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In Conquest Born #2
The Wilding
The Barnes & Noble Review
The Wilding is the much-anticipated sequel to C. S. Friedman's blockbuster 1986 debut novel, In Conquest Born, an epic saga of two culturally divergent interstellar civilizations and their two legendary leaders, who are locked in mortal conflict. Taking place centuries after the concluding events of In Conquest Born, The Wilding begins with the two empires in flux. The Holding, which is made up of numerous male-dominated tribes, has been ruled by the genetically obsessed Braxana (a.k.a. the Pale Ones) for generations; but as they desperately strive to invigorate their stagnant gene pool, other tribes secretly plot revolution.
The Wilding is the much-anticipated sequel to C. S. Friedman's blockbuster 1986 debut novel, In Conquest Born, an epic saga of two culturally divergent interstellar civilizations and their two legendary leaders, who are locked in mortal conflict. Taking place centuries after the concluding events of In Conquest Born, The Wilding begins with the two empires in flux. The Holding, which is made up of numerous male-dominated tribes, has been ruled by the genetically obsessed Braxana (a.k.a. the Pale Ones) for generations; but as they desperately strive to invigorate their stagnant gene pool, other tribes secretly plot revolution.
The inhabitants of the Azean Empire, meanwhile, are still genetically manipulating their offspring, ceaselessly trying to improve the human genome. In the nightmarish aftermath of the Institute for the Advancement of Psychic Evolution centuries earlier, a Big Brother type of society has been formed based on misinformation and mistrust.
When outcasts from both societies fatefully meet in the Outlands of space -- an exiled Braxin warrior on an impossible quest and an Azean woman in search of a long-lost sister -- the futures of both warring civilizations are irrevocably changed forever.
Fans of Friedman's works who have waited almost two decades for this novel can rest assured that their patience will be rewarded tenfold. The Wilding is archetypal Celia richly detailed characters; complex, emotionally absorbing themes; and singularly original settings. In a genre where the inundation of mediocre story lines is like so much white noise, Friedman is a unique voice singing out loudly and clearly above the din.
Paul Goat Allen
551 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2004
17 people are currently reading
657 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Friedman
49 books1,278 followersCelia S. Friedman is a science fiction and fantasy author. She has also been credited Celia S. Friedman and Celia Friedman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 11, 2010
When an author writes a main character with a morally problematic point of view or deeply held belief, it's usually for one of three reasons:
1) It's a critique of the position;
2) It's an endorsement of the position; or
3) It's merely a portrayal of the position, without judgment.
Most decent authors, while doing #1 or #2, will do it subtly enough that an unobservant reader could see it as #3, but if it's a critique, the character representing the position will usually get some sort of comeuppance, and if it's an endorsement, the character will usually get some sort of reward.
Occasionally, however, even an observant reader has difficulty telling what the author intends. Such is the case with THE WILDING.
The main character is a member of a society in which men are encouraged to rape any woman not displaying a token indicating she is owned by another man. Even women who outrank a man socially are not allowed to give him a direct order (even if a woman trying to save his life says, "Follow me!" a man is expected to stay and die rather than obey the order).
The main character is exiled from his culture, and therefore interacts with women from a normal society, and throughout the course of the novel, threatens them with sexual assault to get his way, puts them down, and generally upholds his own cultural views. And everyone comes to like him.
I suppose this would be less surprising and offputting if this book were written by a man, or if it were some sort of erotica, and all of this could be dismissed as a fetish.
But in a space opera/adventure novel, the weird feeling that a female author is endorsing the main character's beliefs makes it hard to critique or absorb the rest of an otherwise somewhat colorless novel.
1) It's a critique of the position;
2) It's an endorsement of the position; or
3) It's merely a portrayal of the position, without judgment.
Most decent authors, while doing #1 or #2, will do it subtly enough that an unobservant reader could see it as #3, but if it's a critique, the character representing the position will usually get some sort of comeuppance, and if it's an endorsement, the character will usually get some sort of reward.
Occasionally, however, even an observant reader has difficulty telling what the author intends. Such is the case with THE WILDING.
