[0ZR]⋙ Libro Free Empress Godspeaker Book 1 Karen Miller 9780316008358 Books

Empress Godspeaker Book 1 Karen Miller 9780316008358 Books

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Empress Godspeaker Book 1 Karen Miller 9780316008358 Books

I’m going to start by saying that this book is not for everyone, especially judging by the reviews that it has already received. Many hated it enough to spew some truly vituperative opinions. Plainly put, there are a number of reasons why readers would put the hate on.

First reason: Hekat. She starts out as the unwanted, unloved spawn of a goatherd in a village where women are little better than livestock themselves. In fact, Hekat has no name until she is sold to slavers. Hekat can be forgiven, in that regard, for not knowing love. But as for blind ambition and religious fervour, she has that in abundance. Her survival instinct is strong and she isn’t afraid of using every opportunity to better herself. I have to hand it to Karen Miller. Hekat could not have been an easy character to write because she has few, if any redeeming qualities. Even the love she feels for one of her sons smatters of obsession.

I often wondered how many of Hekat’s actions were taken out of her ability to lie to herself about what she *thought* the god of Mijak wanted instead of that which was truly just. Hekat murders to get what she wants, which is to stand as supreme ruler of a united nation. On one hand, her meteoric rise to power is fascinating to watch, and in that sense she is engaging. The fact that she won’t allow her lowly origins or gender to stand in her way is commendable, even if her methods are distasteful. She is so convinced – utterly so – of her right to power, that she won’t let anything or anyone stand in her way.

Vortka was taken as a slave at the same time that Hekat was, and was chosen to serve the god. Though the religion of Mijak is cruel and bloodthirsty, requiring much sacrifice, Vortka however sees another aspect of the god – that of love and mercy. In that, he stands as Hekat’s opposite in many things, and tempers many of her harsher judgments, though he himself is powerless to stop her from making her more rash decisions. He is nonetheless complicit to her wrongdoings, blinded by his adoration of her.

Other characters also find themselves hampered by their love or hate of Hekat. Her sons, the priest Nagarak, and all to a degree are but a means to an end for her. There really is little to like about her, even if she possesses the vision to unite a nation of warring factions.

At the heart of this novel, and perhaps the reason why I feel it is so good, is the depiction of religion in the hands of people, and how they are able to transform it into a tool for good and for evil. Human interpretation of divine will is depicted in its subjectivity, making the readers aware of this danger when people allow their personal whims free rein – especially catastrophic when these same people are in positions of power.

And Hekat does become drunk on her power.

Other aspects to mention include the setting, which evokes the exotic – somewhat a blend of the Middle East with Asian Huns. If you liked the way GRRM wrote about the Dothraki, then the nation of Mijak will hit the spot.

Readers who are disturbed by graphic depictions of violence and animal cruelty had best avoid this novel. What I appreciated about Empress was the setting and the subject matter – vastly different from stock standard fantasy. This sort of culture shock might not be for everyone. In this regard Empress is a challenging but rewarding read, and I am looking forward to the novels that follow.


Tags : Empress (Godspeaker, Book 1) [Karen Miller] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In a family torn apart by poverty and violence, Hekat is no more than an unwanted mouth to feed, worth only a few coins from a passing slave trader. But Hekat was not born to be a slave. For her,Karen Miller,Empress (Godspeaker, Book 1),Orbit,0316008354,Fantasy - Epic,Fantasy fiction,Magic,FICTION Action & Adventure,FICTION Fantasy Epic,Fantasy,Fiction,Fiction - Fantasy,Fiction-Fantasy,General Adult,MASS MARKET

Empress Godspeaker Book 1 Karen Miller 9780316008358 Books Reviews

I read an excerpt of this book on Sci-fi.com and decided to give it a chance despite the bad reviews and I'm glad I did.
I absolutely loved this book. The character development of Hekat was completely believable. I think the reason for most of the bad reviews was that a woman could be so focused, so dedicated, strong, and ruthless qualities usually found in a ambitious male. We as a society are attracted to such qualities in our entertainment and in a war situation, so what's the difference? Are there people out there who actually believe that a person born and raised in a very abusive environment will grow up to be a cute and cuddly doe eyed girl "I think not." These are the characteristics that allowed her to excel and become an effective Empress.
The description of the vastly different countries was wonderful and made me see it in my mind.
As far a religion goes, how many religions especially Christianity are without a violent history. I only wish that there was a religion that challenged and punished so-called speakers of God.
All the characters had a destiny to fulfill. Everything they endured helped to mold them and make them major players in the God final plans.
I hope that part two and three are even half as interesting and that Ms. Miller does not allow others to determine the course her female characters take.
Karen Miller likes dialog. Karen Miller likes dialog *a lot*. I came to the conclusion that she is has no sense of moderation when it comes to dialog and is too enamored of her own gimmicks to use them effectively.

You could easily cut out half of this book by cutting out repetitive conversations between and inner monologues by the characters. The god see you, Karen Miller. The god see you in its overbearing eye. The god sees you, Karen Miller. The god holds you in its much-spoken-of eye.

Ugh.

But the book (and its sequel) does have many redeeming qualities. Unlike some reviewers who were put off by Hekat, I quite enjoyed reading a fantasy novel with a "heroine" so different from the norm. Hekat isn't a heroine at all, she is simply a main character in the first book of what's basically an epic fantasy. It's pretty daring to to make your primary narrator your villain.

The best part of these books, really, is the confusing nature of divinity. I personally loathe fantasy that is over-reliant on divine intervention and prophecy. The Godspeaker trilogy is one such, BUT Karen Miller takes care to keep you wondering about the gods. Do gods, as such, really exist in this world? Or are the divine revelations guided by the self-interest of the characters and the magic evoked from less powerful supernatural forces? Every possibly divine manifestation is balanced by one attributed to god, but with an obviously human source.

However, it's a pain to wade through this many pages for so little action. Much like Karen Miller's gods, each interesting facet of the novel is buried by an annoyance with the novel; so that I personally can't call the books "bad", but I also can't call them "good."
I’m going to start by saying that this book is not for everyone, especially judging by the reviews that it has already received. Many hated it enough to spew some truly vituperative opinions. Plainly put, there are a number of reasons why readers would put the hate on.

First reason Hekat. She starts out as the unwanted, unloved spawn of a goatherd in a village where women are little better than livestock themselves. In fact, Hekat has no name until she is sold to slavers. Hekat can be forgiven, in that regard, for not knowing love. But as for blind ambition and religious fervour, she has that in abundance. Her survival instinct is strong and she isn’t afraid of using every opportunity to better herself. I have to hand it to Karen Miller. Hekat could not have been an easy character to write because she has few, if any redeeming qualities. Even the love she feels for one of her sons smatters of obsession.

I often wondered how many of Hekat’s actions were taken out of her ability to lie to herself about what she *thought* the god of Mijak wanted instead of that which was truly just. Hekat murders to get what she wants, which is to stand as supreme ruler of a united nation. On one hand, her meteoric rise to power is fascinating to watch, and in that sense she is engaging. The fact that she won’t allow her lowly origins or gender to stand in her way is commendable, even if her methods are distasteful. She is so convinced – utterly so – of her right to power, that she won’t let anything or anyone stand in her way.

Vortka was taken as a slave at the same time that Hekat was, and was chosen to serve the god. Though the religion of Mijak is cruel and bloodthirsty, requiring much sacrifice, Vortka however sees another aspect of the god – that of love and mercy. In that, he stands as Hekat’s opposite in many things, and tempers many of her harsher judgments, though he himself is powerless to stop her from making her more rash decisions. He is nonetheless complicit to her wrongdoings, blinded by his adoration of her.

Other characters also find themselves hampered by their love or hate of Hekat. Her sons, the priest Nagarak, and all to a degree are but a means to an end for her. There really is little to like about her, even if she possesses the vision to unite a nation of warring factions.

At the heart of this novel, and perhaps the reason why I feel it is so good, is the depiction of religion in the hands of people, and how they are able to transform it into a tool for good and for evil. Human interpretation of divine will is depicted in its subjectivity, making the readers aware of this danger when people allow their personal whims free rein – especially catastrophic when these same people are in positions of power.

And Hekat does become drunk on her power.

Other aspects to mention include the setting, which evokes the exotic – somewhat a blend of the Middle East with Asian Huns. If you liked the way GRRM wrote about the Dothraki, then the nation of Mijak will hit the spot.

Readers who are disturbed by graphic depictions of violence and animal cruelty had best avoid this novel. What I appreciated about Empress was the setting and the subject matter – vastly different from stock standard fantasy. This sort of culture shock might not be for everyone. In this regard Empress is a challenging but rewarding read, and I am looking forward to the novels that follow.