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Borderlands #3
Shadows Past
The bestselling Borderlands saga continues
Rabbit is struggling to make sense of his new powers and his new position as King Jusson's heir when a man once scorned by his mother comes seeking retribution-and demands that Rabbit marry his daughter...
Rabbit is struggling to make sense of his new powers and his new position as King Jusson's heir when a man once scorned by his mother comes seeking retribution-and demands that Rabbit marry his daughter...
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First published January 1, 2010
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September 9, 2023
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Gerade haben Hase und seine Freunde und Vorgesetzten den Angriff eines Dämons auf ihre Garnisonsstadt Freston und ihre Bewohner überstanden, als auch schon neues Ungemach droht. Als König Jusson beschließt, die Einladung des wohlhabenden Lord Mearden in sein Schloss anzunehmen, hätte Hase mit allem gerechnet, nur nicht mit dem, was sie in der abgelegenen Provinz erwartete.
Hase trifft nicht nur unerwartet seine alte Freundin Kveta, eine Wölfin, wieder, sondern steht auch plötzlich im Mittelpunkt des Interesses zweier Frauen. Sowohl Berenice, die einzige Tochter des Lords von Mearden, als auch Prinzessin Rajya, die neue Botschafterin von Tural und Tochter von Hases früherem Hauptmann Suiden, machen verführerische Angebote. Doch bevor Hase darauf reagieren kann, wird er von einem mysteriösen Hexer angegriffen, Hauptmann Javes wird vergiftet, sein Lehrmeister Laurel Faena wird entführt, die aufgeheizte Stimmung in Mearden schlägt in Agressionen um und Hase verliert die Gunst seines Königs und seines alten Hauptmanns Suiden. Und Hase muss sich seiner bislang furchterregendsten Bedrohung stellen: seiner zukünftigen Braut.
Meine Meinung:
Jedes Mal, wenn ich denke, Lorna Freeman könnte gar nicht mehr besser werden, beweist sie mir das Gegenteil. Ihr außergewöhnlicher Roman „Das Vermächtnis – Grenzlande 3“ ist wieder einmal High Fantasy der absoluten Spitzenklasse und gehört wie seine Vorgänger „Die Verpflichtung – Grenzlande 1“ und „Die Königstreuen – Grenzlande 2“ zu meinen Lieblingsromanen der letzten Jahre.
Neben einer unglaublich sympathischen und außergewöhnlichen Hauptfigur, Hase, begeistert der Roman wieder durch tolle neue Figuren. Dieses Mal neu dabei sind die listige Wölfin Kveta, Hases alte Freundin, der turalische Kriegshexer Munir, Prinzessin Rajya, Lady Berenice und Hases neuer Schützling, der junge Koch Bertram. Doch auch die lieb gewonnenen und vertrauten Freunde von Hase dürfen selbstverständlich nicht fehlen: Hauptmann Suiden, Jeff, König Jusson, Wyln, Laurel Faena und Hauptmann Javes sorgen wieder einmal dafür, dass Hases Leben und die Lektüre des Romans niemals langweilig werden.
Toll fand ich auch, dass Hases alter Feind Slevoic dieses Mal fehlte und ein neuer hinterhältiger Feind seinen Platz eingenommen hat. Wer der Gegner ist, wird natürlich nicht verraten. Außerdem dürfen wir uns wieder auf zahlreiche Kämpfe und spannende magische Wettstreite freuen. Grandiose High Fantasy - ich hoffe immer noch, dass es irgendwann einen vierten Band geben wird.
Gerade haben Hase und seine Freunde und Vorgesetzten den Angriff eines Dämons auf ihre Garnisonsstadt Freston und ihre Bewohner überstanden, als auch schon neues Ungemach droht. Als König Jusson beschließt, die Einladung des wohlhabenden Lord Mearden in sein Schloss anzunehmen, hätte Hase mit allem gerechnet, nur nicht mit dem, was sie in der abgelegenen Provinz erwartete.
Hase trifft nicht nur unerwartet seine alte Freundin Kveta, eine Wölfin, wieder, sondern steht auch plötzlich im Mittelpunkt des Interesses zweier Frauen. Sowohl Berenice, die einzige Tochter des Lords von Mearden, als auch Prinzessin Rajya, die neue Botschafterin von Tural und Tochter von Hases früherem Hauptmann Suiden, machen verführerische Angebote. Doch bevor Hase darauf reagieren kann, wird er von einem mysteriösen Hexer angegriffen, Hauptmann Javes wird vergiftet, sein Lehrmeister Laurel Faena wird entführt, die aufgeheizte Stimmung in Mearden schlägt in Agressionen um und Hase verliert die Gunst seines Königs und seines alten Hauptmanns Suiden. Und Hase muss sich seiner bislang furchterregendsten Bedrohung stellen: seiner zukünftigen Braut.
