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The Sun Sword #3
The Shining Court
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
The third novel of the acclaimed Sun Sword series returns to a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed...
In the Dominion, those allied with the demons of the Shining Court feared the bargain they’d made. For to the kialli, betrayal was a way of life, and every action was a means to gain greater power. And as the Festival of the Moon approached, the demon kin began to prey upon those in the Tor Leonne. But more frightening than their presence was their “gift” for the Festival, masks created not by human craftsmen, but by the kialli. Even the magic and knowledge of the greatest of the Dominion’s Widan had been unable to discern what trap the masks contained—and time to discover and avert this menace was running out....
In the Empire, the armies were mobilizing for war. But before they carried the battle to the Dominion, Seer Jewel ATerafin would be forced to follow her own destiny. For what she’d seen in vision, she could not deny. And so Jewel, with only Avander to guard her back, would abandon House Terafin on the eve of its greatest peril and journey into the darkness which was fast overshadowing the mortal lands....
And among the Voyani, the moment had come to make their final stand against Allasakar, Lord of the Hells, for they alone had kept to the old ways, guarding the ancient knowledge. But hounded by their enemies, and with one their greatest treasures hidden in the Tor Leonne, could they withstand the power of the Shining Court?
The third novel of the acclaimed Sun Sword series returns to a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed...
In the Dominion, those allied with the demons of the Shining Court feared the bargain they’d made. For to the kialli, betrayal was a way of life, and every action was a means to gain greater power. And as the Festival of the Moon approached, the demon kin began to prey upon those in the Tor Leonne. But more frightening than their presence was their “gift” for the Festival, masks created not by human craftsmen, but by the kialli. Even the magic and knowledge of the greatest of the Dominion’s Widan had been unable to discern what trap the masks contained—and time to discover and avert this menace was running out....
In the Empire, the armies were mobilizing for war. But before they carried the battle to the Dominion, Seer Jewel ATerafin would be forced to follow her own destiny. For what she’d seen in vision, she could not deny. And so Jewel, with only Avander to guard her back, would abandon House Terafin on the eve of its greatest peril and journey into the darkness which was fast overshadowing the mortal lands....
And among the Voyani, the moment had come to make their final stand against Allasakar, Lord of the Hells, for they alone had kept to the old ways, guarding the ancient knowledge. But hounded by their enemies, and with one their greatest treasures hidden in the Tor Leonne, could they withstand the power of the Shining Court?
755 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1999
42 people are currently reading
899 people want to read
About the author
Michelle West
73 books467 followersSee also:
Michelle Sagara West
Michelle Sagara
Michelle is an author, bookseller, and lover of literature based in Toronto. She writes fantasy novels as both Michelle Sagara and Michelle West (and sometimes as Michelle Sagara West). You can find her books at fine booksellers.
She lives in Toronto with her long-suffering husband and her two children, and to her regret has no dogs.
Reading is one of her life-long passions, and she is sometimes paid for her opinions about what she’s read by the venerable Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. No matter how many bookshelves she buys, there is Never Enough Shelf space. Ever.
She has published as Michelle Sagara (her legal name), as Michelle West (her husband's surname), and as Michelle Sagara West (a combination of the two).
Michelle Sagara West
Michelle Sagara
Michelle is an author, bookseller, and lover of literature based in Toronto. She writes fantasy novels as both Michelle Sagara and Michelle West (and sometimes as Michelle Sagara West). You can find her books at fine booksellers.
She lives in Toronto with her long-suffering husband and her two children, and to her regret has no dogs.
Reading is one of her life-long passions, and she is sometimes paid for her opinions about what she’s read by the venerable Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. No matter how many bookshelves she buys, there is Never Enough Shelf space. Ever.
She has published as Michelle Sagara (her legal name), as Michelle West (her husband's surname), and as Michelle Sagara West (a combination of the two).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 13, 2018
Each book in this series takes me forever to read. It doesn’t help that I keep dropping them in favor of literally anything else that looks interesting. This series does not grab you. It is ponderous. It is hard to understand. The writing is at times beautiful but mostly annoying and obtuse. The characters are not endearing, and because of the writing style, it can be hard to tell what happened to which character. There are important, character-defining moments, and I end up forgetting them because they are either written vaguely or fall between the cracks of many pieces of meaningless information, so I don’t pay attention to the piece of information that is meaningful.
Jewel I find incredibly annoying and a large part of the book is about her.
I still want to finish the series because I must admit I am curious where it is going. It’s more than an idle curiosity, but not by much. I want to read all the surrounding books in this world and feel like I really know them. Maybe I read them out of order. Everyone else seems to love Jewel while I find her irritating.
Jewel I find incredibly annoying and a large part of the book is about her.
I still want to finish the series because I must admit I am curious where it is going. It’s more than an idle curiosity, but not by much. I want to read all the surrounding books in this world and feel like I really know them. Maybe I read them out of order. Everyone else seems to love Jewel while I find her irritating.
August 30, 2020
WARNING: Spoilers throughout as tjis is a recap and review.
At book 8 of 16, I've reached the halfway point of the Essalieyan Chronicles. This book dragged a little bit because we were introduced to a new protagonist, Margret of the Voyani. The Voyani seem to be the gypsies of this world and their nomadic existence is unique for two reasons. First, they are ruled by women whereas the rest of the Dominion is an oppressive patriarchy. Second, they wander because legend holds that they are made up of the only four clans to resist Allasksar during the war between the gods. When the demon threat comes back, they will be able to reclaim their homelands which were buried in the desert. Margret is the heir to the Arksoa Matriarch, and we find out she will have a key part to play in the conflict.
Unfortunately, we don't delve too deeply into this because we have to go back to Jewel, who is as annoying as ever. She agreed to be The Terafin's heir but she is fighting it, and any exploration of her talent, the whole way. These books started when Jewel was about 10 years old. She has seen and participated in murder, albeit justifiable. She has seen gods and demons. How is she paralyzingly intimidated by house politics? She's spent her whole life upset by the fact that she doesn't have enough control over her gift to save more people, but she fights tooth and nail against trying to strengthen it.
On the way to the Dominion to find the Voyani, we take a detour in Jewel's dreams that leads to the Winter Road. In narrowly escaping the Winter Queen and her Hunt, we find out that Avandar is a (possibly immortal?) wizard of real power called The Warlord. We don't find out too much more about him because Jewel is too busy being nosy, then throwing fits and hitting the man who has saved her life on multiple occasions when it comes back to bite her. Apparently Jewel hasn't lost her habit of cursing at people, throwing heavy objects, and slapping people when she's in a bad mood. Um, THAT IS ABUSIVE. Then we get a real curveball when Jewel asks Avandar to free the man who raped his wife. HUH? Didn't Jewel and Duster kill two men for raping children? I guess if it's a grown woman it's not as bad. That was a glaring inconsistency for the character and more and more, Jewel shows that she's not as good as she pretends to be.
Meanwhile back in the Dominion, Diora is put in solitary confinement in her father's harem. However, she does get to make a couple of power moves by the end of the book. Sendari and Alesso find out that the demons are split between rival factions (shocker!) and both factions are planning to betray them (SUPER shocker!). The remaining pages are wasted watching Alesso and one of his allies, Eduardo, fight over Serra Diora. The testosterone fairly leaps off the page every time these two men meet. Diora was promised in marriage to Eduardo...but that was before Alesso heard her sing. To make it worse, Eduardo is obsessed with her because way back in The Broken Crown, his proposal was turned down by Sendari. And on Diora's wedding night, the former Kai Leonne swung by the harem to grope Diora in front of Eduardo as a taunt. It's clear that, while Alesso is cunning and strategic and potentially a worthy king in every other way (at least by the standards of the Dominion) his lust for Diora is going to be his downfall.
