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Psalms of Isaak #2
Canticle
It is nine months after the end of the previous book in the Psalms of Isaak series. Many noble allies have come to the Ninefold Forest for a feast in honor of General Rudolfo's first-born child. Jin Li Tam, his wife and mother of his heir, lies in childbed. As the feast begins, the doors of the hall fly open and invisible assassins begin attacking. All of Rudolfo's noble guests are slain, including Hanric, the Marsh Queen's Shadow. And on the Keeper's Gate, which guards the Named Lands from the Churning Waste, a strange figure appears, with a message for Petronus. Thus begins the second movement of The Psalms of Isaak.
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First published October 13, 2009
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About the author
Ken Scholes
88 books246 followersKen Scholes is the award-winning, critically-acclaimed author of five novels and over fifty short stories. His work has appeared in print for over sixteen years. His series, The Psalms of Isaak, is published by Tor Books and his short fiction has been released in three volumes by Fairwood Press.
Ken's eclectic background includes time spent as a label gun repairman, a sailor who never sailed, a soldier who commanded a desk, a preacher (he got better), a nonprofit executive, a musician and a government procurement analyst. He has a degree in History from Western Washington University.
Ken is a native of the Pacific Northwest and makes his home in Saint Helens, Oregon, where he lives with his twin daughters. You can learn more about Ken by visiting www.kenscholes.com.
Ken's eclectic background includes time spent as a label gun repairman, a sailor who never sailed, a soldier who commanded a desk, a preacher (he got better), a nonprofit executive, a musician and a government procurement analyst. He has a degree in History from Western Washington University.
Ken is a native of the Pacific Northwest and makes his home in Saint Helens, Oregon, where he lives with his twin daughters. You can learn more about Ken by visiting www.kenscholes.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
May 21, 2013
As unpredictable and dynamic as Lamentation was, things get even more twisty here. Scholes takes his POV characters into unexpected directions and it becomes clear that the repercussions of the Desolation of Windwir are much greater than the first novel hinted at. New threats emerge. Or are they really new? How much of it ties into the Windwir incident? It's also very clear that nothing is quite what it seems. Scholes reveals more of his world here, and what we get to see is tantalizing. I'm still of the opinion that this is a story that tells itself; It's remarkably paced. Maybe there are some themes present that have been attempted before, but this is still a fascinating story with a unique voice that deserves to be given a chance by readers of fantasy fiction. I doubt you've ever read anything quite like this. It seems to me that Mr Scholes is set on taking this story to great heights.
There is also a lot of mysticism running through the story and I'm curious to see how it is going to be handled further on. It will be interesting to see how the prophecies relating to some key figures pan out. There are a few threads left hanging at the end, which is understandable, and it does set the story up very nicely for book 3 (Antiphon)
A great series so far. Highly recommended.
There is also a lot of mysticism running through the story and I'm curious to see how it is going to be handled further on. It will be interesting to see how the prophecies relating to some key figures pan out. There are a few threads left hanging at the end, which is understandable, and it does set the story up very nicely for book 3 (Antiphon)
A great series so far. Highly recommended.
September 18, 2022
Втората част започва вихрено, събитията и интригите се заплитат яко и направо човек може да се почувства попаднал в средата на Уимски лабиринт, който не познава.
Историята се развива отлично, с неочаквани действия и решения на главните герои, предателства и култ въздигнал се от мрачното минало.
С интерес ще прочета и останалите две книги от поредицата, но на английски.
Минус си остава относително слабото светоописание, но това определено е книга на герои и събития.
Бард естествено няма да доиздадат и тази поредица...
Историята се развива отлично, с неочаквани действия и решения на главните герои, предателства и култ въздигнал се от мрачното минало.
С интерес ще прочета и останалите две книги от поредицата, но на английски.
Минус си остава относително слабото светоописание, но това определено е книга на герои и събития.
Бард естествено няма да доиздадат и тази поредица...
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January 23, 2023Здравейте,книжни дракони! Вчера вечерта завърших втората от книгите от поредицата "Псалмите на Иссак" на Кен Сколс. Поредицата съдържа общо 11 книги,но само две са преведени на български. Никъде досега не съм чувала някой да ги обсъжда или чете. Не са много известни май,но аз ви казвам,че със сигурност си заслужават.
Първата прочетох на един дъх,независимо от всичките ангажименти,които се опитваха бавно да ме задушат. Останах много впечатлена от героите и връзките между тях. Чувствата им бяха нормални и разбираеми, не както се среща в мнозинството от книги, нечовешки. Тук наистина изпитваха съжаление,когато убиеха човек и знаеха как да обичат без да е като обич от пръв поглед (нещо доста нереалистично по моя преценка). Много съм доволна и от завършека на 'Ридание" (първата част). Последната глава на книгата изтича и после има кратичка подсказка на това какво ще се случи в следващата книга. А главите бяха нещо страхотно. Винаги съм си падала по книгите при които всяка глава е разказана от гледната точка на различен герой. А ако двамата подледователни герои участват в една и съща сцена става още по-интересно.За мен е много чуден начина, по който писателят е успял да вкара религията (фентъзи религия) като нещо ключово за сюжета и същевременно изобщо да не се натрапва в очите на читателя. Попринцип съм атеист,но нямам нищо против изповядващите някоя религия,и все пак ще ме разберете като кажа, че е много досадно,когато някой автор се опита да ви накара да вярвате в нещо чрез героите си. Искам да кажа,вярвай си,но остави другите да решат за себе си.
Втората част беше още по-вълнуваща. Първата си бе свършила добре работата и вече познавах героите,начина им на мислене,стремежите и страховете им. Сега от мен се очакваше само да се чудя какво ще стане нататък. Обожавам края на книгата. Много тъжен, дори плаках. А аз рядко плача. Но пък завърши с толкова много въпросителни. Много ми се иска "Бард" да бяха превели и останалите части,но както казах по-горе най-вероятно не е имало достатъчно търсене. Жалко,книгата е страхотна! Много ще се радвам ако я прочетете!
Друго нещо което ме очарова,не толкова в историята,колкото в направата на книгата,беше картата. Или по-точно картите. И двете книги имаха карти на първите страници,но и двете бяха различни. Тази на "Ридание" обхващаше само няколко от страните на Познатите земи, а тази на "Песнопение" изобразяваше целият свят на романите. В зависимост от това къде ще се развиват действията в определената книга.
Картата на снимката вдясно е от първата книга.
На двете книги заедно давам 5/5 звезди! Приятен ден!
Цялото ревю на линка по-долу 👇🏼
https://melithefangirl.blogspot.com/2...
Първата прочетох на един дъх,независимо от всичките ангажименти,които се опитваха бавно да ме задушат. Останах много впечатлена от героите и връзките между тях. Чувствата им бяха нормални и разбираеми, не както се среща в мнозинството от книги, нечовешки. Тук наистина изпитваха съжаление,когато убиеха човек и знаеха как да обичат без да е като обич от пръв поглед (нещо доста нереалистично по моя преценка). Много съм доволна и от завършека на 'Ридание" (първата част). Последната глава на книгата изтича и после има кратичка подсказка на това какво ще се случи в следващата книга. А главите бяха нещо страхотно. Винаги съм си падала по книгите при които всяка глава е разказана от гледната точка на различен герой. А ако двамата подледователни герои участват в една и съща сцена става още по-интересно.За мен е много чуден начина, по който писателят е успял да вкара религията (фентъзи религия) като нещо ключово за сюжета и същевременно изобщо да не се натрапва в очите на читателя. Попринцип съм атеист,но нямам нищо против изповядващите някоя религия,и все пак ще ме разберете като кажа, че е много досадно,когато някой автор се опита да ви накара да вярвате в нещо чрез героите си. Искам да кажа,вярвай си,но остави другите да решат за себе си.
