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The Rats And The Ruling Sea (Chathrand Voyages #2)
The Ruling Sea begins where Robert V. S. Redick's acclaimed The Red Wolf Conspiracy ended: Thasha's wedding is hours away. It is a wedding that will both fulfill the promise of a mad god's return and see her murdered. Pazel has thwarted the sorcerer who would bring back the god but both sides now face deadlock. Can Thasha be saved? Can the war between two Empires be stoppe...more
Paperback, 660 pages
Published
by Gollancz
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4.5 Stars
I am not sure why these first two books in this series do not garner more praise and press. I have been swept away by wonderful, fantastical voyage that this series has been. Where the first book The Red Wolf Conspiracy is all about the adventure, about the voyage, and the mystery, this book The Rats and the Ruling Sea, is focused more on the characters. If you combined the first two novels into one very long one, I would have rated it 5 stars. Each book makes the other bett...more
I am not sure why these first two books in this series do not garner more praise and press. I have been swept away by wonderful, fantastical voyage that this series has been. Where the first book The Red Wolf Conspiracy is all about the adventure, about the voyage, and the mystery, this book The Rats and the Ruling Sea, is focused more on the characters. If you combined the first two novels into one very long one, I would have rated it 5 stars. Each book makes the other bett...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Robert V. S. Redick’s “The Ruling Sea” (Ballantine, $27, 616 pages) sat on my to-read shelf for a long time. First came the preview copy, and then the hardback, but neither hefty tome tempted me to take the plunge. I’d read the first book in the series, “The Red Wolf Conspiracy”, and liked it OK, but for some reason I just wasn’t ready to dive back into a fairly dark fantasy involving some truly evil magicians, outnumbered heroes and a sea voyage (with cannon) that seemed destined for disaster u...more
A wonderful world - but how many more stupid twists and coincidences, delayed revelations and surprises can a plot endure before it turns into a cheesy mess?
This is the middle book of what was supposed to be a trilogy that by now turned intro a tetralogy. There are some strong episodes, like the fight with the "White Reaper" Bloodmel, the Jistrolloq. The Mzithrini warrior priests are also a fascinating addition.
I can't give away details about the plot but if you...more
This is the middle book of what was supposed to be a trilogy that by now turned intro a tetralogy. There are some strong episodes, like the fight with the "White Reaper" Bloodmel, the Jistrolloq. The Mzithrini warrior priests are also a fascinating addition.
I can't give away details about the plot but if you...more
I finished Rats and the Ruling Sea by R. Redick (co-rv with Robert on FBC in mid October)
To my surprise I did not like it as much as I expected - Red Wolf Conspiracy was excellent except for the ending which was a bit too prolonged, but that does not matter once the second book is out -
Here the Chartrand voyage continues and there are so many twists and turns that a lot is turned upside down, and I am really curious where it goes next especially after the stunning ending ...more
To my surprise I did not like it as much as I expected - Red Wolf Conspiracy was excellent except for the ending which was a bit too prolonged, but that does not matter once the second book is out -
Here the Chartrand voyage continues and there are so many twists and turns that a lot is turned upside down, and I am really curious where it goes next especially after the stunning ending ...more
This book is 644 pages long. It is the second book in a very complex series.
The first book, the Red Wolf Conspiracy was tremendous. One that I thought had great potential for rereads. Of course a first book in a series, if you are going to reread it, means that the rest of the series is going to have to be as good.
Here is where I find that Robert Redick should be spending more time thinking of where he is taking us then just writing. I mentioned the length of the book b...more
The first book, the Red Wolf Conspiracy was tremendous. One that I thought had great potential for rereads. Of course a first book in a series, if you are going to reread it, means that the rest of the series is going to have to be as good.
Here is where I find that Robert Redick should be spending more time thinking of where he is taking us then just writing. I mentioned the length of the book b...more
You know, I expect more from a sequel. More cohesion. More character development. More plot. Especially plot. There's nothing I detest more than a book that is merely an 'in-between'. Especially a 650 page book that is merely an 'in-between'. I just can't help feeling it's a waste of time somehow. Especially with such a lack of focus - other than going between point A and point B. And I don't think that needed to carry over so many pages. I feel alittle affronted and used. And because...more
***Has some spoilers***
In "The Ruling Sea" we return to Pazel and his gang of misfits. Things in this book get complicated, with twists and turns at every corner. Everyone is plotting against everyone else, with Pazel caught in the center.
There are some reviews here that said they had difficulty following everything that was going on in this book. To be honest, I found it quite easy since I actually payed attention to the story and characters. I didn't find anything...more
In "The Ruling Sea" we return to Pazel and his gang of misfits. Things in this book get complicated, with twists and turns at every corner. Everyone is plotting against everyone else, with Pazel caught in the center.
There are some reviews here that said they had difficulty following everything that was going on in this book. To be honest, I found it quite easy since I actually payed attention to the story and characters. I didn't find anything...more
I am not going to rate this book in that I never actually finished it. The book stinks on so many levels. On the surface its about good guys, bad guys, pirates and secrets. Which usually means cool.
1. The Author is not descriptive enough...or my knowledge of ship terminology is under developed. The rats are as far as the Orlop....everyone is having a sword fight with the rats does this mean people are standing on solid wooden surfaces fighting like you would dance in haphazard ...more
1. The Author is not descriptive enough...or my knowledge of ship terminology is under developed. The rats are as far as the Orlop....everyone is having a sword fight with the rats does this mean people are standing on solid wooden surfaces fighting like you would dance in haphazard ...more
it was okay. i would've given it three and a half if i could but alas it is not to be. anyways it is rather slow-paced without much action and it is definitely not for the those looking for a thriller or sword action. My main complaint however is that that extremely large cast of characters: there's just to many. It's far to hard to keep track of them and they seem to disappear without a trace and reappear in the middle of the action right when they're needed only to disappear when the author...more
The Rats & the Ruling Sea is Mr. Redick's sophomore effort, and it shows in both good and bad ways.
First off--if you were a fan of the first book The Red Wolf Conspiracy, by all means purchase and read this second volume. You won't be disappointed.
Redick has created a fascinating world in his two novels, and a welcome one free of the ubiquitous elves (or elf-like creatures), dwarves, goblins, etc. Redick's world is a fantasy in the best sense--a world that feels "re...more
First off--if you were a fan of the first book The Red Wolf Conspiracy, by all means purchase and read this second volume. You won't be disappointed.
Redick has created a fascinating world in his two novels, and a welcome one free of the ubiquitous elves (or elf-like creatures), dwarves, goblins, etc. Redick's world is a fantasy in the best sense--a world that feels "re...more
A fantastic adventure, set on the mightiest ship in a strange fantasy world on the verge of it's industrial revolution. A diverse and interesting cast of characters, embroiled in the continuance of a plot which seems truly believable. I really enjoyed it, the smaller cast members are especially pleasing, as is the twist at the very end. I can't wait for the sequel
The Rats and the Ruling Sea was the pre-publication title. Look for simply The Ruling Sea. This is book 2 in what is at least a trilogy with The River of Shadows scheduled to be out in 2011.
This is a complex tale of fantasy on another world, actually multiple universes probably. We have a group of heros out to save the world from evil, much as in the Lord of the Rings. Mages and talking animals are part of the story. Read these books in order or you will feel you came in at the midd...more
This is a complex tale of fantasy on another world, actually multiple universes probably. We have a group of heros out to save the world from evil, much as in the Lord of the Rings. Mages and talking animals are part of the story. Read these books in order or you will feel you came in at the midd...more
The plot was so convoluted and disjointed, yet somehow the author carried it off. I think that high adventure, strong characters, witty dialogue, and good writing saved this hot mess. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment to see how the author ties up some of these threads.
Redick's series continues on in great fashion. It's a very complex series with no quarter given to casual reading.
