Customer Reviews

Seeds of Betrayal (Winds of the Forelands, Book 2)

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

 

 

Once again, Coe has crafted a wonderful, totally engrossing book, which seamlessly follows the first in its series. I was absolutely chomping at the bit to read this book, and I stayed up late several nights because I was so anxious to see what happened next! I had very high expectations, but I was not disappointed. Coe continues his thorough character development and keeps making his readers bite their nails in suspense. The book has plenty of action to keep the story moving, but not so much that you feel that the action dominates the story. It is also refreshing to see that there are still authors who take as much care in describing the characters' world as well as they describe the main players. If you did not read the first book, it doesn't matter, as Seeds stands alone. The one negative thing I could say is that I finished reading it so soon that I will have to wait a whole year for the third installment of the story. Go on, dive in...before you know it, you will be mesmerized, the book will be over, and you will be begging for more.

Seeds of Betrayal follows David B. Coe's Rules of Ascension, Book One of the Winds of the Forelands. This book contained all of the plot developments that the first had, added on some more from a different part of the Forelands, and lived up to its title's hype.

Tavis and Grinsa are now searching in Aneira for Brienne's killer and are figuring out more and more that there is a much larger threat to the Forelands than just Cadel, Brienne's assassin. The Eandi nobles in Aneira and Eibithar are finally realizing that the Conspiracy is not some hoax but reality, because of the many connections between the high profile murders occuring throughout the two realms. At the same time two Quirsi women in Aneira and one in Eibithar are ready and willing to oppose the so called Conspiracy, although they are not the only ones.

Enemies must become friends, and friends must become enemies, for the Forelands to stay in peace. David B. Coe did an excellent job again, but the ending seems to be a prologue for his next novel. His first in this series easily stood alone and hinted towards the next installment, but this one doesn't seem to end. It just stops. I am still anticipating the rest to come in the series and throroughly enjoyed this one even with the ending.

Rules of Ascension set the stage with great worldbuilding, unforeseeable plot twists, and characters I came to care deeply for, but I had no idea how much more the author had up his sleeve. This book delivered everything I expected after reading the first, and also went far beyond it. I read a lot of fantasy, and this series is now right at the top of the list I recommend to friends. You know from the very start that you're in the hands of a master storyteller--and an insightful historian with a keen emotional intuition and a flair for the magical and exotic. I'm dying to find out what happens next, and I also feel that I got a totally satisfying read in one volume. Dive right in here, or start with Rules--either way, you'll be completely hooked.

As much as I enjoyed Rules of Ascension: Book One of Winds of the Forelands I was even more impressed with Seeds of Betrayal, the second volume in David Coe's Winds of the Forelands series.

This volume dramatically increases the political intrigue, which I tend to appreciate more after reading George R.R. Martin's brilliant Song of Ice and Fire series. The traditional sword and sorcery elements are still present, but they play a lesser role. Rules of Ascension showed readers a glimpse of the events and politics facing the Forelands, but Seeds of Betrayal kicked the door wide open. Coe introduces a host of new characters and courts, and shows us the threads that connect them all. Nothing happens in a vacuum. This volume illustrates how events in one kingdom play out in another, and how a carefully manipulated string of events can throw them all into turmoil.

I admire Coe's ambition, but hope he hasn't overreached. The characters from Rules of Ascension could have used more development prior to introducing a whole new group. Seeds of Betrayal also gives readers a much closer look at the Weaver behind the vast Qirsi conspiracy. Unfortunately he comes off as a bit one-dimensional. This is a character that would have been more effective had he remained more enigmatic.

Despite a few bumps in the road, Seeds of Betrayal is another fine chapter in a very engaging series that should appeal to most fantasy fiction fans. Expect to be entertained, and you will not be disappointed.

Okay, to be honest, this book got off to a slow start, I wanted to hear about Tavis and Grinsa immediately, and I had to wait a few chapters. I also could have done without the Evanthya/Fetnalla bit, but that's just because I felt that it didn't add much to the story. However, Dusaan is an AMAZING character, well worth the wait it takes to introduce him. Keziah emerges here as her own well-developed character, not just a counterpart to Grinsa, and I liked her much better here than in RoA. Once again, David B. Coe has written a story that details the plots of several lands, creating characters that have their own personal agendas. The writing comes naturally, as if these people are going on with their lives, and Coe is simply chronicling it, rather than masterminding the entire story. I was NOT let down. I still wanted to know more about Tavis though. He's easily my favorite character, but he didn't get enough "air time" here. Still, I love this book. Coe truly shines in his storytelling!

The first book of this series, "Rules of Ascension", ended with Tavis heading south to hunt for Brienne's true killer, while other plots and intrigues swirled around the various nobles and their courts. In "Seeds of Betrayal" the scope grows wider, as Coe shows us new countries and cities and introduces us to literally scores of new characters, each with their own background, prejudices, and goals. He keeps the action rolling with more murders and a doozy of a plot twist right in the middle. He also spices things up with some hot lesbian sex (actually more like lukewarm lesbian sex) and drops ample hints of further conflicts to come.

The biggest problem with the book is the vast cast of characters. There are too many to remember the names of, and the viewpoint shifts so often that some of their stories lose cohesion. We may get a chapter about a certain pair and then never hear from then again for two hundred pages. By the end I was losing track of even the most basic information, and had trouble recalling which ministers were loyal, which were disloyal, who was double- and triple-crossing who, and which assassins were being paid to wax which victims. Additionally, Coe's world is somewhat short on texture. The new castles and cities we encounter all feel almost identical to all the others, without distinct cultures. Place descriptions feel particularly perfunctory.

The book's saving grace may be its most memorable character, the archvillain who we finally meet for the first time. Duusan, a minister with particular powers and an advantageous position at an important court, is a menace worth reckoning with. But he also stands out for his attitudes, his intelligence, and his understanding of the psyche of friends and enemies.

I absolutely loved the Rules of Ascension. I couldn't put it down, and read it in three days. I raced out and bought this book to continue my journey through the Forelands. Boy am I glad I did. This book picks up pretty much where ROA left off. The pacing and characterizations were excellent as well. Political intrigue, swords, socerey, magic, romance, fighting, poisoning...what else could you possibly ask for. I'm frankly surprised more people haven't discovered this author or series. Very fine work, and great mindless fantasy. My only complaint about this book (and the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5) was that there was not nearly enough interplay with the 2 main characters, Tavis and Grinsa, as I would have expected. I realize Coe's setting up the next book, and introducing Aneiria to the audience to show the evil Weaver spinning his magic down south of Ebithar, but I would have liked more focus on Tavis and Grinsa. Oh well, I'll just have to wait until the next book, Bonds of Vengence, which hopefully will be out soon. I can hardly wait to see what happens. PIck this book up, as well as ROA if you haven't already read it---i guarantee you will not be disappointed.

A great sequel which more than lives up to the promise of the first story. Coe is one of the best fantasy writers in creating believable characters who you can sympathize with. Even his villains are believable in that they have their decent sides to them. Read it. You'll enjoy.

The more I use the kindle the more disappointed I am. All of the series are available for the kindle but this one. The book may be great but have not yet read it

Seeds of Betrayal (Winds of the Forelands, Book 2) continues the development and action of the previous books, offering definite growth in the characters and yet retaining enough of their original selves to be easily identifiable.

One thing I simply have to compliment Coe on is his ability to make a character distinct and very consistent. Another is his character development, as he gets the reader into the viewpoint of almost any individual and makes theirs a sympathetic (at least, usually) perception. It's frustrating to me to have a good "hate" built up for a character and then end up rooting for them to accomplish something... but that's what the good story tellers do, and Coe does it very well.

A compelling read and the characters become even better defined, shaking off the filings and honing down to the True Characters.

If you liked Coe's "Rules of Ascension", Patricia Briggs's "Dragon Blood" or George Martin's "A Storm Of Swords", you will probably like this book.