Excellent story, one of the best in the series
599155
This is definitely one of the best books in the Dark Tower series and one of Stephen King's best.  Those reviewers who gave this book less than four stars must not have read this book and hate Stephen King.  As for those who are upset with King for referring to himself in the story, calm yourselves.  This is not the first time he has done this and I don't think you should condemn the man until you see how it turns out in the last two novels in the series.  Until then, just calm down and don't be so quick to call for a lynch mob.
1284758
(No Spoilers) This story continues the darker tone set in the previous story, "Turn Coat". People close to Harry ARE going to die, and as always they do so because it makes sense within the series development.  Harry makes major choices, and these tie up multiple plot lines, even though critical ones are left unresolved, and some new ones started.  The series is being set up for a major shift, and Mr. Butcher does an admirable job at just that.  This book is a must read for those who enjoy stories about Harry Dresden.

There is less an exposition on Harry's magic at this point in the series, rightfully so.  Anyone reading this book without reading previous ones will be at a loss to appreciate most of the story, so Mr. Butcher does not rehash it. The same goes for the major characters, except as necessary so you can understand their changes and the choices they make. I can honestly say that if you have been paying attention, every character's actions are consistent with their prior development.  You still may be surprised, Mr. Butcher is excellent at plot twists and character development.  However, he does play fair.

There is a huge amount of focus on combat in this story, more so than in most of the previous stories.  The entire last quarter of the book is all about the climactic battle, you could even argue the last half of the story is.  It depends on where you make the break.  This is much more an action than a detective story, which is why I don't consider this the series best.  I preferred "Dead Beat" and "Small Favors" for their mix of the two, but that is personal preference.

I wish I could say more, but if you are reading this story you do NOT want any spoilers.  Enjoy yourself, you will not be disappointed.
2943058
I enjoy this series and I think this book is one of the best. I hated to put it down. The descriptions and characterizations are superb. There is political intrigue, war, sickness and murder in this tale, but also hunor to break up the starkness of the story.
3102224
This is easily one of the best in the series.  The first three books are the best.  Young readers are still finding the series and liking it.  Wish some of his "save the world" stuff would have taken hold.
1572597
This author manages to write books in 4 different literary Universes per year.  They are all excellent and this one was one of the best.  For once, the conquerors' of Earth are mostly both benevolent and honorable, saving Earth from conquest by a nasty slaver Empire.  Of course many on Earth don't see it that why so Earth's appointed "Duchess" is seen as both hero and traitor.  This series follows how she must manage dissention at home as well as Interstellar politics and intrigue.

This book tells the story of how the discovery of an ancient artifact on an Earth colony world almost triggers war between the older, more powerful Galactic Core Powers as well as the younger less technically developed Galactic Rim Powers.  This artifact holds secrets that could potentially destroy the Universe as we know it.  The Duchess must find a diplomatic solution to prevent Earth from being crushed in the ensuing conflict.  The story is filled with battles, both in space and at the site of the discovery as all the contending parties struggle to acquire the artifact.

The story reaches a very satisfying conclusion, for me a least, with the Duchess negotiating a resolution which leaves the Earth and therefore the
A!tol Empire of which Earth is now a part, in possession of advanced Core Worlds technology.

This was a great book; highly recommended.
701349
Quite simply one of the best series out there.  I suggest starting with Quarter Share and working your way through the six preceding books to truly get the most out of this story.  They are quick, enjoyable reads, but not too short.  This is one of the few series I have both in audio and kindle format; they rank as comfort books when I'm down or simply need a bit of an escape.  Thank you, Nathan, for bringing Ishmael back!
4457239
I received a copy of this book for beta reading and a fair review. I've become particularly attached to this story as time has gone by. I read Rise of the Prince and Mad Water some time ago. After a while, I found myself reading the prequel to the series because I didn't have any continuing story to turn to. Fortunately, Nicholas Rossis is a diligent writer and we now have the third full book in the series.

Compared to the other books in the series this is an all-out action adventure story. The political games have all been played and in this volume the characters are forced to fight for what they believe in or lose it all. The author did a good job of wrapping up the outstanding story lines--even some that I didn't realize would need wrapping up--and that added a great deal to the overall story.

All of my favorite characters were back in the action. There was plenty from Moirah, Lehmor, David, Sol, the Old Woman, etc., as well as the host of opposing forces. The action carried on right to the end. I enjoyed it very much and was happy to not be left with a bunch of lingering questions with regard to what became of the characters. Overall, this was a satisfying read and I look forward to more stories from Mr. Rossis in the future. The whole set is bundled for under $4, which should make it easy to catch up if you haven't read the previous volumes in the series.

This review originally appeared on my blog and is worded as such.
2869802
In my opinion, the best of the series so far. The author's descriptions were superb, making some chapters extremely difficult to read. However, there were also many moments of joy, love, and redemption to balance the story. Recommended!
641057
Excellent story, as all of Stephen Coont's are. I highly recommend this book, but read the others in the series first.
2446558
The storyline in book 6 and book 7 come together in this, perhaps the best book in the series.  You might want to wait for the next book first though, unless you like cliffhangers!
3016727
This is one of the better stories in the series. It flowed well, was bittersweet, but not as heavy on the testimony as I had seen in other books in the series.
3159010
This is a great story, and I would recommend the series to anyone interested in the genre.  The story flows well and begins to come together very well as well.
760200
Excellent dark epic fantasy, one of the best. The story is well thought out, the characters well developed, and surprises at every turn. This is a book, this story, is for serious epic fantasy fans. While the gore is a bit heavy for me, it goes well with the story adding to the credibility and depth of the characters. The plot of this epic is one of the best developed I've read.
I definitely recommend this series to adult fans of dark epic fantasy.
4700434
excellent story and excellent series just really enjoyed it what else do you want me to say it was great
2727439
Probably the best book of the bunch. Now looking forward to the next one. I felt like some of the previous books were lagging, but this one really picked up the pace and made good use of the characters. Solid, interesting story and fun to read.
2657268
I didn't read these sequentially so I always heard about his mysterious uncle and the "cabinet of curiosities" . I figured I need to read this because It must be integral to the series since it's mentioned frequently.
Holy cow this is one of the best in the series!!! Loved this story. I was hooked instantly. For any fan this is a absolute must read.
1540986
One of the best books in the series, gripping and packed with a dense storyline. You already love the Cross family and the different characters you do even more after this book.