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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.92
EAN num: 9780316067690
ISBN number: 0316067695
Label: Orbit
Manufacturer: Orbit
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 576
Printing Date: September 10, 2007
Publishing house: Orbit
Sale Popularity Level: 196862
Studio: Orbit
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Product Description:
An uneasy truce exists between the thanes of the True Bloods.
Now, as another winter approaches, the armies of the Black Road march south, from their exile beyond the Vale of Stones. For some, war will bring a swift and violent death. Others will not hear the clash of swords or see the corpses strewn over the fields. They instead will see an opportunity to advance their own ambitions. But all, soon, will fall under the shadow that is descending.
For, while the storm of battle rages, one man is following a path that will awaken a terrible power in him -- and his legacy will be written in blood.
'A gripping story that builds to a grim climax. No one who enjoys heroic fantasy should miss this.'
--- The Times (London)
'An epic tale of revenge, betrayal and greed...an intriguing and imaginative story.'
--- Dreamwatch
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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Winterbirth is a pretty good book. Not on par with the very first three books of George RR Martin, but better than most of the books I have read to hold me over while waiting for the subsequent entry in the Song of Fire and Ice. The book is decent enough, good characters, good story, but just not on the upper tier of high fantasy. What this book hinted at and did a little of but not enough of was the back story, the past events, those tibits that make Martin's books so awesome...I feel Ruckley almost pulled it off but not quite.
Bottom line for me in high fantasy is that the very first three Martin books were the best Fantasy I have ever read, and I have read several books that were reviewed as "things that would hold you over" until the subsequent Martin book. In this context, Winterbirth was the best of those books I read. Better than Erikson, Williams, Marco, and all the other ones I tried. Unfortunately the 4th installment of Fire and Ice in my opinion was a big let down. I hope #5 will be better.
So, Winterbirth, not a bad book, has potential.
Rated by buyers -
I'm not going to write about the story plot because other reviews have done that. I would like to address the comments that this is a LOTR ripoff. I'm not sure about some of the other reviewers stating that this is a Lord of the Rings copy, unless they mean by its form. There is no resemblance at all to LOTR. Star Wars came more to mind for me. But the story starts off very slow as has been mentioned. This is due to the introducing of the characters and places. Then around page 100 the meat of the story starts. Give it time and it turns out to be a really good read and I will be getting the second in the Trilolgy.
Ruckley draws a lot from ancient peoples from, my opinion, the UK mostly. The Bloods, or clans really, remind me of the highland clans that warred over whatever it was to war over. Then throw in a bit of Saxons and Vikings, Picts, and even a touch of a Roman Briton can be seen. The Kyrinin, are not like elves as one person has said. They are more like a combination of American Indians and the Bush people of Africa. And The Black Road sings of the early Christian church and even has some Templer type warriors involved. But really one can see any religious zealet cult or otherwise through them. There's also a small hint about a nation becoming to complacent and getting caught unawares by the enemy, (US (911 maybe)).
Anyway the story is a bit confusing at the beginning, the author changes POVs a few times and you have to pay attention to who's story is being told at that time. But you if you enjoy history, intrigue and back stabbing you'll enjoy this story.
I can't tell you that you will like this story if you like LOTR, but if you like the Star Wars saga, without the Space, you may enjoy this. Or if you like reading about the older races, like the celts, picts and vikings you will enjoy this. The only thing I didn't like was that it had the old cliche of a young (16) reluctant hero. But we'll see how he pans out in the subsequent book. I gave it three stars due to its very slow pace and the beginning and the cliche, but the story itself gets four stars without a doubt.
Rated by buyers 
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I tried. I really, really tried and gave this book ample chance to pick up enough momentum to grab my attention, hold it, then take me on a ride. As another reviewer (much more positive than me) pointed out, there were some scenes which were really well done (the chase with the hunters and their dogs springs to mind); conceptually, I also didn't mind the world the author had created, it looked like it had promise.
Unfortunately, it proved to be just a bland read. The author can write - but this was just too slow, too ordinary and ultimately, not worth completing.
Rated by buyers -
A mimic of Lord of the Rings without the magic.
This novel walks the line between fantasy and historical. Though there is considerable world-building inside, it reads more like historical fiction than fantasy, so those looking for sorcery better be ready for swordfights, because there's little magic in these pages.
The book itself is a quick read, though marred by constant shifting in POV and constant wandering by the characters themselves without any firm goals. The ending leaves much room for a sequel, but due to that, there's no good climax to the story. After 600 pages of reading, that was too big of a disappointment to miss. Ruckley does not provide enough pull at the end of his massive tome to create an instant desire to buy the sequel. It can wait.
Not terrible, but not spectacular either. With the amount of creation involved in introducing a brand new world, one would expect more story to go with it.
Rated by buyers 
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I picked up this book got about 40 pages in and it just sat on my night stand for a couple weeks. I couldn't go any further. So I decided to look on Amazon and see what others were saying about the book. The common wisdom seems to be that you need to get past 100-150 pages and the book will suddenly hook you. So buoyed by this idea I picked up the book again and was determined to give it that much of a chance. Like magic at page 150 I was hooked and wanted to read more. I will definitely get the sequel.
The book isn't without its flaws, but it is a compelling fantasy novel. Coming from me that's high praise since I generally hate cliches of the genre. I mainly read fantasy novels that others tell me break the rules of the genre. Ruckley makes the endeavor to break cliches in many areas, but ultimately falls back into the world of good guys and bad guys. That's fine because in Ruckley's world the heroes are not impervious and the villains are not stupid and craven. Overall a solid effort and I look forward to an even stronger sequel.
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