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The High King's Tomb (Green Rider #3)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 5,647 ratings · 260 reviews

For Karigan G'ladheon, the call of magic in her blood is too strong to resist. Karigan returns to the Green Riders, the magical messengers of the king, to find she's badly needed. Rider magic has become unstable, many Riders have been lost, and the Rider corps is seriously threatened. The timing couldn't be worse. An ancient evil, long dormant, has reawakened, and the worl...more

Hardcover, 679 pages

Published November 1st 2007 by DAW (first published 2007)

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Aug 05, 2009 Kayleigh rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

In some ways, this was my favorite book in the series, while in others I feel that the first two are superior.

On the one hand, Kristen Britain's writing has improved a lot since the series began, and she handled the increasingly complex storyline well. She juggles about half a dozen subplots inThe High King's Tomb, and she keeps them all in the air.

But on the other hand, the story dragged in places, especially near the beginning. Some details felt unnecessary, while others were obviously includ...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Lise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once again my son and I enjoyed reading Kristen’s work together. As I have said before, Kristen Britain’s writing makes reading aloud a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Her prose flows through my eyes and out of my mouth with no effort on my side.

We are both fans of Karigan G’ladheon’s adventures however unlikely they might be. In "The High King’s Tomb" you will find plenty of action and political scheming. It is always interesting to see how two sides can be equally certain of how right their p...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Gem rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, magic, read-in-2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was definitely slower than the last one. It felt like there was no real goal in sight for the book - just "prepare for whenever Mornhaven returns", which is too vague. Most of the book ends up with less interesting day-to-day events and less action. Things did pick up when Estora got kidnapped but the energy didn't last.

Another problem I had was the increased number of characters we're now following. Overall, this isn't a bad thing, it's just another element that reduces the energy and...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Catherine Fitzsimmons rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was given the first book in this series, Green Rider, as a gift some years ago and enjoyed it enough to follow the series since. Continuing the story begun in the first book and second, First Rider’s Call, The High King’s Tomb tells of Karigan G’ladheon, first reluctant, now eager Green Rider messenger in service to the King of Sacoridia, a young woman who turns out to be far more than she realized, and the growing threat from beyond the D’Yer wall that keeps an ancient evil sealed inside a ru...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

In a lot of ways this book stands next to the previous two. However, where this book lacks for me is the introduction of various other "new feral plots" which detract from the main story line moving along. I had read that orginially the Green Rider books were meant to be a trilogy and for whatever reason Kristen Britain decided to extend them. While I am pleased to have the opportunity to read more books with my favorite characters I do think that the narrative has suffered as a result. It will...more

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May 30, 2011 Text Addict rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I feel like I need to point out up front that this is actually a positive review of this book and series. It’s just that there are some relatively minor things that bug me.

So, my local public library finally picked up the paperback of this third-of-four volumes and put it on the “NEW” shelf. Well, at least that means I found it.

I’ve been patiently following this series since Green Rider was published way back in (checks author’s website) 1998. Patience has been required, because the sequel First...more I feel like I need to point out up front that this is actually a positive review of this book and series. It’s just that there are some relatively minor things that bug me.

So, my local public library finally picked up the paperback of this third-of-four volumes and put it on the “NEW” shelf. Well, at least that means I found it.

I’ve been patiently following this series since Green Rider was published way back in (checks author’s website) 1998. Patience has been required, because the sequel First Rider’s Call did not appear until 2003, this third volume came out (in hardcover) in 2007, and the fourth volume, Blackveil, was issued in hardcover and ebook formats in February of 2011.

Am I going to say it’s been worth the wait for this third volume? Yes. Am I in raptures over the series? Not quite. It’s good, solid high fantasy, with good, solid writing (language, characterization, plotting, the works). There are good, creative ideas in it, and some derivative ones. I’m not, I have to admit, completely convinced that the basic story really needed four volumes to tell, but that’s more in the nature of a quibble (and one that I’ve felt more strongly about with regard to some other series).

About the story: The country of Sacoridia has spent centuries recovering from a devastating war. In that time, the use of magic has been abandoned by everyone except the elite corps of “Green Riders,” the monarch’s messenger service (their uniforms are green), and even they don’t “use” magic as such; they think they have “talents” granted by the magical brooches they wear. Oh, and they’re “called” by magic.

Sound vaguely familiar yet? They also have unusually intelligent horses; the secret of these is finally revealed in High King’s Tomb, and I have to admit it wasn’t anything I was expecting. That’s the way the whole series has been for me: various vaguely familiar elements that usually turn out to be new models. I know it’s asking a lot to suggest that any high fantasy be composed of all new ideas, but there’s enough of this in the series that it keeps me from enjoying it without reservation.

At any rate, despite its rejection of magic in a world where it actually does work, Sacoridia has not been ravaged by foreign magic-users … because the remnants of the Arcosian invaders who might be using it were locked in the Blackveil Forest behind a physical/magical wall (called the D’Yer Wall). Garth Nix’s Sabriel, whose Old Kingdom is hemmed in by a magical wall, was published in 1995. These two walls are in no way identical, except for being walls that keep evil at bay. (I’m not clear, in either case, on why the evil doesn’t just go around, but oceans may have something to do with it.)

So. Our main protagonist is Karigan, a merchant’s daughter who is drafted into the Green Riders. By Volume 3, she’s settled into the life (which is not at all what she had in mind), helped to prevent the overthrow of the rightful monarch by his brother (and fallen in love with him), and managed to keep a breach in the D’Yer Wall from leading to the total destruction of Sacoridia. Alton Deyer, descendant of the D’Yers who have forgotten their ancient magical building skills, is trying to figure out how to repair the breach and, as the book goes on, how to keep the wall from failing entirely. Also, the book tracks the activities of the survivors of Sacoridia’s fifth column, descendants of the Arcosians who call themselves Second Empire and expect to take over Sacoridia any day now. Their leader has magic – and she, by the way, seems to be a completely original (and chilling) character.

So, seriously, the historical background mostly makes sense, especially with the various reveals that finally turn up in this volume. The plot actually zooms right along, making these elements I’m complaining about recede into the background most of the time (though the way horsemaster Damian Frost and his wife Lady reminded me of Tom Bombadil and Goldberry was a bit painful). Did I mention the Eletians? Tolkienish elves, with variations. They and some of the other characters can traverse another dimension, which looks like an endless plain, which I think I recall from the early volumes of the Wheel of Time series (I only read the first two or three).

I think, as with the Wheel of Time series, that it’s not the presence of these familiar elements that bugs me; it’s the number of them (there are a few others that I haven’t mentioned). I bet if the series were shorter, there would be fewer and I’d notice them less. And I do have to say, the burial customs of the Sacoridian kings were a most unexpected and interesting touch. I’m not sure they make sense in the larger cultural context, but they’re definitely different – and the tombs are the setting of the book’s climax, which features a revelation that I was definitely not expecting.

So, the story is sweeping, political, magical, sometimes military, and in this volume it’s clear that at least one god is getting involved. There are vanishingly few instances of characters being stupid for the sake of the plot; in a couple of cases there are characters being more intelligent than I expected, which is a very nice thing. There is only one thing that actually bugs me enough to nearly make me put the books down: Karigan’s main character quirk seems to be getting into embarrassing – even humiliating – minor scrapes. In this volume, for example, she’s talked into going out with a young merchant’s son and winds up trying to fight in a fancy, restricting dress (humiliating) and later gets knocked off her horse by a porch roof (don’t ask). I can easily see Karigan being played by Anne Hathaway in the movie. But it undercuts her overall competence and, frankly, I personally hate embarrassment and hate seeing it repeatedly in a book (or a movie, for that matter).

Still. The books are enjoyable reads, despite these things that bug me, and I hope my library gets the fourth volume soon, so I can read it.(less)

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Jan 26, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

An amazing story, but still not as good as the first in the series. While it had all the wonderful characters of the first two (and the addition of a few more) the plot line was hard to follow and somewhat confusing.

As a recap (and possible spoiler) of the first two books, Karigan has been kicked out of school and on her way back to her father's city she encounters a Green Rider who is mortally injured. The Green Rider's are the King's personal messengers and as part of this service, they obtain...more An amazing story, but still not as good as the first in the series. While it had all the wonderful characters of the first two (and the addition of a few more) the plot line was hard to follow and somewhat confusing.

As a recap (and possible spoiler) of the first two books, Karigan has been kicked out of school and on her way back to her father's city she encounters a Green Rider who is mortally injured. The Green Rider's are the King's personal messengers and as part of this service, they obtain small magical powers. Karigan agrees to take up his message and deliver it to the King at all costs. She succeeds, despite many trials, and then later has to help him fight for his throne as his evil brother tries to take it from him.

The next book has Karigan returning to the Green Rider's to join permanently as she can no longer resist the call. On an expedition, her party releases a wraith who intends to do harm from the realm along with Mornhavon the Black, an evil sorcerer who dwells behind a magical wall. The wall is starting to fall apart and the rider's magic is starting to fail them. Despite this, with the help of a ghost, Karigan is able to send Mornhavon into the future so they can develop a plan in the present to defeat him.

Which leads us to this book. New riders are joining the ranks everyday and Karigan finds herself accompanying one of them to train him on a three part errand run. She is in search of an important book that will help heal the wall, has to obtain new horses for the riders, and must go in search of a missing rider. If that weren't enough, she encounters plenty of danger and intrigue along the way as well. Most prominently featured is Salvistar, the horse of the death god, who has taken an interest in her despite her wanting nothing to do with him.

This book also covers the story of Alton, one of the D'Yer's whose job is to fix the wall and keep it maintained. Blocked from the wall by a vengeful cousin, he can only rely on third hand knowledge to try and save it. In addition to this he must overcome his feelings of Karigan and the "betrayal" she enacted upon him.

There are some other side plots as well, but honestly, I could have done without them. I feel they took away from the plot and while its nice to see the view of the enemy, it just didn't seem necessary for this story. The same goes for the subplot of the King's betrothed as well. While it was an integral part of the story it would have been fine just to mention it rather than show her point of view. Because of all these different point of views, the book was hard to follow and I found myself getting lost as the chapters would go three in a row of one person, one of another, two of another, and etc. There was no reason to it or even a pattern to rely on.

The characters were better described in this book as compared to the second. I was able to get a better description of Karigan and have a vague idea of what she looks like now. In addition, Alton is described remarkably well and it is easy to see his progression from shabby to not so shabby. The rest of the book had plenty of description as well. As far as squeamishness and vivid writing, this book did not contain as much violence or battles and so was easier to read in that aspect. There was not much bloodiness at all.

I grew to love Karigan even more in this novel. She seems like a real person and not just a perfect heroine. She has doubts and second thoughts but still manages to pull it all together and do the right thing. This book also introduced two characters I absolutely loved. Damien and his Lady, the horse sellers of the Rider's steeds. These two are so darn cute that I couldn't help but smile when they were talking to each other. Britain does a good job of letting the reader see just how much Damien loves his woman. This book also brought back the characters of Miss Bay and Miss Bunch. They were barely mentioned which was somewhat disappointing, but at leas they were there.

Overall I was pleased with how this novel turned out. It describes a great bit of plot and continues the story well. It does leave a lot unfinished however, and before reading I hadn't realized that there would be more than three books in this series. It appears the next one will be out early 2011 and I can't wait to see how the story continues!

The High King's Tomb
Copyright 2007
679 pages (less)

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

In this book Karigan is struggling with the King's wedding to Lady Estora and, when the Captain Mapstone askes her to go on a seemingly boring mission, Karigan is thrilled to leave the castle. The only downer is that she has to bring along a new Green Rider (Fergal) and train him in on the mission. The D'Yer wall continues to crumble and Alton struggles to find a way to repair it. Of course all is not what it seems to be and Karigan's simple mission goes awry.

