Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
Format: Bargain Price
Label: DAW Hardcover
Manufacturer: DAW Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 352
Printing Date: August 02, 2005
Publishing house: DAW Hardcover
Sale Popularity Level: 3440803
Studio: DAW Hardcover
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The long-awaited cataclysm has reshaped the very land and seas, and disrupted the war for the empire. Now all who have survived the return of the spell-exiled Aoi lands must find a way to mend their shattered territories and take a stand against their enemies in a power struggle that may forge new alliances-or doom them all.
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Rated by buyers 
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From 9/10 we are back to 7/10.
Overall the book is enjoyable, however, we get too much religious preaching and the usual annoying stuff such as "His voice was hoarse, but then, he always sounded like that".
Otherwise, the storyline progresses well. I am looking forward to read the last book in the series.
Rated by buyers 
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This was a tough read. Describing the aftermath of a cataclysm is a tall order and Elliot does a thorough job of it here. Thorough is great, but it doesn't necessarily make for "entertaining" or "highly enjoyable" reading. Kindof like Matrix Revolutions was a grind to get through.
Elliot does a real good job of giving her world depth. The world machinery is never explained, only described. Of course characters offer piecemeal explanations but their knowledge is imperfect.
Theoretically I love this. That's how I like to approach my RPG'ing as a DM. But you know what? It just doesn't read that well. It's kind of a slog to get through. There's no strong central arc, it's basically a chronicle of events. The different threads don't have much motive power to get you to turn pages. (Well, depends on the reader.)
This book made me dislike Sanglant and Liath. There's so much going on, they don't get many scenes--and when they do they're always fighting and talking about how inconvenient their relationship is. Gee, there's a real simple solution to that--leave. Just quit complaining.
I got kindof irritated at all the "beautiful" men in the book. I mean, okay, men can be "beautiful". But surely their beauty can be communicated in more diverse ways that just saying "incomparable beauty" or "angelic beauty" or having characters (male or female, hetero- or homo-) get all hot and bothered at the incomparable beauty of these beautiful men.
Anyway, still 3 stars for effort. Keeping the complex world and plot under control (which they are) is a real achievement. Not much in the way of action here. The subsequent one does pick it up. This is probably the nadir of the series (like Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), but it's still okay.
Rated by buyers 
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Why oh why is DAW books releasing books printed on low quality paper - and at the same if not higher prices!
Hello?! DAW, stop this garbage right now. As consumers we kind of notice when an awesome author like Elliott has her books printed on pulp that will orange with age in about 5 years.
Take a look at the very first five books. If you have collected them because you liked this story and might want to reread it, you won't be happy when this book and #7 are yellowed with age while the very first five are still practically new. As for me, I will not be buying this book, I will go to my local library and read it before it disintegrates in a few years.
Shame on DAW books!
Rated by buyers 
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The sixth of The Crown of Stars series is the best one yet. I couldn't read it fast enough.
Rated by buyers -
In the Ruins (2005) is the sixth Fantasy novel of the Crown of Stars series, following The Gathering Storm. In the previous volume, the Seven Sleepers raised the enchantment to thrust away the land of the Aoi, but three crowns were disrupted; yet Anne compensated for the setback. Then Liath guided the molten streams of lava up through the central crown, killing Anne and her retinue and the enchantment failed.
Prince Sanglant and Zuangua killed the diamone within Henry and the freed Regnant named Sanglant as his heir. Both armies then acclaimed him as their ruler.
Dragonback Ridge shattered and released the dragon. Alain and the dragon faced each other momentarily, but then the dragon flew away. A wave washed over Alain and then carried him back toward the sea; but the cart caught on the rocks and his chains held him back. His foster father Henri and the dogs found Alain lying amidst the ruins, released him from the chains, and took him home.
In this novel, the land of the Ashioi rejoins the Earth at the same time as the current Feather Cloak, Secha, gives birth to twins. The restoral also has unforeseen consequences among those left on Earth. The violence of the unfolding spell raises volcanoes, generates tsunamis in the Middle Sea, causes rivers to run backward, and buries villages under mudslides. Great windstorms tear down trees and scatter the ever present ashes. Huge waves wash over the shore and sweep far inland. Then the widespread ashes and dust obscure the sun.
King Sanglant has inherited the remains of two armies; both are at half strength after the fighting and the effects of the Cataclysm. After the virtual destruction of Estriana by tidal waves, Sanglant refuses to look further for Queen Adelheid. Nor does he send a party to look for Liath. Taking his survivors, Sanglant marches north toward Wendar.
The hot windstorm blows down the tents of King Geza and Lady Eudokia. The Eagle Hanna wanders among the survivors, witnessing Geza's divorce of Princess Sapientia and his hurried departure to Ungria, but she is captured by Eudokia's soldiers and taken away in chains as they depart. Sister Rosvita waits for her return, but is forced to leave without her before the coming of twilight. Finding Sapientia as they exit the camp, Sister Rosvita takes her with them.
Liath struggles across the devastation that she has created, coming to a ruined watchtower. There she finds Eldest Uncle with a skin of water. He takes her to the river to wash away the grime and ashes. Then she falls sleep, waking once with the arrival of two masked warriors, but falls asleep again for many days.
Waking once more, she dresses herself in an ancient tunic and her mantle, then climbs the watchtower. From there she sees an army of refugees coming. When they arrive, Eldest Uncle and a younger version of himself embrace in joy; they are twins who have been separated in time. Unfortunately, Kansi is with the refugees and turns them against Liath. She flees, but Kansi sends sorcery after her. As she falls, a golden griffin catches her and flies away.
This novel recounts the destruction from the Cataclysm and the subsequent violence among the various human factions and between the Ashioi and the humans. The Ashioi who walked the shadows still remember the war with the humans and horse people; they outnumber the Lost Ones who traveled with their land through the aether and are eager to resume the conflict. The self-deluded humans, however, mostly consider the Ashioi as a sideshow to their own righteous killings. And the country folk and townspeople die mostly unregarded by the nobility.
Highly recommended for Elliott fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high adventure, noble thinking and magical weapons.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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