The Fires of Spring

by Mary Mackey

Book Overview

In the year 4300 B.C., a young woman named Keshna comes of age as a female warrior and daring avenger. When the nomad diviner Changar kidnaps Queen Marrah's son Keru, Keshna vows to hunt Changar down,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451195892
• ISBN13: 9780451195890
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Onyx Books
• Length: 378 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Completely enjoyable

I loved this book, the third one in the Earthsong trilogy. It wasn't quite as stunning and amazing as the first two books in the trilogy (The Year the Horses Came and The Horses at the Gate) but it was close. It kept me turning pages and was full of plot twists and turns. I enjoyed seeing how the ancient world slowly changed due to the advent of the nomads.I have only two complaints about this novel. First, I wanted more follow-up on some of the characters from the previous two books in the trilogy. There were a few characters, such as Dalish, who played fairly significant roles in the previous books but who get barely a mention in this one. Secondly, I think the author has used a tactic too often in the trilogy----you're led to believe that a main character has died, only for them to miraculously survive. Each one of the three books has this tactic used, and by the time I read The Fires of the Spring, I knew that the character we were told was dead was going to re-appear. And I was right.Despite these few minor flaws, an excellent read and a great finish to the trilogy. Actually, I hope Mackey writes a sequel to this one as well!

I was captured by this depiction of prehistoric Europe!

The Fires of Spring was an incredible trip for my imagination. Sprinkled throughout are aspects of love, war and laughter. Marrah's story, which consisted of the first two books, has become the story of her daughter, Luma, and Keshna, the daughter of Arang and Hiknak. Keru, Luma's twin brother, has been captured (yet again) by the Hansi who desparately need a legitimate Great Chief. Keru is the acknowledged heir, although he is born of the neighboring lands of peace. In this story, Luma and Keshna, two young women who are different, a combination of the Motherpeople and the Steppes, set out on an enchanting but dangerous quest to rescue Keru. Many surprises lie in store if you read this book. Along with the expereince comes the reminder that life is not perfect and that people must grow and change. This book depicts two adapting cultures- one that is trying to fight and the other that begins to lose its sweet innocence in the face of the fires of spring.