Overall, not quite as exciting as some other books in the series but enough to keep me engaged. There is a lot of exposition that I hope will pay off later on.
At book 8 of 16, I've reached the halfway point of the Essalieyan Chronicles. This book dragged a little bit because we were introduced to a new protagonist, Margret of the Voyani. The Voyani seem to be the gypsies of this world and their nomadic existence is unique for two reasons. First, they are ruled by women whereas the rest of the Dominion is an oppressive patriarchy. Second, they wander because legend holds that they are made up of the only four clans to resist Allasksar during the war between the gods. When the demon threat comes back, they will be able to reclaim their homelands which were buried in the desert. Margret is the heir to the Arksoa Matriarch, and we find out she will have a key part to play in the conflict.
Unfortunately, we don't delve too deeply into this because we have to go back to Jewel, who is as annoying as ever. She agreed to be The Terafin's heir but she is fighting it, and any exploration of her talent, the whole way. These books started when Jewel was about 10 years old. She has seen and participated in murder, albeit justifiable. She has seen gods and demons. How is she paralyzingly intimidated by house politics? She's spent her whole life upset by the fact that she doesn't have enough control over her gift to save more people, but she fights tooth and nail against trying to strengthen it.
On the way to the Dominion to find the Voyani, we take a detour in Jewel's dreams that leads to the Winter Road. In narrowly escaping the Winter Queen and her Hunt, we find out that Avandar is a (possibly immortal?) wizard of real power called The Warlord. We don't find out too much more about him because Jewel is too busy being nosy, then throwing fits and hitting the man who has saved her life on multiple occasions when it comes back to bite her. Apparently Jewel hasn't lost her habit of cursing at people, throwing heavy objects, and slapping people when she's in a bad mood. Um, THAT IS ABUSIVE. Then we get a real curveball when Jewel asks Avandar to free the man who raped his wife. HUH? Didn't Jewel and Duster kill two men for raping children? I guess if it's a grown woman it's not as bad. That was a glaring inconsistency for the character and more and more, Jewel shows that she's not as good as she pretends to be.
Meanwhile back in the Dominion, Diora is put in solitary confinement in her father's harem. However, she does get to make a couple of power moves by the end of the book. Sendari and Alesso find out that the demons are split between rival factions (shocker!) and both factions are planning to betray them (SUPER shocker!). The remaining pages are wasted watching Alesso and one of his allies, Eduardo, fight over Serra Diora. The testosterone fairly leaps off the page every time these two men meet. Diora was promised in marriage to Eduardo...but that was before Alesso heard her sing. To make it worse, Eduardo is obsessed with her because way back in The Broken Crown, his proposal was turned down by Sendari. And on Diora's wedding night, the former Kai Leonne swung by the harem to grope Diora in front of Eduardo as a taunt. It's clear that, while Alesso is cunning and strategic and potentially a worthy king in every other way (at least by the standards of the Dominion) his lust for Diora is going to be his downfall.
Overall, not quite as exciting as some other books in the series but enough to keep me engaged. There is a lot of exposition that I hope will pay off later on.
January 22, 2011
I really enjoyed the trip into the more mystical side of things, with Jewel being on the Winter Road for a large part of the book and finding out the background of Avandar in a Beauty and Beast-inspired setting (but both not following the expected development). I approve of her starting to trust him and him showing much more acceptance of how important she has become to him (of course we still have no idea WHY he became a domicis in the first place).
The views into the Shining Courts were interesting, and the exploration of the role of the Voyanni (gypsy-inspired, I think) and their magic - if I remember correctly we'll see much more of their importance in the following books. This means even more powerful and decisive women like Margret, Elena, Serra Maria and Jolanna.
West experimented a lot more with jump cuts/scene changes, very abrupt ones at that. Sometimes that really worked - like when the Voyanni matriarchs and the Southern Wizards under the direction of Sendari independently from each other find out about the true nature of the masks that the Kialli lords have gifted to the festival of the Lady. Sometimes I really wanted to follow one line of action for a longer period and I thought it took away from the impact, like the cuts when Jewel meets Arianne on the Winter Road.
Oh right, quite enjoyed meeting some first-born. I hope we get to explore more than just Arianne and the Oracle.
The focus of this part of the story is firmly in the South. Once Avandar saves Jewel we do NOT have a look at the developments in the North at all, except for one flashback (which was a bit strange - seen after Evayne had mentioned it to Kallandras) when Evayne talks to Meralonne. I really enjoyed that we saw much of mature and tolerant Kallandras (and his various abilities) in this book in general. He and Avandar always at the beck and call of the Lady/ladies ^^.
No Valedan or Terafin or Kiriel or Mirialyn ACormaris though. But the book is big enough for all that.
While this is clearly a series that makes no sense if you don't start from the beginning, you always get satisfying action highlights - interim skirmishes with the Dark - in every single book and here it is the Wild Hunt coming to Tor Leonne and the Dark Lord trying to completely manifest in this world again.
All this next to family developments and people having to take and carry responsibilities they are ill-prepared for - Sendari, Diora, Teresa, Margret, the Radann, the Voyanni Matriarchs. To me it all works - but I may have dived into the book and overlooked some deus-ex-machinas ^^. To me it all seems intricately interwoven.
I particularly found the portrayal of extremely mad and powerful sorceress Anne, pawn of the Kialli court, fascinating - combined with the continuing exploration of Lord Isladar, who keeps being the only character from the Dark Court Chosen whom I have any real interest in.
Celeriant and the stag were under-used but I think I remember dimly that they will have more of a role to play...
The views into the Shining Courts were interesting, and the exploration of the role of the Voyanni (gypsy-inspired, I think) and their magic - if I remember correctly we'll see much more of their importance in the following books. This means even more powerful and decisive women like Margret, Elena, Serra Maria and Jolanna.
West experimented a lot more with jump cuts/scene changes, very abrupt ones at that. Sometimes that really worked - like when the Voyanni matriarchs and the Southern Wizards under the direction of Sendari independently from each other find out about the true nature of the masks that the Kialli lords have gifted to the festival of the Lady. Sometimes I really wanted to follow one line of action for a longer period and I thought it took away from the impact, like the cuts when Jewel meets Arianne on the Winter Road.
Oh right, quite enjoyed meeting some first-born. I hope we get to explore more than just Arianne and the Oracle.
The focus of this part of the story is firmly in the South. Once Avandar saves Jewel we do NOT have a look at the developments in the North at all, except for one flashback (which was a bit strange - seen after Evayne had mentioned it to Kallandras) when Evayne talks to Meralonne. I really enjoyed that we saw much of mature and tolerant Kallandras (and his various abilities) in this book in general. He and Avandar always at the beck and call of the Lady/ladies ^^.
No Valedan or Terafin or Kiriel or Mirialyn ACormaris though. But the book is big enough for all that.
While this is clearly a series that makes no sense if you don't start from the beginning, you always get satisfying action highlights - interim skirmishes with the Dark - in every single book and here it is the Wild Hunt coming to Tor Leonne and the Dark Lord trying to completely manifest in this world again.
All this next to family developments and people having to take and carry responsibilities they are ill-prepared for - Sendari, Diora, Teresa, Margret, the Radann, the Voyanni Matriarchs. To me it all works - but I may have dived into the book and overlooked some deus-ex-machinas ^^. To me it all seems intricately interwoven.
I particularly found the portrayal of extremely mad and powerful sorceress Anne, pawn of the Kialli court, fascinating - combined with the continuing exploration of Lord Isladar, who keeps being the only character from the Dark Court Chosen whom I have any real interest in.
Celeriant and the stag were under-used but I think I remember dimly that they will have more of a role to play...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2020
This series has been quite the roller-coaster. The first book I loved, the second I could hardly finish, but I decided to give the series one more chance.
The third book goes far to redeem the second, but still doesn't come close to the quality of the first.
My main annoyance is still Jewel. See my review for The Uncrowned King for my anti Jay rant. Let me just add that now she has also developed the habit of slapping people in the face, usually for nothing more than disagreeing with her. I suppose West hopes this will make Jewel come across as a feisty and plucky female, but actually, hitting people for no good reason makes you an abusive bully in my book, no matter your gender.
I've also mentioned earlier that West overuses the lifting of brows until it gets cartoonish. Her characters also have tendency to... hesitate in their dialogues, supposedly so that what they say will seem more... profound. Problem is, when everyone do this all the time, it comes off as... parodic.
And in spite of all this, I will read the next book in the series. But seldom have I come across a good story told so badly.
The third book goes far to redeem the second, but still doesn't come close to the quality of the first.
My main annoyance is still Jewel. See my review for The Uncrowned King for my anti Jay rant. Let me just add that now she has also developed the habit of slapping people in the face, usually for nothing more than disagreeing with her. I suppose West hopes this will make Jewel come across as a feisty and plucky female, but actually, hitting people for no good reason makes you an abusive bully in my book, no matter your gender.
I've also mentioned earlier that West overuses the lifting of brows until it gets cartoonish. Her characters also have tendency to... hesitate in their dialogues, supposedly so that what they say will seem more... profound. Problem is, when everyone do this all the time, it comes off as... parodic.
And in spite of all this, I will read the next book in the series. But seldom have I come across a good story told so badly.
October 29, 2023
I don’t think I reviewed book 2, but in my review of book 1 I noted my difficulties keeping the characters straight and, therefore, following all the action. In book 2, I still felt some of that, though mostly around the edges. I haven’t really made a judgement, whether that’s a problem with the writing or a problem with the reading—I suspect it’s some of both and won’t interrogate it further at this time.
With this, the third book, I felt like West finally hit her stride (or I finally hit mine). As with any fantasy novel with a cast of thousands, focus can be a challenge, but at this point we have the characters and the stakes pretty well laid out. I didn’t love everything about The Shining Court, but I really liked what I liked.
With this, the third book, I felt like West finally hit her stride (or I finally hit mine). As with any fantasy novel with a cast of thousands, focus can be a challenge, but at this point we have the characters and the stakes pretty well laid out. I didn’t love everything about The Shining Court, but I really liked what I liked.
August 10, 2018
It was as good as the first
This is a series to read over and over again. I do not regret my time spent with this book.
This is a series to read over and over again. I do not regret my time spent with this book.
August 23, 2023
Actual Rating: 3.5
April 5, 2023
Oh my God, this one was a doozy! If she keeps at it--and three books in it doesn't look as though she's planning to stop--I have a feeling that Michelle West's The Sun Sword will end up as one of my favorite fantasy series of all time!
As mentioned in my last review, The Broken Crown mostly worked as a vast introduction to a decidedly multilayered tale, while The Uncrowned King turned out to be a more self-contained novel. The second installment was not as sprawling as its predecessor, which by necessity needed to lay the groundwork for the rest of the series, for it focused on the King's Challenge and its far-reaching repercussions. This tighter focus made for an easier and more streamlined reading experience, but I did miss the Dominion plotlines of the first volume.
In The Shining Court, West elevates her game and starts to bring existing threads together. Even better, she introduces new storylines that add yet new layers to an already convoluted plot and further flesh out characters and their back stories. In the same way Steven Erikson's Memories of Ice and George R. R. Martin's A Storm of Swords marked pivotal turning points in their respective fantasy sagas, with The Shining Court Michelle West ups the ante and shows that she can swing with the best of them.
Here's the blurb:
IN THE DOMINION --
those allied with the demons of the Shining Court feared the bargain they'd made. For to the kialli betrayal was a way of life, and every action was a means to gain greater power. And as the Festival of the Moon approached, the demon kin began to prey upon those in the Tor Leonne. But more frightening than their presence was their "gift" for the Festival, masks created not by human craftsmen but by the kialli. Even the magic and knowledge of the greatest of the Dominion's Widan had been unable to discern what trap the masks contained--and time to discover and avert this menace was running out....
IN THE EMPIRE --
the armies were mobilizing for war. But before they carried the battle to the Dominion, Seer Jewel ATerafin would be forced to follow her own destiny. For what she'd seen in vision she could not deny. And so Jewel, with only Avander to guard her back, would abandon House Terafin on the eve of its greatest peril and journey into the darkness which was fast overshadowing the mortal lands....
AND AMONG THE VOYANI --
the moment had come to make their final stand against Allasakar, Lord of the Hells, for they alone had kept to the old ways, guarding the ancient knowledge. But hounded by their enemies, and with one of their greatest treasures hidden in the Tor Leonne, could they withstand the power of the Shining Court?
As was the case in the first two volumes, the worldbuilding continues to be exceptional. In my previous reviews, I mentioned that West had an eye for detail and that the imagery she creates leaps off the page at every turn. The same can be said of The Shining Court and then some. With yet more layers added with each new revelations, there is a depth to her universe that is akin to that of Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker. That's really saying something! Bringing together plotlines from its predecessors, this third installment alternates between the Dominion and the Essalieyan Empire. Jewel's storyline takes us down an unexpected road that changes the game for that protagonist and likely sets the stage for the House War series. I loved the new dimension that adding the gipsy-like Voyani provided to the overall story arc. Forget about Robert Jordan's Tuatha'an. West's traveling people are badass men and women. Especially the Matriarchs, wise women bearing ancient secrets that may change the course of the coming war against the Lord of Night. In addition, we also get to see more of how the Shining Court operates and who the major players are. Michelle West has created a world that lives and breathes and I can't wait to discover what happens next. As mentioned before, with each new page, each new chapter, each new book, the author weaves a tapestry that is as complex as it is captivating.
Structurally, as it alternates between the Essalieyan Empire and the Dominion to begin with, but with the bulk of the rest of the tale occurring in the South, The Shining Court is more akin to The Broken Crown than the second volume. Add to that Jewel's visit to Evereve and its aftermath, as well as the sequences taking place in the Northern Wastes, and one could say that the story is all over the place. It is, no doubt about it. But other than the Evereve portions, which dragged for some reason, there was no such meanderings regarding the rest of the plotlines. If anything, though it is another sprawling book that covers a lot of plot threads and locales, it felt as though it was as tightly written as The Uncrowned King. It remains to be seen, but I have a feeling that The Shining Court will act as a transition novel bridging the events of the first two volumes and tying them together in a manner that will allow West to move the plot forward in a more streamlined fashion.
