The Sun Sword

After promising myself to finally read it after so long, I brought Michelle West's The Broken Crown in my suitcase when I flew to Colombia last January. I had absolutely no expectations when I started the novel, so little did I know that I was beginning what would ultimately rank among my favorite fantasy series of all time. Here we are, five months down the line, with this review of the sixth and final volume of the Sun Sword. And the only question that remained was whether or not the author could close the show with the same sort of style and aplomb that characterized the series thus far.

The answer is a resounding yes! There are same pacing issues at the beginning, but The Sun Sword delivers on all fronts. It was great to see so many plotlines come full circle and reach their resolution, all the while also setting the stage for the already published House War series and the End of Days series West is currently working on. All in all, this last installment was everything I wanted it to be.

Here's the blurb:

The final novel of the acclaimed Sun Sword series concludes the epic of a war-torn world of noble houses divided and demon lords unleashed...

The armies of Alesso di’Marente and Valedan kai di’Leonne are massing in the Terrean of Averda for the battle that will at last determine the rule of the Dominion. The Sun Sword is about to be delivered by Serra Diora to its “rightful” holder, Valedan, last surviving heir of the clan Leonne. But whether Valedan will be able to wield the sword, or—like the former kai el’Sol—will be consumed by its magic, remains to be seen.

The demon kin are gathering as well, and a dread spell is being worked which will—should it successfully reach completion—finally open the way for the Lord of Night to once again enter the mortal realm.

And though many of the truly powerful have gathered upon the field, the entire course of the future may ultimately rest in the hands, heart, and soul of one being, Kiriel di’Ashaf, daughter of the Lord of Night...

Structurally, The Sun Sword suffers from the same advantages and shortcomings as its predecessors. As I've mentioned before, it often feels as though six books (none of them slim volumes) were not enough to recount the full tale Michelle West wanted to tell. This means that her editor forced her to keep a lid of things, thus preventing West from getting lost in the mire of extraneous plot threads that plagued the sagas of other fantasy writers like Robert Jordan, George R. R. Martin, Steven Erikson, and Brandon Sanderson. However, the downside remains that it forces West to juggle with several storylines, all of them important in the greater scheme of things, and somehow write them in a way that creates a compelling and cohesive whole. Given the series' complex timeline, that is easier said than done. Other than The Uncrowned King, the bulk of the other installments takes place in the Dominion. Which forces West to backtrack and elaborate on the events that concurrently took place in the Essalieyan Empire. As I've said, this wouldn't be so bad if it still held some importance in the current series. Alas, the vast majority of those scenes, and they amount to hundreds of pages spread out throughout the six volumes, mostly exist to lay the groundwork for the subsequent House War series. Which is why such sequences involving the Terafin household and Jewel's den always feel somewhat incongruous and unnecessary. The first 150 pages or so of The Sun Sword is another case in point in that regard. I understand that we needed to reach the conclusion of Jewel's plotline, but I felt that it took too long. After all, the war that could bring on the end of the world is nigh. . .

The worldbuilding is simply astonishing. There is a depth to Michelle West's universe that rivals, and might even surpass, that of Tolkien, Erikson, and Bakker. The Sun Sword continues to build on the storylines of its predecessors, adding layers upon layers to an already elaborate plot that should satisfy even the most demanding and jaded fantasy aficionados. About a third into the book, something totally unexpected just blew my mind. A seemingly innocuous detail from the prologue of The Broken Crown that completely flew under the radar and failed to ring any bell later on just came back to kick me in the balls with its implications. Makes me wonder if there are additional details that I might have missed in what pretty much every reader considers an overlong and sometimes boring prologue. West can keep her cards pretty close to her chest when she wants to, yet there appears to be a lot of secrets hiding in plain sight for discerning readers.

Weighing in at 957 pages, The Sun Sword is another doorstopper, and as such it covers a lot of plot threads and locales. As mentioned, the first part focusing on Jewel breaks the rhythm that the ending of The Riven Shield created. What follows can best be described as a slow burn gradually building up to the finale. I can't say that I minded, for Michelle West continues to bring threads together, tying up loose ends and elevating her game as she moves the tale forward. This goes on until the eve of the last battle. Like George R. R. Martin, I love how West allows us to see momentous events through the eyes/perspectives of various characters, great and small. Though vast in scope in the greater scheme of things, you experience everything on a much smaller scale that makes the reader live these moments more vicariously. And when at last the battle starts, it is glorious!

As anticipated, the characterization is amazing. Like Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey, Michelle West has a knack for fleshing out a cast of endearing and fascinating three-dimensional characters. As a matter of course, Teresa, Kallandras, the Ospreys, Serra Alina, Ramiro kai di'Callesta, Meralonne APhaniel, Ser Anton di'Guivera, and many more have their part to play before the end comes. Having said that, I loved the character growth shown by Diora, Valedan, Kiriel, and Auralis. Aidan's role in the grand finale, though small, was a nice touch. I was glad to see more of Anya and discover more about her backstory. Yollana, the old Matriarch of the Havalla Voyani clan, continues to play a crucial role as the tale unfolds.

Simply put, The Sun Sword was the perfect ending for a sensational series. I knew beforehand that Jewel's plotline ended in a cliffhanger and I was afraid that it would be the case for other storylines as well. Though not everything gets resolved (I understand that some threads will be explored in the House War series, while others will have to wait for the one the author is working on), West does a great job tying up loose ends and bringing everything together with enough closure to make this a totally satisfying read.

Michelle West is a truly gifted writer and the Sun Sword is a superior series. One of the best I've ever read! So what are you waiting for? Read these books ASAP!

The final verdict: 10/10

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