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The Sapphire Rose
by David Eddings
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Harper Collins (1991)
ISBN: 0246133473
EAN: 9780246133472
Hardcover: 528 pages
SKU: 41615
Condition: New
Comments: GIFT QUALITY. THE HARDBACK BOOK! DEL REY, 1992. THE UNABRIDGED 1ST EDITION, STATED SO. 1ST PRINT. WITH TERRIFIC PHOTOGRAPHS! HARDCOVER W/GILT LETTERING, DUST JACKET AND PAGES ARE NEW! RAPID SHIPPING W/FREE TRACKING, GREAT PACKAGING. Air Mail. BL, RD..
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Customer Reviews
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SAPPHIRE ROSE REVIEW
Rating  (4)
Date: 2007-08-30
I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS AUTHOR'S BOOKS. THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE AS FANTASY BOOKS AT ITS BEST. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE.Sapphire Rose (Elenium)
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THIS IS A GREAT BOOK!
Rating  (5)
Date: 2007-04-17
Sapphire Rose (Book 3 of the Elenium)
OVERALL SCORE: (A+)
READABILITY: (A), PLOT: (A+), CHARATERS: (A), DIALOGUE: (B), SETTING: (A+), ACTION/COMBAT: (B+), MONSTERS/ANTAGONISTS: (A-), ROMANCE: (C+), SEX: (Light), AGE LEVEL: (PG13)
This is a very entertaining fantasy story, by one of the best fantasy writers of today, while it may not be quite as good as his "Belgariad" or "Malloreon" series, it comes close.
**SPIOLERS IF YOU HAVENT READ BOOKS 1& 2 YET!**
In Book 3, Sparhawk the Knight Militant of the order of Pandion Knights and Queens Champion, has finally cured his Queen Ehlana, and restored her to her throne. But Annias is still close to taking the Archprelate Throne of the Elene Church, with the help of Martel and the evil god Azash. This story revolves around the election and the politics behind it for the first have of the book, and it is fascinating and very entertaining! Then Sparhawk must go and use the Sapphire Rose to complete the quest in a dramatic ending.
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Won't disappoint
Rating (5)
Date: 2005-08-29
This is the last book in The Elenium and so all loose ends are getting tied. Sparhawk must save his pretty, young Queen, and this is accomplished pretty much in the first five minutes and for the rest of the book we watch as Sparhawk must save the world from the evil God, Azash and his underlings, Adus, Krager and Sparhawks sworn enemy, and one time friend, Martel. He must play a game he doesn't like, waiting for Martel to make his move and to follow him and try to stop him. He must do this without getting killed (his wife would NOT appreciate that) or allwing Azash to get his hands on the Sapphire Rose, or Bhelliom, the most powerful object in the world. Surprisingly, there is also a moment towards the end of the novel when you will need a tissue or two. All in all, this was a great book and has firmly cemented its place as one of my all time favourite books. If you're thinking about reading this book, then stop thinking and start doing, you don't know what you are missing out on.
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A Rose is a Rose is a Rose
Rating (4)
Date: 2005-07-24
4 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
With Bhelliom in hand Devid Eddings takes the plot of the Elenium into its final stanzas - curing Ehlana, undoing of Annias' plot to gain control of the Elene church, and the final defeat of the schemes of the god Azash. Each of these is a story in itself, and the book is densely plotted as the final phase of Sparhawk's efforts falls into place.
There is really only one serious problem with this book. The weakest character in the series makes her debut - Ehlana. Edding's, for some reason, tends to make his female romantic leads a strange combination of domineering and fluttery. C'nedra, in the first two series, is the perfect example of a woman who is stuck the stereotype of the devious female. Selfish, manipulative, irritating, and then occasionally she will step out of character. Elhana could be C'nedra's sister. She waken, maneuvers Sparhawk into marrying her, directly interferes in church politics like a pro, and then settles into a kind of wishy-washy background character. Go figure. The good news is that while Ehlana has a prominent role in the story, she actually doesn't have a very big part.
The most interesting part of the book is really the struggle for control of the church, which is pure politics and sneakiness. Annias' plans must be undone. This means that Sparhawk and the church leaders opposed to Annias must play a complicated waiting game in the hope that enough evidence will be found to expose the priest as in league with Azash. As Annias has managed to bribe himself into possession of a simple majority, this becomes a game of inches.
Once the politics are over, Sparhawk is free to perform his real duty. The world's only hope is that the Pandion knight can use his control of Bhelliom to work the end of Azash. Not an easy task, and Sparhawk must overcome not only the Sapphire Rose, the the ancient troll gods before he can enter the city of Zemoch and confront Otha and Martell for the last time. His companions once again are his squire Kurik, his friend Kalten, Sephrenia, the first knights of the Elene orders, and Talen, the thief. The interplay of the characters is as good as always, but this is the third quest of the series and it gets a bit familiar at times.
As usual, Eddings wraps things up tidily with a strong climax, throws some curious hints in the epilogue and then the curtain descends. Of the three different series so far, this is both the shortest and the best written. The Belgarion is, perhaps, the most original, but the Elenium is the work of a mature writer, and it shows. As you might expect, this is only a temporary stopping point - we are promised yet another sequel.
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My favorite Eddings book ever!
Rating (5)
Date: 2004-06-03
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
The "Sapphire Rose", of course, is the Bhelliom, an object of such enormous power that worlds literally revolve around it and Gods have fought wars for it. All Sparhawk cares about, though, is that it is the one thing that can save the life of his poisoned Queen, Ehlana.
Ehlana's healed pretty early in, which leaves the rest of the book for Sparhawk to vanquish evil, destroy the Bad Guys, etc etc. See, once the Bhelliom resurfaces, Azash, the evil God of the Zemochs, knows who's got it. Since Bhelliom is the one thing Azash needs to free himself from his prison and take over the world, he's a little interested in getting Sparhawk to give it to him - or wresting it from his cold, dead hands, whichever's easiest. To that extent, there's a long, protracted section of the book devoted to the election of the Archprelate (the equivalent of the Pope) in the Holy City. If Annias, who secretly worships Azash, can buy enough votes, he wins, and Azash gets Bhelliom. So before Sparhawk can go off and kick immortal butt, he and his buddies have to head off this impending disaster first. It's political, it's complicated, and there are long sections where nothing happens but debate and voting. But it's also intelligent, witty, and gives several characters (including Ehlana) a chance to shine. Put it this way - if you think the political stuff in "Star Wars" is too complicated, you'll hate this part of the book. But if you enjoy that stuff, as I do, and seeing how wars are won by more than sword-waving, this book is fantastic.
Of course, there's real action, too - Sparhawk does face down Azash, with some help (of course). Ehlana and Sparhawk get married - their love story is both awkward and romantic, and quite cute. And someone dies - I can't say who, but I cried when I read it. (And there's no "Man-with-two-lives" business as in the Belgariad.)
The best book in a great series!
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