Group Series: The Reckoning- Book 3

[Jackie]

The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman

Discuss this book here... Remember to mark all spoilers!

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[Gabriel]

Is anyone going to start reading this in five days?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Apparently not. I haven't read the first one.

[Lisa]

I am so far behind. I still need to read book 2, but I don't think I'll be able to begin it until after Christmas.

[Robin]

Yes, I am up to date on the series and will probably start The Reckoning within a week. I'm trying to squeeze a short freebie in before starting it. There wasn't a huge amount of discussion on the second book so I'm not in a huge rush to start on time for the third but I will be reading it.

[Gabriel]

Yeah, I noticed as well that the drive through the series didn't work out. I hope it picks up on the 3rd one or people will read the second one and we can still dicuss things later about the books. The series to me has been excellent and I would hate for people to miss out on it.

[~Leslie~]

I started this one recently and it's a little slow in the beginning but then when it gets to the Welsh story it picks up a lot. The three brothers are so compelling.

[Patricia]

I just finished Here be Dragons, so looks like it will be awhile before I read the third. I did read these years ago, but, apparently, not in the correct order. My favorite was The Sunne in Splendour, but I guess that is a whole other series!

[Lori Ann]

I really enjoyed this series, I didn't know anything about Welsh history before and I found it very entertaining and interesting. I have already finished the whole series but it would be one I would read again.

[Laura]

I just finished this one. Having read the first book when it first came out, I can't believe it took me this long to read all of them. I enjoyed this one better than the middle book but the first is still my favorite.

[~Leslie~]

Laura, I completely agree with you. I do love the middle book, but it's very limited in its scope. This one is a little slow getting started in my opinion, but once it picks up the Wales part of the story, it's very compelling. I loved it and gave it 4 stars. Here Be Dragons is still my absolute favorite of the trilogy, however.

[Leonide]

Welsh history especially related to early Celtic histo-mythology is fascinating, but seems I'm way behind on this series. I did put "Here Be Dragons" on my to-read shelf but other readings took precedence. Maybe in a few months I can delve into this series.

[Robin]

I still haven't really gotten started on this. I was sick over Christmas and I find it difficult to read while I'm sick. Hopefully starting soon.

[Gabriel]

Well, you all have plenty of time to read it. The 3rd book is great so far. (view spoiler)[ The Welsh like Ottoman Turks cannot just help themselves to betray their brother over and over again. (hide spoiler)] In the book you get the sense that King Edward is just looming over Wales and just needs a good excuse to take it and probably Scotland.

[Laura]

Gabriel wrote: "Well, you all have plenty of time to read it. The 3rd book is great so far. [spoilers removed] In the book you get the sense that King Edward is just looming over Wales and just needs a good excu..."

I agree. Throughout the book you just have this feeling that something bad is going to happen.

[Leonide]

Should be quite a collision between the "wild and rugged Welsh" and feudal Edward I. Sounds like good use of foreshadowing to set the mood.

[Robin]

Made some headway, really enjoying it so far!

[~Leslie~]

I agree with your assessment, Gabriel. There is alot of tension in this one. I really enjoyed it!

[Gabriel]

Yeah where I am at you just feel for Llelo. The English method of using welsh against themselves is similar to United States and Native Americans

[~Leslie~]

Yes, I thought that myself. Basically -wherever the English went they liked to subjugate the native people. They did it to the Acadians in Nova Scotia, the Irish, the Scottish people, basically anyplace they colonized.

[Robin]

I think this will be my favorite of the trilogy! LOVE the characterizations and the relationships between everyone - it really shows how the next generations have to deal with the fall out of the choices and actions of their parents/predecessors.

[Gabriel]

-sigh- wish this book was fantasy so people I like would comeback. I should finish tonight and excited for it.

[Gabriel]

The book was fantastic. I had to discuss the details with my wife at bed so I could sort out everything. The punishment that dayvid got from king Edward was startling. I believe Edward had better luck than his grandfather king John I and so is remembered as a greater king.

On to the next series read...

[Samantha]

It is impossible to choose a favorite SKP novel, but this is definitely one of them! Once again, her historical accuracy is something I love, but wish she could give the characters that she has caused me to fall in love with a happier ending.

[Robin]

Holy genius, Batman! This is definitely my favorite SKP book so far and will now rank as one of my all-time favorites ever.

My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

This one was definitely the most emotional book out of the trilogy - actually, it’s the most emotional SKP book I’ve read yet. Though I always enjoy Penman’s characterizations, I got so attached to the characters in this one (view spoiler)[that I was really depressed when certain inevitabilities happened. I think that’s why Penman introduced Hugh and Caitlin - they served as fictional protagonists that she could actually give a happy ending to. But even that was kind of bittersweet, knowing all they’d lost too.

You know an author is great at what they do when they can take a character who tried to assassinate the main protagonist, his own brother, and convince the reader to empathize with him by the end. I was so devastated for Davydd and his family at the end - but then, he did do a lot of growing up in the second half of the book.

I was also devastated for Wales and the Welsh, though I’ve only ever been there once and have no prior attachments or associations with them, SKP makes you feel for them wholeheartedly nonetheless. (hide spoiler)]

I know that Edward I was known for his ruthlessness and this novel really does an excellent job at portraying why.

At the risk of sounding like a fangirl, this is the best book I’ve read in the last couple years. I do think it’s worth reading the first two books in the series too, since they are also excellent books and it’s worth reading all the build up to the climax in this one. But this one really moved me in a way the others didn’t, in a way that a book hasn’t for a while.