Book Review: Antiphon by Ken Scholes

Antiphon by Ken Scholes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

REREAD THOUGHTS:
How did I forget some of these amazing things since I read this 15 years ago? And how has it been that long ago???

Wow. I'm blown away by this book once again. Definitely still a 5 star read. We see how deep the beliefs go, the prophecies and gospel. We dive deeper into everyone's lives as they travel through their part of events to accomplish goals. Goals they aren't even sure of yet.

This is a middle child book, book 3 of 5. We get answers and learn more as things get serious and close. I'm invested for the results. Who will pull through? Who are they? I'm looking forward to see how things come together.
~~~~~
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Oh, where do I start with this one. Ken has to have a metal mans memory for the wondrous things he does here. To remember all the little threads he starts, then we get to the new things created here. This book takes Fantasy to a whole new level with the old fantasy feel and mechanicals mixed in, then there are magicks in the mix and hints of gods and different worlds. This series is truly one of the most in depth mesmerizing epic fantasy reads I have been captivated by. The author is really talented.


So much is happening and every word is important to the story. The words could have so many different meanings to them when you start putting them together.

The story continues on in the lives of the characters as we go through the changes in the world. The chapters are broken in to separate Point of Views as in the previous two books, which helps greatly in getting all the information to you. And very well broken apart to understand each character.

Rafe - The captain of the ship was porting Gypsies to the Sanctorum Lux until he is visited by the Moon Sparrow used by the Francines in the past, to stop by an island. And is hijacked by metal men.

Rudolfo - Once certain of what his place was and what to do, now is unsure what he is to do with the world that is crumbling around him. He still works hard to help the refugees showing up at his lands and save the light, but at what cost to the Ninefold Forest. How much help can Rudolfo spare in this drastically changing world.

Jin Li Tam - is still having the dark horrible dreams, but not as often now with Jakob better. She finds a small silver mecroservitor sparrow trapped while she is walking in the woods. The mechanical sparrow is looking for Isaak.

Petronus - now living with the scars on his neck and over his heart is having dreams wanting to be heard and understood, but he just can't grasp them. Instead he wakes in cold sweats.

Winters - now living in a city for refugees by the library the mechoservitors are creating. She does paperwork but it seems as she has lost her faith, the old faith of her people. Waiting in this new life she is making, in the Ninefold forest, for Neb to return to her.

Vlad Li Tam - He and his few sons and daughters who where fortunate enough to be rescued have returned to they dreaded island, for six months now, to seek what they can of the Machtvolk who tortured them and have lived here. Vlad Li Tam still watches for the light he had seen in the water that day six months ago.

Neb - He is deep in the Churning Wastes with Renard, his guide. He has learned to survive and thrive here. But now he sees new visitors, to fast to be scouts of the Gypsies or even users of the black roots. But he still tries to decipher the response needed to the canticle of the silver crescent. Neb and Renard separate to carry out different deeds with the new visitors only to find trouble lays in front of him.

All these characters are shaken up and a little lost with how to respond to the whole situation and happenings of the last six months. And things are not getting better.

I did find myself getting lost in some of the story depth. It is amazing the depth of the manipulation of the characters. To try and piece it all together at times is hard to do, but I love trying to get there before Mr. Scholes.

There is a mixture of wizards and magics with science and technology in these books. Even the hints of Gods and different worlds. I would definitely suggest this captivating series to any fantasy reader who likes to get lost in the tangled webs of manipulation.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Antiphon

Antiphon

By:  Ken Scholes

Publisher:  Tor

Publish Date:  September 2010

Genre:  Fantasy

Format:  ARC

Series:  3rd book in The Psalms of Isaak, 1st book ~ Lamentation; review here, 2nd book ~ Canticle; review here

Recommendation:  YES!! If you like intricate detailed fantasy with many captivating happenings all leading to a unified result, get these books.

Book Synopsis:
Nothing is as it seems to be.

The ancient past is not dead.  The hands of the Wizard Kings still reach out to challenge the Androfrancine Order, to regain control of the magick and technology that the monks sought to understand and claim for their own.

Rejoin the adventure in the Named Lands!

First Sentence:
A rising full moon washed the calm sea in brighter tones of blue and green, bathing the shoreline as well as the robed figures who stood upon it in dim aquamarine light.

My Review and Summary:
Well, being this is the third book in the series it may contain a few spoiling points for the first two books.  But, I will bet you probably wont remember them when you start this series as it is a long twisty road to get here.  (And so worth it.)

Oh, where do I start with this one. Ken has to have a metal mans memory for the wondrous things he does here. To remember all the little threads he starts, then we get to the new things created here. This book takes Fantasy to a whole new level with the old fantasy feel and mechanicals mixed in, then there are magicks in the mix and hints of gods and different worlds. This series is truly one of the most in depth mesmerizing epic fantasy reads I have been captivated by. The author is really talented.


So much is happening and every word is important to the story. The words could have so many different meanings to them when you start putting them together.

The story continues on in the lives of the characters as we go through the changes in the world. The chapters are broken in to separate Point of Views as in the previous two books, which helps greatly in getting all the information to you. And very well broken apart to understand each character.

Rafe - The captain of the ship was porting Gypsies to the Sanctorum Lux until he is visited by the Moon Sparrow used by the Francines in the past, to stop by an island.  And is hijacked by metal men.

Rudolfo - Once certain of what his place was and what to do, now is unsure what he is to do with the world that is crumbling around him.  He still works hard to help the refugees showing up at his lands and save the light, but at what cost to the Ninefold Forest.  How much help can Rudolfo spare in this drastically changing world.

Jin Li Tam - is still having the dark horrible dreams, but not as often now with Jakob better.  She finds a small silver mecroservitor sparrow trapped while she is walking in the woods.  The mechanical sparrow is looking for Isaak.

Petronus - now living with the scars on his neck and over his heart is having dreams wanting to be heard and understood, but he just can't grasp them.  Instead he wakes in cold sweats.

Winters - now living in a city for refugees by the library the mechoservitors are creating.  She does paperwork but it seems as she has lost her faith, the old faith of her people.  Waiting in this new life she is making, in the Ninefold forest, for Neb to return to her.

Vlad Li Tam - He and his few sons and daughters who where fortunate enough to be rescued have returned to they dreaded island, for six months now, to seek what they can of the Machtvolk who tortured them and have lived here.  Vlad Li Tam still watches for the light he had seen in the water that day six months ago.

Neb - He is deep in the Churning Wastes with Renard, his guide.  He has learned to survive and thrive here.  But now he sees new visitors, to fast to be scouts of the Gypsies or even users of the black roots.  But he still tries to decipher the response needed to the canticle of the silver crescent.  Neb and Renard separate to carry out different deeds with the new visitors only to find trouble lays in front of him.

All these characters are shaken up and a little lost with how to respond to the whole situation and happenings of the last six months.  And things are not getting better.

I did find myself getting lost in some of the story depth.  It is amazing the depth of the manipulation of the characters.  To try and piece it all together at times is hard to do, but I love trying to get there before Mr. Scholes.

There is a mixture of wizards and magics with science and technology in these books.  Even the hints of Gods and different worlds.  I would definitely suggest this captivating series to any fantasy reader who likes to get lost in the tangled webs of manipulation.



I received a copy of this ARC, as I requested, from Barnes 'n Nobles for Early Review and discussion.

This book qualifies for my Speculative Fiction Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.

Looking Forward To... (18)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down.  Which I just updated yesterday, and it is constantly growing.  Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

The Next Book Is...

Antiphon

By: Ken Scholes

Due out:  September 14, 2010

This is a series I got started on thanks to the mediator at Barnes 'n Nobles Fantasy forum Site.  This series is truly one of the most in depth mesmerizing epic fantasy reads I have read.  The author is really talented.

This is the Third book of the series.  The books thus far go: Lamentation, Canticle, Antiphon.  I was able to get an ARC copy of this book and working on the review for it now.  I am hoping to get it done tonight, if we stay home so I can do so. :)  If you would like to read the reviews of the first two books they are here (just click the name of the book:  Lamentation, then Canticle.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The ancient past is not dead. The hand of the Wizard Kings still reaches out to challenge the Androfrancine Order, to control the magick and technology that they sought to understand and claim for their own. 

Nebios, the boy who watched the destruction of the city of Windwir, now runs the vast deserts of the world, far from his beloved Marsh Queen. He is being hunted by strange women warriors, while his dreams are invaded by warnings from his dead father. 

Jin Li Tam, queen of the Ninefold Forest, guards her son as best she can against both murderous threats, and the usurper queen and her evangelists. They bring a message: Jakob is the child of promise of their Gospel, and the Crimson Empress is on her way. 

And in hidden places, the remnants of the Androfrancine order formulate their response to the song pouring out of a silver crescent that was found in the wastes.

Teaser Tuesday (40)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

List the book and author so other participants can get their hand on it if they choose to read it as well.

I am going to do 2 this week!  One Urban Fantasy and one Fantasy as I have both books going at the moment.

This Week:
#1

For the second time in ten minutes, my jaw dropped.  I searched his face for signs of jest, any hint he was being sarcastic, and found none.

As Lie the Dead

By Kelly Meding

pg 164

This Week:

#2

She looked in the sitting area and was not surprised to see Tertius sitting there, his fingers moving over the strings and filling the room with music.  The last time she'd seen him in this place, the Book of Dreaming Kings was burning as it was consumed by the light.  This time, the dream was different.

Antiphon
By Ken Scholes
pg 153