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The Phoenix Legacy #1
Sword of the Lamb
Vintage paperback
436 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
50 people are currently reading
861 people want to read
About the author
M.K. Wren
34 books52 followersMartha Kay Renfroe was an Oregon writer, author of mystery and science fiction under the penname M.K. Wren. Her work included the "Conan Flagg" mystery series and the post-apocalyptic novel A Gift Upon the Shore, set along the Oregon coast.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 2, 2010
My copy of this book was published in 1981, when I was in high school. I haven't read it in decades (probably not since the early 90's), but my memory of the story was so strongly positive it's remained on my shelves all these years, along with the rest of the "Phoenix Legacy" trilogy. Yesterday, needing something to read, I picked it up with a bit of trepidation. It was hard to believe the story would stand the test of time.
It has.
There are plenty of science fiction tales about dynastic empires and the threat of revolution, of families and politics and high tech, but this one manages to be special -- perhaps because it has so much heart as well as insight. I've been reading it as fast as I can, and am looking forward to the next two books.
It has.
There are plenty of science fiction tales about dynastic empires and the threat of revolution, of families and politics and high tech, but this one manages to be special -- perhaps because it has so much heart as well as insight. I've been reading it as fast as I can, and am looking forward to the next two books.
April 27, 2020
Part of my "Lockdown 2020" reread.
I remember when I first read these books. Going on where we were living, it must have been 1984. I had seen this first volume in the awesome second hand bookshop near where we lived and this particular day, I decided to buy it and give it a try. I raced through it, loved it and had to look everywhere to find the next two in the series. I know I bought at least one of those two new, and I can't remember about the other. But I'm pretty certain I read all three in four days.
I can't read that fast just now (ill health and age, dammit) and I've been putting off rereading these for a very long time because I was afraid they wouldn't stand up to my memories of them, and I really did love them. I bought ebooks of all three when those came out in the 2000s, but still I hesitated. Deciding to get to those delayed rereads during the Lockdown gave me the push I needed.
I needn't have worried, as I loved the book all over again. The characters are still wonderful, the politics of the story still fascinating and it's dated surprisingly well for something set in the 33rd century and written in 1981. Having had a second Dark Age in the world's history did help there though. Only two things really caught me out technology wise. One was the use of "tapespools" that were played in readers, which is very similar to Lois McMaster Bujold's choice to have what are essentially ebooks, but each has it's own storage device to be manually put into a reader. Download technology wasn't a idea pooling in the air in the 1980s, it seems. The other was DNA technology, especially when there is discussion on proving a couple of characters are who they say they are, and the main techniques for telling are fingerprints and voice prints. Nowdays, everyone would choose DNA methods to prove heredity.
These are minor quibbles though, the story itself is still a delight to read and still touches chords when I look at society today (although I don't know that I needed a list of the Decades of Disasters from 2030 to 2060 that included climate change, pandemics and starvation - a situation where reality seems to be ahead of the curve).
At its heart, this is a book about how systems chew up and eat the intelligent and the sensitive. It looks at what happens when technological change gets ahead of societal change and what measures might exist to avoid the inevitable oncoming collapse. In the book, a second Dark Age led to society rebuilding in a feudal style, but with the remaining fragments of 20th century technology giving them a head start, that society ending up highly technical but still feudal, with 70% of the population still serfs/slaves. That doesn't make for a stable society and it is doomed to fall into a third Dark Age without intervention.
The people who will be the turning point of that needed course correction are introduced and developed in this book, most especially Rich, Alex and Adrien. These are three characters who have a long term place in my heart, and I am very much enjoying reading about them again. The second book, Shadow of the Swan, is already on the "Lockdown 2020 Stage 2" pile.
I remember when I first read these books. Going on where we were living, it must have been 1984. I had seen this first volume in the awesome second hand bookshop near where we lived and this particular day, I decided to buy it and give it a try. I raced through it, loved it and had to look everywhere to find the next two in the series. I know I bought at least one of those two new, and I can't remember about the other. But I'm pretty certain I read all three in four days.
I can't read that fast just now (ill health and age, dammit) and I've been putting off rereading these for a very long time because I was afraid they wouldn't stand up to my memories of them, and I really did love them. I bought ebooks of all three when those came out in the 2000s, but still I hesitated. Deciding to get to those delayed rereads during the Lockdown gave me the push I needed.
I needn't have worried, as I loved the book all over again. The characters are still wonderful, the politics of the story still fascinating and it's dated surprisingly well for something set in the 33rd century and written in 1981. Having had a second Dark Age in the world's history did help there though. Only two things really caught me out technology wise. One was the use of "tapespools" that were played in readers, which is very similar to Lois McMaster Bujold's choice to have what are essentially ebooks, but each has it's own storage device to be manually put into a reader. Download technology wasn't a idea pooling in the air in the 1980s, it seems. The other was DNA technology, especially when there is discussion on proving a couple of characters are who they say they are, and the main techniques for telling are fingerprints and voice prints. Nowdays, everyone would choose DNA methods to prove heredity.
These are minor quibbles though, the story itself is still a delight to read and still touches chords when I look at society today (although I don't know that I needed a list of the Decades of Disasters from 2030 to 2060 that included climate change, pandemics and starvation - a situation where reality seems to be ahead of the curve).
At its heart, this is a book about how systems chew up and eat the intelligent and the sensitive. It looks at what happens when technological change gets ahead of societal change and what measures might exist to avoid the inevitable oncoming collapse. In the book, a second Dark Age led to society rebuilding in a feudal style, but with the remaining fragments of 20th century technology giving them a head start, that society ending up highly technical but still feudal, with 70% of the population still serfs/slaves. That doesn't make for a stable society and it is doomed to fall into a third Dark Age without intervention.
The people who will be the turning point of that needed course correction are introduced and developed in this book, most especially Rich, Alex and Adrien. These are three characters who have a long term place in my heart, and I am very much enjoying reading about them again. The second book, Shadow of the Swan, is already on the "Lockdown 2020 Stage 2" pile.
February 21, 2013
I read this book originally as a young teen over 25 years ago. The Phoenix Legacy series had a lasting impression and helped lead me into a love of science fiction. I happened upon these books as I was going through an old box of Hardy Boys books from my youth and decided to give it another read. The story is still as rich as I remember it with excellent characters and interesting plots to go along with a detailed future of mankind.
I couldn't find book 2, but thankfully there are still some out of print versions that are available relatively cheap. As I finish these up, my 13 year old son is picking them up and I'm sure he will enjoy this story written over 30 years ago just as much or more than the new science fiction he reads.
I couldn't find book 2, but thankfully there are still some out of print versions that are available relatively cheap. As I finish these up, my 13 year old son is picking them up and I'm sure he will enjoy this story written over 30 years ago just as much or more than the new science fiction he reads.
May 11, 2015
The Sword of the Lamb
by M.K. Wren
This vision of the future takes place around the year 3200 and depicts humankind as star faring, but only so far. Set in the Centauri system the Elite Houses of a future feudal system determine how to keep the system going in their favor while keeping the Bonds and Feshs working productively. I’m not sure entirely why this could go this way but I embraced the story.
Rich and Alexand Woolf are the only two heirs of the Woolf House. Rich is diseased and will not live far into adulthood while Alexand is disenchanted with his lot and the system that allows them their station in life. Things must change.
The House system is somewhat reminiscent of Dune yet not so far flung that Earth based references are lost. An organization of scholars and ethical people are working behind the scenes, Phoenix, to path the way for social change and bettering humankind. Their methods and decision making remind me of Harry Seldon from Foundation and his psycho-historical equations to model the future. The slang of the Outsiders reminds me of William Gibson’s works in Cyberpunk. Enough name dropping.
This is book one in the series and I enjoyed it enough to consider reading the remainder when my TBR is under control again. That’ll be...sometime. The only down side for me was the arranged marriages and being immersed in so much Elite House machinations angst. If you like Space Opera and epic stories then this is for you. I’m giving it a three out of five.
http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Lamb-Book...
by M.K. Wren
This vision of the future takes place around the year 3200 and depicts humankind as star faring, but only so far. Set in the Centauri system the Elite Houses of a future feudal system determine how to keep the system going in their favor while keeping the Bonds and Feshs working productively. I’m not sure entirely why this could go this way but I embraced the story.
Rich and Alexand Woolf are the only two heirs of the Woolf House. Rich is diseased and will not live far into adulthood while Alexand is disenchanted with his lot and the system that allows them their station in life. Things must change.
