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Crown of Stars #4
Child of Flame
Set in an alternate Europe where bloody conflicts rage, the fourth book of the Crown of Stars epic fantasy series continues the world-shaking conflict for the survival of humanity
Far beyond the borders of Wendar and Varre, Alain, Liath, Sanglant, and King Henry must make their separate journeys, following twisting roads which will nevertheless lead them all to one fated moment in time….
Lost and alone in an unknown country, Alain is caught in a desperate struggle for survival even as he finds himself unwittingly drawn into the heart of an ancient conflict between humankind and the Cursed Ones….
Torn away from Sanglant and their child by creatures not born of earth, Liath faces her most difficult trial in a land of exile. Only there can she hope to discover her true parentage and the nature and extent of her unique powers….
Still staggered by the loss of his wife, the bastard prince Sanglant is nevertheless determined to seek out his father, King Henry, and bring warning of the conspiracy of sorcerers who’ve sworn to put an end to the Aoi, the Lost Ones—no matter how much destruction may be unleashed by their workings of magic….
But King Henry’s attention is not on his own troubled realm but rather on the throne of Aosta and the imperial crown, unclaimed for two generations. Even as a Quman army ravages the Wendish countryside, Henry marches south, ignoring the pleas of his beleaguered subjects….
And as the tides of war and magic wreak havoc across the lands, the great Cataclysm, long foretold in the stars, draws inexorably closer….
Far beyond the borders of Wendar and Varre, Alain, Liath, Sanglant, and King Henry must make their separate journeys, following twisting roads which will nevertheless lead them all to one fated moment in time….
Lost and alone in an unknown country, Alain is caught in a desperate struggle for survival even as he finds himself unwittingly drawn into the heart of an ancient conflict between humankind and the Cursed Ones….
Torn away from Sanglant and their child by creatures not born of earth, Liath faces her most difficult trial in a land of exile. Only there can she hope to discover her true parentage and the nature and extent of her unique powers….
Still staggered by the loss of his wife, the bastard prince Sanglant is nevertheless determined to seek out his father, King Henry, and bring warning of the conspiracy of sorcerers who’ve sworn to put an end to the Aoi, the Lost Ones—no matter how much destruction may be unleashed by their workings of magic….
But King Henry’s attention is not on his own troubled realm but rather on the throne of Aosta and the imperial crown, unclaimed for two generations. Even as a Quman army ravages the Wendish countryside, Henry marches south, ignoring the pleas of his beleaguered subjects….
And as the tides of war and magic wreak havoc across the lands, the great Cataclysm, long foretold in the stars, draws inexorably closer….
928 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2000
78 people are currently reading
1860 people want to read
About the author
Kate Elliott
109 books2,884 followersAs a child in rural Oregon, Kate Elliott made up stories because she longed to escape to a world of lurid adventure fiction. She now writes fantasy, steampunk, and science fiction, often with a romantic edge. She currently lives in Hawaii, where she paddles outrigger canoes and spoils her schnauzer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
May 22, 2019
“I see your crown, brighter than the stars. You have wandered off the path meant for you, and you must return.”
Third book is normally where most of the series end or at least slow down in a preparation for a grand finale. In the Crown of Stars the mere warmup had finished and now we are down to business.
This time we are taken beyond the borders of the war-torn kingdom of Wendar. War and magic separated our heroes and pushed them onto various paths. Generally, war is everywhere: mainly in the south and east, but something is also brewing in the west and the whole world is in danger because of old magical feuds.
Of the two main arcs, Liath is losing her appeal while Alain’s adventures are the highlight of the book.
It sort of makes sense that Sanglant became one of the key figures; not because of his connection to Liath but because of his blood. He is no longer the free and unbound man he was before. I like the fact that he is on a steep learning curve and his character development is one of the most interesting ones. But there are also several other POVs that carry individual arcs, sometimes connected, sometimes tangled with one another and sometimes remaining separated from the main story.
The pace is dizzying at times (don’t let the page count fool you!), and there are many original themes that have been executed with finesse. History merges with fantasy, and this mixture creates a rich world and an irresistible tale full of intrigues. This is an unbelievable treat for fantasy lovers as well as those who enjoy historical novels. The diversity of this series has dazzled and absorbed me.
The Author has planned a series for many volumes, so I am looking forward to a lot of exciting reading ahead. And oh, just in case you missed it before: Hugh must die.
Note on the rating: 3.5 rounded up to four because of the excellent vibe from my reading cabal. I don’t think I’d enjoy the book as much without them.
Second note on the rating: I have lowered it due to the dramatic drop in quality in the following instalments, and especially in the concluding book.
Also in the series:
1. King's Dragon ★★★★★
2. Prince of Dogs ★★★★☆
3. The Burning Stone ★★★★☆
5. The Gathering Strom ★★☆☆☆
6. In the Ruins ★☆☆☆☆
7. Crown of Stars ★☆☆☆☆
Third book is normally where most of the series end or at least slow down in a preparation for a grand finale. In the Crown of Stars the mere warmup had finished and now we are down to business.
This time we are taken beyond the borders of the war-torn kingdom of Wendar. War and magic separated our heroes and pushed them onto various paths. Generally, war is everywhere: mainly in the south and east, but something is also brewing in the west and the whole world is in danger because of old magical feuds.
Of the two main arcs, Liath is losing her appeal while Alain’s adventures are the highlight of the book.
It sort of makes sense that Sanglant became one of the key figures; not because of his connection to Liath but because of his blood. He is no longer the free and unbound man he was before. I like the fact that he is on a steep learning curve and his character development is one of the most interesting ones. But there are also several other POVs that carry individual arcs, sometimes connected, sometimes tangled with one another and sometimes remaining separated from the main story.
The pace is dizzying at times (don’t let the page count fool you!), and there are many original themes that have been executed with finesse. History merges with fantasy, and this mixture creates a rich world and an irresistible tale full of intrigues. This is an unbelievable treat for fantasy lovers as well as those who enjoy historical novels. The diversity of this series has dazzled and absorbed me.
The Author has planned a series for many volumes, so I am looking forward to a lot of exciting reading ahead. And oh, just in case you missed it before: Hugh must die.
Note on the rating: 3.5 rounded up to four because of the excellent vibe from my reading cabal. I don’t think I’d enjoy the book as much without them.
Second note on the rating: I have lowered it due to the dramatic drop in quality in the following instalments, and especially in the concluding book.
Also in the series:
1. King's Dragon ★★★★★
2. Prince of Dogs ★★★★☆
3. The Burning Stone ★★★★☆
5. The Gathering Strom ★★☆☆☆
6. In the Ruins ★☆☆☆☆
7. Crown of Stars ★☆☆☆☆
September 23, 2020
UPDATE: I read where Kate Elliott said that the inspiration for Adica was the Egtved Girl, and I love this detail.
Best volume of the series so far, in my opinion. But it is loooonnng. Each book has gotten progressively longer and I really felt it here. Fortunately, I enjoyed most every bit of it. There was only a little bit of drag in the middle, during Alain and Adica's extended journey. This book stands out for fully presenting at least two major character arcs: Adica's entire story (a new character in the series), and Liath's journey through the celestial spheres. Sanglant is better humanized here than ever before. Young Anna makes a return to the story, after having only a brief cameo in the prior book. A number of story elements make complete circles, reflecting the Circle of Unity that is the primary holy symbol of the Daisinite church. I feel like this book accomplished more literarily than the series to date. And just when you thought that you coudn't hate Hugh any more...
It's not just the number of pages (850 in the original DAW hardcover edition, 200 pages longer than the prior volume), it's the density of the text-per-page, which appears to be much higher than in most contemporary fantasy hardcovers. It's also not just the word count (over 300,000 as best as I can estimate), it's the slower pace at which the words flow than I am used to. Elliott has certainly crafted a complex, detailed story set in an authentically early Medieval world, with full attention to the weather, the flora, the clothing, art, and livelihoods particular to that era. As in prior books, you really have to pay attention while reading because vital plot points appear without warning. This book really slowed down my usual reading pace. Usually in a calendar month I will read up to 1000 more pages than I did in the month that included this tome.
I enjoy all of the characters and the path that events have taken, which are wildly different than I would have guessed at the start of the series. I am frequently struck by the lack of privacy in this setting; even a private, secretive discussion between the king and an advisor is done with half a dozen stewards and attendants on hand. Royalty go to bed with multiple servants and hangers-on sleeping in the same room, even for sexy-times. Regular people in a village might all sleep together in a longhouse. Even going to the privy has no guarantee of privacy. It sounds exhausting. Equally striking is the length of time it takes to do anything. Each book takes place over the course of at least a year, with factions frequently bogged down for months in a particular location waiting for, say, the snows in mountain passes to melt. A queen or king here does not spend time in a castle, rather they are constantly "in progress", traveling the land, planning for next year's military action during whatever campaign season the climate allows, reminding each region's dukes or margraves or whomever that they're in charge, and gobbling up everyone's food stores along the way with their massive train of nobles, advisers, scholers/churchpeople, servants, soldiers and camp followers.
It should be noted that Kate Elliott sufferred from tendinitis while writing this book and had to do part of it in longhand. She is one of my favorite writers and is clearly an abject professional.
Best volume of the series so far, in my opinion. But it is loooonnng. Each book has gotten progressively longer and I really felt it here. Fortunately, I enjoyed most every bit of it. There was only a little bit of drag in the middle, during Alain and Adica's extended journey. This book stands out for fully presenting at least two major character arcs: Adica's entire story (a new character in the series), and Liath's journey through the celestial spheres. Sanglant is better humanized here than ever before. Young Anna makes a return to the story, after having only a brief cameo in the prior book. A number of story elements make complete circles, reflecting the Circle of Unity that is the primary holy symbol of the Daisinite church. I feel like this book accomplished more literarily than the series to date. And just when you thought that you coudn't hate Hugh any more...
It's not just the number of pages (850 in the original DAW hardcover edition, 200 pages longer than the prior volume), it's the density of the text-per-page, which appears to be much higher than in most contemporary fantasy hardcovers. It's also not just the word count (over 300,000 as best as I can estimate), it's the slower pace at which the words flow than I am used to. Elliott has certainly crafted a complex, detailed story set in an authentically early Medieval world, with full attention to the weather, the flora, the clothing, art, and livelihoods particular to that era. As in prior books, you really have to pay attention while reading because vital plot points appear without warning. This book really slowed down my usual reading pace. Usually in a calendar month I will read up to 1000 more pages than I did in the month that included this tome.
I enjoy all of the characters and the path that events have taken, which are wildly different than I would have guessed at the start of the series. I am frequently struck by the lack of privacy in this setting; even a private, secretive discussion between the king and an advisor is done with half a dozen stewards and attendants on hand. Royalty go to bed with multiple servants and hangers-on sleeping in the same room, even for sexy-times. Regular people in a village might all sleep together in a longhouse. Even going to the privy has no guarantee of privacy. It sounds exhausting. Equally striking is the length of time it takes to do anything. Each book takes place over the course of at least a year, with factions frequently bogged down for months in a particular location waiting for, say, the snows in mountain passes to melt. A queen or king here does not spend time in a castle, rather they are constantly "in progress", traveling the land, planning for next year's military action during whatever campaign season the climate allows, reminding each region's dukes or margraves or whomever that they're in charge, and gobbling up everyone's food stores along the way with their massive train of nobles, advisers, scholers/churchpeople, servants, soldiers and camp followers.
It should be noted that Kate Elliott sufferred from tendinitis while writing this book and had to do part of it in longhand. She is one of my favorite writers and is clearly an abject professional.
February 18, 2017
A rich and vibrant world, fascinating peoples, creatures, histories, religions, magics, and wonderfully nuanced characters... I'm loving this series, even as I'm wishing for a faster pace. It's truly epic and detailed in its sprawl, which at times means it drags.
