Rating: 
Summary: The Shining Court
Review: This is a wonderful addition to this series and although it doesn't answer all the questions that are lurking it takes us down roads that needed a bit more clearifcation. I don't think she has strayed or in anyway made the storyline more difficult to follow, in fact I believe this book as just opened up new doors...and I for one am hoping this will lead to 4 or 5 more books! This in an author I could read for a very long time and I admit I am hoping that she doesn't give us a quick one book tie up....and if she does I hope she begins a new series immediately!
Rating:
Summary: Another good book in a great series
Review: This _better_ not be the conclusion. I am 99% certain that it's not, but from somewhere I had read that this series is supposed to have only 3 books.In any case, another wonderful book from Michelle West. I have to say that _Hunter's Death_ and _Uncrowned King_ are still my favorites though.
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat disappointing -- after waiting all this time
Review: Tthe third episode of the series does has its moments, but I am disappointed to say the least that Kiriel didn't put in any appearances. Instead there are more additions to the cast of characters, and the plot gets more convoluted. Ms. West, I hope that you give Kiriel a starring role in the next episode. I think you have a great character in her and she's my favorite character in this series. Please do give her a leading part in the next book. Thanks.
Rating: 
Summary: Robert Jordan Syndrome.
Review: Where to begin? This book was, quite simply, a waste of time. And, like Jordan, West introduces characters that contribute vaguely to the story, pale in comparison to the original characters introduced, and, honestly, just feel like personalities FORCED into the storyline for personal reasons. I blatantly skimmed through any of the sections involving Jewel. I can scarcely recall a character I cared so little about. She is one-dimensional, uninteresting, and seems to just repeat over and over and over. The entire venture with the "desert nomads," the Voyani, is also completely derivative and quite boring itself. Sometimes the novel felt like a grab bag of characters from other epics who fit poorly with the existing characters. West should have saved many of these characters for another series. i.e ... Jewel and her "den" (a horrible, horrible subplot), the Voyani, the entire 200 page escapade with her "mysterious" mage servant ... etc, etc. This book should have been about 100 pages long -- all the sections with Valedan, Kiriel, and Doira combined. I truly hope West returns back to Doira, Valedan, and Kiriel. And, honestly, the demon court is extremely well written also. West is an incredible writer. But she needs to stick to the core characters, the core plot, the core conflict. We don't need to know everything about every friends of every character, we don't care. She should kill off Jewel ASAP, as she is completely out of place in the novels, and quite a derivative, cliche-ish bore. Hopefully the next books will be better. But I am doubting it at this point ... Jordan-itis seems to be rampant in authors.
Rating: 
Summary: Where are Valedan & Kiriel?
Review: While 'The Shining Court' isn't as good as 'The Uncrowned King' it is still a very good read. I think that the reason I liked 'Uncrowned King' better was because it incorporated storylines from both the Empire and the Dominion at the same time. 'Shining Court' is based almost solely in the Dominion. But my biggest gripe is the fact that Valedan and Kiriel don't appear even once in this book. On the positive side you get to learn more about the Firstborn, Isladar (IMO, far and away the coolest bad guy) and the Avandar/Warlord thing is great. It seems that the Warlord has lived forever but they say he's not immortal. I'm thinking, and hoping, that he's the 4th Sleeper that rode with Moorelas. If you've read the previous Hunter and Sun Sword books this is definitely a must read. Oh, and even though this was supposed to be a trilogy there IS going to be a fourth volume. I emailed Ms West's publisher to ask just that question and they replied that the 4th Sun Sword book will be published in April of 2001.
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