Status
Available
Genres
Collections
Publication
New York : Tom Doherty Associates Book, 2008.
First edition.
Description
In the face of a vast horde of marauders led by a rogue Guardian, the bravery and resourcefulness of a lone eagle-reeve and others who risk their lives for the common good have prevented death and destruction from overwhelming the Hundred. But when three new Guardians emerge, a struggle begins among the immortals, with nothing less at stake than the future of the land and its gods.--From publisher description.
User reviews
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
This is definitely a bridging novel. I understand the why of the number of characters and at the end they did come together but occasionally I was lost because some of them didn't quite have a distinct enough voice for me. (Your Mileage may Vary)
When Marit was murdered she didn't expect to wake up
Marit doesn't know what to do but she can't escpae the fact that someone is looking for her and she's not sure who has her best interest and the best interest of the Hundred in mind.
I found it interesting, not as captivating as the first book but I look forward to reading the next book.
When Marit was murdered she didn't expect to wake up
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on an altar. As she investigates whats happeneing to her she discovers that it appears that she's a Guardian. With noone to help her find out what her role is she explores the world with the help of her winged horse. Meanwhile her old love Joss and the outlander Anji try to maintain order with some help from some people around them, and some hindrance.Marit doesn't know what to do but she can't escpae the fact that someone is looking for her and she's not sure who has her best interest and the best interest of the Hundred in mind.
I found it interesting, not as captivating as the first book but I look forward to reading the next book.
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LibraryThing member Fledgist
The second novel in a fantasy trilogy. The society of the Hundred is disturbed, but so are its neighbours. We see the development of several characters in parallel and watch as people of different cultures interact and try to work out just how to survive and flourish in an uncertain world in which
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great powers are acting. Show Less
LibraryThing member NightHawk777
If all goes well, when you've died, you will go through the Spirit Gate. If there is some corruption, you may pass through the Shadow Gate.
The Hundred is falling into turmoil, war breaking out here and there, due to corruption amongst some of the legendary Guardians. What is corruption? Is it
We learn much more about the Hundred, and it's multitude of people, priests, reeves, as the mystery unravels even further. There are strong new characters introduced here, to complement the existing favorites from the Spirit Gate.
As the knowlege of what they are truly facing becomes very apparent, Reeve Josh, Qin outlander Captain Anji, and many of the priests, merchants, and regular people are trying to noodle out exactly how, if possible, can the Star of Life army be fought. Some might give in to appeasement, some might fight, some may flee and hope for another day.
We begin to see the horrors of war, slavery, and general lawlessness flowing into the larger Hundred. There is a lot of cruelty here, but also a lot of kindness. The Hundred is not prepared for all out war, but it is coming, and they've got to make the best of it and some how survive.
The Hundred is falling into turmoil, war breaking out here and there, due to corruption amongst some of the legendary Guardians. What is corruption? Is it
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violating the established order for your own gain, for fear, for power? Whatever is behind it, there are 4 guardians who've fallen into misplaced notions of what their role is. There is a fifth who is basically being coerced into helping them, but we feel there is hope for him, with no real idea of how he could be freed from their control.We learn much more about the Hundred, and it's multitude of people, priests, reeves, as the mystery unravels even further. There are strong new characters introduced here, to complement the existing favorites from the Spirit Gate.
As the knowlege of what they are truly facing becomes very apparent, Reeve Josh, Qin outlander Captain Anji, and many of the priests, merchants, and regular people are trying to noodle out exactly how, if possible, can the Star of Life army be fought. Some might give in to appeasement, some might fight, some may flee and hope for another day.
We begin to see the horrors of war, slavery, and general lawlessness flowing into the larger Hundred. There is a lot of cruelty here, but also a lot of kindness. The Hundred is not prepared for all out war, but it is coming, and they've got to make the best of it and some how survive.
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LibraryThing member orkydd
Kate Elliott returns to 'The Hundred' for 'Shadow Gate' the second installment of the 'Crossroads' trilogy. The author provides news of what Marit has become, and sketches the story of what became of the Guardians, and how they fell to shadow. Shai resumes his search for his brother Hari, and
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Cornflower's tragic and brutal backstory is told, whilst Captain Anji and his merchant wife Mei begin to build their stronghold in The Hundred, beset still by the threat from the Sirnakian Empire. Siblings and freed debt slaves Keshad and Zubaidat also have roles to play as the tale builds to a climax at the siege of Toskala. Show Less
LibraryThing member reading_fox
significantly better than the first inthe series, characters ahev developed, hte plot isfocused and there;s much less jumping about, even tough in terms of drama and action it's much lower key.
the change is that the focus is now entirely on the hundred, and rather than being a book exploring
The 9 god given cloaked Guardians had a falling out, althoug the details of he reasons are lost, but the cloaks have found new bearers and at least one of the riginal 9 wishes to preserve a tyranical peace over the Hundred strictlyenforcing her ideas of what is right. Marit and Kirit under the guidance of Jochain find themsleves only learnig too slwoly what it means ot be a Guardian having discovered ther cloaks by accident. Their uncertain alliance might not be enough aganst Her controlled influence of the others.
Elsewhere Her armies having sufferede a dfeat regroup, and those left wishing to preserve Justice find theslves with a small respite to rest themselves. Free of corruption new reeves can be trained, Qin soldiers find themselves land and wivees, efugees seek shelter and traders look to profit, soetimes all at ince
There are still a few occasions when you lose track of which cityis being talked about, and who's travelling to where and why. There;s also nore focus on a few of the shadowed characters, and these can be unpleasant to read. It;s not quite dark fantasy, but it does bece close at times, We're spared the explicit and grusome details. The chronology is consistently linear, which is also an improvement, with one clever passsage where kirit's memories become the tale told out to another character. It's interestng to learn her backstory. Sadly the slightly mystical antureof hte non-humn characters is broached but never explored for consequence, although the book is long enough already!
Always pleasing when the iddle of a trilogy manages to hold pace ad even imprve with the beginning.
the change is that the focus is now entirely on the hundred, and rather than being a book exploring
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contrass between societies its now much more of a personal one , the consequences of choiceand the justifications of power. Many f he details are evealed, we finally know what's going on, although it will be hte next book before anyone does something about it.The 9 god given cloaked Guardians had a falling out, althoug the details of he reasons are lost, but the cloaks have found new bearers and at least one of the riginal 9 wishes to preserve a tyranical peace over the Hundred strictlyenforcing her ideas of what is right. Marit and Kirit under the guidance of Jochain find themsleves only learnig too slwoly what it means ot be a Guardian having discovered ther cloaks by accident. Their uncertain alliance might not be enough aganst Her controlled influence of the others.
Elsewhere Her armies having sufferede a dfeat regroup, and those left wishing to preserve Justice find theslves with a small respite to rest themselves. Free of corruption new reeves can be trained, Qin soldiers find themselves land and wivees, efugees seek shelter and traders look to profit, soetimes all at ince
There are still a few occasions when you lose track of which cityis being talked about, and who's travelling to where and why. There;s also nore focus on a few of the shadowed characters, and these can be unpleasant to read. It;s not quite dark fantasy, but it does bece close at times, We're spared the explicit and grusome details. The chronology is consistently linear, which is also an improvement, with one clever passsage where kirit's memories become the tale told out to another character. It's interestng to learn her backstory. Sadly the slightly mystical antureof hte non-humn characters is broached but never explored for consequence, although the book is long enough already!
Always pleasing when the iddle of a trilogy manages to hold pace ad even imprve with the beginning.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2008-04
Physical description
475 p.; 25 cm
ISBN
9780765310569
Local notes
"TOR." | Map on endpapers.
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Pages
475