The War Within

The Great God's War #2

by Stephen R. Donaldson

Stephen R. Donaldson, the New York Times bestselling author of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, returns to the world of his Great God’s War fantasy epic as two kingdoms— united by force—prepare to be challenged by a merciless enemy…

It has been twenty years since Prince Bifalt of Belleger discovered the Last Repository and the sorcerous knowledge hidden there. At the behest of the repository's magisters, and in return for the restoration of sorcery to both kingdoms, the realms of Belleger and Amika ceased generations of war. Their alliance was sealed with the marriage of Bifalt to Estie, the crown princess of Amika. But the peace--and their marriage--has been uneasy.

Now the terrible war that King Bifalt and Queen Estie feared is coming. An ancient enemy has discovered the location of the Last Repository, and a mighty horde of dark forces is massing to attack the library and take the magical knowledge it guards. That horde will slaughter every man, woman, and child in its path, destroying both Belleger and Amika along the way.

With their alliance undermined by lingering hostility and conspiracies threatening, it will take all of the monarchs' strength and will to inspire their kingdoms to become one to defend their land, or all is lost....

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Science Fiction Fantasy, War, Military Fiction, Epic

564 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 2019

About the author

Stephen Reeder Donaldson is an American fantasy, science fiction, and mystery novelist; in the United Kingdom he is usually called "Stephen Donaldson" (without the "R"). He has also written non-fiction under the pen name Reed Stephens.

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION:

Stephen R. Donaldson was born May 13, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio. His father, James, was a medical missionary and his mother, Ruth, a prosthetist (a person skilled in making or fitting prosthetic devices). Donaldson spent the years between the ages of 3 and 16 living in India, where his father was working as an orthopaedic surgeon. Donaldson earned his bachelor's degree from The College of Wooster and master's degree from Kent State University.

INSPIRATIONS:

Donaldson's work is heavily influenced by other fantasy authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Roger Zelazny, Joseph Conrad, Henry James, and William Faulkner. The writers he most admires are Patricia A. McKillip, Steven Erikson, and Tim Powers.

It is believed that a speech his father made on leprosy (whilst working with lepers in India) led to Donaldson's creation of Thomas Covenant, the anti-hero of his most famous work (Thomas Covenant). The first book in that series, Lord Foul's Bane, received 47 rejections before a publisher agreed to publish it.

PROMINENT WORK:
Stephen Donaldson came to prominence in 1977 with the The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, which is centred around a leper shunned by society and his trials and tribulations as his destiny unfolds. These books established Donaldson as one of the most important figures in modern fantasy fiction.

PERSONAL LIFE:
He currently resides in New Mexico.

THE GRADUAL INTERVIEW

Reviews

[Colin Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in the series has a much broader base as well as being longer than the first book. Whereas the first book had a central character, here the story is told from a number of viewpoints with no clear central character. As such, there is not a linear timeline and there are some historical descriptions. The writing is in the third person, which provides some objectivity to the writing. The characters are richly described both physically as well as in terms of attitude. As with other tales by this author, the central character from the first book is a damaged individual driven by circumstances. He is frustrating and not particularly likable. Other characters are also purposeful; all of the fleshed-out characters are complex in their own ways. The world building is expansive and vividly described. Conversely, the magic system is kept largely at a distance except in critical points in the plot.

Magic is hoarded or vilified. In a similar way religion, whose presence is newly imposed, is either seen as harmless or a profound risk. Tension and danger come from a variety of sources and there is no one single bad guy. The focus changes from character to character as well as point in the story.

This is first and foremost a story about the resolution of hidden dangers. Characters and locations carry the tale forward to its conclusion. The pace is not hurried but has sufficient tension to lead the reader to the next scene. It is an interesting read and the richness of the writing is served by the steady pace.

Threads of the plot are developed through the central characters. The number and nature of these characters become clearer as the story progresses and by the end of the book, there are distinct and well-developed plotlines that will be carried forward to the next book.

This is a series that will grow on the reader as it develops and for those readers that are fans already of the author, they will not be disappointed.

[Terence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m really on the fence about how to score this second book in Donaldson’s The Great God’s War series.

We pick up 20 years after the events in The Seventh Decimate. Bifalt has restored the magisters’ powers; made peace with Amika and solidified an alliance by marrying Estie, the (at the time of the marriage) eldest daughter of their king; and has diverted men & materiél into preparing for the coming war. Both Bifalt and Estie have assumed the thrones in their respective kingdoms.

The major plot elements are Estie’s struggle to thwart the plans of her father, former King Smegin, who means to betray the alliance, and Bifalt’s struggles to ensure the kingdoms are prepared and to counter the certainly malign influence of the church of the Great God Rile.

