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Avempartha (2009)

by Michael J. Sullivan(Favorite Author)

4.24 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0979621119 (ISBN13: 9780979621116)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Ridan Publishing

series

The Riyria Revelations

review 1: The first book in this series took me a while to get into but I was so vested in Royce and Hadrian by the end I flew through book 2. I even listened to it on a long car trip so I could finish Theft of Swords as soon as possible. I really like the dialogue and the way each story unfolds giving away pieces of what is clearly going to be the bigger storyline of the series. I also really like how I can figure out what is going to happen next sometimes and other times it takes me by surprise.
review 2: The second part of this book starts off slow but as it progresses a broader view of world politics is revealed and we start to understand what is really going on. The climax of Avempartha is powerful and engaging with characters we've come to love and hate meeting bru... moretal and sudden ends while the plot develops in unexpected ways. While I really enjoyed her character in 'Theft' in 'Avempartha' Arista was turned into an almost unbelievably stupid and gullible pawn. On that note here is my Arista gullibility count 1)When Saldur, a representative of a powerful, ambitious foreign power with plans to control her kingdom assigns a domineering, nosy maid with a suspicious background as her maid she doesn't even consider that she might be a spy. 2)Saldur previously gave damning testimony accusing her of witchcraft and of murdering her own family and supported her immediate execution. When she is released she forgives him immediately and allows him to keep his position of power in the kingdom 3) When Saldur admits to betraying and conspiring to murder her father before pinning it on her she shows no apparent reaction. She then seriously considers helping him in his schemes and later is bummed when he isn't around to have some pleasant conversation. Ugh. Summary: Gullible Arista is gullible Saldur himself is a character with some really interesting motivation. Halfway through he reveals his plan to end the feudal, independent monarchies that control the world in favour of a centralised bureaucratic system based on Imperial China. I found this really interesting as feudalism (the most polular setting in fantasy) and systems like it have come into practice at various times and places throughout history. Invariably they appear when society is boned (see dark ages Europe) and are generally low points for civilisation. The desire to create a strong empire to improve the lives of it's people is a noble goal. A corrupt, scheming church with a figurehead emporer probably isn't the way to do that however. I hope the rest of the series examines the benefits of independent kingdoms against a unified empire instead of just presenting it as good kingdoms vs. evil empire.All in all this is an enjoyable book that I would recommend as lighhearted adventure. However it's highlights were when it took the story in a more ambitious, challenging direction and I hope the rest of the series takes the chance to expand on this. less

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