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Star of the Guardians #1
The Lost King
Four courageous people--Dion, a young man seeking his destiny; Tusk, the mercenary; outlaw commander Dixter; and the beautiful and cunning Lady Maigrey--battle the corrupt and harsh Democratic Commonwealth
496 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1990
152 people are currently reading
1563 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Weis
677 books5,834 followersMargaret Edith Weis is an American fantasy and science fiction author of dozens of novels and short stories. At TSR, Inc., she teamed with Tracy Hickman to create the Dragonlance role-playing game (RPG) world. She is founding CEO and owner of Sovereign Press, Inc and Margaret Weis Productions, licensing several popular television and movie franchises to make RPG series in addition to their own.
In 1999, Pyramid magazine named Weis one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons, saying she and Hickman are "basically responsible for the entire gaming fiction genre". In 2002, she was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame in part for Dragonlance.
In 1999, Pyramid magazine named Weis one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons, saying she and Hickman are "basically responsible for the entire gaming fiction genre". In 2002, she was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame in part for Dragonlance.
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September 26, 2023Source of book: Bought by me for meeeee
Relevant disclaimers: None
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
Further disclaimer: Readers, please stop accusing me of trying to take down “my competition” because I wrote a review you didn’t like. This is complete nonsense. Firstly, writing isn’t a competitive sport. Secondly, I only publish reviews of books in the subgenre where I’m best known (queer romcom) if I have good things to say. And finally: taking time out of my life to read an entire book and then write a GR review about it would be a profoundly inefficient and ineffective way to damage the careers of other authors. If you can’t credit me with simply being a person who loves books and likes talking about them, at least credit me with enough common sense to be a better villain.
*******************************************
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump recently (kind of knocked me that a publisher would take a hacksaw to one of my rambles for a wholly unnecessary blurb) so when I was rationalising my bookshelves and stumbled over a copy of this I decided I might as well ruin my childhood. It’s weird what you latch onto as a kid, especially when you don’t have the instant access to *context* that you do when you’re an adult who lives on the internet. I mean, I can remember noting on my first as-an-adult revisit to Clive Barker that it didn’t occur for me for, like, literally years the man could be queer. Despite the fact queerness is steeped into every fibre of his work and probably part of what drew me to it so powerfully. Of course, I’m also all about the Barthes, so I don’t actually think we should view texts exclusively, or even primarily, through a lens of authorial biography. On the other hand, the fact Tracy Hickman is very much, y’know, a Mormon kind of explains a lot about Dragonlance—another of my childhood staples—when re-considered with an adult gaze.
tl;dr some years back I tried to read Dragonlance again. Couldn’t.
And I did suspect I was setting myself up for a similar experience with The Lost King. Except things turned out a bit more complicated. Which is interesting. Except also weird. I mean, even as a young’un I always preferred Weis flying solo and that holds true today. And, the truth is, I don’t actually know very much about Weis as, well, as a person? It doesn’t really feel like it’s my business (given my own preferences for privacy, it would be pretty fucking hypocritical if I believed it was my business). Buuuuuut, working for many years with Hickman, I have to assume they’re able to find ideological common ground. Enough, at any rate, to create emotionally and politically coherent stories together, whatever anyone may personally feel about those politics.
Where I’m going with this is that Star of the Guardians as a series is basically Star Wars with the serial numbers barely filed off. There’s a fallen monarchy. A republic. Genetically engineered space wizards who wield special swords only they can use. A lost heir is raised on a desert planet. Need I go on? But, you know something? As far as I’m concerned, that’s all okay. Star Wars (back when it sucked less) is exactly the flavour of light space opera I enjoy (and, no, I don’t care that the laser guns don’t recoil, a laser gun would probably blind you anyway). That hasn’t changed since I was ten years old.
What in the end I chose to find kind of awkwardly hilarious about The Lost King is that where it chooses to deviate from Star Wars is that it’s Star Wars if the, um, the Republic were the bad guys? Essentially there was a revolution seventeen years that overthrew the monarchy and the pseudo-Christian galactic religion and replaced it with…
…prepare yourself…
…an atheist democracy?
That is apparently bad?
Now, and spoilers incoming, it later turns out the atheist democracy might be bad on account of secretly being controlled by an evil alien? But the first half of The Lost King was genuinely a rollercoaster of “I don’t think I’m on the side the book thinks I’m on” and the second half was kind of a letdown because it sweeps all the political intriguing, king making, and power brokering off the table because the Borg…sorry…Corosians invade. The thing is, though, I did end up finding the setup bizarrely fascinating. It felt morally and politically complicated in realistically messy ways but I also don’t think that was actually … intentional? I think it happened because there was a massive gap between what the book assumed I would think, feel and believe, and what I actually think, feel and believe. Like even if you take “controlled by an evil alien” out of the equation I wouldn’t claim democracy is a perfect form of government. And by a similar token I think revolution—even for a just cause—is still an inherently uncontrollable and violent action that is likely to do as much damage to the vulnerable as bring justice to the oppressor. I’m very much against a world run by a self-appointed elite (whether through birth or wealth or soft eugenics). I don’t think there should be a state religion, but I also don’t think religion should be banned. I’m not sure I buy into treason as a concept, and I’m definitely against executing people for believing different things to you.
So, yes. All this is on the table at various points across the opening of the book. However, I don’t think it’s meant to be. You see, there’s a bunch of not exactly subtle classical allusions here, like Derek Sagan, the Darth Vader of the story, literally dresses like a roman general at all times, and the fact the lost heir is raised in isolation by a bloke called Platus (Platus…Plato…oh do you see), and to some degree it’s just there to be cool and—to quote Terry Pratchett—symbolic all by itself. However, when coupled with a consistently disparaging attitude towards, um, democracy (a particularly awful character, for example, is described as “a staunch democrat”) it’s kind of hard to escape the conviction that the book isn’t sincerely presenting us with a nuanced political landscape, full of compromises and best-fits, where everybody is a little bit bad, a little bit good, a little bit wrong, and a little bit right. That, instead, it’s setting us to take for granted the idea that benevolent monarchy is the best form of government i.e. that the revolution happened because that specific king was weak and rubbish, not because monarchy is a fucking terrible form of government.
There’s even stuff like this:
I mean. Yeah. People who have no say in how their country is run or by whom are famously SUPER RELAXED about it. Living the dream. Of course, this is a line of dialogue and should therefore be taken as representing the character, not as a statement on the politics of the book. But while the character in question is not a deep thinker, he’s also someone we’re supposed to be like and trust. And he’s definitely not the only person to ponder the heavy weight of democratic decision making on a populace who would be better off with bread and circuses.
Needless to say, this makes for quite the weird reading experience. Except I kept reading. Because honestly the book zips along. And the reason I decided to re-read in the first place remains as potent, as bewitching, as enthralling as she did the first time round.
I am talking, of course, about Lady Maigrey Morianna. The last of the guardians—kind of part Princess Leia, part Galadriel—she’s a genetically enhanced, ludicrously charismatic, sexily scarred and yet impossibly beautiful space wizard warrior hotshot pilot who could destroy the universe with a thought. And, ahem, one of my personal bisexual awakenings. And you know something? Fair play, past me. Like, I think—if you look at the book, and Maigrey in particular—with cynical eyes, it’s easy to dismiss her as, you know, a Mary Sue or whatever: she really is super special, all powerful, and exquisitely tormented. But I also have deeply complicated feelings about the whole idea of the Mary Sue – not least because when a male character is a Mary Sue (yes, yes, I know the term Gary Stu exists, but we don’t use it do we?) we tend to just call him a male character (I mean Kvothe from The Wise Man’s Fear is the biggest fucking Mary Sue I have ever read but nobody mentions it because it’s accepted that men are allowed to have fantasies of being awesome). To put it another way, characters who are perfect and desired by everyone are annoying and lampoonable. But I think there’s a tendency to just treat any fictional woman with power and beauty as a Mary Sue by default. And therefore, M’lud, I argue strongly against the notion that Maigrey is a Mary Sue. Or, at least, she is no more one than her dark lord counterpart, Derek Sagan (God, why did Weis call him Derek? It is the least glamorous name, barely a step away from Nigel). And, actually, even now—as an adult with taste—I kind of appreciate that Maigrey gets to be important in ways that are, in fact, usually reserved for male characters: she has a dark past, she’s scarred and moody, she’s wildly charismatic, she’s hyper competent, she’s emotionally reserved, she wrestles with her own ambition and potential for cruelty.
