The Riven Shield (The Sun Sword, Book 5) [Mass Market Paperback]

Michelle West (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2003

In the fifth novel of the Sun Sword series, acclaimed author Michelle West returns to a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The characters are interesting and their culture intriguing." -Locus



"A marvelous way to escape the cares and woes of the day...this compelling tale builds up a tremendous momentum that will keep you reading far into the night." -Romantic Times

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 832 pages
• Publisher: DAW (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756401461
• ISBN-13: 978-0756401467
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #669,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an entertaining read..., July 3, 2003

By 

Ruby (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Riven Shield (The Sun Sword, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

i cannot tell you how disappointed i was to find out that this was not the last book of the sun sword series. i mean, it's not that i wanted it to end so quickly, but i had really wanted to read the ending.
alright, i'll be honest. i really wanted to read the part in which Serra Diora and Ser Valedan finally meet.
but i was also looking forward to the war (Kiriel and Lord Isladar, General Marente and The Flight).
but then i read Ms. West's note in the beginning of the book, explaining that the manuscript she was writing was going to be more than 2000 pages and that she was nearly finished with the sixth book. My disappointment was mollified, but not abated.
But then i started reading the book, and just as with the books previous to it, i was captivated by its story. i'm constantly awed by west's ability to create such an intricate world, such an interesting peoples with their own cultures. there are times, of course, when west becomes verbose, but then she decides to switch perspectives and i am once again drawn back into the story.
I have always liked Marakas par el Sol, and was pleased to see his part in the fifth book. We also get to learn more about Anya a'Cooper's history, and i end up feeling sympathy for the strangely naive, mad, powerful woman. The character of Serra Alina di Lamberto is also further developed, as are the wives of the Callestan and Lambertan Tyrs. The book ends with the beginning battles of the war: general marente's men fighting within Lamberto. But i'd have to say that my favorite part of this novel is the relationship that is being developed between Avandar and Jewel. (i've always had a soft spot for him. him, and Kallandras, and Devon ATerafin, and Valedan, and...)
All in all, Michelle West has turned in an expectedly captivating continuation to her story.
But i look forward to January, when the Sixth book will finally be released.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding addition (no spoilers), July 5, 2003

By 

"[e-mail]" (Alexandra Hills, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Riven Shield (The Sun Sword, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

First up, perhaps for me the most refreshing aspect was that you can actually see the threads starting to come back together for the conclusion. So often in multi-volume series these days the threads just get further away and yet in this book you can actually tell that the author knows what they're doing.

I'm biased in that I think this series is the best fantasy series being written today, if you didn't like her other books than you might not like this one because her style is consistent across this series. Having said that, I love her style; weighted sentences, emotions that aren't fed to the reader and an underpinning of intelligent writing all make this series and this book especially work for me.

Don't get me wrong, as a reader you have to work when reading this book. It's not a Jordan of Goodkind where you can read one page in five and still not lose a single plot, this book and series requires effort. However few books for me have ever rewarded me so handsomely for that effort.

Anyway, just an opinion. :)

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is worth ten stars, January 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Riven Shield (The Sun Sword, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

I hate buying or borrowing a book that turns out to be disappointing and as I'd never read a Michelle West book before, I didn't know what to expect when I saw "The Broken Crown" on the shelf and decided to get it. A few days later I went out and bought every Michelle West book I could find. Each one seems to get better and better, although I think they're all equally good. I've read and re-read every book in this series a number of times. Each time I get something new out of it, or read a line I hadn't focussed on before that illuminates a new angle in the story.
"The Riven Shield" is magnificent. I love it.

Michelle West is my favourite author. I hope that she lives to two hundred years at least and never stops writing these wonderful books that are just magical.