The Broken Crown (The Sun Sword, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Michelle West (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Sun Sword | Publication Date: July 1, 1997

Treachery threatens the Dominion of Annagar as two power-hungry men--a skilled general and a sorcerer--seek to overthrow the clan of Leonne, whose control over the magic of the Sun Sword has kept the peace. Original."

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 768 pages
• Publisher: DAW (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0886777402
• ISBN-13: 978-0886777401
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars deceptively inspiring..., May 27, 2006

By 

A. Miller (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Broken Crown (The Sun Sword, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

So, I'm the kind of person that likes long (and I mean LONG) story arcs. I don't like a good tale to end and often retain books to re-read and relive every few years. In that context, I often play roulette at the bookstore, picking out the "fat books" - ones that seem like they might be time consuming, arduous - but in the end dense with plot and inundated with characters that I can connect with. I'm often disappointed and I'd be lying if I said that my initial reading of The Broken Crown didn't fall short of my expectations. This was also the first Michelle West book I'd read (or Michelle Sagara for that matter).

I understand many of the average-scoring reviews, because so many of those readers haven't had the opportunity to explore the complexity of the remainder of the series. But I implore any reader that is hesitant about reading this book or its successors: please understand that The Broken Crown is simply an exposition. It's meant to introduce characters and plot elements in a very subtle way by mostly presenting back story. And for those who toss their books away in frustration every time the plot shifts? Kudos to the author for drawing you into the tale and those characters to whom you've become mildly attached. It is the hallmark of a good author.

West does have a tendency to wax poetic. However, she glides through passages with such grace and dignity, that you can hardly fault her flowery style. In fact, this echos of a time when grand epochs might be told to pampered, honored women on silken cushions. Her use of stock archetypes (her own devices) is effective and amusing at times.

As you read the Sun Sword series, yes, it may seem as if the author is making things up as she writes. On the other hand, unlike much current drivel masquerading as fantasy, she's not writing as some omniscient being. I think this provides a perspective that is both discovery-oriented and refreshing for the reader. It may seem inconsequential, but almost everything that happens in this first book plays an important role in the events of the following books. Oh, and also unlike much current popular fantasy, this series does - well and truly - end. That's not to say that other stories in the same world-stage aren't forthcoming (e.g. House War), but this series stands on its own as a self-contained entity.

It takes patience to read this series, but I encourage anyone who has found this book to be cumbersome (or confusing) to read on. Or, as some have suggested, go back and read the Hunter duology. It's written in a slightly less heady style that introduces you to some of the key players in both stories.

84 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Difficult, January 15, 2004

By 

Jeff Benson (Aurora, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Broken Crown (The Sun Sword, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

My response to this book is complicated.

The author is clearly not a hack writer. The writing style is difficult to skim or read quickly because of its originality. Michelle West's prose is admirable and unique. In addition, the world she has created is full of nuances and is very well fleshed-out. The cast of characters is impressively large, and the political machinations and complex interpersonal relationships the author has brought to life here are unarguably imaginative.

A word of warning, however. The world West imagines is not a very pleasant or inviting one. She envisions a world where slavery and the brutal repression of women is institutionalized, where many characters--even protagonists-treat human lives as props in schemes, to be casually used and carelessly tossed aside. This harsh and depressing tone is relentless and, instead of serving as a backdrop for a moral struggle between good and evil, seems incidental to the plot direction of the book, which concerns itself mainly with the setup for various impending political clashes. Truly likable characters seem few and far between.

If you are the type of reader who can become emotionally immersed in the world of an expansive fantasy novel (and good for you if so!), I offer the following warning: I personally experienced the cruel and unjust society depicted within the novel as almost unbearably depressing, partially because West is a good writer. I felt that I was expected to accept the horrific injustices as normal, as all of the main characters seemed to do. Reading the book was a very frustrating and emotionally taxing experience for me.

But if you can enjoy a complex, plot-driven fantasy without being permanently scarred by the inclusion of numerous atrocities, this might be a satisfying read for you.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breath-Taking Fantasy, September 24, 2005

By 

A Cabbit - "Lover of good books" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Broken Crown (The Sun Sword, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was worried when I saw the list of characters at the beginning of the novel. Ususally, I find that a sign that the author hasn't bothered to make them unique and memorable enough for you to figure out who's who without a cheat sheet. That's not the case here.

Each character has his or her own unique voice and perspective, and it is impossible to mistake one for the other. They are not all fully developed, of course, or the book would be much longer than it is, but the main characters are shown in rich detail and compelling depth.

This particular book at least (as opposed to the series as a whole) is not really a standard fantasy plot of good versus evil. It is a more realistic story than that. The main action takes place in the land of Annagar, a patriarchal society where there is slavery, casual crulety, oppression of women, and a feudal society where life is cheap. The contrasting country is Essalieyan, where society is more egalitarian (women can become warriors and rule families), slavery does not exist, and the atmosphere is less oppressive. You're probably thinking "Sounds like good versus evil to me," but it isn't that simple. The plot revolves around political intrigue, preparations for war, and a half-demon child. Then it gets complicated. Don't get me wrong, the plot is easy to follow, but it isn't a book you're going to be able to read through in 30 minutes chunk while riding the train to work. It's going to take some focus.

The story is primarly seen from the perspective of various female characters, but the main characters are two Annagarian women, Teresa and Diora. By following the action through their eyes, you see that the reality of Annagarian society is far more complex than it first appears, and that women actually have more power and larger voices than you would at first expect.

Other reviewer's seem to have been put off by the language in the novel, and as I said, it isn't a quick read. And even I got a little tired of the way colors are described, for example. I mean what color are you describing exactly when you say someone's clothing is the "color of sunlight on water?" Is that blue? Gold? White? Rainbow? I haven't a clue. But such quibbles aside, the rewards are definitely there if you are willing to take your time and read each page. If you start skipping sections, you are sure to come across something later and wonder why it is important, what the meaning of the action was.

This book is not for everyone. If you love Robert Jordan and Terry Brooks, you will probably find this book too complex and involved. But if you are the kind of person who reads Victorian and Restoration era novels in your spare time just for fun, this a fantasy novel to take your breath away. (For the record, I followed this book up with "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens). If you think it's nuts to read Dickes for fun, then there's probably a new Robert Jordan novel coming out soon, try that instead. But if you nod in understanding, or said "I prefer Thackeray," then you should definitely read this book.