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Tears of Artamon #4
The Arkhel Conundrum
Azhkendir, land of snow and shadows, harbours many secrets – and a powerful ancient winter deity is awakened when a foreign mining company begins to strip out the rare mineral resources beneath the mountains. Old clan hatreds are stirred up. The High Steward of Azhkendir, Lord Gavril, and his wife, Spirit Singer Kiukiu, hope to seek help from the Emperor Eugene. But their onetime enemy turned ally is distracted by his competition to build a flying machine. Is someone from their past trying to destabilize the fragile peace of the empire? Or are there supernatural forces involved? The Magus, Kaspar Linnaius, may have the answers...but he has disappeared and no one knows where he is or how to contact him.
- GenresFantasy
620 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2019
7 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Ash
25 books184 followersSarah Ash was born and brought up in Bath. At university she trained as a musician, but returned to her childhood love of writing as the author of highly-praised novels, including the Tears of Artamon Trilogy. Sarah also writes about her love of anime and manga for Anime UK News. Check out her Guest Blog to read posts by other SFF authors about their fiction!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 17, 2020
Before I begin my review of THE ARKHEL CONUNDRUM, I must first say how much of an admirer I am of author Sarah Ash and her writing. Her Tears of Artamon series ranks among my favorite fantasy series of all-time, with its blend of a Russian/Siberia-like frozen wasteland setting and dragon mythology. It truly is a unique trilogy and Sarah's beautiful prose and wonderfully-crafted magic system only serves to elevate it even higher. So much so in fact, that it has become one of my go-to comfort reads whenever I get into a reading rut.
Fast forward some 15 years or so and there is a much anticipated new installment in this incredible series, for which Sarah Ash was gracious enough to provide me a review copy. Even though her previous series ended on a very satisfying note, there were still a few questions regarding the fate of some of our favorite characters in that series. I'm happy to say that this book answers every one of them and also gives you one heck of a story all its own to digest in wrapping up the story arc of Tears of Artamon.
I won't give away too much of the plot since this really is a book that revisits a lot of what took place in the previous three volumes, but what I will say is every page of this 600+ tome is so elegantly and brilliantly conveyed and the story, despite the gap between books, never misses a beat in my opinion. I really can't put into words how much I love this frigid and fantastic world, and I was so glad to be able to revisit it once again.
Interwoven in all of this are characters who feel as if they are physically emerging from the pages. Lord Gavril in particular still has some of the same insecurities and fragility that he did way back in Lord of Snow and Shadows even though he has so much responsibility hoisted upon him. Yet this same insecurity is what also makes him the leader that he is because it forces him to face his fears head on and endeavor to defeat them. But unlike the challenges he encountered previously, this time the enemy may be more than he can handle alone.
If you enjoy fantasy stories that involve a rich amount of folklore, take place in the most desolate frozen environs one can imagine, elicit the strongest of emotions as each character battles demons both real and also within themselves, and bring you on a wondrous journey utilizing some of the most enchanted storytelling you will ever encounter, then you need to read the entire Tears of Artamon series, culminating with this astounding sequel THE ARKHEL CONUNDRUM. It will move you through the entire spectrum of human emotions and remind you of why you began reading fantasy books in the first place.
Fast forward some 15 years or so and there is a much anticipated new installment in this incredible series, for which Sarah Ash was gracious enough to provide me a review copy. Even though her previous series ended on a very satisfying note, there were still a few questions regarding the fate of some of our favorite characters in that series. I'm happy to say that this book answers every one of them and also gives you one heck of a story all its own to digest in wrapping up the story arc of Tears of Artamon.
I won't give away too much of the plot since this really is a book that revisits a lot of what took place in the previous three volumes, but what I will say is every page of this 600+ tome is so elegantly and brilliantly conveyed and the story, despite the gap between books, never misses a beat in my opinion. I really can't put into words how much I love this frigid and fantastic world, and I was so glad to be able to revisit it once again.
Interwoven in all of this are characters who feel as if they are physically emerging from the pages. Lord Gavril in particular still has some of the same insecurities and fragility that he did way back in Lord of Snow and Shadows even though he has so much responsibility hoisted upon him. Yet this same insecurity is what also makes him the leader that he is because it forces him to face his fears head on and endeavor to defeat them. But unlike the challenges he encountered previously, this time the enemy may be more than he can handle alone.
If you enjoy fantasy stories that involve a rich amount of folklore, take place in the most desolate frozen environs one can imagine, elicit the strongest of emotions as each character battles demons both real and also within themselves, and bring you on a wondrous journey utilizing some of the most enchanted storytelling you will ever encounter, then you need to read the entire Tears of Artamon series, culminating with this astounding sequel THE ARKHEL CONUNDRUM. It will move you through the entire spectrum of human emotions and remind you of why you began reading fantasy books in the first place.
July 18, 2020
This and my other reviews are on my site: Aspects of Me.
I read the original trilogy shortly after publication and discovering there was to be a new instalment in the saga was a wonderful surprise. After 14 years, I certainly hadn't expected a new book in the series! That's also a reason I delayed reading it. 'What if it spoilt the memory of the originals? What if my tastes have changed and I don't like it?' I was both excited and anxious to read The Arkhel Conundrum and in the end I needn't have been worried: it is every bit as excellent as the first three books.
The rear cover has a quote comparing Sarah Ash to Robert Jordan and George R.R. Martin and rightly so; she is an expert in weaving a tale of epic proportions with a wide cast, all of whom are well-written and fleshed out, without falling foul of overly complex plot threads.
Yes, you will almost certainly need to read the Tears of Artamon in full in order to appreciate The Arkhel Conundrum as there are references back to events in the previous books that you might not understand without reading them. You could go in straight at book 4 and get by with what's in the book alone and still enjoy the new story-lines but I heartily recommend the trilogy as it is excellent.
In this instalment we meet back up with Gavril and Kiukiu and start the story in earnest almost a year after the end of Children of the Serpent Gate and after the birth of their daughter who, it turns out, was conceived before Gavril was freed of his dragon-demon Khezef. Little Larisa is a very special baby and once Elder Ones and Heavenly Guardians alike discover her existence, she becomes very popular indeed.
Emperor Eugene, in the absence of his mentor and magus Kaspar Linnaius, launches a competition to construct a flying craft, which accidentally opens him up to new threats. We're also introduced to a handful of new characters, including Toran Arkhel and Gerard Bernay, who feel like we've known them long before this book, such is the strength of their characterisation.
In the high/epic fantasy style there are different plots weaving together towards two climax points that are expertly done and I foresee those two story-lines coming together in a 5th book. PoV shifts between chapters so that we can feel and experience the world from different character perspectives where even seemingly minor characters are still key to the overall story.
I feel I cannot proselytise about this series enough. I loved it when I first read it and still love it now. I look forward to the next book and won't be quite so anxious to keep going next time!
I read the original trilogy shortly after publication and discovering there was to be a new instalment in the saga was a wonderful surprise. After 14 years, I certainly hadn't expected a new book in the series! That's also a reason I delayed reading it. 'What if it spoilt the memory of the originals? What if my tastes have changed and I don't like it?' I was both excited and anxious to read The Arkhel Conundrum and in the end I needn't have been worried: it is every bit as excellent as the first three books.
The rear cover has a quote comparing Sarah Ash to Robert Jordan and George R.R. Martin and rightly so; she is an expert in weaving a tale of epic proportions with a wide cast, all of whom are well-written and fleshed out, without falling foul of overly complex plot threads.
Yes, you will almost certainly need to read the Tears of Artamon in full in order to appreciate The Arkhel Conundrum as there are references back to events in the previous books that you might not understand without reading them. You could go in straight at book 4 and get by with what's in the book alone and still enjoy the new story-lines but I heartily recommend the trilogy as it is excellent.
In this instalment we meet back up with Gavril and Kiukiu and start the story in earnest almost a year after the end of Children of the Serpent Gate and after the birth of their daughter who, it turns out, was conceived before Gavril was freed of his dragon-demon Khezef. Little Larisa is a very special baby and once Elder Ones and Heavenly Guardians alike discover her existence, she becomes very popular indeed.
Emperor Eugene, in the absence of his mentor and magus Kaspar Linnaius, launches a competition to construct a flying craft, which accidentally opens him up to new threats. We're also introduced to a handful of new characters, including Toran Arkhel and Gerard Bernay, who feel like we've known them long before this book, such is the strength of their characterisation.
In the high/epic fantasy style there are different plots weaving together towards two climax points that are expertly done and I foresee those two story-lines coming together in a 5th book. PoV shifts between chapters so that we can feel and experience the world from different character perspectives where even seemingly minor characters are still key to the overall story.
I feel I cannot proselytise about this series enough. I loved it when I first read it and still love it now. I look forward to the next book and won't be quite so anxious to keep going next time!
June 17, 2024
It's been 13 years since the Tears of Artamon trilogy came to its conclusion in 2005, and now the trilogy has been expanded into an ongoing series!
Set a year after the conclusion of Children of the Serpent Gate, The Arkhel Conundrum starts off showing us where well-known characters have found themselves in the aftermath of the Drakhoukls departure from the world, and then goes on to introduce a cast of brand new characters who are all--in their own way--connected to the heroes and villains of the previous novels. The Arkhel Conundrum also addresses the conclusion of The Alchymist's Legacy books and sets the stage for a new arc of the series.
Without delving into spoilers, the book, for the most part, serves as a dramatic set-up for the newest arc of the series. There is a lot of care taken to introduce the new characters so that we connect with them as much as we connected with characters like Kiukiu and Gavril. The novel doesn't feel as high-tension as the previous novels, but there are a couple of very dramatic action sequences (a chase, a race, a rescue and a death) that punctuate the novel. However, this somewhat slower-pace didn't bother me, because it's very clear that this installment is setting the stage for future novels in the series.
Additionally, if you've read a series where the style drastically changed between books because of a long gap between publications, you know that it can sometimes be jarring. In the case of The Arkhel Conundrum, the prose is perfectly matched to the previous 3, and I found myself falling back into the novel as if no time had elapsed between the 3rd and 4th novel's publication dates.
I think that for long-time fans of the Tears of Artamon, this book is a warm "welcome back" and will leave you ready to charge onward into the next stage in this story. Hopefully, we wont have to wait quite so long for book 5!
Set a year after the conclusion of Children of the Serpent Gate, The Arkhel Conundrum starts off showing us where well-known characters have found themselves in the aftermath of the Drakhoukls departure from the world, and then goes on to introduce a cast of brand new characters who are all--in their own way--connected to the heroes and villains of the previous novels. The Arkhel Conundrum also addresses the conclusion of The Alchymist's Legacy books and sets the stage for a new arc of the series.
Without delving into spoilers, the book, for the most part, serves as a dramatic set-up for the newest arc of the series. There is a lot of care taken to introduce the new characters so that we connect with them as much as we connected with characters like Kiukiu and Gavril. The novel doesn't feel as high-tension as the previous novels, but there are a couple of very dramatic action sequences (a chase, a race, a rescue and a death) that punctuate the novel. However, this somewhat slower-pace didn't bother me, because it's very clear that this installment is setting the stage for future novels in the series.
Additionally, if you've read a series where the style drastically changed between books because of a long gap between publications, you know that it can sometimes be jarring. In the case of The Arkhel Conundrum, the prose is perfectly matched to the previous 3, and I found myself falling back into the novel as if no time had elapsed between the 3rd and 4th novel's publication dates.
I think that for long-time fans of the Tears of Artamon, this book is a warm "welcome back" and will leave you ready to charge onward into the next stage in this story. Hopefully, we wont have to wait quite so long for book 5!
January 17, 2020
I must confess I am disappointed!
The (3.5 not 4) 4 stars out of 5 is for the entire series and the hope that book#6 will make up for this one!
I have been lucky enough to find the "Tears of Artamon" series in the last year and so I have read them in a sequence.
If the first books did success in transmitting a rather thick and pleasant sense of magic, the last one has totally killed it with "mortal" urges and needs. The story felt rushed and rather dispersed, with new characters and plots that could have been better picked among the many possible threads the previous 3 books let loose.
I did, however, appreciate the writer's language and wide choice of words, as always!
The (3.5 not 4) 4 stars out of 5 is for the entire series and the hope that book#6 will make up for this one!
I have been lucky enough to find the "Tears of Artamon" series in the last year and so I have read them in a sequence.
If the first books did success in transmitting a rather thick and pleasant sense of magic, the last one has totally killed it with "mortal" urges and needs. The story felt rushed and rather dispersed, with new characters and plots that could have been better picked among the many possible threads the previous 3 books let loose.
I did, however, appreciate the writer's language and wide choice of words, as always!
July 12, 2020
A fine return to this world; an enjoyable adventure that wraps up some threads left unfinished at the end of the original trilogy and introduces some new characters and their stories as well. If you enjoyed the first three and were left wondering how the fairy-tale promise of the firstborn child to the witch was going to unfold, do pick this up.
March 18, 2021
The "addendum" to the original trilogy just outlasted the reasonable story available to be added as a fourth book in the saga. The continual addition of various new characters, when the plot was flagging, made for a very messy and difficult to follow story line . . . also straining the believability of the entire construct. Sorry, but it was just too much!
June 23, 2023
Nothing was resolved. Nothing wrapped up. Felt like half a book.
January 20, 2022
I was super excited to read this book as I had so enjoyed the first three. While the first three books didn't end very neatly, I did find the beginning, middle, and end satisfying.
The fourth book has been another story entirely. The book introduces new characters and new plots mostly unrelated to the first set of books. We still follow Gavril and Kiukiu from time to time (and on rare occasion, Eugene), but it feels like A LOT of the book follows Kaspar Linnaius (who I don't give a grain of sand about), Gerard Bernay, and Toran Arkhel. The book starts with promise, mostly exploring Kiukiu's dilemma of having to honor her promise in the previous books to Anagini & Gavril coping with the loss of his powers, and then sags IMMENSELY by spending 70% of the book on other characters that are devoted to a huge contest to build an airplane. A little bit of the Arkhel clan wars are stirred back up, but are still largely a backdrop. Honestly, of almost 700 pages, probably only the first 150 and last 150 really interested me. I really disliked the stereotypical drama of happy married couples suddenly are discontent and hide things from each other as women focus on raising their children and the men are distracted by reminiscing over the "good ole days". Gavril becomes petulant and whiny and, for some reason, he and Kiukiu can't seem to talk about ANYTHING that happened in the past books and try to pretend everything is all peachy, but it ultimately drives them apart in some of the most childish ways possible. Then to focus mostly on new characters that I don't really care about was disappointing. Eventually they build up, but meh.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, implying there's another to come. I'm not sure yet if I'll read it. I sped through the past books, but it took me a few months to get through this one. I strained to get through each chapter. The writing was beautiful, as always, but all the details that went into the flying machine competition were so superfluous. Even looking back, I wonder what purpose they really served.
The fourth book has been another story entirely. The book introduces new characters and new plots mostly unrelated to the first set of books. We still follow Gavril and Kiukiu from time to time (and on rare occasion, Eugene), but it feels like A LOT of the book follows Kaspar Linnaius (who I don't give a grain of sand about), Gerard Bernay, and Toran Arkhel. The book starts with promise, mostly exploring Kiukiu's dilemma of having to honor her promise in the previous books to Anagini & Gavril coping with the loss of his powers, and then sags IMMENSELY by spending 70% of the book on other characters that are devoted to a huge contest to build an airplane. A little bit of the Arkhel clan wars are stirred back up, but are still largely a backdrop. Honestly, of almost 700 pages, probably only the first 150 and last 150 really interested me. I really disliked the stereotypical drama of happy married couples suddenly are discontent and hide things from each other as women focus on raising their children and the men are distracted by reminiscing over the "good ole days". Gavril becomes petulant and whiny and, for some reason, he and Kiukiu can't seem to talk about ANYTHING that happened in the past books and try to pretend everything is all peachy, but it ultimately drives them apart in some of the most childish ways possible. Then to focus mostly on new characters that I don't really care about was disappointing. Eventually they build up, but meh.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, implying there's another to come. I'm not sure yet if I'll read it. I sped through the past books, but it took me a few months to get through this one. I strained to get through each chapter. The writing was beautiful, as always, but all the details that went into the flying machine competition were so superfluous. Even looking back, I wonder what purpose they really served.
May 27, 2020
More to come in full FBC review
May 8, 2024
It was nice to see all the characters again.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews