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The Sun Sword #2
The Uncrowned King
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
The second novel of the acclaimed Sun Sword series returns to a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed...
The King’s Challenge—it was a proving ground for warriors in the Essalieyan Empire, the hallowed contest that made legends of men. And for Valedan, last survivor of the ruling family of the Dominion, it was a declaration of his right to claim the throne stolen from the Leonne clan by treachery and assassination.
Failure to earn the title of King’s Champion would not deprive Valedan of either his Dominion or Essalieyan allies, but winning would announce to the world that he was no callow boy, no mere pawn in the games of power. And the games of power were indeed being played—not only in the Empire and Dominion, but in the far more dangerous realm of the Lord of Night.
As the time of the Challenge neared, Valedan and all those who guarded him would be hard-pressed to survive long enough for him to enter the competition. For the demon kin had been set to hunt him down and destroy him. They had failed before though many innocents had paid for the price. They must not fail again, for slaying Valedan was but the opening gambit in a war that would free the Lord of Night to reign over all the mortal world....
The second novel of the acclaimed Sun Sword series returns to a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed...
The King’s Challenge—it was a proving ground for warriors in the Essalieyan Empire, the hallowed contest that made legends of men. And for Valedan, last survivor of the ruling family of the Dominion, it was a declaration of his right to claim the throne stolen from the Leonne clan by treachery and assassination.
Failure to earn the title of King’s Champion would not deprive Valedan of either his Dominion or Essalieyan allies, but winning would announce to the world that he was no callow boy, no mere pawn in the games of power. And the games of power were indeed being played—not only in the Empire and Dominion, but in the far more dangerous realm of the Lord of Night.
As the time of the Challenge neared, Valedan and all those who guarded him would be hard-pressed to survive long enough for him to enter the competition. For the demon kin had been set to hunt him down and destroy him. They had failed before though many innocents had paid for the price. They must not fail again, for slaying Valedan was but the opening gambit in a war that would free the Lord of Night to reign over all the mortal world....
691 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1998
67 people are currently reading
1153 people want to read
About the author
Michelle West
75 books472 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 67 reviews
January 21, 2012
This is more a general overview to the whole series rather than specifically directed at this book. But it's an AWESOME book so you definitely buy it!
The Sun Sword books tell a complex and detailed story spanning the breadth of the Domain of Annagar in the south, a land of desert and tradition, harsh sun and rigid social courtesies that form a deadly dance of protocol in which the slightest misstep can cause the downfall of a Clan and the Empire of Essalieyan to the North, a sprawling land of culture and civilisation, commerce and trade in which the Ten Major Houses wield authority second only to the god-born Kings who rule them.
This is a tale of epic narrative and detailed plotting set in a world of rich, vibrant and diverse cultural identities. It is the story of the daughter of a God who refuses to be a pawn in his plans, it is the tale of a woman who shows the world a face of acceptance, but works in secret to change the conventions that make her a slave. It is the story of a Prince who must fight immortal foes to lay claim to the crown that has been denied him and the tale of a young woman whose gift of Sight takes her from city slums to glittering palaces and a position of power that she never dreamed of. Magi battle magi and demi-gods plot for power, warriors fight flesh and blood and the dark sorceries of forgotten legends.
This series is a huge undertaking with a massive cast of characters whose complexity brings to mind the work of Steven Erickson, but is as different to Erickson as he is to Martin. And where readers are willing to forgive both these authors the crime of writing ‘fat’ fantasy I urge you to do the same for West’s work. She is a magical writer of rich and compelling prose and works brilliantly at revealing the history of the world she writes in through character experience, rather than large chunks of ‘info-dump’. This is epic fantasy at its best in which histories and customs collide and not all is as it seems in a world where expectations are confounded and transformation of both events and characters is a delight in a plot of twists and turns.
West writes with insight, thoughtfulness and guts, much in the tradition of Guy Gavriel Kay, Janny Wurts, Tad Williams and Jennifer Roberson and is one of the best fantasy writers I’ve read. And if you do like what you read, check out her work as Michelle Sagara, it’s a lighter read but just as good.
The Sun Sword books tell a complex and detailed story spanning the breadth of the Domain of Annagar in the south, a land of desert and tradition, harsh sun and rigid social courtesies that form a deadly dance of protocol in which the slightest misstep can cause the downfall of a Clan and the Empire of Essalieyan to the North, a sprawling land of culture and civilisation, commerce and trade in which the Ten Major Houses wield authority second only to the god-born Kings who rule them.
This is a tale of epic narrative and detailed plotting set in a world of rich, vibrant and diverse cultural identities. It is the story of the daughter of a God who refuses to be a pawn in his plans, it is the tale of a woman who shows the world a face of acceptance, but works in secret to change the conventions that make her a slave. It is the story of a Prince who must fight immortal foes to lay claim to the crown that has been denied him and the tale of a young woman whose gift of Sight takes her from city slums to glittering palaces and a position of power that she never dreamed of. Magi battle magi and demi-gods plot for power, warriors fight flesh and blood and the dark sorceries of forgotten legends.
This series is a huge undertaking with a massive cast of characters whose complexity brings to mind the work of Steven Erickson, but is as different to Erickson as he is to Martin. And where readers are willing to forgive both these authors the crime of writing ‘fat’ fantasy I urge you to do the same for West’s work. She is a magical writer of rich and compelling prose and works brilliantly at revealing the history of the world she writes in through character experience, rather than large chunks of ‘info-dump’. This is epic fantasy at its best in which histories and customs collide and not all is as it seems in a world where expectations are confounded and transformation of both events and characters is a delight in a plot of twists and turns.
West writes with insight, thoughtfulness and guts, much in the tradition of Guy Gavriel Kay, Janny Wurts, Tad Williams and Jennifer Roberson and is one of the best fantasy writers I’ve read. And if you do like what you read, check out her work as Michelle Sagara, it’s a lighter read but just as good.
January 16, 2011
This second book takes the action completely outside the Dominion and is set all in the Empire. It has two strands - the preparation for the war against the Dominion to get Valedan his rightful throne, because otherwise the Dominion will become a stronghold of the Lord of Night aka Allasakar - and the fact that House Terafin is sliding into an internal House War to decide the succession of the Terafin EVEN THOUGH she is still alive.
At the start of the book we have unknown ATerafin members dying already, but within the book the stakes get higher, characters known to us are injured unto death or die (thank the gods for the healers). Jewel's den has two new members added (the first in the 15 years since we followed her in the Sacred Hunt/ the first three House War books), one of whom is a healer - and one of whom is the human daughter of the Lord of Night - the begetting and raising of whom we saw in the prologue to the first book.
Kiriel di'Ashaf has left her father's earthly stronghold in response to Ashaf's murder by the Kialli lord who raise her, Isladar. Jewel as seer-born can know her importance to the cause against her father and in memory of Duster (whose importance is now - after reading those first three House War books - much clearer to me) she adopts another killer. To Kiriel she becomes the second safe heaven she has ever known, after Ashaf.
The attempts on Valedan are centred around his taking part in the Kings' Challenge - interestingly enough we get far less of the southern Tyr di Callesta, but a good amount of insight into General Ramedan, Serra Alina and Mirialyn ACormaris, daughter of one of the northern godborn kings.
