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rockwrengj's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy intrigue. After 40 years of fantasy reading, it's a challenge to find a new author with new concepts. I found this series after reading [b:Thieftaker|11577576|Thieftaker (Thieftaker Chronicles, #1)|D.B. Jackson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1318307370s/11577576.jpg|16518687], which is written by the same author under a different name. I'm surpised the Forelands Series hasn't had more attention. The writing is excellent and the plot line engaging. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
eososray's review against another edition
4.0
This could be the beginning of a great series. Intriguing characters, political conspiracies that I can almost follow and some mysterious happenings drew me into the story and have me adding the next book into the to-be-read list.
glowbump's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
evanmc's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent worldbuilding, solid prose, political intrigue that's complex but not complicated - this was great! Excellent character work, with several of the main protagonists ending mid-arc. That leaves me very enticed to pick up volume two to see where they end up.
under's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Malgré un début compliqué a suivre et à lire, on se prend vite dans l'histoire dès que l'action commence et on n'arrive plus a décrocher jusqu'à la fin
ajp71088's review against another edition
5.0
I hold David B. Coe’s The Winds of the Forelands series in very high regard. I consider it to be one of the best fantasy series I’ve ever read; not only do I really enjoy it but I also feel it’s one of the best written. (For the curious: George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire would be first and best of all, of course, with Coe’s WotF and Greg Keyes’s The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone in a toss-up for second.) I’ve read WotF a few times now. Figured it was about time to give these books the thorough reviews they deserve. I’ll avoid spoilers as best I can because I’m hoping to inspire you to read them, not give away all the good stuff.
The first novel, Rules of Ascension, sets the stage for an epic fantasy series featuring an interesting cast of characters, a fascinating magic system, and an intricate plot centered on political machinations and betrayals. The title refers to the system of picking a new ruler that the country of Eibithar uses so as not to allow one of the various duchies to develop into a dynasty. The Rules of Ascension feels like a fantasy take on America’s electoral college/checks and balances/term limits. But what happens when a conspiracy begins breaking the rules?
Before getting into that, it’s important to know some of how the world works, the history, and the magic system. The Forelands are populated by two races of mankind, the Eandi and the Qirsi. The Eandi are from the Forelands and are no different than you or I. The Qirsi come from the Southlands (a neighboring landmass separated by a massive range of mountains). The Qirsi possess exceptionally pale skin (near translucent), pale yellow eyes, little in the way of physical strength but potent magic…
There are seven different magical powers that a Qirsi might be born with the ability to perform: Gleaning, allows glimpses of the future; Fire, obvious; Healing, obvious. And the deeper magics: Mist and Winds, allows them to raise a gale of wind or draw mist from the ground, especially useful in battle to conceal troops or avert the flight of arrows; Shaping, able to shatter wood, steel, and bone, or even to cut stone precisely; Language of Beasts, influence and control over animals, also quite useful in battle; and the very rare Mind Bending, the ability to control another’s mind, far easier on an Eandi (that does not know the Qirsi possesses the power). With this power, a Qirsi can force someone to reveal secrets or even to harm themselves or others.
The beauty and narrative power of the magic system lies in its consequences. Not only can the Qirsi not use their powers without physical costs like exhaustion but using their magic directly lowers their life expectancy. Most Qirsi are dead by forty. The limitations and self-destructive nature of the Qirsi magic plays into the plot in ways I won’t spoil. But I will say that this magic system is as interesting, nuanced, and central to the plot as any I’ve ever encountered in a fantasy novel.
Hundreds of years before the opening of this novel, the Qirsi came out of the Southlands to invade the Forelands and conquer the Eandi people (who do not possess any magic at all). Their armies were led by Weavers, extremely rare Qirsi that have the ability to use all of the magical powers and to weave the powers of many Qirsi together with devastating effect. (They can also walk in the dreams of other Qirsi. This is useful for communicating across vast distances. While dreamwalking, Weavers can also take control of the other Qirsi’s magic, to pleasant effect or to hurt them, even kill them, in their sleep.) Instead of one Qirsi breaking the neck of their foe in battle, a battalion of Shapers led by a Weaver can break the necks of dozens with one attack. Apply that principle to the other magics and you can begin to guess how the invasion was going for the Eandi.
And then a Qirsi Weaver betrayed his people, revealing the nature of their powers and the importance of his fellow Weavers, to the Eandi. The tide turned, the Qirsi defeated, and the Eandi maintained their rule. All Weavers were put to death and their families executed (so as to squash the bloodline that’s proven capable of producing a Weaver), and the practice continued throughout history. When the novel begins, all the nations of the Forelands are still ruled by the Eandi, the Qirsi at best serve as advisors to their rulers, and the coexistence between the two races balances on a blade’s edge.
The Forelands are a living setting that seems to be grounded in a history all its own. Coe possesses a PhD in U.S. History from Stanford, so it’s no wonder that he knows how to make a world feel believable and lived in. (I won't even get into the really interesting religion and culture.)
The story is told through multiple PoVs, including: Tavis, the young, arrogant heir to the dukedom of Curgh; Grinsa, a Gleaner in a traveling festival making a living telling the fortunes of Eandi children, hiding a secret that would kill him if it were discovered; and Cadel, a singer whose sweet voice masks a more sinister profession. Their stories prop up the plot as they converge together. Some might find the opening few chapters a tad slow, but Coe is trying to ease the reader into the world. Stick it out if you find it slow; I promise that it’s worth it.
