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The Swan's War #1
The One Kingdom
The cataclysm began more than a century earlier, when the King of Ayr died before naming an heir to the throne, and damned his realm to chaos. The cold-blooded conspiracies of the Renne and the Wills—each family desirous of the prize of rule—would sunder the one kingdom, and spawn generations of hatred and discord.
Now Toren Renne, leader of his great and troubled house, dreams of peace—a valiant desire that has spawned hostility among his kinsmen, and vicious internal plots against his life. In the opposing domain, Elise Wills's desire for freedom is to be crushed, as an unwanted marriage to an ambitious and sinister lord looms large. As always, these machinations of nobles are affecting the everyday lives of the common folk—and feeding a bonfire of animosity that has now trapped an unsuspecting young Valeman Tam and two fortune-hunting friends from the North in its high, killing flames.
But the closer Toren comes to achieving his great goal of uniting two enemy houses, the more treachery flowers. Nobles and mystics alike conspire to keep the realm divided, knowing that only in times of strife can their power grow.
And perhaps the source of an unending misery lies before an old king's passing, beyond the scope of history, somewhere lost in a fog of myth and magic roiling about an ancient enchanter named Wyrr—who bequeathed to his children terrible gifts that would poison their lives...and their deaths. It is a cursed past and malevolent sorcery that truly hold the land, its people, and its would-be rulers bound. And before the already savaged kingdom can become one again, all Ayr will drown in a sea of blood.
Now Toren Renne, leader of his great and troubled house, dreams of peace—a valiant desire that has spawned hostility among his kinsmen, and vicious internal plots against his life. In the opposing domain, Elise Wills's desire for freedom is to be crushed, as an unwanted marriage to an ambitious and sinister lord looms large. As always, these machinations of nobles are affecting the everyday lives of the common folk—and feeding a bonfire of animosity that has now trapped an unsuspecting young Valeman Tam and two fortune-hunting friends from the North in its high, killing flames.
But the closer Toren comes to achieving his great goal of uniting two enemy houses, the more treachery flowers. Nobles and mystics alike conspire to keep the realm divided, knowing that only in times of strife can their power grow.
And perhaps the source of an unending misery lies before an old king's passing, beyond the scope of history, somewhere lost in a fog of myth and magic roiling about an ancient enchanter named Wyrr—who bequeathed to his children terrible gifts that would poison their lives...and their deaths. It is a cursed past and malevolent sorcery that truly hold the land, its people, and its would-be rulers bound. And before the already savaged kingdom can become one again, all Ayr will drown in a sea of blood.
544 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2001
97 people are currently reading
2165 people want to read
About the author
Sean Russell
42 books143 followersAka Sean Thomas Russell
Sean Russel has co-written, with Ian Dennis, a mystery series called "Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner". The first volume of the series was published by Bantam under their joint pen name, T.F. Banks.
Sean Russell was born 1952 in Toronto. At the age of three his family moved to the outskirts of the city, where they lived in a cottage at the beach of Lake Ontario. At the age of ten he decided to become an author, and the fantasy genre caught him years later, while reading J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. After university, he moved to Vancouver, and two years later to Vancouver Island, where he still lives with his family. He published his first novel in 1991.His first historical naval novel Under Enemy Colours, published in 2007, introduced a new Royal Navy hero, Charles Hayden, and HMS Themis, a fictitious frigate.
Mr. Russell cites history as one of his passions, collects old yachting and sailing books, skis, sails and travels. Past interests include caving, rock climbing, hiking, and racing sailboats.
Sean Russel has co-written, with Ian Dennis, a mystery series called "Memoirs of a Bow Street Runner". The first volume of the series was published by Bantam under their joint pen name, T.F. Banks.
Sean Russell was born 1952 in Toronto. At the age of three his family moved to the outskirts of the city, where they lived in a cottage at the beach of Lake Ontario. At the age of ten he decided to become an author, and the fantasy genre caught him years later, while reading J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. After university, he moved to Vancouver, and two years later to Vancouver Island, where he still lives with his family. He published his first novel in 1991.His first historical naval novel Under Enemy Colours, published in 2007, introduced a new Royal Navy hero, Charles Hayden, and HMS Themis, a fictitious frigate.
Mr. Russell cites history as one of his passions, collects old yachting and sailing books, skis, sails and travels. Past interests include caving, rock climbing, hiking, and racing sailboats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
November 19, 2018
I'm a huge fan of Sean Russell but this one wasn't his best. Slow and plodding, not up to his usual standards I'm afraid.
September 10, 2013
I adore lovely, lyrical, descriptive prose. The kind of stuff some might call corny or some similar unflattering phrase, but I love it. And because of this, I fell in love on the very first page. Let me give you an example of why. Chapter One, Paragraph 2.
And it just goes on from there. Could you see the wind dancing? I could. Sean Russell painted a beautiful picture with nothing but words. Such lovely words. This story was already magical without a sign of magic in sight, at least not yet. With a big sigh of contentment I melted into my chair and proceeded to devour page after page.
Read Complete Review @ Dragons, Heroes and Wizards
Around them the wind was in flight, more joyous than a swallow, as heedless as a child. It swept down onto the new green oats and raked through the hay, making waves and patterns like sand on a riverbed.
And it just goes on from there. Could you see the wind dancing? I could. Sean Russell painted a beautiful picture with nothing but words. Such lovely words. This story was already magical without a sign of magic in sight, at least not yet. With a big sigh of contentment I melted into my chair and proceeded to devour page after page.
Read Complete Review @ Dragons, Heroes and Wizards
October 19, 2012
The Swan's War is one of my favorite fantasy series. The One Kingdom was great. The author created a very rich world with colorful characters.
August 4, 2025
This was a tricky one to rate. The whole time I read it, it felt either plodding or extremely interesting. The basic storyline is two prominent families vie to rule the realm. It’s got the whole political GOT thing going on. There are jousts, scheming and maneuvering. So lots of medieval activity to enjoy.
What’s more intriguing is the ancient lore and magic of the land and its former inhabitants. In fact the land (its river) itself seems to be something of an entity. Something feels sinister and off.
I didn’t rip through this as its pace can be downright painful at times. Still, there is an allure to the magic and lore. Enough that I’ll be exploring book 2 in due time.
What’s more intriguing is the ancient lore and magic of the land and its former inhabitants. In fact the land (its river) itself seems to be something of an entity. Something feels sinister and off.
I didn’t rip through this as its pace can be downright painful at times. Still, there is an allure to the magic and lore. Enough that I’ll be exploring book 2 in due time.
October 27, 2019
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
Written exceedingly well, this series belongs on the shelf next to greats such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, and Tad Williams. It’s the sort of story world I happily get lost in, peopled by characters that are flawed, dangerous, brave, loyal, and incredibly real.
There are multiple story-lines in this book that seem very disparate, but eventually become tangled up in interesting ways. A good chunk of this book follows the Hero’s Journey, through the character of Tam. Tam is one of a group of traders, hoping to buy more horses and, ultimately, return home wiser in the ways of the world. It’s a very hobbit-esque origin, without being a rip-off. Unfortunately for Tam and his friends (but fortunate for the reader), the wide world has other plans.
At the same time, Toren Renee is the first of his house to hope for peace. It’s a hope that is threatened on all sides, as those from both the Renee house and the Wills plot to prevent that. Never come between a powerful person and his feud. On top of the political intrigue, there’s an unwanted marriage in the Wills family, and- underneath it all, an ancient and powerful revenge story that threatens everything.
One of the things I loved about this book is that it doesn’t rely on quick slash ’em up battles. Any action is there to further the story. Because of this, the pacing can seem a bit slow at the beginning. Trust me; the setup is worth it. The prose drew me in, and the way the characters evolved kept me interested. The ending of the first book had me rushing to grab the second.
A good chunk of the book takes place on the river Wynd. Normally books that involve sitting on boats or ships for long periods of time bore me, but such was not the case here. The river itself is an intriguing, and sometimes creepy, character. I love when a setting becomes more than just the backdrop!
If you’re a fan of The Wheel of Time series, like a good fantasy, or just want a well-written book, don’t pass up the chance to grab The One Kingdom.
Written exceedingly well, this series belongs on the shelf next to greats such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, and Tad Williams. It’s the sort of story world I happily get lost in, peopled by characters that are flawed, dangerous, brave, loyal, and incredibly real.
There are multiple story-lines in this book that seem very disparate, but eventually become tangled up in interesting ways. A good chunk of this book follows the Hero’s Journey, through the character of Tam. Tam is one of a group of traders, hoping to buy more horses and, ultimately, return home wiser in the ways of the world. It’s a very hobbit-esque origin, without being a rip-off. Unfortunately for Tam and his friends (but fortunate for the reader), the wide world has other plans.
At the same time, Toren Renee is the first of his house to hope for peace. It’s a hope that is threatened on all sides, as those from both the Renee house and the Wills plot to prevent that. Never come between a powerful person and his feud. On top of the political intrigue, there’s an unwanted marriage in the Wills family, and- underneath it all, an ancient and powerful revenge story that threatens everything.
One of the things I loved about this book is that it doesn’t rely on quick slash ’em up battles. Any action is there to further the story. Because of this, the pacing can seem a bit slow at the beginning. Trust me; the setup is worth it. The prose drew me in, and the way the characters evolved kept me interested. The ending of the first book had me rushing to grab the second.
A good chunk of the book takes place on the river Wynd. Normally books that involve sitting on boats or ships for long periods of time bore me, but such was not the case here. The river itself is an intriguing, and sometimes creepy, character. I love when a setting becomes more than just the backdrop!
If you’re a fan of The Wheel of Time series, like a good fantasy, or just want a well-written book, don’t pass up the chance to grab The One Kingdom.
July 13, 2009
I first read this book with no expectations at all. Perhaps the best way to read a book. However I ended with very expectations for the next one, because The One Kingdom is a fabulous work of fantasy.
One or two chapters do fall flat(but only one or two). The main character is dutifully boring. The ending, though very strong, is not conclusive, but that's hardly to be expected from book one in a trilogy that was originally planned as a single volume.
In terms of this book's strengths...Nearly every character, beyond Tam, is unique and likable / interesting-to-read. The setting is handled expertly, particularly where magic opposes the fantasy 'real-world'. The plot is essentially simple but unfolds richly. This is definitely a unique and polished take on epic fantasy.
Plotting is stoing, world-building is mixed in at an easy-going pace, and the whole novel builds to the climax. The climax, in fact, is one of the strongest cliffhanger cuts I've ever read.
In short, nearly everything about The One Kingdom is special.
One or two chapters do fall flat(but only one or two). The main character is dutifully boring. The ending, though very strong, is not conclusive, but that's hardly to be expected from book one in a trilogy that was originally planned as a single volume.
In terms of this book's strengths...Nearly every character, beyond Tam, is unique and likable / interesting-to-read. The setting is handled expertly, particularly where magic opposes the fantasy 'real-world'. The plot is essentially simple but unfolds richly. This is definitely a unique and polished take on epic fantasy.
Plotting is stoing, world-building is mixed in at an easy-going pace, and the whole novel builds to the climax. The climax, in fact, is one of the strongest cliffhanger cuts I've ever read.
In short, nearly everything about The One Kingdom is special.
January 3, 2017
Highly Highly underrated. A great book.loved the second one as well but having trouble finding the third.a great gem.I hope the author writes more. This is a must read for fans of the genre.
February 17, 2008
I had high hopes for this book and trilogy, but am sorely dissapointed. From the desriptions I read, I was expecting some entertaining political intrigue, but the book's descriptions are really decieving. What I found was third-rate Martin meets third-rate Jordan in this jumbled fantasy bore.
I read some positive reviews on amazon and was intrigued by Robin Hobb's blurb of praise on the back cover. I picked this up and it sat on my shelf for a while, but finally I started it and didn't find what I was expecting at all. The prologue starts intriguingly enough, with an explanation about the two rival houses and an assassination conspiracy plotted by members of the victim's own family. This was what I was looking for and I was engrossed right away. Unfortunately as I got to the first chapter and the main characters were introduced, I immidiately became dissapointed and bored.
The three main characters (or at least the 3 characters that consume 60-70% of this book) are completely cliche and their part of the story was so boring that I struggled not to skip it. These are three farm boys on an adventure, oblivious to the larger troubles in the world... can we say Rand, Matt and Perrin from Wheel of Time? The characters, Tam, Fynnnol and Baore, even resemble Rand, Matt and Perrin very closely (Tam is the noble, level headed one, Fynnol is the sly and mischevious one and Baore is the big lovable oath with a kind heart but a fighting spirit. Come on!) I almost stopped reading after just a handful of their chapters.
It's too bad too, because a few of the characters from the larger, rival families (the Renne and the Wills) seemed promising and their storylines were sort of fun to read, such as Elise and Dease. But in order to get to them I had to trudge through far too many Tam, Fynnol and Baore chapters. By the time I got back to the interesting characters, I almost forgot what happened with the other plot threads in the first place, and ultimately stopped caring.
And then there was the character Alaan, who at first was interesting and quickly became rediculous. He appears to nearly every character in the book, trying to stop a major war and manipulating each side to his own ends. Meanwhile Hayfyyd, the main enemy of the book, the evil knight turned councilor who is pulling the strings of a powerful prince, hunts him down. So at this point we have typical fantasy cliches piled upon other typical fantasy cliches.
So I don't recommend this book. It has very little to offer in way of originality and is not very well written at that (uninspired, forced dialouge, generally lazy prose.) There is a part of me that likes the atypical fantasy story lines, but this was too much for me. If you want to read a story that abuses the fantasy archetypes, there are authors who do it much better, such as Tad Williams and even Robert Jordan. If you want to read some wonderful orignal fantasy, try George R.R. Martin, Robin Hobb, Daniel Abraham, among many others.
I read some positive reviews on amazon and was intrigued by Robin Hobb's blurb of praise on the back cover. I picked this up and it sat on my shelf for a while, but finally I started it and didn't find what I was expecting at all. The prologue starts intriguingly enough, with an explanation about the two rival houses and an assassination conspiracy plotted by members of the victim's own family. This was what I was looking for and I was engrossed right away. Unfortunately as I got to the first chapter and the main characters were introduced, I immidiately became dissapointed and bored.
The three main characters (or at least the 3 characters that consume 60-70% of this book) are completely cliche and their part of the story was so boring that I struggled not to skip it. These are three farm boys on an adventure, oblivious to the larger troubles in the world... can we say Rand, Matt and Perrin from Wheel of Time? The characters, Tam, Fynnnol and Baore, even resemble Rand, Matt and Perrin very closely (Tam is the noble, level headed one, Fynnol is the sly and mischevious one and Baore is the big lovable oath with a kind heart but a fighting spirit. Come on!) I almost stopped reading after just a handful of their chapters.
It's too bad too, because a few of the characters from the larger, rival families (the Renne and the Wills) seemed promising and their storylines were sort of fun to read, such as Elise and Dease. But in order to get to them I had to trudge through far too many Tam, Fynnol and Baore chapters. By the time I got back to the interesting characters, I almost forgot what happened with the other plot threads in the first place, and ultimately stopped caring.
And then there was the character Alaan, who at first was interesting and quickly became rediculous. He appears to nearly every character in the book, trying to stop a major war and manipulating each side to his own ends. Meanwhile Hayfyyd, the main enemy of the book, the evil knight turned councilor who is pulling the strings of a powerful prince, hunts him down. So at this point we have typical fantasy cliches piled upon other typical fantasy cliches.
So I don't recommend this book. It has very little to offer in way of originality and is not very well written at that (uninspired, forced dialouge, generally lazy prose.) There is a part of me that likes the atypical fantasy story lines, but this was too much for me. If you want to read a story that abuses the fantasy archetypes, there are authors who do it much better, such as Tad Williams and even Robert Jordan. If you want to read some wonderful orignal fantasy, try George R.R. Martin, Robin Hobb, Daniel Abraham, among many others.
May 15, 2010
This is the first book in a trilogy (I think) and definitely one of the better that I have read in a long time. It starts out very classic, with a group of companions travelling south, away from their homeland. They want to sell some ancient relics and earn a little cash, but then everything goes wrong.
Well, maybe not wrong, but it certainly doesn't turn out like they planned it.
This story has some thoroughly original ideas that really captivated me throughout the story, like the misty river that has a life of its own. There are also the bards who communicates with the land, learning the stories of past ages.
I originally gave it three stars, but honestly, it deserves four. It is nowhere as good as the books of Robin Hobb and George R R Martin, but very interesting and definitely worth a read.
Well, maybe not wrong, but it certainly doesn't turn out like they planned it.
This story has some thoroughly original ideas that really captivated me throughout the story, like the misty river that has a life of its own. There are also the bards who communicates with the land, learning the stories of past ages.
I originally gave it three stars, but honestly, it deserves four. It is nowhere as good as the books of Robin Hobb and George R R Martin, but very interesting and definitely worth a read.
December 14, 2008
Fantastic! Couldn't put it down.
August 3, 2025
A very good traditional slow build fantasy. Recommended to those who like Wheel of Time. FRTC.
February 2, 2016
Een fantasy wat zich afspeelt rond en op een Rivier. De wereld waarin het zich afspeelt wordt goed weergegeven. Je voelt de angst, je kijkt in wezen door de ogen van degene die het overkomt. Ondanks dat het verhaal springt van de Renee's naar de Wils naar de 3 vallei mannen en alle verdere hoofdpersonen in dit verhaal, is het goed te volgen. Duidelijk worden er in hoofdstukken van de ene scene naar de andere gegaan. Nagar betreden het toneel. Riviergeesten waarvan iedereen wel er onder de indruk is. De onschuld van de 3 valleimannen de geslepenheid van de hoofdperson Alaan en de slachtoffer rol voor Elise Wils. Drie hoofdlijnen vermengen zich. De belevenissen van de 3 valleimannen en Cyndel (verhalenzoeker van de Faél), de belevenissen van Elise Wils die zal worden uitgehuwelijkt aan Prins Michael zodat de "kwade" raadsheer van zijn vader Hafyd nu Eremon genoemd, en voormalig ridder van de eed, zijn kwade bedoelingen kan uitspelen en het verhaal van Toren Renne. Alles is zo goed neergezet dat je het goed kunt volgen. 3 vallei mannen (jonge mannen) zijn bij de brug van brug van Talanon aan het graven op het oude slagveld. Ze halen voorwerpen naar boven om te verkopen. Tam, Baore en zijn neef Fynnol maken bij het kampvuur plannen waar en hoe ze de voorwerpen aan verkopen. Ze willen de rivier af naar de "wildernis" om in de stad geld te verdienen en dan terug te keren naar de Vallei. Maar zover komt het in eerste instantie niet. Er komt een vreemdeling bij hun vuur en deze maakt dat het gevaar en gevaarlijke mensen hun vervolgen en proberen te doden.
November 20, 2008
Not a bad fantasy series. It is well written and fleshed out quite nicely.
The main three characters are a little too much like the main characters in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Three young men, one a big burly boat builder who wants nothing more than to go home, one a quick witted rogue, and the third a level headed young man you suspect is destined for greatness. But the young men in Russell's saga are not complete cookie cutter adaptations. Nor are they the only major characters.
There a number of interesting story lines that hold promise for future installments. My favorite concept from this book was the river Wynnd, and the secret river that sometimes branches off of it. Likewise, the character Alaan's ability to find unknown pathways was very interesting.
The ending of this first volume does not achieve enough of a climax for this book. What it does do it set up story lines for the next book in the series.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, and I will probably continue with the series.
The main three characters are a little too much like the main characters in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Three young men, one a big burly boat builder who wants nothing more than to go home, one a quick witted rogue, and the third a level headed young man you suspect is destined for greatness. But the young men in Russell's saga are not complete cookie cutter adaptations. Nor are they the only major characters.
There a number of interesting story lines that hold promise for future installments. My favorite concept from this book was the river Wynnd, and the secret river that sometimes branches off of it. Likewise, the character Alaan's ability to find unknown pathways was very interesting.
The ending of this first volume does not achieve enough of a climax for this book. What it does do it set up story lines for the next book in the series.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, and I will probably continue with the series.
August 21, 2012
The book was a pleasant surprise. Well written (and/or very well translated), with sentences that fill me with great joy – something I seldomly encounter in books.
It has a refreshing world to explore, great characters with depth and emotions the reader is able to follow. The story is not overly surprising so far, but not the kind of "I've known this three chapters before, you stupid character!".
Also the book has a charming feature I highly appreciate after a long day of work: it's soothing me by drawing me into the world and keeps a great arc of suspense. Sometimes there are some action scenes that seem to be hasty, but overall it's wonderfully balanced in tempo and suspense.
There are some lovely character concepts as well that add the right dose of originality.
Highly recommended. I immediately started the second volume after I finished the first one.
Caution: this book might make you read long into the night even if you have to get up for work early.
It has a refreshing world to explore, great characters with depth and emotions the reader is able to follow. The story is not overly surprising so far, but not the kind of "I've known this three chapters before, you stupid character!".
Also the book has a charming feature I highly appreciate after a long day of work: it's soothing me by drawing me into the world and keeps a great arc of suspense. Sometimes there are some action scenes that seem to be hasty, but overall it's wonderfully balanced in tempo and suspense.
There are some lovely character concepts as well that add the right dose of originality.
Highly recommended. I immediately started the second volume after I finished the first one.
Caution: this book might make you read long into the night even if you have to get up for work early.
August 27, 2024
Back in days of yore, when A Game of Thrones was only the first volume of that series, there was a fashion for epic and high fantasies that ploughed similar furrows in fields of medieval civil war and low magic. The Swan's War was one of them, and I have to admit that I never made it further than the end of the first volume first time around. I'm not certain why that was the case then, because in this re-read I find that The One Kingdom ticks a lot of boxes and does some interesting stuff with a lot of tropes. Mysterious rogue minstrel sacrifices himself to save protagonists? Water spirits hungry to live again? Castle politics, and blind and disfigured nobles? Doomed romance? A river far longer and more winding than its natural course? Epic jousts and tourneys?
Yes to all of those and more. The One Kingdom starts off small, unremarkable, like a minor tributary, but suddenly it becomes eminently navigable and races along to a multi-layered showdown at the masked ball at the midsummer fair, becoming a torrent on the way before pitching the reader's boat down an unexpected waterfall onto the rocks below.
I mix my metaphors, not my drinks.
In any event, The One Kingdom proves to be a subtle and highly readable opening to the series, leaving plenty of unanswered questions churning under the surface.
Yes to all of those and more. The One Kingdom starts off small, unremarkable, like a minor tributary, but suddenly it becomes eminently navigable and races along to a multi-layered showdown at the masked ball at the midsummer fair, becoming a torrent on the way before pitching the reader's boat down an unexpected waterfall onto the rocks below.
I mix my metaphors, not my drinks.
In any event, The One Kingdom proves to be a subtle and highly readable opening to the series, leaving plenty of unanswered questions churning under the surface.
December 26, 2023
Fantastic book! A classic fantasy novel through and through. Starts slow but by the end you can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
December 24, 2025
Maybe the timing of reading over complicated stormlight archives right before this but I loved the simple adventure fantasy
November 12, 2019
This is a solid fantasy story, but nothing about it excited me. I have loved the author's other series, which were distinctive and compact and memorable. This one feels a bit generic and slow. If I had read it years earlier, I might have bonded with it more, but now it feels indistinct from other fantasy stories. Still, I'll read the second because I do care about the characters and the writing is solid. I don't regret reading it, I'm just not keen on it. But I do want to re-read his other books now.
May 10, 2014
That ending…that ending!
Had I been reading a physical book – you know, a bound book with pages and everything – I would have thought that the last few pages had been torn out of my copy. I can’t remember the last time I was so invested in a book that ended so badly.
Not that the ending was bad. Just the way it ended. I’m not explaining it very well.
I was so wrapped up in the story – the pace really picked up close to the end, with so much happening and so many battles coming to a head – and I was totally looking forward to the payout of the different threads coming together to weave an ending that would make sense of everything I’d read up to that point, but then…
BAM
Head, meet brick wall.
I literally started to verbally sputter. “What the…? How the…? What just…?” I couldn’t form a sentence to save my life. I was desperately hoping that I had missed something, that there was more to the story, that something would materialize to give me an ending, but NO! I’ve never been more disappointed in a book I truly enjoyed in my life!
(I may still be a bit emotional, so that statement may not be entirely true. But it’s how I feel right now, man. I feel cheated. And horribly let down…)
Despite the truly terrible ending, I did love this book and the story. I found myself getting confused more often than I’d like to admit, but most moments of confusion were followed quickly by moments of clarity.
My favorite character by far was Tam, who had the right mix of intelligence, loyalty, humility and bravery to make a strong lead character. I enjoyed the other characters as well, but Tam stood out as my favorite by far.
The many varying storylines took a while to get used to, as jumping from one character (or group) and location to another muddled the flow of the story a bit. Granted, it wasn’t enough to detract from the story, but it sometimes took a while to get back into the swing of who was talking and what was happening.
I truly enjoyed the mix of history and magic, the stories that may or may not have been true and the things that the companions learned and encountered along the way. The stories were so beautifully told, and so richly described. As a reader, I can’t ask for much more.
The thing that kills me, though, is the fact that there are so many unknowns. Yes, it’s a trilogy, but still. You can’t give your reader something to satiate their incredible curiosity? (Am I projecting, again?)
So, I guess I’m going to pick up the next two books, and see if I get some of the answers I so desperately need. I sure hope some answers are forthcoming…
Had I been reading a physical book – you know, a bound book with pages and everything – I would have thought that the last few pages had been torn out of my copy. I can’t remember the last time I was so invested in a book that ended so badly.
Not that the ending was bad. Just the way it ended. I’m not explaining it very well.
I was so wrapped up in the story – the pace really picked up close to the end, with so much happening and so many battles coming to a head – and I was totally looking forward to the payout of the different threads coming together to weave an ending that would make sense of everything I’d read up to that point, but then…
BAM
Head, meet brick wall.
I literally started to verbally sputter. “What the…? How the…? What just…?” I couldn’t form a sentence to save my life. I was desperately hoping that I had missed something, that there was more to the story, that something would materialize to give me an ending, but NO! I’ve never been more disappointed in a book I truly enjoyed in my life!
(I may still be a bit emotional, so that statement may not be entirely true. But it’s how I feel right now, man. I feel cheated. And horribly let down…)
Despite the truly terrible ending, I did love this book and the story. I found myself getting confused more often than I’d like to admit, but most moments of confusion were followed quickly by moments of clarity.
My favorite character by far was Tam, who had the right mix of intelligence, loyalty, humility and bravery to make a strong lead character. I enjoyed the other characters as well, but Tam stood out as my favorite by far.
The many varying storylines took a while to get used to, as jumping from one character (or group) and location to another muddled the flow of the story a bit. Granted, it wasn’t enough to detract from the story, but it sometimes took a while to get back into the swing of who was talking and what was happening.
I truly enjoyed the mix of history and magic, the stories that may or may not have been true and the things that the companions learned and encountered along the way. The stories were so beautifully told, and so richly described. As a reader, I can’t ask for much more.
The thing that kills me, though, is the fact that there are so many unknowns. Yes, it’s a trilogy, but still. You can’t give your reader something to satiate their incredible curiosity? (Am I projecting, again?)
So, I guess I’m going to pick up the next two books, and see if I get some of the answers I so desperately need. I sure hope some answers are forthcoming…
December 8, 2024
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
Three young men from the remote Vale plan to set out for a little adventure to civilized lands. But before they can even begin their trip down the river Wyrr, they're attacked by mysterious met at arms and their boat is stolen. Daunted but not stopped, they take up with a story-finder, gradually learning that their woes are part of a much larger, much darker, much older feud.
Review
Unusually, for Sean Russell, this is the start of a trilogy rather than a duology. And it’s clearer than his Darwinian books, which, while I enjoyed them, I found heavy on vague mysticism, to the extent that I often wasn’t sure what was happening.
Here, as in the Initiate Brother books, we have more concrete action and plot. That’s not to say that I wasn’t sometimes confused; there are many players and identities, and Russell’s not always good about giving contextual clues to remind us who is allied with whom. To be fair, the players themselves are often pretty unclear about where they are, and would benefit from a map as much as readers would.
All that said, this is a fairly strong character-based story centered on three rural boys going out into a world of would-be sophistication, ancient rivalries, and even more ancient magic. This first book essentially sets the stage for what will happen next, and takes its time doing so. Generally, that’s a plus, but Russell (perhaps worried about the page count) crams in a final scene that I found extremely hard to follow. You get the gist of it reasonably well, but the actual action is both frenetic and frustratingly vague.
A decent start to an intriguing fantasy series.
Summary
Three young men from the remote Vale plan to set out for a little adventure to civilized lands. But before they can even begin their trip down the river Wyrr, they're attacked by mysterious met at arms and their boat is stolen. Daunted but not stopped, they take up with a story-finder, gradually learning that their woes are part of a much larger, much darker, much older feud.
Review
Unusually, for Sean Russell, this is the start of a trilogy rather than a duology. And it’s clearer than his Darwinian books, which, while I enjoyed them, I found heavy on vague mysticism, to the extent that I often wasn’t sure what was happening.
Here, as in the Initiate Brother books, we have more concrete action and plot. That’s not to say that I wasn’t sometimes confused; there are many players and identities, and Russell’s not always good about giving contextual clues to remind us who is allied with whom. To be fair, the players themselves are often pretty unclear about where they are, and would benefit from a map as much as readers would.
All that said, this is a fairly strong character-based story centered on three rural boys going out into a world of would-be sophistication, ancient rivalries, and even more ancient magic. This first book essentially sets the stage for what will happen next, and takes its time doing so. Generally, that’s a plus, but Russell (perhaps worried about the page count) crams in a final scene that I found extremely hard to follow. You get the gist of it reasonably well, but the actual action is both frenetic and frustratingly vague.
A decent start to an intriguing fantasy series.
October 4, 2019
Russell is a new author for me. While browsing in my local library, I came across this series...
The old king of Ayr died, refusing to name an heir. As a result, two warring houses, the Renne and the Wills, have fought for the rule of Ayr for hundreds of years. At the present time, the Renne heir, Toren, seeks peace with the Wills, but the rest of his family doesn't choose to do ths. A plot is hatched to kill him...
On the Wills side, Elaine Wills is being forced into marriage with Prince Michael Innes, whose father is an ally of her uncle, Menwyn. Together, Menwyn and Michael's father plot to start a war against the Renne, and to put Elaine and Michael's child on the throne...
And from the north, three young men from the Vale, and their Fael companion, choose to take a journey down the River Wynnd, looking for adventure. But the River is not always what it seems...
I found many of the ideas in this novel intriguing. I especially like the character Alaan, a wanderer, who is more than he seems to be. And the River itself is a character, weaving in and out of people's lives. As the home of unquiet spirits, dead for centuries, the River has many surprises in store for those who choose to travel on it. And at one time or another, everyone travels on the River Wynnd...
All in all, a good solid fantasy. I look forward to the next two books.
The old king of Ayr died, refusing to name an heir. As a result, two warring houses, the Renne and the Wills, have fought for the rule of Ayr for hundreds of years. At the present time, the Renne heir, Toren, seeks peace with the Wills, but the rest of his family doesn't choose to do ths. A plot is hatched to kill him...
On the Wills side, Elaine Wills is being forced into marriage with Prince Michael Innes, whose father is an ally of her uncle, Menwyn. Together, Menwyn and Michael's father plot to start a war against the Renne, and to put Elaine and Michael's child on the throne...
And from the north, three young men from the Vale, and their Fael companion, choose to take a journey down the River Wynnd, looking for adventure. But the River is not always what it seems...
I found many of the ideas in this novel intriguing. I especially like the character Alaan, a wanderer, who is more than he seems to be. And the River itself is a character, weaving in and out of people's lives. As the home of unquiet spirits, dead for centuries, the River has many surprises in store for those who choose to travel on it. And at one time or another, everyone travels on the River Wynnd...
All in all, a good solid fantasy. I look forward to the next two books.
August 19, 2009
For Libby:
This is a fantasy book with a story like I have never read before. At least, if there is one out there I have not come across it. This book series takes place around two families who have been feuding for year and years and generations and generations. It is laced through with three ancient siblings who have managed to stay alive through sorcery and making bargains with those who are close to death. The bargain? Serving them in order to be preserved from death. Those making the bargains have no idea what they are getting themselves into for two of the three siblings live for war and the one has spent his existence trying to make peace between them. The story is well developed with plot and intrigue and betrayal and unrequited love and love renewed. I first came across this series in Minnesota and read the first two books and then spent several years waiting for the third. I now have to re-read the first two but it is a good read and one worth the effort.
This is a fantasy book with a story like I have never read before. At least, if there is one out there I have not come across it. This book series takes place around two families who have been feuding for year and years and generations and generations. It is laced through with three ancient siblings who have managed to stay alive through sorcery and making bargains with those who are close to death. The bargain? Serving them in order to be preserved from death. Those making the bargains have no idea what they are getting themselves into for two of the three siblings live for war and the one has spent his existence trying to make peace between them. The story is well developed with plot and intrigue and betrayal and unrequited love and love renewed. I first came across this series in Minnesota and read the first two books and then spent several years waiting for the third. I now have to re-read the first two but it is a good read and one worth the effort.
June 6, 2010
An okay book, but it really took some reading to get into it. I really dislike the books that jump between multiple main characters every few pages in the beginning - what's the main plot? In whom do I invest my interest? Ironically enough, the jumps occurred more frequently in the beginning, with lots of quick vignettes, and then started slowing down in the middle of the book. I almost stopped reading a couple of times because it just didn't hold my attention. But it got better halfway through, and the storyline started getting interesting, enough that I'm slightly curious what happens in the next book. But I don't know that I'm going to pick it up - it's just too slow.
November 27, 2011
Alright. 90 pages in and nothing is happening. No clear mission, or characters whom I care about. I want so badly to go on an adventure damn it, but no one's taking me. I don't want to be a fly on the wall during a series of conversations. It's boring and so many books do this thinking it's what LOTR did. It wasn't. Frodo was the guy we followed, so pick a fucking character and let me go along through his trials would ya?!?!?!?!?
Don't know if I'm gonna get through this one...more later.
Didn't get through it. On to the next epic fantasy travesty. Sigh...
Don't know if I'm gonna get through this one...more later.
Didn't get through it. On to the next epic fantasy travesty. Sigh...
January 11, 2012
Not only did I read this first book, but I read them all....it was very different from anything I have ever read before, and I had to simply digest it little by little. I have read GRRM....Michael Sullivan, Robert Jordan, then Sean Russell, in that order. I could not put them down, it has desperation, hope, loyalty, evil, magic, fear, conflict within family, animosity, uh, I could go on. Just give it a shot, I did, and I have not been a fan of fantasy for long. You won't regret.
September 7, 2016
This could have been a great book but it's just so cliched. The characters are so similar to Rand, Matt, and Perin that it actually feels like a rip-off of The Wheel of Time.
May 12, 2015
One of the better fantasy novels I've read. There's no quest, but there is an endangered princess and an endangered kingdom. There is also a land and a river that change unpredictably, though some know their secrets.
October 9, 2019
Oddly addictive
It's not a bad book. Good characters. The story is a bit slow, a bit unfulfilled by the end of book one but it's endearing in a way I can't quite put a name to. It's mysterious, I guess. Kept me wanting to go on.
It's not a bad book. Good characters. The story is a bit slow, a bit unfulfilled by the end of book one but it's endearing in a way I can't quite put a name to. It's mysterious, I guess. Kept me wanting to go on.
February 15, 2022
I tried, dear reader. I tried. But after 176 pages of drab prose, dull characters, and a story that hadn't gotten started by the time I stopped, I wasn't going to keep hoping that some gleaming diamond of brilliance was going to emerge from the muck.
One thing to establish right out of the gate: this isn't a book of poor quality or unbelievable premises. No, this book is simply mediocre, bland, and so middle-of-the-road I wonder if the creases on my copy are actually tread marks from being run over by a truck. How bland is it? I'm so glad you asked. The story's premise starts off with the planning of a conspiracy to murder. An interesting way to start the story, get the ball rolling early, give us some characters and intrigue and we *should* be off to the races. Thing is, the perspective shifts and only returns to one of those conspirators once or twice after that, and only for a scene of regret of the conspiracy (murder still unenacted) so far removed from the initial planning that I had to remember who this guy was.
That happens a lot, actually. Without a clear story thread to follow and characters to drive the narrative, it's very easy to forget who is who because no one is doing anything of significance. The conspirators evaporate into the ether, their target gets a couple scenes and that's it, and the rest of the time we're either watching a princess in a tower doing towerly princess things, or following Tam and his merry band of rogues whose oh-so-engaging tale involves encountering a guy who dies... and... being mistaken for his accomplices... and running from... guys they have no connection to. How do they tie into the murder conspiracy? What dastardly secret have they unearthed? Are they running a parallel story that later ties into the exciting and nail-biting narrative to come?! I have no idea, because this book's writing has the tension and excitement of watching grass grow. No story to speak of, no tension or intriguing concept to lead the reading along, no clever prose to draw one on, nothing - just bland writing that's as committed to the craft as a grocery list might be.
Some smaller short-sights follow from there. Reference to places and directions without a map to follow along with hurts this story as much as the dull writing. Nothing in this world felt inspired, but at the least it would have been worth knowing where these places were in relation to each other. Next, any hope Sean Russell has of holding the reader's attention until all these disparate threads converge into the masterpiece tapestry is dashed by there being nothing at all to draw one along. Is it a bad thing if this guy dies? Maybe - he wasn't given enough time so I could form my own opinion. Is Tam at the centre of this feud between the rival houses? Possibly, since his homeland is made up of deserters and refugees fleeing past wars (and let's face it, isn't that how this story always goes?). Would I even notice? No, because the character voices are all the same. Having three or four people who feel identical and who lack the defining features to keep them separate is a serious problem when it's the characters and nothing else that's expected to keep me going.
To the readers who made it all the way through this book, I admire your temerity. Maybe the murder was right around the corner from where I stopped (though I seriously doubt it) or maybe the writer was aiming to do the utterly generic thing by building up to the killing in question and using that as the climactic cliffhanger of the first volume. Sad thing is that I wouldn't care either way, because only something truly unexpected would have kept me going and that simply is not in the cards here, not when I was getting distracted by the idea of reading other books or risking falling asleep between chapters. Perhaps that's the best I can say about this title: it's a great read for insomniacs and people with no expectations whatsoever. But for anyone hoping for a proper tale told by a skilled fantasy writer, go elsewhere because this is not the book you are looking for.
2.5/5. An appropriately mediocre score for a thoroughly mediocre title.
One thing to establish right out of the gate: this isn't a book of poor quality or unbelievable premises. No, this book is simply mediocre, bland, and so middle-of-the-road I wonder if the creases on my copy are actually tread marks from being run over by a truck. How bland is it? I'm so glad you asked. The story's premise starts off with the planning of a conspiracy to murder. An interesting way to start the story, get the ball rolling early, give us some characters and intrigue and we *should* be off to the races. Thing is, the perspective shifts and only returns to one of those conspirators once or twice after that, and only for a scene of regret of the conspiracy (murder still unenacted) so far removed from the initial planning that I had to remember who this guy was.
That happens a lot, actually. Without a clear story thread to follow and characters to drive the narrative, it's very easy to forget who is who because no one is doing anything of significance. The conspirators evaporate into the ether, their target gets a couple scenes and that's it, and the rest of the time we're either watching a princess in a tower doing towerly princess things, or following Tam and his merry band of rogues whose oh-so-engaging tale involves encountering a guy who dies... and... being mistaken for his accomplices... and running from... guys they have no connection to. How do they tie into the murder conspiracy? What dastardly secret have they unearthed? Are they running a parallel story that later ties into the exciting and nail-biting narrative to come?! I have no idea, because this book's writing has the tension and excitement of watching grass grow. No story to speak of, no tension or intriguing concept to lead the reading along, no clever prose to draw one on, nothing - just bland writing that's as committed to the craft as a grocery list might be.
Some smaller short-sights follow from there. Reference to places and directions without a map to follow along with hurts this story as much as the dull writing. Nothing in this world felt inspired, but at the least it would have been worth knowing where these places were in relation to each other. Next, any hope Sean Russell has of holding the reader's attention until all these disparate threads converge into the masterpiece tapestry is dashed by there being nothing at all to draw one along. Is it a bad thing if this guy dies? Maybe - he wasn't given enough time so I could form my own opinion. Is Tam at the centre of this feud between the rival houses? Possibly, since his homeland is made up of deserters and refugees fleeing past wars (and let's face it, isn't that how this story always goes?). Would I even notice? No, because the character voices are all the same. Having three or four people who feel identical and who lack the defining features to keep them separate is a serious problem when it's the characters and nothing else that's expected to keep me going.
To the readers who made it all the way through this book, I admire your temerity. Maybe the murder was right around the corner from where I stopped (though I seriously doubt it) or maybe the writer was aiming to do the utterly generic thing by building up to the killing in question and using that as the climactic cliffhanger of the first volume. Sad thing is that I wouldn't care either way, because only something truly unexpected would have kept me going and that simply is not in the cards here, not when I was getting distracted by the idea of reading other books or risking falling asleep between chapters. Perhaps that's the best I can say about this title: it's a great read for insomniacs and people with no expectations whatsoever. But for anyone hoping for a proper tale told by a skilled fantasy writer, go elsewhere because this is not the book you are looking for.
2.5/5. An appropriately mediocre score for a thoroughly mediocre title.
July 5, 2022
It's been a while since I read any true "high fantasy," so it took me a few chapters to adjust. (This review is more general, about all 3 books in this series.) I thought Russell did a fabulous job with the setting and world-building, and aside from some minor copyediting errors (worst in the last book), I enjoyed his rich descriptions. It's difficult going up against the golden standards for fantasy, like Tolkien, but Russell did well writing his unique groups of people and weaving together many different storylines with a deep sense of history for the land. That being said, I felt like his character development was a little lacking; I wasn't rooting for one particular group over another until well into the third book, and I prefer my heroes a little more defined and likable. The sheer number of characters, the constant shifting from one group to another, and even changing perspectives between people of a same group probably added to the slightly disjointed feeling. I also didn't care for the attempted romances - but that probably had to do with the overall issue of writing from so many different perspectives; the author just didn't have the space to show that intimacy developing in a more natural way. Overall, it's a decent trilogy; not my favorite, and I don't know if I'd read it again, but it's worth at least one read-through.
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