The House system is somewhat reminiscent of Dune yet not so far flung that Earth based references are lost. An organization of scholars and ethical people are working behind the scenes, Phoenix, to path the way for social change and bettering humankind. Their methods and decision making remind me of Harry Seldon from Foundation and his psycho-historical equations to model the future. The slang of the Outsiders reminds me of William Gibson’s works in Cyberpunk. Enough name dropping.
This is book one in the series and I enjoyed it enough to consider reading the remainder when my TBR is under control again. That’ll be...sometime. The only down side for me was the arranged marriages and being immersed in so much Elite House machinations angst. If you like Space Opera and epic stories then this is for you. I’m giving it a three out of five.
http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Lamb-Book...
September 11, 2009
Book 1 of the Pheonix (Society of the Pheonix) trilogy. Sci-fi. Society is divided into three classes. The Elite is the ruling class based on family business franchises. Fesh - educated, professionals, middle class. Bond - uneducated, poor, serf/slave-type class, very religious whose religion is based on a mixture of Christianity and superstition. The story is basically about the struggle for power between two ruling houses and the implications on society. Drama, intrigue, romance (but, not mushy). Characters that will stay with you a long time. Tip: don't skip the lectures.
October 22, 2013
I bought this book, and the other 2 in the trilogy a very long time ago. I remember the first time I read them, I was working night shifts, when I got home after a long night the parcel was waiting for me, I opened it and started flicking through as you do with all new books (well I do anyway). I thought I'd just read a little - well 12 hours later I was half way through the second book and furious I would have to put it down to go to work. I fell in love with Richard and Alexand and their world. Yes, its space opera, yes its is derivative in places, but I love all the characters and the situation they find themselves in.
These books made me laugh, cry, fall in love and I so wanted to go to their world.
I've re-read them a number of times over the years, they stand the test of time and I fall in love again each time.
I bought second copies so that I would always have one. And I've just found they are available on kindle, so just bought them again.
This series is coming to my grave with me.
I really would recommend this to everyone, whether they like science fiction or not, there is something in these 3 books for everyone.
These books made me laugh, cry, fall in love and I so wanted to go to their world.
I've re-read them a number of times over the years, they stand the test of time and I fall in love again each time.
I bought second copies so that I would always have one. And I've just found they are available on kindle, so just bought them again.
This series is coming to my grave with me.
I really would recommend this to everyone, whether they like science fiction or not, there is something in these 3 books for everyone.
January 29, 2009
I really enjoyed this whole series, read it at least three times.
Future society hovering on the brink of revolution.
Highly recommend!
Future society hovering on the brink of revolution.
Highly recommend!
April 11, 2022
5 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
Rich and Alex are the sons of the powerful DeKooven-Wolf family, with a seat in the Directorate and close links to its Chairman. Alex, the firstborn, is destined for a carefully planned life and political marriage. Rich, whose health is failing, wants to learn more about the Bond workers who do the work the society of middle-class Fesh and Elite Lords is based on. But actually making change in that society will demand high costs…
Review
Going back to a favorite of years past is always a risky exercise. Will that treasured classic stand up to the scrutiny of older, more modern eyes, or will its flaws and weaknesses overcome nostalgia? I’m happy to say that for Sword of the Lamb, the first book of the sweeping Phoenix Legacy, the former is very much the case.
When I picked this book up recently to re-read, I got a little worried. It’s dense and the start is dry. What if I didn’t like it anymore? But just a few pages in, I was fully back in gear, and, far from dry, it was one of the books I was eager to pick up and keep on with. I read the 430 pages of this in far less time than it’s taken me to work through another, much slower book.
I’ve always argued that in The Phoenix Legacy, M. K. Wren made herself the Mary Stewart of science fiction, but I haven’t re-read the series for many years now. Now, with more analytical eyes, I can see more clearly the inspirations (or at least similarities) showing through, but the Stewart analogy still holds. This first book is an amalgam of the romance of The Crystal Cave, the socio-politico-religious societies of Dune, and the long-reach psychohistorical planning of Foundation. That sounds like quite a lot, but Wren, whose masterpiece these books are, does an excellent job of bringing it all together and – told through the eyes of a few key players much like Dune and Foundation – humanizing it all.
That’s not to say the books are perfect – times have changed, and there are things to criticize about the rigid throwback gender roles, the lack of individuality of the working classes the heroes are trying to save, the clear-cut villains and heroes, etc. Writing in the late 70s/early 80s, Wren could have done better. But beyond those imperfections, there’s a truly moving, romantic space opera about people and sacrifice.
