The author seems she had a lot of ideas when writing this sequel in this second cycle of the series. Some of these ideas are generally original, others stem from more classic patterns in the realm of fantasy, but they all add something interesting to this story. You see, the threat that seemed to be approaching in the previous part has now manifested itself but the author instead of following the usual path chooses to take us first to the opposite side to show us that things are more complicated than a classic case of good versus evil, and even on the side of the opponents there are many contradictions that take us deeper into the troubled history of the region. Our guides to all this are our well-known heroes but also some who are recommended to us for the first time, with some of them being witty enough to add something more to these pages. In the end, after we have received all this information, all that remains is to watch the exciting developments, the seeking, the conflicts, the more emotional moments and the necessary twists and turns, and finish this very interesting book ready for the big finale of this cycle.

? ?????????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ??????. ??????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ??????????, ????? ???????? ??? ??????????? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ?????????, ????, ????, ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?? ????? ??? ???????. ???????, ? ?????? ??? ???????? ?? ????????? ??? ??????????? ????? ???? ??? ????????? ???? ? ?????????? ???? ?? ??????????? ??? ??????????? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ???????? ????? ??????????? ????????? ??? ??? ???????? ????????? ??? ??????????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?????, ????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ??? ????????? ???????? ???? ????????? ??????? ??? ????????. ?????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??????????? ??? ????? ????, ?? ???????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ???????????? ??? ?? ?????????? ???? ??????????? ?? ????? ??? ???????. ??? ?????, ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???????????, ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ???????????????? ??? ????????????? ?????????, ??? ???????????, ??? ???????????, ??? ??????????? ??????????????? ??????? ??? ??? ??????????? ????????? ??? ?? ??????????? ???? ?? ???? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ??????.fantasy high-fantasy5 s Betty286 8

4.25%
An excellent read. As usual, I prefer an old school paperback, and this, the others is over an inch thick. So lots of story. A couple of issues jarred a little a couple of inconsistencies may have been missed except when they fall in the same paragraph. Also, the use of language in dialogue. Everyone speaks with the same style no matter if they are human, elf, dwarf or other. I find that odd, but not odd enough that it spoils the book.

Loved the Jahdo and Meer story. Lots more characters and lots of adventure. Best of all. A dragon.

Although a series, I think it would be possible to read this one as a standalone. het-fantasy mainstream-fantasy3 s Benjamin Thomas1,979 349

This is the seventh book the overall Deverry series and the 3rd book of the second quartet (The Westlands) within that larger series. Yep, it's complicated but that is par for the course in this complex fantasy series.

This time we are introduced to more characters, get inside the cultures of whole new species and get to explore a bit of territory beyond previous novels. That's cool, of course, but we also get to advance the "present day" story plot along in the 'Time of War' (title in the UK). Un most of the other novels in the series, this one does not jump back and forth through the timeline with reincarnated versions of main characters Even though that has been the unique aspect of this series, and perhaps what put it on the map of fantasy literature, I didn't miss that at all this time. I think the story presented here was sufficiently complex and dynamic that it needed its own complete volume.

Once again I would highly recommend that readers begin with the first book in the series and proceed appropriately. While, technically, this one could be read first and result in a nice fantasy story, you would miss out on the larger and incredible macro-story. This one does end in a cliff-hanger and the next volume, I understand, picks up in the very next breath. Good thing because I wouldn't want to miss a beat heading into the next one.fantasy-epic2 s Kerry1,517 112

I'm actually reading the UK Kindle edition, which goes by the title of "A Time of War". However, to be able to update my progress as a percentage, I need to say I'm reading this edition. Confusing? Totally!


I have no idea when I finished this. The end of 2014/start of 2015 turned out to be quite horrible with family illness and a major move pushing me into an anxiety/depressive episode I could really have done without. It's going to take me a while to pull out of it and get my reading back on track, so I'll just going to take it easy.

And to give myself a head start, I'm going to call this finish as being New Years Day so I can have it to begin 2015.2015 8 ebooks ...more2 s Barry Mulvany332 11

We continue this epic tale that I think has covered something 50 years already. The scope has expanded in this book, we learn about the Meradan (The Hordes), more about the dwarves, and humans that are outside of Deverry. We also have a dragon in this one! Finally those hints from the end of the first book have come to fruition. We have another POV in Jahdo. I'm sure we've met him before in some other incarnation but I'm not sure which. There were no flashback sections in this book which I missed, I can understand why as the author needed to move the story forward and with all the new information we have in relation to the other races, there probably wasn't room for a flashback section as well. Still I always d reading about the previous incarnations. I suppose the Jill/Rhodry/Nevyn wyrds are all done so there's no need to go back again. I feel some of the character growth has been lost in this volume, Jill and Rhodry are so different now, it makes sense in that they are seventy years old (I think), but it still feels weird. Still a great series though and looking forward to the last entry in this arc.2 s A.L. WrightAuthor 10 books91

One of my favorite in this series

I love every one of Katharine Kerr's Deverry Series, but this one is one of my favorites. Love reading more about the history of the lands and it's inhabitants.1 Candlin36 16

I picked this up in our local coffee shop after reading the first two pages. Great start: a ten year old boy sees something he shouldn’t and is magicked to forget it. But we’re not sure what or why it matters.

There were passages I didn’t love, but now having read it all I’m sold — oh the wonderful description of finding the dragon! It is glorious.

Well written, interesting characters, powerful women. I’m going to have to go back and read the earlier books, but I’m going to read the next one first, because I want to know what happens with the dragon!



1 Brita234 1 follower

Den här boken kommer jag inte ihåg lika mycket av som de tidigare. Jag minns belägringen och det som Jill är med om men inte de nya karaktärerna och inte heller om när Rodhry letar upp draken. Det är spännande och strax dags att fortsätta med nästa bok.1 Kristina518 2

While there's no past life portion in this book we're introduced to new characters and a couple of new storylines are started to continue to weave the epic tale of Deverry.1 Ben544 11

And the enjoyment drops again... The Westlands series is certainly a bit up and down. On the other hand, the downs are not really that low and A Time of War is perfectly enjoyable, advances the greater story, and sets us up for the final book very well. It has its own resolution and plot points and it is does what it needs to in terms of the wider series. However, it just lacks a lot of what elevated the previous book, and that is a shame.

There is a lot less focus on some of the more interesting characters who were introduced in Omens, with them largely becoming background figures who are more plot devices than characters, or just disappearing entirely. One of the more interesting historical plot lines gets dropped again. Presumably it will become important enough to revisit again at some point, but apparently not here.

We do get to explore the wider world rather more, which is always interesting. This does come at the expense of once again a focus on the character of Rhodry... Who I have become really rather bored with. He is so moody and broody, and so handsome and tender, and slaps women just the right way, and holds their hands and clasps them to his manly elven slender muscly chest in passionate embraces, drenched in the blood of his enemies as he laughs insanely at death, his one true love... Of course any woman who meets him is going to get wet and want to get down with him within minutes of meeting him.

To be fair, Kerr does not quite take it to this level of pastiche that I am implying, but she skirts very close to it, and the real problem is that I can see this image in her mind when she is writing and her (or an editor) reigning it back. I do feel that the character has developed and changed over the years, but at the same time is very much still true to what he was. I feel that some of the exploration of the idea of a life longer than others being a curse is explored well, and the amount of death and blood the character has seen has really taken its toll. The cracks are beginning to show, and we get the impression that his wyrd holds yet more things in store for him... which is all very well, but frankly I am a bit over this character. Unfortunately, when we start having flash backs to other times and incarnations, and those actually just include a younger version of Rhodry acting even more a dick, while this underscores the changes the years have wrought in him, it fails to give any break from him.

I think following the next in the series and the conclusion to this cycle, I shall take a break from reading these for a while to let my irritation at the character pass. I had originally been planning to read the next six or so directly after as well to aid in keeping names familiar and events straight. However, there are a couple of downsides to this. One is I am noticing literal cut and paste writing in Kerr's prose from book to book, which I would not have if there were a year or more between reading each instalment. The second, and stronger downside, is Rhodry bloat. I am just getting sick of reading about this character and would more focus elsewhere... particularly frustrating when there are actually more interesting characters in the story.epic-fantasy1 S52

This was by far the best of the Westlands series so far. I really enjoyed following first Jahdo and Meer and then Rhodry through pristine landscapes and deep wildernesses on their individual quests to discover what happened to Meer's brother and to capture a dragon. Even better was simply spending time with all the different races that Kerr had hitherto left untouched: the dwarves, the Gel da'Thae and Horsekin, the Rhiddaer and even, to an extent, the dragons. Their homelands featured some awe-inspiring architecture and their histories added much to the histories of Deverry and the Westlands that we already knew. I do commend Kerr on being able to introduce new elements to her stories without slowing the pace or leaving us bogged down with confusing details - a rare feat in fantasy literature.

The negatives were mostly minor things. I was looking forward to hearing about Jill's time with the elves who had escaped to the islands south of Bardek but...nothing. We got a page about her contracting an illness and then next time we see her she's back in Deverry. Very disappointing, especially with the time spent on the various other races.

Next, I thought the discoveries around Rhodry's ring were poorly done. Most because they weren't really "done" at all; Jill simply mentioned that it had something to do with a dragon, and later that it could control said dragon. How does she know this? What information did she find on this in the islands? Why did Evandar suddenly give up his secrets?

And lastly, Rhodry and Angmar . I just wasn't buying their love affair. The sex, yes. Rhodry does seem to sleep around - fine. The love they confess for each other - no. It was way too out of the blue and far too convenient to the plot line.

Overall though, a very enjoyable read. I can't wait to read more about Arzosah!blind celtic children ...more1 Penn Lamb2

I love K. Kerr's books. But this series, it grates me.

If you've read all the books up to this one, continue on. If not, I'll summarize, spoiler free. There's a lot of rape on strong female characters, a lot of men getting to cheat and making the chicks feel guilty about it. Okay, stop reading.

SO.

In bristling wood, book 3, Jill is ensorcled, raped, and then made to feel guilty about the whole thing as if it were her fault.

Then next, in dragon revenant, book 4. Rhodry gets kidnapped, loses his memories, gets sold to an heiress as a slave, starts having sex with said heiress... GETS HIS MEMORIES BACK and STILL has sex with this chick even though he remembers his 'undying' love for Jill.

As the series goes on, Rhodry turns into the James Bond esque guy who sleeps with any woman he comes across.

To top it off, the whole guardians plot line is boring and tedious. It makes no sense why Dalla is into Evandar. Evandar is the most unable character, right up there with Perryn. Dalla herself comes off an idiot for even putting up with Evan's BS.

Her books could be gorgeous pieces of work, but she throws in agency stealing rape, worships the main male character and showers him in women. (Women that it makes no sense that they would have sex with him. She doesn't even write the characters as if they Rhoddo.) And gets deep into bad plot lines. Ugh.1 Sophie (RedheadReading)462 71

I enjoyed that this book expanded the Deverry world further with the focus on dwarves (and dragons, finally, yay!), even if it was a more stereotypical portrayal than some of the others races explored in this. I'm not really connecting with the Guardians storyline that much, which is what a lot of this geared around, but I will say I am looking forward to seeing how it will get brought to some kind of a conclusion in the next book. I also don't enjoy Rhodry as much as I used to; he feels a bit repetitive with his berserker/death focus and it feels every book he has a different woman to sleep with. On the whole, there are threads of this second cycle that I am very much enjoying, but there are also things I miss about the first cycle! On the whole, ready to dive into the next one to see how this cycle will conclude.1 Francis Kilkenny222 7

Knowing nothing about it or the author, I picked this book up at a flea market for 50 cents, because I wanted to buy another book and I don’t carrying change. I’m glad I did.

Katharine Kerr’s ‘Days of Fire and Blood’ is part of her Westlands series. Interestingly, while it is clearly part of a series (which I have not read), with storylines and characters that connect to happenings outside the scope of this book, it was still very readable as a kind of stumbled upon one-off. Kerr’s characters and world are well fleshed out, and her writing is both easy to read and quite descriptive. The storylines are straightforward, though deep, and very enjoyable to read.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, and will pick up other books in the series one of these days now that it is on my radar.1 Marjolein694 9

I really loved this one, the expansion of the world with the Hordes, Meer, Jahdo and Haen Marn, I loved learning more about the dwarves and their culture and of course, we get Arsozah in this book. Everything gets better with dragons :D1 Di Maitland268 104

This was by far the best of the Westlands series so far. I really enjoyed following first Jahdo and Meer and then Rhodry through pristine landscapes and deep wildernesses on their individual quests to discover what happened to Meer's brother and to capture a dragon. Even better was simply spending time with all the different races that Kerr had hitherto left untouched: the dwarves, the Gel da'Thae and Horsekin, the Rhiddaer and even, to an extent, the dragons. Their homelands featured some awe-inspiring architecture and their histories added much to the histories of Deverry and the Westlands that we already knew. I do commend Kerr on being able to introduce new elements to her stories without slowing the pace or leaving us bogged down with confusing details - a rare feat in fantasy literature.

The negatives were mostly minor things. I was looking forward to hearing about Jill's time with the elves who had escaped to the islands south of Bardek but...nothing. We got a page about her contracting an illness and then next time we see her she's back in Deverry. Very disappointing, especially with the time spent on the various other races.

Next, I thought the discoveries around Rhodry's ring were poorly done. Most because they weren't really "done" at all; Jill simply mentioned that it had something to do with a dragon, and later that it could control said dragon. How does she know this? What information did she find on this in the islands? Why did Evandar suddenly give up his secrets?

And lastly, Rhodry and Angmar . I just wasn't buying their love affair. The sex, yes. Rhodry does seem to sleep around - fine. The love they confess for each other - no. It was way too out of the blue and far too convenient to the plot line.

Overall though, a very enjoyable read. I can't wait to read more about Arzosah!celtic children dragons ...more Eva Kristin342 5

After the two first books of the Westlands series failed to blow me away, I'm happy to say I found this one a lot more absorbing. Unfortunately it seems to have come to the cost of it loosing some of the aspects that made the earlier Deverry books stand apart. Days of Blood and Fire is a good fantasy novel, but it's also a more typical one. The story I just finished reading could have happened in many of the fantasy worlds I'm acquainted with. I miss the wildfolk, who are hardly mentioned. Jill's little gnome added magic and charm to the world of Deverry!

I do how our heroes aren't all powerful. Even though Jill was thaught by Nevyn and has studied by her self and under the exiled island elves, she still doesn't master the kind of dweomer that Dallandra uses. That makes sense. Also I how Kerr makes a point out of how Rhodry is not a forester, and that after growing up on horse back he even has trouble walking for longer distances! Lots of fantasy writers seem to assume that people living in a medieval time just automatically could survive in wild nature, even if they were city people. I'm very pleased Kerr didn't fall into this trap. Tasha161 1 follower

Re-reading an old favourite series of high fantasy set around Celtic mythology. For me, re-reading these novels are snuggling on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, and a nice cup of something hot next to you. A way to shut out the world and escape into something completely different.

Blurb:
In the peaceful land of the Rhiddaer, Jahdo the ratcatcher's son stumbles unwittingly upon a clandestine meeting - between an ambitious councilman and a dangerous, mysterious woman...
So begins a sequence of events that tangles Jahdo in a web of intrigue and black magic which will drag him far from his beloved home. In the company of Meer, an eyeless bard of the Horsekin, Jahdo must journey to Deverry to unravel the evil that binds him.
Soon he is caught up in dangers greater than any of his kind could ever have conceived. Two powerful sorcerers are battling to save the country from a goddess gone mad. If they don't succeed, the consequences would be unthinkable... Catu90 1 follower

took me to get back into it, especially because I was wow I actually know who's who and what's what and then katherine kerr said fuck time jumps and fuck deverry, let's switch it up. Also dragons???? Fair enough! I do think it's cool how the world expanded BUT I do feel the earlier books are still my favorite, we lost our footing a little with this expansion of the world and new characters. Almost too much going on? Also I GET IT Jill and Rhodry are done forever ;___; but I wish we could've read some Angmar POV (or hopefully will get some in the future?) But IDK sometimes it's "Rhodry felt a strong connection to Haern Main, he began to cry at its sight" but then we never know! what the connection is! Just saying, this book was a little all over the place. Still epic though, basically finished it on 9 hour flight to Uruguay :)))This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review Alicia3,245 34

https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2022/0...

It’s starting to feel a Stefon SNL skit up in here, because this book has EVERYTHING! There's elves and dwarves and humans and some other species of being! There’s spirit ghosts! There's little mostly invisible sprites and gnomes! There’s swords and sorcery and magic and mayhem! There's a siege and there’s a magical secret dwarf city! Now there’s even dragons in the mix! It rules. Small note that a young woman who seems to have an intellectual disability (but also has magic powers) is referred to several times as a “mooncalf” which feels an uncool thing to say. A-/B+. Books_n_critters297 13

This is just such a great series. I love Kerr's writing style. The characters are so real and the storylines so engrossing. I will say, however, that while I see how it fits into the rest of the story, I could really do without Evander and the Guardians and, particularly, Dallandra. I know, it's a fantasy, but that part of the whole thing could have been left out and I'd never miss it. In this book, the most momentous event in the book takes a couple paragraphs, where page after page is devoted to the, in my opinion, idiotic Dallandra and Evander. Still, five stars for the overall story Kes2,060 48

My goodness, Rhodry gets himself another love interest/person to sleep with? How many has he had?

We see events coming together now - the siege starts, Rhodry finds his dragon, and we're heading to the conclusion of the defeat of some evil. I d that we learn more about history - i.e. the displacement of Man onto the country led to the displacement of the Horde, which in turn affected the elves and the dwarves. Even the minor subplots - Yraen and Carra - are full of tension (in part due to the few glimpses we get of them).fiction read-2017 Debbie Jinks23 1 follower

Ok I'm biased but there is finally a dragon in this great series of novels, named Arzosah. As usual there is many a bloody battle in it too but these books wouldn't be the same without them. The Horsekin army are pretty terrifying and you want to hate them straight away, which I did so that worked! Also the introduction of new characters such as Jahdo and Meer the eyeless bard added a new element to the mix. I must admit Evander can get a bit tiresome at times though which is why I awarded four instead of Five Stars, apart from that I loved it. Kate590 6

Reading this book out of order was more disorienting than reading the later one out of order.

I didn't love Rhodry's interactions with the dragon. That whole section felt rushed and the disappearance of Haen Mahr was so sudden.

The book was good though. I did love the introduction of Jadho and Meer. So the book had a lot of good elements -- Dallandra and Evander. There was a lot of fun details and subplots. I did love Haen Mahr.

So it wasn't my favorite in the series, but it kept my interest.fantasy fiction MaureenAuthor 7 books42

This entry in the Deverry saga is an unusual one. There is no jumping between souls and thus storylines. We are introduced to an expanding world in Cerr Cawnen, the Gel Da Thae and the dwarven holt of Linn Serr and the magical island of Haen Marn. And finally, finally, we meet the dragon. I only knock a star off because no one actually cares about Evandar and his younger brother, Lord Vulpine, do they? Do they really? I love that Rhodry finds peace in this one, even if only for a brief moment. Woody5 1 follower

Truly captivating.

Once again Kerr has unfolded a marvelous tale of magic and epic adventure. Her use of true historical references as well as new and fresh outlooks on fantastical creatures such as the elves and dragons is quite masterful in my opinion. I find this series as a whole on a level with Tolkien’s lord or the rings and if I’m honest I much prefer it over Tolkien’s long winded and difficult story telling. favorites Joshua4

Great series up to this one.
Took me ages to finish, not overly enthusiastic about continuing. Feel i've read it before in series such as Hobb's. Still love the world & characters. Jill's gone on for a good while without taking an apprentice-
Felt rushed in the last 100 pages, could've probably put it all into the start of the next book imo - could've ended with the seige, dar's ambush & rhodry's departure.This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review Gordon315

This is my favourite so far as it is largely a Party Quest story which to make it even better involves a Dragon, lets face it Fantasy that involves a perilous quest and Dragons is pretty much what fantasy is all about!

Dragons, Dwarves and Elves Oh my!2019-re-read Kevin223 7

This one didn’t delight me as much as all the rest. Too much time spent with Horse-bard and his sidekick. Their way of speaking was annoying too. More Jill, more Rhodery, more Westfolk, more dwoemer. I’d love another journey back to a past timeline too….need a little Nevyn back in my life!! Dion Cassidy392 2

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