Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Orbit (New York, 2016). 1st edition, 2nd printing. 704 pages. $28.00.
Description
"The Seven Satrapies have collapsed into four-and those are falling before the White King's armies. Gavin Guile, ex-emperor, ex-Prism, ex-galley slave, formerly the one man who might have averted war, is now lost, broken, and trapped in a prison crafted by his own hands to hold a great magical genius. But Gavin has no magic at all. Worse, in this prison, Gavin may not be alone. Kip Guile will make a last, desperate attempt to stop the White King's growing horde. Karris White attempts to knit together an empire falling apart, helped only by her murderous and possibly treasonous father-in-law Andross Guile. Meanwhile, Teia's new talents will find a darker use-and the cost might be too much to bear. Together, they will fight to prevent a tainted empire from becoming something even worse"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member jrg1316
I'll be honest, I was a little disappointed with this book, which is hard for me to admit. The story didn't progress nearly as much as it should have for being such a large book, and I really didn't like most of the characters this time around, especially Kip. Gavin's twist reveal in the prison
All in all, this was a transition story to the finale, and it absolutely felt like it. I'm still looking forward to the end, but I'm hoping it's better than this.
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felt cheap, and for me, it hurt the first two novels. All in all, this was a transition story to the finale, and it absolutely felt like it. I'm still looking forward to the end, but I'm hoping it's better than this.
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LibraryThing member kinwolf
Again, the meta-plot is great, but the 2 characters that gets the most "on-screen" time, Teia and Kip, are the 2 most BORING and BADLY WRITTEN chars I've read in a while.
Badly written because one sentence they are the wisest character in the whole universe, knowing to deal with things like they are
Boring because of the badly written stuff stated beefore, combined with the fact that in most of their chapters, nothing really happens. We get rehash of previous scenes happening again(Master Sharp scenes comes to mind, always the same) I couldn't wait to get over their chapters, and even skipped a couple, without making a dent in the comprehension of the plot(which shows that most of their chapters are completely, totally, utterly useless)
The whole series could have been 3 books only, and it would have been fine.
Badly written because one sentence they are the wisest character in the whole universe, knowing to deal with things like they are
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veterans of a thousands wars, and the next sentence, they are dummer that a 5 years old.Boring because of the badly written stuff stated beefore, combined with the fact that in most of their chapters, nothing really happens. We get rehash of previous scenes happening again(Master Sharp scenes comes to mind, always the same) I couldn't wait to get over their chapters, and even skipped a couple, without making a dent in the comprehension of the plot(which shows that most of their chapters are completely, totally, utterly useless)
The whole series could have been 3 books only, and it would have been fine.
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LibraryThing member infjsarah
Fabulous. So many twists and turns and unexpected reveals. Kip has become a great character - I've always liked him but I started to really like him in this book. And I still don't know quite who I should be rooting for, because no-one is perfect in this series and no societal aim is perfect
I am listening to this via audiobook and Simon Vance is doing an amazing job with it. Straight on to the audio of the final book which is nearly 40 hours but I am really looking forward to.
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either. Because even the seeming "bad" guys have some admirable aims.I am listening to this via audiobook and Simon Vance is doing an amazing job with it. Straight on to the audio of the final book which is nearly 40 hours but I am really looking forward to.
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LibraryThing member Tip44
Excellent addition to the series. The character development is very, um, satisfying. Need MORE....
LibraryThing member Andorion
Definitely 4.5, to be honest, 4.75. If not for a bit of pacing drag in the middle, this would be 5 stars.
This is a series that has constantly kept me guessing and has surprised me with every reveal. The character work is excellent and the stories are engrossing.
I hope the last book comes out soon!
This is a series that has constantly kept me guessing and has surprised me with every reveal. The character work is excellent and the stories are engrossing.
I hope the last book comes out soon!
LibraryThing member Karlstar
The action picks up in this one as several of the plot lines in this series start to come together. I liked the action and plot in this one better than previous books, as there was less endless political maneuvering and more activity on the part of almost every character. Weeks has created a
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complex setting and there is a lot of good detail in the book about situations and characters, this series continues to surprise me with the quality of each book. Show Less
LibraryThing member jercox
This book didn't move like the others, the action wasn't nearly as interesting or exciting, and it feels like it could have been compressed into a book less than half as long without significant losses.
I still read it quickly, Weeks is a good author and the book flows. But I waited until now to
I still read it quickly, Weeks is a good author and the book flows. But I waited until now to
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read it right before I could go on to book 5 next week, and very glad I did. This one just didn't have nearly enough forward motion in it. A lot of what you discover is backwards motion (things you thought were true that aren't) and side pieces - sex is a real challenge for some people. There was a personal experience there, read the author's note at the end, I get it is important. But while it developed a relationship somewhat, the time spent there wasn't worth while for what it added to the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
Despite my slow plodding through this series, it's still highly compelling and interesting. I really appreciated the author's discussion of the troubles of intimacy among a young couple, which are all too real and awkward (this is something I almost never see reflected in fiction). The world
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building is excellent and I continue to be impressed by the depth of this world. Overall, a good fantasy read. Show Less
LibraryThing member jazzbird61
While I'm still in love with the series, I only got to like for this book. I wanted to, I really did, but some things didn't click for me.
First--Gag me with a spoon, did anyone buy the Kip/Tisis relationship? I didn't, didn't want to and found it way to awkwardly crowbarred into the overall
Second--Couldn't we have gotten Gavin to where he ended up a WHOLE LOT quicker? Suffering after suffering after suffering and no freaking time at all given to what really happened at and after Sundered Rock.
Other points. I keep forgetting that I've finished the book because of that lame last line. Next time I'll take a cliffhanger.
This felt like a last book that was about a half book too long so the publisher forced a split. Then Weeks had to come up with half a book of filler.
With all of that said, I did 'like' the book, I just didn't love it, nor do I feel that it is as strong as the others so far. My anticipation for the final book is as high as ever and I look forward to being able to read the entire series from start to finsh.
First--Gag me with a spoon, did anyone buy the Kip/Tisis relationship? I didn't, didn't want to and found it way to awkwardly crowbarred into the overall
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storyline. I'm sorry, but I grimaced everytime that I remembered (because apparently Kip didn't) that Kip caught Tisis giving a handjob to his previously unknown father. Yuck, yuck, ptooey!Second--Couldn't we have gotten Gavin to where he ended up a WHOLE LOT quicker? Suffering after suffering after suffering and no freaking time at all given to what really happened at and after Sundered Rock.
Other points. I keep forgetting that I've finished the book because of that lame last line. Next time I'll take a cliffhanger.
This felt like a last book that was about a half book too long so the publisher forced a split. Then Weeks had to come up with half a book of filler.
With all of that said, I did 'like' the book, I just didn't love it, nor do I feel that it is as strong as the others so far. My anticipation for the final book is as high as ever and I look forward to being able to read the entire series from start to finsh.
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Awards
BookNest Fantasy Award (Nominee — 2016)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016-10-25
Physical description
704 p.; 6.38 inches
ISBN
9780316251334