The Empty Kingdom (The Mark of Solomon)

Description

In The Lion Hunter, Telemakos—the half-British, half-Aksumite grandson of King Arthur—was sent for his safety to stay with one of Aksum’s former enemies. When Abreha, ruler of Himyar, allegedly the boy’s protector, catches him in the midst of what appears to be treachery, he sentences him to a fate seemingly worse than death. Not only is Telemakos forbidden to see his beloved younger sister, Athena, but he is also commanded to reproduce the maps that Abreha plans to use in order to invade Aksumite territory. Countries away from his family, lacking any way to tell them what has happened, Telemakos must bring all of his subtle talents to bear in order to regain his freedom. The Empty Kingdom is a stunning conclusion to the Mark of Solomon duology—a triumph of historic suspense.

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Customer Reviews

from a long-time fan
what a powerful, exquisitely crafted conclusion to the mark of solomon arc. what i find most remarkable about telemakos is not necessarily his growth into a formidable, unforgettable young man so much as the path he takes in the process, all that ferocious courage and fear and unswerving loyalty for those he loves. it is heartbreaking, how he must pay for his experiences with scars. it is also utterly believable, and i would demand nothing less than that in my heroes. i loved too the way in which wein handles athena's own growth, both physical and not, and that tricky negotiation between mutual support and overdependence. the prose was, as always, beautifully measured, and i can't wait to see more of telemakos and co. in the future.

also, can i say how NICE it is to read arthurian-related stories that go beyond the (physical and racial) borders of england?? more please!

2010-02-24 | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 5

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Empty Kingdom Empty of Facts full of other things
I purchased this and another book from Wein's list. I thought she was going to do a fair job. Instead I discovered an extremely sloppy storyline and even worse facts. Wein seems to be running interference for the recent Ethio Eritrean war and on the Eritrean side. Everyone that is familiar with Ethiopian history knows that the region that we know today as Ethiopia is but a shadow of what those ancient Ethiopians and Axumites ruled. Yet Wein repeatedly misses this. She insists on a dubious and outright falsified peering of the Axumite Empire with what at that was Roman and Byzantine ruled Brittania. Axumite's contemporaries of Byzantine and numbered only 3rd in power next to the Persians and Chinese are reduced to entertaining with the barbarians from Brittania to the extent of intermarrying with them.

The ridiculousness doesn't stop there. Wein insults the history she writes about by not even respecting the hard facts that remain of it. When taken to task she argues her work is a work of fiction not history, but then rounds about and testily remarks that it is as factual as the records of that time allow it to be. Not so fast.

There was no record, NONE, of any interruption between the reign of Kaleb(Ella Asbeha) and Wazeb(Ella Gebre Meskel). She creates one just to insert her British caricature and gives him the title Ella Amida, yet another of Axum's kings. Is she trying to tell us in her non-historical history that no Ethiopian could suffice and we had to, alas and alack, rely on a barbarian to rule us.

So after all the claim of Ethipians never to have been colonized is false, after all Elizabeth Wein says so.

But not so fast. The entire Britanic saga is not just unlikely but impossible. Axumite coins may be found in britain for a number of reasons including commerce, but Britannic journey's to Axum were impossible. None were made. There were no records of "white hairs or blue eyes" anywhere in Axum's hagiography until well after the Solomonic restoration.

Finally Wein's politics gets in the way of her story telling, she seeks to give Eritrea, the 19th century Italian creation footing in 4th Century Ethiopia. This may be done to give the Eritreans a sense that this is their history too. Admirable but the story should not suffer for such political ambition. The contrivance of Telemakos as a white haired child is insulting to say the least. And the choice of names for people, "Ras Meder", "House of Neber" is inexcusably in its sloppiness. Those are not Axumite names or even names people would give to people. And Ethiopian monarchy are not organized by "houses". This is an imposition of a British mindset on a poor attempt at an Ethiopian story. Finally the contrivance of Goewin as a British Ambassadress that defies the age old customs forbidding females from entering monasteries is perhaps the most damning. Such thing would be punished by immediate and instant death to the offender. Axumites then were fervent about their rules. It is telling how disrespectful Wein is to the people she writes about, typical of the inculcation British education had one her, that she choses their most sacred institutions as the battleground for ancient feminism. Such acts would not have occurred and again had they occurred the Emperor or king would have been powerless to stop the guardians of the holy places from exacting swift and terrible retribution.

Overall while Wein writes well in general, she writes badly about Axum and overall about the Ethiopian Empire. She chooses to weave her own unfulfilled fantasy into the stories than to subsume her ego and her politics to the deserving and demanding story that needed to be told.

2010-01-30 | David (AA Ethiopia) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

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The Lion Hunter (The Mark of Solomon)

Description

It is the sixth century in Aksum, Africa. Young Telemakos—King Arthur’s half-Ethiopian grandson—is still recovering from his ordeal as a government spy in the far desert, trying to learn who was breaking the Emperor’s plague quarantine. Before he is fully himself again, tragedy and menace strike, and he finds himself sent, with his baby sister, Athena, to live with Abreha, the ruler of Himyar—a longtime enemy of the Aksumites, now perhaps a friend. His aunt Goewin, Arthur’s daughter, warns him that Abreha is a man to be wary of, someone to watch carefully. Telemakos promises he will be mindful—but he does not realize that Goewin’s warnings are not enough to protect him.

The Sunbird ("Intense, absorbing, and luminously written," Kirkus Reviews, starred review) was the first book about Telemakos. The Lion Hunter continues his story, to be quickly followed by The Empty Kingdom—a two-book sequence called The Mark of Solomon.

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Customer Reviews

The Lion Hunter
The writing was good and the main character likable but... One trouble I had was the improbability of the story. Tragedy after tragedy on top of intrigue and betrayal as well as being responsible for a baby at the age of 13. Just too much. My other problem was that the adults were always bad, either intentionally or unintentionally through their trust in Telemakos. No parent, grandparent or adult cared unconditionally for this boy and his sister(they did love them, just not enough to prevent putting them at enormous risk). Precious little of the Arthurian legend shows up in this tale either, so it's hard to see why there is a connection (not having read other books by this author perhaps I am missing the connection).

2007-10-23 | durhamquartet (Kokomo, Indiana United States) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 2

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A series well worth any young reader's time
The second book in the historical fantasy series is called The Empty Kingdom. Wein's other books, The Sunbird, The Winter Palace and A Coalition of Lions all feature the same characters from ancient Arthurian Britain and Ethiopia (Aksum) and Yemen (Himyar).

This is the first in a series about twelve-year-old Telemakos, a noble of ancient Ethiopia. His father is Medraut, a physician and wise man. Telemakos has recovered from his recent exploit (The Sunbird), and is overjoyed to hear of the birth of his sister. His father comes to tell him while Telemakos is playing with the pet lions of Emperor Gebre Meskal, and when he runs to his father the lions sense "prey" and attack him. It is a terrible mistake, and it leaves him changed for life. His injury and recuperation are so horrible that his parents despair of losing him, and they neglect the new baby--but Telemakos becomes close to little Athena, as he names her. They become inseparable. But dark times lay ahead--his aunt Goewin, the ambassador from Britain, and advisor to the Emperor, has been receiving death threats, as has the whole household. His parents discuss sending him away, and his life changes completely.

The settings, characters, and adventure are all dazzling. This is a series to pursue.

Note: Publisher said for middle reader, age 10 & up, however some of the violence would lead me to recommend this to an older child.

Armchair Interviews says: Read her other book, A Coalition of Lions--a young adult read.

2007-09-11 (Minneapolis, MN) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 4

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A wonderful book
I am a tough reader. My critical antennae are so twitchy that it's hard for me to be completely immersed in a book--I'm easily distracted by clunky writing, or obvious plot machinations, or by characters that seem unreal.

This book, though--wow. I read it straight through and loved every word. The bond between Telemakos and his baby sister Athena is so beautifully developed. I loved that, even as a baby, Athena is a force to be reckoned with. I loved Telemakos's courage and gentleness and intelligence. The recovery of Telemakos from injury and terrible memories is well handled as the story moves into new adventures and intrigues without forgetting about those old pains. The writing itself is fluid and clear, great storytelling.

This book makes me want to go read everything Elizabeith Wein has written. It's one of my favorite books of the year so far.

2007-07-18 (Iowa) | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 5

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The Sunbird

Description

Telemakos is the grandson of two noble men: Kidane, member of the parliament in the African kingdom of Aksum, and Artos, the fallen High King of Britain. Telemakos is also an exceptional listener and tracker, resolute and inventive in his ability to discover and retain information. Now his aunt Goewin, the British ambassador to Aksum, needs his skill. Plague has come to Britain, and threatens Aksum. Disguised, Telemakos must travel to the city of Afar where salt—the currency of sixth century Africa—is mined, and discover the traitor who has ignored the emperor’s command, spreading plague with the salt from port to port. This challenge will take all of Telemakos’s skill, strength, and courage—because otherwise it will cost him his life.

The Sunbird is the third in Elizabeth E. Wein’s ongoing Arthurian/ Aksumite cycle. Its striking, spare language, riveting plot, and all-too-human characters are unforgettable.

"The exotic culture and well-developed code of honor of the Aksumite court give this post-Arthurian/ancient Ethiopian fusion its striking flavor. . . . With her thorough command of historic characters, a grand scope, and a swift-paced, heroic plot, Wein has laid out an appealing and sumptuous literary banquet." (The Horn Book)

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Customer Reviews

Breathtaking
An amazing and harrowing tale of a young man who takes it upon himself to save the kingdom from certain death. I found the story fast-paced and never lacking in detail. Even though it is the third in a series (and I certainly want to read the first two!), it can be read alone. A richly woven story full of sights, smells and characters that won't soon be forgotten, this is one historical novel that should delight both girls and boys alike. Telemakos is a hero that we can all feel for.

2006-07-27 | erewhon77 (Kentucky, USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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An amazing story--you'll never eat salt in the same way again!
In yet another fine book dealing with the family of Artos of Britain, Elizabeth E. Wein returns to the world of Aksum. This book focuses on the adventures of Telemakos, son of Medraut and nephew of Goewin. He is sent by his aunt into the desert to discover who is behind a deadly streak of smuggling that could endanger the entire country. Telemakos suffers from abuse and loneliness on his mission, and we the readers watch in breathless anticipation, wanting him to succeed yet not quite knowing how he will.

Throughout the story, Telemakos is haunted by his silent father. The young boy is jealous of an uncle he has never known, Lleu the prince of Britan, the reason--as far as we know--for Medraut's utter silence. Slowly the relationship between father and son begins to develop, and it is a pleasure to watch.

Goewin has long been my favorite character in this series, and she holds her own well in this book. Telemakos has a good relationship with his aunt, and she is in the complex position of being his greates helper while placing him in the greatest danger. But she is still magnificent, the bold Goewin we recognize from A Coalition of Lions, yet a little more grown-up too.

This is a moving, intriguing story that gives one a new respect for the determination and resiliency of children, and testifies to the power both of individual strength and family relationships. Best of all, it leaves plenty of room for more--and I, for one, will be first in line for the next installment!

2006-03-23 | Rach (Sioux Center, IA USA) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 5

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The Winter Prince (Action Packs)

Description

Medraut is the eldest son of Artos, high king of Britain and, but for an accident of birth, would be heir to the throne. Instead, his younger half-brother, Lleu, fragile and inexperienced, is chosen. Medraut cannot bear to be commanded and contradicted by this weakling brother who he feels has usurped both his birthright and his father's favor. Torn and bitter, he joins Morgause, the high king's treacherous sister, in a plot to force Artos to forfeit his power and kingdom in exchange for Lleu's life. But this plot soon proves to be much more-a battlefield on which Medraut is forced to decide, for good or evil, where his own allegiance truly lies.

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Customer Reviews

Well Done!
An extraordinary and surprising retelling of Camelot from Mordred's point of view. I was completely surprised and charmed and am now hunting more from this author.

2009-07-06 (Waxahachie, Texas United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Great!
The book got here in excellent time, in great condition, and even nicely gift wrapped. I was very pleased.

2008-12-06 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Disturbing
This is a well written and engaging book but very disturbing for a "young adult" level book. The main character, Medraut, is a child of incest who is mentally and emotionally abused by his mother. There are hints that he might also have been sexually abused. He is trying to gain the approval of his father while trying to break away from his mother, Morgause, - yet at the same time he still wishes her approval. There are hints that he is sexually attracted to his mother, for example, he writes, "you (Morgause) stopped behind me to examine the game, and as you stood there you brushed the tips of your fingers against the back of my neck. Such a curious thrill of mixed delight and repulsion ran through my body that my arms broke out in gooseflesh" He's also torn about his feelings of jealousy/love for his half brother and sister. There is a scene in the book where he passionately kisses his half-sister to show her why she can't completely trust him and in what way he could hurt her. There are also hints that he is sexually attracted to his half brother, for example, when his kisses his half brother on the mouth and talks about his beauty. After reading this book I did not want my teen aged children to read it - though I did recommend the sequel "A coalition of Lions" to them.

