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Skirmish (2012)

by Michelle West(Favorite Author)

4.38 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

075640701X (ISBN13: 9780756407018)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

DAW

series

The House War

review 1: One point off for being slow--most of the action takes place over about 4 days. Which works out to about 10 minutes/page? And now I need to go back and look at Sun Sword again, since the online summary isn't finished yet (and leaves out a lot, while filling in bits I don't think I grokked). Man, this series has been going on for a while--over 8000 pages if LT's data is correct. Six times longer than LotR.Yes, the cats with wings on the front make a prolonged appearance here.So we're getting ready for a funeral, and getting ready for the succession fight, but all this other stuff is happening--sleeping sickness, mysterious trees, hiring dressmakers and assassins, assassination attempts, healers, god talk, more demons. Plus exploring why Jewel is uncertain about her rig... moreht to rule, and making up with old servants, and catching up with her friends. Lots of politics; less economics in this book. Plenty of magic.Things I like--multiple points of view. No reason to limit yourself.Princess Mirialyn has such a small role, but she always shines. Dreamlike sequences.
review 2: I'm tough on fantasy series - so many of them start well and then sort of peter out and become uninteresting. For whatever reason I don't typically read a single fantasy novel (with some exceptions) because I like series, but it's hard to find series, and on and on in an endless self-imposed do loop. I do adore two series, however: George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and all of Michelle Sagara West's Averalaan books. I like them equally and continually recommend them every time I get a chance.West's books are different than Martin's - more magic, for one thing, but just as many varied characters making lots of choices and trying to survive in preparation for the final onslaught of demons. Yes, demons.Skirmish is the latest in House Wars series and I do not recommend starting here if you haven't read these books. I'll give you a list later on so you can start at the beginning. I swear you won't regret it.I loved Skirmish even though it actually only takes place across about 3 days. There's plenty going on in that 3 days and there are very, very many difficult choices to be made by many people - especially Jay (Jewel) the protagonist. At some points I wanted to yell at her to grow a spine, but the decision to go to war for leadership of an important House with everyone you love backing you and in danger is not a light one. It's the only one, though - it just takes awhile for Jay to come around to it.This book begins to have a lot more intrigue and behind-the-scenes double-dealing than the others and I like that, too. A House War is logically different than a more typical war and the English proved long ago that having good intelligence is crucial to maintaining power. Honestly, this just feels like the preview to the next book where the action will really start rolling, but it was also intensely pleasing.Ms. West is able to develop in the reader a true sense of emotional connection to the characters. These are people who've been in my life since the late '90's and, like George R.R. Martin's characters, they feel like family. I'm much closer to Sagara's characters, but that's not surprising since that emotional attachment and the growth and development of the characters is central to the story of struggle. It's harder to get attached to Martin's characters - he's just so brutal with them it makes you want to keep a safe distance (even though I often can't).There's a lot of beauty in the this book and the thick sense of grief that hangs over it all due to the death of the former House leader - much loved by the entire house. Jay clings to the idea that a funeral will somehow bring closure and this delays much of her necessary decision-making. Anyone who's been through a great loss knows that closure is a great word and that the living matter more, but it's hard to accept - you just have to walk the path and see where it leads.I loved this book, as I've loved all of her books. If you're new to this kind of writing and have read George R.R. Martin's series and enjoyed it, I highly recommend these books. If you've read neither - what are waiting for?!Averalaan Universe Books:The Sacred Hunt (as Michelle West, DAW Books)The Kingdom of Breodanir is facing a threat unlike any seen for centuries. An orphan boy and his adopted brother struggle against the ties that bind them together (and to their land) as they complete an impossible journey to save the world - at the risk of their own destruction. These are the first books set in the Essalieyan universe to be published. Hunter's Oath (October 1995) Hunter's Death (June 1996)The Sun Sword(as Michelle West, DAW Books)Sixteen years after the events of The Sacred Hunt, the Empire of Essalieyan and the Dominion of Annagar are at war due to machinations of the Kialli. The resulting struggle for power will define the lives of those who would bring an end to the Kialli threat. Events laid out in The Sacred Hunt are referenced, but are not necessary to follow the story. The Broken Crown (July 1997) The Uncrowned King (September 1998) The Shining Court (August 1999) Sea of Sorrows (May 2001) The Riven Shield (July 2003) The Sun Sword (January 2004)The House War(as Michelle West, DAW Books)Set in the Essalieyan universe, The House War chronicles the story of Jewel and her rise in House Terafin. The first three novels return to the origin of Jewel and the discovery of her den. They also revisit some of the narrative from Hunter's Death, though told from different (and complementary) character perspectives. The concluding two volumes, beginning with Skirmish, take place after events of The Sun Sword. Because of this timeline juxtaposition, the author recommends reading The Sun Sword series before Skirmish to maintain character consistency. The Hidden City: A Novel of the House War, Book 1 (March 2008) City of Night: A Novel of the House War, Book 2 (February 2010) House Name: A Novel of the House War, Book 3 (January 2011) Skirmish: A Novel of the House War, Book 4 (January 2012) War: A Novel of the House War, Book 5 (tentative title) less

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