I'm realizing that I have to take breaks in my reading so I can continue to enjoy the world without growing too impatient. When I start willing it to go faster, I take a break and read something else. Then at other times, I fail to notice the hours flying by.
This is really a series to be savored. With its scope and the weight of each installment, it simply won't allow you to rush through. So far, the end of each book has been rewarding, and I miss the world and characters once I'm done. I guess I'm just going to be living there for a while.
I'm realizing that I have to take breaks in my reading so I can continue to enjoy the world without growing too impatient. When I start willing it to go faster, I take a break and read something else. Then at other times, I fail to notice the hours flying by.
This is really a series to be savored. With its scope and the weight of each installment, it simply won't allow you to rush through. So far, the end of each book has been rewarding, and I miss the world and characters once I'm done. I guess I'm just going to be living there for a while.
January 14, 2019
Kate Elliot ist ein Schatz! Jedes ihrer Bücher scheint ein Eigenleben zu haben, da sie Sie in bisher nie gesehene Bereiche hüllen. Das Leben eines jeden Charakters wird zu einem Teil Ihres eigenen, wenn Sie über seine Prüfungen und Pfade lesen. Erstaunlicher als das letzte ist jedes neue Kapitel dieser aufregenden Serie. Ich wünschte nur, sie würde mit einem neuen Zusatz zum mysteriösen Leben des mächtigen Prinzen Sanglant und seiner kraftvollen Frau Liath aufwarten. Nicht von Alain abzulehnen, aber sein Charakter gefällt mir nicht so sehr, weil er sein eigenes Schicksal gelöst hat.
Die Crown Of Stars-Serie ist ohne Zweifel meine Lieblingsserie. Alle vier Bände sind unglaublich eng mit der tatsächlichen Geschichte und den historischen Ereignissen verwoben, und ich finde, dass dies der Geschichte viel hinzufügt.
Die Crown Of Stars-Serie ist ohne Zweifel meine Lieblingsserie. Alle vier Bände sind unglaublich eng mit der tatsächlichen Geschichte und den historischen Ereignissen verwoben, und ich finde, dass dies der Geschichte viel hinzufügt.
May 3, 2020
But seriously, WHY is this not a GOT-type miniseries. For that matter, how did that get picked up and not this. This series has everything. Everything! Evil elves! Technologically-advanced goblins! The music of the spheres! Heresy! Dragon-Vikings! Betrayal by the gods! Fake miracles! Real miracles! Insta-love! Books! Sieges! Time travel! Griffons! AWESOME BATTLES! Magic hounds! Weaponized gossip! Really good-looking bad guys! Torture! Escapes! Betrayal by your friends! Matriarchy! Fresos! Blood sacrifice! Learning! Angels! Weather! The importance of weaving! Heroic sacrifice by dozens of people to get children to safety! The plague! Feminine whiles! Arranged marriages! Centaurs! Dragons! The place of coils! Translators! Metal forging! Religious reform! AHHHHHH.
October 24, 2016
For the most part, I continue to enjoy these books. But every fantasy series longer than a trilogy seems to experience a slump by book four or five – the books grow longer, yet move more slowly – and Crown of Stars is not proving an exception to that rule.
There’s a lot going on here, and the plotlines dealing with the Quman invaders and King Henry’s foray into Aosta to claim the imperial crown are enjoyable. Elliott continues to resolve plotlines and take them in new directions, and the end of this book has me looking forward to the next one. This book’s weakness is that it removes both of its protagonists from the main action, spinning them off into tangential subplots. Liath spends the entire book on a spirit quest, which at least doesn’t take up many pages, but I’m not convinced its ramifications for her character are worth more or less removing her from the entire novel. Meanwhile, Alain spends this book thousands of years in the past, at the time the Aoi were exiled from the earth. This is a creative way to give the world’s backstory, and at first I was entertained by the depiction of a Stone Age society, which appears well-researched. But this subplot gets a lot of page time without Alain’s ever figuring out what’s going on, and it turns into a travelogue, that bane of fantasy literature. Then too, I never invested in the new cast, and Alain’s innocence works better when contrasted with the intrigues of his medieval society than in the simplicity of a prehistoric setting.
So, while our protagonists are off in other worlds, the actual plot rests on the shoulders of the secondary cast. Who are not up to the standard of the secondary POVs in Elliott’s later series. Sanglant is a good character, but many of his scenes are seen through the eyes of Zacharias and the returned Anna, neither of whom has much to add to this story. (Has Anna’s ethnicity been changed, or has she just spent a lot of time in the sun? People are constantly noting her “nut-brown” complexion, which I don’t recall ever being referenced in book two.) Most of the rest of the story is told through the POVs of Hanna and Rosvita. These two are always in the thick of things and, yes, they are strong women, but they just aren’t very interesting. I’ve criticized their selection as POVs before for their lack of personal stakes in the outcome of the plot, but it’s more than that: they don’t have significant personal struggles at all, or flaws or weaknesses. It feels to me like Elliott went too far in making Hanna and Rosvita foils for Liath, who has issues in abundance, to the point that it’s hard to relate to them.
All that said, while I stalled on some of the Alain chapters, I did mostly enjoy reading this book and do intend to continue the series; the tangential subplots wrap up at the end of this book and I’m hopeful that the next will be a return to form.
EDIT: Crown of Stars ratings:
King’s Dragon: 4
Prince of Dogs: 3.5
The Burning Stone: 4
Child of Flame: 3
The Gathering Storm: 2.5
In the Ruins: 3
Crown of Stars: 3
There’s a lot going on here, and the plotlines dealing with the Quman invaders and King Henry’s foray into Aosta to claim the imperial crown are enjoyable. Elliott continues to resolve plotlines and take them in new directions, and the end of this book has me looking forward to the next one. This book’s weakness is that it removes both of its protagonists from the main action, spinning them off into tangential subplots. Liath spends the entire book on a spirit quest, which at least doesn’t take up many pages, but I’m not convinced its ramifications for her character are worth more or less removing her from the entire novel. Meanwhile, Alain spends this book thousands of years in the past, at the time the Aoi were exiled from the earth. This is a creative way to give the world’s backstory, and at first I was entertained by the depiction of a Stone Age society, which appears well-researched. But this subplot gets a lot of page time without Alain’s ever figuring out what’s going on, and it turns into a travelogue, that bane of fantasy literature. Then too, I never invested in the new cast, and Alain’s innocence works better when contrasted with the intrigues of his medieval society than in the simplicity of a prehistoric setting.
