The Hidden City: The House Wars: Book One [Hardcover]

Michelle West (Author)

Book Description

Series: House wars | Publication Date: March 4, 2008

The incredible story that fans of The Sun Sword series have been waiting to read-the battle for control of House Terafin-from a writer of "talent and depth."*

Orphaned and left to fend for herself in the slums of Averalaan, Jewel Markess- Jay to her friends-meets an unlikely savior in Rath, a man who prowls the ruins of the undercity. Nursing Jay back to health is an unusual act for a man who renounced his own family long ago, and the situation becomes stranger still when Jay begins to form a den of other rescued children in Rath's home. But worse perils lurk beneath the slums: the demons that once nearly destroyed the Essalieyan Empire are stirring again, and soon Rath and Jay will find themselves targets of these unstoppable beings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michelle West has also published short stories and fantasy novels under her maiden name, Michelle Sagara. A two-time nominee for the Campbell Award, she writes a book column for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 624 pages
• Publisher: DAW Hardcover; 1 edition (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756404703
• ISBN-13: 978-0756404703
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,459 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars too many inconsistencies, February 8, 2009

By 

E. J. Lewis (TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Hidden City: The House Wars: Book One (Hardcover)

I love Michelle West's books - I've read all the Hunter/Sword books, Elantra, Sundered, short stories, etc. That being said, I was *very* disappointed in this book. There are many inconsistencies between the flashbacks in the Sword books, and the story in Hidden City. I kept going back to my copy of the other books, and sure enough, she was re-writing history. I knew enough about what happened before we met Jewel and her den. What I wanted to know was what happened when Jewel left the Voyanni! I'm not sure how she is going to connect the new book (Hidden city) and the book I really want to read, which continues the story of the adult Jewel, and Adam, and the House. If that is also the story you are looking for, I guess we will just have to keep waiting.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT - pulls you in, June 8, 2009

By 

bijou2311 "bijou2311" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Hidden City: The House Wars: Book One (Mass Market Paperback)

Hidden City begins with Jewel (or Jay as she is known to her friends) trying to steal from Rath. She manages to take his money and he tracks her down. He lets her keep the money with a promise to repay him and when he comes back to the bridge she has been living under he finds her sick. So, he takes her back to his place to nurse her back to health - an act that he says is totally out of character for him. The rest of the book is the story of a developing relationship (not sexual or romantic relationship, but of a more father-daughter or student-teacher relationship) between Rath and Jay. He begins to care deeply for her, enough to let her bring various other children back to his home. He risks his life for her and her friends more than once, but don't expect that just because they are children they don't pull their own weight.

I have to say that I really enjoyed the book. It is over 600 pages long, and believe it or not I read it in one sitting (was up until 5 in the morning). The author creates another world that just pulls you into and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Jay is an unusual child with unusual skills. She is very stubborn and strong, but also very caring. I like seeing the character development in both her and Rath.

There is a sequel to this book coming sometime in 2010 supposedly. Also, this book is supposedly a prequel to some of the author's earlier written works - the Hunter's Oath Series and Sun Sword Series. I haven't read either series so I don't know how they compare to this book or how this book fits in with them. But this book on its own is fantastic - one of the best fantasy books I've read. The author also writes the Elantra series under the name of Michelle Sagara, and I am enjoying that series as well. I hope that you read this book - it is well written with interesting and dynamic characters that grab your attention and don't let go. ENJOY!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent read from Michelle West!, April 14, 2008

By 

Dorothy P. Gray (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Hidden City: The House Wars: Book One (Hardcover)

First I have to say that in my opinion, Michelle West is a writer in the same category of excellence as the recently deceased Robert Jordan. I loved reading The Hidden City, it was great to have something new from West to read. I read the Sun Sword series 3 or 4 times!

This book reminds me of the first volume in West's Sun Sword series, in that it focuses extensively on one character (Jewel) and the people and circumstances that shaped her. She also uses this volume to set the stage for future plot developments-it's clear that there's more to come.

I was already familiar with Jewel from West's earlier novels (I believe she makes her first appearance in the second of the Sacred Hunt books--Hunter's Death). If you have loved West's other books, you'll love this one. If you haven't read her books yet, I suggest you begin with the Sacred Hunt--a 2 book series, then move on to the Sun Sword series. Maybe by then, the House War triology will be completed and you won't have a long wait between books.