Deornoth Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Well, they were just released, so if you're on the publisher's mailing list I expect that you'll get one soon *Fingers crossed* I think there's probably a picture of the US cover (for 'The Born Queen') on the Greg Keyes website, it's certainly a lot better than the UK version... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantasy Book Critic Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Well I've just completed The Kingdoms of Thorn & Bone series, specifically "The Born Queen", the fourth and final volume and I personally enjoyed it. Without giving anything away, if you've liked the series so far, then more than likely you'll enjoy the conclusion because it's basically more of the same...and if you haven't, then you probably won't even get this far http://forum-test.westeros.org/uploads/emoticons/default_wink.png' alt=';)'> For my more detailed analysis, you can check out the review HERE which is excerpted below: "For three books now, readers have followed the memorable adventures of Virgenya Dare’s descendant Anne Dare, the king’s holter Aspar White, the honorable knight Neil MqVren, the studious monk Stephen Darige, and the roguish Vitellian dessrator Cazio among others, and in “The Born Queen†Greg Keyes delivers the payoff. Storylines converge, major questions are answered—Will Anne save the kingdom or destroy it? Who is Kauron? Will Cazio ever find out who murdered his father and does he love Austra more or Anne? Where is the fourth Faith? Will Aspar ever get his revenge against Fend? Is Hespero an enemy or an ally? What are the three thrones of power? Will Neil ever find love & happiness? Who is the author of The Codex Tereminnam—destines are fulfilled, and not everyone survives to the end. Of course getting to that point is half the fun, and like the previous books “The Born Queen†is narrated from several different point-of-views where numerous plotlines are occurring at the same time. These include Anne growing into her role as Queen and discovering the full extent of her power while waging war against Hansa and the Church; Aspar fulfilling his geos to the Sarnwood Witch who wishes to birth a new Briar King; Stephen searching for—and finding—Virgenya Dare’s lost journal and the secret faneway that granted her the power to defeat the Skasloi; and Leovigild Ackenzal trying to compose a song that will mend the boundary between life & death which continues to unravel, while complicating matters even further is the prophetic Hellrune, the unkillable Robert Dare, the Kept, and the return of the Black Jester, all leading to an unforgettable convergence at the place where it all started…Eslen." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deornoth Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Not sure if I like the sound of the return of the Black Jester but the rest sounds pretty cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantasy Book Critic Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 The way the Black Jester is brought back is actually pretty neat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awesome possum Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 It's been so long, I'm going to definitely need to reread the first three books first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcant Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 I do enjoy these books a great deal. There have been some high and low points, but I will definitely read The Born Queen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossfan2000 Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 For those looking for The Born Queen..the official release date is tomorrow (i believe), but my local Borders had copies for sale over the weekend. So, you might check your local bookstore today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deornoth Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 The way the Black Jester is brought back is actually pretty neat I think I prefer The Black Jester as a historical footnote (for background) but am willing to be convinced otherwise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damaen Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 So i finished it tonight. Waited, oh, 2 years for it? IT IS TIME TO DISCUSS! And i have zero idea what the code for spoilers is (the black box of text) so maybe someone wants to point it out? i hope its as obvious as possible. I'll go in deapth after that. The second i started it the other day the first thing i thought was "Ah. I remember this." Not about anything specific, but - and i have NO idea what makes this true - Keyes sure has his writing style. His books feel like his books, if that makes any sense. Since i cant actually discuss the plot all i will say is the characters - Cazio, Neil, Anne, Austra, etc - were just as good here as they ever have been. But i had hoped for a slightly different ending. The build up was REALLY good, but i honestly thought a few more dramatic things were going to happen. also, i think keyes forgot about berimund. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edda van Heefmstra Ruston Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 As it says in the FAQ: <spoiler=title>text</spoiler> But with [] instead of <> because it's BBCode, of course. Can't help with the actual discussion - I still haven't made it past the first book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Werthead Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Redundant threads merged Now all four books are out I'll probably get around to reading the series. And agreed on Keyes' style: even his B5 and Star Wars novels have a distinctive voice to them, despite being set in someone else's universe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MethodMan Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Didn't even know that last book was out. Oh well, guess I gotta buy it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Kilmore Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 I enjoyed it, but I thought he pulled some punches in the end in a way that didn't mesh well with his over all tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damaen Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 I enjoyed it, but I thought he pulled some punches in the end in a way that didn't mesh well with his over all tone. I think we are both on the same track, Guy. certain depressing things were supposed to happen. i could feel it. i even turned ot my fiancee and said 'all my favorite people are doomed." brinna's lines were fatalistic, Anne's plot was going to a certain destination, Muriele and Berrye had their choices... berimund as well. not one of them ended teh way i thought it was supposed to. And dont get me started with Stephen. The epilogue i hope i have figured out, i guess that and the aspar stuff all made sense to me, but that isnt a lot, percentage wise lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Kilmore Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I think we are both on the same track, Guy. certain depressing things were supposed to happen. i could feel it. Small Spoiler Alert, No specific events being relayed, but perceptions of the ending are contained within. There were events that took place in the end that just felt....rewritten, it didn't flow with what was being built. It almost felt like the editor read the end, found a Hollywood script writer, had them add on/rewerite the epilogue and said THERE! It was enough that, while I enjoyed the read, I wouldn't strongly recommend the book. The epilogue is the end, you simply can't lop it off and stop at the last chapter (Story wouldn't have made sense), but it was just too "opposite tonal" for me. To sum up, I think Keyes wanted to go a different direction and for whatever reason did an about face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deornoth Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I'll be picking this up in the next few days... This has been one of my favourite series, of the last few years, but some of the things I am hearing have got me worried about the last book... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebenstone Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I'm picking it up today with my super awesome 40% off coupon I got in the email machine. I really like this series. I found, rereading the first novel I wrote, that his work was much more influential to me as a writer than even GRRM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantasy Book Critic Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I'll be picking this up in the next few days... This has been one of my favourite series, of the last few years, but some of the things I am hearing have got me worried about the last book... I wouldn't worry too much. It's just that the conclusion could have been a lot darker and more tragic than it ended up being. Otherwise it's a satisfying finale... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multaniette Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Just finished the book. SPOILER: damnPoor Darige I am sad to see the series end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OverHill Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 As I already have the first 3 books (but only read 2), I will pick up the final book. I remember that I enjoyed the books, but for some strange reason I never got around to reading Blood Knight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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