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Braided Path #2
The Skein of Lament
The hold of the Weavers on Saramyr’s ruling families is growing tighter. And all the while the blight that they have brought to the land grips ever more harshly. This cannot last, and sure enough, as the people starve and trade falters, the land is slipping into civil war.
In the haven of the Xarana Fault, the followers of the orphaned Heir-Empress sense that the time has come to act. Yet how can they fight an enemy they do not yet understand? Amid the growing chaos, Kaiku and Lucia must uncover the secrets of the Weavers and discover the extent of their dark ambitions. But time is running out for the Heir-Empress, and the truth behind the masks is more terrible than they can imagine…
Chris Wooding has created a vivid and turbulent world with an authentic oriental air and its own rich and ancient history. This is an action-packed tale of politics, conflict and betrayal.
In the haven of the Xarana Fault, the followers of the orphaned Heir-Empress sense that the time has come to act. Yet how can they fight an enemy they do not yet understand? Amid the growing chaos, Kaiku and Lucia must uncover the secrets of the Weavers and discover the extent of their dark ambitions. But time is running out for the Heir-Empress, and the truth behind the masks is more terrible than they can imagine…
Chris Wooding has created a vivid and turbulent world with an authentic oriental air and its own rich and ancient history. This is an action-packed tale of politics, conflict and betrayal.
544 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2004
16 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Chris Wooding
78 books2,159 followersChris Wooding grew up in a small town in Leicestershire, where not much of anything happened. So he started to write novels. He was sixteen when he completed his first. He had an agent by eighteen. By nineteen he had signed his first book deal. When he left university he began to write full-time, and he has been doing it professionally all his adult life.
Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.
Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.
He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.
Chris lives in London.
Now thirty-nine, Chris has written over twenty books, which have been translated into twenty languages, won various awards and been published around the world. He writes for film and television, and has several projects in development.
Chris has travelled extensively round the world, having backpacked all over Europe and North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Japan and South Africa. He also lived in Madrid for a time. When he wasn’t travelling on his own, he spent his twenties touring with bands and seeing the UK and Europe from the back of a van.
He also learned not so long ago that his family tree can be traced back to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, which has no bearing on him whatsoever but it’s kind of interesting anyway.
Chris lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 6, 2024
Por petición de Libera Dramach, Kaiku tu Makaima y Mishani tu Koli viajan a brindar ayuda a un espía para que este vuelva al Fold a salvo; pero Okhamba es un continente salvaje y peligroso, las criaturas que persiguen a Saran Ycthys Marul son difíciles de matar y tienen una especie de protección contra los poderes de Kaiku y Mishani, que ha pasado los últimos años huyendo de su padre, no cree que Chien os Mumaka, el hombre que puede sacarlos de Okhamba, sea alguien confiable.
Jaja. Esto ni siquiera es lo más interesante, en realidad. Los descubrimientos hechos por Saran y la expedición que emprenden Kaiku, Tsata y Yugi con Nomoru guiándolos y lo que sucede ahí, por otro lado…
En forma de pago por el pasaje en un barco para salir de Okhamba, Mishani tu Koli promete a Chien os Mumaka pasar 5 días como invitada en su casa en Hanzean y está dispuesta a cumplir su promesa… aun si, tras la partida de Kaiku y compañía, siente que se está dirigiendo hacia una trampa.
Hace 5 años, Mos tu Batik se alió con los Weavers para convertirse en Blood Emperor y, a cambio del trono, les dio derechos y tierras; sin enbargo, su gobierno no ha estado lleno de paz y abundancia y, ahora, con la plaga infectando la tierra, los ciudadanos descontentos, Saramyr al borde de la hambruna y una revuelta liderada por un culto, las cosas solo pueden empeorar.
Y, para colmo, ignora que los Weavers están planeando algo que definitivamente no va a favorecerlo…
Y luego, la locura instigada por Kakre y la ruina de su matrimonio, la única luz en su vida…
Aunque sabe que aún no está lista, Lucia tu Erinima accede a intentar comunicarse con el espíritu de Alskain Mar… y lo que dicho espíritu le muestra —sobre las witchstones, un conflicto antiguo, un dios destrozado y una nueva guerra de los dioses—, es aterrador.
Jaja. Esto ni siquiera es lo más interesante, en realidad. Los descubrimientos hechos por Saran y la expedición que emprenden Kaiku, Tsata y Yugi con Nomoru guiándolos y lo que sucede ahí, por otro lado…
En forma de pago por el pasaje en un barco para salir de Okhamba, Mishani tu Koli promete a Chien os Mumaka pasar 5 días como invitada en su casa en Hanzean y está dispuesta a cumplir su promesa… aun si, tras la partida de Kaiku y compañía, siente que se está dirigiendo hacia una trampa.
