Path Of Honor

Rating:
Summary: Too much unnecessary detail
Review: After reading "Path of Fate", I had high hopes for this new book. "Path of Fate" presented a coherent picture of a well-created world. Sadly, in the new book, the author felt it necessary to introduce far too many new plot devices and too wide a range of new characters. Why did we need the other world, from which two of the characters come? Why a rift between two worlds? [done before, better] Where did the coal drake appear from? [seems to be a plot device to handle a couple of rough patches in the plot] Why introduce the land of Scallas and the sorcerers? [unnecessary extra detail] Why has the Lady withdrawn her presence from Kodu Riik? [given that her presence is vital to the concept of the ahalad-kaaslane] Why did we need the graphic descriptions of torture? [we certainly would have got the picture that the bad guy was bad without such extensive graphic descriptions] And why oh why are all the names so confusing? [I think especially that it was a mistake to use a term as convoluted and hard to pronounce as "ahalad-kaaslane" for the key concept]

The most distressing thing about the book is that it doesn't finish. It leaves you in mid-plot, with the promise of a new book to come out next year. I think a lot of extraneous material could have been excised from this book, the plot tightened up, and the story finished within the page count provided.

It is said that everyone has a book in them. For this author that book was "Path of Fate". To produce more than one good book requires a lot of work. I trust that the third book will be an improvement on this second one.

Rating:
Summary: More than I'd expected
Review: After reading Path of Fate, I half expected Path of Honor to follow along the same lines... a good, fast read, but relatively light in mood. Was I wrong. This book is considerably darker with a lot of fascinating political intrigue. Francis is a master of the natural world and her skill in "court" is equally involving. Some of the names and titles are a bit confusing at first, but once you get into the book, it gets easier. I'd love for her publishers to include some extra world info in the back... I want to know more about Kodu Riik, Patverseme and this newly introduced land, Scallas. Overall a good read. I recommend this book to any fan of fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: A Complicated Path
Review: The problem in writing a trilogy is the second book. It is one that has to provide enough complications to warrant a third book, and yet do so without confusing the reader, at the same time as keeping the reader's interest. Some writers fail to do this well, which really indicates that the book should be in two parts, not three. (Sean Russell's recent trilogy really should have just been two books rather than three.)

However, Path of Honor manages to keep the reader's interest. It also provides enough intrigue to show that this story warrants three books, and will therefore make a strong trilogy. The characterisation could be made a little stronger, but overall this is a minor weakness in the novel.

The story IS complicated, but that is necessary in order to develop the entire tale.