Reviews

The Sea Peoples by S.M. Stirling

dja777's review

3.0

A significant improvement on the last book in this series, but still not a a 4 or 5 star. I'll finish reading the series as S.M. Stirling writes them, but I think it's time for him to move on to a new literary universe.

mjfmjfmjf's review

3.0

Disappointing. Which is okay I guess because I expected to be disappointed. But not like this. This was just plain weird. Clearly an homage to a book which was the inspiration to Lovecraft, which is a negative for me. And supporting the idea that there is unreliable narration. But just in general I found John's story annoying. And Ori's story didn't make up for it. The characters made a good cast, but they were poorly used here. So some good bits but not adding up well. And didn't move the plot hardly at all. 2.5 of 5.

inkedstoryteller's review

4.0

This is the penultimate volume in an amazing fantasy/alternate reality saga. I have long called the Emberverse Series my favorite book series. That might not still be the case. The books continue to tell an incredible story of what happens to the world after electricity, gun powder, and gasoline all suddenly stop working. The are supernatural elements and higher powers at play, but “the change” has still not been explained at the end of this volume. Many readers who love magical realism and post-apocalyptic tales will love this series. For me, it has come to lean entirely too much on descriptions of battle, armor, weapons, simple machinery, etc. it has long been a staple, but I feel it is overwhelming the story. I have happily begun the last slim volume. I hope that Sterling will find away to explain all the primary mysteries and give his devoted readers satisfying closure. This installment took some unexpected new turns. I still recommend the series highly.

tortacular's review

4.0

Good and solid, brisk action. Intricate detail as always. Only one more book left in this series now. Still can't believe how long it has run.

giantsdancefarm's review

3.0

I'm a big fan of the first few books in the Emberverse series, but as I get further along I've appreciated them less.

I love fantasy, urban fantasy, and post-apocalyptic novels. I'm very appreciative of the possibility of magic, psychic ability, time-travel - any number of the woo woo arts. But somehow the earlier books covering the years immediately after the Change and the struggles to survive, to re-develop society and all the relationships between people and communities appealed to me more than the last few.

But if you enjoy post-apocalyptic novels, the first few in this series cannot be beat!

eloiseinparis's review against another edition

2.0

I did not read any of the books in this series, and this book did not inspire me to want to go back and pick any of them up.

judya's review against another edition

2.0

Looked forward to this for a long time, but I have to say I was disappointed. I can accept the odd rules of the Change, but much of this novel was set in an otherworldly fever dream of Prince John, a character I never much liked. Otherwise, the plot was excellent as always. I did not enjoy the heavy reliance on the book "The King in Yellow," an obscure short story collection of over a hundred years ago.
If you're deeply into S.M. Stirling, it's a must read, but I would not recommend this as your introduction to his dystopic novels.

leons1701's review against another edition

4.0

Interesting stuff with the King in Yellow. And a surprise appearance by Maui (who I only recognized because of Moanna, so thanks Disney).