And it’s all…OK.

There’s no passion in the writing. Or none that I can detect. Donaldson appears to be going through the motions without investing much in the story or characters.

I’ll read the next book in the series because I like Donaldson enough to read even his B material and I’m interested enough in how the story plays out.

Wouldn’t recommend it to anyone other than a reader who’s already a Donaldson fan. If you’re not, this series will not win you over. Star-wise, I’m going to go with two; it’s a bit overlong and I wish it could have been possible to avoid having to flashback to Bifalt and Estie’s first years of marriage.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm alway a bit at loss for words when I have to review a book by a giant of fantasy.
It's been a long time since I read The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and I was happy to read another book by mr Donaldson.
This book is not an easy read as it's full of characters, different point of views, a complex plot, and a pace that sometimes it's very slow.
Even if there are some issues it's a fascinating read and once you're hooked you cannot put the book down.
It took me sometimes to get involved but I loved what I read and I can surely say this is the work of great fantasy writer.
The world building is amazing, rich of details and it makes you crave for more details and more adventures.
I look forward to reading the next installment.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Nighteye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, even better than book one due to more wiepoints. It was the perfect choose for this book. A lot, really a lot, happend of big plots and smaller important ones twisting the stories within. Also promised and consequences and unsaid words and longing was a big theme. Fitting of Donaldson if you read his other books. Waiting for next one.

[Ruth Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would seriously recommend this to anyone who reads fantasy, especially fans of Game of Thrones and the like - I can see this becoming a film/tv show along the same lines, but as there isn't enough story yet, and much to tell, such a thing would be after the release of that, but I would think any exec worth his salt in this climate would be looking at this, and other's like Mark Lawrence first trilogy, his best in my opinion, to follow up on the fantasy success so far!

A book like this deserves time to think about afterwards and process the enormity of how enjoyable it has been to read. I was going to move on to another new release fantasy after this, but find the story is so worthy, in league with 'A Place of Greater Safety' or 'The Count of Monte Cristo' or 'Prince of Thorns' to name a few books that have been as deserving, though in a world of writing, or the one I inhabit, there are so many more amazing reads, that I'm unable to fully recover into another fantasy book, especially the one planned, until I've had a little time! So I'll be reading a history novel next, as the follow-up to reading this deserves my whole mind, and sometimes the same genre can't be that next read, for reasons known to any reader who understands my reasoning!

I loved reading this! As you can tell from the above. After Book one, which was a little disappointing, I was not expecting this broad scope of a story, jumping from one point of view to another in excellent ways, much unlike it's predecessor, which was written from one character's POV, a character I couldn't quite gel with! The story isn't typical of a second book at all - there are strands of story line filling the landscape, threats from expected and unexpected places, new themes and characters introduced with their own flaws and benefits, a female lead who is written to deserve the reader's respect, unusual though not as much in this decade as previously, and the writing is good, well-edited to show the author's skill at manipulating the reader into expecting one thing and getting another! The twists, turns, betrayals, misunderstandings, and strange events occurring in this book are tied up in the end - mostly, though there is much that could continue in these themes and stories, new traitors, re-emergences', etc - and we see that Book three is going to be amazing, rich in detail and nuance, with more scope than can be imagined from book one, and hopefully the author will be equal to the task of equaling his skill in writing this!

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is what we expect from Stephen Donaldson - the good, the excellent, and the annoying.

"The War Within" is the second book in "The Great God's War". The first book, "Seventh Decimate" takes place on a relatively-small stage: Belleger and Amika have been at war since time immemorial. (Actually, both sides remember the start of the war, but they remember it differently.) The war has all but ruined them, but neither side can imagine peace. Both countries are small and isolated, and barely aware of the rest of the world. Bifalt, prince of Belleger, and an Amikan officer travel to the Last Repository, a library whose contents can break the military stalemate. There are intimations of a much larger world. That world includes an enemy of the Last Repository who is coming to destroy it. Belleger and Amika have the misfortune to be in the way.

At the start of "The War Within", Belleger and Amika have been at a fragile peace for two decades. Bifalt, now king of Belleger, has married Estie, now queen of Amika. In the intervening years both countries have started to recover - and both countries are putting what they can spare into preparation for an invasion that only Bifalt is certain is coming.

As the title suggests, "The War Within" still takes place on a small stage. With the enemy finally approaching, Bifalt and Estie must first clean house. A number of conspiracies emerge, apparently home-grown but with trails that lead abroad. There is also another war within. The royal marriage is unconsummated. Bifalt and Estie respect, and even love each other, but Bifalt keeps her at arm's length. This is Donaldson at his most annoying. The protagonist is broken, and makes the reader want to grab him by the lapels and shake him until his self-centered rectitude comes loose.