This book’s got it all. Fleshed out, introspective characters involved in murder mystery, conspiracy, political intrigue, romance, shocking plot twists, and wondrous magic in an intriguing world (with an awesome map). If you loved the engrossing characters and setting of A Song of Ice & Fire, but found the material too dark and depressing, this series might be just what you need. That’s not to say that dark and depressing things don’t happen – oh boy – but it’s not the grim affair that ASOIAF can be for some. Buy this book, read this book, and know that you’ve just begun a truly remarkable journey. I envy you this experience. From here, the series becomes even more intriguing, the scope of the story even grander, the cast more diverse, and the twists more twisty!
Rules of Ascension is a worthy beginning to one of the absolute best epic fantasy series. I defy you to not begin the second novel, Seeds of Betrayal, as soon as you’ve finished this one. A thunderous 5/5.
The first novel, Rules of Ascension, sets the stage for an epic fantasy series featuring an interesting cast of characters, a fascinating magic system, and an intricate plot centered on political machinations and betrayals. The title refers to the system of picking a new ruler that the country of Eibithar uses so as not to allow one of the various duchies to develop into a dynasty. The Rules of Ascension feels like a fantasy take on America’s electoral college/checks and balances/term limits. But what happens when a conspiracy begins breaking the rules?
Before getting into that, it’s important to know some of how the world works, the history, and the magic system. The Forelands are populated by two races of mankind, the Eandi and the Qirsi. The Eandi are from the Forelands and are no different than you or I. The Qirsi come from the Southlands (a neighboring landmass separated by a massive range of mountains). The Qirsi possess exceptionally pale skin (near translucent), pale yellow eyes, little in the way of physical strength but potent magic…
There are seven different magical powers that a Qirsi might be born with the ability to perform: Gleaning, allows glimpses of the future; Fire, obvious; Healing, obvious. And the deeper magics: Mist and Winds, allows them to raise a gale of wind or draw mist from the ground, especially useful in battle to conceal troops or avert the flight of arrows; Shaping, able to shatter wood, steel, and bone, or even to cut stone precisely; Language of Beasts, influence and control over animals, also quite useful in battle; and the very rare Mind Bending, the ability to control another’s mind, far easier on an Eandi (that does not know the Qirsi possesses the power). With this power, a Qirsi can force someone to reveal secrets or even to harm themselves or others.
The beauty and narrative power of the magic system lies in its consequences. Not only can the Qirsi not use their powers without physical costs like exhaustion but using their magic directly lowers their life expectancy. Most Qirsi are dead by forty. The limitations and self-destructive nature of the Qirsi magic plays into the plot in ways I won’t spoil. But I will say that this magic system is as interesting, nuanced, and central to the plot as any I’ve ever encountered in a fantasy novel.
Hundreds of years before the opening of this novel, the Qirsi came out of the Southlands to invade the Forelands and conquer the Eandi people (who do not possess any magic at all). Their armies were led by Weavers, extremely rare Qirsi that have the ability to use all of the magical powers and to weave the powers of many Qirsi together with devastating effect. (They can also walk in the dreams of other Qirsi. This is useful for communicating across vast distances. While dreamwalking, Weavers can also take control of the other Qirsi’s magic, to pleasant effect or to hurt them, even kill them, in their sleep.) Instead of one Qirsi breaking the neck of their foe in battle, a battalion of Shapers led by a Weaver can break the necks of dozens with one attack. Apply that principle to the other magics and you can begin to guess how the invasion was going for the Eandi.
And then a Qirsi Weaver betrayed his people, revealing the nature of their powers and the importance of his fellow Weavers, to the Eandi. The tide turned, the Qirsi defeated, and the Eandi maintained their rule. All Weavers were put to death and their families executed (so as to squash the bloodline that’s proven capable of producing a Weaver), and the practice continued throughout history. When the novel begins, all the nations of the Forelands are still ruled by the Eandi, the Qirsi at best serve as advisors to their rulers, and the coexistence between the two races balances on a blade’s edge.
The Forelands are a living setting that seems to be grounded in a history all its own. Coe possesses a PhD in U.S. History from Stanford, so it’s no wonder that he knows how to make a world feel believable and lived in. (I won't even get into the really interesting religion and culture.)
The story is told through multiple PoVs, including: Tavis, the young, arrogant heir to the dukedom of Curgh; Grinsa, a Gleaner in a traveling festival making a living telling the fortunes of Eandi children, hiding a secret that would kill him if it were discovered; and Cadel, a singer whose sweet voice masks a more sinister profession. Their stories prop up the plot as they converge together. Some might find the opening few chapters a tad slow, but Coe is trying to ease the reader into the world. Stick it out if you find it slow; I promise that it’s worth it.
This book’s got it all. Fleshed out, introspective characters involved in murder mystery, conspiracy, political intrigue, romance, shocking plot twists, and wondrous magic in an intriguing world (with an awesome map). If you loved the engrossing characters and setting of A Song of Ice & Fire, but found the material too dark and depressing, this series might be just what you need. That’s not to say that dark and depressing things don’t happen – oh boy – but it’s not the grim affair that ASOIAF can be for some. Buy this book, read this book, and know that you’ve just begun a truly remarkable journey. I envy you this experience. From here, the series becomes even more intriguing, the scope of the story even grander, the cast more diverse, and the twists more twisty!
Rules of Ascension is a worthy beginning to one of the absolute best epic fantasy series. I defy you to not begin the second novel, Seeds of Betrayal, as soon as you’ve finished this one. A thunderous 5/5.
lkmreads's review against another edition
4.0
I think my only real gripe with this book was towards the middle of it, where a couple characters kept thinking how they would definitely act one way and then turn around and do the exact opposite without even appearing to try.
Now, I can get that may happen, but not with two or more characters so close together.
Other that that, I quite enjoyed the book.
Now, I can get that may happen, but not with two or more characters so close together.
Other that that, I quite enjoyed the book.
ergative_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jmal145's review against another edition
4.5
david doesn’t know how to write battle scenes, but other than that, shit’s aces