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David Weber
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Midst Toil and Tribulation: A Novel in the Safehold Series (#6) (Safehold, 6) Mass Market Paperback – July 30, 2013

by David Weber (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,174 ratings
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David Weber's New York Times bestselling Safehold series of military Science Fiction adventure, which began with Off Armageddon Reef, continues with Midst Toil and Tribulation

WAR AND FAMINE

Once the Church of God Awaiting dominated all the kingdoms of Safehold. Then, after centuries of stasis, the island kingdom of Charis began to defy the edicts of Mother Church--egged on, some say, by the mysterious warrior-monk Merlin Athrawes, who enjoys the Charisian royal family's absolute trust.

What vanishingly few people know is that Merlin is the cybernetic avatar of a young woman a thousand years dead, felled in the war in which aliens destroyed Earth...and that since awakening, his task has been to restart the history of the long-hidden human race.

Now, reeling from the wars and intrigues that have cascaded from Charis's declaration of independence, the Republic of Siddermark slides into chaos. The Church has engineered a rebellion, and Siddermark's all-important harvest is at risk. King Cayleb and Queen Sharleyan struggle to stabilize their ally, which will mean sending troops--but, even more importantly, preventing famine. For mass starvation in Safehold's breadbasket is a threat even more ominous than civil war...

Safehold Series
1. Off Armageddon Reef
2. By Schism Rent Asunder
3. By Heresies Distressed
4. A Mighty Fortress
5. How Firm A Foundation
6. Midst Toil and Tribulation
7. Like A Mighty Army
8. Hell's Foundations Quiver
9. At the Sign of Triumph

Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 6 of 10
    Safehold
  2. Print length
    816 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Tor Science Fiction
  5. Publication date
    July 30, 2013
  6. Dimensions
    4.22 x 1.33 x 6.89 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0765361264
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0765361264
  9. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,174 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story well-crafted and enjoyable. They describe the book as readable and enjoyable. However, some readers found the content uninspiring and dull. Opinions differ on the pacing and character development, with some finding it fast-paced and sharp, while others felt it dragged.

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Story qualitySeries qualityReadabilityEnjoymentPacingCharacter developmentDetailContent
199 customers mention "Story quality"141 positive58 negative

Customers appreciate the story quality. They find the story detailed and engaging, with complex plotlines that progress at a good pace. The battle sequences are great, and the characters are brilliant.

"This is an excellent science fiction / military (mostly naval) series. I guess they would call it a sci-fi "opera"...." Read more

"...dialogues... and so this book (like the rest of the series) has loads of non-action to accompany the fantastic action sequences...." Read more

"...Great world-building, great characters, great action, and altogether many hours of outstanding entertainment. Enjoy!" Read more

"...down a primrose path and then rescued us before the end, but a deeply flawed book that cleaned up and while far better textually than Books 1-3 for..." Read more

153 customers mention "Series quality"153 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the series. They find the book good, but the story gets bogged down at times. However, they still consider it worth continuing. The overall saga is good enough to compensate for these issues. Many readers consider the series one of their favorite series of all time.

"...The series remains enjoyable. Stage 4: Why 4 stars and not 3 or 5...." Read more

"...This is a great series! My ONE complaint... price!..." Read more

"...I did enjoy this book. It should bridge pretty well to the next book, and I imagine I'll like that one too...." Read more

"Safehold has been a very intrieguing series, managing a hybrid of scifi and historical fiction that works quite well...." Read more

123 customers mention "Readability"107 positive16 negative

Customers enjoy the book's writing style. They find it readable and enjoyable. The series is well-developed, with action and thought-provoking content.

"...Detail in the tale is very well written, in depth but interesting and helps to keep the story flowing...." Read more

"...You may not like that. But I love it. The writing is top notch, the characters evolve over time and have multi-dimensional..." Read more

"...The scenario is one of my favorites - quality versus quantity, the technological advantage or the numerical one...." Read more

"As usual, the Safehold story continues to be well written with what I consider very detailed and quite believable character development...." Read more

46 customers mention "Enjoyment"46 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find the characters realistic and the story thrilling. The book offers a good mix of politics, history, and action battles. Readers appreciate the interesting concept and surprises that keep their interest high. Overall, they describe the book as entertaining and refreshing.

