Customer Reviews

The Lesser Kindred (Tor fantasy)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I wasn't sure Elizabeth Kerner could write a sequel that would live up to the first, but she has. One of the best parts of "Song in the Silence" was the element of discovery, wonder, learning and new emotions. To my delight, I found everything that made the first book so entertaining in this book.

Soon after Lanen and Varien are married, they must leave (not that Lanen would settle down anyway). The demonmaster Berys is still after her. The prophecy about "Marik of Gundar's blood and bone" means that Berys needs Lanen, and he will stop at nothing to get her. But, for all the darkness of the plot, "The Lesser Kindred" gives the reader a wide range of emotions. There are moments of fear, anger, joy, wonder, happiness, disgust and laughter. This is part of what makes this sequel so enjoyable.

The beginning of the book is kind of slow for anyone who read the first book. The characters take a long time to conveniently remember everything that happened to them in the first book. After that, though, the plot and the rest of the book really take off. Elizabeth Kerner brings back the multiple first-person format of her first novel. This might interfere or cause confusion for some readers, but overall, it is a good device. The reader can see the characters thoughts and plans before they are revealed to the other characters.

Lanen, Varien, Shikrar, Idai, Kedra, Berys, Jamie, Rella, Marik and Maikel return. The characters are developed further while staying within the personalities they showed in the first book. New characters, including more healers and more dragons, are introduced. The elements of Farspeech, soulgems, demons, healing, lansip and dragons also return.

In all, I think this is a fabulous sequel. It doesn't stray from the ideas, rules and personalities of the first book, but it also has new and surprising revelations. And yes, it does have a cliffhanger ending. Never fear. Elizabeth Kerner is hard at work on the third book.

In her quest to find the mythical great dragons, Lanen Kaelar found love (see SONG IN THE SILENCE). Lanen and her beloved Varien, a great dragon in human clothing, are married and bound even closer by the Truespeech or Farspeech (brain to brain communication without the middle "man" the voice) depending in which species' vernacular one uses.

Life should be ideal for the couple, but alas evil still exists. One malevolent demon controlling the sorcerer Berys, strongly believes Lanen is the answer to an ancient prophecy, which he ultimately plans to bend to his benefit. He sets in motion his endeavor by sending his horde to abduct Lanen, who he plans to give to his demons. Only Varien and a few brave individuals stand in the way of the demons completing the opening phases of Berys' quest, but in the end it remains for Lanen to try to save dragonkind and humankind.

THE LESSER KINDRED is an entertaining fantasy tale that diehard fans will enjoy. The story is filled with action although reading Truespeech conversations leaves the audience feeling like voyeurs. The tale ends in a cliffhanger that makes the plot seem incomplete and requires readers to obtain book three if they want closure. Sub-genre fans that relish an intrepid female lead allied with dragons in battle against sorcerers and demons will enjoy Elizabeth Kerner's tale.

Harriet Klausner

When I read the first book I thought it was good, but when I read the secound book, Wow, I could not get enough! The first book was filled with action, drama, and romance. This one was filled with more action, drama, and a whole lot more romance! Now that I put the book down, well I'm waiting for the last book to come out in paperback. And now that I must wait, I'm tapping my pencil and chewing on my finger nails, I can't wait! But I'm disapointed because the books have to end so soon. Elizabeth Kerner is so talented I want more! I'm writting my own books and look up to Elizabeth as an idal, I'm a huge fan of her books. And now that the books are ending so soon, I don't know what to look for next. I just hope she will write another series that will be as good as this one. I want to be a famouse Author and working on a book right now called Elegant Sea.

After reading _Song In The Silence_, I looked on line to see if there would be a second book. I hoped so, (there was the prophesy to wrap up and the Lost to restore) but if one didn't get published, still, there was closure. Not so with _The Lesser Kindred_. I wasn't expecting this to be a trilogy, so when the book ended so suddenly (really, one could say it didn't end) I was left yelling "Argh!" for about oh, 5 minutes at least. I mean, Elizabeth Kerner writes so well, that when reading, you get involved with her characters as if they were your own friends that you've known all your life. And to those of you my age and older, it was very like seeing Empire Strikes Back in the theaters and knowing you'll have to wait roughly 2 years before the next one comes out. "We're going to get Han, meet us at Tatooine" (Not the real quote, just the essence here...) "Argh!", I say, "Argh!" I can only hope that it doesn't take as long for the third book in /this/ series to get published as it did between the first and second books. Because I've fallen in love with this story. I recommend Miss Kerner's work to everyone who likes fantasy, but I recommend waiting for the third book to come out _before_ you buy this one. That way you'll be able to just put down the cliffhanger and pick up the next book without yelling "Argh!" and waking up your cats, the way I did.

This book is good and very realistic, but it has some major faults. First off it makes the reader sit through 50 pages of redundant wedding bliss.It seems that Lanen is too happy and the world too perfect. What i'm trying to say is that it is to good to be true. When the story finally gets going, Kerner spends more time talking about Berys and Marek thans does with Lanen and Varien. That information about the antagonists may become crucail later but it's definetly not crucial now. The Lesser Kindred is one of those books you read once and never revisit.

This book is definately a very worthy sequel to the first one. It pulled me right back in and wrapped me up in the story.

Elizabeth Kerner's writing is some of the best I have read. Ever. Inclusive of Tolkien. Her books have earned a place of honor on my shelves, and I frequently pull them out to read my favorite bits over again.

Only one thing about this book bothered. And that was that it ended. I would gladly have kept reading for another 500 pages if they'd been there. But now I have to wait for the third book!

Anyway. This book is worthy of anyone's time, and should be on all your shelves, right next to the first one.

I recently came across this book after reading The Song in the Silence & I was amazed at what a great sequel it was!! Now I am just waiting for the third!!!

Recently I read both of Elizabeth Kerner's books back to back. I can't remember when I have enjoyed reading more. Her stories are so unique and her use of the written word a pleasure to immerse myself in. She truly helps you to feel all that her characters experience; good or bad. You feel every emotion and I for one found much I could relate to in many of the characters dilemas. Run don't walk to the nearest book store to buy these books.

The Lesser Kindred is the breath-taking sequel to Song in the Silence, continuing the story of Lanen Kaeler and her born again husband. Kerner writes with the same resonance as in her first book, and gives the reader a deeper look into the wonderfully vivid characters and their all too fragile world Kolmar. Starting out precisely where her last book left off helps the reader get into the book all the more quickly. Do not be put off by the repetive first chapters of the newly wedded couple, the story takes off soon enough. As with the first book, The Lesser Kindred weaves several plots seamlessly together, leaving the reader enthralled and wanting more. The final book in the trilogy, tentatively titled Redeeming the Lost, is due out the summer of 2004. I know that anyone who reads this book will be marking their calenders for this coming summer. Song in the Silence and Reedeming the Lost are honestly two of the best fantasy books out there!

This is a continuation of what we now know is a trilogy (Song in the Silence is the first book, which you really do need to read first).

The book is a little slow at the beginning, but so was the first one ... it builds up quickly, though, and we learn a lot more about dragons, soulgems, healers, and the demon network. We meet a couple new characters who are obviously going to be pivotal in the third book ... and learn about the Lesser Kindred, too.

All in all, a graceful continuation of the story begun in Song in the Silence - and as others have noted, it ends with an incredible cliffhanger!! The next book must be coming out soon, I hope?? I don't know how much longer I can wait!!