The main character is a member of a society in which men are encouraged to rape any woman not displaying a token indicating she is owned by another man. Even women who outrank a man socially are not allowed to give him a direct order (even if a woman trying to save his life says, "Follow me!" a man is expected to stay and die rather than obey the order).
The main character is exiled from his culture, and therefore interacts with women from a normal society, and throughout the course of the novel, threatens them with sexual assault to get his way, puts them down, and generally upholds his own cultural views. And everyone comes to like him.
I suppose this would be less surprising and offputting if this book were written by a man, or if it were some sort of erotica, and all of this could be dismissed as a fetish.
But in a space opera/adventure novel, the weird feeling that a female author is endorsing the main character's beliefs makes it hard to critique or absorb the rest of an otherwise somewhat colorless novel.
May 2, 2009
C.S. Friedman's In Conquest Born was a formative science fiction novel for me. I read it in my early teens, and fell in love with it for its sweeping canvas of galactic civilizations locked in war, its meticulously realized cultures, and its strange, driven characters, who were all sympathetic no matter what side they were on.
Twenty years later, its sequel, The Wilding came out. According to the back cover copy, fans had been clamoring for a sequel for years. That was news to me - much as I loved In Conquest Born, it had never occurred to me that it wasn't complete and able to stand alone. So, I'd felt a little ambivalent about The Wilding, as indicated by the fact that I bought it the instant I saw it in a bookstore, and then waited over a year to read it.
I'm glad I finally did read it. It didn't blow me away the way In Conquest Born did, but that's hardly surprising. (I'm not sure that In Conquest Born would blow me away in the same way if I read it for the first time now. It's still a wonderful novel, but at the time it was an rare example of the kind of complex, culturally aware space opera that is rather more common now.) It still has the sweeping canvas of galactic war, meticulously realized cultures, and driven characters, although the whole book managed to feel a bit less epic than its predecessor.
I'm rather keen now to go back and read the two books back to back, just to fully appreciate them, and see all the connections.
Anyway, if you're thinking of reading this, read In Conquest Born first.
Twenty years later, its sequel, The Wilding came out. According to the back cover copy, fans had been clamoring for a sequel for years. That was news to me - much as I loved In Conquest Born, it had never occurred to me that it wasn't complete and able to stand alone. So, I'd felt a little ambivalent about The Wilding, as indicated by the fact that I bought it the instant I saw it in a bookstore, and then waited over a year to read it.
I'm glad I finally did read it. It didn't blow me away the way In Conquest Born did, but that's hardly surprising. (I'm not sure that In Conquest Born would blow me away in the same way if I read it for the first time now. It's still a wonderful novel, but at the time it was an rare example of the kind of complex, culturally aware space opera that is rather more common now.) It still has the sweeping canvas of galactic war, meticulously realized cultures, and driven characters, although the whole book managed to feel a bit less epic than its predecessor.
I'm rather keen now to go back and read the two books back to back, just to fully appreciate them, and see all the connections.
Anyway, if you're thinking of reading this, read In Conquest Born first.
January 10, 2021
3.5 of 5
Trigger-warning: rape is a common motif in The Wilding
This was a difficult book to love - all the lead characters were highly unlikeable. But it was superbly written and the story was layered and complex. Although the ending felt abrupt and some storylines were left hanging.
ETA: This was a rereading of The Wilding for me. I am a big fan of C.S. Friedman. What was notable for me was that this book holds up and I feel, earns 3.5 stars even though it is now 20 years old. Not all science fiction survives through the decades. That this wasn't my favorite C.S. Friedman novel doesn't tarnish my enjoyment of her writing in the least. Even at her *worst* (and this isn't the worst) she's head and shoulders among many others in a crowded field.
(In full disclosure my favorite of all her works is her fantasy/supernatural based "Coldfire Triology.")
Trigger-warning: rape is a common motif in The Wilding
This was a difficult book to love - all the lead characters were highly unlikeable. But it was superbly written and the story was layered and complex. Although the ending felt abrupt and some storylines were left hanging.
