The Diamond Throne

The Diamond Throne
by David Eddings, Leigh Eddings

List Price: ~~$7.99~~
Our Price: $1.65
You Save: $6.34 (79%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions

Compare Prices for The Diamond Throne

Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: David Eddings, Leigh Eddings
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1990-06-13
ISBN: 0345367693
Number of pages: 448
Publisher: Del Rey

Book Reviews of The Diamond Throne

Book Review: Sparhawk is Back
Summary: 5 Stars

The Diamond Throne (1989) is the first fantasy novel of the Elenium series. At the dawn of time, a dwarfed and misshaped Troll named Ghwerig dwelt in a cavern beneath the perpetual snows of northern Thalesia. This ugly creature spent decades creating the Bhelliom, a sapphire blue gem in the shape of a rose, and infusing it with the power of the Troll-Gods.

Then the Younger Goddess Aphrael of Styricum stole the rings that controlled its power. Later the hero Adian of Thalesia stole the Bhelliom itself and incorporated it into the Thalesian crown. But this crown was lost over five hundred years ago.

In this novel, Sparhawk returns to Cimmura after ten long years of exile in Rendor. He almost gets a chance to dispose of Krager, but is interrupted by a courtier, who gains himself a case of the boils by his yapping. Eventually Sparhawk reaches the inn run by the Pandion Knights, leaves Faran in the hands of the knight porter, and is admitted into his room by the eldest -- and maybe the last -- Pandion squire.

Sparhawk inherited the responsibility for Kurik from his father. The Pandion Preceptor, Vanion, questions whether he should let the squire retire to his farm and family, but Sparhawk is very reluctant to bring up the subject with Kurik for fear of hurt feelings. Besides, Kurik has been keeping Sparhawk alive for a good long while and intends to keep doing it for the foreseeable future.

While removing his watersoaked clothing, Kurik briefs Sparhawk on the latest news. He tells Sparhawk of the illness that befell Queen Ehlana and the magic that keeps her alive, yet trapped upon the throne within a diamond casement. He also brings Sparhawk up to date on the machinations of the Cimmuran Primate Annias and Prince Regent Lycheas.

The next morning Sparhawk attends court and quickly establishes his justification for returning from exile. Since he is the hereditary court champion, the queen is obviously in danger, and he has a signed and sealed order from the queen to return to Cimmura, all objections are crushed handily. Naturally, his enemies still want to get rid of him.

In this story, the Elene Church is nearing a crisis point, for the Archprelate is old, senile and unwell. Primate Annias now has control of the Cimmuran court treasury and is buying all available votes in the Hierocracy that will soon elect the next Archprelate. Obviously he has aspirations for that position.

Annias is the power behind the throne of Prince Lycheas, a whining, ineffectual fool. Annias has hired Martel -- an expelled Pandion Knight -- to neutralize the Church Knights while he is making his bid for the Archprelature. Martel has tried several times to kill Sparhawk and will try again. Martel also has other plans to keep the Knights busy.

Sparhawk confers with Vanion and Sephrenia -- the Pandion instructor in Styric secrets -- and learns more about Ehlana's illness and the time limits on the magic. They decide that he should travel to Borrata to consult with the medical faculty at the university. Sephrenia will accompany him to describe the symptoms and they also will take Flute, a young Styric girl who does not speak. However, Flute can accomplish amazing thing with her panpipes.

This story differs from the Belgariad/Malloreon series in at least one respect: Sparhawk is a tough character who hides his noble feeling beneath a rough exterior. He is much like his horse Faran, who delights in biting his handlers. In fact, Sparhawk and Faran seem to be able to read each other's mind; naturally, that is impossible, but still . . .

Highly recommended for Eddings fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of working knights, sardonic friends and high magic.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Write your own review

More The Diamond Throne reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Summary of The Diamond Throne

Sparhawk, Pandion Knight, and Queen's Champion have returned to Elenia after ten years of exile, only to find young Queen Ehlanda trapped in a block of ensorcelled crystal. As Sparhawk sets out to find a cure for Ehlana, he discovers that only he can defeat the evil plots that threaten her rule....

Literature & Fiction Books

Book Subjects

Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books

Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops: ~~$5.00~~

The Killing Ground
by JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book

Saving Fish from Drowning
by Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book

Life Expectancy
by Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00

Constant Princess
by Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book

Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)
by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book

Sahara
by Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book

Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)
by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.83
Price in other shops: ~~$10.50~~

The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towers
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book

Red Mars
by Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book