A lot of strands are added to other known characters: Kallandras, Meralonne, Devon ATerafin. The opposition of the South is presented in the person of the ultimate Kings' Challenge Southern hero (he won twice) and his trainees - he has a personal reason for wanting Valedan dead, and this book reflects on the responsibilities of power, justice, vengeance, love, mercy and growing-up.
I liked this even better than the first one, because the woman all have outward agency, except maybe for Serra Alina, but she makes her opinions felt nevertheless. However there is no Diora or Teresa in this book at all.
At the end there is a forging of a young man in Valedan overcoming personal challenges and learning the cost not just to himself of his claim to the Southern throne. There's a moment to capture their breath, but also the war against the Dominion on the horizon, and the fact that Jewel knows she will have to go with Valedan even though the House War in Terafin will not have been solved.
At the start of the book we have unknown ATerafin members dying already, but within the book the stakes get higher, characters known to us are injured unto death or die (thank the gods for the healers). Jewel's den has two new members added (the first in the 15 years since we followed her in the Sacred Hunt/ the first three House War books), one of whom is a healer - and one of whom is the human daughter of the Lord of Night - the begetting and raising of whom we saw in the prologue to the first book.
Kiriel di'Ashaf has left her father's earthly stronghold in response to Ashaf's murder by the Kialli lord who raise her, Isladar. Jewel as seer-born can know her importance to the cause against her father and in memory of Duster (whose importance is now - after reading those first three House War books - much clearer to me) she adopts another killer. To Kiriel she becomes the second safe heaven she has ever known, after Ashaf.
The attempts on Valedan are centred around his taking part in the Kings' Challenge - interestingly enough we get far less of the southern Tyr di Callesta, but a good amount of insight into General Ramedan, Serra Alina and Mirialyn ACormaris, daughter of one of the northern godborn kings.
A lot of strands are added to other known characters: Kallandras, Meralonne, Devon ATerafin. The opposition of the South is presented in the person of the ultimate Kings' Challenge Southern hero (he won twice) and his trainees - he has a personal reason for wanting Valedan dead, and this book reflects on the responsibilities of power, justice, vengeance, love, mercy and growing-up.
I liked this even better than the first one, because the woman all have outward agency, except maybe for Serra Alina, but she makes her opinions felt nevertheless. However there is no Diora or Teresa in this book at all.
At the end there is a forging of a young man in Valedan overcoming personal challenges and learning the cost not just to himself of his claim to the Southern throne. There's a moment to capture their breath, but also the war against the Dominion on the horizon, and the fact that Jewel knows she will have to go with Valedan even though the House War in Terafin will not have been solved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2022
When I started to reread this book, I felt my whole body relax as I remembered how much I enjoy this series. I wondered once again why Michelle West’s work isn’t better known. She has built a singular world with stunning, complex, and human characters. I know that part of the issue is how her various series in the world don’t occur in a neat order. It actually makes sense to jump around among the three primary series for the best experience. I am currently rereading in the order recommended by Electra Pritchett: the first three books of the House War, the two books of the Sacred Hunt, the six books of the Sun Sword, and then finally the remaining books of the House War. The Uncrowned King is the second book in the Sun Sword.
You can read these books quickly for plot, and that is what I did the first time. This second time around, I have slowed down. I’m seeing West’s subtlety. If you read carefully, a whole new world opens up to you. West’s characters are in a political world and they rarely reference things directly, but the inferences, especially in their interactions, are gold mined by the thoughtful. These oblique asides make much more sense during a second reading. She hasn’t built a linear story as much as she has created a solid sphere. Each story burrows into the sphere and crosses paths with other stories in unexpected ways before continuing on.
If they have given me so much joy on a second reading, I know these books will be friends for life.
You can read these books quickly for plot, and that is what I did the first time. This second time around, I have slowed down. I’m seeing West’s subtlety. If you read carefully, a whole new world opens up to you. West’s characters are in a political world and they rarely reference things directly, but the inferences, especially in their interactions, are gold mined by the thoughtful. These oblique asides make much more sense during a second reading. She hasn’t built a linear story as much as she has created a solid sphere. Each story burrows into the sphere and crosses paths with other stories in unexpected ways before continuing on.
If they have given me so much joy on a second reading, I know these books will be friends for life.
July 7, 2013
Not terribly impressed with the second novel in this series. Unfortunately there are multiple reasons why I am not enjoying this series very much so far. First, the author's style of writing is pretty annoying to read. She uses lots of broken up sentences to emphasize points. Like. Writing. Like. This. To. Make. A. Point. Secondly, even after reading the first book (approx 600 pages) and the second book (approx 600 pages) I still don't have much of a clue how the geo-political and cultures work in this fantasy series because the author never does the reader any favors and gently explain it through dialogues between the characters. Additionally, she doesn't explain much of how the magic works in fights, which is something most fantasy novels hinge on. Finally, the part of the book that should be the most enjoyable to read, namely the battle scenes, are pretty poorly written. You are really left to using your imagination to how fights are actually taking place and frankly that is boring. I still plan to finish reading this series because it was gifted to me but I am in no hurry right now to finish reading it. More of a time filler.
March 29, 2023
Let me begin by saying that I'm almost done with the third installment, The Shining Court, and that I'm in awe of Michelle West's The Sun Sword. Few SFF series are as good and I still can't explain why it remains what is probably the genre's best-kept secret. Think of the worldbuilding of Steven Erikson and R. Scott Bakker, with the superior characterization of Robin Hobb, George R. R. Martin, and Jacqueline Carey. Yes, it's that damn good!
And while The Broken Crown worked as a vast introduction to a decidedly multilayered tale, The Uncrowned King turned out to be a more self-contained novel. Not as sprawling as its predecessor, which by necessity needed to lay the groundwork for the rest of the series and spanned several years of timeline, this second volume focuses on the King's Challenge and its repercussions, and hence only covers a couple of weeks. This tighter focus makes for an easier and more streamlined reading experience. As was the case with Erikson's The Malazan Book of the Fallen, it appears that The Broken Crown is West's own Gardens of the Moon and not the easiest starting point for a complex and utterly satisfying fantasy saga. For a lot of Malazan fans, Deadhouse Gates was where it all began to make more sense and when the series became impossible to put down. In many respects, I feel that The Uncrowned King will work much the same way the second Malazan volume did for legions of readers. So if you were a bit put off by the first installment but still liked it, I suggest that you read the sequel before deciding whether or not Michelle West is for you. Because by the time you reach the last page of The Uncrowned King, either you'll be foaming at the mouth and begging to discover what happens next, or else The Sun Sword simply isn't for you.
Needless to say, I am now a huge fan of Michelle West. I'm at a total loss to explain how this amazing series could have fallen through the cracks over the last two decades. Even worse, I actually bought these books as they came out and never read them. Can't quite believe how much of a fool I am. Had this series found its way into the hands of all the Wheel of Time, the A Song of Ice and Fire, the Malazan Book of the Fallen, the Realm of the Elderlings, and the Kushiel aficionados, just to name a few, these novels would have been bestsellers. Shockingly, for some unfathomable reason, they remained criminally unread over the years. Hopefully I can help get the ball rolling and make sure to raise awareness in what appears to be one of the very best fantasy series ever written.
Here's the blurb:
The second novel of the acclaimed Sun Sword series returns to a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed…
The King’s Challenge—it was a proving ground for warriors in the Essalieyan Empire, the hallowed contest that made legends of men. And for Valedan, last survivor of the ruling family of the Dominion, it was a declaration of his right to claim the throne stolen from the Leonne clan by treachery and assassination.
