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The Summer Palace (Annals of the Chosen, Vol. 3) | 
 enlarge | Author: Lawrence Watt-evans
Publisher: Tor Books
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $12.76
You Save: $13.19 (51%)
New (30) Used (9) from $12.76
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 285122
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 0765310287
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780765310286
ASIN: 0765310287
Publication Date: June 10, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
All of the world is kept in a delicate balance under the supervision of the Wizard Lord. It is his duty to govern lightly and protect his domain…but if he should stray from the way of the just then it is up to the Chosen to intercede. The Chosen are the Leader, the Seer, the Swordsman, the Beauty, the Thief, the Scholar, the Archer, and the Speaker, magically infused mortal individuals who for the term of their service have only one function--to remove an errant Wizard Lord.
But the new Wizard Lord has now changed the playing field by neutralizing all magic in his domain (both his own and that of the Chosen) and has successfully killed and/or blocked his adversaries and their challenges to his omnipotence. Sword (now on the run) must work alone to restore order to their fair land and unravel the mystery of the Ninth Talisman--which might be the salvation or downfall of all that is good in their well ordered land.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 The Worst Watt-Evans I've Ever Read September 27, 2008
Okay ... I'm a big Lawrence Watt-Evans fan, so this one is hard for me. Ever since I picked up The Misenchanted Sword while summering at my grandparent's cottage many years ago, I've enjoyed his work. I find his writing style simple and enjoyable, and his characters affable and generally believable (seriously - read my other reviews). Until this book, that is.
The Annals of the Chosen is a rather tepid series. The concept is solid - I liked the idea of the checks and balances of The Chosen versus The Wizard Lord, and the way ler played such a role in world. But where this book (and series) fell apart, for me, is with the characters. There simply isn't a likeable or engaging one in the entire trilogy.
I'm not sure if Harriet dear actually read this book - one can never tell from her reviews, since they basically seem to be a review of the dust jacket - but "Sword" as about as simpering, inane and idiotic protagonist as I've ever read. The entire book seemed like one paragraph being written over and over again. "I need to kill the Wizard Lord, but I'm not sure why, and he's pretty good for Barokan, but he killed two of the Chosen, but ..." Seriously - by the the middle of the book I was hoping one of the uplanders ran him through with a spear and the book just ended.
By the end of the book, I wasn't sure why the Wizard Lord deserved to die, I didn't care whether he - or anyone else - did, and I didn't believe any of the characters motivations for doing anything.
The book had a rushed and hurried feeling; like it was being rushed out the door to meet a deadline (or collect a paycheck). Normally, a "sub par" book by a favorite author still garners a good review from me, but not this one. I loved The Obsidian Chronicles, but this book - and this series in general - earns a big pass from me.
If you need a break from reading complex, engaging and truly epic fantasy (like Steven Erikson's Malazan series, or George RR Martins Song of Ice and Fire), there are many better options than this series. I'd look to anything by Ray Feist, or the new series by newcomer Joe Abercrombie. All are better paced, with deeper characters and more flow.
Sorry Lawrence ... hope you come back strong.
A Midsummer Nights reading... August 1, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
With the third installment of the Annals of the Chosen, Lawrence Watt-Evans has given us a novel that makes you want to scream out "Use your Magic...one spell can fix this...one spell". If only magic hadn't been neutralized by the new Wizard Lord in his efforts to quell all efforts to challenge his omnipotence!
Having not read the first 2 books in the series, I was hesitant to read the 3rd first. Once I realized the lay of the story, my initial hesitancy was put aside and I enjoyed the story with the twists and turns. The nine Chosen: The Leader, the Seer, the Swordsman, the Beauty, the Thief, the Scholar, the Archer, the Speaker, and the mysterious ninth member, Breaker, interact mostly logically and by the time we reach the end of the book, we are still left with questions.
That brings us to the topic of fantasy worlds.
How do writers create a `world' where every element is logical, and can stand up to critical thought? Watt-Evans is not a master of the craft, but his efforts are applaudable. The sheer amount of thought involved in a different realms is staggering, so it is hard to be critical of that element.
Best way to enjoy this book, read the first two and indulge yourself in the third. Great characterization, and an enjoyable cast.
Highly recommended.
Tim Lasiuta
 Good Series, Tepid Conclusion July 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really liked this series. I thought the first two volumes were very good. I thought this one was a bit weaker. It wasn't terrible or unreadable, but it was fairly slow in pacing and more contemplative than action packed. The bulk of the book has Sword basically hiding out until he can make an attempt on the Wizard Lord. The actual conclusion is fairly swift and has a neat little twist. While I was glad to read the final novel and to get closure on the storyline, I doubt I would read it again. Too little happens and too few of the characters that we got to know are in the book for much time at all. With that said, I still think Watt-Evans is a strong author and I would highly recommend his work especially the Ethshar series and the Obsidian Chronicles.
 A Thrilling Conclusion June 18, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
When I finished reading The Ninth Talisman(Summer of 2007), I was enamored with the desire to learn the truth, but was shocked to learn I had a year to wait until The Summer Palace came out. So I waited impatiently, and ordered it as soon as possible.
Having just finished it, I can honestly say that it was worth the wait. Lawrence Watt-Evans masterfully interweaves the characters, reveals the mysteries of the Uplanders, and ends the story on a magnificent note. I defy any fan of sword and sorcery to not read this series. It will go down as one of the greats.
intriguing fantasy June 15, 2008
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
The Red Wizard continues his campaign to kill all other magical practitioners including his peers and the Chosen, those humans specifically selected by the Council of Wizards to protect people from magical abuse of power. However, ironically the Red Wizard is loved and cherished by his people who have flourished under his rule.
Of the Chosen only Erren Zal Tuyo the Sword still remains free. He knows he must confront the Red Wizard, but also realizes he can cannot win as the mage is extremely popular and everyone knows Erren as the assassin trying to kill their beloved leader. Innocent people will want him dead let alone professional assassins. Instead he mopes in Upland trying to survive while outside the control of the Red Wizard pondering what he should do. Meanwhile the Red Wizard plans to bring the fight to the last of the Chosen.
This intriguing fantasy is radically different in tone being passive as opposed to its much more action packed predecessors (see THE WIZARD LORD and THE NINTH TALISMAN). Much of the saga has Erren by himself in deep thought as to what to do next while going over the past to see if he could have done something different. Well written and interesting, but too reflective in tone, fans of the Annals of the Chosen will be surprised and probably a bit disappointed as the brunt of the action is a rehash.
Harriet Klausner
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