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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful conclusion to the series, March 28, 2007
This review is from: Warlord (Chronicles of the Warlands, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
I absolutely adored WAR PRIZE, her next one was OK, but WARLORD is exceptional. I know it was better because I had read WAR PRIZE, so if possible read it first. If not you are still caught in a wonderful world and will want to read it the first chance you get. Elizabeth Vaughan is one very talented writer, I find it hard to believe this is her first series of books. I can't wait for the next one.
Lara and Kier have finally reached the Plains, now she must prove herself to the people. She and Kier are seperated and she is taken to the heart of the plains to go before the Elders. Many are very welcomeing and many are not. There is treachery and betrayal at many points but Lara comes through as a sincere loving woman willing to give up much for her Warlord and his people.
Kier is busy rounding up support and sneaking in to hold his woman in his arms. Togather they will face every trial and with the solid support of friends and admirers they surely will prevail.
This book is so great, never a monent of boredom, always something happening. It is never the expected always the unexpected. I adored it. It held my attention from cover to cover. Do not miss it.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great ending to a fresh voiced series, March 6, 2007
This review is from: Warlord (Chronicles of the Warlands, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
And so it ends. Warlord brings to a close the stories of Lara and Keir which began two years ago in the surprising debut of Warprize and continued in last year's Warsworn. In a genre full of vampires, werewolves, dukes and carriages, this series brings the reader back to a simpler time when all people had was the earth and each other to rely on.
Warsworn brought us from the city dwellers and onto the journey of Lara and Keir to the Plains where Keir would present his Warprize to the Council, be affirmed, and begin to effectuate change that would benefit his people. The people of the plains were dying at a greater rate that the society was being repopulated. Some of it was because of internal violence. Some of it was because of disease. Keir the Cat saw an opportunity to tie himself with a city and avail his tribe of the richness and knowledge that the city had with the traditions, customs and knowledge of the Plains people.
During Warsworn, however, many of Keir's people died of a plague that was brought upon them by Lara's insistence on treating a village who were plague striken. It is honorable to die in combat but not because of sickness. Keir, as Warlord, is responsible for his people and the Council will judge accordingly.
The strength of these stories is the unique world that is created. There are specific customs that must be followed as Lara becomes affirmed as a Warprize. It is an honor and Lara has the opportunity to return to the land of Zy and the comforts and familiarity of home or even choose a different Warlord. During much of the book, Lara is separated from Keir due to customs of the Firelanders as Keir answers for the loss of his warriors and Lara's status as Warprize is debated. Lara's life is at risk, as well, as many within the Firelanders fear change a city dweller like her shall bring.
I loved the imagery of the people, their way of life, and the beauty of the plains. This is no wall paper fantasy story and much of the magic lies within the detailed recreation of celebration of elements (earth, wind, fire, air) and the rules and customs by which the Firelanders lived. Less loved by me where the constant heroics of Lara in the field of medicine and the lengthy separation, not to mention everyone's seeming captivation with chess, a game that Lara has introduced.
At the close of the book, however, I couldn't help but want more. Surely there is more story to tell as Keir the Cat and Lara of Xy attempt to merge together a better future for their people. B.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Conclusion to a Masterful Series!, April 9, 2007
This review is from: Warlord (Chronicles of the Warlands, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
I LOVED Warprize and enjoyed Warsworn as well, so it's not surprising that I ate up Warlord, just as excellent as the first book of the series, in my opinion.
This book takes place where Warsworn left off (if you haven't read Warprize and Warsworn yet, stop reading right now and go read, otherwise the rest of this review won't make sense) with Lara, Keir, and the others headed towards the Heart of the Plains.
We end up in the Heart and meet some great new secondary characters along the way. I love the way Vaughan develops the secondary characters. They're not filler like in other books and are actually developed and engaging. Each character serves a purpose in furthering and enriching the story.
Of course, there are conflicts once Lara arrives for her confirmation. She represents great change, after all, and that's never an easy thing to accept. Her presence among the People of the Plains creates great conflict and tension in the novel, as well as great tension in the romantic relationship between Lara and Keir. They are separated for a good 100 pages almost, by the rule of the Council, but you never stop feeling their yearning to get back to each other and it's very touching (especially in one scene where they're a bit naughty and break the rules).
The falling action had me at the edge of my seat, I totally didn't know what was going to happen next and there were some really great emotional scenes here.
I agree with what one person said about the ending being a bit unresolved, but, I guess, Elizabeth Vaughan was trying to be a bit more realistic since times are uncertain in this world (think back to Marcus's "death comes in an instant") and although the hero/heroine are happily together at the end, they still have a lot of work ahead of them in merging and improving their societies.
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