What do you think?
Rate this book
Inda #3
King's Shield
Inda, on the verge of adulthood, is at last coming home. At age eleven he'd been exiled from his kingdom, but when he learns that his homeland is about to be invaded, he ends his exile to report the imminent attack. Pressed into service as the king's "royal shield arm," Inda must now defend the kingdom; for his reputation as the captain who defeated the most dangerous pirate fleet in history makes him the only man who stands a chance to defeat his country's ancient enemy.
594 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2008
110 people are currently reading
1119 people want to read
About the author
Sherwood Smith
168 books37.5k followersI am a writer,( Patreon here) but I'm on Goodreads to talk about books, as I've been a passionate reader as long as I've been a writer--since early childhood.
I'm not going to rate books--there are too many variables. I'd rather talk about the reading experience. My 'reviews' of my books are confined to the writing process.
I'm not going to rate books--there are too many variables. I'd rather talk about the reading experience. My 'reviews' of my books are confined to the writing process.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
November 16, 2018
Love was Inda’s natural state. Love - loyalty - was like air to him.”
This is the weakest book in the series. Still, an enjoyable novel with all the hallmark’s of Inda: dense plotting, superb characterisation and emotional moments that shred the reader to smithereens .
It is always hard to review a penultimate book in the series due to the inevitability of spoilers. In order to avoid those, let me just say that at this point in the story, the personal tale of Indevan Algara-Vayir known to friends as Inda is irrevocably intertwined with the fate of his homeland. He is not a trusting 10-year-old boy anymore, but a man in his twenties. The lines have been drawn, the friendships and enmities long established and paid for with blood. The war that has been brewing for decades finally arrives and the realm needs somebody who will defend it.
Let us have the ugly out first: I have expected a major action/battle/siege/caste defence scene by the end of part one. There was none. Previously in the series, the parts usually finished on a high note or a cliffhanger. In the initial chapters of the King’s Shield the only plot twist was Inda swearing the oath which was not much of a surprise. To my surprise, Ms Smith writes that the first part of the next book continues King’s Shield arc. I thought this weird because this novel could be shorter without any harm done to the essentials. There are whole passages that, well, drag on and on…
This book focuses on war; whereas the tactics, political scheming and action scenes were superb, the army on the march was becoming tedious (everybody expected dangerous, nobody expected boring).
I admired how balanced the previous instalment was in the sense that everybody played a crucial role in the story; it wasn’t all about Inda. In King’s Shield, sadly, some of the crucial personal sub-plots are clearly marginalised. Surely, there is a lot of point-of-view characters, but many of them purely situational. In terms of plotline, Inda clearly overshadows the rest. For instance, I dis not like Signi’s and Tau’s part precisely because they have had no part. Jeje disappearance was unwelcome but at least it made sense. Thus, my fair warning to all those who like Fox: you will be sorely disappointed and left wanting. Also, I hated Evred more with every passing chapter There is no way out for him; it’s just a highway to tragedy.
Still, as I said before, I enjoyed King’s Shield. The narrative is seamless, without info dumps and reintroduces all the crucial points in a natural way. Although, it may be best for some readers to binge read the series because the names and honorific, and places, and families can make your head spin and sometimes it was hard to remember who is who and where and why. This world is so amazingly different from ours; Ms Smith spent years developing the whole universe and so every single aspect of life is thought through. The delivery is layered like a dense tapestry.
I liked the heady mixture of joy and sadness permeating the homecoming. The emotional impact remains very high throughout the book with knots of desire, anger, regret, jealousy, and grief. Sometimes I was gripped by the feeling of foreboding, a premonition of a looming disaster…and nothing happened. Perhaps, I am needlessly paranoid.
Women in India are just incomparable: Tdor and Hadand rank among the best females in fantasy. Tdor is such a Penelope-like figure, it breaks my heart. In general, the position of women in Marlovan society renders them a crucial element of all things. And castle defence sequences are simply terrific. But also, what has been already proven in book one, she writes children exceptionally. I really admire how deftly Ms Smith writes little human beings. Not even adolescents in the YA style, but children.
Speaking of children, it is amazing how Inda maintains much of his childhood honesty and innocence, his uncalculating goodwill. But also, in many respects, Inda reminds me of Ender and his games. I read an interesting comment from Janny Wurts that Sherwood Smith wrote Inda as a high functioning autistic and that this impairment enabled his tactical genius. I don’t know if it is true but I have noticed the way India is described during the “thinking process” and I thought it extraordinary. [How he spaces out, how he drums, how his thoughts split and follow independent paths.
Still, I recommend Inda to everyone; it is a series deserving to be read and praised widely. If you yearn for a tale that is complex in-depth and far-reaching in scope, just ignore the ugly cover and read the book. In fact, read all of them.
Note on the rating: 3.5 rounded up because of the series overall quality.
Also in the series:
1. Inda ★★★★☆
2. The Fox ★★★★★
4. Treason's Shore ★★☆☆☆
This is the weakest book in the series. Still, an enjoyable novel with all the hallmark’s of Inda: dense plotting, superb characterisation and emotional moments that shred the reader to smithereens .
It is always hard to review a penultimate book in the series due to the inevitability of spoilers. In order to avoid those, let me just say that at this point in the story, the personal tale of Indevan Algara-Vayir known to friends as Inda is irrevocably intertwined with the fate of his homeland. He is not a trusting 10-year-old boy anymore, but a man in his twenties. The lines have been drawn, the friendships and enmities long established and paid for with blood. The war that has been brewing for decades finally arrives and the realm needs somebody who will defend it.
Let us have the ugly out first: I have expected a major action/battle/siege/caste defence scene by the end of part one. There was none. Previously in the series, the parts usually finished on a high note or a cliffhanger. In the initial chapters of the King’s Shield the only plot twist was Inda swearing the oath which was not much of a surprise. To my surprise, Ms Smith writes that the first part of the next book continues King’s Shield arc. I thought this weird because this novel could be shorter without any harm done to the essentials. There are whole passages that, well, drag on and on…
This book focuses on war; whereas the tactics, political scheming and action scenes were superb, the army on the march was becoming tedious (everybody expected dangerous, nobody expected boring).
I admired how balanced the previous instalment was in the sense that everybody played a crucial role in the story; it wasn’t all about Inda. In King’s Shield, sadly, some of the crucial personal sub-plots are clearly marginalised. Surely, there is a lot of point-of-view characters, but many of them purely situational. In terms of plotline, Inda clearly overshadows the rest. For instance, I dis not like Signi’s and Tau’s part precisely because they have had no part. Jeje disappearance was unwelcome but at least it made sense. Thus, my fair warning to all those who like Fox: you will be sorely disappointed and left wanting. Also, I hated Evred more with every passing chapter There is no way out for him; it’s just a highway to tragedy.
Still, as I said before, I enjoyed King’s Shield. The narrative is seamless, without info dumps and reintroduces all the crucial points in a natural way. Although, it may be best for some readers to binge read the series because the names and honorific, and places, and families can make your head spin and sometimes it was hard to remember who is who and where and why. This world is so amazingly different from ours; Ms Smith spent years developing the whole universe and so every single aspect of life is thought through. The delivery is layered like a dense tapestry.
I liked the heady mixture of joy and sadness permeating the homecoming. The emotional impact remains very high throughout the book with knots of desire, anger, regret, jealousy, and grief. Sometimes I was gripped by the feeling of foreboding, a premonition of a looming disaster…and nothing happened. Perhaps, I am needlessly paranoid.
