Customer Reviews

The Broken Crown (The Sun Sword, Book 1)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This was the first book I've read by Ms. West, and I was pretty impressed. Sometimes it's difficult to find fantasy books that are written in true literary form--that is, ones which take the time to carefully develop characters as well as creating an intricate plot--as opposed to merely dashing off a story about dragons and calling it Book Number One in a series of Eight. West's writing really stood out to me because she chooses her words very deliberately and obviously takes great care to *think* about each individual character's reactions. One of my pet peeves with so many fantasy writers is that they barely flesh out any of the characters, and the ones that *are* developed are usually somewhat stereotypical. It's clear that each of West's creations have different motivations and different personalities, making them unique individuals. I wasn't overwhelmed by the sheer number of the characters, but I did consult the list in the beginning of the book to help refresh my memory.

The other thing I liked so much was the depth of the world West has created. As with her characters, West took a lot of time to create a sense of the long history of her fictional universe. Very few authors do this well, in my opinion. The amount of history and the casual, yet understandable, delivery of these allusions is reminiscent of Tolkien. I've read other reviews saying the history that's mentioned The Broken Crown is in her previous two books, so I'll probably pick them up to read out of curiousity, but I don't think it's necessary to have read those before you read this one.

All in all, this was a very good book. I will admit that it took a while to really immerse myself in this new world, but I didn't find it to hamper my enjoyment of the novel. West's prose style is definitely not for everyone--the plot moves *very* slowly, and there is more time spent on character development than on physical action. The last couple hundred pages picked up somewhat as far as the action goes, but if you don't have the patience to wait through lots of suspense-building, I wouldn't recommend this book. Someone else said this was a novel for older readers, and I agree. It's not that there's any "objectional material" in it, but rather the style of writing may not hold the attention of some readers.

My only complaint (and why I gave four stars) is the prologue. I didn't understand it at all, and grew frustrated enough that I almost gave up on the book (fortunately I didn't!). My only advice is to wade through it and wait for better things to come--I actually went back and re-read parts of it about mid-way through the novel, and found it much easier to swallow the second time around.

Final grade: an excellent read. I'm looking forward to reading book Two!

This almost but not quite standalone first volume (of two? three? or more to be written and published, one hopes) stands out in the crowd of fantasy adventure series. Ms. West elaborates characters, cultures and themes already presented in her Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death duology plus introduces new ones. In her latest, and longest, fantasy novel, Ms. West deftly weaves interrelated plotlines across time and space in a unique, vividly described pre-industrial world of humans and humanlike powers (gods and demons) struggling for dominance, subject to certain rules and restraints. You can read this book as a straight action adventure, read it again as a character study, and yet again as a discussion of philosophy, ethics and social structure. While one of the four main societies (the Domain) displays strong elements of traditional Japan, on the whole Ms. West's cultures and religions are not copycat or derivative of either historical settings or other authors. The supporting descriptions of costume, architecture, custom and scenery enhance but do not overwhelm the tension and actions of the main players, as do the carefully crafted exoressions of each character's words and thoughts, which reflect the differing cultural backgrounds and individual thought patterns of each person. Her plots show novel twists which usually are internally consistent, although she sometimes resorts to a deux ex machina. Ms. West continues to explore themes of polarized powers acting out apparent conflicts through and with humans as first seen in her 4 (or was it 5) volume Dark/Light series (written as Michelle Sagara). She tempts the reader to deem the dark evil and the light good, yet eschews such simplification in favor of believable personae who are motivated by similar forces despite their differing methods and goals. Her protagonists, male and female, young and old, human and other, all have personal reasons for aligning with one side or the other. Each person works out personal conflicts and finds growth,! if not resolution, while also promoting one side or the other. Based on her previous work, the reader also tries to anticipate the unexpected, perhaps another form of ultimate synthesis of the seemingly opposed forces, but I have faith in Ms. West's ability to continue suprising me and to do something new each time. I have already read this book twice and look forward to reading it again when the sequel appears.

The Sacred Hunt books were like a drug to me. I had never experienced anything like them, and I found myself in a state of withdrawal upon their completion, hence why I was ecstatic to discover the Sun Sword series. Now, I confess, it took me *three years* to finish this book, simply because you cannot just pick up this book and read it. You have to prepare yourself to be engulfed in the world West has created.

Welcome to the Southern Dominion of Annagar- there is slavery, war, death... women are treated as insignificant beings so long as they do not have a man to lay claim to them. A new system of politics in which only the strongest, not necessarily the firstborn of a family, can achieve power... because if you're not the strongest, you most likely will not survive your younger siblings into adulthood. It might sound dreary, but it's the perfect atmosphere for West to open up a new plotline with. West has a slow start, but it's crucial background information, as always, because West never wastes our time.

