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The Fatal Tree
(Bright Empires #5)
by
Kit stared at his fellow questors. "Is this it . . . the End of Everything?"
It started with small, seemingly insignificant wrinkles in time: A busy bridge suddenly disappears, spilling cars into the sea. A beast from another realm roams modern streets. Napoleon's army appears in 1930s Damascus ready for battle. But that's only the beginning as entire realities collide and ...more
It started with small, seemingly insignificant wrinkles in time: A busy bridge suddenly disappears, spilling cars into the sea. A beast from another realm roams modern streets. Napoleon's army appears in 1930s Damascus ready for battle. But that's only the beginning as entire realities collide and ...more
Hardcover, 356 pages
Published
October 28th 2014
by Thomas Nelson
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Start your review of The Fatal Tree (Bright Empires, #5)

Nov 10, 2014
Werner
rated it
liked it
Recommends it for:
Fans of science fiction that deals with quantum physics
This fifth and final volume of the Bright Empires series is much of a piece with the four volumes that went before, in terms of content, style, and quality. Reader's reactions to the first four would probably be predictive of their reaction to this one. (And the first four should definitely be read, in order, before tackling this one!) As readers of the Shadow Lamp already know, and as the cover copy (which also serves as the Goodreads description) states, our major characters are now caught up
...more

May 18, 2017
Deborah O'Carroll
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
fantasy,
faves,
own,
muskets,
to-reread,
ya,
epic-character-i-love,
sci-fi,
christian
(First posted here.)
In the immortal words of Bilbo Baggins (at least in a certain film), “I’ve put this off for far too long.”
I was waiting for the right words, but I’ve realized that there’s simply no way to do justice to this book in a review, and so instead of waiting for a time that will never come, I’m simply going to say something about it, even if it’s not enough.
You see, the Bright Empire series (of which The Fatal Tree is the fifth and final book) meant so much to me that I can’t quite ...more
In the immortal words of Bilbo Baggins (at least in a certain film), “I’ve put this off for far too long.”
I was waiting for the right words, but I’ve realized that there’s simply no way to do justice to this book in a review, and so instead of waiting for a time that will never come, I’m simply going to say something about it, even if it’s not enough.
You see, the Bright Empire series (of which The Fatal Tree is the fifth and final book) meant so much to me that I can’t quite ...more

Initial Response
HOW DO I FIND WORDS HELP.
High Lights
- THE WHOLE THING.
- Okay, more specifically, THE CHARACTERS! Kit is still great, Mina is still plain AWESOME, and Cass is so sweet!
- I really enjoyed Tony's character, though, every time I pictured him, all that came to mind was Tony STARK. XD It was amusing, to say the least.
- The description and imagery, as always, TRANSPORTS me into the story. I feel like I'm watching a movie, it's so vivid and REAL!
- The stakes just about killed me. (vi ...more
HOW DO I FIND WORDS HELP.
High Lights
- THE WHOLE THING.
- Okay, more specifically, THE CHARACTERS! Kit is still great, Mina is still plain AWESOME, and Cass is so sweet!
- I really enjoyed Tony's character, though, every time I pictured him, all that came to mind was Tony STARK. XD It was amusing, to say the least.
- The description and imagery, as always, TRANSPORTS me into the story. I feel like I'm watching a movie, it's so vivid and REAL!
- The stakes just about killed me. (vi ...more

The bar was raised a little bit by the back cover promising an "immensely satisfying conclusion" to the Bright Empires series. Substitute "somewhat" for "immensely" and that's much closer to the truth for me.
The author did bring the overall story to a conclusion and that is a positive after a lot of meandering through the ages. A major change in the person of one of the major characters is plausible to me, perhaps because it is nuanced. I did enjoy reading this series overall.
And now to the nega ...more
The author did bring the overall story to a conclusion and that is a positive after a lot of meandering through the ages. A major change in the person of one of the major characters is plausible to me, perhaps because it is nuanced. I did enjoy reading this series overall.
And now to the nega ...more

So much rides on the conclusion of a series--for the characters yes, but also for the reader. Expectations and suspense have been built up for hundreds of pages, and we wonder how it all will end. The Fatal Tree ended...differently than I expected, but it was still really, really good. I can say very little without plunging straight into spoiler territory, but suffice it to say that:
a) I love the crew, especially Kit, Cass, Mina, Etzel (dear, dear Etzel!), and Gianni.
b) I am endlessly fascinated ...more
a) I love the crew, especially Kit, Cass, Mina, Etzel (dear, dear Etzel!), and Gianni.
b) I am endlessly fascinated ...more

I have a new top favorite series. In other news: a re-read of all five books is called for ASAP!
P.S. Please go grab Book 1 THE SKIN MAP at your local library, bookstore, or online someplace. Because these books are epic on so many levels.
P.S. Please go grab Book 1 THE SKIN MAP at your local library, bookstore, or online someplace. Because these books are epic on so many levels.

As I think I've mentioned before, Stephen Lawhead is one of my favorite (living) authors. He's one of the few authors whose books I will just pick up automatically when they're released. The problem with Lawhead, though, is that he frequesntly has a problem with endings, especially endings of series. The Fatal Tree proves to be one of those ending failures, and it's unfortunate that such a strong story had to end with a face plant.
The first problem with the book is, as it turns out, the conflict ...more
The first problem with the book is, as it turns out, the conflict ...more

Disappointing from a writer of quality. The structure seemed stilted, characters largely uninteresting, plot and devices were imprecise mumbo-jumbo. That's what I wrote for #1 of the series, I kept going until I finished. I don't have the level of OCD required to comment on #2, #3 and #4. And I shouldn't have kept going through #5.
Unfortunately, I did. It was almost a "Mandrake gestures hypnotically" resolution to the story. Brief, vague and unsatsifying. In 5 volumes (~1500 pages!) I'd have tho ...more
Unfortunately, I did. It was almost a "Mandrake gestures hypnotically" resolution to the story. Brief, vague and unsatsifying. In 5 volumes (~1500 pages!) I'd have tho ...more

Well like most Lawhead series, this was a fun romp. I loved the characters. The story was well plotted, well researched, and well written. And I recommend any Lawhead fan to read this series.
However, this is not my favorite of Lawhead’s work. There’s a little more X position in this series than what I think is necessary. It seems to have elongated it somehow. Also, while I understand that Thomas Nelson is a Christian publishing house, (and I also am of the Christian faith) I did feel that there ...more
However, this is not my favorite of Lawhead’s work. There’s a little more X position in this series than what I think is necessary. It seems to have elongated it somehow. Also, while I understand that Thomas Nelson is a Christian publishing house, (and I also am of the Christian faith) I did feel that there ...more

Culmination! In this final installment of the Bright Empires series, I especially appreciated Lawhead's references and parallels to famous moments (and teachings) in the Bible. While this series isn't overtly Christian, the underpinnings of truth ring through the finale. A satisfying conclusion to a complex tale. I look forward to reading more of Lawhead's work.
...more

The Fatal Tree was an absorbing read. I blasted through most of it in the space of a five day break because I couldn’t put it down. From start to finish, Lawhead delivers a great ending that makes the entire series a worthwhile read. The pacing is swift and the plot engaging, with very few moments where I felt disconnected from the story. I was overall satisfied with where all the characters ended up, and found few things to quibble about this time around.
The Fatal Tree sheds some of the subtlet ...more
The Fatal Tree sheds some of the subtlet ...more

*religion intensifies to peak*
I think I have the same problem with this book as some of the issues I have with L.E. Modessit Junior.
The first books in this series were subtle and felt well paced and balanced, containing a mix of strong male and female leads. They were an interesting, well thought out premise with pacing which I enjoyed.
That all changed somewhere in book 4, and I was left with a sour taste in my mouth for the following things:
******minor spoilers below******
* the strong female c ...more
I think I have the same problem with this book as some of the issues I have with L.E. Modessit Junior.
The first books in this series were subtle and felt well paced and balanced, containing a mix of strong male and female leads. They were an interesting, well thought out premise with pacing which I enjoyed.
That all changed somewhere in book 4, and I was left with a sour taste in my mouth for the following things:
******minor spoilers below******
* the strong female c ...more

The Fatal Tree is the final book in the Bright Empires Series that spans 5 books. I cannot remember how I first heard of these books but I am glad I found them. I am hooked on anything that has to do with time or inter-dimensional travel. It is a continuous story/journey through the 5 books that keeps revisiting the plight of the various characters that you have come to know and love. This final book brings everything to a close and luckily it was a happy close as the universe was preparing to c
...more

- I probably would have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t so ticked at the last one.
Disappointed in the evolutionary viewpoint, rather than a creationist perspective. I wasn't so fond of the last one: The Shadow Lamp, due to that. There was even an essay in the back by him about how creationists were wrong. I went back and reread it and it was a bit more balanced than I’d thought.
- This book wasn’t so blatantly evolutionary; it got into multi-universes.
- SPOILER:
I liked that Burleigh became a Christi ...more
Disappointed in the evolutionary viewpoint, rather than a creationist perspective. I wasn't so fond of the last one: The Shadow Lamp, due to that. There was even an essay in the back by him about how creationists were wrong. I went back and reread it and it was a bit more balanced than I’d thought.
- This book wasn’t so blatantly evolutionary; it got into multi-universes.
- SPOILER:
I liked that Burleigh became a Christi ...more