Women in India are just incomparable: Tdor and Hadand rank among the best females in fantasy. Tdor is such a Penelope-like figure, it breaks my heart. In general, the position of women in Marlovan society renders them a crucial element of all things. And castle defence sequences are simply terrific. But also, what has been already proven in book one, she writes children exceptionally. I really admire how deftly Ms Smith writes little human beings. Not even adolescents in the YA style, but children.
Speaking of children, it is amazing how Inda maintains much of his childhood honesty and innocence, his uncalculating goodwill. But also, in many respects, Inda reminds me of Ender and his games. I read an interesting comment from Janny Wurts that Sherwood Smith wrote Inda as a high functioning autistic and that this impairment enabled his tactical genius. I don’t know if it is true but I have noticed the way India is described during the “thinking process” and I thought it extraordinary. [How he spaces out, how he drums, how his thoughts split and follow independent paths.
Still, I recommend Inda to everyone; it is a series deserving to be read and praised widely. If you yearn for a tale that is complex in-depth and far-reaching in scope, just ignore the ugly cover and read the book. In fact, read all of them.
Note on the rating: 3.5 rounded up because of the series overall quality.
Also in the series:
1. Inda ★★★★☆
2. The Fox ★★★★★
4. Treason's Shore ★★☆☆☆
July 28, 2018
Book 1: 4*
Book 2: 4.25*
Book 3: 3.5*
At 20% through this book I thought it was definitely going to be a 5* effort. There was so much going on, so much intrigue, plots within plots, chemistry between characters. And then the author made in my mind a fatal mistake. She left the women at home.
Smith writes amazing female characters. Tdor and Hadand rank among the best ever. When she sent the men to confront the Venn and put Jeje to the side it sucked the life out of the story. Many of the boys of the first two books who had more vulnerability, more passion and emotion lost that as male characters. You can say men in war will have that happen and it's true but all the more reason to keep these wonderfully robust female characters in the thick of things.
I'm hopeful these characters play a much larger role in book 4 and the conclusion.
Book 2: 4.25*
Book 3: 3.5*
At 20% through this book I thought it was definitely going to be a 5* effort. There was so much going on, so much intrigue, plots within plots, chemistry between characters. And then the author made in my mind a fatal mistake. She left the women at home.
Smith writes amazing female characters. Tdor and Hadand rank among the best ever. When she sent the men to confront the Venn and put Jeje to the side it sucked the life out of the story. Many of the boys of the first two books who had more vulnerability, more passion and emotion lost that as male characters. You can say men in war will have that happen and it's true but all the more reason to keep these wonderfully robust female characters in the thick of things.
I'm hopeful these characters play a much larger role in book 4 and the conclusion.
August 8, 2018
I preferred the first two instalments in this series, but while King's Shield was slower, I still enjoyed myself.
Inda is definitely an underrated fantasy series which deserves more readers. Especially readers who enjoy strong female characters who defend castles. If it weren't for Reddit's r/fantasy, I probably wouldn't have known about Inda for a very long time.
To get into Inda you have to be willing to learn the names of a huge cast of characters and to make it even more difficult most of them have several names (what is this, a Russian novel?). It almost put me off at first, but I'm glad I persevered, because ultimately you can trust the author to hold your hand and guide you through the plot and with time the important bits are revealed.
This series has everything: strong female characters, pirates, betrayals, treason, love, friendship, loyalty. It's got amazing, detailed, intricate world-building and refreshingly diverse characters.
I recommend it to every fantasy fan. Yes, all of you, every single one. Try this! It's worth it!
Inda is definitely an underrated fantasy series which deserves more readers. Especially readers who enjoy strong female characters who defend castles. If it weren't for Reddit's r/fantasy, I probably wouldn't have known about Inda for a very long time.
To get into Inda you have to be willing to learn the names of a huge cast of characters and to make it even more difficult most of them have several names (what is this, a Russian novel?). It almost put me off at first, but I'm glad I persevered, because ultimately you can trust the author to hold your hand and guide you through the plot and with time the important bits are revealed.
This series has everything: strong female characters, pirates, betrayals, treason, love, friendship, loyalty. It's got amazing, detailed, intricate world-building and refreshingly diverse characters.
I recommend it to every fantasy fan. Yes, all of you, every single one. Try this! It's worth it!
August 24, 2010
Dear Evred,
Your douchiness in this volume is totally hindering my ability to ship you with Inda. Please look into this.
Yours, Betty.
Your douchiness in this volume is totally hindering my ability to ship you with Inda. Please look into this.
Yours, Betty.
June 13, 2022
Inda paced the room, listening to the silence. Strange, how silences differed. Sometimes they were heavy with threat, like the silence on the sea before battle, before a storm. This silence was one of time suspended, and of absence.
July 27, 2015
wawo I can almost see the smug face of the author on that last teaser chapter!
This is one of those books that will stay in my mind and will always have fanfiction fantasies about certain characters that the author deliberately keeps teasing me with :/
I'm going to take a short break before book four but I'm already dreading what yet to come..
This is one of those books that will stay in my mind and will always have fanfiction fantasies about certain characters that the author deliberately keeps teasing me with :/
I'm going to take a short break before book four but I'm already dreading what yet to come..
August 21, 2016
Another great entry in this series. This really stirred up a broad range of emotions: plenty of happiness, plenty of sorrow, and a whole lot of tension.
The book ended on an extremely satisfying note that left me really looking forward to #4, and also dreading the next shoe dropping (I have no idea how many shoes have dropped over the course of this trilogy. Lots of them.)
The book ended on an extremely satisfying note that left me really looking forward to #4, and also dreading the next shoe dropping (I have no idea how many shoes have dropped over the course of this trilogy. Lots of them.)
November 15, 2024
Our young military academy boys are all grown up (if in twenties is grown up), reunited and in battles. Enemy mages are battling, which brings to mind: "The enemy of our enemy is our friend." Certain magics are being restored. Marriages arranged before many of our characters were born are happening. A whole new landscape of political in fighting begins...among certain spoiled women, no less. A new generation of children (pre-teen) show the worth of their early training in defense with bows and arrows. Will the rogue fleet of ships battling pirates be folded into the mix with land forces? Book four is to be the conclusion.
Sherwood Smith's imagination knows no bounds.
Sherwood Smith's imagination knows no bounds.
August 29, 2008
A great continuation of the story begun in Inda--I'm glad that she's now planning one more volume, because it seems like there's a lot still left to tie together.
One of the things I like about Sherwood Smith's books is that you really get a sense of peeking into someone else's personal universe--although I'm sure the author cares about her readers, I often get the feeling of "this wasn't entirely written for you". Sometimes I think that's awesome, sometimes it drives me a little crazy.
One of the things I like about Sherwood Smith's books is that you really get a sense of peeking into someone else's personal universe--although I'm sure the author cares about her readers, I often get the feeling of "this wasn't entirely written for you". Sometimes I think that's awesome, sometimes it drives me a little crazy.
November 30, 2011
It’s not fair, I know, to review just the third book in a series of four – especially when it’s a positive review! – but between one thing and another I never got around to posting reviews of the first two. Sorry about that. The good news is, they’re all still in print (I was actually able to pluck all the first three off the shelves in bookstores).
