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Sholan Alliance #9
Circle's End
The ninth and final book in Lisanne Norman's thrilling long-running science fiction series, Sholan Alliance, a saga of alien contact and interspecies conflict
It's been a long journey, taking Kusac Aldatan, his family, and allies over countless light-years and to numerous planets and space stations.
Finally it is the time for Kusac and his allies to deal with the threat of the warrior Valtegans on their world of M'zull. Will he work to rehabilitate them using tools given him by the Touiban scientists, or will his calling as the Avatar of Justice take over and destroy all of his foes?
Isolated on M'zull, Kusac--with his clan of Sholans and Humans--works to destabilize the Valtegan society, posing as the avenging spirit of the long-dead, legendary hero Zsadhi. Is it a ruse to fool the M'zullians, or is Kusac becoming more and more like the first Valtegan king with every passing day? If so, can he escape that destiny and chart his own course?
His mission will take Kusac and his clan into mortal danger. Even his young son Shaidan, supposedly safe on a far-distant world, has, unbeknownst to his father, become bound up in the whole plan to destroy the martial spirit of the M'zullians. Can Kusac navigate these dangerous waters and bring all of his family safely home while at the same time ending the M'zullian threat forever? Or will the price of victory prove too great even for the Avatar of Justice?
It's been a long journey, taking Kusac Aldatan, his family, and allies over countless light-years and to numerous planets and space stations.
Finally it is the time for Kusac and his allies to deal with the threat of the warrior Valtegans on their world of M'zull. Will he work to rehabilitate them using tools given him by the Touiban scientists, or will his calling as the Avatar of Justice take over and destroy all of his foes?
Isolated on M'zull, Kusac--with his clan of Sholans and Humans--works to destabilize the Valtegan society, posing as the avenging spirit of the long-dead, legendary hero Zsadhi. Is it a ruse to fool the M'zullians, or is Kusac becoming more and more like the first Valtegan king with every passing day? If so, can he escape that destiny and chart his own course?
His mission will take Kusac and his clan into mortal danger. Even his young son Shaidan, supposedly safe on a far-distant world, has, unbeknownst to his father, become bound up in the whole plan to destroy the martial spirit of the M'zullians. Can Kusac navigate these dangerous waters and bring all of his family safely home while at the same time ending the M'zullian threat forever? Or will the price of victory prove too great even for the Avatar of Justice?
- GenresScience Fiction
496 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published September 5, 2017
27 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 15, 2018
By all means read this series despite my rating of this final book (#8 wraps about 3/4ths of the series up nicely), especially if culture clash between alien species and personal conflict over pew-pew lasers and epic battles is your thing.
This final book, though, is *rough*. Outline rough. I have theories, but there are clear signs of this being cut and events reshuffled for length. I don't speak out loud while reading, but at several points my mental reader's voice did say "You got to be kidding me." At one point side characters that have been with the series since almost Day 1 shuffle off-screen to fight, several scenes pass, they show up later with a limp arm and some blood on them, several scenes pass, oh yeah one of them is already dead.
Elsewhere, we are reminded there's "three weeks" for a big plan to go into action before the book skips over a month in time and characters continue to refer to "two to three weeks left!" The biggest sin in my mind is that for being shorter, so much of this book is unnecessary.
The main problem, defeating the war-loving aliens that have hounded the protagonists since Day 1, is a non-issue. Characters show up to say this within 50 pages, telling the characters and readers that essentially they will (literally) solve the problem by pressing a button on a machine but it takes three weeks for the machine to get ready. The characters continue with plotting an internal revolution...but no problems ever arise with the machine. I expected there to be some issue later and for the revolution tactics of blowing up buildings and killing high level officers to be important, but it amounts to nothing at all.
That's about 300 pages of this 480 page novel. Nothing at all. You may notice there are about 180 pages left after you take out that 300: those are what should be the A plot of the novel, regulated to being a B plot until the final 80 pages.
That could work just fine if the revolution section was worthwhile or developed, but without that it makes the former feel like killing time and the B plot underdeveloped. There is even a good opportunity for a callback or for one of the characters they befriended during the revolution tactics to appear in the climax, but once the B plot takes over stopping the war-loving aliens is all but a footnote and the overarching villain of the last four books being defeated barely a footnote. But there is a bigger problem here, somehow, than a huge chunk of a novel being pointless.
The point of view character that kicked off the entire series and remained a significant POV even when the cast ballooned to an ensemble is all but gone. She is physically present for most of the book, but in a shoved off to the side way where the male lead - her husband - barely even thinks of her. Bizarre. In the climax of the book, she is mere feet from the lead and has one or two sentences about what she does, which is mostly "bring up the rear." Other characters fare no better or even worse, but it's significant to me the *the* lead character and the relationship the series is formed around is all but invisible.
I wanted to give this 5 or 4 stars, but it's not possible. Near the end, reading the epilogue and seeing characters start to feel more like their old selves, I recalled why I enjoyed the series in the first place and wished it had been able to go out more like it started. Even 3 stars was a stretch, to be honest, but I hope people see this review and still want to give the series a shot.
This final book, though, is *rough*. Outline rough. I have theories, but there are clear signs of this being cut and events reshuffled for length. I don't speak out loud while reading, but at several points my mental reader's voice did say "You got to be kidding me." At one point side characters that have been with the series since almost Day 1 shuffle off-screen to fight, several scenes pass, they show up later with a limp arm and some blood on them, several scenes pass, oh yeah one of them is already dead.
Elsewhere, we are reminded there's "three weeks" for a big plan to go into action before the book skips over a month in time and characters continue to refer to "two to three weeks left!" The biggest sin in my mind is that for being shorter, so much of this book is unnecessary.
The main problem, defeating the war-loving aliens that have hounded the protagonists since Day 1, is a non-issue. Characters show up to say this within 50 pages, telling the characters and readers that essentially they will (literally) solve the problem by pressing a button on a machine but it takes three weeks for the machine to get ready. The characters continue with plotting an internal revolution...but no problems ever arise with the machine. I expected there to be some issue later and for the revolution tactics of blowing up buildings and killing high level officers to be important, but it amounts to nothing at all.
That's about 300 pages of this 480 page novel. Nothing at all. You may notice there are about 180 pages left after you take out that 300: those are what should be the A plot of the novel, regulated to being a B plot until the final 80 pages.
That could work just fine if the revolution section was worthwhile or developed, but without that it makes the former feel like killing time and the B plot underdeveloped. There is even a good opportunity for a callback or for one of the characters they befriended during the revolution tactics to appear in the climax, but once the B plot takes over stopping the war-loving aliens is all but a footnote and the overarching villain of the last four books being defeated barely a footnote. But there is a bigger problem here, somehow, than a huge chunk of a novel being pointless.
The point of view character that kicked off the entire series and remained a significant POV even when the cast ballooned to an ensemble is all but gone. She is physically present for most of the book, but in a shoved off to the side way where the male lead - her husband - barely even thinks of her. Bizarre. In the climax of the book, she is mere feet from the lead and has one or two sentences about what she does, which is mostly "bring up the rear." Other characters fare no better or even worse, but it's significant to me the *the* lead character and the relationship the series is formed around is all but invisible.
I wanted to give this 5 or 4 stars, but it's not possible. Near the end, reading the epilogue and seeing characters start to feel more like their old selves, I recalled why I enjoyed the series in the first place and wished it had been able to go out more like it started. Even 3 stars was a stretch, to be honest, but I hope people see this review and still want to give the series a shot.
September 27, 2017
I've followed this series since the late '90s, eagerly awaiting each new installment. The first six or so novels were great -- wonderful characters, intriguing aliens and their relationships ... especially those between Carrie, Kusac, Kaid, and, to an extent, T'Chebbi. Then the books started coming out later and later, and the story seemed to diverge from its original premise (a clash of cultures and the fighting for acceptance between two difference species) into a vast space opera where gods and mythical beings come into play.
I want to say that this book ties every loose end and gives a satisfying conclusion to Kusac's and Carrie's story ... but there's very little of their relationship in this book. Carrie is off to the side, barely mentioned, while Kusac parades around in Valtegan form. And just when they're all together ... the book abruptly ends. No epilogue, no author's note ... Nothing.
The novel itself is really just a bunch of vignettes, bouncing from Shaidan, to Kusac, to some Cabbarans and TeLaxaudins. We're here on this day, there a few hours later, over here at the same time, etc. I wish it were different, but at least I still have those early books to go back to.
I want to say that this book ties every loose end and gives a satisfying conclusion to Kusac's and Carrie's story ... but there's very little of their relationship in this book. Carrie is off to the side, barely mentioned, while Kusac parades around in Valtegan form. And just when they're all together ... the book abruptly ends. No epilogue, no author's note ... Nothing.
The novel itself is really just a bunch of vignettes, bouncing from Shaidan, to Kusac, to some Cabbarans and TeLaxaudins. We're here on this day, there a few hours later, over here at the same time, etc. I wish it were different, but at least I still have those early books to go back to.
September 6, 2017
I found the last quarter of the book to be action packed and interesting, and held my attention.
That being said, I found the first three quarters a slog of flat, only moderately interesting. I may have read the book in a day (reading all day), I had at times had to put it down as I got very bored with it.