Failure to earn the title of King’s Champion would not deprive Valedan of either his Dominion or Essalieyan allies, but winning would announce to the world that he was no callow boy, no mere pawn in the games of power. And the games of power were indeed being played—not only in the Empire and Dominion, but in the far more dangerous realm of the Lord of Night.
As the time of the Challenge neared, Valedan and all those who guarded him would be hard-pressed to survive long enough for him to enter the competition. For the demon kin had been set to hunt him down and destroy him. They had failed before though many innocents had paid for the price. They must not fail again, for slaying Valedan was but the opening gambit in a war that would free the Lord of Night to reign over all the mortal world…
The worldbuilding continues to be remarkable. In my review of The Broken Crown, I mentioned that West had an eye for detail and that the imagery she creates leaps off the page at every turn. It sure looks as though this will be one of the author's trademarks moving forward because it's the same with this second volume. There is a depth to her universe that is seldom achieved in the fantasy genre, and so far only Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker surpass her in that regard. Having said that, with yet more layers added with each new installment, there's no telling just how good Michelle West truly is. While the first volume alternated between the Dominion and the Essalieyan Empire, which I found jarring at times, the bulk of The Uncrowned King takes place in the Empire, in and around the city of Averalaan. Yes, West continues to be repetitive and some readers might feel like it's overdone, but I guess I got used to this quirk of hers and it doesn't really bother me. West has created a world that lives and breathes, and this time she gives life to the imperial capital in a way that I found captivating. And though political intrigue remains an important part of this novel/series, there are a lot more action sequences in this sequel. Still, don't expect any bells and whistles à la Brandon Sanderson or R. A. Salvatore. As I said before, this is adult fantasy in its truest form. With each new page, each new chapter, each new book, Michelle West weaves a tapestry that is as convoluted as it is breathtaking.
Structurally, The Uncrowned King is easier to follow than its predecessor. Focusing almost entirely on the King's Challenge taking place in Averalaan, it does reduce the Malazan-length Dramatis Personae of The Broken Crown to something that is easier to navigate through. Being away from the Dominion means that Serra Teresa and Serra Diora, who are at the very heart of the tale told in the first volume, aren't an active part of the story and their absence is felt deeply. After playing such a pivotal role in the first book, it felt odd to read a sequel whose spotlight was on a different set of protagonists. And even though you never truly forget about them, with a deft human touch and new plotlines and characters that capture your imagination West makes Valedan's tale hard to put down. A part of your mind wants to go back to the Dominion to find out what happens next, but your heart is firmly held in place by Valedan's plight. Born in the South but raised in the North, he must somehow find a way to prove himself worthy of both the Dominion and the Essalieyan Empire in order to claim his birthright.
Once again, the characterization is top notch, proving that The Broken Crown was no fluke. As a matter of course, Valedan takes center stage throughout the novel and I love the way he has grown as a protagonist. And yet, it's the supporting cast that makes The Uncrowned King such a memorable read. Some familiar faces such as Kiriel, Princess Mirialyn, the Ospreys, and Ramiro kai di'Callesta return and become even more important in the greater scheme of things. Revelations about Kallandras, Jewel, Avandar, Meralonne APhaniel, and Sigurne Mellifas offer tantalizing hints of buried pasts and powers that will probably change the course of this series. And last but not least, Ser Anton di'Guivera, whose past and whose current relationship with the boy Aidan will both break your heart and make him your favorite villain-turned-hero since Jaime Lannister.
Given the number of quotes from this book I posted on the Hotlist, it's obvious that Michelle West's beautiful prose has made quite an impression on me. It continues to be reminiscent of that of Guy Gavriel Kay and Jacqueline Carey. However, the author remains quite verbose and too many portions of The Uncrowned King were overwritten. As I mentioned before, I understand that it's a question of style, but regardless of how beautifully written it turned out to be, bloat remains bloat. Still, it's not as bad as it was with The Broken Crown. Which means that, even though it weighs in at 687 pages, this sequel doesn't suffer from pacing issues as much as its predecessor. It's not fast-paced by any stretch of the imagination, but the tighter focus on the narrative makes for a compulsive reading experience.
Say what you will of Michelle West, there's no denying that she knows how to weave the various threads of her story together and make them come together to form an exciting endgame. And for the second time now, she caps it all off with the sort of panache that hits you like a punch in the gut and leaves you breathless. God knows I'm happy not to have to wait a year or more to read the next volume!
I was told that the third installment, The Shining Court, was next level, and it is indeed an enthralling read. Bringing together the plotlines from both The Broken Crown and The Uncrowned King, West ups her game and elevates The Sun Sword to new heights. This series deserves the highest possible recommendation.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
And while The Broken Crown worked as a vast introduction to a decidedly multilayered tale, The Uncrowned King turned out to be a more self-contained novel. Not as sprawling as its predecessor, which by necessity needed to lay the groundwork for the rest of the series and spanned several years of timeline, this second volume focuses on the King's Challenge and its repercussions, and hence only covers a couple of weeks. This tighter focus makes for an easier and more streamlined reading experience. As was the case with Erikson's The Malazan Book of the Fallen, it appears that The Broken Crown is West's own Gardens of the Moon and not the easiest starting point for a complex and utterly satisfying fantasy saga. For a lot of Malazan fans, Deadhouse Gates was where it all began to make more sense and when the series became impossible to put down. In many respects, I feel that The Uncrowned King will work much the same way the second Malazan volume did for legions of readers. So if you were a bit put off by the first installment but still liked it, I suggest that you read the sequel before deciding whether or not Michelle West is for you. Because by the time you reach the last page of The Uncrowned King, either you'll be foaming at the mouth and begging to discover what happens next, or else The Sun Sword simply isn't for you.
Needless to say, I am now a huge fan of Michelle West. I'm at a total loss to explain how this amazing series could have fallen through the cracks over the last two decades. Even worse, I actually bought these books as they came out and never read them. Can't quite believe how much of a fool I am. Had this series found its way into the hands of all the Wheel of Time, the A Song of Ice and Fire, the Malazan Book of the Fallen, the Realm of the Elderlings, and the Kushiel aficionados, just to name a few, these novels would have been bestsellers. Shockingly, for some unfathomable reason, they remained criminally unread over the years. Hopefully I can help get the ball rolling and make sure to raise awareness in what appears to be one of the very best fantasy series ever written.
Here's the blurb:
The second novel of the acclaimed Sun Sword series returns to a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed…
The King’s Challenge—it was a proving ground for warriors in the Essalieyan Empire, the hallowed contest that made legends of men. And for Valedan, last survivor of the ruling family of the Dominion, it was a declaration of his right to claim the throne stolen from the Leonne clan by treachery and assassination.
Failure to earn the title of King’s Champion would not deprive Valedan of either his Dominion or Essalieyan allies, but winning would announce to the world that he was no callow boy, no mere pawn in the games of power. And the games of power were indeed being played—not only in the Empire and Dominion, but in the far more dangerous realm of the Lord of Night.