Once more, the characterization is amazing. À la Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey, somehow Michelle West comes up with yet more endearing and fascinating three-dimensional protagonists. It was a delight to be reacquainted with Serra Teresa and Serra Diora in the Dominion. They have made such an impression in The Broken Crown and I was curious to see what the fallout of those events would be. And yet, as important as these two women are and will continue to be, they were upstaged by the Voyani in this book. The Arkosa clan play an important role in The Shining Court, but I particularly enjoyed every scene featuring the four Matriarchs. I was impressed by how Michelle West fleshed them out and I'm looking forward to see how the Voyani storyline will play out. Of all the protagonists, it is doubtless Jewel that goes through the most character growth in this third volume. I liked how her relationship with Avandar evolved, even if it added a slew of mystical beings and supernatural creatures to the already Malazan-length Dramatis Personae of the Sun Sword series. Add to that new revelations about Kallandras, Avandar, Kiriel, the Shining Court, and the Voyani which offer more tantalizing hints of buried pasts and powers. Speaking of the Shining Court, I would have liked to see more of Anya, a deranged young woman who's also the most powerful mage seen in millennia. There is a childish aspect to her character that makes you feel for the poor girl.
It's no secret that Michelle West's beautiful prose has made quite an impression on me and The Shining Court is no different. It continues to be reminiscent of that of Guy Gavriel Kay and Jacqueline Carey. Having said that, the author remains quite verbose and repetitive, and hence many portions are overwritten. But with a story this good, I guess I got used to this quirk of hers and it doesn't really bother me anymore. As was the case with the first volume, there are some pacing issues. Especially with the Evereve sequence, which was much longer than it needed to be. Other than that, even though a few scenes can slow the overall rhythm of the novel, for the most part the tale that is The Shining Court moves at a good clip. Mind you, it's not a fast-paced work by any stretch of the imagination, but it makes for another compulsive reading experience.
Once again, Michelle West weaves the various threads of her story together and make them come together to form an exciting endgame. For the third time in a row, she caps it all off with the sort of panache that makes you beg for more. And as good as the previous finales turned out to be, the one with which West brings The Shining Court to a close is the best one yet!
Three books in, for my money Michelle West's The Sun Sword is the best speculative fiction work ever published by Daw Books. Yes, better than anything written by Tad Williams, C. S. Friedman, Patrick Rothfuss, and the rest! So get your hands on these books!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
As mentioned in my last review, The Broken Crown mostly worked as a vast introduction to a decidedly multilayered tale, while The Uncrowned King turned out to be a more self-contained novel. The second installment was not as sprawling as its predecessor, which by necessity needed to lay the groundwork for the rest of the series, for it focused on the King's Challenge and its far-reaching repercussions. This tighter focus made for an easier and more streamlined reading experience, but I did miss the Dominion plotlines of the first volume.
In The Shining Court, West elevates her game and starts to bring existing threads together. Even better, she introduces new storylines that add yet new layers to an already convoluted plot and further flesh out characters and their back stories. In the same way Steven Erikson's Memories of Ice and George R. R. Martin's A Storm of Swords marked pivotal turning points in their respective fantasy sagas, with The Shining Court Michelle West ups the ante and shows that she can swing with the best of them.
Here's the blurb:
IN THE DOMINION --
those allied with the demons of the Shining Court feared the bargain they'd made. For to the kialli betrayal was a way of life, and every action was a means to gain greater power. And as the Festival of the Moon approached, the demon kin began to prey upon those in the Tor Leonne. But more frightening than their presence was their "gift" for the Festival, masks created not by human craftsmen but by the kialli. Even the magic and knowledge of the greatest of the Dominion's Widan had been unable to discern what trap the masks contained--and time to discover and avert this menace was running out....
IN THE EMPIRE --
the armies were mobilizing for war. But before they carried the battle to the Dominion, Seer Jewel ATerafin would be forced to follow her own destiny. For what she'd seen in vision she could not deny. And so Jewel, with only Avander to guard her back, would abandon House Terafin on the eve of its greatest peril and journey into the darkness which was fast overshadowing the mortal lands....
AND AMONG THE VOYANI --
the moment had come to make their final stand against Allasakar, Lord of the Hells, for they alone had kept to the old ways, guarding the ancient knowledge. But hounded by their enemies, and with one of their greatest treasures hidden in the Tor Leonne, could they withstand the power of the Shining Court?
As was the case in the first two volumes, the worldbuilding continues to be exceptional. In my previous reviews, I mentioned that West had an eye for detail and that the imagery she creates leaps off the page at every turn. The same can be said of The Shining Court and then some. With yet more layers added with each new revelations, there is a depth to her universe that is akin to that of Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker. That's really saying something! Bringing together plotlines from its predecessors, this third installment alternates between the Dominion and the Essalieyan Empire. Jewel's storyline takes us down an unexpected road that changes the game for that protagonist and likely sets the stage for the House War series. I loved the new dimension that adding the gipsy-like Voyani provided to the overall story arc. Forget about Robert Jordan's Tuatha'an. West's traveling people are badass men and women. Especially the Matriarchs, wise women bearing ancient secrets that may change the course of the coming war against the Lord of Night. In addition, we also get to see more of how the Shining Court operates and who the major players are. Michelle West has created a world that lives and breathes and I can't wait to discover what happens next. As mentioned before, with each new page, each new chapter, each new book, the author weaves a tapestry that is as complex as it is captivating.
Structurally, as it alternates between the Essalieyan Empire and the Dominion to begin with, but with the bulk of the rest of the tale occurring in the South, The Shining Court is more akin to The Broken Crown than the second volume. Add to that Jewel's visit to Evereve and its aftermath, as well as the sequences taking place in the Northern Wastes, and one could say that the story is all over the place. It is, no doubt about it. But other than the Evereve portions, which dragged for some reason, there was no such meanderings regarding the rest of the plotlines. If anything, though it is another sprawling book that covers a lot of plot threads and locales, it felt as though it was as tightly written as The Uncrowned King. It remains to be seen, but I have a feeling that The Shining Court will act as a transition novel bridging the events of the first two volumes and tying them together in a manner that will allow West to move the plot forward in a more streamlined fashion.
Once more, the characterization is amazing. À la Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey, somehow Michelle West comes up with yet more endearing and fascinating three-dimensional protagonists. It was a delight to be reacquainted with Serra Teresa and Serra Diora in the Dominion. They have made such an impression in The Broken Crown and I was curious to see what the fallout of those events would be. And yet, as important as these two women are and will continue to be, they were upstaged by the Voyani in this book. The Arkosa clan play an important role in The Shining Court, but I particularly enjoyed every scene featuring the four Matriarchs. I was impressed by how Michelle West fleshed them out and I'm looking forward to see how the Voyani storyline will play out. Of all the protagonists, it is doubtless Jewel that goes through the most character growth in this third volume. I liked how her relationship with Avandar evolved, even if it added a slew of mystical beings and supernatural creatures to the already Malazan-length Dramatis Personae of the Sun Sword series. Add to that new revelations about Kallandras, Avandar, Kiriel, the Shining Court, and the Voyani which offer more tantalizing hints of buried pasts and powers. Speaking of the Shining Court, I would have liked to see more of Anya, a deranged young woman who's also the most powerful mage seen in millennia. There is a childish aspect to her character that makes you feel for the poor girl.
It's no secret that Michelle West's beautiful prose has made quite an impression on me and The Shining Court is no different. It continues to be reminiscent of that of Guy Gavriel Kay and Jacqueline Carey. Having said that, the author remains quite verbose and repetitive, and hence many portions are overwritten. But with a story this good, I guess I got used to this quirk of hers and it doesn't really bother me anymore. As was the case with the first volume, there are some pacing issues. Especially with the Evereve sequence, which was much longer than it needed to be. Other than that, even though a few scenes can slow the overall rhythm of the novel, for the most part the tale that is The Shining Court moves at a good clip. Mind you, it's not a fast-paced work by any stretch of the imagination, but it makes for another compulsive reading experience.
Once again, Michelle West weaves the various threads of her story together and make them come together to form an exciting endgame. For the third time in a row, she caps it all off with the sort of panache that makes you beg for more. And as good as the previous finales turned out to be, the one with which West brings The Shining Court to a close is the best one yet!
Three books in, for my money Michelle West's The Sun Sword is the best speculative fiction work ever published by Daw Books. Yes, better than anything written by Tad Williams, C. S. Friedman, Patrick Rothfuss, and the rest! So get your hands on these books!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
January 20, 2013
This book was a difficult work to judge, but in the end it warranted high marks. Like it's predecessors the book feels it's length, and contains many layers. Unlike the first book, and more like the second however, it does feel like there are developments, both in the sense of the personal developments of the characters, and perhaps more importantly, in the grand sweeping Narrative Michelle West has been developing.
Though the story thus far interweaves the stories of character in the 'North', the 'South' and the 'Shining Court' of the Demons, I have preferred this story, which is set mostly in the South, to the previous volume, set principally in the North. While cultures intermingle, this one, like the first book, dwells more in the secret Harem's and conspiracies of the Southern Dominion. However it's also nice to see both characters converging from different points, and some surprises, well plenty of them. Without getting too into it, one of the major plot-threads assists in unravelling more and more world information, while hinting at deeper, uncovered truths that are slowly coming to light. You have the view of a world that has lives, had ages. That the world as it exists in this book is living on centuries, or even millenia of past history and magic.
Michelle Sagara Wests work continues to be thoroughly enjoyable, if not exactly the easiest of reads. You have to pay attention for things can be readily missed and some of the emotional resonance of the book comes in the intertwining of these simple motifs.
Though the story thus far interweaves the stories of character in the 'North', the 'South' and the 'Shining Court' of the Demons, I have preferred this story, which is set mostly in the South, to the previous volume, set principally in the North. While cultures intermingle, this one, like the first book, dwells more in the secret Harem's and conspiracies of the Southern Dominion. However it's also nice to see both characters converging from different points, and some surprises, well plenty of them. Without getting too into it, one of the major plot-threads assists in unravelling more and more world information, while hinting at deeper, uncovered truths that are slowly coming to light. You have the view of a world that has lives, had ages. That the world as it exists in this book is living on centuries, or even millenia of past history and magic.
Michelle Sagara Wests work continues to be thoroughly enjoyable, if not exactly the easiest of reads. You have to pay attention for things can be readily missed and some of the emotional resonance of the book comes in the intertwining of these simple motifs.
November 23, 2014
i don't know why i'm still reading the series. it just started to get a bit interesting towards the end. the writing style is just not what i enjoy.
February 25, 2018
There was a lot that was great in this book ... a LOT. I loved seeing Jewel and Avandar's relationship evolved, and I loved getting hints of who he is (or was). I loved meeting the Voyani Matriarchs, not just because of their personalities (which were great) bit also because of the feeling, the weight, of history and magic there. Like, these people have forgotten so much of who they are, and wisps of it drift up occasionally, and they are awesome.
I struggled with all the time spent with the Tors and Tyrs, because quite frankly, I hate those guys. I hate all the men of the Dominion, and I just don't have sympathy for any of them, even the ones that are a little conflicted (I'm looking at you, Sendari) or seem like they are good honorable men with other men of power, but their disdain for the rest of the world - and women - are unforgivable (that would be you, Sendari and Alesso... I see your bromance, but it just can't overcome my loathing for you).
And Diora's plot just felt like a whole lot of waiting. And I didn't understand why, honestly. She told Teresa that she couldn't leave yet because there was a woman who she wouldn't leave without, and wouldn't be ready for another week. And ... I have to assume So that, to me, just felt like a manufactured delay to make all the threads of the plot come together on the night of the Festival, and while I get that in terms of story structure, Diora's arch in this book - the endless waiting, and her feeling sad and lonely - was a yawn.
And I missed the den, and Kiriel and Valedan and Meralonne. They've become important characters, and it is hard to have a whole book without them.
Also, is it weird that I ship Kallandras and Jewel? I know that's probably weird - I think it's because they are the two characters I have come to care most about, and so of course I'm like "and now, KISS!" ... but it seems like the author is going more Kallandras / Evayne. Which ... I just can't like Evayne. I get that she's made sacrifices for this great war - horrific ones - but she treats everyone like pawns, where she is the only game player. Her condescension is appalling to me, her lack of compassion is irritating, and I just really really hope Jewel doesn't become her. I feel like this world already has an ice-cold bitch seer. What it needs is a compassionate one, who will TRY to save people, even if it seems futile. One who is driven by her heart. Because otherwise it is just two players at the game, who are ruthless and will sacrifice anyone ... and what are we cheering for? If I want that, you may as well let Sendari/Alesso/Cortano win, because that's exactly who they are.
So yeah. Fuck Evayne. She's a necessary evil, but she can't ever be the heart, the leader, of the good side... because she has long ago kicked her heart to the curb. She's an ally, yes. Never the core.
And Kallandras feels like he's got such a dark core - hidden underneath his pretty blond bard exterior - of self-loathing and death... someone like Jewel could help return light to his life, the same way she did with Duster and Kiriel. I guess I just want that for him.
I struggled with all the time spent with the Tors and Tyrs, because quite frankly, I hate those guys. I hate all the men of the Dominion, and I just don't have sympathy for any of them, even the ones that are a little conflicted (I'm looking at you, Sendari) or seem like they are good honorable men with other men of power, but their disdain for the rest of the world - and women - are unforgivable (that would be you, Sendari and Alesso... I see your bromance, but it just can't overcome my loathing for you).
And Diora's plot just felt like a whole lot of waiting. And I didn't understand why, honestly. She told Teresa that she couldn't leave yet because there was a woman who she wouldn't leave without, and wouldn't be ready for another week. And ... I have to assume So that, to me, just felt like a manufactured delay to make all the threads of the plot come together on the night of the Festival, and while I get that in terms of story structure, Diora's arch in this book - the endless waiting, and her feeling sad and lonely - was a yawn.
And I missed the den, and Kiriel and Valedan and Meralonne. They've become important characters, and it is hard to have a whole book without them.
Also, is it weird that I ship Kallandras and Jewel? I know that's probably weird - I think it's because they are the two characters I have come to care most about, and so of course I'm like "and now, KISS!" ... but it seems like the author is going more Kallandras / Evayne. Which ... I just can't like Evayne. I get that she's made sacrifices for this great war - horrific ones - but she treats everyone like pawns, where she is the only game player. Her condescension is appalling to me, her lack of compassion is irritating, and I just really really hope Jewel doesn't become her. I feel like this world already has an ice-cold bitch seer. What it needs is a compassionate one, who will TRY to save people, even if it seems futile. One who is driven by her heart. Because otherwise it is just two players at the game, who are ruthless and will sacrifice anyone ... and what are we cheering for? If I want that, you may as well let Sendari/Alesso/Cortano win, because that's exactly who they are.
So yeah. Fuck Evayne. She's a necessary evil, but she can't ever be the heart, the leader, of the good side... because she has long ago kicked her heart to the curb. She's an ally, yes. Never the core.
And Kallandras feels like he's got such a dark core - hidden underneath his pretty blond bard exterior - of self-loathing and death... someone like Jewel could help return light to his life, the same way she did with Duster and Kiriel. I guess I just want that for him.
April 2, 2021
3.75? It's kind of hard to review individual books that are enmeshed within a large series, but here goes.
Pros:
I was invested in the characters, including new ones like the Voyani.
The way she writes complicated, emotional relationships - especially between Diora and Sendari (her father) in this book. Love, hatred, attachment, and history are all tied together to the point where I understood why they couldn't willfully cause each other physical harm, despite all of the hurt they had done each other. Similar with Nicu and Margret.
Free agent Teresa! She was finally freed from the strictness of the Clan and, even though she lost most of the trappings of wealth and greatness, it was great seeing her take more initiative and chill with the Voyani some.
Seeing Jewel from an outside POV and her journey in the weird dream path - it was so different from where she's been before, and how she was completely cut off from everyone (except Avandar I guess).
Little to no romance.
The machinations of the "allies" as Alesso realized how little he can trust the Demons was interesting. Even though they maintain their tentative allyship w/r/t the North, they actively undermine each other.
I enjoyed the theme throughout the novel of choice and the importance of making choices and taking responsibility of them. A kind of difficult theme, especially given how many seer or seer-adjacent people there are in the novel, but it was pretty great.
Cons:
What's with all the slapping? If it happened a couple times, okay, but multiple characters either slapped others, tried, or thought about it with a fair frequency in the book. And it made them seem a little childish from my perspective, which was doubly annoying because they were almost all women.
The pace dragged some, overuse of em dashes, etc.
Sometimes the Dominion stuff is a struggle for me to read through, just because West did a great job worldbuilding this incredibly toxic, misogynistic, hierarchical society and it can feel oppressive to read about, especially from the perspective of the characters who are completely bought in/on top in the society.
It felt like the subplot with Nicu was going somewhere - where he'd have to make a choice and Margret's decision to beat him instead of execute him would become hugely important - and then it just kind of went away/was dropped? Maybe it will continue in the next book, though.
What was the North doing during this entire book? I guess we'll find out in the next book, but it was kind of a whiplash to build up all these characters who were so important last book, like Valedan and Kiriel and all the minor characters surrounding them, only for them to not show up this time around.
Overall, still enjoying, still attached to a good chunk of the characters, and still looking forward to continuing the series.
Pros:
I was invested in the characters, including new ones like the Voyani.
The way she writes complicated, emotional relationships - especially between Diora and Sendari (her father) in this book. Love, hatred, attachment, and history are all tied together to the point where I understood why they couldn't willfully cause each other physical harm, despite all of the hurt they had done each other. Similar with Nicu and Margret.
Free agent Teresa! She was finally freed from the strictness of the Clan and, even though she lost most of the trappings of wealth and greatness, it was great seeing her take more initiative and chill with the Voyani some.
Seeing Jewel from an outside POV and her journey in the weird dream path - it was so different from where she's been before, and how she was completely cut off from everyone (except Avandar I guess).
Little to no romance.
The machinations of the "allies" as Alesso realized how little he can trust the Demons was interesting. Even though they maintain their tentative allyship w/r/t the North, they actively undermine each other.
I enjoyed the theme throughout the novel of choice and the importance of making choices and taking responsibility of them. A kind of difficult theme, especially given how many seer or seer-adjacent people there are in the novel, but it was pretty great.
Cons:
What's with all the slapping? If it happened a couple times, okay, but multiple characters either slapped others, tried, or thought about it with a fair frequency in the book. And it made them seem a little childish from my perspective, which was doubly annoying because they were almost all women.
The pace dragged some, overuse of em dashes, etc.
Sometimes the Dominion stuff is a struggle for me to read through, just because West did a great job worldbuilding this incredibly toxic, misogynistic, hierarchical society and it can feel oppressive to read about, especially from the perspective of the characters who are completely bought in/on top in the society.
It felt like the subplot with Nicu was going somewhere - where he'd have to make a choice and Margret's decision to beat him instead of execute him would become hugely important - and then it just kind of went away/was dropped? Maybe it will continue in the next book, though.
What was the North doing during this entire book? I guess we'll find out in the next book, but it was kind of a whiplash to build up all these characters who were so important last book, like Valedan and Kiriel and all the minor characters surrounding them, only for them to not show up this time around.
Overall, still enjoying, still attached to a good chunk of the characters, and still looking forward to continuing the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2024
*SPOILERS*
Loved this book , wanted to give it a 3 stars because the whole ervee and king plot with jewel and avandar was so damn confusing ?? but it did pay off in the end , because jewel had to walk to winter road or some shit ?? and it ended up working out in the end and the story pieced together nicely bumping it up to a 4.
Michelle did a great job slowly introducing the voyani , some of their history , the politics between voyani clans , between voyani and the south , much much better done in comparison to when the south was introduced in the first book of the sun sword , that was so damn confusing , this one clicked super well.
the politics between the shining court and the tor was interesting to see and alesso , the widans ( edge and sendari) , radann , ishravel / isladar as they grasped to further their own goals. It all kicked off when they the south realised the shining court were gg to fuck them over as they kept one upping each other .
Anya was a super cool addition i think she was really an awesome character , bubbly in an insane way and added alot of uncertainity to the plot , celledrian was really cool too loved how , jewel somehow made avandar and him part of the den .
also kallandras being badass af ?? yet again ? ? my fav character !! do covert mission ops , killing demons with merlaonne's blades , handling voyani politics ??? . the SUPER BARD INDEED.
also avandar staring at evanye after she vanished ?? plot hooks there
kallandaras and marakas ??? plot hooks here ( like jewel said , you know everyone??)
Loved this book , wanted to give it a 3 stars because the whole ervee and king plot with jewel and avandar was so damn confusing ?? but it did pay off in the end , because jewel had to walk to winter road or some shit ?? and it ended up working out in the end and the story pieced together nicely bumping it up to a 4.
Michelle did a great job slowly introducing the voyani , some of their history , the politics between voyani clans , between voyani and the south , much much better done in comparison to when the south was introduced in the first book of the sun sword , that was so damn confusing , this one clicked super well.
the politics between the shining court and the tor was interesting to see and alesso , the widans ( edge and sendari) , radann , ishravel / isladar as they grasped to further their own goals. It all kicked off when they the south realised the shining court were gg to fuck them over as they kept one upping each other .
Anya was a super cool addition i think she was really an awesome character , bubbly in an insane way and added alot of uncertainity to the plot , celledrian was really cool too loved how , jewel somehow made avandar and him part of the den .
also kallandras being badass af ?? yet again ? ? my fav character !! do covert mission ops , killing demons with merlaonne's blades , handling voyani politics ??? . the SUPER BARD INDEED.
also avandar staring at evanye after she vanished ?? plot hooks there
kallandaras and marakas ??? plot hooks here ( like jewel said , you know everyone??)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2025
I was so happy to go back to Essalieyan, especially after a dismal string of disappointments.
This was a big book, both in terms of page count and events and threads coming together to answer some long-asked questions. It was an effort to get through, much like climbing a mountain to see a beautiful view would be. The work was rewarded, but it was essential.
Even though a lot of questions were finally answered, I can tell there is still a lot to be accomplished in the series. I'm very interested to see where West will take things, because this is only book three of the Sun Sword, and it seems like one of the major conflicts has been resolved, so I'm not sure where that will lead events going forward.
West's writing is very dense, requiring a lot of work to parse meanings and catch the complex nuance and implications in it. I enjoyed it, but as I mentioned above, it takes effort and focus, and I was feeling a bit worn out by the end. However, her world, her characters, her magic, and her story are all worth it, and I'm very much looking forward to the next installment.
This was a big book, both in terms of page count and events and threads coming together to answer some long-asked questions. It was an effort to get through, much like climbing a mountain to see a beautiful view would be. The work was rewarded, but it was essential.
Even though a lot of questions were finally answered, I can tell there is still a lot to be accomplished in the series. I'm very interested to see where West will take things, because this is only book three of the Sun Sword, and it seems like one of the major conflicts has been resolved, so I'm not sure where that will lead events going forward.
West's writing is very dense, requiring a lot of work to parse meanings and catch the complex nuance and implications in it. I enjoyed it, but as I mentioned above, it takes effort and focus, and I was feeling a bit worn out by the end. However, her world, her characters, her magic, and her story are all worth it, and I'm very much looking forward to the next installment.
October 19, 2022
This is actually my second time reading this, but apparently, I didn't write a review the first time around. I didn't like this one as well as the first two. Part of that is because I couldn't stand a large part of Jewel's storyline and she is my favorite character in some of the other books set in this universe. I know book 4 and five are both better and so if you are reading through this series for the first time, stick with it. This book is as bad as it gets.
It would definitely not work as a standalone. I would strongly recommend reading the first two books in the series (and also the first few books in the House War Series as well).
It would definitely not work as a standalone. I would strongly recommend reading the first two books in the series (and also the first few books in the House War Series as well).
February 6, 2024
This was another enjoyable book by Michelle West.
The stage has been set, in the next trilogy we may have an actual show down between the bad guys and the good guys. So far it's all been just establishing who belongs to which side and a bunch of maneuvering and positioning and jockeying to be placed in a better position once the conflict actually happens.
Yep, you read that right. 3 books. Over 1500 pages, and it's all just the set up to the actual conflict.
When I said this is a slow burn series. I meant it.
I still like it and want to keep reading.
The stage has been set, in the next trilogy we may have an actual show down between the bad guys and the good guys. So far it's all been just establishing who belongs to which side and a bunch of maneuvering and positioning and jockeying to be placed in a better position once the conflict actually happens.
Yep, you read that right. 3 books. Over 1500 pages, and it's all just the set up to the actual conflict.
When I said this is a slow burn series. I meant it.
I still like it and want to keep reading.
July 13, 2025
It beats me how the author can create such a diverse and interesting set of characters and then have someone like Jewel who is overly annoying and one dimensional. I did not enjoy her slapping people around (literally) and being self righteous about Avander hurting people when she can take some lessons in treating him with more kindness. She does not have moments showing growth from her infantile behavior which is disappointing.
I just hope there’s less of Jewel in the subsequent books or the author figures out how to make her stop acting like a teen when she’s already a 30s yo woman.
I just hope there’s less of Jewel in the subsequent books or the author figures out how to make her stop acting like a teen when she’s already a 30s yo woman.
June 20, 2022
I don't remember if I finished this book or not. I liked the story, but West seriously needs a better editor. Maybe she self-edited? I know her publisher has dropped her and she's having to post on Patreon now. The characters are good and well-defined for the most part, but I kept asking myself HOW MUCH MORE OF THIS CRAP CAN I READ? I struggled, constantly stopping and restarting.
August 31, 2023
As the third book in the series, this book continued to build the world and added even more characters that are fascinating. The way the author is able to bring things together near the end of her books is very remarkable. I'm excited for the next one.
February 16, 2021
7/10*
Yet another very enjoyable offering from Michelle West.
Faster paced than book 1.
As always, a beautifully written book.
Yet another very enjoyable offering from Michelle West.
Faster paced than book 1.
As always, a beautifully written book.
April 21, 2023
Really good
September 9, 2023
A slow build, plotwise but a very interesting world that is still deepening, three books in.
January 19, 2025
This is an excellent series
November 18, 2025
there's way too much jewel in this one
November 22, 2024
So this book was very scattered, to me. It was an obvious homage to Alice in Wonderland, which I loved, but the scene changes and POV changes between paragraphs (with no spaces at all to mark them) were very hard to follow.
The story itself was fascinating and entertaining. The pace is starting to pick up in the series, but we still get deep looks into the characters we've come to love or hate. The writing is beautiful, as it has been in all of the first three books, but the execution of the plot has made it a bit challenging to read.
Still loving the journey, and looking forward to book 4!
The story itself was fascinating and entertaining. The pace is starting to pick up in the series, but we still get deep looks into the characters we've come to love or hate. The writing is beautiful, as it has been in all of the first three books, but the execution of the plot has made it a bit challenging to read.
Still loving the journey, and looking forward to book 4!
June 6, 2016
Michelle West’s Sun Sword series is a six book long epic fantasy series starting with The Broken Crown. The Shining Court is the third book in the series, and you most definitely need to have read the previous books.
The third book returns focus to the Dominion. The focus is on Jewel as she travels south, the Voyani, the Shining Court, the conspirators, and Diora. The cast list that appeared in the beginning of the previous two books has mostly been removed, aside from two pages listing out the Voyani (many of whom are new characters). Perhaps you’re expected to know who everyone is by now? Or perhaps the list of characters got two long for a list.
I found The Shining Court easier to get into than the previous two books, probably because this time I knew who most of these people were right off the bat. Unlike the previous two books, it didn’t start off with a lengthy section from some new and minor character. I missed some of the characters from the Empire, especially Kiriel, but I’m glad the story has returned to Diora.
The Shining Court takes place roughly six months after the end of the first book, when the Festival of the Lady is almost arrived. The demons of the Shining Court have some plan involving the festival masks and they demand that the conspirators name the Dark Lord as a “consort” to the Lady for the duration of the festival. Pretty much all of the human characters suspect that whatever is going on with the masks won’t end well, and the conspirators are realizing that allying themselves with the denizens of Hell may not have been the best PR move.
While the masks may be the overarching plot for this installment, there are plenty of smaller threads. Margret of the Voyani is stepping into the role of Matriarch after her mother’s death. Diora is a prisoner, awaiting an arranged marriage. Kallandras and Teresa are working with the Voyani, as well as to their own ends. Jewel’s travels have led her along a strange path not entirely of this world. I have warmed up to Jewel as a character, but I did find this plot thread of hers slow going. And if Avander ever becomes her love interest I will be mightily angry.
Three books into this massive series, I’m still invested. I particularly love the complicated family ties between Diora, Sendari, and Teresa, but more generally, I love how this is an epic fantasy series with such a wide variety of important female characters. That’s something I’ve talked about in my reviews of the previous books, so I’m not going to go into it any farther here. Besides, if you’re at this point in the series, you should already have noted the strength and quality of Michelle West’s female characters.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
The third book returns focus to the Dominion. The focus is on Jewel as she travels south, the Voyani, the Shining Court, the conspirators, and Diora. The cast list that appeared in the beginning of the previous two books has mostly been removed, aside from two pages listing out the Voyani (many of whom are new characters). Perhaps you’re expected to know who everyone is by now? Or perhaps the list of characters got two long for a list.
I found The Shining Court easier to get into than the previous two books, probably because this time I knew who most of these people were right off the bat. Unlike the previous two books, it didn’t start off with a lengthy section from some new and minor character. I missed some of the characters from the Empire, especially Kiriel, but I’m glad the story has returned to Diora.
The Shining Court takes place roughly six months after the end of the first book, when the Festival of the Lady is almost arrived. The demons of the Shining Court have some plan involving the festival masks and they demand that the conspirators name the Dark Lord as a “consort” to the Lady for the duration of the festival. Pretty much all of the human characters suspect that whatever is going on with the masks won’t end well, and the conspirators are realizing that allying themselves with the denizens of Hell may not have been the best PR move.
While the masks may be the overarching plot for this installment, there are plenty of smaller threads. Margret of the Voyani is stepping into the role of Matriarch after her mother’s death. Diora is a prisoner, awaiting an arranged marriage. Kallandras and Teresa are working with the Voyani, as well as to their own ends. Jewel’s travels have led her along a strange path not entirely of this world. I have warmed up to Jewel as a character, but I did find this plot thread of hers slow going. And if Avander ever becomes her love interest I will be mightily angry.
Three books into this massive series, I’m still invested. I particularly love the complicated family ties between Diora, Sendari, and Teresa, but more generally, I love how this is an epic fantasy series with such a wide variety of important female characters. That’s something I’ve talked about in my reviews of the previous books, so I’m not going to go into it any farther here. Besides, if you’re at this point in the series, you should already have noted the strength and quality of Michelle West’s female characters.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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January 6, 2021"we do not give our secrets away so lightly. knowledge is often a thing that slips between closed fingers. it is more like water than gold; it cannot be held."
"be like the lady's element. water can be struck, but the hand passes through it, and when the two are parted - water and attacker - it is the latter that bears the mark."
"the winds howled in peder's ears, and the howled with fredero's voice."
"he did not lie to himself; he had never lied to himself. it served no useful purpose. but there were some truths that were slow to surface, slow to demand the attention."
"she was driven by a pain that the damned know, and few others."
"you didnt love her in spite of the fact that she was a killer, you loved her because she was one. because she could do the things you were afraid to do without thinking twice. because she could do the things that had to be done without flinching."
"i have never lied; it is not my nature; a lie is beneath me; it is a tool of those whose truths are now powerful enough. i promise what i promise and i honor my oath."
"something in her tightened, some imperfection, some part of her that had been broken by the truth: that perfection, that obedience, never guarantees safety. that good and the reward of being good were for the discipline of children. she had done everything as it was to have been done; had been everything she had been taught to be; more. it had given her everything, only so that she might learn what loss was."
"people arent ugly; fear is. but some fears are very very ugly."
"be like the lady's element. water can be struck, but the hand passes through it, and when the two are parted - water and attacker - it is the latter that bears the mark."
"the winds howled in peder's ears, and the howled with fredero's voice."
"he did not lie to himself; he had never lied to himself. it served no useful purpose. but there were some truths that were slow to surface, slow to demand the attention."
"she was driven by a pain that the damned know, and few others."
"you didnt love her in spite of the fact that she was a killer, you loved her because she was one. because she could do the things you were afraid to do without thinking twice. because she could do the things that had to be done without flinching."
"i have never lied; it is not my nature; a lie is beneath me; it is a tool of those whose truths are now powerful enough. i promise what i promise and i honor my oath."
"something in her tightened, some imperfection, some part of her that had been broken by the truth: that perfection, that obedience, never guarantees safety. that good and the reward of being good were for the discipline of children. she had done everything as it was to have been done; had been everything she had been taught to be; more. it had given her everything, only so that she might learn what loss was."
"people arent ugly; fear is. but some fears are very very ugly."
March 30, 2014
This is a really excellent series and a higher star rating might be justified, but I'm not feeling it for a couple of reasons. First, because it's been several years since I read the first two books, so it felt like I was trying to remember bits and pieces of the story - it didn't overly impact the story, because each is fairly separated from the previous, but enough back story is needed to make it annoying (my own fault for not re-reading first). Secondly, there is a lot of set-up and wandering a, but little action, and given the dense language of the narrative, it didn't suck me in as much as it could have. However, I really enjoyed seeing Jewel (her stories in the House War series are what introduced me to this world) and it feels like the series is coming together.
My only complaint is that for all the love in this series - and there is a lot of family, country, epic kind of love predominant throughout the books to-date - there is no romance, so everything feels a bit neutered and not entirely reflective of the human condition.
Definitely plan to finish this series this year, but just got a pile of books from the library, so I'm going to switch focus for a while and dive into something else.
My only complaint is that for all the love in this series - and there is a lot of family, country, epic kind of love predominant throughout the books to-date - there is no romance, so everything feels a bit neutered and not entirely reflective of the human condition.
Definitely plan to finish this series this year, but just got a pile of books from the library, so I'm going to switch focus for a while and dive into something else.
April 27, 2023
The story continues following the events that are occurring in the Dominion and in the Empire but now we are also following what is happening with the Voyani, particularly the Arkosans, and how they are a major faction in the upcoming war even if the rest of the world believes that they barely have any magic left and aren't really a threat. The Kialli are very specific about the need to capture the Voyani matriarchs and it makes the Widan start to wonder if there is more than meets the eye with what's left of the Voyani.
It's hard to write anything about the stories at this point as it's book 3 (or 6 depending on the reading order you've chosen) and I don't wish to spoil anything. I still really love all of these characters and the newer Voyani that we either haven't met before or just haven't seen much of are great, but Jewel really gets on my nerves in this book, it's almost like she reverts to a teenager in her reactions to about half the things she encounters in this book and it is annoying.
It's hard to write anything about the stories at this point as it's book 3 (or 6 depending on the reading order you've chosen) and I don't wish to spoil anything. I still really love all of these characters and the newer Voyani that we either haven't met before or just haven't seen much of are great, but Jewel really gets on my nerves in this book, it's almost like she reverts to a teenager in her reactions to about half the things she encounters in this book and it is annoying.
February 24, 2011
For me, this was probably the weakest book of the set on first reading (although I should probably qualify that by saying that a "weak" Sun Sword book is still streets better than any other epic fantasy novel I've ever read)
I think I still feel the same way on this second reading - it was still good, but just too scattered, with not enough from my favourite characters, and a little too much from those I care less about (and yes, Margret still annoys me)
Plus, my reading tastes may have matured a little. I don't remember Kallandras striking me as quite such a supercharacter last time around. Nor did I notice that he... how do I put this delicately... tends towards Vanyel-esque emo-ism at times. Don't get me wrong - I still loved him, but that love was tinged by just the faintest hint of eye-rolling at times.
But all that said, it was still a wonderful read, and I'm looking forward to rereading Book 4 at sone point in the not too distant future
I think I still feel the same way on this second reading - it was still good, but just too scattered, with not enough from my favourite characters, and a little too much from those I care less about (and yes, Margret still annoys me)
Plus, my reading tastes may have matured a little. I don't remember Kallandras striking me as quite such a supercharacter last time around. Nor did I notice that he... how do I put this delicately... tends towards Vanyel-esque emo-ism at times. Don't get me wrong - I still loved him, but that love was tinged by just the faintest hint of eye-rolling at times.
But all that said, it was still a wonderful read, and I'm looking forward to rereading Book 4 at sone point in the not too distant future
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