book data
75 ratings, 3.52 average rating, 22 reviews
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published
July 3rd 2008
by Orbit
binding
Paperback, 688 pages
isbn
1841496774
(isbn13: 9781841496771)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 151)
Read in October, 2008
I read Miller's Kingmaker/Kingbreaker and wasn't hugely impressed, and after reading the Empress of Mijak I'm mightily dishearted that I fell prey to reader reviews and bought it. It's been a long time since I asked myself for permission to stop reading a book, but in this I was at that point far too many times. This book is on my DO NOT RECOMMEND list, for sure.
Whatever strength lies in this book, it's in the world. It's kind of interesting to see the lives of those living in a kind of earl...more
Whatever strength lies in this book, it's in the world. It's kind of interesting to see the lives of those living in a kind of earl...more
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Read in September, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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I'm actually surprised I finished this book, considering the dislike I feel for it now I'm done. But I wanted to see where it would end, and whether it would actually get any better.
Hekat, a slave, rises through the ranks of an army, catching the attention of the warlord himself. Hekat is awful - arrogant, manipulative, psycopathic - and for the most part, she's the character we follow throughout the novel. The world Hekat lives in seems to revolve around blood - the religion inv...more
Hekat, a slave, rises through the ranks of an army, catching the attention of the warlord himself. Hekat is awful - arrogant, manipulative, psycopathic - and for the most part, she's the character we follow throughout the novel. The world Hekat lives in seems to revolve around blood - the religion inv...more
Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
None
Empress shocked me. Compared to Karen Miller's other works I loved (Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series) I found it hard to accept how different the author's style was! The Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series had minimal swearing and very breif sexual references, but Emperess was swearing left and right, sexual intercoarses described in the most vulgar ways. It's true, the way it was described was as the author intended the culture of that world to be seen, but I had to draw the line somewhere.
Though on a...more
Though on a...more
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M'eh. It was an interesting concept and a pretty cool world, but I just couldn't like any of the main characters.
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Read in April, 2008
This is a well-written engrossing book, so why the middling rating. For me it came down to lack of rootability and the very depressing ending. I liked the character of Hekat, though she was as cold-blooded a character as I've probably read. What surprised me was the arc - which grew progressively more negative by book's end. And not just because this is the first in a trilogy and obviously the author has more story to tell. It's just relentlessly dark. Too dark for me (and I like dark from...more
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Read in May, 2008
While I will agree this book was really dark. That's what made this book worth reading. To many times we read the same old story. Hero is put into a dark setting and through trail and travels prevails the evil. This was just pure genius! FOr a chance the darkness was what made this book draw me in and dive into the story. Miller penned the actions of a society that most writes gloss over and we fantasize about being part of. Reading this reminded me that fantasy is best read about..
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone
I must admit that this is not my usual pick for a book, but i was surprised that it kept me interested. This book is about a woman who was sold into slavery when she was a teen. Her story is dramatic and full of struggles but holding tight to her faith, She made it to greater things by doing some of the nastiest and meanest things. And showed men that some women should be equals in all things and that beauty isnt everything.
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
16 and up
I thought that the character development was very good. i am interested enough to go after the second book in the series. However I did get a bit burned out with the mention of godbraids and godbells. it's like 600 pages long. by the fourth chapter I've pretty much figured out that everybody wears there hair in "god" braids with "god" bells and amulets attached. Couldn't we just refer to them as braids and bells?
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Good book with an interesting plot. But part of the plot is how controlled the characters are by the nameless god, and hence you have a book filled with people doing things apparently at the direction of some invisible puppet master. This left me feeling like the characters had no drive, desires, or real personality of their own.
But it was told well enough that I'll read the second book.
But it was told well enough that I'll read the second book.
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Read in July, 2008
This is a starker book than Miller's Kingmaker books and is set in a pretty brutal society featuring a heroine who is the most brutal of all. But you see a range of emotions and motivations nevertheless--just from different characters rather than a lot of emotions in one. It's not for the faint of heart. There's sex (though it's not in the least sexy) and the F word (in reference to sex).
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
fans of anciet eygpt, feminst
I had a hard time with this book. I really liked the setting and the world she created which is similar to ancient eygpt but i just could not relate to the main character. I though Hekat was crazy most of the book and felt more of a connection with less major characters. I've recently learned looked up the next book and it looks alittle more promising.
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Read in May, 2008
While I can see why some people complain of too much violence and/or blood, these things certainly did not put me off reading and ultimately finishing the book. I found the characters fascinating and the author made me feel like I was right there in Mijak with them as I read. I can't wait for Book 2 to arrive and see what happens next!
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Read in October, 2008
My son gave me this to read and I can't put it down! 3/4 of the way through and there was never a dull moment for me.
I hate to give anything away, it was a long book over 700 pages and a great read, but I hated the ending. After some lighter reading I plan to go to the 2nd book and see where it all leads.
I hate to give anything away, it was a long book over 700 pages and a great read, but I hated the ending. After some lighter reading I plan to go to the 2nd book and see where it all leads.
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Loved the mythological feel of the telling. First book with a protagonist that I really despised that still kept me interested enough to keep reading without being completely alienated. Plus there are supporting characters to feel empathy and hope towards.
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Read in July, 2008
I got really tired of these characters long before i gave up on this book. It is hard for me to keep reading after I have decided I don't even care what happens to the main character any longer. I got sucked in by this cover--
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
Toyin
I'm not big on sci-fi/fantasy genres, but this book was awesome!! You love the main character but as the story progresses, you begin to hate her....READ IT.
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Like A Song of Ice and Fire, I think this book was pretty brutal. It remains to be seen whether the rest of the books will be as nuanced, politically, as ASoIaF.
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Way too much blood. Otherwise ok. I bought her earlier books after reading this one.
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