By Heresies Distressed
by David Weber
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Book Summary Information
Author: David WeberEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-07-07
ISBN: 0765315033
Number of pages: 496
Publisher: Tor Books
Book Reviews of By Heresies Distressed
Book Review: The Invasion of Corisande
Summary: 5 Stars
By Heresies Distressed (2009) is the third SF novel in the Safehold series, following By Schism Rent Asunder. In the previous volume, the Kingdom of Charis defeated Chisholm and Emerald and then incorporated them into the new Empire of Charis. Now the Charisian Empire prepared for the invasion of Corisande.
Cayleb offered marriage to Sharleyan of Chisholm and was accepted. He was surprised to find himself in love with his new wife. She became involved in every Imperial council and secret, except the nature of Merlin and the reasons for the Church of God Awaiting. Cayleb and Merlin wanted to bring her fully into the conspiracy, but the others were reluctant to include her.
In this novel, Merlin Athrawes is a PICA -- Personality-Integrated Cybernetic Avatar -- of Nimue Alban. She is over nine hundred years old and is masquerading as a male because females have less influence on Safehold. She is captain of Cayleb's guard and his secret advisor.
Cayleb Ahrmahk is Emperor of the Charisian Empire. His empire consists of the nations of Old Charis, Chisholm and Emerald. Now the Empire is going after Corisande.
Sharleyan Tayt is now Cayleb's wife and Empress of Charis. The former Queen of Chisholm is not a consort, but a co-ruler of the Empire.
Nahrmahn Baytz is Prince of Emerald and is an advisor to the Emperor. Despite their former enmity, Cayleb is discovering that Nahrmahn is a likeable fellow and extremely intelligent.
Hektor Daykyn is Prince of Corisande. Under orders from the Church, he led the attack against Charis. Now he is preparing for retaliation from the Empire of Charis.
Vicar Zhahmsyn Trynair is Chancellor of the Council of Vicars of the Church. He is a member of the Group of Four.
Vicar Zhaspahr Clyntahn is Grand Inquisitor of the Church. He is a member of the Group of Four.
Vicar Rhobair Duchairn is Treasurer General of the Church. He is a member of the Group of Four.
Vicar Allayn Maigwair is Captain-General of the Church. He is a member of the Group of Four.
In this story, Emperor Cayleb sails away to punish Corisande and the Empress is left behind in Tellesberg. Cayleb first takes his fleet to Chisholm and meets Baron Green Mountain and Queen Mother Alahnan. Then he takes the combined fleet toward Corisande.
The citizens of Chisholm are impressed by the Emperor. The citizens of Old Charis are even more impressed by the Empress. The Imperial couple are very popular at home.
Merlin leaves with the Emperor. Yet he observes almost everything on Safehold through his remote sensors and reconnaissance platforms. He watches Sharleyan and her guards practice with pistols and Hektor build his army and navy.
But Merlin cannot review all the information that his devices bring to his attention. Owl screens all the information, but the PICA does not have the capacity to download everything that Owl passes on. Merlin has to pick and chose which data to scan. Moreover, Merlin cannot observe within the Church Temple itself, for there are devices within that structure that might detect his spying.
So Merlin does not see Trynair bring Clyntahn the news of the raid on Ferayd and the hanging of the sixteen Inquisitors. Clyntahn is very angry, but also satisfied at the propaganda value of the news. Then Trynair tells him of the documentation that Charis provided to King Zhames of Delferahk.
Later Clyntahn notices that Maigwair is building the wrong kind of ships. The Church has spent huge sums on larger galleys, but the Charisian galleons handily destroyed the Delferahk galleys at Ferayd. Duchairn is going to have a fit when they have to spend even more funds to build a fleet of galleons. And it will be even longer before they can sail to meet the Charisian fleet.
This tale takes the Charisian fleet to the Grand Duchy of Zebediah. The Grand Duke is very cooperative with the fleet in his harbor. But Cayleb figures that he will try to betray the Empire eventually. Then comes the invasion of Corisande.
This novel has a convoluted plot, but the story is beginning to become less complex as Charis conquers its enemies. It also has a cast of thousands, but a list of the most significant characters is included in the back. The book even has a glossary.
This story leaves the Group of Four embarrassed, but still formidable. The next volume -- A Mighty Fortress -- should take the war to the continental mainlands. Read and enjoy!
Highly recommended for Weber fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of armed conflict, political intrigue, and a bit of romance. If anyone has not previously read this series, the initial volume is Off Armageddon Reef.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Summary of By Heresies Distressed
Now the battle for the soul of the planet Safehold has begun.The Kingdom of Charis and the Kingdom of Chisholm have joined together, pledged to stand against the tyranny of a corrupt Church. The youthful Queen Sharleyan of Chisholm has wed King Cayleb of Charis, forging a single dynasty, a single empire, dedicated to the defense of human freedom. Crowned Empress of that empire, Sharleyan has found in Cayleb s arms the love she never dared hope for in a marriage of state. In Cayleb s cause, his defiance of the ruthless Group of Four who govern mother Church, she has found the task to which she can commit her mind and her courage. It is a cause for which she was born.
Yet there are things Sharleyan still does not know. Secrets Cayleb has not been permitted to share, even with her. Secrets like the true story of humanity on Safehold. Like the intricate web of lies, deception, and fabricated religion which have chained humanity for almost a thousand years. Like the existence of the genocidal alien Gbaba, waiting to complete mankind s destruction should humans ever attract their attention once more. Like the existence of a young woman, Nimue Alban, nine hundred years dead, whose heart, mind, and memories live on within the android body of the warrior-monk she knows as Merlin.
And so Empress Sharleyan faces the the great challenge of her life unaware of all that task truly entails...or of how the secrets the man who loves her cannot share may threaten all they have achieved between them...and her own life.
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