The Given Sacrifice: A Novel of the Change Author: S. M. Stirling | Language: English | ISBN:
B00C5R84UE | Format: EPUB
The Given Sacrifice: A Novel of the Change Description
Praised as a “truly original combination of postapocalyptic sci-fi and military-oriented medieval fantasy,”* S. M. Stirling’s Novels of the Change depict a future without technology, where people must master skills from ages past in order to survive. Now, to ensure that survival for all he cares for, a king faces his greatest challenge in the latest chapter of the New York Times
bestselling saga.... Rudi Mackenzie has won the battle that expelled the enemy from the new High Kingdom of Montival. Now he must free the people who live in the state once known as Idaho from occupation by the legions of the Church Universal and Triumphant and pursue them to their lair over the mountains. There he will finally confront the forces behind the Church—the Powers of the Void.
Yet even a victory will not end the conflict forever. The Powers of the Void are malevolent and infinitely patient, and the struggle is one that involves the entire world. They threaten Rudi not only in the present, but also in the future represented by his children, Órlaith and John. Rudi knows this.
And as his heir Princess Órlaith grows up in the shadow of her famous father, she also realizes that the enemy will do anything to see that she does not live to fulfill her parents’ dream....
*
Kirkus Reviews- File Size: 837 KB
- Print Length: 385 pages
- Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0451417313
- Publisher: Roc (September 3, 2013)
- Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00C5R84UE
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray:
- Lending: Not Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,699 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
First, the good stuff:
This book opens with a metaphorical blast from the past, worthy of Josh Whedon at his best - `in which a young military man from Idaho gets himself involved in a desperate death struggle with a bear, in order to save an attractive young woman named Larsson, who has just crashed to earth in an airplane.'
There is also an effectively terrifying incident which plays out at a ladies garden party high up on a balcony at castle Todenangst, which shows you just how bad Cutters can be, whether living or dead.
Finally, towards the end of the book, there is a brief but-oh so marvelously crafted death-bed scene which sends Sandra Arminger appropriately packing off to her great reward.
Now, for rest of the story...
This is the tenth book in the series which begins with Dies The Fire, and the third in a row which has underperformed. Which is a shame, considering how wonderfully entertaining the first seven books were, and how much effort the author had previously put into creating an Emberverse full of fascinating characters and exciting adventures, to share with us, his readers.
The Cutters and the powers behind them were built up in earlier volumes to be the most ferocious bad guys ever - but they went out with a whimper half way through The Given Sacrifice. The last half of the book then proceeds to wander aimlessly through about twenty years of minor episodes in Montival, ending almost accidentally with the death of a middle-aged Rudi Mackenzie, and the succession of his daughter Orlaith to the throne.
Also, we were left high-and-dry as to the fate of an important character, Eilir Mackenzie, just as we had previously been abandoned by Ken Larsson and Dennis Martin.
My advice for Mr.
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