Customer Reviews

Destiny of the Sword (Seventh Sword, Book 3)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Let me start out with the fact that I've read this entire series at least 5 times. It is one of the most imaginatively entertaining series I have ever read. You just don't want to put these books down. The characters and engrossing and well developed. The plot moves quickly with well paced action and neither are over thought or cliche.

I can't rate this series high enough.

The Seventh Sword is an underread and underappreciated trilogy--a lot is going on under the surface of these three books, but the surface is such a readable story that it's accessible to anyone. The plot, as other reviewers have mentioned, is typical fantasy, but there are major, important differences which reveal themselves in this book and The Coming of Wisdom (2nd in the series). Every time I read these books, I'm swept up in the action, but I also see facets and symmetries I hadn't noticed before. This book, more than the first two, delves into the problems of idealism versus necessity, the proper use of power, what a person's identity really is (body, mind, beliefs, values, memories, reactions, desires?), faith and technology, how people grow and develop, and a lot more. The characters are unforgettable--anyone who's read these books will have an instant reaction to names like Katanji, Tomiyano, Thana, Tivanixi, or Jja.

Read these books, and read them again.

Book 3 of The Seventh Sword [conclusion]

The final book in this series, 'Destiny' isn't as easily read on its own as the first and middle books ('The Reluctant Swordsman' and 'The Soming of Wisdom'). However, this is that rare thing: a trilogy conclusion that really concludes the story. It's an happy ending, no fear -- and it leaves you feeling good and fulfilled, so there's no need for Duncan to write more. (It *could* be done, of course, as McCaffrey did with 'Nerilka's Story,' but it isn't a foregone conclusion that it will be -- or even should be.) Excellent reading; a real page-turner.

This one's rated 'G' by me.

This is the best book of the series. Its utterly brilliant, never stopping action, highly original and lots of humour. And a very,very satisfying end. Its not your typical fantasy, but this series must stand on the top along with Tolkien and the Dragonlace Chronicles.

Wallie Smith had been dying on his world when a Goddess spoke to him in a fevered dream, transferred his mind to the body of the greatest barbarian swordsman to ever live, gave him a great magical Sapphire Sword and sent him on a mission.
A few complications cropped up, first was an apprentice who could not fight his way out of wet paper bag, but had the instincts to become a great swordsman and killer. A sexy slave girl and her baby. Top it off with a senile old priest, with a twisted sense of humor.
The mission was simple, all he had to do was to lead this band of misfits and destroy the sorcerers and their Fire God. Yeah right.....To make matters worse, Wallie discovered that he'd already tried it once(as Shonsu)and been hopelessly defeated, which is why the Goddess chose Wallie to try again.
With Wallie's reputation in tatters, his apprentice apparently planning to betray and kill him, his love life was mess, and to make matters worse, to succeed was to condem this world to the leadership of the most violent, illiterate group of indviduals ever......His swordsmen! But this was what the Goddess wanted, and she wasn't taking no for an answer.

I love Dave Duncan's work and have been repeatedly delighted by the worlds he thinks up. The society in these three novels is original, and the handling of "magic" is as well. I thought this conclusion to the trilogy was excellent. Wallie is a believable human with normal human feelings. I could easily relate to his difficulties fitting his moral code in with the code of this world he finds himself in. Nnanji and Katanji had me in stitches, their relationship is such a real depiction of sibling interactions. A delightful read!

For a lover of fantasy, reading this series is like diving into a clear lake on a sunny day after weeks of dreary rain. I don't know what else to say. I've been reading the major series and writers lately, feeling perfectly fine and cozy, and this series woke me up. This isn't great literature, it's just pure, fine storytelling, with characters that matter. Their choices matter, and we don't like all of them, or their endings. It's beautiful and sad. To quote Bob Dylan, "It's that thin, that wild mercury sound. It's metallic and bright gold, with whatever that conjures up." In other words, there's something magical going on here.

I loved this trilogy of books, the story was one of the best done that I have ever had the pleasure to read. With the authers style of writing the characters really do come to life. I just couldnt put these books down when I was reading them. And no I`m not a relation : )

"The Reluctant Swordsman" (Seventh Sword, Book 1)introduces the characters and world/universe the author continues with in "The Coming of Wisdom" (Seventh Sword, Book 2)and "The Destiny of the Sword" (Seventh Sword, Book 3). This is a brilliant trilogy which remains at the top of Dave Duncan's impressive body of work. This third book doesn't just follow the first two. It reveals things which the author put there all along, giving the reader a new appreciation of the characters and events. That sounds confusing, but read it and see.

The characters remind me of Dungeons and Dragons Roll Playing Games (D&D RPG's). The hero is a 7th level swordsman who picks up a 7th level priest as a travelling companion. There is the same satisfaction of watching a companion swordsman advance through the ranks as there is developing your own character's skill levels in an RPG. There are also some other character types familiar to RPG's (archer's are held in contempt). This is not one of those cheap knockoffs on a D&D game though. This is just one element of the world the author has created which is kind of fun.

The author created a universe with a multitude of gods, like the Greek and Roman gods. While this is very common in the sword and sorcery genre, Dave Duncan has made the gods active participants in his story. One god makes repeated appearances, talks with the hero, and performs the occasional miracle. The author is able to keep the gods from completely overshadowing the human characters by stressing how they value "free will" for there own purposes. The author's brilliant use of deity characters (a recurring element throughout his best series) add facets to this story which lift it above a simple Conan type "guy with sword" story.

This trilogy has a detailed, multi-leveled plot which twists enough to keep you in suspense right up until the ending. And the ending reaches the appropriate dramatic climax, then has a satisfying denouement where the characters reap their rewards and the author ties up any loose ends. When this book ended, I was left saying, "Wow, imagine that!"

The only thing I can even think of that I didn't like about this trilogy is that it ended. The author really wrapped things up for the characters. It would be almost impossible to continue the story. I do hope that Dave Duncan comes back to this world with some new characters though. Maybe the old characters can have a cameo in the new story. . .

I was wrong! I thought I knew how this story was going to end. I was even thinking of skipping the final book. Boy am I glad I didn't. The Destiny of the Sword is a fantastic conclusion to a great adventure. Better than the first two in every way, and they were pretty good.

I give this one an A and a solid B+ for the whole trilogy.