Customer Reviews

The Shining Court (The Sun Sword, Book 3)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While 'The Shining Court' isn't as good as 'The Uncrowned King' it is still a very good read. I think that the reason I liked 'Uncrowned King' better was because it incorporated storylines from both the Empire and the Dominion at the same time. 'Shining Court' is based almost solely in the Dominion. But my biggest gripe is the fact that Valedan and Kiriel don't appear even once in this book. On the positive side you get to learn more about the Firstborn, Isladar (IMO, far and away the coolest bad guy) and the Avandar/Warlord thing is great. It seems that the Warlord has lived forever but they say he's not immortal. I'm thinking, and hoping, that he's the 4th Sleeper that rode with Moorelas. If you've read the previous Hunter and Sun Sword books this is definitely a must read. Oh, and even though this was supposed to be a trilogy there IS going to be a fourth volume. I emailed Ms West's publisher to ask just that question and they replied that the 4th Sun Sword book will be published in April of 2001.

I really enjoyed the first books, especially the Uncrowned King, but was very disappointed in this latest offering. Not only does it introduce a whole host of new characters, it ignores some of those that were so painstakingly created in the last two books. With the series already at 5 books (counting Hunters Oath and Hunters Death), I would like to see this series move toward some type of conclusion, rather than see it turn into the perpetual ring that some recent, well acclaimed series have become. It is a very well written book for the most part, and very enjoyable, but it seems like we are on the road to 10 or more books! Can we finish this in one or two more, PLEASE?

As always, I'm left with nothing but words of praise for West's works. Aside from her beautiful and unique writing style, her characters have been developed to the point where she can enter whole new emotional levels between each other. I found this most significant between Jewel and the Terafin, and Diora and Sendari. I confess, with this book was complete, as usual, I was running through tissues, simply because of the emotion that West is able to capture between her characters. It requires true talent to create a cast with that much depth that can rival most literary works that I'm familiar with (considering I'm an English major...).

The plot, as usual, is phenomenal. However, this book takes the story in a whole new direction with the conspiracy behind the masks at the Festival of the Moon and the drama that occurs particularly with Jewel and Diora as the story unfolds. I was at first indifferent to the appearance of the Voyani, but I found their inclusion as a critical element to the plot very well done on West's part. Now, while I was critical of their existence, I confess that I am a Voyani fan (laughs). I also confess that if you are a Valedan fan, you will find this book lacking severely... that was my initial problem with the book, because it felt awkward to have my two of my favorite Sun Sword characters absent for the most part, if not completely (Valedan and Devon ATerafin), but the only other thing I can say about characters, without truly spoiling any of the plot, is that if you haven't already fallen in love with Sendari, or sense compassion, understanding or some kind of emotion for him, you *will* before this book is over.

Overall, the book is a much different turn from the first two, so readers might be hesitant to open it up, but it's like breaking away the outer surface of a rock and finding a beautiful glistening gift from the earth burried deep inside. I recommend it for all fantasy readers, and especially for anyone who is just as addicted to Michelle West as myself!

The Shining Court is the third book in the Sun Sword series, and it's great!!! HOWEVER, it is NOT to be read as an introduction to the series. Michelle West's story is very complex, and one needs to read the other books first in order to understand and enjoy the third.

The Shining Court deals mainly with the "southern" characters from the first book - Theresa, Diora, Alesso, etc., but part of the story focuses on Jewel ATerafin as she makes her way south with only Avandar as company after a very disturbing vision. (Avandar, BTW, is one of the great surprises of the book, esp. if you haven't read West's story in the Battle MAgic anthology about how he came to serve Jewel.)

The reader is also introduced to the Voyani; most of that storyline revolves around Margret, the daughter of the Voyani that Diora killed, and Yollana, the Matriarch who talks to Ashaf at the beginning of the first book. Kallandras is also present, as are the Kialli Lords and a mad human mage who was apparently Kiriel's only friend in the Shining Court.

I'm not going to say any more, for fear of giving away too much of the plot, except that The Shining Court is really a book worth reading.

Michelle West is truly an excellent writer. She seems to have excellent control over her material at almost all points in this book. Many times when writers throw in character-developing events they can seem contrived or extraneous to the plot; however, in Michelle West's hands they are not only appropriate but much anticipated and actually serve to move the plot along. Sendari's and Teresa's argument truly felt like an ending to their troubled relationship as siblings; Sendari's and Diora's face-off was something I had been looking forward to since the first book and it was *excellently* handled. Some have complained that they felt that the revelation about Avandar's past was thrown in without reflection; I disagree. It felt to me like something she had planned from the first. Jewel's and Avandar's trip through the Stone Deepings was a little drawn-out; however, again, Jewel's confrontation with Duster was very well handled, enough to satisfy while not enough to be indulgent. I had been looking forward to meeting Duster since the first book also, and I was pleased with meeting her here. The mystery of the masks was well-handled, and I *really* want to see more of Anya a'Cooper.

As mentioned in the other reviews, this volume adds a host of new characters. While I would rate the series as excellent, I am suspicious this volume was created just to draw it out longer. The first book about Serra Diora is very good. The second about Valedan is excellent. I feel that the story could have been neatly wrapped up in the third volume with no loose ends. Now the series will encompass at least two more books just to finish wrapping up what happens with each major character (all 18+ of them). I would reccomend the series only after all the books are published so that you can read them in rapid sequence.

I have read all three of the Shining Court novels and enjoyed them all. This third one, however, drags more than the other two. In all three cases, it seems to me that West lacks a good, rigorous, skillful editor. There are way too many extraneous bits and pieces to the work. The problem is, her writing is so good, that she has a habit of going off on a lovely, well-written, mind-gripping tangent. It's irritating, however, to realize you've spent so much time on what are basicaly digressions from a story that should be much more tightly focussed. I came close, very, very close to writing her publishers and asking them to use red ink more judiciously.

I loved the first book. The second book was okay. I figured there would be resolution in this, the third book, of the lives of Diora and Valedan. I supposed I thought the two of them would join forces.
The Shining Court invalidates the wonderful first book and uses a couple of characters from the second to come up with an unsatisfying tale.
I won't bother reading anything else she wrote.

In this the third book of her excellent fantasy series, Mrs. West takes us south, south to the Dominion and its denizens both dark and light, and south (as in underground?) with Jewel, Avandar, and a Host! of other characters. While I very much enjoyed this book and am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, I found the hints and allusions as to the past of the Kialli and the Firstborn both aggravating and pleasing. Pleasing, because I am so caught up in the story and the characters that any new info is wonderful, and aggravating, because it's not enough! Also,if you haven't read the two books of the Hunter's series, I really urge you to hurry up. What are you waiting for? I really consider those two books to be prequils to the Sun Sword series. These are great stories with characters that just grab your heart and don't let go. I can't wait for the next book to come out!

This is a wonderful addition to this series and although it doesn't answer all the questions that are lurking it takes us down roads that needed a bit more clearifcation. I don't think she has strayed or in anyway made the storyline more difficult to follow, in fact I believe this book as just opened up new doors...and I for one am hoping this will lead to 4 or 5 more books! This in an author I could read for a very long time and I admit I am hoping that she doesn't give us a quick one book tie up....and if she does I hope she begins a new series immediately!