By the Mountain Bound is a prequel to Elizabeth Bear s highly acclaimed ALL THE WINDWRACKED STARS, and tells the painful tale of love and betrayal, sorcery and battle, that led up to the day when Muire was left alone in the snow at the end of the world. Hugo Award-Winning author For five hundred years the immortal Children of the Light, Einherjar and Valkyrie, have lived together in the North of Valdyrgard. They were born out of the Sea, each with a shining crystal sword in his or her hand; they are Angels of Light created in the formation of a new world. But three have come before them, from the death throes of the old world, Midgard: the world-girdling Serpent, Bearer of Burdens; the Wolf Fenris, eater of the Sun, who now takes the form of an einherjar; and his demon sister, stealer of souls. The Children spend their days feasting, fighting, hunting, and guarding their human charges. But one dreadful day a woman is washed up from the sea, a Lady who is no mortal, though she is not valkyrie either. Thus begins the breaking of the Children of the Light, the tarnishing of their power, and the death of Valdyrgard.
By the Mountain Bound (The Edda of Burdens)
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Bear creates a world with an astonishing depth of mythology....Bear s world-building echoes the best of Zelazny and pulls the readers into the story and the history until it s over. --Booklist, starred review
--This text refers to the
Mass Market Paperback
edition.
About the Author
ELIZABETH BEAR is a two-time Hugo Award winning writer. She is the author of fourteen previous novels, including the first two books of The Edda of Burdens: "All the Windwracked Stars "and "By the Mountain Bound." She lives in Connecticut. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By M. R. N. Shackelford
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
You MUST read the first volume in this trilogy(?) All the Windwracked Stars, to get the hang of the story. This is a prequel - explaining what happened in the run up to the first book.
SO... perhaps you should read this first - and will then really "get" the first book? No, perhaps not.
Anyway - for all you fans (hope we are plural) of the amazingly literate Elizabeth Bear - read this and be delighted!
This is not straight-forward fantasy. It is (sort of) the retelling of the legend of the Valkyrie and the lead up the apocalypse of Ragnarok. A tale of heroes, and heroic deeds, of mystic ladies (who are not who or what they seem) and the ultimate tragedy of their society (and perhaps all societies) - the total and utter destruction of their world - by their own hands...
Hmmm. Just terrific - with Ms. Bear's usual astonishing lyrical writing. Bring on the next one...
SO... perhaps you should read this first - and will then really "get" the first book? No, perhaps not.
Anyway - for all you fans (hope we are plural) of the amazingly literate Elizabeth Bear - read this and be delighted!
This is not straight-forward fantasy. It is (sort of) the retelling of the legend of the Valkyrie and the lead up the apocalypse of Ragnarok. A tale of heroes, and heroic deeds, of mystic ladies (who are not who or what they seem) and the ultimate tragedy of their society (and perhaps all societies) - the total and utter destruction of their world - by their own hands...
Hmmm. Just terrific - with Ms. Bear's usual astonishing lyrical writing. Bring on the next one...
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.6 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very original and engrossing plot.
12 Mar 2010
By Greg
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Einherjar and the Waelcyge are the immortal Children of the Light that were born of the sea when the world was created. For five hundred years, they were charged with protecting the human race and preparing for the war that would one day come. As they anticipated the glory of fighting with honor, it never occurred to them that the final battle would be with each other.
This series, the EDDA OF BURDENS, seems to have gotten somewhat mixed reviews. Some readers don't like the order of the books. By the Mountain Bound is the second book, which is the story that leads up to the last battle at the beginning of the first book, All the Windwracked Stars. Personally, I love it and wouldn't change a thing.
I do have to admit that I had a hard time getting through one of the early chapters (I started to wonder if the title should be By the "Broke-back" Mountain Bound and yeah, I admit, the "rated R" sexual content wouldn't have bothered me as much if it was heterosexual -- Sorry, I'm old and don't know better.) But once past those few pages, I realized this was an important element in the story, and I still grew to like both characters very much.
In fact, even though Elizabeth Bear has created a very original and engrossing plot, it's the terrific characters that make this story work.
Anyone who read the first book or has a vague knowledge of Norse mythology already has a good idea of how this ends. Knowing the conclusion does not lessen its impact -- and there are still a few surprises.
I've always had a place in my heart for the "few stood against many/ no hope of winning" stories, but to make that that theme to work, the reader really has to be able to empathize with the characters. I found that my admiration for the courage of Einherjar, the Waelcyrge, and the Valraven -- the Waelcyrges' war-mounts -- was equaled by my regret for those that dishonored themselves to become "tarnished." Even when one of my favorite characters commits a horrific act, my remorse for him outweighed the outrage that demanded justice.
This series, the EDDA OF BURDENS, seems to have gotten somewhat mixed reviews. Some readers don't like the order of the books. By the Mountain Bound is the second book, which is the story that leads up to the last battle at the beginning of the first book, All the Windwracked Stars. Personally, I love it and wouldn't change a thing.
