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Branion #4
The Golden Sword
Acclaimed author Fiona Patton returns with a brilliant fourth novel in her epic saga of an alternate Great Britain. Camden DeKathrine is expected to be the perfect Branion Sword Knight, dedicated to the realm's ruling Avatar of Flame. But instead, claimed by the Aspect of Wind, he is being drawn into the heart of an ancient heresy which will challenge the power of the Living God. And on the eve of the five hundredth anniversary of DeMarion rule in Branion, the centuries-old conflict threatens to destroy not only Camden and his comrades but the entire Physical and Prophetic Realms...
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2001
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180 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Patton
43 books78 followersFiona lives in rural Ontario with her wife, Tanya Huff. She currently works as a counselor for the developmentally handicapped.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 12, 2014
I pulled this one off my TBR shelf (err, bookcase) where it has been languishing for more than a decade, mainly because I've been doing a reader bingo this year, and there was a box for a book that is more than ten years old.
But why did I wait so long to read it? I loved the other books in the series. But since this was the last book, maybe I just didn't want to admit that the series really was over.
Plus, this could be done because the series are linked by world, not by characters. Each of the books is set at a different point in time for the kingdom of Branion (aka England), where the Aristok (king) is actually divinely chosen by the Living Flame. The world, if you look at the map, is an alternate Europe, and there is religious strife between the Triarchy (I guess you could link them to The Church of England) and the Essusiates (which makes them the Catholics).
This book is heavily about the religious strife. The Triarchy only allows one Vessel for the elements (the Aristok). Trying to suggest that the other three elements also should have Vessels is heresy and punishable by death. Camden deKathrine has a strong affinity for the Wind, and as a result becomes a pawn in the plans of his uncle to collect four young people with affinities to different elements and use them to create a single Vessel for all four elements (the church says that this would tear reality apart).
Camden is torn between his love of the Wind and his dedication as a Sword of the Flame (a religious soldier). Then there's the Seer, Martin Wrey, who was born Essusiate, rededicated ot the Triarchy, and torn between the two, and who has a link to Camden
One of intriguing things about this world is the assumed sexual and gender equality. Inheritence doesn`t care about gender (and the main families are all named after women: deKathrine, deMarion, deSaundra, etc), and the same titles (Prince, Duke, etc) are taken by both genders. And same sex relationships are not only accepted, but encouraged in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
I loved the story. I loved the characters. I love the world, and I hope that someday Ms Patton will return to it. (and it would be nice if DAW would rerelease them in ebook format, since my paperbacks are a little ratty)
But why did I wait so long to read it? I loved the other books in the series. But since this was the last book, maybe I just didn't want to admit that the series really was over.
Plus, this could be done because the series are linked by world, not by characters. Each of the books is set at a different point in time for the kingdom of Branion (aka England), where the Aristok (king) is actually divinely chosen by the Living Flame. The world, if you look at the map, is an alternate Europe, and there is religious strife between the Triarchy (I guess you could link them to The Church of England) and the Essusiates (which makes them the Catholics).
This book is heavily about the religious strife. The Triarchy only allows one Vessel for the elements (the Aristok). Trying to suggest that the other three elements also should have Vessels is heresy and punishable by death. Camden deKathrine has a strong affinity for the Wind, and as a result becomes a pawn in the plans of his uncle to collect four young people with affinities to different elements and use them to create a single Vessel for all four elements (the church says that this would tear reality apart).
Camden is torn between his love of the Wind and his dedication as a Sword of the Flame (a religious soldier). Then there's the Seer, Martin Wrey, who was born Essusiate, rededicated ot the Triarchy, and torn between the two, and who has a link to Camden
One of intriguing things about this world is the assumed sexual and gender equality. Inheritence doesn`t care about gender (and the main families are all named after women: deKathrine, deMarion, deSaundra, etc), and the same titles (Prince, Duke, etc) are taken by both genders. And same sex relationships are not only accepted, but encouraged in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
I loved the story. I loved the characters. I love the world, and I hope that someday Ms Patton will return to it. (and it would be nice if DAW would rerelease them in ebook format, since my paperbacks are a little ratty)
December 13, 2011
This was one of my very favorite books of the series. If you read the series, you know that they have two religions, one of which takes the form of flame which is represented by a human avatar. What you get through the books are the mention of the other earth powers such as earth, water and wind. This book shows us the power of these other forms and the people who try and meld with these aspects.
It is a form of heresy to try and become a living avatar (which to me doesn't make sense why they can't be allowed) and it is this fact that the book revolves around. I throughly enjoyed all of the characters in this book as well as the story itself. I am sorry that I don't have another one of her books set in this world. I hope that she decides to revisit it again some time I will be looking forward to that.
It is a form of heresy to try and become a living avatar (which to me doesn't make sense why they can't be allowed) and it is this fact that the book revolves around. I throughly enjoyed all of the characters in this book as well as the story itself. I am sorry that I don't have another one of her books set in this world. I hope that she decides to revisit it again some time I will be looking forward to that.
October 10, 2007
The fourth book. My least favourite of the series, actually, but it does contain some very interesting 'world setting information'.
It's probably because it didn't focus on the ruling family like the other three books did. Instead it's based more around the most powerful noble family in Branion, the DeKatherines. Still a good read though.
It's probably because it didn't focus on the ruling family like the other three books did. Instead it's based more around the most powerful noble family in Branion, the DeKatherines. Still a good read though.
April 22, 2008
I really liked the main character in this one. He is someone that I think anyone who reads this will find easy to connect with. Wanting to be accepted by those you love, but at the same time wanting to be able to express who you are.
May 28, 2016
This one wasn't as good as the others.
No that's not right. It was just different. I enjoyed the bulk of it but I wasn't really into the ending.
I hope Fiona lets us revisit her world again I liked the vacay
No that's not right. It was just different. I enjoyed the bulk of it but I wasn't really into the ending.
I hope Fiona lets us revisit her world again I liked the vacay
July 6, 2016
Its flashback-within-a-flashback structure makes it impossible to follow in places. Sometimes I had no idea what year it was.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews