Firebird's Vengeance (Isavalta Trilogy 3) [Paperback]

Sarah Zettel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 2004 | Series: Isavalta Trilogy 3

Infused with folklore magic and history, The Firebird's Vengeance is the stunning conclusion to the Isavalta trilogy, from major new fantasy author Sarah Zettel. You will pay for this, screamed the Firebird. Life and blood and realm I will have from you. Thirty years ago the Empress of Isavalta imprisoned the terrible Firebird in a cage wrought with gold, magic and blood. She succeeded in saving her realm, but at a harsh price: the life of her loyal sorcerer, Avanasy. Now, with the Empress's death, the Firebird has been freed, and its desire for revenge is unquenchable. Avanasy's daughter, Bridget, is warned by the Vixen, a great spirit-power, of the Firebird 's coming attack. But the Vixen also brings other, equally disturbing news: that Anna, the daughter Bridget buried as an infant nine years ago, is in fact still alive. Bridget is torn between her duty to defend her adopted homeland and her desperate longing to find her child. But she is not the only one with an interest in the girl. Bridget is the daughter of two sorcerers, as is Anna herself. Such a child is likely to be possessed of extraordinary powers. Powers that might be harnessed to save an empire -- or to destroy one.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Tense, action-packed and always atmospheric ... brings the trilogy to a nailbiting close.' Starburst Praise for The Isavalta Trilgoy: Zettel's first fantasy novel is a triumph of story-telling...All the characters are powerfully drawn, especially Bridget, a strong and attractive heroine...A Sorcerer's Treason is a magnificent fantasy novel, showcasing just how good this genre can be. Rich, compelling and exciting, this could be the best fantasy debut in years' Amazon 'A fresh and surprisingly exciting fantasy thriller...Zettel's engaging writing style conjures up a gripping plot and some effective, three-dimensional characterisation...this engaging and vivid slice of escapist fantasy will keep fans of Robin Hobb more than happy' SFX 'Sarah Zettel's well-told and absorbing tale is full of original touches' Starburst 'A sumptuous tale of subtle magic, malevolent sorcery and twisted loyalties -- you won't regret venturing into Sarah Zettel's world' Sara Douglass

From the Back Cover

Praise for the Isavalta novels of Sarah Zettel

"Zettel has the many strands of her complex story well in hand as she weaves her storyteller's magic."
--VOYA

"A Sorcerer's Treason is a sumptuous tale of subtle magic, malevolent sorcery, and twisted loyalties where nothing is as it first appears---I can guarantee you won't regret venturing into Sarah Zettel's world."
--Sara Douglass, author of The Wayfarer Redemption

"Romance readers should welcome this one as eagerly as fantasy fans."
--Publishers Weekly on The Usurper's Crown

"A Sorcerer's Treason is a gem of a book, artfully blending the windswept magic of late nineteenth-century Lake Superior with that of the mystical realm of Isavalta. Sarah Zettel's vision of both places is keen, her world-building refreshing and original, her plot unpredictable, and her characters multi-dimensional. The journeys across time, layers of court intrigue, haunting magic, and crisp depiction of setting make for an extremely enjoyable read."
--Elizabeth Haydon, author of Rhapsody

"This sweet-tempered melodrama will appeal mainly to younger female fantasy fans, who will be sure to welcome the forthcoming sequel."
--Publishers Weekly on A Sorcerer's Treason

"Complicated court intrigue is brought alive in a setting, enriched by research in Russian folklore and magiclore, for a very cleverly woven fantasy. A good read indeed."
--Andre Norton

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Voyager (September 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007114060
• ISBN-13: 978-0007114061
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,116,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant conclusion to excellent trilogy, October 3, 2004

By 

Kotori (Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Firebird's Vengeance: A Novel of Isavalta (Hardcover)

Brigets story resumes with the revelation that Briget's daughter Anna is alive - knowing this she will allow nothing to hinder her search for her daughter.

The landscape is in ruins as the Firebird is released and wreaks vengenance on those who have allowed it's captivity for so long, and both Isavalta and the Seven Kingdoms.

In a devestating world of fire, flame and demons, Anna must find the strength to free herself from her captivity as her father Valin Kalami seeks to control her even beyond the grave.

The spirit world have a vested interest in events, and interfere sometimes benevolently and occasionally malign.

Preponderance of wonderful characters throughout and my favorite is Anna's bodyguard, a dedicated and honour bound young (female) soldier ... the romance between Briget and Sorcha, only hinted at in the first book, is an enjoyable plus.

It is interesting that the characters motives are so very justified, from Medeoan to Kasha to the sorceror who is Anna's father - a little bit like the misguided attempts of some revolutionists or freedom fighters who cause so much tragedy in our world. The author does an excellent job of making even the villians sypmathetic.

Brilliant - I was devestated when I finished.
Kotori - [e-mail]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much improved compared to the first two, March 14, 2007

By 

Bish (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Firebird's Vengeance: A Novel of Isavalta (Isavalta, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

"The Firebird's Vengeance" is the third novel in Zettel's Isavalta trilogy, but picks up shortly after the events in "A Sorcerer's Treason" (since "The Usurper's Crown" was more of a prequel). Bridget has returned to Isvalta to build a life there, but that is quickly thrown into turmoil once more when she learns that the Firebird has vowed revenge against Isavalta and Hung-Tse, and that the daughter she thought was long dead may still be alive.

The daughter, Anna, is in fact still alive, and the story follows her travels through a good portion of the book. She is accompanied by her guard, Mae Shan, who I thought was one of the best characters that Zettel has created in this series. She makes a far better heroine than Bridget or Ingrid, and I was mostly interested in her story, and her interaction with Anna and the others. Mae Shan is intelligent, strong, quick-witted, resourceful, and compassionate, but still maintains a vulnerability that makes her easy to sympathize with. Anna as well is very likeable, and despite her power, a believable child.

Other storylines involve Bridget and Sakra as they simultaneously search for Anna and try to discover a way to stop the Firebird; Mikkel and Ananda as they deal with the unrest in their kingdom; Grace as she finally faces what's happening to her family; and of course, the spirit powers who are still vaguely defined and yet controlling many of the outcomes in the novel.

Once again, some of the issues I had with the previous novel are still there. The spirit powers, for one, who actively influence events but never reveal their reasonings are still annoying. It simply results in their use as plot devices, to present problems or offer tidy solutions without any real explanation. The use of magic is also still very erratic.

But other than that, the story itself is actually very engrossing. The depth of characterization has improved, as has the writing style, which flows more easily now. I'd say this was a lot better than the prior novels, and was a very satisfying read.

4.0 out of 5 stars very nice sequel to sorcerer's treason, January 21, 2010

By 

Shante R. Morris "tayzer_1" (Sacto, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Firebird's Vengeance: A Novel of Isavalta (Hardcover)

I thought this was a well-written and well thought out sequel to a sorcerer's treason. it tied up all loose ends and allowed for a possible third book re: bridget and her adventures in isavalta.