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Cup of the World #3
The Fatal Child
Go to Tuscolo, and you will die.
Ambrose, Prince Under the Sky, is haunted by the ominous words of his ancestor. He shuns his rightful throne and remains in the desolate wastelands, a ragged and hidden king, searching for the secret that will lift the curse of a weeping goddess.
Then one day a young princess comes to him, a girl so enchanting, so beautiful, that his life is no longer his own. For her, Ambrose will leave his wandering existence and set out to meet his fate.
The Fatal Child is a passionate, powerful story that moves from bloody battlefields to court politics, from bleak heathlands to the eternal darkness of the spirit world.
A breathtaking sequel to The Cup of the World and The Widow and the King.
Ambrose, Prince Under the Sky, is haunted by the ominous words of his ancestor. He shuns his rightful throne and remains in the desolate wastelands, a ragged and hidden king, searching for the secret that will lift the curse of a weeping goddess.
Then one day a young princess comes to him, a girl so enchanting, so beautiful, that his life is no longer his own. For her, Ambrose will leave his wandering existence and set out to meet his fate.
The Fatal Child is a passionate, powerful story that moves from bloody battlefields to court politics, from bleak heathlands to the eternal darkness of the spirit world.
A breathtaking sequel to The Cup of the World and The Widow and the King.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
548 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2008
5 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
John G.H. Dickinson
8 books17 followersJohn Geoffrey Hyett Dickinson (born June 1962) is an English author of young adult novels, and has also written one adult novel- Lightstep.
Dickinson lives in Painswick, Gloucestershire with his wife, Pippa Thomson, and two children. He is the household cook, an accountant & church treasurer when he's not writing.
Dickinson lives in Painswick, Gloucestershire with his wife, Pippa Thomson, and two children. He is the household cook, an accountant & church treasurer when he's not writing.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 5, 2021
Probably more of a 3.5 than a 4, but I'm willing to round up since I liked the first two books so much.
I have mixed feelings, y'all. One the one hand, I love this world and the characters. On the other hand, the writing style changed, some of the dialogue was really childish and difficult to believe. The perspective of Melissa could have been really good, but her sections felt under-written, maybe to indicate her younger age?
Most of the book is told through the eyes of Padry, who is like a Falstaff character? Which, is a choice, but in a young adult series is not the choice I would have made. In fact, the whole end battle sequence felt weirdly Henry IV inspired.
What I liked the most about Cup of the World and Widow and The King is that the politics and battles are in the background and the main story focuses on the spiritual side-world plotlines. This story reverses that and the story focuses on politics and battles and the spiritual side-world happens in the background. Which. Again. Is a choice, just not one I would have made.
It did read a lot faster than the other two, because of the change in prose, which was fine, but I really loved the density of the prose in the first two. But. I can see why that choice was made, especially with the focus more on politics and battle. So. A mixed bag.
There was a lot of good story, love Phaedra, was emotionally involved with the characters. It was worth reading and I'm glad I own the complete series. I just feel like Dickinson was kind of done with the world and wanted to move on to something else, but was locked into a contract, and just wrote this as quickly as he could so he could move onto other things. I understand the why behind so many young adult contracts being set for trilogies - but I think it sometimes leads to really crappy third installments because the author is done with the world. Um. But that's not entirely related. ANYWAY. Those are some of my thoughts.
I have mixed feelings, y'all. One the one hand, I love this world and the characters. On the other hand, the writing style changed, some of the dialogue was really childish and difficult to believe. The perspective of Melissa could have been really good, but her sections felt under-written, maybe to indicate her younger age?
Most of the book is told through the eyes of Padry, who is like a Falstaff character? Which, is a choice, but in a young adult series is not the choice I would have made. In fact, the whole end battle sequence felt weirdly Henry IV inspired.
What I liked the most about Cup of the World and Widow and The King is that the politics and battles are in the background and the main story focuses on the spiritual side-world plotlines. This story reverses that and the story focuses on politics and battles and the spiritual side-world happens in the background. Which. Again. Is a choice, just not one I would have made.
It did read a lot faster than the other two, because of the change in prose, which was fine, but I really loved the density of the prose in the first two. But. I can see why that choice was made, especially with the focus more on politics and battle. So. A mixed bag.