Hace 5 años, Mos tu Batik se alió con los Weavers para convertirse en Blood Emperor y, a cambio del trono, les dio derechos y tierras; sin enbargo, su gobierno no ha estado lleno de paz y abundancia y, ahora, con la plaga infectando la tierra, los ciudadanos descontentos, Saramyr al borde de la hambruna y una revuelta liderada por un culto, las cosas solo pueden empeorar.
Y, para colmo, ignora que los Weavers están planeando algo que definitivamente no va a favorecerlo…
Y luego, la locura instigada por Kakre y la ruina de su matrimonio, la única luz en su vida…
Aunque sabe que aún no está lista, Lucia tu Erinima accede a intentar comunicarse con el espíritu de Alskain Mar… y lo que dicho espíritu le muestra —sobre las witchstones, un conflicto antiguo, un dios destrozado y una nueva guerra de los dioses—, es aterrador.
January 14, 2012
The second book of the trilogy is quite the masterpiece. I loved it to bits.
Suddenly you realise that all the bits of information about the world of Saramyr and their neighbours that you were given in the first book were a mere appetizer for the amazing worldbuilding you witness in this one, and you see all the effort and hard work that went into creating the world.
Nations have backstories with eachother, the particular flora and fauna is further developed, you notice that all the deities aren't just random names thrown around, there is a well defined pantheon with its own miths, there is architecture, fashion and cultures specific to each region with logical reasons to be so, the world even has its own climate and astronomy. It is all meticulously thought through and you feel rewarded that the author went to such crazy lenghts to make the world feel real and new. It blew my mind.
There is a revelation about the villain's plan that completely shifts your perception of the plot. The big picture gets even bigger and all actions and paths make sense within it.
Five years have passed since the first book, and the characters still grow. They are a little different since you last saw them, and they will be different by the time the book ends - which makes them three dimentional and endearingly real. New characters are introduced, beloved characters will die - and again, never meaninglessly. Everyone plays a small part in the braided path, and by that I don't mean that they are one-trick stock characters. It's just that their little actions, or decisions, or even their mere existence or death have an impact on either the furthering of the plot or in the development of another character.
Just like the first book, the chapters are organised more or less by geographical location of the characters, which while it might have been a bit annoying in the first book, in this one is a necessity, since you are following the events of a war and it helps keeping things clear. It also helps make the book so damn unputdownable.
Suddenly you realise that all the bits of information about the world of Saramyr and their neighbours that you were given in the first book were a mere appetizer for the amazing worldbuilding you witness in this one, and you see all the effort and hard work that went into creating the world.
Nations have backstories with eachother, the particular flora and fauna is further developed, you notice that all the deities aren't just random names thrown around, there is a well defined pantheon with its own miths, there is architecture, fashion and cultures specific to each region with logical reasons to be so, the world even has its own climate and astronomy. It is all meticulously thought through and you feel rewarded that the author went to such crazy lenghts to make the world feel real and new. It blew my mind.
There is a revelation about the villain's plan that completely shifts your perception of the plot. The big picture gets even bigger and all actions and paths make sense within it.
Five years have passed since the first book, and the characters still grow. They are a little different since you last saw them, and they will be different by the time the book ends - which makes them three dimentional and endearingly real. New characters are introduced, beloved characters will die - and again, never meaninglessly. Everyone plays a small part in the braided path, and by that I don't mean that they are one-trick stock characters. It's just that their little actions, or decisions, or even their mere existence or death have an impact on either the furthering of the plot or in the development of another character.
Just like the first book, the chapters are organised more or less by geographical location of the characters, which while it might have been a bit annoying in the first book, in this one is a necessity, since you are following the events of a war and it helps keeping things clear. It also helps make the book so damn unputdownable.
March 18, 2015
I've already mentioned the similarities I find between this world and that of "Lord of the Rings". Here those points on common are even more apparent.
Besides the spreading evil there is also a mask which-like the Ring- corrupts those who wear it, creatures who work for the evil side who could well be compered to Orcs or Uruk-hai an entity who could well be compared to Saruman just to mention a few.
Yes, all these influences are well apparent on Wooding's work yet the complexity of the world and characters is entrancing.
In fact some of these characters are so fascinating we just want to know what will happen next (this deserves my 4*)
For instance Asara is extremely intriguing, Tsata has a refreshing philosophy and society with characteristics from some tribes of our world, Lucia is growing a mind of her own, Cailin is all for the supremacy of her race, Mishani has two sides to her who complete each other (one more cerebral, the other, which she hides from the world, warmer...well if I were to speak about all of these characters I would be here for most of the day...
For all of the above I have chosen to forget the three moons though it still bothers me to read about them on the story, I keep hopping that there will be some kind of explanation to them which will clarify the reason why there are so many earth species on this fantasy planet.
Maybe I can find it on the third volume...
Besides the spreading evil there is also a mask which-like the Ring- corrupts those who wear it, creatures who work for the evil side who could well be compered to Orcs or Uruk-hai an entity who could well be compared to Saruman just to mention a few.
Yes, all these influences are well apparent on Wooding's work yet the complexity of the world and characters is entrancing.
In fact some of these characters are so fascinating we just want to know what will happen next (this deserves my 4*)
For instance Asara is extremely intriguing, Tsata has a refreshing philosophy and society with characteristics from some tribes of our world, Lucia is growing a mind of her own, Cailin is all for the supremacy of her race, Mishani has two sides to her who complete each other (one more cerebral, the other, which she hides from the world, warmer...well if I were to speak about all of these characters I would be here for most of the day...
For all of the above I have chosen to forget the three moons though it still bothers me to read about them on the story, I keep hopping that there will be some kind of explanation to them which will clarify the reason why there are so many earth species on this fantasy planet.
Maybe I can find it on the third volume...
June 14, 2024
Taking place years after the first one, TSoL is the second book in the Braided Path trilogy, a series that I have always found to be severly underrated. Despite being in 2004, thematically there is a lot going on tgat is relevant today and I also firmly believe that these books should be considered one of the earliest grimdark fantasy books.
The world Wooding has built is unique, teeming with tension, and one that pulls us away from your classic fantasy setting. One of my only complaints with his newest series is that it feels a bit stale. The world feels all too familiar and nothing in the Darkwater Legacy stands out as new or fresh. That is not the case here. An interesting magic system paired with an Asian inspired setting is always exciting to read, and I think Wooding does a great job crafting this world. You get to understand more about the architecture of the world, the flora, the fauna, and the often terrifying creations that roam the land. World building has shined in this series for me.
Saramyr is on the brink of civil war, and the result of this is that there are a lot of major players. This is where this book stumbled for me. The first book mainly follows Kaiku and company, leading to some quality character development. In this one, we follow so many characters that the development of said characters is halted, simply due to the fact that these books aren't very long. Unfortunately, some characters are one dimensional and simply act as plot armor.
This book is very much a set up book for the finale, but is paced well and exciting nonetheless. It's hard for me to talk about the writing because Wooding has clearly improved as a writer since he wrote this. Most people will be familiar with him via reading Retribution Falls or The Ember Blade, and his writing in those is significantly more polished. Still, I am impressed by the writing considering how early into his career he was.
TSoL was a solid and exciting read that I was held back from enjoying to a greater extent due to the character work. It was still a good read, and I do look forward to diving into the final book!
The world Wooding has built is unique, teeming with tension, and one that pulls us away from your classic fantasy setting. One of my only complaints with his newest series is that it feels a bit stale. The world feels all too familiar and nothing in the Darkwater Legacy stands out as new or fresh. That is not the case here. An interesting magic system paired with an Asian inspired setting is always exciting to read, and I think Wooding does a great job crafting this world. You get to understand more about the architecture of the world, the flora, the fauna, and the often terrifying creations that roam the land. World building has shined in this series for me.
Saramyr is on the brink of civil war, and the result of this is that there are a lot of major players. This is where this book stumbled for me. The first book mainly follows Kaiku and company, leading to some quality character development. In this one, we follow so many characters that the development of said characters is halted, simply due to the fact that these books aren't very long. Unfortunately, some characters are one dimensional and simply act as plot armor.
This book is very much a set up book for the finale, but is paced well and exciting nonetheless. It's hard for me to talk about the writing because Wooding has clearly improved as a writer since he wrote this. Most people will be familiar with him via reading Retribution Falls or The Ember Blade, and his writing in those is significantly more polished. Still, I am impressed by the writing considering how early into his career he was.
TSoL was a solid and exciting read that I was held back from enjoying to a greater extent due to the character work. It was still a good read, and I do look forward to diving into the final book!
August 4, 2016
Now have that book three commitment dilemma. Book one held my attention enough to launch into book two. But The Skein of Lament barely kept my attention. In fact the middle half of the book I struggled to keep going. I forced myself to read at least a chapter a day, even as I write this, it is becoming obvious that I didn’t enjoy this anywhere near as I was expecting to.
The story does finish with a big ending and the last 20% was actually a good solid read, that really had me looking forward to turning the page. But I shouldn’t have had to slog through the first 80% to get the pay off. If I wanted that kind of read, I’d go back to Wheel of Time. Ouch! Ka-ching!
The main story, well the only story really, carries on with the same characters from book one, but 5 years older. There was some character growth to keep me interested in what they got up too and the addition of a couple of new characters were reasonably interesting. I’ll say one thing about Wooding, is that he is a good character writer. The world building continued to develop and you really understood and felt the environment he was delivering. But the story really didn’t have the legs for a complete book, there was much filling where events happened that really didn’t add to the story, but were added to make the story and events seem relevant and that is when and where I started to get bored.
The story ended with plenty of opportunity to continue to grow, I am interested in the development of the heir apparent who seems to have finally woken up in the last 5 pages and now should become a major force? Player? In book three.
I’ll probably rad book three, out of interest, but I imagine I’ll be reading something else or two in between.
The story does finish with a big ending and the last 20% was actually a good solid read, that really had me looking forward to turning the page. But I shouldn’t have had to slog through the first 80% to get the pay off. If I wanted that kind of read, I’d go back to Wheel of Time. Ouch! Ka-ching!
The main story, well the only story really, carries on with the same characters from book one, but 5 years older. There was some character growth to keep me interested in what they got up too and the addition of a couple of new characters were reasonably interesting. I’ll say one thing about Wooding, is that he is a good character writer. The world building continued to develop and you really understood and felt the environment he was delivering. But the story really didn’t have the legs for a complete book, there was much filling where events happened that really didn’t add to the story, but were added to make the story and events seem relevant and that is when and where I started to get bored.
The story ended with plenty of opportunity to continue to grow, I am interested in the development of the heir apparent who seems to have finally woken up in the last 5 pages and now should become a major force? Player? In book three.
I’ll probably rad book three, out of interest, but I imagine I’ll be reading something else or two in between.
May 23, 2013
The Weavers’ grip on Saramyr’s rulers has grown ever more powerful, and all the while, the blight they have brought grows harsher. The land is slipping into civil war. In the mounting chaos, Kaiku and the orphaned heir-Empress must fight for their destiny and their survival, as Saramyr succumbs to the twisting of the Weave and the unknowable ambitions of the secretive Weavers.
Second book in the trilogy. I read the first book about 5 years ago and enjoyed it enough to keep an eye out for the other two books in the series (I generally avoid multi-book stories).
This is *almost* standalone, in that it's enjoyable to read having forgotten much of what happened in the previous book. It is however, not completely standalone, with relationships and groups established in the first book, that dont get explained again in this second book.
e.g. Who are The Red Order again and why are they trying to keep so hidden? That's not necessarily a fault of the book, more of the reader and the gap between books.
Meanwhile, different groups of rebels are split across the country (sorry, but a map is no good, when half the places mentioned in the story are not on it), making new friends and gathering intelligence against the Weavers. People driven to madness, Weavers are already mad and shown to be more than perverse, people are attracted to the Weave and try not to succumb. Overall an enjoyable book, and I must not wait so long to read the final book
Second book in the trilogy. I read the first book about 5 years ago and enjoyed it enough to keep an eye out for the other two books in the series (I generally avoid multi-book stories).
This is *almost* standalone, in that it's enjoyable to read having forgotten much of what happened in the previous book. It is however, not completely standalone, with relationships and groups established in the first book, that dont get explained again in this second book.
e.g. Who are The Red Order again and why are they trying to keep so hidden? That's not necessarily a fault of the book, more of the reader and the gap between books.
Meanwhile, different groups of rebels are split across the country (sorry, but a map is no good, when half the places mentioned in the story are not on it), making new friends and gathering intelligence against the Weavers. People driven to madness, Weavers are already mad and shown to be more than perverse, people are attracted to the Weave and try not to succumb. Overall an enjoyable book, and I must not wait so long to read the final book
February 27, 2025
𝘿𝙖𝙨 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙆𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣 ist das zweite Buch in der Reihe ミ★ 𝘋𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘗𝘧𝘢𝘥 ★彡
Ähnlich wie im ersten Teil hat mich hier die Komplexität der Welt tief beeindruckt. Der Autor nimmt sich Zeit für so viele Details. Es fühlt sich einfach an wie eine vollständige Welt mit unterschiedlichen Kulturen und Klimazonen. Es ist eine Multi-POV-Geschichte und alles spielt 5 Jahre nach dem ersten Buch.
