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Crown of Stars #3
The Burning Stone
Set in an alternate Europe where bloody conflicts rage, the third book of the Crown of Stars epic fantasy series continues the world-shaking conflict for the survival of humanity
It is a crucial time in the war-torn kingdoms of Wendar and Varre, a moment when even one wrong decision can tilt the balance of events into total disaster. For Sanglant—King Henry’s son—and Liath—the woman he loves—the offer of both a haven from their enemies and the chance for Liath to study the ancient lore with those who claim her as their own, seems like the answer they have been seeking. But no place can truly be safe for them. Both their lives and their love will be at risk when they are forced to choose which pathway each will follow—lured by the equally strong demands of politics, forbidden knowledge, and family.
Liath, born with a dangerous power beyond her control, is torn between her longing for Sanglant and the child they are about to have and the call of sorcery, which can open the way into the land of the Aoi, the Lost Ones. And even as Liath struggles with magic’s seductive spell, Sanglant’s Aoi mother returns to the mortal world, seeking the son she abandoned as a babe.
As the fates of kingdoms shift with the changing fortunes of those caught up in the dangers of both civil war and continuing attacks by the nonhuman Eika and the Quman invaders, time is running out for Liath, Sanglant, King Henry, and the people of Wendar and Varre. For the time of cataclysm is fast approaching—and no one can foretell who will survive—or rule—when it is over….
It is a crucial time in the war-torn kingdoms of Wendar and Varre, a moment when even one wrong decision can tilt the balance of events into total disaster. For Sanglant—King Henry’s son—and Liath—the woman he loves—the offer of both a haven from their enemies and the chance for Liath to study the ancient lore with those who claim her as their own, seems like the answer they have been seeking. But no place can truly be safe for them. Both their lives and their love will be at risk when they are forced to choose which pathway each will follow—lured by the equally strong demands of politics, forbidden knowledge, and family.
Liath, born with a dangerous power beyond her control, is torn between her longing for Sanglant and the child they are about to have and the call of sorcery, which can open the way into the land of the Aoi, the Lost Ones. And even as Liath struggles with magic’s seductive spell, Sanglant’s Aoi mother returns to the mortal world, seeking the son she abandoned as a babe.
As the fates of kingdoms shift with the changing fortunes of those caught up in the dangers of both civil war and continuing attacks by the nonhuman Eika and the Quman invaders, time is running out for Liath, Sanglant, King Henry, and the people of Wendar and Varre. For the time of cataclysm is fast approaching—and no one can foretell who will survive—or rule—when it is over….
801 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1999
124 people are currently reading
1973 people want to read
About the author
Kate Elliott
108 books2,889 followersAs a child in rural Oregon, Kate Elliott made up stories because she longed to escape to a world of lurid adventure fiction. She now writes fantasy, steampunk, and science fiction, often with a romantic edge. She currently lives in Hawaii, where she paddles outrigger canoes and spoils her schnauzer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
January 27, 2019
“Blindness comes in many guises and a furious heart overflows down unexpected channels.”
“The Burning Stone” takes us back to the magical land of war and intrigue. Kate Elliott is a real sorceress of words, conjuring an original world for her readers: A mix of adventure and mystery, magic and politics, drama and humour that can not be resisted.
While I am happy to return to this surprising and intriguing world, I have to admit that, ultimately, this instalment bares naked the biggest drawback of this cycle: After the first two volumes, it is obvious that the series is terribly inflated, even though there is substance enough to support that many pages, something in the way of writing leaves the reader with an impression of things 'dragging on' .
Don’t get me wrong, the tale is branching out but in general the quality of storytelling stays the same. It does mean though that at times and new sub-plots appear. However, just when you think that some of the threads could be significantly shortened, seemingly separate events or background information turn out to be connected and crucial to the main story. I love how these seemingly redundant little stories and meetings suddenly acquire depth and meaning!
I don’t have the impression that Ms Elliott wanted to build a story so complex, that she got lost in the middle of it. While her chapters are long, they are also self-contained and well designed. They are not tedious to read because of the POV changes that occur quite often. It takes some time to get into the book, but once I finally got going, it read pleasantly fast. Also, despite the huge page count, things are developing quite quickly. In fact, I was forced to reconsider my running theories several times and adjust my working hypotheses accordingly, which is a very pleasant feeling for a seasoned fantasy reader wary of tropes and skilled at detecting cliches. While not all the twists and turns were to my liking, I appreciate an Author able to bring the unexpected to her story.
The adventures of Liath and Sanglant, Alain and Fifth Son, and the other protagonists are thrilling. The second volume is primarily an emotional whirlwind of intrigue that will surely accelerate your heartbeat (for various reasons). The book is full of unforgettable, magical and intriguing places. as Ms Elliott once again shows the unlimited possibilities of her imagination. The protagonists do not have time for a good night's sleep, each danger attracts more peril, and each subsequent obstacle is more dangerous than all the previous ones taken together. The book is a piece of a good fantasy with an interesting world, heroes ready to sacrifice themselves for the cause, fast action, and an engaging plot.
I like Liath less and less (even my love for Sanglant waned a bit as the couple is so theatrical with their love that I could mane contemporary YA authors who could read it for extra lessons on drama). Alain was my undeniable favourite in this book. I refuse to believe in something else that a happy ending where he is concerned. I think I have said it already, but let me repeat it here: Ms Elliott is very skilled in creating antagonists whom you just want to see flayed alive but she is not as successful when it comes to breathing life into protagonists. To the contrary, I believe that secondary characters (I am team Teophanu by the way), sometimes outshine the MCs (and definitely Liath).
Overall, “The Burning Stone” it is a rewarding continuation of the epic series. The ending is entirely unexpected so with real pleasure, I proceed to the next volume.
Actual rating: 3,5 rounded up due to the series overall quality.
Also in the series:
1. King's Dragon ★★★★★
2. Prince of Dogs ★★★★☆
4. Child of Flame ★★★☆☆
5. The Gathering Strom ★★☆☆☆
6. In the Ruins ★☆☆☆☆
7. Crown of Stars ★☆☆☆☆
“The Burning Stone” takes us back to the magical land of war and intrigue. Kate Elliott is a real sorceress of words, conjuring an original world for her readers: A mix of adventure and mystery, magic and politics, drama and humour that can not be resisted.
While I am happy to return to this surprising and intriguing world, I have to admit that, ultimately, this instalment bares naked the biggest drawback of this cycle: After the first two volumes, it is obvious that the series is terribly inflated, even though there is substance enough to support that many pages, something in the way of writing leaves the reader with an impression of things 'dragging on' .
Don’t get me wrong, the tale is branching out but in general the quality of storytelling stays the same. It does mean though that at times and new sub-plots appear. However, just when you think that some of the threads could be significantly shortened, seemingly separate events or background information turn out to be connected and crucial to the main story. I love how these seemingly redundant little stories and meetings suddenly acquire depth and meaning!
I don’t have the impression that Ms Elliott wanted to build a story so complex, that she got lost in the middle of it. While her chapters are long, they are also self-contained and well designed. They are not tedious to read because of the POV changes that occur quite often. It takes some time to get into the book, but once I finally got going, it read pleasantly fast. Also, despite the huge page count, things are developing quite quickly. In fact, I was forced to reconsider my running theories several times and adjust my working hypotheses accordingly, which is a very pleasant feeling for a seasoned fantasy reader wary of tropes and skilled at detecting cliches. While not all the twists and turns were to my liking, I appreciate an Author able to bring the unexpected to her story.
The adventures of Liath and Sanglant, Alain and Fifth Son, and the other protagonists are thrilling. The second volume is primarily an emotional whirlwind of intrigue that will surely accelerate your heartbeat (for various reasons). The book is full of unforgettable, magical and intriguing places. as Ms Elliott once again shows the unlimited possibilities of her imagination. The protagonists do not have time for a good night's sleep, each danger attracts more peril, and each subsequent obstacle is more dangerous than all the previous ones taken together. The book is a piece of a good fantasy with an interesting world, heroes ready to sacrifice themselves for the cause, fast action, and an engaging plot.