I will admit some of the epistolary chapters are a bit much. He seems to use them as "Six Weeks Later..." devices where lots of plot can be crammed in without need for much prose.
I will admit some of the epistolary chapters are a bit much. He seems to use them as "Six Weeks Later..." devices where lots of plot can be crammed in without need for much prose.
2009. Brilliant - even better than the first book. Go Hawks - just love that that his "second home" is Iowa City. What good taste. Storyline is brilliant, characterisaltion brilliant, world building brilliant. Highly highly recommended.
Joan Aiken meets Philip Pullman meets Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings meets Patrick O'Brian. A fantastic discovery.
3.5 stars again. This one definitely sucked me back in, after the somewhat disappointing ending of the first book. There were a couple of plot points that grated, seemingly crafted only to further one miscommunication or other, but overall very strong. The writing continues to be excellent and evocative.
This was a good sequel with a nice twist at the end that really made me want to find the final book in the trilogy. It had a few laugh out loud moments in it where the two star crossed lovers got so close to figuring everything out just to have miscommunications or interruptions blow everything up. It was well paced and you really do get to love the characters.
to be released 2/16/09
I am really enjoying this series. For a middle book in a trilogy Redick avoids the usual pitfalls and delivers another good title with plenty of intrigue and adventure. The character development is very well done and the shifts in those characters over the course of the book are believably written. I think he is a fantasy author to watch.
It's hard for me to write a fair review of this book. I liked it a lot but it took me an awful long time to read. I've been really busy IRL so that might have something to do with it. It picked up right after the Red Wolf Conspiracy left off. The only thing I can say is the chapters were very long in some cases which made it hard for me to read because I sometimes read a few pages here and there when time allows. If you liked the first book then I think you'd really enjoy this one too.
Great suspenseful fantasy, but not cheesy. I think book 3 will be very good, can't wait to find out.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Slow to get started, last half picks up. I'm not much for nautical fantasy, but I thoroughly enjoy this series for it's many, many layers of deception and intrigue. I hope Reddick doesn't lose control of his story and end up with a Jordan-style never-ending-story in his hands. This series seems to share a lot of themes and world building style with the Acacia series, so if you like that, you'll probably enjoy this.
I didn't finish and I don't care, I'm reviewing it anyway. The swash and buckle of Book One (The Red Wolf Conspiracy) is missing here. Halfway through and there is still lots of setup and exposition but not so much action. I got tired of waiting for the kind of sustained excitement of the first book. At some point I plan to return to this and see if maybe I just picked it up at the wrong time.
I was physically and mentally unable to put this book down; nuff said.
*hardcover from library* *613 pages*
June 24/10 -- page 260 -- So far it's action-packed and interesting. --
June 30/10 -- page 465 --
July 02/10 -- 80 pages to go!
July 04/10 -- Finished last night.
Another cliffhanger.... I don't know if I can wait until 2011 for part 3...
June 24/10 -- page 260 -- So far it's action-packed and interesting. --
June 30/10 -- page 465 --
July 02/10 -- 80 pages to go!
July 04/10 -- Finished last night.
Another cliffhanger.... I don't know if I can wait until 2011 for part 3...
My review of this book can be found here:
http://newplaceusedbooks.blogspot.com/20...
http://newplaceusedbooks.blogspot.com/20...
Not bad, a little more action then the last. However the plot has a habit of thickening into a swampy substance that cannot be traversed by the reader. Usually the confusion abates, this however takes several rereads of the same paragraph.
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Robert V.S. Redick is in his thirties and works as the editor for the Spanish and French websites of Oxfam America and as an instructor in the International Development and Social Change program at Clark University. Born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, he lives in rural western Massachusetts. While his unpublished novel Conquistadors was a finalist for the 2002 AWP/Thomas Dunne Novel Awar...more
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“Sólo cuando un mago comparte su sueño con otro, las cosas que de otro modo serían imposibles se convierten en posibles. Como por ejemplo, saber escoger bien.”
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