Also typically, Donaldson doesn't cut his readers any slack. The writing is beautiful and precise, but it makes the reader work to understand the characters and the situation. It is no shame to decide that you do not wish to put the work into the book that it requires. I'm very glad I read it (hence the rating), but it took over twice as long to read as most books of similar size.

By the end of the book, the outside world is at the door. Enemy raiders are scouting the passes. Enemy ships are scouting the coast. Missionaries of an apparently-hostile religion have come calling. The outward-facing war is about to begin.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is some high-octane Donaldson -- I liked this book much better than the first installment (Seventh Decimate). Donaldson kicks the LOST-like mysteries into high gear. What is REALLY going on? What is everyone REALLY up to? What are their true motivations? Wheels within wheels within wheels .... I was counting down the days until this appeared on my Kindle. I was not disappointed. I am a huge, huge fan of the Covenant series -- I like this series the most so far out of all his non-Land works. Two thumbs way up!! Bring on the next volume!!

[Aletheia Weisz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me about 100 pages to understand the authors style of writing, and get the conflict of the story. But it was so good.

[Major Havoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

The war to protect the Last Repository continues. 20 years have passed since Prince Bifalt was tasked with uniting Belleger and Amika against the Repository's encroaching enemy, and while peace has been established and defensive preparations made, what machinations will thwart Bifalt's endeavors? No spoilers from me, but the "war within" is sometimes the hardest battle we all must face.

For this second volume in the trilogy, Bifalt's POV is joined by several others, as new voices emerge to tell the story of a land paralyzed by the dread of an unknown enemy coming to scourge the land.

The War Within is a riveting tale, one I would rate 4.5, but round down because it just lacks that "certain something" that rises the tale to the level of a 5. That "certain something" may be the total lack of joy or mirth in the books - it is perpetually dark and grim - not overly violent or gross, mind you, just grim. There is an overriding sense of despair like other Donaldson books, but no levity at all to diminish its weight. In addition, the "enemy" is still mostly nebulous. There are some clues here and there, however the antagonist remains largely faceless and nameless.

Despite these quibbles, the adventure is compelling and engrossing, and I look forward to the final book in the tale. The payoff of which could make or break the story...

[Seon Ji (Dawn) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than book one.

So now there is an alliance with Belleiger and Amika King Bifalt and Estie have married, but there is still the threat of the enemy.

20 years have past and King and Queen have not consumated their marriage. They both love each other and have remained true (no cheating) yet their relationship is very strange. they need each other and respect each other but King Bifalt has this weird thinking.

Lots of exciting things happen and there is mostly emotional drama and a few fight scenes.

Still it seems like a rushed version of a true Donaldson book.


Content concerns: No sex. Violence. Blood, gore, mild cursing.

[Vladimir Ivanov · Rating 2 out of 5]

НО КАК ЖЕ ТАК, МИСТЕР ДОНАЛЬДСОН?

К сожалению, вынужден признать, что все авансы, которые я щедро выдал автору после прочтения первой, честно скажем, не очень сильной книги (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), оказались потрачены впустую. Ничего из ожидаемого не реализовалось: ни психологически глубокие персонажи, ни закрученный сюжет с интригами внутри тайн, ни красивый мир.

Очень досадно это признавать, но первое впечатление оказалось верным — перед нами очень простая фентезийная история про то, как на маленькое королевство надвигается злой враг, воины доблестно готовятся к обороне, а предатели коварствуют. Сама оборона будет в третьей части, а больше тут ничего и нет, 600 страниц пустоты, написанной ужасным примитивным слогом.

< Кламат поспешил вернуться к своим обязанностям. Король Бифальт остался один. Он хотел биться головой о стену. Он хотел кричать. У него создалось впечатление, что правда была еще хуже, чем он мог себе вообразить. Хуже, чем похищение Элгарта. Хуже, чем исчезновение архижреца. Джаспид должен был вернуться несколько часов назад. >

Читать такое — просто мучение.

[Clint Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

The meatball that is The Great God’s War series begins to form in The War Within.

It would seem that the entity from Seventh Decimate that kept communicating, protecting and resurrecting Bifalt from death is most likely rooted in the Great Library. General Klamath explains King Bifalt's situation:

"King Bifalt," he stated, "expects war because those Magisters fear it. They have an enemy, and they want Belleger and Amika to defend them…"

Over and over Bifalt reminds the reader that the Great Library is using the united kingdoms to act as a shield from an unknown outside threat. Bialt more than resents his countries being used as nothing more than protection for the Library's survival, but he ultimately has no choice.