I like Liath less and less (even my love for Sanglant waned a bit as the couple is so theatrical with their love that I could mane contemporary YA authors who could read it for extra lessons on drama). Alain was my undeniable favourite in this book. I refuse to believe in something else that a happy ending where he is concerned. I think I have said it already, but let me repeat it here: Ms Elliott is very skilled in creating antagonists whom you just want to see flayed alive but she is not as successful when it comes to breathing life into protagonists. To the contrary, I believe that secondary characters (I am team Teophanu by the way), sometimes outshine the MCs (and definitely Liath).
Overall, “The Burning Stone” it is a rewarding continuation of the epic series. The ending is entirely unexpected so with real pleasure, I proceed to the next volume.
Actual rating: 3,5 rounded up due to the series overall quality.
Also in the series:
1. King's Dragon ★★★★★
2. Prince of Dogs ★★★★☆
4. Child of Flame ★★★☆☆
5. The Gathering Strom ★★☆☆☆
6. In the Ruins ★☆☆☆☆
7. Crown of Stars ★☆☆☆☆
February 18, 2017
This started out as a 5-star, couldn't put it down, book. It gave me just what I had been looking for in book 2. Then... well, sprawl set in. Plot threads multiplied, and complications began breeding. This is good. This is complex. But as the sprawl unfolded before me, I found myself wishing for a tighter focus on the characters that I care about.
All of the characters, even minor ones, are so well-drawn and nuanced, and they change realistically with events. I dislike so many of them, and the ones I like aren't perfect, but are subject to their own flaws as well as to drastically changing fates. It almost made me dizzy how quickly tides could turn. It makes me impatient to see where it's all going.
I do appreciate the textures of the world-building that all these characters bring, but I really just want more of Liath, Alain, Hanna and Rosvita (I love that old woman!). I don't care much for Ivar's story (I don't like him or his group of friends), or for the visions of the Eika chief (although I know it will be important at some point). There are so many tantalizing hints about important things, I am impatient to solve it all. But, it seems I will have to bide my time because this is going to take a while.
Since it was just a bit too slow in parts and spreading out a bit too much, it ended up not being that 5 star read after all. It's such a hardship to settle for 4, but it was still very good.
All of the characters, even minor ones, are so well-drawn and nuanced, and they change realistically with events. I dislike so many of them, and the ones I like aren't perfect, but are subject to their own flaws as well as to drastically changing fates. It almost made me dizzy how quickly tides could turn. It makes me impatient to see where it's all going.
I do appreciate the textures of the world-building that all these characters bring, but I really just want more of Liath, Alain, Hanna and Rosvita (I love that old woman!). I don't care much for Ivar's story (I don't like him or his group of friends), or for the visions of the Eika chief (although I know it will be important at some point). There are so many tantalizing hints about important things, I am impatient to solve it all. But, it seems I will have to bide my time because this is going to take a while.
Since it was just a bit too slow in parts and spreading out a bit too much, it ended up not being that 5 star read after all. It's such a hardship to settle for 4, but it was still very good.
March 5, 2022
Wow. This was...not good. It undid all the work and character building in the first two books and used infodumps about the worldbuilding in lieu of story.
A full ten hours of this 32 hour audiobook is either from the POV of women trying not to get raped or men trying very hard not to be rapists. There are LITERAL 101 astronomy lessons that we have to listen to in their full tedium. Actual entire prayers.
There are maybe 100 pages of plot in here. We should have taken them and added them to book two and kicked the rest to the curb.
Undecided if I'll continue. The first two were SO GOOD! And this was so not that at all.
A full ten hours of this 32 hour audiobook is either from the POV of women trying not to get raped or men trying very hard not to be rapists. There are LITERAL 101 astronomy lessons that we have to listen to in their full tedium. Actual entire prayers.
There are maybe 100 pages of plot in here. We should have taken them and added them to book two and kicked the rest to the curb.
Undecided if I'll continue. The first two were SO GOOD! And this was so not that at all.
January 14, 2019
Das Beste an Kates Büchern sind sicherlich ihre Figuren (besonders Sanglant). Ich liebe die Tiefe, mit der der Leser nachdenken muss, um die Ereignisse und Fortschritte dieses Buches wirklich verstehen zu können, obwohl ich nicht stark auf ihre starke religiöse Betonung stoße (obwohl es interessant ist), und zuletzt sind die astronomischen Bezüge auf ein Minimum geschrumpft, doch das Buch hält die Serie am Leben und ich warte ungeduldig darauf, dass das nächste Buch erscheint, da ich die Figuren scheinbar nicht bekomme aus meinem Kopf.
July 20, 2024
3 for 3! Wow. Wow. Wow.
The Burning Stone dazzles in this amazingly epic series. Delivering the same seductive and exciting intrigue as its predecessors. It’s not an easy read series but is worth all the attention you need to give it.
This is such a fleshed out world with political divides, scheming and uneasy allegiances within its kingdom. Meanwhile the battles with the both the vikingish Eika and frightening Quman are both thrilling and bloody. The use of dogs on the battlefield is prevalent in this world which adds another layer of danger.
Our main leads all undergo changes as their mysterious pasts and prophetic journeys continue. One in particular shocked the hell out of me.
Then of course the vile Hugh continues his quest to be the most hated character in all of fantasy. He’s definitely succeeding. ;)
I do find it interesting a couple of characters seem to charm others at times. One seemingly knows of this advantageous ability while the other appears ignorant. I do suspect….sorcery. 🧙♂️
Sorcery is the other element of this world. It is a HIGHLY religious world. All actions undertaken weigh heavily under this devotion. It is therefore policed under the church per se.
As the story reveals there may be some underlying reasons (and secrets) for this.
Everything continues to expand and mysteries compile.
I am absolutely having such a great time with it all.
Simply awesome.
The Burning Stone dazzles in this amazingly epic series. Delivering the same seductive and exciting intrigue as its predecessors. It’s not an easy read series but is worth all the attention you need to give it.
This is such a fleshed out world with political divides, scheming and uneasy allegiances within its kingdom. Meanwhile the battles with the both the vikingish Eika and frightening Quman are both thrilling and bloody. The use of dogs on the battlefield is prevalent in this world which adds another layer of danger.
Our main leads all undergo changes as their mysterious pasts and prophetic journeys continue. One in particular shocked the hell out of me.
Then of course the vile Hugh continues his quest to be the most hated character in all of fantasy. He’s definitely succeeding. ;)
I do find it interesting a couple of characters seem to charm others at times. One seemingly knows of this advantageous ability while the other appears ignorant. I do suspect….sorcery. 🧙♂️
Sorcery is the other element of this world. It is a HIGHLY religious world. All actions undertaken weigh heavily under this devotion. It is therefore policed under the church per se.
As the story reveals there may be some underlying reasons (and secrets) for this.
Everything continues to expand and mysteries compile.
I am absolutely having such a great time with it all.
Simply awesome.
May 20, 2020
Now comes the usual challenge to meaningfully review the third book (then fourth, fifth, and sixth) in a heptalogy. Is one likely to read this far if one were not committed to reading the entire series? I suppose a person could have mixed feelings about the first two and decide to give it just one more book. Fortunately for that open and adventurous person, this volume is different from the two prior in two key ways.
First, it is significantly longer. As in, this is a looooonnng book. They're all thick, but the first two were a manageable ~550 pages (in original hardcover edition). The Burning Stone cranks it up with an additional 200 pages. I felt those pages. This is not a quick-reading series. Kate Elliott, at least at this point in her writing career, lacks a certain smoothness of prose that might allow the reader to effortlessly drift along with the story. Rather, you have to pay close attention the whole time you are reading, lest you miss some cataclysmic event that drops without warning. It may have taken me an hour and half to read the last ~30 pages of the book, so intent was I on catching every detail at that point. Also my kids were being very noisy.