2008-12-04 | traveling mom | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 2

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BEAUTIFUL!
I found this book absolutely stunning. I am a fantasy writer myself, and completely obsessed with Arthurian legend, but I never found it quite right that Mordred was just born evil. No one is truly born evil, and Ms. Wein portrays why Mordred (or Medraut) was so 'messed up.' I absolutely love this book- it is one of my favorites. Only people who only like the pretty story of Arthurian legend would rate this book anything other than a five star. OUTSTANDING!!!!!
also try "I Am Mordred" by Nancy Springer

2008-01-06 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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intense and dreamlike
This is my favorite Arthurian novel, hands down. It's a gem of a novel with a deceptively simple plot told in spare, fluid prose that infuses both characters and themes with dignity and grace, and great beauty.

Though most novels that deal with the Camelotian/Arthurian mythos struggle to maintain focus on both the larger picture of politics and religion and legend while not losing sight of the smaller interpersonal relationship picture, Wein avoids this by focusing her taut, simple, flowing novel on the relationships between the characters rather than on politics or religion.

This is not to say that politics and religion are ignored in this novel, but the main focus is on the characters, which are sharply and clearly drawn, as is the tangled web of the relationships that link them. Wein's Medraut is one of the most beautiful characters I have ever read in print; talented, competent, intense, and deeply bitter, not because he's hungry for power, (although there is an element of desire for greater responsibility in Medraut), but more because he's envious of his half-brother Lleu, Artos's son and heir to the realm.

In this story, it's not greed or ambition that drives Medraut to vie for power with his half-brother -- it's jealousy. Jealousy may seem like a petty reason to align oneself politically against one's father and brother, but jealousy, personal jealousy that has not a lot to do with one's career prospects or political ambition but more to do with being loved by one's parents, is an essential part of a sibling relationship. Jacob and Esau had it, as did Cain and Abel. Wein's novel beautifully illustrates the way in which small slights slowly simmer into true anger over the course of years.

Not only does jealousy figure into the relationship between Medraut and his half-brother, but also into the relationship between Morgause, Queen of the Orcades, and her brother Artos, High King. Interestingly, Wein plays down the possible rivalry between Morgause and Ginevra (otherwise known as Guinevere) over Artos's love, and absolutely pulverizes the whole Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot triangle by simply eliminating Lancelot. The resulting tale is a taut, fluid, beautiful examination of the heights and the depths to which revenge and envy can take us, and the deep and abiding love that often underlies even the most conflict-laden family relationships.

I also want to mention that the novel incorporates technology in a rather clever and subtle way. In Wein's Camlan, there are many ways to distinguish oneself -- one could of course go the traditional route and be an excellent swordsman, but one could also be an excellent hunter, rider, mapmaker, diplomat, farmer, or engineer. All of the above trades are portrayed as more or less equally valuable, which is unique in Camelotian novels; most novels tend to overemphasize the importance of swordsplay and other military talents, along with chivalry. You don't often see, as you do in The Winter Prince, such a high premium placed on non-military engineering, mapmaking, or translation, all of which are skills that a good ruler might well value highly.

I do like the way Welsh myth (drawn from sources such as the Mabinogi) plays into the novel. There's a tendency, I think, to tie Arthur to Christianity and the Crusades; that doesn't happen here. There's a little bit of Revelation that does get mentioned in one scene, but overall the book is tied more to the Lleu Llaw Gyffes mythos than to Christian tradition, which makes for (what I think) a more interesting novel.

Finally, it's worth noting that the characters in Wein's novel are quite cosmopolitan, within the bounds of their technology and medieval timeperiod. They know Africa exists; they know of the Romans, who bequeathed to them technological gems, like the aqueduct and the arch. They're not ignorant of Greek myth or of Christianity; it exists in tandem with the native religions of Britain (which is, thankfully, not portrayed as the earth-friendly Druidic peaceful pagan religion that's become so cliche now in retellings of Arthurian myth. Personally, I blame Bradley for that). Medraut himself is well-travelled and his grasp of the world encompasses not only Britain and the Orcades, but other nations and other cultures as well. It's refreshing to see such cosmopolitanism incorporated into such a uniquely British story, and it only adds to the book's savor.

