Seeds of Betrayal: Book 2 of the Winds of the Forelands Tetralogy [Hardcover]

David B. Coe (Author)

Book Description

Series: Winds of the Forelands Tetralogy | Publication Date: May 1, 2003

The Forelands have enjoyed relative peace in the nine hundred years since the Qirsi Wars, until the stability of the seven kingdoms is shaken by the brutal murder of Lady Brienne of Kentigern, newly betrothed to Lord Tavis of Curgh. Tavis, who is blamed for the crime, has escaped the dungeons of Kentigern and searches the Forelands for his love's killer. But already the Qirsi conspirators who murdered Brienne have taken their campaign of violence and deception to Aneira, Eibithar's hated neighbor, plunging that kingdom into turmoil. Now Tavis's search for redemption takes him into the stronghold of his realm's most bitter enemy.

For the first time in nine centuries, war threatens to engulf all the Forelands. And there are whispers of a new Qirsi threat. A Weaver, they say, is behind the deaths, the betrayals. Nobles who have depended on Qirsi ministers suddenly fear those they have trusted.

If the renegade Qirsi are indeed led by a Weaver, can this powerful sorcerer be found before he conquers the Forelands? And who wields magic potent enough to stop him?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Turmoil and deception propel Coe's second entry in his Winds of the Forelands tetralogy, maintaining the momentum of its predecessor, Rules of Ascension (2002). In the feudal world of the Forelands, Qirsi ministers directed by the Weaver use assassination to foment distrust and chaos among the ruling houses of the various kingdoms. A few nobles, aided by Qirsi mages still loyal to their masters, try to stop what they call the "Conspiracy" to make the subservient Qirsi the rulers of the Forelands. The author deftly manages a multistrand plot full of political intrigue that never flags despite the wealth of engrossing detail. A large cast of characters both old and new enliven the sword and sorcery. Readers who go for good clean fantasy fun will eagerly await the next installment. FYI: In 1999, Coe won the William C. Crawford Award for Best First Fantasy or Fantasy Series for his LonTobyn trilogy.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In the second Winds of the Forelands novel, disorder increases in the Forelands, and it is more than a matter of petty squabbles. Conspirators among the Qirsi, whose sorcerous gifts just fuel the distaste and fear with which they are viewed, have murdered several potentates. The Qirsi, a people of distinctive appearance, are by no means united against humans, however, and several Qirsi hold important posts in the realm of the Forelands. But each day, murder, distrust, and fear bring the kingdom closer to civil war, and bind the hands of those who want to prevent it. Both action and the cast loom large; the members of the latter are well drawn; and Forelands politics are as complex as any tracked by the daily media, which slows the pace despite Coe's real narrative gifts. This book maintains the intelligence and complexity of Rules of Ascension [BKL My 1 02], and since many of the conflicts in it had their roots in Rules, readers who haven't read that book should consider backtracking. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 608 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312878087
• ISBN-13: 978-0312878085
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,962,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another fantastic read!, May 13, 2003

By 

Jennifer Bachman (Sewanee, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seeds of Betrayal: Book 2 of the Winds of the Forelands Tetralogy (Hardcover)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars unbelievable except for the ending, August 6, 2004

By 

Matthew Watt (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seeds of Betrayal (Winds of the Forelands, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top of my list, April 14, 2004

By 

"gofalus" (Zimiamvia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeds of Betrayal (Winds of the Forelands, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.