Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
250th out of 430 books
—
680 voters
The Shattered Vine (Vineart War #3)
by
Laura Anne Gilman (Goodreads Author)
An island nation has vanished. Men of honor and magic have died unnatural deaths. Slaves flee in terror. . . . Are the silent gods beginning to speak? Or is another force at work in the Lands Vin?
Laura Anne Gilman’s critically acclaimed, Nebula Award–nominated Flesh and Fire introduced a brilliantly imagined world where the grapevine—cultivated by the Vinearts who know the...more
Laura Anne Gilman’s critically acclaimed, Nebula Award–nominated Flesh and Fire introduced a brilliantly imagined world where the grapevine—cultivated by the Vinearts who know the...more
Hardcover, 343 pages
Published
October 18th 2011
by Gallery Books
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
325)
Laura Anne Gilman is a great writer. Unfortunately, her style is really not for me. I prefer a little more quick and dirty style, rather than the thoughtful, more literary style that she writes in.
The story's magic system is where vinearts (the mages) use spellwine to do magic. They also have what is called "quiet magic". Instead of saying, Jerzy used quiet magic to _________, we hear how he gathered saliva in his mouth to do the magic, what he was thinking, what was going on around him, other s...more
The story's magic system is where vinearts (the mages) use spellwine to do magic. They also have what is called "quiet magic". Instead of saying, Jerzy used quiet magic to _________, we hear how he gathered saliva in his mouth to do the magic, what he was thinking, what was going on around him, other s...more
1 like · like · see review
view 1 comment
The Shattered Vine by Laura Anne Gilman
Jerzy, the apprentice Vineart, accepts the changes the magic has made in him and realizes the needs his friends have met.
The rogue Vineart makes his move to control the known world. His despicable brand of magic has successfully created chaos in his major foes. Jerzy and his small band are the only obstacle in his insidious way.
Strange bedfellows perhaps best describe this third book in a marvelous trilogy. Ms. Gilman has portrayed a very stratified socie...more
Jerzy, the apprentice Vineart, accepts the changes the magic has made in him and realizes the needs his friends have met.
The rogue Vineart makes his move to control the known world. His despicable brand of magic has successfully created chaos in his major foes. Jerzy and his small band are the only obstacle in his insidious way.
Strange bedfellows perhaps best describe this third book in a marvelous trilogy. Ms. Gilman has portrayed a very stratified socie...more
Rarely does a series end leaving me so completely content.
My fascination with the Vineart War (Flesh and Fire, Weight of Stone, The Shattered Vine) is with watching its characters grow. The grand quest of a fantasy novel carries the story onward, but it is the strength of the characters fumbling their way through what the world is throwing at them that makes the Vineart War so compelling. That strong characterization really shines in The Shattered Vine. Jerzy has been wavering on the line betwee...more
My fascination with the Vineart War (Flesh and Fire, Weight of Stone, The Shattered Vine) is with watching its characters grow. The grand quest of a fantasy novel carries the story onward, but it is the strength of the characters fumbling their way through what the world is throwing at them that makes the Vineart War so compelling. That strong characterization really shines in The Shattered Vine. Jerzy has been wavering on the line betwee...more
Waited patiently for this book to come out. Devoured it in an evening (I have the unfortunate history of being a fast reader). Sadly... there is no next book.
Series as a whole offers a lot of interesting takes on some rather well established genre standbys. I rather like that some are skipped, others are left alone and new ones are thought up.
Having looked over other reviews I have to say... it might not be for everyone. But if you've read the others and enjoyed them, the final installment is w...more
Series as a whole offers a lot of interesting takes on some rather well established genre standbys. I rather like that some are skipped, others are left alone and new ones are thought up.
Having looked over other reviews I have to say... it might not be for everyone. But if you've read the others and enjoyed them, the final installment is w...more
Jerzy, Mahault, Ao, and Käinam return to The Berengia in their ship after battling the Washers and Ximen. Ao needs more assistance than Jerzy can give on shipboard and Jerzy needs to return to the vineyard. There Jerzy is stronger and he will confront Ximen on his own turf.
The Washers and the Land-Lord Ranulf, all of whom want Jerzy to combine forces with them, note Jerzy and his friends returning. Jerzy may be Apostate, but he thinks he knows how to stop the darkness that reaches up from the R...more
The Washers and the Land-Lord Ranulf, all of whom want Jerzy to combine forces with them, note Jerzy and his friends returning. Jerzy may be Apostate, but he thinks he knows how to stop the darkness that reaches up from the R...more
Teaser:
It happened so fast, nobody, not even the solitaire, could react in time.
From a nearly frozen tableau, the hound released Mahault's hands and lurched forward, knocking her backward onto the flagstone floor, her head making a hard thunk as it hit. Her hands, released, came up, but even as Kainam was reaching for his blade to kill the beast, Jerzy had his hand on the hilt, stopping him. The Vineart didn't remember moving, had not taken his eyes off Mahault long enough to see the princeling...more
It happened so fast, nobody, not even the solitaire, could react in time.