These are long, dense novels that primarily follow the career of Indevan Algara-Vayir (known to friends as Inda) from early adolescence to some time in his twenties. They’re busy years, as Inda attends a military academy (Inda), is exiled and becomes a pirate-hunter (The Fox), returns home and helps defend his country against invaders (The King’s Shield), and tries to secure a peaceful future for his country (Treason’s Shore).
Other important point-of-view characters include Tdor, the girl Inda was betrothed to at birth; his sister Hadand; fellow sailors and pirate-hunters (especially Jeje and Tau); the crown prince and the king’s second son; and others I’m probably forgetting. There are, in fact, a lot of point-of-view characters, many of them situational. And some of them die.
Part of the novels’ density is that Marlovan society (that’s Inda’s home country) has a lot of formal, complex relationships, and a lot of the characters have both personal names and titles used as names (and which are in a foreign language, and some of which change during the course of the story). These can be hard to keep track of.
Another part of the density is that this world is different from ours in a number of notable ways. A couple of samples: the cities don’t need sewer systems, because the “Waste Spell” disposes of such things; and women can only get pregnant if they consume a certain plant, and sometimes not even then. There are other more subtle but significant differences as well. Smith lays out a bunch of it (as well as explanations that the characters are largely not aware of) here, if you’d rather have all the background up front.
Finally, the world has a long history that directly affects the cultures and politics that are present in it; some of it is explained, and a lot of it is just there.
It’s all fascinating, if you like dense tapestries of culture, politics, and war. And then there are the characters – individual, interesting, imperfect, and subject to growth and change over time. The difference between adolescent and adult versions of several of them is great, and very believable.
So much goes on even in the third volume that I’m not going to try to be specific about the plot. Suffice it to say that the enemy approaches the shore; desperate last stands are made; politics turns deadly; secrets are revealed; people rejoice, suffer, and die. These are great books, really intense experiences, and definite permanent additions to our library.
These are long, dense novels that primarily follow the career of Indevan Algara-Vayir (known to friends as Inda) from early adolescence to some time in his twenties. They’re busy years, as Inda attends a military academy (Inda), is exiled and becomes a pirate-hunter (The Fox), returns home and helps defend his country against invaders (The King’s Shield), and tries to secure a peaceful future for his country (Treason’s Shore).
Other important point-of-view characters include Tdor, the girl Inda was betrothed to at birth; his sister Hadand; fellow sailors and pirate-hunters (especially Jeje and Tau); the crown prince and the king’s second son; and others I’m probably forgetting. There are, in fact, a lot of point-of-view characters, many of them situational. And some of them die.
Part of the novels’ density is that Marlovan society (that’s Inda’s home country) has a lot of formal, complex relationships, and a lot of the characters have both personal names and titles used as names (and which are in a foreign language, and some of which change during the course of the story). These can be hard to keep track of.
Another part of the density is that this world is different from ours in a number of notable ways. A couple of samples: the cities don’t need sewer systems, because the “Waste Spell” disposes of such things; and women can only get pregnant if they consume a certain plant, and sometimes not even then. There are other more subtle but significant differences as well. Smith lays out a bunch of it (as well as explanations that the characters are largely not aware of) here, if you’d rather have all the background up front.
Finally, the world has a long history that directly affects the cultures and politics that are present in it; some of it is explained, and a lot of it is just there.
It’s all fascinating, if you like dense tapestries of culture, politics, and war. And then there are the characters – individual, interesting, imperfect, and subject to growth and change over time. The difference between adolescent and adult versions of several of them is great, and very believable.
So much goes on even in the third volume that I’m not going to try to be specific about the plot. Suffice it to say that the enemy approaches the shore; desperate last stands are made; politics turns deadly; secrets are revealed; people rejoice, suffer, and die. These are great books, really intense experiences, and definite permanent additions to our library.
May 6, 2017
Several times while reading this book I had to take short breaks because I was afraid horrible things would happen to all my favorite characters. Fortunately it wasn't as bad as I feared. There were even some good things! Though the book did a good job never letting me forget that war is terrible and has a high cost.
While not as gripping as book 2, I enjoyed this one too, especially the character interactions. They're all learning a lot and adjusting.
While not as gripping as book 2, I enjoyed this one too, especially the character interactions. They're all learning a lot and adjusting.
December 31, 2015
I have never really fallen in love with this series. The first two books, I enjoyed - once I got into them, once I got past the writing I wasn't really a fan of, once I figured out who was who. They were a lot of fun. I... liked them.
I... loved this one.
From the start, I was basically captivated. I loved it. I didn't notice anything that I hadn't liked before (namely, the writing - in previous installments that had taken away from the story, but in this one I didn't even notice.) I think it really says something, though, that this is one of those middle books that focus a lot on side characters and are slightly slow at times. Those are my favorite kinds of books. In any given trilogy, my favorite book will be the middle one. My favorite book in the Gone series was Lies. It just sort of follows the pattern I'd set for myself.
But man, I loved this. I loved the characters. I loved the situation. I loved how I had absolutely no clue what was going to happen. I really loved the characters.
Even though I'm still devoutly denying , I do have some new favorites. I've always liked Tau, and I continued to love him in this one. Evred keeps climbing the ladder of my favorites. Flash was cool! Loved him. And Cama. Hawkeye & Noddy. Tdor, those girls from that castle, Cherry-Stripe, Jeje, and dude, Barend.
I mean, I've always adored Barend. Like he's been one of my favorites since he was introduced. But I really think he might be my favorite now. True, this could be because of some stuff that's happening in the next book, which I'm about 200pgs into at the time of writing this review, but man. Barend.
And Inda! Man, he was never really my favorite, but he's really been growing on me. He's adorable.
And I love the world. I really think I'm starting to get a grasp on it, and marathoning these last two books is going to sort of help that, I think. But, yeah. I adored this. I adored this a lot.
I... loved this one.
From the start, I was basically captivated. I loved it. I didn't notice anything that I hadn't liked before (namely, the writing - in previous installments that had taken away from the story, but in this one I didn't even notice.) I think it really says something, though, that this is one of those middle books that focus a lot on side characters and are slightly slow at times. Those are my favorite kinds of books. In any given trilogy, my favorite book will be the middle one. My favorite book in the Gone series was Lies. It just sort of follows the pattern I'd set for myself.
But man, I loved this. I loved the characters. I loved the situation. I loved how I had absolutely no clue what was going to happen. I really loved the characters.
Even though I'm still devoutly denying , I do have some new favorites. I've always liked Tau, and I continued to love him in this one. Evred keeps climbing the ladder of my favorites. Flash was cool! Loved him. And Cama. Hawkeye & Noddy. Tdor, those girls from that castle, Cherry-Stripe, Jeje, and dude, Barend.
I mean, I've always adored Barend. Like he's been one of my favorites since he was introduced. But I really think he might be my favorite now. True, this could be because of some stuff that's happening in the next book, which I'm about 200pgs into at the time of writing this review, but man. Barend.
And Inda! Man, he was never really my favorite, but he's really been growing on me. He's adorable.
And I love the world. I really think I'm starting to get a grasp on it, and marathoning these last two books is going to sort of help that, I think. But, yeah. I adored this. I adored this a lot.
April 2, 2010
Just released in paperback so I reread it.
