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Riders Guild #1
Mapping Winter
In the frozen land of Cherek, Lord Cadoc Marubin lies dying and chaos threatens the land.
During his four decades in power he had held Dalmorat Province in an iron grip, for which his heirs now contend. Cherek is poised on the brink of new-world advancements in culture and technology, but Cadoc’s choice could deny his people that bright fate and seal Dalmorat in darkness.
Kieve Rider, sworn to Cadoc’s service, detests both the man she serves and the oath that binds her to his evils. Yet by that same oath it falls upon her to act as lynchpin in Cadoc’s naming of a new heir. Embroiled in the complexities of character, corruption and political intrigue, Kieve struggles to trust anyone, not least herself.
Mapping Winter is a dynastic fantasy thriller, with a promise of steampunk at its labyrinthine heart.
First published as The Sword of Winter in 1983, Mapping Winter has been extensively revised to fit the author’s originally intended vision.
During his four decades in power he had held Dalmorat Province in an iron grip, for which his heirs now contend. Cherek is poised on the brink of new-world advancements in culture and technology, but Cadoc’s choice could deny his people that bright fate and seal Dalmorat in darkness.
Kieve Rider, sworn to Cadoc’s service, detests both the man she serves and the oath that binds her to his evils. Yet by that same oath it falls upon her to act as lynchpin in Cadoc’s naming of a new heir. Embroiled in the complexities of character, corruption and political intrigue, Kieve struggles to trust anyone, not least herself.
Mapping Winter is a dynastic fantasy thriller, with a promise of steampunk at its labyrinthine heart.
First published as The Sword of Winter in 1983, Mapping Winter has been extensively revised to fit the author’s originally intended vision.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 26, 2015
I first read this as a teenager, and re-read it every 10 years or so. It's a good fantasy novel but the main draw for me was that it was the first adventure book I ever read where there were no gender roles and men and women truly were treated as equals. Male and female characters are guards and cooks and housekeepers and villains and gender is mentioned but otherwise not made a big deal of. There are gay and straight relationships here too and, again, nothing is presented as unusual. It all just is.
I was heavy into fantasy at the time and most of the books with strong female characters would make a point of mentioning how unusual it was that a woman could fight or go on adventures (and of course, the men never did anything traditionally feminine - it only went the one way). This book was so different from everything else I was reading. I still bring it up as a good example of what I think more fantasy/sci-fi stories should be like.
I was heavy into fantasy at the time and most of the books with strong female characters would make a point of mentioning how unusual it was that a woman could fight or go on adventures (and of course, the men never did anything traditionally feminine - it only went the one way). This book was so different from everything else I was reading. I still bring it up as a good example of what I think more fantasy/sci-fi stories should be like.
August 13, 2019
The original version of this book, The Sword Of Winter, was one I read repeatedly as a young woman. It was important largely I think because the heroine is the kind of a woman who rides out alone into lonely and wild places with competence instead of fear, and then when she gets back, she’s wearing an ugly eyepatch due to an injury and doesn’t bother to wash her hair, which is filthy from the journey, for two days until she goes to meet her lover at the baths, because she’s too busy doing her job for which she is feared and respected, as well as having fun playing a game of athleticism and cunning.
The idea of a woman who would not hasten to tidy herself up, who had absolutely no concern about the way she looked, who left her hair dirty because there were other things to do including playing games, was mind blowing to me then. The dirty hair stayed in my mind for decades as a possibility for who a woman could be if pleasing appearances didn’t matter. In a way, this was one of the most feminist things I’d ever read.
The story too overall was a fun one. I loved the original ending.
It has changed in this retelling. The entire story has gotten darker, more complex, and in ways more realistic. There are more characters- I lost my way in the names for a while. Also, the relationship with Jenci is slightly less explicit for which I give thanks because it always squicked me out. And the ending is both different and shaded in grey.
It’s worth reading. It’s a deeper, richer book now. And, her hair is still dirty for those two days.
The idea of a woman who would not hasten to tidy herself up, who had absolutely no concern about the way she looked, who left her hair dirty because there were other things to do including playing games, was mind blowing to me then. The dirty hair stayed in my mind for decades as a possibility for who a woman could be if pleasing appearances didn’t matter. In a way, this was one of the most feminist things I’d ever read.
The story too overall was a fun one. I loved the original ending.
It has changed in this retelling. The entire story has gotten darker, more complex, and in ways more realistic. There are more characters- I lost my way in the names for a while. Also, the relationship with Jenci is slightly less explicit for which I give thanks because it always squicked me out. And the ending is both different and shaded in grey.
It’s worth reading. It’s a deeper, richer book now. And, her hair is still dirty for those two days.
December 28, 2011
If I were able to be objective about this book, I'd probably give it four stars, because I'm sure it has flaws, but it's one I come back to again and again because it just touches me. I first read it around age twelve or thirteen and its complexity really blew me away -- it was a class apart from almost all of the books I'd read at the time. The setting was also richly detailed and described in such a way that it felt really immediate. The characters were flawed and ambiguous and human and even the ones who would normally be unnamed scenery in most stories got to shine.
So, another star because it can get me to cry even as a grown-up, even knowing the story. Also, because it can get me to laugh.
So, another star because it can get me to cry even as a grown-up, even knowing the story. Also, because it can get me to laugh.