There was a lot of good story, love Phaedra, was emotionally involved with the characters. It was worth reading and I'm glad I own the complete series. I just feel like Dickinson was kind of done with the world and wanted to move on to something else, but was locked into a contract, and just wrote this as quickly as he could so he could move onto other things. I understand the why behind so many young adult contracts being set for trilogies - but I think it sometimes leads to really crappy third installments because the author is done with the world. Um. But that's not entirely related. ANYWAY. Those are some of my thoughts.
April 6, 2025
The scope of Dickinson's trilogy expands again, as kingship is thrust on our protagonist and he reluctantly accepts. And simultaneously, our perspective expands as we follow (among others) his chancellor trying to rebuild the kingdom through what he knows. And many things are rebuilt, and they try to bind up wounds of old... yet both their own failings and those of the kingdom as a whole are gravely working against them.
The ending is sadly weaker than the rest of the series, and it's sadder in a different way. What's more, I'm left still unsure of some things that were happening with regards to Beyeh. But I can see what Dickinson was doing here, and it's a worthy thing to be doing... even though it's sad for those of us caught up in it.
The ending is sadly weaker than the rest of the series, and it's sadder in a different way. What's more, I'm left still unsure of some things that were happening with regards to Beyeh. But I can see what Dickinson was doing here, and it's a worthy thing to be doing... even though it's sad for those of us caught up in it.
August 21, 2016
This book is the conclusion of Dickinson's twisting fantasy trilogy that started with "The cup of the World," which by the way I highly recommend.
This book finally reveals the underlying motivation of the Weeping Goddess Beyah, who cursed the people of the land for generations. It also reveals the continued efforts of Phaedra and her son Ambrose to end this curse. As always, Dickinson's book is filled with brilliant descriptions, twisting plots, and characters that are realistic and relatable and humanly imperfect.
However I felt that the plot was maybe too twisted. I've felt this way before with this series. I think it's mainly because the plot is usually set in motion by someone so far above the main characters (immortal goddesses and cursed princes, for example) that it's hard to really grasp the importance of everything that's going on. Most of the time I can deal with it, but this time it was a little misleading. It might've just been me, but I felt that the book was heading in one direction for almost the entire story, but then it completely turned and surprised me at the end. This was mainly, I think, due to the fact that I misunderstood who the "fatal child" was, but still... it makes me wonder the importance of certain other female characters in the book.
However, overall, I found this to be a rather satisfying conclusion to the trilogy (even though I'm mad about Phaedra and I'll blame Ambrose- the brat- forever, even though he was a pretty okay king while he lasted.) I recommend these books highly to anyone who enjoys a highly developed and complex fantasy that does not imitate Lord of the Rings in the least.
I just wish that the author would now write a series about what comes next. I know most of the characters from the first book (the first two, I guess) are dead, but I'd like to see some positive growth. But that's just me.
This book finally reveals the underlying motivation of the Weeping Goddess Beyah, who cursed the people of the land for generations. It also reveals the continued efforts of Phaedra and her son Ambrose to end this curse. As always, Dickinson's book is filled with brilliant descriptions, twisting plots, and characters that are realistic and relatable and humanly imperfect.
However I felt that the plot was maybe too twisted. I've felt this way before with this series. I think it's mainly because the plot is usually set in motion by someone so far above the main characters (immortal goddesses and cursed princes, for example) that it's hard to really grasp the importance of everything that's going on. Most of the time I can deal with it, but this time it was a little misleading. It might've just been me, but I felt that the book was heading in one direction for almost the entire story, but then it completely turned and surprised me at the end. This was mainly, I think, due to the fact that I misunderstood who the "fatal child" was, but still... it makes me wonder the importance of certain other female characters in the book.
However, overall, I found this to be a rather satisfying conclusion to the trilogy (even though I'm mad about Phaedra and I'll blame Ambrose- the brat- forever, even though he was a pretty okay king while he lasted.) I recommend these books highly to anyone who enjoys a highly developed and complex fantasy that does not imitate Lord of the Rings in the least.
I just wish that the author would now write a series about what comes next. I know most of the characters from the first book (the first two, I guess) are dead, but I'd like to see some positive growth. But that's just me.