So, while our protagonists are off in other worlds, the actual plot rests on the shoulders of the secondary cast. Who are not up to the standard of the secondary POVs in Elliott’s later series. Sanglant is a good character, but many of his scenes are seen through the eyes of Zacharias and the returned Anna, neither of whom has much to add to this story. (Has Anna’s ethnicity been changed, or has she just spent a lot of time in the sun? People are constantly noting her “nut-brown” complexion, which I don’t recall ever being referenced in book two.) Most of the rest of the story is told through the POVs of Hanna and Rosvita. These two are always in the thick of things and, yes, they are strong women, but they just aren’t very interesting. I’ve criticized their selection as POVs before for their lack of personal stakes in the outcome of the plot, but it’s more than that: they don’t have significant personal struggles at all, or flaws or weaknesses. It feels to me like Elliott went too far in making Hanna and Rosvita foils for Liath, who has issues in abundance, to the point that it’s hard to relate to them.
All that said, while I stalled on some of the Alain chapters, I did mostly enjoy reading this book and do intend to continue the series; the tangential subplots wrap up at the end of this book and I’m hopeful that the next will be a return to form.
EDIT: Crown of Stars ratings:
King’s Dragon: 4
Prince of Dogs: 3.5
The Burning Stone: 4
Child of Flame: 3
The Gathering Storm: 2.5
In the Ruins: 3
Crown of Stars: 3
July 21, 2024
A huge swerve! The real story begins.
All of the realms turmoil. All of its power struggles, civil wars, invasions and political maneuvering thus far…
Merely scratching the surface.
We enter the world of the Aoi. It’s wondrous creatures and beings. The past. The present. The horrific wrongs.
Then there is our introduction into sorcery.
It’s mysteries and power.
The truth revealed. Cataclysm looms unbeknownst to humankind.
But the vicious battles in the kingdom only intensify. All worlds teeter.
I’ve said it before. I have found this series absolutely thrilling. So much going on. It’s a series you need to pay close attention to what’s transpiring. It’s dark, it’s bloody, it’s unsettling. It’s also captivating, exhilarating and full of heart.
Easily has become one of my favourite series.
All of the realms turmoil. All of its power struggles, civil wars, invasions and political maneuvering thus far…
Merely scratching the surface.
We enter the world of the Aoi. It’s wondrous creatures and beings. The past. The present. The horrific wrongs.
Then there is our introduction into sorcery.
It’s mysteries and power.
The truth revealed. Cataclysm looms unbeknownst to humankind.
But the vicious battles in the kingdom only intensify. All worlds teeter.
I’ve said it before. I have found this series absolutely thrilling. So much going on. It’s a series you need to pay close attention to what’s transpiring. It’s dark, it’s bloody, it’s unsettling. It’s also captivating, exhilarating and full of heart.
Easily has become one of my favourite series.
December 6, 2018
3.75 stars
April 23, 2025
4.5 stars
I don’t have a vast amount to say about this one that isn’t either repeating what I’ve said about the earlier books, or potentially spoiling things for those who haven’t read them yet. I’m continuing to really enjoy the series, and finding some really great character work within it. I particularly enjoyed following Hannah’s story progression in this instalment, especially as I feel a couple of key character storylines have gone perhaps a little weird as they have moved on.
I don’t have a vast amount to say about this one that isn’t either repeating what I’ve said about the earlier books, or potentially spoiling things for those who haven’t read them yet. I’m continuing to really enjoy the series, and finding some really great character work within it. I particularly enjoyed following Hannah’s story progression in this instalment, especially as I feel a couple of key character storylines have gone perhaps a little weird as they have moved on.
April 5, 2014
I really, really enjoyed this book.
I had been frustrated with Liath's character trajectory in the previous book, but I knew that any flaws written were deliberate. Liath had yet to be in a situation where she was allowed to grow. In this book, she gets that opportunity and seizes it.
Alain's story is more of an interlude. He finally has an opportunity to live the life he wants. Unfortunately, the reader knows from the get-go that it cannot last.
Hanna and Rosvita continue to be wonderful POVs.
Honestly, the plot is so intricate that it's almost overwhelming. I cannot fathom any storyteller creating a tale on such a scale (although Elliott is not the only author to have done so).
Why this series isn't more popular, I will never know. It is well written and Elliott is putting on a clinic for character development.
I had been frustrated with Liath's character trajectory in the previous book, but I knew that any flaws written were deliberate. Liath had yet to be in a situation where she was allowed to grow. In this book, she gets that opportunity and seizes it.
Alain's story is more of an interlude. He finally has an opportunity to live the life he wants. Unfortunately, the reader knows from the get-go that it cannot last.
Hanna and Rosvita continue to be wonderful POVs.
Honestly, the plot is so intricate that it's almost overwhelming. I cannot fathom any storyteller creating a tale on such a scale (although Elliott is not the only author to have done so).
Why this series isn't more popular, I will never know. It is well written and Elliott is putting on a clinic for character development.
January 24, 2021
Again, not a full review because this is the fourth in a seven-book series, so you shouldn't start with this one and (if you're enjoying them) you shouldn't end with this one.
June 2, 2024
Child of Flame, the midpoint of the lengthy Crown of Stars saga, is a book of wonderful imagination and vast scope that raises the stakes and provides answers to many of the mysteries established in earlier volumes.