September 25, 2019
I'll start by saying I read Sword of Winter way back when, and really liked that version. I was so interested when I heard Randall had revised that novel into a new book!
I was delighted to find that Mapping Winter is an excellent story, even better than the first version. What has stayed the same: Most of the plot, but not the ending. What has changed, besides the ending and the names of the most important characters? Well, first, there’s a lot more depth to both the protagonist and the world.
Lyeth was a fine protagonist. But Kieve, though similar, is better. She is more complicated and deeper, more conflicted in various important ways. Her deep longing to see new places has been added in this version – part of the brand-new emphasis on exploring and mapping. Her relationship with her guildmaster is a lot more complicated as a result. In fact, most of her relationships are more complex. Plus the new ending grows out of that aspect of her character.
The world in Sword of Winter was perfectly fine, but the world has deepened in the new version of the story. The local political situation is fraught in both books, but the broader world in Mapping Winter is more important. Clearly that is going to increase in later books in the series.
How about that new ending?
Well . . . I sort of like it. The new ending arises naturally out of the new story. It’s not as pat or as convenient as the original ending. Some aspects of the new ending offend my sense of justice. Plus a character I like gets killed, which always makes me unhappy. Still, the nastiest villain meets his just end, so it could be worse. Given the new ending, the set-up for the next book seems clear. It’s possible the local political situation will be altered again by later events. Or that whole part of the story, central in this book, may fade in importance. That’s not nearly as clear.
[Update because I've now read the sequel] Yes, the person who took power at the end of the first books was not a nice person. The sequel makes it clear that this aspect of the ending of Mapping Winter is not supposed to please the reader; that situation continues to be relevant as remains unresolved as a hook for, I presume, the third book. I'll add that the sequel, The River South is fantastic.
Back to Mapping Winter -- what else should I say about this book?
Well, this is important: this is a book that offers lyrical prose and great description. I’m not sure whether the writing was this beautiful in the earlier version because I didn’t get Sword of Winter off the shelf to compare, but if the thirty-six-year gap between the two versions has made a difference, it’s a good one. Either way, the writing in Mapping Winter is just beautiful. Here's a quote, for example:
The alpine valley ended as sharply as though sheared away, leaving in its place a chasm falling in shattered steps into blackness before the land leaped up again in the distance, and up further to the head of a massive peak to the northwest. Flat sunlight struck the shoulders of the peak, flaring from snow and ice fields; it seemed in that moment that another world had opened before her, one so new that the colors had not yet been added.
And again, a single sentence that struck me as particularly beautiful:
Someone sat in a barracks window, playing a flute. Its crisp music decorated the chill air.
Its crisp music decorated the chill air. I wish I’d written that sentence.
So, then, should you read this new book?
Yes, you absolutely should. If you loved the earlier version, you’ll probably love Mapping Winter. If you never read the earlier book, you’ll probably still love Mapping Winter, especially if you like secondary-world fantasy with very little or no magic, lyrical description, and a heavy emphasis on politics.
I'm not sure whether I liked the sequel as well as this book -- I might have loved it even more. It's got a more intimate feel because the focus is more tightly on the protagonist rather than the broader political situation. I'm certainly very pleased Randall picked up the first book, revised it, and is now going on with a series; I'll be right there for the third book whenever that one is released.
I was delighted to find that Mapping Winter is an excellent story, even better than the first version. What has stayed the same: Most of the plot, but not the ending. What has changed, besides the ending and the names of the most important characters? Well, first, there’s a lot more depth to both the protagonist and the world.
Lyeth was a fine protagonist. But Kieve, though similar, is better. She is more complicated and deeper, more conflicted in various important ways. Her deep longing to see new places has been added in this version – part of the brand-new emphasis on exploring and mapping. Her relationship with her guildmaster is a lot more complicated as a result. In fact, most of her relationships are more complex. Plus the new ending grows out of that aspect of her character.
The world in Sword of Winter was perfectly fine, but the world has deepened in the new version of the story. The local political situation is fraught in both books, but the broader world in Mapping Winter is more important. Clearly that is going to increase in later books in the series.
How about that new ending?
Well . . . I sort of like it. The new ending arises naturally out of the new story. It’s not as pat or as convenient as the original ending. Some aspects of the new ending offend my sense of justice. Plus a character I like gets killed, which always makes me unhappy. Still, the nastiest villain meets his just end, so it could be worse. Given the new ending, the set-up for the next book seems clear. It’s possible the local political situation will be altered again by later events. Or that whole part of the story, central in this book, may fade in importance. That’s not nearly as clear.
[Update because I've now read the sequel] Yes, the person who took power at the end of the first books was not a nice person. The sequel makes it clear that this aspect of the ending of Mapping Winter is not supposed to please the reader; that situation continues to be relevant as remains unresolved as a hook for, I presume, the third book. I'll add that the sequel, The River South is fantastic.
Back to Mapping Winter -- what else should I say about this book?
Well, this is important: this is a book that offers lyrical prose and great description. I’m not sure whether the writing was this beautiful in the earlier version because I didn’t get Sword of Winter off the shelf to compare, but if the thirty-six-year gap between the two versions has made a difference, it’s a good one. Either way, the writing in Mapping Winter is just beautiful. Here's a quote, for example:
The alpine valley ended as sharply as though sheared away, leaving in its place a chasm falling in shattered steps into blackness before the land leaped up again in the distance, and up further to the head of a massive peak to the northwest. Flat sunlight struck the shoulders of the peak, flaring from snow and ice fields; it seemed in that moment that another world had opened before her, one so new that the colors had not yet been added.
And again, a single sentence that struck me as particularly beautiful:
Someone sat in a barracks window, playing a flute. Its crisp music decorated the chill air.
Its crisp music decorated the chill air. I wish I’d written that sentence.
So, then, should you read this new book?
Yes, you absolutely should. If you loved the earlier version, you’ll probably love Mapping Winter. If you never read the earlier book, you’ll probably still love Mapping Winter, especially if you like secondary-world fantasy with very little or no magic, lyrical description, and a heavy emphasis on politics.
I'm not sure whether I liked the sequel as well as this book -- I might have loved it even more. It's got a more intimate feel because the focus is more tightly on the protagonist rather than the broader political situation. I'm certainly very pleased Randall picked up the first book, revised it, and is now going on with a series; I'll be right there for the third book whenever that one is released.
February 11, 2017
Une lecture très mitigée à mon sens. La première moitié du bouquin est très longue, l'intrigue se met en place trop doucement. La seconde partie est très rythmée ce qui contraste totalement.
Ce qui est dommage car l'auteur propose un univers qui semble complet et complexe mais qu'elle ne développe pas assez.
Son style d'écriture est agréable, une bonne dose de descriptions qui permet au lecteur de s'immerger dans la lecture, des personnages attachants et bien construits.
Bref, 3/5.
Ce qui est dommage car l'auteur propose un univers qui semble complet et complexe mais qu'elle ne développe pas assez.
Son style d'écriture est agréable, une bonne dose de descriptions qui permet au lecteur de s'immerger dans la lecture, des personnages attachants et bien construits.
Bref, 3/5.
February 16, 2015
This is one of my all time favorites that I come back to again and again (a true comfort read). As another reviewer says, it probably has some flaws, but not many. It is primarily character driven, with the main interaction being between the protagonist (Lyeth) and other characters, but primarily Emeris, a boy whose parents were "taken" by riders when he was small.
I love Lyeth as a strong woman having to make decisions about the situation that she is in. But I also really enjoyed a fantasy/scifi where the child is depicted in a natural way. Too often children in these novels are stereotyped as too sweet (The Language of Power comes to mind), or in other ways. It is refreshing to see a real relationship between a child and someone who isn't their parent in a fantasy.
Marta Randall is also a really good writer. She primarily writes science fiction, so this is a cross-over for her. I have found that I really enjoy cross-overs when the writer is great (another good example is "Fool's Run" by Patricia McKillip). Unfortunately most cross-overs tend to be one time books.
I would not ask for a series here (I don't care for character driven series), but would love to revisit this world with other characters.
I love Lyeth as a strong woman having to make decisions about the situation that she is in. But I also really enjoyed a fantasy/scifi where the child is depicted in a natural way. Too often children in these novels are stereotyped as too sweet (The Language of Power comes to mind), or in other ways. It is refreshing to see a real relationship between a child and someone who isn't their parent in a fantasy.
Marta Randall is also a really good writer. She primarily writes science fiction, so this is a cross-over for her. I have found that I really enjoy cross-overs when the writer is great (another good example is "Fool's Run" by Patricia McKillip). Unfortunately most cross-overs tend to be one time books.
I would not ask for a series here (I don't care for character driven series), but would love to revisit this world with other characters.
December 27, 2022
I recently read and very much enjoyed a short story collection by this author that leaned more toward sci fi, and wasn't sure how it would look when she wrote fantasy, at novel length - can confirm, it looks great. An in-depth setting that she obviously knows inside out, politically and geographically; cold, violent weather that feels like it's raging outside the reader's own windows, it's so well-written; a main character (a woman who is an actual, fully realised, flawed and complicated adult!) who is the most faceted I've seen in a fantasy setting in a long time. I don't understand why Marta Randall isn't more popular - her books aren't even in print to buy physical copies. I'll be reading whatever I can get my hands on.
Edit to add: I've just been rummaging about on the internet and realised that this novel was originally published (under a different title - 'The Sword of Winter') in 1983 and I'm honestly shocked. It doesn't read that way at all. No wonder I can't find a copy 🤦♀️
Edit to add: I've just been rummaging about on the internet and realised that this novel was originally published (under a different title - 'The Sword of Winter') in 1983 and I'm honestly shocked. It doesn't read that way at all. No wonder I can't find a copy 🤦♀️
September 5, 2019
Sword of Winter was always one of my favorites of this author's books, but this version follows the logic of the world far better. I enjoyed reading this the first time, where I noted all the differences. I suspect that the second time I will read it as its own creation, and will like it all the better for that.
(Some of the coincidences in the first version--no matter how I loved the story--felt a bit contrived to me, and this version removes that part.)
(Some of the coincidences in the first version--no matter how I loved the story--felt a bit contrived to me, and this version removes that part.)
September 14, 2019
I remember the first version of this
And thought it was excellent. Scenes stuck with me for years. This edition lives up to, surpasses the first. (I always worry, but I am happy to say that the suck fairy did NOT visit this story as time passed :-) )
And thought it was excellent. Scenes stuck with me for years. This edition lives up to, surpasses the first. (I always worry, but I am happy to say that the suck fairy did NOT visit this story as time passed :-) )
January 9, 2023
I made a mistake reading this one instead of the heavily revised edition. Definitely still enjoyed myself, though!
January 14, 2017
I thought that this book was only okay. I was not ever as invested in this story as I lke to be in this type of fantasy novel.
I also have to admit to being able to figure out a lot of the plot before hand, but that comes from reading many similar novels. That this is an older novel probably means that she did this early on and others have just joined the party, but for me the book was sort of ho hum.
I also have to admit to being able to figure out a lot of the plot before hand, but that comes from reading many similar novels. That this is an older novel probably means that she did this early on and others have just joined the party, but for me the book was sort of ho hum.
October 28, 2019
QUICK EDIT: My original review below is from 2016, but holy cow, I just discovered that there was a re-working of this title published in 2019, along with a sequel!! So much squee! :)
What a delight this turned out to be! Going into it, I had no idea what to expect except that, at some point in the last ten years, it was mentioned when I asked for recommendations of "OOP fantasies that deserve more attention". As it turns out, this was EXACTLY my cup of tea... a compact little gem that keeps its focus quite narrow and intimate while packing in a wealth of cool character dynamics, political intrigue, and interesting worldbuilding elements. (With the smaller scope, several of those cool elements are used more as tantalizing background details rather than being explored in great depth, but I loved them for how they added specificity to the setting instead of leaving it as "generic castle #503".)
Plot-wise: The main character, Lyeth, is a "Rider" - a member of a guild of messengers and explorers - assigned by her guild to serve as personal messenger to a cruel lord who's misused her (oath-bound) loyalty to help him terrorize his citizens. Lyeth has obeyed him for several years, as her duty requires, but now the lord is dying, and she's looking forward to being able to wash her hands of this assignment and move on to something more palatable. Unfortunately, there are a number of potential heirs waiting in the wings, and Lyeth is seen as a valuable pawn in their power plays, so political machinations and threats ensue. The eventual resolution ended up feeling a little rushed, but I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I can forgive that little flaw.
I really LOVED Lyeth as a character. She's presented right off as a capable adult, comfortable with herself and fixed in her opinions on the world (which is refreshing in itself, given how many young coming-of-age type characters you get in fantasy), and she has a cranky edge that I found delightful. She could easily come off as a bit of a "loner", but I loved how the book seemed structured in a way to directly highlight her bonds with characters around her, with each chapter title being the name of a character who she has key interactions with in the chapter (even though in many cases there's a LOT of other plot stuff in the chapter that doesn't involve that character at all). The main relationship involved is her growing protectiveness toward a young boy she sort-of-accidentally takes under her wing, but every single one is really engaging, with a lot of implied history and affection that adds new layers to Lyeth, herself. It makes her one of the most well-developed characters I've ever found in such a short book. It's a real disappointment that this is the author's only fantasy. I would have loved to spend more time with this character and this world.
What a delight this turned out to be! Going into it, I had no idea what to expect except that, at some point in the last ten years, it was mentioned when I asked for recommendations of "OOP fantasies that deserve more attention". As it turns out, this was EXACTLY my cup of tea... a compact little gem that keeps its focus quite narrow and intimate while packing in a wealth of cool character dynamics, political intrigue, and interesting worldbuilding elements. (With the smaller scope, several of those cool elements are used more as tantalizing background details rather than being explored in great depth, but I loved them for how they added specificity to the setting instead of leaving it as "generic castle #503".)
Plot-wise: The main character, Lyeth, is a "Rider" - a member of a guild of messengers and explorers - assigned by her guild to serve as personal messenger to a cruel lord who's misused her (oath-bound) loyalty to help him terrorize his citizens. Lyeth has obeyed him for several years, as her duty requires, but now the lord is dying, and she's looking forward to being able to wash her hands of this assignment and move on to something more palatable. Unfortunately, there are a number of potential heirs waiting in the wings, and Lyeth is seen as a valuable pawn in their power plays, so political machinations and threats ensue. The eventual resolution ended up feeling a little rushed, but I enjoyed the rest of the book so much that I can forgive that little flaw.
I really LOVED Lyeth as a character. She's presented right off as a capable adult, comfortable with herself and fixed in her opinions on the world (which is refreshing in itself, given how many young coming-of-age type characters you get in fantasy), and she has a cranky edge that I found delightful. She could easily come off as a bit of a "loner", but I loved how the book seemed structured in a way to directly highlight her bonds with characters around her, with each chapter title being the name of a character who she has key interactions with in the chapter (even though in many cases there's a LOT of other plot stuff in the chapter that doesn't involve that character at all). The main relationship involved is her growing protectiveness toward a young boy she sort-of-accidentally takes under her wing, but every single one is really engaging, with a lot of implied history and affection that adds new layers to Lyeth, herself. It makes her one of the most well-developed characters I've ever found in such a short book. It's a real disappointment that this is the author's only fantasy. I would have loved to spend more time with this character and this world.
November 11, 2019
I just discovered the original version of this book (The Sword of Winter) a few years ago, and loved it. This reworking has all the awesome of the earlier book, but with the rougher edges polished to an even shinier gem.