The Library has outmanoeuvred Bifalt, using their bargaining power to persuade him to unite the warring countries of his homeland Belleger and their age-long enemies, the Amikans. The countries are united through his union with Queen Estie of Amika.

The problem with this politically motivated marriage is that the initially-naive Estie is enamored with Bifalt, an emotionally one-dimensional character with a deeply personal, rigid, unimaginative moral code.

Bifalt seems to have no emotional attachment to Estie, and his tortured, tedious logic for not consummating their wedding is slowly revealed as the plot drily rolls on like a slow walk through a Nebraska cornfield. Bifalt:

"If I claim a husband’s privilege with you, how can Belleger believe I have not been seduced by Amika? And if your consent comes from the heart, how can Amika trust your allegiance?"

It's a shambolic argument with an even worse conclusion that follows much later in the story. He feels he is "[t]he man who has used his wife and her realm to slow the destruction of his people." Bifalt is emotionally stunted and incapable of communicating these thoughts with Estie herself. Lucky for him, Estie seems inexplicably willing to wait without any hint of this promise:

But I have promised myself that when this war is done -- if I live -- if I have served my people honorably -- I will claim my place as her husband.

Bifalt has a childish, raging disposition...

"...my lady Queen is more subtle than I am. She used only words to surprise Postern’s secrets out of him. I would have relied on my fists and rage."

Estie remains ridiculously faithful, but her character quickly grows into responsible maturity:

At once, her whole face hardened. "You have never trusted me. From the first, you have discounted my consent, my understanding, my support, my love. And yet I have never lied to you. I will not lie now.

At this point a plot that deserves far less than two full length novels has dragged on with much unwarranted repetition and detail. This is most problematic because Donaldson's greatest strength is his storytelling. Usually Donaldson's characters (despite technical problems in his handling of them) are compelling as well. Here in The War Within he is more successful in this area than in Seventh Decimate. This is mostly on the strength of Estie and her companions, Magister Facile and warrior Lylin, and also because far less time is devoted to the cardboard rage-King Bifalt.

Donaldson's style is clumsy and problematic, and this book is no exception. It's more polished than Seventh Decimate, but still has its share of limitations.

Readers who are fans of Cecil B DeMille's pedantic lists and slow progress will enjoy this passage:

She had encouraged the establishment of shops, merchantries, ironworks, stables, smithies, taverns, inns. And she paid well for men and women who could construct homes, or repair streets and sewers and walls, or labor on her road, or join King Bifalt’s army, or sweat in the foundries that forged her cannon, or help with the fortification of the Bay of Lights. Every year, her people became more prosperous. In turn, they paid better prices for food, ale, wine, timber, metals; and anyone she did not employ directly could afford to work the fields, or the forests, or the mines for Amika’s benefit.

Consider these strained and nonsensical Donaldsonian metaphors:

A dangerous passion congested his visage: his hands swung like bludgeons.

At the top of the road, the wind’s remorseless howl stuttered...

When ice began to clog the guns and make every exposed surface as slick as oil...

...the sun shining on the large sails lit them like omens...

Flamora is so sexy that "[b]y repute, her smile could ravish oxen."

There's plenty of lazy writing...

Here are some names that Donaldson phones-in (Good ole Blurn!):

Estie heard a crash at her back, a heavy body falling; heard Anina wail, "Blurn!"

...they came to an inn called, in true Bellegerin fashion, "Beds, Food, Ale."

The use of a location named 'Open Hand' combined with a sexual sect leads to some (likely) unplanned awkwardness:

Devotees of Flesh had defused countless bursts of unrest in the Open Hand.

Or the Matt- family, whose names sound like a conjugation exercise: Matt, Mattson, Matta, Mattin, Mattilda, Mattwill

The reader is expected to believe in a culture with gunpowder and buildings that has no prior knowledge of religion or sea travel:

The presence of the Church -- of any church -- was comparatively new in Belleger. Like Amika before the priests came, Belleger knew nothing of religion.

Like everyone else in living memory, the officers commanding the bay had never seen vessels that traveled the seas.

That said, Donaldson does demonstrate skillful cinematic control over some scenes, especially when light and dark and shadows bring it to life.

Now she sounded more like an axe chopping timber

In this scene Estie is holding a conference on the side while she observes other groups simultaneously -- a small touch that keeps the action immediate.

Over the Magister’s shoulder, Queen Estie saw the devotee of Spirit accost Commander Crayn. He dismounted to greet her.