November 21, 2010
John Dickinson is an incredibly skilled writer; his prose is lovely, his characters complex (sometimes to the point of frustration) and his plot contains moral and spiritual layers. Just my kind of book! And yet -
For the quality of the writing, this deserves five stars. I loved and (in Melissa's case) admired the two viewpoint characters. I found the ultimate story humane and believable. But this book is so very sad! It's also very intense and has some horrifying scenes of bloodshed. This is why I gave it only four stars, because I don't think I am likely to reread it often.
Nevertheless, if you are looking for a truly well-written traditional fantasy that will challenge you, I recommend this, and its predecessor, highly.
(Spoilers)
The basic plot concerns a mysterious girl, Atti, and the young "King Under the Sky", Ambrose Umbriel. When the child, the only survivor of her noble family, seeks out the king in order to sue for justice, she sets events in motion that will transform their world. For the king under the sky, who has been ruling justly and wisely and living as a beggar, will travel south and become King indeed, entering realms of war and politics and treachery for which he's ill-suited. There are echoes of Arthur and Guinevere in the relationship between Atti and Ambrose - and that is fascinating. Atti is a frustrating character, but I could understand why she acts as she does. The two viewpoint characters are Melissa, Atti's young servant who has also been orphaned by violence, and the middle-aged clerk Thomas Padry. Both grow and change throughout the tale, and both, ultimately, exhibit some fine human qualities. I might recommend this series to young adults who enjoy Megan Whalen Turner's "Queen's Thief" series, Hilari Bell's "Farsala Trilogy", or Kevin Crossley Holland's tales of Arthur.
For the quality of the writing, this deserves five stars. I loved and (in Melissa's case) admired the two viewpoint characters. I found the ultimate story humane and believable. But this book is so very sad! It's also very intense and has some horrifying scenes of bloodshed. This is why I gave it only four stars, because I don't think I am likely to reread it often.
Nevertheless, if you are looking for a truly well-written traditional fantasy that will challenge you, I recommend this, and its predecessor, highly.
(Spoilers)
The basic plot concerns a mysterious girl, Atti, and the young "King Under the Sky", Ambrose Umbriel. When the child, the only survivor of her noble family, seeks out the king in order to sue for justice, she sets events in motion that will transform their world. For the king under the sky, who has been ruling justly and wisely and living as a beggar, will travel south and become King indeed, entering realms of war and politics and treachery for which he's ill-suited. There are echoes of Arthur and Guinevere in the relationship between Atti and Ambrose - and that is fascinating. Atti is a frustrating character, but I could understand why she acts as she does. The two viewpoint characters are Melissa, Atti's young servant who has also been orphaned by violence, and the middle-aged clerk Thomas Padry. Both grow and change throughout the tale, and both, ultimately, exhibit some fine human qualities. I might recommend this series to young adults who enjoy Megan Whalen Turner's "Queen's Thief" series, Hilari Bell's "Farsala Trilogy", or Kevin Crossley Holland's tales of Arthur.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2012
Reviewed by Theresa L. Stowell for TeensReadToo.com
This spectacular high fantasy is the third book in a trilogy including THE CUP OF THE WORLD and THE WIDOW AND THE KING. Dickinson uses a mixture of political intrigue, frightening battles, and treacherous relationships.
The novel starts with Thomas Padry, counselor to King Gueronius, saving a mysterious young girl in the midst of a battle. Atti is a beautiful child, and as the years pass Padry finds peace in her presence.
When Atti decides she must pursue the elusive Prince Under the Sky, Padry follows. However, finding Atti takes Padry on a harder journey than he anticipated. He must ask Raymonde, a nobleman's son and a murderer, to help him on his way, and then he must trust Talifer, one of the seven sons of historic Wulfram the Seafarer. Danger, witchcraft, and dragons are just a few of the things Padry faces.
Atti's story is also told by Melissa, a teenage girl who becomes Atti's maid. Melissa's humble background is the opposite of Atti's privileged one. However, the two walk together through the journey Atti has chosen.
Atti further becomes a significant part of the Prince Under the Sky's quest as Ambrose takes over his rightful throne and attempts to save his world from the weeping goddess whose tears pollute the hearts of men, causing discord and discontent.
