An Autumn War

Long Price Quartet Series, Book 3

By: Daniel Abraham

Narrated by: Neil Shah

Otah Machi, ruler of the city of Machi, has tried for years to prepare his people for a future in which the magical andat, entities that support their commerce and intimidate all foes, can no longer be safely harnessed. But his efforts are too little, too late. The Galts, an expansionist empire from across the sea, have tired of games of political espionage and low-stakes sabotage. Their general, a ruthless veteran, has found a way to do what was thought impossible: neutralize the andat. As the Galtic army advances, the Poets who control the andat wage their own battle to save their loved ones and their nation. Failure seems inevitable, but success would end the Galtic threat.

©2008 Daniel Abraham (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Powerful writing and a keen eye for detail make this a strong addition to most fantasy collections." ( Library Journal)

Very Intriguing

The most intriguing thing about this book was that it it veered in different directions but not with the idea of just springing on a new and different branch. It was more like how life could possibly end up and the realities of particular decisions and the realities of those particular choices.It wasn't about how can we add a twist or shock the reader. It wasn't like I'll kill off this character dramatic twist. It was more like choices, have actions, people are human and human people have flaws. I read a lot of fantasy and this wasn't dogmatic or anti-dogmatic just for the sake of it. It was just really enjoyable.

Great entry in the series

Each book has improved upon the last. Characters, world building, and motivations are great.

Soooooo good

Even better than the first two. Impossible to predict and really captivating. Hands down the best book I’ve read this year!

My favorite of the quarter so far

I got acquainted with the overall characters and the background in the first two books. In this, I quickly assimilated the many more that were introduced, and their story. Compared to the two first books, this is the richest of the writing, the narration is wonderful, and the arch of the story had to me reached its peak in this book. I couldn't put it down until it was over.

Perhaps a top 5 favorite series

Daniel Abraham is an outstanding writer. I’m very often struck by his creative and accurately descriptive prose, which isn’t exactly something I’ve frequently noticed with other authors. I think I’ll be reading his dagger and coin series again very soon and may check out his expanse collaboration.

Why do I keep doing this to myself?

I LOVED the first book in the series. I keep getting the next installment chasing the high of the original milieu story that I loved. Here I find myself again disappointed with a clear event story. It's well-crafted and written. I won't argue against the quality of the craft. I just don't enjoy the political intrigue as much as the initial foray into a world of magic. I'll probably listen to the last because the quality of the writing hasn't diminished. To my eternal shame, I've always been a slow learner. So, if you don't love one, but you like two, this will be solid for you.

Best Book Yet

Abraham seems to be finding his groove a bit more in this book. Overall much less corny than the previous two (especially one) and also had a more clearly defined zenith. I liked that we got a closer look at the magic in this book, however, it still seems a bit black-boxed from the reader, although much less so than in the previous two books. A 3.5 for me only because I still feel his characters are still a bit too melodramatic.