Scepters

Corean Chronicles #3

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

The popular creator of Recluce and of the Spellsong world of Liedwahr has built a whole new fantasy world on Corus. With each new volume of the Corean Chronicles we learn more about the magical underpinnings of this fascinating realm as we follow the continuing adventures of his reluctant hero, Alucius. In Legacies he became the first Iron Valley militiaman to escape sorcerous enslavement in Madrien. In Darknesses, he found a way to defeat a would-be conqueror who revived the fearsome creatures and potent weaponry of the legendary past. Now he returns to face the greatest challenges yet to both his courage and his magical Talent.

Alucius is happy back on his nightsheep stead with his beloved wife Wendra, who is expecting their first child. But the country is beset by enemies on all sides. Although the Lord Protector of Lanachrona keeps his promise not to order Alucius back to active duty, Alucius finds his request for help no easier to ignore.

Newly promoted to higher rank, and given command of a combined force of the Northern and Southern Guards, Alucius must first quell a strange religiously-inspired rebellion and then find a way to destroy the powerful weapons of ancient design again being used by the forces of Madrien. Unlike the Lord Protector, Alucius can see that a third, covert, threat must be behind the other two. He will have to confront an alien evil that seeks to enslave the whole world of Corus in the guise of bringing back a lost golden age. Only the timely assistance of the mysterious ancient Soarers and the addition of Wendra's Talent to his own give him any hope of success. Scepters is a stirring climax to the first Corean trilogy.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, High Fantasy, Audiobook

738 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

About the author

L. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.

He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good way to wrap up the trilogy. Definitely should be read in order since the ideas behind the 'magic' grow with each book until we're finally given enough information to understand it. Overall, the story was a 4 star one. Modesitt has a real talent for coming up with systems that have a strict economy to them which places some very inconvenient limits on exceedingly powerful heroes. This magic system was a great example.

But I only gave this book 3 stars this time because I just detested the end game mostly because of how his wife came along with their child. Her carrying the child through that mess was just ludicrous. The reasoning for it was stupid & the way it was carried out far too convenient. Yuck! Otherwise, it was a very good book.

Spoilers below I hate to do it, but the main question & theme of the trilogy can't be discussed without it.

This magic system is based on the life force of a planet, basically the energy of the biosphere which creates ley lines across the continent. These were used by the Ancients, a native people who are dying out, for their civilization in a way that didn't disturb the natural order. The planet was invaded long ago by the Ifrits, a race that makes a practice of finding such worlds & draining them to create their high civilization. They took over the world, laying their alien ley lines along side the native ones. They ruled the world for a time, but then something broke their hold on the world for ages & now they're trying to get it back just as the last of the Ancients are dying.

Alucius & the other humans are 'steers', beings created/fostered by the Ifrits to provide labor & life force. A few have some ability to use the life force, thus are 'talented'. Alucius is quite talented & has been born at this critical moment. The Ancients help & teach him while the Ifrits try to kill him. Ultimately, he doesn't have much choice in what he has to do, but he comes to deeply understand the different philosophies of the 2 other races.

So the obvious theme is a question of philosophy between how much to use the resources of a planet for survival & civilization. The Ancients' way seems like the nicer one on the surface, but they're dying out. The Ifrits spoil the world, but their way leads to ordered societies with great arts & sciences. Ultimately, they're too self-seeking, though.

We're never told what caused the cataclysm that brought down the original Ifrit empire on the world. The remnants are pretty awesome, so it's hard to imagine, but let's Modesitt go back in time for the next trilogy for that story. I look forward to rereading it through this wonderful narration. I forget the guy's name now, but he's very good.