As it happens, Wren lived (by rural standards), just down the road from me, and I wish I’d known it. Unfortunately, by the time I recognized it and started trying to dig up contact info for an interview, she’d already died, so I missed that chance. But I have the main thing – these books, which are just as good now as when I first read them. Maybe better. (At least, this first one is). Strongly recommended. And it’s an e-book now, and you can buy the whole series at once for just a few dollars.
Summary
Rich and Alex are the sons of the powerful DeKooven-Wolf family, with a seat in the Directorate and close links to its Chairman. Alex, the firstborn, is destined for a carefully planned life and political marriage. Rich, whose health is failing, wants to learn more about the Bond workers who do the work the society of middle-class Fesh and Elite Lords is based on. But actually making change in that society will demand high costs…
Review
Going back to a favorite of years past is always a risky exercise. Will that treasured classic stand up to the scrutiny of older, more modern eyes, or will its flaws and weaknesses overcome nostalgia? I’m happy to say that for Sword of the Lamb, the first book of the sweeping Phoenix Legacy, the former is very much the case.
When I picked this book up recently to re-read, I got a little worried. It’s dense and the start is dry. What if I didn’t like it anymore? But just a few pages in, I was fully back in gear, and, far from dry, it was one of the books I was eager to pick up and keep on with. I read the 430 pages of this in far less time than it’s taken me to work through another, much slower book.
I’ve always argued that in The Phoenix Legacy, M. K. Wren made herself the Mary Stewart of science fiction, but I haven’t re-read the series for many years now. Now, with more analytical eyes, I can see more clearly the inspirations (or at least similarities) showing through, but the Stewart analogy still holds. This first book is an amalgam of the romance of The Crystal Cave, the socio-politico-religious societies of Dune, and the long-reach psychohistorical planning of Foundation. That sounds like quite a lot, but Wren, whose masterpiece these books are, does an excellent job of bringing it all together and – told through the eyes of a few key players much like Dune and Foundation – humanizing it all.
That’s not to say the books are perfect – times have changed, and there are things to criticize about the rigid throwback gender roles, the lack of individuality of the working classes the heroes are trying to save, the clear-cut villains and heroes, etc. Writing in the late 70s/early 80s, Wren could have done better. But beyond those imperfections, there’s a truly moving, romantic space opera about people and sacrifice.
As it happens, Wren lived (by rural standards), just down the road from me, and I wish I’d known it. Unfortunately, by the time I recognized it and started trying to dig up contact info for an interview, she’d already died, so I missed that chance. But I have the main thing – these books, which are just as good now as when I first read them. Maybe better. (At least, this first one is). Strongly recommended. And it’s an e-book now, and you can buy the whole series at once for just a few dollars.
May 13, 2013
I first got these books on the recommendation of my Librarian in Year 8 (some 17 years ago) and now they are a critical read for me every 2-3 years. They have the depth and scope of Frank Herberts Dune (1st, 2nd & 4th – 3rd’s rubbish) and flashes of brilliance ala Asimov’s I-Robot series, without the sparseness.
An engaging read, they are emotive, intelligent and definitely succeed in painting a picture of a world that is entirely plausible and feasible in our near future. What is also impressive is that the descriptions of technology and the word amalgams used to personify and name particular objects and concepts aren’t used to excess and don’t overtake the good old fashioned story telling aspect.
The covers of the US books are very different to the Australian covers – they do look lame – and definitely contributed to the poor following that resulted.
The Australian books have black borders top and bottom and have classic Sci-Fi mixed with Fantasy Genre imagery that sparks the imagination and invites speculation and hence appeal.
Everyone I know who has read them has ordered the books off Amazon and guard their versions with absolute commitment. Highly Recommended.
An engaging read, they are emotive, intelligent and definitely succeed in painting a picture of a world that is entirely plausible and feasible in our near future. What is also impressive is that the descriptions of technology and the word amalgams used to personify and name particular objects and concepts aren’t used to excess and don’t overtake the good old fashioned story telling aspect.
The covers of the US books are very different to the Australian covers – they do look lame – and definitely contributed to the poor following that resulted.
The Australian books have black borders top and bottom and have classic Sci-Fi mixed with Fantasy Genre imagery that sparks the imagination and invites speculation and hence appeal.
Everyone I know who has read them has ordered the books off Amazon and guard their versions with absolute commitment. Highly Recommended.
January 1, 2024
I couldn't read it. All male characters, all too smart to believe, very heavy on the lecturing about what "happened" between now and 3250 or so. Confusing but not in an intriguing way. Just tons of names and dates and descriptions without any real character building - at least in the first 3 chapters or so, before I quit.
April 24, 2025
Started off quite slow, with a lot of history essays spread throughout that are hard to really take anything from.
The middle of the book is really good and the whole book is very similar to Dune, but then the ending kind of loses all the momentum it gained.
The middle of the book is really good and the whole book is very similar to Dune, but then the ending kind of loses all the momentum it gained.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2008
The first installment of The Phoenix Legacy Trilogy, The Sword of the Lamb sets the stage for the epic space opera set in Earth's 33rd Century. For a long time, I searched far and wide for a good quality epic sci-fi adventure, and I must admit, Wren far exceeded my expectations--yet it is out of print. This is truly the best science fiction series that I have ever read. It is well worth the extra money to have it reprinted from the Author's Guild at BackInPrint.com.
June 28, 2016
This trilogy is one of the unknown greats in science fantasy.
How will a government that has spanned centuries react when faced with political and social unrest. How does this affect the people born to a world that has never changed.
I found it politically insightful with full bodied characters and more than enough action to keep things going. Anyone who enjoyed Asimov's foundation series will probably find the world different but the scope and depth the same.
How will a government that has spanned centuries react when faced with political and social unrest. How does this affect the people born to a world that has never changed.
I found it politically insightful with full bodied characters and more than enough action to keep things going. Anyone who enjoyed Asimov's foundation series will probably find the world different but the scope and depth the same.
May 11, 2009
Kaye is excellent at interpersonal relationships and interesting "epic" story lines, however her frequent use of info-dumps slows the pace unnecessarily. My complete review: http://www.sffaudio.com/?p=6086
April 10, 2024
In the year 3240 Earth has been coming out of a period of devastation and is now ruled by a conglomerate of Royal Houses, each with their areas of expertise in trade and negotiation, and each looking out for themselves and the chance to rule absolutely. Society is three-tiered: royalty, the Fesh (drawn from Professionals), and the Bonds, somewhere between serf and slave. Pyramidally there are many Bonds, numerous Fesh and limited House royalty. The House of DeKoven Woolf is the subject of M. K. Wren’s foray into the limited sub-genre of romance SF. The eldest son of Woolf senior is Alexand, destined to rule and at odds with his reactionary father; the ailing younger son is Rich, dying from an auto-immune disease. His laser-like insights into the political realities sees him drawn to the Society of the Phoenix, a subversive organisation, dedicated to a more egalitarian social structure. Alexand’s betrothed and love is Adrien from a rival House, and it seems they are destined to be apart. When Rich eventually dies of his disease the family schisms and a number of tragedies occur which propel Alexand onto a more dangerous path and a rival family desperate to take over autocratically lies in his way. The book reads like a romance but its SFnal setting is not all scenery and it deserves more than a casual read. First book of a trilogy.
October 31, 2018
Comparisons with Dune are obvious and quite deserved, but Sword's scope is much narrower. It's tempting to call it Dune Lite, but that would be flippant. The book is sporadically enthralling, with many beautiful and moving passages... but the overall structure teeters alarmingly. The reader learns of interesting and probably exciting occurrences in retrospect. Lesser characters are chosen to supply viewpoints that actually detract from lead dramatis personae and their lives - and more than once during crucial events. Info dumps are barely disguised. Objectives are vague.
This is the first in a trilogy. Hopefully later books are less haphazard, because there is promise in Wren's writing if she can arrange proceedings in a sharper, more involving fashion. As it stands, however, I'm not sure if I'll be continuing or not.
This is the first in a trilogy. Hopefully later books are less haphazard, because there is promise in Wren's writing if she can arrange proceedings in a sharper, more involving fashion. As it stands, however, I'm not sure if I'll be continuing or not.
May 1, 2019
A somewhat slow read, especially in parts. I didn't hate this book, but I definitely didn't love it. It feels like a first book by and author who doesn't have quite a grasp on how to write a sf book. Way too much info dumping and not particularly disguised. The interstellar intrigue has been done, but this one does feel a little different. The characters are a little bit predictable, but the world building itself is not bad. I am curious to see where this goes next. I did kind of buy the star-crossed lovers - but I'm still confused by whether we are seeing some bred empathy powers in this or not.
