Customer Reviews

Sea of Sorrows (The Sun Sword, Book 4)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Michelle West (Sagara)presents us with the 4th in the sunsword saga. It satisfies. Not only does it evolve and change all those characters that you come to care about, or wonder about, in earlier books as far back as hunter's oath and hunter's death, but it is a fine story without weighing in any past knowledge because of the way it is told. Michelle West tells stories. Stories within the stories, laying down cycles of beautiful meaning and meaningfulness that both echoe and resonate (I am not being redundant). At four times the size, this reminds me most of the writing of Patricia A. McKillip. There is care taken with words, and what is not said, implication as important as meaning. We get to see Jewel, who is still collecting people to care about, and we get to see those people for whom she takes responsibility evolve in turn as she is compelled to follow the path layed down by her power. The Kialli show faces other than demonic. The end of days begins, the signs seen in the reactions of characters rather that in flatly portrayed narative of portents. There are rivalries and understandings. As I said before, satisfying. The wonder is that there is so much in the 800 pages, and so well done that it seems like little. Like the Shining Court (book 3), very little time is gone through, and all current events point in directions both past and future. This is one of my favorite series to reread, and this latest volume is a welcome addition. At the rate (world timescale/events) that the plot is moving, it is hard to believe that the series could end in anything less than four volumes more (even at 800 pages each) let alone in the one planned. Nor would I want it to. Well written, well plotted, with characters I care for, I grab up, and read, the books in this series as soon as they appear. They are something to look forward to each year, and something to keep handy on my shelf for when only a comfort book will do. I hope all of the rest of you enjoy them as well.

I had given up on finding any new good fantasy writers. The genre seems bent on churning out masses of barely decent volumes. Then I picked up The Uncrowned King by West about 2 year ago and I was HOOKED. The only bad part about this series is the wait between each successive novel. The history and complexity of the series is comparable to Jordan's The Wheel of Time. Unlike Jordan, however, West can WRITE. One gets the feeling this series is so long (this 4th book doesn't seem to be even close to the end), only because the scope and depth of this carefully developed world and its multiple nuances and lavishly rich history cannot be bound by a mere 3 volumes. But it is definitely going somewhere, unlike the aimless wanderings of Jordan's series. (The Wheel of Time? You get the feeling even Jordan's forgotten exactly what his point was).

West's style is incredible. Her ability to capture emotions is comparable to another favorite author or mine, Guy Gavriel Kay. If anyone knows how I can get a hold of her to find out when te 5th book is making an appearance, please let me know.

I had given up on finding any new good fantasy writers. The genre seems bent on churning out masses of barely decent volumes. Then I picked up The Uncrowned King by West about 2 year ago and I was HOOKED. The only bad part about this series is the wait between each successive novel. The history and complexity of the series is comparable to Jordan's The Wheel of Time. Unlike Jordan, however, West can WRITE. One gets the feeling this series is so long (this 4th book doesn't seem to be even close to the end), only because the scope and depth of this carefully developed world and its multiple nuances and lavishly rich history cannot be bound by a mere 3 volumes. But it is definitely going somewhere, unlike the aimless wanderings of Jordan's series. (The Wheel of Time? You get the feeling even Jordan's forgotten exactly what his point was).

West's style is incredible. Her ability to capture emotions is comparable to another favorite author or mine, Guy Gavriel Kay. If anyone knows how I can get a hold of her to find out when te 5th book is making an appearance, please let me know.

Again the conflicts of honour and obligation, duty and conscience bring human lanscapes together with regional boundaries. For Jewel we see a struggle to accept a new den and make them her own, in Kallandras a hope for kinship in a battle fought against a kialli thrall where he finds an ally, a brother that he had not looked for, the Voyani matriarch has to balance family and survival against the bitterness of her mother's death and her cousin's betrayal.

In Essalieyan Jewel leaves the care of House Terafin to her den, she struggles with more knowledge of her domicis, Avandar, than she had ever asked for and finds that her power is recognised, but her inability to play by any rules other than her own carve a path and yield companions that she is yet to come to terms with. In the Dominion Teresa confronts her brother and choses a path that leads her to the side of a Voyani Matriarch, Diora seeks to reconcile her losses and finds both animosity and friendship with Margret, the Arkosan who should have inherited her mother's legacy. Evayne, as ever, is both the victim of her own fate and the perpetrator of theirs.

Valedan kai di'Leonne makes progress, imprints his honour and sense of justice on older clansmen, who are, in spite of themselves, impressed. Isladar of the Kialli has his own sense of honour and though he does not advance his place in the war, he does himself harm to save Kiriel, whose affection and bitter regard he has in equal measure.

The personal histories blend with ancient paths that are a poignant reminder that it is the players who make history. The world is changing, and the recognition that some beauties are lost in order turn the world, is strong. In this latest work by Michelle West you will find action and contemplation - a fast moving story that speaks of contemporary strength and the path of memory.

