Sinner (Wayfarer Redemption)

Rating:
Summary: Redeems the Series
Review: After reading this latest installment in "The Wayfarer Redemption" I can say that I came away from the book without feeling frustrated. That wasn't the case with the previous three books. There is no nearly omnipotent hero and heroine, and due to a surprising twist near the end of the book it is no longer clear whether Axis and Azhure will be able to effortlessly "save the day." Much of the story does not involve the protagonists of the previous books, with the exception of Wolfstar, who always seems to be hanging around waiting for trouble, Stardrifter and Faraday. (Hooray!) That really made this book worthwhile for me, because after "Starman" ended I was left hanging around wondering about her. I hate cliffhangers...

There are several plotlines in "Sinner" (some of which were hinted at in the previous books) and at first they don't really seem to go together. As the book progresses though, it's apparent that all aspects of the story are equally important, and at the novel's conclusion everything ties together nicely. Every plotline concerns different characters, and they end sort of abruptly, so it keeps the reader wanting to turn the pages to find out what's going to happen. I finished the book in three hours, so yes, it's that addicting.

Characterizations are much better this time around. Drago, for example is a very complex and sympathetic character, even though he attempted to murder his brother Caelum in the previous book. It's very easy to see things from his point of view, and it helps the story along to be able to connect with characters on this level. They are more like people instead of fillers or gods, and the hero in this book is much more human and easier to relate to. (Did anyone else think Axis was a jerk, or is it just me?) Douglass' female characters are stronger and more intelligent than before, and if you're like me you will be cheering for Faraday and Zenith.

In conclusion, I suppose that if you didn't like the previous volumes due to Douglass' style, you probably won't like "Sinner." I confess that they left me sort of irritated, but I'm glad that I decided to go on faith and pick this one up. I felt that it was worth my time and my money.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't wait for the US Edition
Review: I ended up buying the last three books including Sinner from Canada to see how the series ended. It was worth the shipping costs.

Rating:
Summary: A Decent Read
Review: I read the first series (the Axis Trilogy) and thought it was pretty good and figured I would give this one a chance. The second series doesn't quite live up to its predecessor. I thought Sinner started off pretty well but my biggest complaint is that there's too much given away in this first book that ruins the second and third. Sara Douglass had a good storyline but just like the first series she gives away too much too early and so you're not left with tension that all good books are supposed to leave you with. Another problem is that with the author drawing on many of the characters of the first book, she does not define some of the new characters well enough to make them....tangible. This is very much like the Melanie Rawn Dragon Prince and Dragon Star series and if you like one then you'll like the other. The last problem I had with how this book and series were written is that the writing is a little blunt. There is nothing in here that makes the reader think. So if you are looking for just a piece of brain candy then this is the series for you. But if you are looking for something that has a little more smoothness and subtlety I would recommend Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel Series.

Rating:
Summary: powerful epic fantasy
Review: In the land of Tencendor, peace was finally won when Axis destroyed the monster Goragael and the power of the Acharites (humans) was broken. Their land of Achor is now a part of Tencendor and the people pay homage to Caelum SunSoar, Axis's son. Axis and his wife want on to be with the Sun Gods, the next step in the evolutionary process for immortals. On the surface, humans, the Avar (tree people) and the lcarii live in harmony but ugly undercurrents flow in this paradise, ones that Caelum is not aware of because he is closed up in his castle unaware of his subjects' desires.

The humans want their own King and self rule and they rally behind Zarad, the Prince of the North as their leader. Civil war breaks out and many lives are lost but there is a bigger threat to the realm and the leaders of the civil war temporarily put aside their differences in the hope of finding a way of preventing evil beings from entering Tencendor through the Star Gate. If they fail, life in Tencendor will become unbearable.

Sara Douglass has written another great installment in her Wayfarer Redemption series. There are enough loose threads dangling that readers are assured of at least one more book in this magnificent saga. Magic is a way of life in the land and it is a part of everyday life. The two sub-plots of the civil war and the invasion are interwoven so that it merges into one storyline. SINNER is a powerful epic fantasy that fans of Tanya Hoff and Mercedes Lackey and of course Ms. Douglass will love.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Read this series
Review: Sara Douglass is intriguing. The BattleAxe Trilogy begins like any other Jordan or Eddings but quickly matures to stand alone from the rest of the genre. It is almost as though Douglass' writing becomes more confident as her world and characters develop.
Sinner is an extension of this series, doing the usual taking of the first series characters' children and plunging into a bigger and better world of threatened sorcery and extinction. Unlike other series you aren't left thinking "it's not quite the same, it's 'The Next Generation' and my lovable characters are now gone".
The development of the race of the Icarii (a nice development of the Greek Icarus myth) through this series and the mixing of the bloodlines in Axis and Azhure's children promises to build to a tremendous climax. With Wolfhere's constant intriguing this promises to be an excellent series continuation

Rating:
Summary: 4th in series
Review: This 4th book in the wayfarer redemption series starts with Tecendor 40 years later. It takes a while to remember who is who. I am annoyed that this just came out in America, when it's been published in Australia a few years ago. Thus, I bought the last two books in this series on Amazon.
As for the book, Sara Douglass is going strong. A wild read.
If you liked the first three, you'll like this as well.

Rating:
Summary: Amazed
Review: When I first started to read this book it was very slow getting into it. It started out just like any other fantasy story, introducing the characters and whatnot but by the time I was about thirty pages in, I couldent put it down.

I am twelve years old and in grade seven, and for english class we have to fill out a monthly reading log. When my english teacher saw that I had read "Sinner" in three days, she didn't believe me. It just geos to show you that the book is uterly captivating and I couldn't put it down. So if you have the means I highly recommend picking a copy of "Sinner" up at your local bookstore!