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scoutee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
coolcurrybooks's review against another edition
4.0
The Uncrowned King is the second book in a six book epic fantasy series that starts with The Broken Crown. You need to read this series in order, and there may be some spoilers for the first book in this review. While this series is a hefty time investment (six books, each around seven hundred pages), so far I am finding it worth the time I put in, particularly because of the variety of important female characters.
While The Broken Crown was focused mainly on the events in the Dominion, The Uncrowned King is set almost entirely in the Empire. There’s only one scene that takes place within the Dominion, and Diora does not appear in this novel. Instead, The Uncrowned King focuses on Valedan kai di’Leonne and Jewel aTerafin. Valedan Kai di’Leonne, the heir to the Dominion, joins the King’s Challenge, a prestigious athletic event, as a way to prove himself worthy of the throne. However, competing in the Challenge makes him more accessible to the forces seeking to destroy him, which are represented in the famed former winner Ser Anton di’Guivera. Meanwhile, the Terafin house is embarking on a war of succession despite the fact that their current ruler is still alive. Jewel wishes to stay out of the battle for power, but she can’t prevent herself as being seen as an opponent. This being epic fantasy, there are plenty of other plot threads going on. Particularly noteworthy is Kiriel’s story, which I continue to follow with interest. And of course, there’s the ongoing threat of invasion by the demons and the Lord of Night.
The Empire is a gender egalitarian setting with plenty of female characters. Jewel and Kiriel are the most central, but there’s also distinctive secondary characters like the Kalakar, the Terafin, Serra Alina di’Lamberto, Evayne and Princess Mirialyn. Something I really love about the series is how there is such variety in the female characters. The Kalakar is a battle hardened general known for never leaving a solider behind. Serra Alina follows the Dominion’s notions of propriety for women but has a savvy political mind. Along with Mirialyn, she’s an important mentor to Valedan.
While I am enjoying this series, it can be tough to get into. The writing can best be described as dense – there is so much going on and so many characters that it can be overwhelming and hard to keep track. The pacing was slow in the beginning, although it did speed up after page two hundred. I don’t think it helped that the first fifty pages contained all new characters.
I’m very glad I picked up this series, and I plan to keep going with it. I recommend it to anyone looking for epic fantasy, especially if they want a series with well written female characters.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
While The Broken Crown was focused mainly on the events in the Dominion, The Uncrowned King is set almost entirely in the Empire. There’s only one scene that takes place within the Dominion, and Diora does not appear in this novel. Instead, The Uncrowned King focuses on Valedan kai di’Leonne and Jewel aTerafin. Valedan Kai di’Leonne, the heir to the Dominion, joins the King’s Challenge, a prestigious athletic event, as a way to prove himself worthy of the throne. However, competing in the Challenge makes him more accessible to the forces seeking to destroy him, which are represented in the famed former winner Ser Anton di’Guivera. Meanwhile, the Terafin house is embarking on a war of succession despite the fact that their current ruler is still alive. Jewel wishes to stay out of the battle for power, but she can’t prevent herself as being seen as an opponent. This being epic fantasy, there are plenty of other plot threads going on. Particularly noteworthy is Kiriel’s story, which I continue to follow with interest. And of course, there’s the ongoing threat of invasion by the demons and the Lord of Night.
The Empire is a gender egalitarian setting with plenty of female characters. Jewel and Kiriel are the most central, but there’s also distinctive secondary characters like the Kalakar, the Terafin, Serra Alina di’Lamberto, Evayne and Princess Mirialyn. Something I really love about the series is how there is such variety in the female characters. The Kalakar is a battle hardened general known for never leaving a solider behind. Serra Alina follows the Dominion’s notions of propriety for women but has a savvy political mind. Along with Mirialyn, she’s an important mentor to Valedan.
While I am enjoying this series, it can be tough to get into. The writing can best be described as dense – there is so much going on and so many characters that it can be overwhelming and hard to keep track. The pacing was slow in the beginning, although it did speed up after page two hundred. I don’t think it helped that the first fifty pages contained all new characters.
