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nostoat's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
My head hurts from crying. 10/10 recommend this series.
annalise's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cosbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
A very satisfying conclusion to Wein's Mark of Solomon series - the plot may make you rush through to know the ending, but give it a second read to enjoy Wein's rich prose and intricate plot.
meeners's review against another edition
5.0
what a powerful, exquisitely crafted conclusion to the mark of solomon arc. what i find most remarkable about telemakos is not necessarily his growth into a formidable, unforgettable young man so much as the path he takes in the process, all that ferocious courage and fear and unswerving loyalty for those he loves. it is heartbreaking, how he must pay for his experiences with scars. it is also utterly believable, and i would demand nothing less than that in my heroes. i loved too the way in which wein handles athena's own growth, both physical and not, and that tricky negotiation between mutual support and overdependence. the prose was, as always, beautifully measured, and i can't wait to see more of telemakos and co. in the future.
also, can i say how NICE it is to read arthurian-related stories that go beyond the (physical and racial) borders of england?? more please!
also, can i say how NICE it is to read arthurian-related stories that go beyond the (physical and racial) borders of england?? more please!
aimee70807's review against another edition
5.0
This series continues to be pretty much perfect in every way. I can't quite figure out why the first books in the series are out of print --- did people really not notice how awesome these books are?
mikkaybear's review against another edition
5.0
In the middle of this book, I was apprehensive--it was not quite living up to its predecessors, and I was worried the series would end on a flat note. I shouldn't have been concerned. What an ending! Thank you, Elizabeth Wein, for inspiring Megan Whalen Turner, and for your characters, your symbolism, and your craft.
singinglight's review against another edition
5.0
The Lion Hunger and The Empty Kingdom
by Elizabeth Wein
I finished the last word of The Lion Hunter, shrieked (quietly--my roommate was already in bed), and dove into The Empty Kingdom. I stayed up far too late to finish that one, but it was worth it. Telemakos has grown so much over the course of this series and with the new twists I can't wait to see what he does next.
A Sounisian said that Telemakos is kind of like reading The Queen of Attolia from Attolia's point of view. I think that's a really great point. Like Attolia, Telemakos is cut off, highly powerful in some ways and highly powerless in others. When he makes mistakes it is usually in not trusting someone he should have. Although there are definite connections with Attolia, I also saw some to Gen: the cockiness, the sneakiness, the enormous sense of loyalty and the correspondingly enormous sense of betrayal. Both have to deal with a loss of one kind of power and the gaining of another. Gen's attendants and Telemakos's silver bracelet even serve the same basic purpose. And then there's one huge similarity that just happens to be a big spoiler for both series, so I won't say it. But it should be obvious to anyone who's read both.
Anyway, I'm in a state of Attolia fever, due to the upcoming book release (1 month, 8 days! Not that I'm counting or anything), but I think that in this case the comparisons aren't just valid, they're inescapable. And even if you haven't read any of the Attolia books (in which case, what is wrong with you?), Wein's books come highly recommended.
She is apparently writing another one, which makes me filled with glee.
Previously:
1. The Winter Prince
2. A Coalition of Lions and The Sunbird
Book source: Inter-library loan
Spoilery review in which Sherwood Smith also compares them to Megan Whalen Turner's books.
--------
The answer to my question: yes, Abreha is quite a bit like Artos, punishing but also forgiving (and the parallels to Eugenides are somewhat startling, yes). Given Abreha’s demonstrated admiration for Artos, it makes sense. This is one of those books where I know that I’ll never be in Telemakos’s exact situation, and yet I felt like I learned something. Favorite line: ”borne down by the weight of his name”–oh, I love that. After the re-read, I wanted more. I could be content with the series as it stands, because they are all fantastic books and in fact are one of those rare series that gets better as it grows, but I’d also love to have more of Telemakos’s story. It’s pretty clear that there’s more to tell, and I’m a greedy reader. [Jan. 2011]
-----
Of Wein’s Arthurian/Ethiopian series the first, The Winter Prince, remains my clear favorite for its incredible prose and emotional heft. However, the rest of the series has been getting better and better. Telemakos is one of my favorite types of characters. As I said in my review, he managed to remind me at times of both Eugenides and Attolia. These two books are both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and the fact that they manage to be both at once shows how good Wein is. Of course, I am a greedy reader and WANT MOAR NOW! [2010 in books]
by Elizabeth Wein
I finished the last word of The Lion Hunter, shrieked (quietly--my roommate was already in bed), and dove into The Empty Kingdom. I stayed up far too late to finish that one, but it was worth it. Telemakos has grown so much over the course of this series and with the new twists I can't wait to see what he does next. A Sounisian said that Telemakos is kind of like reading The Queen of Attolia from Attolia's point of view. I think that's a really great point. Like Attolia, Telemakos is cut off, highly powerful in some ways and highly powerless in others. When he makes mistakes it is usually in not trusting someone he should have. Although there are definite connections with Attolia, I also saw some to Gen: the cockiness, the sneakiness, the enormous sense of loyalty and the correspondingly enormous sense of betrayal. Both have to deal with a loss of one kind of power and the gaining of another. Gen's attendants and Telemakos's silver bracelet even serve the same basic purpose. And then there's one huge similarity that just happens to be a big spoiler for both series, so I won't say it. But it should be obvious to anyone who's read both.
Anyway, I'm in a state of Attolia fever, due to the upcoming book release (1 month, 8 days! Not that I'm counting or anything), but I think that in this case the comparisons aren't just valid, they're inescapable. And even if you haven't read any of the Attolia books (in which case, what is wrong with you?), Wein's books come highly recommended.
She is apparently writing another one, which makes me filled with glee.
Previously:
1. The Winter Prince
2. A Coalition of Lions and The Sunbird
Book source: Inter-library loan
Spoilery review in which Sherwood Smith also compares them to Megan Whalen Turner's books.
--------
The answer to my question: yes, Abreha is quite a bit like Artos, punishing but also forgiving (and the parallels to Eugenides are somewhat startling, yes). Given Abreha’s demonstrated admiration for Artos, it makes sense. This is one of those books where I know that I’ll never be in Telemakos’s exact situation, and yet I felt like I learned something. Favorite line: ”borne down by the weight of his name”–oh, I love that. After the re-read, I wanted more. I could be content with the series as it stands, because they are all fantastic books and in fact are one of those rare series that gets better as it grows, but I’d also love to have more of Telemakos’s story. It’s pretty clear that there’s more to tell, and I’m a greedy reader. [Jan. 2011]
-----
Of Wein’s Arthurian/Ethiopian series the first, The Winter Prince, remains my clear favorite for its incredible prose and emotional heft. However, the rest of the series has been getting better and better. Telemakos is one of my favorite types of characters. As I said in my review, he managed to remind me at times of both Eugenides and Attolia. These two books are both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and the fact that they manage to be both at once shows how good Wein is. Of course, I am a greedy reader and WANT MOAR NOW! [2010 in books]
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