Customer Reviews
The Ruby Knight - By: Mrs. Jean R. Livingstone, 21 Jun 2010 
Another David Eddings favourite, many thanks to the bookseller, & a big thank you to Amazon
More David Eddings - By: Internet Addict, 02 Feb 2010 
If you like his earlier stuff, no reason to suspect you won;t like this one.
Awesome! - By: Ms. Emma J. Glasgow, 01 Jun 2009 Awesome book. Love it, cant wait to get the rest. ^^
Excellent service as well. ^^
Disappointing - By: M. Latham-Jackson, 11 Jul 2008 
Having thoroughly enjoyed The Redemption of Althalus as well as the Belgariad, the Malloreon & all related books, I was hoping that I'd be similarly delighted by the Elenium. Unfortunately, the depth of character that Eddings achieves with Garion & Althalus was lacking evenin the main character of the Elenium, Sparhawk, & the series itself seemed to me to be just an inferior rewrite of the Belgariad - a precious blue stone with the power to destroy the world, a dark Emperor serving a dark God, a powerful female sorceress & ten companions questing to retrieve said blue stone. Although I enjoyed characters such as Kurik, Ulath & Bevier, the latter two weren't developed as they could have been, & indeed I was often losing track of which Church Knight was which, not a problem I've ever had before with Eddings.
I also found the book's lack of anything approaching conscience rather disturbing - Sparhawk's companions casually brain, behead or dismember anyone, innocent or otherwise, who offers them the least impertinence, & Sephrenia's disapproval seems token. I'd come to expect more from Eddings than this, & have given up halfway through The Sapphire Rose.
Certainly don't read as a taster of Eddings - begin with The Redemption of Althalus or Belgarath the Sorcerer.
At times infuriating, but consistantly engrossing... - By: J, 26 Jul 2005 This trilogy is definitely shaping up not to be as daunting as either the Belgariad or Mallorean series by the same author, but unfortunately it remains considerably lackingin comparison to those excellent series. But being a David Eddings novel...there's much here to satisfy the casual fantasy reader. The enjoyable prologue teases with themes that will developin this story (as is so often this authors custom) & very soon the reader's also up to speed with the events that unfoldedin the trilogy-opener 'The Diamond Throne,' which all prepares you for another satisfying, if somewhat unchallenging continuation of the Elenium series.
The prose of this middle bookin the trilogy once more has an enchanting cadence that makes the plot less a chore than it would if written by another fantasy author. But on the downside- the characters don't develop at allin this story, we learn very little more about their history or personalities & so each remains as two-dimensional as always. Consequently, I suppose it's all credit to the author that the reader still invests emotionin the adventures of the protagonists & doesn't succeedin repressing unnecessary concern for their welfare- this book has an excellent writing-style & the story here is dependable & intriguing enough to keep the reader engrossed throughout.
Personally I still find the hierarchy of the characters & the political situation of this world less involving than the previous series developed by Eddings, both of which had familial relationships at their heart & explored the conflict that arose from that close association on a similar journey to save the world. Events do however move along at a great pacein this book- there's no time to get bored. There is plenty of time however, to be annoyed by the dialogue- almost every response to a perfectly reasonable question is a sarcastic remark or barbed comment & after a while this starts to grate. But if you can come to accept this characteristic as the authors trademark wit (even if it does go into overdrivein this story) you'll probably be able to overcome this annoyance & come to be charmed rather than annoyed by the characters & their speech.
This is a better book than 'The Diamond Throne' if only because the story here is comprised of lots of little engaging adventures that the Church Knights delve into as they travel across Northern Eosia, all the whilein search of the only object with the power to save Sparhawk's Monarch & love. But the big problem here is how often our religiously-affiliated, warrior group allow events to dictate their actions at the behest of their little mother Sephrenia & constant companion Flute. The number of times the jewel slips through their hands I found maddening, they are constantly thwarted at every opportunity & yet Sparhawk & his companions largely take itin their stride. But while they might have the patience to wait until conditions are absolutely perfect for the jewel to fall into their hands, I as a reader was often left feeling irritated. Definitely a three-stars book- a good book, but not a great one.
