Customer Reviews

A Betrayal in Winter (The Long Price Quartet)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great book! It is full of intrigue, murder, love triangles, and true psychological drama. In it, Otah Machi, having been exiled from his hometown, returns when his father, the ruler, is dying and one of Otah's brothers has just been killed. Now, who will be the next ruler, and who else must die before a ruler is chosen? Reading this book, you feel the internal struggles of characters forced to cope with love, guilt, social status, and power.

This book does not have the gripping action sequences and array of strange creatures found in many fantasy novels. But what it has is even better: CHARACTERS. Its characters are intricate, and real. They have complex minds, and feel emotions so multifaceted, yet believable, that I can really empathize with them. In the fantasy genre, where characters are often too simple and flimsy, this book is a real treat. Watching this book's characters is like watching a dance, or perhaps, more fittingly for this book, a game of stones. There are always moves you can predict, if you have paid enough attention to the characters, and hundreds of moves you cannot. And every move the characters make feels true to them, even when they are truly unexpected.

Also, Daniel Abraham's imagery is wonderful. Sometimes subtle, and at other times blatant, his imagery sets a tone for the book, gives it a sense of location and time. I found Abraham's prose very compelling, and the book's images have stuck in my head. Having finished his book, images of stone, rock, and the poet's andat still cling to the back of my mind.

You should certainly read this book! A+

After having read Shadow in Summer, which was very good, I was not expecting the next installment in the series to be quite this good. I give it a summa cum laude rating - highest praise. It is hard to describe to those who haven't read it what makes this book so superlative, but it has to do with how the reader is kept on edge by the elements of intrigue and danger to the main sympathetic characters, while at the same time the author weaves in a deep sense of compassion and undestadning for ALL the characters, very much including the antagonists. In this installment the andats ('ideas made real' -- think ancient WMD), which are an important aspect of the series, play a relatively minor role. Expect that role to expand in the next installment with the start war between the Khaiem and the Galts (presumably). I can hardly wait.

The Long Price Quartet certainly seems to be the excellent, original, new fantasy series that the blurbs promise. Even so, I have to differ with some of the Amazon reviewers about what sets these books apart. It's not characters or setting. The characters, are interesting and sympathetic but not particularly complex, and the slightly oriental setting is also unusual, but not well developed. The real strong point is the story. These are essentially plot-driven books, with complicated stories full of twists and turns. Also, and most important, Abraham knows how to tell a story. The plot moves along quickly, without the unnecessary description or overload of characters that weakens the work of Robert Jordan and George R. R. Martin. The length of the books proves this: both are about 300 pages long, half the length of Jordan and Martin's tomes. I'm looking forward to the next two books, and since the series isn't sinking under its own weight, it shouldn't be too long!

A Betrayal in Winter, the second volume of Daniel Abraham's The Long Price Quartet, is a sharper, more provocative, and all-around better novel than its predecessor, A Shadow in Summer. I liked the first volume for its potential rather than its execution. In this volume, I believe that Abraham crafts a compelling story to accompany his original vision of andat, poets, and Khaiem.

The biggest achievement in A Betrayal in Winter is the union of setting and story. They do not exist independent of each other; Abraham has infused his story with the uniqueness of the setting so that it could not be told in another place or on another world. With the Cities of the Khaiem, he presents a world that is constrained by its culture. Brothers are trapped into fighting each other for prestige; poets are trapped into leading unfulfilled lives for the sake of their calling; women are trapped into being accessories to men. Abraham explores this culture and shows the consequences when it is (rightfully, perhaps) tested.

In my opinion, Abraham's second novel showcases his growth as a writer. The story is more straightforward compared to the story in the first novel, but Abraham does not sacrifice depth for clarity. His prose is crisp and flavored with setting-specific detail that never seems dense. I also like how Abraham keeps his novels lean; fantasies do not have to exceed 500 pages to be worthwhile.

Abraham also does a better job of creating believable, complex characters than in the first novel. Otah, Maati, and Idaan are sympathetic, living people who have motives and make mistakes. Some of the elements are similar to the first novel; for example, there is another love triangle, but this one feels more tragic and credible than the first one. I like how Maati becomes a teacher of sorts to Cehmai the same way that Otah was a teacher of sorts to Maati in the first novel. Over the course of the two novels, characters like Otah and Maati change and grow.

If I have one gripe, I wonder why the Galts remain shadows behind the scenes. It is time to see them, and I think that Abraham will take us into their world in the next volume. Alongside Brandon Sanderson, Daniel Abraham is my favorite new fantasy writer, and I look forward to reading the rest of The Long Price Quartet.

