies, Meralonne APhaniel and Kallandras, as the group urgently tries to reverse or prevent the unpredictable encroachment of High Wilderness on the mortal plane, encroachment that shouldn't be possible under the protection of Bredan's Covenant.
Those, like myself, who love these books beyond all reason are thrilled to continue the story, both here and in future novels, the next of which is already being written! For new fans, I would highly recommend reading Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death as an entry point to the full series of West novels. They were recently reprinted in trade paperback format as The Sacred Hunt Duology and can also be found in ebook format. If you enjoy complex, intelligent characters and excellent world-building in a fantasy setting, you'll find yourself drawn in and anxiously awaiting the next chapters with the rest of us!
March 28, 2024
3.5 stars
This begins what is supposedly the final story arc in this world and we are back in Breodanir, land of the hunter god Bredan, following the sons and daughters of the MC's from The Sacred Hunt duology.
Stephen, Nenyane and several other young Hunter Lords who have rejected the Hunter Oaths have been called to the kings city for lessons in the necessity of the oaths that they take. Of course demons interrupt everything as usual....
For as long as this book is not a lot happens in it, you get a lot of character development here but not a lot of forward movement in the plot. I do enjoy the roll reversal between Stephen and Nenyane (usually it's the huntbrother that is the sensible one) and I've wanted to know more about them since their very brief appearance in a short story in this world. Also this was my first time listening to any of these stories on audio and I really didn't enjoy the way 2 of my fave characters where voiced but otherwise it was good.
This begins what is supposedly the final story arc in this world and we are back in Breodanir, land of the hunter god Bredan, following the sons and daughters of the MC's from The Sacred Hunt duology.
Stephen, Nenyane and several other young Hunter Lords who have rejected the Hunter Oaths have been called to the kings city for lessons in the necessity of the oaths that they take. Of course demons interrupt everything as usual....
For as long as this book is not a lot happens in it, you get a lot of character development here but not a lot of forward movement in the plot. I do enjoy the roll reversal between Stephen and Nenyane (usually it's the huntbrother that is the sensible one) and I've wanted to know more about them since their very brief appearance in a short story in this world. Also this was my first time listening to any of these stories on audio and I really didn't enjoy the way 2 of my fave characters where voiced but otherwise it was good.
June 27, 2024
I have been following this series since it started with the Hunter's Duology. Since then I have been sometimes pleased and other time frustrated with her stories. But with this book it can be seen that all that came before was a prologue to the final story she had meant to tell. And this book was an excellent start point to that story.
Now I will preface that reading the previous books will help as she makes mention of characters and people from previous books that would not make ant sense if you were not familiar with them. But it is NOT mandatory.
As far as the story, she keeps the action and story moving at all times and I didn't feel like she got bogged down. I took away one star for the over flowery prose that, to me, didn't really add to the story.
Now I will preface that reading the previous books will help as she makes mention of characters and people from previous books that would not make ant sense if you were not familiar with them. But it is NOT mandatory.
As far as the story, she keeps the action and story moving at all times and I didn't feel like she got bogged down. I took away one star for the over flowery prose that, to me, didn't really add to the story.
April 15, 2024
Utterly Fantastic
Michelle West is clearly one of the greatest living epic fantasy writers, and here she returns to Bredeonir, the Kingdom of the Hunterlords and huntbrothers, and reconnecting the story of the House War series to where it began.
So, so happy to have found this. West's prose is titanium strong and luminous and the story she tells us enthralling.
Michelle West is clearly one of the greatest living epic fantasy writers, and here she returns to Bredeonir, the Kingdom of the Hunterlords and huntbrothers, and reconnecting the story of the House War series to where it began.
So, so happy to have found this. West's prose is titanium strong and luminous and the story she tells us enthralling.
November 19, 2023
Thank you.
This book , like all of your other books, is fabulous. I am so pleased that you found a way to get it published. Would read anything you write, even scribbles on a napkin. Blessings to you, M West Sagara.
This book , like all of your other books, is fabulous. I am so pleased that you found a way to get it published. Would read anything you write, even scribbles on a napkin. Blessings to you, M West Sagara.
August 1, 2025
I joined her Patreon because I’m so attached to these characters and this world. Her imagination is truly mind-bogglingly rich. The repetition in this one really started to frustrate me, but I’d still read anything set in Essalieyan. Delicious old-school epic fantasy.
December 9, 2023
love it!
Once again Michelle Sagara delivers a story that is engaging and intriguing. Her prose is thoughtful. Love her books. Have read all of them!
Once again Michelle Sagara delivers a story that is engaging and intriguing. Her prose is thoughtful. Love her books. Have read all of them!
December 15, 2023
I'm so excited to get back into the Essaylien universe again!
May 24, 2024
Actual Rating: 3.5
July 19, 2024
Excellent story!
Just phenomenal! What a great epic. You should definitely read this!! It reminds me of Witch World, but so much more cohesive.
Just phenomenal! What a great epic. You should definitely read this!! It reminds me of Witch World, but so much more cohesive.
July 30, 2025
➸ 5 stars
November 6, 2023
Challenging
The first two arcs of this story - Sun Sword and House War - are dense and full of characters. Many of the same characters are important here and remembering the tale is at times a struggle. Rereading those is useful. I love the Jody Lee cover.
The first two arcs of this story - Sun Sword and House War - are dense and full of characters. Many of the same characters are important here and remembering the tale is at times a struggle. Rereading those is useful. I love the Jody Lee cover.
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