December 26, 2019
Im not sure if half way through the book the author forgot that the setting was the far future as all signs of a future world disappeared. But, in saying that overall the book was ok. I have given 3stars for two reasons:
1: The final quarter dragged and turned into some kind of training montage
2: The excessive use of acronyms. Matter Transmitter for an example would be spoken about once and then for the rest of the book would be referred to as MT. An example of this is (not original text) "Alex took the PE to the FD where the MT was kept. To get there he needed to pass CO who made sure his P1 KC was correct"
1: The final quarter dragged and turned into some kind of training montage
2: The excessive use of acronyms. Matter Transmitter for an example would be spoken about once and then for the rest of the book would be referred to as MT. An example of this is (not original text) "Alex took the PE to the FD where the MT was kept. To get there he needed to pass CO who made sure his P1 KC was correct"
Read
October 23, 2025In the 33rd century, a dazzling empire is poised on the brink of annihilation Born into the House of DeKoven Woolf, Lord Alexand is heir to a mighty industrial empire. But deep at the heart of the Concord brews dangerous unrest that threatens civilization with the specter of a third dark age. The only hope for the future is the Society of the Phoenixa powerful revolutionary group that has sworn to overthrow the Concord. By committing to the ultimate treason and joining forces with his own brother, martyred leader of the Phoenix, Alexand will forfeit more than just his birthright of power.
February 26, 2018
I wasn't familiar with this series when it came out, but some people like it a lot. It's set in a future with humans on a few planets after several disasters, including a nuclear war. There are 3 classes of people. They aren't quite royals, gentry, and slaves, and have different names. A pair of "royal" boys recognize deep problems with this society and in 3? books work at insurrection?
The book is kind of slow, but it has well-developed characters.
The book is kind of slow, but it has well-developed characters.
November 3, 2020
I almost put this book aside, because of the slow start, with too much information and not much of a story. However, when the real story started, I couldn't stop reading. The only negative is, that there were parts with information - like the papers of Rich - that in my view didn't really contribute to the story.
July 20, 2022
A fun, fast-paced read with plenty of plot twists/surprises.
Similar in many ways to the original Dune trilogy - science fiction, futuristic feudal system of government with a strong religious element for certain segments of the population.. not as grand in scope but well worth a read (along with the other two books in the trilogy)
Similar in many ways to the original Dune trilogy - science fiction, futuristic feudal system of government with a strong religious element for certain segments of the population.. not as grand in scope but well worth a read (along with the other two books in the trilogy)
December 15, 2016
SERIES REVIEW: The Phoenix Legacy
5 Stars
Every once in a while, I will find a book at a used book store, buy it, and decide to bump it to the front of my reading list. See, most of the books on my list were recommended to me, and I like to have the joy of discovery, occasionally reading a book that I come into with no expectations. Books like the Phoenix Legacy trilogy are why I do it! I had never heard of this series or the author, and knew nothing about the books except (A) I could get them for $1.25 apiece, and (B) The covers were the kind of deliciously bad that could only be accomplished in the 80s. What I found is a series that will likely go down in my top 5 sci-fi series of all time. I now need to track down everything M.K.Wren has ever written.
First off, you should know that these books are not perfect. While the prose is excellent throughout, there are some decisions the author makes that I can't imagine ever getting past an editor. There is a trend that pervades the books of skipping key emotional scenes or action scenes and telling about them in flashback. For example, at one point, a character gets captured by the police. Instead of showing that scene though, the story jumps from a rather serene scene in a chapel featuring that character to a scene in a police station where an officer observers a random prisoner brought in. You must infer that the character brought into the station in this scene is the same character you left in the chapel on the last page, and you don't get confirmation until later. The scene of him being arrested is conspicuously left out. Writing decisions like this pop up throughout the series. I found myself wanting the "extended version" of the book that had all of the missing scenes.
