War

Birthright #3

by Simon Hawke

A sweeping epic of ambition, passion and conflict, this is an intimate look behind the scenes of the struggle for power following the death of the Emperor Michael. Original.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

341 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1996

About the author

Also published as J.D. Masters.

He was born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, but began writing as Simon Hawke in 1984 and later changed his legal name to Hawke. He has also written near future adventure novels under the penname "J. D. Masters" and mystery novels.

Reviews

[Hyann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Iron Throne 20 years ago and at this time I found it was a great book so I was eager to read this one (Hawke wrote Darksun Novel too).

I guess my reading taste is more mature since then because War wasn't as good expected.

Hawke wrote really good scenes, but if you take the complete plot, you don't have depth, typical massmarket book.

An half-elf quit his forest to see the world... and finish high ranking officer in a human army. All the book they mention is link with the empire Regent but didn't meet him.
A girl wandering in a battlefield become a Duchess of a kingdom but fall in love at first sight in the end and it didn't bring anything in the stories.
A female wizard appear and try to give power to people probably to manipulate them but you will never know why, she simply disappear in the end!

Many holes and dull ending, you invest some time in the characters but too many question left. Maybe another book was planned...

Even with Hawke's touch, I can't really recommend it. I enjoy some scene but as a whole it's not a page burner.

[Lorewarden]

I enjoyed this novel. The book follows two characters as they navigate the weeks leading up to open war between two opposing duchies: a half-elf explores the human world to better understand his human half, while a women left alone by the death around her seeks to navigate the currents of power in a patriarchal world. I found the book quite readable despite constant expositions exploring various parts of Birthright lore.

On a side note, the author spends an entire chapter in a gambling house where the half-elf and his new ally play various games. The author did this in at least one of his Dark Sun novels, and if memory serves, two Dark Sun novels. This isn't a complaint - it's just funny to see this play out in multiple novels. Simon Hawke must enjoy creating fictional gambling games.

[Markwoods · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s not dreadful. But if you’re not a D&D player it probably wouldn’t attract your attention. There’s not much game-related content in it actually. And despite the title, it’s 95% the lead-in to war. The battle itself is near the end. The politics is interesting.

[S · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this because it was my dad's, and I didn't really like it

[Russ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if I can properly state how much of a let down this book turned out to be. It is the sequel to the excellent, excellent book, "The Iron Throne." Same author, same fantasy setting, you'd think that's a formula for another great book. But where "Iron Throne" was an epic masterpiece, this book just fizzled and never even approached the greatness of its predecessor. I don't know what happened, if Hawke wanted to make a very different book, if he was under pressure from his editors to explore some different aspects of the setting, or if he just set the bar too high with his first book, but I had a hard time finishing War. I do not recommmend it.

[Heiki Eesmaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor structure, confusing motivation for the female protagonist and weak dialogue. I was entertained but much more reminded why D&D worlds are best for your own story-telling and myth-making.