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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It took my breath away, July 29, 2008
This review is from: The King's Shield (Inda, Book 3) (Hardcover)
The characters, the cultures, and the countries are so vivid and three dimensional and there is such a rich back story - this world feels *real*... it is more like reading Tolstoy or George Eliot than a work of fantasy, in that sense. The solidity and depth of the setting and culture are felt rather than described and the characters' complexities reveal themselves naturally over time.
The first two books, Inda and Fox, introduced us to the characters and the world:
In the first we are shown Inda as a boy going off to a military academy, drawn into the complex ties of aristocratic kinship, and given a glimpse of the intricacies of politics and personality. We saw Inda, still so young!, rushed off into a bewildering exile and learned with him the ways of the sea... only to watch that world too disintegrate for him.
The second book: Piracy, teamwork, strategy & tactics - and lots of action at sea and for those back at home in the next book. ...and, deliciously, an ever deeper and more subtle exploration of character, of friendship, and of politics.
King's Shield takes all the beauty, depth, complexity, and richness of the previous books and brings it all home - literally and figuratively. For me, this book was the ultimate payoff for the investment I have made in this world and these characters. I consider it one of the best works of fantasy I have ever read - the intricate, tightly woven plot (and no lack of breath taking action!) which both drew me into a passionate caring for the characters and made me really think about war, about conscience, responsibility, friendship, love, duty... and the hard choices that we all face.
This wasn't a light, easy read - not a delicate, slightly frothy fantasy romance. Crown Duel, Trouble with Kings, Sashiara en Garde, and the lovely short story in Lace and Blade are all beautiful examples of that genre - magical, special books, but lacking the depth and complexity of the Inda series. King's Shield drew me into it almost at once, but demanded my attention, my focus...my heart, but that investment was exponentially rewarded.
So, if you love character driven fantasy with strong, intelligent plotting - read this series... read it now!
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
solid next step in a wonderful story, July 2, 2008
This review is from: The King's Shield (Inda, Book 3) (Hardcover)
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this series. It is a wonderful story of a group of people who are very diverse, who grow and love and make us cry. The story is large and interesting, political background, personal and family stories, battles and pirates, it is all in there, and it makes sense, no sudden miracle solutions and trite plot devices. There are lots of surprises and a lot of emotions, I am deeply involved with these people and I truly enjoy spending time with them all, they are so real and intensely drawn. Great!
Although I love Sherwood Smith, I waited for "Inda" in paperback because I could not imagine that I would be interested in a story about a warrior culture in a medieval-feel setting and a hero who was a young boy who goes to military academy. I do not regret buying it, bought "Fox" in Hardcover and pre-ordered this book as soon as I could, in hardcover. I am not disappointed. Great story, great characters, very gripping.
The reasons I gave 4 stars, not 5:
I have to work quite a bit to get back into the story and the characters - there are very many, and many strands of story - this is concentration work, as I do not have the time to re-read both stories that came before. I do not like authors who make endless recaps, but I like to have someone fill in another character a little, or a short moment of someone thinking back to a big event, just to get back into the names and big events. There are lots of details about Inda' childhood, but very few about the larger political story, so I have to strain a bit to rediscover all those bits and pieces, and connect the names to some important people. It would help if the list of characters and terms was included in a glossary at the back, and I did not have to go online to Sherwood Smith's site to find all that.
Second, this was announced as the final book of a trilogy. I bought it under this premise, and I very much looked forward to a satisfying ending to a great story. I really hate endless series, I want endings at some point. So finding out that there will be a 4th book was a strong disappointment for me.
Otherwise, strongly recommended, but start at the beginning, no way you can enjoy this series starting with this book.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
nothing to be disappointed about..., July 13, 2008
This review is from: The King's Shield (Inda, Book 3) (Hardcover)
The third book in the series and still captivating. I disagree with readers who want quickly-solved dilemmas,1-2-3, done! I certainly do not complain about the series going into a 4th or 5th book. I believe and trust in the author to know where she wants to lead us. I 'd rather enjoy and look forward to reading more chapters and more developments of the story than expecting it to end forcibly to meet a 'three-volume-only' requirement.
Besides, the author is right on target with her yearly issue of the new sequel. And who said it's boring because there's no fights or battles involved? Personal and inner conflicts are just as important in the characters as their prowess versus nature or antagonists.
Two thumbs up for Sherwood Smith's books and series!!!
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