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skylion's review
4.0
Though i did not love this book as well as the previous two, I appreciate the worldbuiding, and it was a very readable attempt at a mythology, barely concealed, but hardly followed. Now...onto the Tremontaine door-stopper.
kateslowreads's review
3.0
I absolutely adore everything Ellen Kushner has written (I lament that she has not written yet more!), and I intend to read Miss Sherman at some point as well. This book was quite different from Swordspoint and The Privilege of the Sword, and while I'll take any oppourtunity to inhabit Riverside for a while, it felt like a slightly different world in some ways. Still one I like to inhabit, but with the touch of magic (if there really was magic) added an extra dimension that made my beloved Riverside a little unfamiliar. It was kind of like seeing an old friend that did something crazy with his hair and not being sure if I thought it suited him or not. Splendid, nonetheless.
basbleu_dans_labiblioteque's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
wunder's review
1.0
I could barely finish this. Characters were introduced with a list of their distinguishing characteristics. One chapter started with what appeared to be the notes for that chapter. Random druid-like stuff happens. The ending doesn't make anyone happy, especially me.
Skip this, assume it was nice, and go read a different book.
Skip this, assume it was nice, and go read a different book.
yhtgrace's review
2.0
I read the Riverside books in proper order, so this is the book I read last: [b:The Privilege of the Sword|821583|The Privilege of the Sword (Riverside, #2)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320400786s/821583.jpg|4003], however, I thought was superior. The plotting was tighter, and the characters seemed a lot more real than in [b:The Fall of the Kings|20002|The Fall of The Kings (Riverside, #3)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320469578s/20002.jpg|1441950].
[b:The Fall of the Kings|20002|The Fall of The Kings (Riverside, #3)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320469578s/20002.jpg|1441950] provides a historical setting to the already-rich world we had encountered in [b:Swordspoint|68485|Swordspoint (Riverside, #1)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320445792s/68485.jpg|1453593]. Specifically, it asks the question of whether the old kings were indeed tyrants, and why there exists an aristocratic class without a monarchy. [b:The Fall of the Kings|20002|The Fall of The Kings (Riverside, #3)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320469578s/20002.jpg|1441950] is set two generations after [b:Swordspoint|68485|Swordspoint (Riverside, #1)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320445792s/68485.jpg|1453593] (and therefore, one generation after [b:The Privilege of the Sword|821583|The Privilege of the Sword (Riverside, #2)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320400786s/821583.jpg|4003]) but already we see the tradition with nobles hiring swordsmen to do battles for honor unto death breaking down: it was a clear flaw even from [b:Swordspoint|68485|Swordspoint (Riverside, #1)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320445792s/68485.jpg|1453593] that the richest nobles would always win bouts since they could hire the very best; in [b:The Fall of the Kings|20002|The Fall of The Kings (Riverside, #3)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320469578s/20002.jpg|1441950], we further delve into exactly how the nobles have plotted their way into power.
The book focuses a lot more on the University than on Riverside/the nobles: I'm a little confused to why we are taking power from the nobles and giving it back to the king, it all seems a little backward to me, except of course that is it repeated time and again that the king is really a sacrifice to the land. If the book has anything to say about scholarship or academia though, it was completely lost on me.
The one thing I liked best about the book though is seeing old characters from a different point of view: As in the sequels to [a:Tamora Pierce|8596|Tamora Pierce|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1209044273p2/8596.jpg]'s Song of the Lioness quartet, we re-encounter characters from the perspective of a younger generation. Theron's perception of Katherine is a little different from the Katherine I love from [b:The Privilege of the Sword|821583|The Privilege of the Sword (Riverside, #2)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320400786s/821583.jpg|4003], but it is exactly that that reminds me that what we think about ourselves is rarely the same as what others think about us.