Tottering as she moved, she made her way around the room, snuffing one unsteady candle flame at a time.
...
"A year after he left Amika’s Desire, he sent for me." One candle after another. "And again a year later. I stayed with him for almost a fortnight. Then he was done with me."
...
While Estie watched, transfixed by the force of her mother’s desire to hide what she saw, Queen Rubia finished extinguishing the candles. In the same way, she began to blow out the lamps.

A brief stretch of clear sky above the Fist filled the room with unexpected light, etching faces out of the gloom.

Random instants of moonlight made the riders ahead of Estie real, then swept away, leaving them in darkness. So many cantering hooves on the dense carpet of cedar needles raised a soughing like the whisper of breezes in the high branches. She had no way to measure time or distance. They were quicksand. She sank into them and left no trace. She had become unreal herself, a figure in a dream. When the whole company slowed to a halt, she hardly noticed that she was no longer moving.

[Scott Kardel · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me Stephen R. Donaldson's Seventh Decimate was a very frustrating book to read and had I not already known that Donaldson was a wonderful writer I likely would not have read the second book in the series, but I am glad that I did. The second book the the series, The War Within, very much delivers epic fantasy and very much sets up what looks to be a spectacular third book in the series.
4.5 stars

[Graeme · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book. Maybe I just havent read enough of Donaldsons books for a while and forgot the style but I found the first half long and boring and nearly gave up. Eventually he got to the action and if anything this part was too short after the prolonged build up. A book of two halves for me, a long boring introduction followed by a much more interesting second half. First half 2 stars. Second half 4 stars.
Lets hope the third book in series isn't too far away.

[Michael Cornell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disappointment after the brilliance of Thomas Covenant

[Randy Pursley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book better than the previous in the series, but still not very gripping.

[Eamonn Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The War Within’ is the sequel to ‘The Seventh Decimate’ and begins twenty years after the events of that book, so there are inevitable spoilers if you haven’t read book one yet. It showed Belleger and Amika, two lands in a state of perpetual war, both with sorcerers called Magisters with powers called Decimates, including fire, lightning, pestilence, wind, earthquake and drought. Overnight, all these powers vanished and Prince Bifalt of Belleger went on a quest to the Last Repository, a library containing all the knowledge in the world, to get them back.

So here’s book two. A prologue sets out the big picture as Sirjane Marrow the blind librarian in the Last Repository meets with Set Umbagwey, trader and perhaps the richest man in the world. Umbagwey brings news that the expected invasion from a foreign horde may be coming even sooner than expected. The powers in the Last Repository have set up Belleger and Amika to form a defensive barricade against this invasion. The stage is being set for an epic battle but there are internal problems to deal with first.
Cut to Belleger, now allied with its ancient enemy, Amika, since Prince Bifalt married Princess Estie of that realm. Her father, King Smegin agreed to the match and the peace because the terms include the restoration of sorcerous powers to the Magisters and he wants his lightning back, even though he has to relinquish the throne in favour of his daughter. Now Bifalt is king in Belleger and Estie is queen of Amika but the marriage remains unconsummated because of his strong principles.

He won’t sleep with a woman who was forced to wed him to make a political alliance. She’s mad for him but can’t change his mind, even though she’s the most beautiful lady in any land. Doomed love has been at the heart of the romantic epic since Lancelot and Guinevere and Donaldson puts it across effectively.

King Bifalt is a grim, tormented soul. He hates Magisters and knows the Magisters of the Last Repository are using him and his people for their own ends, but to save his homeland from the coming invasion, he can only comply. There’s some conflict with Queen Estie over the allocation of resources as Bifalt wants men and materials to defend Belleger’s sea coast and she wants them to build a road to the Last Repository, a giant fortress as well as a library, so the people can flee there if necessary.

The contrast between the two countries is interesting. Belleger is almost spartan, partly due to poverty. Amika was richer overall, but the wealth was unevenly distributed. Poor people were kept in separate ghettos. Queen Estie taxes the merchants, builds better roads and houses for the poor and makes sure they have enough to live reasonably well. She’s some kind of pinko-liberal socialist and will surely come to a bad end.

There’s a strong supporting cast, too. Klamath, Bifold’s companion in book one, is now a general and charged with organising the army. Elgart, another former soldier, is now Bifalt’s spymaster, working with Magister Facile from the Last Repository who came to Belleger with them for reasons of her own. Elgart is particularly concerned with the Church of the Great God Rile, a religious order led by Archpriest Makh that preaches peace. Religion and gods are new to the people of Belleger and Amika, who never heard of the idea before.
This strikes me as odd because most primitive people come up with some notion of gods but the reasoning is that they had sorcery to account for the supernatural aspect of life. In any case, a cult preaching peace isn’t welcome when you’re gearing up for war, though it suits your enemy. The cult also give a double meaning to the book’s title because they preach about the war within a person between truth and faith, a rather abstract concept.

There’s far too much in this long novel to summarise easily. Donaldson begins the tale twenty years after the first book but shows the main events in between with flashback. The point of view shifts between several characters and each gets a long chapter to make your acquaintance. General Klamath, Queen Estie, Elgart the spymaster and Captain Heren Flisk, who is preparing the sea defences and others. Estie is the central character of this book and she faces plots, treachery, revelations and surprises aplenty along her path.

The pace is leisurely because Donaldson is more interested in character than breathless action scenes, though he does them well when necessary. You get to know the people. He writes in smooth, modern prose without jarring adjectives and backward sentences to add ‘style’ so the book is an easy, pleasant read and completely absorbing.

The middle segment is a tricky stage in any trilogy, but this one works well with further developments and revelations to keep the reader interested. If you have to wait years for the conclusion, it must be frustrating but, luckily, I have book three, ‘The Killing God’ to hand. Looking forward to it.

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long-time fan of Mr. Donaldson, I have been pleasantly surprised by his new foray into fantasy fiction! Prosaically, The Great God’s War series is much like his other works, but the tone of The War Within, and the preceding Seventh Decimate, isn’t as sad and poignant as the Covenant series – I wasn’t as fearful for Belleger and Amika's characters as I was for those in The Land. And, thankfully, it wasn't as dark and, well, twisted as the tone of The Gap series – I actively disliked most of The Gap personalities.

In terms of atmosphere, I’d feel pretty firm in saying, if Mordant’s Need resonated with you, you’ll enjoy TGGW. Don't get me wrong, I saw the reasons for all of the character flaws in all of Donladson's previous works, but I didn’t share most of them. In TGGW, the protagonists are grim and extreme, but I didn’t have to stretch to encompass their motivations and needs.

Underlying and supporting the characters and tone, Donaldson has again created a unique panoply of intriguing powers and cultures that feel like traditional fantasy, but are contextually richer and, by the nature of being ‘new’, more hidden – once again comfortable, without being rote or dull. To help give you a better feel for the mystic/tech aspects, think a mechanized, more cerebral Game of Thrones... minus the debauchery.

As for the antagonist or villainous force, we learn very little about the pending danger and conflict that assails the realm in the first two novels, but we know that Donaldson will deliver a struggle that says as much more about the sympathetic characters than it does about the ones we dislike. I’m guessing again, but something more like Master Eremis, rather than Lord Foul. I'm probably wrong; Donaldson can run in unexpected ways and often does.

To wrap this up, if you’ve enjoyed Donaldson’s work in the past, but have often been frustrated by some of his characters’ futility or flat refusal to act heroic, you’ll enjoy TGGW. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for another Unbeliever Chronicles, with sweeping grandeur, heartbreak, beauty, and scope, you’ll have to look elsewhere, as TGGW is a different animal – if you ever find such a unicorn, please be kind enough to share! Until then, buy, read, and enjoy Stephen R. Donaldson’s The Great God’s War.

[Ella (The Story Collector) · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the twenty years since Prince Bifalt found the Last Repository and secured an alliance between Belleger and Amika, peace has come to both lands. But the peace has been uneasy, and with the Last Repository’s ancient enemy finally approaching, tensions are running high. For Bifalt, now king of Belleger, nothing matters more than preparing his country for the oncoming war. For Queen Estie, his wife and the queen of Amika, an internal conspiracy threatens to overturn her rule and destroy everything she and Bifalt has worked for.

I enjoyed this book much more than the first in the series, The Seventh Decimate, although it did take me a lot longer to read. This second instalment covers a lot more ground, but has a more character-focused storyline and spent much more time concentrating on the development of particular characters. As a result, this one reads much more like a regular fantasy novel than the first book, which felt to me very similar to reading a history book (aside from all the magic and fantasy elements, of course).

The plot is very detailed, crossing different time frames and focusing on different character’s points of view. As a result, the pacing is a bit slow and felt a bit dragged out.

I was persistently irritated by one particular piece of very lazy writing throughout this book. It is explained that Belleger and Amika have no religion. They have no concept of religious faith, and have never heard of church or gods, hence their confusion and mistrust when the priests of the Great God Rile, show up and start building churches and preaching to the community. However, characters in the novel frequently use “Hells” as a curse, and describe riding into the battles between Belleger and Amika as entering “Hell”. Hell is an entirely religious concept, so how do they know what Hell is if they have no religion and have never even heard of a god? This is pure laziness from the author, and annoyed me no end.

