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Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan, Book Six of the Wheel of Time series.

Introduction

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan is the sixth book of The Wheel of Time series. The novel follows eight storylines for the forces of Light. The Forsaken also plot to pit the forces of Light against each other. Rand travels by portal between Cairhien and Caemlyn, trying to merge his power and planning for Elayne to become the queen of both countries. Mat is at the head of the Band of the Red Hand and Rand points his forces at the Forsaken Sammuel in Ilian.

Perrin feels the ta’veren pull and heads to Caemlyn to help Rand. Egwene learns from the Wise Ones and faces her destiny. Nynaeve and Elayne are part of the Salidar Aes Sedai. Min travels to Caemlyn to convince Rand to support the Salidar Aes Sedai. When the Forsaken plot pushes Rand to the edge, will the Lord of Chaos rule or will Rand succeed?

Summary – Prologue

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan follows eight characters and features various Forsaken.

The prologue of the novel is 72 pages in the paperback and covers eleven different points of view.

Forsaken Demandred hatches the Lord of Chaos Plot with other Forsaken. There were a total of Thirteen Forsaken who swerved the Dark One during the Age of Legends. Though Rand and others have killed a few. (or have they?)

Nynaeve and Elayne are part of the Salidar Aes Sedai in the town of Salidar in Altara. The Salidar six rule the Salidar Aes Sedai. They want to elect their Amyrlin Seat to reclaim the White Tower from Elaida, the White Tower Aes Sedai Amyrlin Seat.

Perrin and Faile rule the Two Rivers in Andor. Perrin feels the pull of ta’veren to aide Rand.

Summary-Prologue Continued

Gawyn Trakand (Elayne’s brother) leads the Younglings (former Warders in Training) serving the White Tower Aes Sedai of the Amyrlin Seat Elaida in Tar Valon.

Katherine Alruddin Aes Sedai is part of the White Tower Embassy to Rand. She is part of the Black Ajah and conspires with a noblewoman from Cairhein against Rand.

Sevanna of the Shaido Clan of the Aiel plans her revenge against Rand.

Morgase Trakand (Elayne’s and Gawyn’s mother and the rightful queen of Andor) had fled Andor to enlist the aid of the Whitecloaks (in Amador) to regain her throne. (The Forsaken Ravin had taken her kingdom. Rand eliminated Ravin, but no one knows Morgase is still alive.)

Lord Captain Commander Pedron Naill of the Children of the Light (the Whitecloaks) offers Morgase a price for his aid to help her retake Andor. It is a price that Morgase is reluctant to pay.

Forsaken Mesaana converses with Forsaken Semirhage and Forsaken Demandred.

Forsaken Osan’gar and Forsaken Aran’gar are reborn at Shayol Ghul.

Summary–Groups of characters

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan follows three groups of characters. The first group is the ta’veren; Rand, Perrin, and Mat, all from the Two Rivers. The ta’veren are agents of Light for the Wheel of Time. Rand is the Dragon Reborn, the main hero for the Light in the Wheel of Time. He is fated to face the Dark One and the forces of darkness at the Last Battle. Rand has the backing of the Aiel clans from the Waste (except for the Shaido clan). He has brought the clans to the Westlands. His coalition includes Tear, Cairhein, and Andor.

Mat is his best general, in charge of the Band of the Red Hand. Rand sends Mat with the Band toward Tear to occupy the thoughts of the Forsaken Sammuel who rules Ilian. Perrin rules the Two Rivers, but the pull of the ta’veren causes him to seek out Rand.

Summary–Groups of characters Continued

The second group of characters is the Two Rivers Aes Sedai; Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne. The Aes Sedai use the female part of the One Power. Egwene studies with the Wise Ones, Aiel who use the One Power. She came with Rand and the Aiel to Cairhein. She will face her destiny with the Salidar Aes Sedai. Elayne and Nynaeve are Accepted with the Salidar Aes Sedai.

The third group of characters is Rand’s girlfriends. The three women vie for Rand’s attention. Elayne has professed her love to him, but they have been apart for a long time. Aviendha is the Aiel assigned by the Wise Ones to watch Rand, but they have a romantic relationship. The complication to their relationship is that Aviendha knows Elayne’s love for Rand and doesn’t want to take his affection for her from him. Min is from the mountains near the Two Rivers and has the gift of foresight. She loves Rand but doesn’t know if he returns her love. She comes with the Salidar Aes Sedai embassy to Rand. Min wants to see where her relationship with Rand can go.