Look, she’s just wonderful, okay? I read the book *for* her and it was worth it. It was so worth it.
Fuck democracy, amirite?
I’ll also just add that her love-hate, why-don’t-we-just-rule-the-universe-together-my-lady relationship with the man unfortunately named Derek is as intense and delicious as it ever was. Even all these years later. And the rest of the cast is …there? Fine? Who cares.
And finally, the other thing I did not expect from the book that brought me something in my thirties that it never could in my pre-pubescence is the realisation that Derek and Maigrey are … actually middle-aged? He’s nearly fifty, she’s in her mid-forties. It shouldn’t feel so wild to read a book about people who are genuinely old enough to have done the things they’ve done … but it did. It genuinely did. Plus they are both very tired and slightly achy, like, most of the time. It’s the most relatable thing I think I’ve ever read.
Basically Maigrey & Derek’s whole vibe throughout this book:
In any case, I don’t have a conclusion to this. Am I recommending The Lost King? I have no fucking idea at this point. I did kind of enjoy it? I haven’t ruined my childhood. Revisiting the character of Maigrey actually made me appreciate her more? The relationship between her and Derek is compelling enough to be unbalancing (stop wasting my time with this seventeen-year-old proto-king, and his emotions, I wanna spend time WITH THE TIRED PEOPLE) and I’ve honestly read entire romance novels that haven’t captured this degree of fucked up push-pull between the protagonists. I guess it’s fair to say the book and I have a major clash of values that doesn’t make it easy for me to take it seriously in some respects. But when it comes to hot angsty lady space wizards? We are comprehensively on the same page. And if that’s also your sort of page, then you could do worse than Star of the Guardians.
Relevant disclaimers: None
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
Further disclaimer: Readers, please stop accusing me of trying to take down “my competition” because I wrote a review you didn’t like. This is complete nonsense. Firstly, writing isn’t a competitive sport. Secondly, I only publish reviews of books in the subgenre where I’m best known (queer romcom) if I have good things to say. And finally: taking time out of my life to read an entire book and then write a GR review about it would be a profoundly inefficient and ineffective way to damage the careers of other authors. If you can’t credit me with simply being a person who loves books and likes talking about them, at least credit me with enough common sense to be a better villain.
*******************************************
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump recently (kind of knocked me that a publisher would take a hacksaw to one of my rambles for a wholly unnecessary blurb) so when I was rationalising my bookshelves and stumbled over a copy of this I decided I might as well ruin my childhood. It’s weird what you latch onto as a kid, especially when you don’t have the instant access to *context* that you do when you’re an adult who lives on the internet. I mean, I can remember noting on my first as-an-adult revisit to Clive Barker that it didn’t occur for me for, like, literally years the man could be queer. Despite the fact queerness is steeped into every fibre of his work and probably part of what drew me to it so powerfully. Of course, I’m also all about the Barthes, so I don’t actually think we should view texts exclusively, or even primarily, through a lens of authorial biography. On the other hand, the fact Tracy Hickman is very much, y’know, a Mormon kind of explains a lot about Dragonlance—another of my childhood staples—when re-considered with an adult gaze.
tl;dr some years back I tried to read Dragonlance again. Couldn’t.
And I did suspect I was setting myself up for a similar experience with The Lost King. Except things turned out a bit more complicated. Which is interesting. Except also weird. I mean, even as a young’un I always preferred Weis flying solo and that holds true today. And, the truth is, I don’t actually know very much about Weis as, well, as a person? It doesn’t really feel like it’s my business (given my own preferences for privacy, it would be pretty fucking hypocritical if I believed it was my business). Buuuuuut, working for many years with Hickman, I have to assume they’re able to find ideological common ground. Enough, at any rate, to create emotionally and politically coherent stories together, whatever anyone may personally feel about those politics.
Where I’m going with this is that Star of the Guardians as a series is basically Star Wars with the serial numbers barely filed off. There’s a fallen monarchy. A republic. Genetically engineered space wizards who wield special swords only they can use. A lost heir is raised on a desert planet. Need I go on? But, you know something? As far as I’m concerned, that’s all okay. Star Wars (back when it sucked less) is exactly the flavour of light space opera I enjoy (and, no, I don’t care that the laser guns don’t recoil, a laser gun would probably blind you anyway). That hasn’t changed since I was ten years old.
What in the end I chose to find kind of awkwardly hilarious about The Lost King is that where it chooses to deviate from Star Wars is that it’s Star Wars if the, um, the Republic were the bad guys? Essentially there was a revolution seventeen years that overthrew the monarchy and the pseudo-Christian galactic religion and replaced it with…
…prepare yourself…
…an atheist democracy?
That is apparently bad?
Now, and spoilers incoming, it later turns out the atheist democracy might be bad on account of secretly being controlled by an evil alien? But the first half of The Lost King was genuinely a rollercoaster of “I don’t think I’m on the side the book thinks I’m on” and the second half was kind of a letdown because it sweeps all the political intriguing, king making, and power brokering off the table because the Borg…sorry…Corosians invade. The thing is, though, I did end up finding the setup bizarrely fascinating. It felt morally and politically complicated in realistically messy ways but I also don’t think that was actually … intentional? I think it happened because there was a massive gap between what the book assumed I would think, feel and believe, and what I actually think, feel and believe. Like even if you take “controlled by an evil alien” out of the equation I wouldn’t claim democracy is a perfect form of government. And by a similar token I think revolution—even for a just cause—is still an inherently uncontrollable and violent action that is likely to do as much damage to the vulnerable as bring justice to the oppressor. I’m very much against a world run by a self-appointed elite (whether through birth or wealth or soft eugenics). I don’t think there should be a state religion, but I also don’t think religion should be banned. I’m not sure I buy into treason as a concept, and I’m definitely against executing people for believing different things to you.
So, yes. All this is on the table at various points across the opening of the book. However, I don’t think it’s meant to be. You see, there’s a bunch of not exactly subtle classical allusions here, like Derek Sagan, the Darth Vader of the story, literally dresses like a roman general at all times, and the fact the lost heir is raised in isolation by a bloke called Platus (Platus…Plato…oh do you see), and to some degree it’s just there to be cool and—to quote Terry Pratchett—symbolic all by itself. However, when coupled with a consistently disparaging attitude towards, um, democracy (a particularly awful character, for example, is described as “a staunch democrat”) it’s kind of hard to escape the conviction that the book isn’t sincerely presenting us with a nuanced political landscape, full of compromises and best-fits, where everybody is a little bit bad, a little bit good, a little bit wrong, and a little bit right. That, instead, it’s setting us to take for granted the idea that benevolent monarchy is the best form of government i.e. that the revolution happened because that specific king was weak and rubbish, not because monarchy is a fucking terrible form of government.
There’s even stuff like this:
Life was pretty great, back then, when they didn’t have to think about who to vote for, didn’t have to make all these decisions. There’s a lot more royalists around than you might think, kid.
I mean. Yeah. People who have no say in how their country is run or by whom are famously SUPER RELAXED about it. Living the dream. Of course, this is a line of dialogue and should therefore be taken as representing the character, not as a statement on the politics of the book. But while the character in question is not a deep thinker, he’s also someone we’re supposed to be like and trust. And he’s definitely not the only person to ponder the heavy weight of democratic decision making on a populace who would be better off with bread and circuses.
Needless to say, this makes for quite the weird reading experience. Except I kept reading. Because honestly the book zips along. And the reason I decided to re-read in the first place remains as potent, as bewitching, as enthralling as she did the first time round.
I am talking, of course, about Lady Maigrey Morianna. The last of the guardians—kind of part Princess Leia, part Galadriel—she’s a genetically enhanced, ludicrously charismatic, sexily scarred and yet impossibly beautiful space wizard warrior hotshot pilot who could destroy the universe with a thought. And, ahem, one of my personal bisexual awakenings. And you know something? Fair play, past me. Like, I think—if you look at the book, and Maigrey in particular—with cynical eyes, it’s easy to dismiss her as, you know, a Mary Sue or whatever: she really is super special, all powerful, and exquisitely tormented. But I also have deeply complicated feelings about the whole idea of the Mary Sue – not least because when a male character is a Mary Sue (yes, yes, I know the term Gary Stu exists, but we don’t use it do we?) we tend to just call him a male character (I mean Kvothe from The Wise Man’s Fear is the biggest fucking Mary Sue I have ever read but nobody mentions it because it’s accepted that men are allowed to have fantasies of being awesome). To put it another way, characters who are perfect and desired by everyone are annoying and lampoonable. But I think there’s a tendency to just treat any fictional woman with power and beauty as a Mary Sue by default. And therefore, M’lud, I argue strongly against the notion that Maigrey is a Mary Sue. Or, at least, she is no more one than her dark lord counterpart, Derek Sagan (God, why did Weis call him Derek? It is the least glamorous name, barely a step away from Nigel). And, actually, even now—as an adult with taste—I kind of appreciate that Maigrey gets to be important in ways that are, in fact, usually reserved for male characters: she has a dark past, she’s scarred and moody, she’s wildly charismatic, she’s hyper competent, she’s emotionally reserved, she wrestles with her own ambition and potential for cruelty.