ETA: This was a rereading of The Wilding for me. I am a big fan of C.S. Friedman. What was notable for me was that this book holds up and I feel, earns 3.5 stars even though it is now 20 years old. Not all science fiction survives through the decades. That this wasn't my favorite C.S. Friedman novel doesn't tarnish my enjoyment of her writing in the least. Even at her *worst* (and this isn't the worst) she's head and shoulders among many others in a crowded field.
(In full disclosure my favorite of all her works is her fantasy/supernatural based "Coldfire Triology.")
September 19, 2012
3.5 Originally posted at FanLit.
"To have an enemy worthy of one’s respect… that is a prize beyond measure. What is a lover’s touch compared to such a thing? Love is but weakness shared, trials halved for being met in tandem. While a skilled enemy provides stimulation, challenge, and ultimately growth for all those who test their strength against his".
I didn’t think that C.S. Friedman’s wonderful space epic In Conquest Born needed a sequel, but here it is, nonetheless. The Wilding can stand alone, but In Conquest Born is a better book, so I’d suggest reading it first.
It’s a couple of generations after Zatar the Braxin and Anzha the Azean lived, but their legacies remain. The inbred Braxin society is still in danger of becoming extinct and they desperately need some new but acceptable genetic material. Their leader, the Pri’tiera, who has a genetic fault he hides by secluding himself, is unable to find a mate who doesn’t quickly commit suicide. The Azean psychics, meanwhile, went mad and may actually be extinct, though many people think they’re hiding somewhere in space.
Conflict between the two races again comes to a head with the stories of three characters. Psychic twins Zara and Rho were separated at birth; Rho was raised as a psychic while Zara was not aware of her genetic potential. When Zara starts to get premonitions, she goes looking for answers and discovers her heritage and her special powers.
Tathas is a political traitor who has been sentenced to death by the Braxins. Encouraged by his lover K’Teva (who may not be trustworthy), he invokes the right of the Wilding in which he goes into exile but may return if he can find a suitable mate (or just some good genetic material) for the Pri’tiera. While on their individual quests, Talthas and Zara meet and find some common ground, and they discover that both of their races want to understand the genetics behind psychic powers so they can crush their enemies.
What I liked most about In Conquest Born was its extensive world building, exciting action, and its exploration of some fascinating moral and scientific issues. The focus on psychology and genetics is still here in The Wilding (and Friedman gets her science right), but because it’s a sequel, the world-building has already been done and is no longer an emphasis here.
The plot of The Wilding doesn’t quite make up for this loss. It’s missing the intense action that made In Conquest Born so exciting. But what The Wilding is missing most is appealing characters. None of the characters, except for perhaps K’Teva, are particularly interesting or admirable. This was a problem with In Conquest Born, too, but that book made up for it by introducing us to a fascinating new world and having a tight plot with plenty of action. And its main characters were interesting, even if they weren’t likable.
I didn’t dislike The Wilding, but I didn’t like it as well as I liked In Conquest Born and I don’t think it added anything necessary to the story. However, if you’re a fan of In Conquest Born and just want to spend more time in Friedman’s world, you’ll enjoy The Wilding. It’s still written in Friedman’s smooth intellectual style.
I listened to Audible Frontier’s production which was read by Marc Vietor. As usual, it was very well done. Vietor has a nice voice and a pleasant pace, and he emits just the right amount of enthusiasm when he reads. I can confidently recommend Audible’s version.
"To have an enemy worthy of one’s respect… that is a prize beyond measure. What is a lover’s touch compared to such a thing? Love is but weakness shared, trials halved for being met in tandem. While a skilled enemy provides stimulation, challenge, and ultimately growth for all those who test their strength against his".
I didn’t think that C.S. Friedman’s wonderful space epic In Conquest Born needed a sequel, but here it is, nonetheless. The Wilding can stand alone, but In Conquest Born is a better book, so I’d suggest reading it first.
It’s a couple of generations after Zatar the Braxin and Anzha the Azean lived, but their legacies remain. The inbred Braxin society is still in danger of becoming extinct and they desperately need some new but acceptable genetic material. Their leader, the Pri’tiera, who has a genetic fault he hides by secluding himself, is unable to find a mate who doesn’t quickly commit suicide. The Azean psychics, meanwhile, went mad and may actually be extinct, though many people think they’re hiding somewhere in space.
