Customer Reviews

Devlin's Justice (Sword of Change, Book 3)

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

 

 

This was a good series. Watching Devlin grow as a person from a down-trodden man with little direction and future to regent of the kingdom was an excellent tale. One of the things I like most about Devlin is his down to earth attitude and honor. Even when he could have easily ceased power, because of his status as Chosen One and immense popularity, he still chose to serve honorably. He does not want power.

In Devlin's Justice, Devlin is returning from Duncaer with the Sword of Light. He is betrayed and captured. During this time Jorsk is "invaded" and Devlin begins a rebellion and defeats the conquerors.

The ending was very satisfying and Devlin, Stephen, and others are changed by the war, and other events of the past two books. Author Patricia Bray ties all this together nicely. Devlin's Justice was definitely not an afterthought. I am looking forward to Ms. Bray's future work.

I had mixed feelings picking up this book. I've enjoyed the first two in this series and was sad to know that it would be ending. But at the same time I was eager to find out how Devlin's story would turn out.

Devlin's Justice exceeded my expectations. It's darker that the first two books, as Devlin finally comes face to face with the unseen enemy who has been stalking him. He manages to defeat the prince, but that's only the first of the many challenges that he'll face. Ultimately Devlin will have to decide where his loyalties lie, and each of his friends will also have to choose between their sworn oaths and their friendship with the Chosen One.

Bray does a nice job of pulling all the threads from the first two books together as she builds to the ultimate climax, and Devlin's final showdown with those who betrayed him. All in all, it's a great read and a fitting successor to the first two books in this series.

Highly recommended.

Devlin is betrayed by King Olafur and handed over to his chief enemy, the
mind-sorcerer who almost destroyed him in book 2 of this series. Olafur
thinks this will seal the alliance with Selvart that he has sought to secure
his borders and that Devlin's life and loyalty is a small price to pay.
However, Devlin himself has other ideas on the matter.

In some ways this book is an anti-climax. Much of the story is not told
from Devlin's point of view and as the land of Jorsk descends in to all out
war we are told a grim tale with almost no lighter moments to break it up.
In the end Devlin makes the best compromise possible out of a bad situation,
but at the same time many of Devlin's key emotional growth points never
really seem to be explained in a way that makes you feel more for him as a
character.

For the last book in a series in many ways this book seems to be a pause
rather than a stopping point for Devlin's story, and it would have been nice
to at least have seen him gain some happiness from all his sacrifice,
instead we are almost left hanging as much could still happen to him given
the state the Kingdom is in at the end of this book. The series almost
deserves a 4th book if it can lighten up a little.

I really enjoyed the first two books they had a lot of depth to them with well developed characters and a great stories that I really enjoyed. The third book while good does not hold a candle to the first two books.

I got the impression that the author rushed this book; there were many gaps, and incomplete scenes in this book compared to the first two book of the series. Do not get me wrong I liked the book but as one reads its like the story was rushed so that it would be published instead of the well crafted tales I enjoyed from the first two books of the series; In the end of the book I felt a little let down compared to the other two books.

The story does tie some ends up but it also left many areas that in the story that could have been developed more than they were. The Author got us into the first two books by givng us insight to a tormented character that changed every few chapters so that you come to realize that devlin is a very rich character, many of the characters are well developed and we are given insight to a man and how he can effect the destiny of a kingdom.

The third books starts off slow compared to the first two, and the events seem cut short and not as well developed as previous story's were laid out for us.

All in all I liked the book but was not brought into the story as I was with the previous two books, she does leave the book's ending with the possiblility that she may do another book to this series or maybe even do a whole series based on the 5 yrs that devlin's regency will take place; I only hope that she develops some of the events more than she did in this book I felt that the event of devlin freeing his country would have entailed more to it than him just saying to the council hey I will do this for you if you free my country.

Patricia Bray, Devlin's Justice(Bantam Spectra, 2004)

Bray gives us the final book in her Sword of Change trilogy, and right up until the final few chapters, I was all set to proclaim this the best of the bunch, as well as one of the best books I'd read this year. That plan got aborted pretty quick, and I'll explain why in a few minutes, but the problems with the end of the book should not in any way keep you from reading this fine little trilogy.

After the events of the last book, Devlin, Stephen, and their band of merry men are on their way back to Kingsholm with the Sword of Light, just as they're supposed to be. They get intercepted about halfway there by an honor guard who are sent to get them back to the city posthaste; it seems a long-awaited treaty has been signed, and as Captain of the Army, Devlin is needed to go over troop dispositions and the like. All well and good, save that Devlin gets to the city and disappears. His old friend Drakken is on the case, but with things in the city as on edge as they have been since Devlin left on the Sword of Light quest, she can't be as on the case as she'd like to be. Things get worse when evidence turns up pointing to Devlin's death, which leads to many of his former supporters in the King's council disappearing, being exiled, or having to be seen to turn coat in order to remain in the king's favor. But Stephen remains unconvinced Devlin is dead, and he comes up with some evidence as well. No one knows what to believe, but Devlin, in his absence, is making his presence felt in Kingsholm even more than he did when he was around...

All well and good, and the first three-quarters of the book go along swimmingly. Bray throws us a curve ball we don't normally see in fantasy lit, and the becomes almost more of a swords-and-sorcery mystery novel than a traditional fantasy. And that's awesome. But then comes the final third of the book. I can't really explain why without going into spoilers, but things start feeling forced, and then rushed. Then come the final two chapters, and "rushed" becomes the understatement of the year; the end of the book feels almost bitten off, like the half-worm you find in your favorite apple.

Still, overly rushed ending aside, the Sword of Change trilogy is a very good one, and has never gotten anywhere near the acclaim and exposure it deserves. If you're a fantasy fan looking for something to do while (still) waiting for the next George Martin or Steven Erikson novel to drop, these quick, fun reads fill the bill nicely. Recommended. *** ½

What started out as a great story ended up as mediocre. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad, but not what one expects of the genre. The first book started good, but it just sort of pettered out near the end. Afraid can't recommend the series.

I've recently come across one that is far better than this one. The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. It's another fantasy adventure sure to please. I highly recommend it.

King Olafur of Jorsk knows his grip on the kingdom is not solid so he asks the Empress of Selvaret to honor an old treaty with his country by sending soldiers to battle Jorsk's enemies. When the Ambassador of Selvaret arrives at court with his retinue, he tells the king that the Empress has sent men to Korinth in the eastern part of the Kingdom, to guard against enemy invasion. In return the king is to turn over Devlin of Duncaer to them. Olafur agrees knowing whatever they have in mind for the people's hero isn't good.

The King hands over Devlin to the Selvaret ambassador who in turn gives the people's hero to the Prince Consort Arnaud. Devlin is angered that his king betrayed him and knows that no matter how much he is tortured, the magical geas laid upon him won't let him betray Jorsk. When he is finally able to get free, he organizes a resistance to fight the Selvaret Protectorate who is deed if not in name already annexed one third of the kingdom.

The third installment in The Sword of Change series DEVLIN'S JUSTICE is an enthralling sword and sorcery series. The hero has grown throughout the three books from someone who was suicidal to a leader of men. There is a lot of action in this novel but Patricia Bray fully develops her prime characters, even many secondary players, so readers get a well rounded and satisfying novel. Devlin is such a fascinating and complex character that it would be a shame if his adventures came to an end even with this stirring fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

Final book of 3 - read them all! Great characters and great plot. This belongs in the permanent library.

In this, the third and final book of the series, Devlin is forced, time and again, to decide where the path of honor lies. It has all the classic ingredients for a good fantasy read - the capture and torture of the protagonist, the final dénouement with the evil sorcerer, the invasion of Jorsk by enemies, and the death of friends and comrades along the protagonist's path. Unfortunately, there is no characterization in this book and thus I had zero empathy for Devlin, his friends and comrades, or even his enemies. I was particularly disappointed that Devlin's Duncaer heritage does not play in part in this story - he might be entirely of Jorsk for all it seems to matter. Like other reviewers before me, I believe that Bray needs a fourth book in this series to really tie up the emotional loose ends she leaves hanging. If that book comes out, go ahead and get this one as a bridge to understand what has occurred. Otherwise, read the last chapter at your bookstore if you really want to know what happens and spend your money at Amazon on a better book.

"Devlin's Justice" is the third book in the "Sword of Change" series. The story takes up where book 2 left off, with Devlin returning to his kingdom's capital city. Upon arriving, Devlin is kidnapped & taken off to be tortured -- graphically and at length. Meanwhile, the king has asked an ally to send troops as aid, which they do but not quite in the manner that the king had intended.

Although Devlin's name appears in the title, he appears only briefly in the beginning & middle of the book, relegated to a bit part until the last 1/4 of the book. When Devlin does appear, his personality is unrecognizable and he has skills and abilities that he didn't have at the end of the previous book. Most of this story centers not on Devlin, but rather upon other people whom we've met in the previous books. Perhaps trying to cover up the weak plot, the point-of-view changes every couple pages.

Overall, this book will not appeal to people who enjoyed books #1 and #2. The mood is occasionally quite nasty, lots of torture and Devlin doing a few despicable acts. Not recommended for teens or sensitive readers. I recommend you read the first in this series instead.