I tend to agree with most reviews stating that it's difficult to find a good contemporary fantasy writer. When a wonderful one surfaces, their books are nothing short of cherished gems. I absorbed all 830 pages of this book in less then a week for a mixture of reasons- first off, West's unique, descriptive and elegant writing style has captivated me. Each sentence is a pleasure to my eyes and my imagination.

Second, as her cast continues on its course of development, she falters not one bit in the focus of the novel. There's always something new, exciting, and building. Her level of suspense is something that you have to understand, with how she works at her novels to build and build for a good three to five hundred pages (which aren't, in the least sense, a nag to read... even what many people might consider "slow" sections of this novel are impressive alone by her writing) before the hard action occurs, and usually by that point, as it was in particular with this book, I found myself incapable of putting down the novel until its completion.

Lastly, despite how accustomed I am to her style and the manner in which she portrays her characters and handles them, she still can get me running through a box of tissues at the end, with his novel of know exception. Some people think it's foolish to cry at the end of a fantasy novel, but I believe that the only reason West's novels evoke such emotions out of me is becuase she has the talent to create a cast and a world so indepth and real that you cannot help but feel their triumphs and sorrows as if they were your own. As of this date (August 2004), I have yet to finish the Sun Sword series, but "Sea of Sorrows" is currently my favorite Sun Sword book as of yet. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading because, as always, there are aspects about it that everyone can enjoy.

Michelle West is rapidly becomming one of the more talented fastasy writers around. This novel is number four in--what looks to be--a large series. What awes me the most is West's ability to conceive of such completely different mindsets among her groups of characters, and then to describe them with such insight that she convinces the reader THEY all exist as such. And, although they all inhabit the same world, fight the same war, and share a history, they remain independent entities with unique voices. Rarely does one see such a balance between dynamic and engaging male and female characters (to say nothing of the kin!). A richly rewarding story of interwoven complexities, shifitng loyalties, and secrets. Well worth the effort it takes to ignore the editorial flaws!

Michelle West's series is by far my favorite fantasy epic of all time. The characters are complex, the story is multi-faceted, and the details are compelling. All of the books thus far have been masterpieces. Her writing style is rich with talent--I find myself re-reading sentences because of how her descriptions and narratives surge with life and color.

Specifically to book four, I found it to be slightly jarring in that I had an unfortunately fuzzy memory of the three preceding it (due to the late publishing date). The beginning contrasted sharply with the end and I must say that it seems to me a "transition book" in the series; however, it did not ever fail to captivate me as the Voyani's journey was nothing short of thrilling. It is refreshing that in this book the Voyani are delved into with greater detail than ever before. Margret and the other Arkosans are reborn in book four to become three-dimensional, full-fledged characters with a history and cultural legacy of their own.

I also truly enjoyed Michelle's portrayal of evil in this series. It is fatiguing to be constantly bombarded with the typical evil wizards and usurping tyrants--Michelle's "good vs evil" is rarely so black and white and is seemingly very realistic in the depths and meanderings of her "evil" characters. Robert Jordan comes close with his Forsaken, but Michelle goes artistically far beyond him with her Kin--I am in awe of how she developed this concept of the Kin.

West, as usual, delights us with a page turner that evolves from a complex, rich, and vivid world of multi-faceted and engrossing characters. I highly recommend this book and this series to anyone interested in truly good fantasy literature.

I LOVED this book, and all the ones before it! I couldn't put it down until it was done. I just want to know when will it all end. I keep picking up whatever book has just come out to wonder if she will start to wrap up the series. I've had time to read every book at LEAST twice, and I want to read the next one! I would suggest that anyone who wants to start this series wait until she is done with it! I would be so much better to read it all the way through without having to wait for the next book to come out.

Today I found myself reading the Sea of Sorrows for the third time, and I am consisently amazed at how I discover different nuances each time I read the book. I think a review is helpful only if it can be compared to other authors. West's books however seem so different than many, however, it definitely has the mystery and intrigue of George R. Martin, and definitely the detail found in Raymond Feist's books the book moves like Melanie Rawn's book which is to say, you can't fall through the pages quickly (you'll miss something), but you refuse to put it down, until you can stop with a least a little of the intrigue solved or understood. I think many of you will particulary enjoy the subplots/stories surrounding the Kialli. They are by far now my favorite characters, followed a closely by the Warlord and the Arianni. She has me aching for a series based soley on their creation. It goes without saying that this series deserves at least two to three more books, the question is how long will we have to wait.

I just finished the series a couple days ago and still have the bitter, bitter aftertaste of disappointment. Honestly, I loved all of these novels; I fell in love with the characters and their complexity. I think Michelle is too good of a writer to just tack on the ending as an after-thought. Completely ruined what I had come to think of, while reading them, as top ten all time favs. I still love the books, but the conclusion left far too many unanswered questions for me to be satisfied with the reading of them.