Втората част беше още по-вълнуваща. Първата си бе свършила добре работата и вече познавах героите,начина им на мислене,стремежите и страховете им. Сега от мен се очакваше само да се чудя какво ще стане нататък. Обожавам края на книгата. Много тъжен, дори плаках. А аз рядко плача. Но пък завърши с толкова много въпросителни. Много ми се иска "Бард" да бяха превели и останалите части,но както казах по-горе най-вероятно не е имало достатъчно търсене. Жалко,книгата е страхотна! Много ще се радвам ако я прочетете!
Друго нещо което ме очарова,не толкова в историята,колкото в направата на книгата,беше картата. Или по-точно картите. И двете книги имаха карти на първите страници,но и двете бяха различни. Тази на "Ридание" обхващаше само няколко от страните на Познатите земи, а тази на "Песнопение" изобразяваше целият свят на романите. В зависимост от това къде ще се развиват действията в определената книга.
Картата на снимката вдясно е от първата книга.
На двете книги заедно давам 5/5 звезди! Приятен ден!
Цялото ревю на линка по-долу 👇🏼
https://melithefangirl.blogspot.com/2...
September 6, 2013
Writing: 4.5
Story/Plot: 5
Depth/Detail: 5
Enjoyment: 4.5
Why more people have not been reading and talking about this series is absolutely beyond me. I read Ken Scholes' Lamentation based upon the fact he's a local author, seemed like an upstanding fellow, and based on the personal recommendation of a friend who is associated with Ken's writing. I couldn't possibly have been happier with the result - Lamentation was a triumph, a truly unique, well written and engrossing tale, a hybrid fantasy with intelligent robots, magic, warfare, drama, romance, and some of the more intriguing characters I've read in any book.
Canticle picked up right where Lamentation left me, up to my neck in deep character drama, a world torn apart by conflict, moral and tactical decisions and dilemmas abound. The book starts with an absolute bang, going from a quick intro right into an atom bomb of an event, one that shaped the rest of the book, and one that laid the groundwork for the unraveling of events through the rest of the book. Some of the events in this book are much heavier than in Lamentation, much darker, much more dramatic. There's more than one heart-stopping moment, eloquently described and with sufficient drama to really put you in the moment. I've come to like these characters, feel for them, understand them, and even the ones with questionable morals or intentions are well enough explained that you respect and understand them, and feel for their dilemmas and losses.
Luckily, even more of the world's lore is unraveled during this book, much more about the Andofrancines and their libraries, their mechoservitor robots, the drama of Whym and Y'Zir, the building of Sanctorum Lux (which leads to a pretty dramatic few pages towards the end). One of the main characters, Jin Li Tam, is perhaps one of the most torn - stuck between loyalty to her family that is ingrained deep within her, but struggling with her family's betrayal of her, using her for political gain and to push their agenda. She's got her baby with Rudolfo, the man she's come to love, and must balance protecting her newborn and sickly son, finding a way to cure what ails him (that came partially at her own doing), and to do her duty as the new wife and queen of a kingdom and army. Rudolfo is met with much of the same, the need to find the cure for his only child and heir, while pulled morally in different directions, and forced to choose between what might benefit the world as a whole, and what he truly desires for himself and his family.
We also see much more of Neb, Winteria and the role she plays with the Marshfolk, Isaak the mechoservitor as well as some more of his kin, and even Charles, the creator/builder of the mechoservitors. There are layers and layers of drama and history here, each move bringing more layers and complications, each making the world deeper and more interesting. The ending feels both a bit less "solid" than the first book, and goes on a few pages too long - it kind of slowly fizzles out, ties up some loose ends but still leaves a ton open. The events of the book were so dramatic and captivating, that the ending felt a bit sluggish and underwhelming. It left me desperately wanting to begin reading Antiphon, but it also left me a bit disappointed. I can't really complain about it too much - every book will have it's slow points, it just sticks with you more when it's right at the end.
The writing, as with before, is very approachable, makes characters and dialogue feel real and natural and never forced, people make what seem like appropriate choices and actions. The book's not perfect, nor is the writing, but it's flaws appear in a more endearing way, rather than an annoying one (although, after the fifth time someone was spacing out mid-conversation before 'realizing that xxxx was speaking' and going 'huh, sorry what?'...). There is still obvious growth between the first book and this, and I continue to hear it just gets better and better as the series progresses. Which I will soon find out, as I simply cannot get enough of this world, of it's people and it's history, and I can't get enough of Mr. Scholes' wordcrafting and worldbuilding.
Story/Plot: 5
Depth/Detail: 5
Enjoyment: 4.5
Why more people have not been reading and talking about this series is absolutely beyond me. I read Ken Scholes' Lamentation based upon the fact he's a local author, seemed like an upstanding fellow, and based on the personal recommendation of a friend who is associated with Ken's writing. I couldn't possibly have been happier with the result - Lamentation was a triumph, a truly unique, well written and engrossing tale, a hybrid fantasy with intelligent robots, magic, warfare, drama, romance, and some of the more intriguing characters I've read in any book.
Canticle picked up right where Lamentation left me, up to my neck in deep character drama, a world torn apart by conflict, moral and tactical decisions and dilemmas abound. The book starts with an absolute bang, going from a quick intro right into an atom bomb of an event, one that shaped the rest of the book, and one that laid the groundwork for the unraveling of events through the rest of the book. Some of the events in this book are much heavier than in Lamentation, much darker, much more dramatic. There's more than one heart-stopping moment, eloquently described and with sufficient drama to really put you in the moment. I've come to like these characters, feel for them, understand them, and even the ones with questionable morals or intentions are well enough explained that you respect and understand them, and feel for their dilemmas and losses.
Luckily, even more of the world's lore is unraveled during this book, much more about the Andofrancines and their libraries, their mechoservitor robots, the drama of Whym and Y'Zir, the building of Sanctorum Lux (which leads to a pretty dramatic few pages towards the end). One of the main characters, Jin Li Tam, is perhaps one of the most torn - stuck between loyalty to her family that is ingrained deep within her, but struggling with her family's betrayal of her, using her for political gain and to push their agenda. She's got her baby with Rudolfo, the man she's come to love, and must balance protecting her newborn and sickly son, finding a way to cure what ails him (that came partially at her own doing), and to do her duty as the new wife and queen of a kingdom and army. Rudolfo is met with much of the same, the need to find the cure for his only child and heir, while pulled morally in different directions, and forced to choose between what might benefit the world as a whole, and what he truly desires for himself and his family.
We also see much more of Neb, Winteria and the role she plays with the Marshfolk, Isaak the mechoservitor as well as some more of his kin, and even Charles, the creator/builder of the mechoservitors. There are layers and layers of drama and history here, each move bringing more layers and complications, each making the world deeper and more interesting. The ending feels both a bit less "solid" than the first book, and goes on a few pages too long - it kind of slowly fizzles out, ties up some loose ends but still leaves a ton open. The events of the book were so dramatic and captivating, that the ending felt a bit sluggish and underwhelming. It left me desperately wanting to begin reading Antiphon, but it also left me a bit disappointed. I can't really complain about it too much - every book will have it's slow points, it just sticks with you more when it's right at the end.
The writing, as with before, is very approachable, makes characters and dialogue feel real and natural and never forced, people make what seem like appropriate choices and actions. The book's not perfect, nor is the writing, but it's flaws appear in a more endearing way, rather than an annoying one (although, after the fifth time someone was spacing out mid-conversation before 'realizing that xxxx was speaking' and going 'huh, sorry what?'...). There is still obvious growth between the first book and this, and I continue to hear it just gets better and better as the series progresses. Which I will soon find out, as I simply cannot get enough of this world, of it's people and it's history, and I can't get enough of Mr. Scholes' wordcrafting and worldbuilding.
September 21, 2022
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
The sequel novel to this sci-fi/fantasy genre blender will be sure to send fans of Lamentation into a spin. This series takes a very dark turn as the pieces of the puzzle are slowly being put into place. Looking back on my experience reading Lamentation I realize the brilliance of Ken Scholes. The debut needed to be constructed in a slow burn approach so that Canticle can hit the ground running and build off of what came before. If you were feeling 50/50 on how you felt after reading book 1, Canticle is a brilliant sequel I look forward to discussing with you. This will be a spoiler free review but I will be touching upon events from book 1.
The city of Windmir is has been brought to ashes along with the thousands of victims. The pope in hiding Petronus has now taken control of the new Androfrancine order and had Sethbert to death for his crimes of destroying the holy city. Petronus actions has also incited a civil war amoung the delta states to the south and a bargain will need to be made. Rudolfo is throwing a grand feast to celebrate the birth of his heir with Jin Li Tam. He is tasked with building a grand new library with the help of his mechservitor Isaak, the same Isaak responsible for the destruction of Windwir. At the beginning of the celebration, invisible assassins attack and kill high ranking nobles but Rudolfo is left unharmed. A scheme is taking place and the one making all the moves may be in some way connected to House Li Tam. Finally we have Neb, first hand witness to the destruction of Windwir and servent of Petronus in burying the dead of the fallen city. Now in the service of Rudolfo, Neb recieves a message from the churning wastes with a secret message for Petronus. This message will change the game as we know it so buckle up!
I loved everything about this book and I was not prepared for the shocking scenes that would follow. I will say this again, the story will take a dark turn so readers need to be warned and prepared for when this shift takes place. The story unfolds like a meticulous game of chess where moves done in the past laid the foundation for the avalanche to come. Characters and groups are all pulling the strings in the background with the mystery of the plot still pulling me in a thousand different directions. A hidden power thought long dead is returning to prominence and the shocking revelation of who is behind the chaos almost destroyed me. Ken Scholes is writting plots within plots the whole way through Canticle and I have the sequel ready to go.
The Psalms of Isaak is unlike any series I have every read and it is shaping up to be one of my favorites. The mystery around every turn is the hook that will keep readers guessing the whole way thorugh and I am here for it. When I complete this series I very much intend to have the author on my podcast for a breakdown of this wonderful series and Ken has graciously agreed to join. Be on the lookout for that hopefully not to far away!
Cheers!
The sequel novel to this sci-fi/fantasy genre blender will be sure to send fans of Lamentation into a spin. This series takes a very dark turn as the pieces of the puzzle are slowly being put into place. Looking back on my experience reading Lamentation I realize the brilliance of Ken Scholes. The debut needed to be constructed in a slow burn approach so that Canticle can hit the ground running and build off of what came before. If you were feeling 50/50 on how you felt after reading book 1, Canticle is a brilliant sequel I look forward to discussing with you. This will be a spoiler free review but I will be touching upon events from book 1.
The city of Windmir is has been brought to ashes along with the thousands of victims. The pope in hiding Petronus has now taken control of the new Androfrancine order and had Sethbert to death for his crimes of destroying the holy city. Petronus actions has also incited a civil war amoung the delta states to the south and a bargain will need to be made. Rudolfo is throwing a grand feast to celebrate the birth of his heir with Jin Li Tam. He is tasked with building a grand new library with the help of his mechservitor Isaak, the same Isaak responsible for the destruction of Windwir. At the beginning of the celebration, invisible assassins attack and kill high ranking nobles but Rudolfo is left unharmed. A scheme is taking place and the one making all the moves may be in some way connected to House Li Tam. Finally we have Neb, first hand witness to the destruction of Windwir and servent of Petronus in burying the dead of the fallen city. Now in the service of Rudolfo, Neb recieves a message from the churning wastes with a secret message for Petronus. This message will change the game as we know it so buckle up!
I loved everything about this book and I was not prepared for the shocking scenes that would follow. I will say this again, the story will take a dark turn so readers need to be warned and prepared for when this shift takes place. The story unfolds like a meticulous game of chess where moves done in the past laid the foundation for the avalanche to come. Characters and groups are all pulling the strings in the background with the mystery of the plot still pulling me in a thousand different directions. A hidden power thought long dead is returning to prominence and the shocking revelation of who is behind the chaos almost destroyed me. Ken Scholes is writting plots within plots the whole way through Canticle and I have the sequel ready to go.
The Psalms of Isaak is unlike any series I have every read and it is shaping up to be one of my favorites. The mystery around every turn is the hook that will keep readers guessing the whole way thorugh and I am here for it. When I complete this series I very much intend to have the author on my podcast for a breakdown of this wonderful series and Ken has graciously agreed to join. Be on the lookout for that hopefully not to far away!
Cheers!
February 21, 2023
I'm really struggling to get into these. They focus on political intrigue, and quite honestly I'm bored. Not to say the writing isn't good, but I just haven't connected with any of the characters, so I really don't care what happens.
It is sad because this series is rated highly by many, including some friends, but I just can't get into it.
It is sad because this series is rated highly by many, including some friends, but I just can't get into it.
October 18, 2017
Scholes second outing builds on the powerful groundwork laid in "Lamentation." While this work appears to suffer on the surface from a bit of "destiny-itis", Scholes seems to be laying the groundwork for his characters to free themselves from the metaphysical chains that bind them.
Be warned, this book features the most horrible thing I have ever seen done to a character and what was, to me, one of the most gut-wrenching scenes I have ever read in a book. It's not gore or violence that does it (although blood is spilled), but the emotional weight of the moment.
Throughout, Scholes takes those characters I came to know in "Lamentation" and forces them to make hard choices between loves, desires, and duties--choices that they do not always find the correct responses to. I especially enjoy the way he grows the character of Winters.
Sorrow, anger, joy, madness, violence, wonder, loyalty, and mystery all combine to prove that "Lamentation" was not a fluke--this man can teach all the modern fantasists a thing or two about telling a story.
Be warned, this book features the most horrible thing I have ever seen done to a character and what was, to me, one of the most gut-wrenching scenes I have ever read in a book. It's not gore or violence that does it (although blood is spilled), but the emotional weight of the moment.
Throughout, Scholes takes those characters I came to know in "Lamentation" and forces them to make hard choices between loves, desires, and duties--choices that they do not always find the correct responses to. I especially enjoy the way he grows the character of Winters.
Sorrow, anger, joy, madness, violence, wonder, loyalty, and mystery all combine to prove that "Lamentation" was not a fluke--this man can teach all the modern fantasists a thing or two about telling a story.
December 12, 2020
Well, that nagging itch in the back of my mind finally prompted me to plunge into book two of The Pslams of Issak: Canticle. Book one, Lamentation, wrapped up nicely and stands alone easily. Although, at the close of the book you are presented with a glimpse of the mastermind behind the machinations that led to the events therein.