Look, she’s just wonderful, okay? I read the book *for* her and it was worth it. It was so worth it.
Fuck democracy, amirite?
I’ll also just add that her love-hate, why-don’t-we-just-rule-the-universe-together-my-lady relationship with the man unfortunately named Derek is as intense and delicious as it ever was. Even all these years later. And the rest of the cast is …there? Fine? Who cares.
And finally, the other thing I did not expect from the book that brought me something in my thirties that it never could in my pre-pubescence is the realisation that Derek and Maigrey are … actually middle-aged? He’s nearly fifty, she’s in her mid-forties. It shouldn’t feel so wild to read a book about people who are genuinely old enough to have done the things they’ve done … but it did. It genuinely did. Plus they are both very tired and slightly achy, like, most of the time. It’s the most relatable thing I think I’ve ever read.
Basically Maigrey & Derek’s whole vibe throughout this book:
In any case, I don’t have a conclusion to this. Am I recommending The Lost King? I have no fucking idea at this point. I did kind of enjoy it? I haven’t ruined my childhood. Revisiting the character of Maigrey actually made me appreciate her more? The relationship between her and Derek is compelling enough to be unbalancing (stop wasting my time with this seventeen-year-old proto-king, and his emotions, I wanna spend time WITH THE TIRED PEOPLE) and I’ve honestly read entire romance novels that haven’t captured this degree of fucked up push-pull between the protagonists. I guess it’s fair to say the book and I have a major clash of values that doesn’t make it easy for me to take it seriously in some respects. But when it comes to hot angsty lady space wizards? We are comprehensively on the same page. And if that’s also your sort of page, then you could do worse than Star of the Guardians.
June 6, 2017
This (along with the other 3 books in the series) is a fantastic story. I loved seeing what Margaret Weis did on her own and these stories showed me just what this great author is capable of! I knew her mainly for her fantasy works with Tracy Hickman so it was a shock and treat to read this science fiction series. Being I am a big Star Wars fan this story was right up my alley of interest. But the author definitely showed she own spark of creativity and twist.
The story line actually starts before the books beginning. Years prior there was a revolt occurred and the king, prince and princess were murdered. The heir to the throne disappeared. Years later we discover seventeen year old Dion. he grew up in a simple lifestyle and is thrust into a large universe and informed he is the heir by Derek Sagan and Maigrey Morianna (and how I LOVE her character). The two were former guardians and have there own history with each other being mind-linked. There is also Tusk, a mercenary who is initially hired to take Dion away from his home planet and befriends him through along the way. Each character is memorable and wonderful. Initially thought to be a trilogy, it is actually four novels. I highly recommend them all.
I first read this series back in middles school and read them so often I quite literally wore through them and had to replace a few of them.
The story line actually starts before the books beginning. Years prior there was a revolt occurred and the king, prince and princess were murdered. The heir to the throne disappeared. Years later we discover seventeen year old Dion. he grew up in a simple lifestyle and is thrust into a large universe and informed he is the heir by Derek Sagan and Maigrey Morianna (and how I LOVE her character). The two were former guardians and have there own history with each other being mind-linked. There is also Tusk, a mercenary who is initially hired to take Dion away from his home planet and befriends him through along the way. Each character is memorable and wonderful. Initially thought to be a trilogy, it is actually four novels. I highly recommend them all.
I first read this series back in middles school and read them so often I quite literally wore through them and had to replace a few of them.
June 26, 2013
This whole series reads like a guilty pleasure. As soon as you begin, you're like, "Oh, look, it's Star Wars." And there are some similarities, but there is also unique world-building and some interesting innovations and plotting.
Also, I kind of had a thing for the bad guy. (I usually do.) I started reading the last book first when I was about 17 and I adored Derek Sagan so much that I named a teddy bear after him. I haven't reread it in years, so who knows if I would still find the writing as compelling, but what I remember of the story- and Mr. Sagan- still makes me nod in approval.
Also, I kind of had a thing for the bad guy. (I usually do.) I started reading the last book first when I was about 17 and I adored Derek Sagan so much that I named a teddy bear after him. I haven't reread it in years, so who knows if I would still find the writing as compelling, but what I remember of the story- and Mr. Sagan- still makes me nod in approval.
September 3, 2020
A nice fluffy escape for when you want to forget the physical laws of the universe and just zoom off on a romantic adventure.
December 31, 2024
The Lost King was published in 1990 and its slow, deliberate style belongs more to that period. I haven't read it before, but my perusal was more for nostalgia than interest.
It's a Star Wars retelling in some ways (blood swords over light sabres, and that weapon is definitely very cool) and tells the story of Dion Starfire, a lost prince who might have been a king if his monarchy hadn't fallen to a corrupt Republic.
(Which is a bit of a reversal of Star Wars itself. Maybe subsequent volumes spend more time on why monarchy was a better system, idk).
Dion is about as bland and aw shucks as his counterpart Luke. I found myself wishing this book was focused on Lady Maigrey, who is a Guardian (Jedi) dedicated to his service. Her convoluted relationship with Derek Sagan (the Darth Vader analog) is a lot more interesting, as is her broken past.
Tusk, the son of a fallen Guardian, is the Lando Calrissian of the bunch and doesn't have enough to do, though his snarky AI ship is trying its best with the comic relief.
Maigrey spends some time acting as a white saviour while in hiding from Sagan (a subplot I could have done without), and a lot of time crying. This choice struck me as strange, since it's not always clear why she's upset and the narrative goes to great pain to convey what a force of nature she is.
All that said, it's still very rare to see a woman in her 40s centred to the degree that Margaret Weis focuses on Maigrey in this book, and I found that refreshing.
I don't think I'll be continuing, but my curiosity is satisfied.
It's a Star Wars retelling in some ways (blood swords over light sabres, and that weapon is definitely very cool) and tells the story of Dion Starfire, a lost prince who might have been a king if his monarchy hadn't fallen to a corrupt Republic.
(Which is a bit of a reversal of Star Wars itself. Maybe subsequent volumes spend more time on why monarchy was a better system, idk).
Dion is about as bland and aw shucks as his counterpart Luke. I found myself wishing this book was focused on Lady Maigrey, who is a Guardian (Jedi) dedicated to his service. Her convoluted relationship with Derek Sagan (the Darth Vader analog) is a lot more interesting, as is her broken past.
Tusk, the son of a fallen Guardian, is the Lando Calrissian of the bunch and doesn't have enough to do, though his snarky AI ship is trying its best with the comic relief.
Maigrey spends some time acting as a white saviour while in hiding from Sagan (a subplot I could have done without), and a lot of time crying. This choice struck me as strange, since it's not always clear why she's upset and the narrative goes to great pain to convey what a force of nature she is.
All that said, it's still very rare to see a woman in her 40s centred to the degree that Margaret Weis focuses on Maigrey in this book, and I found that refreshing.
I don't think I'll be continuing, but my curiosity is satisfied.
January 26, 2012
I first read this back in High School in the 90's and I am glad I revisited this work.
True space opera with bits of religion, the force, Roman Legions, and Blood Swords that are like light sabres, mixed with a very dark Camelot feel. This is a miss-mash that you wouldn't think works but some how does, entirely do to the character development done by the author.
The story is about Dion and how he is the the lost heir to the king. The story however, really revolves around the characters Sagan and his former lover Maigrey and how they interact and try to manipulate events and people (including each other) to control Dion.
The fact that Sagan and Maigrey share a mental bond was particularly ironic to me because their entire relationship and decisions come about because THEY DON"T TALK TO EACH OTHER! Really they talk but they keep so much hidden from each other that really only surface communication happens. You have this link to someone that others can only dream about and they still can't communicate. Sheesh!
