I really enjoyed this book, the third volume in Abraham's The Long Price Quartet. On one hand, I'm happy that the series is defined as a quartology; the current trend of dragging fantasy series on interminably is not enjoyable. On the other hand, I really like his writing and each volume is better than the last.

This one is does not suffer from the common "middle book" problem of being merely connective tissue between an interesting beginning and an exciting ending. The plot gets twisty and readers are forced to think about who are really the bad guys and who the good. The characterizations continue to be well done and there's plenty of action and excitement with an ending that leaves you anxious for the fourth volume (have no fear...it's already published).

Definitely recommended. ( )

The third in Abraham's Long Price Quartet features a major Galt invasion of the Khaiate, with the goal of permanently removing the threat of the andat. One can sympathize greatly with both sides of the war. Once again, Otah Machi's world is turned upside down. ( )

My Bookspotcentral review ( )

Third installment in the Long Price Quartet series. Did not like this as much as the first two books - too much military detail? Not sure the exact reason - but still looking forward to book four. ( )

epic fantasy, well written epic fantasy, third book of The Long Price Quartet.

This is a lovely series and a wonderful book.

It begins several years after the events of the second book, which took place, in turn, years after the events of the first book. This is a great thing, as it concentrates on what is most important to the characters, their world, and the series plot. I am getting really sick of epic fantasy series which meander all over the place for thousands of pages without much overall series plot development (such as Malazan or Wheel of Time). I really appreciate Abraham sticking to the point, while at the same time giving us nearly miraculously deep characters and well dveloped plots in the individual books. I have nothing but praise for him as an author!

In this book, the war that the Galts have been building with against with the rich - and largely undefended - cities states of the Khaiem - has arrived.

While the Galt general's main goal is the erradication of large parts of the culture and history of his opponant, he still manages to be a somewhat sympathetic character. He is trying to save the world form the rare but uberpowerful magic of the andat -enslaved ideas held by the Poets of the Khaiem. They do have the power to destroy the world, and have come damned close to it in the past. He wants to do away with the andat once and for all - and get rid of the Poets while he is at it. And conquest and loot are not bad things, either.

The invaded Khaiem are also sympathetic figures. Their women are being raped, their children harmed, their men killed, their greatest cities destroyed. Who can help but feel horrible for them? Yet some of their greatest leaders secretly agree with the Galtish general about the andat, and also believe that having the andat has retarded their culture in many ways, as they have not striven to improve their lives in centuries.

Wonderful story about extraordinary characters in extraordinary circumstances.

And I continue to love the character of Otah Machi, as I did in the two earlier books as well..

I wait with breathless anticipation for The Price of Spring, coming in 2009. ( )