Declare Books In Favor Of The Gathering Storm (Crown of Stars #5)
| Original Title: | The Gathering Storm |
| ISBN: | 0756401321 (ISBN13: 9780756401320) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | Crown of Stars #5 |
Kate Elliott
Paperback | Pages: 977 pages Rating: 3.89 | 3515 Users | 59 Reviews
Describe About Books The Gathering Storm (Crown of Stars #5)
| Title | : | The Gathering Storm (Crown of Stars #5) |
| Author | : | Kate Elliott |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 977 pages |
| Published | : | February 3rd 2004 by Daw Books (first published April 1st 2000) |
| Categories | : | Fantasy. Fiction. Epic Fantasy. Science Fiction Fantasy. Epic. High Fantasy. Adult |
Description Concering Books The Gathering Storm (Crown of Stars #5)
”This war seems like a desert to me, a barren wasteland. But still, it must be crossed.”Either the series fatigue has finally got me or this novel was too long by at least 900 pages.
Gathering Story is a brick of a book that could be much shorter. Again, whole passages or even POVs (sorry Stronghand, you lost your charm when you decided to mimic humans) could be cut out without doing any harm to the whole story.
Roughly 7/8 of the novel is storm-mongering. We are repeatedly told that the great cataclysm is coming inexorably, as the Aoi, banished centuries ago, are about to return. A huge catastrophe is looming, and in the meantime, people (and other sentient beings) are only concerned with petty issues.
By this point in the series, there are many sub-plots of which some have their distinct narrations and POVs whereas others are just recounted or mentioned in the passing (dreams carry the narrative very often and then visions through fire). I am still unsure whether Elliot had it all planned or whether she is playing by ear. But one thing is certain, some of the marginal characters have grown into major protagonists, at times even more interesting than the leading pair. I have mentioned Liath’s waning charm (she is a pure
The main problem is: while we hear that the storm is upon us for hundreds of pages in the book nothing happens! I understand that the time span is long (we are used to books happing within days, here it is years in a single volume), and that each of the characters needs their space, but there were whole sections that reminded me more of a chronicle that recorded even the tiniest detail (down to defecation) than a story which captures the essentials.
There are many moments that, despite everything, save the novel, but, it's really hard to get through some fragments. I will continue in a hope that the next instalment will compensate for this long meaningless interlude.
I would not have made it without the wonderful reading cabal: princess Veronica, Jess of the Eagles, Sister Choko, and Shaitarn the Bookwyrm who make reading the series worthwhile and enjoyable despite the rating.
Also in the series:
1. King's Dragon ★★★★★
2. Prince of Dogs ★★★★☆
3. The Burning Stone ★★★★☆
4. Child of Flame ★★★☆☆
6. In the Ruins ★☆☆☆☆
7. Crown of Stars ★☆☆☆☆
Rating About Books The Gathering Storm (Crown of Stars #5)
Ratings: 3.89 From 3515 Users | 59 ReviewsColumn About Books The Gathering Storm (Crown of Stars #5)
Can't remember what exactly inspired me to start a re-read of this series but I'm not sorry I did. It's a fantastic medieval European fantasy series (truly a great depiction of a medieval Europe -inspired setting) that feels so real; from the most desperate of war refugees to the daimones of the Upper Spheres to the working economy... Do yourself a favor and read this series if you haven't already. Ooof, Book Five is a monster and I say that knowing perfectly well that every volume in thisEPIC.This book is epic. And normally, I like epic. But for some reason, this series makes me feel stupid. There are so many characters doing so many things in so many places, and what with the wacky time shifting and whatnot in this book, I just can't keep up. I spent most of my time going... "wait, WHERE are we? What is happening? Where did Liath go?"I feel badly about it, because this author does things I normally like... taking archetypes and twisting them around, avoiding the happy endings
I really struggled with my rating for this. one. It was really a slog to read. Like, I read another book in the middle of it, because it was so painful. (And this was nominally my fun reading book.) But now that I've finished it, I'm glad I got through it and now that some of the worst is over (view spoiler)[Liath and Sanglant reunited! Explanation for Blessing! Anne & co dead! Plus the really odd anger of Alain's dad was apologized for. (hide spoiler)] So I'm hoping we've gotten through the
While Alain, damaged and shunned, wanders the land, Liath returns to her husband's swelling army and hatches a plan to thwart the Seven Sleepers. Meanwhile, the Seven Sleepers position their own pieces as they ally with Stronghand's Eika in the north and mold Zacharias into a suitable sacrifice in the south. (view spoiler)[The pawns deployed in the last four volumes finally come home to roost in The Gathering Storm as everyone hustles into position to facilitate two divergent apocalypses. The
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.The Crown of Stars series is well-thought out and obviously well-planned. It's epic in scope and it's got a lot of texture. There are many complex characters who we follow in parallel, as in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. Some of them are very likable, and there are some really excellent villains (e.g., Hugh). Ms. Elliott's creatures are imaginative and enjoyable, and I especially liked the way they interact with the humans. Ms. Elliott uses a lot of
One of the great things about this book, about this series in fact, is that it's nearly impossible to put it down. You may have prior commitments or friends to hang out with or whatever, but you still can't help but wonder when Liath and Sanglant will finally reunite, or where Hanna and Rosvita and friends will end up when they travel through the crowns, or if Alain will ever find happiness in the present. Almost no one finds true happiness in this fifth volume of the Crown of Stars series as
Book #5 was an improvement over Book #4, but had some of the same issues. The renewed presence of Stronghand is a major improvement. He remains the best character. Alain is still a waste of pages half the time - being lost in the past was a waste, but being lost in the present is almost worse. Amnesia? Who gets amnesia in a fantasy novel? At least the weird kobold creatures are fun. It's nice to have Sanglant and Liath together again, or at least working in concert. Bulkezu I could have left,
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