The world building is very light on science and that's okay in this instance because the story is really about the people not the tech. The story ends with a cliff hanger and yet another double cross play between Maigrey and Sagan with Dion right in the middle.
A good start to a three book series that turned into four books and then three spin offs.
True space opera with bits of religion, the force, Roman Legions, and Blood Swords that are like light sabres, mixed with a very dark Camelot feel. This is a miss-mash that you wouldn't think works but some how does, entirely do to the character development done by the author.
The story is about Dion and how he is the the lost heir to the king. The story however, really revolves around the characters Sagan and his former lover Maigrey and how they interact and try to manipulate events and people (including each other) to control Dion.
The fact that Sagan and Maigrey share a mental bond was particularly ironic to me because their entire relationship and decisions come about because THEY DON"T TALK TO EACH OTHER! Really they talk but they keep so much hidden from each other that really only surface communication happens. You have this link to someone that others can only dream about and they still can't communicate. Sheesh!
The world building is very light on science and that's okay in this instance because the story is really about the people not the tech. The story ends with a cliff hanger and yet another double cross play between Maigrey and Sagan with Dion right in the middle.
A good start to a three book series that turned into four books and then three spin offs.
April 27, 2012
I started this novel with high expectations and, at the first pages, I was delighted from it. I love "Star Wars" and have searched years for a similar story,and when I began "The Lost King", I though, that's it! Interesting concept, interesting galaxy, fun characters. Unfortunately, after a promising start with a dramatic lighstaber fight, the book slowed its pace to a crawl and then continued to slow the pace even more. Only in the end the action begins again.
August 30, 2022
3.6 stars.
I no longer need to imagine what Star Wars would have been if it was about literal wizards in space inside a clichéd fantasy universe instead of carving its own place in sci-fi.
If you wanted there to NOT be comparisons with Star Wars, then you chose the wrong book to read about. Just from looking at the cover you should know what you're in for.
The biggest problem here though, is not that it tries to be a SW ripoff, but rather that it tries to be a painfully classic fantasy romance novel in "the future"... and ends up ripping off Star Wars.
This book walks knee-deep into fantasy clichés, like it's straight out of the 40s or 50s. Gone are the subtleties that make SW appealing and original. There are actual space wizards that use the 4 elements in magic rituals, and the Force is literally a religion with a literal God. Star Wars could have easily slipped into this kind of unsubtle pitfall and been a generic story that nobody remembers. And here, it's in full display.
And of course since this is a straight-up fantasy romance, there are kings and queens and royalty and royal blood and duels. They all just happen to be in the future, so royalty faces off against democratic governments, and the dueling swords are made of energy.
But it gets worse. The overall style of writing is very... old-fashioned. True to its "sword and planet" or planetary romance roots, its language and style is deeply rooted in a bygone era even by the 90s. Ships are "space planes", and women behave oddly and subserviently (apologizing when they get too excited, for instance), and men curse the old fashioned 40's way (except that SINGLE time when someone says fuck? That was so weird.) In short, it's a post-SW story written with long gone pre-SW sensibilities.
(A lot of scenes are also unnecessarily stretched out, and some lose their intent entirely because of it. Yet another book that could have told its story in a much shorter span and been better due to it.)
But that's not the end of it. Yet another major sin is that who is meant to be the story's main character... is by far the least likable one. Dion, is... a doormat. Constantly belittled, shoved and pushed left and right to advance the story, perpetually disrespected, treated like an annoying child, and told time and again that he will not amount to what he's destined to be. And instead of defying that, instead of standing up for himself and proving everyone wrong... he agrees, keeps acting like a child, and gets to moping. It's like if Luke Skywalker never grew a pair, and got shoved left and right by every other character, and let everyone else accomplish things while he sat around moping. Yikes.
And yet... I don't really hate it. The main reason is that certain secondary characters, who inevitably become the main characters (because Dion certainly isn't gonna carry the story), are very interesting and quite well written. Lady Maigrey and The Warlord are by far the most entertaining people in this. And although their story often falls into a cliched romantic tryst, overall it's a fascinating story of betrayal, respect, and tragedy that they weave between the two.
... which makes it really unfortunate that the climax of their story is literally interrupted by some that comes out of nowhere and has zero relevance to the story until that point, and out of the blue becomes the focus of the final third of the story??? I got narrative whiplash once I realized that the story would finish by dealing with this when it was already busy with everything else. However, thanks to these two characters, it's still a decent story (but I still wonder what drove the author to make this sudden hard left out of nowhere... just wow.)
There are also some unique concepts found in here to its favor. The "lightsaber" that they use, for instance, turns out to be more than that, with a shield capability (that was never exactly clear to me), and a whole injecting-the-user-with-a-virus business that makes it stand out too. The final space battle also has some unique concepts for the enemies as well as the way the Guardians can fly ships by interacting with their nervous system. And, I'll admit that relating literal royal blood to the Force-like abilities is also rather original for its time.
Overall, despite delving knee-deep into cliché, and having a rather outdated writing style that is definitely not for everyone (especially in a post-Star Wars world), it does have some aspects that save it from being a bad book. But, unless you're specifically looking for a story like Star Wars that is much more heavy-handed on the fantasy elements and the classic-style romance genre tropes, you shouldn't expect more than just a passably good science fantasy story here.
I no longer need to imagine what Star Wars would have been if it was about literal wizards in space inside a clichéd fantasy universe instead of carving its own place in sci-fi.
If you wanted there to NOT be comparisons with Star Wars, then you chose the wrong book to read about. Just from looking at the cover you should know what you're in for.
The biggest problem here though, is not that it tries to be a SW ripoff, but rather that it tries to be a painfully classic fantasy romance novel in "the future"... and ends up ripping off Star Wars.
This book walks knee-deep into fantasy clichés, like it's straight out of the 40s or 50s. Gone are the subtleties that make SW appealing and original. There are actual space wizards that use the 4 elements in magic rituals, and the Force is literally a religion with a literal God. Star Wars could have easily slipped into this kind of unsubtle pitfall and been a generic story that nobody remembers. And here, it's in full display.
And of course since this is a straight-up fantasy romance, there are kings and queens and royalty and royal blood and duels. They all just happen to be in the future, so royalty faces off against democratic governments, and the dueling swords are made of energy.
But it gets worse. The overall style of writing is very... old-fashioned. True to its "sword and planet" or planetary romance roots, its language and style is deeply rooted in a bygone era even by the 90s. Ships are "space planes", and women behave oddly and subserviently (apologizing when they get too excited, for instance), and men curse the old fashioned 40's way (except that SINGLE time when someone says fuck? That was so weird.) In short, it's a post-SW story written with long gone pre-SW sensibilities.
(A lot of scenes are also unnecessarily stretched out, and some lose their intent entirely because of it. Yet another book that could have told its story in a much shorter span and been better due to it.)
But that's not the end of it. Yet another major sin is that who is meant to be the story's main character... is by far the least likable one. Dion, is... a doormat. Constantly belittled, shoved and pushed left and right to advance the story, perpetually disrespected, treated like an annoying child, and told time and again that he will not amount to what he's destined to be. And instead of defying that, instead of standing up for himself and proving everyone wrong... he agrees, keeps acting like a child, and gets to moping. It's like if Luke Skywalker never grew a pair, and got shoved left and right by every other character, and let everyone else accomplish things while he sat around moping. Yikes.
And yet... I don't really hate it. The main reason is that certain secondary characters, who inevitably become the main characters (because Dion certainly isn't gonna carry the story), are very interesting and quite well written. Lady Maigrey and The Warlord are by far the most entertaining people in this. And although their story often falls into a cliched romantic tryst, overall it's a fascinating story of betrayal, respect, and tragedy that they weave between the two.
... which makes it really unfortunate that the climax of their story is literally interrupted by some that comes out of nowhere and has zero relevance to the story until that point, and out of the blue becomes the focus of the final third of the story??? I got narrative whiplash once I realized that the story would finish by dealing with this when it was already busy with everything else. However, thanks to these two characters, it's still a decent story (but I still wonder what drove the author to make this sudden hard left out of nowhere... just wow.)
There are also some unique concepts found in here to its favor. The "lightsaber" that they use, for instance, turns out to be more than that, with a shield capability (that was never exactly clear to me), and a whole injecting-the-user-with-a-virus business that makes it stand out too. The final space battle also has some unique concepts for the enemies as well as the way the Guardians can fly ships by interacting with their nervous system. And, I'll admit that relating literal royal blood to the Force-like abilities is also rather original for its time.
