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alex1vo's review against another edition
2.0
"The wind was muscular"
These series skew the rating system. Nobody that isn't a fan gets this far in the series. Midst Toil and Tribulation has the usual safehold faults; long soliloquy's which get unbearably long in this sixth book, preaching which is not a problem because I mostly agree with Weber, and too long dialogues. Only reason this one is scoring the same then the first book is from the fan boy effect. Giving two stars as in ok book to this is generous I have skipped parts and been close to giving up on this one.
These series skew the rating system. Nobody that isn't a fan gets this far in the series. Midst Toil and Tribulation has the usual safehold faults; long soliloquy's which get unbearably long in this sixth book, preaching which is not a problem because I mostly agree with Weber, and too long dialogues. Only reason this one is scoring the same then the first book is from the fan boy effect. Giving two stars as in ok book to this is generous I have skipped parts and been close to giving up on this one.
woodbyte's review against another edition
4.0
Between a car service and a power outage I had the opportunity to finish this book Great story, but so long. At this rate I wonder if this story is ever going to be finished.
heikieesmaa's review against another edition
3.0
The series is getting tepider by the book. At least the Harrington books had excellent battle scenes which this series doesn't seem to match.
kathydavie's review
4.0
Sixth in the Safehold religious/military science fiction series which pits man against man while the official Church is corrupted by power-hungry men.
I'd've made this a "5", but Weber didn't identify which side was which in the story very consistently. I always had to be very aware, and even then, it was still confusing. For the most part, I simply read and hoped that the winners were the good guys.
My Take
This story is a holding pattern in every sense of the word. I keep wanting to think of this as a bridge, but "holding" is definitely the word. Yes, there is some progress made on a few fronts, but they are simply flickers of hope with the majority of this story incredibly depressing with the battles that rage between men caught up in the religious fervor. And using it as an excuse for grudging payback.
It's just one big set-up for #7. In some respects, you might want to just skip this one unless you're a diehard Weber fan like me. Wait until # 7 comes out so you can read (what I hope) will be a much cheerier story.
I like how concerned the Charisians are with ensuring the people's health and their education as well as their worries about the Siddmarkians.
I keep hoping that Merlin does something to rescue Gardynyr's family from the Church so Gardynyr can make up his own mind with the threats to his kids.'
As far as the battles are concerned...don't even try to keep track of who is what and where. It's too confusing. I wish Weber had introduced each side as he changes from one viewpoint to another. And using "rebels" is not enough. The Siddmarkian troops who rebelled against their republic are rebels and, as far as the Church is concerned, any Siddmarkian who didn't commit treason against their Republic is a rebel.
The one thing I will say is that the battles are not going in our favor. Here and there, yes, but on the whole, it's just depressing.
The Story
Clyntahn has unleashed hell on Safehold and especially on the edges of Siddarmark. Church adherents massacred anyone even suspected of not toeing the Church's line. Food stores were destroyed and starvation has set in. Nor does Clyntahn care that Temple Loyalists are also starving.
Thanks to Owl and its SNARCs, Cayleb knows of the disastrous events in Siddarmark, and the Charisians are sending flotillas of food, to be followed by troops and weapons to help them hold out against the murderous Church. The SNARCs have been an edge for the Charisian Empire, but they can't get them everywhere, and this is the first time that the Charisians are facing major setbacks. The Church complex in Zion is impenetrable and their lack of information is killing people. It's killing Merlin that its his fault.
And the drums are beating (on the Church's side) about the insidious, murderous Charisian who slaughtered an entire company of guards and kidnapped the virtuous princess and prince. Who knows what those evil infidels are doing to her even now. Certainly better than what the Church had planned!
On the warfront, the Charisians have managed more gun and rifle improvements as well as a quarter of steam-driven ironclads. But money is hemorrhaging from her coffers---and from the Church's, thank god.
The Characters
The list is too long for Goodreads. If you need to reference it---if only to keep track of who is fighting whom---find it on my book review blog, KD Did IT Takes on Books.
The Cover
The cover is a collage of events in a middle band: Merlin's skimmer, cannons, Merlin with his katana, and war.
The title sums it up beautifully, for events take place Midst Toil and Tribulation.
I'd've made this a "5", but Weber didn't identify which side was which in the story very consistently. I always had to be very aware, and even then, it was still confusing. For the most part, I simply read and hoped that the winners were the good guys.
My Take
This story is a holding pattern in every sense of the word. I keep wanting to think of this as a bridge, but "holding" is definitely the word. Yes, there is some progress made on a few fronts, but they are simply flickers of hope with the majority of this story incredibly depressing with the battles that rage between men caught up in the religious fervor. And using it as an excuse for grudging payback.
It's just one big set-up for #7. In some respects, you might want to just skip this one unless you're a diehard Weber fan like me. Wait until # 7 comes out so you can read (what I hope) will be a much cheerier story.
I like how concerned the Charisians are with ensuring the people's health and their education as well as their worries about the Siddmarkians.
I keep hoping that Merlin does something to rescue Gardynyr's family from the Church so Gardynyr can make up his own mind with the threats to his kids.'