So with that, how can I give the series 5 stars, especially when none of the individual books got that rating? The answer is simple: this is a story worth telling about characters that you can respect. Alexand, Rich, Adrien, Jael, Erica... these characters found their way into my heart almost instantly, and I found myself reading for hours past when I should have stopped because I needed to know what happened to them. The overarching story is also great, and asks a question that you could only get away with in Sci-Fi: Can a society be changed by peaceful evolution, rather than violent revolution? The way that theme is woven throughout each page is masterful.The scene-to-scene plot is also excellent, starting in book 2. The story takes surprising twists and turns, and does not worry about "playing it safe". That may not seem revolutionary in post-Game of Thrones fantasy/sci-fi, but what sets this series apart is that it does so without having to resort to being gritty and depressing.
So overall, the series gets 5 stars. I will never sell my copy back; it has earned a permanent place on my shelf. Now, for this particular entry.
SWORD OF THE LAMB (3.5 stars)
This is the roughest of the books. It spans 7 years, and leaves out a lot in between. The purpose of this book is setting up its 3 central characters: Alexand, Rich, and Adrien. You see snapshots of them as they grow up, and you get a very good sense of who they are and where they come from. They are noble, both economically and morally. You see them ask the questions that other nobles dare not ask, and put themselves in situations that risk their own well being for the sake of others. I found myself cheering as the characters, time and again, stood up to the decadence and corruption surrounding them to do the right thing. This book is an introduction to the other two, and it sets up the story very well. There are 4 major problems though:
1. The book opens with the cardinal sin of fantasy/sci-fi: 35 pages of socio-economic exposition. While I'm glad the author wrote the story of how humanity got from 1980 AD to 3200 AD, I don't need to read about it before being introduced to the characters. This is such a rookie mistake that I was surprised the book recovered from it.
2. Adrien and Rich need about twice as many scenes as they are given. Both of them take such interesting journeys in this novel, and I would have loved to get in their head rather than observing them through Alexand's eyes exclusively.
3. Chapter III, Part 1. Seriously, skip this chapter. It should never have been put into the book, and if there is ever a 2nd edition, I would recommend the author remove it. The purpose of this chapter is to establish Alexand's depression while in ConFleet, but in order to do so, it has him make a choice that is completely out of character for him. As such, the chapter stands out like a strawberry stain on a blue tablecloth. If this is your first time reading the book, skip the chapter entirely. I mean it.
4. The book follows a cohesive narrative structure through the first part of the book, but then, it doesn't end. The back quarter of the book (Section II) really needed to be in the second book, and not the first. If Adrien and Rich were given more scenes, the first 3/4 of this book could easily be a standalone, and an incredibly strong one at that.
So Sword of the Lamb is hit and miss in about equal parts. Don't read it for its own merits; read it because it sets up the 2nd and 3rd books.
5 Stars
Every once in a while, I will find a book at a used book store, buy it, and decide to bump it to the front of my reading list. See, most of the books on my list were recommended to me, and I like to have the joy of discovery, occasionally reading a book that I come into with no expectations. Books like the Phoenix Legacy trilogy are why I do it! I had never heard of this series or the author, and knew nothing about the books except (A) I could get them for $1.25 apiece, and (B) The covers were the kind of deliciously bad that could only be accomplished in the 80s. What I found is a series that will likely go down in my top 5 sci-fi series of all time. I now need to track down everything M.K.Wren has ever written.
First off, you should know that these books are not perfect. While the prose is excellent throughout, there are some decisions the author makes that I can't imagine ever getting past an editor. There is a trend that pervades the books of skipping key emotional scenes or action scenes and telling about them in flashback. For example, at one point, a character gets captured by the police. Instead of showing that scene though, the story jumps from a rather serene scene in a chapel featuring that character to a scene in a police station where an officer observers a random prisoner brought in. You must infer that the character brought into the station in this scene is the same character you left in the chapel on the last page, and you don't get confirmation until later. The scene of him being arrested is conspicuously left out. Writing decisions like this pop up throughout the series. I found myself wanting the "extended version" of the book that had all of the missing scenes.
So with that, how can I give the series 5 stars, especially when none of the individual books got that rating? The answer is simple: this is a story worth telling about characters that you can respect. Alexand, Rich, Adrien, Jael, Erica... these characters found their way into my heart almost instantly, and I found myself reading for hours past when I should have stopped because I needed to know what happened to them. The overarching story is also great, and asks a question that you could only get away with in Sci-Fi: Can a society be changed by peaceful evolution, rather than violent revolution? The way that theme is woven throughout each page is masterful.The scene-to-scene plot is also excellent, starting in book 2. The story takes surprising twists and turns, and does not worry about "playing it safe". That may not seem revolutionary in post-Game of Thrones fantasy/sci-fi, but what sets this series apart is that it does so without having to resort to being gritty and depressing.
