Seventh Decimate

The Great God's War, Book 1

By: Stephen R. Donaldson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

The acclaimed author of the Thomas Covenant Chronicles launches a powerful new trilogy about a prince's desperate quest for a sorcerous library to save his people.

Fire. Wind. Pestilence. Earthquake. Drought. Lightning.

These are the six Decimates, wielded by sorcerers for both good and evil.

But a seventh Decimate exists - the most devastating one of all....

For centuries, the realms of Belleger and Amika have been at war, with sorcerers from both sides harnessing the Decimates to rain blood and pain upon their enemy. But somehow, in some way, the Amikans have discovered and invoked a seventh Decimate, one that strips all lesser sorcery of its power. And now the Bellegerins stand defenseless.

Prince Bifalt, eldest son of the Bellegerin King, would like to see the world wiped free of sorcerers. But it is he who is charged with finding the repository of all of their knowledge, to locate the book of the seventh Decimate - and reverse the fate of his land.

All hope rests with Prince Bifalt. But the legendary library, which may or may not exist, lies beyond an unforgiving desert and treacherous mountains - and beyond the borders of his own experience. Wracked by hunger and fatigue, sacrificing loyal men along the way, Prince Bifalt will discover that there is a game being played by those far more powerful than he could ever imagine. And that he is nothing but a pawn....

©2017 Stephen R. Donaldson (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“It promises to be as rich in detail as its predecessors - and, Mr. Donaldson’s trademark, as emotionally deep and as psychologically unpredictable.” (The Wall Street Journal)

“A new Stephen Donaldson book is always a cause for celebration. Seventh Decimate will whet your appetite for a sequel.” (Terry Brooks, New York Times best-selling author) 

"Fantastic." (Booklist) 

Clever Tale Hidden in Anger

Scott Brick did a good job of narrating this story. It took a bunch of tries before I found myself in the right mood to listen to this book. If you like Thomas Covenant series, you may like this one. Though that's not a fair comparison.

The main character is Prince Bifalt. I spent a lot of time mentally yelling at Bifalt. It's not like he is a bad person. He's just young, ignorant, passionate and too narrowly focused. The absolute certainty of youth. The disaster being created by blind rage. I don't love this story but it sure did incite a whole lot of thoughts and feelings from me. I can't help but think that's what the story was suppose to do. In that, this is a great setup for an epic tale of human failure and the hope of unplanned for triumphs.

I didn't realize how clever the story was until I was close to the end. Majority of the story narrative is in a depressing, relentlessly short sighted voice that begs to be ignored. But the message it holds is totally thrust in your face, put right before your eyes and, in a way, is brilliant.

I accept this gift

And therein hope to honor the giver...

When Stephen Donaldson put pen-to-paper, or pecks at his keyboard, I will stand until he is done. Any opportunity to watch his mastery with words is a joy. Any opportunity to enter his worlds so vividly imagined is a welcome Escape.

I look forward to delving deeper into this world, and hope for a satisfyingly rich trip into the unknown. You would be wise to join me if you enjoy a yarn of excitement and character.

a book for all the earths warmongers

what a great lesson for all who love war. may they understand the lesson. the narrator was wonderful.

Hard to Enjoy

I feel that I can't give a full assessment of tge book until I've finished the series. I hope that this will be similar to the author's Mordant's Need books.
The main character is an angry, stubborn man of privilege and at the end he only feels his anger is justified. I found it very difficult to enjoy his story and lack of any real growth.

Good but not up to the Covenant Chronicals

The protagonist does not have the depth of those in Donaldson's other works. The anger, despair, rage present in the early works is here but without the underlying deprh of reason. The story also has some logical flaws. How did the prince or king not even suppose that Amica had also lost its magic.

Classic Donaldson

The two things I have always admired about Donaldson's writing are the diction, and the manner in which his characters are simultaneously compelling and repellant. In Seventh Decimate, Prince Bifalt is a man driven with an unyielding purpose - to save his homeland. His single-mindedness makes him formidable but a thoroughly unpleasant person - a classic Donaldson protagonist.

Brick's narration is fantastic, though the urgency and tension with which he reads can sometimes get a bit tedious.

Predictable and tedious

The world that was crafted is appealing, if only the plot and characters were more developed. I’m gonna have to return this book to audible. Not my cup of tea.

weak story with mostly drama

I've liked other Donaldson books, this one just didn't go anywhere, ended with a wreak transition to a second book, and had very little substance to it.

awesome start to a new series

Donaldson starts a new series in an awesome way. A great storyline waiting for book two. Thank

So far, so good

Will have to wait and see how my favorite author continues the story for an accurate opinion of it.