[Liviu · Rating 4 out of 5]

reread 2017 - again I mostly agree with my original review, but knowing about the super dee duper magic allowed me to focus on the much more enjoyable mundane parts of the novel which have all the touches that I am expecting from a good LE Modesitt novel, so a 4 star now

review on original read 2013
see here for book 2 (and 1): http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

this one has Alucius finally at the supreme height of his powers and it is almost all super-dee-duper magic and boring to no end; waste of the author's skills and construction of another great character with potential to be remembered for a long time

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good ending for the trilogy. It neatly wrapped up the story & answered most of the important questions, although it leaves enough hanging that a sense of mystery lingers & the trilogy could be extended. The precarious ecological theme runs through this trilogy, as in most of his books. It's presented in a slightly different manner, though.

On the downside, Alucius is a little too good & the story is a little too neatly wrapped up. As a romantic, I liked it. If you want gritty reality in your fantasy books, this probably isn't for you. His relationship with his wife is too perfect & she's not a well developed character. Modesitt can't write a sexually charged scene, either.

His characters are the same few. Alucius is the same as Lerris or any other of his heroes, but with fewer faults than most. Heinlein only had a few characters & I've liked all his early books, so it doesn't bother me, but might some.

All in all, if you like Modesitt, I think you'll like this. If you read the first part of the trilogy, this is a must read.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Najbolji deo trilogije. Najzad smo zavrsili sa upoznavanjima i izgradnjom sveta i akcija moze da krene:)

Jedino sto mi smeta u Modesitovim knjigama je insistiranje na izmisljenim recima kao zamene za dane u nedelji slicno. Mislim utice da te prebaci u drugu zemlju ali kada je sve na sngleskom a samo tih par reci je drugacije onda nekako bode oci.

Ali u svakom slucaju zabavno stivo.

[Pickyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!!!

I loved reading this book. It was a beautiful ending to the trilogy. Now I need to find another masterpiece to read.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

SCEPTERS: THE 3RD BOOK OF THE COREAN CHRONICLES returns us to the world of Corus, broken into small warring states after the collapse of its high-tech human culture 500 years before. Alucius, retired from his captaincy in the Madrien Militia, is home on his ranch, herding his darksheep and awaiting the birth of his first daughter. Called back to service by the Protector of Lanachrona, Alucius must lead the Northern Guard against rebels, while the non-human Soarers (the original inhabitants of Corus) beg him to use his psychic talents against invaders from an alternate reality. These monsters, known as Ifrits, who ruthlessly ruled Corus before the high-tech collapse, are desperate to bring their ailing population back to Corus before the link between the worlds is severed. Placing disguised Ifrits as influential leaders in the states opposing Lanchronia and the Iron Valleys, the invaders manipulate the political aspirations of the rulers of the warring states to permit themselves time to set up their relay of “tables”, which will power the invasion. Only Alucius, his wife Wendra, and the dying race of Soarers stand between the Ifrits and their goal.
As usual, Modesitt includes in his action-adventure a philosophical question for Alucius, who comments at Scepters’ end: “the Ifrits believed that [their] survival justified any action … they would sacrifice any world and any people for their way of life. The Soarers believed that no sacrifice was too great to maintain life as it had been. They were both wrong.”

[Mary Soon Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in Modesitt's fantasy series, "The Corean Chronicles," and (I think) concludes the story of Alucius, a character very much in the mold of Modesitt's typical heroes: highly capable, hard on himself, trying to do what he thinks is right. Although the book is primarily fantasy, it contains significant science fiction components. I thought the mixing of genres worked, but I did find the science-fictional characters, the ifrits, a little too one-note. Other than that, I very much enjoyed the book. In addition to liking Alucius and being throughly caught up in his adventures, I also enjoyed Wendra and Feran. Book four is calling....

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This set of three books were eye opening. To think how anyone would use life force energy in the ways that are described is shocking. I guess we could equate it to how we rape and pillage the earth but differently yet with the same kinds of results.