"...Its one of those tales that, if you like this genre, qualifies as a page turner and will have you reading it late into the night...." Read more

"...personalities (most of the time) and the story is unique and thrilling. This is a great series! My ONE complaint... price!..." Read more

"...-building, great characters, great action, and altogether many hours of outstanding entertainment. Enjoy!" Read more

"...Safehold, as a series, has been chocked so full of interesting concept and raw potential that I've picked up every book on day one...." Read more

98 customers mention "Pacing"63 positive35 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it fascinating with the technological progress and church/state fight. The action picks up sharply once you get to June. However, others feel the book slows down and feels forced as it explains history. The third book starts to drag, and some readers feel the story takes a long time with a complicated storyline.

"...The action flows well. The tale gets you to where you want to know what happens ... next...." Read more

"...There are long and sweeping descriptions of characters and places, strategies and inner dialogues... and so this book (like the rest of the series)..." Read more

"...but now they have just become confusing and sometimes slow the reading down for me...." Read more

"...is not anti-religion, it is pro-freedom, encouraging religious people to think about their beliefs and do what is right, rather than blindly follow..." Read more

82 customers mention "Character development"54 positive28 negative

Customers have mixed views on the character development. Some find it satisfactory, with sweeping descriptions of characters and places. They appreciate the sensitive portrayal of good and evil, as well as the drama and great drama. However, others feel the characters lack depth, are introduced too quickly, and are given names that aren't worth remembering. The narration is also criticized for being lacking.

"...But I love it. The writing is top notch, the characters evolve over time and have multi-dimensional personalities (most of the time) and..." Read more

"...2: Cons: This book is too long, too wordy and focuses far too much on the internal conversations and meetings that are not the keys to the history..." Read more

"...The series introduces wonderful new characters, including some with all the admirable qualities we appreciate in other Weber heroes...." Read more

"...How about WOW! Brilliant characters, a story that grips you, a backstory that gets your mind engaged in actively trying to solve the same problems...." Read more

73 customers mention "Detail"41 positive32 negative

Customers have different views on the book's detail. Some find it very detailed and interesting, with an in-depth knowledge of many subjects. Others feel the story gets bogged down with unnecessary details and technical details that bog the book down.

"In a way, this book represents everything I like about David Weber. It's complex, it's full of action, and it asks some interesting questions about..." Read more

"...Battles often fell flat and ran into run-on detail festivals that shortchanged action and the value of men for the history teacher's lexicon and..." Read more

"...as well as the processes that went into making them, are very detailed and interesting for anyone who likes that sort of history...." Read more

"...There's way too much detail on geography and I can't be bothered to constantly switch to the map view to figure out where everything is...." Read more

26 customers mention "Content"0 positive26 negative

Customers find the content unengaging and lacking in excitement. They feel the action scenes are short and lack depth. The rest of the content is repetitive, making it a dull read. Many readers feel the series is not worth the effort or money, with too much time spent on mundane details that don't enhance the story. Overall, they find the book not very good and struggle to finish it.

"...latest installment of the Safehold Series can become tedious and frustrating because Weber insists on providing so much detail he inevitably..." Read more

"...wind, sail, gunnery exercises, weather, etc.... are very boring to readers of SCIENCE FICTION...." Read more

"...The military history and tactics are interesting. But WAY TOO much time is spent on them...." Read more

"...This version was slightly disappointing as it moved the franchise forward in small baby steps in some areas, but entertaining and somewhat..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Bay0Wulf
    5.0 out of 5 stars Safehold Series, David Weber #6 of 6
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent science fiction / military (mostly naval) series. I guess they would call it a sci-fi "opera". I read #1 & 2 several years ago and found that #3 through 6 had been released. If you like David Weber this is a little "typical" but one of his better works. It definitely should be read in order as a series. If you haven't read the series from the beginning, you might as well go back and start over because it is definitely one where the stories are in order and you'll definitely want to "go back" and see what you missed.

    Although I am only part way through this book, I have just finished reading 3 through 5 (Since I bought 1-6 all at one time recently) ... and will re-read 1 & 2, it is consistent with the rest of the Safehold series and I would not be surprised to find out that the series continues ... but am almost fearful that it ends in this book.