As far as the battles are concerned...don't even try to keep track of who is what and where. It's too confusing. I wish Weber had introduced each side as he changes from one viewpoint to another. And using "rebels" is not enough. The Siddmarkian troops who rebelled against their republic are rebels and, as far as the Church is concerned, any Siddmarkian who didn't commit treason against their Republic is a rebel.
The one thing I will say is that the battles are not going in our favor. Here and there, yes, but on the whole, it's just depressing.
The Story
Clyntahn has unleashed hell on Safehold and especially on the edges of Siddarmark. Church adherents massacred anyone even suspected of not toeing the Church's line. Food stores were destroyed and starvation has set in. Nor does Clyntahn care that Temple Loyalists are also starving.
Thanks to Owl and its SNARCs, Cayleb knows of the disastrous events in Siddarmark, and the Charisians are sending flotillas of food, to be followed by troops and weapons to help them hold out against the murderous Church. The SNARCs have been an edge for the Charisian Empire, but they can't get them everywhere, and this is the first time that the Charisians are facing major setbacks. The Church complex in Zion is impenetrable and their lack of information is killing people. It's killing Merlin that its his fault.
And the drums are beating (on the Church's side) about the insidious, murderous Charisian who slaughtered an entire company of guards and kidnapped the virtuous princess and prince. Who knows what those evil infidels are doing to her even now. Certainly better than what the Church had planned!
On the warfront, the Charisians have managed more gun and rifle improvements as well as a quarter of steam-driven ironclads. But money is hemorrhaging from her coffers---and from the Church's, thank god.
The Characters
The list is too long for Goodreads. If you need to reference it---if only to keep track of who is fighting whom---find it on my book review blog, KD Did IT Takes on Books.
The Cover
The cover is a collage of events in a middle band: Merlin's skimmer, cannons, Merlin with his katana, and war.
The title sums it up beautifully, for events take place Midst Toil and Tribulation.
danajat's review against another edition
4.0
More of the same things that made me love the first 5 of the series. Which is a good thing and at the same time not so good thing. Perhaps an increase in pace is in order. Else by the time the war end we'd have reached book 10
isaac_petherbridge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eososray's review
5.0
I am still thoroughly enjoying this series. While the action of the first few books has abated in these last couple, I am fascinated with the watching the changes of Safehold in both the political and the religious arenas.
The first few chapters really didn't engage me or seem to have any great bearing on the story as a whole but it did not take long to get back into the world of Safehold and become invested in the characters lives and deaths.
The switch to steam power is fascinating though I shall miss the age of sail as it disappears from the books. I like the new 'rebel' characters that have been introduced through the land battles in Siddermark, I think some of their stories were the best in the book.
This is definitely one of my favorite series and I look forward to enjoying the rest of them.
The first few chapters really didn't engage me or seem to have any great bearing on the story as a whole but it did not take long to get back into the world of Safehold and become invested in the characters lives and deaths.
The switch to steam power is fascinating though I shall miss the age of sail as it disappears from the books. I like the new 'rebel' characters that have been introduced through the land battles in Siddermark, I think some of their stories were the best in the book.
This is definitely one of my favorite series and I look forward to enjoying the rest of them.
travelgirlut's review against another edition
3.0
Lots and lots of land war going on in this one. I honestly have no clue where anyone was fighting. The map in my ebook was too small to be of any help. War is a nasty thing, and this book definitely highlights that.
alex_ellermann's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series.
I love its exciting set pieces. I love its deep-dive nerdery into the scientific and engineering advances that have made our modern world possible. I love its shamelessly earnest approach to questions of good and evil, friendship and hatred. I love its characters, its setting, and its conceit (The Protestant Reformation - in Space!).
Yes, I’ve grown accustomed to the author’s quirks. When I read these books too closely together, they can begin to grate. Spaced out a rate of one every few months, however, those quirks take a back seat to an imaginative story well told.
What about this book in particular? It’s as good as the others in the Safehold Sage and, if you’ve already read books 1-4 of the series, you know what you’re getting into. This book maintains the high standards of its predecessors, and it’ll leave you wondering why the streaming services are all over the atrocious “Wheel of Time” series while leaving this one, inexplicably, alone.
I love its exciting set pieces. I love its deep-dive nerdery into the scientific and engineering advances that have made our modern world possible. I love its shamelessly earnest approach to questions of good and evil, friendship and hatred. I love its characters, its setting, and its conceit (The Protestant Reformation - in Space!).
Yes, I’ve grown accustomed to the author’s quirks. When I read these books too closely together, they can begin to grate. Spaced out a rate of one every few months, however, those quirks take a back seat to an imaginative story well told.
What about this book in particular? It’s as good as the others in the Safehold Sage and, if you’ve already read books 1-4 of the series, you know what you’re getting into. This book maintains the high standards of its predecessors, and it’ll leave you wondering why the streaming services are all over the atrocious “Wheel of Time” series while leaving this one, inexplicably, alone.
chutten's review against another edition
3.0
Land War in Siddarmark begins. The plotting continues apace, though a David Weber pace isn't exactly ripping along with all cylinders.