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argentrabe's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
thisistaylort's review
adventurous
medium-paced
4.0
** spoiler alert ** Oh man, that was a tough one. It took me 20 days to tackle King's Shield and at times I thought of giving it up. Not because it wasn't good, but because it was too good. I feel so deeply for each of the characters, and as they marched closer to war and became more entangled in politics and adult emotions, every page turn I was afraid for which character would die next or which friendship would end.
We saw the most character development yet in King's Shield . The main characters are still children in the first book, Inda. By The Fox they are starting to grow up and we see signs of the adults they will come to be.
Six hundred and twenty pages and probably that many characters; there's a lot to get through. I found myself keeping notes as I went along; partly so I could remember, but mostly so that I could get all the inner turmoil out on paper.
We start with Inda finally back on Iasca Leror soil, accompanied by Tau and Jeje. I was anticipating a much longer build up to Inda actually reaching the king. Though I can't complain too much about the tension not being drawn out, because we do get treated to Jeje and Tau finally hooking up. I just love these characters together. She is so open and frank while Tau is the master of subtleness, but together they're perfect.
Aside from their reaching an understanding, a lot of my other concerns post- The Fox were answered almost immediately. Tdor found out about Inda and Signi more quickly than I anticipated, like ripping off a bandaid. I hurt for Tdor because she's such a solid, reliable person who deserves to be happy. Though I felt hope when Signi told Inda she was leaving, and Inda’s first thought is “I need Tdor because she can make sense of me.”I also was not expecting any closure regarding Dun being sent as a King's Runner to protect Inda during his exile, so that early reveal felt good. Dun is another good person who sacrificed a lot and deserved some happiness, even if it came in the afterlife.
And while the reunion with a lot of major characters happens quite quickly, just as quickly, they are headed off again to fight the Venn. I’ve spent one and a half books waiting for Inda to come home, and like five chapters in, it's done. I have a feeling it's mostly so we can get to the point of the book; war and its brutality.
It can be a challenge, keeping up with Smith’s vast number of characters or how she moves between points of view quickly and often. As to the large number of characters, I think it’s an accurate depiction of human life- we interact with and have relationships with a multitude of people, each with their own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. A lot of books try to limit the number of characters to make things easier on that reader, Smith does not spare us and our reward is a richer and more complex reading experience. This plays nicely into the series' overarching themes: duty, war, friendship, human nature and how others are able to perceive it differently. We see the same issue from multiple points of view.
In the same vein, shifting between points of view within chapters, rather than devoting each chapter to a single POV is a refreshing break from convention. I never grow weary of a single character’s POV, which sometimes happens when you’re stuck with them for an entire chapter. But I also think it gives more context, and more quickly, by giving us five characters thoughts and reactions to the same event in the same chapter.
At one point, Tdor even comments on the intersection of duty and war. When the Jarl’s men are preparing to go to the coast and she is saddened by their excitement at the prospect of war, only to counter that it’s their duty so they may as well be excited.
In the earlier books when he’s at sea, Inda views himself as only being good at one thing; killing. In King's Shield , I think he finds a sense of purpose in his actions while at war and views them differently than his time as a mariner or quasi pirate. However, by the end, he's more concerned with his guilt from ordering men, even his friends, to death rather than worrying about his value. It's heartbreaking that he and Tau both feel personally responsible for the death of Noddy, but don't want to burden the other with it. I felt's Noddy's death. He was a simple man. He did his duty. I felt Hawkeye's too. He was Noddy's total opposite, in everything but his devotion to Evred and fulfillment of duty.
Then you think about the women defending the castle. Two hundred of them again thousands of Venn invaders. They tear their banner so it can’t be taken. They booby trap the castle and fight until the last woman, girl really, is gone. The Venn captain remembering his own daughter, who was about the same age as the girl who lured his men onto the false floor and sacrificed herself in the process, was particularly heart wrenching. That does not even include the old men and boys going out in the castle's first defense or the Jarlan thinking that there will be no one alive to note any of their sacrifice. All to give Evred, Inda, and the army time. The Jarlan was wrong in her prediction. Tau presents an entirely different perspective on duty in that he does things for people, not causes.
I did have a hard time understanding what purpose the children hiding in the caves played. Other than another example of the horrors of war or the complexity of human nature? Or perhaps, just to warn Cama of the Idayagan fighters? I did not have a hard time understanding after the retreat, when Durasnir cried at the death and senselessness of the war.
Okay, I have to lighten this up a bit. Two comedic moments stuck out to me: Inda's and Barend’s “duel” for Harskialdna, which was a true showcase of talent, and how Tau so obviously won the fight to continue protecting Inda.
I appreciate that Inda is not some perfect main character. He's a great leader and has a brilliant military mind, but is oblivious to the complication of human emotions and motivations, as well as political machinations. Which is exactly why Tau and Jeje accompanied him. Inda is somewhat self aware and literally tells Tau he needs him to provide that insight he cannot see. Though, of course Tau is reluctant to based on some of the consequences of that insight. Namely, Evred's fixation with Inda.
I knew it was coming thanks to some carefully dropped hints earlier in the series. I'm concerned for their friendship, obviously, but also for them an individual characters. I don't want to see Evred hurt by unrequited love or rejection, but neither do you want Inda to have a repeat of his torture by Wafric. It was a close call when Evred touched Inda’s hair. My heart broke when Inda kept telling himself it was just a spider. It won't end up as terribly as the Sierlaef’s obsession did, but I don’t think it will have as happy of an ending as it did for the King and Sindend either. It’s interesting, because I've always liked Evred, but I don’t like his dislike of Tau, so it creates some tension for myself as a reader. I think Evred is still jealous, not of Tau and Inda being lovers, which he learns isn’t true, but of the time they were able to spend together. Tau saving him from Mardric definitely put them on more of a level playing field, and then their "fight" after the battle spiced things up even more. This is when I wish Smith would really lean into the romance. I want that scene in full! Also, slightly random observation but has anyone else noticed that Inda is the only one who still calls Evred "Sponge"? Similarly, did anyone else catch the implication that Evred putting on the magic ring given by Inda (to locate each other) was akin to him putting on a wedding ring? Or when Inda put on his war tunic and made a joke which Evred took as an insult.
And like this book, my review has gone on far too long. So a couple of closing comments:
What’s going to happen with Fox? I can just see him interfering in Barend's plans to retrieve the treasure, and I don't want that for anyone. What will become of Buck? I hope his suffering comes to a meaningful end.
Also, like the book, I'll try to end on a happier note. Tdor and Inda are married. I say the book ended on a happy note, but I sent the entire book wondering why Jeje left, and then why is she wasn't replying to Tau’s messages, only for the last sentence to be that she's found Tau's mother!
I've already bought book #4, but I'm going to have to give myself a little recovery time.
We saw the most character development yet in King's Shield . The main characters are still children in the first book, Inda. By The Fox they are starting to grow up and we see signs of the adults they will come to be.
Six hundred and twenty pages and probably that many characters; there's a lot to get through. I found myself keeping notes as I went along; partly so I could remember, but mostly so that I could get all the inner turmoil out on paper.
We start with Inda finally back on Iasca Leror soil, accompanied by Tau and Jeje. I was anticipating a much longer build up to Inda actually reaching the king. Though I can't complain too much about the tension not being drawn out, because we do get treated to Jeje and Tau finally hooking up. I just love these characters together. She is so open and frank while Tau is the master of subtleness, but together they're perfect.
Aside from their reaching an understanding, a lot of my other concerns post- The Fox were answered almost immediately. Tdor found out about Inda and Signi more quickly than I anticipated, like ripping off a bandaid. I hurt for Tdor because she's such a solid, reliable person who deserves to be happy. Though I felt hope when Signi told Inda she was leaving, and Inda’s first thought is “I need Tdor because she can make sense of me.”I also was not expecting any closure regarding Dun being sent as a King's Runner to protect Inda during his exile, so that early reveal felt good. Dun is another good person who sacrificed a lot and deserved some happiness, even if it came in the afterlife.
And while the reunion with a lot of major characters happens quite quickly, just as quickly, they are headed off again to fight the Venn. I’ve spent one and a half books waiting for Inda to come home, and like five chapters in, it's done. I have a feeling it's mostly so we can get to the point of the book; war and its brutality.
It can be a challenge, keeping up with Smith’s vast number of characters or how she moves between points of view quickly and often. As to the large number of characters, I think it’s an accurate depiction of human life- we interact with and have relationships with a multitude of people, each with their own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. A lot of books try to limit the number of characters to make things easier on that reader, Smith does not spare us and our reward is a richer and more complex reading experience. This plays nicely into the series' overarching themes: duty, war, friendship, human nature and how others are able to perceive it differently. We see the same issue from multiple points of view.
In the same vein, shifting between points of view within chapters, rather than devoting each chapter to a single POV is a refreshing break from convention. I never grow weary of a single character’s POV, which sometimes happens when you’re stuck with them for an entire chapter. But I also think it gives more context, and more quickly, by giving us five characters thoughts and reactions to the same event in the same chapter.
At one point, Tdor even comments on the intersection of duty and war. When the Jarl’s men are preparing to go to the coast and she is saddened by their excitement at the prospect of war, only to counter that it’s their duty so they may as well be excited.
In the earlier books when he’s at sea, Inda views himself as only being good at one thing; killing. In King's Shield , I think he finds a sense of purpose in his actions while at war and views them differently than his time as a mariner or quasi pirate. However, by the end, he's more concerned with his guilt from ordering men, even his friends, to death rather than worrying about his value. It's heartbreaking that he and Tau both feel personally responsible for the death of Noddy, but don't want to burden the other with it. I felt's Noddy's death. He was a simple man. He did his duty. I felt Hawkeye's too. He was Noddy's total opposite, in everything but his devotion to Evred and fulfillment of duty.