Overall, despite delving knee-deep into cliché, and having a rather outdated writing style that is definitely not for everyone (especially in a post-Star Wars world), it does have some aspects that save it from being a bad book. But, unless you're specifically looking for a story like Star Wars that is much more heavy-handed on the fantasy elements and the classic-style romance genre tropes, you shouldn't expect more than just a passably good science fantasy story here.
September 10, 2022
A long time in the future in a galaxy far, far away, the empire has taken control of the galaxy and the survivors from the rebellion have gone into hiding. The survivors from the previous government have a power (let's call it a force) that allows them to do special things with their minds.
The main bad guy is Darth Sagan, and he is on a mission to find and eliminate these survivors. He also has this same special power.
Meanwhile, a young man named Dion (we don't know his last name, but it could be Skywalker), doesn't know that he has also this force. He is being protected by good guys with this force, but they are found and Dion flees into the hands of a Solo pilot, who rescues Dion from the planet and takes him somewhere safe. This solo pilot has a computer that argues with him, adding humor to the dialog.
While in his safe place, Dion receives a telepathic message from a princess, who explains that they are related and he has the force.
Not to mention that the special people fight with swords (could be sabers) that are light and have special properties, that Leia is mentioned .. and I'm surprised that no-one is being sued.
After Star Wars, the story has turned into a Hammer Horror movie, with witchcraft and demon summoning.
The more I read the more of a disaster this book becomes. Maybe it can save itself in the last 100 or so pages. I hope so, because I bought all 4 books in the series.
Book 2: Not the 2nd book in the series, this refers to the last 1/3rd of the first book in the series.
All change - A 3rd party enters the fray, so Darth and the Rebellion join forces to fight the Corinthians (a robotic race who are stupid as shit and steal all their technology). The author explains just how thick this race, when 2 of main characters (Darth and Leia) at the height of the battle, with the 'good' guys losing, come up with a cunning plan. Between them they fill their space fighter ships with explosives and fly towards the mother ship. The Corinthians, believing that they must be delivering the mail or groceries, welcome them onboard the mothership, but there is no-one there to greet them. What would you do? Rescue the King, find his space plane and all 3 escape just as the mothership explodes. Wow, that was a close call!
If you are 3 years old, this all might seem original and exciting. If you are a Star Wars fan this book may make you want to watch the original movie again.
Summary:
This a sword and sorcery story set in space. The author seems to think that traveling to planets across the a universe is like catching a bus to the next village. There is no concept of the hugeness of space or time. Dion travels from one planet to the enemy home and then to another planet to hold negotiations, and he's tired because he must have been awake for 24 hours. There was no time to get some rest on the spacecraft.
I might suggest that the author was jumping on the Star Wars bandwagon, by taking a fantasy story and changing its location with little thought for the difference between Middle Earth and the Milky Way.
On the plus side, character allegiances change so quickly the book does keep you on your toes trying to figure out who is fighting who at any paragraph in the book. Despite it's flaws, it is a fun read and I'll be following the adventures of the Skywalker (sorry Starfire, yes we know his surname now) family in the next book.
The main bad guy is Darth Sagan, and he is on a mission to find and eliminate these survivors. He also has this same special power.
Meanwhile, a young man named Dion (we don't know his last name, but it could be Skywalker), doesn't know that he has also this force. He is being protected by good guys with this force, but they are found and Dion flees into the hands of a Solo pilot, who rescues Dion from the planet and takes him somewhere safe. This solo pilot has a computer that argues with him, adding humor to the dialog.
While in his safe place, Dion receives a telepathic message from a princess, who explains that they are related and he has the force.
Not to mention that the special people fight with swords (could be sabers) that are light and have special properties, that Leia is mentioned .. and I'm surprised that no-one is being sued.
After Star Wars, the story has turned into a Hammer Horror movie, with witchcraft and demon summoning.
The more I read the more of a disaster this book becomes. Maybe it can save itself in the last 100 or so pages. I hope so, because I bought all 4 books in the series.
Book 2: Not the 2nd book in the series, this refers to the last 1/3rd of the first book in the series.
All change - A 3rd party enters the fray, so Darth and the Rebellion join forces to fight the Corinthians (a robotic race who are stupid as shit and steal all their technology). The author explains just how thick this race, when 2 of main characters (Darth and Leia) at the height of the battle, with the 'good' guys losing, come up with a cunning plan. Between them they fill their space fighter ships with explosives and fly towards the mother ship. The Corinthians, believing that they must be delivering the mail or groceries, welcome them onboard the mothership, but there is no-one there to greet them. What would you do? Rescue the King, find his space plane and all 3 escape just as the mothership explodes. Wow, that was a close call!
If you are 3 years old, this all might seem original and exciting. If you are a Star Wars fan this book may make you want to watch the original movie again.
Summary:
This a sword and sorcery story set in space. The author seems to think that traveling to planets across the a universe is like catching a bus to the next village. There is no concept of the hugeness of space or time. Dion travels from one planet to the enemy home and then to another planet to hold negotiations, and he's tired because he must have been awake for 24 hours. There was no time to get some rest on the spacecraft.
I might suggest that the author was jumping on the Star Wars bandwagon, by taking a fantasy story and changing its location with little thought for the difference between Middle Earth and the Milky Way.
On the plus side, character allegiances change so quickly the book does keep you on your toes trying to figure out who is fighting who at any paragraph in the book. Despite it's flaws, it is a fun read and I'll be following the adventures of the Skywalker (sorry Starfire, yes we know his surname now) family in the next book.
July 31, 2023
Fun fast-paced Space Opera. I liked how the author mixed sci fi and fantasy together - the novel is set in the far future, and takes place on an intergalactic scale. But, the character drama, sword fights , and royal bloodlines feel right out of a fantasy. So, I really enjoyed that juxtaposition. Some elements owe a bit to "Star Wars" ( bloodswords that operate similar to a lightsaber ) and "DUNE" ( genetic tampering used in order to bring about an intergalactic ruling class ) ... but the world and characters are unique and these tropes worked for me in this new setting.
All in all, a fun fast paced read & I am looking forward to book #2.
All in all, a fun fast paced read & I am looking forward to book #2.
May 25, 2025
Reads like a junior abridged novelization of a Sega Genesis game, but with religion and jarring 20th century references. I do think Luke Skywalker should’ve worn blue jeans and talk about David Copperfield.
November 16, 2025
I really loved this series when I was younger so I started a reread. still fun. not great but still fun
November 6, 2024
[incoming attempt at streamlining the "live-posted" review]
Tagging villain protagonist since Sagan is one of the main points of view presented so far, and despite the screen time he gets, I'm pretty sure he's actually the main character, especially given what I remember.
I'm a little mad I didn't finish reading this sooner, like in the five-ish *sequential* days I expected, but carving out time to read an e-book when I'd much rather read (and donate) physical books isn't as easy for me. Anyway, I picked up the *Nook* version (general e-book doesn't seem to be an option on Goodreads) as I had miraculously managed to find physical copies of books 2 and 3 in a local store, and I was too impatient to try to find/order book 1. It... is not a fantastic copy. For one thing, there are odd breaks in the middle of words and other word placement:
For another, there are a few odd typos:
(to be fair, I don't know if the typos are in the original without sitting down with a physical copy, but the word cascade definitely isn't)
Anyway, I'm convinced it's OCR making most of the typos, because STARTING SENTENCES begin with a PERIOD. Or periods appear randomly. Also, "bum" instead of "burn" in "bum to a crisp" (sic). "Comer" instead of "corner." One instance of Tusk being called Tuck (by the supposedly infallible computer, no less!) might have actually been in the original, though—my memory is now insistent that was like that already.
Sure, the typos consist of maybe 0.01% of the book, but they're eye-catching in an e-book being displayed in larger type (Nook app), especially when they're impossible to ignore like the aforementioned cascade of text.
As far as the story goes, I had forgotten a lot of the details of what exactly happens in the story besides a few major points, most notably that Maigrey (the woman on the cover) has a huge disfiguring scar on her face... that conveniently doesn't show up on the cover. I'm somewhat annoyed by that, since she's one of probably two disfigured major female characters I'm aware of in ANY series... I mean, excepting stuff like Cursed Princess Club or Zombieland Saga where horror (even if comedic horror) is a major theme, I guess—I'm thinking mostly of fantasy/science fiction/slice-of-life where stuff like disfigurement wouldn't be EXPECTED because people are still shallow and want the main characters to be beautiful (although male characters can be disfigured for these because they're "cool" if they are).