Overall, I found the book forced, and a disappointment over the last few that were spellbinding all the way through. It was also disappointing on the length, although with how dull it was, it could have been shortened without loosing anything. I was expecting about 200-250k words of well-written and well done story. It feels like a early draft while trying to overcome a writers block.
When I was 2/3rds through it, I almost put it down and gone to another book, I was that disappointed. The last quarter pulled it up from a 2 star, bat was too late to get it to four.
If you have read the rest of the series, I recommend it, as it does wrap up the story lines, but as a standalone book? not at all.
That being said, I found the first three quarters a slog of flat, only moderately interesting. I may have read the book in a day (reading all day), I had at times had to put it down as I got very bored with it.
Overall, I found the book forced, and a disappointment over the last few that were spellbinding all the way through. It was also disappointing on the length, although with how dull it was, it could have been shortened without loosing anything. I was expecting about 200-250k words of well-written and well done story. It feels like a early draft while trying to overcome a writers block.
When I was 2/3rds through it, I almost put it down and gone to another book, I was that disappointed. The last quarter pulled it up from a 2 star, bat was too late to get it to four.
If you have read the rest of the series, I recommend it, as it does wrap up the story lines, but as a standalone book? not at all.
February 28, 2020
At last, resolutions....
But then the sadness of a series you could read for many, many more decades has ended. Oh, well, it will just have to be one of those series I re-read all the time!
So, yes, you finally see how the many species and worlds with their alliances come together in harmony or clashing! The brave souls we have traveled through so many books together now pass on or change to become as they were meant to be by the fated calls of their gods.... or by their own choice as they stand up to their gods!
As always, a terrific read with lots of first contacts and even more interweaving of cultures, castes, and communities!
But then the sadness of a series you could read for many, many more decades has ended. Oh, well, it will just have to be one of those series I re-read all the time!
So, yes, you finally see how the many species and worlds with their alliances come together in harmony or clashing! The brave souls we have traveled through so many books together now pass on or change to become as they were meant to be by the fated calls of their gods.... or by their own choice as they stand up to their gods!
As always, a terrific read with lots of first contacts and even more interweaving of cultures, castes, and communities!
January 3, 2022
This is influenced by a few things. This is my first book by this author. This is the first that I've read in this series. This is apparently the final book in the series.
Since I had no previous exposure to this series, I will admit to being confused at times. There were too many characters, in too many different places in the same time period, doing a number of different things in the same time period. All of this led to my confusion at times as to what was happening. The world building appears to be solid and I found no discontinuities there. At times, the reading felt tedious and I will admit to being glad that it's done.
Since I had no previous exposure to this series, I will admit to being confused at times. There were too many characters, in too many different places in the same time period, doing a number of different things in the same time period. All of this led to my confusion at times as to what was happening. The world building appears to be solid and I found no discontinuities there. At times, the reading felt tedious and I will admit to being glad that it's done.
January 1, 2022
From a new age of science fiction and fantasy authors.
Brings what cj cherrya did to sci fi.
A world government torn asunder by global regional rebellion.
Some can morph there form.
On a world where there technology is fading.
The romance the battles with swords.
One faction seeks to clone then hyper age the clones.
Also nano bots are being released.
One faction is banished in the end.
One character speaks like yoda.
Well another has braids to fuse with animals.
Just elite science fiction for a new age.
Brings what cj cherrya did to sci fi.
A world government torn asunder by global regional rebellion.
Some can morph there form.
On a world where there technology is fading.
The romance the battles with swords.
One faction seeks to clone then hyper age the clones.
Also nano bots are being released.
One faction is banished in the end.
One character speaks like yoda.
Well another has braids to fuse with animals.
Just elite science fiction for a new age.
December 5, 2017
I’m glad to have finished this series. The first half of the book was slow, but gave us a better view of the other two other races that we have heard little about. The 2nd half of the book picked up the pace and very action oriented, however, felt rushed as if the author just wanted to finish the book.
July 3, 2018
A nice conclusion to the series, though I wish it had a little more to the ending. As is so often the case with the end of stories, it didn't include quite enough of the ending activities for me. An example of this is reunions and introductions that we don't get to see that I wanted to see very much.
September 7, 2017
Good wrap up.
After waiting many years it is great to finally have all the loose ends wrapped up. I enjoyed this story however the early novels were the best & most enjoyable. Things got quite complex in the later novels.
After waiting many years it is great to finally have all the loose ends wrapped up. I enjoyed this story however the early novels were the best & most enjoyable. Things got quite complex in the later novels.
November 9, 2017
A great end to the series!
A great end to the series, although I have to admit, I hope the series continues! Well worth the wait!
A great end to the series, although I have to admit, I hope the series continues! Well worth the wait!
December 4, 2017
Good ending to the series, although the Kindle edition had some odd errors in the text (incorrect character names used a few times).