I’m very glad I picked up this series, and I plan to keep going with it. I recommend it to anyone looking for epic fantasy, especially if they want a series with well written female characters.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
beejai's review against another edition
4.0
Book one in this series details a coup in a kingdom (the Dominion) that has a blend of East Asian and Middle Eastern characteristics. Those heading up the coup have made an unholy alliance with a demonic like group (the Kin) who have agreed to aid the overthrow in return for the Dominion then warring with these demons against the Empire (Byzantium? here the analogy breaks down a bit more). This Dominion is ruled by a series of clans with one clan, Leonne, ruling over the others.
In their coup, the entire Leonne clan was wiped out with the exception of one man who was being held hostage in the Empire as part of the peace agreement from the previous war. This hostage suddenly finds himself as the legitimate ruler to the Dominion, but in order to take his inheritance, he must ally with the Empire as well as build support among those who have not bent the knee to the leaders of the coup. To do this he must prove that he is worthy both as a warrior and a "southerner".
To do this he chooses to enter the King's Challenge, a medieval decathlon type competition. This second book pretty much covers that competition. There are multiple assassination attempts along the way both by the demonic Kin and by those of the Dominion. The book is faster paced than book one but also it does not convey the greater sense of urgency and desperation found there. I miss the predominant role Serra Teresa and Serra Diora played (in this book they are virtually nonexistent) on the flip side Jewel, the mc in a parallel series plays a much bigger role and she is awesome.
In all, this book is very good but reading book 1 is a must and I would also recommend reading the first 3 books (but no further) in the House War series as well.
In their coup, the entire Leonne clan was wiped out with the exception of one man who was being held hostage in the Empire as part of the peace agreement from the previous war. This hostage suddenly finds himself as the legitimate ruler to the Dominion, but in order to take his inheritance, he must ally with the Empire as well as build support among those who have not bent the knee to the leaders of the coup. To do this he must prove that he is worthy both as a warrior and a "southerner".
To do this he chooses to enter the King's Challenge, a medieval decathlon type competition. This second book pretty much covers that competition. There are multiple assassination attempts along the way both by the demonic Kin and by those of the Dominion. The book is faster paced than book one but also it does not convey the greater sense of urgency and desperation found there. I miss the predominant role Serra Teresa and Serra Diora played (in this book they are virtually nonexistent) on the flip side Jewel, the mc in a parallel series plays a much bigger role and she is awesome.
In all, this book is very good but reading book 1 is a must and I would also recommend reading the first 3 books (but no further) in the House War series as well.
traveling_in_books's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
marktimmony's review against another edition
5.0
This is more a general overview to the whole series rather than specifically directed at this book. But it's an AWESOME book so you definitely buy it!
The Sun Sword books tell a complex and detailed story spanning the breadth of the Domain of Annagar in the south, a land of desert and tradition, harsh sun and rigid social courtesies that form a deadly dance of protocol in which the slightest misstep can cause the downfall of a Clan and the Empire of Essalieyan to the North, a sprawling land of culture and civilisation, commerce and trade in which the Ten Major Houses wield authority second only to the god-born Kings who rule them.
This is a tale of epic narrative and detailed plotting set in a world of rich, vibrant and diverse cultural identities. It is the story of the daughter of a God who refuses to be a pawn in his plans, it is the tale of a woman who shows the world a face of acceptance, but works in secret to change the conventions that make her a slave. It is the story of a Prince who must fight immortal foes to lay claim to the crown that has been denied him and the tale of a young woman whose gift of Sight takes her from city slums to glittering palaces and a position of power that she never dreamed of. Magi battle magi and demi-gods plot for power, warriors fight flesh and blood and the dark sorceries of forgotten legends.
This series is a huge undertaking with a massive cast of characters whose complexity brings to mind the work of Steven Erickson, but is as different to Erickson as he is to Martin. And where readers are willing to forgive both these authors the crime of writing ‘fat’ fantasy I urge you to do the same for West’s work. She is a magical writer of rich and compelling prose and works brilliantly at revealing the history of the world she writes in through character experience, rather than large chunks of ‘info-dump’. This is epic fantasy at its best in which histories and customs collide and not all is as it seems in a world where expectations are confounded and transformation of both events and characters is a delight in a plot of twists and turns.
