This Forsaken Earth: Book Two of The Sea Beggars [Paperback]

Paul Kearney (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sea Beggars | Publication Date: November 28, 2006

He’s spoken of only in whispers. His origins are a mystery. Some say that he’s descended from the last of the angels. Others say much worse. By all appearances, Rol Cortishane is just another ruthless pirate roaming the lawless seas, raiding warships and slavers. But the truth is something far more complicated and dangerous than anyone can imagine, including Rol. Even as he seeks to escape his birthright, Rol is slowly discovering who—and what—he really is. But the revelation won’t come without exacting a terrible price from Rol and all he loves. Now a treacherous figure from his past has made him a proposition it would be fatal to turn down. Racing against time, Rol must chart a harrowing course across the sea, back to the beautiful Rowen and the people she would rule as Queen. With his steadfast crew—the battle-scarred Creed, the mirthful halftroll Gallico, and a young escaped slave named Giffon—Rol will plunge headlong into a destiny as dark as they come. And toward a terrifying battle against an enemy as determined to destroy the world as Rol is to save it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of Kearney's rousing sequel to The Mark of Ran (2005), Rol Cortishane, the youthful captain of the privateer Revenant, captures a slaver and frees its chained slaves. Back in the harbor of Ganesh Ka in the land of Umer, Rol encounters an untrustworthy acquaintance he hasn't seen in years, Canker, a former king of thieves, who urges Rol to join in the fight to save Rowen, a darkly beautiful queen, whose throne is at risk in mountainous Bionar. That Rowen is Rol's half-sister for whom he has lusted in the past doesn't make Rol's decision to help an easy one. If as in The Mark of Ran the action is more lively at sea than on land, Kearney's solid storytelling and nautical detail worthy of C.S. Forester or Patrick O'Brian will keep readers turning the pages. (Dec.)
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From Booklist

The sequel to The Mark of Ran (2005) finds heroic young Rol Cortishane grown to be a much-feared sea captain. Deciding to ignore his mysterious past, he spends his energy on ship and crew. He is still an outlaw, however, and the only port he can call home is Ganesh Ka, the endangered city of exiles. When word comes from Rowan, his half-sister, asking him to fight on her behalf, he must weigh the safety of Ganesh Ka against Rowan's treachery in the past. Finally persuaded to aid Rowan, he learns more of betrayal and his heritage in the ensuing battles than he had wanted to know. Kearney's characters are much better developed here than they were in The Mark of Ran, and since the book tells a single story, the plot is tighter. Moreover, because almost all the action transpires in the here and now, the sequel can be read without reference to the predecessor. Since it ends hanging on a particularly bloody cliff, expect to see more of Kearney's excellent maritime fantasy. Frieda Murray
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Spectra (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553383639
• ISBN-13: 978-0553383638
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.7 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #575,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful addition to compliment the first book., December 21, 2006

By 

R. Nicholson - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: This Forsaken Earth: Book Two of The Sea Beggars (Paperback)

Another great adventure/fantasy read by Paul Kearney; in fact, I liked it a little more that book 1.

The book is well written, has a sense of pace and timing and is absolutely crammed with action, both on the land and sea. But be aware, the writing at times can be very graphic; there are some descriptions of the battle casualties that are not for the faint of heart.

As with most good fantasy tales there are elements of love, deceit, betrayal, unexpected friendships and a degree of magic; and this story is no exception. I especially liked Rol's character; this guy is no knight in shining armor and has his share of despicable traits, but he is the "hero" of these stories and there is something about him that gains my grudging admiration.

The only minor negatives about this book are that

1.)it's too short (317 pages to be exact)

2.)although there is a map, it is not particularly detailed (at the times it needed to be).

It's amazing how quickly you can read a book you like; the pages just seem to fly by. I was sorry to see this captivating tale come to such a quick end; now I can hardly wait for book III. 5 Stars.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A splendid sequel, March 7, 2007

By 

Patrick Curtin "Bookaholic" (Cape Cod MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Forsaken Earth: Book Two of The Sea Beggars (Paperback)

I was impressed with Kearney's second novel in the Sea Beggars series. He really has a sweeping prose style that brings his fantasy world to life. Rol is a nicely rounded hero, with his share of flaws and humanity. As the plot unfolds we get to see more of what Rol's world is like, and we learn a little more of Rol's past and birthright.

I highly recommend this book, and I am eargerly awaiting the third installment.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars eagerly awaiting the next installment...., November 29, 2006

By 

ladyvaleria9 (Los Fresnos, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Forsaken Earth: Book Two of The Sea Beggars (Paperback)

Ordinarily, I am very reluctant to begin a series by reading a book out of sequence, however I was pleasantly surprised by Paul Kearney's This Forsaken Earth, Book 2 of The Sea Beggars trilogy. From the opening prologue, I was immediately drawn into the world of Ummer and the lives of Rol Cortishane- ruthless pirate with a shadowy past- and his colorful comrades. The story is well written, with crisp, easy to visualize descriptions of the people and the world they inhabit.

Not having read Book 1 (The Mark of Ran) and not knowing very much about the workings of sailing vessls did nothing to diminish my enjoyment of this story, much of which happens on land. The most intriguing- and ultimately frustrating- moments for me occurred in the fantasy threads that are sparsely worked through the storyline. The author is very sparing with everything that he discloses. In the end I felt that he just doesn't give enough detail about Rol and his true nature and destiny. This is understandable, given that this is a 'middle' book and many plot points are left only partially revealed or resolved as this part of the trilogy closes. It also makes sense to keep the readers in anticipation of new revelations. So, Mr. Kearney, I am hooked and eagerly awaiting the publication of Book 3.