The second installment of this series pickups where the first one The Red Wolf Conspiracy left off, at the marriage that would start the Great Peace. However the ceremony goes wrong or so it appears. The book keeps a solid steady pace as the conspiracy slowly starts to spiral out of control. Thasha, Pazel, Hercol, and Neeps along with the few allies they can find on the Chathrand conspire a mutiny or at least the start of one to keep Rose from killing them all as they cross the sea to the vortex. In the end the ixchel seize control with help from a sleeping drug they put into the water as the journey reaches the end. The Chathrand successfully survives the crossing of the vortex as they proceed into Boluntu home land in search of non drugged water. It's been about 6 weeks since I finished this, and the details, characters and plot have already begun fading from memory.I read the first instalment some years ago and absolutely loved it. The sweeping adventures on the high seas, the world building, Pazel's gift and curse, the shady dealings and multiple agendas — all bound within the ancient timbers of the Chathrand — were a thrill to read. Novel, exciting, swashbuckling fantasy with characters you felt you already knew, nuanced in ways that surprised.And then the second book came along and everything else happened: too many characters, constant cheesy, humourless fantasy tropes, endless dialogue from characters that seem to have photographic memories for conversations they had years ago, gaudy moments of confusing or limp wristed action, monolithic themes of global destruction witnessed by men who would be ignorant cliches one moment, then quailing and curled up with their thumbs in their mouths, before breaking out in chest beating dismay as meaningless numbers of people were killed ... We're constantly told why someone is important, or what exactly someone said to another decades ago, or that this scene is calamitous, without being given the space or guidance to feel it, suspect it or discover it ourselves.This could have been a monumental series (so many great ideas and supporting characters; the Infernal Forest and it's endless night, the toxic, mind melting eguar, the demon Avarice locked in one of Chathrand's hidden holds) but everything from the overly isn't-this-how-everyone-should-live-aren't-they-graceful? Selk to the blatantly evil Nilstone (Nothing Stone? Really?) overpowers the more original elements, revealing the makings to be two dimensional the minute you step to the side for a better look ...In this day and age of the visceral, coherent action of Abercrombie and the impassioned, nuanced stereotypes of Rothfuss, Chathrand's cliche ridden storytelling ends sadly devoid of compelling characters and memorable show downs. Pity, because Robert V.S. Redick clearly has a love for the genre and a desire for greatness.May his next journey take us somewhere that resides.
What do You think about The Ruling Sea (2009)?
I was physically and mentally unable to put this book down; nuff said.
—jacobsanders9527
The series is getting better. Looking forward to the next book.
—dziakc
Blockbuster series! Second book even better than the first.
—lorlor0419