I do have to admit that I had a hard time getting through one of the early chapters (I started to wonder if the title should be By the "Broke-back" Mountain Bound and yeah, I admit, the "rated R" sexual content wouldn't have bothered me as much if it was heterosexual -- Sorry, I'm old and don't know better.) But once past those few pages, I realized this was an important element in the story, and I still grew to like both characters very much.
In fact, even though Elizabeth Bear has created a very original and engrossing plot, it's the terrific characters that make this story work.
Anyone who read the first book or has a vague knowledge of Norse mythology already has a good idea of how this ends. Knowing the conclusion does not lessen its impact -- and there are still a few surprises.
I've always had a place in my heart for the "few stood against many/ no hope of winning" stories, but to make that that theme to work, the reader really has to be able to empathize with the characters. I found that my admiration for the courage of Einherjar, the Waelcyrge, and the Valraven -- the Waelcyrges' war-mounts -- was equaled by my regret for those that dishonored themselves to become "tarnished." Even when one of my favorite characters commits a horrific act, my remorse for him outweighed the outrage that demanded justice.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Favorite so far
25 Jan 2010
By Anastasia
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is part of the Edda of Burdens trilogy, the first chronologically, but second in publishing order after All the Windwracked Stars. It works well as a standalone, and I think it's a better place to start reading, as it's more linear and less confusing than All the Windwracked Stars. Each book really enhances the reading of the other, filling in details and resolving mysteries.
The Plot: Einherjar and waelcyrge (angels and valkyrie) are Children of the Light, charged with protecting humans under the guidance of the Light. The 3 main characters (in this book as well as the trilogy) are Stifbjorn - the leader, Mingan - the Wolf, older and more powerful than the rest, survivor of the previous world's end, given new shape in this one, and Muire - smaller of the valkyrie, historian and poet rather than warrior, hopelessly in love with Stifbjorn, who shares a secret and forbidden relationship with Mingan the Wolf.
Everything is upended when a mysterious stranger, Heythe, appears, claiming to be their foretold Lady and challenging Stibjorn for leadership. Yet there are hints of darkness about her, and she may destroy the Children instead of saving them.
The writing is achingly beautiful, and the focus is on the characters' emotional journey (angst! love, betrayal, loyalty, sacrifice). I absolutely loved it. I liked all the characters, and Mingan's POV was particularly compelling. There's pieces of Norse mythology woven through. This is a book to read and re-read.
The Plot: Einherjar and waelcyrge (angels and valkyrie) are Children of the Light, charged with protecting humans under the guidance of the Light. The 3 main characters (in this book as well as the trilogy) are Stifbjorn - the leader, Mingan - the Wolf, older and more powerful than the rest, survivor of the previous world's end, given new shape in this one, and Muire - smaller of the valkyrie, historian and poet rather than warrior, hopelessly in love with Stifbjorn, who shares a secret and forbidden relationship with Mingan the Wolf.
Everything is upended when a mysterious stranger, Heythe, appears, claiming to be their foretold Lady and challenging Stibjorn for leadership. Yet there are hints of darkness about her, and she may destroy the Children instead of saving them.
The writing is achingly beautiful, and the focus is on the characters' emotional journey (angst! love, betrayal, loyalty, sacrifice). I absolutely loved it. I liked all the characters, and Mingan's POV was particularly compelling. There's pieces of Norse mythology woven through. This is a book to read and re-read.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Valkyries, Two-headed Steeds, Wolf in Man Form, Love and Betrayal
13 Feb 2010
By A. Lee
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
In the north of Valdyrgard, the immortal Children of Light, the warrior males, the einherjar, and females, the waelcyrge, live in their great halls, feasting, fighting and guarding humanity. The noble Strifbjorn has always been their leader, but he harbors a secret. Muire, one of the smallest waelcyrge, a poet and historian, is secretly in love with him. Mingan the Grey Wolf is one of three beings who remain from the old world that died 500 years before, and although he wears the form of an einherjar now, he is more at home away from the others among the wolf pack in the woods. The already volatile allegiances are shaken when a stranger comes amongst them: Heythe, a mysterious woman who is discovered half-drowned on the coast. Signs and omens hint that she may be the Lady whose coming was foretold. She claims that she must lead them if they all are to survive the deadly enemy that chases her.
This book is a prequel to ALL THE WINDWRACKED STARS. I don't think it's necessary to have read that book first, in fact, if you don't want to know what happens in a story, it's probably best not to! I think I might have preferred to read this one first, with its introduction to the curious society of the Children and their powers and abilities. This book definitely has an ending, although it's obvious the complete story isn't told. Fortunately there is the other book, for those who want to know more. This tale, about love, vengeance and betrayal--and the ending of gods and worlds, is strangely compelling. I'm definitely left wanting to read more about these characters and this universe.
This book is a prequel to ALL THE WINDWRACKED STARS. I don't think it's necessary to have read that book first, in fact, if you don't want to know what happens in a story, it's probably best not to! I think I might have preferred to read this one first, with its introduction to the curious society of the Children and their powers and abilities. This book definitely has an ending, although it's obvious the complete story isn't told. Fortunately there is the other book, for those who want to know more. This tale, about love, vengeance and betrayal--and the ending of gods and worlds, is strangely compelling. I'm definitely left wanting to read more about these characters and this universe.
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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