Conflict between the two races again comes to a head with the stories of three characters. Psychic twins Zara and Rho were separated at birth; Rho was raised as a psychic while Zara was not aware of her genetic potential. When Zara starts to get premonitions, she goes looking for answers and discovers her heritage and her special powers.
Tathas is a political traitor who has been sentenced to death by the Braxins. Encouraged by his lover K’Teva (who may not be trustworthy), he invokes the right of the Wilding in which he goes into exile but may return if he can find a suitable mate (or just some good genetic material) for the Pri’tiera. While on their individual quests, Talthas and Zara meet and find some common ground, and they discover that both of their races want to understand the genetics behind psychic powers so they can crush their enemies.
What I liked most about In Conquest Born was its extensive world building, exciting action, and its exploration of some fascinating moral and scientific issues. The focus on psychology and genetics is still here in The Wilding (and Friedman gets her science right), but because it’s a sequel, the world-building has already been done and is no longer an emphasis here.
The plot of The Wilding doesn’t quite make up for this loss. It’s missing the intense action that made In Conquest Born so exciting. But what The Wilding is missing most is appealing characters. None of the characters, except for perhaps K’Teva, are particularly interesting or admirable. This was a problem with In Conquest Born, too, but that book made up for it by introducing us to a fascinating new world and having a tight plot with plenty of action. And its main characters were interesting, even if they weren’t likable.
I didn’t dislike The Wilding, but I didn’t like it as well as I liked In Conquest Born and I don’t think it added anything necessary to the story. However, if you’re a fan of In Conquest Born and just want to spend more time in Friedman’s world, you’ll enjoy The Wilding. It’s still written in Friedman’s smooth intellectual style.
I listened to Audible Frontier’s production which was read by Marc Vietor. As usual, it was very well done. Vietor has a nice voice and a pleasant pace, and he emits just the right amount of enthusiasm when he reads. I can confidently recommend Audible’s version.
September 20, 2018
I read In Conquest Born four years ago; there's not much I remember about it, but I distinctly remember it being excellent. Even the blurb makes me want to read it again! Perhaps my tastes have changed over the course of four years, but as I was reading The Wilding, instinctively, I knew that this would not break through to the coveted 5* rating.
Friedman's prose is sublime (the words flow seamlessly from page to mind), and her world-building is meticulous. As usual, the main plot of the novel resolved itself, but the next stage in the development of that world's history is left ambiguous --a Friedman trademark Friedman that leaves the reader simultaneously satisfied but yearning for more.
Friedman usually offers complex and compelling characters, and these were present in the book, but as minor characters. The two major characters just didn't quite hit the spot for me...Tathas was not quite dark enough and lacked logical consistency in his behaviour, displaying empathetic qualities unsuited to a Braxin. The main female character was so spineless that I can't even be bothered to pick up the book to lookup her name.
Overall, a fun and quick read, but the characters were not to the standard that I expect from Friedman.
Friedman's prose is sublime (the words flow seamlessly from page to mind), and her world-building is meticulous. As usual, the main plot of the novel resolved itself, but the next stage in the development of that world's history is left ambiguous --a Friedman trademark Friedman that leaves the reader simultaneously satisfied but yearning for more.
Friedman usually offers complex and compelling characters, and these were present in the book, but as minor characters. The two major characters just didn't quite hit the spot for me...Tathas was not quite dark enough and lacked logical consistency in his behaviour, displaying empathetic qualities unsuited to a Braxin. The main female character was so spineless that I can't even be bothered to pick up the book to lookup her name.
Overall, a fun and quick read, but the characters were not to the standard that I expect from Friedman.
July 25, 2013
Most people seem to be saying that this sequel is worse than its predecessor, In Conquest Born. I'd like to humbly disagree.
That book was her debut novel, and it showed. The pacing, the writing, the style was all very raw and unpracticed. But The Wilding was written over a decade later, and the experience Friedman gained in her craft is palpable.
I felt that this second entry flew by much faster than the first. And it continues to explore some very interesting aspects of what having psychics loose in the universe would mean.
