Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Tor.com (2018), 200 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. HTML: The first book in Myke Cole's The Sacred Throne Trilogy, blending epic fantasy with powered armor for fans of the Stormlight Archive Myke Cole, author of the beloved military fantasy Shadow Ops series, debuts a new epic fantasy trilogy with The Armored Saint, a tale of religious tyrants, arcane war-machines, and underground resistance that will enthrall epic fantasy readers of all ages. After witnessing a horrendous slaughter, young Heloise opposes the Order, and risks bringing their wrath down on herself, her family, and her village. She must confront the true risk that wizards pose to the world, and weigh the safety of her people against justice..
User reviews
LibraryThing member quondame
This fantasy young woman/girl rescues the village story does take off in some unusual ways, but the plot sort of staggered and the dialog with adults was too realistic to carry the necessary fantasy feel where the trope is for young people to have agency. It's one of the reasons for orphan centered
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stories. So this novels 'virtues' keep it from working as fantasy. Show Less
LibraryThing member ladycato
Cole draws on many familiar fantasy elements and twists them in new ways in this novella from Tor. This is a medieval setting where magical is punishable by death of the perpetrator--and their entire town. The Order rides around the countryside to hold back the forces of hell, and make some profit
At times, Heloise's impetuous nature frustrated me, but her actions also acted as reminders that she's a normal (within her world and ours) teenage girl. Yes, she does stupid things. She's not a trained soldier. She's fairly sheltered.
The book offered many surprises for me. I won't delve into the major events near the end--and wow, are there some twists there--but without spoiling anything, I will say I was pleased by how the village reacted to her family's trouble.
In all, an enjoyable, quick read, and I look forward to reading more in the series.
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while they're at it. They are almost too easy to hate in their callous corruption. Teenage Heloise and her father encounter them on the road, and Heloise doesn't stay tight-lipped and obedient as she should. This starts off what will become a Really Bad Day.At times, Heloise's impetuous nature frustrated me, but her actions also acted as reminders that she's a normal (within her world and ours) teenage girl. Yes, she does stupid things. She's not a trained soldier. She's fairly sheltered.
The book offered many surprises for me. I won't delve into the major events near the end--and wow, are there some twists there--but without spoiling anything, I will say I was pleased by how the village reacted to her family's trouble.
In all, an enjoyable, quick read, and I look forward to reading more in the series.
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LibraryThing member ladyoflorien
I really enjoyed this book. The novel is told from the point of view of Heloise, the main character who is a good person but has to live with the consequences of her actions.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
This was an interesting world where a former emperor defeated an enemy, where roving bands of religious tyrants impose very strict rules against magic and where there's a certain amount of steampunk. Into this world Heloise is a girl coming into adulthood, helping her father who is a scribe and
It's a novella and it squeezes a lot into the short story. Religious fanaticism is a strong theme here and the truth behind the demons I hope will be revealed in later books. It left me wanting more.
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wanting more from her life than what her mother has. When things start to go wrong she finds strengths within herself and within her village that will make her into a figurehead and will change her life forever.It's a novella and it squeezes a lot into the short story. Religious fanaticism is a strong theme here and the truth behind the demons I hope will be revealed in later books. It left me wanting more.
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LibraryThing member ladyoflorien
I really enjoyed this book. The novel is told from the point of view of Heloise, the main character who is a good person but has to live with the consequences of her actions.
LibraryThing member Glennis.LeBlanc
This new fantasy series starts out with a setting that appears to be one thing but turns on its head by the end. Heloise questions the way things are done and why the Church controls their lives so much. When at first glance in the story it seems the Church is cruel and capricious the reader does
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
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find out just why the Church fights demons and keeps life so regimented in that fight. A good start to the series and with the ending it had I can’t wait to get the next book. Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
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LibraryThing member elenaj
I agree with all the reviewers that call this brutal and beautiful. Lots of mystery still in the worldbuilding. It reminded me a bit of Rosemary Kirstein's Steerswoman series, although whether the worldbuilding mysteries have anything in common I will have to wait to find out.
LibraryThing member Ralphd00d
way too short and way to good.... need more Mr. Cole!
LibraryThing member wunder
I kept wanting to like this, but I would get bothered by little things, which means it just wasn't engaging me. For example, when she runs into the woods in terror, there is no way that she wouldn't know where she was going. She's lived in this same small village for sixteen years, she knows every
Docked a star forBury Your Gays .
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path out of it. The first 3/4 was people just reacting to events they didn't control, especially Heloise wasn't allowed any agency, just The Hand Of The Author pushing her around. When things do happen, it is all either heavily foreshadowed or surprises, neither of which engaged me. And no, you can't have a pre-industrial society chugging along with no technology development for 1000 years. They have advanced metalworking, they would at least have hand-cranked washing machines, crossbows, and bicycles.Docked a star for
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LibraryThing member JoshEnglish
We have a religion based on a long-dead emperor who is considered a type of god, with a holy Writ that defines people's lives. There is a militaristic order that works to wipe out wizardry in all forms and they are happy to kill wizards and anyone sympathetic to wizards or suspected to be wizards
Heloise lives through one of these "Knittings" and sees the horror the Order imposes on the people.
Then one of the side characters who is friendly and helpful turns out to be a wizard and I expected the military order to be a sham. I expected the Heloise to side with the wizards and stand up against the order. Then the wizard dies as a devil breaks through and that caught my by surprise. The order was telling the truth after all.
This book reads fast. I thought it was a novella because of the speed of the work.
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in a bizarre ritual called "Knitting". The order takes an autocratic view of the population and even call regular villagers beasts. This is not a happy world.Heloise lives through one of these "Knittings" and sees the horror the Order imposes on the people.
Then one of the side characters who is friendly and helpful turns out to be a wizard and I expected the military order to be a sham. I expected the Heloise to side with the wizards and stand up against the order. Then the wizard dies as a devil breaks through and that caught my by surprise. The order was telling the truth after all.
This book reads fast. I thought it was a novella because of the speed of the work.
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Language
Original publication date
2018-02-20
ISBN
9780765395948
Other editions
The armored saint by Myke Cole (Paper Book)