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Opening of the World #3
The Golden Shrine
Continuing the alternate-Bronze-Age epic begun in Beyond the
The glaciers came and covered the world with ice. Now they are in retreat. North of the city of Nidaros, north of the forest, north of the steppes where the nomadic Bizogots hunt, a gap has opened in the ice-wall. And down through that gap come the men who call themselves "Rulers."
Their terrifying cavalry rides wooly mammoths. Their bows can shoot arrows farther than those of the southerners. Their wizards wield power that neither the shamans of the Bizogots nor the wizards of Raumsdalian Empire can match, a magic that can melt the stone beneath a man's feet, call down blasting fire from the sky, or decimate a tribe with plagues that have no cure. Scattered survivors of the Bizogot tribes hide from the Rulers. The Empire is shattered. The feckless Emperor Sigvat II is in hiding.
Against the Rulers stands Count Hamnet Thyssen and his small band of friends. Jarl Trasamund of the Three Tusk Bizogots. The adventurer Ulric Skakki. And, most important, Marcovefa, the female shaman of a cannibal tribe that lives atop the Glacier itself. Marcovefa has magic that the Rulers cannot counter.
But there are many Rulers, and they have many wizards. Marcovefa is but one.
Perhaps Hamnet and his allies can save their lands from the Rulers. But first they must seek out the legendary Golden Shrine – and the Golden Shrine has not been seen by human eyes since the time before the glaciers came.
The glaciers came and covered the world with ice. Now they are in retreat. North of the city of Nidaros, north of the forest, north of the steppes where the nomadic Bizogots hunt, a gap has opened in the ice-wall. And down through that gap come the men who call themselves "Rulers."
Their terrifying cavalry rides wooly mammoths. Their bows can shoot arrows farther than those of the southerners. Their wizards wield power that neither the shamans of the Bizogots nor the wizards of Raumsdalian Empire can match, a magic that can melt the stone beneath a man's feet, call down blasting fire from the sky, or decimate a tribe with plagues that have no cure. Scattered survivors of the Bizogot tribes hide from the Rulers. The Empire is shattered. The feckless Emperor Sigvat II is in hiding.
Against the Rulers stands Count Hamnet Thyssen and his small band of friends. Jarl Trasamund of the Three Tusk Bizogots. The adventurer Ulric Skakki. And, most important, Marcovefa, the female shaman of a cannibal tribe that lives atop the Glacier itself. Marcovefa has magic that the Rulers cannot counter.
But there are many Rulers, and they have many wizards. Marcovefa is but one.
Perhaps Hamnet and his allies can save their lands from the Rulers. But first they must seek out the legendary Golden Shrine – and the Golden Shrine has not been seen by human eyes since the time before the glaciers came.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 25, 2009
12 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Harry Turtledove
564 books1,964 followersDr Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced a sizeable number of works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
Harry Turtledove attended UCLA, where he received a Ph.D. in Byzantine history in 1977.
Turtledove has been dubbed "The Master of Alternate History". Within this genre he is known both for creating original scenarios: such as survival of the Byzantine Empire; an alien invasion in the middle of the World War II; and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by other authors, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War; and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
His novels have been credited with bringing alternate history into the mainstream. His style of alternate history has a strong military theme.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 15, 2022
Feels in need to finish some of the many series I'm currently in the middle of or like with this one close to completing but haven't yet done that. I enjoy Harry Turtledoves writing so it wasn't a huge surprise I liked this one as well. Not my favorite but a good story
March 16, 2010
Like the earlier two books in this trilogy, there is (a) a journey from the south to the north and back (although in this one the directions get reversed), (b) endless redundant conversation/banter between the mostly unlikable characters, and (c) long periods of talking and walking punctuated by the occasional action/battle. Hmm. Just like the Wizard of Oz?? Mercifully, the series has ended, although the wrap-up device is totally absurd. Too bad. This was really a good concept for an alternative history series. I worry that Turtledove has lost his formerly deft touch.
January 31, 2016
3.25/5 (both for the book, and the series as a whole)
You know, i enjoyed the first book a lot. The characters kept discovering interesting things and meeting interesting peoples, and at the time their constant babble didn't irritate me. By the time got to the 3rd book however, i couldn't wai t to finally get it over with.
The amount of repetition, both in dialog, scenery and story progression was just ridiculous - they are constantly talking about the same stuff, doing the same things etc. Couple that with a rather bland climax, and you have a mediocre novel at best.
You know, i enjoyed the first book a lot. The characters kept discovering interesting things and meeting interesting peoples, and at the time their constant babble didn't irritate me. By the time got to the 3rd book however, i couldn't wai t to finally get it over with.
The amount of repetition, both in dialog, scenery and story progression was just ridiculous - they are constantly talking about the same stuff, doing the same things etc. Couple that with a rather bland climax, and you have a mediocre novel at best.
January 1, 2021
My favorite book in the series. There was still a lot of walking but they finally got to the story. Epic battle with the Rulers and a good closing of all of the series storylines including the Golden Shrine.
February 27, 2017
Count Hamnet has tried everything in his power to stop the invasion of the lands below the glacier from the Rules, who have invaded through the gap which has melted through it. Unfortunately, the Rulers have a superior military, including mammoth cavalry, and superior wizards and sorcery, which neither Imperial wizards nor Bizogot tribal shamans can match. His one secret weapon, a shaman from a lost tribe from the mountain peaks above the glacier was nullified after suffering a head injury in battle. Now the Rulers press ever onward, deep into the Rausdalian Empire, and close upon the capital city.
Count Hamnet scrapes together a fighting force from the remnants of defeated barbarian tribes and imperial armies, and aided by the only shaman who can stand up to their magic, mounts a desperate defense against the invaders. On top of the tenuous military position, his relationship with the shaman is a point of worry, as his history in love shows him he is often the problem which leads to failed relationships. Can he change enough to not drive her away, while also protecting her from another attack which would nullify the only military advantage she has?
The conclusion to the lands beyond the gap series delivers a bleak hopeless batter against a superior enemy, while showing unwavering hope from likable characters caught up in the middle of things. Their personal troubles become just as meaningful as the sweep of world events, as they try to understand their place in things, the nature of fate and predestination, and free will. Turtledove once again shows how to weave a deep story, which not only covers epic events, but random side conversations, and realistic musings which sometimes connect to the deeper plot, and sometimes simply are idle conversations which show how his characters think.
Count Hamnet scrapes together a fighting force from the remnants of defeated barbarian tribes and imperial armies, and aided by the only shaman who can stand up to their magic, mounts a desperate defense against the invaders. On top of the tenuous military position, his relationship with the shaman is a point of worry, as his history in love shows him he is often the problem which leads to failed relationships. Can he change enough to not drive her away, while also protecting her from another attack which would nullify the only military advantage she has?
The conclusion to the lands beyond the gap series delivers a bleak hopeless batter against a superior enemy, while showing unwavering hope from likable characters caught up in the middle of things. Their personal troubles become just as meaningful as the sweep of world events, as they try to understand their place in things, the nature of fate and predestination, and free will. Turtledove once again shows how to weave a deep story, which not only covers epic events, but random side conversations, and realistic musings which sometimes connect to the deeper plot, and sometimes simply are idle conversations which show how his characters think.
December 7, 2022
Interesting read
This is the second time I read this book and it is not bad the second time around. I have no idea where the book falls in Harry Turtledove's writing career but it, while good, does not equal his World War books. The only real complaint I have about the Golden Shrine is his tendency to repeat characteristics of the main players in the books over and over. Other than that it is an interesting book that held my attention throughout and I would certainly recommend it!
This is the second time I read this book and it is not bad the second time around. I have no idea where the book falls in Harry Turtledove's writing career but it, while good, does not equal his World War books. The only real complaint I have about the Golden Shrine is his tendency to repeat characteristics of the main players in the books over and over. Other than that it is an interesting book that held my attention throughout and I would certainly recommend it!
December 4, 2018
I pulled this book off the library shelf without ever having heard of the author, a risky move considering how much bad fantasy literature there is. But it was a good choice. The characters and story were engaging and well developed; fantasy elements were an integral part of the plot. One element seemed out of place until I realized that this book is the third of a series, information that was, surprisingly, not mentioned on the cover. I will probably go back and read the first two books.
November 30, 2019
Looked forward to this, the final one in the trilogy. Tore through it, enjoying the characters and situations. The ending was a little predictable and too-neatly-wrapped-up, but still fun. Sad to see the series end, as so often with Turtledove's books. But thoroughly enjoyable. I am more into the alternative history end of things, so the magic was not my favorite part, but he made it interesting, and essential to the plot.
May 18, 2018
It was hard to tell if this was a fanatsy or historical novel. It was a little bit of SF with the magic but felt like historical without grounding it in any specific history.
July 20, 2025
Largely lost my interest very early on...another story that seemingly missed its mark.
November 15, 2025
this Series is great
Loved this series!! Great twists in the story. I love how the expected gets changed. The lead ups are great, then bam…total switchback!!
Loved this series!! Great twists in the story. I love how the expected gets changed. The lead ups are great, then bam…total switchback!!
November 18, 2025
Not what I expected
Maybe too long. Saw the eventual outcome early on. Some characters a bit too cliche. True historical fiction is more his groove.
Maybe too long. Saw the eventual outcome early on. Some characters a bit too cliche. True historical fiction is more his groove.
January 28, 2011
You know what you’re getting with Harry Turtledove – and you know what you won’t get.
You won’t get books in which images replace narrative, and bleak is as good as it gets. You will get an actual story, with beginning, middle and end, and you will be in the hands of a professional writer on every page. You won’t get lyric genius, or attempts to show the readers just how much verbal virtuosity can be crammed onto a single page. You will get what is known as a good read, and most important, unless you’re immune to the charms of a good story, you’ll get your money’s worth.
“The Golden Shrine,” which concludes a fantasy trilogy (not alternate history, which is what Turtledove is best known for), is a solid finish to a fine three-book series. The first two are “Beyond the Gap” and “The Breath of God,” and it is highly recommended that you start at the start. If you do, you’ll meet Count Hamnet Thyssen, an old-fashioned warrior who can’t figure out women, and Ulric Skakki, a sharp-tongued adventurer with many skills. You’ll also get wizards and mammoths and enemies and treachery and an old-fashioned narrative that is completed with a surprise in book three that has been set up
since book one.
In short, “The Golden Shrine” is fun but more than just froth, and anyone who enjoys a well-written fantasy trilogy that satisfies on several levels should start with “Beyond the Gap” and get ready to enjoy the ride. It’s not “The Song of Ice and Fire,” but it will do just fine until George R. R. Martin finally gets himself in gear.
You won’t get books in which images replace narrative, and bleak is as good as it gets. You will get an actual story, with beginning, middle and end, and you will be in the hands of a professional writer on every page. You won’t get lyric genius, or attempts to show the readers just how much verbal virtuosity can be crammed onto a single page. You will get what is known as a good read, and most important, unless you’re immune to the charms of a good story, you’ll get your money’s worth.
“The Golden Shrine,” which concludes a fantasy trilogy (not alternate history, which is what Turtledove is best known for), is a solid finish to a fine three-book series. The first two are “Beyond the Gap” and “The Breath of God,” and it is highly recommended that you start at the start. If you do, you’ll meet Count Hamnet Thyssen, an old-fashioned warrior who can’t figure out women, and Ulric Skakki, a sharp-tongued adventurer with many skills. You’ll also get wizards and mammoths and enemies and treachery and an old-fashioned narrative that is completed with a surprise in book three that has been set up
since book one.
In short, “The Golden Shrine” is fun but more than just froth, and anyone who enjoys a well-written fantasy trilogy that satisfies on several levels should start with “Beyond the Gap” and get ready to enjoy the ride. It’s not “The Song of Ice and Fire,” but it will do just fine until George R. R. Martin finally gets himself in gear.
May 3, 2010
I hadn't read the previous books in the series. I had seen Turtledove's name several times in the fantasy/sci-fi section of the library and bookstores, and thought I might as well try it out.
I debated between 'didn't like it' and OK. If I don't like a book, I won't read it--but I was interested enough to make it to the end of the book, if rather slowly. The characters were somewhat interesting, the world of the Rulers and Bizogots and their shamanistic magic somewhat interesting.
The ending was disappointing though. There is buildup to a magical golden shrine, which when discovered ends up seeming rather vague, inappropriate to the setting, and ultimately awkward in the plot.
The central characters are there given some magic words which, when spoken to the lousy emperor, makes everyone realize he was in fact a really lousy emperor--so he runs away.
I don't see myself looking for more Turtledove after this.
I debated between 'didn't like it' and OK. If I don't like a book, I won't read it--but I was interested enough to make it to the end of the book, if rather slowly. The characters were somewhat interesting, the world of the Rulers and Bizogots and their shamanistic magic somewhat interesting.
The ending was disappointing though. There is buildup to a magical golden shrine, which when discovered ends up seeming rather vague, inappropriate to the setting, and ultimately awkward in the plot.
The central characters are there given some magic words which, when spoken to the lousy emperor, makes everyone realize he was in fact a really lousy emperor--so he runs away.
I don't see myself looking for more Turtledove after this.
March 7, 2021
More climatic than the other two books in the series. The reference to the book of Daniel in the Bible would root this tale into the future which is pretty difficult to imagine it being so backwards in the future. Count Hamnet as the hero-yet-not-a-hero was a little tiring and again there's too much sex.
August 31, 2015
This is probably the weakest book in the trilogy, Harry Turtledove seemed to have drawn out the battles a bit to much, were one epic battle probably would have been better, you kind of know what to expect in the end so drawing it out didn't make it any more suspenseful. other then that still an enjoyable series, would recommend to anyone you likes fantasy quest novels.
July 3, 2016
It was good. Often times the characters would repeat themselves or repeat justifications in their minds. This was almost like the author was trying to continuously make justifications for the characters. I am not sure if the repeated phrases made it more realistic or just sloppy. But the story was really fun and so were the characters.
November 21, 2009
Last of a trilogy. Suffers from only one fault, persisting in Turtledove's writing style, of not being easily read or enjoyed without the preceding volumes. Taking that into account a good story, well told, and marred by only a few unexplained things.
June 13, 2010
It probably deserves a 3, and maybe it is that I have simply read too many of his ‘World War’ type books, but this one was pretty formula. It has some good things, but nothing really new or creative. Supposedly set at the end of the ice age, or an ice age, its pretty standard fantasy fair.
Read
July 30, 2011Disillusioned noble & smart alec side kick join forces with mammoth herding tundra dwellers and ice-beauty wizard to do battle with deer riding baddies from the other side of the glacier while searching for golden shriners. Part III of the trilogy.
January 24, 2016
The Golden shrine showed up.
Maybe really a three, but I still liked it even if I saw what was coming early on. Kind of ended on a whimper and many ends not tied up well. Harry's heart wasn't in it all the way to the end.
Maybe really a three, but I still liked it even if I saw what was coming early on. Kind of ended on a whimper and many ends not tied up well. Harry's heart wasn't in it all the way to the end.
January 19, 2010
Interesting end to the Gap series which flips the reader's time frame in the last few chapters. Be sure to read the 1st two volumes so you know the characters and situation. Enjoy!
July 13, 2010
I can't get into Harry Turtledove's books. The plot progresses but the characters seem distant.
October 6, 2010
I guessed the ending long before it happened The hero's actions afterward was very annoying and not all heroic. I'm wondering if this was an earlier work that the author fixed up.
October 28, 2010
Not overwhelmingly great, but a decent read. Third of a trilogy, but I found it pretty easy to pick up what might have happened in the prior two books.
July 29, 2011
I found it relatively difficult to relate to the main protagonist, but there were some scathing moments of sarcasm from another character, which I absolutely adored.
May 2, 2012
End of a nice thrilgy. Turtledove imagines an unusual place and time and dragged me in. Enjoyable diversion.
June 25, 2013
See book 1
October 7, 2013
Third book of the trilogy.
These books were not outstandingly well-written, & in fact the 2nd & 3rd books weren't as intriguing as the first one, imho. But entertaining nevertheless.
These books were not outstandingly well-written, & in fact the 2nd & 3rd books weren't as intriguing as the first one, imho. But entertaining nevertheless.
December 27, 2013
This was a series that got better as it went along. It had a good ending and I enjoyed the series. Good plot and characters made it a worthwhile read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews