Book Review: A Throne of Bones by Vox Day: 5/5 Stars

A review of A Throne of Bones by Vox Day. (Also available from Smashwords: A Throne of Bones by Vox Day)

A epic fantasy novel with not-Roman legions fighting goblins, not-French mages, giant eagle riding elves, dwarfs robbing dragons, and lots of other fun.

This book is quite large---I believe it would come to around 600 pages in paper-back---but I still finished it within 24 hours of starting.

It's got a bunch of different plots all running together, the big ones are the politics of Amorran Empire (the not-Romans from above), the various adventures one of their junior nobles/officers gets involved in as their command and control falls apart, and the relationship between the Iles de Loup (not-Vikings) and Savondir (not-French).

While some of these plots are resolved, at least somewhat, the book, despite its length, does come across as just the prologue to a far more extensive story, which I believe is the author's intention.

One of the possibly controversial elements of this series is that the main religion of the humans isn't some weird mixture of pseudo-Christianity and pseudo-paganism. The main human factions are medieval Catholic tweaked to adjust for the magic of the world, and the not-Vikings are straight forward pagans as you'd expect. Some people might find this problematic, but I rather appreciate it, it's nice to see an author willing to portray positive Christian characters and societies, and also to explore how such societies would be different in a world of common magic like your typical fantasy novel.

Obviously this might be an issue for some people who are less accepting of Christianity (and some Christians might think it's insulting), but in general the Christianity is treated similarly to the pseudo-paganism of typical fantasy worlds; it has power, but non-religious characters are portrayed sympathetically, and there's no authorial voice directly stating that Christianity is the right religion.

Overall I give it five out of five stars, or strongly recommend it.

Strengths:

  • Lots of reading.
  • Plenty of likable characters. (even the villains are often sympathetic)
  • It's portrayal of the not-Christianity.

Weaknesses:

  • Comes across as just the prologue to the rest of the planned series.
Categories: Books, Reviews
Date: 2014-08-06 23:03:53, 10 years and 140 days ago

Comments

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'injecting_money_into_the_economy:2009-01-18:Economics,Politics,Socialism.txt', datetime.datetime(2009, 3, 1, 23, 3, 53): 'all_economists_support_stimulus_packages:2009-03-01:Economics,Politics,Socialism,Linkage.txt', datetime.datetime(2009, 9, 30, 23, 3, 56): 'the_christian_lobby_supports_wage_caps:2009-09-3...nomics,Politics,Religion,Socialism,Philosophy.txt', datetime.datetime(2009, 10, 13, 23, 3, 53): 'fines_for_begging:2009-10-13:Economics,Jurisprudence,Politics.txt', datetime.datetime(2009, 12, 30, 23, 3, 54): 'private_property:2009-12-30:Economics,Environment,Politics,Socialism.txt', datetime.datetime(2011, 6, 2, 1, 28, 56): 'the_cost_of_smoking_to_the_tax-payer:2011-06-02:Economics,Politics.txt'}, 'Education': {datetime.datetime(2007, 9, 19, 23, 3, 53): '55499999999999998:2007-09-19:Education,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 11, 13, 23, 3, 54): 'last_exam:2007-11-13:Education,General.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 12, 16, 23, 3, 54): 'im_back:2007-12-16:Education,Linkage,Meta.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 5, 5, 23, 3, 54): 'graduation:2008-05-05:Education.txt', datetime.datetime(2009, 6, 14, 23, 3, 53): 'compulsory_student_union_membership:2009-06-14:Education,Politics,Socialism.txt'}, 'Environment': {datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 20, 23, 3, 54): 'privatise_the_elephant:2008-03-20:Economics,Environment,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 25, 23, 3, 54): 'heh:2008-03-25:Politics,Environment,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 28, 23, 3, 54): 'not_conservative:2008-03-28:Politics,Environment.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 16, 23, 3, 53): 'carbon_debits:2008-04-16:Humour,Environment,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 25, 23, 3, 53): 'global_cooling:2008-04-25:Oddities,Environment.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 6, 26, 23, 3, 53): 'fuel_prices_will_rise_under_carbon_trading_scheme:2008-06-26:Politics,Environment.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 7, 1, 23, 3, 54): 'ice-free_north_pole:2008-07-01:Environment.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 8, 12, 23, 3, 54): 'roos_on_the_brink_of_extinction:2008-08-12:Humour,Environment.txt', datetime.datetime(2009, 12, 30, 23, 3, 54): 'private_property:2009-12-30:Economics,Environment,Politics,Socialism.txt', datetime.datetime(2010, 1, 1, 23, 3, 53): 'criticized_for_not_killing_a_protected_animal:2010-01-01:Environment,Oddities.txt', ...}, 'Estgair': {datetime.datetime(2012, 10, 17, 23, 3, 53): 'estgair_map:2012-10-17:Estgair,Games.txt'}, 'Gadgets': {datetime.datetime(2009, 6, 29, 23, 3, 54): 'swiss_army_knives:2009-06-29:Reviews,Gadgets.txt', datetime.datetime(2010, 1, 11, 23, 3, 54): 'pilot_78g:2010-01-11:Gadgets.txt', datetime.datetime(2010, 4, 13, 23, 3, 54): 'shortwave:2010-04-13:Gadgets,Science.txt'}, 'Games': {datetime.datetime(2009, 7, 27, 23, 3, 54): 'progress_quest:2009-07-27:Computers,Games,Humour,Reviews.txt', datetime.datetime(2012, 10, 17, 23, 3, 53): 'estgair_map:2012-10-17:Estgair,Games.txt', datetime.datetime(2012, 10, 25, 23, 3, 54): 'public_domain_minis:2012-10-25:Games.txt', datetime.datetime(2013, 2, 4, 23, 3, 54): 'wil_wheaton_tabletop:2013-02-04:Linkage,Games.txt', datetime.datetime(2013, 3, 17, 23, 3, 53): 'em4_orcs_and_dwarfs:2013-03-17:Games,Reviews.txt', datetime.datetime(2013, 4, 3, 23, 3, 54): 'post_apoc_terrain:2013-04-03:Games,Terrain.txt', datetime.datetime(2013, 5, 7, 23, 3, 53): 'first_painted_mini:2013-05-07:Games.txt', datetime.datetime(2013, 8, 26, 23, 3, 53): 'em4_troopers_and_gangers:2013-08-26:Games.txt', datetime.datetime(2014, 4, 30, 23, 3, 54): 'speaking_of_the_street_cleanup:2014-04-30:Games.txt', datetime.datetime(2015, 12, 14, 1, 45, 36): 'linkage:2015-12-14:Games,Linkage,MilitaryAndNationalSecurity,SelfDefence,Politics.txt'}, 'General': {datetime.datetime(2007, 11, 13, 23, 3, 54): 'last_exam:2007-11-13:Education,General.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 12, 18, 23, 3, 54): 'tasmania:2007-12-18:General,Politics,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 12, 25, 23, 3, 54): 'merry_christmas:2007-12-25:General.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 12, 12, 23, 3, 54): 'stuff:2008-12-12:General,Linux,Linkage,Meta.txt', datetime.datetime(2009, 10, 8, 23, 3, 54): 'in_the_usa:2009-10-08:General.txt', datetime.datetime(2009, 12, 14, 23, 3, 54): 'in_australia_&_not_dead:2009-12-14:General,Meta.txt', datetime.datetime(2010, 1, 1, 23, 3, 55): 'happy_new_year:2010-01-01:General.txt', datetime.datetime(2014, 1, 23, 23, 3, 54): 'vegetable_garden:2014-01-23:General.txt', datetime.datetime(2015, 5, 7, 21, 59, 54): 'vile_faceless_minion:2015-05-07:General,Humour.txt'}, 'HarvardClassics': {datetime.datetime(2013, 12, 4, 23, 3, 54): 'harvard_classics_2:2013-12-04:Literature,HarvardClassics,Philosophy,Politics.txt', datetime.datetime(2014, 4, 3, 23, 53, 59): 'harvard_classics_3:2014-04-03:Literature,HarvardClassics,Philosophy,Politics.txt', datetime.datetime(2014, 9, 9, 23, 3, 54): 'harvard_classics_4:2014-09-09:Literature,HarvardClassics,Religion,Poetry.txt', datetime.datetime(2015, 5, 13, 4, 31, 49): 'harvard_classics_5_6:2015-05-13:Literature,HarvardClassics,Philosophy,Poetry.txt', datetime.datetime(2016, 1, 11, 0, 21, 36): 'harvard_classics_7_8:2016-01-11:Literature,HarvardClassics,Philosophy,Religion.txt'}, ...}, arclist={'2007-09': {datetime.datetime(2007, 9, 19, 23, 3, 53): '55499999999999998:2007-09-19:Education,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 9, 19, 23, 3, 54): 'pigs_is_pigs:2007-09-19:Humour.txt'}, '2007-10': {datetime.datetime(2007, 10, 10, 23, 3, 54): 'update:2007-10-10:Meta.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 10, 10, 23, 3, 55): 'insect_picture_of_the_day:2007-10-10:Humour,Linkage.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 10, 12, 23, 3, 53): 'dr_necessiter:2007-10-12:Politics.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 10, 13, 23, 3, 54): 'planet_of_the_apes:2007-10-13:Politics,Movies.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 10, 17, 23, 3, 53): 'breast_rubs:2007-10-17:Humour,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 10, 17, 23, 3, 54): 'death_penalty:2007-10-17:Politics,Jurisprudence.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 10, 22, 23, 3, 53): 'darn:2007-10-22:Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 10, 22, 23, 3, 54): 'kamikaze:2007-10-22:Politics,Movies,Race.txt'}, '2007-11': {datetime.datetime(2007, 11, 1, 23, 3, 53): 'aussie_captain_commits_suicide:2007-11-01:Politics,MilitaryAndNationalSecurity.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 11, 1, 23, 3, 54): 'another_half-hearted_sentence:2007-11-01:Self-Defense,Jurisprudence.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 11, 6, 23, 3, 54): 'my_sort_of_multiculturalism:2007-11-06:Humour,Politics.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 11, 9, 23, 3, 53): 'every_man_should_have_a_rifle:2007-11-09:Poetry,Politics,Self-Defense.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 11, 9, 23, 3, 54): 'reading_level:2007-11-09:Meta.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 11, 13, 23, 3, 54): 'last_exam:2007-11-13:Education,General.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 11, 17, 23, 3, 54): 'going_away:2007-11-17:Meta.txt'}, '2007-12': {datetime.datetime(2007, 12, 16, 23, 3, 54): 'im_back:2007-12-16:Education,Linkage,Meta.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 12, 16, 23, 3, 55): 'traumatised_worms:2007-12-16:Rants,Politics.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 12, 18, 23, 3, 54): 'tasmania:2007-12-18:General,Politics,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 12, 18, 23, 3, 55): 'stolen_generation:2007-12-18:Politics,Race.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 12, 25, 23, 3, 54): 'merry_christmas:2007-12-25:General.txt', datetime.datetime(2007, 12, 31, 23, 3, 54): 'not_tested_on_animals:2007-12-31:Humour,Linkage.txt'}, '2008-01': {datetime.datetime(2008, 1, 12, 23, 3, 54): 'the_screwtape_letters:2008-01-12:Books,Humour,Literature,Reviews,Religion.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 1, 30, 23, 3, 54): 'installing_kazehakase_051_on_slackware_12:2008-01-30:Howto,Linux,Computers.txt'}, '2008-02': {datetime.datetime(2008, 2, 4, 23, 3, 53): 'a_nation_of_cowards:2008-02-04:Linkage,Self-Defense.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 2, 11, 23, 3, 54): 'guns:2008-02-11:Linkage,Politics,Self-Defense.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 2, 14, 23, 3, 54): 'welfare:2008-02-14:Socialism.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 2, 14, 23, 3, 55): 'sorry:2008-02-14:Politics,Race.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 2, 14, 23, 3, 56): 'provocative_ts:2008-02-14:Politics,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 2, 25, 23, 3, 53): 'caregroups:2008-02-25:Rants,Religion.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 2, 28, 23, 3, 53): 'comments:2008-02-28:Meta,Computers.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 2, 29, 23, 3, 54): 'prince_harrys_in_afghanistan:2008-02-29:Heroes,MilitaryAndNationalSecurity.txt'}, '2008-03': {datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 5, 23, 3, 53): 'andrew_symonds_knocks_down_streaker:2008-03-05:Humour.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 11, 23, 3, 53): 'deadly_sins:2008-03-11:Rants,Religion.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 16, 23, 3, 53): 'brave_sir_bin_laden:2008-03-16:Humour,MilitaryAndNationalSecurity.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 19, 23, 3, 53): 'bravery:2008-03-19:Heroes.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 19, 23, 3, 54): 'browser_startup:2008-03-19:Howto,Computers,Scripting.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 19, 23, 3, 55): 'iraq_opinion:2008-03-19:MilitaryAndNationalSecurity.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 20, 23, 3, 54): 'privatise_the_elephant:2008-03-20:Economics,Environment,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 24, 23, 3, 54): 'one_law_for_me:2008-03-24:Jurisprudence,Rants.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 25, 23, 3, 54): 'heh:2008-03-25:Politics,Environment,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 3, 28, 23, 3, 53): 'binge_drinking:2008-03-28:Personal-Responsibility.txt', ...}, '2008-04': {datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 2, 23, 3, 54): 'racism:2008-04-02:Politics,Race.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 6, 23, 3, 54): 'the_question_of_suffering:2008-04-06:Humour,Religion.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 7, 23, 3, 54): 'tired:2008-04-07:Politics,Rants.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 9, 23, 3, 53): 'css_naked_day_08:2008-04-09:Computers,Meta.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 10, 23, 3, 53): 'affirmative_action_in_the_victorian_police:2008-04-10:Politics.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 10, 23, 3, 54): 'insanity:2008-04-10:Politics,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 11, 23, 3, 53): 'a_tale_of_two_companies:2008-04-11:Politics.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 11, 23, 3, 54): 'google_v_religion:2008-04-11:Computers,Religion.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 11, 23, 3, 55): 'tactical_shorts:2008-04-11:Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 16, 23, 3, 53): 'carbon_debits:2008-04-16:Humour,Environment,Oddities.txt', ...}, '2008-05': {datetime.datetime(2008, 5, 5, 23, 3, 54): 'graduation:2008-05-05:Education.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 5, 9, 23, 3, 54): 'third_annual_movie-plot_threat_contest_semi-finalists:2008-05-09:Humour,Linkage,Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 5, 17, 23, 3, 53): '$9_billion_hole:2008-05-17:Politics,Economics.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 5, 19, 23, 3, 54): 'movies:2008-05-19:Movies.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 5, 24, 23, 3, 53): 'an_age_old_question_answered:2008-05-24:Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 5, 25, 23, 3, 54): 'the_tree_in_the_garden_of_eden:2008-05-25:Religion.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 5, 26, 23, 3, 54): 'seasteading:2008-05-26:Politics.txt'}, '2008-06': {datetime.datetime(2008, 6, 9, 23, 3, 54): 'liberal_scrooges:2008-06-09:Politics.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 6, 10, 23, 3, 54): 'kiwi_shop_owners_want_guns:2008-06-10:Politics,Self-Defense.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 6, 19, 23, 3, 53): 'dagger_with_+5_cold_damage:2008-06-19:Oddities.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 6, 20, 23, 3, 53): 'crime_and_punishment:2008-06-20:Jurisprudence.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 6, 21, 23, 3, 54): 'the_joy_of_political_correctness:2008-06-21:Politics,Rants.txt', datetime.datetime(2008, 6, 26, 23, 3, 53): 'fuel_prices_will_rise_under_carbon_trading_scheme:2008-06-26:Politics,Environment.txt'}, ...}, admin=False, page=0)
       1180                 for comment in entry.comments:
       1181                     numofcomment = numofcomment +1
    => 1182                     renderComment(entry, comment, numofcomment, admin)
       1183                 print("</ol>")
       1184             if maxcomments == -1 or len(entry.comments) >= maxcomments:
    global renderComment = <function renderComment>, entry = <__main__.Entry object>, comment = <__main__.Comment object>, numofcomment = 1, admin = False
     /home/public/blog.timp.com.au/kukkaisvoima/index.cgi in renderComment(entry=<__main__.Entry object>, comment=<__main__.Comment object>, numofcomment=1, admin=False, pretext=False)
        816         print("<img style=\"padding-right:5px;\"")
        817         print("src=\"http://gravatar.com/avatar/%s?s=40&d=identicon\" align=\"left\"/>" % (
    =>  818             comment.getEmailMd5Sum()))
        819     print("<cite>%s</cite>:" % comment.getAuthorLink())
        820     print("<br />")
    comment = <__main__.Comment object>, comment.getEmailMd5Sum = <bound method Comment.getEmailMd5Sum of <__main__.Comment object>>
     /home/public/blog.timp.com.au/kukkaisvoima/index.cgi in getEmailMd5Sum(self=<__main__.Comment object>)
        343 
        344     def getEmailMd5Sum(self):
    =>  345         return md5fun(self.email.lower()).hexdigest()
        346 
        347     def getSubEmail(self):
    global md5fun = <built-in function openssl_md5>, self = <__main__.Comment object>, self.email = 'mable.aachen@gmail.com', self.email.lower = <built-in method lower of str object>, ).hexdigest undefined

    TypeError: Strings must be encoded before hashing
          args = ('Strings must be encoded before hashing',)
          with_traceback = <built-in method with_traceback of TypeError object>