The King's Shield (Inda, Book 3) Reviews

• The third Inda military fantasy (see INDA and THE FOX) is a fabulous thriller

  
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2008-07-28
  Inda left in self imposed exile as a preadolescent to preclude a monarchy crisis. In the nine years of his absence, his friend Evred became the King instead of Inda's older brother who was murdered and married to Inda's sister Hadand. Meanwhile Inda learned naval warfare while spending time with prates and has become a military hero after winning a major sea battle.
  
  Inda accompanied by his beloved Dag Signi, a Venn sorceress, comes home to warn his ruling family that the Venn plan to invade. He is stunned to find Evred as the ruler, but also shocked that he is the heir to Choraed Elgaer and must marry his childhood friend Tdor; both have loved one another, but he also is committed to Signi. However, working through his feelings and what is good for his people are on hold as Evred asks Inda to lead their army. Though a naval expert, Inda agrees even if he feels like a fish out of water.
  
  The third Inda military fantasy (see INDA and THE FOX) is a fabulous thriller, which ironically takes an anti-war stand; as Edwin Starr's song War asks "what is it good for?" Signi answers with her scornful legalized murder argument. The vivid story line is fast-paced even when chapters are devoted to preparation as Sherwood Smith also responds to the question "What is it good for?" with a resounding "absolutely nothing". This is an excellent military fantasy that pulls no punches in openly describing the horrors of war on everyone; not hiding the consequences from her readers.
  
  Harriet Klausner
  
  
  

• solid next step in a wonderful story

  
  By A3SSAJY2BH4ECH on 2008-07-02
  I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this series. It is a wonderful story of a group of people who are very diverse, who grow and love and make us cry. The story is large and interesting, political background, personal and family stories, battles and pirates, it is all in there, and it makes sense, no sudden miracle solutions and trite plot devices. There are lots of surprises and a lot of emotions, I am deeply involved with these people and I truly enjoy spending time with them all, they are so real and intensely drawn. Great!
  Although I love Sherwood Smith, I waited for "Inda" in paperback because I could not imagine that I would be interested in a story about a warrior culture in a medieval-feel setting and a hero who was a young boy who goes to military academy. I do not regret buying it, bought "Fox" in Hardcover and pre-ordered this book as soon as I could, in hardcover. I am not disappointed. Great story, great characters, very gripping.
  The reasons I gave 4 stars, not 5:
  I have to work quite a bit to get back into the story and the characters - there are very many, and many strands of story - this is concentration work, as I do not have the time to re-read both stories that came before. I do not like authors who make endless recaps, but I like to have someone fill in another character a little, or a short moment of someone thinking back to a big event, just to get back into the names and big events. There are lots of details about Inda' childhood, but very few about the larger political story, so I have to strain a bit to rediscover all those bits and pieces, and connect the names to some important people. It would help if the list of characters and terms was included in a glossary at the back, and I did not have to go online to Sherwood Smith's site to find all that.
  Second, this was announced as the final book of a trilogy. I bought it under this premise, and I very much looked forward to a satisfying ending to a great story. I really hate endless series, I want endings at some point. So finding out that there will be a 4th book was a strong disappointment for me.
  Otherwise, strongly recommended, but start at the beginning, no way you can enjoy this series starting with this book.
  
  

• Wonderful

  
  By A29P4TCEI4GK1Y on 2008-07-11
  Sherwood Smith's world is so complex that it, at times, feels as detailed as Tolkien's. It wouldn't surprise me to discover that she has written her own language too. I don't think many authors take the time she does to flesh out a world's political and social structures and I believe that this is one of the reasons why the Inda series is so good. Even the minor characters are shown to have motives, belief systems and histories. Although it does make it a bit confusing and I will agree with the previous reviews that wished for a list of characters. You can find most of them on her website, but it would have been nice to just quickly flip to the back of the book when I forgot the name of Cama's brother. And there were too many Noth's to count.
  
  I think Smith has been labeled as a young (female) adult writer, which is a shame because I think it may deter some of the male fans from trying the series. But Smith is right up there with Orson Scott Card when it comes to military strategy, pacing, and action. She also reminds me of Carol Berg and Lynn Flewelling, both of which have been able to create stories that cater to most if not all readers. The only warning I will give is that the Inda Series is not a light read; you won't be able to breeze through them. Not if you want to fully appreciate the scope of Marloven Hess. But it is well worth the effort and readers should take advantage of authors who are willing to put in the time that it takes to create such a intricate and fascinating world.
  
  

• nothing to be disappointed about...

  
  By A1JB93TSADISSY on 2008-07-14
  The third book in the series and still captivating. I disagree with readers who want quickly-solved dilemmas,1-2-3, done! I certainly do not complain about the series going into a 4th or 5th book. I believe and trust in the author to know where she wants to lead us. I 'd rather enjoy and look forward to reading more chapters and more developments of the story than expecting it to end forcibly to meet a 'three-volume-only' requirement.
  Besides, the author is right on target with her yearly issue of the new sequel. And who said it's boring because there's no fights or battles involved? Personal and inner conflicts are just as important in the characters as their prowess versus nature or antagonists.
  Two thumbs up for Sherwood Smith's books and series!!!
  
  

• Slightly disappointed, though I love the series!

  
  By AHJMYIR99ESRZ on 2008-07-04
  **This may have some spoilers, so please beware.**
  
  I, too, anticipated this to be the final installment of Inda's series and was disappointed to find no clear resolution. I had preordered Fox and King's Shield because I was totally in love with the characters. It felt as if I was growing up with them and reliving the angst of life. The only downside was the enormity of Inda's world...there were so many things to remember and if I don't make a point to remember something, it sometimes becomes forgotten and I feel like I'm missing out on a lot. The result of that made me skim a lot of pages, especially for KS (since I hadn't reread the previous books recently) - I zoomed through a lot of passages. If I couldn't recall what the characters alluded to, it was simply dismissed. Like the previous commenter, I think a list of characters inserted in the back/beginning of the book would have helped a lot.
  
  The other thing that I was really looking forward to was a conclusion to Inda's relationships between the Ven dag and Tdor. It was really hard for me to understand his love for both women...I keep thinking, he really should choose one...Not to say that I couldn't comprehend the dichotomy of the marriage relationship and that of the heart - they were separate in the Marlovan society, and only the blessed few grew enamored of his or her spouse. I was just REALLY hoping he would *just* pick one or the other gosh =P
  
  Anyway, if you hadn't read the book yet and you're still reading this part, be prepared to have some tissue handy! True to the series, it portrays lives so well that you'd sometimes feel for the unfairness of it. But there's joy too, and the celebration of life, but even these made me tear up a time or two lol.
  
  
• It took my breath away
  By A2HVRCZ3CET9QC on 2008-07-29
  The characters, the cultures, and the countries are so vivid and three dimensional and there is such a rich back story - this world feels *real*... it is more like reading Tolstoy or George Eliot than a work of fantasy, in that sense. The solidity and depth of the setting and culture are felt rather than described and the characters' complexities reveal themselves naturally over time.
  
  The first two books, Inda and Fox, introduced us to the characters and the world:
  
  In the first we are shown Inda as a boy going off to a military academy, drawn into the complex ties of aristocratic kinship, and given a glimpse of the intricacies of politics and personality. We saw Inda, still so young!, rushed off into a bewildering exile and learned with him the ways of the sea... only to watch that world too disintegrate for him.
  
  The second book: Piracy, teamwork, strategy & tactics - and lots of action at sea and for those back at home in the next book. ...and, deliciously, an ever deeper and more subtle exploration of character, of friendship, and of politics.
  
  King's Shield takes all the beauty, depth, complexity, and richness of the previous books and brings it all home - literally and figuratively. For me, this book was the ultimate payoff for the investment I have made in this world and these characters. I consider it one of the best works of fantasy I have ever read - the intricate, tightly woven plot (and no lack of breath taking action!) which both drew me into a passionate caring for the characters and made me really think about war, about conscience, responsibility, friendship, love, duty... and the hard choices that we all face.
  
  This wasn't a light, easy read - not a delicate, slightly frothy fantasy romance. Crown Duel, Trouble with Kings, Sashiara en Garde, and the lovely short story in Lace and Blade are all beautiful examples of that genre - magical, special books, but lacking the depth and complexity of the Inda series. King's Shield drew me into it almost at once, but demanded my attention, my focus...my heart, but that investment was exponentially rewarded.
  
  So, if you love character driven fantasy with strong, intelligent plotting - read this series... read it now!
  
  
• A interesting way to leave you wanting more
  By AB9ZDFSH1FWPY on 2008-07-07
  Quite honestly I don't usually prefer reading books by women in this genre. I tend to feel like it was a trial to read their books and I finish the last page and look for something else to do. Until Sherwood Smith decided to write books for an older audience. I hope she continues to write for the older crowd instead of children and as she gains more experience that she continues to develop her writing and nurture the storytelling from books 1 and 2.
  
  I really enjoyed the first two books, but I found the 3rd to be slow and uneventful through most of the book. More like seeing an old friend for coffee and spending most of the time reminiscing about old times before the actual interesting conversation.
  
  Though a lot of the action wasn't as inspiring or reminiscent of the stuff from book 1 and 2 I will note the extremely short period of time where Inda and Tau defend the king was the most memorable part of the book. Everything else really didn't stick in my mind. Unlike the other two books.
  
  Sure there was action but quite a few mini-stories were somewhat boring. I wanted to read more about Inda and Tau fighting and Inda showing off his genius.
  
  My own opinion is Inda should have taken the Dag too and not just Tdor.
  
  
• Another great book by Sherwood
  By A10DZOHPFZ4TLM on 2008-07-22
  The King's Shield definitely does not disappoint. It continues the series almost directly after The Fox ends. The King's Shield is much like the previous 2 books in the Inda series, in that it is well written, exciting, and addictive. Once you pick up this book, it is almost impossible to put down.
  
  Warning: This is a book for adults and older teens. Some younger fans of Crown Duel might not like the Inda books, due to several adults themes as well as sheer length and complexity.
  
  
• Highly Recommended!
  By A3LC4D4YPMEX9 on 2008-07-24
  This is an awesome third book in an awesome series. I had only read Sherwood's Crown Duel before this, and I liked that so much that I was afraid I would be disappointed in this new series. However, much to my delight I like this series as well if not more then Crown Duel. All the characters are well portrayed and I love that you see events from everyone's perspectives - even the "bad guys". It is a very interesting way to go about a story, and Sherwood keeps it from being too confusing.
  
  There have been complaints about how this was supposed to be the last in a trilogy, but now there are four (maybe even 5!) books planned. However I say: if it's a good series keep them coming! There are too few good fantasy series out there. This is definitely one of the best. But definitely start at the beginning or you will be endlessly lost.
  
  
• Different, but still captivating
  By A370RDC5MNESMQ on 2008-07-24
  I found the beginning of this book to be a little strange -- as if the author had a list of things she wanted to have happen and was checking them off one by one. It felt unnatural, especially after the first two (incredible) books, and I'm guessing it was a result of trying to fix the length of this book.
  
  Fortunately, that quickly passed, and the book turned into another wonderful story of Inda's world. Still, this book differs greatly from Inda and The Fox, and it all comes down to this: while the first two books spanned 11 years between them, this book covers a mere two seasons. Things that would have been glossed over with a paragraph in the previous books, probably in a short personal flashback, are instead shown in detail as they happen. Side stories with new characters are brought in, further slowing things down. The purpose of the slow pace is, I think, to add emotional import to the story, and to an extent it worked for me. But nothing hit me with the emotional impact of Tanrid's or the old King's deaths in the previous books. I think this is because with the slow pace things were much more predictable than in the past. But predictable might be the wrong word -- rather, most of the events were inevitable, with a long time spent building up to the climax, so that when the climax was reached, there was more release than shock.
  
  What is the same as the previous books is the realness of the characters and their relationships. And the action is also extremely well written. Between that, and the longing for resolution, I skipped a day of work to read the second half of the book!
  
  Still, I think I would have preferred this book to have been condensed to part 1 of the final book in the series, which was the original plan. And I'm very curious what will happen in the final installment -- the possibilities are now as wide open as at any other point series, and that's where I think Smith does her best work.
  
  Eagerly awaiting `Treason's Shore'......
  
  

• The Fox
• Inda
• Senrid
• A Posse of Princesses
• Victory of Eagles (Temeraire, Book 5)