Summary–Best Plot Points

Three Plot Points stand out in Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan.

Nynaeve and Elayne are Accepted (the level above Novice but below full Aes Sedai) with the Salidar Aes Sedai. They get knowledge about the Age of Legends from their captive Forsaken. Nynaeve has been contemplating how to use the One Power in a way that no one expects can work. This action has been foreshadowed since early in the series. She tries the action in Chapter 29, Fire and Spirit, and in Chapter 30, To Heal Again. These are two great chapters.

Egwene trains with the Aiel Wise Ones. She follows Rand and the Aiel to Carhien. She must figure out how she fits with the Salidar Aes Sedai. Chapter 37 When the Battle Begins covers the character’s reaction to the event that ends the previous chapter. The chapter has six points of view of characters who react to that pivotal event. The interplay between their reactions is excellent.

This whole novel, all 1011 paperback pages, leads up to what happens at Dumai’s Wells. Step-by-step Rand is boxed into a corner. What he does and the aftermath of his actions are epic and worth the page count.

Recommendation

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan ends with an epic climax at Dumai’s Wells. I thought three plot points were excellent. Nynaeve’s triumphant use of the One Power, Egwene’s fate with the Salidar Aes Sedai, and Rand’s brush with the insanity that led to the epic conclusion at Dumai’s Wells. But it took too long to get to those plot points. About half the chapters before Chapter 29 could have been shortened or cut and the storyline would not have been affected. The Morgase subplot is not furthered or completed in this novel and could have been dropped here. (For example, Perrin did not appear at all in The Fires of Heaven.) The best parts make reading the rest worth it.

The first season of the Amazon Prime Video will adapt the first novel of the series in 2021. I will be interested to see how the showrunners adapt this novel in a few years.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35231.Lord_of_Chaos

This is the link to my review of Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan, Book Five of the Wheel of Time.

Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan, Book Four of the Wheel of Time.

Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan, Book three of the Wheel of Time.

Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Great Hunt by Robert Jordan, Book two of the Wheel of Time.

Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, Book one of the Wheel of Time.

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson, Book #4 of the Stormlight Archive

Introduction

In Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson, the war continues between the human forces of the Stormfather and the Voidbringer forces of Odium. The Voidbringers have taken the kingdom of Alethkar, and the humans have retreated to the stronghold of Urithru. Dalinar Kholin leads humans and must decide where he should attack. Their strength is fading, and he must make the right decision or fail, leading to their destruction. Kaladin faces PTSD and must conquer great physical challenges to save them all. Will the forces of the Stormfather succeed or perish?

Summary–Six Viewpoints

There are six main viewpoint characters in this novel, including one viewpoint in flashback. The viewpoints are all about equal in importance. The viewpoints are Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, Navani, Venli, and Eshonai.

Summary – Flashbacks

Kaladin’s flashbacks were in Book 1. He suffers from PTSD incurred from the events of the last novel. In this novel, he struggles to heal himself and to protect Urithru. Kaladin is the leader of the Knights Radiant order of Windrunners.

Shallan’s flashbacks were in Book 2. Her struggle is with dealing with her other personalities, which are taking over more and more of her life. She created these personalities to cope with the terrible things that have happened to her in her life. The personality Radiant trains with the Shardblade and is the ideal Knight Radiant. The personality Veil pretends to be worldlier than Shallan and associates with the underground gang called the Ghostbloods. Shallan also has trouble figuring out her relationship with her fiancé, Adolin, who is Dalinar’s elder son. Shallan’s talents are creating illusions and creating items by surgebinding of stormlight. She is a member of the Knights Radiant Order of Lightweavers.

Dalinar’s flashbacks were in Book 3. His flashback chapters in Book 3 detailed why he does not remember his wife and what happened up to the time that he lost his memories. He becomes a Bondsmith (a Knights Radiant Order) and the leader of the humans at Urithru.

The flashbacks for Book 4 come from both Eshonai and Vendi. The flashbacks explain how Eshondi became the leader of the Parshendi war effort and how Vendi learned to use other forms to bring back the Voidbringers. Eshonai is only seen in flashbacks, while Venli has viewpoint chapters in flashbacks and in the current time.

Summary–Voidbringers and Parshmen

The Voidbringers took Kholinar, the Alethi capital. The humans gathered at Urithiru, the former city of the Knights Radiant, send a flying barge to rescue the residents of Hearthstone. Kaladin, Navani, and Dalinar take part in the rescue mission.

The Parshmen are a non-human race that has been the slaves of the humans and have been in a state that is called dull form, which decreases their intelligence. The Alethi have been fighting the Parshendi on the Shattered Plain since the Parshendi had Dalinar’s brother, Alethi King Gavilar, assassinated by the assassin in white. The secret they discover is that the Parshmen are Parshendi in the dull form. Some Parshendi, called the singers, have brought the Everstorm back and have awaked the Parshmen out of dull form. The Everstorm brings the Voidbringers who are called the Fused. The Fused are singers melded with ancient powerful spirits of Parshendi trapped by the Heralds in another plane. The Fused seek to overthrow the humans and retake Roshar as their own. The original Knights Radiant had discovered a secret about the Parshendi and had forsaken their vows.

Summary–Rhythm of War

Kaladin, Dalinar, and Navani take a flying barge to rescue the citizens of Hearthstone. Their homeland, Alethkar, has been taken by the Voidbringers and the only safe place to take the refugees is the ancient city of Urithru.

They send Shallan and Andolin on a special mission to Shadesmar to enlist the aid of the Honorspren.

Dalinar takes the coalition army to Emul to defeat the Voidbringer forces gathered there.

Kaladin and Navani protect Urithru from a Voidbringer attack. Venli is part of the Voidbringer attack but doesn’t have the same goals as the Voidbringers.

Recommendation

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanders is another outstanding book in the Stormlight Archive series. The book expands on the first three books and intensifies the conflict. The reader learns more about how Eshonai became the leader of the Parshendi and how Venli learned new forms which lead to the coming of the Voidbringers. Dalinar becomes a supreme war leader. Kaladin faces his biggest challenges yet. Navani faces an interesting dilemma concerning if you should help your captor if the help you provide could prove your downfall. Shallan deals with her multiple personalities and her relationship with Adolin.

The flashback character for book 5 is for Szeth-son-son-Vallano, and that should prove interesting. Books one to five are a division of the series, and a significant event should occur at the end of the next book. This series continues to amaze me, and I look forward to reading the next book and the following group of five volumes in the coming years.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49021976-rhythm-of-war

My review of Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. In book three of the Stormlight Archive, Dalinar learns the truth of his past through his flashbacks.

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

My review of Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson, a collection with nine stories that are part of the cosmere universe. Many of the author’s works are interrelated by an overarching plot, which he calls the cosmere. He sets the stories of the cosmere on a group of worlds that can be traveled to by magical means. Six stories are set on the worlds of his published novels, and three stories are about worlds that have not had a novel-length story treatment. All the stories in this collection are excellent.

Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson

On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Introduction

On Writing Well by William Zinsser is the classic guide to writing non-fiction. The first section of the book details the best way to write well, whether writing fiction or non-fiction. On Writing Well is littered with quotable quotes and excellent advice. The rest of the book covers the various modes of non-fiction writing, including many examples from the author and others. If you want to write well in any application, then this is the book for you.

Summary – Four Parts

On Writing Well by William Zinsser has four parts, Principles, Methods, Forms, and Attitudes. I will examine each part and will insert the most informative quotes from each part. When I read this book, I made four pages of notes which helped me write this summary.

Summary – Part 1

Part one: The Principles has seven chapters. My favorite quote from Chapter 2: Simplicity is “The secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components.” (page 7). Two important concepts are from Chapter 5: The Audience “You are writing for yourself, (page 25) and Chapter 6: Words “writing is learned by imitation.” (page 35).

Summary Part 2

Part two: Methods has three chapters. In chapter 8: Unity, the quote is “you learn to write by writing.” (page 49). Quote from Chapter 9: The Lead and the Ending, “the most important sentence in any article is the first one.” (page 55). Chapter 10: Bits and Pieces covers short ideas on writing.

Summary – Part 3

Part three: Forms has two introductory chapters and covers seven types of non-fiction writing. The seven types of non-fiction writing are travel, memoir, science, business, sports, arts, and humor. An example of how to use quotes in non-fiction writing is the article by Joseph Mitchell called “Mr. Hunter’s Grave” published in the New Yorker magazine. The publishers collected it with five other articles in the book The Bottom of the Harbor by Joseph Mitchell. (page 113)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/608217.The_Bottom_Of_The_Harbor

Another book that sounded interesting to me and quoted in the science chapter was The Periodic Table by Primo Levi. (page 159) The book is a collection of 21 short stories with each title from an element in the periodic table. The author’s experience during the Holocaust influenced the stories.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/427282.The_Periodic_Table

Summary – Part 4

Part four: Attitudes is five chapters on the process of writing and revising. The best part of this section is from Chapter 23: A Writer’s Decisions. In the chapter, the author relates his decisions he made when writing the article “The News from Timbuktu” published in Conde Nast Traveler. (pages 265 to 285) There are extensive quotes from the article and detailed explanations.

One final quote from Chapter 24: Write as well as you can, “You will write only as well as you make yourself write.” (page 293)

Recommendation

On Writing Well by William Zinsser is a brilliant book on writing. I first learned of this book at the Western Reserve Writers Conference in 2016. At the conference, the keynote speaker John Ettorre spoke about his relationship with writer and editor William Zinsser. Zinsser was a mentor of his who had passed away in 2015. He described how Zinsser had encouraged him and many others in the craft of writing. Zinsser’s most famous book is On Writing Well. I planned to read the book then. I write fiction, but half of my writing is for my non-fiction blog at garydavidgillen.com, so I thought this book would help me with my non-fiction writing.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of On Writing Well by William Zinsser.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1176982.On_Writing_Well

Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell is a book about writing subtitled techniques and exercises for crafting a plot that grips readers from start to finish. The author gives his advice about how to develop a satisfying plot for your novel.

Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell

Another similar book on writing is How to Write Best Selling Fiction by Dean Koontz. This is the link to my review. The book from 1981, but the advice is still great.

How to Write Best Selling Fiction by Dean Koontz

No Ones Home by DM Pulley

No Ones Home by DM Pulley.

Introduction

No Ones Home by DM Pulley is about the five families that have owned a mansion named Rawlingswood in Shaker Heights, Ohio. The novel switches points of view from 1922 to 2019. The house has a reputation for males losing their lives and females losing their sanity. In April 2018, Myron and Margot Spielman arrive from Boston and buy the mansion cheaply. Will the Spielman’s survive the mansion, unlike the four families that preceded them?

Summary

No Ones Home by DM Pulley features the five families that have owned a mansion named Rawlingswood. It was built on land originally owned by the Shaker religious group. The Shaker colony thrived in the area from 1822 to 1889 when it closed. Shaker Heights was established in 1909, and the mansion was built in 1922 by Walter Rawlings.

The Rawlings Family owned the mansion from 1922 to 1931. Walter Rawlings had the mansion built. Georgina is his wife and his son is little Walter. Their section in the novel starts on October 26, 1929, the day the stock market crashed. Bootlegging and The Great Depression are important events for their section. The fates of the Rawlings family begin the terrible reputation of the house.

The Bell family owned the mansion from 1936 to 1972. Their family does not have a point of view in the novel, though members of the family have input in the plot of the other families.

The Klussman family owned the mansion from 1972 to 1990. Benny is autistic and his mother Frannie cares for him. His father left them years earlier. Their section of the novel starts on June 18, 1980. Benny faces a dilemma he cannot resolve because of his limitations of thinking and conversing.

Summary Continued

The Martin family owned the mansion from 1994 to 2016. Ava and her brother Toby are governed by Papa Martin (Clyde Martin). Their section of the novel starts on March 1, 2009. Ava notices writing on the walls, including something about Benny. She feels a presence in the mansion that other people do not.

The Speilman family bought the mansion on April 7, 2018. They are from Boston. Myron is a doctor and Margot is a yoga instructor. The mansion is distressed, so they remodel the house. The remodel does not go smoothly. Their high school age son is named Hunter. They arrive on July 18, 2018, before school starts. Hunter learns about the history of the mansion and must decide what he will do with his knowledge.

Recommendation

No Ones Home by DM Pulley is a well thought out ghost suspense thriller. The four threads of the story separated in time come together. The secrets that Hunter’s family kept are revealed and the mansion’s secrets are discovered. I like how the story is resolved. I live near and have been in Shaker Heights, so this novel was interesting to me. The mix of mystery, history, and thriller works.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of No Ones Home by DM Pulley.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52921754-no-one-s-home

Unclaimed Victim by D.M. Pulley connects the stories of Ethel from March 1938 and Kris from April 1999 through the Torso Killer of Cleveland. They are targets. Can they survive? Link to review.

Unclaimed Victim by D.M. Pulley

This is the link to my review of The Dead Key by D.M. Pulley.

The Dead Key by D M Pulley

Provenance by Ann Leckie

Provenance by Ann Leckie.

Provenance by Ann Leckie, Book #4 of the Imperial Radch series.

Introduction

Provenance by Ann Leckie is the fourth book of the Imperial Radch series but features characters that were not in the trilogy. Ingray frees a prisoner to get information about a priceless artifact. She needs the artifact to earn prestige in her clan. Ingray is adopted and not the favored child. If she doesn’t earn the prestige she needs, she faces expulsion from her clan. Will Ingray find the artifact or end up clanless?

Summary

Provenance by Ann Leckie’s main character, Ingray Aughskold risks money and life to earn the prestige she needs to become the next Netano of her clan on the Hwae system. Netano Aughskold, her mother, adopted her into the clan. Ingray hopes to earn the title of Netano. Danach, her adopted brother, is the person most likely to become the next Netano.

The officials of Hwae system sentenced Pahlad Budrakim to life imprisonment at the inescapable prison Compassionate Removal in Tyr system for the theft of a still missing priceless artifact. If Ingray can free Pahlad and recover the artifact, Ingray can become the next Netano. She risks imprisonment if she is caught with the prisoner.

Ingray has few assets in her favor. They include Starship Captain Tic Uisine and Ingray’s Nuncle Lak, the financial officer of the Netano clan. She must use her wits and determination to succeed.

Recommendation

Provenance by Ann Leckie introduces an interesting character to the Imperial Radch series. Ingray’s goals are like Breq’s goals in Ancillary Sword and Mercy, but not in Ancillary Justice. The set-up with breaking out a prisoner from an unescapable prison was promising. That goal led to currying favor from her adoptive mother. I did not feel like Ingray was likable, and that made her struggle unsatisfying to me at the end of the novel.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Provenance by Ann Leckie

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25353286-provenance

In Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie, Breq risks losing the Athoek system to the Lord of the Radch’s rival. Will Breq navigate this complicated diplomatic situation?

Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie

In Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie, Breq is on a mission for the Lord of the Radch in the Athoek system. Breq must discover why Athoek transportees are disappearing. Breq risks losing the system to the Lord’s rival to solve the mystery. This is a link to my review.

Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie

In Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, Breq plans her revenge on the Lord of the Radch. Her plans are in jeopardy when Breq befriends the disgraced former Captain Seivarden Vendaai. Will Breq carry out her goals or will the powerful Lord defeat her? This is a link to my review.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie

The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie

The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Trilogy Book #1

Introduction

The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie is the second book of the Age of Madness Trilogy, a follow-up trilogy of the First Law World Trilogy. The Trilogy occurs thirty years after the First Law Trilogy. This Trilogy follows an additional set of characters; some are the children of characters from the First Law books. First Law characters also appear in secondary roles in this series. The principal characters must face the consequences of the peace after the war in the North between Angland and the Northmen, and also with the end of the Breakers rebellion in Valbeck. Intrigues occur. Will peace prove more deadly than the wars?

Summary

The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie features seven points of view characters from both sides of the Angland and Midderland conflicts. The characters meet and part in this complex narrative.

Orso dan Luthar, the first character, is the King of the Union. He must respond to the aftermath of the uprising in Valbeck and the war in Angland, which occurred at the end of the first novel.

Victarine (Vic) dan Teufel, the second character, is an undercover agent for the Inquisition of the Union. She is on a mission in the Union port of Westport on the coast of Styria. The Styrians are trying to force the Union out of Westport, and Vic must disrupt their plan.

Savine dan Glokta, the third character, is the daughter of Sand dan Glokta, the head of the King’s Closed Council and the head of the Inquisition. She has substantial wealth and invests in new businesses at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution of the Union. After the uprising in Valbeck she has returned to Adua, the capital of the Union. She is upset because she was forced to end her relationship with Orso. She tries to rebuild her businesses damaged in the uprising.

Summary, Part 2

Gunner “Bull” Broad, the fourth character, brings his family to Adua to work for Savine dan Glotka. He had helped Savine in Valbeck and she is grateful, so she has employed him. His conflict is with the sort of tasks that Savine requires him to perform.

Leo dan Brock, the fifth character, is the Lord Governor of the province of Angland, a part of the Union. He is recovering from his injuries suffered in the war with the North. It is difficult for him to accept that he is no longer invincible, and must govern Angland during the peace.

Stour Nightfall is the leader of the North. One of his advisors is Jonas “Clover” Steepfield, the sixth character. He was once a famous warrior but is now an observer of the Northmen’s court.