I don't know what else I want to cover in this review. Since this is a re-read after... some years... I know certain things happen later that disappoint me, such as who dies at the end (not really a spoiler, since so many people die at the BEGINNING) and the fact that and that sort of annoyed me because it felt like that should have MEANT something, but it's treated like his first time eating sushi: a new experience for him that's otherwise entirely forgettable.
Maybe it is, I don't know! Since it's not covered in detail, maybe it WAS forgettable and meaningless, which annoys me all the more! I remember being thoroughly disappointed on his behalf, but he's such a cold fish through the series despite being so pretty that I guess his life is empty even with all the foofaraw.
Also, if Tusk is keeping his head down, why is he wearing a starjewel earring?? Furthermore, how is the dang starjewel so valuable if only Guardians have them and the "light" goes out of them when its Guardian dies? Feels like it would be completely worthless to anyone who's not a Guardian (and why did only the Guardians have them, not the actual royal family?), but then I don't live in this bizarro universe where there's one (deposed) king of literally everything and a President determined to keep the king out of play.
...not a spoiler, this is both early information and flavour text, so no complaining I spoiled something!
Well, okay, I complain about Dion, but now that I'm re-reading, Maigrey* is even worse—where Dion at least cracks jokes once in a while, Maigrey is all doom and gloom and self-loathing. Heck, Dion is in possibly my most favourite sentence in a book, ever:
I mean, Tusk is fun to read, which is most likely why I latched onto this series as hard as I did before. I just, you know... dislike this e-book.
Oh, and I did get to an approximation of the scene from the cover, though, and... I'm annoyed that the illustrator made the *men's* uniform clearly fitted for a woman. I get they want to telegraph that this IS a lady on the cover bearing a not-lightsaber**, but... she isn't SUPPOSED to be wearing a fitted uniform! It's a DISGUISE; she's the ONE WOMAN on a ship full of dudes dedicated to this weird Spartan lifestyle! I honestly feel like they could have captured the feel of the series better with a different scene—heck, better to use the duel with Maigrey and Sagan (who clearly isn't the guy on the cover here; Sagan's supposed to be wearing a red-and-gold flashy Roman number, not "generic pilot uniform #12").
But then, everything's easier in retrospect, I guess. It's not always easy to remember that the illustrator pulled THAT scene out of nothingness; any ideas I have are improvements that use the already existing image as a stepping stone.
Also confusing me now is 1. most of what I remember of the series happened in THIS book, except literally two scenes, and 2. a lot of the tension is diffused halfway through THIS book (from ). What happens, that drags out a whole TWO extra books, that I've COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN? I'm also actually ANNOYED that the story shifts focus ENTIRELY to the "main three" and just get sidelined for a while, until the "main three" decide to bring them into the fold.
Yeah, sure, the TITLE basically dictates who should be the focus of the story, but... they're BORING. Also, Maigrey DOG-EARED A BOOK, grrr!
I wonder if part of what I liked was that Weis makes a big thing of quoting things at the beginning of each chapter (usually stuff like Paradise Lost or The Bible but also The Grateful Dead and other oddities) and by the characters themselves reading Little Dorrit or David Copperfield. It felt like an intellectual touch that takes minimal effort, but I'm almost annoyed at it on a re-read, since it seems pseudo-philosophical layering on top of especially Maigrey's suicidal self-loathing and half-hearted attempt to die by .
It's still a very easy read—strangely enough, the app says the book should take me about three minutes to read a "page" that, if I narrated it, would take thirty seconds to narrate. I guess I'm just impatient that I got to a slow part that I don't like, about people who hate themselves.
Plus, since I have no other frame of reference, I've started thinking of Nola as Ani from Real Hero Shit, haha. Definitely also still wondering if she isn't named for Nolan Ryan for some bizarre reason I haven't figured out.
I don't know. I kind of wonder if I graded things like this more highly since it was basically all I had available at the time—nothing close to the bounty (and disposable income) I enjoy in recent times. At least it's more readable than, say, A Song of Ice and Fire. Unfortunately, the end is the same as in The Rose of the Prophet: book 1 just reaches a stopping point, rather than a definite conclusion. Is this what "epic" books are supposed to do? I guess I'm *used to* it, but I do sort of prefer a complete episode, as it were.
*which is apparently "may-gree" according to the Internet, where I had been reading "my-grey" based on "Mai" + "Grey" and now I like her name even less
**In earlier times of the internet, I had searched for as much as I could of this series (which isn't much) and came across a rather excited review that amounted to "Star Wars WISHES it were this cool!" ...which, even at the time, sort of made me cringe, since I DON'T think it's as much of a compliment to say that something is "X but BETTER!" Sure, if I were specifically comparing things, then "X is Y but BETTER!" is fine, but out of the blue feels like an unnecessary association with the "inferior" thing. Like, here I'm at most acknowledging that the bloodswords are lightsaber-like in function, but with extra doodads (nanotech toxins to anyone other than the Blood Royal, a shield function, etc.). Beyond that, Star of the Guardians is probably JUST as comparable to Star Wars as it is to LITERALLY ANY OTHER space sci-fi drama.
Tagging villain protagonist since Sagan is one of the main points of view presented so far, and despite the screen time he gets, I'm pretty sure he's actually the main character, especially given what I remember.
I'm a little mad I didn't finish reading this sooner, like in the five-ish *sequential* days I expected, but carving out time to read an e-book when I'd much rather read (and donate) physical books isn't as easy for me. Anyway, I picked up the *Nook* version (general e-book doesn't seem to be an option on Goodreads) as I had miraculously managed to find physical copies of books 2 and 3 in a local store, and I was too impatient to try to find/order book 1. It... is not a fantastic copy. For one thing, there are odd breaks in the middle of words and other word placement:
For another, there are a few odd typos:
(to be fair, I don't know if the typos are in the original without sitting down with a physical copy, but the word cascade definitely isn't)
Anyway, I'm convinced it's OCR making most of the typos, because STARTING SENTENCES begin with a PERIOD. Or periods appear randomly. Also, "bum" instead of "burn" in "bum to a crisp" (sic). "Comer" instead of "corner." One instance of Tusk being called Tuck (by the supposedly infallible computer, no less!) might have actually been in the original, though—my memory is now insistent that was like that already.
Sure, the typos consist of maybe 0.01% of the book, but they're eye-catching in an e-book being displayed in larger type (Nook app), especially when they're impossible to ignore like the aforementioned cascade of text.
As far as the story goes, I had forgotten a lot of the details of what exactly happens in the story besides a few major points, most notably that Maigrey (the woman on the cover) has a huge disfiguring scar on her face... that conveniently doesn't show up on the cover. I'm somewhat annoyed by that, since she's one of probably two disfigured major female characters I'm aware of in ANY series... I mean, excepting stuff like Cursed Princess Club or Zombieland Saga where horror (even if comedic horror) is a major theme, I guess—I'm thinking mostly of fantasy/science fiction/slice-of-life where stuff like disfigurement wouldn't be EXPECTED because people are still shallow and want the main characters to be beautiful (although male characters can be disfigured for these because they're "cool" if they are).
I don't know what else I want to cover in this review. Since this is a re-read after... some years... I know certain things happen later that disappoint me, such as who dies at the end (not really a spoiler, since so many people die at the BEGINNING) and the fact that and that sort of annoyed me because it felt like that should have MEANT something, but it's treated like his first time eating sushi: a new experience for him that's otherwise entirely forgettable.
Maybe it is, I don't know! Since it's not covered in detail, maybe it WAS forgettable and meaningless, which annoys me all the more! I remember being thoroughly disappointed on his behalf, but he's such a cold fish through the series despite being so pretty that I guess his life is empty even with all the foofaraw.
Also, if Tusk is keeping his head down, why is he wearing a starjewel earring?? Furthermore, how is the dang starjewel so valuable if only Guardians have them and the "light" goes out of them when its Guardian dies? Feels like it would be completely worthless to anyone who's not a Guardian (and why did only the Guardians have them, not the actual royal family?), but then I don't live in this bizarro universe where there's one (deposed) king of literally everything and a President determined to keep the king out of play.
...not a spoiler, this is both early information and flavour text, so no complaining I spoiled something!
Well, okay, I complain about Dion, but now that I'm re-reading, Maigrey* is even worse—where Dion at least cracks jokes once in a while, Maigrey is all doom and gloom and self-loathing. Heck, Dion is in possibly my most favourite sentence in a book, ever:
Dion realized in admiration Tusk hadn't repeated himself once in his long string of curses.On a lighter note, I knew that hooked up, but it feels a bit eyeroll-inducing how they DECIDED to hook up. Like, "hate at first sight" but then "love as soon as they're in private." It almost feels forced, on this re-read, and it almost feels like a tease when they show up again after getting together. Meanwhile, act like Buttercup and Humperdinck, except they both have feelings and can't let it show. How the heck did this drag out for three books?
I mean, Tusk is fun to read, which is most likely why I latched onto this series as hard as I did before. I just, you know... dislike this e-book.
Oh, and I did get to an approximation of the scene from the cover, though, and... I'm annoyed that the illustrator made the *men's* uniform clearly fitted for a woman. I get they want to telegraph that this IS a lady on the cover bearing a not-lightsaber**, but... she isn't SUPPOSED to be wearing a fitted uniform! It's a DISGUISE; she's the ONE WOMAN on a ship full of dudes dedicated to this weird Spartan lifestyle! I honestly feel like they could have captured the feel of the series better with a different scene—heck, better to use the duel with Maigrey and Sagan (who clearly isn't the guy on the cover here; Sagan's supposed to be wearing a red-and-gold flashy Roman number, not "generic pilot uniform #12").
But then, everything's easier in retrospect, I guess. It's not always easy to remember that the illustrator pulled THAT scene out of nothingness; any ideas I have are improvements that use the already existing image as a stepping stone.
Also confusing me now is 1. most of what I remember of the series happened in THIS book, except literally two scenes, and 2. a lot of the tension is diffused halfway through THIS book (from ). What happens, that drags out a whole TWO extra books, that I've COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN? I'm also actually ANNOYED that the story shifts focus ENTIRELY to the "main three" and just get sidelined for a while, until the "main three" decide to bring them into the fold.
Yeah, sure, the TITLE basically dictates who should be the focus of the story, but... they're BORING. Also, Maigrey DOG-EARED A BOOK, grrr!
I wonder if part of what I liked was that Weis makes a big thing of quoting things at the beginning of each chapter (usually stuff like Paradise Lost or The Bible but also The Grateful Dead and other oddities) and by the characters themselves reading Little Dorrit or David Copperfield. It felt like an intellectual touch that takes minimal effort, but I'm almost annoyed at it on a re-read, since it seems pseudo-philosophical layering on top of especially Maigrey's suicidal self-loathing and half-hearted attempt to die by .
It's still a very easy read—strangely enough, the app says the book should take me about three minutes to read a "page" that, if I narrated it, would take thirty seconds to narrate. I guess I'm just impatient that I got to a slow part that I don't like, about people who hate themselves.
Plus, since I have no other frame of reference, I've started thinking of Nola as Ani from Real Hero Shit, haha. Definitely also still wondering if she isn't named for Nolan Ryan for some bizarre reason I haven't figured out.
I don't know. I kind of wonder if I graded things like this more highly since it was basically all I had available at the time—nothing close to the bounty (and disposable income) I enjoy in recent times. At least it's more readable than, say, A Song of Ice and Fire. Unfortunately, the end is the same as in The Rose of the Prophet: book 1 just reaches a stopping point, rather than a definite conclusion. Is this what "epic" books are supposed to do? I guess I'm *used to* it, but I do sort of prefer a complete episode, as it were.
*which is apparently "may-gree" according to the Internet, where I had been reading "my-grey" based on "Mai" + "Grey" and now I like her name even less
**In earlier times of the internet, I had searched for as much as I could of this series (which isn't much) and came across a rather excited review that amounted to "Star Wars WISHES it were this cool!" ...which, even at the time, sort of made me cringe, since I DON'T think it's as much of a compliment to say that something is "X but BETTER!" Sure, if I were specifically comparing things, then "X is Y but BETTER!" is fine, but out of the blue feels like an unnecessary association with the "inferior" thing. Like, here I'm at most acknowledging that the bloodswords are lightsaber-like in function, but with extra doodads (nanotech toxins to anyone other than the Blood Royal, a shield function, etc.). Beyond that, Star of the Guardians is probably JUST as comparable to Star Wars as it is to LITERALLY ANY OTHER space sci-fi drama.
September 5, 2007
Oh, wow, I loved this series when I first read it. I think I'd have to re-read to make sure it stands up after ten years, but in my memory it is EPIC. (Though, um. A little cheesey.)
The set-up:
Dion was an infant when his family's galactic monarchy was overthrown. He was smuggled out during the coup and raised with no idea of who he actually is. When the book starts, he's twenty and in hiding, being protected by the remnants of the royal guard who served his family. He's also being hunted by the ex-head of said guard who also instigated the coup.
Dion's slightly annoying, but the series for me was all about Maigrey, anyway, who is a far more interesting character. She was part of the guard and part of the group that saved Dion, plus she was also in love with the man who led the coup. Now, she's Dion's sworn protector even though she doesn't really like him that much. She's damaged and powerful and driven and tragic (and beautiful, of course) and in retrospect, I realize she's kind of a Mary Sue. Who cares. She's awesome.
There are great secondary characters, too, and everyone runs around saving Dion and trying to restore the monarchy (though they never explain why they want it restored) and battling evil. It's a fun, fast read.
The original story arc runs over the first three books, and then the fourth takes place a few years later and focuses on Dion, who grows up a little. There are other books that take place in this universe, but I found them less interesting.
The set-up:
Dion was an infant when his family's galactic monarchy was overthrown. He was smuggled out during the coup and raised with no idea of who he actually is. When the book starts, he's twenty and in hiding, being protected by the remnants of the royal guard who served his family. He's also being hunted by the ex-head of said guard who also instigated the coup.
Dion's slightly annoying, but the series for me was all about Maigrey, anyway, who is a far more interesting character. She was part of the guard and part of the group that saved Dion, plus she was also in love with the man who led the coup. Now, she's Dion's sworn protector even though she doesn't really like him that much. She's damaged and powerful and driven and tragic (and beautiful, of course) and in retrospect, I realize she's kind of a Mary Sue. Who cares. She's awesome.
There are great secondary characters, too, and everyone runs around saving Dion and trying to restore the monarchy (though they never explain why they want it restored) and battling evil. It's a fun, fast read.
The original story arc runs over the first three books, and then the fourth takes place a few years later and focuses on Dion, who grows up a little. There are other books that take place in this universe, but I found them less interesting.
August 5, 2019
Like Dion I wanted some action and I didn't get it until the end. Most of the book seemed more like setup for what is to come. Dion's got to be crowned eventually. I doubt this is a GRRM kind of story so I expect some kind of Starfire restoration, just not Dion the puppet king.
Derek Sagan is a fascinating character. I am intrigued by anything he does really. Of course, if you find Derek fascinating then you must find Maigrey Morianna equally fascinating. They are the best part of the story.I look forward to more of them. Too bad most of their story was catching up to each other after seventeen years.
XJ and Tusk are hilarious! They bring the comedy relief in the story and I am glad for something to laugh at while the book more or less dragged to big battle.
Dion Starfire, heir the the throne, is pretty much me, the reader. He's somewhat clueless in many cases and I feel for him. Unlike him though, I knew who he was as soon as he appeared.
This book felt like an introduction to everything. I hope the story picks up in the second book.
Derek Sagan is a fascinating character. I am intrigued by anything he does really. Of course, if you find Derek fascinating then you must find Maigrey Morianna equally fascinating. They are the best part of the story.I look forward to more of them. Too bad most of their story was catching up to each other after seventeen years.
XJ and Tusk are hilarious! They bring the comedy relief in the story and I am glad for something to laugh at while the book more or less dragged to big battle.
Dion Starfire, heir the the throne, is pretty much me, the reader. He's somewhat clueless in many cases and I feel for him. Unlike him though, I knew who he was as soon as he appeared.
This book felt like an introduction to everything. I hope the story picks up in the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2012
This is not so much a review as it is a comment. According to page count (457) I'm only 92% through this book. Only... there are no more words of this story to read. I could read the two preview sections, but even counting those, I'll only hit 486.
I don't know who decided this book has 496 pages in it, but it doesn't, unless you also include the pieces of paper preceding the story.
Sigh.
I'll prolly be reading the second book, but I don't know when. I'm not in a major hurry to find out what happens next.
I don't know who decided this book has 496 pages in it, but it doesn't, unless you also include the pieces of paper preceding the story.
Sigh.