It is worth a read and does grow on you as you progress through the story, but it is far (far, far, far) from the best fantasy novel I’ve read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Joe Kessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not quite loving this fantasy trilogy, but the second volume is a major improvement, offering an expansive plot of castle intrigue and warfare preparations in place of the somewhat stilted morality play of the first novel. The addition of further viewpoint figures helps too, and although we're still stuck in a small corner of the map as great deeds happen elsewhere, the worldbuilding seems more complete, with kingdoms who know of their neighbors (who would know of their own neighbors, etc.).

Author Stephen R. Donaldson often creates characters rigidly governed by the oblique strictures they've imposed on themselves, which I find interesting in a literary sense even when I can't really relate to their struggles. Here, for instance, his returning protagonist Bifalt feels he's been reduced to a tool by the events of Seventh Decimate, forced onto a path where he can only seek honor in the total abnegation of agency. That's a fascinating sort of ideology with clear shades of Donaldson's classic antihero Thomas Covenant -- yet for the most part, this series showcases the writer rhyming and riffing on his favorite themes, rather than outright repeating himself.

This title is a high three-out-of-five stars for me, falling short merely in that its middle-book storyline features a lot of setup for the finale at the expense of rewarding payoff in the present. A few threads in particular are left without any satisfying immediate climax, and while I'm fairly invested in their ultimate resolution, I do wish we had more of a taste of it right now.

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[Remo Biagioni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great God's War picks up 20 years after the events in Seventh Decimate to explore the consequences of the decisions made by Prince Bifalt. So far, so formulaic. Donaldson, however, surpasses himself and takes this formula to new heights. The War Within refers to the internal war between different sides of the main characters' natures, to the disagreements with government, to the suppressed war between mainly peaceful states, to the anticipated war between more powerful states, and to the war between state and religion. Donaldson is using the fantasy genre as a metaphor to explore proxy wars. It's hard to believe that the title is not a reference to The War Within: A Secret White House History, 2006-08 which looks at "the hidden rooms of the White House ... where the details of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were fiercely debated and eventually determined."


Donaldson continues to tell the story from different characters' points of view, Bifalt himself, though constantly at the centre of the story, is seen through the eyes of those closest to him until around three quarters of the way through. Fundamentally, this book is a wonderful study of character.

[Alex Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more in depth story, building on the first book.
Was difficult to get through around page 180. Far more politics and world building.

The alliance between Belleger and Amika is 19 years old now, and they have been preparing for a war that finally arrives at the end of the book. The enemy of the Last Respiratory (Library) reaches the cliffs where Bifalt has been reinforcing with cannons, and they repel the 3 ships by sinking 2. But they see the enemy has very powerful sorcery.

The church inside the countries have been spying for this enemy and have seemingly kidnapped Elgart, the master spy. The archpriest has sorcery to persuade people.

Queen Estie has challenged her father, who enslaved Nuuri into building her road in order to cause them to attack Amika. Prince Lome of Belleger also tried to have Estie killed so that the alliance can fail and her father would become king again. Estie killed her father through her Magister. This Magister then told her she had a power for sorcery that still sleeps.

She has now gone to the library to seek out the knowledge of what that power is, even though Bifalt hates sorcery and now cannot trust Estie, or what she might become.

[Jason Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of chewing for not enough progress

I mean, it's decent enough, if you're a Donaldson fan, and boasts more colour and action than the first volume. The author's characteristic and unbending moral sense underlies the drama and bears its hard fruit, but the story seems sometimes overwrought, with characters in need of a slap. It feels like both these first two volumes are largely preparatory, so the third one needs to pay off big time.

The War Within
(The Great God’s War, Book 2)
by Stephen Donaldson

Bifalt, King of Belleger, is married
To Amika’s Queen Estie, and in peace
The countries build defences, ever harried
By tidings of their unknown foe’s caprice.
Estie’s father’s crimes against the Nuuri
Drive her home to pit, against the odds
And his great sorcery, her righteous fury.
But who are all these priests? And what are gods?

This second volume gathers pace and power
And narrative is shared round many figures,
As ragged kingdoms pressed await the hour,
And marriage strains against the hard King’s rigours.
Withal, this feels too much a waiting game,
Not more wonder, just more of the same.

