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Children of the Serpent Gate: Book 3 of The Tears of Artamon [Hardcover]

Sarah Ash (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)


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Book Description

September 27, 2005 Tears of Artamon (Book 3)
In this third novel in her acclaimed Tears of Artamon saga, Sarah Ash once again transports readers to a realm where sorcery collides with political intrigue...and where one man haunted by a dark legacy is locked in a fierce struggle between the forces of good and evil battling for supremacy within him....

Gavril Nagarian is believed dead–perished in the heat of battle. But the Lord Drakhaon of Azhkendir lives on. Now he is entrusted with a sacred mission: to rescue the aged Magus, who has been kidnapped and in whose possession are the five priceless rubies that compose the fabled Tears of Artamon. Ancient law decrees that whoever possesses the coveted stones has the power to impose his rule over the five princedoms in the Empire of New Rossiya.

But the task exacts a cost. The Drakhaoul that destroyed his forebears has penetrated Gavril’s psyche and is gaining power over his soul. With the dark forces inside him seeking immortality, Gavril must feed on the blood of innocents–or die.

Toppled by the loss of the Tears of Artamon, Emperor Eugene of Tielen is tormented by his own daemon. Now he must defend his lands against King Enguerrand of Francia, who claims ownership of the Tears. But both men share a common goal: to destroy Gavril Nagarian and the Drakhaoul that lives within him once and for all.

Ingenious and unforgettable, Children of the Serpent Gate delivers a thrilling conclusion to the epic trials of a man of honor in a world run amok–a calamity that can be laid to rest only by an Emperor’s Tears.


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. At the start of the rousing conclusion to Ash's fantasy trilogy (after 2004's Prisoner of the Iron Tower), King Enguerrand of Francia has the five Tears of Artamon, the magical jewels that give their possessor claim to Novaya Rossiya. This means a crisis for Novaya Rossiya's Emperor Eugene, particularly since the Francians have kidnapped his chief magus, Kaspar Linnaius, and are going to burn him at the stake. Eugene makes an alliance of convenience with Gavril Nagarian, Lord Drakhaon of Azhkendir, who goes to Kaspar's rescue. Meanwhile, Gavril's prematurely aged lover, Kiukiu, must travel just as far in the opposite direction to find a cure; Eugene's pregnant empress, Astasia, runs away to Francia; and Eugene's daughter, Karila, has to go into hiding from would-be usurpers. The large cast may be hard to follow for new readers, but is uniformly well-developed and convincing, as is the whole world of the trilogy, with its vivid 18th-century European flavor and fallen angels who evoke Paradise Lost. Lovers of big, complex fantasy sagas (think Robert Jordan or George R.R. Martin) will be well pleased.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gavril Nagarian's Drakhaoul daemon, Khezef, has lived among humans long enough to be taking on human characteristics. But Khezef is no longer the only daemon-dragon roaming the world. Four other Drakhaoul are free and plotting to gain the Tears of Artamon, which together will open the Serpent Gate and free the Drakhaoul prince Nagar from the Realm of Shadows. Then they will destroy the world. Meanwhile, the royal children of New Rossiya's five princedoms are growing sick and weak, and the Spirit Singer Kiukiu dreams of other, terrified children trapped in the Realm of Shadows. The connections between the shadow children, the royal children, and the Drakhaoul aren't clear to Kiukiu, but she knows that helping them all is critical. Finally, Kiukiu may have to discover deep magic within to heal the seemingly insurmountable evils threatening her world. Themes of redemptive transformation, a labyrinthine plot, and the spectacular Drakhaoul memorably conclude the Tears of Artamon trilogy, begun in Lord of Snow and Shadows (2003) and continued in Prisoner of the Iron Tower (2004). Paula Luedtke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 528 pages
  • Publisher: Spectra (September 27, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0553382128
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553382129
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,097,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:
 (9)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent conclusion, January 11, 2006
By 
Eric D. Honaker (Burnsville, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Children of the Serpent Gate: Book 3 of The Tears of Artamon (Hardcover)
I thought that this book was an excellent conclusion to the series. In particular, I liked Ash's use of Gavril, Eugene, and Enguerrand. Gavril and his demon continue to pull at one another, and to affect one another's minds. In the end, both are changed, but neither in the standard fantasy cliche way. Eugene's frustrating status as a likeable antagonist matures into true heroism. I don't want to give away Enguerrand's role, but I was very pleased with the way Ms. Ash dealt with the Heavenly Warriors and their place in the struggle.

In this book, and Prisoner of the Iron Tower, I was a little disappointed that there was not more involvement of Clan Arkhel. I felt like the first book of the series really suggested that the clan was going to play a major part (beyond the spirit singers' powers) in the unfolding events, but that never really happened. I don't think the story as it stands suffers from this, but it'd be nice if we hadn't be teased.

I definitely recommend this series to anyone who is interested in a slightly off-base look at traditional fantasy, vampire myths, or demons.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The tears flow..., March 27, 2006
This review is from: Children of the Serpent Gate: Book 3 of The Tears of Artamon (Hardcover)
I have to say, I am sad it's over. Sarah Ash has given me many hours of good reading and I cherished them all. This book I found a little different than the previous two in that things were moving along at a standard pace and the next thing you know; bam, bam, bam, it's over. It seemed like she just decided it was time to finish it, so she did. Don't get me wrong I loved it, but I felt like she left a few things out. Sarah hasn't really kept any secrets in the books and when she did they were eventually revealed. Not the case with this book unfortunately. Perhaps I missed it, but I want to know what happened with Kaspar Linnaius. Heck, I'd like to see a book about nothing but him. I hope Sarah continues to write quality material like she has, if she does..... I'll read em'. I would suggest putting an extra fifty pages in to finish the book and give us the imagery and story we love and honestly for reading the two previous books...deserve.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent end to a great series but...., October 13, 2005
This review is from: Children of the Serpent Gate: Book 3 of The Tears of Artamon (Hardcover)
In the last installment of Sarah Ash's "Tears of Artamon" trilogy all those pesky loose ends involving Gavril, Eugene, Karila, Kiukiu and our many other friends come to a close. The question regarding the fate of New Rossiya is answered...sort of. And our hunger to know our friends' fates is sated...in a way.

The first two books of this series had a pleasing pace and structure to them, but this last book feels rushed, as if Mrs. Ash was told three-quarters of the way through her writing that her deadline was approaching. The reader at times will believe there are portions of the book best left out entirely, bearing no relevence to the grand scheme of things until the end. Do we really need multiple pages to be introduced to Aude's kitten? Certain episodes that could have been introduced in a few sentences instead take up space best left to exciting action. The time jumps through the chapters--indicated by double spaced lines--in the same character's point of view seem awkward and jilted, greatly hampering the flow of the novel. Then, suddenly the reader is hurled through the last fifty pages or so of the book, flung through so much action and "loose thread tying" the reader is not satisfied. I found myself at the last page asking, "That's it? Where's the rest?"

So, I give this book four stars. Otherwise, faithful readers of Mrs. Ash's trilogy will find this final installment full of action, romance, and strange creatures winging through the night air.
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
grand maistre, heavenly warriors, spirit singer, grand duke, grand duchess, sky craft
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Kaspar Linnaius, Gavril Nagarian, Ruaud de Lanvaux, Realm of Shadows, Serpent Gate, Khan Vachir, Doctor Hildegarde, Lieutenant Petter, Prince Andrei, Oskar Alvborg, Tears of Artamon, Lord Drakhaon, Prince Bayar, Lord Nagarian, Minister Vashteli, Valery Vassian, Abbot Yephimy, King Enguerrand, Great Aunt Greta, Professor Kazimir, Lord Gavril, Kastel Drakhaon, Lady Orqina, New Rossiyan, Belle Garde
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