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Customer Reviews (5)

I hope the author plans more books set in this world
As I've said in my reviews of the first two books in this trilogy, you should really start with Coe's "Winds of the Forelands" quintet, which is set in a different part of the same world that this book is set in, and which deals with some of the same characters and issues.GREAT exciting books, richly detailed, fleshed-out characters - I just love them.The "Blood of the Southland" books are also highly enjoyable, though they have a somewhat different feel to them because there's less complexity and the action spans a smaller geographic range. But Coe has set these books in a creatively built world with an interesting magic system, and he avoids what I consider to be high fantasy cliches like wise elves and gruff dwarves and so forth by actually writing a story that is NOT a rip-off of Tolkien, like so many other fantasy authors end up doing. Again, as I said in my review of the previous book in this trilogy, I wish some of the plots had been expanded upon, but all in all my spouse and I loved these books and highly recommend them.

not the best review you'll ever read..
The writing of this story was rather good at first, but I believe the conclusion to this series was a bit anticlimactic.

David Coe amazes me again
I discovered David Coe's Winds of the Forelands about a year ago when I read it was a very underrated series.After finishing it, I immediately went onto all of his other works.I can honestly say that he is currently at the top of my list of must read fantasy authors.

This is the concluding book to the Blood of the Southlands trilogy.If you have enjoyed the first 2 books, this is a must-have (if not, it may be a little hard to follow).I have been struggling to find any books to keep me interested lately, and I finished this off in a little over one day.My only complaint is that I now have to wait for his next book.....

great finish to a strong trilogy
The Southlands are filled with weary people tired of the constant war.Yet everyone anticipates another bloody battle as the dead crone's curse continues to take its toll; ironically this includes the hag who originally issued it.Now opposing mages with conventional forces gather and converge on the plains for what should prove the final battle.

The Eandi army abetted by a cursed Mettai unit prepares for battle with the mages and depleted soldiers of Fal'Borna. At a time when the magical plague is spreading and giving hope to the Eandi, they lose their magical prowess as their spells fail.Although outnumbered, the Fal'Borna forces have maed the plains the final battle.

The third Blood of the Southlands fantasy (see The Sorcerers' Plague and The Horsemen's Gambit) is a great finish to a strong trilogy.The final battle is terrific; one of the best in years with a reasonable but surprising ending.The lead up is as good.Fantasy readers will relish David B. Coe's great saga as The Dark-Eyes' War affirms he is one of the best at world-destruction.

Harriet Klausner

The Dark-Eyes' War: Book Three of Blood of the Southlands
The Dark-Eyes' War, the third a final book in "Blood of the Southlands" series, by David Coe was an excellent book wrapping up a very excellent series that was a sequel of sorts to his "Winds of the Forelands" series.

Mr Coe's world building, characterizations, and attention to detail in his stories continue in this third book.I have been reading his titles for years now and he is on the top of my list to recommend for people that have not yet read any of his titles.

... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Keeps Getting Better
I picked this series up because I enjoyed Coe's Winds of the Forelands series so much. Book one was pretty good but Horsemen's Gambit has really set the stage for the next book and I love the new characters that Coe has introduced in Gambit. Winds had so many plot twists but Blood of the Southlands seems to be more character driven to me. I can't wait to get my hands on Dark Eyes War to see what happens next.

This is a great fantasy world
I just love reading these books. I love the world Coe has created - it's creative, it's unique, it's got a really interesting magic system but doesn't fall prey to the standard fantasy cliches of dragons and dwarfs and elves... anyways. This book is part of a trilogy that follows an original quintet about another part of the same world, so I'd recommend you start with the "Winds of the Forelands" series before reading the "Blood of the Southlands" books, which deal with some of the same characters and issues. I kind of wish Coe had expanded more upon the storylines in "Blood of the Southlands" and maybe done another quintet, but my spouse and I both enjoyed them enough to rate them 5 stars. Definitely recommended reading. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (10)

Great author, great series
My husband introduced me to this author through Coe's first books, a trilogy called the Lon-Tobyn Chronicles, if I remember right. Those are very enjoyable books, but his Winds of the Forelands books blew me away. The Sorceror's Plague being sort of a continuation of the Winds of the Forelands story (set in the same general world, incorporating a couple of the same characters), I loved reading it as well. I am currently about halfway through the second book in this Blood of the Southlands series, The Horsemen's Gambit, and enjoying it as well.

While the Winds of the Forelands books are almost sort of a thriller heavily invested in complex court politics and race relations, the Sorcerors's Plague involves a bit less of the court politics. The story is, however, still driven by race relations, and it's very interesting.

As with the Winds of the Forelands books, The Sorceror's Plague is not your average cliche fantasy with dragons and unicorns and elves and magical creatures and so on. One of the races involved can use a limited number of magic types, and I really like the concept of magic basically draining the user's life each time they use it. It's an interesting explanation for where the power kind of comes from. Long story short, I find these books to be creative and very satisfying reads, so I definitely recommend them - just be sure you start with Rules of Ascension, the first book in the Winds of the Forelands group! (Also be aware that there are some mature themes and content, so you may want to check them out yourself first before giving them to kids; I'd probably rate them PG-13.)

Great Characters
I loved the Winds of the Forelands series so I had to give this series a shot. So far this does not have the action or twists of Winds but the characters are so well developed and I feel as if the story ended in book one just as the plot is about to boil. I'm guessing that we are in for some surprises in The Horseman's Gambit and I am really looking forward to the release of book two. I would rate this at 4.25 stars out of 5.

Pleasing
A continuation of the Weaver War series, I found the book to quite readable and enjoyable.David B. has the ability to tell a good story that your mind has no trouble at all creating the world in which you enter. You can trust your main characters to have a consistent set of values and behave accordingly.

I mainly read to be entertained and this book was entertaining.

Great New Series From Mr. Coe
I love this new series! I really have enjoyed his previous work. I picked up this book, and read it in one sitting. Now, I wait for book 2.
Looking forward to it.

The Southlands
This book is a good read, but it's paced pretty slow.It's tragic in its way, but doesn't really hit home hard.It does look to the brighter side of people, looking for goodness across races.I like it, but I'm not jumping to read the next installment. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (11)

Can't Get Enough
David Coe has done a great job of keeping the plot moving through all three volumes so far and I can't wait to dig into the last two books. If you like multiple plots and non stop action this is your series.

Filler, I'm Afraid
David B. Coe's"Winds of the Forelands" was first promised as a four-book series.Somewhere along the way it expanded to five books, which suggests that one extra volume was demanded by the publisher to squeeze more money from the fans."Bonds of Vengeance" is that volume.

