Child of a Dead God

I have eagerly devoured each entry in the Noble Dead Saga since "Dhampir" was published. The half vampire/half human heroine is complex and exciting. Through each novel, pieces of her history have unravelled and her path became more clear. Until this installment. The entire saga has been something of a quest: in book four we visited her homeland, and learned more about the mysterious Chap; in book five, Lessil's history was exposed and there was a lot of action as he fought to find his mother. So, I thought that this book, the conclusion of the first series, would provide some answers about Magiere herself. Instead, it was a long quest, with little action, to find a mysterious artifact. They find it - the end. No questions answered, no show more real obstacles overcome.

The last book ended with our band setting out from the Elven nation to find the artifact. Magiere's dreams of black coils and "Sister of the Dead lead on" are pushing her south. Readers follow her South. Welstiel follows her South. A group of Elven assassins follows Welstiel, following Magiere south. Everyone planning to steal the orb from Magiere once she retrieves it. They travel by boat, by land, they fight the elements. It was actually kind've boring, with a climax that was anything but climactic.

I'm guessing Magiere's destiny will be an overarching plot for all 12 books. But, overall, I felt cheated. After following her for 6 books, I expected SOME resolution. That said, I do enjoy the characters very much, and the gorwing devotion between Magiere and Leesil was worth reading. Wynn has finally grown to be more than a whining tagalong. So, despite my reservations about her being the protagonist, I ordered book one of the next series, "In Shade and Shadow" anyway.

But, overall this book left me wanting - without the promise that the next book would continue her story. When will we finally learn the truth about Magiere? Recommended, but not as good as the previous books. show less

Child of a Dead God (Noble Dead series 1, Book 6) Overall: I really did enjoy this series, despite the whining. And despite Wynn. Who I hear a lot of people really love. It's got a lovely mishmash of urban fantasy and high fantasy, albeit more high than urban as it goes on. The main characters are well imperfect but overall likeable, except Wynn, the world is really well developed, and internally consistent, and the books are easy enough reads, despite the fairly complex worlds. Notably they do a fairly good job of the reminding you what happened before without taking the Dresden route of giving a precis of each preceding appearance every time a character shows up from an earlier book.
 
Best bits: Chap. Hyperintelligent fay dogwolf, show more with a sense of humour and a ton of snark. And stuck up elves, always the best kind. And the one funny thing about Wynn, how she keeps walking in on Magiere and Leesil having a bit of alone time.
 

 
But: Irrelevant title much? And worse, way to wrap up the series guys, by starting a new one. 
 
So, they have this down to a template now: Leesil and Magiere wander off on an impossible mission, and when they are near to achieving it, Wynn goes and gets herself lost, and/or taken prisoner, and they have to save her, and that accidentally solves the whole problem. 
 
Makes me wonder, what on earth would Leesil and Magiere do if Wynn wasn't such a twit? I mean they'd never get anywhere. Oh hang on, they managed just fine in the first couple of books didn't they. And where is my sarcasm font when I need it.
 
I did enjoy most of this book, because I love the elves. Still glorious a-holes, even the nice ones (heck, even the half-ones; Leesil needs a good shaking a couple of times in this book, although not as many as usual.) And I love the fay dog, Chap. If the Hendees wrote an entire series set amongst the Majay-hi and the elves, I would be a happy reader, as long as Wynn wasn't in it. Maybe some more of the living wooden ships too, I'd like that.
 
So why am I whining? Because I expect a major six book story arc/series to have an ending, and this one just doesn't.
 
Does everyone get to go home? Nope, they either got there and are leaving again, or aren't there yet.
 
Does everyone find twue wove? Well, sorta, Leesil and Magiere finally get their HFN, for like, a week, because they're off on another adventure instead of having a honeymoon.
 
Did any of the bad guys get their comeuppance? Well, one of them did. If you count the puppetmasters of the Aged Father and the thing that whispers in the dreams, that's one for three. 
 
Half the characters I do like are now ex-characters, but a whole bunch of new mysteries were introduced  - who really is Li-kän? Who put her to work? What happened to her two companions? Why did Leesil, Magiere and Chap all see basically manifestations of their own ancestry in the castle? Although considering Magiere's origin, there's a semi-obvious answer to that one. So why leave it hanging in the last book of the series?
 
I guess many readers are just glad the series continues, but I'm not a happy camper. I like some actual wrap-up in my wrap-up. It could have easily been done without leaving quite so many hanging threads, not least because most of these were only introduced in this last book.
 
I can handle a ten book series. Or a 20 book series. So why set me up like this? Why use the conceit of multiple series, if the same characters will be continuing the same missions, or dealing with the consequences of the same missions, in the next one? show less

I am amazed that this series keeps hitting the mark for me like it does. Magiere and Leesil are captivating. Their unquestioning loyalty and support of eachother makes them a very attractive couple. As they have both sought out bits and pieces of their respective pasts (and usually not liking what they find) I enjoy the trip along side them.

While I am not enamored of Wynn and would truly like for her to just go away - at least for a book or two.... I have liked that with her I have found out more about Chap (as he can only be understood by her) and his role in the coming conflict.

I am more than glad to hopefully be seeing the end of Magieres half-brother. A more annoying character than I like to slosh thru.

The Hendee's have taken this show more 'Middle-Earth-Vampire-Faerie-Magic' realm and built an enticing world for me to live in thru their books.

I cannot wait (as usual) for Magiere and Leesil's next journey. show less

Child of a Dead God, by Barb and J.C. Hendee, is the 6th and final book in the Noble Dead saga.

Magiere, Leesil, Wynn, and Chap leave elven lands for the South. Magiere has been having disturbing dreams driving her to an artifact in that direction. But she is not the only person after the artifact. Her evil half-brother and one of the Noble Dead, is following Magiere hoping to get his hands on it. And a group of elf assassins will do anything to bring the artifact back to their own lands.

Knowing this is an end of sorts (a spin-off series is planned for next year) to my favorite vampire fantasy series, I began reading this with a little sadness and higher-than-average expectations. Each installment has gotten a little more dark and show more violent. The character development has gotten more in-depth as well, to the point where I’ve actually found myself attached to some of the darker vampire characters. The Hendee’s have become true masters of character and world building. This is a fast-paced, action and adventure-filled dark fantasy. The vampires are cunning, the elves are deceptive, and Magiere doesn’t even know what the object she’s searching for is supposed to do.

While some of the plot lines that have arced over the entire series have been tied up in this sixth novel, the ending has definitely been left open for the coming spin-off series. I’m looking forward to seeing which characters this new series will follow, and more of the fabulous dark fantasy world that the Hendee’s have created. show less

This is the sixth (and supposedly last) novel in The Noble Dead series by Barb and JC Hendee. It was about what you would expect given the fourth novel.

I would have given this four stars except that the ending really ruined everything for me.

In this book Magiere and crew continue their journey to the castle Magiere keeps seeing in her dreams and to the supposed artifact there. The story of their journey there is twisted with that of the Most Aged Father and the small rebel group of elves run by Leesil's mother.

While it was good to finally make some progress towards the artifact I was disappointed in the story progress of this book. We never really found out what the artifact did or what exactly was guarding it. We also never really show more found out what the Most Aged Father wanted with the artifact or what the rebel group of elves was trying to accomplish with Leesil.

Given all the above I don't understand how this could be the last book in the series. In fact the book basically ended with all of the characters at the start of a new adventure.

On top of that, the characters' journey home seemed rushed compared to the deliberate journey they took to the castle. It really seemed like the authors suddenly realized the book was getting too long and that they had to quickly tie up some loose ends and get the characters sent home quickly. The ending of the book really did not match the style or pacing of the beginning of the book.

If there is yet another book added to this series, I don't plan on reading it. The last couple books of this series have just been too much of a disappointment and a struggle for me to get through. show less

The last in the first series of what will be the Noble Dead saga, Child of a Dead God answers some questions that have been building throughout, but leaves many open ends. The resolution is satisfying despite this, though, and I can't wait to read the continuation of the saga. I can't get enough of these books!

Magierre and Co go to the place she's been seeing in her dreams, brought upon by the black cloud thing. Get there, find some ultra-powerful artifact, leave and go their separate ways.

This sucked. It was nothing but bickering, fighting, distrust and non-hope the whole way through. There was no joy, no light, no happiness.