Second, a lot more of significance happens throughout those many pages. In both King's Dragon and Prince of Dogs, earlier events were always leading up to a major military conflict as the capstone of each story. Here, there is a similar battle towards the end but it is not the climax of the book, and virtually all of the characters go through a lot of major changes in circumstance. It's as though the first two books were the setup, and now the core story is able to move forward. I didn't always agree with the choices some characters made (Liath), and the things that happened to them were rarely what I would have wanted for them (Alain), but I like the pace of events now, and holy moly that finale! It bumped the book up a star in my rating. The one thing that I missed was more of the little orphans' journey, now-mute Anna and Matthias and their entourage. They made a brief cameo in the middle of the book, but there is a lot more to their story that I want to read more of. That, and Bertrand sleeping in a stone circle, remain mysteries that have not yet begun to be addressed. It's going to be a loooong next four books.
This is not an easy-reading series. It is complex, adult fantasy, meticulously crafted. It is as far away from YA as you can get, despite the young age of many main characters and how they sometimes act like teenagers. It is also very different from popular contemporary fantasy, and if these books were offered now, I'm not sure they would be accepted for publication. But, in the 1990's when this series began, it was a ripe time for fantasy. The Wheel of Time was turning. The Runelords were runing, and The Magic of Recluce was boring. I guess Shannara was doing its thing. And here comes Kate Elliott, previously known more for sci-fi under this nom de plume as well as her real name, with an exhaustive tale set in a heavily-researched medieval European setting, where the royal progress travels slowly, privacy is unheard of (even when marriage is being consummated), the church dominates, and war waits for a "campaign season". Kate Elliott presents no clear or singular enemy, whereas WoT's villains are flashing-neon-sign "EVIL" (The Dark One, The Forsaken, Darkfriends... there is no mistaking their alignment). These differences and many more may help explain why Crown of Stars does not appear to have had the same staying power as Wheel of Time, although this and Elliott's other series do not lack at all for quality.
So.... this is not for everyone, but I like it, and of course I am seeing it through to the end. I have to wait for my library to re-open though, currently closed due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
First, it is significantly longer. As in, this is a looooonnng book. They're all thick, but the first two were a manageable ~550 pages (in original hardcover edition). The Burning Stone cranks it up with an additional 200 pages. I felt those pages. This is not a quick-reading series. Kate Elliott, at least at this point in her writing career, lacks a certain smoothness of prose that might allow the reader to effortlessly drift along with the story. Rather, you have to pay close attention the whole time you are reading, lest you miss some cataclysmic event that drops without warning. It may have taken me an hour and half to read the last ~30 pages of the book, so intent was I on catching every detail at that point. Also my kids were being very noisy.
Second, a lot more of significance happens throughout those many pages. In both King's Dragon and Prince of Dogs, earlier events were always leading up to a major military conflict as the capstone of each story. Here, there is a similar battle towards the end but it is not the climax of the book, and virtually all of the characters go through a lot of major changes in circumstance. It's as though the first two books were the setup, and now the core story is able to move forward. I didn't always agree with the choices some characters made (Liath), and the things that happened to them were rarely what I would have wanted for them (Alain), but I like the pace of events now, and holy moly that finale! It bumped the book up a star in my rating. The one thing that I missed was more of the little orphans' journey, now-mute Anna and Matthias and their entourage. They made a brief cameo in the middle of the book, but there is a lot more to their story that I want to read more of. That, and Bertrand sleeping in a stone circle, remain mysteries that have not yet begun to be addressed. It's going to be a loooong next four books.
This is not an easy-reading series. It is complex, adult fantasy, meticulously crafted. It is as far away from YA as you can get, despite the young age of many main characters and how they sometimes act like teenagers. It is also very different from popular contemporary fantasy, and if these books were offered now, I'm not sure they would be accepted for publication. But, in the 1990's when this series began, it was a ripe time for fantasy. The Wheel of Time was turning. The Runelords were runing, and The Magic of Recluce was boring. I guess Shannara was doing its thing. And here comes Kate Elliott, previously known more for sci-fi under this nom de plume as well as her real name, with an exhaustive tale set in a heavily-researched medieval European setting, where the royal progress travels slowly, privacy is unheard of (even when marriage is being consummated), the church dominates, and war waits for a "campaign season". Kate Elliott presents no clear or singular enemy, whereas WoT's villains are flashing-neon-sign "EVIL" (The Dark One, The Forsaken, Darkfriends... there is no mistaking their alignment). These differences and many more may help explain why Crown of Stars does not appear to have had the same staying power as Wheel of Time, although this and Elliott's other series do not lack at all for quality.
So.... this is not for everyone, but I like it, and of course I am seeing it through to the end. I have to wait for my library to re-open though, currently closed due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
September 16, 2018
3.75 rounding up, thanks to Part 2
The Burning Stone is the third book in the Crown of Stars fantasy series and this is the tale of two parts. While I was glad to be back in this medieval themed world, it got off to a rather questionable start with me. The book is divided into two rather equal parts and Part One was not going down especially well as far as I was concerned. There was too much of a focus on the romance between Liath and Sanglant, a pairing that has always felt flat to me to begin with, and the theatrics of it (thanks to Mayim for using such an accurate description) caused me to roll my eyes on more than one occasion. This is already a slower paced book so the parts dedicated to these two were hard for me to muddle though. Thankfully, the cloying couple settle down somewhat in Part Two and I ended up enjoying the back half of the book much better.
This installment continues the practice of a leisurely paced story in which the intrigue and scheming is slowly and methodically brought to a slow boil, in which the political landscape can change so slowly that the characters don’t fully realize their peril until it’s too late. We catch up with our tentpole characters of Alain, Liath, Sanglant, Hanna, Rosvita, and Ivar, and discover that the sands are shifting under their feet. This is very much a story of changing fortunes and not a single character is left untouched by the realization that their world, everything they know, can turn on a dime.
Lady Fortune only waits to spin her wheel.
It seems that a theme of this particular addition to the series mirrors the old saying, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. Alain, my personal favorite, has gotten something he’s been wanting but the reality doesn’t match his fantasy at all. Liath gets her own opportunities but finds the price may be too high. Both are moved by forces much larger than themselves and while Liath finds herself cast in a much larger role than she ever could have imagined or thought possible, Alain finds himself struggling to cling to everything he’s gained.
It’s a topsy turvy world, for sure, but it’s not only our heroes who are feeling the effects of the changing tides. Hugh is still lurking around and finding ways to take advantage wherever he can. And ol’ Antonia, while not a big player in this book, seems poised to re-enter the fray to cause more trouble down the line. And let’s not forget Princess Sabella, Henry’s scheming half-sister who fomented civil war in the first book. Since no one in this entire series seems capable of properly dispatching an enemy (seriously, what is up with that?!), it means that Sabella can’t be counted out of the intrigue and, in fact, she’s not wholly without allies.
At times the world seems to shift and invert: inside turns out, and outside turns in; dreams become waking, and waking becomes a dream.
There is a lot of light shed on family trees in this book and the ramifications this has, and will continue to have, on the lives of the affected characters - not to mention the political landscape of the kingdom - can’t be stressed enough. Shifting sands, indeed. And in the background, there is a prophecy of sorts involving the return of the Aoi, the Lost Ones, that portends a potentially cataclysmic event in five years time. Obviously this series is playing a long game here and aiming for the fences. But this isn’t a series that takes short-cuts so I have every confidence that the path to our destination, while perhaps winding and twisting, will nevertheless skillfully cover all the necessary ground.
While this book answered many questions, the ending left me with several new ones. It also left several of the characters in interesting and/or precarious situations so I’m definitely anxious to see how they all fare in the next book. And, again, the second half of the book saved the story for me proving that the whole is surely better than the sum of its parts.
It is not in victory that you learn how strong you truly are.
The Burning Stone is the third book in the Crown of Stars fantasy series and this is the tale of two parts. While I was glad to be back in this medieval themed world, it got off to a rather questionable start with me. The book is divided into two rather equal parts and Part One was not going down especially well as far as I was concerned. There was too much of a focus on the romance between Liath and Sanglant, a pairing that has always felt flat to me to begin with, and the theatrics of it (thanks to Mayim for using such an accurate description) caused me to roll my eyes on more than one occasion. This is already a slower paced book so the parts dedicated to these two were hard for me to muddle though. Thankfully, the cloying couple settle down somewhat in Part Two and I ended up enjoying the back half of the book much better.
This installment continues the practice of a leisurely paced story in which the intrigue and scheming is slowly and methodically brought to a slow boil, in which the political landscape can change so slowly that the characters don’t fully realize their peril until it’s too late. We catch up with our tentpole characters of Alain, Liath, Sanglant, Hanna, Rosvita, and Ivar, and discover that the sands are shifting under their feet. This is very much a story of changing fortunes and not a single character is left untouched by the realization that their world, everything they know, can turn on a dime.
Lady Fortune only waits to spin her wheel.
It seems that a theme of this particular addition to the series mirrors the old saying, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. Alain, my personal favorite, has gotten something he’s been wanting but the reality doesn’t match his fantasy at all. Liath gets her own opportunities but finds the price may be too high. Both are moved by forces much larger than themselves and while Liath finds herself cast in a much larger role than she ever could have imagined or thought possible, Alain finds himself struggling to cling to everything he’s gained.
It’s a topsy turvy world, for sure, but it’s not only our heroes who are feeling the effects of the changing tides. Hugh is still lurking around and finding ways to take advantage wherever he can. And ol’ Antonia, while not a big player in this book, seems poised to re-enter the fray to cause more trouble down the line. And let’s not forget Princess Sabella, Henry’s scheming half-sister who fomented civil war in the first book. Since no one in this entire series seems capable of properly dispatching an enemy (seriously, what is up with that?!), it means that Sabella can’t be counted out of the intrigue and, in fact, she’s not wholly without allies.
At times the world seems to shift and invert: inside turns out, and outside turns in; dreams become waking, and waking becomes a dream.
There is a lot of light shed on family trees in this book and the ramifications this has, and will continue to have, on the lives of the affected characters - not to mention the political landscape of the kingdom - can’t be stressed enough. Shifting sands, indeed. And in the background, there is a prophecy of sorts involving the return of the Aoi, the Lost Ones, that portends a potentially cataclysmic event in five years time. Obviously this series is playing a long game here and aiming for the fences. But this isn’t a series that takes short-cuts so I have every confidence that the path to our destination, while perhaps winding and twisting, will nevertheless skillfully cover all the necessary ground.
While this book answered many questions, the ending left me with several new ones. It also left several of the characters in interesting and/or precarious situations so I’m definitely anxious to see how they all fare in the next book. And, again, the second half of the book saved the story for me proving that the whole is surely better than the sum of its parts.
It is not in victory that you learn how strong you truly are.
October 24, 2016
I am continuing to enjoy this series, which deserves more attention than it’s gotten. Come on, it has everything you’d want from epic fantasy: intricate plotting on an epic scale, several major threats coming from different directions, battles that can and do go either way, complex political situations, charming and devious villains, a bit of romance, some magic that we’re only slowly learning anything about, an expansive world that feels real and lived-in, and of course interesting and sympathetic characters.
This book expands the scope of the story quite a bit, and seems to be the series’ transition from the early, more self-contained books (each building up to its own big climax) to the more long-term plotting that will carry it through the next several books. This doesn’t slow down the story though – in fact, while there are lulls early in the second book, this one maintains its momentum throughout. Many epic fantasies start to stagger under their own weight, and since Elliott is a detail-heavy writer I wasn’t sure what to expect, but if there is a slump coming here I haven’t seen signs of it yet.
I continue to really enjoy this world, which is closely based on the early Middle Ages, and in particular the way the series goes all-in on the depiction of the medieval church, which is usually brushed aside in fantasy. The way Elliott riffs on medieval ideas about gender to create a system of gender roles that are believable and organic to the society, yet quite different from Europe’s at that time, is also a lot of fun. For instance, take the medieval idea that women had less brainpower because their ovaries sapped mental energy, and turn it into the idea that ovaries provide a steadying force and therefore women are better as administrators and landowners while men go off to war. There are exceptions to all the rules, just like there were in real life, but Elliott has created a world that allows a range of possibilities for all its characters, without all the women’s stories being about sexism (which gets old) and without sacrificing the feeling of a medieval world.
As for the characters themselves, I criticized the secondary POVs in the second book, Rosvita and Hanna for being too personally removed from events despite being located in the thick of things, and Ivar for being too physically removed from the rest of the story. All of that improves in this book, especially Ivar’s plotline. Though the new POV, the ex-cleric, ex-Quman captive Zacharias, is boring so far and I’m disappointed to see him returning for book four. Sanglant is finally coming into his role as a main character, playing a much larger role than in the first two books. Liath’s and Alain’s plotlines continue to be the most eventful and entertaining, both of them taking unexpected roads. I am starting to suspect Alain is an actual saint, yet he is so much more likeable and believable than those mealy-mouthed “good” characters one encounters in most fantasy. Meanwhile Liath , which is very unusual for a fantasy protagonist less than halfway through the series, and even more so for one whose role isn’t that of a political leader or consort. It seems like many readers are frustrated by Liath’s reactions to Hugh, but this depiction is painfully realistic; he is her abuser and so she’s never going to respond to him the way she does to other people. (At the same time, I’d be pleased to have them on opposite sides of the continent for the next several books, because reading about their encounters is draining.)
This book does wrap up with a battle, but we’re too far along now for each volume to have a neat conclusion. So there are a lot of threads left open for the next installment, and I really don’t know what will happen next. So, on to the next book. This is fun, you guys! Why don’t I read more fantasy?
EDIT: Crown of Stars ratings:
King’s Dragon: 4
Prince of Dogs: 3.5
The Burning Stone: 4
Child of Flame: 3
The Gathering Storm: 2.5
In the Ruins: 3
Crown of Stars: 3
This book expands the scope of the story quite a bit, and seems to be the series’ transition from the early, more self-contained books (each building up to its own big climax) to the more long-term plotting that will carry it through the next several books. This doesn’t slow down the story though – in fact, while there are lulls early in the second book, this one maintains its momentum throughout. Many epic fantasies start to stagger under their own weight, and since Elliott is a detail-heavy writer I wasn’t sure what to expect, but if there is a slump coming here I haven’t seen signs of it yet.
I continue to really enjoy this world, which is closely based on the early Middle Ages, and in particular the way the series goes all-in on the depiction of the medieval church, which is usually brushed aside in fantasy. The way Elliott riffs on medieval ideas about gender to create a system of gender roles that are believable and organic to the society, yet quite different from Europe’s at that time, is also a lot of fun. For instance, take the medieval idea that women had less brainpower because their ovaries sapped mental energy, and turn it into the idea that ovaries provide a steadying force and therefore women are better as administrators and landowners while men go off to war. There are exceptions to all the rules, just like there were in real life, but Elliott has created a world that allows a range of possibilities for all its characters, without all the women’s stories being about sexism (which gets old) and without sacrificing the feeling of a medieval world.
As for the characters themselves, I criticized the secondary POVs in the second book, Rosvita and Hanna for being too personally removed from events despite being located in the thick of things, and Ivar for being too physically removed from the rest of the story. All of that improves in this book, especially Ivar’s plotline. Though the new POV, the ex-cleric, ex-Quman captive Zacharias, is boring so far and I’m disappointed to see him returning for book four. Sanglant is finally coming into his role as a main character, playing a much larger role than in the first two books. Liath’s and Alain’s plotlines continue to be the most eventful and entertaining, both of them taking unexpected roads. I am starting to suspect Alain is an actual saint, yet he is so much more likeable and believable than those mealy-mouthed “good” characters one encounters in most fantasy. Meanwhile Liath , which is very unusual for a fantasy protagonist less than halfway through the series, and even more so for one whose role isn’t that of a political leader or consort. It seems like many readers are frustrated by Liath’s reactions to Hugh, but this depiction is painfully realistic; he is her abuser and so she’s never going to respond to him the way she does to other people. (At the same time, I’d be pleased to have them on opposite sides of the continent for the next several books, because reading about their encounters is draining.)
