inkedstoryteller's review against another edition
3.0
This 13th of 15 volumes in the Emberverse series had some wonderful highlights, but disappointed in many ways. The main characters are Prince John, Crown Princess Orlaith and Empress Reiko. They are great people and I like getting to know them better. However, much of this volume takes place in the tattered remains of the Pacific Islands; a region not really familiar to me. I miss the homelands of the High Kingdom of Montival. Places fans have come to love so much. Also, this book was consumed more than ever by minutiae about ships, weapons, and battles. Not what I originally signed on for. For many years, I referred to this series as my favorite. I’m not sure it is any more. Perhaps the remaining to volumes will be redeeming, but their titles and covers suggest otherwise. We’ll see.
tilmar's review against another edition
Prince John, second child of Rudi and Mathilda
jenbooks's review against another edition
4.0
That feeling when you're binge-reading a new-to-you book series and finish the newest book...
tortacular's review against another edition
3.0
Another good solid novel from this series. Not in any way extraordinary, but the world is exceedingly well-crafted and the characters have heft and life.
ineffablebob's review against another edition
3.0
Like the Change series? This continues the story and you'll probably enjoy it.
Have no idea what the Change series is? This ain't for you. Go back to the start, or you'll be horribly confused and likely bored through large chunks of the book.
Have no idea what the Change series is? This ain't for you. Go back to the start, or you'll be horribly confused and likely bored through large chunks of the book.
hamiltwan's review against another edition
4.0
This is what, the 13th in the series? Don't start here, but if you've read this far, this is as good as any of the other recent ones, in my opinion.
judya's review against another edition
3.0
One of the lesser books of the Emberverse, in my opinion. As with all the Emberverse/Nantucket novels, you really have to read all the series in order. As this is one of the shorter efforts, less space is devoted to early events which shaped the world. It's fine by me, but will leave all but the most dedicated fans lost.
I understand why SMS has to use more far-flung settings for his long-running series, which is now in the third generation of his post-Change world. However, this novel, featuring Prince John, brother to the heir of Montival, is a weaker effort. The Pacific (I won't be more specific) setting lacks the sense of place that the earlier works hold. Other isolated cultures SMS devised, especially the Scout culture and the lost Jewish tribe, seem more interesting and fully drawn out than that of the two new peoples at war. John himself is a fairly one dimensional character whose fate is left as a cliffhanger.
In contrast, a single fascinating character, Pip, is introduced. She seems to be modeled on a hybrid of characters from A Clockwork Orange and early James Bond works. My hope is that she continues to feature in the changed world.
I understand why SMS has to use more far-flung settings for his long-running series, which is now in the third generation of his post-Change world. However, this novel, featuring Prince John, brother to the heir of Montival, is a weaker effort. The Pacific (I won't be more specific) setting lacks the sense of place that the earlier works hold. Other isolated cultures SMS devised, especially the Scout culture and the lost Jewish tribe, seem more interesting and fully drawn out than that of the two new peoples at war. John himself is a fairly one dimensional character whose fate is left as a cliffhanger.
In contrast, a single fascinating character, Pip, is introduced. She seems to be modeled on a hybrid of characters from A Clockwork Orange and early James Bond works. My hope is that she continues to feature in the changed world.
leons1701's review against another edition
3.0
A nice solid entry in the series, but nothing special. Well, except for the first (?) appearances of the Yellow Sign in the Emberverse (yeah, that's NOT a good thing).
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