West creates an incredible, unique cast of characters to inhabit the Dominion, but she hasn't forgotten about the Empire to the North. The Empire is critical to the plot as well, for war is brewing between it and the Dominion. It all involves on single man who has suddenly and unexpectedly become the heir to a seat of power, but he will not be able to get that seat if he cannot fight both humans and demon-kin alike for it (that is all I will say about plot, however- you have to read it to get the good stuff!). Fans of the Sacred Hunt series might be excited to learn that most of the cast has returned, save for those from Breodanir. However, ****you do not need to read the Sacred Hunt series in order to appreciate the Sun Sword***.

While it was difficult to get into, it was one of the most worthwhile reads I've ever experienced. Aside from the fact that there is nothing out there, IMO, to rival Michelle West's works (including, of course, her writing style and plotlines), even if you just want to explore a new world and new ideas, this book is the exact story you are looking for. Just don't pick it up as a light read- be prepared to read it slowly, carefully, as to understand everything she has to present to the readers in this incredible world of hers. And also be prepared to start the second book when you're done with this one, because you most likely won't be able to wait to search for a copy. Prepare to become addicted ^^

Michelle West has an incredible ability when it comes to creating realistic worlds. Yes, this book is lengthy, detailed, complex, and verbose at times. But I know of very few authors with the same ability to create a universe like hers. You will become completely immersed in this new world: West thoroughly fleshes out the different aspects of politics, religion, family life throughout her novels.

Her characters are genuine: you learn to understand what drives each one of them. There are no clear cut 'bad guys' or 'good guys'. Simply stated: there are people who have goals and ambitions that clash with others to create conflict throught her story. I think that this makes her characters more human like: even the most likeable characters have their flaws. In the end, I am as attached to some of the 'villains' as i am attached to the 'heroes'. This isn't a simple good versus bad story: instead it is multi-dimensional and constantly changing.

The first hundred pages are slow going: you have to get the hang of West's terminology. Once you do, you start to appreciate all the intricate details that West has woven into her world and story. It does get confusing: just as you get used to reading about Diora and life among the clans, West decides to switch it up and you're suddenly reading about characters from the Northern Realms. But once I started to understand her world, I could not put the book down.

I think that this book is completely worth the initial struggle and confusion, and five books later in the series, I still feel that way. West's books remain at the top of my bookshelf as one of my favorite series. Mayhap it'll become one of your favorites too.

Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death were the first books I read from Michelle West and I liked them enough to check out this series too. (Recommendation: read those before this series. That way you'll get more out of the Sun Sword books.) Anyway, now I'm hooked. ^^

The world West has created in these books is simply captivating. Everything is rich in detail, the characters are real and enjoyable, and the plot seems really good so far (I've read the first three books). The narrative is a bit slow, as others have pointed out, and the writing style isn't the easiest, but this wasn't a problem to me. On the contrary, I love West's style (even though - being a non-native English speaker - I do need to have a dictionary at hand...) But if you need to have much action so that you won't lose your interest and/or if you get easily bored of long descriptions, this might not be the right series for you.

I did not have the problem another reviewer mentioned about the world being too cruel and unjust (and I might add that I am a somewhat sensitive girl). From a Western point of view, yes, there is a certain kind of slavery and repression of women going on in this book, but it didn't occur to me that it should be a matter about good vs. evil... it was just a realistic description of a culture into which such things belong. The fact that some of the protagonists do not seem to care about these things is simply because they have grown up in this culture and to them these things are natural. The author doesn't say whether this is good or bad - it just is so. (And anyway, these matters apply only to another of the two cultures in the book... personally I find the contrast interesting.)

Besides... as the story goes on, not everyone approves on these things. I also get the feeling that women are not as repressed as it would look on the first glance. In this book, Diora shows that even women can play these political games, and for example Serra Alina does not seem very 'repressed' to me, although she strictly follows all the rules that bind women. A quote that came to my mind (from part 2, which I was rereading):
"She is only a woman," Anton said genially.
"She is a woman in the North," Andaro replied levelly. "And you yourself have said that the women in the North are as dangerous as men, in their fashion."
"If you think this does not apply to a Serra, you are young, Andaro."

All in all, I find this series extremely enjoyable, and I can't wait till I get my hands on the next part.

This is a hard book for me to discuss, as I have very mixed emotions about it.

Let's talk first about the world West has invented. It is a tragic world, one that practically enslaves women under a patriarchal regime and shapes them to be pretty and attentive for the men's purposes alone. Many of the men are boorish half wits who can't see past their own egos, while many of the female characters are duly submissive and do not think for themselves. I understand the point of this, but it makes it difficult to get into. However, the descriptions of the Annagarian Dominion, the countryside, the court, the people, the fashions, the art are all lush and absorbing. I definitely tip my cap to West for setting up the mood and feel of this world.

