Book Description
For countless millennia the Star Dance and the TimeKeeper Demons have battled their way across the universe, destroying innumerable planets, laying waste to civilizations across the cosmos.
Choosing the land of Tencendor as their last battleground, the demons break through the Star Gate. The Gate destroyed, all magic in the world is gone and the three races of Tencendor are plunged into a vortex of chaos, madness, and death.
Caelum SunSoar, son of the near-immortal Starman Axis and beloved ruler of all the land’s peoples, is dead. Leaderless, those not killed outright or driven mad flee to the one place left to them, Sanctuary, a magical place created ages past to shield all who are good from the wrath of the demons.
There is for some one hope left: DragonStar, Axis’s other son. Many believe he is the true StarSon, the only being that can save their world. Others are just as convinced that he is in league with the demons and will be their doom. Only DragonStar knows the truth and as he and his companions go forth to do battle he prays that he may convince all that his motives are pure.
What he does not know is that there is a traitor who plans to hand Sanctuary over to the Demons. A betrayer whose actions could force DragonStar to make a sacrifice so bloody and horrific that it could mean the destruction of everything that he holds dear in this life or the next.
And if he fails, could doom Tecendor to an eternal hell.
Customer Reviews:
Worst Fantasy Novel in the History of the Universe.......2007-09-13
When I read the original 3 books of The Wayfarer Redemption (the Axis Trilogy, as it's sometimes called), I was marginally entertained. They were decent reads, even though the characters were fairly transparent and the ending was entirely predictable. So I decided to read the final 3 books of the series, purportedly the final trilogy.
This was a BAD idea.
Sinner, the first book of the second trilogy, was bad. The plot was just weird, the characters were completely unbelievable, and most notable, the writing was really poor. Foolishly thinking this was an aberration, I went ahead and read the 5th book Pilgrim, which turned out to be even worse. Sara Douglass' creative ability seemed to be regressing to that of a mildly retarded child, and her writing ability was not much better. Still, being the idiot that I am, I decided to finish the series and read Crusader.
Crusader is the worst book I have ever read, of any genre, of any topic, ever.
Reading this novel was physically painful; I literally felt like my brain was melting and pooling at the base of my skull. A baboon with autism could have written a more coherent, more plausible, and more entertaining story. I can't believe anyone with any respect for books or the trees they are printed on would even let this be published.
If you are even considering reading this novel, PLEASE spare yourself the misery and don't do it! You will regret it. Trust me, I do.
More!.......2007-06-06
Although Sara Douglass had her ups and downs, I still enjoyed every piece she has written. The entire Wayfarer Redemption series was excellent, but I feel the need to express my disappointment. Crusader, the sixth book of the series, ended somewhat unresolved. What was you-know-who randomly doing in Coroleas at the end of the book? Does the author plan to write more? Where are Drago and Faraday headed? Is the field of flowers really the 'be all, end all' of things?
Honestly, I want Tencendor back. I want the star dance and my favorite characters back, too. We hardly got to see much of the 'new Tencendor' before it was destroyed by the demons. And now all we get is a field of flowers. Pretty, but a little boring. I also wanted to see Zenith put her stupid prudeness aside and get with StarDrifter. Let the two be happy for once. (What's up with that?)
Will she write MORE that, in the end, gives more closure than the previous conclusion? If so, I,m dying to read it.
Bizarre and terribly disappointing. .......2007-06-06
The Wayfarer Redemption has gone from pure brilliance to utter disappointment with this final installment of the series by Sara Douglass. As a life-long reader and lover of fantasy I have never been so appalled by the conclusion of a fantasy series - especially one that started out so good. I thought hard about whether or not to even write this review, fearing that my negativity might turn off many readers to Sara Douglass' other work. However, I was so stunned by the poor quality of Crusader that I decided that I must let other readers know how I feel.
I found the original Wayfarer Redemption trilogy, books one, two and three of this now six book series, to be absolutely brilliant. The scope of the world, the depth of the characters, the original use of magic and the epic story lines make it one of my favorite fantasy worlds. However, what started out as an amazing series quickly turned sour when Sara Douglass tacked on another three books - Sinner, Pilgrim, and finally Crusader. While it is said that the Wayfarer Redemption was always meant to be a six book series, there is a huge difference in quality between the first and second trilogy.
Everything that was accomplished, fought and struggled for in the original trilogy is quickly and utterly destroyed in this second trilogy and thus makes the original trilogy pointless and trivial. Everything, literally, is wiped out. Tencendor and everything in it - gone. Washed away like the first trilogy was nothing important. This is extremely frustrating for all the readers who spent so much time reading the first trilogy and struggling with the characters as they finally defeat Gorgrael and create peace for Tencendor. Then suddenly the demons come and, poof, all gone.
Crusader is, by far, the worst of the series. The writing becomes erratic and the plot lines start to exceed being fantastical and venture into the realm of ridiculousness. The use of magic in Crusader loses its rules and boundaries and suddenly characters, especially DragonStar, are able to do whatever they want. In all fantasy, magic must have rules and limitations in order to make it meaningful and not omnipotent. The Star Dance used to be the very original and creative way that magic was cast. In Crusader, there are no longer rules. Characters have magic when they need it and it just does whatever is needed to bail them out. DragonStar can practically do anything with his Acharite magic and in many instances it is truly ridiculous. Magic always (pardon the pun) magically appears just at the right time, even though the characters have no prior knowledge or training on how to use it. It simply works - all the time - and all the characters know just how to use it.
One of the low points in Crusader was the sudden and random relationship between Zenith and WolfStar. Out of nowhere, Zenith realizes she is in love with WolfStar and then begins a relationship with him. All this despite the fact that WolfStar raped her and she claims to be truly in love with StarDrifter. This extremely frustrating love triangle never receives any sort of resolution. All three are suddenly eaten alive at the same time. The end. Even worse, Axis barely grieves about this and then its just forgotten.
I don't wish to give away too much for those who actually make it to the end of Crusader without giving up, but believe me when I say the end is terribly disappointing. All the random magic and ridiculous elements come together to culminate in an ending that left me wondering what had happened. I had to reread the last several chapters and I still don't really understand what is supposed to have happened. So much of Crusader turns bizarre that nothing past the middle of the book really makes sense anymore. Poorly constructed connections with the original trilogy mesh with unresolved plot lines and mix together with ridiculous occurrences and last minute magic casting to form a conclusion that is so random it is hard to fathom.
So much of Crusader is bizarre and ridiculous. I really had a hard time believing it was written by the same author. If you are reading this after having finished Crusader, I'm sorry that you also had to endure such a train wreck ending. If you are reading this and haven't started the second trilogy, don't. The first trilogy stands on its own and is better if you never read the second trilogy. I wish I hadn't.
Good finish to a solid fantasy series.......2007-05-31
Some nice twists and turns. A very good read and had a lot of fun with the whole series.
A Decent, if Somewhat Unsatisfying, Conclusion to the Series.......2007-05-06
The actual conflict between the TimeKeeper Demons and Dragonstar is handled very well and for the first time in the series Faraday does not end up as the proverbial punching bag at the end of the book. That said, I felt that Starman (Book Three - and the original conclusion of the series) did a better job of satisfactorily tying up everything that came before it, despite the somewhat tragic outcome of one of the main characters. I hate being so vague about this, but unfortunately going into too great a detail about the conclusion to this book would result in a pretty big spoiler. That said, the book does leave open the possibility of further sequels for at least a few of the characters, which makes me hopeful for the possibility of a more satisfying conclusion in the future.
Bottom line, if you have read the previous books, there is absolutely no reason not to read this one - you will enjoy it. The series as a whole is very well written and I would highly recommend it.
Book Description
Axis is the StarMan of prophecy and legend, destined to lead the three races of his world to unite as one people. The people of his world all know the Prophecy of the Destroyer, despite the failed attempts of the Seneschal to suppress it in the name of the god Artor the Ploughman, and it predicts and dictates Axis's path through war and destruction to the creation of Tencendor.The Prophecy foretold that Axis would defeat his half-brother and lay claim to the land that Tencendor will be created upon. The Prophecy told of the traitor in Axis's camp-Faraday's champion, Timozel. And the Prophecy foretold many a choice that Axis must make in order to fulfill his destiny . . . but neglected to mention the choice between the beautiful and courageous Faraday, his late half-brother's wife, and the feisty and hauntingly enchanting Azhure.To Faraday, he had pledged his love and a place by his side as ruler of Tencendor; to Azhure, he had given his children, his time, and his devotion.His love for both women is what the last twist of the Prophecy relies on. While Azhure explores her newfound powers as an Icarii Enchantress, and Faraday replants the ancient forests of the Mother, the evil Gorgrael is plotting Axis's downfall, invading the sky with ice and terror and the flesh-hungry Gryphons. His most daring move is to follow prophecy, to taunt Axis with the pain of his beloved.But which beloved woman will Gorgrael choose . . . and will she be the one whose death will distract Axis from saving the world?
