- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: The Penguin Group (SA) (Pty) Ltd; Reprint edition (3 Aug 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0441007961
- ISBN-13: 978-0441007967
- Product Dimensions: 17 x 10.7 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 75,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
As the final confrontation with the darkness approaches, two mortal enemies will search for the key to life itself.
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First Sentence
IN UPLAND MANDRIA, pewter-gray clouds scudded low over woods and marshland alike. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
IN UPLAND MANDRIA, pewter-gray clouds scudded low over woods and marshland alike. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Being a long time fan of epic sagas, I was starting to think that nothing new would ever come out to totally grip and surprise me... Deborah Chester broke that mold.. From the first page of The Sword to the last page of the Chalice she keeps you reading and entertained.. Buy them fast...
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
27 reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
A Wonderful Fantasy Novel
1 April 2001
Format:Paperback
Before I buy a book, I usually come to Amazon.com to check the reviews. Unfortunately, there are so few reviews here for this wonderful book that I decided to write a review. The complete story of the Sword, Ring, and Chalice was one of the best fantasy series I have ever read. While most fantasies follow the simple pattern of -- boy goes on adventure --> meets beautiful girl --> falls instantly in love with her --> defeats anatagonist -- this series was very unpredictable. The cast of characters only enhanced the quality of the book. The way they are presented leaves the reader with an unsettling doubt of who is good or bad, at least, until the end of the story! Finally, I would just like to say that I REALLY hope that Deborah Chester continues writing about Nether and the neighboring countries!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Seemed too quick and easy.
22 Aug 2001
Format:Paperback
Although this book is as well written as the first two in the series (THE SWORD and THE RING), I think the plot was pushed along too quickly. As a previous reviewer mentioned, there were entirely too many things to accomplish in this book. The problem ends up being that the goals are accomplished both too quickly and too easily. The last half of the book seemed to be a cake walk for the protagonists. It made the antagonists seem inept and one dimensional. There was one side trip alone that I would have loved to see expanded into an entire book alone.
This is not to say that everything went right for the antagonists. Chester still hasn't lost her penchant for killing off characters. Some of those deaths truly surprised me. And some of them were hardly noble; they were brutal, ignominious executions, but they made the world seem more realistic. Not all of the good guys survive.
And don't think that I didn't enjoy this book. I gave it four stars because it was such an enjoyable read. I was still interested in seeing the growth of the characters. Plus, Chester's pure unpredictability had me turning pages late into the night. It lost that fifth star for being a bit rushed and easy for the heroes. However, Chester still has created a vivid world populated with believable characters that truly engages your imagination. This is a must read trilogy for any fantasy fan. I'm hoping that Chester comes back and revisits this creation sometime in the future, much like Terry Brooks does with his Shannara series, as long as she takes a break and flexes her muscles in another world in between.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
An Unfinished Trilogy
2 Nov 2002
Format:Paperback
I recently reread this excellent trilogy. I didn't expect to enjoy it the second time, since the plot had so many twists to it. However, the second time through I realized how excellent the characterizations were.
In brief, the story revolves around Dain, an Eld/human who discovers he is actually the missing King of Nether. The interesting thing about the plot is that he feels little motivation to claim his crown, but circumstances keep pushing him to do so. During the book, he has to develop from a near-feral boy to a man who can deal with rebuilding a kingdom. This character progression is deftly and believably handled.
The trilogy has some unusual characteristics. First, it is not really a trilogy, but one book divided into three separate parts. The titles are very misleading, especially the first book, entitled "The Sword". Since the first book has two important swords, I didn't really find out which the title referred to until Volume 3. Second, the book ends suddenly, without resolving some key issues. The evil kingdom which wishes to overthrow Nether is undefeated, and Dain's relationship with his mother's people is unresolved. Third, the first hundred pages, which describe how Dain's father lost his kingdom and his life, are a bit slow going. However, the second time through, I was much more open to this long introduction; I felt that it showed the similarities between father and son - that they were both very human individuals whose ideals and responsibilities threatened to outstrip their abilities. Last, the romance was peculiar, in that there was no description of any romantic feelings, at least from Dain's point of view.
The unorthodox handling of the trilogy format may throw some people off, but I would highly recommend these books. It is a trilogy which screams for a follow-up volume, which hopefully will be written!
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