Customer Reviews

Kings of the North (The Deed of Paksenarrion)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Kings of the North is a middle book of a series. It's the kind of series Moon tends toward, where the set of books will tell one unified story. This means that Kings starts with events in motion from the recent past as described in Oath of Fealty (and from the more-distant past, with much that is intriguing but not yet explained), and it ends with a resolution to one subplot, but with lots of things left unfinished (and at least one surprise just barely begun) to carry into the rest of the series. It is a journey and not a destination. But I really got caught up in the journey. I'd intended to save the book until I had a little more time ... and then I intended to read a little ... and then I finished it in a day. I am easy to lose at the point where a book like this switches points of view and locations, but it didn't happen here.

I enjoy the mix of world-building and characters. Most of the main characters continue from Oath and from the earlier Deed of Paksennarrion, but there are new ones as well. All are well-rounded; many I'd love to sit in the pub with over a mug of ale, though some I'd rather not meet in a dark alley - or anywhere else. I like the sense of integrity in most of the characters, and the way that integrity doesn't mean that they are all straight-laced, or all in agreement with each other. I like the way the followers of the different religions respect each other. I like the way information about how-things-work is dropped in along the way without derailing the narrative (we learn bits about the management of a bankers guild, running a noble's estate, and training squires, among other things). Overall, I like this book even more than I did Oath, and that's saying something. The only thing I dislike is waiting for the next one.

Being the second book in the "Paladin's Legacy" I recommend reading "Oath of Fealty" beforehand.

If you truly wish to fully indulge into this universe make sure to read "The Deed of Paksenarrion" and "The Legacy of Gird".

I will not give any spoilers here but as a fan of the series for over 10 years now I can honestly say this is a great continuation and should make Elizabeth very proud.

This series just keeps giving us new aspects of the world that Paksenarrion has irrecoverably altered. Background and realism permeate the covers and make it feel as if I could step inside and be a part of their world.

I eagerly am anticipating the next installment to what should be on everyone's top series to read!

Former mercenary leader Kieri Phelan has become the King of Lyonya while Mikeli is crowned ruler of Tsaia. At the same time Senior Captain of the Second Cohort mercenary company Dorrin has become the Duke of Verrakai. All have come a long way, but now are targets of assassins whose employers covet both aristocratic positions.

One of the biggest threats to both kingdoms comes from newly self-proclaimed Duke Visla Vaskronin. However, Kieri also deals with imminent war with neighboring Pargun. He pleads with his elven grandmother the Lady to help him and their kingdom that she rules along with him, but she fails to assist him. He knows it is up to him to keep Lyonya safe. At the same time Mikeli feels he must act to destroy what is left of the evil Verrakaien magelords.

The second entry in the second Paks world series follows the key characters closely as the two monarchs and the dukes adapt to new duties not always successfully. There is plenty of off page major events, but those are seen passively through the eyes of the lead protagonists rather than in person by the reader. Thus, the pace is at best moderate speed, but fans of a cerebral character driven fantasy will enjoy the journey into the center of the minds of Kieri, Mikeli, Dorrin and somewhat less Visla.

Harriet Klausner

I've been eagerly awaiting this newest installment in Moon's fantasy series. I've been a fan for years since I purchased Sheepfarmer's Daughter just after it was released. King's of the North certainly lives up to my expectations.

The book picks up from where Oath of Fealty left off, following Kieri Phelan's growth as King of Lyonya, Jandelir Arcolin's experiences as Captain and successor to Kieri as Warden of the Northern Marches, and other major and minor characters familiar from the earlier books.

I don't want to spoil things for readers, suffice it to say that Kieri is finding it difficult to balance the affairs of men and elves in Lyonya, and also finding his grandmother less cooperative than he'd hoped. While Pargun is becoming increasingly hostile. Dorrin, now Duke Verrakai, is also finding it difficult to adjust to her new rank and her powers as a magelord. The situation is Aarenis is becoming more complex and Arcolin is having trouble with both bandits and southern politics. Secrets of ancient Aare are surfacing and the current generation of humans and Elders (elves, dwarves and gnomes) are facing the consequences of events from long ago. We also find out more about the elder races -- seeing not only the magic of elves but that of the rockfolk (dwarves and gnomes)and even a dragon. It shouldn't come as a great surprise to find that not all non-humans are benevolent, and while they may be powerful, they aren't perfect and make mistakes.

I will caution readers that since this is the second book of a trilogy, it is a very poor choice to start the series. Familiarity with the characters from the earlier books is assumed, and if you haven't at least read Oath of Fealty, the book won't make much sense, so by all means read the earlier books. I would recommend starting from the beginning and reading all three books of the original trilogy: Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance, and Oath of Gold (collected in The Deed of Paksenarrion omnibus edition) before tackling Oath of Fealty and Kings of the North. Picking up the Legacy of Gird omnibus (Surrender None and Liar's Oath)wouldn't hurt, but isn't required.

It's also worth noting that the book isn't linear, the plot has several different threads following different characters through events that are often parallel in time, weaving towards the climax that will undoubtedly follow in the third book. This is characteristic of Moon's writing as far as I can tell, and if that format annoys or distracts you, be forewarned.

The books is also slow to start. Although I found it fairly engrossing most of the time, there are points at which it drags a bit. I don't see this as a major drawback considering the author's skill at weaving an interesting plot. It is also fairly heavy on character development, although it has enough action to satisfy me.

Overall I found the book well worth the price and a highly enjoyable read.

I enjoyed the story of Paksenarrion. After waiting for years for more Oath of Fealty was a pleasure to read. I waited anxiously for this book to be released and found it hard to put down. It passed my test for a really good book, I was disappointed to reach the last page. I will anxiously await the next book in the series.

One of the annoying aspects of fantasy literature is that over the course of a series, a protagonist will shake a world to its roots, and then the author fails to tell the readers what happened next. How did the survivors manage to pull their world back together? In The Deed of Paksenarrion: A Novel, the protagonist, Paksennarion Dorthansdotter, caused changes that reverberated through her world. Twenty-two years later, with Oath of Fealty, Elizabeth Moon finally took up the task too many fantasy authors have ignored: what happened next?

With Kings of the North (The Deed of Paksenarrion), Moon continues that tale. It really is a continuation of the same story taken up in "Oath," and it's reasonably clear that the entire series (now projected at five volumes) will be one continuous story, much as "Deed" was originally published as three novels. The story continues to follow mostly Dorrin and Arcolin, former captains in Duke Phelani's mercenary corps, and Phelani himself, the unexpected king of the joint human-elvish kingdom of Lyonya. Shorter amounts of time are spent with King Mikeli in Tsaia. Moon brings back two vivd characters from "Deed": Arvid Semminson, the Thieves' Guild member - but not a thief himself - from the middle book of "Deed," and Count Andressat, the proud, arrogant ruler of Cortes Andres, who can trace his ancestry back a hundred generations.

Moon also brings in a wholly new character, a matter we and the other characters thought St. Camwyn had dealt with centuries before. There's a bit of deus ex machina involved, but since that same character is in a sense the cause of the problem it (he?) solves, it's not annoying. And that part of the tale is extremely well written.

And in the continued story of the Lady of the Ladyforest, the queen of the elvenhome, she has created a complex, conflicted and ambiguous character. Paks had already shown that the Lady was far from infallible. Perhaps it is something more.

But Moon needs to be careful. In Dorrin, she has one extremely powerful, nearly undefeatable character; the surprise character introduced in "Kings" seems even more powerful. Too many invincible characters can ruin a story, sap it of tension by robbing the characters of danger. King Kieri would do well to hold on to those arrows he found, just in case.

A long fantasy story needs both minor and major villains. "Kings" sets up both, and entertains the reader at the same time. It's a small slice of a longer story. We can really only judge it when the tale is finished. But Moon does a very good job of balancing the set up for the longer tale and action in the book before us. A long fantasy story also needs a mystery, and in the mysterious, magical regalia Moon has created a fine one. We know, from "Oath," exactly what the regalia wants. The mystery is whether it gets it.

This story is better written, and better plotted than the earlier "Deed," and less dark than the two volume prequel, The Legacy of Gird (Trade Paperback). Moon seems serious about getting it completed timely (volume 3 is written, volume 4 is well under way). So the Jordan problem (a/k/a Martin problem) isn't present.

A fine tale, set in a vivid universe, well-told. It has the flaws you'd expect from a transition volume in a multi-volume series, but there's enough action to keep the reader intrigued, and enough surprise to please. Strongly recommended.

While this is not a quick read, it fleshes out so much more of the world of Paksenarrion that just reading it for that is worth the time and money. That there is a wonderful story being told is a great bonus.

The story continues from where Oath of Fealty left off, Dorrin is continuing her battle with her family estates, Master Thief not a Thief Arvid is off to Fin Panir to tell his tales about Paks, Kieri is trying to heal the rift between the humans and elfs all the while being pressured into marrying and producing heirs, there are still troubles in Aarenis, and on and on. Secrets are revealed, more magic and mystical things occur, and people learn that what they have always believed to be true isn't necessarily the truth.

The best keep getting better - not just Moon and her glorious series, but each character is enriched and challenged to grow, each relationship and sub plot gets richer, each approach to justice and ethics and strength of character is embellished. the whole world of Paks and Gird gets better. Each time I read or reread a book in this series I find new meanings for me as a person and greater fondness for this whole realm as a playground for ideas and visions. I was happy to finish reading Kings of the North, not because I like being left in mid space between this book and the next, but because I get the pleasure of rereading it and rereading and rethinking the other volumes.

And I do feel the new developments of dragons and older races in Kings of the North has expanded the potential of the series way beyond its current bounds. This opens the door to many more books to be treasured. I eagerly await not one more but many.


Finally, thanks amazon for shipping my pre-order so fast.

I absolutely loved the Deeds of Paksenarian, but this series has gone downhill since then. I'm not saying they're not worth reading, but the thrill is gone, and this book is more than a little confusing. What's with the attitude of Keri's grandmother all of a sudden? This book goes in too many directions, and I kept getting whiplash. I wish they'd have stuck with one character or another.

I like the series, and this book is an excellent continuation of that. I like the subtle weaving of the plots, and the mystery of things yet to come.

Elizabeth Moon is doing an excellent job of taking old threads and weaving them into a fascinating new carpet of theme and ideas to move the various plots and stories forward into one big, bubbling stew of possibilities.

My only complaints are:
1. The book was not long enough,
2. The next book doesn't have a publish date,
3. I don't live in Paksworld.

Fantastic!