So overall, the series gets 5 stars. I will never sell my copy back; it has earned a permanent place on my shelf. Now, for this particular entry.
SWORD OF THE LAMB (3.5 stars)
This is the roughest of the books. It spans 7 years, and leaves out a lot in between. The purpose of this book is setting up its 3 central characters: Alexand, Rich, and Adrien. You see snapshots of them as they grow up, and you get a very good sense of who they are and where they come from. They are noble, both economically and morally. You see them ask the questions that other nobles dare not ask, and put themselves in situations that risk their own well being for the sake of others. I found myself cheering as the characters, time and again, stood up to the decadence and corruption surrounding them to do the right thing. This book is an introduction to the other two, and it sets up the story very well. There are 4 major problems though:
1. The book opens with the cardinal sin of fantasy/sci-fi: 35 pages of socio-economic exposition. While I'm glad the author wrote the story of how humanity got from 1980 AD to 3200 AD, I don't need to read about it before being introduced to the characters. This is such a rookie mistake that I was surprised the book recovered from it.
2. Adrien and Rich need about twice as many scenes as they are given. Both of them take such interesting journeys in this novel, and I would have loved to get in their head rather than observing them through Alexand's eyes exclusively.
3. Chapter III, Part 1. Seriously, skip this chapter. It should never have been put into the book, and if there is ever a 2nd edition, I would recommend the author remove it. The purpose of this chapter is to establish Alexand's depression while in ConFleet, but in order to do so, it has him make a choice that is completely out of character for him. As such, the chapter stands out like a strawberry stain on a blue tablecloth. If this is your first time reading the book, skip the chapter entirely. I mean it.
4. The book follows a cohesive narrative structure through the first part of the book, but then, it doesn't end. The back quarter of the book (Section II) really needed to be in the second book, and not the first. If Adrien and Rich were given more scenes, the first 3/4 of this book could easily be a standalone, and an incredibly strong one at that.
So Sword of the Lamb is hit and miss in about equal parts. Don't read it for its own merits; read it because it sets up the 2nd and 3rd books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2020
This book had such high ratings that I wanted to like it. MK Wren tried so hard to be clever with invented (futuristic) terms that it was a turnoff. The story itself time traveled before the reader gets a notion of what's happening.
No hook to keep me reading...did not finish.
No hook to keep me reading...did not finish.
April 13, 2018
Great book. This trilogy should be up there with the sci-fi classics like Dune and the Foundation trilogy.
January 6, 2019
Turned out better than I thought it would, based on how it started. Still dated and somewhat predictable, but enjoyable.
abandoned
September 8, 2019Why I didn't finish this: I was hoping for a fun space opera, but this didn't have the tone that I was looking for.
February 7, 2022
Mesmerizing
Love everything about this book. The worldbuilding and the characters are fascinating. Looking forward with anticipation to the next one.
Love everything about this book. The worldbuilding and the characters are fascinating. Looking forward with anticipation to the next one.
March 19, 2017
Lovely worldbuilding; but I had issues with the dialogue/characters - conversations felt like more like the characters were giving monologues to each other about their innermost thoughts.
The blurb on the back of my copy was rather spoilery - describing an event that takes place 3/4 through the novel. Though it might have helped more than hurt, as I'm not sure where my sense of suspense would have come from otherwise.
I'm coming across harsher than I mean to. I did enjoy it. There's a quote on the back comparing it to Foundation, and I think that's a good comparison to make. I love that series, but it has similar issues to the ones I've described above. This looks like it's set to explore a question very similar to Foundation's - how do you avert a civilization's collapse. And I'll be interested to see where the author takes it in sequels.
The blurb on the back of my copy was rather spoilery - describing an event that takes place 3/4 through the novel. Though it might have helped more than hurt, as I'm not sure where my sense of suspense would have come from otherwise.
I'm coming across harsher than I mean to. I did enjoy it. There's a quote on the back comparing it to Foundation, and I think that's a good comparison to make. I love that series, but it has similar issues to the ones I've described above. This looks like it's set to explore a question very similar to Foundation's - how do you avert a civilization's collapse. And I'll be interested to see where the author takes it in sequels.
March 1, 2017
Loved it!
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