As the time of the Challenge neared, Valedan and all those who guarded him would be hard-pressed to survive long enough for him to enter the competition. For the demon kin had been set to hunt him down and destroy him. They had failed before though many innocents had paid for the price. They must not fail again, for slaying Valedan was but the opening gambit in a war that would free the Lord of Night to reign over all the mortal world…
The worldbuilding continues to be remarkable. In my review of The Broken Crown, I mentioned that West had an eye for detail and that the imagery she creates leaps off the page at every turn. It sure looks as though this will be one of the author's trademarks moving forward because it's the same with this second volume. There is a depth to her universe that is seldom achieved in the fantasy genre, and so far only Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker surpass her in that regard. Having said that, with yet more layers added with each new installment, there's no telling just how good Michelle West truly is. While the first volume alternated between the Dominion and the Essalieyan Empire, which I found jarring at times, the bulk of The Uncrowned King takes place in the Empire, in and around the city of Averalaan. Yes, West continues to be repetitive and some readers might feel like it's overdone, but I guess I got used to this quirk of hers and it doesn't really bother me. West has created a world that lives and breathes, and this time she gives life to the imperial capital in a way that I found captivating. And though political intrigue remains an important part of this novel/series, there are a lot more action sequences in this sequel. Still, don't expect any bells and whistles à la Brandon Sanderson or R. A. Salvatore. As I said before, this is adult fantasy in its truest form. With each new page, each new chapter, each new book, Michelle West weaves a tapestry that is as convoluted as it is breathtaking.
Structurally, The Uncrowned King is easier to follow than its predecessor. Focusing almost entirely on the King's Challenge taking place in Averalaan, it does reduce the Malazan-length Dramatis Personae of The Broken Crown to something that is easier to navigate through. Being away from the Dominion means that Serra Teresa and Serra Diora, who are at the very heart of the tale told in the first volume, aren't an active part of the story and their absence is felt deeply. After playing such a pivotal role in the first book, it felt odd to read a sequel whose spotlight was on a different set of protagonists. And even though you never truly forget about them, with a deft human touch and new plotlines and characters that capture your imagination West makes Valedan's tale hard to put down. A part of your mind wants to go back to the Dominion to find out what happens next, but your heart is firmly held in place by Valedan's plight. Born in the South but raised in the North, he must somehow find a way to prove himself worthy of both the Dominion and the Essalieyan Empire in order to claim his birthright.
Once again, the characterization is top notch, proving that The Broken Crown was no fluke. As a matter of course, Valedan takes center stage throughout the novel and I love the way he has grown as a protagonist. And yet, it's the supporting cast that makes The Uncrowned King such a memorable read. Some familiar faces such as Kiriel, Princess Mirialyn, the Ospreys, and Ramiro kai di'Callesta return and become even more important in the greater scheme of things. Revelations about Kallandras, Jewel, Avandar, Meralonne APhaniel, and Sigurne Mellifas offer tantalizing hints of buried pasts and powers that will probably change the course of this series. And last but not least, Ser Anton di'Guivera, whose past and whose current relationship with the boy Aidan will both break your heart and make him your favorite villain-turned-hero since Jaime Lannister.
Given the number of quotes from this book I posted on the Hotlist, it's obvious that Michelle West's beautiful prose has made quite an impression on me. It continues to be reminiscent of that of Guy Gavriel Kay and Jacqueline Carey. However, the author remains quite verbose and too many portions of The Uncrowned King were overwritten. As I mentioned before, I understand that it's a question of style, but regardless of how beautifully written it turned out to be, bloat remains bloat. Still, it's not as bad as it was with The Broken Crown. Which means that, even though it weighs in at 687 pages, this sequel doesn't suffer from pacing issues as much as its predecessor. It's not fast-paced by any stretch of the imagination, but the tighter focus on the narrative makes for a compulsive reading experience.
Say what you will of Michelle West, there's no denying that she knows how to weave the various threads of her story together and make them come together to form an exciting endgame. And for the second time now, she caps it all off with the sort of panache that hits you like a punch in the gut and leaves you breathless. God knows I'm happy not to have to wait a year or more to read the next volume!
I was told that the third installment, The Shining Court, was next level, and it is indeed an enthralling read. Bringing together the plotlines from both The Broken Crown and The Uncrowned King, West ups her game and elevates The Sun Sword to new heights. This series deserves the highest possible recommendation.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
October 3, 2017
The writing style is a total slog in these books but damnit if they don't keep hitting an emotional center for me. The last two pages made me tear up.
October 19, 2022
Book one in this series details a coup in a kingdom (the Dominion) that has a blend of East Asian and Middle Eastern characteristics. Those heading up the coup have made an unholy alliance with a demonic like group (the Kin) who have agreed to aid the overthrow in return for the Dominion then warring with these demons against the Empire (Byzantium? here the analogy breaks down a bit more). This Dominion is ruled by a series of clans with one clan, Leonne, ruling over the others.
In their coup, the entire Leonne clan was wiped out with the exception of one man who was being held hostage in the Empire as part of the peace agreement from the previous war. This hostage suddenly finds himself as the legitimate ruler to the Dominion, but in order to take his inheritance, he must ally with the Empire as well as build support among those who have not bent the knee to the leaders of the coup. To do this he must prove that he is worthy both as a warrior and a "southerner".
To do this he chooses to enter the King's Challenge, a medieval decathlon type competition. This second book pretty much covers that competition. There are multiple assassination attempts along the way both by the demonic Kin and by those of the Dominion. The book is faster paced than book one but also it does not convey the greater sense of urgency and desperation found there. I miss the predominant role Serra Teresa and Serra Diora played (in this book they are virtually nonexistent) on the flip side Jewel, the mc in a parallel series plays a much bigger role and she is awesome.
In all, this book is very good but reading book 1 is a must and I would also recommend reading the first 3 books (but no further) in the House War series as well.
In their coup, the entire Leonne clan was wiped out with the exception of one man who was being held hostage in the Empire as part of the peace agreement from the previous war. This hostage suddenly finds himself as the legitimate ruler to the Dominion, but in order to take his inheritance, he must ally with the Empire as well as build support among those who have not bent the knee to the leaders of the coup. To do this he must prove that he is worthy both as a warrior and a "southerner".
To do this he chooses to enter the King's Challenge, a medieval decathlon type competition. This second book pretty much covers that competition. There are multiple assassination attempts along the way both by the demonic Kin and by those of the Dominion. The book is faster paced than book one but also it does not convey the greater sense of urgency and desperation found there. I miss the predominant role Serra Teresa and Serra Diora played (in this book they are virtually nonexistent) on the flip side Jewel, the mc in a parallel series plays a much bigger role and she is awesome.
In all, this book is very good but reading book 1 is a must and I would also recommend reading the first 3 books (but no further) in the House War series as well.
June 13, 2020
Well, that was disappointing. Hard to believe now that after reading The Broken Crown I gushed about having found my new Steven Erikson.
Where TBC had engaging characters set in a fascinating and original society, TUK is downright boring, the first half of the book excruciatingly so.
If you're a fan of Jewel Markess, here's your trigger warning. Anti Jay rant following.
Because, what is up with her?! Behaviour that can be understood and tolerated in a frightened teenage street child, is absolutely obnoxious in a woman of 33 with a secure position high up in the most powerful House in Averalaan. She is irresponsible and rude, and doesn't seem to have made any friends or allies outside her childhood "den" in the almost twenty years she's been a part of the house Terafin. And the way she treats her domicis! He's been at her side for more than half her life, protecting her, advising her and guiding her through a social life that must have been unfathomable for a fifteen years old street urchin, and what does he get? Snide comments and ingratitude. Grow the f up, Jewel.
