The Shining Court (The Sun Sword, Book 3)

Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing
Review: After eagerly awaiting this book it didn't disappoint. But....there is no way this can be the final book. There is no closure, where are Kirel and the last Leone? What has happenend to The Terafin? And the Den? And the Northern God Born? When will we get the next juicy morsel? But don't miss this installment.

Rating:
Summary: this series rocks!
Review: All I can say is that this entire series is totally awesome!! I love all three of the books so far, and I am really looking forward to the fourth. I haven't read Hunters Oath or Hunters Death as of yet, but I'm working on it. I was a little disappointed that Kiriel was absent thru most of the book, but I really liked that Jay was talked about so much (those two are my fav. characters!) Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book, all the books in fact...you can't read just one! They pull you in, they're so great!!

Rating:
Summary: An unforgettable read
Review: As always, I'm left with nothing but words of praise for West's works. Aside from her beautiful and unique writing style, her characters have been developed to the point where she can enter whole new emotional levels between each other. I found this most significant between Jewel and the Terafin, and Diora and Sendari. I confess, with this book was complete, as usual, I was running through tissues, simply because of the emotion that West is able to capture between her characters. It requires true talent to create a cast with that much depth that can rival most literary works that I'm familiar with (considering I'm an English major...).

The plot, as usual, is phenomenal. However, this book takes the story in a whole new direction with the conspiracy behind the masks at the Festival of the Moon and the drama that occurs particularly with Jewel and Diora as the story unfolds. I was at first indifferent to the appearance of the Voyani, but I found their inclusion as a critical element to the plot very well done on West's part. Now, while I was critical of their existence, I confess that I am a Voyani fan (laughs). I also confess that if you are a Valedan fan, you will find this book lacking severely... that was my initial problem with the book, because it felt awkward to have my two of my favorite Sun Sword characters absent for the most part, if not completely (Valedan and Devon ATerafin), but the only other thing I can say about characters, without truly spoiling any of the plot, is that if you haven't already fallen in love with Sendari, or sense compassion, understanding or some kind of emotion for him, you *will* before this book is over.

Overall, the book is a much different turn from the first two, so readers might be hesitant to open it up, but it's like breaking away the outer surface of a rock and finding a beautiful glistening gift from the earth burried deep inside. I recommend it for all fantasy readers, and especially for anyone who is just as addicted to Michelle West as myself!

Rating:
Summary: The Shining Court
Review: As mentioned in the other reviews, this volume adds a host of new characters. While I would rate the series as excellent, I am suspicious this volume was created just to draw it out longer. The first book about Serra Diora is very good. The second about Valedan is excellent. I feel that the story could have been neatly wrapped up in the third volume with no loose ends. Now the series will encompass at least two more books just to finish wrapping up what happens with each major character (all 18+ of them). I would reccomend the series only after all the books are published so that you can read them in rapid sequence.

Rating:
Summary: The Shining Court
Review: As mentioned in the other reviews, this volume adds a host of new characters. While I would rate the series as excellent, I am suspicious this volume was created just to draw it out longer. The first book about Serra Diora is very good. The second about Valedan is excellent. I feel that the story could have been neatly wrapped up in the third volume with no loose ends. Now the series will encompass at least two more books just to finish wrapping up what happens with each major character (all 18+ of them). I would reccomend the series only after all the books are published so that you can read them in rapid sequence.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best series I have read.
Review: I am truly surprised that I have not been hearing more about this series. It's wonderful! Michelle West has taken recognizable elements and created a totally new world with them. She has peopled this world with complex and interesting characters. The Shining Court is the latest (but obviously not the last) book in the series and lives up to the previous two, deepening the plot and revealing more about the characters. I can hardly wait for the next one!

Rating:
Summary: very well done , a wonderfully book that all fans will love
Review: I feel this is her best work yet. descriptive and elighting. It draws you in more an more . i highly recomend this book. i look forward to more to come

Rating:
Summary: Good, but overly long
Review: I have read all three of the Shining Court novels and enjoyed them all. This third one, however, drags more than the other two. In all three cases, it seems to me that West lacks a good, rigorous, skillful editor. There are way too many extraneous bits and pieces to the work. The problem is, her writing is so good, that she has a habit of going off on a lovely, well-written, mind-gripping tangent. It's irritating, however, to realize you've spent so much time on what are basicaly digressions from a story that should be much more tightly focussed. I came close, very, very close to writing her publishers and asking them to use red ink more judiciously.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST YET!!
Review: I just got the book and I read it all. This book is very good. It brings out more of some of the characters and adds some you don't know and brings back some from the first book. However fans of Valedan and Kiriel sorry to say they aren't really found in this book, but you learn more about Avandar's power and Jewel's also. The hunt also plays a part in this one, but you'll have to read it to find out. This one isn't the last of the series either. I'm sure of it!

Rating:
Summary: Too long!
Review: I liked Michelle West's previous two books in the series, but the third one is a little slow. Her prose is lovely, but occasionally convoluted. At 688 pages, this was somewhat of a chore to read through. This book could have used some serious editing, but if you have patience, sit down and enjoy.