I still love the main character - an adult woman who's capable of taking care of herself and confident in her own opinions, but who ends up caught up in a web of political machinations through no desire of her own - and I adore the prose. I love the balance between some lovely visual imagery when the prose is describing the surroundings, but when it comes to Kieve's emotions and how she feels about events around her, it goes for an almost purely "show, don't tell" approach. The timing and simplicity of a of a moment of Kieve looking over at the boy she's impulsively taken under her wing tells us exactly how torn she is about what to do with him. A moment of her leaning out her bedroom window and describing the view captures a sense of being glad to be home without ever saying it. I really love how clearly the complexities of her character come across with so little explicitly handed to us.
I also still love the worldbuilding details of a world on the cusp of new technologies and new ways of thinking threatening the traditions that the social fabric is built on (and more directly, threatening the continued existence of Kieve's own guild). I haven't gone back to the original text to see how much has changed with this, but these details felt more tightly wound into the story this time around, more directly impacting key motivations and justifying their existence more. I'm very much looking forward to how that evolves in the (new!) sequel.
I still love the main character - an adult woman who's capable of taking care of herself and confident in her own opinions, but who ends up caught up in a web of political machinations through no desire of her own - and I adore the prose. I love the balance between some lovely visual imagery when the prose is describing the surroundings, but when it comes to Kieve's emotions and how she feels about events around her, it goes for an almost purely "show, don't tell" approach. The timing and simplicity of a of a moment of Kieve looking over at the boy she's impulsively taken under her wing tells us exactly how torn she is about what to do with him. A moment of her leaning out her bedroom window and describing the view captures a sense of being glad to be home without ever saying it. I really love how clearly the complexities of her character come across with so little explicitly handed to us.
I also still love the worldbuilding details of a world on the cusp of new technologies and new ways of thinking threatening the traditions that the social fabric is built on (and more directly, threatening the continued existence of Kieve's own guild). I haven't gone back to the original text to see how much has changed with this, but these details felt more tightly wound into the story this time around, more directly impacting key motivations and justifying their existence more. I'm very much looking forward to how that evolves in the (new!) sequel.
September 12, 2019
I really didn’t get on with this and abandoned it about a third of the way through. It started off quite promisingly, I liked the central character and the setting. However, there seemed to be practically no plot or character development, and loads and loads of detail about not very interesting things. I started skipping bits, then more bits, and then realised I’d lost track completely and gave up on it.
May 1, 2015
Sword of Winter is one of my comfort books. I read it many times when it first came out, and was overjoyed to find a copy at Half Price Books several years ago. The heroine is strong; the story grabs the reader and spins her through a dance of fantasy, magic, intrigue and danger. This book crossed genre lines before they were genre lines. It deserves all 5 of those stars.
March 24, 2017
J’ai trouvé ce livre à la bibliothèque et je lui ai sauté dessus au premier regard. Je l’avais déjà repéré en librairie lors de sa sortie mais je préfère en général lire les livres écrit en anglais dans leur langue d’origine, si j’en ai la possibilité. Mais comme The Sword of Winter n’est plus édité, je me suis donc rabattu sur celui-ci.
La couverture est en plus en elle-même une magnifique raison d’y avoir jeter mon dévolu! Je la préfère énormément à celle de la version VO (ci-contre). Chacune met l’accent sur un aspect différent de l’histoire, celle en français sur le lieu et le cadre, et celle en VO sur les personnages.
En parlant de personnages, ce roman se concentre sur Lyeth, une cavalière du seigneur, en d’autres termes une messagère. C’est une femme dure, vulgaire et, à première vue, antipathique. Ce n’est pas pour me déplaire, on voit rarement des personnages féminins qui sortent des codes du personnages sympas et drôles à suivre. On apprend à connaître cette femme secrète et renfermée et on assiste au fil des pages à son adoucissement, l’élément déclencheur étant son attachement à un jeune garçon qu’elle ramasse au détour d’un village.
J’ai aimé que chaque chapitre prenne le temps de présenter des personnages, je ne me suis jamais sentie débordée par une grande platrée de personnages et de noms, pour chacun on a le temps de les connaitre et de recevoir les informations les concernant. Pas vraiment d’action ou de frissons dans cette lecture, plutôt une intrigue politique et centrée sur les personnages et leurs relations.
Le début est assez lent, et je comprends les chroniques aux avis mitigés. A plusieurs reprises je me retrouvais à regarder mon téléphone, à penser à autre chose. Je n’étais pas très agrippée. Toutefois un peu avant la moitié j’ai été plus intéressé par ce que pouvait me réserver la suite et ma lecture est devenue un peu moins laborieuse.
Pour ce qui est du style, je me demande vraiment si je n’aurais pas aimé ce roman un peu plus si je l’avais lu en VO, la traduction me semblait parfois bancale. Le roman date bien sûr des années 80, et le cadre est médiéval donc on ressent un vocabulaire daté, mais des expressions semblaient parfois incongrues.
Le monde dont lequel on plonge ici est un monde en plein chamboulement : le seigneur actuel se meurt sans se décider à choisir un-e héritier-e, un nouveau pays est découvert, des nouvelles technologies se mettent en place… Ce qui amène à une intrigue qui se tisse autour d’histoires de successions, avec des complots de toutes part, des guildes de toutes sortes (que ce soit les marchants ou plus récents, les horlogiers) en passant par les héritiers, conseillers et petits seigneurs.
Mais nous n’avons pas affaire à un roman épique ici, l’intrigue s’étale seulement sur une semaine (la personnage principale note vers la fin que six jours se sont passés depuis les événements du début.) Ce n’est pas plus mal, il est plutôt rare de trouver des romans de fantasy qui ne fassent pas parti d’une série et qui aient un rayon d’action assez court.
