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Promised Valley #4
Promised Valley Peace
Promised Valley Peace is the fourth and last novel in Ron Fritsch’s Promised Valley series.
Blue Sky and Wandering Star and the other conspirators and their allies from the first three novels give up on the gods, whose existence many of them doubt, and discover how to use horses in warfare. They prepare to employ them in a last battle against the die-hards led by the brutal War Cloud. The purpose of the allies is to bring the prehistoric enemy hunters and farmers together as one people in a “new kingdom” and end warfare between them forever. Individuals who partner with persons of the same gender are once again in the front lines, risking their lives for their peoples.
The US Review of Books: “This story ties up all the loose ends and leaves the reader with closure and satisfaction as they turn the last page, assuring devotees of this tale a pleasing ending. The friendship and affection between these youths is heartwarming, the sweeping action of the battles and combat is breathtaking, and the pacing is rapid-fire and wastes none of the readers’ time. While perhaps being a little graphic for younger readers, teenagers and adults will be swept away by the details that bring this saga to life and to its close.”
Kirkus Indie Reviews: “The novel convincingly depicts a society in which homosexual relationships are conducted openly with no lessening of public esteem, and Fritsch handles the theme with a no-fuss skill reminiscent of Mary Renault’s. Another narrative thread follows the sarcastic agnosticism of the younger Promised Valley generation, which may be a satisfying innovation for 21st-century readers. Blue Sky, Wandering Star, and their various allies and enemies also contend with the introduction of horses as beasts of war in the valley’s latest conflagration. Fritsch tells a very detailed, very human story. . . . Some of the book’s younger characters admirably seek to forge a real, lasting peace in their lifetimes, and the interminable threat of war allows Fritsch to make the conflict an allegory for every human conflict to come. There’s a sad moment of irony when a character late in the book hopes that their peoples will ‘never go to war again.’ A wise, bittersweet conclusion to a sprawling tale of prehistoric war and peace.”
Reader Views: “While this story is set at the end of prehistoric times, it made me reflect on how we share many of the same issues even today. For the people of this valley, they had horses to go to war, in our modern times we have weapons of mass destruction. Yet we share a common issue of having to deal with people that are greedy and manipulative for their own gain. In the story and in real life, people from different backgrounds will go against each other because of perceived differences, yet at our core we all come from the same origin. I found Ron Fritsch’s Promised Valley Peace very thought-provoking and I enjoyed being able to return to see what was happening in the lives of these people. Even though they were created in the author’s mind, he writes in such a way that the land and the people are very real and the readers who have been following this series will be happy to see how it concludes.”
Feathered Quill Book Reviews: “Upon finishing Promised Valley Peace, my take away from this body of work is a strong sense of having experienced an incredibly interesting epic tale of “what if” had the beginnings of time played out as Mr. Fritsch had so adeptly written across the pages of his series. I applaud him for not only staying true to his audience, but for maintaining the patience and wherewithal to feed the story to his audience in palatable, bite-sized pieces. . . . His signature style of writing several subplots, twists and turns in the early pages delivers an intrinsic feeling of being at the starting line of a champion race that is about to begin. Indeed, Mr. Fritsch has accomplished fantastic closure to his epic series in book four, Promised Valley Peace. Quill says: The answer to the question of peace is delivered and then some in Promised Valley Peace. Book four stays true to the author’s intent in that it is genuinely thought-provoking with an epic ending that complements this intriguing civilization of people.”
Promised Valley Peace was the winner of an honorable mention award in the Science Fiction category of the 2013 Written Arts Awards competition.
All editions of Promised Valley Peace include character lists.
Blue Sky and Wandering Star and the other conspirators and their allies from the first three novels give up on the gods, whose existence many of them doubt, and discover how to use horses in warfare. They prepare to employ them in a last battle against the die-hards led by the brutal War Cloud. The purpose of the allies is to bring the prehistoric enemy hunters and farmers together as one people in a “new kingdom” and end warfare between them forever. Individuals who partner with persons of the same gender are once again in the front lines, risking their lives for their peoples.
The US Review of Books: “This story ties up all the loose ends and leaves the reader with closure and satisfaction as they turn the last page, assuring devotees of this tale a pleasing ending. The friendship and affection between these youths is heartwarming, the sweeping action of the battles and combat is breathtaking, and the pacing is rapid-fire and wastes none of the readers’ time. While perhaps being a little graphic for younger readers, teenagers and adults will be swept away by the details that bring this saga to life and to its close.”
Kirkus Indie Reviews: “The novel convincingly depicts a society in which homosexual relationships are conducted openly with no lessening of public esteem, and Fritsch handles the theme with a no-fuss skill reminiscent of Mary Renault’s. Another narrative thread follows the sarcastic agnosticism of the younger Promised Valley generation, which may be a satisfying innovation for 21st-century readers. Blue Sky, Wandering Star, and their various allies and enemies also contend with the introduction of horses as beasts of war in the valley’s latest conflagration. Fritsch tells a very detailed, very human story. . . . Some of the book’s younger characters admirably seek to forge a real, lasting peace in their lifetimes, and the interminable threat of war allows Fritsch to make the conflict an allegory for every human conflict to come. There’s a sad moment of irony when a character late in the book hopes that their peoples will ‘never go to war again.’ A wise, bittersweet conclusion to a sprawling tale of prehistoric war and peace.”
Reader Views: “While this story is set at the end of prehistoric times, it made me reflect on how we share many of the same issues even today. For the people of this valley, they had horses to go to war, in our modern times we have weapons of mass destruction. Yet we share a common issue of having to deal with people that are greedy and manipulative for their own gain. In the story and in real life, people from different backgrounds will go against each other because of perceived differences, yet at our core we all come from the same origin. I found Ron Fritsch’s Promised Valley Peace very thought-provoking and I enjoyed being able to return to see what was happening in the lives of these people. Even though they were created in the author’s mind, he writes in such a way that the land and the people are very real and the readers who have been following this series will be happy to see how it concludes.”
Feathered Quill Book Reviews: “Upon finishing Promised Valley Peace, my take away from this body of work is a strong sense of having experienced an incredibly interesting epic tale of “what if” had the beginnings of time played out as Mr. Fritsch had so adeptly written across the pages of his series. I applaud him for not only staying true to his audience, but for maintaining the patience and wherewithal to feed the story to his audience in palatable, bite-sized pieces. . . . His signature style of writing several subplots, twists and turns in the early pages delivers an intrinsic feeling of being at the starting line of a champion race that is about to begin. Indeed, Mr. Fritsch has accomplished fantastic closure to his epic series in book four, Promised Valley Peace. Quill says: The answer to the question of peace is delivered and then some in Promised Valley Peace. Book four stays true to the author’s intent in that it is genuinely thought-provoking with an epic ending that complements this intriguing civilization of people.”
Promised Valley Peace was the winner of an honorable mention award in the Science Fiction category of the 2013 Written Arts Awards competition.
All editions of Promised Valley Peace include character lists.
274 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2013
About the author
Ron Fritsch
15 books35 followersRon Fritsch grew up on a farm in northern Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois and Harvard Law School. He lives in Chicago with his partner of many years, David Darling.
Fritsch is the author of ten novels: Who Killed Coriolanus?, Helen's Orphans, The Lord Chamberlain's Daughter, Cordelia Lionheart, His Grandfather's House, Elizabeth Daleiden on Trial and the four-book Promised Valley series (Promised Valley Rebellion, Promised Valley War, Promised Valley Conspiracy and Promised Valley Peace).
Fritsch is the author of ten novels: Who Killed Coriolanus?, Helen's Orphans, The Lord Chamberlain's Daughter, Cordelia Lionheart, His Grandfather's House, Elizabeth Daleiden on Trial and the four-book Promised Valley series (Promised Valley Rebellion, Promised Valley War, Promised Valley Conspiracy and Promised Valley Peace).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 29, 2013
Rebellion, War and Conspiracy, and it all begins with disaffected youth who rise up against the king and his officials when a prince is not allowed to marry the daughter of a mere farmer. Into the boiling pot, you have the classes: farmers, city dwellers, royalty, bureaucracy and you might be mistaken for believing you are reading a dissertation on life today and the risks to society that simmer below the surface until a seemingly innocuous event brings about conflict that has no way to end ie until Peace.
We are introduced to the prehistoric people of the fertile river valley and their enemies, the hill people in the first book in the Promised Valley series, Promised Valley Rebellion. While this story is filled with an incredible array of complex, interesting characters like Blue Sky, Early Harvest, Spring Rain, Fair Judge (all aptly named), the author has thoughtfully provided a character list to keep it all in check.
As we progress through to Promised Valley War, the second book, we start to see society from an objective viewpoint and although thousands of years may have passed, not a lot has changed – the same structures, division, hierarchy, discrimination, angst yet in spite of it all, there is still some hope. The onslaught of war and the overwhelming threat to life and the beauty of the valley have an effect on the characters that Fritsch delivers with a deep knowing of our humanness. It’s all too real.
If you were not already feeling that the story, setting, and characters are epic in every proportion, you certainly know this is true by the end of book three in the series, Promised Valley Conspiracy. Comparisons with Homer’s Iliad are fitting. Other than war mongers, no one believes war is anything other than devastating for everyone involved and its reach extends far beyond those at the forefront. We certainly get that in a heart-felt way from Conspiracy.
I for one have always hoped, especially through Promised Valley Conspiracy, that the war would end and peace would once again return to the valley. It was difficult to see how this might happen, but still we hoped, we hoped for a promise of peace. Then Fritsch honored his readers with this satisfying conclusion, which was no easy feat – we were heavily invested in the people and their conflict, and we wanted to see the youths who started it all in Promised Valley Rebellion come into age, and be the ones to achieve what did seem impossible.
Congratulations, Ron Fritsch on an epic, multi-award winning series (deservedly so). I’m only sorry that it had to end, but thank you for the incredible journey.
We are introduced to the prehistoric people of the fertile river valley and their enemies, the hill people in the first book in the Promised Valley series, Promised Valley Rebellion. While this story is filled with an incredible array of complex, interesting characters like Blue Sky, Early Harvest, Spring Rain, Fair Judge (all aptly named), the author has thoughtfully provided a character list to keep it all in check.
As we progress through to Promised Valley War, the second book, we start to see society from an objective viewpoint and although thousands of years may have passed, not a lot has changed – the same structures, division, hierarchy, discrimination, angst yet in spite of it all, there is still some hope. The onslaught of war and the overwhelming threat to life and the beauty of the valley have an effect on the characters that Fritsch delivers with a deep knowing of our humanness. It’s all too real.
If you were not already feeling that the story, setting, and characters are epic in every proportion, you certainly know this is true by the end of book three in the series, Promised Valley Conspiracy. Comparisons with Homer’s Iliad are fitting. Other than war mongers, no one believes war is anything other than devastating for everyone involved and its reach extends far beyond those at the forefront. We certainly get that in a heart-felt way from Conspiracy.
I for one have always hoped, especially through Promised Valley Conspiracy, that the war would end and peace would once again return to the valley. It was difficult to see how this might happen, but still we hoped, we hoped for a promise of peace. Then Fritsch honored his readers with this satisfying conclusion, which was no easy feat – we were heavily invested in the people and their conflict, and we wanted to see the youths who started it all in Promised Valley Rebellion come into age, and be the ones to achieve what did seem impossible.
Congratulations, Ron Fritsch on an epic, multi-award winning series (deservedly so). I’m only sorry that it had to end, but thank you for the incredible journey.
September 12, 2014
I have just finished reading “Promised Valley Peace” by author Ron Fritsch and overall I would have to say it was a good read. “Promised Valley Peace” is the conclusion to Fritsch's four part “Promised Valley” series. In “Promised Valley Peace” the series’ characters finally give up on their hopes of the Gods making their world into a better place. Instead, they opt to make that happen for themselves. I guess the saying that “God helps those who help themselves” is a true statement (at least with regard to this title). This sentiment/belief is very much highlighted in this book.
As I mentioned previously, “Promised Valley Peace” is the culmination of the “Promised Valley” series and in it we, the reader, watch as these prehistoric peoples strive to mold the world to their own desires. To each bring about what they feel to be the ‘right’ path. One side wants to rule the world through cruelty and fear, whereas the other side wishes to live peacefully together so that all can enjoy prosperity. It does however help that in “Promised Valley Peace,” the ‘good’ characters have recently discovered horses and have learned how they can be trained for many different uses; including war. Needless to say, these ‘good’ characters plan to use this newfound discovery as a means to ensure their victory in a battle that has been brewing for generations. (Or at least for the prior three books). *chuckle*
With that said, I don’t want to provide any further details about “Promised Valley Peace” (or the ending of the “Promised Valley” series), but it was worth the read. Bottom-line, Fritsch is an imaginative author with the ability to spin a good yarn. And, his characters, the settings and their various situations were, for the most part, believable. If only the people of today's day and age come together as easily, our world would no doubt be a much friendlier place.
As I mentioned previously, “Promised Valley Peace” is the culmination of the “Promised Valley” series and in it we, the reader, watch as these prehistoric peoples strive to mold the world to their own desires. To each bring about what they feel to be the ‘right’ path. One side wants to rule the world through cruelty and fear, whereas the other side wishes to live peacefully together so that all can enjoy prosperity. It does however help that in “Promised Valley Peace,” the ‘good’ characters have recently discovered horses and have learned how they can be trained for many different uses; including war. Needless to say, these ‘good’ characters plan to use this newfound discovery as a means to ensure their victory in a battle that has been brewing for generations. (Or at least for the prior three books). *chuckle*
With that said, I don’t want to provide any further details about “Promised Valley Peace” (or the ending of the “Promised Valley” series), but it was worth the read. Bottom-line, Fritsch is an imaginative author with the ability to spin a good yarn. And, his characters, the settings and their various situations were, for the most part, believable. If only the people of today's day and age come together as easily, our world would no doubt be a much friendlier place.
December 9, 2013
This final instalment in the extraordinary Promised Valley series by Ron Fritsch delivered on the promise he made to readers in the first three books. He promised an outstanding conclusion and a reward for those of us who have followed the lives of some of the most complex yet easily understood characters I've come across.
If you have not already done so, now is the time to open Promised Valley Rebellion, the first book in the series, and immerse yourself in a perfectly created prehistoric world.
If you have not already done so, now is the time to open Promised Valley Rebellion, the first book in the series, and immerse yourself in a perfectly created prehistoric world.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews