Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4869072 in Books
• Published on: 2005
• Binding: Paperback
• 462 pages

Customer Reviews

a thrilling adventure
I liked RISE OF A HERO even more than FALL OF THE KINGDOM, and that's saying a lot! All three of the young heroes in this book are now struggling to deal with the collapse of their old world and the building of a new one under the conquering Hrum. Soraya, who was my least favorite character in the first book, is finally starting to grow up as she searches for her family and discovers the reality of how the nobles of her class ruled Farsala. Jivan is trying to create a new style of fighting with nobles who are married to the old way, and the old prejudices. And Kavi, who thought the Hrum would be so much better than the old nobility, is discovering they bring a new set of injustices with them. They have a chance to get their country back from the Hrum--but how can they get their fellow countrymen to rise up against the invaders? How can they inspire frightened and beaten people to fight back? They need a hero, and if they can't find one, they'll have to invent one. And since they aren't working together, none of them know they're all dealing with the same problem.

The suspense is wonderful as each of the three heroes plunge from danger to danger, scrambling to escape in one piece. The characters catch you up in their struggles to keep the people they care about--and themselves--alive. The Hrum officers we get to know aren't just simple bad guys, but people who are trying to do their duty by their own country. And the pace keeps you turning the pages. I can't wait to read the next book!

*jawdrops*
I have a real problem explaining why I like things. It's easy for me to explain, in detail, if I dislike something, but liking it? Not so simple. So let's cover, instead, a short list of "what this book caused me to do".

1. It caused me to miss going to see H2G2 with my sister. Yes, I did NOT see the new Hitchhiker's movie, even though I wanted to.
2. It caused me to put back a lot of books I'd planned to buy my niece. Sorry, Ana, you're not as important as my reading pleasure.
3. It caused me not to get the Diana Wynne Jones book I've been waiting for for years.
4. It caused me to buy a hardcover book without even finishing reading it. I only ever by paperback.
5. It caused my family to spend a few hours thinking I was dead because I didn't call them after missing the movie. I was too busy reading.

Does this give you an idea of how engrossed I was by this book?

I know this isn't a very well-written review, and I apologise. I also suspect that nobody is going to read this review, since those who read the first book in the trilogy are just going to automatically buy the second.

WHAT happened to Book Three?!?!?
I read the first book (Why was it called "Flame?") and enjoyed it but was not particularly engrossed. I read the second one to find out what happens to the characters, and I was HOOKED!!!

There isn't a dull moment in this book. The characters continue to develop, and a whole nother dimension is added as the reader is slowly introduced to Sorahb and his story. Possibly the most interesting part are the small italicized sections in which the actions of Sorahb are described . . . only these actions are done by the characters! It really leaves you wondering about the real Sorahb. If there a real Sorahb? HA!

As I said, this book didn't drag at all, whereas the other book was a little bit slower. It focuses on one single town, one of the last free places in all of Farsala. All elements of warfare are included in this book, and while I'm not really a violent person (my brother might disagree, but no one asked him), I found the strategies and actions of the characters fascinating.

The only problem is that Book Three isn't here! I've been waiting and waiting, but nothing is coming! I really really hope that there will be a conclusion to this trilogy because I, for one, would be very sad if I don't find out what happens to Farsala.