The Given Sacrifice (A Novel of the Change)

The previous book was rather disjointed, with a lot of scenes thrown together without clear links. This book does the same, but not quite as bad. I felt like several sections had missing chapters. For example, Montival army is suddenly attacking the outskirts of the central Cutter area, but with very little clue about how they got there. The end of the war was not a climax at all, more like a "ho-hum, another usual day" type of offhand writing. Another thing that annoyed me was the frequent reminiscing through much of the book.

As expected, the end of the current series, but the initiation of a new series. I don't think I'm spoiling anything, since the event is alluded to in previous entries in the series, and the title is kind of obvious. This one seems better than the previous book, which seemed like mostly filler. I do think the ending is a bit anticlimactic, but YMMV.

This series could at times go on long narrative tangents, this book is no exception. The final battle was surprisingly unclimatic and a bit of a let down. The segue to the next book should be interesting if there is another installment.

I stumbled onto S.M. Stirling several years ago on a recommendation from a friend. Needless to say, I have become a huge fan. The new installment of the series is not a disappointment. I love Stirling's writing style and how he draws you in with very descriptive scenery and in-depth characters. There are some minor characters that I would like to see explored further and some major ones that I do not believe deserve the major roles they played in the storyline. This is a great book in a wonderful series.

The last few volumes of this book have been interesting but moved very slowly. After reading each of those books I wished that he'd condensed them a little (with maybe the events from two or more books in a single volume). In this one, he does a much more precise job of ending the main story line so far, with the end of the war and the start of peace. Then he picks up the pace and jumps us to the next generation in a few well placed steps - handing off to that generation rather than simply ending the story line.

I think that we can guess where the story will head next (at least geographically) - and I hope that it will be at the faster pace of this volume and not as slow as some of the previous ones.

Stirling is treating the Change Series as McCaffrey treated Pern. A Cash Cow with diminishing imagination, creativity and original content. As much as I would like to continue the saga, it is no longer worth the price of admission.

Awful. This series was amazing up until this book. I loved each and every book to varying degrees until this one. The series should have ended with the last book. If there are more to come in this series, I will not be reading them. I often trade books with my dad since we have similar tastes in reading and he couldn't even finish reading this one, which is saying something in itself. What a let down.

I recommend this Alt-history change series for all History, Adventure, Sci-Fi buffs no one does it better than SM Stirling.
In fact start with Isle in the Sea of Time. You will be hooked on everything he writes

I loved this book. This series just gets better and better.. The plot is well thought out and progresses smoothly and keeps you turning the pages.to see what happens next. I believe it would appeal to anyone that likes pure SF and particularly post holocaust stories by a master author.

This series has been headed downhill for a while, but knowing that was the end of this portion of the story I expected Stirling to pull it around and make it all worthwhile... sadly, he failed. We spent a number of books getting the Sword of the Lady, and a number more setting up the CUT as the worst enemy humanity ever faced... but the final conflict between Rudi and Sethaz lasted mere pages, and amounted to Rudi tapping him with the sword... WHAT?! I was expecting something at least on par with the end of the War of the Eye, if not more. If Orlaith is to be the one to finally defeat the dark force behind the CUT, so be it... but why waste 3 extra books fiddling around? There was so much excess writing on things that ended up being inconsequential, and so many things that I would have found much more compelling simply ignored.

I believe I'm done with this series.

Five stars
The plot development is excellent. The plot moves right along with a good balance between action, background and the development of new characters. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

This series has been headed downhill for a while, but knowing that was the end of this portion of the story I expected Stirling to pull it around and make it all worthwhile... sadly, he failed. We spent a number of books getting the Sword of the Lady, and a number more setting up the CUT as the worst enemy humanity ever faced... but the final conflict between Rudi and Sethaz lasted mere pages, and amounted to Rudi tapping him with the sword... WHAT?! I was expecting something at least on par with the end of the War of the Eye, if not more. If Orlaith is to be the one to finally defeat the dark force behind the CUT, so be it... but why waste 3 extra books fiddling around? There was so much excess writing on things that ended up being inconsequential, and so many things that I would have found much more compelling simply ignored.

I believe I'm done with this series.

Five stars
The plot development is excellent. The plot moves right along with a good balance between action, background and the development of new characters. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

If you have been following this series, you will want to continue with this book, which moves the story on to a conclusion but immediately opens it up to a new generation who must deal with a world they understand, and yet still holds disaster looming over human kind.

the latest book in the series carries on the story at a relaxed (slow) pace. As a transition between generations it spans a number of years to set the next stage. It eventually introduces the new "hero(ine)" and new challenges. Not great, but as a fan of the series, I look forward to the sequel due out in September 2014.

I have read the entire series and am always pleased. I hope there will be more to come with these characters. Also enjoyed the three books about Nantucket and recommend them as well. Can't wait for next installment.

Was another great read from this prolific entertaining author. Loved the story. How could you not! Thought the ending could have been different, but even with that outcome, it made you anxious for the next book.

I've enjoyed this series very much. The characters have been deep, their actions in keeping with Mr. Stirlings morality play. But there was something very rushed about this story. To bring us so far, stories so rich you can't help but feel something tangible for our good and bad guys, then just end them so abruptly, it doesn't make sense. This author is better than this and it left me feeling let down. I hope that we are not done with this version of a world that has turned as there is so much more story to tell.

Some long passages of color description but otherwise worth the wait. I was worried that he had no place to carry the story forward but in all, it held and was a good read. I have the next book and hope he follows up with the Japanese thread.

The next step in the Emberverse series. Well written as always by Stirling, he proves to those of us worried about such things that there is a strong future for this series if he chooses to take us there

Do not start here. This book finishes a storyline that started almost 9 books previously. That story really took off some 6 books back. If you start reading the series with this book it won't make any sense.

This is a transition novel; we spend some time wrapping up stories that have been going on for some time, with the addition of a few characters making a reappearance to tie off loose ends. The later third of the book begins setting up the next 'quest'.

The bad news is that a lot of obvious moments happen. After the climactic battle ending the previous novel the tide of the war has clearly turned. Not to say it ended quickly or easily, but it was like the Battle of Midway during WWII: the momentum changed. The battles in this book were like Okinawa or Iwo Jima. Hard fought, but the winning side had crushing advantages.

I guess my problem is there were no 'I didn't see that coming' moments. A few amusing stories - the Morrowland Scouts for one. But there was an inevitable-ness to it all. And I hate to say it, but the sword is one big cheat. It really takes away a lot of the fun when the High-King has a sword that gives him so many powers; especially when the book centers around him!!! Truth-telling, prophecy, command, far-sight, language, sharpness, clearsight,...it tips the balance to an absurd level.

I still enjoyed it. I just hope that any future installments focus away from the sword-bearer.

I have enjoyed these books from the start and this one maintains the same qualities as the others. It did not disappoint.
Great characters and a great story. Fascinating look at what the world could look like after a catastrophic change. Highly recommend

Stirling's writing seems to get better with every book in this series. In terms of pure writing ability and research I'm not sure there's a better author out there in the entire world of science fiction and fantasy. This book is beautifully written, from the surreal scenes of the divine to the practical blood & sweat of the battle scenes, and everything in between. This is a novel by a master story teller in a world now incredibly well developed and still expanding.

We get a firm conclusion to the "Prophet's War" and a glimmer of the next chapter in Montival's young history.

I recommend this book in the strongest terms.

Yet another compelling and well written entry by S.M. Stirling into the novels of the "Change" series. Continuing the story of how people might survive in a modern world suddenly plunged into darkness and without many modern conveniences, The Given sacrifice offers a fantastic conclusion to many of the series' story lines, as well as teasing and setting up all new story lines for future novels. It is a great read, I would highly recommend this book, as well as all the others in this series.

S M Stirling informs the alternate world of post mechanization with lively and real characters you can care about. I will really miss the high king and look forward to the adventures of the new high queen.

I have been reading Stirling for a long time, and I have read most of what he has written. I have read each book in the Emberverse many times. I am a big fan of the series, and I would give the series overall 6 out of 5 stars. That being said, this particular book is definitely not the book to start with. I get the impression that this book was half capstone to the previous books and half prequel for the next set of books. I am also less than satified by how the deaths of two pivotal characters was handled, especially the one done totally offstage.All in all a good (but not great) book for fans, but don't try to jump in here.