Sara Douglass (1957–2011)

I'm so on the fence about my feelings for this series. While I really enjoyed the first book, I was not thrilled by the second, and this one didn't bring much else to the table except for bittersweet closure.

Axis is terrible and only grew more so in my eyes as the story went on. Faraday is once again getting treated like crap and as a side character, when I'd rather read more about her, then is killed off at the very end. Azhure, while I want to hate her for taking Axis from Faraday (while show more simultaneously being glad she rid her of that asshole), is probably the most exciting character in this whole book. I found myself wishing we could just read about the two women and kill Axis off; everyone would be better off!

Uhg. You get 3 stars, because I love the writing and some of the story, but I'm keeping two stars because I hate Axis and all of the stupid names for everything (seriously, StarFinger?!?!?!?! UHGGG!). Oh well. show less

The trashy cover and ridiculous title predisposed me to discount this, but the emphasis on character development, and the healthy splashes of almost-realistic history, made me like the book despite myself. There *are* some trashy bits--the sex scenes are by and large romance-novel-y, and sometimes the female characters get locked into the "strong, beautiful, and quietly commanding" niche. Regardless, I find myself excited about reading the third and final novel, which promises to answer the show more question of who has survived through the centuries--and who will triumph. show less

DNF halfway. This has a fascinating magic system - people who can instinctively speak to glass and other minerals and elements! And a mathematical system that fits words, formulas, and geometric structures together upon an entire pyramid.

But there are some serious consent issues here (enslaved woman falls for her rapist and abuser). It was refreshing, however to read a fantasy book where the eldritch evil actually does break through into this world, rather than the heroes managing to avoid show more it at the last second and readers never seeing the promised threat.

None of the characters were particularly like able or interesting except the antagonist’s brother, the crown prince, who’s WAY better than the jerk our mc falls for. When I realized I cared more about him after 2 chapters than about any of the people I’d read half a book about, that’s when I dropped it. show less

Ok so I would never have picked up this book if f I had been browsing the shelves. One look at the cover and I’d probably have put it back. Can you blame me? It’s not attractive. The colours are rather dull and washed out. I don’t quite know what those characters are doing.

The thing about The Wayfarer Redemption is that it’s good in a cheesy 80s sort of way. Everyone is remarkably gorgeous, the kind who belong on the catwalk or on the cover of a magazine. Evil is really evil. And show more good is good. It’s all black and white, with little grey. There’s a prophecy that has the three races of this land Tencendor reunited under the StarMan (yeah, it’s very Ziggy Stardust. Other characters are named StarDrifter and Tree Friend! I mean, Tree Friend, really??). And of course battles and plenty of action against these wraith-like creatures called Skraelings and Skraebolds. There’s also a love affair between the pretties. Essentially it’s pretty much what a decent fantasy book is about. Love and war and the supernatural. It’s quite standard fare. Nothing that pushes the boundaries too much.

Reading The Wayfarer Redemption is like having a nice cup of English Breakfast Tea in the morning. It won’t quite jolt you from the morning sleepies like an espresso will, but it will wake you up gradually enough to get you through the day. And since I do like my English Breakfast Tea, I’m off to request the next book from the library!

One thing that has me a little puzzled though is the titling of this series. The Wayfarer Redemption is also titled as BattleAxe. There is also a trilogy known as The Wayfarer Redemption Trilogy but is actually considered books four to six after the Axis Trilogy. Confused? Yeah so am I. show less