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Dark Sun: Chronicles of Athas #4
Cinnabar Shadows
Book Four in the Chronicles of Athas further explores the harsh life of the Dark Sun world's citizens. A member of the magically disoriented "New Race" from the Pristine Tower area, Mahtra lives among the outcasts beneath the city--until she decides to confront her greatest challenge ever: to hunt down Kakzim, the evil alchemist. Map.
312 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 25, 1995
About the author
Lynn Abbey
137 books184 followersLynn Abbey began publishing in 1979 with the novel Daughter of the Bright Moon and the short story "The Face of Chaos," part of a Thieves World shared world anthology. She received early encouragement from Gordon R. Dickson.
In the 1980s she married Robert Asprin and became his co-editor on the Thieves World books. She also contributed to other shared world series during the 1980s, including Heroes in Hell and Merovingen Nights.
Abbey and Asprin divorced in 1993 and Abbey moved to Oklahoma City. She continued to write novels during this period, including original works as well as tie-ins to Role Playing Games for TSR. In 2002, she returned to Thieves World with the novel Sanctuary and also began editing new anthologies, beginning with Turning Points.
In the 1980s she married Robert Asprin and became his co-editor on the Thieves World books. She also contributed to other shared world series during the 1980s, including Heroes in Hell and Merovingen Nights.
Abbey and Asprin divorced in 1993 and Abbey moved to Oklahoma City. She continued to write novels during this period, including original works as well as tie-ins to Role Playing Games for TSR. In 2002, she returned to Thieves World with the novel Sanctuary and also began editing new anthologies, beginning with Turning Points.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 10 reviews
April 11, 2023
Per my entry on the first part of the trilogy* it turns out not only is this one very good as well, but it's so clearly a sequel to the last Pavek novel that I'm astonished I ever forgot that long enough to get rid of it. I was able to track down a used copy without too much trouble, but what was I thinking? In any case this is a solid follow up where everything I said last time still applies, and Abbey continues to resist the easy outs; see Ruari and Pavek's differing perspectives on the slaves of House Escrissar (probably my favourite part of the book) and the way Mahtra does not come anywhere close to the Sexy Born Yesterday trope. If I'm remembering right it's the third and final part that impressed me the most as a kid, and I am really looking forward to revisiting it. Unfortunately the exercise bike where I've done like 95% of my reading since COVID stopped my daily commute has broken on me, and my replacement exercises are not conducive at all to having a book in one hand.
*I didn't like books 2 and 3 in this anthology series back in high school, was pretty shocked at how much I didn't like them actually, and none of the reviews here make me think I was missing much; more importantly for my purposes, they have nothing to do with this one or The Brazen Gambit.
*I didn't like books 2 and 3 in this anthology series back in high school, was pretty shocked at how much I didn't like them actually, and none of the reviews here make me think I was missing much; more importantly for my purposes, they have nothing to do with this one or The Brazen Gambit.
December 30, 2020
I enjoyed this next installment of the Chronicles of Athas. We revisit Pavak and Ruri from “Brazen Gambit”. Additionally, I’ve got to experience a bit more from this author having recently read her story in the first “Thieves’ World” novel.
Abby is good at being bleak; Dark Sun suits her. She is also not scared to make the bizarre beautiful, and I find that intriguing.
I will be honest, my favorite part about his book was the first 35-50 pages. We are introduced to the antagonist, but we don’t really know who he is…we don’t even realize that he is the bad guy; maybe a bit crazy, but who isn’t on this dessert planet? His motives definitely seem sound…so it is fun when we actually realize that this individual is who our heroes will ultimately be seeking out to stop.
We also get to meet a new character, Matra. Abby definitely does an excellent job making this character intriguing! She is mysterious and powerful and childlike and lost. All great things for a reader chew on. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like we got to know her well enough. When the story ends, there are a lot of unanswered questions. It is a bummer that we don’t get to know her better….I often think that TSR thought these books would just keep going, not unlike the “Harpers” books from Forgotten Realms.
Anywho. Worth the time. Only one more to go in the series!
Abby is good at being bleak; Dark Sun suits her. She is also not scared to make the bizarre beautiful, and I find that intriguing.
I will be honest, my favorite part about his book was the first 35-50 pages. We are introduced to the antagonist, but we don’t really know who he is…we don’t even realize that he is the bad guy; maybe a bit crazy, but who isn’t on this dessert planet? His motives definitely seem sound…so it is fun when we actually realize that this individual is who our heroes will ultimately be seeking out to stop.
We also get to meet a new character, Matra. Abby definitely does an excellent job making this character intriguing! She is mysterious and powerful and childlike and lost. All great things for a reader chew on. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like we got to know her well enough. When the story ends, there are a lot of unanswered questions. It is a bummer that we don’t get to know her better….I often think that TSR thought these books would just keep going, not unlike the “Harpers” books from Forgotten Realms.
Anywho. Worth the time. Only one more to go in the series!
February 10, 2020
I was so excited to see my favorite character, Pavek, again! I appreciated how much deeper the author went this time into the minds of Pavek, Kaski, and Ruari. Honestly, I didn't care for the half-elf in the first book of the series, but I grew to love him in this installment. Mahtra was a fascinating addition to their little family. In some ways, her story disturbed me, but I truly sympathized with her as a lost child seeking guidance from anywhere she can get it. I enjoyed the story very much, but it did leave many questions concerning King Hamanu, which I'm confident will be answered in the next and final book.
January 27, 2018
The world was (sorta) interesting but not strongly written enough to pull me in. I kept waiting for a truly suspenseful moment and not finding one - even at the climax of the arc. Some of the characters are interesting enough, especially Pavek and Hamanu, that I’ll look into the rest of the series to see if they’re continuing characters.
I’d call this an ok book - but it’s also a fast read so that’s not a terrible thing.
I’d call this an ok book - but it’s also a fast read so that’s not a terrible thing.
May 30, 2023
I did not like this one. The story is ok, if only so, and I liked the new character Mahtra (even though she doesn't really have a personality), but I really, really hated the characters Ruari and Zvain: they are whiny, drab, and serve no purpose except to constantly get into pointless fights with the other members of the party. All the parts of the story that should've been epic and moving came out as muddled. Skip this one.
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July 19, 2020elibrary
January 24, 2015
SUMMARY:
Book Four in the Chronicles of Athas further explores the harsh life of the Dark Sun world's citizens. A member of the magically disoriented "New Race" from the Pristine Tower area, Mahtra lives among the outcasts beneath the city--until she decides to confront her greatest challenge ever: to hunt down Kakzim, the evil alchemist. Map.
Book Four in the Chronicles of Athas further explores the harsh life of the Dark Sun world's citizens. A member of the magically disoriented "New Race" from the Pristine Tower area, Mahtra lives among the outcasts beneath the city--until she decides to confront her greatest challenge ever: to hunt down Kakzim, the evil alchemist. Map.
August 5, 2011
Another Fine piece of Pulp fantasy, introducing a unique character in an odd series of adventures, also drawing on 'Just plain Pavik' of Abbey's earlier piece. Abbey states that Pavik is loosely based on Gorbachev, the ex-president of democratic Russia. Nifty!
August 23, 2012
boring... I couldn't get into it at all, and quit reading about a third of the way in.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 10 reviews