I can't really give a plot summary beyond saying this.In addition to keeping track of every character from the first two books, we also meet a host of new folks in the country of Sanbira.At this point we must be tracking the intrigues in at least a dozen different castles.With such a large cast on stage, Coe must constantly rotate from one place to another.Each location gets at most three or four sightings in the entire book, not enough to advance the plot.At the end of "Seeds of Betrayal", war was about to break out between Eithibar and Aneira.At the end of "Bonds of Vengeance", that same war is still about to break out.

But there's a bigger problem than mere slowness.All the locations in the story seem the same.Every court is ruled by a King, Duke, or miscellaneous other.Then there's a chief Qirsi minister and a bunch of subordinate ministers.Always there's suspicion that the Qirsi are part of the conspiracy, and manipulation, and endless debate.Coe comes up with every possible combination and permutation of possibilities.The minister is innocent but gets accused, the minister is guilty but isn't accused, the minister is a double-agent suspected of being an agent, the minister is a triple-agent accused of being a double-agent, and so forth.All the different cases start blending into each other.The book would have flowed better if there weren't so many.A more tight focus would have produced better results.

In short, "Bonds of Vengeance" is too much of an average thing.Writing a good novel is as much about knowing when to stop as knowing what to write.Include to many characters and subplots and you'll eventually lose your way.For books that do a better job of managing a large cast, try The Dragonbone Chair (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn), Beyond the Summerland (The Binding of the Blade, Book 1), or, for a taste of the classics, The Worm Ouroboros.

joining the individual stories nicely [no spoilers]
"Bonds of Vengeance" introduces the matriarchy Sanbira into the Eibitharian and Aneiran political landscape with the third installment of the "Winds of the Forelands" saga.The exceptional political developments suitably compliment the rare action towards the Weaver's final vision.Because different characters and various realms are heading in separate directions after two novels, Sinbira doesn't receive much attention (the book is about 15% to 20% thinner than its predecessors) yet effectively illustrates the affects of the Qirsi conspiracy.

Unlike other authors who might buildup an overall plotline over ten books to the final confrontation between good versus evil, it appears this series will not be the case.Expect many lives, including Tavis Curgh and Cresenne, to change after some major events.Keziah becomes perhaps the strongest and most pivotal character for this book aside from her relationship with the King Kearney and her brother Grinsa.

A comprehensive appendix would be useful for the vast assortment of characters.

I recommend this series to any fan of the fantasy genre.

Thank you.

Moving along nicely
If you enjoyed the first two books of the "Winds of the Forelands" series, you'll most likely enjoy this one as well.The plotlines that were established in the first two entries of the series are all addressed here (to varying degree) and for the most part the action carries forward and moves us closer to an ultimate resolution. While at times I felt that the plot was in danger of being stretched to accommodate future volumes, by the time I finished book 3 I was satisfied with the pace and with the new twists and developments.

"Bonds of Vengeance" introduces several new characters and settings, and reintroduces some others that haven't been seen since book 1.For the most part the characters remain rather two dimensional, although there are exceptions to the rule.Tavis in particular seems to be evolving into a somewhat complex character, and I can't help feeling for Kearney & Keziah's situation, which becomes even more layered and nuanced in this outing.

Overall I felt that BoV was a fine addition to a series which has consistently held my interest, and continues to do so.

So many threads being woven...
Bonds of Vengeance is the long-awaited third volume in David Coe's Winds of the Forelands series.

This volume focuses almost entirely on the political intrigue, which was hinted at in Rules of Ascension: Book One of Winds of the Forelands and dramatically increased in Seeds of Betrayal (Winds of the Forelands, Book 2). Coe reveals just how entangled the Qirsi Conspiracy is in the events of every major house and kingdom in the land. Some of the plots and characters introduced in Seeds of Betrayal are fleshed out here, but the sheer volume of characters and various intrigues makes it hard to keep track of exactly who is betraying who. You really need to re-read both previous novels before attempting Bonds of Vengeance, and even then it gets a bit confusing.

You can't help but admire Coe's ambition. In just three installments he has created enough characters and sub-plots to make Robert Jordan blush. I just hope he can bring them all to a satisfying conclusion in (far) fewer volumes than the aforementioned Mr. Jordan!

Despite the relatively slow pace, Bonds of Vengeance isn't as focused on character development as I expected. The only characters we really get a better knowledge of are the assassin Cadel and the Weaver, who sadly remains somewhat two-dimensional.

It's not quite as compelling as Seeds of Betrayal, but Bonds of Vengeance is still a fine chapter in a very engaging series that should appeal to most fantasy fiction fans. Expect to be entertained, and you will not be disappointed.
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (10)

Weavers of War
I hate to be the only one posting a negative review.Actually, on second though, maybe I don't.Anyway, "Weavers of War" is a chore to read.The reason for this is not hard to find.The Winds of the Forelands series started out as a four-book series.Somewhere along the way it got transformed into a five-book series.This happens to authors at Tor quite frequently.Extra books are constantly getting squeezed in to increase the companies profits.The results is that any series they publish necessarily contains more material than the author originally wanted to put in.In this particular case that material showed up heavily in the third book but also in this one.

Dusaan, Chancellor of Braedon (the uninspired names are typical) is finally ready to set put his master plan into action.After imprisoning the Emperor and wiping out a band of soldiers with powerful magic, he sets sail for Aneira where the various armies of the Forelands are all converging.All of this happens in the first hundred pages.The problem is that the book has to be 550 pages long, so there's a lot of space to fill.It gets filled with lots of talking, plotting, counter-plotting, speculating, and occasional fighting.Other reviews promise that all of the storylines and subplots will get tied up in this volume.Indeed they do, and that's part of the problem.There are so many characters that it's hard to keep track of which one is working for the king, which one is working for the conspiracy, which one is pretending to work for the king while really working for the conspiracy, which one is pretending to work for the conspiracy while really working for the king, which one is torn between loyalty to the king and to her lesbian lover, etc... etc...Coe doesn't make the various characters, countries, and locations distinctive enough and everything starts to blend together after a while.

Treat Yourself to This Thrill Ride
I have two suggestions for you. If you haven't read any of this great series order all five books because the last thing you want to have happen is to be looking for a 24 hour book store when you finish one of the first four books. Second if you have not read any David Coe use the look inside Amazon feature to read a sample chapter. Coe has muliple plots, twists, turns, deceptions, and surprises around every corner. I wish he would of had someone else do his covers because they are not the best but once inside you will be impressed. It is a great feeling to discover a well written series and you would be cheating yourself if you pass on this one.

really good ending for the 5th book
This was a good ending for the fifth book in this series. It (the series) did get long winded at times and i wish it had not drawn out so long, but this was a good tale.
I loved the rich characters and the descriptions of villians. So many were kind of hard to keep up with, but it was still real great.
Grinsa and Tavis' relationship was amazing through the whole book and it was a sad and bittersweet conclusion.
I look foward to more books by my fellow Tennesseean.

A great trilogy. Wait, this is the FIFTH book?
This was a pretty good fantasy trilogy.Unfortunately, the author took five books to write it.Needless to say, if the author had tightened it up a bit and not gone for publishing glory, he could have written a far superior work.As with the other books, the plot drags on and on and while there are interesting characters and an interesting story, it sometimes get lost in the "filler" or the unnecessary plot contrivances and subplots needed to push this story into the fifth book.Once again, the character who started this story, Travis, is pretty much ignored throughout the story once again, as the different peoples from different lands all attempt to meet on one battlefield to finally put an end to the story.I won't ruin the ending, you can pretty much guess it for yourself about 50 pages into the story (actually, you can pretty much guess it from 50 pages into the fourth book, but let's not go there) and it's a shame the ending was not more original and pretty much a let down after slogging through four other books.I hope Coe's future works are better, but I'm not sure I am going to read them.

A Great Finish
A very satisfying conclusion to the end of the series.I loved Coe's characters, and the world they inhabit.Highly recommended. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (10)

Another Winner
This series continues to excel. I'm sorry there is only one book left because all four books so far have surprised me with the plot twists and the action is constant. I'm already looking forward to reading his new series. If you haven't read any of Coe's books I suggest you use the look inside feature on Amazon to read a sample chapter. You'll be glad you did.

Shapers of Darkness
"Shapers of Darkness" picks up literally right where "Bonds of Vengeance" left off, with Tavis and Grinsa riding back through Eibithar to rejoin the king's army.As I made known in my review of that book, "Bonds of Vengeance" is a snore-fest wherein almost nothing of significance happens."Shapers of Darkness" does substantially better, thankfully.

After an entirely pointless episode where Tavis and Grinsa are abducted by brigands, the series is back in high gear.War is breaking out in several different locations across the various kingdoms, and almost every character gets caught up in some sort of violent conflict.There is still a problem with too many viewpoints.In fact, some of the major voices from the earlier volumes are only heard from once in the entire book.Nonetheless that problem seems less pressing here than in the previous book.

Coe has always had a problem with dull descriptions and clunky dialog, but he does possess and undeniable flare for battle scenes.Here he offers up more and bigger fights than in any previous novel, and the result is a pleasure to read.The ceaseless action pushes the novel along at a good clip."Shapers of Darkness" is a fine story and it left me satisfied enough to push on into the final book of the series.

shaping up to the climatic event [no spoilers]
"Winds of the Forelands" series advances towards the outcome of the Qirsi movement in "Shapers of Darkness".The focused fourth novel spotlights those crucial to and manipulated by the conspiracy as the war launches in the Forelands.The movement's ramifications come to a head by urging a war among the Eandi kingdoms.The effective descriptions brilliantly depict the battles' physical limitations, emotional struggles, and aftereffects.

Aside from the usual characters, considerable emphasis is spent on the secondary cast, most notably dukes and minister Qirsi affected by the Weaver.One of the story highlights is Duke Tebeo Dantrielle fighting in Chapter 14, both compelling and grizzly.Dusaan makes a great antagonist; he's ambitious, arrogant, cunning, and ruthless.However, an unexpected scene involving him might be objectionable to those of sexual violence.

Though one significant addition is the list of characters separated by the respective House at the beginning, it barely presents enough agents of the conspiracy by neglecting Fetnalla yet states the baby Bryntelle ja Grinsa as a member.If such a list is available it should better reflect the characters and their standing.

The editing has digressed from its previous standard with repeated words a couple times which I find unacceptable given today's technology.

I recommend this series to any fan of the fantasy genre.

Thank you.

This means WAR!
Shapers of Darkness is the fourth volume in David Coe's engaging Winds of the Forelands series.

Where the previous installment (Bonds of Vengeance: Book 3 of The Winds of the Forelands) focused almost entirely on the political intrigue, Shapers of Darkness is non-stop action from cover to cover. At this point, the Qirsi Weaver's behind-the-scenes machinations have all come to fruition and the entire realm is at war, and there are as many internal threats as there are external. As the penultimate volume in the series, Shapers of Darkness does a great job of pulling plotlines together and building anticipation for the series conclusion Weavers of War.

The series suffers a bit from the sheer volume of characters, nations, plots, and subplots, and to his credit the author seems to realize this. Coe provides a helpful "who's who" list of characters at the beginning of the book, which is a nice way to get reacquainted with the cast before jumping into chapter 1. There's still a sense of repetition or perhaps homogenization, in that the various nations seem interchangeable. This is especially noticeable in comparison to George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. Martin gives each people their own culture, mannerisms, customs, and speech patterns. Coe does this to a far lesser extent, almost as if it were an afterthought. Still, this is a relatively minor complaint against an otherwise very enjoyable series.

Shapers of Darkness is so action packed it's almost exhausting, and it will definitely leave you panting for more. Fortunately the end is near. Weavers of War will be the series' final volume.

Great addition to the series!
I loved this book as I did all the others in the series. I can't wait to read Weavers of War. ... Read more

Product Description
For 900 years, since the Qirsi War, the Forelands have enjoyed relative peace. The Qirsi leaders, Weavers whose powerful magic could bend to their will not only the elements but also the thoughts of others, were all killed. The rest of the pale-skinned Qirsi were scattered throughout the realm. They were no longer a threat without their multi-talented leaders.

But though most Qirsi live normal lives, and some even serve lords as advisors, all is not well in the realm. There is a Weaver in the Forelands again, secretly sowing seeds of rebellion against the physically hardier but unmagical Eandi.

Lord Tavis of Curgh, raised to succeed his father as duke, and engaged to the beautiful Lady Brienne of Kentigern, seems bound for greatness. But just as his life seems complete, he is accused of a horrific act. Little can Tavis know that the Weaver is using him as a pawn in a vast plot.

Now, only a Qirsi gleaner can help Tavis survive his doom, reclaim his good name, and prevent a devastating civil war in the Forelands.
Amazon.com Review
Magic and mayhem, politics and personal sacrifice weave a sophisticated tapestry in this first in an epic fantasy series from award-winner David B. Coe. Once, the magic-wielding Qirsi fought the Eandi clans for control of the Forelands. Defeated by a traitor, the Qirsi have been uneasily absorbed into Eandi society, serving as councilors to the powerful, but they are still mistrusted. Now a Qirsi faction hopes to subvert the rules of ascension to the Eandi throne. Tavis, a young noble in line for the kingship, becomes a target of the conspiracy and finds that he must turn to an unlikely source for help--a powerful and enigmatic Qirsi who may be more than he seems.

The opening chapters take the time to develop the politics, history, and customs of the Forelands. The patient reader will be rewarded with adventure, betrayal, love, and hope set against a well-realized blend of epic events and the beginning of Tavis's personal hero-quest. --Roz Genessee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

I enjoyed this book very much!
I enjoyed this book a lot, it was well written and had strong character development.I could hardly put it down.Patiently waiting book 2 but amazon has delayed it almost a month now:(

Intriguing Story of Intrigue (Spoiler Free Review)
Set in a world full of magic, politics, and nations on the brink of war, Rules of Ascension is Book 1 of David B. Coe's Winds of the Forelands Series.

Story:
A secret society plots to throw a kingdom into chaos by starting a civil war between the governing houses.Assassins, Magic and Sabotage are their tools.The pacing starts off slow and gains momentum as the story progresses.If you love a good story full of intrigue and fiendish plots, this is the book for you.

World:
900 years after the human kingdom defended itself from a Qirsi invasion, they found peace.The cultures have merged and the kingdom is ruled by a group of governing houses.There are strict Rules of Ascension regarding which Duke can become King.The Qirsi have allied with the humans and use their magic skills to aid them in their everyday lives and serve as advisors to the councils.In this book, the governments, races, and religions are all well defined.

Characters:
There are many, they are deep, and they will surprise you.Most of them grow with the story.There's an awful lot of character development in this book!

Writing Style:
This may be the weakest part of the book.It lacks the deep prose of a Tolkien or Jordan, but it's simple and more of a page turner than a cherished piece of literature.The biggest flaw of the book is that it's vague at times.Duke A may be talking to Duke B.Then he went to his chambers.He had some wine.The duke jumped out the window.Which Duke, A or B?!You may have to reread a few paragraphs to see who the book was talking about in a few places.Although, it's a little distracting, it's not a deal breaker.The dialogue is also a little flat.The plain writing style is what prevents this book from being great.

Action:
There's some action in the book and it's pretty standard as far as action goes.Nothing is really epic, but it's not bad either.This is more of an intrigue book anyway.

Maturity:
There's some sex, violence, and torture, but it's not graphic like in Joe Abercrombie's or Brent Weeks's Books.

Overall:
If you like devious plots in a fantasy universe, you should read this book.It's not great, but it is entertaining and pretty solid all around.

Avoid it if you don't like simple writing styles, you need 300 pages of Gemmell-type Action, your characters need to be much larger than life, or you can't get past the 'Hey there big boy' Cover Art.I mean seriously, I think this albino guy just winked at me.

If you like this book, I can whole heartedly recommend RA Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy.

Heck of a start
Both as a story and as a series.

Rules of Ascension: Book One of Winds of the Forelands begins with a dark, bitter edge to it and doesn't really let up. If you're expecting light-hearted fantasy, this is not for you.

The story proceeds well, the pacing is good and the unexpected characters get more prominent roles than I guessed they would. I like it when a writer surprises me, so I enjoyed trying to guess who was going to be important and who wasn't.

The system of magic, the politics, the characters, all of it was obviously thought out well in advance by the author, so much so that he's far more comfortable with distinguishing characters than I was, and it made tracking who was who a bit of a challenge.
On the other hand, I despise condescension and Coe just assumed I would keep up, so again, I was pleased.

Intelligent story, witty dialogue without being a rolling comedy, very believable-as-people characters and one heck of a story building, I really enjoyed this book.

If you like - George Martin's "A Game Of Thrones" or Timothy Zahn's "Heir to the Empire" or David Weber's "Oath of Swords" (I know it seems incongruous, but trust me) then you will probably like this book/series.

Where was the editor?
This book has some good ideas and the author has created a fairly complex and interesting world. His writing, however, is pretty uninspired. It has the feel of something that was written by a very young male. The characters only express emotions in about three ways-- grinning (which happens almost EVERY SINGLE PAGE, I kid you not), frowning, and smiling. It's like the guy had a good idea, but no writing skill. I'm hoping his writing gets better as the series goes along. I'm interested enough in the story line that I can read 50 pages or so before I can't take anymore "grins, grinning" and put the book aside for a day.And who is supposed to be on the cover, anyhow?

Five Volumes of Fun
I had never read anything by David Coe before I purchased this series. It took me about fifty pages to get hooked and the plot just kept getting better and the twists kept coming. This kind of reminded me of John Marco's Tyrants and Kings series. I rank this with Jennifer Fallon's Second Sons trilogy, Scott Lynch's Gentleman [...]books, Joe Abercrombie's First Law series, and Patrick Rothfuss Name of the Wind as the best books I have read in the last year. I wish George R.R. Martin wrote faster but books like this sure make the waiting for his next book easier. ... Read more

Product Description
The realms of the Forelands are in turmoil as a result of the machinations of a powerful conspiracy of sorcerers, members of a race called the Qirsi, pale-skinned folk feared by those in power.Though many refuse to acknowledge the possibility of a conspiracy, a handful of Qirsi and nobles realize that the time has come to take action, even at the cost of their loves, their honor, and even their lives.

But the rebels don't know of each other's actions, and the tenuous threads holding the realms together are starting to unravel.With the death of a king, nobles gather to choose a new leader, and deadly power springs from a most unexpected source.As new alliances form, former enemies become unlikely partners.

But who can be trusted in these new alliances, and who will be swayed by love, jealousy, or pride to betray their new allies?For more than the future of the realm is at stake.The future of the entire Forelands is in danger, and a 900-year-old grudge may lead to civil war.Those who wish to prevent it must place their hopes in a reluctant assassin, a few Qirsi and nobles, and the one man who may be able to defeat the leader of the conspiracy...if he can survive long enough to do it.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

The Momentum Builds
Seeds of Betrayal (Winds of the Forelands, Book 2) continues the development and action of the previous books, offering definite growth in the characters and yet retaining enough of their original selves to be easily identifiable.

One thing I simply have to compliment Coe on is his ability to make a character distinct and very consistent. Another is his character development, as he gets the reader into the viewpoint of almost any individual and makes theirs a sympathetic (at least, usually) perception. It's frustrating to me to have a good "hate" built up for a character and then end up rooting for them to accomplish something... but that's what the good story tellers do, and Coe does it very well.

A compelling read and the characters become even better defined, shaking off the filings and honing down to the True Characters.

If you liked Coe's "Rules of Ascension", Patricia Briggs's "Dragon Blood" or George Martin's "A Storm Of Swords", you will probably like this book.

Bad Cover Great Book
This really is a hidden gem of a book. The entire series has so many plot twists, turns, deceptions, etc. I suggest you use the look inside feature and read a sample chapter of all the Winds books. I am really surprised about the lack of buzz this great series has generated.The only bad thing about this book was the cover.

growing intrigue [no spoilers]
"Winds of the Forelands" tale unfolds a couple turns later with the second novel "Seeds of Betrayal" placing more characters and conspiracy concerns onto an already large cast inside various plotlines.The excellent writing sustains the epic saga in Aneira as opposed to Eibithar, an interesting approach by covering a neighboring country in political turmoil.

There are a few notable appearances by the gleaner Cresenne and the assassin Cadel while the outcast Tavis Curgh and Qirsi Grinsa work at restoring the young lord's reputation as they seek more information regarding the Qirsi conspiracy.However, Duke Brall Orvinti and Duke Tebeo Dantrielle along with their respective counselors offer a different perspective.Keziah is a strong character with great potential facing a conspiracy led by the Weaver, revealed as a Qirsi in a unique position of power.

The author unexpectedly portrays a love affair between two female characters with apparent touching and kissing, a noticeable contrast to any opposite gender relationship thus far.Such a change might discourage readers with intolerance towards same sex relationships.Regardless, the bold decisions and arrogance by the ambitious antagonists are very sound and the mysterious Dario had me curious about his identity for some time.Despite the sudden ending, I felt the novel provided excellent entertainment and advanced the overall story.

A comprehensive appendix would be useful for the vast assortment of characters.

I recommend this series to any fan of the fantasy genre.

Thank you.

Seeds of Betrayal
The first book of this series, "Rules of Ascension", ended with Tavis heading south to hunt for Brienne's true killer, while other plots and intrigues swirled around the various nobles and their courts.In "Seeds of Betrayal" the scope grows wider, as Coe shows us new countries and cities and introduces us to literally scores of new characters, each with their ownbackground, prejudices, and goals.He keeps the action rolling with more murders and a doozy of a plot twist right in the middle.He also spices things up with some hot lesbian sex (actually more like lukewarm lesbian sex) and drops ample hints of further conflicts to come.

The biggest problem with the book is the vast cast of characters.There are too many to remember the names of, and the viewpoint shifts so often that some of their stories lose cohesion.We may get a chapter about a certain pair and then never hear from then again for two hundred pages.By the end I was losing track of even the most basic information, and had trouble recalling which ministers were loyal, which were disloyal, who was double- and triple-crossing who, and which assassins were being paid to wax which victims.Additionally, Coe's world is somewhat short on texture.The new castles and cities we encounter all feel almost identical to all the others, without distinct cultures.Place descriptions feel particularly perfunctory.

The book's saving grace may be its most memorable character, the archvillain who we finally meet for the first time.Duusan, a minister with particular powers and an advantageous position at an important court, is a menace worth reckoning with.But he also stands out for his attitudes, his intelligence, and his understanding of the psyche of friends and enemies.

Continues to Intrigue
As much as I enjoyed Rules of Ascension: Book One of Winds of the Forelands I was even more impressed with Seeds of Betrayal, the second volume in David Coe's Winds of the Forelands series.

This volume dramatically increases the political intrigue, which I tend to appreciate more after reading George R.R. Martin's brilliant Song of Ice and Fire series. The traditional sword and sorcery elements are still present, but they play a lesser role. Rules of Ascension showed readers a glimpse of the events and politics facing the Forelands, but Seeds of Betrayal kicked the door wide open. Coe introduces a host of new characters and courts, and shows us the threads that connect them all. Nothing happens in a vacuum. This volume illustrates how events in one kingdom play out in another, and how a carefully manipulated string of events can throw them all into turmoil.

I admire Coe's ambition, but hope he hasn't overreached. The characters from Rules of Ascension could have used more development prior to introducing a whole new group. Seeds of Betrayal also gives readers a much closer look at the Weaver behind the vast Qirsi conspiracy. Unfortunately he comes off as a bit one-dimensional. This is a character that would have been more effective had he remained more enigmatic.

Despite a few bumps in the road, Seeds of Betrayal is another fine chapter in a very engaging series that should appeal to most fantasy fiction fans. Expect to be entertained, and you will not be disappointed.
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Product Description
The winds of war are blowing through the fast-changing land of Tobyn-Ser. This peaceful land of verdant forests is being ravaged by those who are destroying its natural beauty in the name of "progress". Jaryd, a young, powerfully gifted mage fulfills an ancient prophesy that heralds war when he binds to an eagle, becoming and Eagle-Sage. But which of the Mage-Craft's many enemies will they fight in the coming conflict?

Across the water, unrest is growing in the Nals ofLon-Ser. Melyor, a street-smart woman with her own magic, who rose from nothing to become ruler, struggles to bring peace with Tobyn-Ser. But her efforts make her a pariah in a land with a long history of deadly coups.

It will be up to Jaryd and Melyor to avert war. But can even these two young leaders keep their lands from falling into chaos as they seek to stave off the winds of war?
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Customer Reviews (19)

Wow.. I have to get all his books.
this was a great grand last book in the series. Fantastic< I went out and got the Newest one Rules of Acension.. It looks to be another good one too.,

Is it over already?
There is one thing that you will not like about this book.It will have you wanting MORE at the end.I do not mean that the story is lacking by any means, though.I mean that you will want to know what happens next to the characters and hear more of their stories.

This is actually two books in one.Half of it takes place in Tobyn Ser revolving around Jaryd and the other half in Lon Ser revolving around Meylor.I found it very amazing how Coe seemed to change the characters (there is a ten year period between the happenings in the first book and the third) while keeping them the same.Coe's ability to tell a story is one of the best.You will not get bored or recieve any filler all the while being on they edge of your seat.I had trouble putting this book down and though it is not so in depth as many other fantasy series, it is fun if nothing else.Definately read this series.

Is it over already?
There is one thing that you will not like about this book.It will have you wanting MORE at the end.I do not mean that the story is lacking by any means, though.I mean that you will want to know what happens next to the characters and hear more of their stories.

This is actually two books in one.Half of it takes place in Tobyn Ser revolving around Jaryd and the other half in Lon Ser revolving around Meylor.I found it very amazing how Coe seemed to change the characters (there is a ten year period between the happenings in the first book and the third) while keeping them the same.Coe's ability to tell a story is one of the best.You will not get bored or recieve any filler all the while being on they edge of your seat.I had trouble putting this book down and though it is not so in depth as many other fantasy series, it is fun if nothing else.Definately read this series.

Is it over already?
There is one thing that you will not like about this book.It will have you wanting MORE at the end.I do not mean that the story is lacking by any means, though.I mean that you will want to know what happens next to the characters and hear more of their stories.

This is actually two books in one.Half of it takes place in Tobyn Ser revolving around Jaryd and the other half in Lon Ser revolving around Meylor.I found it very amazing how Coe seemed to change the characters (there is a ten year period between the happenings in the first book and the third) while keeping them the same.Coe's ability to tell a story is one of the best.You will not get bored or recieve any filler all the while being on they edge of your seat.I had trouble putting this book down and though it is not so in depth as many other fantasy series, it is fun if nothing else.Definately read this series.

Is it over already?
There is one thing that you will not like about this book.It will have you wanting MORE at the end.I do not mean that the story is lacking by any means, though.I mean that you will want to know what happens next to the characters and hear more of their stories.

This is actually two books in one.Half of it takes place in Tobyn Ser revolving around Jaryd and the other half in Lon Ser revolving around Meylor.I found it very amazing how Coe seemed to change the characters (there is a ten year period between the happenings in the first book and the third) while keeping them the same.Coe's ability to tell a story is one of the best.You will not get bored or recieve any filler all the while being on they edge of your seat.I had trouble putting this book down and though it is not so in depth as many other fantasy series, it is fun if nothing else.Definately read this series. ... Read more

Product Description
The Children of Amarid now know that invaders from Tobyn-Ser's sister land of Lon-Ser are responsible for the deadly attacks on their people. But their Order is paralyzed by infighting and indecision, and it is only a matter of time before the next invasion begins.

To prevent this a rebellious young mage names Orris undertakes a journey into the darkest heart of Lon-Ser. There he will find technological marvels and industrial terrors unlike anything in Tobyn-Ser, a long-lost splinter of the Children of Amarid, and an extraordinary woman whose actions will either save him--or plunge both lands into all-out war.
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Customer Reviews (18)

$10 for an ebook that was published in 1998...
I'm giving this a 4 star rating because it's a great book. I still have the paperback edition of this book and was thinking about reading the series again, but I don't read "dead tree" editions any longer. I wanted to load the series onto my Kindle and would have paid for the book again even though I already own it. But $10 for an ebook that is out of print is just insulting. You would think the publisher would look at this as an opportunity to provide (at a negligent cost to themselves) a book to a small but interested segment of the reading public without having to worry about things like print runs, remainders, unsold copies, etc... Nope. They went for the Money Grab.

Guess what Tor? I got the book anyway. For $0. Way to look out for your authors.

outlander
I guess a book isnt good unless it makes you mad in it at least once.. but this was a good book another one that kept my interest.

Wonderful Sequel! Hard to put down!!!
I finished reading David B. Coe's The Outlanders last evening. That in itself is a testimony to just how good the novel was, considering that I wrote the review for Children of Amarid less than a week ago. But like its predecessor, this sequel was a wonderful read.

The second volume of the LonTobyn Chronicle, the novel begins 4 years following the events which took place in Children of Amarid. Once again, I don't want to include any spoilers, so I won't give anything away pertaining to the plot.

Just a reminder that this novel, along with the opening chapter of the trilogy, earned the author the William L. Crawforf Award, for best first fantasy series. And in light of the quality of these two very interesting novels, I would tend to agree that this award was more than deserved.

Once more, the characterizations are above and beyond what fans have come to expect in today's market. It would have been easy for Mr. Coe to simply continue with the same bunch of three-dimensional characters we were introduced to in Children of Amarid. In my opinion, this aspect of the book established the author as something special the first time around. Hence, I was quite surprised when I discovered that Coe elected to turn his back on most of those characters -- so to speak -- and let the readers explore the technological world of Lon-Ser through the eyes of Orris. His irritable attitude made him less likeable than Jaryd and the rest of the characters. So to some extent, this was a bit of a challenge for the author.

Needless to say, Mr. Coe pulled this off like a master. Not only do we get to learn more about Orris and appreciate him, but the author once again showed that he has a knack for characterizations that leave you wanting for more. Orris' character is well drawn, giving us a new perspective on him. Indeed, you see the mage in a different light compared to the image he projected in Children of Amarid. In addition, The Outlanders introduces us to another group of characters, and the story progresses through their different POVs. Which not only allows the readers to discover more about Lon-Ser and its history and political system, etc, but it also shows just how Coe's worldbuilding continues to be impressive. And the fact that he can even make you like the villains demonstrates just how good Coe is when it comes to creating engaging characters.

So it's through the eyes of Melyor, Jibb, Cedrych, Gwilym and many others that we learn more about this technological and violent world that is Lon-Ser. Also, discovering concepts such as technology and pollution through Orris' eyes is also quite interesting.

Again, the quality of the prose is far beyond what is currently the norm in the fantasy fiction field. Like its predecessor, The Outlanders is elegantly written.

I've snooped around on the internet, reading reviews of the book before writing my own. As I expected, most people truly enjoyed it. But most negative reviews were in regard of the political rift that continues to drive member of the Order apart. Many people claimed that the never-ending feud between Sonel's and Erland's factions within the Children of Amarid is unrealistic. I have to admit that I found that more than a little odd, but perhaps that has more to do with where I'm from and with the political system I am forced to live with. I'm a Canadian, which in and of itself means that I have to suffer a minority government that, in effect, cannot accomplish anything without the support of one or more parties that comprise the Chamber of Commons. Try to get anything done within the confines of that type of government, and you'll soon realize just how realistic the Order's problems can be. But not only that, I am also a resident of the province of Québec, where left-wing parties have held the reins of governing for years now. The problem is that this province needs a lot of changes at the moment, if we are to have a bright future. But the «old school» mentalities prevent our government from taking steps in the right direction. They are acutely aware that something must be done, but they show reticence at every turn and refuse to consider any alternative that goes againt what they have "built" in the last several decades. As a matter of course, they debate endlessly about this and that, refusing to acknowledge that something must be done, if we are to find solutions to our problems. For the last decade or so, they have been more than glad to re-arrange those problems, in the hope that perhaps they will go away. So in light of all this, I don't find the Order's political problems unrealistic at all. In fact, Erland is so much like many of our politicians that he antagonized me to no end!:-)

The pace of this second installment was a bit faster than in the previous book. There is more action and more surprises. More worldbuilding, giving us a glimpse of Coe's imagination. And if this is any indication, this writer has (hopefully) many more ideas and novels that will please us for years to come!

All in all, The Outlanders is the perfect sequel to Children of Amarid. And I will now eagerly read the last chapter of the trilogy, Eagle-Sage. Not since Robin Hobb's The Farseer series has the first two books of a trilogy showed so much promise. Let's just hope that the final volume delivers the sort of finale that will make the LonTobyn Chronicle a must-own series for any fantasy collection. . .

As good a novel as I've read in quite a while. . .

Check out my blog: www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

Much better than Children of Amarid
I agree with much of what not4prophet writes about this book, particularly with regard to the action scenes, dialogue, and quicker pace.I also agree with his criticisms about the frank dumbness of folks in the Order.Coe could certainly have constructed a more plausible scenario / description of turmoil within the Order.

However I give this book 5 stars because it is head and shoulders above most fantasy / sci fi out there, and it's such an improvement over Coe's first book, the Children of Amarid.I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to get my hands on the next one.

Whew!hang on! Another great one!!
Rich charactors, and excellant storytelling will make you call in to work sick and stay in bed reading the whole series.. exciting. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

The Story Behind the Legend
As far as novelizations of the movie go, this one is fairly typical. It reads like a fantasy novel with special effects thrown in, though the characters are dynamic and interesting. Having spent a life in the service of King Richard in his campaigns across Europe, Robin Longstride returns to England bearing the sword and armor of a dead nobleman. The nobleman's father and widow, the Maid Marion, welcome Robin, crippled as they are by taxes and the despotic sheriff of Nottingham. With his collection of merry men and a mysterious past, Robin helps the common people of the shire unite in the face of civil war.

David B. Coe, as an experienced sci-fi/fantasy writer, takes the reader into the world of Robin Hood with a steady hand, guiding them through some history that's played rather fast and loose, but still manages to show a time when the world was changing, charged with a good underdog-rising-of-the-people story.

The many legends of Robin Hood coalesce in this novel. Was he a commoner? A nobleman? A revolutionary? A bandit? In this, he is all and none of them, which seems to most aptly reflect this well-known English legend.

Reviewed by Axie Barclay

Entertaining; Not a Great Book
Setting aside the historical inaccuracies (the Magna Carta was signed 13 years after John became King, and well after he lost Normandy to the French), the vastly different take on the legend of Robin Hood (which I actually quite liked), and the fact that I have not seen the movie, I'll say that the book was a delightful read so long as one checked their brain at the cover.

I don't fault Mr. Coe for the story issues, as he was given a flawed script with which to start. But it is the story that will get and hold a reader, and there are many concerns in this book. There are, essentially, two story lines flowing through the book: Robin Hood's struggle to find his identity, and Godfrey's treason. Unfortunately, it's Godfrey's treason that is the more interesting story, while Robin's floats around as filler. In fact, were Robin's story completely removed, I wouldn't have noticed, I think. Given that he was the main character, this is a very serious issue.

But it's a quick, easy read that entertains. Mr. Coe does an excellent job of making a purse of a sow's ear out of this script with great writing and wonderful language. His depictions of Little John, Allan, Will, and Friar Tuck were delightful, and while I never really understood the point of the Lost Boys, they, too, were brought to life with nuance. This is common in Mr. Coe's writing, and I think had he been given more freedom with this story it would have been a fantastic book. As it is, it's a good vacation book that one doesn't mind setting aside to do something more interesting and then come back during down moments.

Not bad, but watch the movie
The writing style of this book is fairly good, but as it stays extremely close to the movie, it is rather redundant.Certainly, it might be worth reading, if one was planning on never seeing the film, but honestly, it cannot show some of the films best features.That being said, there are a few scenes that I predict will show up in the deleted scenes section of special features once it comes out on DVD.It is obvious that this book was written before the casting of the film was entirely complete, as the characterization of Little John is closer to the standard image than what he was in the new movie.Also, there is more time spent on some children of Nottingham, who are clearly modeled after the Lost Boys from Peter Pan, interestingly.What I really suggest is for people to see the movie, and perhaps even buy it once it comes out.

Before seeing the new Robin Hood movie, I had reservations about the idea of casting Russell Crowe as the title character.Watching, however, I was blown away, as his qualities fit this take on the legendary hero perfectly.Being a lifetime fan of Robin Hood, I can say that this version of the story doesn't follow traditional story lines, but that depictions of the period of history he usually inhabits were absolutely perfect.Whoever had been hired to see to historical accuracy, details, and the lives and characters of royalty present was clearly an expert.Even items such as the style of feathers on arrows, and the kinds of quivers and shields used came directly from historical sources and images. I will also tell fans of Russell Crowe that yes, you do get to see him without his shirt on, and that also, medieval armor really couldn't be removed without help.

Cate Blanchet has become my favorite Marian, as well, and portrayed a lady of her times quite neatly, give or take particularities of character.She is clearly in charge of her estate, concerned for underlings, and cool under the pressure of unusual situations.As already mentioned, in the role of Robin Hood, Russell Crowe acts the part in every way, being honest to a fault, caring for those who need his help, always coming to the rescue at the right moment, and of course, standing against the law of the land and corrupted rulers.This film even addresses the tensions in the original legends of Robin Hood, concerning whether his origins were common or if he was displaced nobility, by cleverly giving him a little of both, in a way that is integral to the movie plot.

IT'S OK
WELL THIS WAS A QUICK READ IT LACKED DEPTH FOR THE READER. THERE WAS NO REAL PLOT NOT SURE IS THIS WAS LIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS BASED ON THE MOVIE.

rockin robin
I was pleasantly surprised at the scope of this book.It was a different take on Robin Hood but it was a believable one.This book has humor, romance, villany and derring-do.Plus Russell Crowe on the cover. How can you lose? ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

a simple yet solid book [no spoilers]
"Blood of the Southlands" continues a couple days later with "The Horsemen's Gambit" by introducing Captain Tirnya Onjaef in the lord governor's Qalsyn army as a new main character.Joining Tirnya is her father Marshall Jenoe and Enly Tolm, heir to the lord governor.The Mettai created plague affecting the Qirsi remains a menace, threatening the fragile peace between the Eandi and the Qirsi.

Although the solid plot exists in a wonderfully written novel, the rather predictable story containing a couple exciting moments mostly follows two additional groups.The Mettai's Besh and Sirj travel with the captured Lici seeking her cursed baskets.Grinsa and Q'Daer journey with two merchants to track down the infamous Lici and her baskets.Tirnya becomes involved with internal political and military maneuvers due to the weakened Fal'Borna.Finally Cresenne and Bryntelle receive a couple chapters explaining their time in E'Menua Fal'Borna sept.

Even after expecting more from the author, I still recommend this series to any fan of the fantasy genre.

Thank you.

Excellent Middle to the Story
Usually the second part of a trilogy suffers by comparison to the beginning and end of the story.The Horseman's Gambit is every bit as compelling as the opening part of the story was in 'The Sorceror's Plague'.As the tale moves along, new characters (Tirnya and Enly of the Eandi) add to the complexity in exciting ways.The author has made a very realistic world with three distinct cultures about to explode in war.As a second book in this series it makes me crave more.It will be interesting to see how the three distinct people of the Southlands will finish this tale.

superb fantasy

The Southlands are populated by three groups who distrust one another.The Oirsi practice a life stealing magic; the Mettai use blood mixed with the earth to cast spells; and the Eandi do not use any form of magic.Over six decades ago a SORCERER'S PLAGUE destroyed a Mettai village; more recently that same plague devastated Kirayde, the hometown of Lici.She vowed vengeance against the Qirisi raiders whom she blamed and succeeded much more than she could have imagined when she interwove the SORCERER'S PLAGUE into baskets.

The Eandi peddlers sell her infected baskets to the unsuspecting Qirsi without relaizing that they are cursing the villagers they leave behind with a nasty death from their in demand product.With many villages eradicated as the epidemic spreads, the survivors believe the Eandi peddlers are killing them as they seem immune to the curse.Meanwhile from the Forelands, Eandi Captain Tirnya Onjaef leads a force south to conquer the stunned Qirsi while Grinsa the Weaver tries to escape incarceration by the Fal'Borna so that he can locate Lici and persuade her to end the plague.There is two problems for him and his allies; first escaping will not be easy and second they are susceptible to the customized lethal disease.

The second book of the Blood of the Southlands is a superb fantasy tale that not only avoids the mid book set up syndrome, but enhances the tension between the clans as each blames the other for their problems.Lici is a bit more off stage this time as her efforts have proven fruitful.Fans will relish this entry for its deep look into the social, political, economic and military interactions between the three distrusting groups; ignorance and racism are the norm with the hostilities turning the Southlands into a large killing field.

Harriet Klausner
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Product Description
From the back cover: This is the true story of a man's fight for freedom and his rise to fame and fortune as the Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy. He's written some great songs ("Take This Job and Shove It" and "Would You Lay With Me In A Field Of Stone"). Coe is a Morman who's had up to seven wives at one time. He's been in motorcycle clubs and street gangs. He served some 20 years including a stretch on death row. Coe wrote this book in long-hand; there are no ghost writers here. He has a style all is own. This is a good book! - London Foster. Includes 10 pages of b&w photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The second book about Sebastian Coe
Being a runner Sebastian Coe is one of biggest inspirations I have and therefore I read everything I can about him. This is the second book about him and covers the years between 1981 until after the games in 1984 in Los Angeles.

The second book covers his difficulties and eventual triumph in the Los Angeles games. Not many realized the extent of his illness from 1982 until the spring of 1984 and the challenge of going to the Olympics with only half a year of training. The second book is about what made Sebastian Coe into one of the greatest runners in history, his will to come back. Inspirational for everyone.
... Read more

Product Description
A thousand years ago in Tobyn-Ser, Amarid and Theron discovered magical crystals that enabled them to bond with hawks to produce powerful magic. together, they started an order, dedicating themselves to using their powers to help their people. Theron was expelled from the Order for abusing his power, but ever since, the Children of Amarid have faithfully upheld their vow using their power selflessly to protect the land and its people.

Now the idyllic peace of Tobyn-Ser has been shattered by news of mages destroying crops, burning villages, and murdering innocents. Rumor even say that Theron may have returned from the dead to wreak vengeance on Tobyn-Ser an the Order that spurned him.

uncovering the truth about the renegade mages and restoring peace to the sundered land will take a young but powerful Hawk-Mage named Jaryd across the length and breadth of Tobyn-Ser, a journey he must complete before it's too late to save the Order...and the world.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

Terrible Kindle Implementation
I've read this book a couple of times, and I give the fiction itself 3.5 to 4 stars.

However, this Kindle implemnation is awful.Multiple syllable words that end in "her" or "hers" are always separated into two words.feather becomes "feat her," gather becomes "gat her."In a book with so many birds in it, the feather problem is especially annoying.

There are other errors as well, particularly with some contractions that end in "t"."hadn't helped" became "hadn'Thelped."

I enjoyed the story, but the publisher (or whomever) has mangled the kindle version.It distracts from an otherwise enjoyable book.

Crappy Yet Somehow Compelling
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3155UYROQ6LRB Babul the Camel and Little Frog analyze and critique Children of Amarid by David B. Coe.

ok...
I was quite disappointed with this novel. I didnt like how the story seemed very childish. The dialogue was terrible... I mean absolutely dreadful... It was very predictable and not really worth the time i put into reading it. I guess i was entertained by it... but i dont know if i would recommend it to anyone other than those looking for something to pass the time.

Good story but missing much
Like some other reviews, I agree that David Coe tells a good story. I especially like how you get to know his characters by their thoughts/words. Plus, he is descriptive w/o being too windy (take note Stephen Donaldson).

The main problem I have is he NEVER explains how this magic works. We know that the mages get their power when they bond with a hawk or owl (owls being more powerful?); but we don't know how this bond gives magic, how it is used, why the birds are necessary, etc...I just started the 2nd book and it doesn't seem to rely on this much, but I can't say for sure yet. If it doesn't, then i believe it will be a better book.

Slightly disappointing
I read this a long time ago.I remember that I found this book to be pretty well written, but rather simplistic and predictable.I am not going to read the sequel.Hopefully, his other work is better. ... Read more

Product Description
This text integrates scientific principles about how the body adapts to training with practical information on designing individualized training programmes for middle- and long-distance runners. It covers: the biomechanics and biochemistry of running; goal-setting for competitive runners; developing a plan for total body fitness; strategies for successful racing from the 800-metre through the marathon; integrating psychological and psychiological aspects of athlete development; and stress management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Bible for Long Distance Runners
Even though this book is a few years old, the information hasn't been supplanted, simply because the human body is the same as it was ten years ago, as it was a thousand years ago.

I learned a lot about training and running from this book.I recommend it to anyone who is serious about running or about training runners.

Avoid this at all costs . I'd like to give it a zero.
You'd think that an accomplished physiologist and the father of one of the 1970s greatest middle distance athletes could get together and write THE definitive training manual for runners, right?

Wrong. While Martin's material here is reasonably useful in some respects, Coe's contributions are so over-the-top awful as to defy description (but I'll try).

Coe is guilty of what, for a 'scientist' like himself must be the most heinous fallacy of all: the hasty generalisation from the particular; i.e., he egotistically trots out Seb Coe's workouts, and Seb's ONLY, as a basis for an ENTIRE TRAINING 'PHILOSOPHY' that, in the end, amounts to no more than a pile of pseudo-scientific claptrap and a surfeit of unnecessary hagiography.

If you think that having detailed access to the minutiae of Seb Coe's build-up to the nineteen-seventy-whatever championships of this-or-that will help you be a smarter runner or coach, go ahead and buy this book. Otherwise, get yourself Daniels' Running Formula, by Jack Daniels ... Read more

Product Description
This book takes Angst in the face of the abyss as its unifying metaphor. After a historical survey of Angst from ancient religions to Jacob Boehme, David K. Coe goes on to examine critically Angst in Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Sartre, and Tillich. He concludes by summarizing Angst in two modes: as a "reflective apprehension" of a self standing at the abyss (Sartre and Tillich), and as a "pre-reflective apprehension of the abyss itself (Kierkegaard and Heidegger). ... Read more