Customer Reviews:
Tor should be ashamed........2007-02-20
This book, like all the previous books in this series, is wonderful. The characters have heart wrenchingly real and complex, and the world is as complex and original as any I have ever encountered. However...
Tor should be ashamed to have published this book in such a typographically disastrous format. I have *never* (and I am a long-time, avid reader) encountered so many ridiculously out of place periods, quotation marks, and other grammatical errors. After reading other books by Sara Douglass (all with wonderful, beautiful, correct grammar) I can only assume that there are some editors and copy-editors on Tor's staff that desperately need to find a new career path. Tor should be ashamed and embarrassed to have published such a blatantly unpolished work. That said, read it anyway. It's a beautiful continuation of an epic saga, and even the poor editing cannot take away from its glory.
Great Book!!.......2007-01-15
This is the 3rd of series and is my favorite of the Axis Trilogy, by Sara Douglass. I recommend this book highly!! But should start with the 1st book.
Keep a box of tissue nearby.......2006-12-22
Starman is a well-written march to the inevitable end of the Starman prophecy. There is one vaguely suprising moment at the end, but overall, it is what you expect to happen.
That being said, it was undeniably poignant and it's very difficult not to feel anything but saddness and futile hope for the one character that has had the worst time in this series.
The editorial review that references the strong female characters are correct. I would have been happier with more of a presence of Axis, but I'm also not put off by it.
Starman.......2006-04-14
I loved this book and this entire series!! This series is the best thing I have read in the longest time. Sara Douglass has a way with words that draws you into the novel you are reading. I have not been able to put this series down!!! I think that everyone should read this book!! It has a great plot line that keeps you guessing. The dramatic finish to the Prophecy had me reading for hours!! The twists and turns were very exciting and kept me interested all the way through. Sara Douglass put just the right emotions in this book that made you feel for the charachters. I wish that this series will never end, and when it does I believe I will pick it up and begin to read it again. I truly think you should read this series.
Last book in the first trilogy of the wayfarer redemption-good, but nothing really special.......2006-03-21
Starman is the last book in the Axis trilogy which is the first part of the wayfarer redemption. In it the prophecy enacts its final job and Axis has it out with his half brother the destroyer.
But the book involves more than that. It also has Axis and Azhure finding their true heritage (can you guess it? I did) and Faraday replants the trees. She does more than that though, and strangely, she's exhausted the whole time and nearly dies early in the book (can you figure out why? I did.)
This book is quite poignant and very rough to read emotionally. The ending is very, very sad. And the very last part of the phrophey-about how hate is not the way to end the fighting and forgivness will save the soul of the land-is never resolved. It's like the author forgot about it completely. Still, it's good.
But overall with this series I haven't found that I like it as much as Sara Douglass's stand alone novel Threshold. It's an ok series, but I know I'll never read it again. The series gets very dark in this book-and I don't mean dark like scary but dark about the evil that man can make and the utter suffering some force upon others. I've read many of the authors books and they all seem to have a shadow sitting on them. In Threshold it works-in her other books it doesn't. It doesn't work in this book-and the next three books are much, much darker and confusing and disjointed than anything in this part of the series.
It's just so many of the characters are too perfect, or too annoying to be interested in, and Faraday just breaks my heart with her sadness. Overall I'd rate this part of the series four stars, and this book also four.
Three months later-in retrospect I don't think I like this series very much. It's not very well written, it has no likeable well drawn charecters and a lot of the actions are brutaly offensive. In retrospect I think I find Sara Douglass's writing to be very dark and depressing and gloomy-but not always in a way that works. I wouldn't advise reading her stuff, excepting Threshold, unless you can work a two week depresion into your life.
Book Description
The stunning sequel to The Wayfarer RedemptionAxis is a true hero, in every sense of the word. On his shoulders lies the double burden of prophecy and war. Having fulfilled the first part of the prophecy by becoming the StarMan, he now must reunite the three races inhabiting his world. It is his destiny to lead an army against his evil half-brother, to regain control of Tencendor, once the greatest land in the world. It is his destiny to be caught between the two women he loves, one the epitome of gentility, beauty, and intelligence, the other a fierce warrior with a cunning wit. And it is his destiny to be thwarted at every turn by the vicious Goragel, an insane monster bent on destroying all that Axis works to preserve . . .Enchanter is the riveting sequel to Sara Douglass's spell-binding first novel The Wayfarer Redemption, and winner of the 1996 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel. Sara Douglass has taken America by storm with this powerful tale of love, prophecy, battles, and revenge.
Customer Reviews:
Press Continue Button.......2007-03-14
While the second novel is just as good as the first one it seemed to be lacking a bit of energy that was put into it's prequel. While the plot is good some of the New characters you want to beat over the head with a rock. The only real appealing thing is the cover art by Luis Royo - that man can draw!
Another excelleng book in this series........2007-02-20
This is a wonderful continuation of the first book, both in complexity of new elements and resolution -- or extension -- of previous storylines. Okay, so the prophesy bit has been done to death. But Sara Douglas takes the usual trite nonsense and turns it into poetry. You will *not* be able to figure out all the plot twists, yet none of them seem to come out of nowhere (no deus ex mechina here). Her world is beautifully realized, from geography to politics, to an epic scope of storyline that assumes a fabulously detailed history that is uncovered one piece at a time, starting at the crux of the prophecy and then moving forward. She spares no detail in showing both the glory of an army who follows their leader out of faith and love, and the horrors of war and the intricacy of battle strategy. The multiple perspectives are very rewarding, since they both show the motivations of complex nemeses and heroes, but also dwell on each character long enough to make him/her more than just a side note or a distraction. In scope and detail it reminds me of nothing more than Tolkein's world (but without all the excessive details regarding which stream turned where and how hard each rock was). Of course, it's not the first fantasy novel of this kind, but should definitely be ranked amongst the best. Thematically, Sara Douglass explores a world in which the personal implications of a change of religion like that which the Earth experienced during the middle ages when the many gods were superseded by the one god, then twists it around so that the one god is replaced by the many. The spiritual and cultural implications of this are thoroughly explored. The mythology surrounding the trees and the forests, reminiscent of the fear that medieval (and more ancient man) had of the forest, is particularly well done. And finally, an element so rare in fantasy, Sara Douglass gives her heroes such flaws as to make them not only human (even when they're not actually human), but so ambiguous that they might very well be villains in a story told from a different perspective -- then shows you some of these perspectives. Well worth the read.
Douglass does it again..........2007-02-15
The story still has a lot of potential, as do the characters; the best feature, however, is the growing list of made up and misused words. This list continues to make me laugh, and the more books there are in this series, the longer the list gets. Where *is* the editor? Here's one of my favorite examples:
Men aren't virulent! They're VIRILE! Douglass misuses "virulent" when she clearly means "virile" to describe her male characters' sexual energy.
Worth your time........2006-09-05
This series wavers on the edge of excellence, but just doesn't quite get there. It starts much like a Goodking/Jordan sort of tale and sometimes includes the darkness of Martin's Fire and Ice.
Maybe this will be resolved in future books in the series, and I suspect that it is, but characters like Axis are showing some blatant and annoying character flaws, that cause reactions that even the village idiot would avoid. Minor things like neglecting to inform your betrothed that you're having children by another woman.
Maybe the rest of the series will explain or absolve some of this. We'll see.
New book, new love, new annoying people..........2006-03-19
Enchanter is the second book in the wayfarer redemtion which covers six novels. This book primarlu covers the training of Axis, the starman of the ancient prophecy and his battle with his half brother Bornheld to control the country so that he can repel the ice monsters of the north.
Axis develops into kind of ass in this book. First, he cheats on Faraday with Azhure, falls in love with her and has kids with her. Azhure of course, is not what she seems, but that only makes the betrayal of trust marginally ok. I never thought the romance was particularly well developed in the first book anyway, so I wasn't too upset about all this. But still, Faraday has a huge shock in this book. However she has grown into an amazing woman and handles it well.
The other part of this book is battles. Overall, it's a good book. But the wholly unlikable characters of Axis (who is just not a nice man and is arrogant and annoying and I don't know why everyone else loves him in the book) and his father Stardrifter made parts of the book less fun. And I still don't like the tendency to make the characters close to gods (really close in some cases) in terms of their power. It's annoying.
Other than that though, four stars, and I'm on to the next book.
Three months later-in retrospect I don't think I like this series very much. It's not very well written, it has no likeable well drawn charecters and a lot of the actions are brutaly offensive. In retrospect I think I find Sara Douglass's writing to be very dark and depressing and gloomy-but not always in a way that works. I wouldn't advise reading her stuff, excepting Threshold, unless you can work a two week depresion into your life.
