The High King of Montival

A Novel of the Change

By: S. M. Stirling

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Length: 16 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

In The Sword of the Lady, Rudi Mackenzie's destiny was determined. Now he returns to Montival in the Pacific Northwest, where he will face the legions of the Prophet. To achieve victory, Rudi must assemble a coalition of those who had been his enemies a few months before and forge them into an army that will rescue his homeland. Only then will Rudi be able to come to terms with how the Sword has changed him, as well as the world, and assume his place as Artos, High King of Montival.

©2010 S.M. Sterling (P)2010 Tantor

Another Home Run

This in the seventh book in the Emberverse series and it did not disappoint. Great story line, memorable characters and good narration make this series a winner. I find it hard to turn it off. Can't wait for the next installment!

Time to cut the cord...

I've been with this series since book 1 - as anyone who's made it this far has - and still 3 more to go. I thought the first 3 of the Change series were good; maybe a little cliche at times, but gripping nonetheless. The mid-installment, a.k.a adventures of Rudi, dull by comparison.

Sword of the Lady was a downslope, but this book hits rock-bottom. Slow and dull, if it were print I wouldn't have made it through. Reviews of the future novels seem to indicate this is a theme - that Stirling should have cut his losses instead of dragging this out.

The best thing about the book is Todd McLaren's narration. He has a great voice with wide range and spot-on delivery, though I have to say some of the character voices he established in 'the Sunrise Lands' took a vacation in book 2, then came back forever changed since. I know Ingolf hails from Wisconsin, but the overdone Upper (as in upper-peninsula) accent makes him sound goofy.

I hate to quit a story prematurely, but I cannot waste any more $$ on this series.

The High King of Montival

S.M. continues with his usual overwriting of what is an Awesome and intriguing storyline, this chapter starts with an exciting and well written battle and he then slips back into his gastro and clothing expose' with mind numbing description. I have continued listening because I like the story concept eventhou the delivery is getting more and more tedious, the narrator's use of the many different accents at times is just plain irritating with the thickness he is trying to achieve is hurting the story. If the story continues at this rate it will be clear into book 10-11. Help me out S.M. your loosing me.

disapointing

I have enjoyed every one of S.M Stirling’s books until now. It seemed like ½ of the book was missing. Was S.M Stirling rushed.

Artos goes home

There is a definite problem with the recording in Part 2 at the point when the group returns home. There is a need to correct this and offer a replacement recording to purchasers.
I am less and less satisfied with the series as it moves from a gripping story of diverse and well drawn characters coping with a world that has suddenly changed into a ho hum oft told tale of a quest for the magic thingie that will defeat the evil ... so on and so forth, etc.
This particular episode reads as if the author decided he needed to get the main character home ASAP and finally married to his soulmate. Disappointing

High King Review

I've read or listened to every book in this series, and while the book is as well written as the previous ones, it just doesn't have any substance. He's dragging out the ultimate confrontation for the sake of book sales. You can read the first chapter and the last 3 chapters and be ready for the next installment. It's not worth the credit. Wait for the next book!

...and I'm done

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Those that can't stand not finishing a series

What could S. M. Stirling have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Finish the series about 2 books ago

Would you listen to another book narrated by Todd McLaren?

Sure - narrator is not bad at all

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It's a decent story, its just dragged out beyond all redemption

Any additional comments?

I thought I wanted to finish the series when I believed this to be the final book. It isn't. And now, I'm giving up - I can't possibly justify committing another credit to this series any more. What started as a genuinely interesting premise and pretty damn decent writing has slowly and tortuously unraveled into crap. This was pure drudgery. The story continues to drag and drag and then just when you thought it couldn't possibly drag any more it reaches back for a little something extra and D R R R R A A A A G G G S S S S just a little bit more.

The characters have degenerated into unlikable cardboard husks. They are, as a group, too perfect and wonderful and overtly full of themselves and their own importance. I'm not sure when this extensive introspection started up in the story line but it has become as noticeable as Rudi MacKenzie's devastatingly handsome (or should I say,

Seems as though the series is running out of juice

I have read/listen to the entire series several times, as well as the companion series. This is the only book that I have been disappointed in. It seems that Mr. Stirling is running out of creative energy here; or is trying to move the story from the the narrative to the mythic, (an obvious theme for the series) much too fast. I really did not like it and probably will abandon the series at this point.

i am done with it

I love the first books in the change but there is no real storyline anymore. The book is just a set up for the next book, and the next book, and the next book. I wish S.M. could just finish the story with each book and come up with new and original.