Its A good fantasy novel as Inda travels back to his homeland to take up his responsibilities as the new War Commander to the King. Can Inda, who is a great naval tactician and fighter aid his people to defeat the Venn. The story is told through various stories of all of Inda childhood friends who have grown up to be the leaders of their various homes. We lose Jeje early on and Fox on the water, but gain all of the other characters. I think the story bogs down a little with court intrigue, with the King's jealously of anyone who comes near Inda, with all of the romance and with the war taking up most of the book. Frankly its not as good as the last book but still worth reading.
I know see that there is at least one other book,
Its A good fantasy novel as Inda travels back to his homeland to take up his responsibilities as the new War Commander to the King. Can Inda, who is a great naval tactician and fighter aid his people to defeat the Venn. The story is told through various stories of all of Inda childhood friends who have grown up to be the leaders of their various homes. We lose Jeje early on and Fox on the water, but gain all of the other characters. I think the story bogs down a little with court intrigue, with the King's jealously of anyone who comes near Inda, with all of the romance and with the war taking up most of the book. Frankly its not as good as the last book but still worth reading.
I know see that there is at least one other book,
October 25, 2017
Well, what to say. The characters are the best part of this and therefore a lot of the story is about their actions and interactions. Unfortunately, this gives this book a broken sort of reading where the overall storyline is sort of a hindrance for the character development, since all preparations are about war like in book 1. If that makes sense.
Overall plot
I don't know if I'll bother to read the last one.
Overall plot
I don't know if I'll bother to read the last one.
June 24, 2015
The action and politics in this book dragged more than the others, but the emotional impact was pretty high. I do love how realistic the characters are, each different, each with inner turmoil. It was a little difficult to handle all of the shifts in POV because there were no markers indicating changes (I don't know if this is just for Kindle or what.) Overall I liked this book the least so far (though obviously still liked it enough to give it 4 stars), but am really ready for the final installment!
June 28, 2011
Up until now I thought this series was about Inda and his strugles. In this book there was a shift from Inda, to those obsessed with him. I found the characters that I liked before -Tau & Evered - became controlling, manipulative and wrong somehow. I also had a hard time believing that relationships were that open - it was like a big 60's revival - wrong on so many levels!
With all that mess, Inda came away the hero (again) but it was not the same as in other books.
With all that mess, Inda came away the hero (again) but it was not the same as in other books.
July 28, 2008
I thought this series was a trilogy, so I was a bit disappointed when I finished the third book and there was more to go. These books are fun, but have too much sexual content. They would be better if they were cleaner.
September 16, 2015
My only complaint is that it ended.
There is so much going on in this book and I loved every bit of it!
There is so much going on in this book and I loved every bit of it!
April 6, 2021
The first two books of this series were a series of climaxes, with the midway point just as heart-pounding as the finale. While King’s Shield is a direct sequel to The Fox and cannot be read on its own, it’s structured much more like a stand-alone book. We have several hundred pages of setup—which I found absolutely delightful, given all the interactions between characters I’d spent 1500 pages getting to know—before a couple hundred of breakneck action.
I know consensus seems to be that this is the worst book in the series, but I don’t see it. Smith does an absolutely exemplary job bringing the characters to life, and it’s all interesting even when there isn’t immediate threat to life and limb. And the characters are set up so well that the extended action sequences have real heft behind them (I say as someone who often finds action sequences to be perfunctory or monotonous). And we also get some really enjoyable levity when Smith lampshades all the characters having so many names that it’s hard to keep them straight.
There are certainly lots of threads left for book four, including a pretty nice sequel hook, but book three was really satisfying.
I still find the casual take on sex to be the hardest place to suspend disbelief, but that seems to be the way this world works, and it doesn’t ruin an otherwise excellent story. And there are still antagonist perspectives where the antagonist just feels a little over-the-top and self-absorbed, but she works even harder than in the last two books to make it believable (and indeed, it *is* realistic). At any rate, these are extremely minor complaints about a fantastic series.
First impression: 18/20
I know consensus seems to be that this is the worst book in the series, but I don’t see it. Smith does an absolutely exemplary job bringing the characters to life, and it’s all interesting even when there isn’t immediate threat to life and limb. And the characters are set up so well that the extended action sequences have real heft behind them (I say as someone who often finds action sequences to be perfunctory or monotonous). And we also get some really enjoyable levity when Smith lampshades all the characters having so many names that it’s hard to keep them straight.
There are certainly lots of threads left for book four, including a pretty nice sequel hook, but book three was really satisfying.
I still find the casual take on sex to be the hardest place to suspend disbelief, but that seems to be the way this world works, and it doesn’t ruin an otherwise excellent story. And there are still antagonist perspectives where the antagonist just feels a little over-the-top and self-absorbed, but she works even harder than in the last two books to make it believable (and indeed, it *is* realistic). At any rate, these are extremely minor complaints about a fantastic series.
First impression: 18/20
February 17, 2018
This book covers Inda back in Morlova, fighting off the Venn invasion.
So same complexity as before. For a story about war, there's a lot that goes on about human relationships and humanity - how people move into place for the big battle, and how people deal with adversity (although ).
So same complexity as before. For a story about war, there's a lot that goes on about human relationships and humanity - how people move into place for the big battle, and how people deal with adversity (although ).
February 27, 2022
Oh man, that was a tough one. It took me 20 days to tackle King's Shield and at times I thought of giving it up. Not because it wasn't good, but because it was too good. I feel so deeply for each of the characters, and as they marched closer to war and became more entangled in politics and adult emotions, every page turn I was afraid for which character would die next or which friendship would end.
We saw the most character development yet in King's Shield . The main characters are still children in the first book, Inda. By The Fox they are starting to grow up and we see signs of the adults they will come to be.
Six hundred and twenty pages and probably that many characters; there's a lot to get through. I found myself keeping notes as I went along; partly so I could remember, but mostly so that I could get all the inner turmoil out on paper.
We start with Inda finally back on Iasca Leror soil, accompanied by Tau and Jeje. I was anticipating a much longer build up to Inda actually reaching the king. Though I can't complain too much about the tension not being drawn out, because we do get treated to Jeje and Tau finally hooking up. I just love these characters together. She is so open and frank while Tau is the master of subtleness, but together they're perfect.
Aside from their reaching an understanding, a lot of my other concerns post- The Fox were answered almost immediately. Tdor found out about Inda and Signi more quickly than I anticipated, like ripping off a bandaid. I hurt for Tdor because she's such a solid, reliable person who deserves to be happy. Though I felt hope when Signi told Inda she was leaving, and Inda’s first thought is “I need Tdor because she can make sense of me.”I also was not expecting any closure regarding Dun being sent as a King's Runner to protect Inda during his exile, so that early reveal felt good. Dun is another good person who sacrificed a lot and deserved some happiness, even if it came in the afterlife.
And while the reunion with a lot of major characters happens quite quickly, just as quickly, they are headed off again to fight the Venn. I’ve spent one and a half books waiting for Inda to come home, and like five chapters in, it's done. I have a feeling it's mostly so we can get to the point of the book; war and its brutality.
It can be a challenge, keeping up with Smith’s vast number of characters or how she moves between points of view quickly and often. As to the large number of characters, I think it’s an accurate depiction of human life- we interact with and have relationships with a multitude of people, each with their own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. A lot of books try to limit the number of characters to make things easier on that reader, Smith does not spare us and our reward is a richer and more complex reading experience. This plays nicely into the series' overarching themes: duty, war, friendship, human nature and how others are able to perceive it differently. We see the same issue from multiple points of view.
In the same vein, shifting between points of view within chapters, rather than devoting each chapter to a single POV is a refreshing break from convention. I never grow weary of a single character’s POV, which sometimes happens when you’re stuck with them for an entire chapter. But I also think it gives more context, and more quickly, by giving us five characters thoughts and reactions to the same event in the same chapter.
At one point, Tdor even comments on the intersection of duty and war. When the Jarl’s men are preparing to go to the coast and she is saddened by their excitement at the prospect of war, only to counter that it’s their duty so they may as well be excited.
In the earlier books when he’s at sea, Inda views himself as only being good at one thing; killing. In King's Shield , I think he finds a sense of purpose in his actions while at war and views them differently than his time as a mariner or quasi pirate. However, by the end, he's more concerned with his guilt from ordering men, even his friends, to death rather than worrying about his value. It's heartbreaking that he and Tau both feel personally responsible for the death of Noddy, but don't want to burden the other with it. I felt's Noddy's death. He was a simple man. He did his duty. I felt Hawkeye's too. He was Noddy's total opposite, in everything but his devotion to Evred and fulfillment of duty.
Then you think about the women defending the castle. Two hundred of them again thousands of Venn invaders. They tear their banner so it can’t be taken. They booby trap the castle and fight until the last woman, girl really, is gone. The Venn captain remembering his own daughter, who was about the same age as the girl who lured his men onto the false floor and sacrificed herself in the process, was particularly heart wrenching. That does not even include the old men and boys going out in the castle's first defense or the Jarlan thinking that there will be no one alive to note any of their sacrifice. All to give Evred, Inda, and the army time. The Jarlan was wrong in her prediction. Tau presents an entirely different perspective on duty in that he does things for people, not causes.
I did have a hard time understanding what purpose the children hiding in the caves played. Other than another example of the horrors of war or the complexity of human nature? Or perhaps, just to warn Cama of the Idayagan fighters? I did not have a hard time understanding after the retreat, when Durasnir cried at the death and senselessness of the war.
Okay, I have to lighten this up a bit. Two comedic moments stuck out to me: Inda's and Barend’s “duel” for Harskialdna, which was a true showcase of talent, and how Tau so obviously won the fight to continue protecting Inda.
I appreciate that Inda is not some perfect main character. He's a great leader and has a brilliant military mind, but is oblivious to the complication of human emotions and motivations, as well as political machinations. Which is exactly why Tau and Jeje accompanied him. Inda is somewhat self aware and literally tells Tau he needs him to provide that insight he cannot see. Though, of course Tau is reluctant to based on some of the consequences of that insight. Namely, Evred's fixation with Inda.
I knew it was coming thanks to some carefully dropped hints earlier in the series. I'm concerned for their friendship, obviously, but also for them an individual characters. I don't want to see Evred hurt by unrequited love or rejection, but neither do you want Inda to have a repeat of his torture by Wafric. It was a close call when Evred touched Inda’s hair. My heart broke when Inda kept telling himself it was just a spider. It won't end up as terribly as the Sierlaef’s obsession did, but I don’t think it will have as happy of an ending as it did for the King and Sindend either. It’s interesting, because I've always liked Evred, but I don’t like his dislike of Tau, so it creates some tension for myself as a reader. I think Evred is still jealous, not of Tau and Inda being lovers, which he learns isn’t true, but of the time they were able to spend together. Tau saving him from Mardric definitely put them on more of a level playing field, and then their "fight" after the battle spiced things up even more. This is when I wish Smith would really lean into the romance. I want that scene in full! Also, slightly random observation but has anyone else noticed that Inda is the only one who still calls Evred "Sponge"? Similarly, did anyone else catch the implication that Evred putting on the magic ring given by Inda (to locate each other) was akin to him putting on a wedding ring? Or when Inda put on his war tunic and made a joke which Evred took as an insult.
And like this book, my review has gone on far too long. So a couple of closing comments:
What’s going to happen with Fox? I can just see him interfering in Barend's plans to retrieve the treasure, and I don't want that for anyone. What will become of Buck? I hope his suffering comes to a meaningful end.
Also, like the book, I'll try to end on a happier note. Tdor and Inda are married. I say the book ended on a happy note, but I sent the entire book wondering why Jeje left, and then why is she wasn't replying to Tau’s messages, only for the last sentence to be that she's found Tau's mother!
I've already bought book #4, but I'm going to have to give myself a little recovery time.
We saw the most character development yet in King's Shield . The main characters are still children in the first book, Inda. By The Fox they are starting to grow up and we see signs of the adults they will come to be.
Six hundred and twenty pages and probably that many characters; there's a lot to get through. I found myself keeping notes as I went along; partly so I could remember, but mostly so that I could get all the inner turmoil out on paper.
We start with Inda finally back on Iasca Leror soil, accompanied by Tau and Jeje. I was anticipating a much longer build up to Inda actually reaching the king. Though I can't complain too much about the tension not being drawn out, because we do get treated to Jeje and Tau finally hooking up. I just love these characters together. She is so open and frank while Tau is the master of subtleness, but together they're perfect.
Aside from their reaching an understanding, a lot of my other concerns post- The Fox were answered almost immediately. Tdor found out about Inda and Signi more quickly than I anticipated, like ripping off a bandaid. I hurt for Tdor because she's such a solid, reliable person who deserves to be happy. Though I felt hope when Signi told Inda she was leaving, and Inda’s first thought is “I need Tdor because she can make sense of me.”I also was not expecting any closure regarding Dun being sent as a King's Runner to protect Inda during his exile, so that early reveal felt good. Dun is another good person who sacrificed a lot and deserved some happiness, even if it came in the afterlife.
And while the reunion with a lot of major characters happens quite quickly, just as quickly, they are headed off again to fight the Venn. I’ve spent one and a half books waiting for Inda to come home, and like five chapters in, it's done. I have a feeling it's mostly so we can get to the point of the book; war and its brutality.
It can be a challenge, keeping up with Smith’s vast number of characters or how she moves between points of view quickly and often. As to the large number of characters, I think it’s an accurate depiction of human life- we interact with and have relationships with a multitude of people, each with their own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. A lot of books try to limit the number of characters to make things easier on that reader, Smith does not spare us and our reward is a richer and more complex reading experience. This plays nicely into the series' overarching themes: duty, war, friendship, human nature and how others are able to perceive it differently. We see the same issue from multiple points of view.
In the same vein, shifting between points of view within chapters, rather than devoting each chapter to a single POV is a refreshing break from convention. I never grow weary of a single character’s POV, which sometimes happens when you’re stuck with them for an entire chapter. But I also think it gives more context, and more quickly, by giving us five characters thoughts and reactions to the same event in the same chapter.
At one point, Tdor even comments on the intersection of duty and war. When the Jarl’s men are preparing to go to the coast and she is saddened by their excitement at the prospect of war, only to counter that it’s their duty so they may as well be excited.
In the earlier books when he’s at sea, Inda views himself as only being good at one thing; killing. In King's Shield , I think he finds a sense of purpose in his actions while at war and views them differently than his time as a mariner or quasi pirate. However, by the end, he's more concerned with his guilt from ordering men, even his friends, to death rather than worrying about his value. It's heartbreaking that he and Tau both feel personally responsible for the death of Noddy, but don't want to burden the other with it. I felt's Noddy's death. He was a simple man. He did his duty. I felt Hawkeye's too. He was Noddy's total opposite, in everything but his devotion to Evred and fulfillment of duty.
Then you think about the women defending the castle. Two hundred of them again thousands of Venn invaders. They tear their banner so it can’t be taken. They booby trap the castle and fight until the last woman, girl really, is gone. The Venn captain remembering his own daughter, who was about the same age as the girl who lured his men onto the false floor and sacrificed herself in the process, was particularly heart wrenching. That does not even include the old men and boys going out in the castle's first defense or the Jarlan thinking that there will be no one alive to note any of their sacrifice. All to give Evred, Inda, and the army time. The Jarlan was wrong in her prediction. Tau presents an entirely different perspective on duty in that he does things for people, not causes.
I did have a hard time understanding what purpose the children hiding in the caves played. Other than another example of the horrors of war or the complexity of human nature? Or perhaps, just to warn Cama of the Idayagan fighters? I did not have a hard time understanding after the retreat, when Durasnir cried at the death and senselessness of the war.
Okay, I have to lighten this up a bit. Two comedic moments stuck out to me: Inda's and Barend’s “duel” for Harskialdna, which was a true showcase of talent, and how Tau so obviously won the fight to continue protecting Inda.
I appreciate that Inda is not some perfect main character. He's a great leader and has a brilliant military mind, but is oblivious to the complication of human emotions and motivations, as well as political machinations. Which is exactly why Tau and Jeje accompanied him. Inda is somewhat self aware and literally tells Tau he needs him to provide that insight he cannot see. Though, of course Tau is reluctant to based on some of the consequences of that insight. Namely, Evred's fixation with Inda.
I knew it was coming thanks to some carefully dropped hints earlier in the series. I'm concerned for their friendship, obviously, but also for them an individual characters. I don't want to see Evred hurt by unrequited love or rejection, but neither do you want Inda to have a repeat of his torture by Wafric. It was a close call when Evred touched Inda’s hair. My heart broke when Inda kept telling himself it was just a spider. It won't end up as terribly as the Sierlaef’s obsession did, but I don’t think it will have as happy of an ending as it did for the King and Sindend either. It’s interesting, because I've always liked Evred, but I don’t like his dislike of Tau, so it creates some tension for myself as a reader. I think Evred is still jealous, not of Tau and Inda being lovers, which he learns isn’t true, but of the time they were able to spend together. Tau saving him from Mardric definitely put them on more of a level playing field, and then their "fight" after the battle spiced things up even more. This is when I wish Smith would really lean into the romance. I want that scene in full! Also, slightly random observation but has anyone else noticed that Inda is the only one who still calls Evred "Sponge"? Similarly, did anyone else catch the implication that Evred putting on the magic ring given by Inda (to locate each other) was akin to him putting on a wedding ring? Or when Inda put on his war tunic and made a joke which Evred took as an insult.
And like this book, my review has gone on far too long. So a couple of closing comments:
What’s going to happen with Fox? I can just see him interfering in Barend's plans to retrieve the treasure, and I don't want that for anyone. What will become of Buck? I hope his suffering comes to a meaningful end.
Also, like the book, I'll try to end on a happier note. Tdor and Inda are married. I say the book ended on a happy note, but I sent the entire book wondering why Jeje left, and then why is she wasn't replying to Tau’s messages, only for the last sentence to be that she's found Tau's mother!
I've already bought book #4, but I'm going to have to give myself a little recovery time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2010
I finished the third book in the series somewhat late(Sherwood has posted to her LJ that it will become four books, and she's already finished writing the fourth one which can be bought), King's Shield, although I started it in the summer of 2008 when the hardback came out, mostly because the first major wave of war hit right at the moment of Inda's return to his homeland and after all the preparations all that was left was reading about the war itself - and Sherwood really gets me by the guts there, showing the people left behind, the defenders (men, women and children) successful and unsuccessful (yes, the children are included in that statement), the army on the move, the other side, the people on the sidelines who want to profit, and the pirate hunters left behind by Inda starting their own move.
It's particularly gripping because old childhood friends come face-to-face with the grown-up version of the person they remember and there's no time (and sometimes no inclination) for info-dumping while riding off to war, so misunderstandings abound and make a rough duty even harder. People you route for die, although the first wave of war is stopped - not by a decisive victory, but because of changed situations in the homeland of the invaders (Inda is in love with one of the females from that country and with his fiancée at the same time and this is handled believably!).
Taking it up I knew exactly where I had left off, knew the people again (be aware that Sherwood Smith does not do a lot of "as you know, Bob" so it may be best for some readers to wait until all the books are out, in case they can't remember the huge cast and world-building) and read headlong without stopping until the end (I wouldn't have picked it up if it hadn't been Saturday ^^) and was left in tears during the actual description of the war and its victims and with mostly satisfaction at the resolution (there is no true HEA, too many are dead, there have to be more compromises with nasty people on your own side - hey, it's actually not written down to the reader, but expects you to be able to handle greyscale) of this book, eagerly awaiting the fourth next year.
Two caveats:
It's particularly gripping because old childhood friends come face-to-face with the grown-up version of the person they remember and there's no time (and sometimes no inclination) for info-dumping while riding off to war, so misunderstandings abound and make a rough duty even harder. People you route for die, although the first wave of war is stopped - not by a decisive victory, but because of changed situations in the homeland of the invaders (Inda is in love with one of the females from that country and with his fiancée at the same time and this is handled believably!).
Taking it up I knew exactly where I had left off, knew the people again (be aware that Sherwood Smith does not do a lot of "as you know, Bob" so it may be best for some readers to wait until all the books are out, in case they can't remember the huge cast and world-building) and read headlong without stopping until the end (I wouldn't have picked it up if it hadn't been Saturday ^^) and was left in tears during the actual description of the war and its victims and with mostly satisfaction at the resolution (there is no true HEA, too many are dead, there have to be more compromises with nasty people on your own side - hey, it's actually not written down to the reader, but expects you to be able to handle greyscale) of this book, eagerly awaiting the fourth next year.
Two caveats:
Sherwood Smith usually shows all the sides in a fight with their motivations and the burdens they labour under, so that it's clear there is no one villain who only wants to destroy: however, in all her books I've read so far, Norsunder - the mysterious dark magic land - has never had positive sides (the only explanation for the behaviour of their people I've read was that they get brain-washed until they are just as bad as the people who did it to them, in Senrid).
re: Senrid - her YA series set in a similar world (but not exactly the same) has many of the same names for similar countries and people and THAT can get confusing if you read them in short sequence - the young adult version is mostly from Norilana books - don't get scared off by the Angst label :razz: - except for Crown Duel, of course, which is the sequel (so far) of Senrid and A Stranger to Command.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2012
The third part of the Inda quartet following on from Inda and The Fox. A mighty book in many ways. Long, yes, all 687 ages of it. Complex in depth and far-reaching in scope this is still Inda's story, but the other characters aren't forgotten and we spend a lot of this book seeing Inda through other eyes.. When Inda returns home from the sea to warn his once best friend and now king, Evred, of an impending attack by the Venn he's accompanied by shipmates, the beautiful Tau and his (to her own thinking) plain lover Jeje and Inda's own lover the much older Venn mage, Signi.
Though there is grief when Inda learns his older brother has been murdered in his absence and his father has faded to the status of a cabbage, Inda finally gets his heart's desire. His exile is ended, his trumped up crime of eight or nine years ago is forgotten and his trusted friends are all happy to see him back, especially Evred who almost immediately makes Inda his war-leader. Lest that seem a little overly convenient for Inda's advancement, all the experienced war leaders have already been eliminated in a 'night-of-the-long-knives' coup and counter-coup in the previous book, The Fox. Inda, known for having 'plans' in his academy days, and always being capable of seeing the bigger picture in any military engagement, has shown he can lead a fleet to victory at sea. Now all he has to do is relearn the art of fighting on land.
So Inda comes home in time to put his best friends into the worst jeopardy of their lives, with the Venn invasion force already waiting to land an army of thousands and a long march through the Andahi pass to command the high ground first in the coming battle. Inda's learning curve is as steep and rocky as the sides of the pass, but Evred was right to put his trust in him even though the cost is great.
The human stories are intertwined with the military one: Evred's secret passion for Inda, recognised only by Tau and by Tdor, Inda's future wife; Tdor's anxiety about Inda's lover, Signi, and how her presence will affect their arranged marriage; Inda's ongoing nightmares from previous traumas; Jeje's inferiority complex which causes her to leave before Tau can get tired of her; Tau's sense of loss over Jeje because though he's had many lovers, so few of them have been friends as well. There are new characters: the doomed defenders of Castle Andahi and their children, sent to the mountains for safety, struggling to survive. We see the academy boys from the first book, Inda, now grown to men and fulfilling their promise - or not. Special mention for the beautifully drawn cameo of Noddy Toraca, somewhat goofy and turtle-like as a child, but now strong and steady, already a father, and questioning the sense of war while giving everything when asked. There's a human cost of war, not just in the dead, but the maimed as well. Inda and his chums were children in the first book. The idea of war was an exciting adventure, a war game. Now they are men, and war is no longer a game.
There is much to admire in Sherwood Smith's writing. The worldbuilding is completely believable and within the context of fiction, totally real. The characterisation is excellent. She makes you care about all of them, even the annoying ones. The plot is never predictable, the pace always page-turning. After three mammoth books what can be left in Inda's life to write about? He's already achieved the pinnacle of success. But there is another book, Treason's Shore, and I'm having to stop myself from dashing off to start reading. I have some work to do first...
Though there is grief when Inda learns his older brother has been murdered in his absence and his father has faded to the status of a cabbage, Inda finally gets his heart's desire. His exile is ended, his trumped up crime of eight or nine years ago is forgotten and his trusted friends are all happy to see him back, especially Evred who almost immediately makes Inda his war-leader. Lest that seem a little overly convenient for Inda's advancement, all the experienced war leaders have already been eliminated in a 'night-of-the-long-knives' coup and counter-coup in the previous book, The Fox. Inda, known for having 'plans' in his academy days, and always being capable of seeing the bigger picture in any military engagement, has shown he can lead a fleet to victory at sea. Now all he has to do is relearn the art of fighting on land.
So Inda comes home in time to put his best friends into the worst jeopardy of their lives, with the Venn invasion force already waiting to land an army of thousands and a long march through the Andahi pass to command the high ground first in the coming battle. Inda's learning curve is as steep and rocky as the sides of the pass, but Evred was right to put his trust in him even though the cost is great.
The human stories are intertwined with the military one: Evred's secret passion for Inda, recognised only by Tau and by Tdor, Inda's future wife; Tdor's anxiety about Inda's lover, Signi, and how her presence will affect their arranged marriage; Inda's ongoing nightmares from previous traumas; Jeje's inferiority complex which causes her to leave before Tau can get tired of her; Tau's sense of loss over Jeje because though he's had many lovers, so few of them have been friends as well. There are new characters: the doomed defenders of Castle Andahi and their children, sent to the mountains for safety, struggling to survive. We see the academy boys from the first book, Inda, now grown to men and fulfilling their promise - or not. Special mention for the beautifully drawn cameo of Noddy Toraca, somewhat goofy and turtle-like as a child, but now strong and steady, already a father, and questioning the sense of war while giving everything when asked. There's a human cost of war, not just in the dead, but the maimed as well. Inda and his chums were children in the first book. The idea of war was an exciting adventure, a war game. Now they are men, and war is no longer a game.
There is much to admire in Sherwood Smith's writing. The worldbuilding is completely believable and within the context of fiction, totally real. The characterisation is excellent. She makes you care about all of them, even the annoying ones. The plot is never predictable, the pace always page-turning. After three mammoth books what can be left in Inda's life to write about? He's already achieved the pinnacle of success. But there is another book, Treason's Shore, and I'm having to stop myself from dashing off to start reading. I have some work to do first...
February 3, 2016
I read King's Shield in a matter of days, racing through it after I finished The Fox. Smith is just as skilled a writer and worldbuilder, but I just didn't enjoy the third novel as much as the second or first. Problems I had with the second--namely, the time spent on characters I would not consider to be "main" characters, and in whom I had little to no interest--are only amplified in the third. I understand the world and cast become ever-more sprawling in the fourth novel, so I'm not going to read it. King's Shield had a good enough ending for me, and I'm not going to plow through (what I imagine to be) hundreds of pages of Venn drama .
One final note: I did not enjoy certain characters' progressions. Your mileage may vary, of course, in this arena. I'm talking mainly about
One final note: I did not enjoy certain characters' progressions. Your mileage may vary, of course, in this arena. I'm talking mainly about
April 11, 2013
After captaining a pirate-sacking fleet for more than 1000 pages, we finally get Inda back on land in this book. His name is cleared, and he comes home. He has an urgent reason for doing so, which results in his homeland going off to war.
This book is quite good, though not as strong as the first two. Smith delves more deeply into the inter-personal relationships as folks love, love back, and sometimes don't. Evred, Inda's king and best friend is a very interesting character, and we get to know him even better.
The same cast of characters is still around, including Hadand, Tdor, Fox, Taumad, and everyone else. However, in this book we get to know some new characters on the 'enemy's' side. This is what Smith does so well. She tells you whom the villain is, but then helps you get to know that villain in such a way that you're just not sure anymore. Everyone has their own motivations, all of which they think are correct. Once we see it from their point of view, it's hard to think of it as 'us vs. them'. This is especially true in these last two books where the war between Iasca-Leror and the Venn comes to a head.
I will say this about King's Shield: It has one of the most awesome land battle sequences ever put to paper at the end of the book. There's a mountain pass, two armies, seriously amazing strategy, and even a little map to help you picture it all. And Smith doesn't pull any punches. People indeed kick the bucket. It is such a fantastic and exciting climax to a strong book in this series.
This book is quite good, though not as strong as the first two. Smith delves more deeply into the inter-personal relationships as folks love, love back, and sometimes don't. Evred, Inda's king and best friend is a very interesting character, and we get to know him even better.
The same cast of characters is still around, including Hadand, Tdor, Fox, Taumad, and everyone else. However, in this book we get to know some new characters on the 'enemy's' side. This is what Smith does so well. She tells you whom the villain is, but then helps you get to know that villain in such a way that you're just not sure anymore. Everyone has their own motivations, all of which they think are correct. Once we see it from their point of view, it's hard to think of it as 'us vs. them'. This is especially true in these last two books where the war between Iasca-Leror and the Venn comes to a head.