Book Description
Book Five of the Wayfarer RedemptionThe Star Gate is destroyed and the Star Dance is dead. Icarii Enchanters, gods, and humans alike are helpless as the TimeKeeper Demons lay waste to Tencendor. There must be hope left, but no one knows where to find it. Death lurks in every twist of the Maze, but only those who have the courage to endure death can learn the secrets of the ancient enemy.Caelum SunSoar and his parents know that the only way is to discover the ancient secrets that lay trapped in the mountain Star Finger, and Faraday, martyred heroine, grows ever fearful -- and ever bitter. Must she lose everything to the land?
Customer Reviews:
Carpe Douglass: Seize the plot twist.......2007-08-16
Sara Douglass has taken her own spin on the plot twist, the character twist (wherein a character previously assumed to be the reincarnation of Sliced Bread is discovered to actually be secretly eeeevil, while characters everyone reviles as a cross between Osama bin Laden and a child molester are revealed to be the salvations of man-, bird-, and tree-kind) and moved it beyond perfection into predictability. Rest assured, if you are introduced to a character who appears to be a pretty decent guy, that he will eventually turn out to kick puppies or something. On the other hand, previously kickass members of the Hot Cover Art Girls With Swords and Halter Tops Club are now reduced to vapid, simpering sidekicks who sigh a lot (I'm looking at you, Azhure and Zenith). And then Faraday - who from Day 1 has been the most boringly consistent character of all, with her interminable sulky, self righteous martyr complex - drops the F-bomb out of nowhere, and you know you're in the presence of a master. Still, after the first 87 times the monster rips off his mask to reveal he's really kindly old Mr. MacGregor, you get the point.
But then, Douglass has never been accused of being too subtle. She will take a horse and beat it, not only 'til it's dead, but long past its expiration date. Take Zenith, who's really starting to tick me off. See, Zenith and her grandfather StarDrifter are in love, which is OK because they're both SunSoars, which is like being a Bush in that you rule the world and you can pretend things like the Constitution don't exist, much less apply to you. (Does that make WolfStar Karl Rove?) Except Zenith is all angsty over the fact that she wants to boink granddad, and so she spends the entire book agonizing over it. Seriously. Every. Single. Time we cut to Zenith, that's what she's doing. She serves absolutely no other purpose in this book except to conduct a tortured inner dialogue: "But I love him! But it's gross! But he's so hot! But it's naughty!" Fish or cut bait, honey.
But you know, detailing everything wrong with a Sara Douglass novel is a little mean, plus way too easy - like shooting fish in a barrel. The truth is, I've hung in for 5 books so far, and am planning on the 6th, so obviously she's doing something right. I'll admit that the sheer soap-opery melodrama is, in its own way, a delightfully guilty pleasure. I also like the fact that, for the most part, Douglass has managed to maintain a level of coherence and internal continuity in an astonishingly complicated and twisting series of books; any surprises she reveals about events that occurred in the first three books generally hold up on further inspection. This makes for a fairly longish series that works as well on the fifth book as it did in the first, quite an accomplishment these days.
So these eeeevil demons have crashed through the Star Gate and rendered all of Tencendor's likely heroes useless. The Enchanters are disenchanted, the StarMan is starless, and the StarSon is... Wait, who's the StarSon again? That distinction plays a huge role here, as professional underdog Drago leads a ragtag band of humans to Save the World. Trite, but true. Anyway, a lot of the book is spent describing the horrors that the Demons visit upon Tencendor, and the utter helplessness of most of the population. There's less of action here (save for the fleeing) than of revelations. Such is the fate of the middle book of the trilogy. So we get more on the mysterious 'craft' that crash landed millennia ago; the origins of the various species of Tencendor (except the Avar - I want their story!); the whole StarMan/StarSon controversy; the potential power of the Acharites, &c. All to set up the final book, really, although the ending of "Pilgrim" is delightfully cliffhangerish.
So yes, I mock, but at the end of the day I really do get a kick out of these books. I wish to God Douglass were a more consistent writer, or at least had a decent editor, but I don't look a gift novel in the mouth. "Pilgrim" is an enjoyable, entertaining continuation of the Wayfarer Redemption series.
Can't miss.......2007-08-06
The saga continues...riveting story line and Sara Douglass just keeps you turning page after page. So much action, you can't put it down.
Just as good as the rest.......2007-03-21
An awesome read, you really get to know these charachters, people have said bad things I know, but if you can really get into a story and not judge it for more then what it is; a great story, you will truly love this series.
The downward spiral continues.......2007-03-17
The ties that binded this mythology together begin to unravel. As I enjoyed the first three, it is a sad thing to have to say, but the characters leave much to be desired, the story is splintered, and the brutality is often unnecessarily gruesome.
Another Great Installment In The Wayfarer Redemption Series.......2007-02-16
In my opinion, if you enjoyed the four previous books (Wayfarer Redemption, Enchanter, Starman, Sinner), then you will really enjoy Pilgrim. The events that occur during the span of Pilgrim are shocking in places, but I believe that is what keeps the momentum of the book going. I just have finished my first read through Pilgrim, and I can't wait to read Crusader to see what Douglass does with the new chain of events she's set up. Most definitely, the main events have shifted from the first three books, but the individual character development scenes plus the overviews of larger scenes provide a sense of grounding throughout. A fascinating read, well worth every minute I spent reading.
Book Description
SINNERBook Four of The Wayfarer RedemptionThe land of Tencendor has been united for more than forty years, thanks to Axis, who is the legendary Starman. He defeated Gorgrael and brought peace to the three races--and upon fulfilling his destiny, Axis and his consort Azhure retired to the ethereal sphere in the heavens, and ceded his authority to their son Caelum.But the path of the son is not necessarily that of the father. Caelum is untried and has known nothing but peace during his lifetime. And while the three races seem to be at peace, there are undercurrents of jealousy and bitter memories buried just beneath the surface. So when strange powers begin to manifest in their world, and threaten the destruction of all he holds dear, Caelum will have to find the strength to fight this threat--and to fight his mortal brother Drago, who is not as powerless as he appears to be. Something killed their sister, and Caelum knows Drago is the culprit--but the Supreme Ruler of the land must have proof, and Caelum has none.Caelum desperately tries to juggle saving the world with proving his brother killed their sister, but time grows short and the demons are drawing near....
Customer Reviews:
Sinner.......2007-09-25
A good author gone DARK.....What Happened to cause such a dramatic change in styles of writing we may never know but this is NOT the Sarah Douglas I began reading.
Dark Fantasy & Horror fans may find some pleasure here but all other fans of her first books should BE AFRAID.. Its like stepping from 1 world into another that would frighten Even Stephen King, and that World is very dark indeed...Ripping babies from wombs and tearing to pieces is a BIT MUCH Sarah.........you lost me, and MANY others I'm sure!!!
Very Self Destructive Writing IMHO......WHY????
Thats the real Question!!!
The beginning of the end.......2007-03-17
The ties that binded this mythology together begin to unravel. As I enjoyed the first three, it is a sad thing to have to say, but the characters leave much to be desired, the story is splintered, and the brutality is often unnecessarily gruesome.
Wow, What A Change!.......2007-02-16
Though Sinner takes the focus away from Axis, Azhure, and the other seven Star Gods we've met in the first three books, the new characters don't disappoint in terms of depth and experience. Drago and Caelum, who seemed to be sketches of Cain and Abel, respectively, during the first books, now have a different sort of relationship now that they are all grown up. The only thing I found odd about Sinner upon first read was that the book skipped ahead 40 years from the end point of Starman. But later on, I understood why Douglass had chosen not to write about the 40 years of peace--she makes constant flashback references that sketch out the plot quite nicely anyway, and after all, conflict makes the (fictional) world go 'round. This book does take the series in a vastly different direction from what you might expect, but it's an intriguing change and a welcome surprise anyway. And for Faraday fans, her reappearance is also quite refreshing to the overarching plot. If you want to see how the idyllic realm of Tencendor can change (for better or worse), definitely pick this book up.
Alert for tender sensibilities. (slight spoiler alert).......2006-12-03
It has been a bit since I read this book. The main caveat that I would like to let people in on is that the brutality level jumps SIGNIFICANTLY with this book in the series. Some of it is fairly nauseating. I was mostly upset by this in that having read the first trilogy one would come to expect a certain "rating," if you will, and having it jump from pg-13 (behind closed doors, commented on afterwards rape) to NC-17 (Forced aborting of a pregnancy by the mother, open rape of 2-3 characters) is disconcerting at the least. I think she has a lot of intreguing ideas, but that was the main shocker for me.
Utterly depressing; a total disappointment........2006-11-30
I read and loved the first three books of the Wayfarer Redemption series. Admittedly, her writing is not that great as far as just the craft of it; some of the dialogue is awful, in fact. And there are all the, as one other reviewer pointed out in a review for another of her books, RanDom CapItaliZations. But the technical failings of her writing aside, the first three were quite enjoyable, and while I felt sorry for Faraday, I was pleased that it was not a universally happy ending, as too many authors tend towards. Everything has a price, and that was reflected nicely in the conclusion to Starman.
So when I found Sinner in a bookstore, I snatched it up, eager to re-enter Tencendor, which I had grown to love.
I was sorely disappointed.
Axis and Azhure (my favorite character) are basically gone. They make a half-dozen appearances, and in essence all they do is throw up their hands and get pissy. Useless. Caelum has grown into a whiny, unprepared, wavering "leader", while RiverStar is an absolute waste as a character, useful only in that she could conveniently be killed off to further the plot. Zenith is a nice exception to the SunSoar children; except that she gets possessed by the vengeful and twisted spirit of Azhure's mother, Niah. Which really doesn't make much sense, as in the first books we were shown this conception of Niah as caring, loving, etc. Now, she's basically a possessing demon.
Thus, the disappointments of the "characters". Let's move on to the "plot", shall we? It's been 40 years of peace and relative harmony. But without a bad guy to struggle against, there can be no plot, and since Gorgrael is gone, we need to find a new enemy. Enter the TimeKeeper Demons. Despair, hunger, pestilence, etc. Each somehow rigged to a certain time of day, which seems rather nonsensical to me. But we have these demons, and they are coming toward Tencendor. There's a nasty side-effect to this, though; in their coming, they are blotting out the Star Dance through the Star Gate. Which renders the Enchanters and Star Gods impotent. In the end, these demons come crashing through the Gate, and destroy it in the process.
Which, in essence, snuffs out the magic of Tencendor. There's still the power of the Mother, but without the power of the Stars, it's a bleak and pointless world. I read fantasy to be swept up by the magic of other worlds. The end of this book rendered this particular world magicless, depressing, and boring. What point in continuing?
Sara Douglass must have been using these books to write out some very dark things in her life; I cannot see any other reason to subject her loyal readers to this kind of drivel. The end of this book depressed me; it ended the view of Tencendor I had as a beautiful and magical place and made it a place of horror. I see no reason in slogging through the next two books, although I might wander into a bookstore and read the last twenty pages or so of the final book, just to see if she makes it even slightly all right again in the end. I believe in everything having a price; but not a price that blots out the whole world.
In essence, if you enjoyed Tencendor through the first three books, don't start this second half. Just let Tencendor stay how it was before this book.
Book Description
A millennia-old prophecy was given when the Forbidden Ones were driven from Achar. And now, the Acharites witness its manifestation: Achar is under attack by an evil lord from the North, Gorgreal-his ice demons strike from the sky and kill hundreds of brave warriors in the blink of an eye. All Acharites believe the end is near.One young woman, Faraday, betrothed of Duke Borneheld, learns that all she has been told about her people's history is untrue. While fleeing to safety from the dangerous land, Faraday, rides with Axis, legendary leader of the Axe-Wielders-and hated half-brother of Borneheld-and a man Faraday secretly loves although it would be death to admit it. She embarks on a journey, which will change her life forever, in search of the true nature of her people.This grand and heroic story tells the tale of one woman's plight to learn the truth of her people and change their hearts and their minds forever. She fights against oppressive forces to share this reality and will not desist until everyone knows. . . . . The truth of the Star Gate
Customer Reviews:
Moderately enjoyable fantasy.......2007-08-19
My wife had this lying around and I picked it up after she finished it. In terms of an original story, it has to be said that the plot is, in my opinion, very cookie cutter. Evil destroyer of the world comes, Prophecy is set into motion, heroes must battle against all odds, etc. As previous reviewers have noted, the dialogue between characters sometimes feels frightfully juvenile and stilted. I especially agree with a previous reviewer that the weird capitalizations of characters and job titles is overdone. I feel that I wasn't quite able to give the book a fair chance, though, as I read the "about the author" section of the book first where Ms. Douglass claims that she is an "Australian treasure." I found that a tad too haughty for my taste, but I will say that the last third or so of the book, my interest finally began to be piqued by some of the plot developments. Having read reviews for the second book, I'm still undecided about whether or not I will continue reading this series, but I can say that it accomplished what it was intended to do: I whiled away some 7-8 hours in the land of Tencendor. Overall, mostly fluffy but still worth a read if it's at the library.
