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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 against another edition
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: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, and Death of parent
wealhtheow's review
3.0
After nearly a decade of exile, Inda returns to his homeland to warn them of a Venn invasion fleet. His old friends are thrilled to see him (not least the King, Evred, whose love for him has never died), but chilled by his news. They are all-too aware that the kingdom cannot defend itself against the overwhelming forces of the Venn.
This is another great book in the Inda series. Smith did a lot of the heavy lifting part of world-building in [b:Inda|222837|Inda (Inda, #1)|Sherwood Smith|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172850932s/222837.jpg|215796] and [b:The Fox|21787|The Princess Bride |William Goldman|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51244A5RWML._SL75_.jpg|992628], so this book can focus on the characters and their adventures. Inda himself remains the least interesting character (although seeing him through the eyes of his Malrovan childhood friends gives him an extra bit of spice); the background characters are unique and well-developed. And the battles themselves are well-described and bloody. I feared for the life of every character (well, except Evred and Inda), because Smith has shown herself willing to abruptly kill anyone off. She does so here, as well, and it fits. The pseudo-victory Inda manages to pull off comes at a terrible price, and Smith makes sure the reader does not forget it. But warning--much like the previous books in the series, this book ends leaving the reader wondering and wanting more. You'll want to get your hands on [b:Treason's Shore|5265856|Treason's Shore (Inda, #4)|Sherwood Smith|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51aYDnO6uTL._SL75_.jpg|5333173] as quickly as possible!
This is another great book in the Inda series. Smith did a lot of the heavy lifting part of world-building in [b:Inda|222837|Inda (Inda, #1)|Sherwood Smith|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172850932s/222837.jpg|215796] and [b:The Fox|21787|The Princess Bride |William Goldman|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51244A5RWML._SL75_.jpg|992628], so this book can focus on the characters and their adventures. Inda himself remains the least interesting character (although seeing him through the eyes of his Malrovan childhood friends gives him an extra bit of spice); the background characters are unique and well-developed. And the battles themselves are well-described and bloody. I feared for the life of every character (well, except Evred and Inda), because Smith has shown herself willing to abruptly kill anyone off. She does so here, as well, and it fits. The pseudo-victory Inda manages to pull off comes at a terrible price, and Smith makes sure the reader does not forget it. But warning--much like the previous books in the series, this book ends leaving the reader wondering and wanting more. You'll want to get your hands on [b:Treason's Shore|5265856|Treason's Shore (Inda, #4)|Sherwood Smith|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51aYDnO6uTL._SL75_.jpg|5333173] as quickly as possible!
schneefink's review
4.0
Several times while reading this book I had to take short breaks because I was afraid horrible things would happen to all my favorite characters. Fortunately it wasn't as bad as I feared. There were even some good things! Though the book did a good job never letting me forget that war is terrible and has a high cost.
While not as gripping as book 2, I enjoyed this one too, especially the character interactions. They're all learning a lot and adjusting.
While not as gripping as book 2, I enjoyed this one too, especially the character interactions. They're all learning a lot and adjusting.
erperry's review
4.0
This one is slower than the first two, but I think that's in part because it's all battle planning, which is not generally what I'm interested in. However, I read a review that stuck with me, about how by the first third or so, this book "sends the women home " and that hurts it. Yes, Marlovan women defend the home and no, this book did not need to be longer, but the women could have had their own storylines at least. And JeJe, who is part of the main, inner circle is gone entirely after the first half. However, it is still masterfully done (even if I found myself skimming near the end with the mentions of all the families, etc. The world building is astounding but not always interesting...but hey, the same can be said for Tolkien).
aneton's review
adventurous
slow-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
4.5
ellenw's review
4.0
This series! It never goes where I expect it to go, which is sometimes good and sometimes bad. At some things it excels, while others bore me silly.
On the whole it still comes out ahead, and this book cut down on the pirates, so I like it better than #2. (I keep finding myself thinking, "Less pirates, more politics!")
On the whole it still comes out ahead, and this book cut down on the pirates, so I like it better than #2. (I keep finding myself thinking, "Less pirates, more politics!")
alesia_charles's review
5.0
It’s not fair, I know, to review just the third book in a series of four – especially when it’s a positive review! – but between one thing and another I never got around to posting reviews of the first two. Sorry about that. The good news is, they’re all still in print (I was actually able to pluck all the first three off the shelves in bookstores).
These are long, dense novels that primarily follow the career of Indevan Algara-Vayir (known to friends as Inda) from early adolescence to some time in his twenties. They’re busy years, as Inda attends a military academy (Inda), is exiled and becomes a pirate-hunter (The Fox), returns home and helps defend his country against invaders (The King’s Shield), and tries to secure a peaceful future for his country (Treason’s Shore).
Other important point-of-view characters include Tdor, the girl Inda was betrothed to at birth; his sister Hadand; fellow sailors and pirate-hunters (especially Jeje and Tau); the crown prince and the king’s second son; and others I’m probably forgetting. There are, in fact, a lot of point-of-view characters, many of them situational. And some of them die.
Part of the novels’ density is that Marlovan society (that’s Inda’s home country) has a lot of formal, complex relationships, and a lot of the characters have both personal names and titles used as names (and which are in a foreign language, and some of which change during the course of the story). These can be hard to keep track of.
Another part of the density is that this world is different from ours in a number of notable ways. A couple of samples: the cities don’t need sewer systems, because the “Waste Spell” disposes of such things; and women can only get pregnant if they consume a certain plant, and sometimes not even then. There are other more subtle but significant differences as well. Smith lays out a bunch of it (as well as explanations that the characters are largely not aware of) here, if you’d rather have all the background up front.
Finally, the world has a long history that directly affects the cultures and politics that are present in it; some of it is explained, and a lot of it is just there.
It’s all fascinating, if you like dense tapestries of culture, politics, and war. And then there are the characters – individual, interesting, imperfect, and subject to growth and change over time. The difference between adolescent and adult versions of several of them is great, and very believable.
So much goes on even in the third volume that I’m not going to try to be specific about the plot. Suffice it to say that the enemy approaches the shore; desperate last stands are made; politics turns deadly; secrets are revealed; people rejoice, suffer, and die. These are great books, really intense experiences, and definite permanent additions to our library.
These are long, dense novels that primarily follow the career of Indevan Algara-Vayir (known to friends as Inda) from early adolescence to some time in his twenties. They’re busy years, as Inda attends a military academy (Inda), is exiled and becomes a pirate-hunter (The Fox), returns home and helps defend his country against invaders (The King’s Shield), and tries to secure a peaceful future for his country (Treason’s Shore).
Other important point-of-view characters include Tdor, the girl Inda was betrothed to at birth; his sister Hadand; fellow sailors and pirate-hunters (especially Jeje and Tau); the crown prince and the king’s second son; and others I’m probably forgetting. There are, in fact, a lot of point-of-view characters, many of them situational. And some of them die.
Part of the novels’ density is that Marlovan society (that’s Inda’s home country) has a lot of formal, complex relationships, and a lot of the characters have both personal names and titles used as names (and which are in a foreign language, and some of which change during the course of the story). These can be hard to keep track of.
Another part of the density is that this world is different from ours in a number of notable ways. A couple of samples: the cities don’t need sewer systems, because the “Waste Spell” disposes of such things; and women can only get pregnant if they consume a certain plant, and sometimes not even then. There are other more subtle but significant differences as well. Smith lays out a bunch of it (as well as explanations that the characters are largely not aware of) here, if you’d rather have all the background up front.
Finally, the world has a long history that directly affects the cultures and politics that are present in it; some of it is explained, and a lot of it is just there.
It’s all fascinating, if you like dense tapestries of culture, politics, and war. And then there are the characters – individual, interesting, imperfect, and subject to growth and change over time. The difference between adolescent and adult versions of several of them is great, and very believable.
So much goes on even in the third volume that I’m not going to try to be specific about the plot. Suffice it to say that the enemy approaches the shore; desperate last stands are made; politics turns deadly; secrets are revealed; people rejoice, suffer, and die. These are great books, really intense experiences, and definite permanent additions to our library.
marktimmony's review
3.0
The first book introduces the reader to a complex world - steeped brilliantly in as much history and diversity as our own - and to Inda, the title and main character of the quartet. He goes to military school as all aristocratic sons of the Marlovians do and build friendships with other boys his own age - ties that will last a lifetime. Here we see the beginnings of the military prodigy he becomes and get caught up in the tragedy that befalls him and the exile he must endure, while at the same time cheering him on as he takes what he's been given and does better than ever expected.
In book two the genius that was hinted at blossoms and we really get to see Inda shine. There is action and excitement aplenty - and although I love magic, magic, magic and characters who learn how to use it I had no problem that there is barely any at all Inda's part of the world. There is some but it's not a huge part of the story. This book builds on the first beautiful as a study in character development, action and politics with real complexity.
Then we have book three.
King's Shield is a home coming tale and it has all the joy and poignancy you might expect without being cloying or superficial. Sherwood breathes life into these characters. But for me, the overall feel I got from this book was (I imagine) what some people get when they talk about 'middle book syndrome'. This is not a middle book per se but it is the hinge on which a major thread hangs - Inda Exiled, Inda homecoming, and to come, Inda at home. And that's fine.
These are huge books (just the way I like them) but I felt a lot this books battles where boring - unlike the sea battles Inda fought in Fox (perhaps because those seemed to happen faster and where more intimate). I found myself more interested in the economics of the Marlovian kingdom, it's trade and infrastructure, and the internal politics than what was going on with the fighting. But that probably says more about me than the writing of the book :-D That being said there a lot of characters (most of whom are known by more than one name) and it does become confusing without a character list or a glossary in book. But, these are peripheral characters and as long as you retain the mains and their direct counter parts you'll do okay.
Sherwood Smith's imagination is captivating - and the background info on her site (for this story/world) is mind blowing - her characters are vibrant individuals and her grasp of history is epic. My biggest regret with this series is not buying Inda in hardback because this series (although I have yet to read book four) is going on my shelves as a keeper!
I can't wait to read more about this world, it is very, very exciting.
In book two the genius that was hinted at blossoms and we really get to see Inda shine. There is action and excitement aplenty - and although I love magic, magic, magic and characters who learn how to use it I had no problem that there is barely any at all Inda's part of the world. There is some but it's not a huge part of the story. This book builds on the first beautiful as a study in character development, action and politics with real complexity.
Then we have book three.
King's Shield is a home coming tale and it has all the joy and poignancy you might expect without being cloying or superficial. Sherwood breathes life into these characters. But for me, the overall feel I got from this book was (I imagine) what some people get when they talk about 'middle book syndrome'. This is not a middle book per se but it is the hinge on which a major thread hangs - Inda Exiled, Inda homecoming, and to come, Inda at home. And that's fine.
These are huge books (just the way I like them) but I felt a lot this books battles where boring - unlike the sea battles Inda fought in Fox (perhaps because those seemed to happen faster and where more intimate). I found myself more interested in the economics of the Marlovian kingdom, it's trade and infrastructure, and the internal politics than what was going on with the fighting. But that probably says more about me than the writing of the book :-D That being said there a lot of characters (most of whom are known by more than one name) and it does become confusing without a character list or a glossary in book. But, these are peripheral characters and as long as you retain the mains and their direct counter parts you'll do okay.
Sherwood Smith's imagination is captivating - and the background info on her site (for this story/world) is mind blowing - her characters are vibrant individuals and her grasp of history is epic. My biggest regret with this series is not buying Inda in hardback because this series (although I have yet to read book four) is going on my shelves as a keeper!
I can't wait to read more about this world, it is very, very exciting.
lmckensie's review
3.0
Another good installment in the Inda series. Though I have to say, I did not find myself involved in the story as readily as the other two, the well-developed politics and excellent characterization had me completely engrossed by the end of the book. The protagonist is, as always, incredibly likable, and brings cohesion to the plot where events sometimes become almost too convoluted to follow. Though I think it pales in comparison to the original by far, King's Shield is still a worthy read, and has me anticipating reading the last book in the series.