Spear of Heaven [Hardcover]

Judith Tarr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1994

Seeking the rulers over the half of the world that is not under their control, the children of the Sun hope to form an alliance with--or conquer--the distant mountain kingdom where Mages are feared and Power is forbidden.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tarr's usual blend of magic and cultural and gender exploration seems forced in this slow-moving sequel to Arrows of the Sun that matches its rhythms to the stately build of political and romantic alliances. Daruya, granddaughter of the emperor, wants to get out of the palace and do her ambassadorial duty, but one of the "Worldgates" has collapsed, and her grandfather forbids her to go on a risky overland mission. So Daruya sneaks out, as does her four-year-old daughter, Kimeri. Since both are heirs of the Empire and direct descendants of the Sun God (with the appropriate inherited magical powers), neither love nor misguided priests nor outmoded political systems are remotely capable of standing in their way as they explore the world beyond the imperial palace and, eventually, use their magic to battle mages who would topple Worldgates willy-nilly. While this fifth book in Tarr's Avaryan Rising series boasts better writing and more penetrating observations than typical sword-and-sorcery fare, it is undermined by Daruya's frequent railing against her own heart, a chorus of lament made all the more tedious since it's glaringly obvious that love will triumph and all will be well by book's end. Fortunately, the spirited Kimeri and the shadowy warriors who bodyguard the imperial heirs are much less predictable than Daruya's fate, and much more fun.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The collapse of a series of Worldgates brings a delegation from the Empire of Sun and Lion to a remote mountain kingdom ruled by priests who have forbidden the practice of magic. Set in the exotic world of Avaryan, where two opposing races have learned the value of coexistence, this sequel to Arrows of the Sun (Tor Bks., 1993) chronicles the struggles of two princesses-mother and daughter-trying to fulfill their destinies. Tarr leavens this tale of politics and magic with a strong dose of romantic-and sometimes humorous-intrigue, a combination for which she has a special talent. A good choice for most fantasy collections.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 351 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1 edition (November 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312855435
• ISBN-13: 978-0312855437
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,919,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have a lot of academic credentials (PhD from Yale, MA from Cambridge University, AB from Mt. Holyoke) and taught writing and Latin at Wesleyan University in Connecticut--before I ran away from it all to live on a mesa in Arizona. I breed and ride Lipizzan horses, read and study history (and make up my own alternate and fantastical versions), and write--novels, short stories, articles. I teach writing online (details at http://capriole.smoe.org) and blog on the livejournals as dancinghorse. My alter ego is author Caitlin Brennan, who also has a plog on amazon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Fine Addition, August 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Spear of Heaven (Mass Market Paperback)

Judith Tarr continues her Avaryan Rising saga with another fine addition. It is a must have for a true fan of the previos novels, and works well by itself to introduce new fans to the series and inspire them to seek out the earlier Avaryan Rising novels. While it may not be quite as powerful as the originals, Spear of Heaven is still an excellent read and should not be missed by anyone who has read any of the first four volumes.