Good Solid Epic Fantasy.......2007-07-05
I loved this book. The characters are rich and the story is moving which keeps you urning each page and wishing somehow that you could read faster. If you enjoy fantasy you'll love Douglass' new and inventive races and vivid descriptions. She plays with a constant hint of mysticism based closely to the pagan religions of our world. I found this additionally pleasing as it gave me additional insite into the actions of her characters.
Great book!
A very good start to a very good series........2007-04-10
I have just finished reading the Wayfarer Redemption series. As a whole I give the series 4 stars.
I read a lot of fantasy of all types and this is very well written and very engaging. Many other reviewers have been saying these books are very dark and depressing. I didn't think so. There are some gruesome and terrible things happening, but what fantasy story doesn't have that? I read worse things in Lord of the Rings when I was 12. Her characters are very well written. She is one of the few authors who has managed the feat of making her readers both love and hate the main characters (Axis, StarDrifter, WolfStar), the way we love and hate the people in our own lives.
Book 1 of the Axis trilogy, Wayfarer Redemptions starts out very fast. I was hooked after just a few chapters. This series focuses on a prophecy, that a Starman will come and unite the three races and in the end defeat the evil that is plaguing the land. It is not the most original, but then most fantasy isn't nowadays.
I think the story's weakest parts are the leaps of suspended disbelieve the reader is asked to make. The biggest one that struck me was when a group of people so steeped in the dogma of a religion that disavows anything remotely magical instantly believed the prophecy, without question. It might be a magical prophecy but there is nothing up to that point that allows the reader to feel the same instant belief.
I think the strongest part of the story is the character development. With only a few sentences Douglass is able to make the reader feel as if she knows them. Faraday is and will remain, in my opinion, one of the best heroine's of fantasy, despite her few moments of naive stupidity. Axis is one of the first heroes I have felt to be very human. He is a headstrong man that personifies everything that it entails. There is no sensitive peace-loving prince to be found in this story. And to top off her fabulous characters there are the sentinels. One cannot help but instantly love them.
Overall it is a very good book. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Elizabeth Hayden and Melanie Rawn.
Compared to other Fantasy It's....Okay.......2007-03-14
Surprisingly, I enjoyed the first book to this series but in all honesty I loathe Axis. He's an uptight, uncivilized, and confused little boy with a sword in his hand. Don't get me wrong the book was good but some of the characters are just so unlikeable it isn't funny. The plot was there but it seemed to be a blur with some chapters. I have read many other fantasy novels in my time but this one isn't as good as it is claimed to be. Do yourself a favor and buy Lord of the Rings.
A wonderful beginning.......2007-02-20
Okay, so the prophesy bit has been done to death. But Sara Douglas takes the usual trite nonsense and turns it into poetry. You will *not* be able to figure out all the plot twists, yet none of them seem to come out of nowhere (no deus ex mechina here). Her world is beautifully realized, from geography to politics, to an epic scope of storyline that assumes a fabulously detailed history that is uncovered one piece at a time, starting at the crux of the prophecy and then moving forward. She spares no detail in showing both the glory of an army who follows their leader out of faith and love, and the horrors of war and the intricacy of battle strategy. The multiple perspectives are very rewarding, since they both show the motivations of complex nemeses and heroes, but also dwell on each character long enough to make him/her more than just a side note or a distraction. In scope and detail it reminds me of nothing more than Tolkein's world (but without all the excessive details regarding which stream turned where and how hard each rock was). Of course, it's not the first fantasy novel of this kind, but should definitely be ranked amongst the best. Thematically, Sara Douglass explores a world in which the personal implications of a change of religion like that which the Earth experienced during the middle ages when the many gods were superseded by the one god, then twists it around so that the one god is replaced by the many. The spiritual and cultural implications of this are thoroughly explored. The mythology surrounding the trees and the forests, reminiscent of the fear that medieval (and more ancient man) had of the forest, is particularly well done. And finally, an element so rare in fantasy, Sara Douglass gives her heroes such flaws as to make them not only human (even when they're not actually human), but so ambiguous that they might very well be villains in a story told from a different perspective -- then shows you some of these perspectives. Well worth the read.
Product Description
the Star Gate is destroyed. The Star Dance is dead. Enchanters and gods alike are helpless as the TimeKeeper Demons lay waste to Tencendor.
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