The Shining Court (The Sun Sword, Book 3)

As always, I'm left with nothing but words of praise for West's works. Aside from her beautiful and unique writing style, her characters have been developed to the point where she can enter whole new emotional levels between each other. I found this most significant between Jewel and the Terafin, and Diora and Sendari. I confess, with this book was complete, as usual, I was running through tissues, simply because of the emotion that West is able to capture between her characters. It requires true talent to create a cast with that much depth that can rival most literary works that I'm familiar with (considering I'm an English major...). The plot, as usual, is phenomenal. However, this book takes the story in a whole new direction with the conspiracy behind the masks at the Festival of the Moon and the drama that occurs particularly with Jewel and Diora as the story unfolds. I was at first indifferent to the appearance of the Voyani, but I found their inclusion as a critical element to the plot very well done on West's part. Now, while I was critical of their existence, I confess that I am a Voyani fan (laughs). I also confess that if you are a Valedan fan, you will find this book lacking severely... that was my initial problem with the book, because it felt awkward to have my two of my favorite Sun Sword characters absent for the most part, if not completely (Valedan and Devon ATerafin), but the only other thing I can say about characters, without truly spoiling any of the plot, is that if you haven't already fallen in love with Sendari, or sense compassion, understanding or some kind of emotion for him, you *will* before this book is over. Overall, the book is a much different turn from the first two, so readers might be hesitant to open it up, but it's like breaking away the outer surface of a rock and finding a beautiful glistening gift from the earth burried deep inside. I recommend it for all fantasy readers, and especially for anyone who is just as addicted to Michelle West as myself!

Michelle West is truly an excellent writer. She seems to have excellent control over her material at almost all points in this book. Many times when writers throw in character-developing events they can seem contrived or extraneous to the plot; however, in Michelle West's hands they are not only appropriate but much anticipated and actually serve to move the plot along. Sendari's and Teresa's argument truly felt like an ending to their troubled relationship as siblings; Sendari's and Diora's face-off was something I had been looking forward to since the first book and it was *excellently* handled. Some have complained that they felt that the revelation about Avandar's past was thrown in without reflection; I disagree. It felt to me like something she had planned from the first. Jewel's and Avandar's trip through the Stone Deepings was a little drawn-out; however, again, Jewel's confrontation with Duster was very well handled, enough to satisfy while not enough to be indulgent. I had been looking forward to meeting Duster since the first book also, and I was pleased with meeting her here. The mystery of the masks was well-handled, and I *really* want to see more of Anya a'Cooper.

This is a wonderful addition to this series and although it doesn't answer all the questions that are lurking it takes us down roads that needed a bit more clearifcation. I don't think she has strayed or in anyway made the storyline more difficult to follow, in fact I believe this book as just opened up new doors...and I for one am hoping this will lead to 4 or 5 more books! This in an author I could read for a very long time and I admit I am hoping that she doesn't give us a quick one book tie up....and if she does I hope she begins a new series immediately!

Once I got through the rather long explanation of characters (mid-way through the first book) I got very involved with the characters. I am, however, disappointed in the ending. I hope there will be further books that will involve the coming war between the worlds and the lives of the main characters. There were too many questions left unanswered. I will watch for the next book (books?).

The Shining Court is the third book in the Sun Sword series, and it's great!!! HOWEVER, it is NOT to be read as an introduction to the series. Michelle West's story is very complex, and one needs to read the other books first in order to understand and enjoy the third. The Shining Court deals mainly with the "southern" characters from the first book - Theresa, Diora, Alesso, etc., but part of the story focuses on Jewel ATerafin as she makes her way south with only Avandar as company after a very disturbing vision. (Avandar, BTW, is one of the great surprises of the book, esp. if you haven't read West's story in the Battle MAgic anthology about how he came to serve Jewel.) The reader is also introduced to the Voyani; most of that storyline revolves around Margret, the daughter of the Voyani that Diora killed, and Yollana, the Matriarch who talks to Ashaf at the beginning of the first book. Kallandras is also present, as are the Kialli Lords and a mad human mage who was apparently Kiriel's only friend in the Shining Court. I'm not going to say any more, for fear of giving away too much of the plot, except that The Shining Court is really a book worth reading.