The beginning of this book was slow...more In this book Karigan is struggling with the King's wedding to Lady Estora and, when the Captain Mapstone askes her to go on a seemingly boring mission, Karigan is thrilled to leave the castle. The only downer is that she has to bring along a new Green Rider (Fergal) and train him in on the mission. The D'Yer wall continues to crumble and Alton struggles to find a way to repair it. Of course all is not what it seems to be and Karigan's simple mission goes awry.

The beginning of this book was slow and meandering. The only excitement was Karigan's duel with Amberhill in the museum before she left on her mission. I thought Karigan was strangely morose and immature in the beginning of the book; especially with how she treated Lady Estora.

I don't think that Fergal really added much to the book; I started getting flashbacks to Mercedes Lackey's Valedmar series when I read about Fergal. The introduction of Amberhill as the destitute noble/rogue was fun. Amberhill is an entertaining character but I struggled to get him to fit into the story. His role in the story seemed forced and a bit unnatural; althought I think this character has promise for the future. Unfortunately I was getting the feeling that Amberhill's only purpose in this novel is to set him up as a future love interest for Karigan (I guess time will tell).

Damien and Lady Frost were very interesting characters that didn't get enough page space. It was also nice to see the Berry sisters again; although the role they played was tiny.

The story overall was disappointing. Both Karigan and Alton did a lot of hemming and hawing. There were a lot of issues brought up in the book that were left unresolved (Karigan's problem with her father trying to foist her off for marriage, etc). I think people who have previously reviewed this book and described it as a transition novel are right. There was a lot of shuffling people around and setting up stuff but not a lot of meaningful action taking place.

At the end of this book I had more questions than answers. I also started to despair that this is going to be a long un-ending series. I think it would have been good as a trilogy; I am worried that it will drag itself down if too many books are slapped onto this series.

So in summary, it was okay. I read it at a pretty good clip for a while and then had trouble finishing it. Hopefully the next book is more meaningful and hopefully it concludes this series! (less)

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May 16, 2011 Ariana Deralte rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, fantasy, magic

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 19, 2012 Claire rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks

At first I didn't really know what to think of this series - Karigan, the main character, felt like a bit of a 'Mary Sue' and I disliked that every chapter seemed to be full of ~~drama~~. But as the series has gone on, the author's writing has improved, and the characters have been fleshed out and become more realistic and likeable. Karigan has become a really interesting and believable character. The world now feels like more of the author's own, rather than bits borrowed from other books, too,...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Beka P rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, to-own, favorites

I gave this book 5 stars because the author writes in such detail! I feel like she paints the whole picture through her words. If only I could tell stories in a similar way!
Positives Great Detail, More horse involvement,surprises,humor, short chapters and the wall speaks.
Negatives leaves you hanging for the next book, not many of the new problems are fixed and even the old problems are still there, the annoyance of Alton not being allowed into the Wall, and the size of the book might scare peopl...more I gave this book 5 stars because the author writes in such detail! I feel like she paints the whole picture through her words. If only I could tell stories in a similar way!
Positives Great Detail, More horse involvement,surprises,humor, short chapters and the wall speaks.
Negatives leaves you hanging for the next book, not many of the new problems are fixed and even the old problems are still there, the annoyance of Alton not being allowed into the Wall, and the size of the book might scare people away from reading it.

The continuation of Karigan`s trouble never ends. With the longing for King Zacharay, the love she can never have, Karigan excepts a three-fold mission. She is forced with accompaniment of a young green rider with a rough past as a knacker`s son, named Fergal. Karigan and Fergal leave for the first part of their mission, to take a hand written letter from the king to her old place of school years. As she waits for the head schoolmaster to return home from his journey, Karigan is able to spend time with close missed friends. Although she is sad to leave Karigan must continue with her mission`s and take a letter for an order to the Frosts (they provide the green riders with their special horses). While at the Frosts humble dwelling Karigan meets the Patron of all horses. He is the horse of death and to Karigan this cannot mean a good sign for her. The last place Karigan must visit, although she despises this mission, is to take a letter to the new King of Mirwellton. She has a painful past with the Timas and is nervous to meet him again. This message is just a guise for Karigan to look for Byrel (a green rider who keeps an eye on mirwellton for any evil work against the true King). In a secret message from Timas, Karigan is told to wait at the crossroads for what she seeks. To Karigan`s surprise it is Lady Estora, the cause of her jelousy with the betrothment to King Zachary. After a daring rescue, Lady Estora and Karigan switch places and Karigan is put in the hand of her old nemesis Immerez.

Other events are taking place while Karigan completes her mission. The
Wall is deteriorating and out of suspicion and the help of Pendric (Alton`s brother) the wall will not allow Alton to fix it. Only with the help of Dale is Alton able to communicate with the guardians inside of the wall.

A new character enters the scene. She is an old Grandmother, who has the ability to work magic through tying knots. Her plans are to rebuild the Second Empire. At the end of the book she leads her people past the breaches of the Wall and into Blackveil to awake the sleepers.

I would encourage you to read the green rider books that come before The High King`s Tomb because it would familiarize you with the characters. Of course with any series I believe in the read in order. :) this is a big book. Enjoy!!!(less)

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May 04, 2009 Ashley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This book is definitely not as good as the first two.

I really felt that this book was slow and uninteresting for the beginning, and parts of the middle as well. Karigan is stuck doing trivial things with a boring companion. And I felt like I was being preached at for parts of the book - for example, the dissertation on whorehouses and love, the random mention of same-sex couples, arranged marriages, etc. It just felt like the author just *had* to put her view of societal issues in the book and t...more

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May 13, 2013 Jeffrey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2013

Moving on from allegory in her previous volume First Rider's Call,Kristen Britain explores adulthood and the darker secrets underlying beliefs in this third volume in the Green Rider series.

Set not long after the previous volume, Karigan G'ladheon still reels from the King's confession of love and is sent on a long distance mission to get her away from the capital. She is assigned an eager apprentice and heads off to discover a book which may have the key to repairing the D'yer wall. Along the w...more

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May 09, 2012 Jennifer Simmonds rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

As usual with these books I'm going to start with the list of new-found nicked ideas. So in this one you have pirates who carry around cursed gold and live unnaturally long lives, a chapter called 'Avatar' and the mention of dragons that used to be around but are now just myths... Along with all the others that have been around since the beginning of the series. Oh dear.
But finally there is the glimmer of some original ideas which are creative and in some cases outstanding, huzzah. I particularl...more

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Mar 07, 2008 keri. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008, fantasy, series-greenrider

ultimately, i was very disappointed; i waited three years for this book, in a series i love, and it felt convoluted and rushed. to be fair, i was tired and wacky and rushed when i read it, so. might feel a little better on a re-read, but it'll be a little while before i'm ready to make the attempt again.

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Sep 28, 2011 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, feminist, fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 27, 2011 Karyogini rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-on-2011

I certainly loved reading the parts that concerned Kari... while hating the parts that didn't. I couldn't skip through the other POVs so I found myself speed reading through it. Sigh... I know I shouldn't but I just want to know what's happening with Kari!

There is definitely a lack of development in Kari's romance department, but on her duties and uniqueness, a lot has happened. I want more of Kari and less of everyone else... unless it has something to do with Kari. Hahaha!

(view spoiler)...more

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Mar 12, 2009 Meg rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the best written book in the series, and ironically my LEAST favorite. Britain's writing has really picked up a notch, but the plot--BLAH. The heroine's life isn't in danger until page 400 and something! The heroes are so boring that I've actually starting cheering on the villains. Yay, Bad Guys!

It's all about buying horses, training new riders, delivering messages, going to fancy parties, trying to decide on a suitor... If that did it for me, I'd just pay $2.00 for People Magazine. Now...more

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Aug 09, 2010 Teghan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

In many ways this 3rd installment was my favourite of the three thus far. The 'shippy moments between Karigan and Zachary were food for fodder and I was humming with excitement when I read them.

Where it lacked was with the parts of the story that did not take place from Karigan's perspective. While I understood the importance of such a narrative structure and it really had to be written that way, I missed Karigan.

And the ending I found a bit anti-climactic. The battle itself was BRILLIANT and e...more

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Jun 22, 2009 Debbie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, straight-fantasy

This book was a real disappointment. I love book one Green Rider and felt as though book two First Rider's Call Green Rider Book 2 was losing ground, but I held out hope that perhaps book three would get better. Alas, it was not to be so! The book has major pacing problems, and feels like there were a lot of 'subplots' that were unnecessary. At the conclusion it felt like I had wasted time for the two revelations that come in the book. If they had cut about 150 pages then perhaps this would have...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Gene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: green-rider, fantasy, fiction, top-book

The High King's Tomb was excellent. I think it is a contender for the best in the series, so far. I like it's structure better than the way book 2 was put together, though I probably could have done without the interludes at the D'Yer wall.

A new villian is introduced in this book that I've grown to really despise. I love how this character is crafted. At first she seems to be a nice person, but then you realize she is as pure evil as they come.

Woven into the story are a number of tie-ins to the...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Derrick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008, fantasy, owned-in-hc

well, this is turning into a series. A VERY good series to! This deals with King Zachary and more remnants of the Second Empire. An old woman, a necromancer awakened by Mornhavon's awakening, plans the kidnapping of Estoria, Zachary's bride to be. This is simply a diversion to allow the Second Empire to use black magic to take down the Deyer Wall. This book focuses on the wall. Alton plays a big part. Find out the history of the land and what happened after Mornhavon's defeat. I really am lookin...more

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Mar 06, 2011 Li rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Li by: Read previous books in series

Shelves: fantasy, series, read-in-2011

I did finish this book, but it took a while. I was in the sort of reading mood where I just wanted to read a couple of chapters a day, and this probably suited the pacing of this book, because it was rather slow-moving all the way until the last few chapters.

Too many POVs meant I never really connected with the characters. The main character, Karigan, came across as a bit Mary Sue-ish and I don't think she was charismatic enough to carry the book - much more a plot-driven than character-driven...more

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Aug 02, 2012 T.L. Evans rated it 2 of 5 stars

The High King's Tomb is the third book in Kristen Britain's best selling Green Rider series. It is a solid piece of High Fantasy, but is unlikely to appeal to those who are not fans of the genre. Even so, it has many strong attributes, including the fact that one can pick it up without having read either of the previous books, and yet still follow the plot perfectly well. Having said that, there is nothing particularly unique or novel about this novel, it follows down the road of well trodden ar...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Lo rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Whereas the first two parts of the series, The Green Rider and the First Rider's Call could be read as stand-alone novels, this one pretty much requires knowledge of what has happened before and who these characters are and what's going on in general.

The thing that put me off most was the main character's sort of Mary Sueism. Don't get me wrong, I love strong, independent and capable female leads, but enough is enough. Being cabable and clever enough to take care of herself and those around her...more Whereas the first two parts of the series, The Green Rider and the First Rider's Call could be read as stand-alone novels, this one pretty much requires knowledge of what has happened before and who these characters are and what's going on in general.

The thing that put me off most was the main character's sort of Mary Sueism. Don't get me wrong, I love strong, independent and capable female leads, but enough is enough. Being cabable and clever enough to take care of herself and those around her and possessing a rare but originally not so strong ability in one type of magic? That's good. Having practically every past and present Rider hailing for her and being an avatar of the death-god and vanquishing evil spirits riding the death-god's steed (and then forgetting everything about it, gah!)? A bit too much for my taste. It felt as if having "the plain old Karigan" from the first book wouldn't have carried the story for the length of a third book. With every volume of the series Karigan gets more and more involved with the magics, but the change of the magic's focus between the First Rider's Call and the High King's Tomb felt forced.

And what's with Karigan getting hurt all the time? There'll be nothing left of her if she gets constantly stabbed and beaten and mauled and bruised and mentally invaded and exhausted to the brink of death by her use of her ability.

And of course, I've been rooting for Karigan and Zachary for three books now and they STILL didn't get it going on! I was hoping there'd be more of Amberhill and Estora scenes and less repetitive D'Yer wall ponderings, so that Estora would have been swept away by Amberhill and refused to Marry Zachary, as the contract between Zachary and Lord Coutre requires her consent to the marriage. Well, I'm having my hopes up for the fourth book, Blackveil.

All in all, the story of High King's Tomb could have been told in a shorter manner, but regardless an enjoyable read. I liked that almost all of the characters had motives to do what they did. The "evil" people weren't evil just for the sake of being evil and the "good" people didn't just rush off to save the day without thinking of concequences for the sake of being good and noble, Well, except for Amberhill, who I liked much more as the Raven Mask than as himself.(less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Eoghann Irving rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

In the third book of Kristen Britain's fantasy series there are definite signs of succumbing to endless trilogy syndrome. If it wasn't for the engaging characters which I'm already fairly invested in I think this might have slipped down to a lower rating.

Basically the book meanders. There is a plot and it does show up... eventually. But we spend a lot of time following unconnected story elements before it is finally somewhat tied together. And the conclusion is undeniably just a set up for the n...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Echo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-in-11, fantasy

I enjoyed the second book, but I thought this one was a lot better. That might be, in part, because it seemed like it had more action and less of Karigan wandering around the castle doing paperwork and other less-than-interesting rider business that made up a lot of the second book. The only element that I really missed from First Rider's Call was the character of Lil. I really enjoyed her appearances in the second book. However, this one had a few likable new characters of its own. I loved Ambe...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Elizabeth Rausch rated it 4 of 5 stars

This one I didn't like as much as the first and second. The problem with sequels is you have to build up to something different and in some ways greater than the previous book. There were good elements, don't get me wrong, Kristen Britain is still an excellent author- my problem was with the concept of 'Honorary Weapon'. Those of you who've read this know what I'm talking about. I felt like Ms. Britain was just trying to come up with an excuse and just came up with 'Honorary Weapon' off the top...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Green Rider Karigan G'ladheon has been taking over Chief Rider duty since Mara's injury in Rider barracks. Captain Mapstone is sending Karigan and new Rider Fergal Duff out on a round of messages in the hopes of finding out how to fix D'Yer Wall. Lord Alton D'Yer, a fellow Green Rider, is trying to find a way to fix the D'Yer Wall but has come against many roadblocks in doing so. Alton's cousin Pendric is sowing distrust and hate through out the wall especially at the breach created by Shadwell...more

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Dec 12, 2009 Ren rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read the first three "Green Rider" books in a row. I enjoyed them and liked the cast of characters. However, I got frustrated that the romance that was started in the first book hasn't progressed or resolved in any way, despite three novels over 500 pages each! Nothing has changed and it just has been dragged out so long, I no longer care. The third book ends in a cliffhanger and that always bothers me too. I enjoy reading series, but I much prefer it if each book is its own complete story. Th...more

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About Kristen Britain

Kristen Britain grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where she started her first novel - an undersea fantasy featuring herself and her friends - at the age of nine. She published her first book, a cartoon collection called Horses and Horsepeople, at the age of thirteen. After completing her degree in film production at Ithaca College in 1987 she made the logical (?!) leap from cin...more

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“Not all is certainty in our world, Karigan. If it were there'd be no opportunity for faith; and then it would be a very dull existence.” — 12 people liked it

“Every moment of life mattered. Even the perfect snowflake that alighted on his palm and melted in seconds.” — 6 people liked it

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The High King's Tomb (Green Rider #3)

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