At over 900 pages of rather small print (some 350,000 words), Child of Flame is the longest book I have read in the last few years, so I was admittedly somewhat daunted when starting it despite enjoying the first three Crown of Stars books. Fortunately, I ended up loving this volume, and it is probably tied with Prince of Dogs (volume two) as my favorite book in the series so far. The scope has truly blown up at this point to encompass several major plotlines across various nations, time periods, and planes of existence. It is a lot to keep track of, but this volume manages to incorporate so many exciting concepts and deftly weave them together into a surprisingly cohesive whole. This is largely due to the quality of Kate Elliott’s characters who are all complex and flawed, heroes and antagonists alike. While this is certainly not a self-contained book, most of the major characters had satisfying arcs across this volume. What I found most gratifying about Child of Flame was beginning to see the payoff of Elliott’s planning and foreshadowing. There are still many mysteries and questions yet to resolve, but at this point I feel I understand most broad strokes of the story of this world and am excited to see how it concludes.
At over 900 pages of rather small print (some 350,000 words), Child of Flame is the longest book I have read in the last few years, so I was admittedly somewhat daunted when starting it despite enjoying the first three Crown of Stars books. Fortunately, I ended up loving this volume, and it is probably tied with Prince of Dogs (volume two) as my favorite book in the series so far. The scope has truly blown up at this point to encompass several major plotlines across various nations, time periods, and planes of existence. It is a lot to keep track of, but this volume manages to incorporate so many exciting concepts and deftly weave them together into a surprisingly cohesive whole. This is largely due to the quality of Kate Elliott’s characters who are all complex and flawed, heroes and antagonists alike. While this is certainly not a self-contained book, most of the major characters had satisfying arcs across this volume. What I found most gratifying about Child of Flame was beginning to see the payoff of Elliott’s planning and foreshadowing. There are still many mysteries and questions yet to resolve, but at this point I feel I understand most broad strokes of the story of this world and am excited to see how it concludes.
January 13, 2016
I don't know how, but Elliott's Crown of Stars series just keeps getting better and better. At this point, the pacing is tight (with brief pauses for the Eika, who I no longer care about), the stakes are amazingly high, the world is beautifully crafted and I can't wait to find out what's next.
And I'm not sure if it's really a 5-star book for me, but I cried a lot, so there you go.
And small spoilers:
And I'm not sure if it's really a 5-star book for me, but I cried a lot, so there you go.
And small spoilers:
September 9, 2015
I read these a while ago and was one of best sets I read so far, so anticipating all the way through all 7 books omg such good set I wished they never end, one of those where you finish and think "NOW WHAT?! :("
AWESOME!
AWESOME!
November 25, 2020
Boy this book is a brick! At over 1,000 pages there is way too much going on here to be able to talk about all of it so I will try to focus on the main points. First off as you might have guessed this book is too damn long, there is so much drag in the middle that I really struggled to stay engaged. Rarely have I read a book series that has covered as much in story time as this one has, and I get that the author must have felt like there was so much content to shove in. With that said I did feel like overall this book had substantial plot development and A LOT happened.
First off the story of Alain, Adica, and the great weaving of the past was by far my favorite plotline from this book. It was mysterious, romantic, and incredibly tragic at the end.
Second the plot of Henry, Rosvita, Adhelaid, Hugh, and Anne in Darre was incredibly convoluted and I felt moved a bit too slow what with all the traveling and fevers. Still that ending was quite exciting and I am wondering where they will go from here.
Third the Quman war plotline involving Hanna, Sapientia, Bayan, Sanglant, Bulkezu and others was by far one of the hardest to read for me. The author really spared nothing in her unflinching depiction of the horrors of war. My heart especially broke for poor Hanna and I was crushed by Bayan's fate.
Lastly was Liath on her quest to find out the secret of her powers. I was glad she got to stretch her wings (literally!) and it was interesting to see the mystery of her powers fully revealed. I am however sick and tired of her being constantly tied to these men who treat her like shit. First there was Hugh who raped and beat her and is still trying to lure her into his trap, but there is also Sanglant who trod all over her plans for her life and begged her to marry him even knowing it would bring her pain. Then when she nearly dies having his child he is all pissy because she won't sleep with him afterward (she can't risk getting pregnant again) and once she disappears on her quest to find herself he IMMEDIATELY cheats on her with the first maid he finds. I hope Liath comes back to Earth in the next books and sets these assholes on FIRE!
There were lots of rumblings around the Eika, Conrad, the Seven Sleepers, and the return of the Aoi and I was disappointed that Theophanu wasn't more prominent in this book but hopefully all roads will lead back to Darre as they say. I'm taking a quick break before the next one which again is over 900 pages but this is a series I definitely want to finish.
First off the story of Alain, Adica, and the great weaving of the past was by far my favorite plotline from this book. It was mysterious, romantic, and incredibly tragic at the end.
Second the plot of Henry, Rosvita, Adhelaid, Hugh, and Anne in Darre was incredibly convoluted and I felt moved a bit too slow what with all the traveling and fevers. Still that ending was quite exciting and I am wondering where they will go from here.
Third the Quman war plotline involving Hanna, Sapientia, Bayan, Sanglant, Bulkezu and others was by far one of the hardest to read for me. The author really spared nothing in her unflinching depiction of the horrors of war. My heart especially broke for poor Hanna and I was crushed by Bayan's fate.
Lastly was Liath on her quest to find out the secret of her powers. I was glad she got to stretch her wings (literally!) and it was interesting to see the mystery of her powers fully revealed. I am however sick and tired of her being constantly tied to these men who treat her like shit. First there was Hugh who raped and beat her and is still trying to lure her into his trap, but there is also Sanglant who trod all over her plans for her life and begged her to marry him even knowing it would bring her pain. Then when she nearly dies having his child he is all pissy because she won't sleep with him afterward (she can't risk getting pregnant again) and once she disappears on her quest to find herself he IMMEDIATELY cheats on her with the first maid he finds. I hope Liath comes back to Earth in the next books and sets these assholes on FIRE!
There were lots of rumblings around the Eika, Conrad, the Seven Sleepers, and the return of the Aoi and I was disappointed that Theophanu wasn't more prominent in this book but hopefully all roads will lead back to Darre as they say. I'm taking a quick break before the next one which again is over 900 pages but this is a series I definitely want to finish.
