Rating: 
Summary: Amazing
Review: In a time where too many writers cannot continue the momentum of a well-started series, Kate Elliott continues to write excellently. She creates a fantastic world that draws from many different medieval legends-it is only too obvious the tremendous amount of research that went into this novel. The conclusion to the novel is stunning as well, tying together many loose ends in the series. As other reviewers have written, though, it is difficult to keep track of the different characters in the book. I would highly recommend reading the other books in the series before picking this one up. My only complaint is that I need to wait two years before the final novel comes out!
Rating:
Summary: An awesome series
Review: It's a challenging read for those who enjoy that type of reading. I love Kate Elliot's Crown of Stars series, and she has done an exceptional job with this book too. I got it the second it came out, and for good reason too. The Gathering Storm is an awesome book, and I suggest you read it because it is really well done.
Rating: 
Summary: On course and on topic
Review: It's a relief to read a fantasy epic that actually seems to be staying on topic. After reading the ominous pre-release previews for a Feast of Crows, and enjoying the reviews for Crossroads of Twilight far more than the book itself, its a relief to find a long series that keeps to the same characters for its duration.I fear it's not fair to compare book 10 with book 5, or even book 5 with book 3. The bottom line: keep this series to 6 books or less, or it too will devolve from series to "damn series."
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!! I could not put it down!!
Review: Kate Elliott has to be one of the best authors of our time. Her characters all connected in ways that you did not imagine. Liath, willing to sacrifice herself to save the world. Sanglant willing to sacrifice himself to save his father. Stronghands struggle to save his blood brother Alain. The bond that connects each of them together as they race against time to prevent the great cataclysm that could destroy them or save them. I could just not pull my eyes from the book. I was hooked from page 1. THIS IS A MUST READ!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended
Review: Kate Elliott is one of those authors that understands that to write is to create art and when creating art you are trying to evoke some sort of emotion within your audience, and at that she succeeds admirably. She has a talent that many others lack and that is making you fall in love with the characters. I've read a lot of books and the ones that I find myself reading over and over again are the ones where the characters become like old friends, only in a more personal way, because you know all about their passions, and fears, their hopes and dreams. I find myself desperately awaiting the next book in this series so that I can find out what happens to these fictional characters that have become so important to me as the story has progressed. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels, although I would suggest starting at the beginning.
Rating:
Summary: Extra time to write was worth it
Review: Kate has done wonders tying all of the characters together and bringing them to a climatic ending. Vol 5 is definitely worth the time.
Rating: 
Summary: It's a long un
Review: My first disappointment with 'Gathering Storm' was the lack of character guide or re-cap of the previous books. It's been a while between drinks and, if you're anything like me and read widely and often in genre fiction, returning to a series where each of the previous books is complex and very, very fat, a brief reminder of just what has gone before is kinda necessary. Sure, it's easy to keep track of some of the narrative arcs - Alain and Stronghand, Sanglant and Liath - but other threads and character's political, religious and familial alliances are a little fuzzily played out. Some are just too minor to remember, but oft times it's hard to work out whether they might be important in the context they are mentioned in. After a while it's just too hard recalling exactly who Prince Ekkehard is as against Prince Balan, or Lavinia from Lavrentia or Theophanu or Sabella.
Of course Tolkien has a lot too answer for in terms of world-building and pushing out multiple story arcs to drive the narrative on, but the reality of that series was (1) it was a darn slight shorter and (2) it only really followed three groups of characters. George R.R. Martin's series - equally large and equally medievalist - has chapters focusing on one character's viewpoint at a time and fairly consistently at that. There are ways to simplify the complexity of multiple characters and stories.
Good though this series has been, this was a bit of a struggle. I hoped that everything would make sense eventually (it did), but it was uncertain whether it ever would for much of this long novel. And there is just way too much dialogue, much of it used in an explanatory fashion rather than for real character insight or as a building block towards some emotional release - although the handful of such peaks in this book aren't too shabby.
All in all, here's hoping that the final book in this series steers itself back to a simpler, more direct narration, one with more emotional impact and more time invested in the characters rather than in trying to cover as much plot as possible.
In fact here's to more fantasy fiction that doesn't continually cut between the adventures of many characters in different places, but that follows a linear fashion with just a few characters and doesn't take a half dozen or more books the size of bricks to complete its journey. I like long stories but I am getting a little tired of waiting to see the conclusion and of endless fantasy series that start promisingly and then fade out. Sometimes I wonder if it is worth starting a series - I might shuttle of this mortal coil before ever seeing its completion!
All in all - the previous four in this series were pretty darn fine books. This may have just been a case of needing to tie a lot together so I remain excited and still looking forward to the conclusion - hopefully not too far away!!??
Rating: 
Summary: OK, but not good
Review: My first disappointment with `Gathering Storm' was the lack of character guide or re-cap of the previous books. It's been a while between drinks and, if you're anything like me and read widely and often in genre fiction, returning to a series where each of the previous books is complex and very, very fat, a brief reminder of just what has gone before is kinda necessary. Sure, it's easy to keep track of some of the narrative arcs - Alain and Stronghand, Sanglant and Liath - but other threads and character's political, religious and familial alliances are a little fuzzily played out. Some are just too minor to remember, but oft times it's hard to work out whether they might be important in the context they are mentioned in. After a while it's just too hard recalling exactly who Prince Ekkehard is as against Prince Balan, or Lavinia from Lavrentia or Theophanu or Sabella.
Of course Tolkien has a lot too answer for in terms of world-building and pushing out multiple story arcs to drive the narrative on, but the reality of that series was (1) it was a darn slight shorter and (2) it only really followed three groups of characters. George R.R. Martin's series - equally large and equally medievalist - has chapters focusing on one character's viewpoint at a time and fairly consistently at that. There are ways to simplify the complexity of multiple characters and stories.
Good though this series has been, this was a bit of a struggle. I hoped that everything would make sense eventually (it did), but it was uncertain whether it ever would for much of this long novel. And there is just way too much dialogue, much of it used in an explanatory fashion rather than for real character insight or as a building block towards some emotional release - although the handful of such peaks in this book aren't too shabby.
All in all, here's hoping that the final book in this series steers itself back to a simpler, more direct narration, one with more emotional impact and more time invested in the characters rather than in trying to cover as much plot as possible.
In fact here's to more fantasy fiction that doesn't continually cut between the adventures of many characters in different places, but that follows a linear fashion with just a few characters and doesn't take a half dozen or more books the size of bricks to complete its journey. I like long stories but I am getting a little tired of waiting to see the conclusion and of endless fantasy series that start promisingly and then fade out. Sometimes I wonder if it is worth starting a series - I might shuttle of this mortal coil before ever seeing its completion!
All in all - the previous four in this series were pretty darn fine books. This may have just been a case of needing to tie a lot together so I remain excited and still looking forward to the conclusion - hopefully not too far away!!??
Rating:
Summary: complex exciting fantasy
Review: The ancient spell that exiled the Aoi from the planet is failing to hold. Thus the elven horde is expected to return soon, which means havoc and perhaps the final pandemic cataclysm. Also coming back to her home is Liath, after learning to use her powers while being away for a week in her time, but four years on her home world. While she was gone, her husband Prince Sanglant has raised an army and has tried to obtain the griffins as an ally in the upcoming war. As Sanglant and Liath want to rediscover one another, the future of humanity will not allow them to linger together. Separately they must abort the efforts of mathematici Anne and Hugh and their supporters from recasting the original spell that displaced the Aoi over a millennium ago as success means most likely planetary devastation at a level never seen before. The fifth epic tale in the "Crown of Stars" sextet, THE GATHERING STORM, is a complex exciting fantasy, but is also difficult to follow especially for newcomers. The action-packed story line includes numerous subplots and a cast in the DeMille numbers. Still, fans of the series will gain much pleasure from Kate Elliot's latest effort as the key players struggle in their own way with the almost certain end of the world. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Gathering pace
Review: The fifth volume in the 'Crown of Stars' saga, The Gathering storm, has been a long time coming (duly noted by the apologetic author) but the delay has been worth it. We find ourselves trailing two Eagles, Hanna and Hathui, the former riding to join Sanglant and Sapientia who have gone to Jinn trailing Bulkezu as their prisoner, the latter heading towards King Henry who has been possessed, the Skopos and the insidious Hugh. Amongst this the small fervent band of 'heretics', numbering Sigfrid, Ivar and the beautiful Baldwin amongst them end up at the monastry where Alain is desperately attempting to forget who he is and seek peaceful obscurity.
It is 733, Prince Bayan and Margrave Judith are dead, Prince Ekkhard has now married the new margrave and all of Novaria is under constant siege and assailment from all sides. King Henry steps ever closer towards becoming emperor, attempting to achieve the glory of Taillafer, but is becoming increasingly controlled, suspicious and removed frm his subjects as he seeks to unite Varre and Wendar. We focus on events are Ivar and company struggle to understand where they lost three years, watch as Hanna rescues Ivar's half-sister, Rosvita, and flees with Sister Obligatia away from Hugh.
The bulk of the novel is given over to Sanglant's 'taming' of the griffin, Bulkezu's death (surprisingly casually handled given the import ascribed to him early on), Liath's return and their subsequent use of the Crowns to race west to confront Anne who is using Henry's army to conquer all lands that possess what are in fact, henges in order to recreate the cataclysm and allow the Cursed Ones back into the world. Several sub-plots weave their separate paths: Alain and the Skrolin, Brother Zaccharias and his dicspla as a mathematica, Hanna and Sister Rosvita, the love triangle of Anna, Thiemo and Matto and many more besides, all the time shadowed by the revolutionary Eika, Stronghand who has conquered Alba and Presbyter Hugh whose insidious perfidy threatens far more than initially thought...
The early focus leans much towards the reconiliation of preceived 'heresy', Elliott choosing to introduce the age old dilemma that widespread use of science can only reduce the spiritual power of the church and this latest installment moving more and more towards a religious commentary where inevitable parallels are intimated. Making heavy use of 'portals' to get around with inconsistent time serves to speed up the action considerably as we track the momentous events that lead us towards the final volume. Elliot's series is, perhaps, not quite on a technical par with Jordan, or even Goodkind, but the depth of imagination rivals Donaldson. The unfortunate point is that the complexity of character and plot and the length of time it has taken Elliott to produce this fifth novel means that, to get the very best out of it, you need to reread the preceding novel, otherwise names and places and plots become faintly vague and difficult to recollect. Nevertheless, this is another excellent installment and a must for any fan of the genre
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