Then you think about the women defending the castle. Two hundred of them again thousands of Venn invaders. They tear their banner so it can’t be taken. They booby trap the castle and fight until the last woman, girl really, is gone. The Venn captain remembering his own daughter, who was about the same age as the girl who lured his men onto the false floor and sacrificed herself in the process, was particularly heart wrenching. That does not even include the old men and boys going out in the castle's first defense or the Jarlan thinking that there will be no one alive to note any of their sacrifice. All to give Evred, Inda, and the army time. The Jarlan was wrong in her prediction. Tau presents an entirely different perspective on duty in that he does things for people, not causes.
I did have a hard time understanding what purpose the children hiding in the caves played. Other than another example of the horrors of war or the complexity of human nature? Or perhaps, just to warn Cama of the Idayagan fighters? I did not have a hard time understanding after the retreat, when Durasnir cried at the death and senselessness of the war.
Okay, I have to lighten this up a bit. Two comedic moments stuck out to me: Inda's and Barend’s “duel” for Harskialdna, which was a true showcase of talent, and how Tau so obviously won the fight to continue protecting Inda.
I appreciate that Inda is not some perfect main character. He's a great leader and has a brilliant military mind, but is oblivious to the complication of human emotions and motivations, as well as political machinations. Which is exactly why Tau and Jeje accompanied him. Inda is somewhat self aware and literally tells Tau he needs him to provide that insight he cannot see. Though, of course Tau is reluctant to based on some of the consequences of that insight. Namely, Evred's fixation with Inda.
I knew it was coming thanks to some carefully dropped hints earlier in the series. I'm concerned for their friendship, obviously, but also for them an individual characters. I don't want to see Evred hurt by unrequited love or rejection, but neither do you want Inda to have a repeat of his torture by Wafric. It was a close call when Evred touched Inda’s hair. My heart broke when Inda kept telling himself it was just a spider. It won't end up as terribly as the Sierlaef’s obsession did, but I don’t think it will have as happy of an ending as it did for the King and Sindend either. It’s interesting, because I've always liked Evred, but I don’t like his dislike of Tau, so it creates some tension for myself as a reader. I think Evred is still jealous, not of Tau and Inda being lovers, which he learns isn’t true, but of the time they were able to spend together. Tau saving him from Mardric definitely put them on more of a level playing field, and then their "fight" after the battle spiced things up even more. This is when I wish Smith would really lean into the romance. I want that scene in full! Also, slightly random observation but has anyone else noticed that Inda is the only one who still calls Evred "Sponge"? Similarly, did anyone else catch the implication that Evred putting on the magic ring given by Inda (to locate each other) was akin to him putting on a wedding ring? Or when Inda put on his war tunic and made a joke which Evred took as an insult.
And like this book, my review has gone on far too long. So a couple of closing comments:
What’s going to happen with Fox? I can just see him interfering in Barend's plans to retrieve the treasure, and I don't want that for anyone. What will become of Buck? I hope his suffering comes to a meaningful end.
Also, like the book, I'll try to end on a happier note. Tdor and Inda are married. I say the book ended on a happy note, but I sent the entire book wondering why Jeje left, and then why is she wasn't replying to Tau’s messages, only for the last sentence to be that she's found Tau's mother!
I've already bought book #4, but I'm going to have to give myself a little recovery time.
sagali's review against another edition
2.0
Very slow at times. Not my favorite of the whole series.
leopardseal's review against another edition
5.0
did i give the other books five stars? storms i hope so they're so good
every book just has an incredibly lovely atmosphere built by the writing style. the characters are well written and i just,
i,
I LOVE MY BOY INDA.
the ending/climax of this book definitely gave me feels. cried over certain characters' deaths. left me a bit horrified and v angry at yeah i'll say it, erkric. yet the very ending, the last few chapters, were soft and soothing and im eager to read the next book. let's wrap this quartet up, babe-y. then i'll likely check out more of Smith's books cuz im
every book just has an incredibly lovely atmosphere built by the writing style. the characters are well written and i just,
i,
I LOVE MY BOY INDA.
the ending/climax of this book definitely gave me feels. cried over certain characters' deaths. left me a bit horrified and v angry at yeah i'll say it, erkric. yet the very ending, the last few chapters, were soft and soothing and im eager to read the next book. let's wrap this quartet up, babe-y. then i'll likely check out more of Smith's books cuz im
aplpaca's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tarabyt3's review against another edition
4.0
The action and politics in this book dragged more than the others, but the emotional impact was pretty high. I do love how realistic the characters are, each different, each with inner turmoil. It was a little difficult to handle all of the shifts in POV because there were no markers indicating changes (I don't know if this is just for Kindle or what.) Overall I liked this book the least so far (though obviously still liked it enough to give it 4 stars), but am really ready for the final installment!
kmj91's review against another edition
4.0
Though not quite as good as the previous two books, King's Shield is still a compelling work that is a valued addition to the Inda Quartet. Boasting the best action scenes to date and Inda's long-awaited return home, it's impossible not to enjoy this if you enjoyed the previous books.
mandrella_effect's review against another edition
4.0
I have a variety of thoughts about this book, but my main thought is, "Is anyone ever going to call out Evred on his creepy possessiveness of Inda?"
brewergnome's review against another edition
4.0
About to read the last one, but I kinda feel like the series could have ended here.
egfrith's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, and Death of parent