This book does wrap up with a battle, but we’re too far along now for each volume to have a neat conclusion. So there are a lot of threads left open for the next installment, and I really don’t know what will happen next. So, on to the next book. This is fun, you guys! Why don’t I read more fantasy?
EDIT: Crown of Stars ratings:
King’s Dragon: 4
Prince of Dogs: 3.5
The Burning Stone: 4
Child of Flame: 3
The Gathering Storm: 2.5
In the Ruins: 3
Crown of Stars: 3
February 8, 2025
4.5 stars
(the following are notes from my buddy read so not necessarily in normal review format)
I liked this one better than book 2 but not quite as much as the first book. It was lacking a little bit of the emotional pull that the first book had. But it added so much to the world building, lore, magic, and general intrigue. Also the creatures!
I know that everybody's going on their own journeys, but when they are together it's just better. I like that Hannah and Liath are such good friends. But they literally haven't seen each other since book one, so we don't see any of that dynamic between them. Or even the connection that she had with Alain, and now they are separated. I just wish that some of the friends would stay together, and those relationships would be built on instead of just talked about.
But this book was really so much more about Alain and Ivar. I feel like Liath & Sanglant really took a backseat. Which I'm fine with. This whole storyline is so slow moving, and I kind of love that. Like what is going on??? I really enjoyed the deeper politics, world and all the lies and scheming.
I also really like the way that this book seems very progressive for the time period. Especially all the different female representation. There is definitely still a misogynistic undertone in the world, but there's also a matriarchal aspect. It's very interesting. I feel like it's maybe trying to be feminist?? It's also really interesting to see that a lot of the misogynistic type things that you see happening to women, are also happening to men in this world.
Can't wait to see where this goes!
(the following are notes from my buddy read so not necessarily in normal review format)
I liked this one better than book 2 but not quite as much as the first book. It was lacking a little bit of the emotional pull that the first book had. But it added so much to the world building, lore, magic, and general intrigue. Also the creatures!
I know that everybody's going on their own journeys, but when they are together it's just better. I like that Hannah and Liath are such good friends. But they literally haven't seen each other since book one, so we don't see any of that dynamic between them. Or even the connection that she had with Alain, and now they are separated. I just wish that some of the friends would stay together, and those relationships would be built on instead of just talked about.
But this book was really so much more about Alain and Ivar. I feel like Liath & Sanglant really took a backseat. Which I'm fine with. This whole storyline is so slow moving, and I kind of love that. Like what is going on??? I really enjoyed the deeper politics, world and all the lies and scheming.
I also really like the way that this book seems very progressive for the time period. Especially all the different female representation. There is definitely still a misogynistic undertone in the world, but there's also a matriarchal aspect. It's very interesting. I feel like it's maybe trying to be feminist?? It's also really interesting to see that a lot of the misogynistic type things that you see happening to women, are also happening to men in this world.
Can't wait to see where this goes!
April 4, 2022
Sad to say, the author became obsessed with the genealogy/lineage of the characters and way too engrossed with the religion she developed based on the celestial positions of planets and stars. Information overload. Several hundred pages we could have done without.
However, if you like cruelty, this series abounds in that. There are no shortages of characters you will come to loathe. I'm stopping at this book three of seven.
However, if you like cruelty, this series abounds in that. There are no shortages of characters you will come to loathe. I'm stopping at this book three of seven.
October 3, 2007
So a lot happens in this book and at a pretty good rate. With so many reveals going on, you have to work hard to put it down each night.
I can hardly wait to continue with the next book.
I can hardly wait to continue with the next book.
January 2, 2016
Reviewing subsequent volumes in a series always feels a little pointless to me. Those who haven't read the previou parts are unlikely to be terribly interested in this review, and those who have probably know whether they want to read it or not based on books 1 & 2. But I'd much rather have something to look back on, so here I go.
This is the volume that finally clarifies many, many things, setting the stage for the main events to come. It was my favourite yet, frankly, due to that clarity--in the previous parts the number of unexplained elements could be annoying, but by now I've got the lay of the land, so to speak, and all the new elements only make it more compelling.
I have to say the characters are amazing.
That said, I still think Elliott got better in her later books, in both worldbuilding, characterisation and dialogue.
Minor complaints: we have a slight repeat of "we can't trust X!" being repeated, this time about the mathematici. Yes, you can't, I'm glad you tell me that many, many times.
A second minor complaint: why Ivar. Just, why is there Ivar. (I'm sure the reason will be revealed, but the reason for the Eika remains mysterious and yet I don't mind. Ivar, on the other hand... no.)
A less minor complaint: so many things about this novel give me flashbacks to Crossroads / Black Wolves.
Volume 4 has already arrived so I think I know what I'm reading next.
This is the volume that finally clarifies many, many things, setting the stage for the main events to come. It was my favourite yet, frankly, due to that clarity--in the previous parts the number of unexplained elements could be annoying, but by now I've got the lay of the land, so to speak, and all the new elements only make it more compelling.
I have to say the characters are amazing.
That said, I still think Elliott got better in her later books, in both worldbuilding, characterisation and dialogue.
Minor complaints: we have a slight repeat of "we can't trust X!" being repeated, this time about the mathematici. Yes, you can't, I'm glad you tell me that many, many times.
A second minor complaint: why Ivar. Just, why is there Ivar. (I'm sure the reason will be revealed, but the reason for the Eika remains mysterious and yet I don't mind. Ivar, on the other hand... no.)
A less minor complaint: so many things about this novel give me flashbacks to Crossroads / Black Wolves.
Volume 4 has already arrived so I think I know what I'm reading next.
July 25, 2023
I am finally starting to get this series. It's not, thus far, meant to be a sprawling epic. It's slice of life in a Medieval setting. Cool. I got it. Except...that last 30pgs or so got pretty epic. Stop playing with my brain, Kate Elliott!!
We were back at the genealogy hard in this one. I needed a whiteboard. It's fun to see how people's pasts are interweaving. Good character growth here too. Alain can end up being an all-timer and I find myself adoring Hannah. Liath and Saglant are losing me a bit. And how about that Ivar? The aaaaaaaangst.
So why the same rating as the previous two? Because this series is just not there yet. A lot of the POV character in a given situation situations were clever, but a lot of them were aggravating. Certain parts might have gelled more with me from another's POV. Still a bit of slog overall. I truly, though, think book 4 will be a turning point. And I hope that that mysterious centaur shows up again. Y'all, a centaur!!
We were back at the genealogy hard in this one. I needed a whiteboard. It's fun to see how people's pasts are interweaving. Good character growth here too. Alain can end up being an all-timer and I find myself adoring Hannah. Liath and Saglant are losing me a bit. And how about that Ivar? The aaaaaaaangst.
So why the same rating as the previous two? Because this series is just not there yet. A lot of the POV character in a given situation situations were clever, but a lot of them were aggravating. Certain parts might have gelled more with me from another's POV. Still a bit of slog overall. I truly, though, think book 4 will be a turning point. And I hope that that mysterious centaur shows up again. Y'all, a centaur!!
March 14, 2025
Another great book for me in this series, along with a fantastic audiobook narration. I liked the additional character voices brought in for this one, giving a very different flavour to different parts of the world. The intensity ramps up with some more great battles, and there are some intriguing new pathways opening up as we learn more about certain characters’ histories, and get other questions answered. I’m very much enjoying my time with this series, and given how everything is going, what lies ahead must be pretty epic, in both senses of the word.
July 19, 2021
Things got WAY more complicated in this book. Up is down and left is right and who knows who you can actually trust, but I do know I trust Kate Elliott to wrap the story up nicely so I'm here for this wild complex beast of a series.
December 29, 2020
Again, this is very much a middle book of a long series, and you should under no circumstances read this without having started at the beginning with King's Dragon so I'm not going to say much except that this was an 800 page book that I read and enjoyed, and immediately moved on to its 900 page continuation.
August 10, 2018
My relationship with the Crown of Stars series has been mixed to positive. While the first novel was fine story-wise, it was sorely in need of an editor. Prince of Dogs was a great fantasy romp that moved quick and built toward a satisfying conclusion. It seemed Kate Elliott had hit her stride and was going to continue this with The Burning Stone, a novel I started with high expectations and a lot of excitement. The first fifty or so pages I ate up, enjoying the preponderance of magical elements and hoping to see these play out in the quick style of the first two novels.
But God is this book a slog, and not a good one.
It's obvious that Elliott, having cleared up the major threads of the first two books that propelled the action forward, is listless in this novel. Though it focuses more on characters for much of what I read, there's no overarching story that is asking me to keep reading to see where it goes. It depends entirely on my investment in characters who I have discussed in previous reviews as being rather two dimensional and uninteresting for the most part. Putting the focus on a group of characters I only enjoy the presence of as movers of a story, without said story, makes this novel pointless in many ways. The first two hundred pages are essentially Liath dealing with her emotions toward Sanglant, their marriage, and all the intrigue of these happenings. And given that I feel Liath is a fairly weak character who doesn't come across as well-defined and Sanglant is much the same...the romance doesn't work. The two barely knew each other enough for me to get a sense of this love they share that is so powerful they'd defy the king.
Where I quit the book, about thirty percent in, I had lost interest in anything happening because it felt like nothing was happening. The book was spinning wheels, relying too much on character interactions that don't feel entirely genuine. The more Liath and Sanglant talked, the more I felt like I was reading a cheap romance novel without the craftsmanship to create realistic or character defining dialogue.
Looking ahead, critics have had the same complaints with the next books that I have with this one. The lengthier nature of these middle novels combined with the lack of any concrete destination for the story to go makes for tough, aimless reading. Especially for anyone not invested in the actual characters.
Thus do I throw in the towel. I had my reservations throughout my reading but I tried to be as positive as possible. Alas, there's only so much entertainment you can glean from something that feels like it lacks a point.
I'm sorry too as I invested so much time into the first two novels and really looked forward to seeing where the series went. Ai Lady, I guess I'll have to move on to the next fantasy series on my list.
But God is this book a slog, and not a good one.
It's obvious that Elliott, having cleared up the major threads of the first two books that propelled the action forward, is listless in this novel. Though it focuses more on characters for much of what I read, there's no overarching story that is asking me to keep reading to see where it goes. It depends entirely on my investment in characters who I have discussed in previous reviews as being rather two dimensional and uninteresting for the most part. Putting the focus on a group of characters I only enjoy the presence of as movers of a story, without said story, makes this novel pointless in many ways. The first two hundred pages are essentially Liath dealing with her emotions toward Sanglant, their marriage, and all the intrigue of these happenings. And given that I feel Liath is a fairly weak character who doesn't come across as well-defined and Sanglant is much the same...the romance doesn't work. The two barely knew each other enough for me to get a sense of this love they share that is so powerful they'd defy the king.
Where I quit the book, about thirty percent in, I had lost interest in anything happening because it felt like nothing was happening. The book was spinning wheels, relying too much on character interactions that don't feel entirely genuine. The more Liath and Sanglant talked, the more I felt like I was reading a cheap romance novel without the craftsmanship to create realistic or character defining dialogue.
Looking ahead, critics have had the same complaints with the next books that I have with this one. The lengthier nature of these middle novels combined with the lack of any concrete destination for the story to go makes for tough, aimless reading. Especially for anyone not invested in the actual characters.
Thus do I throw in the towel. I had my reservations throughout my reading but I tried to be as positive as possible. Alas, there's only so much entertainment you can glean from something that feels like it lacks a point.
I'm sorry too as I invested so much time into the first two novels and really looked forward to seeing where the series went. Ai Lady, I guess I'll have to move on to the next fantasy series on my list.
April 8, 2016
This is an excellent book. I love how she adds characters as the books go on. The first starts with Alain and Liath, and Then goes on and on. The first two books can be slow, since they have to explain so much, and as the series goes on, it gets easier to understand and follow. This is one of the best ones, but you would never imagine what happens in the last books while reading this one, which makes it so dang interesting!! Kate Elliot is so talented!
May 27, 2019
The series has kind of everything I like and don't like in the genre together, but I'd say the things I don't like that are typically seen in the genre are more understated and less in your face here. Whereas the things I like are taking center stage more and more.
For example, the reveals that give royal blood to everyone are obnoxious and tedious, but they've yet to be extremely significant. And one of these cases has already been overturned and un-royaled the recently made royal. Which is just interesting. It's both cliche and subversive, which is something you don't often see in any genre. Someone literally having their cake and eating it too.
But, yes, the series gets more interesting as it goes. Since this is one of those series that is very clearly a single book over many volumes, it's hard to discuss the book much without spoiling what came before. But the story continues to twist and turn in unexpected and interesting ways. I wasn't so sure how I liked Elliott as a writer, even though this is my fourth book from her, but she's certainly growing on me.
When she's good, she's great. When she's bad, she's...tough. And so her books are a mix of slog and elation, and the rhythm of her books are idiosyncratic so they crescendo at points you wouldn't expect, and sometimes that crescendo is juxtaposed to some real dull happenings. If nothing else, it's quite interesting.
In some ways, this series reminds me of every fantasy series, in the same way as Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn reminds me of every fantasy series. But both of those books really lean into the genre and become more themselves as they go. And rather than this making them sort of generic and tedious, both writers manage to elevate their game and even the genre itself. Not really through subversion, but by doubling down. Leaning in and leaning in so hard that they fall through the wall. It's a difficult thing to manage, but Elliott's doing it.
Might take a bit of a detour through some other books, but wholly digging this now.
For example, the reveals that give royal blood to everyone are obnoxious and tedious, but they've yet to be extremely significant. And one of these cases has already been overturned and un-royaled the recently made royal. Which is just interesting. It's both cliche and subversive, which is something you don't often see in any genre. Someone literally having their cake and eating it too.
But, yes, the series gets more interesting as it goes. Since this is one of those series that is very clearly a single book over many volumes, it's hard to discuss the book much without spoiling what came before. But the story continues to twist and turn in unexpected and interesting ways. I wasn't so sure how I liked Elliott as a writer, even though this is my fourth book from her, but she's certainly growing on me.
When she's good, she's great. When she's bad, she's...tough. And so her books are a mix of slog and elation, and the rhythm of her books are idiosyncratic so they crescendo at points you wouldn't expect, and sometimes that crescendo is juxtaposed to some real dull happenings. If nothing else, it's quite interesting.
In some ways, this series reminds me of every fantasy series, in the same way as Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn reminds me of every fantasy series. But both of those books really lean into the genre and become more themselves as they go. And rather than this making them sort of generic and tedious, both writers manage to elevate their game and even the genre itself. Not really through subversion, but by doubling down. Leaning in and leaning in so hard that they fall through the wall. It's a difficult thing to manage, but Elliott's doing it.
Might take a bit of a detour through some other books, but wholly digging this now.
July 15, 2018
(This review is of the Crown of Stars series, not the individual books, but is attached to each one so that potential readers know what they’re getting into. It is imperative to begin with “King’s Dragon,” of course, and once involved, the difference in quality and focus of each of the seven volumes is far less important than the impact of the series as a whole.)
Crown of Stars is a sprawling, sometimes confusing, seven volumes of epic medieval fantasy that is worth the investment of time and energy to track its multitude of characters through complex plots and subplots as they battle their way through 4,000 pages of magic, catastrophe and of course, eventual redemption.
But first it has to be said that Kate Elliott doesn’t bring every one of her characters all the way home, as more than a few are killed relatively early in the series, and some that seem destined for an early demise just keep hanging on. This kind of uncertainty, and some unexpected plot twists, keep the pages turning, and makes this long series an entertaining and worthwhile ride.