    Its one of those tales that, if you like this genre, qualifies as a page turner and will have you reading it late into the night. The action flows well. The tale gets you to where you want to know what happens ... next. Detail in the tale is very well written, in depth but interesting and helps to keep the story flowing.

    I like David Weber generally and really enjoy this tale a whole lot.
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  • Jason Wills-Starin
    4.0 out of 5 stars I'm finding this installment to be exhausting, but the series is still promising and I care about the major characters
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I've been enjoying this series and it was worth the price of the hard bound to read this book.

    Stage 1: Full disclosure, I've read this book and the rest of this series. I've read Weber's Honor Harrington series and other than his Vampire novel, I've enjoyed the vast majority of his work.

    Stage 2: Cons: This book is too long, too wordy and focuses far too much on the internal conversations and meetings that are not the keys to the history of safehold or her future. The vast majority of the scenes in this book are someone in a parlour or in conversation about some point of action rather than the action itself. I'd say that 12% of the total novel is action and in this form of fiction I think it needs to be at least double that. Were I to draw a plot line for the story arcs described in this novel, I'd be hard pressed to say how Cayleb changed, how Sharleyan changed, how Staynair changed, how Stohnar changed... the list goes on. This book seems to be about Irys, Princess of Corisande and Merlin, but I fear that because no action occurred near her, her arc fell far too flat. I feel like something important is going to happen with her, but I felt that it was hard to care. Please, I beg the author to make those pages worth the read in the next installment.

    Merlin's transformation and that of another character(literally a resurrection of sorts) were the most powerful pieces of this entire work. Battles often fell flat and ran into run-on detail festivals that shortchanged action and the value of men for the history teacher's lexicon and abuse of dates. We are more than time passing. This book should have been the same.

    Stage 3: What went right. The heroes had some losses. In a land war, the two enemies were far more equal. The conflicts were slightly more believable. The main character a bit less of a Mary Sue. The consequences of PTSD and decision fatigue were believable and well represented. The challenges of the quantitative and qualitative were well represented. The series remains enjoyable.

    Stage 4: Why 4 stars and not 3 or 5. I enjoy the series, but this book stretched as close to the 3 as I'm willing to let still stand in the 4. The editor(s) need to help Weber solve what's killing his most recent books. Someone needs to help him pick and choose his battles and make certain that he writes what his audience wants just as much as he writes what is a joy for him. I struggled with finishing this book in three major places. The reason I finished, was because I am invested in the series and I want to see the end. I was very close in all three instances with walking away from it all. That would have meant a 1 star review.
    But the book turns around 175 pages before the end. The magic that makes this series work showed up and finished the story like a lion, not the lamb we've been seeing. All of the build up and pay off showed up and made the work worth standing where it does on the shelf. Not enough to make Weber seem the genius who simply lead us down a primrose path and then rescued us before the end, but a deeply flawed book that cleaned up and while far better textually than Books 1-3 for editing, it was a mere tenth of the power and impact of story. There just wasn't enough in this book to make it worth the size. 4 definitely not 5, but the series is far better than a 3 at this time would explain. The characters you've been reading about show up, even if some of your favorites stand on the sidelines and do almost nothing.

    Stage 5: Wait for the next book? I'll preorder it, I'll wait, but I would hope for a little more... cohesion. Payoff. Power.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Thomas McHugh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Don't hate on Wordy books!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I had a great boss who once joked "Pontification is my greatest strength." I always like that.

    If you prefer, here's another: "Anyone who says in a few words what they could have said using many just isn't trying hard enough!"

    There is a place for brevity and it is certainly a skill... but there's also a place where the more words, the better! The safehold series is that kind of novel. There are long and sweeping descriptions of characters and places, strategies and inner dialogues... and so this book (like the rest of the series) has loads of non-action to accompany the fantastic action sequences. You may not like that.

    But I love it.

    The writing is top notch, the characters evolve over time and have multi-dimensional personalities (most of the time) and the story is unique and thrilling. This is a great series!

    My ONE complaint... price! I understand, Mr. Weber, that the "price is set by the publisher" but come on... join the 21st century and the digital revolution! Embrace the democratization of book prices and lower your prices to find that wider audience!

    I am stingy when it comes to spending on books and I prefer to spend on indie authors over established powerhouse authors like Mr. Weber...most of the time. But I admit it... this series is worth the money. Read it, love it, thank me later!
    One person found this helpful
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  • AJ Norton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great series from the creator of Honor Harrington!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I resisted this series for years, because I am a Christian and generally don't like books that are written from an atheistic standpoint (anti-religion, religious leaders as villains, emphasis on the oppressiveness of religion, etc.) Then I began reading OFF ARMAGEDDON REEF (Safehold #1) and discovered, to my delight, that the series is not anti-religion, it is pro-freedom, encouraging religious people to think about their beliefs and do what is right, rather than blindly follow whatever some religious authority figure tells them. The series introduces wonderful new characters, including some with all the admirable qualities we appreciate in other Weber heroes. I totally love this series, and am sure I will want to re-read them, just as I do the Honor Harrington series. If you like space opera, colony worlds, the struggle to survive OR if you like the days of sailing ships and the Horatio Hornblower type of sea battles, there is something here for you! Great world-building, great characters, great action, and altogether many hours of outstanding entertainment. Enjoy!
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Scott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this series
    Reviewed in Canada on January 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Sorry, it's been awhile since I read this. But the whole series has been great so far.
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  • K. J. STEVENSON
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good continuation of an epic and original series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    A good continuation of an epic and original series - can't recommend too highly.
    Pity we won't get the tax on this flowing back into the treasury - love Amazon; a brilliant and competent service to buyersrs - if they only applied the same values to their tax policies I'd happily pay MORE for products AND use Amazon more - at present I only use it if in a rush or can't find what I want elsewhere.
    Come on Amazon be as good as citizens as you are at providing products - in the end we'll all come off the better for it!
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  • Nikolaos Kornaros
    5.0 out of 5 stars La suite tant attendue
    Reviewed in France on February 8, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    On retrouve dans ce tome tous les éléments qui font le succès et l'intérêt de cette série: comment amener une société pré-industrielle et profondémment centrée autour d'une église, une manière de penser, à évoluer et commencer à penser par elle-même. Avec toutes les frictions que cela implique, allant jusqu'à la guerre sainte et au schisme. Sachant que cette évolution est nécessaire pour éviter que dans un futur lointain celle-ci soit exterminée. Le poids qui pèse sur les épaules du personnage principal est lourd.
    Weber écrit avec beaucoup de détails et d'explication et met en lumière toute la complexité de l'évolution industrielle dans un contexte tendu tel qu'une guerre. Les personnages sont charismatiques et intéressants.
    A lire part tous ceux qui aiment la science-fiction mais qui veulent un peu de fraîcheur par rapport à ce que l'on peut trouver habituellement.
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  • Christian Schweda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Trotz allem ein sehr gutes Buch!
    Reviewed in Germany on January 31, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Wer Webers Werke kennt und auch die Safehold-Reihe bis hierhin gelesen hat, der muss sich bereits bewusst gemacht haben, dass Weber ab und zu mal etwas zu viel labert.
    In diesem Buch ist es etwas mehr, da viele neue Technologien vorgestellt werden, die entscheidend für den Krieg und die Zukunft Safeholds sind.
    Allerdings finde ich es nicht schlimm, da man von Weber auch die physikalischen Prozesse mehr oder weniger erläutert bekommt. Gerade zu Beginn fand ich die Vor- und Nachteile neuer Waffentechnologien sehr interessant, es ist nur fair, diesen Prozess auch fortzuführen.

    Zum Handlungsstrang lässt sich sagen, dass entgegen der Meinung einiger anderer Leser tatsächlich sogar eine ganze Menge passiert!
    Was das angeht, möchte ich allerdings nicht spoilern.

    Auf jeden Fall ist das Buch große Klasse, wer bis hierhin gelesen hat, muss auch diesen Band genießen.

    Ich gebe guten Gewissens 5 Sterne.
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  • Incantus
    4.0 out of 5 stars good book
    Reviewed in Canada on October 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    good book
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