Fall of the Kings

Loved It-Read It Twice

I loved this book, just as much if not more than the first time I read it. Excited to find there are other novels by Ellen Kushner set in the world of Riverside, I was disappointed in 'Swordspoint'. Each book has its own feel to it, and I fell hard and fully in love with 'The Fall of the Kings'. It is deeply entangled with dirty politics, secrets of all sorts, a struggle to maintain power among the nobility, a history founded and taught on speculation and opinion, magic forbidden and learned, conspiracies within families, no bars hold sex that's used for pleasure, barter, and even blackmail, and many more brilliant qualities that I am failing to mention and give adequate words to describe. The main characters Basil St Cloud, a doctor at the University, and Theron Campion, expected heir to Duchess Tremontaine, are the ones who are at the center of the city's social wilderness. Theron will learn that ignorance is not always innocence, along with heartbreak, and perhaps never learning how to have a happy relationship with anyone. St Cloud's journey brings the court wizards, their king, and magic into reality. It is treason to teach that the wizards did work magic, for real. Lord Arlen sets Galing to place spies within the University to gather enough information to prove that the Northerners are trying to bring back their king. If so, who have they chosen, one of them or one of the Companions of the King? With so much drama and romance, only the destruction of a person/idea will be their/its salvation, as 'The Fall of the Kings' reaches its beautiful, exciting, and climatic conclusion.

Great Read!

Ms. Kushner and Ms. Sherman weave a rich tapestry within the framework of "fantasy" that happens to include gay men and lesbian encounters that is covered with sensitivity. The world of Riverside is a world accepting of diversity in it's population. . .too bad the real world doesn't more closely mirror the world these 2 wonderful authors have created.

Finally a new book!

This long-awaited "sequel" to Swordspoint would of helped if Swordspoint might of actually been re-published befre this book came out! The book starts out slow but once you get past the first chapters of the authors trying to familiarize you with the world on the Hill, the going gets better. Note: this is not a one-day read - multiple characters and past references abound! It was good though!

Disappointing

Swordspoint is, perhaps, my favorite novel and I take it down from that special place on my bookself at least once every few months or so just to visit those marvelous characters and glorious world of scholars, intrigue and magic. So imagine my dismay when I excitedly curled up with Fall of the Kings last night, only to very soon discover that this book is dreadful. The characters are selfish bores, totally into themselves, self involved, callous, and insensitive to the feelings of others. I was so looking forward to a chemistry between Basil and Theron but found I didn't give a damn about what happened to either of the selfish twits. This novel left a bad taste in my mouth. In my fantasy world there has to be at least *one* character I can care about. I haven't been this disappointed with a long awaited sequel since the abysmal "King Kelson's Bride" by Katherine Kurtz.

strong epic fantasy

Over five centuries ago the Northern King, his army, and the wizards traveled to the Kingdom of the South for a marriage that would bind the two lands into one union. Over time the king and the wizards fell out of favor with their nobles and were killed. The Council of Lords became rulers of the land and any talk of wizards or magic is considered treason. For two hundred years the nobles ruled without any serious threat to their authority but now rumors come to their attention of the restoration of the monarchy. The council sends spies to the University to see if anyone has done anything that could be considered heresy. Two names keep cropping up in the investigation. History Professor Basis St. Cloud who thinks that magic once actually existed and Theron Campion, heir to the Duchy of Tremontaine. These two men are fated to play a prominent role in events that will usher in a new age of thought. Ellen Kushner and Della Sherman combine their talents to create a work that is sublimely rich in characterizations and a perspective similar to medieval Europe. The political infighting at the university adds a sense of the ridiculous to this very serious epic drama. The characters, fully developed and complex creations, are prisoners of their place in society, which makes them all the more interesting when they step out of their station in life. THE FALL OF KINGS is an experience not to be missed. Harriet Klausner

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.