August 7, 2024
Satisfying end to a massive work.
July 9, 2019
I love her books.
November 20, 2018
While I have enjoyed the Sholan Alliance books and awaited this one with great anticipation, I was a bit let down as I didn't think Ms Norman finished the story as well as she could have. I was also saddened at the end (No I won't say why here.) I want to know what happens to Kezule and Zayshule. What is up with Kris and Zashou? What of the dynasty of Zsurtul and Zhalmo? Too much unfinished business!
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May 3, 2018I have been waiting for the last book for a long, long time. While I was initially turned off some what by how the story went from the clash of two different species/races/love and such to a sci fi opera with godlike beings, I loved the characters to much to stop, and I really wanted the stories to be finished on a great note.
Spoilers after this point:
It seemed like she just wanted to get this done. It wasnt..bad? But it dragged on a long time with Kusac being in valtegan form and what he was doing. Even the other characters around him mentioned numerous times he could just end the entire thing NOW, instead of waiting. But no, he had to 'make sure it was right'. And then you get to 80 percent of the book and things are crammed in suddenly, an attempt to finish it all..way to fast. Varta gives one of the cubs a pet, in what Noni later explains is an attempt to keep her sane/safe when shaidan is gone. Except he's gone for like, five hours at most? What was the point? What was the point of pressing the fact that Unity was friends with Shaidan when it went no where? What was the point of Carrie with the crown when, again it went no where? Even if it was just a terrible prank by a god? What was the damn point of them even getting to the camarilla and starting shit when AGAIN IT GOES NO WHERE. We dont get told that sholans are now on that council, we dont get shown that his arguement does ANYTHING to them. They just nod their little bug heads and accept that they fucked up, when one of the parties present were for remaining secular but still having activity?
Not to mention what she did to Jo and Rezac. There was no fanfair, nothing. He just shows up and she's injured, we dont get told HOW bad. just 'wound on arm and side'. Then suddenly bam. No one argues, nothing.
Shaidan gets hurt and again, its very rushed. It comes out of no where(though we get his reasons) and theres no thinking he'll die because..he wont. He's this mythical half sholan half valtegan half human child with mythical telepathic skills and a friend AI and mad combat skills he begged for. You KNOW he wont die. Even Kusac and Carrie are very..blank over it. They show little emotion.
I can state im happy Jerran got more time in the limelight as I know the fan who created the character, but thats..about it. Im happy the series is done, I guess? I didn't get any epic end to what started out as an epic love story and fight for their very rights. I just..got a very abrupt end.
I wont even hold onto hope that she'll write more in the universe itself(id love a book with a prime character, or even a camarilla member) because you can tell she's very much done with it, and she's been done for awhile. The only reason she finished is because her fans ragged her so hard.
Spoilers after this point:
It seemed like she just wanted to get this done. It wasnt..bad? But it dragged on a long time with Kusac being in valtegan form and what he was doing. Even the other characters around him mentioned numerous times he could just end the entire thing NOW, instead of waiting. But no, he had to 'make sure it was right'. And then you get to 80 percent of the book and things are crammed in suddenly, an attempt to finish it all..way to fast. Varta gives one of the cubs a pet, in what Noni later explains is an attempt to keep her sane/safe when shaidan is gone. Except he's gone for like, five hours at most? What was the point? What was the point of pressing the fact that Unity was friends with Shaidan when it went no where? What was the point of Carrie with the crown when, again it went no where? Even if it was just a terrible prank by a god? What was the damn point of them even getting to the camarilla and starting shit when AGAIN IT GOES NO WHERE. We dont get told that sholans are now on that council, we dont get shown that his arguement does ANYTHING to them. They just nod their little bug heads and accept that they fucked up, when one of the parties present were for remaining secular but still having activity?
Not to mention what she did to Jo and Rezac. There was no fanfair, nothing. He just shows up and she's injured, we dont get told HOW bad. just 'wound on arm and side'. Then suddenly bam. No one argues, nothing.
Shaidan gets hurt and again, its very rushed. It comes out of no where(though we get his reasons) and theres no thinking he'll die because..he wont. He's this mythical half sholan half valtegan half human child with mythical telepathic skills and a friend AI and mad combat skills he begged for. You KNOW he wont die. Even Kusac and Carrie are very..blank over it. They show little emotion.
I can state im happy Jerran got more time in the limelight as I know the fan who created the character, but thats..about it. Im happy the series is done, I guess? I didn't get any epic end to what started out as an epic love story and fight for their very rights. I just..got a very abrupt end.
I wont even hold onto hope that she'll write more in the universe itself(id love a book with a prime character, or even a camarilla member) because you can tell she's very much done with it, and she's been done for awhile. The only reason she finished is because her fans ragged her so hard.
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