West writes with insight, thoughtfulness and guts, much in the tradition of Guy Gavriel Kay, Janny Wurts, Tad Williams and Jennifer Roberson and is one of the best fantasy writers I’ve read. And if you do like what you read, check out her work as Michelle Sagara, it’s a lighter read but just as good.
The Sun Sword books tell a complex and detailed story spanning the breadth of the Domain of Annagar in the south, a land of desert and tradition, harsh sun and rigid social courtesies that form a deadly dance of protocol in which the slightest misstep can cause the downfall of a Clan and the Empire of Essalieyan to the North, a sprawling land of culture and civilisation, commerce and trade in which the Ten Major Houses wield authority second only to the god-born Kings who rule them.
This is a tale of epic narrative and detailed plotting set in a world of rich, vibrant and diverse cultural identities. It is the story of the daughter of a God who refuses to be a pawn in his plans, it is the tale of a woman who shows the world a face of acceptance, but works in secret to change the conventions that make her a slave. It is the story of a Prince who must fight immortal foes to lay claim to the crown that has been denied him and the tale of a young woman whose gift of Sight takes her from city slums to glittering palaces and a position of power that she never dreamed of. Magi battle magi and demi-gods plot for power, warriors fight flesh and blood and the dark sorceries of forgotten legends.
This series is a huge undertaking with a massive cast of characters whose complexity brings to mind the work of Steven Erickson, but is as different to Erickson as he is to Martin. And where readers are willing to forgive both these authors the crime of writing ‘fat’ fantasy I urge you to do the same for West’s work. She is a magical writer of rich and compelling prose and works brilliantly at revealing the history of the world she writes in through character experience, rather than large chunks of ‘info-dump’. This is epic fantasy at its best in which histories and customs collide and not all is as it seems in a world where expectations are confounded and transformation of both events and characters is a delight in a plot of twists and turns.
West writes with insight, thoughtfulness and guts, much in the tradition of Guy Gavriel Kay, Janny Wurts, Tad Williams and Jennifer Roberson and is one of the best fantasy writers I’ve read. And if you do like what you read, check out her work as Michelle Sagara, it’s a lighter read but just as good.
evakristin's review
2.0
Well, that was disappointing. Hard to believe now that after reading The Broken Crown I gushed about having found my new Steven Erikson.
Where TBC had engaging characters set in a fascinating and original society, TUK is downright boring, the first half of the book excruciatingly so.
If you're a fan of Jewel Markess, here's your trigger warning. Anti Jay rant following.
Because, what is up with her?! Behaviour that can be understood and tolerated in a frightened teenage street child, is absolutely obnoxious in a woman of 33 with a secure position high up in the most powerful House in Averalaan. She is irresponsible and rude, and doesn't seem to have made any friends or allies outside her childhood "den" in the almost twenty years she's been a part of the house Terafin. And the way she treats her domicis! He's been at her side for more than half her life, protecting her, advising her and guiding her through a social life that must have been unfathomable for a fifteen years old street urchin, and what does he get? Snide comments and ingratitude. Grow the f up, Jewel.
Because of how well I liked TBC I'm going to give this series one more book, but unless The Shining Court blows me away, I'm going to leave it at that.
Where TBC had engaging characters set in a fascinating and original society, TUK is downright boring, the first half of the book excruciatingly so.
If you're a fan of Jewel Markess, here's your trigger warning. Anti Jay rant following.
Because, what is up with her?! Behaviour that can be understood and tolerated in a frightened teenage street child, is absolutely obnoxious in a woman of 33 with a secure position high up in the most powerful House in Averalaan. She is irresponsible and rude, and doesn't seem to have made any friends or allies outside her childhood "den" in the almost twenty years she's been a part of the house Terafin. And the way she treats her domicis! He's been at her side for more than half her life, protecting her, advising her and guiding her through a social life that must have been unfathomable for a fifteen years old street urchin, and what does he get? Snide comments and ingratitude. Grow the f up, Jewel.
Because of how well I liked TBC I'm going to give this series one more book, but unless The Shining Court blows me away, I'm going to leave it at that.
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