Il y a une histoire de prophétie après une cinquantaine de pages et forcément, lecteurs assidus que nous sommes, il est très simple de deviner un “plot twist” à venir. Il y a aussi la corde narrative un peu facile où un adulte fait parler un enfant sur ses connaissances historiques pour que le lecteur comprenne un peu plus ce qui se passe dans ce Royaume, ce qui est un peu facile et ennuyeux, mais heureusement cela n’a pas duré trop longtemps.
Une autre chose qui m’a fait grimacer est la relation assez problématique avec un personnage, qui, nous dit-on, fût “son second père, second professeur, premier amant…", en parlant de Lyeth qui est maintenant une femme adulte. On apprend que cet homme répète la même chose avec chacun de ses “protégés”. Une attitude qui n’est jamais remise en question ou dénoncée.
Néanmoins j’ai apprécié le fait qu’il semble que ce roman soit dénué de sexisme ou d’une société patriarcale. A aucun moment Lyeth ne reçoit de réflexion sur le fait qu’elle soit une femme à un poste de haut rang de cavalière, on trouve de même de nombreux personnages féminins en position de pouvoir. C’est rafraîchissant dans un roman de fantasy médiéval!
Je pense que j’aurais été un peu moins déçus sans le dernier paragraphe d’accroche de la description du roman, que je n’ai pas inclus ici (mais que vous pouvez trouver en cliquant sur le lien du site de l’éditeur.) Les promesses de thriller de fantasy dynastique et de pincée de steampunk m’ont vendues du rêve, et mes attentes ont ensuite étaient un peu difficile à étancher.
J’aurais du mal à recommander ce roman, mais je ne regrette pas non plus d’avoir passer quelques heures avec.
Chronique postée sur mon blog
La couverture est en plus en elle-même une magnifique raison d’y avoir jeter mon dévolu! Je la préfère énormément à celle de la version VO (ci-contre). Chacune met l’accent sur un aspect différent de l’histoire, celle en français sur le lieu et le cadre, et celle en VO sur les personnages.
En parlant de personnages, ce roman se concentre sur Lyeth, une cavalière du seigneur, en d’autres termes une messagère. C’est une femme dure, vulgaire et, à première vue, antipathique. Ce n’est pas pour me déplaire, on voit rarement des personnages féminins qui sortent des codes du personnages sympas et drôles à suivre. On apprend à connaître cette femme secrète et renfermée et on assiste au fil des pages à son adoucissement, l’élément déclencheur étant son attachement à un jeune garçon qu’elle ramasse au détour d’un village.
J’ai aimé que chaque chapitre prenne le temps de présenter des personnages, je ne me suis jamais sentie débordée par une grande platrée de personnages et de noms, pour chacun on a le temps de les connaitre et de recevoir les informations les concernant. Pas vraiment d’action ou de frissons dans cette lecture, plutôt une intrigue politique et centrée sur les personnages et leurs relations.
Le début est assez lent, et je comprends les chroniques aux avis mitigés. A plusieurs reprises je me retrouvais à regarder mon téléphone, à penser à autre chose. Je n’étais pas très agrippée. Toutefois un peu avant la moitié j’ai été plus intéressé par ce que pouvait me réserver la suite et ma lecture est devenue un peu moins laborieuse.
Pour ce qui est du style, je me demande vraiment si je n’aurais pas aimé ce roman un peu plus si je l’avais lu en VO, la traduction me semblait parfois bancale. Le roman date bien sûr des années 80, et le cadre est médiéval donc on ressent un vocabulaire daté, mais des expressions semblaient parfois incongrues.
Le monde dont lequel on plonge ici est un monde en plein chamboulement : le seigneur actuel se meurt sans se décider à choisir un-e héritier-e, un nouveau pays est découvert, des nouvelles technologies se mettent en place… Ce qui amène à une intrigue qui se tisse autour d’histoires de successions, avec des complots de toutes part, des guildes de toutes sortes (que ce soit les marchants ou plus récents, les horlogiers) en passant par les héritiers, conseillers et petits seigneurs.
Mais nous n’avons pas affaire à un roman épique ici, l’intrigue s’étale seulement sur une semaine (la personnage principale note vers la fin que six jours se sont passés depuis les événements du début.) Ce n’est pas plus mal, il est plutôt rare de trouver des romans de fantasy qui ne fassent pas parti d’une série et qui aient un rayon d’action assez court.
Il y a une histoire de prophétie après une cinquantaine de pages et forcément, lecteurs assidus que nous sommes, il est très simple de deviner un “plot twist” à venir. Il y a aussi la corde narrative un peu facile où un adulte fait parler un enfant sur ses connaissances historiques pour que le lecteur comprenne un peu plus ce qui se passe dans ce Royaume, ce qui est un peu facile et ennuyeux, mais heureusement cela n’a pas duré trop longtemps.
Une autre chose qui m’a fait grimacer est la relation assez problématique avec un personnage, qui, nous dit-on, fût “son second père, second professeur, premier amant…", en parlant de Lyeth qui est maintenant une femme adulte. On apprend que cet homme répète la même chose avec chacun de ses “protégés”. Une attitude qui n’est jamais remise en question ou dénoncée.
Néanmoins j’ai apprécié le fait qu’il semble que ce roman soit dénué de sexisme ou d’une société patriarcale. A aucun moment Lyeth ne reçoit de réflexion sur le fait qu’elle soit une femme à un poste de haut rang de cavalière, on trouve de même de nombreux personnages féminins en position de pouvoir. C’est rafraîchissant dans un roman de fantasy médiéval!
Je pense que j’aurais été un peu moins déçus sans le dernier paragraphe d’accroche de la description du roman, que je n’ai pas inclus ici (mais que vous pouvez trouver en cliquant sur le lien du site de l’éditeur.) Les promesses de thriller de fantasy dynastique et de pincée de steampunk m’ont vendues du rêve, et mes attentes ont ensuite étaient un peu difficile à étancher.
J’aurais du mal à recommander ce roman, mais je ne regrette pas non plus d’avoir passer quelques heures avec.
Chronique postée sur mon blog
October 17, 2017
Decided to pull this old favourite off the shelf - I knew I had kept it for good reason. Lean, taut, with an even tension then pulling tighter - this book is a greyhound, compared to, say, a Rothfuss' saint bernard. You can like both, but they are quite different.
Whether you might have have an inkling of where the story will end up, if that matters, the character of Lyeth drives the narrative - her vows, her anger, her loyalty, and her directness. We don't get to wallow in her childhood or experiences but enough is revealed to show her story and what drives her.
The world building is sketched in sufficiently to be mined for years, and yet there is this only this single book. Father and mother faiths, castle guards and mercenaries, powerful professional guilds, spies, conflicts and threats from a dangerous northern people, lords and heirs scheming... are all practically just a backdrop to the plot. There is enough to make a saint bernard from... although that typically requires frequent lapses in tension, lots of exposition, and numerous subplots (and often POVs) that distract from the primary story.
The writing is descriptive but the energy driving it doesn't flag, whether describing a garden or a glass of wine. I like the matter-of-fact aspects of sexuality and of women and men sharing professions.
Too quick a read, I would have liked to see more in this world. But I guess the author got it out of her system and didn't look back.
Whether you might have have an inkling of where the story will end up, if that matters, the character of Lyeth drives the narrative - her vows, her anger, her loyalty, and her directness. We don't get to wallow in her childhood or experiences but enough is revealed to show her story and what drives her.
The world building is sketched in sufficiently to be mined for years, and yet there is this only this single book. Father and mother faiths, castle guards and mercenaries, powerful professional guilds, spies, conflicts and threats from a dangerous northern people, lords and heirs scheming... are all practically just a backdrop to the plot. There is enough to make a saint bernard from... although that typically requires frequent lapses in tension, lots of exposition, and numerous subplots (and often POVs) that distract from the primary story.
The writing is descriptive but the energy driving it doesn't flag, whether describing a garden or a glass of wine. I like the matter-of-fact aspects of sexuality and of women and men sharing professions.
Too quick a read, I would have liked to see more in this world. But I guess the author got it out of her system and didn't look back.
November 4, 2023
This book is in a subgenre of fantasy I wish we had a specific word for. The story is set in a secondary world and that's why it goes under fantasy, but there is no magic or supernatural phenomenons. What we have is a richly drawn and complex world with its conflicts and cultures which is deeply satisfying to find out about. There are a lot of characters and I confess I was a bit confused keeping them straight for a while, but the characters and especially the main character have many layers and there are shades of gray everywhere. The plot is also intriguing and perfectly a product of its setting. I love it when a story is told in a setting that is integral to it.
November 12, 2017
If I was still giving half stars I probably would have given this 2.5 but since I’m not and it doesn’t feel quite low enough for 2 stars, 3 it is. I have conflicted feelings about this. It started out promising, I liked the world and I liked Lyeth as a character. But it went in a weird direction, the world building and plot were both messy and there were a lot of loose ends and things I just didn’t understand. One thing I did really appreciate was the gender equality in this world. Gender had nothing to do with what your job might be or whether you could rule.
May 6, 2017
Lord Gamblin is dying and refusing to name an heir of his Jentesi kingdom. His heirs will stop at nothing to force him to name a replacement, leaving his sworn Rider Lyeth in the midst of this danger. She looks forward to his death, to release her of her oath to serve a man she hates but the cost may be the future of Jentesi itself. A good read, good characters, lots of conflict, and wondering who to trust.
July 6, 2020
A great read.. Its my Winter book.. I've pulled it out time and again in the heat of an Australian outback summer, just to feel the cold of a Jentesi winter, and read the story of ordinary folk who become the hero's and carry a wonderful story.. I love the Gender equality and no judgement of the characters, they just are all striving to survive where the Lord will not.. who will succeed the Lord Gambin who lays dying? Cruelly baiting his successors.. A classy read..
March 1, 2017
I first read this book as a teenager, and I re-read it so often, my paperback copy fell apart. The characters are multi-dimensional, real, disturbing, and wonderful. Several of the scenes from this novel remain with me to this day.
I have always wanted more from this author. Randall launched my taste for gritty fantasy, and cemented my connection to strong, flawed, female protagonists.
I have always wanted more from this author. Randall launched my taste for gritty fantasy, and cemented my connection to strong, flawed, female protagonists.
March 18, 2024
Maps show the way
For the solitary so we see the direction. Well written, the word & thought processes define the characters.
The elements are unacknowledged & unwanted, but snow ❄️❄️ rules.
For the solitary so we see the direction. Well written, the word & thought processes define the characters.
The elements are unacknowledged & unwanted, but snow ❄️❄️ rules.
July 2, 2021
This is one of my favorite books. I have probably read this book twenty times over my life. The characters are multidimensional, the setting is interesting, and motivations are believable.
June 29, 2023
Pas inintéressant mais un scénario plutôt classique finalement.
August 6, 2020
It is difficult to say whether The Sword of Winter is more of a fantasy with science fiction elements, or a science fiction novel with fantasy elements. The technology is steam-level, with telegraphs. It’s a book that is strong on character interactions and political intrigue, with some fascinating worldbuilding elements. I first read this book back in junior high, and it has been one of my on again, off again favorites for years. It doesn’t seem to be in print, but it’s a relatively easy book to find.
The story revolves around Gambin a dying tyrant and his relationship with his personal messenger, a woman named Lyeth. Gambin has yet to name an heir, but wants Lyeth to support and work for his son. Lyeth would really much rather return to her guild and have nothing more to do with Jentesi province, because she despises Gambin and what he’s done to her guild.Lyeth is a Rider, and her job is to act as both messenger and explorer/cartographer. Gambin however, has been using the Riders as the visible hands of his secret police. Because this, there has been a great deal of hatred directed at Riders in general, and Lyeth in specific. (This is the primary, though not the only reason why she hates Gambin.) A major theme of this book involves new ways versus old, and one person’s resistance to her guild being “repurposed,” into secret police.
On her way back from a mission she runs into a child named Emris who decides to take out his hatred of Riders on her horse. In retaliation, she decides to put a scare into the boy, and rides off with him. This backfires somewhat when Emris demands to go with her, because he wants to find out what happened to his parents, who had been arrested by Riders when he was much younger. Lyeth does not in any way want to help him, but when she gets a face full of ice, she has to rely on his help in order to get back home. Since he helped her, she feels obliged to return the favor.
When she gets back to Jentesi castle, she finds herself in the middle of the royal succession. Gambin is on his death bed, refusing to name an heir. His potential heirs are waiting for him to die, court intrigue is turning deadly, and for some reason, Lyeth has been dragged into the conflict between the heirs, each of whom seem determined to have her on their side. This book has a lot of interesting twists and turns to it, and is a very entertaining read.
The story revolves around Gambin a dying tyrant and his relationship with his personal messenger, a woman named Lyeth. Gambin has yet to name an heir, but wants Lyeth to support and work for his son. Lyeth would really much rather return to her guild and have nothing more to do with Jentesi province, because she despises Gambin and what he’s done to her guild.Lyeth is a Rider, and her job is to act as both messenger and explorer/cartographer. Gambin however, has been using the Riders as the visible hands of his secret police. Because this, there has been a great deal of hatred directed at Riders in general, and Lyeth in specific. (This is the primary, though not the only reason why she hates Gambin.) A major theme of this book involves new ways versus old, and one person’s resistance to her guild being “repurposed,” into secret police.
On her way back from a mission she runs into a child named Emris who decides to take out his hatred of Riders on her horse. In retaliation, she decides to put a scare into the boy, and rides off with him. This backfires somewhat when Emris demands to go with her, because he wants to find out what happened to his parents, who had been arrested by Riders when he was much younger. Lyeth does not in any way want to help him, but when she gets a face full of ice, she has to rely on his help in order to get back home. Since he helped her, she feels obliged to return the favor.
When she gets back to Jentesi castle, she finds herself in the middle of the royal succession. Gambin is on his death bed, refusing to name an heir. His potential heirs are waiting for him to die, court intrigue is turning deadly, and for some reason, Lyeth has been dragged into the conflict between the heirs, each of whom seem determined to have her on their side. This book has a lot of interesting twists and turns to it, and is a very entertaining read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2016
The Sword of Winter is a delightful and compact fantasy novel with a nice dollop of mystery The characters are well-drawn and distinctive and the fast-moving story is set in an imagined world that puts a creative spin on what would otherwise be a familiar setting. Randall writes in evocative yet simple language and has a gift for the visual. The novel is also a reminder that it's possible to world-build and tell a complete story in one relatively short book. No fat, flabby volume that launches yet another endless "series" but, you know, beginning, middle, and end. A complete and satisfying story is a joy.
I'm still not sure how I missed this when it came out but now I'm glad I did. It's tough to find its like these days.
I'm still not sure how I missed this when it came out but now I'm glad I did. It's tough to find its like these days.
September 9, 2016
Fascinating book. The female protagonist isn't very likable all the time, but she's very, very good at what she does, though we don't see her doing it very much. The treachery, betrayals and uncertain loyalties are challenging to follow, and I feel like I was dropped into a world where I should already understand some of how it works. Fairly short book, but it takes some time to read, absorb and understand. Very interesting conclusion.
May 16, 2008
This is an out of print book, more's the pity, as I found it more than readable, and just what an adventure story should be. This was back in '83 when strong women fantasy characters were still new on the scene, and the protagonist was wonderfully real. Fun story. Decently written. If you can find it, give it a go. ABEBOOKS.COM is where I found my copy for cheap.
January 10, 2010
I read this when it first came out and loved it then. Between then and now I lost my copy, and forgot the title and author's name! Having just discovered it again I can't wait for a reread. As I recall the heroine was strong, the story was well written, and the world nicely detailed. So glad I found it again!
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