Angland’s ally in the North is the Protectorate, ruled by the Dogman, the chieftain of the city of Uffrith. Rikke, the seventh character, is the Dogman’s daughter. She has the Long Eye, a way of seeing images from the past or the future. She must come to terms with her gift or face going insane like many with the gift have done so before her.

Recommendation

The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie continues the Age of Madness Trilogy well. The action builds and plot shifts land hard. Most chapters follow either a single viewpoint or two sequential viewpoints of the seven main characters The exceptions are the chapter titled The Little People where a series of people react to a devastating event in Adua and a chapter also titled The Little People where a series of people react to the climactic battle in Stoffenbeck. In the Stoffenbeck chapter one character observes, then encounters the next character, and then that character takes on the narrative. It continues in the chapter, creating a kaleidoscope where the events build to a greater whole. Those chapters were my highlight of the book.

It was a brilliant book. I liked the love triangle arc of Leo, Savine, and Orso. I’m looking forward to seeing their struggles conclude in the last book of the trilogy, The Wisdom of Crowds, coming on September 16, 2021.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #2

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50358101-the-trouble-with-peace

This is the link to my review of A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #1

Northmen invade Angland, the northern province of the Union. The Industrial Revolution has arrived in the Union and civil unrest increases following unfair labor practices. The city of Valbeck is the center of the unrest. It features seven characters from both sides of the conflict. Will Angland and Valbeck be destroyed, or will they survive?

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie

Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie

Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie, Book #3 of the Imperial Radch series

Introduction

Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie is the third book of the Imperial Radch series and the last book of the original trilogy. The Lord of the Radch Anaader Mianaai, appoints Breq as Fleet Captain. Breq’s mission is to secure the Athoek system for the Lord’s side in the civil war that threatens the Radch, Breq solved the mystery related to disappearing Athoek transportees. Can Breq secure the system or will Breq lose the system to Anaader’s rival?

Summary – Ancillary Justice and Ancillary Sword

Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie is about Breq, who was once the starship Justice of Toren a thousand years ago but is now limited to one body, an ancillary. Breq confronted Anaader Mianaai, the Lord of the Radch in the novel Ancillary Justice. Afterward, the Lord appoints Breq as Fleet Captain and assigns Breq to the ship, Mercy of Kalr. Breq’s mission is to secure the Athoek system for the Lord’s side in the civil war that threatens the Radch. Breq’s senior Lieutenant on the Mercy of Kalr is Seivarden Vendaai, who assisted Breq in the novel Ancillary Justice.

In Ancillary Sword, Breq takes over the Athoek Station, a space station orbiting the system’s habitable planet. Breq found Basnaaid, who is a horticulturist in the garden area of the station. She is the sister of Lieutenant Awn, someone who Breq loved but was unavoidably killed by Breq and Breq tries to make amends with her. Breq learns of the deplorable conditions in a part of the station called the Undergarden. Breq discovers a plot related to disappearing Athoek transportees. A death complicates Breq’s investigation and Breq goes to the planet’s surface at a tea plantation to continue the investigation. The Athotek overseers exploit the workers. After an assassination plot against Breq is foiled, Breq discovers the leaders of the transportee plot and acts.

Summary – Ancillary Mercy

In Ancillary Mercy, the author resolves the three remaining subplots from Ancillary Sword. Breq resolves the mystery of what was on the other side of the Ghost system wormhole, and the result has an important effect on the civil war. The Presger is a technologically advanced civilization that could impose its will on humanity, but a treaty bounds them. A Presger translator interprets the treaty and Breq must navigate a delicate situation or face the Presger’s wrath. Breq resolves the civil war.

Recommendation

Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie resolves the subplots raised in Ancillary Sword. Breq’s mission was vague, go to Athoek and secure it for the Radch. In Ancillary Sword, the author left three subplots unresolved. The subplots involved the Ghost system, the Preger translator, and the civil war. The author examined each subplot and Breq solved each challenge.

I view this trilogy as two unique books. Breq’s single-minded search for vengeance drove Ancillary Justice. Ancillary Sword was the introduction to the themes completed in Ancillary Mercy. The two books were a contemplative study in Breq’s navigation through a series of diplomatic situations. It exemplifies this change in tone by the focus on serving tea and collecting tea sets. The strength of the series is in the ideas of an exploration of the nature of the self, how to relate to oppressed people, and the absence of gender.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23533039-ancillary-mercy

Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan, Book Five of the Wheel of Time series.