July 29, 2023
Very reluctant four star. This book was 200-300 pages longer than it needed to be. The mid-book slog hit hard.
This series really opened up with this book. At times it lightly touched the edge between "oh dang, this is great" and "kinda cheese there, Katie E". Hard to not love an inclusion of centaurs. Uh, yeah, you heard me. Centaurs. And time travel? This ride had some unexpected turns, for sure. We got insights into an end game, the big bad, the multiple little bads, and the dark sorceries at play.
I liked, also, how the political drama was played up. I felt some Song of Ice and Fire vibes here, for sure. Princes battling princes, kings being counciled by commoners. Good stuff.
Alain and Hanna remain my favorites; both having completely different journeys here. Anna becomes a relevant player again. Sanglant steps up. Liath becomes, well....best not to say (just know it's intriguing). Time for me to shut up and grab book 5.
This series really opened up with this book. At times it lightly touched the edge between "oh dang, this is great" and "kinda cheese there, Katie E". Hard to not love an inclusion of centaurs. Uh, yeah, you heard me. Centaurs. And time travel? This ride had some unexpected turns, for sure. We got insights into an end game, the big bad, the multiple little bads, and the dark sorceries at play.
I liked, also, how the political drama was played up. I felt some Song of Ice and Fire vibes here, for sure. Princes battling princes, kings being counciled by commoners. Good stuff.
Alain and Hanna remain my favorites; both having completely different journeys here. Anna becomes a relevant player again. Sanglant steps up. Liath becomes, well....best not to say (just know it's intriguing). Time for me to shut up and grab book 5.
August 24, 2016
Book four of Crown of Stars follows the usual practice of giving time to four major plot threads. The new major character this time is Adica, the Hollowed One of a tribe that is part of an effort to cast a truly earth-shattering spell.
Instead of this being a completely separate plot with no real tie in to the regular major cast, it is tied directly to Alain, who has been thrown 2,700 years into the past, and finds peace in a troubled little paradise. This is a big case of showing exactly what we were told about in the big reveal of the previous volume, and gives a preview of the calamity that is yet to come.
Liath meanwhile has her own separate arc that also takes her out of the main action for the entire book. This is in essence the personal journey that she turned down at the beginning of book three, and she finally gets the space and time to go through the growth that she has needed, and ends with the answers about what she is that have only been getting bigger as the series progresses.
The final two major plots are back on earth. The main focus is decidedly still in Wendar, with a lot of action and a good chunk of the secondary cast revolving around the Quman invasion. South in Aosta, King Henry starts the process of adding a third kingdom to his crown as all the more dangerous antagonists gather around.
I find it very interesting that much of this volume mirrors some of what had gone immediately previous, and while the main plot definitely moves forward, the secondaries take center stage. This continues to be a very good epic fantasy series, and overall very well paced, mostly because it never looses sight of what its own main plot is.
Instead of this being a completely separate plot with no real tie in to the regular major cast, it is tied directly to Alain, who has been thrown 2,700 years into the past, and finds peace in a troubled little paradise. This is a big case of showing exactly what we were told about in the big reveal of the previous volume, and gives a preview of the calamity that is yet to come.
Liath meanwhile has her own separate arc that also takes her out of the main action for the entire book. This is in essence the personal journey that she turned down at the beginning of book three, and she finally gets the space and time to go through the growth that she has needed, and ends with the answers about what she is that have only been getting bigger as the series progresses.
The final two major plots are back on earth. The main focus is decidedly still in Wendar, with a lot of action and a good chunk of the secondary cast revolving around the Quman invasion. South in Aosta, King Henry starts the process of adding a third kingdom to his crown as all the more dangerous antagonists gather around.
I find it very interesting that much of this volume mirrors some of what had gone immediately previous, and while the main plot definitely moves forward, the secondaries take center stage. This continues to be a very good epic fantasy series, and overall very well paced, mostly because it never looses sight of what its own main plot is.
May 1, 2024
Although I enjoyed this book very much, I found the traveling back in time and the visions difficult to follow. The worldbuilding is immense and powerful but it hurts my enjoyment of the story.
Adica was a great character, whom I hoped to see more.
Will Alain ever get more than a few moments of happiness? I feel for him the most. Sanglant is on the righteous path, and I hope he meets up with Stronghand soon. How will they react when they see each other is alive?
The side characters are vivid and important. I really like all the different arcs of the characters, even though there’s so much to understand and follow.
The plot thickens as many pieces line up on the big chessboard.
Adica was a great character, whom I hoped to see more.
Will Alain ever get more than a few moments of happiness? I feel for him the most. Sanglant is on the righteous path, and I hope he meets up with Stronghand soon. How will they react when they see each other is alive?
The side characters are vivid and important. I really like all the different arcs of the characters, even though there’s so much to understand and follow.
The plot thickens as many pieces line up on the big chessboard.
September 4, 2017
Coming to the mid-series sag. I actually did skim Alain's whole time travel plot. Liath's sojourn into the spheres should have taken fifty pages, not five hundred. Sanglant and Hanna get the most interesting stuff going on here: Sanglant has the real bread and butter of the book, going hard with the political maneuvering. We also now begin to get into the whole like, Talleifer inheritance bullshit, which. Whatever!! I don't care!
January 6, 2020
So this book took me literal months to read, partly because my kindle broke when I was in the middle of it. This derailed me severely! I had spent the night reading it and then, in the morning, it just didn't work anymore. Anyrate, this caused me to not read it for a few months and then very slowly get back into it.
But! I think this might be my favorite of these novels. It still has some issues, though I think my problems with the worldbuilding are becoming more nuanced. Or rather, my issues are becoming less of issues because the worldbuilding and structure has solidified a bit more in a better way. But the novel works very well and has the same kind of peculiarly idiosyncratic rhythm and structure.
The novels kind of spins in different directions at different speeds with different characters. The bulk of this novel is about Bulkezu's invasion and Henry's journey south to claim his empire. There are some other threads--some of them even more important, arguably--but the bulk of the page count is spent on these threads.