Because of how well I liked TBC I'm going to give this series one more book, but unless The Shining Court blows me away, I'm going to leave it at that.
Where TBC had engaging characters set in a fascinating and original society, TUK is downright boring, the first half of the book excruciatingly so.
If you're a fan of Jewel Markess, here's your trigger warning. Anti Jay rant following.
Because, what is up with her?! Behaviour that can be understood and tolerated in a frightened teenage street child, is absolutely obnoxious in a woman of 33 with a secure position high up in the most powerful House in Averalaan. She is irresponsible and rude, and doesn't seem to have made any friends or allies outside her childhood "den" in the almost twenty years she's been a part of the house Terafin. And the way she treats her domicis! He's been at her side for more than half her life, protecting her, advising her and guiding her through a social life that must have been unfathomable for a fifteen years old street urchin, and what does he get? Snide comments and ingratitude. Grow the f up, Jewel.
Because of how well I liked TBC I'm going to give this series one more book, but unless The Shining Court blows me away, I'm going to leave it at that.
November 20, 2014
I thought this book was a little slow, but superbly written. West/Sagara is a true adept at world building. This story is based in the north so you get to learn about life there as opposed to the dominion. I found myself longing to be back in the dominion with Serra Teresa & Serra Diora. Reading about the dominion has sort of taught me that when we learn about seemingly oppressive cultures, we truly can't understand them without living their lives. The women in the dominion seem to have no power and they have slaves and yet there are women like Serra Teresa and her niece that are two of the most powerful characters in the book.
I love love love the authors voice. These books are beautifully written in a way I have never read before. It's like steel grace on paper. I love it.
I love love love the authors voice. These books are beautifully written in a way I have never read before. It's like steel grace on paper. I love it.
January 5, 2012
So very, very good. I took longer than normal reading this, not because it was hard to get into, but because it was so good I wanted to revel in it and there was only so much I could take at any given time. This focuses more on Jewel and the Northern contingent in the story, which I really enjoyed having read the House Wars to-date, but it is far richer and more complex than just that story. Hardcore epic goodness. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
May 16, 2018
Enjoyed the book. Michelle West is wonderful with the details! If you enjoy details of the surroundings and the thoughts of the characters, she is the author for you. I love to sink into her books and live in it fantasy world.
October 22, 2010
- So bored by the Empire!
- Valedan as immigrant/1.5 gen kid
- Problems of Empire/Western Europe vs. Annagar/vaguely Asian
- Too much reference to Jewel and what I assume is a prior series
- Valedan as immigrant/1.5 gen kid
- Problems of Empire/Western Europe vs. Annagar/vaguely Asian
- Too much reference to Jewel and what I assume is a prior series
November 7, 2014
still don't like the writing style in these. and i didn't like that it was set entirely in the north, with nothing of the south. i'm still continuing with the series, but i don't have high hopes.
February 17, 2018
Consistent
Michelle West has improved over time, and while there are a few editorial errors, this book is no exception. It has hooked me enough to read the next one.
Michelle West has improved over time, and while there are a few editorial errors, this book is no exception. It has hooked me enough to read the next one.
February 19, 2020
Very disappointing and tedious. Did not care for Jewel's storyline or most of the storylines focused in this volume. I did like the epilogue though.
February 27, 2026
Michelle West is a master storyteller and damn she knows how to weave the best endings to a book. There's no book in this series I've read that didn't end with an emotionally impacting moment, and with this one, she managed to do it with a character I loathed so much; Ser Anton di'Guivera.
The level of machinations, political intrigue, assassinations and scheming in this book were off the charts and I felt so bad for the Terafin and Jewel who were taking the brunt of the loss.
The story focused mainly on The King's Challenge (something akin to an Olympics event), and Valedan en Leonne, the surviving scion of the Leonne clan who was held hostage in Essalieyan sought to use this as a means to prove himself to the Annagarians that would be present in the event, as a foreplay to the war that is about to hit off. So many attempts were made on his life in the process by the Kialli who are working with the Dominion of Annagar, and people paid for those attacks. I developed a fondness for Valedan in this book and I'm excited to see where his feet will carry him in this war.
There's much I can't say and I would even be unable to say should I attempt to because my words here won't even capture a thousandth of the scope and impact of this book.
Kiriel di'Ashaf is utterly amazing. And so far she's been the most endearing female character in this sub series to me. Her monologues on power; what she knows to be power, and what humans demonstrate, the conflict between the two of them, and her gradual understanding of what it means to be human as Jewel and some of the Ospreys extend a hand to her without offering judgement, protecting her from the curiosity of the empire is a masterclass of character work.
There are other characters that entranced my eyes within the pages of this book. Characters like Alina, Princess Mira ACormalyn, Auralis, Diane, Kallandras and of course my Evayne.
Surprisingly the person who I loved the most in this book is a boy with no power or influence. Aidan is a boy from the 24th holding (a place the poor dwell) who came with a romantic notion of valor and honor to witness the King's Challenge and became a witness for Valedan. He has scant pages compared to other characters, but damn I love that kid so much. And that ending is one of the most cathartic writing ever penned down. Utterly beautiful and emotional
I'll agree with other reviewers that said this book needed better editing and formatting because unlike her other books, this one gave no gaps to indicate when a pov switches. A pov could switch in the middle of a line and you won't know. It became very frustrating to read. And she needed to use lesser short sentences in this one. Besides these two grievances, this was an exceptional read and if you haven't started The Essalieyan series, you're missing a lot
The level of machinations, political intrigue, assassinations and scheming in this book were off the charts and I felt so bad for the Terafin and Jewel who were taking the brunt of the loss.
The story focused mainly on The King's Challenge (something akin to an Olympics event), and Valedan en Leonne, the surviving scion of the Leonne clan who was held hostage in Essalieyan sought to use this as a means to prove himself to the Annagarians that would be present in the event, as a foreplay to the war that is about to hit off. So many attempts were made on his life in the process by the Kialli who are working with the Dominion of Annagar, and people paid for those attacks. I developed a fondness for Valedan in this book and I'm excited to see where his feet will carry him in this war.
There's much I can't say and I would even be unable to say should I attempt to because my words here won't even capture a thousandth of the scope and impact of this book.
Kiriel di'Ashaf is utterly amazing. And so far she's been the most endearing female character in this sub series to me. Her monologues on power; what she knows to be power, and what humans demonstrate, the conflict between the two of them, and her gradual understanding of what it means to be human as Jewel and some of the Ospreys extend a hand to her without offering judgement, protecting her from the curiosity of the empire is a masterclass of character work.
There are other characters that entranced my eyes within the pages of this book. Characters like Alina, Princess Mira ACormalyn, Auralis, Diane, Kallandras and of course my Evayne.
Surprisingly the person who I loved the most in this book is a boy with no power or influence. Aidan is a boy from the 24th holding (a place the poor dwell) who came with a romantic notion of valor and honor to witness the King's Challenge and became a witness for Valedan. He has scant pages compared to other characters, but damn I love that kid so much. And that ending is one of the most cathartic writing ever penned down. Utterly beautiful and emotional
I'll agree with other reviewers that said this book needed better editing and formatting because unlike her other books, this one gave no gaps to indicate when a pov switches. A pov could switch in the middle of a line and you won't know. It became very frustrating to read. And she needed to use lesser short sentences in this one. Besides these two grievances, this was an exceptional read and if you haven't started The Essalieyan series, you're missing a lot
June 9, 2020
This was a great read. At book 7 (chronologically, although not by publishing date) of the Essalieyan Chronicles, the story has hit its stride and the disparate plot threads between Averalaan and the Dominion are meshed into a coherent whole.