I'll prolly be reading the second book, but I don't know when. I'm not in a major hurry to find out what happens next.
April 23, 2008
This series was what GREAT Science fiction should be. Reminiscent of Star Wars, full of wacky characters, and enough action to satisfy the biggest "die hard" fan. Perhaps the only book that ever caused me to actually shed a real live tear was the final book of the series.
December 13, 2015
It is a science fiction but feels like fantasy.
Problem for me is I felt it is neither.
Storytelling is good but I did not enjoy a lot.
Problem for me is I felt it is neither.
Storytelling is good but I did not enjoy a lot.
May 21, 2020
For those that know Margaret Weis with Tracy Hickman from the epic Dragonlance series, you will no doubt know she is an amazing author with an eye for detail, a talent for weaving stories, and a skill for pulling you in and making you fall in love with every character of her stories. This series is no exception. Writing solo this time, Margaret Weis delves into fantasy and science fiction together in a way I have encountered from no other! Her characters are rich and involved, detailed and with great depth to every one, pulling the reader into loving a whole new universe with a entire new cast in such a way that I have found myself re-reading this series at least 4 times completely now, (and I will be reading it all over again within the year, they are that good!!). I am copying this review on the entire 4 book set to encourage everyone to try this series out. If you love space opera with suspense, fantasy with science fiction, and characters you'll cheer and cry for, respect and rail against, love and hate simultaneously, you'll fall in love with the Star of the Guardians series. Trust me on this one.
August 30, 2020
A Mixture of Different Stroies
Star of the Guardians has a mixture of mythology, philosophy of government, and genetic engineering all mixed into one. What is better for a government? The Representative Democracy we see today or a Monarchy and the Divine Right Of Kings?
The Story begins after a revolution against an ineffective king where a representative democracy is in place. Almost as if Oliver Cromwell had taken place. However, democracy, like in Star Wars republic, is easier said then done. Trillions of lives throughout the known galaxy represented by a congress. The president gets more and more power. Sounds all too familiar to the current government (read my review of Presidential War Power).
Hope springs in the form of a lost heir who may have the Devine right of kings as they creator (or God) is present and felt through the presence of his Priest Sagan (whose on his own side).
Overall I like the story based on the different philosophies and cultural references mentioned. The Bloodsword (lightsaber) seems a bit much.
Star of the Guardians has a mixture of mythology, philosophy of government, and genetic engineering all mixed into one. What is better for a government? The Representative Democracy we see today or a Monarchy and the Divine Right Of Kings?
The Story begins after a revolution against an ineffective king where a representative democracy is in place. Almost as if Oliver Cromwell had taken place. However, democracy, like in Star Wars republic, is easier said then done. Trillions of lives throughout the known galaxy represented by a congress. The president gets more and more power. Sounds all too familiar to the current government (read my review of Presidential War Power).
Hope springs in the form of a lost heir who may have the Devine right of kings as they creator (or God) is present and felt through the presence of his Priest Sagan (whose on his own side).
Overall I like the story based on the different philosophies and cultural references mentioned. The Bloodsword (lightsaber) seems a bit much.
August 22, 2020
Honestly a pretty good book! If you're thinking of reading Dune (or, for some reason, LIKE Dune) you should consider reading this book instead! I found it overall to be less problematic in its dealings with women and minorities, but still not perfect. However, the plot is much better and interested me through to the end. I don't think I'll be continuing the series (at least not actively, I wouldn't be opposed to reading the next books), as there were me issues with the two total female characters in the book. Although both had power, they were also described along very misogynistic lines, one of them being upset that she was short and chubby, the other crying all the time. That said, there were issues with how the make characters were written as well, but I thought Dion and Tusca made up for the shortcomings of the Warlord.
October 6, 2023
DNF @ 35%
Generally, I like Weis' books and stories, just not this one. Somehow, I have missed it when I was a teen and now in my late thirties it feels empty.
I do not really mind that it borrows so heavily from the original Star Wars trilogy. What I really hate is the character of Dion who is a very unlikeable, way-too-perfect MC. Actually, I found the Darth Vader character more interesting than the good young man destined to be king.
After several times of giving it a second chance, I decided to put the book aside. Not really for me. Sorry.
One star for XJ, a computer who acts and speak like a real (human) person.
Generally, I like Weis' books and stories, just not this one. Somehow, I have missed it when I was a teen and now in my late thirties it feels empty.
I do not really mind that it borrows so heavily from the original Star Wars trilogy. What I really hate is the character of Dion who is a very unlikeable, way-too-perfect MC. Actually, I found the Darth Vader character more interesting than the good young man destined to be king.
After several times of giving it a second chance, I decided to put the book aside. Not really for me. Sorry.
One star for XJ, a computer who acts and speak like a real (human) person.
February 5, 2020
A fun read.
The Starfire dynasty has been overthrown and replaced by a "harsh democratic republic". Yes, you read that correctly. Those nasty lovers of democracy have knocked off the wonderful royal family...
Okay. Lets forget the politics behind those beliefs...
The prince with a several issues, none of his making, is hunted by the republic... The bad guy, Sagan, is an interesting fellow. The bad guy does not seem to have much in the way of weaknesses...
This is book one on the series. It is an interesting read. It takes some strange and fun turns.
Worth reading.
The Starfire dynasty has been overthrown and replaced by a "harsh democratic republic". Yes, you read that correctly. Those nasty lovers of democracy have knocked off the wonderful royal family...
Okay. Lets forget the politics behind those beliefs...
The prince with a several issues, none of his making, is hunted by the republic... The bad guy, Sagan, is an interesting fellow. The bad guy does not seem to have much in the way of weaknesses...
This is book one on the series. It is an interesting read. It takes some strange and fun turns.
Worth reading.
June 18, 2020
So sloooow. I wanted to care about the characters but there just wasn't enough there. The world building was not only basic but also kind of problematic theme-wise. I guess that's what I get for reading a book from the early 90s.
I did read the whole thing because I wanted to give it a fair shot but I think I'll find a little free library somewhere and donate the trilogy without reading the other two books.
I did read the whole thing because I wanted to give it a fair shot but I think I'll find a little free library somewhere and donate the trilogy without reading the other two books.
December 15, 2023
It's an ok book. I'm not sure why it didn't really connect with me. I generally like Weis' writing. Maybe it was due to have read the later Mag Force 7 book and knowing how this series ended?
Perhaps it was not really being impressed with the "space religion" here (somewhat of an iffy Force).
Perhaps it was the angst-y nature of multiple characters.
In any case, I won't be reading the next books in the series.
Perhaps it was not really being impressed with the "space religion" here (somewhat of an iffy Force).
Perhaps it was the angst-y nature of multiple characters.
In any case, I won't be reading the next books in the series.
August 14, 2017
I expected no less than rich fantasy, coming from Weis, and wasn't disappointed. The characters, the tech, the wonder; all superb. But somehow I didn't get the real plot. Well, no worries. If this would be the same as other Weis' books I've read, it would all spinned into crazily complicated plot, and solved satisfactorily, if not always happy ending. I'll just continue to the next book.
July 27, 2020
Maybe if I was a hard core Star Wars fan I might enjoy the book more, it feels too much like there is no originality with the story. I give it three stars for being well written and the story isn't bad, I just can't read the rest of the series. I'm going to be sticking with the Dragonlance books, which I have enjoyed so far.
August 10, 2021
I remembered this book as an exciting, well-written book that I loved.
Re-reading it after more than 20 years, though, I'm not so sure. The characters are stereotyped, especially Lady Maigrey and Dion Starfire; the use of old Earth literature jars; and the Warlord wearing Roman armour and wielding a bloodsword? Come on. I kept thinking I was in a bad adaptation of Star Wars.
Re-reading it after more than 20 years, though, I'm not so sure. The characters are stereotyped, especially Lady Maigrey and Dion Starfire; the use of old Earth literature jars; and the Warlord wearing Roman armour and wielding a bloodsword? Come on. I kept thinking I was in a bad adaptation of Star Wars.
Read
October 23, 2025As a corrupt Commonwealth rules the galaxy through the might of its armies, its most influential general--a renegade Guardian of the deposed Starfire royal line--pursues the rumor of a hidden heir to the throne and searches for a woman he loves and is destined to destroy.From the Trade Paperback edition.
May 31, 2018
First novel does a very good job laying the foundation for the series. It does feel similar to Star Wars (not necessarily a bad thing) as it is an epic fantasy in space. The plot is enticing and the characters are well written with morally complex motivations, particularly the heroes.
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