Wir sehen eine Art von Rebellenbewegung, der von unterschiedlichen Charakteren Leben eingehaucht wird. Die Ziele der Protagonisten sind dabei sehr verschieden, gelegentlich auch geheimnisvoll. Es geht gegen die Weber und ihr Regime und wir erfahren in diesem Buch so viel mehr über die Hintergründe dieser seltsamen Geschöpfe.
Einzig das Pacing hat mich gestört. Ein bißchen flotter erzählt, hätte dem Buch nicht geschadet. Mit seinen 700 Seiten zog es sich doch ganz schön in die Länge. Gemessen an dem, was mir das Buch dennoch geboten hat, war das jedoch nur ein Klacks.
Ähnlich wie im ersten Teil hat mich hier die Komplexität der Welt tief beeindruckt. Der Autor nimmt sich Zeit für so viele Details. Es fühlt sich einfach an wie eine vollständige Welt mit unterschiedlichen Kulturen und Klimazonen. Es ist eine Multi-POV-Geschichte und alles spielt 5 Jahre nach dem ersten Buch.
Wir sehen eine Art von Rebellenbewegung, der von unterschiedlichen Charakteren Leben eingehaucht wird. Die Ziele der Protagonisten sind dabei sehr verschieden, gelegentlich auch geheimnisvoll. Es geht gegen die Weber und ihr Regime und wir erfahren in diesem Buch so viel mehr über die Hintergründe dieser seltsamen Geschöpfe.
Einzig das Pacing hat mich gestört. Ein bißchen flotter erzählt, hätte dem Buch nicht geschadet. Mit seinen 700 Seiten zog es sich doch ganz schön in die Länge. Gemessen an dem, was mir das Buch dennoch geboten hat, war das jedoch nur ein Klacks.
May 14, 2020
The intrigue continues and gets more complicated with hidden plans, betrayals, new alliances and the battle for control of Saramyr. And still, an unknown force, the witchstones emerge and a potential threat to everyone on this world. The gruesome violence draws the good and evil further apart. The battle scenes are long and unpleasant to read. The different ways the clans value life and the life values that guide their decisions and lives is very well written by the author.
Knowing or at least surmising that the main characters will survive at least until the last book takes some of the drama out of the impossible circumstances they find themselves in, but finding their way though is a creative writing process.
I look forward to the conclusion, The Ascendancy Veil, which I will begin tomorrow.
Knowing or at least surmising that the main characters will survive at least until the last book takes some of the drama out of the impossible circumstances they find themselves in, but finding their way though is a creative writing process.
I look forward to the conclusion, The Ascendancy Veil, which I will begin tomorrow.
March 15, 2022
the time has come and the God War has started using humans aberrants and weavers alike as avatars. Lucia starts taking a more active role in the ais maraxa and found the truth behind the weavers regime. the weavers make there end game plays knowing that there time is running out and kaiku realizes her true potential while striking the weavers a terrible blow
June 15, 2019
Very solid read. Was surprised by some events. And couldn't stop read the last chapters. I'm intrigued to know how it ends.
July 5, 2019
Very good. Set up for the final and the whales in the threads.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
October 19, 2011
This is the seond part of 'The Braided Path' trilogy. Despite having read the first part relatively recently, I had forgotten quite a lot of it, and although Wooding reminds the reader of most of the salient points, there were still a few places where I was confused.
The author's world-building is awesome. This is not a word I use lightly, but nothing else quite covers it. Everything about Saramyr and its neighbouring territories - history, mythology, races, cultures, natural history, geography - is defined in infinitely layered and nuanced detail. Sometimes an almost throwaway line gives me a frisson of total pleasure - the flight of a bird, the noise of an insect, a rock formation, a character's tattoos, the way food is eaten. It's all there, all thought about and carefully dropped here and there for best effect, creating a world which truly feels 'other', almost alien.
I particularly liked the three moons, all different, which occasionally come into conjunction causing sudden moonstorms, followed by drifts of tiny ice crystals. I have no idea whether that is feasible in real-world physics, but it's extraordinarily evocative. And the moons are relevant to the plot, even. I love a fully worked out secondary world, and so many fantasy writers make do with some cobbled together mishmash of recognisable environments - medieval Europe, or Roman Empire, or whatever. That's OK, just a little disappointing (and lazy, maybe). Authors, this is how it should be done. My only criticism - could have done with a better map, showing all the places mentioned, and in hi-res.
The characters, on the other hand, don't work quite so well. It's not that they're uninteresting, for some of them - Saran, Tsata, Lucia, for instance - are intriguing enough, and Asara is downright creepy. Nor are they fantasy cliches. But somehow, it's as if Wooding has drawn up a laundrylist of defining characteristics (Mishani: small, delicate, ankle-length hair, reserved, diplomat) and they never acquire much depth beyond that. Apart from Kaiku learning to control her powers, there's not much growth in evidence, although Kaiku's relationship with Tsata is nicely developed. This makes them, on the whole, unengaging and hard to care much about. And maybe it's just me, but the male characters seem to have marginally more depth than the female ones.
Plotwise, there's no slow build-up or scene setting - it's straight into the action, which never lets up. Almost, there is too much action, really, and it seems as if Our Heroes can barely put their noses outside the door without finding themselves in yet another life-threatening encounter. So perhaps a little contrived in places. There are numerous different points of view, and the story hops from one to the other like a demented frog, including to minor characters, but at least this avoids tortuous tricks to reveal incidents we couldn't otherwise have seen. Along the way, there are several totally breath-taking shocks and twists - one in particular which completely blew my mind. And yet (like all the best such moments) it was completely predictable, if only I'd been paying proper attention. Clever author.
The climax brilliantly pulls all the different plot-threads together in a very satisfying way. All the various characters were needed to achieve the resolution, and it was done without any sleight of hand. Very neat. There were a number of blood-and-guts encounters, rather too many for my taste - I'm not over-fond of all that hewing, hacking, gutting, bone-crunching and disembowelling. Oh, and let's not forget the skinning. Nice people, the Weavers. But in between the episodes of slaughter were the really interesting (to me) parts - the time spent 'in the weave', the other-dimensional place where the Weavers and certain others can do - well, whatever it is they do. Is it magic? Or just something unexplained? Who knows, but it's a terrific concept, and definitely the best part of the story. And now everything is set up for the ultimate confrontation on a grand scale. A good four stars.
The author's world-building is awesome. This is not a word I use lightly, but nothing else quite covers it. Everything about Saramyr and its neighbouring territories - history, mythology, races, cultures, natural history, geography - is defined in infinitely layered and nuanced detail. Sometimes an almost throwaway line gives me a frisson of total pleasure - the flight of a bird, the noise of an insect, a rock formation, a character's tattoos, the way food is eaten. It's all there, all thought about and carefully dropped here and there for best effect, creating a world which truly feels 'other', almost alien.
I particularly liked the three moons, all different, which occasionally come into conjunction causing sudden moonstorms, followed by drifts of tiny ice crystals. I have no idea whether that is feasible in real-world physics, but it's extraordinarily evocative. And the moons are relevant to the plot, even. I love a fully worked out secondary world, and so many fantasy writers make do with some cobbled together mishmash of recognisable environments - medieval Europe, or Roman Empire, or whatever. That's OK, just a little disappointing (and lazy, maybe). Authors, this is how it should be done. My only criticism - could have done with a better map, showing all the places mentioned, and in hi-res.
The characters, on the other hand, don't work quite so well. It's not that they're uninteresting, for some of them - Saran, Tsata, Lucia, for instance - are intriguing enough, and Asara is downright creepy. Nor are they fantasy cliches. But somehow, it's as if Wooding has drawn up a laundrylist of defining characteristics (Mishani: small, delicate, ankle-length hair, reserved, diplomat) and they never acquire much depth beyond that. Apart from Kaiku learning to control her powers, there's not much growth in evidence, although Kaiku's relationship with Tsata is nicely developed. This makes them, on the whole, unengaging and hard to care much about. And maybe it's just me, but the male characters seem to have marginally more depth than the female ones.
Plotwise, there's no slow build-up or scene setting - it's straight into the action, which never lets up. Almost, there is too much action, really, and it seems as if Our Heroes can barely put their noses outside the door without finding themselves in yet another life-threatening encounter. So perhaps a little contrived in places. There are numerous different points of view, and the story hops from one to the other like a demented frog, including to minor characters, but at least this avoids tortuous tricks to reveal incidents we couldn't otherwise have seen. Along the way, there are several totally breath-taking shocks and twists - one in particular which completely blew my mind. And yet (like all the best such moments) it was completely predictable, if only I'd been paying proper attention. Clever author.
The climax brilliantly pulls all the different plot-threads together in a very satisfying way. All the various characters were needed to achieve the resolution, and it was done without any sleight of hand. Very neat. There were a number of blood-and-guts encounters, rather too many for my taste - I'm not over-fond of all that hewing, hacking, gutting, bone-crunching and disembowelling. Oh, and let's not forget the skinning. Nice people, the Weavers. But in between the episodes of slaughter were the really interesting (to me) parts - the time spent 'in the weave', the other-dimensional place where the Weavers and certain others can do - well, whatever it is they do. Is it magic? Or just something unexplained? Who knows, but it's a terrific concept, and definitely the best part of the story. And now everything is set up for the ultimate confrontation on a grand scale. A good four stars.
