Fields of Wrath

Renshai Chronicles #8

by Mickey Zucker Reichert

Nearly two decades ago, Mickey Zucker Reichert introduced fantasy readers to her greatest creation—the Renshai, a race of warriors who lived for battle and swordcraft, and who began training in the art of war from the moment their fingers could grasp a weapon. Set in a world enriched by Norse mythology, Mickey’s first two trilogies about the Renshai—The Last of the Renshai and The Renshai Chronicles—captivated readers as they followed the adventures of these legendary warriors who fought their way back from almost total extinction to claim a new homeland and find allies in a world where far too many still feared and despised them.

Flight of the Renshai and Fields of Wrath continue the Renshai saga begun in the previous two trilogies. Opening eighteen years after The Children of Wrath ended, Flight of the Renshai focuses on the main characters from the second trilogy, as well as their now-grown children. At the center of the story are the three sons of Kevral Tainharsdatter. While Flight brings readers into the heart of the long-dreaded Great War, Fields of Wrath picks up the story in the aftermath of that war.

With the Great War over, the Renshai have won back the Fields of Wrath. However, Tae Kahn—Subikahn’s father— becomes ever more certain that a far larger and fiercer wave of enemy soldiers is headed toward them.

One Kjempemagiska and an army of their man-sized servants nearly defeated the entirety of the continent. This time, Tae is certain, the ranks will include hundreds of these strong, magical, Island-dwelling giants. The only hope for the peoples of the continent is to regather their war-weary troops and find a way to convince the few magical beings of their own world to assist them.

Unfortunately for Tae, no allies are available to assist.

It becomes a race against time as Tae and his friends struggle to convince the various Continental generals of the danger, attempt to turn reluctant, antagonistic mages and elves into allies, spy on the giant Kjempemagiska sorcerers, and seek some means to defeat an enemy powerful beyond contemplation.

Genres: Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Fiction

614 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2015

About the author

Mickey Zucker Reichert (pseudonym for Miriam Susan Zucker Reichert) is an American fantasy fiction author of several best selling novels. Perhaps her most famous work is the epic Renshai series, which offers an intriguing perspective on traditional Norse mythology. She is also a parent and paediatrician with a soft spot for critters great and small. She has been known care for a veritable zoo of creatures, at times including mice, horses, snakes, llamas, parrots, squirrels, possums, and foxes.

Alongside her twenty-two novels, Reichert has also published one illustrated novella and fifty-plus short stories.

Reviews

[Waldo Dijk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not easy to read and a bit forced.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to the long time between books, I had to re-read Flight of the Renshai to remember all of the characters. While I've always loved the Renshai novels, I find that the author gets a bit repetitive. 8 books into the series, we understand the Renshai beliefs and no longer need them constantly repeated.

Other than that, I've enjoyed getting to know the new characters, and the plot certainly keeps me reading. I'm looking forward to seeing other worlds again in the next novel and hope we'll see some of the gods again.

[Robert Morera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy called Saviar. He came from a tribe of skillful warriors that trained their entire life for battle. They survival was threatened by supernatural forces and war. One of this book's strengths is world building. Reichert creates a world in Norse mythology with is own history and political systems. The action scenes are very well written as well. The battles and duels are fast-paced. The action is engaging, and it helps moving the story forward. The pacing of the book itself, however, is slow at first. It takes a bit for the plot to pick up steam. There are multiple perspectives in the book, which can make it sometimes difficult to keep track of so many characters. Overall, I think this book is very solid. I personally read it as a stand alone book, but it's recommended to start with the first book in the series to better understand the world and the characters. I'd recommend this book to fans of fantasy, sword, and sorcery.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Renshai Saga series make great reading!

These books are great! I've got both the paperbacks and the Kindle versions and have read them several times. Well worth your time!

[Helle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always enjoy going back to the world of the Renshai and fortunately Fields of Wrath lived up to my expectations. There is some repetition of concepts generated in earlier novels, but the development of the main characters is very good. Also the idea of a new enemy, started in Flight of the Renshai, does provide the necessary originality and is worked out really well. I am really looking forward to the next installment!

[Bfdavis1972 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of metaphors

This was more action packed and better directed than the Flight of the Renshai. It still seems to potentially contradict earlier work when considering a particular long absent Knight of Erythane (spoiler?). It also felt as if the author was using the work to discuss her feelings on the treatment of the disabled as well as the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I may be reading too much into that but it felt obvious to me. I am interested in seeing what happens in the next book

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it has been 7 years between Renshai novels, it didn't take me that long to get back into the plot. I've loved this world and its characters since my early teen years, and Fields of Wrath didn't disappoint. There were some scenes that could have been cut, such as Saviar's imprisonment by the Mages of Myrcide, but otherwise, an enjoyable read.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Could have been shorter and likely benefitted from less exposition, but still a fun read.