Readers will be drawn into this well-written tale and follow closely as Ambrose strives to bring peace back to his world.
This spectacular high fantasy is the third book in a trilogy including THE CUP OF THE WORLD and THE WIDOW AND THE KING. Dickinson uses a mixture of political intrigue, frightening battles, and treacherous relationships.
The novel starts with Thomas Padry, counselor to King Gueronius, saving a mysterious young girl in the midst of a battle. Atti is a beautiful child, and as the years pass Padry finds peace in her presence.
When Atti decides she must pursue the elusive Prince Under the Sky, Padry follows. However, finding Atti takes Padry on a harder journey than he anticipated. He must ask Raymonde, a nobleman's son and a murderer, to help him on his way, and then he must trust Talifer, one of the seven sons of historic Wulfram the Seafarer. Danger, witchcraft, and dragons are just a few of the things Padry faces.
Atti's story is also told by Melissa, a teenage girl who becomes Atti's maid. Melissa's humble background is the opposite of Atti's privileged one. However, the two walk together through the journey Atti has chosen.
Atti further becomes a significant part of the Prince Under the Sky's quest as Ambrose takes over his rightful throne and attempts to save his world from the weeping goddess whose tears pollute the hearts of men, causing discord and discontent.
Readers will be drawn into this well-written tale and follow closely as Ambrose strives to bring peace back to his world.
October 29, 2015
Ambrose, the last of an ancient royal family, leads a sequestered life in the wastelands, trying to solve the mystery of the Weeping Goddess whose tears poison the land and the hearts of the people. After a time, he is sought out by a young princess whose family was killed by the usurper. She asks for his help, but Ambrose refuses. Later however, they fall in love and get married, and Ambrose decides to claim his rightful throne. However, in this shadowy and mysterious kingdom nothing is as it seems, and ancient powers will rise once again to create havoc in the land.
A good conclusion to the trilogy. Darker than the other books; its atmosphere is often unsettling, and it leaves the reader with a strange and melancholic feeling that lingers for a long time.
A good conclusion to the trilogy. Darker than the other books; its atmosphere is often unsettling, and it leaves the reader with a strange and melancholic feeling that lingers for a long time.
June 26, 2009
It is strange to me that this series that I had never heard of before has integrated itself into my life. I have yet to read the first one, but I know already that the characters and the storyline in these books are ones that will stay with me. There are some books that have a way of lingering and the people in them become more like neighbors. I will stop and think, "I haven't seem Ambrose for a while..." and then realize he is a character in a book. That's what these books did. They are good and underappreciated. Read them.
October 24, 2009
The third and last volume in this superb series. Ambrose is now a young man, and lord of Tarceny. Events conspire to make him King of all the land, and it seems he will be a good one--but for his love for Atti, the orphaned lady of Baldwin. The "fatal child" of the title, Atti will be the downfall of Ambrose and will cost the kingdom dearly. This novel is a little less bleak than the middle one, and has less of the creepy supernatural element, but it still grips the reader. Nicely tied up at the end. Recommended to fans of the series.
October 6, 2016
This had the promise to be a great book, the issue was the ending, it didn't really end just left you feeling really deflated and horrified. A bit like the 2 nd world war no winner just losers. Although at least the people celebrated at the end of the 2nd world war, in this book you just have the sense that the story will just start again to end in another war. No one was happy, no one married the person they lived a real thumbs down. Such a shame as this could have been as good as the hobbit and lord of the rings but the whole story became pointless
February 8, 2010
Rather disappointed in this one. The beauty of the first two lays partially in their serious nature--bad stuff does happen. But I guess I was looking for something more final and uplifting in the final book. I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but maybe I'll try it again someday and see if I feel the same way.
May 31, 2012
All I can say is FINALLY. Finally this series is over. I was about ready, ages ago, to just say kill them all. Just end it already!
I thought the entire series had enticing elements, undercraft being one of them, but all in all, it was boring. Would I read it again? No.
December 6, 2011
I think this is the best book in the trilogy, but could be a bit less gloomy and dark.
January 30, 2013
I thought it was an interesting ending to the series.
June 18, 2013
depressing
December 21, 2015
I think this is the best book in the trilogy, but could be a bit less gloomy and dark.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews