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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
EAN num: 9780689854187
ISBN number: 0689854188
Label: Simon Pulse
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 624
Printing Date: December 26, 2007
Publishing house: Simon Pulse
Age index: Young Adult
Sale Popularity Level: 305722
Studio: Simon Pulse
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Product Description:
The spirit of the ancient champion, Sorahb was reborn into the body of a deghan youth, who raised an army of peasants to resist their Hrum conquerors.
Sorya, Kavi, and Jiann do everything they can to keep control of what little land remains free from Hrum rule. They have most of the peasantry, a small, untrained army, and the Suud helping them, but there is still one important piece missing: a sword that is able to withstand the Hrum's watersteel. Without it, Farsala will fall.
But what none of these young heroes can foresee is the growing desperation of the Hrum leaders. It will lead them to break some of their own laws and sacred pacts. It will also reveal truths about the nature of war, the nature of human beings, and -- most important -- themselves.
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Rated by buyers 
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The Farsala saga continues gaining more suspense and more action, but the very end was a little dissappointing. Maybe in a movie if done correctly the ending would be good but in a book it was only a few paragraphs between total war between Farsala and the Hrum; and then they are all friends.
Rated by buyers -
Hilari Bell does it again. She is a great author. All three books in her trilogy are fantastic, and she ends it very well. I was satisfied with how the lives of all three main characters turned out.
Rated by buyers -
Forging the Sword is Hilari Bell's final installment in the Farsala Trilogy. The books follow three people - Soraya, a deghass (noblewoman), her illegitimate half-brother Jiann, and the "everyman" peddler Kavi, as they work independently and then together to stop the invasion of the Hrum empire in their homeland of Farsala. If they can resist the Hrum from conquering every part of Farsala for one year, then they can claim their independence and be assured the Hrum will never invade Farsala again.
While the ending is fairly obvious (the author wouldn't take you through three books just to have the main characters lose the war), how she takes you there is quite the journey. Over the course of the books, the characters grow from being spoiled, arrogant and immature to people who have grown through their trials and the burden of saving a country. When we encounter Jiann, Soraya and Kavi in this book, they all have important roles that they take on reluctantly but well. Jiann is the commander of the rebel army, Soraya is a fledgling magician, and Kavi is the person who is able to inspire courage in the fighting peasants and gather intelligence for the rebellion. Together they all personify the legend of Sorahb, whose "story" is interspersed in the novel.
One thing that impresses me about Bell's novels is her ability to be very real and incredibly fair. In many novels, you have a "good guy" and a "bad guy" and that's that. But Forging the Sword is more complex than that. She lets us explore different characters on both the side of the rebellion and the Hrum and shows us that both sides have good motives - it's just certain characters who act without honor. Events in the very first two books make it hard for even the three rebellion leaders to trust each other, but they come to realize they need to work through those differences for the greater good.
Overall, a solid read and highly recommended.
Rated by buyers -
Forging the Sword is better even than the very first two of the trilogy. Jiaan, Soraya, and Kavi are wonderfully developed characters, and even the secondary characters are very interesting. They and the story are realistic in their progression, and satisfying. Bell also forces readers to examine surprisingly indepth questions about war and morality.
For those of you who have read the previous installments in the trilogy, you will get all of the encounters between the characters that you hope for, and you will be continuously surprised by the plot twists. If you are considering jumping into the series starting with this book, I would advise against it. Too much of the story would be lost on you.
Unlike the very first two, Forging the Sword seems aimed at a slightly older audience. The subject matter is a bit heavier and more grim than the previous books led me to expect, but this only serves to make the book more wonderful. One of the best fantasy books I've read in a while.
Rated by buyers -
Hilari Bell could not have written a better book if she tried. Forging the Sword was amazing. The captivating characters Soraya, Jiaan, and Kavi continue to evolve. They learn more about themselves and each other all throughout the book.
Honestly, it was a struggle to put the book down. There was not one dull part. You would think the war with the Hrum would get boring, or tiring at best, but it doesn't. Each character's chapter contributes something important to the overall plot and the ending is great. There are many unexpected and suspenseful twists and turns that keep you going. Overall, a great read. Enoy!
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