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Mageworlds #3
By Honor Betray'd
Galcen has fallen. The Space Force is broken and scattered. the planets of the former Republic are rushing to make peace with the victorious Mages.
All that remains is mopping up. Minor details. A privateer or two, a few Adepts who remain alive and on the run, and the hereditary ruler of a lifeless planet.
Beka Rosselin-Metadi, the last Domina of Lost Entibor, possesses little more than a famous name and a famous ship. With them she must salvage what she can from the wreckage of the Republic. Her enemies are too many to count, her friends too few to make a difference. She can trust no one except herself, her crew--and the family she ran away from years before.
Beka has resources few a hidden base, a long forgotten oath, and a dead man's legacy. But she has problems as well; for in a universe gone mad, neither friends nor enemies are all that they may seem.
A play that began in treachery and blood five hundred years before has reached its final act. A broken galaxy will be sundered forever, or else made whole.
All that remains is mopping up. Minor details. A privateer or two, a few Adepts who remain alive and on the run, and the hereditary ruler of a lifeless planet.
Beka Rosselin-Metadi, the last Domina of Lost Entibor, possesses little more than a famous name and a famous ship. With them she must salvage what she can from the wreckage of the Republic. Her enemies are too many to count, her friends too few to make a difference. She can trust no one except herself, her crew--and the family she ran away from years before.
Beka has resources few a hidden base, a long forgotten oath, and a dead man's legacy. But she has problems as well; for in a universe gone mad, neither friends nor enemies are all that they may seem.
A play that began in treachery and blood five hundred years before has reached its final act. A broken galaxy will be sundered forever, or else made whole.
407 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 15, 1994
10 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Debra Doyle
95 books81 followersaka Nicholas Adams (with James D. Macdonald), Martin Delrio, Robyn Tallis (with James D. Macdonald)
Debra Doyle has a doctorate in English literature. Together, she and James Macdonald have written numerous sf/f books. They live in Colebrook, New Hampshire.
Series:
* Mageworlds
* Circle of Magic
* Bad Blood
Series contributed to:
* Tom Swift IV
* Robert Silverberg's Time Tours
* Daniel M Pinkwater's Melvinge of the Megaverse
* Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict
Debra Doyle has a doctorate in English literature. Together, she and James Macdonald have written numerous sf/f books. They live in Colebrook, New Hampshire.
Series:
* Mageworlds
* Circle of Magic
* Bad Blood
Series contributed to:
* Tom Swift IV
* Robert Silverberg's Time Tours
* Daniel M Pinkwater's Melvinge of the Megaverse
* Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 15, 2014
This third book of the trilogy stacks up well compared to the first two. However, it is harder to review since revealing the action will open the door to too many spoilers. Many flashbacks in Book II are explained here, so I do not want to reveal them to anyone who has not read the entire trilogy.
There is a great deal of action and battles and a bit of mystical sparring between Mages and Adepts. The ending has a nice twist which I though was well done.
Again, highly recommended for Sf adventure fans.
Note: The first three books in the MageWorlds series form a complete trilogy-----The Price of the Stars; Starpilot's Grave and By Honor Betray'd. The series continues on for several other books but they are prequels to this trilogy or set further in the future.
This is a great trilogy--over 1,200 pages of well-written space adventure. You will be well rewarded with an excellent blend of SF adventure and memorable characters. Edited 6/15/14 to fix typos.
There is a great deal of action and battles and a bit of mystical sparring between Mages and Adepts. The ending has a nice twist which I though was well done.
Again, highly recommended for Sf adventure fans.
Note: The first three books in the MageWorlds series form a complete trilogy-----The Price of the Stars; Starpilot's Grave and By Honor Betray'd. The series continues on for several other books but they are prequels to this trilogy or set further in the future.
This is a great trilogy--over 1,200 pages of well-written space adventure. You will be well rewarded with an excellent blend of SF adventure and memorable characters. Edited 6/15/14 to fix typos.
February 16, 2022
So I feel ambivalent about this book. This isn't a bad book. Being the third in the series, and having proclaimed the second one to be a middle point setting up a bigger stage... the stage is certainly there, and things happen on it, but I was kind of expecting there to be... more. A flashier show that I felt was promised from the first two books. It's still a good show, mind you, but... I still felt disappointed.
So the first book set a high bar of action scenes, and I thought reasonably there would be more of it in the following books. But, neither of the two later books really reach that bar again. That is the biggest sin in my view that the trilogy of books commit. So much setting up, so much world-building, I thought for sure it was gonna go to an even more interesting place. And it kind of does, but it leaves its action behind to focus on the mystic and protocolary aspects of the universe.