The setup is a thinly disguised medieval Europe (think 9th century) a few generations after the death of Charlemagne (called Taillefer in the book). The echoes of the Dariyan (read “Roman”) Empire still linger, but the political side of the book is concerned with the dynastic maneuverings of Central European dukes and kings, which are complex to begin with and get even more so as the books roll on.
The fantasy aspect combines powerful magic wielded by a minority of humans, plus some non-human races (though the Eika are the Vikings) and cosmology that resembles the ancient Greek theories about the spheres of existence that surround Earth.
And then of course there are the human interactions, ranging from obsession (both love and hate), religious fervor, lust for power, and revenge, all played out through a cast of what seems like thousands. (Keeping track isn’t all that easy, and when Elliott wraps everything up, it’s not a simple task to sort everything, and everyone, out on just one reading.)
Though there are many point-of-view characters, probably the two most important are Liath, a young woman who has spent her life running away from something her father greatly fears, and Alain, a young farm boy who draws the attention of powerful humans and spirits.
But almost equally important are Sanglant, a bastard son of King Henry whose mother is a mysterious Aoi (perhaps human, perhaps just slightly different); Rosvita, a nun and advisor to King Henry; Ivar, a young nobleman; and Stronghand, a young Eika warrior.
There are plenty of villains, fully fleshed out minor characters, a magical catastrophe, and most important in works as long and complex as this one, a satisfying ending.
The Crown of Stars, all in all, is an excellent medieval fantasy, though not quite up to Miles Cameron’s Traitor Son Cycle (which was written after this) and perhaps a little too complicated for its own good. And naturally, some of the seven volumes are better than others, but if “King’s Dragon” grabs your interest, then go ahead and buy the other six – you’ll have thousands of pages of enjoyment ahead, and the luxury of knowing that you have months of good reading on the way.
Crown of Stars is a sprawling, sometimes confusing, seven volumes of epic medieval fantasy that is worth the investment of time and energy to track its multitude of characters through complex plots and subplots as they battle their way through 4,000 pages of magic, catastrophe and of course, eventual redemption.
But first it has to be said that Kate Elliott doesn’t bring every one of her characters all the way home, as more than a few are killed relatively early in the series, and some that seem destined for an early demise just keep hanging on. This kind of uncertainty, and some unexpected plot twists, keep the pages turning, and makes this long series an entertaining and worthwhile ride.
The setup is a thinly disguised medieval Europe (think 9th century) a few generations after the death of Charlemagne (called Taillefer in the book). The echoes of the Dariyan (read “Roman”) Empire still linger, but the political side of the book is concerned with the dynastic maneuverings of Central European dukes and kings, which are complex to begin with and get even more so as the books roll on.
The fantasy aspect combines powerful magic wielded by a minority of humans, plus some non-human races (though the Eika are the Vikings) and cosmology that resembles the ancient Greek theories about the spheres of existence that surround Earth.
And then of course there are the human interactions, ranging from obsession (both love and hate), religious fervor, lust for power, and revenge, all played out through a cast of what seems like thousands. (Keeping track isn’t all that easy, and when Elliott wraps everything up, it’s not a simple task to sort everything, and everyone, out on just one reading.)
Though there are many point-of-view characters, probably the two most important are Liath, a young woman who has spent her life running away from something her father greatly fears, and Alain, a young farm boy who draws the attention of powerful humans and spirits.
But almost equally important are Sanglant, a bastard son of King Henry whose mother is a mysterious Aoi (perhaps human, perhaps just slightly different); Rosvita, a nun and advisor to King Henry; Ivar, a young nobleman; and Stronghand, a young Eika warrior.
There are plenty of villains, fully fleshed out minor characters, a magical catastrophe, and most important in works as long and complex as this one, a satisfying ending.
The Crown of Stars, all in all, is an excellent medieval fantasy, though not quite up to Miles Cameron’s Traitor Son Cycle (which was written after this) and perhaps a little too complicated for its own good. And naturally, some of the seven volumes are better than others, but if “King’s Dragon” grabs your interest, then go ahead and buy the other six – you’ll have thousands of pages of enjoyment ahead, and the luxury of knowing that you have months of good reading on the way.
March 10, 2019
Kate Elliott is definitely growing on me.
She's pretty different than most of the authors I've read...most fantasy I read is by male authors with a bit of McCaffrey, McKinley and Lackey thrown in with Kurtz to spice it up a bit. But Elliott isn't like any of them. The closest is Kurtz, but that's only because of the religious nature of the world. Kurtz is way more predictable and less cohesive. It's not that the books are incredibly gripping like Sanderson, but they do have the same kind of complexity that Sanderson does, with really well developed characters and multiple plot lines weaving into one.
Alain is still my favorite character, but Sawglant is definitely getting more interesting. I hate Ivar, and I want to smack Rosvita across the head.
Probably the reason I will just keep going with this author is because, I have no idea how it's going to end.
We haven't even met the true bad guy yet. We are three books in! The people I think are evil are now combining into the allied forces! The people who are supposed to be good are making really bad moral choices, choices I would certainly never make, and justifying it before God! On the other hand, Tallia got what was coming to her, and that made me happy. She deserved anything, praying that someone who had never done her harm would die just because he didn't listen to her. GRRRRR.
One thing though, I totally called Lackling. I knew he was really the count's son, not Alain.
She's pretty different than most of the authors I've read...most fantasy I read is by male authors with a bit of McCaffrey, McKinley and Lackey thrown in with Kurtz to spice it up a bit. But Elliott isn't like any of them. The closest is Kurtz, but that's only because of the religious nature of the world. Kurtz is way more predictable and less cohesive. It's not that the books are incredibly gripping like Sanderson, but they do have the same kind of complexity that Sanderson does, with really well developed characters and multiple plot lines weaving into one.
Alain is still my favorite character, but Sawglant is definitely getting more interesting. I hate Ivar, and I want to smack Rosvita across the head.
Probably the reason I will just keep going with this author is because, I have no idea how it's going to end.
We haven't even met the true bad guy yet. We are three books in! The people I think are evil are now combining into the allied forces! The people who are supposed to be good are making really bad moral choices, choices I would certainly never make, and justifying it before God! On the other hand, Tallia got what was coming to her, and that made me happy. She deserved anything, praying that someone who had never done her harm would die just because he didn't listen to her. GRRRRR.
One thing though, I totally called Lackling. I knew he was really the count's son, not Alain.
September 14, 2012
Dragged badly and found myself bored for much of the book with a bit of a struggle to finish. If only I could have read an abridged version that focused more on the main characters and removed all the space filling fluff.
sensitive readers:
sensitive readers:
February 7, 2017
Technically it was the best out of the three books I've read so far - and the easiest to read (book 1 was SUCH A CHORE, ugh) - but there was something off about it. I guess I would've preferred it to be just slightly more concise? Or it might be the fact that it's already the third book in the series and I'm still struggling to find one character that I really love.
September 17, 2018
4,5 stars.
I can't possibly write a review. Check Mayim's, she'll explain it all to you.
I can't possibly write a review. Check Mayim's, she'll explain it all to you.
January 20, 2022
There is a point in every long series(for me at least) that I become well and truly sucked into the story. This book was that milestone for me, for this story.
September 14, 2018
Alain remains a bro. That ending with the lady of battles doesn't bode well for him though. Tallia though - what a dick. I feel bad for her, especially after she "marries" Conrad, but there's nothing likeable about her. I hope Alain gets lucky with the Kerayit princess. Dude needs a win.
Hanna also remains a bro.
I really enjoyed Zacharias and Kansi-a-lari. I want to see more of the Aoi, and I think Zacharias was a good point of view to give me that. The whole Quman plot felt like it came out of nowhere but was a good move; it was threaded in pretty well. I like Sapentia more now that she's with Bayan.
More of a rebuilding book for Hugh. Laying some more groundwork for evil. Kind of overshadowed by Anne, who claims the title of top bitch in this third round.
Liath was alright, but really kicked it up to 11 in the last act. Of course Anne killed Bertrand, she's a tremendous asshole. I am curious how (mechanically) Liath was conceived if she's half human and half super fire angel thing. I think being away from Sanglant could be good for her character, since she's a bit boring and he's very likeable. Heribert was also a low-key bro.
Rosvita I found a little irritating. She spends too long right on the cusp of important breakthroughs. For a brilliant scholar she's a bit slow.
Theophanu and Adelheid were forgettable. Henry marrying Adelheid and invading Aosta seems like a bad idea.
Ivar blows. His development hinges too much on believing Tallia's heresy, and Tallia sucks in general. He's whiny, and all of those companions suck. Pour one out for Baldwin being Judith's beautiful sex slave/husband but the lady of battles seems to have resolved that issue for him. Killing that phoenix was a dick move.
I'm still 100% team Stronghand.
Overall, I liked this one more than the previous book. It really feels like things are kicking into gear as we enter the middle of the series.
Hanna also remains a bro.
I really enjoyed Zacharias and Kansi-a-lari. I want to see more of the Aoi, and I think Zacharias was a good point of view to give me that. The whole Quman plot felt like it came out of nowhere but was a good move; it was threaded in pretty well. I like Sapentia more now that she's with Bayan.
More of a rebuilding book for Hugh. Laying some more groundwork for evil. Kind of overshadowed by Anne, who claims the title of top bitch in this third round.
Liath was alright, but really kicked it up to 11 in the last act. Of course Anne killed Bertrand, she's a tremendous asshole. I am curious how (mechanically) Liath was conceived if she's half human and half super fire angel thing. I think being away from Sanglant could be good for her character, since she's a bit boring and he's very likeable. Heribert was also a low-key bro.
Rosvita I found a little irritating. She spends too long right on the cusp of important breakthroughs. For a brilliant scholar she's a bit slow.
Theophanu and Adelheid were forgettable. Henry marrying Adelheid and invading Aosta seems like a bad idea.
Ivar blows. His development hinges too much on believing Tallia's heresy, and Tallia sucks in general. He's whiny, and all of those companions suck. Pour one out for Baldwin being Judith's beautiful sex slave/husband but the lady of battles seems to have resolved that issue for him. Killing that phoenix was a dick move.
I'm still 100% team Stronghand.
Overall, I liked this one more than the previous book. It really feels like things are kicking into gear as we enter the middle of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2020
This book was a beast, over 900 pages, and while it was slow going in the middle I thought it held together pretty well and kept me interested the whole time. I like how each book introduces new characters to follow and I particularly liked Kansi-a-lari and her story. I was also happy with where most of the other main characters went though Alain's storyline was pretty sad. I was quite intrigued by his ending though and I am excited to read more. I was also glad that Liath's storyline didn't include much of Hugh in this book and she is finally starting to learn more about her powers. With so many conflicts looming on different fronts I am interested to see how the author will fit all the pieces together in the end. Onto the next book.
October 20, 2020
I'm obviously biased at this point since I'm now three books into the series, but I love how intricate and complex everything is getting. The characters continue to be a shining aspect of the series, their choices are frustrating and exciting and some of them make me want to throw my book through the wall. Can't wait to see where this series goes.
April 14, 2025
This book took off running compared to the first two which was great to read. There was also a shift in the way this third book was written, with more focus on actions rather than anecdotes. With that being said, there are moments of dialogue which could have been trimmed down. There is a lull in action about 35% into the book, but it picked up quickly afterwards. Politics are heightened as the fight for the throne amongst royals and the powers who seek the crown divulge into chaos. Cultures and world building are expanding with more info being given to readers surrounding the other human races, Eika, Aoi, and magical beasts. Magic is finally starting to take a predominant role in the series even though it was a light theme in the first two books. The ending of this book is NUTS and not at all the direction I thought this series was going to go. A word of caution to other readers, these books are absolutely full of dense plot and slow build ups, but the payoffs have always been worth it and I’m finding it quite addicting.
Characters make striking decisions which remain extremely entertaining and new characters keep getting brought in to progress the current cast in fun ways. Liath’s love story is a little overdone, but her magic training was fun to see. Hanna’s scavenger hunt and Alain’s dive into the ghosts of the past are about to be awesome. Rosvita’s story is now highly entertaining as she unravels mysteries from seeking out historical figures and events. Hers was the most boring in book 1 but now that I’m fully invested in the happenings of the world, it’s great to see what truths she can reveal. I almost wish I had paid closer attention to her parts in the first book now… The “church boys” as I’m calling them (Ivar and company) also look like they will have some interesting story as they essentially become disciples for Tallia and have been going through some intriguing escapades. Hugh remains insufferable and it’s funny because if this culture wasn’t so fixated by its religion, he would have no sway over his arguments against Liath.
The story remains fluid and flows very nicely from book to book which is highly appreciated as a lot of fantasy books (Sanderson especially) feel like there is no real plan and just keep adding more useless plot drivers that are confusedly meshed together at the end. Elliot does a good job building off each book in a steady manner as if she actually had a plan for this series.
Characters make striking decisions which remain extremely entertaining and new characters keep getting brought in to progress the current cast in fun ways. Liath’s love story is a little overdone, but her magic training was fun to see. Hanna’s scavenger hunt and Alain’s dive into the ghosts of the past are about to be awesome. Rosvita’s story is now highly entertaining as she unravels mysteries from seeking out historical figures and events. Hers was the most boring in book 1 but now that I’m fully invested in the happenings of the world, it’s great to see what truths she can reveal. I almost wish I had paid closer attention to her parts in the first book now… The “church boys” as I’m calling them (Ivar and company) also look like they will have some interesting story as they essentially become disciples for Tallia and have been going through some intriguing escapades. Hugh remains insufferable and it’s funny because if this culture wasn’t so fixated by its religion, he would have no sway over his arguments against Liath.
The story remains fluid and flows very nicely from book to book which is highly appreciated as a lot of fantasy books (Sanderson especially) feel like there is no real plan and just keep adding more useless plot drivers that are confusedly meshed together at the end. Elliot does a good job building off each book in a steady manner as if she actually had a plan for this series.
July 19, 2016
Book three of Crown of Stars introduces Zacharias as the new viewpoint character to help hold the book together as a separate unit. His story is largely passive, as he follows Sanglant's mother, who re-enters after her exit in the original prologue. He also doesn't get nearly as much time as Anna did, but it is put to good use introducing elements that are important later, and Zacharias develops nicely through the book.
Liath continues to be the main center of interest, and also holds the book together as she is confronted with the same choice at the beginning and end of the book. Much is finally revealed about her background, though uncertainty resists. And in the middle of it all, we get the info-dump that puts the 'epic' in this fantasy....
Meanwhile, Alain, having gone from the bottom to the top, rapidly descends back to the bottom of the ladder in this volume. He stays very essentially true to himself, even as everything he's gained is taken away, and major changes (including a shift to a completely different subplot) are promised for book four.
And in addition, all the other plots keep going, and the scope of the series continues to expand, with the action leaking out from Wendar to the south and east. Overall, despite the increased length (800 pages instead of 600) I felt this one held together a bit better than book two. It doesn't deliver the excitement of the end of the previous book, but it maintains a good pace throughout, and doesn't bog down the way Anna's story did for me.
Liath continues to be the main center of interest, and also holds the book together as she is confronted with the same choice at the beginning and end of the book. Much is finally revealed about her background, though uncertainty resists. And in the middle of it all, we get the info-dump that puts the 'epic' in this fantasy....
Meanwhile, Alain, having gone from the bottom to the top, rapidly descends back to the bottom of the ladder in this volume. He stays very essentially true to himself, even as everything he's gained is taken away, and major changes (including a shift to a completely different subplot) are promised for book four.
And in addition, all the other plots keep going, and the scope of the series continues to expand, with the action leaking out from Wendar to the south and east. Overall, despite the increased length (800 pages instead of 600) I felt this one held together a bit better than book two. It doesn't deliver the excitement of the end of the previous book, but it maintains a good pace throughout, and doesn't bog down the way Anna's story did for me.
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