The Winter Prince is a rare novel, beautiful and intricate, deep and powerful, with spare and intense prose. I'd highly recommend it.

2007-06-29 | icariflight (USA) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Coalition of Lions

Description

After the death of virtually all of her family in the battle of Camlan, Goewin&150Princess of Britain, daughter of the High King Artos&150makes a desperate journey to African Aksum, to meet with Constantine, the British ambassador and her fiancŽ. But Aksum is undergoing political turmoil, and Goewin's relationship with its ambassador to Britain makes her position more than precarious. Caught between two countries, with the power to transform or end lives, Goewin fights to find and claim her place in a world that has suddenly, irrevocably changed. . . .

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Customer Reviews

Not near as good as the first one
I loved "The Winter Prince" because Medraut was such an interesting character. I really love the King Arthur stories, so I was hoping that the sequel (Coalition of Lions) would be still set in Britain, with some of the same characters. It seemed like everyone was killed off in the sequel, though, and Medraut (an amazing character) was mentioned in the book for a short time near the end. It just seemed like the King Arthur culture and the African culture didn't mix well. Here would be my outline:

The Winter Prince: Set in Britain. All the King Arthur characters.

Coalition of Lions: The author seemed to kill off all the King Arthur characters, and veer off onto a totally different topic.

I felt like Medraut and his siblings were destroyed. I guess I'm just a too sentimental reader, but I got to know the characters from the first book. I'm disappointed in this sequel.
From Arthurian legends, to African lion hunting. Too much of a stretch for me.

2010-06-24 | Katie (USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

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A fan of Goewin
I have been an Elizabeth E. Wein fan since I discovered Winter Prince a few months ago, and I think this book is amazing. I really like the character of Goewin; she's tough and smart and she is not afraid to try things a woman in her time did not do. I admire that, and I also like her stubbornness. :) I enjoyed the plot, the dilemmas involved in the succession of kingship (especially for Goewin), though initially I had to keep looking up the Ethiopic terms in the back. But I found the whole book enjoyable, and I feel as if I know and care about all the characters at the end. I hope Ms. Wein continues this series for many more books, because I can assure you I will read them all!

2005-09-02 | Rach (Sioux Center, IA USA) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 5

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A rich, beautifully woven tapestry of a tale
Wein has pulled together the finest fabrics of fiction and brought them together in one masterpiece of a novel. The book is thick with lush description of the colorful Aksum and equally enthralling characters.

Princess Goewin is swept off to Africa, where she is to marry Constantine, after her family is killed. Here we meet Priamos, son of Caleb; Telemakos, Goewin's enchanting young nephew, son of her half-brother; and Candake, the "queen of queens," and many more. As the story progresses, Goewin learns much from Aksumite people and takes matters into her own hands.

Over all, this is an excellently written book that will leave readers of all ages waiting for the next companion book (The Sunbird).

2003-11-03 (Chicago, USA) | Helpful Votes: 4 | Rating: 5

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Worth the Wait
I read The Winter Prince six or seven years ago and I didn't know a continuation was in the works until a few months ago. Which is probably a good thing considering how annoyingly slowly those months passed. It was not the sort of book you forget.

I read A Coalition of Lions in a day. It's a fast read and actually a good deal lighter than The Winter Prince, though that's not saying much. Though the books follow many of the same characters, the narrators are different and I thought COL was not nearly as intense. The history, descriptions, and imagery in this book were wonderful. There are some clever connections, excellent lines, and memorable moments as well.

While it deserves every one of those five stars, I couldn't conceive of saying it is as good as The Winter Prince. But this in a sort of Joseph Heller sort of way. When people tell him he never wrote anything better than Catch-22, he responds with "Who has?" My favorite part was Medraut hitting the target (well, no not really but that was great). He didn't get many lines, but I would (and did!) wait six years for him, too. Speaking of waiting, let's hope the next book is on its way to the printers.

2003-04-18 | Helpful Votes: 7 | Rating: 5

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Der Winterprinz.

Description

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