I mentioned in my review of A Shadow in Summer that the novel, despite being epic fantasy, had a small cast and that by focusing on this small handful of characters and their relationships, the story had an intimate feel to it. The same is true of A Betrayal in Winter, the second novel in Daniel Abraham's The Long Price quartet. Yet only now have I realised what Abraham set out to do with this series: to tell the life stories of a few key players, and demonstrate how their actions affect the world around them.

The events of this novel take place over a decade after the struggles depicted in A Shadow in Summer, with the scene shifting from the summer city of Saraykeht to the winter city of Machi: a city famed for its imposing towers and winters so brutal that the city's population is driven into subterranean tunnels to escape the cold. A world away from the warmth of Saraykeht then, but Machi's political jostling and courtly intrigue are very reminiscent of the more illustrious southern city. As it happens, political machinations are very much at the heart of this novel.

A lot has happened in the intervening twelve years, yet much has also remained the same. Otah is still trying to escape his past - the past that came back to haunt him during his time in Saraykeht, and which continues to haunt him still. When he is assigned a task that requires him to travel north to Machi - the city of his birth - he finds himself in a desperate situation: returning to Machi may well bring him into contact with the old life he has tried to leave behind. And yet it's something he feels he needs to do; there is an urge within him to face his demons and see if the memories he holds are anything like the truth. Yet it's a dangerous time to be in Machi, as the reigning Khai's health is failing, and the bloodletting to see who will succeed him has already begun. And inevitably, Otah finds himself having to confront his past in order to build a new future, both for himself and for the city...

From a technical perspective, A Betrayal in Winter is an interesting novel. The actual plot - a political struggle in which a foreign power is secretly involved - bears more than a passing resemblance to the plot of A Shadow in Summer. Furthermore, while the novel is essentially a murder mystery, one of the main POV characters is one of the antagonists (if they can truly be called that), so we are presented with the perspectives from both sides. The enjoyment comes not from the gradual deducing of who the murderer is (we find that out very early on), but more from seeing how the plans of both sides fall into place, and subsequently fall apart. At times I did find myself wondering whether the novel would have been more absorbing if the reader wasn't aware of who the murderer was, yet it must also be said that it works very well the way it is. Abraham's plotting is both subtle and immaculate.

As with A Shadow in Summer, this novel is driven entirely by its characters. Otah and Maati are the familiar faces that return from the first book, and once again their relationship is at the heart of the novel. Their relationship is a complex one: they are both friends and enemies, their shared history tarnished by betrayal and unfaithfulness, yet they find they need each other more than ever as the political situation in Machi hots up.

Like the first book, the cast list is small, yet there are some new faces. Idaan in particular is an interesting figure: the khai's only daughter, she has broken free of the mould that high society has forced on her, only to find that the alternative existence she has fought so hard for isn't everything she expected. She's similar to Liat in the previous novel, in that her steely exterior hides a more fragile centre, yet she possesses a cold, unflinching streak that Liat never had. Abraham develops her character superbly over the course of the novel, and rightfully she plays a crucial role in the unfolding events. Cehmai the poet is another convincing figure, and like Otah in the first book he is forced into a situation where he has to choose between his heart's desire and the city's future.

One slight disappointment is the absence of Seedless, the star of the show in the first book. The andat had no reason to appear in this novel, but sadly he is missed. Stone-Made-Soft, the andat that does feature - while giving rise to one or two interesting moments - is bland in comparison. Yet such is Abraham's skill at manipulating his characters' relationships and placing individuals in difficult situations, this absence doesn't undermine the book.

Worldbuilding is once again kept to a minimum; Abraham only gives the reader what information is required to lend context to the story, and that's very welcome. As before his excellent prose is vibrant and atmospheric. Like A Shadow in Summer, this novel is quite short (286 pages in this edition) and the events unfold at a steady pace that builds to a satisfying - if slightly predictable - conclusion.

Verdict: A Betrayal in Winter is an enjoyable continuation of the story that started with A Shadow in Summer. The underlying premise may be a little too similar to its predecessor at times, but this hardly matters as Abraham delivers the same excellent characterisation and subtle plotting that made the first book such a joy to read. Once again we have a tale of passion and friendship, lust and betrayal - the consequences of which will affect an entire city, and perhaps even a continent. A Betrayal in Winter is an intelligent and entertaining read, though I hope that in An Autumn War Abraham takes the story in a different direction.

After having read A Shadow in Summer, I became fond of Daniel Abraham as an author, but it wasn't until I read A Betrayal in Winter that I became a true fan. This isn't to say that I didn't like the first book, but the second book of his Long Price Quartet is nothing short of amazing and for me it surpasses the first book in every way.