The way the two societies and their different views on gender, power, and politics makes for arguably even more interesting discussion-worthy material this time around.
Sadly, the book still falls short. It could have been much more epic, and actually asked some of the questions I had when I finished the previous book. If there is ever a third entry I just hope that the plot lives up to this amazing world the author has created.
That book was her debut novel, and it showed. The pacing, the writing, the style was all very raw and unpracticed. But The Wilding was written over a decade later, and the experience Friedman gained in her craft is palpable.
I felt that this second entry flew by much faster than the first. And it continues to explore some very interesting aspects of what having psychics loose in the universe would mean.
The way the two societies and their different views on gender, power, and politics makes for arguably even more interesting discussion-worthy material this time around.
Sadly, the book still falls short. It could have been much more epic, and actually asked some of the questions I had when I finished the previous book. If there is ever a third entry I just hope that the plot lives up to this amazing world the author has created.
May 30, 2008
I first discovered her with The Black Sun Rising years ago, back in 1989/90 I think. Since then I have read just about everything she has written and enjoyed it all. The Wilding reads like a struggle between Star Trek’s Klingons and B5’s Centari with a good helping of B5’s PSI Corps: good stuff.
May 28, 2017
C. S. Freidman never disappoints. Her worlds are deep and her characters are believable, both good points and bad.
April 26, 2025
This was definitely an interesting read and not in the best way… while the book is well written and cohesive, there are a lot of triggering themes in the book.
I was really interested in some of the science fiction themes presented such as the psychics and their community, but the cultural war between species featured an extremely misogynistic and racist race. They have laws for ownership of women, laws allowing them to r*pe anyone on the basis of needing to “fix their gene pool”, and social customs where women are never allowed to command a man, etc. This is illustrated in detail many times throughout the book making it difficult to read.
The main male character actively upholds these beliefs and despite never changing his behavior or amending his beliefs he somehow becomes liked by the leading female characters, one of which he psychically r*pes. He is in fact glorified and found as attractive to many female characters. In some cases these themes are presented for the purpose of illuminating the villainy of this kind of behavior but in this case the racist r*pist culture is never truly condemned for its beliefs and actions. While the book doesn’t necessarily praise these actions it subliminally promotes misogyny and sexist men by not condemning it and having female characters who actually like and support the leading male.
It’s surprising especially as it’s written by a woman, and I’m surprised at all of the positive reviews on this book with no mention of the blatant sexism. I’m not surprised at the male reviews being full of praise for the book. If you want to avoid topics of SA and intense misogyny I would avoid this book. These themes were so prevalent I can barely think of anything else to add about the parts of the book that didn’t have to do with this particular race being rampant r*pists. Read at your own risk or better yet, don’t read.
I was really interested in some of the science fiction themes presented such as the psychics and their community, but the cultural war between species featured an extremely misogynistic and racist race. They have laws for ownership of women, laws allowing them to r*pe anyone on the basis of needing to “fix their gene pool”, and social customs where women are never allowed to command a man, etc. This is illustrated in detail many times throughout the book making it difficult to read.
The main male character actively upholds these beliefs and despite never changing his behavior or amending his beliefs he somehow becomes liked by the leading female characters, one of which he psychically r*pes. He is in fact glorified and found as attractive to many female characters. In some cases these themes are presented for the purpose of illuminating the villainy of this kind of behavior but in this case the racist r*pist culture is never truly condemned for its beliefs and actions. While the book doesn’t necessarily praise these actions it subliminally promotes misogyny and sexist men by not condemning it and having female characters who actually like and support the leading male.
It’s surprising especially as it’s written by a woman, and I’m surprised at all of the positive reviews on this book with no mention of the blatant sexism. I’m not surprised at the male reviews being full of praise for the book. If you want to avoid topics of SA and intense misogyny I would avoid this book. These themes were so prevalent I can barely think of anything else to add about the parts of the book that didn’t have to do with this particular race being rampant r*pists. Read at your own risk or better yet, don’t read.
August 17, 2013
The plot was very complicated, and I had no idea where the book would end up. Although this is the second book in a series, I read this book without having read the first book. I could not detect any missing information; the book can be read independently (as far as I could tell).
My only question/criticism/confusion came from one of the early chapters, that seemed to be written in the first person. The rest of the book was in third person. We never returned to the first person or found out what happened to her.
My only question/criticism/confusion came from one of the early chapters, that seemed to be written in the first person. The rest of the book was in third person. We never returned to the first person or found out what happened to her.
January 18, 2012
I don't know if it was just the edition I got, but there was no mention on this book that it is the sequel to another. I went through about the first 150 pages pretty lost -- then the rest just a little lost. Lesson learned once again: do your research before trolling the library shelves and picking out things that look pretty.
November 26, 2017
I really like this sequel. It continues to be rapey, way rapier than the first one even, so that's a very big caveat right up front for those of you for whom it's a deal breaker. It's mostly a deal breaker for me usually, but I like everything else so well that I'm able to ignore it. There's also a fair amount of gender essentialism going on here, too (for example, psychics can be either male or female but in both books we only get extended portraits of female psychics; Braxin culture is extremely patriarchal and male dominated; we do see that from both male and female perspectives and we do get to see some interesting avenues of power that are open to women). IDK I just like this series. *shrugs*
It skips ahead several centuries and shows the fall out of what happens in the first book. Friedman is a master plotter and really good at building alien cultures. She's also very good at creating characters whose arcs I am avidly following even when they're not likable people.
I need to find out if she's written something more recently. I'd be interested to see if the rapey elements have faded out of her writing.
It skips ahead several centuries and shows the fall out of what happens in the first book. Friedman is a master plotter and really good at building alien cultures. She's also very good at creating characters whose arcs I am avidly following even when they're not likable people.
I need to find out if she's written something more recently. I'd be interested to see if the rapey elements have faded out of her writing.
February 29, 2020
Another awesome story by C.S. Friedman - I absolutely love her books. This remains no exception - she has done another outstanding job of continuing a story in the same world as her previous story but without a lot of hand holding exposition or even recaps of what happened so long ago. The overall story threads weave together so well, it actually surprised me in a few places.
The only criticism I have is that the climax is pretty abrupt and resolved in the last 50 pages so quickly, compared to how much the story was setting up.
The only criticism I have is that the climax is pretty abrupt and resolved in the last 50 pages so quickly, compared to how much the story was setting up.
March 29, 2019
Well, that was pointless. 512 pages of build up and at the end...nothing terribly important has been accomplished. I mean there will be a stir and some people will probably die but when it all shakes out the relationships between the major players will be exactly the same and the protagonists are still on the run as they were at the start. It's like the middle of a trilogy that seems unlikely to ever get its third book but even then ultimately it all seems so trivial.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2020
Some cool follow-ups to the first book, and some interesting expansions of the lore, but she left certain threads untouched and doubled down a bit more than I liked on the problematic characters, so this is the only book I've read of hers I didn't actually enjoy that much.
Read
February 18, 2025DNF. I struggled with this audiobook. I tend to listen to books before going to sleep every single time I forgot what had happened and who it happened to. And it’s all so very bleak and angry. Am giving up.
November 19, 2018
Not as good as the first in the series, but worth a read if you enjoyed "In Conquest Born".
Want to read
November 6, 2020In Conquest Born rocked me, so I think I have to see if this is any good.
January 4, 2025
Not as good as her other book set in this universe. Not as good as the Coldfire trilogy, either.
September 21, 2016
Okay, better than In Conquest Born, but still a bit too confused. Over long perhaps - I just didn't care what happened in the end. Sorry, I really like some of your other work.
July 15, 2011
This book is the sequel to In Conquest Born done 20 years later. It is tough to write a follow up to a great stand alone novel but she comes pretty close. She set's in 200 years or so intothe future and there is all new characters to learn about with in the same basic universe from the first story. The author, C.S. Friedman, is a fine writer and the story moves along briskly and holds your attention. She tells this story with more central characters than the first and she tells the story with out the high over look the first story was told from and more down at the level of the every day person admittly with more action and adventure than would happen to anyone but then thats why there is a story to tell. This is a good follow up to the orginial story and is a very able to stand on it's own if you were to read it first. It does not reach the level of the first book which I consider a future classic of scifi for the modern age. Still worth your time and a fun romp through a familar universe.