April 28, 2012
The second novel in the Braided Path trilogy picks up the story a few years after the end of the Weavers of Saramyr. The initial action takes place on the distant continent of Okhamba as a group of explorers are pursued from the depths of the rainforest having discovered some crucial information about the background of the Weavers who dominate Saramyr society. The initial part of the story features some action scenes more memorable than anything in the first novel and overall the storytelling does feel more assured in the second book, the climactic battle also being more compelling than any of the conflict in the first book.
There is some decent character development here, and one of the new characters, Tsata, is one of the more likeable and interesting characters in the series. Although Tsata does provide an interesting outside perspective on Saramyr society through his conversations with Kaiku, he does feel a bit clichéd at times as well since his role seems to be the supposedly uncivilised forest dweller who could teach the more refined people of Saramyr a thing or two about how to live their lives using the ancient wisdom of his people. The Weavers continue to simultaneously be effective villains and unsubtle caricatures. More interesting is the Red Order which opposes them, their leader Cailin is a more complex and more interesting character than the Weavers, being nowhere near as unpleasant but still potentially as dangerous and ruthless as her opponents.
Whereas the first novel was often a bit predictable there are a couple of surprising plot developments here and the ending of the book did set things up for an intriguing finale in the last book of the trilogy.
The Skein of Lament is an improvement on the Weavers of Saramyr while still not quite being as compelling as the best of the modern epic fantasy series.
There is some decent character development here, and one of the new characters, Tsata, is one of the more likeable and interesting characters in the series. Although Tsata does provide an interesting outside perspective on Saramyr society through his conversations with Kaiku, he does feel a bit clichéd at times as well since his role seems to be the supposedly uncivilised forest dweller who could teach the more refined people of Saramyr a thing or two about how to live their lives using the ancient wisdom of his people. The Weavers continue to simultaneously be effective villains and unsubtle caricatures. More interesting is the Red Order which opposes them, their leader Cailin is a more complex and more interesting character than the Weavers, being nowhere near as unpleasant but still potentially as dangerous and ruthless as her opponents.
Whereas the first novel was often a bit predictable there are a couple of surprising plot developments here and the ending of the book did set things up for an intriguing finale in the last book of the trilogy.
The Skein of Lament is an improvement on the Weavers of Saramyr while still not quite being as compelling as the best of the modern epic fantasy series.
July 31, 2012
I quite enjoyed The Skein of Lament. It is clear from the beginning that this is not to be the last novel in the series; a joy to learn. However, this suffers from the traditional second-novel curse: the major plot line is a minor occurrence, and nothing is tied up properly such that we end on a cliff hanger.
In this book, we get a few new characters and an old character with a few new faces. The lesbian sex scene of the previous novel makes sense, now. It appears that it was not just a random one-off. Does that make it better? I'm not entirely convinced. However, the author treats all sex with the same gratuitousness, so I'm no longer as upset about his desire to write girl-on-girl action.
One of the new faces is a gentleman from a separate continent and/or culture where altruism is the overriding ideal. This sets up a very interesting dynamic when thrown in with the Saramyr characters who all are jockeying, selfishly, for power.
Also, this book reveals who the true nemesis is. The reasoning behind the Weaver's evil and the source of the hive-think is revealed. So now the evil can be named, but it doesn't change its nature.
And the ending cliff hanger ... well ... let's just say that no one is working for altruism except Tsata.
So, why the four stars? The characters feel flat. This book is set five years after the previous novel and I sense no growth in the characters. Well, except that the heir-empress is older. But otherwise, they are flat and merely pawns to advance the plot.
In this book, we get a few new characters and an old character with a few new faces. The lesbian sex scene of the previous novel makes sense, now. It appears that it was not just a random one-off. Does that make it better? I'm not entirely convinced. However, the author treats all sex with the same gratuitousness, so I'm no longer as upset about his desire to write girl-on-girl action.
One of the new faces is a gentleman from a separate continent and/or culture where altruism is the overriding ideal. This sets up a very interesting dynamic when thrown in with the Saramyr characters who all are jockeying, selfishly, for power.
Also, this book reveals who the true nemesis is. The reasoning behind the Weaver's evil and the source of the hive-think is revealed. So now the evil can be named, but it doesn't change its nature.
And the ending cliff hanger ... well ... let's just say that no one is working for altruism except Tsata.
So, why the four stars? The characters feel flat. This book is set five years after the previous novel and I sense no growth in the characters. Well, except that the heir-empress is older. But otherwise, they are flat and merely pawns to advance the plot.
November 28, 2013
I'll be honest that this book really only gets five stars by the skin of its teeth. That said, it is a lot better than the first book (which is strange because it was always the first book I liked best before).
This series is really starting to remind me of Game of Thrones, the political intrigue and the changing factions/loyalties especially give me a GoT vibe - this is just for younger people (though considering some of the acts of violence I would argue are on par with GoT not for much younger people).
Despite having rather little page time Asara is once again the most interesting aspect - why has she been working alongside Cailin for so long I remember when I first read the series that the latter part of that sentence really shocked me. In a way Asara reminds me of Mishani's father Avun - another plot twist I didn't see coming (and actually kind of forgot in this re-read).
Near the end of this Kaiku did strike me as Mary-Sue esque when she started describing her kana as limitless - if memory serves correctly though the events in the final book negate this.
This series is really starting to remind me of Game of Thrones, the political intrigue and the changing factions/loyalties especially give me a GoT vibe - this is just for younger people (though considering some of the acts of violence I would argue are on par with GoT not for much younger people).
Despite having rather little page time Asara is once again the most interesting aspect - why has she been working alongside Cailin for so long I remember when I first read the series that the latter part of that sentence really shocked me. In a way Asara reminds me of Mishani's father Avun - another plot twist I didn't see coming (and actually kind of forgot in this re-read).
Near the end of this Kaiku did strike me as Mary-Sue esque when she started describing her kana as limitless - if memory serves correctly though the events in the final book negate this.
October 27, 2011
I usually don't comment on "middle books" of series because really, what is the point? But I had to give this book some respect for avoiding the usually middle book pitfalls.
First of all, we once again have a nicely contained story. Sure there is a big giant cliffhanger, but most of the personal plot lines were wrapped up. We also get a lot of well paced action. Many middle books lag as they try to set up their epic finally, not so with this one.
Lastly, the characters are once again great. Asari is still one of a kind, and while we only get a couple of new faces, they are welcome additions, not just tack-ons to expand the story.
I loved the first two books of the series, and can not wait to read the third.
First of all, we once again have a nicely contained story. Sure there is a big giant cliffhanger, but most of the personal plot lines were wrapped up. We also get a lot of well paced action. Many middle books lag as they try to set up their epic finally, not so with this one.
Lastly, the characters are once again great. Asari is still one of a kind, and while we only get a couple of new faces, they are welcome additions, not just tack-ons to expand the story.
I loved the first two books of the series, and can not wait to read the third.
July 26, 2014
This book was difficult for me to read, the same as the 1st one. The fantasy world suggested by the author is brilliant and the monsters are unique, its English is elaborate... well, it's Cgris Wooding, so no surprise here XD everything is actually super nice, but the characters. I just could never come to love them, may be only Tsata and Kaiku at the very end of this book... Still it's just my opinion and I will also read the next book.
June 2, 2009
So far this book has been so entertaining with lots of energy in eaqual parts!! A luxurious blend of oriental and occidental adventure with a double dose of twits and intrigue.
I just came to a huge shocker in this book I didn't even see it coming and that is very rare for me to come across. All I can say is this book is going to be one of mu fav's
I just came to a huge shocker in this book I didn't even see it coming and that is very rare for me to come across. All I can say is this book is going to be one of mu fav's
September 13, 2010
If you like fantasy, read everything by Chris Wooding - he will blow your mind! Every world and character he creates is fully-formed and believable and he gets to the heart of things about our world by creating fantastic worlds.
December 15, 2012
You can really feel the pace pick up from the first one with this book, and it's exciting and fast-paced from start to finish. The Weavers of Saramyr did a good job laying the foundation, but I think this is the best of the three.
July 8, 2017
If you're looking for great writing and an excellent mix of high and low fantasy then this is for you. I loved it throughout. This book, as well as the other two, never really dragged. They kept me turning pages for days and days.
May 2, 2008
More interesting than the first one.
August 2, 2008
makes the glitches in book 1 worth fighting through.
June 28, 2009
Great sci-fi series.
October 26, 2009
A good follow up to The Weavers of Saramyr. Good pace, relevations have been made and some twists thrown in kept the middle book of the trilogy compelling. Onto the third installment.
October 31, 2010
great middle book in a series
August 23, 2013
Very exciting read. I love Chris Wooding's work and can't wait for more. :)
March 27, 2015
I love this series - the world building is fantastic and while they start out kind of slow moving once I get a little ways into it I can't put it down! Definitely worth reading.
June 1, 2016
The second book in the Braided Path trilogy.
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