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valjeanval's review against another edition
4.0
Abraham excels at complex stories with complicated characters. I don't even know who I was supposed to root for in this final installment. It's a great series, and the ending lives up to the rest of the books.
dragontomes2000's review against another edition
4.0
Such a satisfying conclusion to a outstandingly unique series. Seriously this series brought a whole new perspective that was so fresh and right and I appreciate that. This series was so heavily character focused and let me tell you that it worked for this. The Price of Spring starts with another mind blowing time jump which just goes to show like I said that each story so far has been self contained but takes knowledge from past events to make another story. I say that because you can read this and understand because your given the details and context throughout. Now it may be confusing for some but I can see how it works. I also just loved all the characters, yes all of them, why because they had purpose and meaning. None of them were really there just to be there. The characters had motivations and each one was pivotal to the story arc. I think even more so in this finale then the other entries. I do believe the books got progressively better and my disconnect I had started to wane a little bit. I am truly eager to read the rest of his works including The Expanse and The Dagger and The Coin Series. But for now just know that this series needs more love because it is one of a kind from beginning to end.
The Shadow in Summer-3/5
The Betrayl in Winter-4/5
An Autumn War-4/5
The Price of Spring-4/5
The Long Price Quartet-15/20
The Shadow in Summer-3/5
The Betrayl in Winter-4/5
An Autumn War-4/5
The Price of Spring-4/5
The Long Price Quartet-15/20
majkia's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful series, with a beautifully realized world and depth of character that continuously impresses.
beautifulminutiae's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
sebrei's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0
christophertd's review against another edition
5.0
Superb close to a wonderful, thoughtful and emotionally intense series.
jlbrown23's review against another edition
5.0
Just finished this - and I am trying to decide if it is the best fantasy I have ever read, or if it's just that after having read so much fantasy I am surprised to find such an original take on the genre.
The line between good and evil is not clear(or at least takes a while to get there), but is very real and very human. The magical elements in the story aren't some fantastical creation, but in fact a pointed allegory to what happens when people start trying to control forces bigger than they are (think splitting the atom, altering the genetic code). The books themselves are both self contained and part of a larger arc. And there is a realism that never drifts too far into cynicism. I am trying not to say anything to specific to ruin the fun!
It does take some time to set the stage, so don't lose patience early in this one.
The line between good and evil is not clear(or at least takes a while to get there), but is very real and very human. The magical elements in the story aren't some fantastical creation, but in fact a pointed allegory to what happens when people start trying to control forces bigger than they are (think splitting the atom, altering the genetic code). The books themselves are both self contained and part of a larger arc. And there is a realism that never drifts too far into cynicism. I am trying not to say anything to specific to ruin the fun!
It does take some time to set the stage, so don't lose patience early in this one.
metaphorosis's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews
The cities of the Khaiem are without andats - the concepts-made-physical that can be controlled by poets and that gave the Empire its strength. The last andat, Sterile, took away the generative powers of the women of the Khaiem, and of the men of Galt. Now, Otah, reluctant Emperor of the Khaiem is trying to form a complex alliance with Galt. Maati, his one-time friend and poet, is trying to bind new andats. Their inevitable clash will bring both nations to their knees.
A Shadow in Summer, the first book of Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet, was one of the first e-books I read - a promotional PDF I picked up from Tor along with Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn. It took me a while to get around to reading Shadow, because, after all, who wants to read a PDF? (Something I wish publishers understood today.) Happily for me, and perhaps less so for Mr. Abraham, there was a discount bookstore near my house, and when I saw book two of the series available cheap, I finally took the plunge. I'm glad I did. That first book was the start of an excellent and innovative series that concludes with this book, The Price of Spring.
Shadow was an eye-opener in terms of tone, setting, and concept. While the elements weren't entirely novel, the combination certainly was. Much to my pleasure, Abraham's skill continued across the series. Every book had solid characters, beautiful writing, and intricate but clear plotting. The same is true of this closing volume.
I wish that Abraham had chosen a less traditional "men rule, women support" world for his series. In this final volume, he contracts Heinlein-Jordan syndrome, in which men are blind, and women are wise - but men still make the decisions. Luckily, it's a mild case, and there are also strong, self-willed women playing a part. Some of the gender-related crises feel manufactured, but can be accepted with a little effort.
Abraham ties up the ends of the story with a thoroughness that at times seems trite and slightly mechanical - things wrap around to their beginnings in a way that satisfies but also feels shallow. I didn't feel the depth of emotion that I expected to, and to some extent that's true of the entire book - it feels (somewhat ironically, given the use of steam engines as a theme) as if the series is running out of steam. There's enough here, however, to get us to the end successfully and without lagging.
This final book doesn't have quite the depth that it should have, though Abraham gives it a solid try. As the capstone to a truly excellent series, though, The Price of Spring is extremely strong, and well worth your time. I strongly recommend the series.
Abraham is known these days as the co-author of the Expanse series - the first book of which was unconvincing and overly complex. It's the Long Price Quartet that he should be known for instead. While it may not be easily convert to TV, Long Price is the kind of series that an author might hope to crown a career with. While not all of Abraham's books have turned out so well, this series is proof that he's a writer of extraordinary talent.
The cities of the Khaiem are without andats - the concepts-made-physical that can be controlled by poets and that gave the Empire its strength. The last andat, Sterile, took away the generative powers of the women of the Khaiem, and of the men of Galt. Now, Otah, reluctant Emperor of the Khaiem is trying to form a complex alliance with Galt. Maati, his one-time friend and poet, is trying to bind new andats. Their inevitable clash will bring both nations to their knees.
A Shadow in Summer, the first book of Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet, was one of the first e-books I read - a promotional PDF I picked up from Tor along with Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn. It took me a while to get around to reading Shadow, because, after all, who wants to read a PDF? (Something I wish publishers understood today.) Happily for me, and perhaps less so for Mr. Abraham, there was a discount bookstore near my house, and when I saw book two of the series available cheap, I finally took the plunge. I'm glad I did. That first book was the start of an excellent and innovative series that concludes with this book, The Price of Spring.
Shadow was an eye-opener in terms of tone, setting, and concept. While the elements weren't entirely novel, the combination certainly was. Much to my pleasure, Abraham's skill continued across the series. Every book had solid characters, beautiful writing, and intricate but clear plotting. The same is true of this closing volume.
I wish that Abraham had chosen a less traditional "men rule, women support" world for his series. In this final volume, he contracts Heinlein-Jordan syndrome, in which men are blind, and women are wise - but men still make the decisions. Luckily, it's a mild case, and there are also strong, self-willed women playing a part. Some of the gender-related crises feel manufactured, but can be accepted with a little effort.
Abraham ties up the ends of the story with a thoroughness that at times seems trite and slightly mechanical - things wrap around to their beginnings in a way that satisfies but also feels shallow. I didn't feel the depth of emotion that I expected to, and to some extent that's true of the entire book - it feels (somewhat ironically, given the use of steam engines as a theme) as if the series is running out of steam. There's enough here, however, to get us to the end successfully and without lagging.
This final book doesn't have quite the depth that it should have, though Abraham gives it a solid try. As the capstone to a truly excellent series, though, The Price of Spring is extremely strong, and well worth your time. I strongly recommend the series.
Abraham is known these days as the co-author of the Expanse series - the first book of which was unconvincing and overly complex. It's the Long Price Quartet that he should be known for instead. While it may not be easily convert to TV, Long Price is the kind of series that an author might hope to crown a career with. While not all of Abraham's books have turned out so well, this series is proof that he's a writer of extraordinary talent.