I have been enjoying Lawhead's books for quite a while now. I think I began reading him with Hood. Once I picked that book up, I was hooked. This last installment in his bright empires series did not disappoint. Good characters, great story, and novel concepts are what drew me in and kept me reading. Thanks, Stephen, for this lovely book. I can't wait to read what you come up with next.
...more

Really like this writer (especially his intepretation of Robin Hood) and I like this series as well - really weird use of "leylines" to build the world. But for whatever reason, I just wasn't as excited by this one. Seemed like a way to get the characters from the last novel to the next.
...more

Yes, the book was good to close the story, but looking back over the series I don't think that it was up there with his best.
...more

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

The Fatal Tree concludes Stephen Lawhead's Bright Empires series, so it has a lot hanging on it. I've loved the previous 4 books for the characters, the plot, the lovingly portrayed details, the interplay of science, philosophy and theology and the different themes. And this final book had great doses of these things, but I was still not quite satisfied with the ending.
It felt rushed and almost contrived --- a sudden, drastic scaling of the stakes (though there had been some foreshadowing, it w ...more
It felt rushed and almost contrived --- a sudden, drastic scaling of the stakes (though there had been some foreshadowing, it w ...more

First, a kudos remark to one of my favorite authors. Stephen Lawhead was able to wrap up a story that had so many rabbit holes that I began to wonder if it could actually coalesce into an ending that would make sense. Thankfully, it did.
The series, as a whole, was pretty good, but certainly it didn't match up to many of his other works. It was a whirlwind adventure that ended with the main characters having made many friends and enemies, some on each side dying. It wasn't until this final book t ...more
The series, as a whole, was pretty good, but certainly it didn't match up to many of his other works. It was a whirlwind adventure that ended with the main characters having made many friends and enemies, some on each side dying. It wasn't until this final book t ...more

It's difficult for me to close the final book on a very good series. I became very attached to these characters and will be thinking of them for quite some time to come. This final book was even better than the rest and gave me a great sense of satisfaction at the end. A couple of things confused me, and I know that I will return to this series again one day. These books are too good to let sit on the shelf forever and not open them again!
These books convey, very strongly, that there are consequ ...more
These books convey, very strongly, that there are consequ ...more

I have an unpopular opinion about this one. If you've followed my reviews, this is not news to you.
I found this a very satisfying conclusion to the series. While I was a bit sore that Haven & Giles were not to reunite with the other travelers, I completely understand and am relieved to see they found their own places & time that works for them.
As for the rest, while in the bone house, each presented a future they would pursue once the adventure concluded. As far as I'm concerned, that is exactly ...more
I found this a very satisfying conclusion to the series. While I was a bit sore that Haven & Giles were not to reunite with the other travelers, I completely understand and am relieved to see they found their own places & time that works for them.
As for the rest, while in the bone house, each presented a future they would pursue once the adventure concluded. As far as I'm concerned, that is exactly ...more

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

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

There is so much about this series that I really liked - I have been reading Mr. Lawhead for a couple of decades now and greatly enjoy his story telling. My only hesitation in recommending this series is that I feel like you have to be ready to read the whole series - I did not feel like each book really stood well or came to any sort of an adequate conclusion on its own. If I had read the whole series as one book I would have rated it closer to a 5!

To say that I was disappointed with the ending of The Bright Empires series is an understatement.
Plotlines felt truncated. Christian kitsch set in without abatement.
There were so many loose ends that left me wondering if Lawhead had a deadline to meet, or simply became bored of the story. His earlier works have a medium to fast pace. The Fatal Tree lagged like a marathon runner taking an extra long drink break.
Plotlines felt truncated. Christian kitsch set in without abatement.
There were so many loose ends that left me wondering if Lawhead had a deadline to meet, or simply became bored of the story. His earlier works have a medium to fast pace. The Fatal Tree lagged like a marathon runner taking an extra long drink break.
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Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium, Patrick, and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion.
Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlawhead...
Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned ...more
Also see his fanpage at Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/stephenlawhead...
Stephen was born in 1950, in Nebraska in the USA. Most of his early life was spent in America where he earned ...more
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Bright Empires
(5 books)
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