I will say this about King's Shield: It has one of the most awesome land battle sequences ever put to paper at the end of the book. There's a mountain pass, two armies, seriously amazing strategy, and even a little map to help you picture it all. And Smith doesn't pull any punches. People indeed kick the bucket. It is such a fantastic and exciting climax to a strong book in this series.
April 4, 2009
These are really wonderful fantasy novels. Smith has created this world that is so thoroughly envisioned, a culture that is so complete and feels so real. The weird thing to me is the way she writes dialogue and the way that characters think... They speak in halting sentences, don't always seem to know exactly what they want to say, don't always answer questions clearly - and this all makes the dialogue very "real", but sometimes frustratingly obscure. In this third book this seems to happen even more, and since it had been a while since I read book 2 I wished for a list of characters to keep things clear for me - there are tons of intricate relationships.
The plot revolves around an attack through a mountain pass, and it might have been explained in the second book or even at the beginning of this third book, but I found myself wondering why the Venn would not sail around and attack from Lindreth harbor.
As it turns out, they DID do that as well as attacking through the pass. Good book, and quite epic in proportions, but the ending is quite abrupt. While the worldbuilding is just astounding I found myself wondering what the point was. It's interesting how we get a limited window into the thoughts and feelings of the characters... and yet they remain somehow mysterious and incomprehensible.
The plot revolves around an attack through a mountain pass, and it might have been explained in the second book or even at the beginning of this third book, but I found myself wondering why the Venn would not sail around and attack from Lindreth harbor.
As it turns out, they DID do that as well as attacking through the pass. Good book, and quite epic in proportions, but the ending is quite abrupt. While the worldbuilding is just astounding I found myself wondering what the point was. It's interesting how we get a limited window into the thoughts and feelings of the characters... and yet they remain somehow mysterious and incomprehensible.
February 13, 2015
An old book – but so much fun. I love the characters and the one-to-one fight scenes. I love the way ‘the women left home to defend the castle’ are smart & strong – but mostly smart & fast. And smart, did I mention the smart women? And the horrible women have their horrible men counterparts. I love all the slang phrases for smugness.
I love the way Inda thinks & sees how to use everyone to the best of their ability. I love the way the King and Queen love each other, even though they have no interest in sleeping together. And the baby-making magic is well thought out, if kind of unbelievable. Yes, yes, this book has gateways between planets as a back-story. I still don’t believe in baby-by-magic. I love the way the King is a scholar, and has to choose between scholarship and saving his people. Tough choice. No choice at all, really. *cries*
I love the way Inda’s friends look out for him, then decide he doesn’t need looking after and get on with something more interesting. All the secondary characters have active lives, not just –what-does-Inda-want-today.
Basically I love this book. And the series.
No thoughtful critique possible.
I love the way Inda thinks & sees how to use everyone to the best of their ability. I love the way the King and Queen love each other, even though they have no interest in sleeping together. And the baby-making magic is well thought out, if kind of unbelievable. Yes, yes, this book has gateways between planets as a back-story. I still don’t believe in baby-by-magic. I love the way the King is a scholar, and has to choose between scholarship and saving his people. Tough choice. No choice at all, really. *cries*
I love the way Inda’s friends look out for him, then decide he doesn’t need looking after and get on with something more interesting. All the secondary characters have active lives, not just –what-does-Inda-want-today.
Basically I love this book. And the series.
No thoughtful critique possible.
July 8, 2016
Quick review of Inda, The Fox and King's Shield by Sherwood Smith.
I have to say that I am loving this epic fantasy series, really loving it. A lot of world-building, plotting, and complex characterization despite the many, many characters involved. Books 1-3 deal with Inda ages 10-20, so A LOT of things are going on, beginning with his entry into the military academy. Smith describes warfare and battle, both on land and on sea (PIRATES!), in an interesting and exciting way and all the political machinations and military training never got boring. She also isn't afraid of killing beloved characters if the story calls for it, which is both satisfying and scary.
Smith also raises important questions about loyalty, command, friendship, injustice and especially war. But to me her true strength lies in her characters - their motivations and actions remain genuinely human and complex and I couldn't help but care deeply about them.
My favorite of these 3 was the second book, The Fox, which is basically the rise of Inda.
I have to say that I am loving this epic fantasy series, really loving it. A lot of world-building, plotting, and complex characterization despite the many, many characters involved. Books 1-3 deal with Inda ages 10-20, so A LOT of things are going on, beginning with his entry into the military academy. Smith describes warfare and battle, both on land and on sea (PIRATES!), in an interesting and exciting way and all the political machinations and military training never got boring. She also isn't afraid of killing beloved characters if the story calls for it, which is both satisfying and scary.
Smith also raises important questions about loyalty, command, friendship, injustice and especially war. But to me her true strength lies in her characters - their motivations and actions remain genuinely human and complex and I couldn't help but care deeply about them.
My favorite of these 3 was the second book, The Fox, which is basically the rise of Inda.
February 1, 2012
I enjoyed this book. It was an improvement on the second book in the series, probably because the most important problem with the second book in this series, namely the author's tendency to try to follow too many situations and characters simultaneously, was not a problem here. My impression was that this may have been the case as a result of the fact that while the previous book served partly as setup for later events, this one was mostly spent in 'payoff' if you will, where the author spent most of the novel detailing events occuring during a long-expected war: this became the focus of this world's events for a great many characters (hence fewer disparate and unrelated scenes occuring in various places and times).
Smith as usual writes competently and displays what seems to be (to my admittedly uninformed point of view) a good deal of knowledge concerning medieval-type warfare on land as well as of sailing and sea. In general, the world building in this series is top-notch and the characters very likeable.
Again, IMHO.
Smith as usual writes competently and displays what seems to be (to my admittedly uninformed point of view) a good deal of knowledge concerning medieval-type warfare on land as well as of sailing and sea. In general, the world building in this series is top-notch and the characters very likeable.
Again, IMHO.
February 16, 2013
Still enjoying the Inda series, an enjoyment which derives from a combination of Sherwood Smith's writing style, which I love, and the absolutely incredible world she's created. I think I've picked up almost every novel that she's written that has to deal with the whole Sartor/Colend/Marlovan universe.
The pace has slowed down by this third book, but the depiction of the Marlovans at war and the heartbreak and heroism that accompanies it is well worth investing the time to read this slowing series. Not sure where the overall plot is headed, and to be perfectly honest, my curiosity and interest has been waning a bit, but Smith's done such a great job of making me care about these characters, from Inda who you've been with through his incredible journey from bullied second son to the "pirate" Harskialdna, that I keep plugging away to see what happens to them, or in the case of Sponge, see what they end up becoming.
Still a great read, will definitely pick up the 4th and last book, but not chomping at the bit to read it right away.
The pace has slowed down by this third book, but the depiction of the Marlovans at war and the heartbreak and heroism that accompanies it is well worth investing the time to read this slowing series. Not sure where the overall plot is headed, and to be perfectly honest, my curiosity and interest has been waning a bit, but Smith's done such a great job of making me care about these characters, from Inda who you've been with through his incredible journey from bullied second son to the "pirate" Harskialdna, that I keep plugging away to see what happens to them, or in the case of Sponge, see what they end up becoming.
Still a great read, will definitely pick up the 4th and last book, but not chomping at the bit to read it right away.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews