Kate Elliott

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whitebelly

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I've been doing a search in the archives for threads on Kate Elliott's "Crown of Stars" series, but even though there have been a number of discussions, none of the links work and the pages seem to have been removed.

Has anyone read the "Crown of Stars" books, and if so, can you recommend them? Elliott seems to have been nominated a few times (a WFA and a Nebula nomination) for what that's worth ...

Has anyone read the book she has written with Melanie Rawn et al. called "The Golden Key". Any good?
 
Nah - they are in my to read pile but I need a 'push' a recommendation to start on them. Apparently the first is good, second a bit second book-y and the third and fourth are excellent - but thats just hearsay
smile.gif
 
I'd have to pretty much agree with Hobbit. On the surface they seem like your standard "Big Fat Fantasy" series, but they are beyond that IMHO. Well written, believable characters and a well built world. I've only read the first, but the 2nd is on the pile to read and the rest are on the list to buy.
 
I love these books. I rank them as my second favorite series. They are definately not what you expect...and not what they seem. Wonderful.
 
I really enjoyed this story as well. Great characters, original plotlines and lots of action.

As for the Golden Key - I read that a few years ago and can't remember that much about it. I think it was an entertaining read though it didn't grab me as much as Melanie Rawn's stuff usually does. (or Kate Elliott's work for that matter)
 
I really enjoyed this series, and can't wait till the next one comes out.

Excellent character development, and world building. superb plotline, and mystery surrounding some characters, which keep making you think in the wrong direction many times. Highly recommened
 
Read it! It's a great series, maybe even better than GRRM. Interesting Characters, unusual "aliens", fighting,intrigues, an excellent portrayal of a medieval king in progress.
She succeeds in giving you a real feeling of how different the ways of thinking and reasoning in medieval times must have been: The importance of faith, of portents and saints, the difference of measuring time, the unashamed demonstration of feelings, the lack of privacy etc.
I think it's a very recommendable read and superior to GRRM, at least regarding the mindsets of people of that time.
The "Golden Key" is very good too. It's an unusual story about a pseudo-Renaissance Italy where painters had a special role.Treaties used to be signed by the painting of it for example. Very innovative and definately recommendable.
 
I've also been considering starting this series - I haven't seen anyone who disliked it yet. Acclaim - to some degree - seems universal on this site.
 
I highly recommend it. Good, heartfelt story, especially in Alain's case.

Pedantic parts are there for a reason and, what really amazed me: Baggage trains exist!!! The armies actually have provisions in this story! Brilliant! :)

This series has some good villains, too. You don't really know what to expect of it, not for the same reasons as GRRM, just because Elliot's storytelling style goes beyond the norm for epic fantasy IMO.
 
I have only read the first 2 books in the series and they are well worth reading. It is a very gritty and detailed world with an interesting mix of characters,, I am looking forward to seeing how the storyline with Sanglant turns out.
 
I agree to everything above, especially Alain!
This is one of the very few series where I will not wait for the books to come out in mmpb!
 
I only read the first book in this series, and I recall enjoying it. Though, I have never gone farther than the first book.

Odd, we see so much discussion on Martin's giant epic, but, it appears that this series has a lot of common ground to Martin's. Grittiness, realism, etc.

Thoughts?

Keyoke
 
I'd say based on those criteria you're spot on.

But...

They have such an amazing difference in their feel, that I hesitate to compare them. Maybe it's because Elliot's work is a bit further off the stock standard path than GRRM's. Maybe it's because Elliot conveys her sense of reality using a different set of tactics to Martin (from memory she doesn't resort to the same gross out / gore tactics to batter the reader around the head with how real this is. Not that I don't like that, but the different approach brings a different quality to the novels.). Maybe it's the increased focus on religion in Crown of Stars. I don't know.
 
I agree Eventine, I think the very detailed religion is one of the major difference is between Elliot's series and Ice and Fire.

For readers thinking about picking up this series, the religion is not heavy handed, but just very well laid out and textured.

I get more of a sense of a genuine real world from Elliot than most of the BFFs out there.
 
Well, for one thing, Crown of Stars seems to have a more optimistic appraisal of life in general than Martin's work. Still lots of harsh realities,but they don't tear at you as much IMO.

The biggest difference I can think of is what sets Crown of Stars apart from most fantasy books I've read, and that's Elliot's treatment of the supernatural elements of her story. When I said you don't know what to expect, this is mainly what I was talking about.

Trying to avoid spoilers and still get my point across here...

Basically, there are Elves, but they're really not like the elves we're used to. I just had the funniest realization that they're like a cross between Native Americans and Ancient Romans.

The Eika started off for me as nothing more imaginative than vikings with scales, but I had to radically adjust that opinion when I read the later books. Also, there are several different types of magic I've come across in the story, and they're all interesting to read about.

To even mention my favourite fantastic part of the story would kind of be a spoiler in itself, so I'm gonna bite my lip. Hard. (I've talked about in past spoiler threads though)
 
What is this series about? Maybe someone could fill me in without spoiling it. I've been cosidering these books for sometime but have been put off for some reason.

thanks
 
I'll try to keep it nice and vague for you Orty. :)

Basically the two big heeby-jeeby main characters are Liath and Alain. There are lots of secondary characters, but for the most part all the major story elements revolve around these two.

The setting is a kingdom based on the Holy Roman Empire (I think). As the story begins, the kingdom is about to fall prey to all manners of strife, from within and without.

Within this scenario, Alain's story revolves around his friendship with a captured Eika prince named fifth son, his rise from anonymous peasant to reluctant noble and the price he pays, and his servitude to the Lady of Battles.

Liath's story revolves around her frantically seeking to escape the shadow players who killed her father, while she tries to gain control of a mysterious power of flame she inexplicably possesses. She too becomes a reluctant participant in court intrigues later on in the story.

The theme of both Alain and Liath's story changes drastically as the story progresses. Also, after book 2 the stakes seem to be consistently rising, as more and more powerful forces become involved.

If you want me to be less vague than that (or moreso) say the words.
 
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