From a nearly frozen tableau, the hound released Mahault's hands and lurched forward, knocking her backward onto the flagstone floor, her head making a hard thunk as it hit. Her hands, released, came up, but even as Kainam was reaching for his blade to kill the beast, Jerzy had his hand on the hilt, stopping him. The Vineart didn't remember moving, had not taken his eyes off Mahault long enough to see the princeling...more
The final chapter to a wonderful trilogy. The Shattered Vine takes off right where Weight of Stone left off. It didn't feel like I was starting another book in a series but continuing the same book. Very smooth transition.
A story of self discovery as much as anything, war, famine, politics, tradition and legacy. Our heroes grow into their roles and the last remnants of being children fall away. Jerzy grows in power and legacy, nearly being overwhelmed in his discoveries. He only hopes it is enou...more
A story of self discovery as much as anything, war, famine, politics, tradition and legacy. Our heroes grow into their roles and the last remnants of being children fall away. Jerzy grows in power and legacy, nearly being overwhelmed in his discoveries. He only hopes it is enou...more
Although I was looking forward to this book as the conclusion of the Vineart trilogy, it ultimately didn't satisfy me. The magic was more fully explored, but parts of it moved very, very slowly. The climax was also something of a letdown, both because the final battle didn't really live up to the build up, and also because so much was left unresolved at the end of the book. I feel like I don't really know what ultimately happened to a lot of the main characters, and I don't know what to expect...more
Decent conclusion to what has been a very interesting and unique fantasy series melding magic, wine, friendship and the making of a new world.
There did feel like there was a bit much crammed into this book at times - it was moving too fast, too many threads trying to come together at one time in what could have been a terribly messy and confusion knot. Luckily, the messy and confusing part didn't happen, but the reader is left with the sense that there were things left unsaid.
All that aside, t...more
There did feel like there was a bit much crammed into this book at times - it was moving too fast, too many threads trying to come together at one time in what could have been a terribly messy and confusion knot. Luckily, the messy and confusing part didn't happen, but the reader is left with the sense that there were things left unsaid.
All that aside, t...more
Spoilers!!!!!!!
Spoilers.....
Spoilers....spoilers. Spoiler spoiler spoilers spoilers spoilers lots of spoilers you're going to read spoilers to stop reading now spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoilers.
You've been warned. Like others I was really put off by the abrupt ending. What really bothered me the most about this book was the way Jerzy was forced to use his slaves the way he did. Taking lives to save other lives just didn't make sense to me and didn't sit well with m...more
Spoilers.....
Spoilers....spoilers. Spoiler spoiler spoilers spoilers spoilers lots of spoilers you're going to read spoilers to stop reading now spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoilers.
You've been warned. Like others I was really put off by the abrupt ending. What really bothered me the most about this book was the way Jerzy was forced to use his slaves the way he did. Taking lives to save other lives just didn't make sense to me and didn't sit well with m...more
After a long and intriguing journey, Laura Anne Gilman finally brings the Vineart saga to a close in her third novel in the series, The Shattered Vine. After the climactic end to the second book in the series, Weight of Stone, which involved Jerzy narrowly saving the lives of his friends from a magical sea serpent, I could not wait to get started on what I hoped was just as exciting of a finish to this Vineart war. Just as I predicted, Gilman did not disappoint, and this trilogy will go down as...more
drey’s thoughts:
Jerzy heads home in this final installment of Laura Anne Gilman’s Vineart War trilogy. He’s left his vines, traveled far and wide, seen creatures real and fantastical, and avoided the Washers. He’s more aware now of the power a vineart mage can wield, yet realizes that with power comes responsibility. Oh how I wish that were true of our politicians! Ok, sorry, I got distracted. Won’t happen again…
The first part of The Shattered Vine covers Jerzy’s return (with his friends) and ge...more
Jerzy heads home in this final installment of Laura Anne Gilman’s Vineart War trilogy. He’s left his vines, traveled far and wide, seen creatures real and fantastical, and avoided the Washers. He’s more aware now of the power a vineart mage can wield, yet realizes that with power comes responsibility. Oh how I wish that were true of our politicians! Ok, sorry, I got distracted. Won’t happen again…
The first part of The Shattered Vine covers Jerzy’s return (with his friends) and ge...more
A long time ago the Sin Washer split the power of magic between the common man (vinearts) and the men of power (princes) - so that the princes didn't become tyrants - and set the Washers to guard the balance. In other words, the powerful princes cannot wield magic and the common people with magic cannot become men of power. Also so that vinearts couldn't ever use more than two of the available five magics...thinking that combining more could lead back to the original fear. All in an effort to le...more
Pretty disappointed in this, the third book in a trilogy. The author managed to lose me and I have no idea what HAPPENED at the conclusion of the book. Actually the last 100 pages or so I was pretty lost. There are a lot of threads to the story but they remained tangled and never drew together. The climax appears to be on the last page, which necessarily means there is no anticlimax... which was, ha ha, anticlimactic. It's kind of sad how this series went downhill; the first book was strong, the...more
Not my usual read but a different twist on hi fantasy I enjoy by an author I trust. Ending seems inconclusive though. I expect more in this world. Anticlimactic final battle after 3 book buildup screams for more. Characters were just starting to really develop. Unfinished feeling too bad really original fantasy. Hope this means more to come
I was happy to read this series through to conclusion. I liked both Jerzy coming into his power fully and learning more about wine magic in general. However, the character development was fairly shallow and the book was mostly building up to the final battle, which seemed to go by too quickly, and not enough time spent in the resolution afterwards.
When I finished this book, my first words were "That was depressing". This book just seemed very slow and repetitive. Actually my favorite scenes were the ones at the Collegium. There just didn't seem to be a whole lot going on at House Malech except the same things over and over.
I love the exotic flavor of magic in this series, but I found the ending of this book abrupt and confusing. Enough so to have me leafing back through the last chapter trying to figure out what I missed. I am comforted to realize that there is yet another in the series that may clear up my confusion.
last book in a fantasy trilogy in which magic is cultivated by grapes and pressed into "spellvines" (sort of, anyway). a single crazy villain and a predictable ending and parts of the series are a bit slow but overall an enjoyable read. maybe 2.5?
I would have given this 4 stars, but I was extremely pissed at the abrupt ending. I did not need an extra 100 pages, but an epilogue with a line or 2 would have been nice!
Still, I did really enjoy this series :) I'll have to read it again when I have calmed down.
Still, I did really enjoy this series :) I'll have to read it again when I have calmed down.
This is a great ending to this series. You will want to have a glass of wine on hand when you are spending an evening reading this the latest and last in the Vineart War trilogy. The most powerful force is to be found in the "quiet-magic" and that is something that one must seek within themselves. It is interesting how one could draw parallels between this story and any religious or political history that has actually happened. There are always factions and allegiances that occur within groups...more
Enjoyable fantasy where magic comes from spell-wine and practicing is bound by many culturally determined esoteric rule, which don't work in the present crisis, of course.
Most of the book focuses on Jerzy's worries, emotions, thoughts, etc.--the same worries, emotions, thoughts, etc. over and over, especially about how vine magic works. The few action scenes happen too quickly with minimal suspense and miniscule action.
David Eddings' Belgariad series is so much better.
http://www.goodreads.com/series/40739...
David Eddings' Belgariad series is so much better.
http://www.goodreads.com/series/40739...
I loved this series, "The Vineart War." This, the last title in the trilogy, sent me right back to the first book because I had to read it all over again.
An excellent conclusion to Gilman's Vineart Trilogy, but it left me wanting more.
The ending was a huge let-down.
Best of the three books in this trilogy. Still don't like this world in which slavery is justified as necessary for the greater good, but so much as changed perhaps that would change as well. I hope that Gilman creates another trilogy in this same setting and tackles the problem of slavery.
Really wonderful. Gilman writes in a contemplative manner - this isn't a fast-paced epic, nor is it the languid epic of Carey or Michelle West, but it's a story where as much or more of the action is cerebral. Very satisfying. And I'm hoping there's more, because while there has been resolution, lots of loose ends remain to be tied up. ( a little worrisome, since this is referred to as a trilogy. Perhaps we can aim for the Douglas Adams definition ...)
that's it?!?! what happened, this was one of the most confusing and anticlimactic climaxes of a trilogy that i have ever read... it was like what was happening was too big for the author to properly understand so her conveyance of the story was vague and dissatisfying... its a shame i really like this author i really liked the previous two books i was soooo looking forward to it but it was as though the book was published missing the last 100 pages or so.
A climactic ending to the trilogy - very well done, and left me wanting more. What happens next?! Hoping the author decides to keep going. Shorting it one star because of the build up throughout the series that culminated in what I thought was too short of a climax. I kind of had a "that's it?" feeling after that part... like she gave up a bit. But still loved it.
If you like wine and stories about magic, you will love this series.
If you like wine and stories about magic, you will love this series.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ultimate ABC ...: The Shattered Vine by Laura Ann Gilman | 1 | 1 | 14 de Mar 05:02 | |
| What happened? | 1 | 4 | 31 de Oct 19:39 |
By the time she was fourteen, Laura Anne Gilman knew she would be an editor, a teacher, or a writer.
By thirty, she was all three. She's a little focused that way.
After fifteen years working in NY publishing, Laura Anne became a full-time writer, with more than twenty novels under her various bylines, including the Nebula Award-nominated Vineart War trilogy, and the 10-book Cosa Nostradamus series....more
More about Laura Anne Gilman...
By thirty, she was all three. She's a little focused that way.
After fifteen years working in NY publishing, Laura Anne became a full-time writer, with more than twenty novels under her various bylines, including the Nebula Award-nominated Vineart War trilogy, and the 10-book Cosa Nostradamus series....more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
