Customer Reviews

The Seer and the Sword

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Most stories can be classified as one kind of story, but "Seer and the Sword" can count as four: fantasy, coming-of-age, political adventure and romance. Fans of Tamora Pierce may find something very much to their liking here.

The story opens with the spirited young princess Torina of Archeld, a beautiful and strong kingdom -- of which she is the only heir, when she marries. Her father has just conquered the peaceful kingdom of Bellandra and brings her back two gifts: a tiny crystal globe and the captured Bellandran prince. Torina frees the prince, Landen, who is allowed to learn how to fight along with the young soldiers-in-training, who see him as a weakling.

Torina soon discovers that she can see glimpses of the future in the little ball, and befriends Landen after she saves his life. A few years pass, and Torina is betrothed to Vesputo, a cold and ruthless soldier who pretends to be kind and loving around her. But Landen knows that Vesputo only want to marry Torina for her crown, that he really cares nothing for her. But Landen has to leave when he is suspected of rebelling against the king -- and then the king is murdered. Landen changes his name and becomes a respected soldier -- and waits to move against Vesputo.

Torina, the only witness to her father's murder, is blackmailed into agreeing to a marriage with Vesputo, and to using her crystal to show him the future. Using her wits and skill, she escapes and hides away in the countryside of a neighboring land. But when a King-Arthur-like high king gives her the chance to defeat Vesputo, she takes it. And in Archeld, Landen and a friend move in to find the famed Sword that supposedly will allow him to defeat any enemy...

This is, despite the terrible plot description on the jacket flap, a very intense and multilayered novel. Hanley, unlike many authors, manages to evolve the characters' personalities throughout the book: Torina goes from naive, emotional and trusting to more mature, guarded and thoughtful; Landen transforms from an embittered teen to one who is more forgiving and merciful.

Fans of Tamora Pierce and Robin McKinley will probably like the generic medieval setting, without the cultural influences of reality, along with the tough heroine and the dashes of magic. Fans of Patricia McKillip may also enjoy the subtle musings on revenge. But it's the clashes between kingdoms and characters that really sell the plot, paralleling the maturation of the heroes, and finally them both springing into action.

The only real flaw? Well, sometimes the writing is too brief and undescriptive in important scenes. I actually missed one of them and had to skim back. The climax is breathtakingly written, however, and the dual concepts of the seer (one every generation, for all the lands) and the sword (which is actually a rather small part of it). In addition, some peripheral characters are neglected, and some questions left unanswered.

However, the overall result is a tight and well-written, well-plotted and well-characterized fantasy/adventure/romance. Though Torina and Landen spend a great deal of the book away from each other, you know that they've fallen for each other. Another theme that is dealt with but not beaten to death is gender roles and the ability of anyone to help protect their land, by whatever means they can.

As far as objectionable material: there's mild profanity used in this book, no dirty content, but there are a large number of murders, a few near misses, and very blunt threats toward Torina's mother. Given the political content (which will bore younger readers), the deaths and the emotional intensity of the characters losing friends and family, this book probably isn't for the younger fantasy reader, but will be fine for twelve and up.

Fans of McKinley or Pierce will definitely enjoy this story. Highly recommended.

I couldn't love this book any more!!!! I love many characters and will hold a place in my heart for the seer and the sword for EVER!!!! This book had everything...romance(a wonderful one, even more than one if you can spot them), action and plenty of it, adventure, morals, and magic!!! I really truly want everyone who loves any of these things to read this book... especially if you liked Prydain Chronicles, Chronicles of Narnia, and the arkadians!This book is so great, i read it in one day. I really, truly could not put it down! I was so caught up in it all i did was read. And so will you. You'll be swept up in the plot and you'll love every minute of it... from the romances, to the adventures landen and torina have, seeing every point of view of almost every important character. It was a powerfully written book that is destined for fame and will be your favorite on the shelf for years to come. Don't hesitate to buy my favorite book and what will be yours too!!!

This is the kind of book that you read over and over, no matter your age. I read it first from the library, and the next time I went to the bookstore I bought it. (Well . . . I ordered it and picked it up when it came in, but same diff.) It starts when the young Princess Torina is given a stone and a slave when her father comes back from a triumphant war. The slave is the only son of the former king of the conquered country, and a few years older then Torina. Landen, the boy is called, is set free by the impulsive princess, and sent to live in the barracks. And when Torina looks into the crystal, she sees the baby her mother is carring being born a boy, and stillborn.

That is what happens.

Torina is a seer, a great one, who are very rare. She uses her crystal to see the future - though she can not see her own. As you can guess, she and Landen fall in love - but not before an evil falls upon the kingdom. Thhis is a book of love, betrayal, war, and despair - and hope. Read it.

You'll love it.

Whatever I was expecting when I cracked this book open, it wasn't this! I keep wanting to compare it to The Princess Bride, except it is not a book with tongue in cheek humor and satire. It is a book about kingdoms, the price of power and leadership and those who struggle to bring about good in a dangerous world. Victoria Hanley does an impressive job of showing readers the tactics and political maneuvers of warfare and diplomacy, but doesn't bog this book down in extraneous detail or explanation. The characters are strong and capable, with interesting reflections on male/female roles in the struggle. Hanley gives power to both roles--and creates characters that act outside the roles they were given. There is a sense of completness in this story--no teasers leading into a miniseries which allows the reader to enjoy this book all on its own.

Readers interested by Tamora Peirce's Lionness series and Robin McKinley's Damar Duology should definately give this new author a try!

I'm over 30 and I love this book. In fact, my two favorite books are this one and its companion book, The Healer's Keep. For one thing, the love story in this book is written with such feeling, between two amazing characters, so that as a reader you feel what they feel. Also, I've never seen the subject of war and peace treated with so much insight and sensitivity. The main character, Landen, is a great warrior who despises killing. The book doesn't advocate being a complete pacifist--and in fact Landen's father loses his kingdom because not only does he not believe in war but he also doesn't prepare for it just because he doesn't believe in it. Landen, on the other hand, learns from his father's mistakes and helps to rescue the kingdoms from invaders because he is such a smart fighter.
If you like great storytelling written with deep feeling, this book is for you, whatever your age. The first time I read it, I stayed up half the night. I have since read it again and again, and each time I love the characters more.

Mischievious, courageous, adventurous Princess Torina Archelda is the only child of King Kareed. Kareed is a warrior who is constantly seeking to gain more power by gaining more land. After conquering the the king of the peaceful country of Bellandra, he brings home Bellandra's famous sword and locks it away, where it would lay forgotten. To Torina he gives two things: a magical crystal, and Landen, the exiled prince of Bellandra to be her slave. But Torina's kindness will not allow her to keep a slave. Istead, she sets him free, and he begins to train as a warrior, against his old country's pacifist beliefs. When Torina saves his life after seeing a vision in her magic crystal, the two become close friends and grow to trust each other. As Torina grows into a young woman, they slowly lose their companionship for each other, though Landen continues to trust her. He warns Tornia of her betrothed, Vesputo's plots for the throne, and Torina turns him away. When Vesputo does carry out his plans, Landen and Torina both flea the country separately. Torina hides in a tiny village in Desante, covering anything that might give her identity away. Landen becomes a famous worrior and leads his own band of criminals to steal things for King Ardesen of Desante. Eventually they discover that they are important players in Vestupo's political plot to gain power. All the characters that are introduced are essential to the story and are brave, clever, and well described. The action is filled with excitement and and romance is unbelievable. Fans of fantasy will be swept into the story of betrayal, action, and romance.

Victoria Hanley's book The seer and Sword is probably one of the better books, I've read in the teen catagory and that's saying something. For all of the generic dramafied teenage novels and stories out now, this book is much needed libberation despite its fanstasy catagory. The plot is original and it has enough spark and personality to call itself just that. The story is well written and expands between two points of view, a young free spirited princess of Archeld and a Exiled prince of Bellandra (who beside the princess has to be one of the best male characters in this story).






Trouble brews within the wall of Archeld when the King, Kareed returns from his latest conqest over the peace-oritented Kingdom Bellandra, Kareed rewards his daughter Torina with not one but two gifts from the conqured land; a cystal orb given to him by a seer and a slave boy (once a prince of Bellandra) named Landen. Being the caring being she is Torina frees him from his current occupation. The first gift Torina was given, the cystal orb somehow or another awakens a dorment gift inside the free-spirted girl: the power to see into the future. Torina is haunted by many disturbing visions the orbs given her and leans on Landen for comfort. But all of that changes the older they get.





Landen, still devistated by the fall of his kingdom join's King Kareed's army to learn how to fight with a sword and perhaps avenge his father's death by Killing Kareed himself. However, as time passes by, he becomes close friends with the King's daughter Torina and finds himself reeavaulating his life. Then one day Torina sees a vision of King Karred being murdered by one of his most trusted comrades who seeks to steal his throne and daughter away from him, but Torina has other plans and tries to stop this terribe fate from ever coming to pass. The story after gets tangled in complexties of the characters. I recoommend this book to anyone who is in need of a good adventure outside of the walls books focusing on the turmoil of the present day.-----[ a 5 out of 5]

This book is about Princess Torina, whose father (King Kareed of Archeld) defeated the peaceful land of Bellandra, home of the fabled powerful Sword of Bellandra. When he returns from his conquest, Torina's father brings a crystal in which Torina can see things that will happen (she realizes she is a Seer), and he also brings the son of Bellandra's defeated king to be a slave for Torina. However, Torina frees Landen immediately and becomes his friend. Then, trouble starts. King Kareed's right-hand man stirs up trouble because of his hunger for the Sword and power, bringing harm to the royal family and threatening the kingdom of Archeld. Landon, accused of having caused the trouble, flees. Torina and Landen must join together to save the kingdom of Archeld and rid it of this evil man (I don't want to give away who it is). I definitely recommend buying this book, because it is full of adventure and it has some romance too.

I loved this book!!! It was one of those few books that could hold my attention for more than 50-100 pages. As I read this book I felt like I was part of it. I admired the characters as if they were real people [for example I admired Princess Torina for her quick logic, strength, kindness, and the she didn't get a bloated head from being a princess] and felt for them in there time of need, for the villains I shared the characters loathing for them, for the hero and heroine thought out this book we became friends. I read and read and read barley aware that I was turning pages until I got to the end it was if this story was coming from my soul and not from typed pages. I recommend this book to anyone that will listen and guarantee that if you are like me searching for a good book that your search is over. The time flew by as I was engrossed in this wonderful book. When I was done I checked the clock and it was nearly 2:00 and the whole time I read I hardly felt any kind of sleepiness.

The plot was exciting just when you thought you knew what was going to know what would happen next Victoria Hanley would surprise you with a new twist. Belladrana the quiet artistic kingdom is being invaded by Princess Torina's country, Landen the prince of Belladrana has no idea what will happen if his country is defeated.

This magnificent book is about a young princess, Torina. Her father, the king, overthrows a peaceful kingdom, killing its king and capturing its prince. The prince is given as a slave to Torina, who immediately releases him. The two become friends (and maybe more than friends later on, hee hee) There's also somewhat of a story inside a story. See, Torina finds out she's a seer. Just to make this plot even more exciting, they throw in the fact that Torina's kingdom has acquired a magical and very interesting sword. Well I don't want to tell you the whole story...READ THE BOOK!

Within ten pages I was hooked, and simply could not put it down. I finished it in a day. I really don't have any negative things to say about this book. This is is one of my favorite books, and you should read it NOW. Who cares if you're in the middle of a book right now? PICK IT UP FROM A BOOKSTORE OR LIBRARY IMMEDIATELY. What are you doing still reading this review??? Go along now, you're seriously going to regret it if you don't....