Much of the first part of the book plods along. Really just reacquainting the reader with the characters. Little tidbits of the larger picture gradually come into the light. Building to a satisfying culmination. The last third of the book is riveting. A wide-spread cabal is discovered and exposed. How do you confront an enemy you cannot identify or see. Who can you trust? Especially when your allies are scattered and communication and information is controlled by the enemy. Sounds eerily familiar.
Several characters go through the crucible to be forged and/or broken. One in particular takes the broken pieces of their life and becomes more dangerous than believed. Everything cascades into, what seems to me, a lackluster close. If you are looking for closure you will not find it here. The board has been upset, now the players must forge on. What other choice do they have?
Once again the named chapters are narrated by different performers. Adding individuality to the characters.
Recommended!
Much of the first part of the book plods along. Really just reacquainting the reader with the characters. Little tidbits of the larger picture gradually come into the light. Building to a satisfying culmination. The last third of the book is riveting. A wide-spread cabal is discovered and exposed. How do you confront an enemy you cannot identify or see. Who can you trust? Especially when your allies are scattered and communication and information is controlled by the enemy. Sounds eerily familiar.
Several characters go through the crucible to be forged and/or broken. One in particular takes the broken pieces of their life and becomes more dangerous than believed. Everything cascades into, what seems to me, a lackluster close. If you are looking for closure you will not find it here. The board has been upset, now the players must forge on. What other choice do they have?
Once again the named chapters are narrated by different performers. Adding individuality to the characters.
Recommended!
February 16, 2025
REREAD THOUGHTS:
I love worlds that are built on layers. Layers in the characters, plot, world, and so much more. This book sends my brain into overdrive with all the sticky notes and thoughts on what will happen and why things are happening.
The world is as complicated as the whymer maze. It makes me think of the Mandala because everything affects so many people and events and world. Just an epic feel. People are doing and creating circumstances to for people into someone that will do things in the future. And there's something or someone happening in the background that may even be influencing the people doing the forming. There's always a fork in the road for everyone who influences who they are and impact others too.
Full range of life from birth to passing.
Battles fought, won and lost, and secrets learned and shared.
ORIGINAL THOUGHTS:
I have really been taken away by this series so far. There are going to be five books in all. The characters are well developed and you really get a feel for them all, even the ones you think may be the "bad" guy or girl. The world that is created in these first two books is amazing. You have different cultures, religions, believes and gods. All well done to give you just what you need to understand the rules and what is going on, yet enough to keep you with the feel of mystery.
I think Ken Scholes is an awesome author with an epic tale to tell. He lays the paths of possible ways the story could go, we just have to wonder if we are thinking the correct path. Just when you are on the right path you come to a fork in the road again. The story can change directions at any time, but the rules never change and the information is there to keep you on the correct path of thought, thus creating a great mystery adventure.
Being a second book of a series Ken has started us right into the next story. Not even 50 pages into the book and I was caught up with where I left off on the first book and full scale right into the middle of another great mystery of the Whymr maze in this amazing fantasy book.
This book has; mechoservitors ~ Kens' term for metal men, magick ~ which has limits, Gods ~ are a distant past but are there in the background, an ancient vendetta of two old families and ways of lives, and current people trying their hardest to find where there home is.
These books are amazing reads from the point of view of the characters. You learn so much in this way with the way Ken writes it. Very well done to understand what is going on, just pay attention to get the details.
I love worlds that are built on layers. Layers in the characters, plot, world, and so much more. This book sends my brain into overdrive with all the sticky notes and thoughts on what will happen and why things are happening.
The world is as complicated as the whymer maze. It makes me think of the Mandala because everything affects so many people and events and world. Just an epic feel. People are doing and creating circumstances to for people into someone that will do things in the future. And there's something or someone happening in the background that may even be influencing the people doing the forming. There's always a fork in the road for everyone who influences who they are and impact others too.
Full range of life from birth to passing.
Battles fought, won and lost, and secrets learned and shared.
ORIGINAL THOUGHTS:
I have really been taken away by this series so far. There are going to be five books in all. The characters are well developed and you really get a feel for them all, even the ones you think may be the "bad" guy or girl. The world that is created in these first two books is amazing. You have different cultures, religions, believes and gods. All well done to give you just what you need to understand the rules and what is going on, yet enough to keep you with the feel of mystery.
I think Ken Scholes is an awesome author with an epic tale to tell. He lays the paths of possible ways the story could go, we just have to wonder if we are thinking the correct path. Just when you are on the right path you come to a fork in the road again. The story can change directions at any time, but the rules never change and the information is there to keep you on the correct path of thought, thus creating a great mystery adventure.
Being a second book of a series Ken has started us right into the next story. Not even 50 pages into the book and I was caught up with where I left off on the first book and full scale right into the middle of another great mystery of the Whymr maze in this amazing fantasy book.
This book has; mechoservitors ~ Kens' term for metal men, magick ~ which has limits, Gods ~ are a distant past but are there in the background, an ancient vendetta of two old families and ways of lives, and current people trying their hardest to find where there home is.
These books are amazing reads from the point of view of the characters. You learn so much in this way with the way Ken writes it. Very well done to understand what is going on, just pay attention to get the details.
July 12, 2017
Pros: political intrigue, plot twists, tense atmospheres
Cons: many aspects of this book are merely set-ups for the next in the series
***Minor Spoiler Alert***
Canticle is book 2 in the Psalms of Isaac. It's been 9 months since the events of Lamentation and a celebration is under way to welcome Rudolfo's heir to the Ninefold Forest Houses. When tragedy strikes, the people of the already devestated Named Lands learn that the outside threat they feared is closer than they think.
All the principles are back, rushing towards their destinies, though none of the end results they're expecting. Neb finally gets to go to the Churning Wastes, Winters takes up her crown, Jin Li Tam becomes a true queen and her father comes face to face with those who really orchestrated the destruction of Windwir.
The only negative is that some of the events are a little drawn out and feel like they're just to facilitate events in the next book - particularly Neb's storyline.
Ultimately, it's a great book with lots of intrigue, down time for character development and plot twists you won't see coming.
Cons: many aspects of this book are merely set-ups for the next in the series
***Minor Spoiler Alert***
Canticle is book 2 in the Psalms of Isaac. It's been 9 months since the events of Lamentation and a celebration is under way to welcome Rudolfo's heir to the Ninefold Forest Houses. When tragedy strikes, the people of the already devestated Named Lands learn that the outside threat they feared is closer than they think.
All the principles are back, rushing towards their destinies, though none of the end results they're expecting. Neb finally gets to go to the Churning Wastes, Winters takes up her crown, Jin Li Tam becomes a true queen and her father comes face to face with those who really orchestrated the destruction of Windwir.
The only negative is that some of the events are a little drawn out and feel like they're just to facilitate events in the next book - particularly Neb's storyline.
Ultimately, it's a great book with lots of intrigue, down time for character development and plot twists you won't see coming.
October 3, 2011
this book confirmed the good impression made with Lamentation. The story of the Named Lands is expanded and what seemed clear cut in the first volume is turned on its head and further complicated by the introduction of new threats. Prophecy is used extensively here, hinting at a greater conflict and darker days to come in the next books. The characters remain appealing and the technique of the author competent and easy to follow.
some of the issues from the first book continued to be minor annoyances, like the invisibility magic or the messenger birds or the hand language, but I found out it is easy for me to turn off critical thinking if I really like the story.
