The War Within

By: Stephen R. Donaldson

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Stephen R. Donaldson, the New York Times bestselling author of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, returns to the world of his Great God’s War fantasy epic as two kingdoms— united by force—prepare to be challenged by a merciless enemy…

It has been twenty years since Prince Bifalt of Belleger discovered the Last Repository and the sorcerous knowledge hidden there. At the behest of the repository's magisters, and in return for the restoration of sorcery to both kingdoms, the realms of Belleger and Amika ceased generations of war. Their alliance was sealed with the marriage of Bifalt to Estie, the crown princess of Amika. But the peace--and their marriage--has been uneasy.

Now the terrible war that King Bifalt and Queen Estie feared is coming. An ancient enemy has discovered the location of the Last Repository, and a mighty horde of dark forces is massing to attack the library and take the magical knowledge it guards. That horde will slaughter every man, woman, and child in its path, destroying both Belleger and Amika along the way.

With their alliance undermined by lingering hostility and conspiracies threatening, it will take all of the monarchs' strength and will to inspire their kingdoms to become one to defend their land, or all is lost....

Critic reviews

Praise for Seventh Decimate, Book One of the Great God’s War

“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.”—New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks

“Fantastic.”—Booklist

“Donaldson delivers a surprising start to what promises to be a very unconventional fantasy series…And thus is another fantasy classic forged. Recommended.”—SF Revu

“[Donaldson] is a writer who has explored the themes of grimdark before grimdark existed, and well knows how to deliver epic qualities in his fantasy prose...Seventh Decimate is a strong novel and promises much for what is to come in Donaldson’s new series, The Great God’s War.”—SF Book

Praise for The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant

“[A] landmark fantasy saga.”—Entertainment Weekly

“A trilogy of remarkable scope and sophistication.”—Los Angeles Times

“The most original fantasy since The Lord of the Rings.”—Time Out

enjoyable

I enjoyed listening to the book, and the narration was clear and comfortable to the ear. the only thing that bothered me were the many times the narration stopped for a moment or two, then repeated the last few words that were said before continuing the story. This is something I would have expected if it were on a tape, the pauses being when the tape had to be spliced. Not sure what made it happen in this medium.

waiting

waiting for book three. please make the wait short. I will re read book 1 and 2

More Action and a LOT of table setting

Typical of Donaldson's works, neither victory nor defeat is ever pure. The stage is set for the finale. I expect no character will come out unscathed.

Not bad, but not classic Donaldson either

While I am enjoying the story, and don't believe it to be bad at all, I can see why other Donaldson fans reviewing the books may be giving it lower ratings. Donaldsons bread and butter is angsty characters, long words, and character evolution between the states of Hero, Villain, and Victim. He tends to torture his main characters to drive their evolution between character types. While some of this element has been in this story, it has felt far more conventional than his previous works such as Covenant, Gap cycle, and Mirror. It's like the character intensity has been ratcheted down, and the low and high points normalized to a more consistent mediocraty. The story and writing are still good, but it's like buying Stephen King and receiving Goosebumps instead.

I am lost and not in a good way....

preoccupied with long names for useless characters...this book could have started anywhere and I wouldn't have noticed.