We pick up where we left off in The Broken Crown by getting to know Valedan is the last remaining member of the clan Leonne. He is obviously going to be a hero, but he's no Marty Stu. He has to work for it. He has all the makings of a good leader but his style is not brute force, which makes him admired by his Northern allies but seen by Southerners as weak. In order to make a name for himself he enters the Kings' Challenge, which is basically a feudal Olympics style event. There are several portions but horse riding and sword fighting are the most important to the Southerners. He's advised against entering since Alesso is trying to assassinate him so that he can claim full rulership, but he goes through every event. We see him realize the importance of his mission and begin making the hard transition to acting like a king. Unfortunately, his proposal to Serra Alina di'Lamberto is refused. It would have been nice to see a reverse May-December romance and the two obviously get along well and have deeper feelings, but oh well. There are demons to kill!
Jewel and company pop up again (sigh) because someone is trying to start a House War...which usually doesn't happen until the leader of a house actually dies. The Terafin is alive and well for the moment but the events are putting pressure on her to name an heir. Jewel is being courted by the challengers and doesn't like any of her choices, but also doesn't want to be named heir. It's pointless dithering because in House Name, it was made clear that a) Jewel pledged her life as service to the house at the Terafin shrine; b) the Terafin house spirit appeared to her and he only shows his face to house leaders; c) the Terafin sees herself in Jewel and all but states she is grooming her to take over one day. But nothing is ever easy with Jewel so this is par for the course. She fills her time by befriending Kiriel, the half human daughter of Allaskar(!). Kiriel is trying to be good but doesn't really know and also really enjoys causing pain due to her half demonic nature. But she is determined to fight her father and has been assigned to guard Valedan, so I know she'll be influential in the conflict one way or another.
We also get further machinations in the Dominion. Alesso and Sendari have realized they may not have their demon allies under control (ya think?!?). Serra Teresa finds out that her brother didn't accidentally end up working with demons and doesn't plan on turning back. She commits herself to working against him and saving her niece. Diora is also finds her own surprising way of voicing her opposition, which results in a really cool moment.
We pick up where we left off in The Broken Crown by getting to know Valedan is the last remaining member of the clan Leonne. He is obviously going to be a hero, but he's no Marty Stu. He has to work for it. He has all the makings of a good leader but his style is not brute force, which makes him admired by his Northern allies but seen by Southerners as weak. In order to make a name for himself he enters the Kings' Challenge, which is basically a feudal Olympics style event. There are several portions but horse riding and sword fighting are the most important to the Southerners. He's advised against entering since Alesso is trying to assassinate him so that he can claim full rulership, but he goes through every event. We see him realize the importance of his mission and begin making the hard transition to acting like a king. Unfortunately, his proposal to Serra Alina di'Lamberto is refused. It would have been nice to see a reverse May-December romance and the two obviously get along well and have deeper feelings, but oh well. There are demons to kill!
Jewel and company pop up again (sigh) because someone is trying to start a House War...which usually doesn't happen until the leader of a house actually dies. The Terafin is alive and well for the moment but the events are putting pressure on her to name an heir. Jewel is being courted by the challengers and doesn't like any of her choices, but also doesn't want to be named heir. It's pointless dithering because in House Name, it was made clear that a) Jewel pledged her life as service to the house at the Terafin shrine; b) the Terafin house spirit appeared to her and he only shows his face to house leaders; c) the Terafin sees herself in Jewel and all but states she is grooming her to take over one day. But nothing is ever easy with Jewel so this is par for the course. She fills her time by befriending Kiriel, the half human daughter of Allaskar(!). Kiriel is trying to be good but doesn't really know and also really enjoys causing pain due to her half demonic nature. But she is determined to fight her father and has been assigned to guard Valedan, so I know she'll be influential in the conflict one way or another.
We also get further machinations in the Dominion. Alesso and Sendari have realized they may not have their demon allies under control (ya think?!?). Serra Teresa finds out that her brother didn't accidentally end up working with demons and doesn't plan on turning back. She commits herself to working against him and saving her niece. Diora is also finds her own surprising way of voicing her opposition, which results in a really cool moment.
March 2, 2021
4.5
I enjoyed this more than the first book of the series - I think because it spent considerably less time in the Southern realm, which while interesting and deep, is not a very pleasant place to read about.
I still love most of the main characters, though I admit I find the kai Leonne a little bland. I did really enjoy how West compared and contrasted him with Jewel, as they struggle with how they're becoming leaders and what that will mean for how they make choices and act. His conflict between the two heritages was also interesting and reminded me of immigrant children and their struggle between cultures.
I also love how West builds relationships and reveals character through them. The very end, when the Dominion swordmaster gets the ring and message from his wife who he's spent his whole life trying to avenge, made me tear up.
Kiriel was great and fascinating, but I admit that I was kind of confused with the whole 'my powers are getting zapped by this random ring until I absorb the dark shield at the end and get them back again (maybe?) thing'. Maybe the Hunters duology explained more about these rings, but I just sort of accepted them as powerful items I didn't get and moved on. I really enjoyed her development as she had to live like a human, and just enjoyed her character and bluntness a lot, I just don't really understand what set it off or whatever. I loved her relationship with Jewel, and how she grew to trust her and become part of her den!
Lots of scheming in the book, and meditations on power, and I'm super intrigued for where Jewel's arc is going to go (will she go to the oracle first? Down south? What will happen with the House war while she's off doing either/both of those things?) The King's Championship or competition or whatever is finally over now, so I'm interested in where the larger plot is going as hopefully the kai Leonne and the army will finally head south.
I still appreciate how everyone has their own set of competing values, goals, and motivations, and how they can intersect or diverge. I also like how no one wins or loses all the time, and have to adapt to their various successes, failures, and random events.
I don't know if this was just my gay goggles, and I know warrior-brothers are a thing, but the two students of the Dominion master seemed closer than that and I wonder if West was putting in deliberate gay subtext. Also I low-key ship Serra Alina and Princess Mirialyn and am sad that they'll have to separate when Alina goes south.
Lastly, poor Amarais. She's ruled the Terafin House by all accounts very successfully for a long time, and all she gets as thanks is the murder of allies and jockeying for position in an upcoming House War as she's still alive, while her favored heir sticks her head in the sand about her position as the favored heir and what that will necessitate. That was one thing that kind of threw me - I would expect Jewel to have changed/matured a little more over the 17 year time skip, honestly.
I have the usual complaints of some repetitiveness and overuse of em-dashes, but overall I really enjoyed this book and am excited for the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2021
In a manner similar to its predecessor, West's series is unlike any fantasy book that I have encountered before and there's a lot to admire. West takes chances on her narrative choices and how she advances the plot. This second book focuses on the Northern providences and the power dynamics that are arising as a result of the King's Challenge. Valedan en'Leonne, the last of his clan, has entered the challenge to win valor, but it also attracts the attention of men, who want him dead. It also focuses on Terafin House and its war of succession before the death of its ruler.
While I enjoyed the slow exploration of the political connections and powers within the Northern territories, it is hard to connect this story with the one unfolding in the previous book. For one, it is hard to visualize and even conceptualize the geographic space that these stories are taking place in. This seems to result from the fact that the first and second books take place in separate areas without any references to the other. Valedan is dropped into the north suddenly with little to no reflection on the events of the past book. Therefore, it sometimes seems that the books are taking place at different points in time and it takes a lot to realize that they are operating on the same grand stage.
West also has a tendency to ramble on for paragraphs without identifying the narrator or the perspective. Sometimes, I would start a chapter and be completely oblivious to who the narrator was supposed to be because the only identifying information was a location at the beginning of the chapter, which means nothing to me. More often, I would be twenty pages into a chapter and read a detail that didn't make sense for whose perspective I thought I was reading only to discover that somewhere the perspective had switched with the barest suggestion. As a result, I noticed that the author never referred to the characters by name except for once before only using pronouns for the entirety of the chapter. This was just slightly aggravating.
While I enjoyed the slow exploration of the political connections and powers within the Northern territories, it is hard to connect this story with the one unfolding in the previous book. For one, it is hard to visualize and even conceptualize the geographic space that these stories are taking place in. This seems to result from the fact that the first and second books take place in separate areas without any references to the other. Valedan is dropped into the north suddenly with little to no reflection on the events of the past book. Therefore, it sometimes seems that the books are taking place at different points in time and it takes a lot to realize that they are operating on the same grand stage.
West also has a tendency to ramble on for paragraphs without identifying the narrator or the perspective. Sometimes, I would start a chapter and be completely oblivious to who the narrator was supposed to be because the only identifying information was a location at the beginning of the chapter, which means nothing to me. More often, I would be twenty pages into a chapter and read a detail that didn't make sense for whose perspective I thought I was reading only to discover that somewhere the perspective had switched with the barest suggestion. As a result, I noticed that the author never referred to the characters by name except for once before only using pronouns for the entirety of the chapter. This was just slightly aggravating.
January 30, 2024
Now that I'm a little more familiar with West's writing style, this book wasn't as impactful as the first one was, but it was just as interesting.
I'm now thoroughly invested in this world and have a need to know how it's all going to pan out.
The astonishing thing is that I think this book only covers a couple of weeks, maybe a month. 600 pages for a week. I should despise this book. This level of wordiness puts Tolkien, Tad Williams, and, gasp, Nathaniel Hawthorne to shame, and yet I can't put it down. I'm sacrificing my sleep and my Chinese dramas to this series. I don't even understand why.
This book continues along the line of the first one where what is not said is more important than what is expressed, but there is a lot more explanation in this book. It's probably because it is set in the North as opposed to the South, but even here, the layers of meaning packed into a single word is astonishing.
I was quite struck by West's insight into the weight of leadership and responsibility. Watching Valedan struggle with the burden he takes upon himself and seeing how what seems to be harsh is actually a source of strength was really powerful to me. I wish I had a Serra Alina in my life. I wish I was a Serra Alina to my students. She comes off as harsh and bitter, but she's actually just a pragmatist and understands that you must sacrifice the short term to the long term. I hope everything turns out for her. I mean, I hope that for everyone, but I want her to achieve something. She is content to let her achievement be Valedan's success, but I want her to achieve something for herself, even if it's only to forge a truce with her brother.
I'm now thoroughly invested in this world and have a need to know how it's all going to pan out.
The astonishing thing is that I think this book only covers a couple of weeks, maybe a month. 600 pages for a week. I should despise this book. This level of wordiness puts Tolkien, Tad Williams, and, gasp, Nathaniel Hawthorne to shame, and yet I can't put it down. I'm sacrificing my sleep and my Chinese dramas to this series. I don't even understand why.
This book continues along the line of the first one where what is not said is more important than what is expressed, but there is a lot more explanation in this book. It's probably because it is set in the North as opposed to the South, but even here, the layers of meaning packed into a single word is astonishing.
I was quite struck by West's insight into the weight of leadership and responsibility. Watching Valedan struggle with the burden he takes upon himself and seeing how what seems to be harsh is actually a source of strength was really powerful to me. I wish I had a Serra Alina in my life. I wish I was a Serra Alina to my students. She comes off as harsh and bitter, but she's actually just a pragmatist and understands that you must sacrifice the short term to the long term. I hope everything turns out for her. I mean, I hope that for everyone, but I want her to achieve something. She is content to let her achievement be Valedan's success, but I want her to achieve something for herself, even if it's only to forge a truce with her brother.
May 20, 2023
SPOILERS FOLLOW
Excellent world-building and I liked the premise of an uncrowned king trying to attract support by entering a decathlon type sporting events. However I wish equal attention had been paid to the actual sporting events as well as the assassination plots. For instance we only got one scene of Valedan running the marathon and then the race finished off-screen with the winners announced. I wanted to see Valedan strive against his opponents.
But now I want to talk about Aiden, a new character introduced in this book two of the series. The book starts with 50 pages of Aiden, which seemed excessive to me at the time. I wanted to get back to Diora and Jewel and Valedan, whom I'd invested in last book. But the author was absolutely right to start with Aiden, not only because this allowed us to meet another very important character ser Anton di Guivera and view him through the eyes of a hero-worshipful boy, but because of the ending. One of the troubles of writing a series is that the readers can often be pretty certain that main characters will survive, have to survive, for the next book. So I was pretty confident Valedan would survive the assassination attempts. But Aidan... I felt a lot of dread and tension over whether Aiden would survive. Very well done.
Quibble: Sooo many similar names. Devon, Duvari, Devran, Dantallon, Duarte, Daine. Mirialyn, Meralonne. And the list at the front was the same as book one, without adding the new characters introduced.
Excellent world-building and I liked the premise of an uncrowned king trying to attract support by entering a decathlon type sporting events. However I wish equal attention had been paid to the actual sporting events as well as the assassination plots. For instance we only got one scene of Valedan running the marathon and then the race finished off-screen with the winners announced. I wanted to see Valedan strive against his opponents.
But now I want to talk about Aiden, a new character introduced in this book two of the series. The book starts with 50 pages of Aiden, which seemed excessive to me at the time. I wanted to get back to Diora and Jewel and Valedan, whom I'd invested in last book. But the author was absolutely right to start with Aiden, not only because this allowed us to meet another very important character ser Anton di Guivera and view him through the eyes of a hero-worshipful boy, but because of the ending. One of the troubles of writing a series is that the readers can often be pretty certain that main characters will survive, have to survive, for the next book. So I was pretty confident Valedan would survive the assassination attempts. But Aidan... I felt a lot of dread and tension over whether Aiden would survive. Very well done.
Quibble: Sooo many similar names. Devon, Duvari, Devran, Dantallon, Duarte, Daine. Mirialyn, Meralonne. And the list at the front was the same as book one, without adding the new characters introduced.
October 19, 2024
SPOILERS AHEAD
pretty awesome book ! enjoyed it more than the first since everything was less confusing !
book felt like a test of mettle for valedan , as he warred with his feelings of attending a useless tournament just to prove he is able to lead , at the cost of deaths due.
LOVED ANDARO AND CARLO , it's really sad the at carlo died , loved loved him as a character , the pedro foreshadowing of his death was ominous .
Anton is so unlikeable tho , he realized way too late that on the last day that valedan was worth it.
kiriel dealing with her humanity along was awesome too , with auralias really cute
jewel dealing with the cuthroatness of the house war was raw too ,teller being injured , her almost dying
Love love the interactions between loads of characters
devon / jewel
kallandaras/ meralonne
kallandaras being part of the brotherhood was a twist and a half too
aidan was a lovely side character too , but i feel the fact he didn't die was abit of a copout and the fact anton swore allegiance too , should have just got slain.
pretty awesome book ! enjoyed it more than the first since everything was less confusing !
book felt like a test of mettle for valedan , as he warred with his feelings of attending a useless tournament just to prove he is able to lead , at the cost of deaths due.
LOVED ANDARO AND CARLO , it's really sad the at carlo died , loved loved him as a character , the pedro foreshadowing of his death was ominous .
Anton is so unlikeable tho , he realized way too late that on the last day that valedan was worth it.
kiriel dealing with her humanity along was awesome too , with auralias really cute
jewel dealing with the cuthroatness of the house war was raw too ,teller being injured , her almost dying
Love love the interactions between loads of characters
devon / jewel
kallandaras/ meralonne
kallandaras being part of the brotherhood was a twist and a half too
aidan was a lovely side character too , but i feel the fact he didn't die was abit of a copout and the fact anton swore allegiance too , should have just got slain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2017
Game of Thrones-ish political battles, but with more demons, and also with a big tournament arc. West is good at writing characters (she should honestly be a standard recommendation for “books with good female characters” threads) and the plot is interesting enough that I will continue to book three, which is a pretty good indication of quality given these books’ length. Still, there are a lot of little things about West’s writing (like her lack of dialogue tags!) that make this harder to read than it needs to be and push my rating down to a 3.5ish. I did get a kick out of reaching a “can they get rid of the demons infesting the marathon course before the runners get there” cliffhanger (this isn’t really a spoiler since it’s what a good chunk of the book is about) the night before I ran one myself.
February 16, 2019
I was looking forward to this volume because I thought I’d find out what happened to Diora and everyone in Leone. Except this is an entirely different part of that world.
Granted, it is interesting with all its intrigue and magic. However, after the first (or 2nd or 3rd) meandering digression in description and background (that went on for 2-3 paragraphs) in the middle of a fight scene, I began to grit my teeth and skip 5 words out of ten.
And after the 3rd “s/he knew that voice without looking”, I just heard this voice in my head going “blah blah blah, get on with the scene already.”
The author really needs to fix this.
And the secrets in the life of every single character (which no one else knew) just became tiresome in the end.
By the end of the book, I was just looking forward to the end of reading it.
Granted, it is interesting with all its intrigue and magic. However, after the first (or 2nd or 3rd) meandering digression in description and background (that went on for 2-3 paragraphs) in the middle of a fight scene, I began to grit my teeth and skip 5 words out of ten.
And after the 3rd “s/he knew that voice without looking”, I just heard this voice in my head going “blah blah blah, get on with the scene already.”
The author really needs to fix this.
And the secrets in the life of every single character (which no one else knew) just became tiresome in the end.
By the end of the book, I was just looking forward to the end of reading it.
November 26, 2024
I liked this book, but not as much as the first one. It was a bit slow, not least because of the rather wordy writing style. I’m not sure why it’s bothering me now, since it hasn’t changed terribly much since I first starting reading West’s work, except that maybe the scope of this book was a bit too small. It focused entirely on the King’s Challenge and the players therein. There was some politicking, but it was slight and as previously stated, not the primary focus. Yes, what happened during the Challenge will carry the story forward, and it was important, but I wish the book had been shorter. It really bogged down detailing every single thing. I still enjoy this world and these characters, and I want to see what happens; I just wish this book had been shorter and more tightly paced.
December 18, 2017
OK another mammoth one.
This book is practically completely set in the Empire (ie the North). This episode has a split focus
1. Valedan en'Leonne and his participation in the Kings Challenge and the various attempts on this life.
2. Terafin House war and in specific Jewel ATerafin.
The world building again is not the best, but better than the first book. After the first book of 784 pages I am getting used to the writing style. This one again is in the same region of about 780 pages.
It takes patience to read these books, I find the author really has dragged scenes out to their absolute maximum.
This book is practically completely set in the Empire (ie the North). This episode has a split focus
1. Valedan en'Leonne and his participation in the Kings Challenge and the various attempts on this life.
2. Terafin House war and in specific Jewel ATerafin.
The world building again is not the best, but better than the first book. After the first book of 784 pages I am getting used to the writing style. This one again is in the same region of about 780 pages.
It takes patience to read these books, I find the author really has dragged scenes out to their absolute maximum.
April 3, 2021
4 stars, a slower book in this series but still a good one
With the Dominion of Annagar leaderless and the Terafin losing political authority, this book enters something of a holding pattern while the Annagarians host a contest to determine their next ruler and the Aterafins fall into infighting to determine who will succeed the Terafin. The political machinations and danger from allies who are scheming for power drives a lot of the tension of this book which helps make it a stronger story than it could have been in less experienced hands. As ever, West's character work is fantastic it's great seeing Jewel really find her footing as a leader.
With the Dominion of Annagar leaderless and the Terafin losing political authority, this book enters something of a holding pattern while the Annagarians host a contest to determine their next ruler and the Aterafins fall into infighting to determine who will succeed the Terafin. The political machinations and danger from allies who are scheming for power drives a lot of the tension of this book which helps make it a stronger story than it could have been in less experienced hands. As ever, West's character work is fantastic it's great seeing Jewel really find her footing as a leader.
February 21, 2018
I liked this one so very much more than the last one... and just blitzed through it. Seriously, I went to sleep at 4:15am this morning, because I literally could not put the book down last night.
This one was entirely set in the Northern Empire, with characters I adore. I'm so glad that I'm reading it after the first 3 books of the House War series, though (as that series says I should, in the notes), because I know who all these characters are, and can't get enough of them.
Slept a few hours after my finish in the wee hours this morning, but am now already 20% into the next book...
This one was entirely set in the Northern Empire, with characters I adore. I'm so glad that I'm reading it after the first 3 books of the House War series, though (as that series says I should, in the notes), because I know who all these characters are, and can't get enough of them.
Slept a few hours after my finish in the wee hours this morning, but am now already 20% into the next book...
April 1, 2024
just finished the second book in the series and was thoroughly impressed with it. Much like the first book it is frustratingly written . Lots of commas and em dashes to the point where you lose track of what the original train of thought was. Frustrating shifts from character to character where you can’t figure out who’s talking until 2 pages in and even then you struggle because they are being referred to by a general house name common to all in the house .That being said it is incredibly inventive and unique and has an impressive gravitas about its characters. Very enjoyable.
February 11, 2021
8/10*
This is an excellent read and faster than book 1 of this series. Of course it didn't need to cover the amount of backstory 1 had to fill in.
Once again West offers a beautifully written story and you get great characters with solid world building.
With The Sun Sword series you really should read The Sacred Hunt duology, so much of the world and assorted character backstorys are to be found there.
This is an excellent read and faster than book 1 of this series. Of course it didn't need to cover the amount of backstory 1 had to fill in.
Once again West offers a beautifully written story and you get great characters with solid world building.
With The Sun Sword series you really should read The Sacred Hunt duology, so much of the world and assorted character backstorys are to be found there.
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