Child of a Dead God: A Novel of the Noble Dead [Hardcover]

Barb Hendee (Author), J.C. Hendee (Author)

Book Description

Series: Noble Dead | Publication Date: January 2, 2008

For years, Magiere and Leesil have sought a long-forgotten artefact, even though its purpose has been shrouded in mystery. All Magiere knows is that she must keep the orb from her murderous half-brother Welstiel, one of the deadly so-called Noble Dead. And now, dreams of a castle locked in ice lead her south - on a journey that has become nothing less than an obsession. Among Magiere's protectors are two elven assassins-turned-guardians who must fight their distrust of this sister of the dead. Forces more powerful than they are also rallying around Magiere, arming her for conflict. But finding the orb may be just the start of the dangers that await.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the Hendees' complex and bloody third Noble Dead novel (after 2006's Traitor to the Blood), powerful and ambitious Noble Dead vampire Welstiel is in a desperate race with his dhampir half-sister Magiere to find a mysterious orb. As he builds a force of vampire minions to assist in his journey, Magiere travels though elven lands, where she is hated and feared for her semivampiric nature, determined to find and protect the artifact. The elven patriarch called Most Ancient Father offers resources to aid her on the quest while planning to steal the orb from her later. Magiere's friends and allies have a long and dangerous journey ahead of them. Interspecies distrust, grand ambitions and the lure of dangerous secrets protected by the undead drive the action in this neat mix of horror with more traditional fantasy elements. (Jan.)
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Review

Complex and bloody...[a] neat mix of horror with more traditional fantasy elements Publishers Weekly --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Roc Hardcover (January 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451461878
• ISBN-13: 978-0451461872
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing Conclusion, January 7, 2009

By 

Jem (MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Child of a Dead God: A Novel of the Noble Dead (Series One, Bk. 6) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have eagerly devoured each entry in the Noble Dead Saga since Dhampir (Noble Dead) was published. The half vampire/half human heroine is complex and exciting. Through each novel, pieces of her history have unravelled and her path became more clear. Until this installment. The entire saga has been something of a quest: in book four we visited her homeland, and learned more about the mysterious Chap; in book five, Lessil's history was exposed and there was a lot of action as he fought to find his mother. So, I thought that this book, the conclusion of the first series, would provide some answers about Magiere herself. Instead, it was a long quest, with little action, to find a mysterious artifact. They find it - the end. No questions answered, no real obstacles overcome.

The last book ended with our band setting out from the Elven nation to find the artifact. Magiere's dreams of black coils and "Sister of the Dead lead on" are pushing her south. Readers follow her South. Welstiel follows her South. A group of Elven assassins follows Welstiel, following Magiere south. Everyone planning to steal the orb from Magiere once she retrieves it. They travel by boat, by land, they fight the elements. It was actually kind've boring, with a climax that was anything but climactic.

I'm guessing Magiere's destiny will be an overarching plot for all 12 books. But, overall, I felt cheated. After following her for 6 books, I expected SOME resolution. That said, I do enjoy the characters very much, and the growing devotion between Magiere and Leesil was worth reading. Wynn has finally grown to be more than a whining tagalong, into a able companion who contributes to the group. So, despite my reservations about her being the protagonist for the next series, I ordered book one, "In Shade and Shadow" anyway.

But, overall this book left me wanting - without the promise that the next book would continue her story. When will we finally learn the truth about Magiere? Just not as good as the previous books. And though I have Wynn's book, I haven't felt any great urge to read it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good!, January 8, 2008

By 

H. Mayson (PORTLAND, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Child of a Dead God: A Novel of the Noble Dead (Hardcover)

This is supposedly the last book in the Noble Dead Series. The events in the book take place after Magiere and Leesil rescue Leesil's mother from her imprisonment in the Elven Territories. Disturbed by dreams guiding her to a mysterious castle, Magiere leads Leesil, Wynn, Chap, and their Elven protectors south. Her dreams have told her little else. On their trail is Magiere's half-brother, Welstiel, a vampire desperate to be freed from his bloodlust. For Welstiel, Magiere is the one who can guide him to this artifact.

The action was good and the description of the events was excellent. The ending was open for another adventure of Magiere and Leesil.

If you haven't read the other five books in the series, you will be confused about what is going on since the authors do not go into any real details of what happened in the previous five books. My biggest complaint about this book was that it seemed like every time you turned around there was a reminder that Welstiel was Magiere's half-brother.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 6th and final book in the Noble Dead saga, March 17, 2008

By 

SciFiChick "The SciFiChick" (Fishers, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Child of a Dead God: A Novel of the Noble Dead (Hardcover)

Magiere, Leesil, Wynn, and Chap leave elven lands for the South. Magiere has been having disturbing dreams driving her to an artifact in that direction. But she is not the only person after the artifact. Her evil half-brother and one of the Noble Dead, is following Magiere hoping to get his hands on it. And a group of elf assassins will do anything to bring the artifact back to their own lands.

Knowing this is an end of sorts (a spin-off series is planned for next year) to my favorite vampire fantasy series, I began reading this with a little sadness and higher-than-average expectations. Each installment has gotten a little more dark and violent. The character development has gotten more in-depth as well, to the point where I've actually found myself attached to some of the darker vampire characters. The Hendee's have become true masters of character and world building. This is a fast-paced, action and adventure-filled dark fantasy. The vampires are cunning, the elves are deceptive, and Magiere doesn't even know what the object she's searching for is supposed to do.

While some of the plot lines that have arced over the entire series have been tied up in this sixth novel, the ending has definitely been left open for the coming spin-off series. I'm looking forward to seeing which characters this new series will follow, and more of the fabulous dark fantasy world that the Hendee's have created.