[b:The Fall of the Kings|20002|The Fall of The Kings (Riverside, #3)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320469578s/20002.jpg|1441950] provides a historical setting to the already-rich world we had encountered in [b:Swordspoint|68485|Swordspoint (Riverside, #1)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320445792s/68485.jpg|1453593]. Specifically, it asks the question of whether the old kings were indeed tyrants, and why there exists an aristocratic class without a monarchy. [b:The Fall of the Kings|20002|The Fall of The Kings (Riverside, #3)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320469578s/20002.jpg|1441950] is set two generations after [b:Swordspoint|68485|Swordspoint (Riverside, #1)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320445792s/68485.jpg|1453593] (and therefore, one generation after [b:The Privilege of the Sword|821583|The Privilege of the Sword (Riverside, #2)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320400786s/821583.jpg|4003]) but already we see the tradition with nobles hiring swordsmen to do battles for honor unto death breaking down: it was a clear flaw even from [b:Swordspoint|68485|Swordspoint (Riverside, #1)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320445792s/68485.jpg|1453593] that the richest nobles would always win bouts since they could hire the very best; in [b:The Fall of the Kings|20002|The Fall of The Kings (Riverside, #3)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320469578s/20002.jpg|1441950], we further delve into exactly how the nobles have plotted their way into power.
The book focuses a lot more on the University than on Riverside/the nobles: I'm a little confused to why we are taking power from the nobles and giving it back to the king, it all seems a little backward to me, except of course that is it repeated time and again that the king is really a sacrifice to the land. If the book has anything to say about scholarship or academia though, it was completely lost on me.
The one thing I liked best about the book though is seeing old characters from a different point of view: As in the sequels to [a:Tamora Pierce|8596|Tamora Pierce|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1209044273p2/8596.jpg]'s Song of the Lioness quartet, we re-encounter characters from the perspective of a younger generation. Theron's perception of Katherine is a little different from the Katherine I love from [b:The Privilege of the Sword|821583|The Privilege of the Sword (Riverside, #2)|Ellen Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320400786s/821583.jpg|4003], but it is exactly that that reminds me that what we think about ourselves is rarely the same as what others think about us.
woollyleanne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
book_nut's review
2.0
Swordspoint was a decent book with a lousy ending. The Fall of the Kings was a lousy book with a decent ending. I prefer the former to the latter. Just so you know.
miles862's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
This book started out slow and I wasn't sure I was going to actually finish it - the style is not my favorite, but that is definitely a personal preference rather than a quality of the writing. I liked the plot and looking at this universe from the world of scholars and academics. I was going to stop with this book (which I somehow got out of order, skipped the second book) but ended up enjoying it enough to get the 2nd one from the library. The short nature of them helps - I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much in a longer work.
quietjenn's review
3.0
I suspected, when I first started this, that it might end up being my favorite in the series - mostly because of the academic setting, for which I am such a sucker. Alas. As the book went on (and on, and on, and on) that enthusiasm drained slowly away. It feels like a lot of pretty terrific set up and no pay off. And again with the characterizations (I've realized that that's really the thing that's going to make or break a novel for me): Theron is a flighty drip (whom everyone adores for no discernible reason), Katherine's turned into a frustratingly responsible and typical society matron (so much so that it somewhat diminishes my affection for the previous book) and the university folk are maybe super duper interesting but either aren't given enough time to play or - like the book itself - get a lot of build up and then sort of fizzle. Not even the political machinations are wrought in a very compelling manner. Also, I thought it was extremely over-written, with some pretty questionable word choices.
And yet? I'm glad I read it and I wish that there was more? An urge that I don't even entirely understand. I'm even more curious about the Tremontaine stories now, because the world that Kushner has created is definitely the best part of these novels and I think it'll be interesting to see what other people do with it.
Also, give me a book about JESSICA right now.
And yet? I'm glad I read it and I wish that there was more? An urge that I don't even entirely understand. I'm even more curious about the Tremontaine stories now, because the world that Kushner has created is definitely the best part of these novels and I think it'll be interesting to see what other people do with it.
Also, give me a book about JESSICA right now.