The issue is that the pieces were THERE, ready to be used. You have a massive fleet of magelords finally back for vengeance. You have a troupe of heroes finally ready to confront them. You have a set of characters committed to pick up the pieces and fight back. You have the possibility of surrogates that can betray them at any moment. And most of this kind of happens... but it's all presented in an underwhelming fashion. There's barely any big battle. There's barely any epic duel. There are set pieces of sorts, confrontations, big twists... but they're so prim and proper, so dry and regal, that they feel like character studies rather than a space opera. Some people may enjoy the hell out of this, but me personally, I wanted these characters to really get in there and fight for their lives over and over. That's what the first book delivered, and that's what to me the series had promised throughout.
But the events here are underwhelming for the setting. Perhaps there's a verbal confrontation here and there. Perhaps someone draws a weapon and gets shot here and there. But it sorta just... happens. Case in point: there's a storyline that ends with a space battle. Not a war, mind you, but a single space battle. And how is this battle, the culmination of everything that happened before, presented? From the view of the bridge crew exclusively. This is not necessarily bad as is, but in here... it is. Simply because the battle is "shown" to us in terms of reports that the crew gives. It doesn't show what happens, it only gives us dry reports of what is happening outside. No details, just military jargon describing the battle. Why?? It treads the very edge of "telling instead of showing"! And before you know it it's over. That's the end of the "war".
Like I said, the focus is on characters, and how they come together, and apart again, trying to find the solution to the war. Most of the book spends time regrouping. Regrouping the defeated Space Force, regrouping the main characters back together. Once again, there's a lot of traveling, and meandering, to reach that point over 3/5 of the book later. It's a slog, once again, when it was supposed to be the crescendo at this point. There's even a social party near the end... AGAIN. A party. To resolve a war?! Even the characters are incredulous of this! But it happens. And that's how this book operates, really.
One thing that does reach a climactic point is the nature of the Power, used by the Mages and the Adepts. And it's extensively used here... perhaps a bit too conveniently to take everyone where they need to be and resolve things neatly.
That's an additional problem with the structure of the book: everything big happens right at the end... like with a few pages left. Twists are revealed, characters are unmasked and redeemed, the day is saved, ALL in the of a few last pages. If all of these things had happened earlier in the book, it would have been far more entertaining. So why was all of this compressed into the last portion of the book? I don't know, but the ENTIRE series is resolved very neatly in the last few pages, like everyone just wants to call it a day and end the story swiftly. But it does tie up the story, so at least there's some closure on the entire affair.
So why didn't the series ever come back to the kick-ass action of the first book? I just don't know. I was fully expecting the action to even top those scenes in the first book. But it just didn't happen. And why does it decide to meander for most of the book and then rush the resolution of the whole trilogy? I also don't understand.
So as a whole, the final part of the trilogy does what it set out to do: finish the story. But the way it goes about it rubbed me the wrong way. The pacing, the lack of proper tension, the rushed finale... it felt... adequate, but only just so. These are great characters and a fantastic setting, but the story only does them the minimal justice they deserve. I would have loved to see them in a much more involving and action-packed adventure. But alas, it's only a "good" yarn, the very definition of 4 stars for me. (Rounded up, anyway.)
So the first book set a high bar of action scenes, and I thought reasonably there would be more of it in the following books. But, neither of the two later books really reach that bar again. That is the biggest sin in my view that the trilogy of books commit. So much setting up, so much world-building, I thought for sure it was gonna go to an even more interesting place. And it kind of does, but it leaves its action behind to focus on the mystic and protocolary aspects of the universe.
The issue is that the pieces were THERE, ready to be used. You have a massive fleet of magelords finally back for vengeance. You have a troupe of heroes finally ready to confront them. You have a set of characters committed to pick up the pieces and fight back. You have the possibility of surrogates that can betray them at any moment. And most of this kind of happens... but it's all presented in an underwhelming fashion. There's barely any big battle. There's barely any epic duel. There are set pieces of sorts, confrontations, big twists... but they're so prim and proper, so dry and regal, that they feel like character studies rather than a space opera. Some people may enjoy the hell out of this, but me personally, I wanted these characters to really get in there and fight for their lives over and over. That's what the first book delivered, and that's what to me the series had promised throughout.
But the events here are underwhelming for the setting. Perhaps there's a verbal confrontation here and there. Perhaps someone draws a weapon and gets shot here and there. But it sorta just... happens. Case in point: there's a storyline that ends with a space battle. Not a war, mind you, but a single space battle. And how is this battle, the culmination of everything that happened before, presented? From the view of the bridge crew exclusively. This is not necessarily bad as is, but in here... it is. Simply because the battle is "shown" to us in terms of reports that the crew gives. It doesn't show what happens, it only gives us dry reports of what is happening outside. No details, just military jargon describing the battle. Why?? It treads the very edge of "telling instead of showing"! And before you know it it's over. That's the end of the "war".
Like I said, the focus is on characters, and how they come together, and apart again, trying to find the solution to the war. Most of the book spends time regrouping. Regrouping the defeated Space Force, regrouping the main characters back together. Once again, there's a lot of traveling, and meandering, to reach that point over 3/5 of the book later. It's a slog, once again, when it was supposed to be the crescendo at this point. There's even a social party near the end... AGAIN. A party. To resolve a war?! Even the characters are incredulous of this! But it happens. And that's how this book operates, really.
One thing that does reach a climactic point is the nature of the Power, used by the Mages and the Adepts. And it's extensively used here... perhaps a bit too conveniently to take everyone where they need to be and resolve things neatly.
That's an additional problem with the structure of the book: everything big happens right at the end... like with a few pages left. Twists are revealed, characters are unmasked and redeemed, the day is saved, ALL in the of a few last pages. If all of these things had happened earlier in the book, it would have been far more entertaining. So why was all of this compressed into the last portion of the book? I don't know, but the ENTIRE series is resolved very neatly in the last few pages, like everyone just wants to call it a day and end the story swiftly. But it does tie up the story, so at least there's some closure on the entire affair.
So why didn't the series ever come back to the kick-ass action of the first book? I just don't know. I was fully expecting the action to even top those scenes in the first book. But it just didn't happen. And why does it decide to meander for most of the book and then rush the resolution of the whole trilogy? I also don't understand.
So as a whole, the final part of the trilogy does what it set out to do: finish the story. But the way it goes about it rubbed me the wrong way. The pacing, the lack of proper tension, the rushed finale... it felt... adequate, but only just so. These are great characters and a fantastic setting, but the story only does them the minimal justice they deserve. I would have loved to see them in a much more involving and action-packed adventure. But alas, it's only a "good" yarn, the very definition of 4 stars for me. (Rounded up, anyway.)
November 14, 2012
A very satisfying conclusion. It's a thrill ride from start to finish, it goes places you wouldn't expect, and all the plot threads and character arcs are neatly tied up.
July 29, 2013
Lots of fun. Tightly plotted space opera with enough Unforeseen Twists to keep me intrigued and entertained.
September 28, 2019
7- All story lines are tiedup. Prof, was owner of old mage lord ship, planned long term to train someone from adapts. Person will defeat magelord of first circle by combining powers of both disciplines. Beka collect forces to fight Magelord. All caught in Magelord battleship. Old adapts master doesn't want peace, needs to conquer his last mind defences.
Like the complexity of the story and how the story lines interweave and split again. 3 children of main characters previous war, leading characters.
Least rated of the 3 books because many of the driving elements of the characters are not explained (although story lines are covered). For example why was the master of the adapts against peace, which is not present in his successor. Most likely he attacked the children's mother but why was a clone made of her (unlikely that this was anticipated). etc.
Like the complexity of the story and how the story lines interweave and split again. 3 children of main characters previous war, leading characters.
Least rated of the 3 books because many of the driving elements of the characters are not explained (although story lines are covered). For example why was the master of the adapts against peace, which is not present in his successor. Most likely he attacked the children's mother but why was a clone made of her (unlikely that this was anticipated). etc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2018
4.5* Excellent: brings all the events and plot threads together from the first two books to a very satisfying conclusion.
May 20, 2020
Very Good end to the story.
December 1, 2013
This third book brings the Second Mage War to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. The plot threads wound through the other books mostly get caught up neatly and woven tidily into this final book. There are some exciting twists and turns in characters and their loyalty (some that have been hinted at in other books and a few new ones), that make the ending very interesting.
There were a few things that felt a little too pat, put in just to make everything fit together well. Owen's apprentice is one of these things. I never really felt that she fit into the story, for all that she's proved useful on several occasions. This happened in the previous books as well, but overall the story and writing are good enough that these little things don't bother me, except as a "well, that part could have been a bit better".
I'm looking forward to reading the prequel books about the First Mage War.
There were a few things that felt a little too pat, put in just to make everything fit together well. Owen's apprentice is one of these things. I never really felt that she fit into the story, for all that she's proved useful on several occasions. This happened in the previous books as well, but overall the story and writing are good enough that these little things don't bother me, except as a "well, that part could have been a bit better".
I'm looking forward to reading the prequel books about the First Mage War.
September 21, 2015
The third installment of the Magewolrds brings to a close the Beka-Ari-Owen era of the story (more or less! I always hope to see more of them again someday, honestly) and also introduces some new characters. My favorite of these is Klea, who shows up to accompany Owen in his povs, and I would love to someday see more of Klea and Owen.
That aside, I liked how this book wrapped up the storylines set up throughout the previous two. The plotlines are neatly resolved, and it's fun to see the hints towards the ending that did in fact show up throughout the first two books. Reading it again after knowing the reveals is definitely a good idea (and fun, since I class these books as "perfectly enjoyable, though star-warsy to the max".
That aside, I liked how this book wrapped up the storylines set up throughout the previous two. The plotlines are neatly resolved, and it's fun to see the hints towards the ending that did in fact show up throughout the first two books. Reading it again after knowing the reveals is definitely a good idea (and fun, since I class these books as "perfectly enjoyable, though star-warsy to the max".
August 2, 2021
A nice finish to the series. The ending was different than I expected which was nice and it was very fast paced throughout. While this is very reminiscent of Star Wars and not as original was I might like, it is very entertaining and a fun read. I read the second and third books of this series back-to-back and since the story just continues seamlessly I have a difficult time remembering where one ends and the other begins, but both are full of excitement and adventure. A perfect space adventure.
February 21, 2009
I think I have read at least one of the earlier books but it was rather hard to read this one out of sequence. At least it seems to conclude the trilogy.
It was hard to be sympathetic to any character as it seemed the authors were almost trying too hard to show negatives as well as positives. I will have to go back and read the earlier books to see if the characters are more positive with more background.
It was hard to be sympathetic to any character as it seemed the authors were almost trying too hard to show negatives as well as positives. I will have to go back and read the earlier books to see if the characters are more positive with more background.
August 28, 2015
This is the third book in the Mage Worlds series. In this book the 2nd Mage War is going strong and it's up to our heroes, Adepts and normal's alike, to bring it to an end in the favor of the Adept worlds. This book like the others is full of action with some of our heroes also having a love interest in one another. They get some help in ending the war from some unexpected sources. This is Space Opera/Military Science Fiction at it's finest. I highly recommend this book and this series.
January 24, 2012
This is actually the third book in the series. The library system doesn't have the first. For some reason I thought it was the second book in the series. In spite of missing out on two books worth of backstory, I quite enjoyed this bit of space opera. The pace is fast (it switches viewpoints perhaps a bit much for my taste), the characters enjoyable and the space battles decent. I shall probably read more of the series.
June 26, 2019
I did not like the ending to this book.
1996 review: The third of the Space Opera Trilogy, a great series, I read this book in two sittings--the series is a great entry in the space-opera subgenre. Fun, there were betrayals and the true murderer of Perada Rosselin-Metadi finally showed up in unexpected guise. My only quibble is that the ending was a little too smooth, a little too happy-ever-after for everyone. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to reading the prequel to the trilogy.
1996 review: The third of the Space Opera Trilogy, a great series, I read this book in two sittings--the series is a great entry in the space-opera subgenre. Fun, there were betrayals and the true murderer of Perada Rosselin-Metadi finally showed up in unexpected guise. My only quibble is that the ending was a little too smooth, a little too happy-ever-after for everyone. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to reading the prequel to the trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2021
The final book in the Mageworlds trilogy - this rating is for the trilogy as a whole, really.
They're the first books in ages where I've been excited about moving on to the next one, and I loved the seemingly out-of-nowhere plot twists that were actually set up in the earlier books.
Slightly more detailed gushing here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
They're the first books in ages where I've been excited about moving on to the next one, and I loved the seemingly out-of-nowhere plot twists that were actually set up in the earlier books.
Slightly more detailed gushing here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
September 2, 2014
A great finish to a super series. Continuing the theme, this still reads like a more action-y Weber (or a less "macho" Ringo, honestly), which is great. Even though the focus is very much on "action", the whole story told by this trilogy is more complex than you might think. There's plenty of trickery and plotting to go around. I will certainly read the rest of the entries in this world.
January 14, 2016
Decent finish to the trilogy, though I thought there was a little too much woo-woo with mages in the Great Beyond. The rapid cuts from one pov to another were still distracting, but the battle choreography mostly worked (excepting a few cases where spacecraft "slow down") and the family interplay was pretty funny.
September 20, 2011
Classic space opera. Great entertainment. Fun, unexpected plot twists.
December 30, 2020
Good ending to this space opera adventure series
May 22, 2016
I started this book at 2 am this morning and finished at 4. Admittedly this was my fourth or fifth re-read and I read abnormally fast, but still.
March 14, 2016
I was totally enthralled!
May 23, 2016
An interesting conclusion to the first three books. With quite a few surprises along the way.
Glad Goodreads recommended the book to me, otherwise I'd have never found out about it.
Glad Goodreads recommended the book to me, otherwise I'd have never found out about it.
April 17, 2008
The climax was so good I needed a smoke!
April 29, 2017
Overly complex and circular.
They did cover and explain the time shifts of the first 2 books. The ultimate big bad comes across as more of a last minute twist than a planned progression.
They did cover and explain the time shifts of the first 2 books. The ultimate big bad comes across as more of a last minute twist than a planned progression.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews