Lord of Mountains

A Novel of the Change

By: S. M. Stirling

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Rudi Mackenize, now Artos the First, High King of Montival, and his allies have won several key battles against the Church Universal and Triumphant. But still the war rages on, taking countless lives, ravaging the land once known as the United States of America. Artos and his Queen, Mathilda, must unite the realms into a single kingdom to ensure a lasting peace.

If the leaders of the Changed world are to accept Artos as their ruler, he will need to undertake a quest to the Lake at the Heart of the Mountains and take part in a crowning ceremony - a ceremony binding him to his people, his ancestors, and his land. Then, once he has secured his place and allegiances, Artos can go forward and lead his forces to the heart of the enemy's territory.

©2012 S. M. Stirling (P)2012 Tantor

Same Great Story, One too Many Books...

The Book

I actually loved the story, but the '4 out of 5' rating and the title of this review stem from the fact that I feel, like others who have written reviews here, that this book and the last should have been a single work - the majority of "Lord of Mountains" was simply a continuation of "Tears of the Sun." It is clearly necessary for there to be continuity between books in a series, but this one felt more like a "Part II" of "Tears" rather than a sequel that could stand alone. Each of Stirling's other novels in the series constantly built on each other, but could easily have been grabbed at random and, while the reader might scratch his/her head for a moment pondering details, would still have been able to convey the essentials of the story - not true here.

However, even if "Lord of Mountains" should have been packed into the last book,it was another fantastic installment in a unique and fulfilling series. I have been with the story since "Dies the Fire," and I read the Nantucket series, from which the Emberverse series sprang, before that. Never before has a series captivated me as much. I "plug in" on my commute to and from work, at my lunch break, and any time I have a spare moment or two - it is definitely worth the read (or listen)!

Still, as much as I love the series, I hope "The Given Sacrifice" draws the story to a close before there are "diminishing returns;" i.e., before the story stagnates. I have heard rumors that another series will follow this one, beginning yet another Changeling generation's tale, but - and it pains me to say it with as much as I have loved all of these - I sincerely hope not. I'm sure, as with other writers, that S.M. Stirling still has volumes of story and wonderful things to add to the world of The Change locked in his creative mind, but, as the saying goes: sometimes more isn't better, it's just more...all good things not only do, but should, come to an end, or they don't stay good things.


The Performance

One thing that impresses me about all the audiobooks in the series (Nantucket and Emberverse) is that Todd McLaren has a) been used for every book and, b) he, as a narrator, is so consistent in his tones, his portrayal of each character, and his ability to draw emotion from the "reader" based on his performance. There are a good many audiobook series wherein a different narrator steps in each time, or there is a disconnect when a specific narrator goes on "hiatus" for a book or two, then returns (often only to forget their characters and the overall feel they themselves set up). McLaren is a master!


In short, thumbs, way, way up for the entire 12-book (so far) story and for Todd McLaren's performance of it, but Mr. Stirling: as awesome as it is, please wrap it up before the wonder and magic start to fade!

Filler

like a lot of other people this book and the book preceding it really annoyed me. it was chock-full of a lot of filler. I have to hear about one more meal and what they ate I might go insane. or about how the latest Portland fashion is being affected by events I might also lose my mind. The battle was fun and raise the steaks but a lot of the description was missing to just give us filler. I'm hoping the next book is better because this is where I stopped on the series when I was reading it. only one way to find out I guess.

A NEVER ENDING SERIES, SO IT SEEMS!!!!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I'VE LISTENED TO ALL OF THE "DIES THE FIRE SERIES" ALL WERE WORTH THE TIME, BUT THE STORY "MUST" END SOMETIMES, BUT AS OF YET JUST KEEPS GOING ON.

Would you recommend Lord of Mountains to your friends? Why or why not?

YES, IF THEY HAD LISTENED TO THE OTHER BOOKS FIRST

Which scene was your favorite?

THE BATTLE

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

YES, BUT ONLY IF THE REST OF THE BOOKS WERE FILMED FIRST

Any additional comments?

WHEN WILL THE SERIES END??? I'M NOW LISTENING TO THE "ISLANDS IN SEA AND TIME", S. M. STIRLINGS FIRST BOOKS BEFORE DIES THE FIRE SERIES

good ask around until

I have loved this series and book. have this the rating I did, because in the middle I found it out was a city of a CD.

he has done so many better

the story felt incomplete. it started in a weird way and ended oddly. even knowing there are more books it should in some way stand alone