The protagonists are not nice and the heroes equally having to do things they would ordinarily choose not to. However, I liked the plots, well thought out and were plots created by the author, not ones we read about over and over just in different scenarios

I wished the author had chosen to include a glossary as he used words that I was unsure of his meaning of them.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's L.E. Modesitt, so of course it was great. Really great. And sure the action is fast and the world-building is so tightly perfect that you feel as if you could navigate your way around Corus should you ever get there somehow, but mostly this story just feels right. It doesn't feel as though you're reading a book, instead it feels as though someone is telling a wonderful story about things that really happened. Which of course they did.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very neat ending to a nice arc. I love the way Author empowers the MC’s wife. She’s just as strong and vital. His luck in choosing her comes back and saves the world.

Rating: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Narration: 4/5
Favorite Line: na

[Michelle]

My physical copy. I read it eons ago and remember liking it, but I don't remember enough to give a definitive rating. I will be posting many read physical books in this fashion! So if I don't give a rating, now ya know why ;)

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is better than the music one. Probably because the music one had so many cringey music details that I yelled about. I don't know anything about Night Sheep farming, so this one didn't bother me. :)

[Rain Külm · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's still good, maybe a little overpowered and kind a too fast but if there is magic then u never know what and if... world got saved and locals get to keep the planet... this is where the series should have ended... but there are 5 more books...

[Pat King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series

[MARTIN MCVEIGH · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my reviews of Legacies, Darknesses. If you like fantasy, I recommend this series, and Modesitt in general.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, I can't believe the series continues. I can't wait to see what happens.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series. Read it multiple times

Great series. Really enjoy the description of the every day along with the larger plots.

Definitely will recommend to others.

[Kevin Konrad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book took much longer to read, do have to say this one was not as good as the first two but decent enough to much beauracy and not enough fighting. But still a decent book non the less

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really not that good. Long and convoluted. Sappy to the extreme.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story with good characters. I got a bit frustrated with Alucius continually being manipulated back into the army, but it all worked out.

[Robert Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a detailed review check out

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC82t...

[Daniel Shellenbarger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scepters was a decent end to the first trilogy of Corean books, closing off Alucius and Wendra's story, but while I liked the overall story, I also felt that this book had just too much going on. Modesitt had at least two books worth of plot points crammed into a little over 600 pages, and frankly it wore me out with Alucius jumping from one problem to another while the world crumbled down around him. I suppose this wouldn't have been as much of a problem if there had been a real feeling of impending danger, but Modesitt (generally) likes for his heroes to win and I just never felt that there was any chance that Alucius wasn't going to win in the end, so each individual crisis just didn't feel all that threatening and the conclusion foregone. Moreover, one of my favorite things about Modesitt's writing is the clever ways he has his protagonists resolve complicated problems and with Alucius rushing from problem to problem putting out fires, the solutions became increasingly draconian. The end result is a story that feels cramped, rushed, and under-developed as if the author wanted to be done with the characters and move on to something else. On the other hand, the story itself is still quite interesting so it's not as big a train wreck (in my opinion) as The Order War, it just shouldn't have all been crammed into one book.

[William Bentrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scepters by L.E. Modesitt, jr

This is book three of the Corean Chronicles. The root of Corus's problems is clearly exposed in this book. Alucius finds his wife invaluable in his quest to save not only his way of life but his whole planet.

Alucius, becomes even more deadly over-captain and continues to in insists he is nothing but a herder. Alucius's talent is continuing to grow and become more useful. The elusive and reclusive Soarers bring Wendra into the equation. Whe is forced to expand her knowledge and use of her links to the world lines.

I am an admitted admirer of Modesitt's style and work. There is a common thread of honor and responsibility through his work. His characters struggle to maintain their core identities and to remain truly humble in spite of increasing power.

The common thread, as I stated in previous Modesitt reviews is the lone soul fighting for self identity in a harsh world. Alucius and Wendra find their way to personal satisfaction in this volume with the resolution of many problems. It will be interesting to see where Modesitt goes with the series next. This volume had lots of action and thought!

I highly recommend.

Site: http://www.lemodesittjr.com/

[Saya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I've finished this trilogy of the Corean Chronicles and allowed myself to read reviews, I'm half-and-half about how much I liked it.

I repeat the criticisms of the first two: EDIT PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Another book that could have been cut down by a third.

I think with really long books with multiple and complex aspects, you forgive the shortcomings more easily than in a short book because there's enough else to make up for it. So while I took note of all the repetition, and the parts where each time a word, place or thing was mentioned it seemed like Modesitt just c/p-ed the paragraph from the last time he mentioned it...it just made me chuckle indulgently.

Unlike some critics, I don't mind that Alucius always delivers. I like to like characters, and I liked him, and one thing I thought was totally awesome was Wendra doing all her butt-kicking with Alendra - her three-month old - in her carry-pack, strapped to her ma. That was very very cool.

Not sure if I'll read more, though...judging from the reviews, it all gets rather repetitive in plot.

[J.C. Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is about my impressions after reading this book and the two before it. It may contain some spoilers that are inadvertent.

So this is the story of a young man who is a herder by trade and is conscripted into the militia. While that is only a small part of what is going on the most interesting part of this series is the way life seems to be tied together by threads. The color of the threads seems to represent where you come from, for example the black/green threads belong to the herders of the the massive night sheep. This story has so many levels of things going on and much not explained about the past that I was a bit bewildered by everything that was going on.

It is well written with enjoyable characters, and detestable villains. The storyline was easy to follow, even if the plot twisted in so many directions it was difficult to keep it completely clear.

[Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always worried about not stopping with the first book in the series if it was good because I don't want to be disappointed later, but no book in this series disappointed me, and I feel best for having read them all. The story comes full circle and answers any questions and loose ends by the end of the series.

One of my favorite series ever. I loved the main character and seeing how he would outsmart his troubles. I loved a lot if the descriptions about the world, and the magic is genius. I don't usually care for political/war issues, but they were do character-centered that I felt it added to the story considerably. The author clearly spent a long time organizing the backstory. I've had a hard time finding books I like this much except with this author.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was decent. Once again I have my issues with Modesitt's recycled characters but his stories are still entertaining and I'll keep reading them. My main problem with this book is that Alucius and Wendra are just about the worst parents in the history of Corus and beyond. They repeatedly take their newborn baby into gunfights and even to another world, which they have full intentions of blowing up in order to make their own world a better place. Not once do they even consider that this may not be the wisest course of action or that they'd rather their baby live in the world without them. Only once do they even express any sort of concern about the baby and even then only stating that the safest place was with them.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very exciting end to this trilogy, with plenty of action as is expected of this series, the magic system isn't really taken any further except for a couple of new applications/refinements of older abilities. However the majority of the story is taken up by what I would say was a sideline to the main event, I found myself getting to the last few chapters wondering how on earth this book could be wrapped up so quickly with only a few chapters to go, however I can't say I was disappointed, yes events happened rather quickly, but it didn't feel that rushed to me and ive really liked the characters that have featured in this trilogy.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the exciting conclusion of the trilogy. It has the same stock characters and the same recycled plots, but it's familiar and I enjoy reading it. This one also had overlong descriptions of food, lots of repetition, and some preachiness. The Soarers aren't the angels they're made out to be, and the Irfit engender some sympathy. Still, it seems the Irfit are behind all the troubles in the world, for their own selfish needs. The hero and his wife are left to defeat them all on their own.
Before that, the hero has to brilliantly take down two separate military threats, root out corruption, and overcome stupidity. He is severely injured several times, but always recovers.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like some other reviews have said, this book needs editorial examination. Some words are used much too often.

But I still liked the book. Modesitt didn't just create bland, totally evil bad guys who wanted to make total chaos or kill everyone. The "bad guys" were people (Efrans/ifrits) from another world. These people live off the lifeforce of worlds, and then travel to another one when it is all "used up."

These Efrans are trying to take over Alucius's world, and he must stop them.