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The God Stalker Chronicles (Kencyrath #1-2)
by
P.C. Hodgell
Jame is a Kencyrath, the chosen people of the Three-Faced God, who fight the demonic being called Perimal Darkling. At the same time, she fights an internal battle for their honor because 3,000 years ago the leader of the Kencyrath betrayed his people to the Darkness for his own immortality.
She also must find her ten-year older brother Tori and return to him the sword and ...more
She also must find her ten-year older brother Tori and return to him the sword and ...more
Hardcover, 656 pages
Published
January 6th 2009
by Baen
(first published 1982)
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Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)
Oct 14, 2009
Patrick Burgess
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
anyone with eyeballs that love original, thoughtful fantasy
Shelves:
reviewed
Darkling, Original Fantasy
This is an ombnibus collection of Books 1 & 2 of Hodgell's Kencyrath series, Godstalk and Dark of the Moon.
Patrica Hodgell is my favorite author, one of the most creative, inspired writers of fantasy today. With her tales of the Kencyrath, Hodgell has created a darkly brilliant, sensuously intriguing, heart-poundingly exciting, amazingly original worldscape, with deeply fascinating, utterly human yet definitely NOT human characters who have the most entertaining fla ...more
This is an ombnibus collection of Books 1 & 2 of Hodgell's Kencyrath series, Godstalk and Dark of the Moon.
Patrica Hodgell is my favorite author, one of the most creative, inspired writers of fantasy today. With her tales of the Kencyrath, Hodgell has created a darkly brilliant, sensuously intriguing, heart-poundingly exciting, amazingly original worldscape, with deeply fascinating, utterly human yet definitely NOT human characters who have the most entertaining fla ...more
Includes God Stalk and Dark of the Moon:
God Stalk
My first book by this author, who's described as a "cult favorite." Never heard of her before, but I thought this was a quite entertaining fantasy in the classic vein (think Thieves' World) but with a vein of darker elements running through it... (maybe a little Storm Constantine, Tanith Lee, Meredith Ann Pierce...)
From the wilderness, the young woman Jame arrives at the city of Tai-Tastigon... unfortunately during the inauspicious night of the F ...more
God Stalk
My first book by this author, who's described as a "cult favorite." Never heard of her before, but I thought this was a quite entertaining fantasy in the classic vein (think Thieves' World) but with a vein of darker elements running through it... (maybe a little Storm Constantine, Tanith Lee, Meredith Ann Pierce...)
From the wilderness, the young woman Jame arrives at the city of Tai-Tastigon... unfortunately during the inauspicious night of the F ...more
This is the first two books of P.C. Hodgell's Kencyrath series, "God Stalk" and "Dark of the Moon". The first book introduces Jame, and tells of her time in the city of Tai-Tastigon, where she joins the Thieves' Guild and experiments with the nature of the Gods. The second book deals with Jame's return to her homeland, and her brother (who is the Highlord of the Kencyrath) leading their people against a barbarian horde which is being manipulated by the evil Master who betrayed the Kencyrath.
The ...more
The ...more
Feb 14, 2013
Laura (Kyahgirl)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Laura (Kyahgirl) by:
Estara
4/5; 4 stars ; A-
This is a single volume published by Baen ebooks which encompasses both Book 1, God Stalk, and Book 2, Dark of the Moon. I commented on the two separately.
Book 1:
God Stalk
Book 2:
Dark of the Moon
This is a single volume published by Baen ebooks which encompasses both Book 1, God Stalk, and Book 2, Dark of the Moon. I commented on the two separately.
Book 1:
God Stalk
Book 2:
Dark of the Moon
This volume contains God Stalk and Dark of the Moon.
A rich fantasy imagination disciplined to a driving plot.
God Stalk is interesting for its dealings with the nature/source of gods--bears comparisons to Pratchett's Small Gods, though his take is ironic.
A rich fantasy imagination disciplined to a driving plot.
God Stalk is interesting for its dealings with the nature/source of gods--bears comparisons to Pratchett's Small Gods, though his take is ironic.
Hard to follow at time. That said this has potential for real drama and a lengthy life span of storylines. The dark, the shunned, the caged and trapped. What are the real restrictions to Jame's honor ?
Loved it even more the second time around because I wasn't reading at breakneck speed to find out what happened at the end. Wonderful writing, highly original world-building, and extremely engaging characters, with the added benefit of being completely unpredictable, much like Jame herself :)
Nov 01, 2014
Louisa Watson
rated it
it was ok
Recommended to Louisa by:
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Girlz Group Read
The God Stalker Chronicles are composed of the first two volumes in Hodgell’s Kencyrath saga: God Stalk and Dark of the Moon. The world-building is intricate and highly imaginative, the descriptions are atmospheric, the stories are cleverly plotted and the characters are well-drawn. The only reason I did not love these books is because they are far too dark for me.
Jame is a complex character whose true nature is mysterious even to herself. Most of the time she seems like a decent person (she is ...more
Jame is a complex character whose true nature is mysterious even to herself. Most of the time she seems like a decent person (she is ...more
I picked up a copy of the Baen reprint omnibus edition, The God Stalker Chronicles, containing both God Stalk and its sequel Dark of the Moon, at the World Fantasy Con last October. I’d sooner have bought them as individual paperbacks, rather than one humungous hardback, but it was all I could find. God Stalk is in almost all respects an ordinary epic fantasy, set in an epic fantasy world with a complex history and pantheon, and featuring a special snowflake protagonist. It’s a very likeable boo
...more
This volume collects the novel God Stalk and its sequel, Dark of the Moon.
In God Stalk, our protagonist Jame has lost her memory and arrives in the city of Tai-Tastigon looking for answers to who she is and seeking her lost twin brother, Torisen. She joins the thieves guild and gets involved in the city’s politics whilst simultaneously trying to prevent the city’s gods escaping from their temples and destroying the city.
In Dark of the Moon, we get to see more of the world outside of Tai-Tastigon ...more
In God Stalk, our protagonist Jame has lost her memory and arrives in the city of Tai-Tastigon looking for answers to who she is and seeking her lost twin brother, Torisen. She joins the thieves guild and gets involved in the city’s politics whilst simultaneously trying to prevent the city’s gods escaping from their temples and destroying the city.
In Dark of the Moon, we get to see more of the world outside of Tai-Tastigon ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
An omnibus of first two books in the Kencyrath series, Godstalk and Dark of the Moon. Decidedly dark fantasy.
It starts off with Jamethiel (Jame for short) stumbling into a city from the Haunted Lands with no memory of where she's been or how she got there, just that she's running from something and needs to get a broken sword and a ring to her twin brother.
In the first book, she's puzzling out parts of her past, and who/what she is. While she does this, she sticks around and becomes an honoura ...more
It starts off with Jamethiel (Jame for short) stumbling into a city from the Haunted Lands with no memory of where she's been or how she got there, just that she's running from something and needs to get a broken sword and a ring to her twin brother.
In the first book, she's puzzling out parts of her past, and who/what she is. While she does this, she sticks around and becomes an honoura ...more
Abandoned. 250 pages in and still wondering where the story is or why I should care about Jame. I don't often comment on writing styles, but In my opinion, Hodgell is a poor storyteller and her writing style is boring and not engaging. I couldn't care less about the characters or the story, the author utterly failed to pull me into the book.
The story has potential (eg Jame becomes apprentice to legendary thief master) but they are not explored or dead ended. In the end, it is just an endless se ...more
The story has potential (eg Jame becomes apprentice to legendary thief master) but they are not explored or dead ended. In the end, it is just an endless se ...more
Jun 23, 2009
Karen
added it
Okay. I was thinking this was a brand new book in the series and was VERY excited about it. Turns out it's just the first two books in one volume. Sigh.
Because of this, I didn't actually read it, and I didn't rate it. If you want to know when I read them and what I rated them you'll have to actually look at the individual books.
God Stalk & Dark Of The Moon
Because of this, I didn't actually read it, and I didn't rate it. If you want to know when I read them and what I rated them you'll have to actually look at the individual books.
God Stalk & Dark Of The Moon
Since I first read her back in the late '80s I have always loved PC Hodgell's work. These two books were my first introduction to her and I read them over and over again until about twenty years later when I was delighted to learn of new editions published by Baen, and brand-new installments in the series.
Hodell writes a rich tapestry of descriptions, characters, and dialogue that draw the reader in until they feel a part of the weave. This book and those that follow have never been anything but ...more
Hodell writes a rich tapestry of descriptions, characters, and dialogue that draw the reader in until they feel a part of the weave. This book and those that follow have never been anything but ...more
WHICH FANTASY SERIES SHOULD I START READING? I'VE BARELY READ ANY.
WHAT HAVE YOU READ AND LIKED?
IT'S BASICALLY ALL BEEN YA FANTASY, THOUGH RIGHT NOW I WANT TO READ ADULT FANTASY. I'VE ENJOYED HP OF COURSE, QUEEN'S THIEF, NARNIA, AND I JUST FINISHED UPROOTED TODAY. I'D LIKE SOMETHING WITH DETAILED WORLD-BUILDING AND A FEMALE PROTAGONIST. I STARTED GOT ONCE BUT HAVEN'T DELVED BACK INTO IT.
PC HODGELL'S SERIES THAT STARTS WITH GOD STALK, MAYBE? IT'S UNFINISHED, BUT FROM WHAT I REMEMBER THE FIRST TWO ...more
WHAT HAVE YOU READ AND LIKED?
IT'S BASICALLY ALL BEEN YA FANTASY, THOUGH RIGHT NOW I WANT TO READ ADULT FANTASY. I'VE ENJOYED HP OF COURSE, QUEEN'S THIEF, NARNIA, AND I JUST FINISHED UPROOTED TODAY. I'D LIKE SOMETHING WITH DETAILED WORLD-BUILDING AND A FEMALE PROTAGONIST. I STARTED GOT ONCE BUT HAVEN'T DELVED BACK INTO IT.
PC HODGELL'S SERIES THAT STARTS WITH GOD STALK, MAYBE? IT'S UNFINISHED, BUT FROM WHAT I REMEMBER THE FIRST TWO ...more
I read this so long ago now but felt it had to be added. My copy is dog-eared and faded from constant rereads. The story is set is a world like no other where gods live and die depending on their number of followers, honour is everything and the legendary Kencyr are fighting a losing battle against the darkness and chaos of Perimal Darkling and are being driven back through creation, world by world.
Find it. Read it. Now available as The God Stalker Chronicles (ISBN 143913295X)
Find it. Read it. Now available as The God Stalker Chronicles (ISBN 143913295X)
I originally read this book twenty five years ago and loved it and was terribly disappointed there were no other books in the series. Then on a random search through amazon found a further four had been recently published. So time to reread the chronicles. Could it live up to my teenage memories. Well yes it does. It's remains grippingly written with fascinating characters, a complex world system and genuinely complex ethics. I hope the following books live up to this.
This is an omnibus edition, consisting of books one and two. I want to start with book three right away, so that means a five star review :-)
The first book is a bit slow in taking off, it lacks a bit in suppleness, but after a while it gets going. Book two is flying, so up to book three!
For a description, it might be best to imagine a mix between Terry Goodkind (Wizard's First Rule) and Terry Brooks (Sword of Shannara), but less grimm and with (sometimes) a bit of humour. Recommended!
The first book is a bit slow in taking off, it lacks a bit in suppleness, but after a while it gets going. Book two is flying, so up to book three!
For a description, it might be best to imagine a mix between Terry Goodkind (Wizard's First Rule) and Terry Brooks (Sword of Shannara), but less grimm and with (sometimes) a bit of humour. Recommended!
The second book was a significantly better book - the first one was important, but the second was interesting, really exploring the characters, their backgrounds, their mysteries, and lots of exciting action. The politics and cultural ticks are in the nascent exploration stage, but the potential for story is pretty spectacular. Will definitely continue reading this series.
Don't waste your time
The book took me longer to read it because it was NOT interesting. I felt I wasted time and money on a book I truly hated! I will Never purchase another book from this author again.
The book took me longer to read it because it was NOT interesting. I felt I wasted time and money on a book I truly hated! I will Never purchase another book from this author again.
The incomprehensibly epic mixed with the seemingly mundane villains. Perhaps that says more about typical incomprehensibly epic villains than about those in this book. Decent read, both books are self contained.
Bought this one for the Clyde Caldwell cover (He's a great fantasy artist!), and read the first chapter which was a great start to what could be a really good book. Looking forward to diving into this one when time allows.
I’ve reviewed the two novels that comprise this omnibus separately:
God Stalk
Dark of the Moon
God Stalk
Dark of the Moon
Jun 21, 2007
Curt Connors
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Any fantasy fan.
Shelves:
scifi_fantasy
One of my favourite authors and definitely one of my favourite heroines ever. Just a great pity She writes so slowly.
Worth the read.
Entertaining
Excellent pacing, well crafted world.
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“For thirty millennia, three thousand years on Rathillien alone, the Kencyrath had fought the long retreat from world to world, down the Chain of Creation, waiting for their god to manifest himself through them in final battle. Chosen they were and proud, but bitter, too, over long delay, and angry that, the task being set, their god had apparently left them to accomplish it alone.”
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