The Broken Crown

Sun Sword Series, Book 1

By: Michelle West

Narrated by: Eva Wilhelm

Tor Leonne - the heart of the Dominion of Annagar, where the games of state are about to become a matter of life and death - and where those who seek to seize the crown will be forced to league with a treacherously cunning ally....

Tor Leonne, ancestral seat of power, where Serra Diora Maria di'Marano - the most sought-after beauty in the land, a woman betrayed by all she holds dear - may strike the first blow to change the future of the Dominion and Empire alike....

Averalaan Aramarelas - that most ancient of civilized cities, the home of the Essalieyan Imperial court - has long been a center of magics both dark and bright. And though the Empire won its last war with the Dominion, and survived a devastating, magic-fueled battle with a far deadlier foe, both those victories were not without their cost....

But now, the realm is on the brink of a far greater confrontation, faced with an unholy alliance that could spell the end of freedom for all mortal-kind.

©1997 Michelle Sagara (P)2019 Tantor

Plodding, Tedious, and Female

This book should never be attempted for the first time via audio. The author introduces too many people and too much social complexity to make listening to the painfully incremental plot enjoyable. This is one of those talented Authors who needs an editor who understands the cost-benefit of a story.

At some juncture, only a woman can appreciate the endless navel gazing of female angst within an emotional, plodding fantasy. The exaggerated male and female Adonis attractions are unnecessary and irritating.

It is a shame to see this writer’s skill squandered on such superficial artifice. Occasionally, the narrators voice is incongruent with the proceeding atmospherics, such as, “he quietly murmured.”

I wanted to like it…

The writing style was enjoyable. The story was somewhat interesting. But I kept feeling like I had started a series in the middle. So many people (and lands) were introduced throughout the book that I kept searching the internet for a guide to keep them straight (with no luck). The book also ended in such a way that the sequels are necessary to satisfactorily finish the story, but I am not sure I am up for more of that.

too many complex names and titles hard to follow

I am 6 hours in and still dont know who the main characters are yet. every sentence if filled with complex names and titles makes it hard to follow along. nobody has actually done anything yet. it does have potential to be good though. well see...

Slow to find meaning

the story stars out very dull and goes on for a LONG time before getting to allot that can be followed

Spellbinding story

Listening to an audiobook always brings out details that when you read sometimes you miss. This was the case with the retelling of the broken crown.