Customer Reviews

Flight of the Renshai (Renshai Chronicles)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Mickey Zucker Reichert manages the near impossible: coming up with new plot twists that surprise the reader yet feel completely right. Favorite characters from the previous two (also highly recommended) Renshai trilogies appear, but you don't need to have read the earlier books to appreciate this one. The characters - old and new - develop in interesting ways, and they grapple with problems personal and communal, universal and unique, in a world that, for all the fantasy elements, rings true from sheltered towns to gritty battlefields. Here's to speeding on the next book!

This book picks up where the Renshai Chronicles left off. Another generation but still some of the same characters. I'm looking forward to more.

MZR imho has no equal in creating swordsman (and women) of peerless abilities.
She has a knack for creating believable charactors that have a richness to them and her swordplay scenes are to die for.

Here's hoping we won't have to wait too long for the next installment of this engrossing saga.

Mickey Zucker Reichery is one of my three or four favorite authors, and she keeps on getting better with time.

It's wonderful to be back in the world of the Renshai - this is yet another of her books I can't stop reading until it's finished, and I keep returning to for the emotional and instinctual charge. I'm glad she chose to continue with the story of the characters from the previous Renshai trilogy (and their children, as it's been a few years). As with the first series, there's a new combative enemy who will tax the peoples of the West, the North and the East, take all the skill of the most disciplined Renshai, the elves and the skill of another mysterious and almost extinct tribe of people to hold off. They're merely introduced in this volume, but you can already tell this is a battle that will make the Great War and even the Ragnarok look like practice.

King Griff of Bearn has no time to mourn the loss of his son Prince Arturo from a pirate assault as the menace on the Southern Sea has gown out of control. Likewise the Renshai who lost loved ones protecting the prince have no time to grieve as they are under assault too.

The Northmen have persuaded many in Erthyame that the Renshai stole their land from them. Pressure mounts on King Griff to make reparations starting with exiling the Renshai from the Westlands to the Eastlands at a time he needs their warrior skills to complement his Erthyane Knights. As the Northmen mounts attacks abetted by the organized pirates and Giants on the retreating Renshai, the sons of heroic Kevral Tainharsdatter try to bring leadership to the trek, but Saviar and Calistin Ra-khirsson and Subikahn Taesson have personal demons and issues to overcome as well.

This opening act of another Renshai chronicle is a terrific entry into the wonderful swashbuckling fantasy world of Mickey Zucker Reichert. The story line occurs about two decades after the last trilogy (see The Children of the Wrath)) ends and starst the next generation of heroes. Readers of the saga will fully relish the return to the Westlands and beyond as this is a fresh beginning to the third saga yet it contains all the sword and fantasy play fans expect.


Harriet Klausner

It has been several long years since Mickey Zucker Reichert wrote a new novel in the Renshai series. Since her previous Renshai novel she has written a few decent short stories and the frankly poor Barakhai novels. Along with the Nightfall books the Renshai books are her best work. So which category was this newest Renshai novel going to fall into?

Fortunately for us this continues the excellent traditions started by the original series'. Where the Barakhai books were very limited in scope here Reichert falls back into the rich Norse mythology as she follows the development of Kevral's three children, picking up where she left off.

I was pleased with the references to the older books but they don't consume the story. There is room for the main character's own stories where she explores some social issues. Readers familiar with the previous stories will be comfortable with the Renshai attitudes, the Knights of Erythane's honor etc.

I do recommend reading the previous series' starting with "Last of the Renshai" before you pick this one up. When you finally do read this one it will seem like catching up with an long time friend.

If your view of fiction would be enhanced by a homosexual relationship in the storyline then here's a book for you. I've enjoyed immensely the first five books I've read by MZR, but this one has left an opening in my list of favorite authors. I would not have spent my money on this had I known. You at least have the opportunity to make up your mind before spending your money on this product for yourself or your kids.