Second, I would like to talk about the way she structured her sentences and the lengthy prose that told the story in. This is not going to be for everyone. It seemed that in many of the other reviews I have read on this book that seems to be what kills it for some, while what makes it beautiful for others to read. Personally, I love description, but to this degree of detail was simply too much. I found the book heavy and dense, and though the story was enough to keep me interested I found myself getting lost in many of the other passages in between. I would go for pages on end and realize I had not absorbed any of it, nor caring that I didn't by that point. I just couldn't get into it after the first 400 pages or so. I found that some days I would plow through 50 pages, but then I wouldn't pick it up for a week or more, or would only read 3 or 4 pages over the next few days. This is NOT inherent to me. I usually read pretty constant, most weeks finishing off at least one book. In this case I barely comprehended the last 300 pages of the story and skimmed through the last 60 or so just to see how it ended, to only realize that I had not gleaned enough of the plot to appreciate the nuances of the ending. This, to a large degree, is due to the style she worked in.

Third, the character development. I'm sorry to say, but their were only about 6 or 7 characters that really stood out to me at all, many of whom were the female leads. Perhaps this was because West spent so much time in their development, and many of the women I liked were introduced relatively early in the book. However, I take issue with the fact that the book is 764 pages long (mass market paperback) and up until the mid 600 pages she was still introducing characters. This is hard to follow, even with a key in the front that explains briefly who all of the characters are in the book. (*Note: Whenever I see one of those guides I usually shudder, because it's always a book like this where the author is constantly bringing in new people. Not that I mind an introduction or two later in a story if it is pertinent to the plot development, but when the author still introduces numerous characters so late in the book I have a hard time keeping them all straight and generally lose interest as a result.)

Lastly, the overarching plot. The story is fantastic, but it would not have been so if she would have chosen not to introduce one of the main characters (and plot drivers, as I like to call her) right away. In the very beginning of the book there is a child born to a woman who was taken advantage of by a demon lord of the Kin. The half-demon girl proves to be important later in the story, and up until the end of the first "book" within the book (about 80 pages into this story). I was entranced in the beginning by this plot line; it seemed as if the book was going to be something right up my alley. But then in the second "book" within the book the story suddenly shifts to detail the lives of those in the Annagarian Court. For a while this confused me, what had this to do with the beginning part of the story? But I am usually a patient reader, so I kept on with it, figuring the connection would be made eventually. What irritated me was that the connection between the two stories does not become apparent for about 300 pages after the last mentioning of the demon child and then the author doesn't do enough with the character to make her relevant. This felt an utter waste to me, as if West had purposely structured it to keep your attention for the large part of the book by starting it off with the demon child storyline and then switching to the other part of the world. I know it's a literary trick, but it's annoying none the less. I know that had that introduction not been there I would have abandoned the book long before that point. As for the rest of the storyline, a few political marriages, much talk of war, an assassination or two, more talk of war, a hostage situation, political intrigue through usury and machination, more talk of war... you get the picture. Honestly, I was just reading it to find out what happened to Kiriel, the half demon child, and what the connection was between her and Diora, the jewel of the Annagarian Court.

I am told that this is not the best series to read when starting with West. I am told to read the Hunter's Oath and Hunter's Death books as an introduction, to save these for when I am more accustomed to her writing style. Perhaps that would have been an apt idea. However, I did not do it that way, and though I am impressed with the author's skill I don't know that I will be rushing to read the sequels any time soon. I do own them, so I may get to them in time, but for now I am picking up something a bit lighter and easier to read. As it was this one took me between six and seven weeks to slog through, and that is generally about 5 weeks too long for me to remain interested in a book. If I planned on reading the sequels now I would probably have to reread this one in order to understand the latter books, which in my minds makes the sequels that are sitting on my shelf unreadable any time in the near future. Like I said earlier, I have mixed emotions about this. While I would recommend it to someone I would also caution them about these defects first, and, oddly enough, I probably will read the sequels at another time, because the story was interesting and I love fantasy stories, I just won't be expecting to read through it at breakneck pace next time. 3 and a half stars seems about right for this, shying on the side of liking purely for the beginning of the story which did intrigue me, it but still keeping my critical eye intact.

This book has the most gripping beginning of any novel I've read. Isladar, a demon, stalks a healer in broad daylight, kidnapping her to initiate a horrifying plan involving the Lord of the Hells. I literally could not put this book down for 5 hours once I started it. Taking place 15 years after _Hunter's Death_, much of the first third of the novel introduces characters in the Dominion of Annagar, a country often referred to, but never visited in the previous Hunter duology. The Serra Teresa and her niece Diora, two women in a land where the only power women wield is subtle in nature, possess the Bardic Voice. This power, although respected in Essaylien, could cause their deaths in a country that kills the golden-eyed godborn at birth out of ignorance. Familiar characters Evayne and Kallandras make early appearances, and in the second third of the novel, Jewel, The Terafin, and other powerful players in Averalaan appear as the focus shifts to Essaylien. The last third of the book focuses once again on the Dominion, and particularly Diora and her father, who has tied his fate to that of his friend, the General Alesso di'Marente. A satisfyingly climactic ending leaves just enough unresolved that the reader is anxious for the release of the next book in the series.