I think her character work improves, as does her intrigue, and the worldbulding gets deeper, fuller, and more interesting. We finally learn more about the Lost Ones and Elliott does a lot of work on how empires rise and fall, how politics twists and turns based on personalities more than on ideologies. Which is not how most people think of history, maybe for good reasons. I don't mean to say this is a Great Men Drive History kind of story, though it also isn't not that. But she highlights how politics can shift and turn drastically based on the whims or cunning or audaciousness of an important political figure.
But, yeah, I just am really enjoying the ride through this series. I keep thinking of other things to read, but I think I may want to keep on this train through a story and world that is both subversive and cliched and just strong enough to make you wonder why so many have done this so poorly.
But! I think this might be my favorite of these novels. It still has some issues, though I think my problems with the worldbuilding are becoming more nuanced. Or rather, my issues are becoming less of issues because the worldbuilding and structure has solidified a bit more in a better way. But the novel works very well and has the same kind of peculiarly idiosyncratic rhythm and structure.
The novels kind of spins in different directions at different speeds with different characters. The bulk of this novel is about Bulkezu's invasion and Henry's journey south to claim his empire. There are some other threads--some of them even more important, arguably--but the bulk of the page count is spent on these threads.
I think her character work improves, as does her intrigue, and the worldbulding gets deeper, fuller, and more interesting. We finally learn more about the Lost Ones and Elliott does a lot of work on how empires rise and fall, how politics twists and turns based on personalities more than on ideologies. Which is not how most people think of history, maybe for good reasons. I don't mean to say this is a Great Men Drive History kind of story, though it also isn't not that. But she highlights how politics can shift and turn drastically based on the whims or cunning or audaciousness of an important political figure.
But, yeah, I just am really enjoying the ride through this series. I keep thinking of other things to read, but I think I may want to keep on this train through a story and world that is both subversive and cliched and just strong enough to make you wonder why so many have done this so poorly.
January 13, 2021
I really like this series and Elliott is an exceptional writer of fantasy, but by Book 4 this is becoming a huge slog. The story is so drawn out and often it is so long before we return to a specific storyline - at times I forgot different character's stories and what had happened in previous chapters.
It's a shame as I was gripped by the first two books, it just seems like some serious editing needed to go on here, and I'm not adverse to reading big fantasy series, but I do like well paced page turners and this does drag on and on and on.
It's a shame as I was gripped by the first two books, it just seems like some serious editing needed to go on here, and I'm not adverse to reading big fantasy series, but I do like well paced page turners and this does drag on and on and on.
May 9, 2022
Alain hares off on a sidestory into . Liath is also on her own sidestory . We end with King Henry being .
2.5/5 stars, though I did enjoy the execution.
2.5/5 stars, though I did enjoy the execution.
April 11, 2010
This book is going realllllly slowly. I"m on page 350 or so, and it's just not pulling me in the way the earlier books in this series did. Dare I say it? There are too many different things going on. I am having a hard time even following what is happening, largely because I am trying to skim through to the next important plot point in order to by pass all the stuff that seems to belong in a totally different book. After two hundred pages of this, I am (finally) starting to see that all the disparate plotlines are, in fact, related, but it's been over a hundred pages since we've seen the main(?) character and I miss her; she's the one I actually care about!
Still, Kate Elliott has managed to write a number of deeply disturbing scenes that have drawn me in, even when I wish they hadn't. She writes terrible, manipulative relationships, rape scenes and war from the female perspective better than most, but those scenes are so incongruous in the narrative the brutal inhumanity of them seems even more jarring and the juxtaposed vague mystical blither seems even more inscrutable.
I have to finish this book, and the three remaining in the series to win a bet with my husband, and I have to read them all in the next week and half, but I am not sure I can. I could LITERALLY read 15 books in that time period, if they were not this book. Please, get better soon!
Edited to Add:
Well, I finally finished this, and it did, indeed, pick up a bit at the end. Things started to come together and resolve in some ways and started to actively devolve in other ways added tension and interest to what had previously been just a long-term foreboding. Still... not great.
Still, Kate Elliott has managed to write a number of deeply disturbing scenes that have drawn me in, even when I wish they hadn't. She writes terrible, manipulative relationships, rape scenes and war from the female perspective better than most, but those scenes are so incongruous in the narrative the brutal inhumanity of them seems even more jarring and the juxtaposed vague mystical blither seems even more inscrutable.
I have to finish this book, and the three remaining in the series to win a bet with my husband, and I have to read them all in the next week and half, but I am not sure I can. I could LITERALLY read 15 books in that time period, if they were not this book. Please, get better soon!
Edited to Add:
Well, I finally finished this, and it did, indeed, pick up a bit at the end. Things started to come together and resolve in some ways and started to actively devolve in other ways added tension and interest to what had previously been just a long-term foreboding. Still... not great.
January 2, 2021
With Crown of Stars it seems I’m either 100% engaged and loving it, or bored to tears, and my engagement seems to waffle back and forth pretty frequently.
I think the big reason this book had me losing focus was because the two main characters spent pretty much the whole book, not only in completely different locales, but also completely new locales almost entirely separated from every other character we’ve met so far in the series.
I didn’t mind Alain’s time travel adventures, on their own they were pretty compelling with some interesting new races, concepts, historical realism, etc. But despite the big obvious ritual and a few clever connections at the end, it just didn’t feel like it was driving the main story forward. It was like a pretty travelogue detour.
Liath’s finding herself in the spirit world was even more removed everything. Definitely could have been shorter. And I’ve felt the same way about Fifth Son’s endless conquest for a while. So while those characters are off doing whatever, we get a bit more cookie-cutting court intrigue stuff, which isn’t my favourite. If everyone could just get together deal with the big overarching stuff that would be great. The story keeps expanding, and I want it to contract a bit.
In the face of all that, each book consistently has some sort of pay-off at the end that boosts it into the 3/4 star realm, here it was some clever time travel connectedness with dead queens, origin of shamans, and characters heritage. I keep thinking each ending sets up the next book perfectly so that the “good stuff” is finally going to happen. Maybe next book it actually will.
