- Paperback: 592 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz; Trade paperback edition (29 Oct 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0575081805
- ISBN-13: 978-0575081802
- Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 4.1 x 23.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 360,572 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
A compelling read that sets the scene enticingly for the next two parts. (Stephen Jewell SFX )
'The Rats and the Ruling Sea' possesses all of the same outstanding qualities that impressed me in 'The Red Wolf Conspiracy.' Easily one of the best fantasy novels of the year. (FANTASY BOOK CRITIC )
Robert Redick has taken [the] most hackneyed of fantasy staples and turned it into something special. The Rats and The Ruling Sea is a book that demands commitment, but its unusual setting and quirky ideas make it a rewarding and absorbing read and we look forward to the next installment. (Russ Whitfield SCI FI NOW )
'The Rats and the Ruling Sea' possesses all of the same outstanding qualities that impressed me in 'The Red Wolf Conspiracy.' Easily one of the best fantasy novels of the year. (FANTASY BOOK CRITIC )
Robert Redick has taken [the] most hackneyed of fantasy staples and turned it into something special. The Rats and The Ruling Sea is a book that demands commitment, but its unusual setting and quirky ideas make it a rewarding and absorbing read and we look forward to the next installment. (Russ Whitfield SCI FI NOW )
Book Description
The sequel to THE RED WOLF CONSPIRACY takes the Chathrand across the terrors of uncharted oceans and deeper into an age-old conspiracy.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
THE RATS AND THE RULING SEA is the second book in the Chathrand Voyage saga, and the follow-up to the Robert Redick's epic fantasy THE RED WOLF CONSPIRACY. In it, we are reunited with the many characters that made up the first book in the tale: tarboys Pazel and Neeps, the admiral's daughter, Thasha Isiq, Captain Nilus Rose, Ignus Chadfellow, and the copper-eyed Ixchel, Diadrelu, to name but a few. The cast of the novels is immense.
For those unfamiliar with the first book, the story largely takes place aboard a six hundred year old ship, named the Chathrand. The vessel is monstrous in size, dwarfing all others around her. The size of the ship (with its multitude of decks and locations) gives huge scope for a number of goings on, from stowaways, to secret meetings, and a few things one might not wish to be aboard.
The story picks up immediately from where the first book ended, with the wedding of the Thasha Isiq, the Treaty Bride, to her destined prince, aimed at uniting two warring empires and cementing an ever-lasting peace between them. Things do not, however, work out as planned and the Chathrand prepares to set sail across the dangerous waters of the Ruling Sea, a journey so perilous that only she might be capable of doing so.
All the while during the crossing, a number of factions are formed, many with one goal in mind: getting to the Nilstone. Some, such as the sorcerer Arunis wish to use it for their own devious purposes, whilst others, such as Pazel, Neeps and Thasha seek a way to destroy it. Doing so, however, is far easier said than done, since the stone has the power to immediately kill anyone with fear in their heart. Which basically means anyone.
The novel is certainly much darker than the first, both in the treatment of the characters with one another and the overall mood. One scene that stood out for me in particular involved Admiral Isiq, locked in a cell with a number of statued dead people. Pitch black and with no one to talk to, he begins to hear unsettling sounds coming from somewhere within his prison. At first, it seemed that it might be coming from the statues. In fact, it is far worse.
There was also a major character death in the book, which left me wondering for a moment if it really had happened.
One of the aspects that I loved about THE RED WOLF CONSPIRACY was the concept of "woken animals" - essentially an animal that has become self-aware and conscious, and with the added ability to now speak. This is an aspect that is explored in a lot more depth in RATS, and one which leads to aquite startling revelation.
Pazel and Thasha's love-hate game continues, with Pazel finding many times to be jealous of the attention the young lady receives from others aboard the Great Ship. The seashell, embedded in his collarbone by a jealous murth-girl, that flares and causes him pain any time he feels warmth for Thasha, didn't really help matters either.
Redick's world building is staggering, leaving the reader feeling very much as though they have been transported to another world. To that end, I would've liked to have had a glossary at the back of the book, if only to remind myself of who some of the characters and places from the first book were. But that's likely just me.
Other than that, THE RATS AND THE RULING SEA is a full of surprises, political wrangling, intrigue and action. I very much look forward to the third book, THE RIVER OF SHADOWS.
Note: This was originally a trilogy, but will now be four books.
For those unfamiliar with the first book, the story largely takes place aboard a six hundred year old ship, named the Chathrand. The vessel is monstrous in size, dwarfing all others around her. The size of the ship (with its multitude of decks and locations) gives huge scope for a number of goings on, from stowaways, to secret meetings, and a few things one might not wish to be aboard.
The story picks up immediately from where the first book ended, with the wedding of the Thasha Isiq, the Treaty Bride, to her destined prince, aimed at uniting two warring empires and cementing an ever-lasting peace between them. Things do not, however, work out as planned and the Chathrand prepares to set sail across the dangerous waters of the Ruling Sea, a journey so perilous that only she might be capable of doing so.
All the while during the crossing, a number of factions are formed, many with one goal in mind: getting to the Nilstone. Some, such as the sorcerer Arunis wish to use it for their own devious purposes, whilst others, such as Pazel, Neeps and Thasha seek a way to destroy it. Doing so, however, is far easier said than done, since the stone has the power to immediately kill anyone with fear in their heart. Which basically means anyone.
The novel is certainly much darker than the first, both in the treatment of the characters with one another and the overall mood. One scene that stood out for me in particular involved Admiral Isiq, locked in a cell with a number of statued dead people. Pitch black and with no one to talk to, he begins to hear unsettling sounds coming from somewhere within his prison. At first, it seemed that it might be coming from the statues. In fact, it is far worse.
There was also a major character death in the book, which left me wondering for a moment if it really had happened.
One of the aspects that I loved about THE RED WOLF CONSPIRACY was the concept of "woken animals" - essentially an animal that has become self-aware and conscious, and with the added ability to now speak. This is an aspect that is explored in a lot more depth in RATS, and one which leads to aquite startling revelation.
Pazel and Thasha's love-hate game continues, with Pazel finding many times to be jealous of the attention the young lady receives from others aboard the Great Ship. The seashell, embedded in his collarbone by a jealous murth-girl, that flares and causes him pain any time he feels warmth for Thasha, didn't really help matters either.
Redick's world building is staggering, leaving the reader feeling very much as though they have been transported to another world. To that end, I would've liked to have had a glossary at the back of the book, if only to remind myself of who some of the characters and places from the first book were. But that's likely just me.
Other than that, THE RATS AND THE RULING SEA is a full of surprises, political wrangling, intrigue and action. I very much look forward to the third book, THE RIVER OF SHADOWS.
Note: This was originally a trilogy, but will now be four books.
Format:Paperback
Fantastic book - can't wait for the last volume! It seems a long time to wait until April to find out what happens to all the fascinating characters. Completely enthralling story.
Format:Paperback
I do like the setting for this series - the giant ship is a good idea. There's nothing wrong with the world-building and the general storyline. I rather enjoyed the first book and expected to enjoy this one in the same way. Each scene was fine - well written and intrigue happening all over the place. But as I went on and on through the breezeblock-sized book, I began to wonder whether anything was really going to happen. There were lots of little happenings, each interesting enough in itself, but the overall plot was getting nowhere.
I ploughed through to the end, and very little had actually been achieved by either side. Still plenty of intrigue happening, a few changes made along the way, but I was beginning to lose the will to live. The author can certainly write, but he really needed his editor to insist that he cut the book down to half its length. That would have made a far tighter, more engaging work. I'd have had far less desire to start banging people's heads together, or to yell at them to get on with it. If I spend a lot of time reading a book, I want more reward than watching the characters run around in circles.
I decided not to bother reading the rest of the story, and a friend who read the third one has got fed up and quit too.
Nice try, but more meat and less fat, please.
I ploughed through to the end, and very little had actually been achieved by either side. Still plenty of intrigue happening, a few changes made along the way, but I was beginning to lose the will to live. The author can certainly write, but he really needed his editor to insist that he cut the book down to half its length. That would have made a far tighter, more engaging work. I'd have had far less desire to start banging people's heads together, or to yell at them to get on with it. If I spend a lot of time reading a book, I want more reward than watching the characters run around in circles.
I decided not to bother reading the rest of the story, and a friend who read the third one has got fed up and quit too.
Nice try, but more meat and less fat, please.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
brillent
This book is a enjoyable read. Basically it is set on a a huge ship from the viewpoints of various characters on this ship mainly of the viewpoints of Pazel and Thasha on this... Read more
Published on 10 April 2010 by Mr G Wardle
Rollicking Adventure
Bursting onto the scene last year with his first novel we get back into the thick of things with this his second novel in the series. Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2010 by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
A great continuation of the story
I read and enjoyed The Red Wolf Conspiracy earlier this year and was looking forward to The Rats and the Ruling Sea since putting it down. Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2010 by Mark Chitty
An enthralling, breathtaking adventure!
It isn't just the engaging, compelling characters who make The Rats and The Ruling Sea so enthralling; it's the entire complex world that Redick has created. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2009 by Bookloving Librarian
an action-packed instalment
I waited a long time for this book to be released, after thoroughly enjoying the first book in the series (The Red Wolf Conspiracy: The Chathrand Voyage, Book One). Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2009 by simon211175
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