The Given Sacrifice - S.M. Stirling

The Given Sacrifice

By S.M. Stirling

  • Release Date: 2013-09-03
  • Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
4.5 Score: 4.5 (From 98 Ratings)

Description

Praised as a “truly original combination of postapocalyptic sci-fi and military-oriented medieval fantasy,”* S. M. Stirling’s Novels of the Change depict a future without technology, where people must master skills from ages past in order to survive. Now, to ensure that survival for all he cares for, a king faces his greatest challenge in the latest chapter of the New York Times bestselling saga....

Rudi Mackenzie has won the battle that expelled the enemy from the new High Kingdom of Montival. Now he must free the people who live in the state once known as Idaho from occupation by the legions of the Church Universal and Triumphant and pursue them to their lair over the mountains. There he will finally confront the forces behind the Church—the Powers of the Void.

Yet even a victory will not end the conflict forever. The Powers of the Void are malevolent and infinitely patient, and the struggle is one that involves the entire world. They threaten Rudi not only in the present, but also in the future represented by his children, Órlaith and John. Rudi knows this.

And as his heir Princess Órlaith grows up in the shadow of her famous father, she also realizes that the enemy will do anything to see that she does not live to fulfill her parents’ dream....

*Kirkus Reviews

Reviews

  • This series has become a beating

    1
    By IanButtridge
    I simply will end the series with this book. It reads like a history with bland and boring characters. They are all the same. Half the book seams to be restating the characters history. Stirling has created an interesting universe that he should just let go instead of flogging it to death.

  • The Given Sacrifice

    4
    By gina12754
    A very good book although I feel the author is running out of subject matter and just spends his time writing endless paragraphs of description. I do think he should stop with this one and pursue some fresh topic. I really enjoyed the first book of this series!

  • A terribly addictive series

    5
    By angeluslila
    I can only hope for more out of SM Stirling in this series. You would think this many books would satisfy the addiction, but no; more is necessary! The characters are well developed and the story line is great. Amazing!!

  • To the reviewer WilmMike

    3
    By fakehead
    Hey thanks for spoiling the book in you review man. What kind of person. gives away the story like that for all too read? A very selfish person, that's who. I see no reason to purchase and read this book now.

  • Phoned it in.

    1
    By Salamander70
    This book sucked. I feel completely ripped off and not only want my money back for it, I want my money back for every book since "A Meeting at Corvallis" after reading it. Six books leading up to this and we have been completely let down. There's no action, no adventure, barely a hint of mysticism, a tissue thin plot and you could care less about the characters. S.M. Stirling clearly didn't bother putting any effort into writing this,he phoned it in, probably over a long weekend (while being distracted watching reality tv) just to get it over with and collect another paycheck from his loyal fans. Under "Anticlimactic" in the dictionary should be the cover of this book. I would tell his other diehard fans (like myself until reading this) not to waste their time or money but I know they'll read it anyways and be just as disappointed. Until Stirling decides to buy back his soul and rewrites this book properly I don't plan on buying any more of his books. Stirling has gone from being a great writer to being a hack, churning out garbage because he knows his name will sell.

  • Sad

    5
    By Safe tips
    This has been one of the best series I've ever had the joy of reading. I have to say I'm sad to see it end.

  • Awesome.

    5
    By SolarSamurai
    The middle of the book is a bit rushed, but the beginning and the end are perfectly paced. Unlike a lot of other E-books, this is well edited, and proofread. The characters and there actions make sense, and are well thought out. Though to throw away the big baddy of almost 4 books felt like a bit of a cheat, but in the end made sense. I look forward to the next generation of Mountvalins, to carry on the legacy of the past two generations.

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