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a big Donaldson fan, but this is by far his worst book. Bifalt is somehow an even bigger douche than he was in book 1 but thankfully he wasn't a POV character in this book. His reason for not having children has all the thoughtfulness of a 6 year old so he hasn't grown up at all in 20 years. The characters are even dumber in this book, making decisions that make no sense at all. A minor example: the Queen is building a road to the library, which is on Belleger's side of the gorge. She makes the road on Amika's side which will force her to build a bridge when they already are short manpower & money. Yeah, that makes tons of sense. And on top of everything, NOTHING happens in this book. 600+ pages of boring, time wasting nothing. I now understand why his publisher demanded 100,000 words be cut from book 3 as this novel just went on & on when it should have been condensed into just a single chapter in the next book. Pretty sure I will not continue with book 3 as except for Queen Estie, I hope "the enemy" kills everyone else. They're all just terrible people.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

The War Within, book two of The Great God’s War, continues this epic tale by one of the greats of fantasy literature. Though not a standalone novel, The Seventh Decimate has much in common with The Gap Cycle’s The Real Story - it is a peephole view to a much larger world. The War Within opens up the door and presents a much fuller picture.

Donaldson is in top form as he weaves his typical psychological depth and insight throughout this tale of impending war and invasion by unknown but powerful forces. King Bifault struggles with his own ignorance, his sense of duty, his hatred for magisters and his need for their theurgy; while Queen Estie grows into her own - all while treachery and betrayal threaten, unrequited love gnaws and the mysterious Church of the Great God Rile continues its secret machinations.

The inclusion of modern(ish) weaponry and Bifault’s judgment of theurgy (or rather, the reason behind his judgment), raise some interesting moral questions about modern warfare.

Highly recommended!

[Nigel Charman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tense and absorbing

Stephen Donaldson writes in an engrossing manner tales of people caught in inescapable internal struggles. People who desire so strongly that they avoid the object of their need, people who fear so much that they are drawn to their nightmare. It makes for tense, sometimes uncomfortable reading. I cannot really remember some of the last few books that I read, but I recall every detail of the first Thomas Covenant book that I read 40 years ago. This book is similar. At times I could not put it down, but did not want to read on, worn out with the tension. Thrilling, exhausting, engrossing, don't look here for an easy read, to be thrown away and forgotten after a few hours. No black and white goodies and baddies here. Ordinary people driven by extraordinary circumstances to extreme commitment to their values. We can all see a little of ourselves in these people.

[Boostamonte Halvorsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. As predicted, the first book was pure setup all so Donaldson could work his magic and get going! I can't think of any other way for him to do it other than the way he did, which means the first book just had to suck a bit. Best way I can describe it (for those who have read Lord Foul's Bane is -- imagine if he had to write the first book just doing the first part of LFB, where it explain the story of Covenant's leprosy and it ends the book at the car crash... you would be like, "what the hell, the main character didn't do anything but be pissed off at the world. This book sucked" and then the second book comes out and the whole thing blooms and you see why we had to read that first book in order to get the second! It made this book have so much more impact and it just made the characters all have more depth to them. I couldn't stop reading this one. In his 70's (I think Donaldson is 75 now) he is still on top of his game and a world class storyteller and writer!

[Seth de Reus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reviews covers the whole trilogy. Not as grim as many of his other works, this was a nice read. Two small kingdoms face an apocalyptic threat, an unstoppable army seeking to destroy The Repository, a magical library hidden in the far corner of the world - an army that must go through them. In the first book a prince must seek the Repository to find a way to restore magic to his kingdom, but he also must.find a way to make peace. The second book covers preparing for invasions and uncovering internal threats while the third covers the actual invasion. Prince Bifalt needs to navigate his suspicion of magic and his marriage to the Queen of his former enemies. The enemy has powers and resources beyond the heroes, which means anything they try is overcome (a frustration at times, when you have enemies with plot armour) but the interaction between characters was powerful. This series doesn't have the brutality of Thomas Covenant or the Gap series so it might be a preferable series.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

The War Within is the second book in The Great God's War series.


Belleger and Amika now have a fragile peace that has lasted two decades. Both countries have started to recover - but some believe a new invasion is coming…

There are conspiracies, marriages and damaged people…..(a bit like Thomas Covenant and his personal issues….not leprosy)..

This is world building at its best, so not a fast paced read but immersive and descriptive…...a war is about to begin.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, 'The War Within #2' may seem like a slow burn as it delves into introducing its array of characters and their backgrounds, which might be more appreciated by readers familiar with the series. However, around page 152, the story kicks into high gear with captivating plots, unexpected twists, and drama that keeps readers hooked until the very end. Despite the initial pacing, the book evolves into a compelling fantasy read that leaves readers eager to dive into the next installment. Overall, it's a satisfying continuation of the series that delivers excitement and intrigue. I cannot wait to read the next book ( The Killing God #3) in the series and see how this story ends.