I think the big reason this book had me losing focus was because the two main characters spent pretty much the whole book, not only in completely different locales, but also completely new locales almost entirely separated from every other character we’ve met so far in the series.
I didn’t mind Alain’s time travel adventures, on their own they were pretty compelling with some interesting new races, concepts, historical realism, etc. But despite the big obvious ritual and a few clever connections at the end, it just didn’t feel like it was driving the main story forward. It was like a pretty travelogue detour.
Liath’s finding herself in the spirit world was even more removed everything. Definitely could have been shorter. And I’ve felt the same way about Fifth Son’s endless conquest for a while. So while those characters are off doing whatever, we get a bit more cookie-cutting court intrigue stuff, which isn’t my favourite. If everyone could just get together deal with the big overarching stuff that would be great. The story keeps expanding, and I want it to contract a bit.
In the face of all that, each book consistently has some sort of pay-off at the end that boosts it into the 3/4 star realm, here it was some clever time travel connectedness with dead queens, origin of shamans, and characters heritage. I keep thinking each ending sets up the next book perfectly so that the “good stuff” is finally going to happen. Maybe next book it actually will.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2017
Possibly my favorite of this series so far, though that probably means little since each one I read becomes my new favorite...
What made this book so great was the fact that SO many major plot points and details of the entire series were revealed bit by bit. Child of Flame was packed with "Oh!" moments, and all the best aspects of a book that make you verbalize your feelings no matter where you are. When I finished this one, despite the horrid pain in my neck and shoulders (and eyes) from reading non-stop, I really REALLY wanted to pick up the next book immediately.
This book was also super fascinating, for anyone who has knowledge (or wishes to have knowledge) of the Tree of Life. The account of one character's walk through the spheres seemed to match very well with notes I'd taken from Dion Fortune's "Mystical Qabalah" (published 1935). It also stirred my curiosity and interest in the Qabalah once again, and I believe that any book (especially fantasy!) that encourages you to read and learn even more... is... well, the best book!
What made this book so great was the fact that SO many major plot points and details of the entire series were revealed bit by bit. Child of Flame was packed with "Oh!" moments, and all the best aspects of a book that make you verbalize your feelings no matter where you are. When I finished this one, despite the horrid pain in my neck and shoulders (and eyes) from reading non-stop, I really REALLY wanted to pick up the next book immediately.
This book was also super fascinating, for anyone who has knowledge (or wishes to have knowledge) of the Tree of Life. The account of one character's walk through the spheres seemed to match very well with notes I'd taken from Dion Fortune's "Mystical Qabalah" (published 1935). It also stirred my curiosity and interest in the Qabalah once again, and I believe that any book (especially fantasy!) that encourages you to read and learn even more... is... well, the best book!
December 31, 2009
While I love long and involved fantasy, for Kate Elliott's abilities, this book is MUCH TOO LONG. She's at her strongest with plotting and introducing completely unpredictable and interesting twists to the story. Unfortunately, those things come all at once only for a person to have to plod through the predominantly boring portions of the story.
Yeah, I'm a glutton for punishment and must know how some story lines from this book tie up in the next one. But all in all, I wouldn't recommend this series after doing my best to get through this book and finding myself bored most of the time.
When her story unfolds it's captivating. Unfortunately, as good as she is in her strengths, she is as bad in her weaknesses. Very disappointed, this series has so much promise. I've loved some of its elements dearly.
Yeah, I'm a glutton for punishment and must know how some story lines from this book tie up in the next one. But all in all, I wouldn't recommend this series after doing my best to get through this book and finding myself bored most of the time.
When her story unfolds it's captivating. Unfortunately, as good as she is in her strengths, she is as bad in her weaknesses. Very disappointed, this series has so much promise. I've loved some of its elements dearly.
August 25, 2015
Well, this is more like it! The pace picks up as all the characters are set in place for the coming battle. Much is resolved, though there is still much to get through for many of the characters. Liath and Sanglant’s stories are both in the forefront, and I love that both have had their eyes opened and, hopefully, will now find their way back to each other. Equally fascinating was Alain’s story, as, thrust into the past, he, and we, learn, at least in part, how things came to be, and why the different peoples hate each other so much.
The added revelation at the end, when long-forgotten characters are brought to the fore, only adds to the anticipation.
The added revelation at the end, when long-forgotten characters are brought to the fore, only adds to the anticipation.
May 12, 2016
I'm only partway through this one, but so far: too much magic. Dragons, mermen, lion people, spirit quests all over the damn place. It's hard to keep it all straight. I have no problem with magic, but it just feels like so much is packed in that it crowds out plot.
I desperately wish the editor had limited Liath's spirit quest to 1 or 2 chapters instead of the whole book. It's the same thing only slightly different over and over and over. It's like Groundhog Day. And while they were at it, they should have limited Alain's journey to 2 or at most 3 fantastical creatures. Instead of every one that has ever existed in literature, plus s couple new ones. Too much flair. Not enough plot.
I desperately wish the editor had limited Liath's spirit quest to 1 or 2 chapters instead of the whole book. It's the same thing only slightly different over and over and over. It's like Groundhog Day. And while they were at it, they should have limited Alain's journey to 2 or at most 3 fantastical creatures. Instead of every one that has ever existed in literature, plus s couple new ones. Too much flair. Not enough plot.
December 18, 2018
Haven't finished reading this - it's making me lose the will to live. Too long, too turgid, not enough happening, too much happening... I found Alain really irritating in this book; he's in a strange society, but insists always on doing what he's asked or told not to do. "Stay here" "No, I must go to my love" "Wait here" "No, I want to know she's safe" "It is forbidden to enter the birthing hut" "Stand back, here I come"
It just made him seem like a lack-wit (as Lavastine would say).
I'm abandoning this to read something else, in the hope that I can return to the series eventually in Book 5.
It just made him seem like a lack-wit (as Lavastine would say).
I'm abandoning this to read something else, in the hope that I can return to the series eventually in Book 5.
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