The Riven Shield

by Michelle West

Book Overview

The fifth novel of the acclaimed Sun Sword series returns to a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed... Valedan kai di'Leonne, last survivor of the ruling clan of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0756401461
• ISBN13: 9780756401467
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Daw Books
• Length: 832 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 4.2" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

This is worth ten stars

I hate buying or borrowing a book that turns out to be disappointing and as I'd never read a Michelle West book before, I didn't know what to expect when I saw "The Broken Crown" on the shelf and decided to get it. A few days later I went out and bought every Michelle West book I could find. Each one seems to get better and better, although I think they're all equally good. I've read and re-read every book in this series a number of times. Each time I get something new out of it, or read a line I hadn't focussed on before that illuminates a new angle in the story. "The Riven Shield" is magnificent. I love it. Michelle West is my favourite author. I hope that she lives to two hundred years at least and never stops writing these wonderful books that are just magical.

Better than Robert Jordan!!

This is an outstanding fantasy series...the characters are complex and fascinating (including some amazing women); the cultures and contrasts between North and South, clansmen and Voyanne are intriguing; there's magic and brawn, brains and heart; and best of all, the story keeps me entertained. Michelle West has also created a great balance between political intrigue and action. I read the Sun Sword series first, then after the 3rd or 4th book, went back to the Hunter series and loved what I learned about Jewel there. It also made me appreciate the development of Michelle West's writing abilities--she started off being good and has evolved into a fabulous fantasy writer--Robert Jordan could take some lessons!Re-reading the books has helped me find little details that I didn't know were important at the time but, on re-reading, provided interesting foreshadowing, context and explanation for what comes later. This series is my NUMBER ONE recommendation in the fantasy genre--start reading now and you won't be waiting for years to find out what happens to characters you'll care about!

What a great book!!!!

I have read all of the books in this series and in the Sacred Hunt series. I have loved them all. This book is the best so far because Ms. West begins to tie all of the elements together. I am very happy that she is doing a sixth book. It would have been very hard for the author to have resolved all of the subplots in one book and done them all justice. I really feel that a person would do well to read the Sacred Hunt series before starting the Sun Sword series. I really hope that Ms. West will keep writing as she is easily one of the best fiction writer around today.

Another fine entry in a TERRIFIC series

OK, it's not the end of the series, but somehow I can't be sorry if it means getting to read more of Michele West's writing. I've read many series by many fine writers, but Michele West's ability to build a story puts her at the top of my short list. I just hope we don't have to wait too long for the finale. I thought the suspense was gonna kill me waiting for this one!

Outstanding addition (no spoilers)

First up, perhaps for me the most refreshing aspect was that you can actually see the threads starting to come back together for the conclusion. So often in multi-volume series these days the threads just get further away and yet in this book you can actually tell that the author knows what they're doing.I'm biased in that I think this series is the best fantasy series being written today, if you didn't like her other books than you might not like this one because her style is consistent across this series. Having said that, I love her style; weighted sentences, emotions that aren't fed to the reader and an underpinning of intelligent writing all make this series and this book especially work for me.Don't get me wrong, as a reader you have to work when reading this book. It's not a Jordan of Goodkind where you can read one page in five and still not lose a single plot, this book and series requires effort. However few books for me have ever rewarded me so handsomely for that effort.Anyway, just an opinion. :)