So, it may not be everones favorite series or a true contender for the best read of the year, but I'm looking forward to find out more about the fate of Isaak the mechoservitor, or Vlad Li Tam, Petronus, Winteria, Nebios et Co. And now that I mentioned names, Rudolfo seems like a poor choice of name for a serious character - I keep picturing a dashing pirate with a pencil thin moustache who starts singing serenades under balconies in a falsetto voice.
some of the issues from the first book continued to be minor annoyances, like the invisibility magic or the messenger birds or the hand language, but I found out it is easy for me to turn off critical thinking if I really like the story.
So, it may not be everones favorite series or a true contender for the best read of the year, but I'm looking forward to find out more about the fate of Isaak the mechoservitor, or Vlad Li Tam, Petronus, Winteria, Nebios et Co. And now that I mentioned names, Rudolfo seems like a poor choice of name for a serious character - I keep picturing a dashing pirate with a pencil thin moustache who starts singing serenades under balconies in a falsetto voice.
January 16, 2018
I thought it was better than Lamentation, but the torture scenes was a bit much for me.
July 29, 2010
Canticle by Ken Scholes follows up the author’s debut novel Lamentation. Canticle opens up six months after the desolation of the city of Windwir with the various characters we were introduced to in the previous novel having moved forward into their new roles in the suddenly changed world. Like Lamentation before it Canticle splits the narrative into several pieces each following one of the main characters in the story while most of these perspectives follow the overarching thread of a single cohesive plot several branch into different directions that help give both characters and the world they inhabit greater depth.
Canticle improves upon my impressions from Lamentation. I was left with the feeling after the first novel that not much had happened and that Lamentation worked better as a part of a greater whole rather than a story in its own right. Canticle, while very much a direct continuation of the first novel, manages to stand on its own far better then its predecessor. The plot unfolds with razor like precision and for all the new bits of information that Scholes doles out over the course of the narrative he never strays from events that are integral what is unfolding now in favor of looking towards what is to come. However, there is a sense of inevitability to the story that manages to be both engaging and at times a bit frustrating. Much like in Lamentation, where we learn that much of Rudolfo’s life has be orchestrated by the crazy manipulative Tam family, we learn that yet more decades (or longer) manipulation are behind many of the events in Canticle. Despite the characters becoming aware of this manipulation it is seemingly too late to do anything about it by the time the novel ends and the consistent success of manipulation by still mysterious party’s casts a bit of a darker pall over much of the novel.
Like Lamentation before it Canticle excels in its handling of characters. Canticle has several standouts in this regard particularly Neb, Winters, and Vlad Li Tam. Vlad was a bit of surprise since he was something of a villainous, or at least morally ambiguous, character who we saw little of in the first novel. But Scholes manages to do a masterful job of painting a potentially abrasive character in such a away as to turn him completely around into someone sympathetic to the point of heart breaking. Winters, previously a slightly more enigmatic figure, is given a touch of humanity here and Schole’s does well to remind us that prophecies aside she is still a young woman who has spent most of her life sheltered from realities of casual human relationships. Like Vlad she becomes something of a tragic figure as she is stripped of her power by the trials she faces and begins to rebuild herself into something new and, one hopes, better. Neb is a more familiar hero trope the “Chosen One,” or homeseeker as Scholes dubs the time-honored fantasy cliche in his world. This could be tiresome but the world that Neb is exposed to is fascinating enough in its right that his role in an ambiguous prophecy takes backseat to the mystery of the wastelands he sets out explore. The sense of horror and wonder there kept me wanting to read more of Neb’s travels. Rudolfo and his wife Jin take interesting paths that don’t quite measure up to the three characters mentioned above; though Jin does manage to sneak in one moment of awesome that had me grinning.
In terms of world-building and characterization Scholes is absolutely top-notch. He infuses the Named Lands with a sense of history by scattering the landscape with detritus of its past both recent and ancient. He fleshes out that same sense of history by tying one of the main plot threads to the short story “A Weeping Czar Beholds the Fallen Moon” and the nature of Canticle’s orchestrated plot lends a sense of urgency to the preceding; rarely have the bad guys of any novel been so well organized. While certainly passable, like Jin Li Tam’s moment of awesome mentioned above, most of the action scenes of the novel are understated affairs that Scholes’ never lingers on. There are at least two big action set pieces in Canticle towards the beginning and the end of the novel but neither are as tense or gripping as the big dramatic scenes that Scholes sets up: Winters trudge up the mountain to declare herself, the Council of Kinclave, Winters final actions towards the novel’s end, and any number of countless small moments all stand out in my minds eye over any big sweeping action.
If you haven’t given Ken Scholes a shot yet I highly recommend doing so. Canticle is a definite improvement over the already excellent Lamentation and as Scholes handle on long form fiction improves I find myself increasingly excited to see where the Psalms of Isaak are going to go next. Thankfully I won’t have long to wait since Book 3 of the Psalms of Isaak, Antiphon, is due out this coming September.
Canticle improves upon my impressions from Lamentation. I was left with the feeling after the first novel that not much had happened and that Lamentation worked better as a part of a greater whole rather than a story in its own right. Canticle, while very much a direct continuation of the first novel, manages to stand on its own far better then its predecessor. The plot unfolds with razor like precision and for all the new bits of information that Scholes doles out over the course of the narrative he never strays from events that are integral what is unfolding now in favor of looking towards what is to come. However, there is a sense of inevitability to the story that manages to be both engaging and at times a bit frustrating. Much like in Lamentation, where we learn that much of Rudolfo’s life has be orchestrated by the crazy manipulative Tam family, we learn that yet more decades (or longer) manipulation are behind many of the events in Canticle. Despite the characters becoming aware of this manipulation it is seemingly too late to do anything about it by the time the novel ends and the consistent success of manipulation by still mysterious party’s casts a bit of a darker pall over much of the novel.
Like Lamentation before it Canticle excels in its handling of characters. Canticle has several standouts in this regard particularly Neb, Winters, and Vlad Li Tam. Vlad was a bit of surprise since he was something of a villainous, or at least morally ambiguous, character who we saw little of in the first novel. But Scholes manages to do a masterful job of painting a potentially abrasive character in such a away as to turn him completely around into someone sympathetic to the point of heart breaking. Winters, previously a slightly more enigmatic figure, is given a touch of humanity here and Schole’s does well to remind us that prophecies aside she is still a young woman who has spent most of her life sheltered from realities of casual human relationships. Like Vlad she becomes something of a tragic figure as she is stripped of her power by the trials she faces and begins to rebuild herself into something new and, one hopes, better. Neb is a more familiar hero trope the “Chosen One,” or homeseeker as Scholes dubs the time-honored fantasy cliche in his world. This could be tiresome but the world that Neb is exposed to is fascinating enough in its right that his role in an ambiguous prophecy takes backseat to the mystery of the wastelands he sets out explore. The sense of horror and wonder there kept me wanting to read more of Neb’s travels. Rudolfo and his wife Jin take interesting paths that don’t quite measure up to the three characters mentioned above; though Jin does manage to sneak in one moment of awesome that had me grinning.
In terms of world-building and characterization Scholes is absolutely top-notch. He infuses the Named Lands with a sense of history by scattering the landscape with detritus of its past both recent and ancient. He fleshes out that same sense of history by tying one of the main plot threads to the short story “A Weeping Czar Beholds the Fallen Moon” and the nature of Canticle’s orchestrated plot lends a sense of urgency to the preceding; rarely have the bad guys of any novel been so well organized. While certainly passable, like Jin Li Tam’s moment of awesome mentioned above, most of the action scenes of the novel are understated affairs that Scholes’ never lingers on. There are at least two big action set pieces in Canticle towards the beginning and the end of the novel but neither are as tense or gripping as the big dramatic scenes that Scholes sets up: Winters trudge up the mountain to declare herself, the Council of Kinclave, Winters final actions towards the novel’s end, and any number of countless small moments all stand out in my minds eye over any big sweeping action.
If you haven’t given Ken Scholes a shot yet I highly recommend doing so. Canticle is a definite improvement over the already excellent Lamentation and as Scholes handle on long form fiction improves I find myself increasingly excited to see where the Psalms of Isaak are going to go next. Thankfully I won’t have long to wait since Book 3 of the Psalms of Isaak, Antiphon, is due out this coming September.
August 20, 2021
Narrators are excellent, really helps move the book along.
February 14, 2010
Going deeper into the story of the Named Lands was a bit challengeing at times. As the plot and action became more complicated and the author's descritpions of the reveries of the characters lengthened I got a little bogged-down. I am still not clear on all the mystical beginnings of the different people-gorups represented in the story. The story now is one of "the life is in the blood" whether for good or evil which, unsuprisingly, is the basis for what is true of our existence. With blood preeminent the second volume has taken on a gruesome character, but probably necessary for the themes to develop. Looming still is the spectre of an unseen force that is controlling events toward some fantastic conclusion in a later installment. Just when you think you have figured out what's happening another layer of the onion is peeled and things are not as they seemed. Still a good read and pleasantly different as fantasy goes.
May 26, 2012
I'm not sure on 4 stars, but definitely better than 3. After two books, the trend I've noticed (if it even actually exists) is long, slow interludes of repeating for the reader 'what has come before,' punctuated by points of dramatic plot progression. Across the multiple POVs (somewhere around 5 to 7), the slow periods of plot development and the rapid moments of plot revelation all occur concurrently. I don't think I would be willing to label it an asset or liability at this point, but merely note it as the author's apparent style - i.e. very ordered and symmetrical.
decided-not-to-read
November 19, 2009I saw this at the library and thought, why not, even though I was not terribly fond of the prequel. There are a lot of things about Scholes's writing that are good. But somehow this just doesn't have ... it: the proper mix of all the elements and techniques available to a writer makes you care about the characters and/or the story, or at least makes the journey pleasant. With this series I'm just not feeling it, although I'd like to. (It probably doesn't help that I can't shake the feeling that the ground this treads is already well-trod.)
June 12, 2010
Hmmm. After being so impressed with the complexity of Lamentation's world and its potential -- I found myself diappointed in the scope of this second book. The story was interesting enough, I guess, but the overall narrow focus was a lost opportunity in my opinion. Canticle was also for the most part a joyless journey -- very dark. Still, some fun scenes, and intellectually stimulating -- worth a read, but I'm hoping for more from book #3.
September 30, 2010
Canticle by Ken Scholes- This is the second book in The Psalms of Isaak series. The first book is Lamentation, the third book is Antiphon and was recently released September 2010, the fourth book, Requiem, and the fifth book, Hymn, are yet to be released with no set release date at the time of this review. Ken Scholes has written only one other novel called Last Flight of the Goddess. He has written a number of short story and even has a book of his collected short fiction called Long Walks, Last Flights and Other Journeys. Canticle is published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC under Tor and was first released in hardcover in October 2009 and then in August 2010 it was released in paperback.
After the destruction of the Windwir and the loss of the Androfrancine Order, the Named Lands are still coming to terms with the catastrophe. However, the orders wealth and knowledge was passed to Lord Rudolfo and the Ninefold Forest Houses. Rudolfo is getting his Gypsy Scouts ready for the birth of his son with his soon to be wife Jin Li Tam. With a lot of nobles attending the party, one would think that nothing bad could happen to the guests. While the party is going on, the gate to the barren land of the Old World called Churning Wastes, gets a unique visitor with a message. A cryptic message meant for the ears of the Hidden Pope Petronus.
Criticisms:
1) Slow. This is the biggest problem that Canticle had, the pacing of the story was incredibly slow. There are things that do happen that do speed up the story in some parts, but overall the story unfolds at a snail's pace. It hampers the story slightly, because it seems to take forever for things to unfold. There were times where things seem to be repeated over and over. It could have been because there wasn't a lot of action scenes, and the story relies more on political intrigue and conversation. This wasn't a bad thing at all. In fact, all the intrigue was exciting. One would think that an exciting story wouldn't have been a quick read, however this isn't the case. While the slow pacing is understandable, it just took way too long to read through an exciting story.
2) Repeating Background. Another problem that can be associated with the slow pacing is that everything seemed to be repeated. Having to be reminded that Jin Li Tam is the forty-second daughter of Vlad Li Tam every time Jin had a scene did become a little old fast. It didn't help that Jin is a main character and has a scene come up once every ten or so pages. This kind of thing does happen at least a few times with each main character, always highlighting something repetitively. It wouldn't have been so bad if it occurred to a more minor character. If that was the case, it would have been welcome and not as intrusive. However, once again, this problem doesn't really impact the whole enjoyment level of the story.
Praises:
1) Characters. The characters were all very unique and distinctive. Each main character, and minor, had a different personality, a different character arch, and a different path to take. There were times when reading the character viewpoints that almost made it feel like I was reading a totally separate story. It was almost like a book full of short stories that all connected to one another in some way, shape, or form. Aside from that, the characters never felt repetitive, it never seemed like they were the same characters. Like I mentioned, they had separate personalities and were different from one another in that regard. Also, the characters all played a role, to varying degrees. All in all, the characters were unique and different from one another.
2) Story. The story itself was very interesting. I should mention that Canticle is not an action orientated story. There is some action scene, but they were barely mentioned or happened. Instead, we have a story that's more based in political intrigue than anything else. I, personally, am not a political interested person. In fact, I could care less about such things. That being said, I was amazed by how focused I was on the story and all the little facets how things are ran in the Named Lands. I was very surprised that I found myself caught up in the political alliances that each separate state had. While the political intrigue played a large role in the story, another premise kept popping up. Canticle is very family heavy. What I mean is that the story brings the idea of how having a family can change a person. This whole arch is mostly found in Rudolfo's and Jin Li Tam's relationship and the birth of their son. You see how these characters drastically change from how they were in the first book. If there was a theme to be found in Canticle it's how having a family affects a person. All in all, the story was just plain wonderful, full of intrigue with a heavy theme of how a family affects people.
3) World. The world that is created in The Psalms of Isaak is really intriguing and seems to stand on its own. I've never read a series that relays so much on the reading understanding the world that is created then in here. It may be a turn off for some readers, I know I was more than a little annoyed by the lack of exposition in the first book, Lamentation. However, if you have read the first book, you start to see that the world itself has a long, interesting history. In fact, I think that somewhere down the line another author could, potentially, try their hand in the world. I'm not saying that it should happen, it's just with a world so rich as the Named Lands is, I could see it becoming a shared world almost. The world is just rich in history and the unknown that it could open up so much more.
Side Notes:
1) Italicized Sentences. This is something that did bug me, but not enough to harm the story over all. On almost every single page there is a word, or sentence, that is italicized. Now, it wouldn't have been as annoying if it was someone's thoughts or the sign language that this world has. But instead it's used to emphasize a point. A point that would have been better left not italicized. It didn't really add much, and could have been toned down.
2) Dark. I never really expected the story to be as dark as it was. There were times when I was at a loss for words by how brutal and disturbing things got. The best part was, it never seemed violent, it just felt violent.
3) Cover Art. Canticle has two covers, one for the hardcover and one for the paperback, by different artists and has a different style and look. I didn't pick up the hardcover (which is below), but from what I can the see from shots online, it's just generic. That's it, just generic. My copy Canticle is the paperback so I'll talk about that one first. It's interesting. The color scheme is nice because Jin Li Tam really stands out. It the red really draws your eye. Plus, she looks good.
Overall: 4/5
Final Thoughts:
Canticle improved on what I found wrong with Lamentation. However, the slow pacing of the story still was an issue. It wasn't as noticeable as before, but it still impacted how enjoyable the story was. The other issue was repetitively mentioning certain things over and over. This was part of the cause of the slow pacing. However, even with those problems, Canticle still shines in its characters and story. The characters all felt unique and different from each other. They all went through their own experiences and had their own stories to tell. The story was just fantastic. It didn't rely on action sequences to carry the story along. Instead the whole story relies more on political intrigue, and it works surprisingly well. I will say that recommending Canticle is kind of hard to do. I will say that you need to read Lamentation before jumping into this, else you'll be lost with all the history and back ground.
After the destruction of the Windwir and the loss of the Androfrancine Order, the Named Lands are still coming to terms with the catastrophe. However, the orders wealth and knowledge was passed to Lord Rudolfo and the Ninefold Forest Houses. Rudolfo is getting his Gypsy Scouts ready for the birth of his son with his soon to be wife Jin Li Tam. With a lot of nobles attending the party, one would think that nothing bad could happen to the guests. While the party is going on, the gate to the barren land of the Old World called Churning Wastes, gets a unique visitor with a message. A cryptic message meant for the ears of the Hidden Pope Petronus.
Criticisms:
1) Slow. This is the biggest problem that Canticle had, the pacing of the story was incredibly slow. There are things that do happen that do speed up the story in some parts, but overall the story unfolds at a snail's pace. It hampers the story slightly, because it seems to take forever for things to unfold. There were times where things seem to be repeated over and over. It could have been because there wasn't a lot of action scenes, and the story relies more on political intrigue and conversation. This wasn't a bad thing at all. In fact, all the intrigue was exciting. One would think that an exciting story wouldn't have been a quick read, however this isn't the case. While the slow pacing is understandable, it just took way too long to read through an exciting story.
2) Repeating Background. Another problem that can be associated with the slow pacing is that everything seemed to be repeated. Having to be reminded that Jin Li Tam is the forty-second daughter of Vlad Li Tam every time Jin had a scene did become a little old fast. It didn't help that Jin is a main character and has a scene come up once every ten or so pages. This kind of thing does happen at least a few times with each main character, always highlighting something repetitively. It wouldn't have been so bad if it occurred to a more minor character. If that was the case, it would have been welcome and not as intrusive. However, once again, this problem doesn't really impact the whole enjoyment level of the story.
Praises:
1) Characters. The characters were all very unique and distinctive. Each main character, and minor, had a different personality, a different character arch, and a different path to take. There were times when reading the character viewpoints that almost made it feel like I was reading a totally separate story. It was almost like a book full of short stories that all connected to one another in some way, shape, or form. Aside from that, the characters never felt repetitive, it never seemed like they were the same characters. Like I mentioned, they had separate personalities and were different from one another in that regard. Also, the characters all played a role, to varying degrees. All in all, the characters were unique and different from one another.
2) Story. The story itself was very interesting. I should mention that Canticle is not an action orientated story. There is some action scene, but they were barely mentioned or happened. Instead, we have a story that's more based in political intrigue than anything else. I, personally, am not a political interested person. In fact, I could care less about such things. That being said, I was amazed by how focused I was on the story and all the little facets how things are ran in the Named Lands. I was very surprised that I found myself caught up in the political alliances that each separate state had. While the political intrigue played a large role in the story, another premise kept popping up. Canticle is very family heavy. What I mean is that the story brings the idea of how having a family can change a person. This whole arch is mostly found in Rudolfo's and Jin Li Tam's relationship and the birth of their son. You see how these characters drastically change from how they were in the first book. If there was a theme to be found in Canticle it's how having a family affects a person. All in all, the story was just plain wonderful, full of intrigue with a heavy theme of how a family affects people.
3) World. The world that is created in The Psalms of Isaak is really intriguing and seems to stand on its own. I've never read a series that relays so much on the reading understanding the world that is created then in here. It may be a turn off for some readers, I know I was more than a little annoyed by the lack of exposition in the first book, Lamentation. However, if you have read the first book, you start to see that the world itself has a long, interesting history. In fact, I think that somewhere down the line another author could, potentially, try their hand in the world. I'm not saying that it should happen, it's just with a world so rich as the Named Lands is, I could see it becoming a shared world almost. The world is just rich in history and the unknown that it could open up so much more.
Side Notes:
1) Italicized Sentences. This is something that did bug me, but not enough to harm the story over all. On almost every single page there is a word, or sentence, that is italicized. Now, it wouldn't have been as annoying if it was someone's thoughts or the sign language that this world has. But instead it's used to emphasize a point. A point that would have been better left not italicized. It didn't really add much, and could have been toned down.
2) Dark. I never really expected the story to be as dark as it was. There were times when I was at a loss for words by how brutal and disturbing things got. The best part was, it never seemed violent, it just felt violent.
3) Cover Art. Canticle has two covers, one for the hardcover and one for the paperback, by different artists and has a different style and look. I didn't pick up the hardcover (which is below), but from what I can the see from shots online, it's just generic. That's it, just generic. My copy Canticle is the paperback so I'll talk about that one first. It's interesting. The color scheme is nice because Jin Li Tam really stands out. It the red really draws your eye. Plus, she looks good.
Overall: 4/5
Final Thoughts:
Canticle improved on what I found wrong with Lamentation. However, the slow pacing of the story still was an issue. It wasn't as noticeable as before, but it still impacted how enjoyable the story was. The other issue was repetitively mentioning certain things over and over. This was part of the cause of the slow pacing. However, even with those problems, Canticle still shines in its characters and story. The characters all felt unique and different from each other. They all went through their own experiences and had their own stories to tell. The story was just fantastic. It didn't rely on action sequences to carry the story along. Instead the whole story relies more on political intrigue, and it works surprisingly well. I will say that recommending Canticle is kind of hard to do. I will say that you need to read Lamentation before jumping into this, else you'll be lost with all the history and back ground.
December 12, 2017
Nine months have passed since the destruction of Windwir. The kingdom of the Ninefold Forest Houses has taken up the mantle of 'the light', the collected wisdom of ancient times, and built a new library to preserve the remnants of what was lost when Windwir fell. However, war and civil war wracks the Named Lands and House Li Tam has sailed into the southern ocean, following a hint that previous events are being orchestrated by a hidden power for their own, inscrutable ends.
Canticle is the second novel in The Psalms of Isaak series and the sequel to Lamentation, a reasonable debut novel which overcame its lack of depth and polish with fast, readable prose and good pacing. Canticle is a better book, making character motivations considerably more complex and murkier, expanding the world and scope of the story and adding some new factions previously only hinted at in the first volume.
It pains me to say it, but Canticle is also 'darker' than Lamentation, with one of the characters being captured by the shadowy enemy and undergoing particularly grim and unpleasent torture for what feels like half the book. The process adds to the character's development and is somewhat uncomfortable to read, contrasting the first volume's 'safe' feeling that occasionally tipped it too close to the 'bland' end of the spectrum for comfort, although Scholes always steered the story away from that fate.
Some of the issues with the first book remain, such as Jen and Rudolfo being less interesting than most of the remainder of the cast and some story developments feeling mechanical rather than organic. There's also a slight issue with repetitive story structure, with the plot once again hinging on everything our characters knowing turning out to be the result of a masterful secret agenda set in motion decades ago for shadowy purposes. The closing section of the book is also somewhat annoying for suffering from Lost syndrome, with characters resolutely refusing to ask people in the know just what the hell is going on, or if they do remember to do this getting needlessly enigmatic replies.
Still, Canticle is a more interesting read than its predecessor. Winters, a supporting character in the first book, becomes a key protagonist here and her journey very well-depicted despite over-familiarity (young female ruler having to overcome inexperience to become a plausible leader). There's also a host of new revelations which continue to show that the series is a post-apocalyptic science fantasy more in line with The Dying Earth and Nights of Villjamur than yet another MOR epic fantasy, which Scholes handles well.
Canticle (****) is an entertaining, effective fantasy novel which builds on the successful elements of Lamentation and eliminates some of its key weaknesses. It is available now in the USA and in the UK on import.
Canticle is the second novel in The Psalms of Isaak series and the sequel to Lamentation, a reasonable debut novel which overcame its lack of depth and polish with fast, readable prose and good pacing. Canticle is a better book, making character motivations considerably more complex and murkier, expanding the world and scope of the story and adding some new factions previously only hinted at in the first volume.
It pains me to say it, but Canticle is also 'darker' than Lamentation, with one of the characters being captured by the shadowy enemy and undergoing particularly grim and unpleasent torture for what feels like half the book. The process adds to the character's development and is somewhat uncomfortable to read, contrasting the first volume's 'safe' feeling that occasionally tipped it too close to the 'bland' end of the spectrum for comfort, although Scholes always steered the story away from that fate.
Some of the issues with the first book remain, such as Jen and Rudolfo being less interesting than most of the remainder of the cast and some story developments feeling mechanical rather than organic. There's also a slight issue with repetitive story structure, with the plot once again hinging on everything our characters knowing turning out to be the result of a masterful secret agenda set in motion decades ago for shadowy purposes. The closing section of the book is also somewhat annoying for suffering from Lost syndrome, with characters resolutely refusing to ask people in the know just what the hell is going on, or if they do remember to do this getting needlessly enigmatic replies.
Still, Canticle is a more interesting read than its predecessor. Winters, a supporting character in the first book, becomes a key protagonist here and her journey very well-depicted despite over-familiarity (young female ruler having to overcome inexperience to become a plausible leader). There's also a host of new revelations which continue to show that the series is a post-apocalyptic science fantasy more in line with The Dying Earth and Nights of Villjamur than yet another MOR epic fantasy, which Scholes handles well.
Canticle (****) is an entertaining, effective fantasy novel which builds on the successful elements of Lamentation and eliminates some of its key weaknesses. It is available now in the USA and in the UK on import.
February 15, 2025
Blurb Review: A solid second entry that takes the series in bold new directions as revelations unfurl throughout. I enjoyed this work and look forward to continuing the series.
Worldbuilding: 7/10
The mystique of this world is deepened in this book while still leaving many mysteries unanswered for future novels.
Characters: 6.5/10
Solid work here. Nothing to complain about but nothing spectacular either.
Plot: 7/10
A bit slow at first but builds well towards an impactful finale.
Overall Investment/Emotional Impact: 6/10
Draws the reader in but only grips as much as its characters.
Writing/Prose: 5.5/10
Scholes tends to overexplain and overwrite in my opinion. It's fine but occasionally takes me out of the story.
Rating: 3.25 stars
Content Warning: Some light sensuality and violence.
Worldbuilding: 7/10
The mystique of this world is deepened in this book while still leaving many mysteries unanswered for future novels.
Characters: 6.5/10
Solid work here. Nothing to complain about but nothing spectacular either.
Plot: 7/10
A bit slow at first but builds well towards an impactful finale.
Overall Investment/Emotional Impact: 6/10
Draws the reader in but only grips as much as its characters.
Writing/Prose: 5.5/10
Scholes tends to overexplain and overwrite in my opinion. It's fine but occasionally takes me out of the story.
Rating: 3.25 stars
Content Warning: Some light sensuality and violence.
March 17, 2020
Enjoyable in parts, but--shockingly--I had all the same problems here as with the first novel. After enough leaps of logic I grow fatigued, as anyone leaping about would. I need more connective tissue, some, er, revelation that explains what any of this means. Otherwise it's just surreal and fey, as opposed to something more along the lines of Gene Wolfe or Jack Vance (which is what I think the author was aiming for).
But maybe it's just me, maybe I'm too dense to pick up on some of the breadcrumbs he's leaving. Still, I like it enough to try the next.
But maybe it's just me, maybe I'm too dense to pick up on some of the breadcrumbs he's leaving. Still, I like it enough to try the next.
December 22, 2017
I loved LAMENTATION, and was anxious to return the world and its characters.
This was a hard read. Darker, deeper, with long stars into some pretty twisty characters. There is loss and love and ultimately humanity. And yet there are moments of light among the darkness.
Ken Scholes pulls no punches here, and while this book was not as uplifting as the previous volume, it still whets the appetite for what comes next.
This was a hard read. Darker, deeper, with long stars into some pretty twisty characters. There is loss and love and ultimately humanity. And yet there are moments of light among the darkness.
Ken Scholes pulls no punches here, and while this book was not as uplifting as the previous volume, it still whets the appetite for what comes next.
April 7, 2025
This could have really used a summary/refresher from the previous book. It had been over a year since I read the first in this series, and I was pretty lost throughout.
It's an original setting and concept, but the main plot and overarching story doesn't move forward too much, and very little of the 'mystery' is uncovered. Feels more like a placeholder book than an essential piece in the story cycle.
It's an original setting and concept, but the main plot and overarching story doesn't move forward too much, and very little of the 'mystery' is uncovered. Feels more like a placeholder book than an essential piece in the story cycle.
June 15, 2018
3.5 stars
I felt like the first half dragged a bit much and the story leaned too much on unexplained mysteries that made it hard to follow. Once Scholes started filling in some of the answers though, things really got moving and I really enjoyed the second half. Excited to see where he goes with the third book and to find some more answers to these mysterious puzzles.
I felt like the first half dragged a bit much and the story leaned too much on unexplained mysteries that made it hard to follow. Once Scholes started filling in some of the answers though, things really got moving and I really enjoyed the second half. Excited to see where he goes with the third book and to find some more answers to these mysterious puzzles.
February 25, 2025
Tired by the excess of "tell, don't show" and struggling to get engaged with the characters and their story, I quit around two thirds in (beginning of chapter 16) as there's heaps of things I'd rather read
November 23, 2017
Fantastic story-telling
Full of imagination with twists and turns. I hope the next novel has more about Isaak in it. Good reading.
Full of imagination with twists and turns. I hope the next novel has more about Isaak in it. Good reading.
January 16, 2018
The Psalms of Isaak continues with "Canticle" and it's a fabulous continuation.
June 6, 2019
Another amazing thread in the masterful tapestry
Twists you won't see coming, and more chess pieces coming into pay. As good as the first book in the series and that is high praise.
Twists you won't see coming, and more chess pieces coming into pay. As good as the first book in the series and that is high praise.
October 10, 2023
The story line is great. The writing is sub par and at points unbearable.
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