What I really like about Daniel Abraham is that his books are far from traditional in the genre of fantasy. I'm becoming more and more appreciative of authors that stray from the conventional and Abraham does this very well. There's no true hero here, no brave warrior on a quest for us to cheer for. In fact, just like the first book, there is little here to actually call "fantasy." Other than the andat there is no magic to speak of and the only other qualifying feature that makes this a fantasy novel is the completely crafted world. As my reading tastes have evolved I've actually come to enjoy fantasy like this more than the sword and sorcery type which uses wizards and dragons and elves and all of the other mechanics that have been played out since Tolkien popularized them nearly a century ago. As with the first book I this quartet, Betrayal shows us that it doesn't take a lot of magic and sword fighting to propel a good story, though this book definitely has more action than the last. There are no battles, but weapons are used and people are killed. What more do you need?

Those familiar with Shadow (as well you should be if you're reading Betrayal) will be familiar with two of the main characters here, Otah and Maati. 15 years has changed each character considerably and it is interesting to see their lives after they'd been apart from each other for so long. While they are indeed complex characters as are all of Abraham's, my favorite characters of this book are ones newly introduced, namely Cehmai and Idaan. Cehmai is the one who currently holds the andat Stone-Made-Soft, whose ability to soften stone can be either incredibly profitable or absolutely destructive. Seeing the difference between his character and the andat Seedless from the first book is an interesting comparison, as is the relationship between them with their masters. Idaan is Otah's sister, the one sibling of the Khai Machi who doesn't have to worry about being slaughtered for the gain of their father's chair. She is the closest thing this book has to a villain and she is also my favorite character. Of course with Abraham, nothing is so black and white so even she is not a villain in the traditional sense. Her reasons for doing what she does are almost understandable if you put yourself in her shoes.

I've read some reviews comparing this to Shakespeare, and I can definitely see where that conclusion is drawn. This is definitely a tragic story and every choice that needs to be made seems to have a negative outcome. With the love triangles, lost friendships and family betrayals, Shakespeare himself couldn't have done it better (okay, well I don't know about better but it would've been more boring to read.) And as with A Shadow in Summer, the writing here is superb; it is eloquent yet simple with never an awkward moment. All character dialogue is believable and nothing feels forced. Even if I didn't enjoy his stories, I would read Daniel Abraham for his writing.

This is a great series and I look forward to reading the rest. I will put Abraham next to Robin Hobb, George R.R. Martin, Scott Lynch and the rest of my favorite fantasists on my bookshelf.

A Shadow in Summer, the first book in this series, is an engaging read. It's a minor-keyed tragedy, unpretentious and involving, that in no way prepares the reader for the rip-roaring emotional thrills of A Betrayal in Winter.

This new book takes a while to get going, but the careful set-up is more than worth the work. Once this exquisitely plotted tale of violent succession kicks into gear it becomes a propulsive page turner, each chapter bringing new revelations of its characters' tortured hearts. The thrills here are of the highest order, deriving from the development of the characters' conflicting desires and the suspense of what each of them will do next.

As in Shadow in Summer, the fantasy element is elegant and subdued. This is more of a political thriller set within a fictional world, with perhaps more in common with Macbeth than traditional mass market fantasy.

So often I read a book that I love the first and after that it goes downhill. This book was so good that I am even more nervous that the next will disappoint. To have the "good" and the "bad" characters both grow is so refreshing. And the depth and realness that is possible with the characters all using a common body language is ingenious. Probably five authors I would give five stars to, to some of their books. If you didn't get it by now, I'm just saying, I really liked this book.

Thirteen years after the dramatic events in Saraykeht, both Otah and Maati are keeping their heads down. Unfortunately, events are conspiring to bring them both to Otah's childhood home of Machi, a far northern city of huge towers and intrigue where the Khai's grasp on power is slipping and hungry factions jockey for position.

The second volume in Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet sees the story becoming darker and more personal, as Otah is forced to confront the choices he has made in his past and challenge the traditions of the Khaiem. Again, Abraham does not send the story down a traditional or cliched route here, giving his 'villain' a conscience which is increasingly stricken by the dark and murderous things she must do to gain power, but perversely this only seems to increase her determination to win through.

The characters of Otah and Maati are developed nicely, along with new characters like Cehmai, and the story unfolds nicely, building to a tremendously intense and emotional convergence. The ending may be somewhat predictable, but the route to get there is thankfully not. Again, this is a somewhat slow-paced novel, but one that is needed to set up the fireworks of the next book in the series.

A Betrayal in Winter (****) is an effective and enjoyable second volume in this sequence. It is available now in the USA and as part of the Shadow and Betrayal omnibus in the UK.

This is the second installment in the author's Long Price Quartet and is just as good, and maybe even better, than the first. Abraham does everything well, from characters to plot and setting, and when you add to those intricate world building and graceful writing, you have a classic in the making. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.