Introduction

Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan is the fifth book of The Wheel of Time series. Four groups appear in the novel. Rand brings the Aiel clans out of the waste, looking for the false chief of chiefs, and Matt struggles to step out of Rand’s shadow. Nynaeve and Elayne try to avoid attracting the Black Ajah and the Forsaken. Min and Siuan search for the rebel Aes Sedai. Gareth Bryne tracks Min and Siuan down. When the Forsaken drive Rand to desperation, will he be able to control the Fires of Heaven at his disposal or destroy the world?

Summary

Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan follows four groups of characters, featuring Rand, Nynaeve, Min, and Gareth Bryne.

The first chapter of the book serves as a prologue, covering three different points of view of the antagonists of this novel.

Rand must track down the false chief of chiefs to establishing himself as the ruler of the Aiel. He brings the Aiel loyal to him out of the waste through the Jangai Pass leading to warfare in Cairhein. Moraine and Egwene face a dilemma involving the Forsaken. Matt tries to leave, but his Ta’veren power leads him to establish his destiny beyond Rand. Rand battles the Forsaken at Cairhein and is hard-pressed to bring down the Fires of Heaven on them when he travels to the realm of dreams, Tel’aran’rhiod.

Nynaeve and Elayne escape Tanchico and plan to report back to the Aes Sedai in Tar Valon, but are thwarted in their attempts. They travel through Amadicia on their way to Ghealdan. They join a circus, meet a prophet, and learn more about Tel’aran’rhiod. Their journey leads to the rebel Aes Sedai and a confrontation with a Forsaken.

Siuan Sanche and Min leave Tar Valon and search for the rebel Aes Sedai. On the way to Andor, they meet Gareth Bryan.

Gareth Bryan becomes enamored with Siuan and searches for her.

Rand’s group reaches their climax at Cairhien and the rest search for the rebel Aes Sedai.

Recommendation

Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan is a great novel, but something is missing compared to the previous novel, Shadow Rising. The best storyline from Shadow Rising was Perrin’s triumph in the Two Rivers. Perrin does not appear in this novel, and he is missed. The Rand and Matt storylines progressed well and their endings were satisfying. It seems like the rest of the storylines were slow going and setting up a big climax in the next novel. I wish something more had happened in this novel. The ending for Nynaeve was good, but a continuation of her interrupted ending for Shadow Rising. The stuff in between at the circus and Samara was interesting but could have been skipped.

The two best parts of the novel were Rand’s battle in Tel’aran’rhiod with a Forsaken and the crazy ending that readers are still debating about even after the end of the series. You will know what I’m talking about after reading one page of the last chapter, Chapter 56, Glowing Embers.

The first season of the Amazon Prime Video will adapt the first novel of the series in 2021. I will be interested to see how the showrunners adapt this novel in a few years.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/140975.The_Fires_of_Heaven

This is the link to my review of Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan, Book Four of the Wheel of Time.

Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan, Book three of the Wheel of Time.

Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Great Hunt by Robert Jordan, Book two of the Wheel of Time.

Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

This is the link to my review of Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, Book one of the Wheel of Time.

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold, Book #7 of the Vorkosigan saga.

Introduction

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold is Book seven of the Vorkosigan saga. It is the direct sequel to Shards of Honor, Book #1 of the Vorkosigan saga. Cordelia Naismith of Beta Colony married Aral Vorkosigan of Barrayar. She moves to Barrayar as Lady Vorkosigan. The Emperor of Barrayar has died and named Aral as the regent for his young grandson, Gregor. Assassins target Aral and Cordelia to gain control of the Empire. Will Cordelia survive the regency and give birth to her son?

Summary

In Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold, Cordelia marries Aral Vorkosigan and is pregnant with his son. Emperor Ezar Vobarra names Aral as his Regent for his underage grandson, Gregor Vorbarra. An aristocracy rules Barrayar with each family holding its districts of the planet. The ruler of each district is a Count and they use the honorific preface of Vor. Aral’s father, Piotr Vorkosigan, heads the Vorkosigan family. Piotr doesn’t like that his son has married a woman from outside of the Empire and worries about his only living descendant being their unborn son. The other aristocrats dislike the Emperor’s choice of Aral as the regent. Aral and Cordelia face assassination attempts and must unite the people of Barrayar or face destruction.

Many people help Cordelia in her quest to protect her husband and unborn son. Captain Vaagen if the Barrayaran Military Hospital helps with Cordelia’s son using a uterine replicator. A deadly mission to the Imperial Palace includes Cordelia, Aral’s bodyguard Sergeant Bothari (Konstantine Bothari), Cordelia’s bodyguard Drou (Ludmilla Droushnakovi), and Aral’s personal secretary Kou (Clement Koudelka). Imperial Security officer Simon Illyan provides information for them on their mission. Cordelia’s goals are to protect her husband by preserving the Regency and for a healthy birth of her son, Miles Vorkosigan.

Recommendation

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold is a space opera mixed with a romance. I enjoyed following Cordelia and Aral on their adventures. There was plenty of adventure and plotting leading to the daring raid on the Imperial Palace. I liked Cordelia as the protagonist. I liked the parallels of the different types of love displayed by these pairs of characters; Cordelia/Aral, Drou/Kou, Padma/Alys, and Bothari/his daughter Elena. Barrayar won the Hugo and Locus awards for best novel.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61905.Barrayar

In Shards of Honor (Book#1 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, Barrayaran Captain Aral Vorkosigan takes Betan Commander Cordelia Naismith prisoner. They take a hike in the jungle. What happens when they fall in love?

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

In Falling Free (Book #4 of the Vorkosigan saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold, space engineer Leo Graf must decide between retiring or risking his life protecting his students. The novel is a fun, self-contained space opera romp.

Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Trilogy Book #1

Introduction

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie is the first book of the Age of Madness Trilogy, a follow-up trilogy of the First Law World Trilogy. The Trilogy occurs thirty years after the First Law Trilogy. This Trilogy follows an additional set of characters; some are the children of characters from the First Law books. First Law characters also appear in secondary roles in this series. There is a war brewing in the North as the Northmen invade Angland, the northern province of the Union. The Industrial Revolution has arrived in the Union and civil unrest increases following unfair labor practices. The city of Valbeck is the center of the unrest. Will they destroy Angland and Valbeck or will they survive?

Summary

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie features seven points of view characters from both sides of the Angland and Valbeck conflicts. The characters meet and part in this complex narrative.

Summary Angland

Leo dan Brock, the first character, is about to come into his inheritance as the Lord Governor of the province of Angland, a part of the Union. His mother is his regent. Angland ally is the Protectorate, ruled by the Dogman, the chieftain of the city of Uffrith. Rikke, the second character, is the Dogman’s daughter. She has the Long Eye, a way of seeing images from the past or the future. Leo and Rikke meet and renew their childhood relationship.

The Northman invade the Protectorate and Leo’s mother command their troops to fall back toward Angland. The king of the Northmen is Iron Scalehand. His brother is Black Calder and Calder’s son is Stour Nightfall. Stour is the king’s heir. Jonas Clover, the third character, was a famous warrior but is now an observer of the Northmen’s court. The two armies face either other, leading to a confrontation between Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall.

Summary Valbeck

Savine dan Glokta, the fourth character, is the daughter of Sand dan Glokta, the head of the King’s Closed Council and the head of the Inquisition. She has substantial wealth and invests in new businesses at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution of the Union. She lives in Adua, the capital of the Union. The fifth character is Crown Prince Orso. He is the do-nothing, wastrel son of the King. He wants to make a name for himself and he has a romance with Savine.

Victarine (Vic) dan Teufel, the sixth character, is an undercover agent for Sand dan Glokta’s Inquisition. She is infiltrating the group called the Breakers. The Breakers want to destroy the factories and bring sweeping change to the Union. The revolution is brewing in Valbeck. Gunner “Bull” Broad, the seventh character, brings his family to Valbeck looking for work and becomes involved with the Breakers.

Savine, Orso, Vic, and Bull all have roles to play in the Valbeck plot.

Recommendation

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie is a fabulous start to the Age of Madness Trilogy. The action runs smooth and the characters bounce between the two plots. Most chapters follow either a single viewpoint or two sequential viewpoints of the seven main characters The exceptions are the chapter titled The Little People where a series of people react to the revolution in Valbeck and the chapter titled The Battle of Red Hill where a series of people react to the conflict in Angland. Those chapters were my highlight of the book.

I liked the arc of the two sets of lovers; Leo and Rikke; Savine and Orso. I’m looking forward to their struggles in the next book of the trilogy, The Trouble with Peace, publishing on September 15, 2020.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #1

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35606041-a-little-hatred

This is a link to my review of Red Country by Joe Abercrombie, First Law World Series Book #6

Bandits burn Shy South’s farm and kidnap her sister and brother. She must fight tribal members who live in the Far Country who are called Ghosts, a mercenary captain bent on obtaining the rumored treasure of the Ghosts and the remnants of an ancient empire to rescue them.

Red Country by Joe Abercrombie