June 2, 2013
To have an enemy worthy of one's respect... that is a prize beyond measure. What is a lover's touch compared to such a thing? Love is but weakness shared, trials halved for being met in tandem. While a skilled enemy provides stimulation, challenge, and ultimately growth for all those who test their strength against his.
I didn’t think that C.S. Friedman’s wonderful space epic In Conquest Born needed a sequel, but here it is, nonetheless. The Wilding can stand alone, but In Conquest Born is a better book, so I’d suggest reading it first.
It’s a couple of generations after Zatar the Braxin and Anzha the Azean lived, but their legacies remain. The inbred Braxin society is still in danger of becoming extinct and they desperately need some new but acceptable genetic material. Their leader, the Pri'tiera, who... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
I didn’t think that C.S. Friedman’s wonderful space epic In Conquest Born needed a sequel, but here it is, nonetheless. The Wilding can stand alone, but In Conquest Born is a better book, so I’d suggest reading it first.
It’s a couple of generations after Zatar the Braxin and Anzha the Azean lived, but their legacies remain. The inbred Braxin society is still in danger of becoming extinct and they desperately need some new but acceptable genetic material. Their leader, the Pri'tiera, who... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
December 22, 2016
I read the first book, In Conquest Born, about thirty years ago and really liked it. I have enjoyed reading many of the other works by C.S. Friedman over the years, but had never gotten back to reading this one. Picked it up in the same Half Priced Book warehouse sale as a bunch of others.
It's not quite as good as the first one, but still very well done, and an enjoyable read.
It's not quite as good as the first one, but still very well done, and an enjoyable read.
March 6, 2016
Ah, the frustration of a sequel. For those who don't know, Freidman has only ever done one sequel, and it shows. Zara's character was completely and utterly superfluous, certain plot elements found in In Conquest Born (such as the Black Death) were deliberately written in for no other reason than her readers seemed to expect them, and the whole book felt like it could have been condensed into a 150-page epilogue-novella. That said, it was kinda nice to find out what happened to Zatar and his line after Anzha "destroyed" him. Quick, fluffy read.
August 10, 2016
I loved the intricate societies in opposition to each other and the ethical questions raised with In Conquest Born...The Wilding picks up long after, so as a "sequel" we have to fill in quite a timeline. Wilding is just as richly structured and imagined a universe but not as tight of a story. Do you need to read the first one to enjoy the second? It wouldn't hurt, though Friedman gives you all the info you need--if you're patient.
June 4, 2010
The Wilding is a pale echo of it's prdecessor, but if you put that put of your mind, then it is a fun and quick read with just enough intrigue to keep one's interest. I would almost suggest reading this first so you can savour In Conquest Born even more. Regardless, I enjoyed another foray into the Azea-Braxin story.
February 10, 2015
Excellent read for all fans who have waited and waited for the continuation of the "In Conquest Born. I appreciate the glossary. It was a great 'catch up'.
Excellent read for all fans who have w waited and waited for the continuation of the "In Conquest Born. I appreciate the glossary. It was a great 'catch up'.
Excellent read for all fans who have w waited and waited for the continuation of the "In Conquest Born. I appreciate the glossary. It was a great 'catch up'.
September 16, 2025
While I have generally adored everything I have read by CS Friedman, my re-read of In Conquest Born and The Wilding were disappointing. Friedman's work is at its best for me when it centers around character development.
She still writes beautifully and individual portions of the book are enjoyable, the whole is less than the sum of its parts.
She still writes beautifully and individual portions of the book are enjoyable, the whole is less than the sum of its parts.
February 9, 2010
Sequel to In Conquest Born. A solid adventure, but not as focused as the first one. Much of the action takes place outside of the Holding and the Star Empire, and it seems like the other settings are less well-developed.
September 21, 2012
A decent sequel to C.S Friedman's first novel, great story and good characters. Friedman has turned into one of my favourite authors, I have begun to acquire all her works, so far all that I have read has been excellent.
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