Meine Meinung:
Jedes Mal, wenn ich denke, Lorna Freeman könnte gar nicht mehr besser werden, beweist sie mir das Gegenteil. Ihr außergewöhnlicher Roman „Das Vermächtnis – Grenzlande 3“ ist wieder einmal High Fantasy der absoluten Spitzenklasse und gehört wie seine Vorgänger „Die Verpflichtung – Grenzlande 1“ und „Die Königstreuen – Grenzlande 2“ zu meinen Lieblingsromanen der letzten Jahre.
Neben einer unglaublich sympathischen und außergewöhnlichen Hauptfigur, Hase, begeistert der Roman wieder durch tolle neue Figuren. Dieses Mal neu dabei sind die listige Wölfin Kveta, Hases alte Freundin, der turalische Kriegshexer Munir, Prinzessin Rajya, Lady Berenice und Hases neuer Schützling, der junge Koch Bertram. Doch auch die lieb gewonnenen und vertrauten Freunde von Hase dürfen selbstverständlich nicht fehlen: Hauptmann Suiden, Jeff, König Jusson, Wyln, Laurel Faena und Hauptmann Javes sorgen wieder einmal dafür, dass Hases Leben und die Lektüre des Romans niemals langweilig werden.
Toll fand ich auch, dass Hases alter Feind Slevoic dieses Mal fehlte und ein neuer hinterhältiger Feind seinen Platz eingenommen hat. Wer der Gegner ist, wird natürlich nicht verraten. Außerdem dürfen wir uns wieder auf zahlreiche Kämpfe und spannende magische Wettstreite freuen. Grandiose High Fantasy - ich hoffe immer noch, dass es irgendwann einen vierten Band geben wird.
March 10, 2016
Quite enjoyable.
March 24, 2021
Shocked at the 2 & 3 star reviews. Admittedly on the first read there are flaws - but technically they are explained in the end either as part of the magic based revenge thread or Jusson's unfamiliarity with relatives he actually cares about.
(The poke Rabbit with an emotional stick because he was withdrawing without explaining why drove me a little nuts on the first read.)
Plus there are multiple threads of (to be) expected court intrigue (two countries & an old family agreement) may confuse some.
However, I accepted these flaws & overlooked them because I wanted to watch more of this world & diverse characters unfold.
We see Groskin again, the author manages to care about Ryson (of all people) while pushing the overall arc of the Runners & the fall out. Dammit I want book 4 -- I NEED TO KNOW about Javes!
previous reread September 2012 ?
(The poke Rabbit with an emotional stick because he was withdrawing without explaining why drove me a little nuts on the first read.)
Plus there are multiple threads of (to be) expected court intrigue (two countries & an old family agreement) may confuse some.
However, I accepted these flaws & overlooked them because I wanted to watch more of this world & diverse characters unfold.
We see Groskin again, the author manages to care about Ryson (of all people) while pushing the overall arc of the Runners & the fall out. Dammit I want book 4 -- I NEED TO KNOW about Javes!
previous reread September 2012 ?
September 11, 2014
It's better than the second book but again, not as good as the first book. Without giving any spoilers, in this installment of the series Rabbit suffers from an over-abundance of lady suitors and seemingly an utter lack of common sense. Character development almost appears to have taken a few steps backward in some instances. Other flaws in Freeman's writing become more pronounced this time around: her dialogue-heavy scenes become confusing and oft-sidetracked by tangents (which characters will frequently point out as it's happening, but it still continues throughout). The end of the book still gives me a glimmer of hope to hang on to: there's a very nice moment between King Jusson and Rabbit that definitely left me wanting more. So, even though 2 and 3 failed to live up to book 1, I'll still be stalking Ms. Freeman's blog for news about Rabbit's next adventure in the Borderlands.
January 6, 2011
I waited a long time for this book. Author and publisher issues delayed this book for a long while. I am happy to say that I am glad that it was published. Rabbit is back and the cast has kept up its level of insanity. My complaints are that we go from now that there is a cabal of wizards including Slevoic based in Tural and Rabbit and co starting to do something about it at the end of Kings Own to a revenge plot based off the events of the first book. I think it is a good story and it does explore a little Rabbits relationship to the King and how it has changed things for him but it felt a little like the intermission between two acts.
March 25, 2021
Uff. Ich bin ein wenig froh, dass das hier der letzte Band ist, auch wenn die Reihe damit leider noch nicht abgeschlossen ist und somit nicht alle Fragen abschließend geklärt sind. Aber auch im dritten Band wurde ich mit Hase und seiner Geschichte kein Stück warm. Wie in den vorigen Bänden dusselt er einfach durch die Handlung durch, ohne wirklich aus eigenem Antrieb was beizutragen. Wenn, dann macht sich eher wieder seine Magie selbstständig und Hase unternimmt bisher keinerlei Mühen, um seine Kräfte endlich mal ordentlich kontrollieren zu lernen. So fühlt sich die Magie (oder eher die Aspekte in Form der Kugeln, die ihn ständig umkreisen) fast schon wie ein eigener Charakter an, der seinen eigenen Willen durchsetzt. Jemand (ich glaube es war Suiden) sagt "Seine Zaubereien scheinen meist eher zufällig zu passieren" und das passt perfekt. Nur erwarte ich im dritten Band dann doch, dass Hase irgendwann ein wenig Kontrolle lernt.
Zu allem Unglück präsentiert sich in 'Das Vermächtnis' auch noch eine elende Dreiecksgeschichte, als zwei Frauen es auf Hase abgesehen haben. Mich hat es auch irgendwie genervt, dass bei Berenice immer hervorgehoben wurde, was für hässliche Kleider sie trägt. Auch bei anderen Charakteren werden gewisse Motive bis zum Erbrechen wiederholt. Jeff und Arlis streiten ständig wie ein altes Ehepaar und gerade in der zweiten Hälfte wirft Lord Idwal König Jusson ständig vor, dass er diese Gäste angeschleppt hat und damit an allem Schuld ist, als wäre es irgendein Running Gag. Nur meint Idwal das todernst.
Ansonsten plätschert die Handlung wie im ersten Teil ein wenig ziellos vor sich hin, es passieren einfach random irgendwelche absurden Sachen (wie etwa die Prügelei der Städter am ersten Abend (wurde zwar später mit einem Fluch erklärt, aber trotzdem...)) und so wirklich zum Punkt kommen die Dialoge auch nicht. Immer wenn es gerade interessant wird bzw. wenn sich wichtige Enthüllungen anbahnen, werden die Charaktere entweder abgelenkt und wechseln das Thema oder das Gespräch wird komplett abgebrochen. Vom chaotischen Finale gar nicht zu reden. Positiv hervorzuheben ist hier aber, dass die Gegenspieler nicht von Anfang an ersichtlich waren (zumindest nicht für mich), sodass es mich hier wirklich überrascht hat, als ein bestimmter Charakter sein wahres Gesicht zeigte. Es hat mich auch gefreut, dass hier und da ein wenig Turalisch gesprochen wurde (ich mag es einfach, wenn Sprachen vorkommen).
Aber im Großen und Ganzen hat mich das Buch einfach nur genervt. Es liest sich flott, ja, aber die Ereignisse wirken random und der Hauptcharakter lässt sich durchgängig nur mittreiben. Die anderen Charaktere sind auch nicht viel besser.
Zu allem Unglück präsentiert sich in 'Das Vermächtnis' auch noch eine elende Dreiecksgeschichte, als zwei Frauen es auf Hase abgesehen haben. Mich hat es auch irgendwie genervt, dass bei Berenice immer hervorgehoben wurde, was für hässliche Kleider sie trägt. Auch bei anderen Charakteren werden gewisse Motive bis zum Erbrechen wiederholt. Jeff und Arlis streiten ständig wie ein altes Ehepaar und gerade in der zweiten Hälfte wirft Lord Idwal König Jusson ständig vor, dass er diese Gäste angeschleppt hat und damit an allem Schuld ist, als wäre es irgendein Running Gag. Nur meint Idwal das todernst.
Ansonsten plätschert die Handlung wie im ersten Teil ein wenig ziellos vor sich hin, es passieren einfach random irgendwelche absurden Sachen (wie etwa die Prügelei der Städter am ersten Abend (wurde zwar später mit einem Fluch erklärt, aber trotzdem...)) und so wirklich zum Punkt kommen die Dialoge auch nicht. Immer wenn es gerade interessant wird bzw. wenn sich wichtige Enthüllungen anbahnen, werden die Charaktere entweder abgelenkt und wechseln das Thema oder das Gespräch wird komplett abgebrochen. Vom chaotischen Finale gar nicht zu reden. Positiv hervorzuheben ist hier aber, dass die Gegenspieler nicht von Anfang an ersichtlich waren (zumindest nicht für mich), sodass es mich hier wirklich überrascht hat, als ein bestimmter Charakter sein wahres Gesicht zeigte. Es hat mich auch gefreut, dass hier und da ein wenig Turalisch gesprochen wurde (ich mag es einfach, wenn Sprachen vorkommen).
Aber im Großen und Ganzen hat mich das Buch einfach nur genervt. Es liest sich flott, ja, aber die Ereignisse wirken random und der Hauptcharakter lässt sich durchgängig nur mittreiben. Die anderen Charaktere sind auch nicht viel besser.
May 25, 2015
This is the third (and currently last) book in the Borderlands series. Based on then ending, there was clearly supposed to be at least one more book, but it's now been 5 years since Shadows Past was published and there's no news on a book 4.
Shadows Past wasn't as good as the first two books in the series. Rabbit continues to feel like a McGuffin to me, rather than an autonomous character. It seems that most of the time he could be replaced by a magic box and the story wouldn't be much different, as his actions are mostly just doing what he's told to do by those around him, and occasionally using his magic in an entirely intuitive manner -really just letting his magic do what it wants to do.
In the past two books this wasn't a huge problem for me, as the characters around him and the plot were interesting enough to make up for the shortcoming in the main character. However, in this book he's more separated from the side characters, and the plot really wasn't sure where it was going. At halfway through the book we're still just faffing about doing nothing really. At that point I started skimming the book.
The ending is much better than the middle of the book, but it's too little too late for me. Even if book 4 was available I wouldn't be reading it.
Shadows Past wasn't as good as the first two books in the series. Rabbit continues to feel like a McGuffin to me, rather than an autonomous character. It seems that most of the time he could be replaced by a magic box and the story wouldn't be much different, as his actions are mostly just doing what he's told to do by those around him, and occasionally using his magic in an entirely intuitive manner -really just letting his magic do what it wants to do.
In the past two books this wasn't a huge problem for me, as the characters around him and the plot were interesting enough to make up for the shortcoming in the main character. However, in this book he's more separated from the side characters, and the plot really wasn't sure where it was going. At halfway through the book we're still just faffing about doing nothing really. At that point I started skimming the book.
The ending is much better than the middle of the book, but it's too little too late for me. Even if book 4 was available I wouldn't be reading it.
March 27, 2021
That was a close call for Rabbit! I enjoyed the story and the characters!
October 30, 2015
*Deep breathe*
Utter rubbish! By the end of this book I felt frustrated that I even bothered reading the first two books. This whole book felt like a contrived tale for a five year old.
The fact that none of the characters have progressed or grown in any way shape or form is incredibly irritating. They haven't learned from past mistakes, they haven't paid attention to anything that's happened, and they are willfully stupid. To the point of madness.
Most of this book is spent repeating the same exact descriptions of food and having some aches and pains. The magic is frustratingly lame. I dealt with the fact that magic was new in the first book and so wouldn't make much of an appearance. In the second book I could handle that it was still being learned and therefore wasn't too explained. In the third book I have no tolerance for little to no explanation, crap development, and still no explanation of how it works. Supposed master mages don't do anything. There are basically just some spheres which follow Rabbit around. Cool story bro.
Characters are just stuck in a loop. "Oh look, some new mystery thing which I should pay attention to... but I get distracted and pulled away." "Oh look, someone clearly untrustworthy with a hidden agenda saying something suspicious.... and I get distracted."The king is another example. He's an idiot. He never pays attention, constantly patronizes, and underestimates rabbit. There is no new story here.
Everything is slightly off kilter in this story. I get that that's part of the plot too, but it strikes too close to an actual fault which has been around since the start of the series. Characters never have appropriate, realistic, or even believable reactions to events. Then they spend hours dissecting each event in depth.
This book is everything I dislike in fantasy. Rant over
Utter rubbish! By the end of this book I felt frustrated that I even bothered reading the first two books. This whole book felt like a contrived tale for a five year old.
The fact that none of the characters have progressed or grown in any way shape or form is incredibly irritating. They haven't learned from past mistakes, they haven't paid attention to anything that's happened, and they are willfully stupid. To the point of madness.
Most of this book is spent repeating the same exact descriptions of food and having some aches and pains. The magic is frustratingly lame. I dealt with the fact that magic was new in the first book and so wouldn't make much of an appearance. In the second book I could handle that it was still being learned and therefore wasn't too explained. In the third book I have no tolerance for little to no explanation, crap development, and still no explanation of how it works. Supposed master mages don't do anything. There are basically just some spheres which follow Rabbit around. Cool story bro.
Characters are just stuck in a loop. "Oh look, some new mystery thing which I should pay attention to... but I get distracted and pulled away." "Oh look, someone clearly untrustworthy with a hidden agenda saying something suspicious.... and I get distracted."The king is another example. He's an idiot. He never pays attention, constantly patronizes, and underestimates rabbit. There is no new story here.
Everything is slightly off kilter in this story. I get that that's part of the plot too, but it strikes too close to an actual fault which has been around since the start of the series. Characters never have appropriate, realistic, or even believable reactions to events. Then they spend hours dissecting each event in depth.
This book is everything I dislike in fantasy. Rant over
October 23, 2019
The best part of the story is that although Rabbit has all this innate power, control over four elements, he is still so powerless in his own future. With loyalty to the human king, the faena, and the elvish king, Rabbit can not breathe without having to be responsible to someone.
It was so well written!!!
It was so well written!!!
July 31, 2019
The good news is that this is another good book in Freeman's Borderlands series. Even better, we see more of Suiden this time.
The bad news is that it's the last. This is especially bad because there are unresolved threads. Like the first two, this is a complete story, and you don't need to read the others for this to make sense, it is a standalone with beginning, middle, and end. But like the second book revealed there's a bigger group targeting Rabbit, this time the bad guys manage to kidnap a secondary character, and get him away before everything else gets resolved. So obviously, there should be a fourth book, which will hopefully deal with that, even if, like this one, we don't move any closer to the bigger threat.
But it's been nine years at this point, with no sign, no word on the author's website for over eight years now.... I'm going to try not to torture myself too hard by hoping that book four will appear at some point.
As far as the actual contents of the book, we have yet another change of scenery, and associated set of new characters. And more of everyone immediately around Rabbit being a bit disagreeable; but with better reason this time. Again, part of the book might get short-circuited if a few things would be talked about early, and I think it's a case of Rabbit giving events more lucidly than they'd be perceived as their happening again. And, while it's obvious that something is happening, what exactly isn't at all obvious, and things are confused by the fact that Rabbit has arrived in a place with at least three cross-currents operating.
In fact, overall, the situation is more complex than in the previous books, and is handled better. This still isn't quite up to the level of the first book, which handled civil war and personal pain with equal with and aplomb, but its really close.
The bad news is that it's the last. This is especially bad because there are unresolved threads. Like the first two, this is a complete story, and you don't need to read the others for this to make sense, it is a standalone with beginning, middle, and end. But like the second book revealed there's a bigger group targeting Rabbit, this time the bad guys manage to kidnap a secondary character, and get him away before everything else gets resolved. So obviously, there should be a fourth book, which will hopefully deal with that, even if, like this one, we don't move any closer to the bigger threat.
But it's been nine years at this point, with no sign, no word on the author's website for over eight years now.... I'm going to try not to torture myself too hard by hoping that book four will appear at some point.
As far as the actual contents of the book, we have yet another change of scenery, and associated set of new characters. And more of everyone immediately around Rabbit being a bit disagreeable; but with better reason this time. Again, part of the book might get short-circuited if a few things would be talked about early, and I think it's a case of Rabbit giving events more lucidly than they'd be perceived as their happening again. And, while it's obvious that something is happening, what exactly isn't at all obvious, and things are confused by the fact that Rabbit has arrived in a place with at least three cross-currents operating.
In fact, overall, the situation is more complex than in the previous books, and is handled better. This still isn't quite up to the level of the first book, which handled civil war and personal pain with equal with and aplomb, but its really close.
July 17, 2018
Basically the same plot as book two. Same review.
July 25, 2018
Really good series. I want more!
May 3, 2020
4,25
July 16, 2024
Just fell apart at the end.
July 19, 2024
Mit haben die Grenzlande-Bücher gut gefallen und es tut mir leid, dass die Autorin die Serie nicht beendet hat.
August 27, 2010
This turned out to be quite a disappointment after how much I liked the first two books in the series.
I still really like the characters, especially Rabbit, but the writing was a bit of a mess. There was too much I couldn't remember because it is so long since I read the previous books and I wasn't given enough hints to remind me. That meant I couldn't remember some important points that turned out having major bearing on the story.
The time flow of the book stuttered a bit too. A chapter would finish on a dramatic note and then the next would begin a bit later in a different place and go backwards from there to explain the resolution of that dramatic note. It distanced me from the action and tended to ruin the impact of that chapter ending and I didn't like it at all.
Since the book is in the first person, I can (now that I've finished) kind of see what the author was trying to do in having Rabbit space out and then snap back in again, but I didn't have enough information to work it out for myself, meaning it only made sense right at the end of the book when another character alluded to it.
It was also very frustrating that ever time a character was about to make an important revelation, something would happen to stop them talking. Once or twice would have been okay, but it kept happening and happening.
Also, the book ends very abruptly, almost as if it isn't really finished. The conclusion doesn't really feel like a conclusion and there were an awful lot of things left unresolved. I hope there will be another book that deals with this, because right now I'm left feeling very unsatisfied.
If you're a fan of the first two books, I would suggest you wait to see if there's a fourth one before reading on. If you haven't read anything in Freeman's Borderlands series, I recommend starting with the previous books (Covenants and The King's Own) as they are much better than this one.
I hope it's a glitch. I really like the world and the characters and I'd like to see more of both, but another book the quality of this one would probably put me off for good. Which is very sad because I know Ms Freeman can do better than this - she already has in the first two Borderlands books.
I still really like the characters, especially Rabbit, but the writing was a bit of a mess. There was too much I couldn't remember because it is so long since I read the previous books and I wasn't given enough hints to remind me. That meant I couldn't remember some important points that turned out having major bearing on the story.
The time flow of the book stuttered a bit too. A chapter would finish on a dramatic note and then the next would begin a bit later in a different place and go backwards from there to explain the resolution of that dramatic note. It distanced me from the action and tended to ruin the impact of that chapter ending and I didn't like it at all.
Since the book is in the first person, I can (now that I've finished) kind of see what the author was trying to do in having Rabbit space out and then snap back in again, but I didn't have enough information to work it out for myself, meaning it only made sense right at the end of the book when another character alluded to it.
It was also very frustrating that ever time a character was about to make an important revelation, something would happen to stop them talking. Once or twice would have been okay, but it kept happening and happening.
Also, the book ends very abruptly, almost as if it isn't really finished. The conclusion doesn't really feel like a conclusion and there were an awful lot of things left unresolved. I hope there will be another book that deals with this, because right now I'm left feeling very unsatisfied.
If you're a fan of the first two books, I would suggest you wait to see if there's a fourth one before reading on. If you haven't read anything in Freeman's Borderlands series, I recommend starting with the previous books (Covenants and The King's Own) as they are much better than this one.
I hope it's a glitch. I really like the world and the characters and I'd like to see more of both, but another book the quality of this one would probably put me off for good. Which is very sad because I know Ms Freeman can do better than this - she already has in the first two Borderlands books.
June 14, 2015
In "Das Vermächtnis", Teil 3 aus der Reihe um die Grenzlande, soll Hase, Thronfolger von Iversterre, Magierschüler aus den Grenzlanden, und eigentlich nur ein eifnacher Soldat, mit einer Dame von geeignetem Stand verkuppelt werden; mit allen katastrophalen Ergebnissen, die Hases Verwicklung in derartige Dinge nun einmal nach sich zieht.
Für alle, die die anderen Bücher aus Lorna Freemans Reihe um die Grenzlande bereits gelesen haben, bietet sich hier eine Begegnung mit alten Bekannten, die, wenngleich nicht immer so humorvoll wie früher, so doch nach den ersten Kapiteln wenigstens ddoppelt so viele Verstrickungen wie früher aufweist.
Als Einsteiger hätte ich dieses Buch nicht lesen wollen; dafür würde man trotz der ganzen anfänglichen Erklärungen zu wenig von den herrschenden Sitten und den handelnden Personen verstehen. Was mich wundern lässt, wofür die ganzen Bemerkungen zu Beginn überhaupt dienen, doch zum Glück war nach drei oder vier Kapiteln Schluss mit der Rekapitulation. Danach wurde wieder gelogen, betrogen, gestichelt, intrigiert und Magie gewirkt, was das Zeug hält; bis hin zum halboffenen Ende, welches zwar die meisten Fragen klärt, aber dennoch die Hoffnungen auf Teil vier aufrecht erhält.
Wegen mir kann die Geschichte auch gerne mal in die Reiche jenseits von Iversterre wechseln; ich würde dem Hof des Amir gern einmal einen Besuch abstatten.
Äußerst belustigend fand ich Hases Reaktionen auf seine potentiellen Herzensdamen; man sollte meinen, dass Soldaten einen weniger zugeknöpften Umgang pflegen ;).
Für alle, die noch keines der Bücher gelesen haben: Fangt jetzt damit an, und zwar mit Covenants, denn Teil 3 wird euch bei dieser Serie sicher ncihts nützen^^.
Für alle, die die anderen Bücher aus Lorna Freemans Reihe um die Grenzlande bereits gelesen haben, bietet sich hier eine Begegnung mit alten Bekannten, die, wenngleich nicht immer so humorvoll wie früher, so doch nach den ersten Kapiteln wenigstens ddoppelt so viele Verstrickungen wie früher aufweist.
Als Einsteiger hätte ich dieses Buch nicht lesen wollen; dafür würde man trotz der ganzen anfänglichen Erklärungen zu wenig von den herrschenden Sitten und den handelnden Personen verstehen. Was mich wundern lässt, wofür die ganzen Bemerkungen zu Beginn überhaupt dienen, doch zum Glück war nach drei oder vier Kapiteln Schluss mit der Rekapitulation. Danach wurde wieder gelogen, betrogen, gestichelt, intrigiert und Magie gewirkt, was das Zeug hält; bis hin zum halboffenen Ende, welches zwar die meisten Fragen klärt, aber dennoch die Hoffnungen auf Teil vier aufrecht erhält.
Wegen mir kann die Geschichte auch gerne mal in die Reiche jenseits von Iversterre wechseln; ich würde dem Hof des Amir gern einmal einen Besuch abstatten.
Äußerst belustigend fand ich Hases Reaktionen auf seine potentiellen Herzensdamen; man sollte meinen, dass Soldaten einen weniger zugeknöpften Umgang pflegen ;).
Für alle, die noch keines der Bücher gelesen haben: Fangt jetzt damit an, und zwar mit Covenants, denn Teil 3 wird euch bei dieser Serie sicher ncihts nützen^^.
September 19, 2013
In this installment, Rabbit faces a whole new problem. Matrimony. Apparently, Rabbit's mother, Hilga, was originally betrothed to Lord Idwal but she had caused a scandal by secretly wedding Rabbit's father when she was already pregnant with Rabbit's oldest sister. So, Lord Idwal wants redress for this... humiliation/dirty laundry by having the betrothal being honored with Rabbit marrying Lord Idwal's daughter.
For me I felt this book was a lot like the second book but it still wasn't as good as the first one.
Some parts of it were better than the second one cause we got Suiden! Yay Suiden! I completely adore his character and love whatever tidbits are thrown our way about him.
Of course, I like the world building within the story. But I do feel a bit unsatisfied with the book. Besides Rabbit's marriage problem, nothing is really solved in this book. Slevoic is still doing Slevoic stuff. Plus, the bad guy in the story... I can understand part of their motivations but not in case of Rabbit. It has something to do with Morgiana the Dragon from Rabbit's home and a vision she had had. I guess that was being queued up for the fourth book. Which alas I may never know since there is no work on a fourth book. Which is a shame since I do enjoy this series.
For me I felt this book was a lot like the second book but it still wasn't as good as the first one.
Some parts of it were better than the second one cause we got Suiden! Yay Suiden! I completely adore his character and love whatever tidbits are thrown our way about him.
Of course, I like the world building within the story. But I do feel a bit unsatisfied with the book. Besides Rabbit's marriage problem, nothing is really solved in this book. Slevoic is still doing Slevoic stuff. Plus, the bad guy in the story... I can understand part of their motivations but not in case of Rabbit. It has something to do with Morgiana the Dragon from Rabbit's home and a vision she had had. I guess that was being queued up for the fourth book. Which alas I may never know since there is no work on a fourth book. Which is a shame since I do enjoy this series.
March 16, 2013
I was worried about this one a little bit before reading. One thing that makes this series so great is that it has no romantic inclinations. We know Rabbit is interested in girls, but he was no real driving need to marry. It is one of the few modern day fantasies that does it so well.
So when I read the summary I was worried, but Freeman pulled it off wonderfully. Though Rabbit is wooing his intended he’s not really falling love with her, there is this undercurrent of his emotional thoughts. I also love how she makes Rabbit so naïve with it.
But like I said the point of this book wasn’t the romance, it’s the politics. Freeman does a wonderful job with her politics. They fit her world so perfectly creating magnificent conflict inside the main character. Like her previous two, I couldn’t put this one down.
Her characters are wonderfully down, and even though it is first person narrative it is easy to get the feel of how everyone in her world is feeling. I fell in love with the characters all over again. Particularly Jusson.
So when I read the summary I was worried, but Freeman pulled it off wonderfully. Though Rabbit is wooing his intended he’s not really falling love with her, there is this undercurrent of his emotional thoughts. I also love how she makes Rabbit so naïve with it.
But like I said the point of this book wasn’t the romance, it’s the politics. Freeman does a wonderful job with her politics. They fit her world so perfectly creating magnificent conflict inside the main character. Like her previous two, I couldn’t put this one down.
Her characters are wonderfully down, and even though it is first person narrative it is easy to get the feel of how everyone in her world is feeling. I fell in love with the characters all over again. Particularly Jusson.
March 10, 2017
10 stars out of 5.
Once again, the third book in this series is a truly superlative read. Filled to the brim with mystery, adventure, suspense, political intrigue, betrayal and a very special kind of magic, the novel also provides a strong look at the devastating consequences of petty jealousy and choices made as a result of vindictive motives. The story ends with the possibility of further adventures, enough to fill another two books, if not more, as by no means is Rabbit's story at an end.
Truly, this author should rank among the top writers of this age, and it is a mystery and a great loss to the industry that she seems to have disappeared off the face of the planet. Ms Freeman, if you ever read this, please continue the saga; we REALLY want to know more about Rabbit and his friends/enemies!
Once again, the third book in this series is a truly superlative read. Filled to the brim with mystery, adventure, suspense, political intrigue, betrayal and a very special kind of magic, the novel also provides a strong look at the devastating consequences of petty jealousy and choices made as a result of vindictive motives. The story ends with the possibility of further adventures, enough to fill another two books, if not more, as by no means is Rabbit's story at an end.
Truly, this author should rank among the top writers of this age, and it is a mystery and a great loss to the industry that she seems to have disappeared off the face of the planet. Ms Freeman, if you ever read this, please continue the saga; we REALLY want to know more about Rabbit and his friends/enemies!
June 17, 2014
The first book was awesome, and I liked the second book two. But the third and final installment of this series fell short for me.
It had way too much going on. I felt like I needed a flow chart to keep track of it all. And with all that was going on, I just didn't care about any of it. Not really.
Maybe it was written too long after the second book that the writer lost the magic of the story? Or maybe her heart just wasn't in it?
I'm not sure.
But I couldn't finish it. I got to about page 200 and had to ask myself, "Why are you still reading this? And do you even care what happens?"
So I stopped. Total bummer because I waited a long time to read the final book.
It had way too much going on. I felt like I needed a flow chart to keep track of it all. And with all that was going on, I just didn't care about any of it. Not really.
Maybe it was written too long after the second book that the writer lost the magic of the story? Or maybe her heart just wasn't in it?
I'm not sure.
But I couldn't finish it. I got to about page 200 and had to ask myself, "Why are you still reading this? And do you even care what happens?"
So I stopped. Total bummer because I waited a long time to read the final book.
May 9, 2010
I love the Borderlands series and I eagerly awaited the third book. I was extremely happy to receive this book on my birthday and I finished it quickly. I was a little surprised to see Lorna Freeman deviate from her previous stories by adding a little bit of romance, it was still the same old Lorna Freeman. She expertly combines politics and magic into an intriguing world that keeps you in thrall. I was pleased to see the introduction of more and more powers and kingdoms. I am so eagerly awaiting the next book in the series and hope that Lorna Freeman keeps up the good work.
February 5, 2014
The story itself was good, butthe way it was written... First of all when you introduce a new character you should describe their appearence right away to help the reader imagine them. Not several pages later...
There were several big mistakes in the book. Like the publisher never read and editid it. Or the editor was very incompetent...
Also this is the last book of the series, and it is not closed. And regarding the time since it was published, it is unlikely that the author will write more books in the series. So anyone who will read them and like them will be unhappy.
There were several big mistakes in the book. Like the publisher never read and editid it. Or the editor was very incompetent...
Also this is the last book of the series, and it is not closed. And regarding the time since it was published, it is unlikely that the author will write more books in the series. So anyone who will read them and like them will be unhappy.
November 26, 2015
Love this series... the characters, the world, the slow, steady expansion of that world into a real and contentious conglomerate of nations that reflects but doesn't parrot our own world. My only problem with this book is that the editing was a bit slap-dash, which didn't so much affect the story but did cause a few jarring continuity points. Didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the book and wishing for more in the series, tho. And the finished date below is for about the 7th or 8th re-read.
September 21, 2011
I was so happy when this book came out. I didn't know it was scheduled to be released, but I immediately snatched it up in Kindle and actual book editions.
This is a great addition to Rabbits saga. I really enjoyed the mystery in this book, though I hated the love story line. Characters grew, the plot thickened and overall things got only more awesome. I recommend this series to anyone. But good luck finding the first book (print or otherwise) -- you can only get it used.
This is a great addition to Rabbits saga. I really enjoyed the mystery in this book, though I hated the love story line. Characters grew, the plot thickened and overall things got only more awesome. I recommend this series to anyone. But good luck finding the first book (print or otherwise) -- you can only get it used.
January 1, 2012
The third book didn't live up to the second or first book. The whole idea of marrying Rabbit off seemed outlandish to me.
It was enjoyable and fun to read what was happening to my favorite characters. Still it didn't feel like an end. It wasn't end of a trilogy. So I feel like wanting to yell, where is my next book?
I had to wait this one for years too. As I understood, some publisher problems. I do hope there won't be more of them, as I would love see more from this author.
It was enjoyable and fun to read what was happening to my favorite characters. Still it didn't feel like an end. It wasn't end of a trilogy. So I feel like wanting to yell, where is my next book?
I had to wait this one for years too. As I understood, some publisher problems. I do hope there won't be more of them, as I would love see more from this author.
January 20, 2013
A fantasy with romance and mystery elements. Who is attacking the king's party? Will either of the two young ladies with their eyes on Lieutenant Rabbit succeed? I don't really remember that much of the first two books in the series. Rabbit is a bumbling hero, finding truth in spite of himself. Elemental magic pops up frequently. I like the coda a lot, where the king tries to reach an understanding with Rabbit.
February 7, 2011
I was definitely super excited when I saw this pre-order arrived from Book Depository
I have missed reading about Rabbit and with this book this series have certainly goes on my comfort books which I can re-read without feeling bored of it
Let's hope the fourth book wouldn't have the same waiting period :P
I have missed reading about Rabbit and with this book this series have certainly goes on my comfort books which I can re-read without feeling bored of it
Let's hope the fourth book wouldn't have the same waiting period :P
February 7, 2015
Finally we get some strong female characters - and at the same time this book keeps delivering just like it's predecessors. It's not easy to bring some familiar themes and treat them in new ways - but Lorna Freeman does just that. This is a well constructed fantasy world, with smartly crafted characters and plots.
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