Jennifer Roberson has written a fantastic, sweeping series that spans generations. It is so much more than cliche sword and sorcery fantasy. It's about moral struggles, genocide, and prejudice. This installment is my favorite of the series because the main character, Aidan, is such an interesting person with an unusual lir (animal familiar). His inner struggle to find his place in the destiny of his people is so important that he is gently prodded along by several of the Cheysuli deities. The history of what has happened in the series so far is revisited in Aidan's encounters with the spirits of his long-dead royal kin.

One thing - don't even bother trying to read this book unless you have read the first six. Briefly: Book One, Shapechangers, is an enchanting introduction to the world of the Cheysuli; Book Two, The Song of Homana, was kind of slow and hard to get through for me, but thank goodness I did because the rest of the series is so fantastic; Book Three, The Legacy of the Sword, covers the struggle of Donal, the first Cheysuli Mujhar, to be accepted by the people he must rule; Book Four, Track of the White Wolf (which is my second favorite of the series), is about Niall, who hovers between the world of the Cheysuli and the Homanans without really being a true part of either one; Book Five, A Pride of Princes, is about the terrible experiences at the hands of the malevolent Ihlini that cause Niall's three sons to come of age; Book Six, Daughter of the Lion, switches gears and focuses on Keely, Niall's daughter, and her fight to accept the womanhood she's tried to ignore; Book Eight, A Tapestry of Lions, is the magnificent conclusion of the series with the fulfillment of the prophecy coming in an unexpected fashion and one of the best endings I've ever read in a fantasy series.

I read the Cheysuli Chronicles as an adolescent but find myself picking them up time and time again to reread them and delve back into the depths of this portion of Cheysuli History in Homana.

Flight of the Raven has been a long-standing favorite of mine. Aidan is an excellently developed character--he is probably my favorite out of all the Cheysuli royalty. Ms. Roberson once again manages to portray Aidan and the rest of the characters in a manner that forces you to empathize with them and share in their internal struggles, fears, hopes, and dreams. This novel stands apart from the rest of the Cheysuli Chronicles as it delves more closely into the mysteries of the Gods and is generally more spiritual. As with the rest of the Chronicles this novel pitts Cheysuli against Ihlini, but the struggle in this novel has the highest stakes I've seen yet and is definitely the most heart-wrenching. I recommend it to those who have read the rest of the series.

I have read the whole series and highly recommend all of them. Ms. Roberson is creative and thought provoking. She accomplishes both with a beautiful writing style that evokes very real images of her characters, their personal triumphs and tragedies and that of the Cheysuli race. There is tragedy and triumph in abundance here from a fertile and well thought author and while eight books may seem like many, it won't after you have read the first one! Read and enjoy!

Sword Breaker is the fourth book in Jennifer Roberson's Tiger and Del series. It wraps up the original story arc of vengeance pursued by the obsessed Del. I have been a fan of this series since page one of the first book. Rather strange since I really don't care for much else from Roberson. As an author myself, this is the series I wish I would have written. The characters are fleshed out in a way rarely seen in any genre, much less fantasy. The odd contrast of heroic deed and all-too-human foible, especially in Tiger's case, makes for reading that will make you wish you lived there, and laugh at some of the things that happen to those who do. The fact the Jennifer chose to write this first person is surpassed only by the amount of insight to the male psyche she obviously possesses. Many were the pages when I mentally nodded my head at something Tiger did, because I probably would have done the same. The world Jennifer creates here is very simple, mere carbon copies of Norse and Arabic cultures, yet that is not the strength of the series. That focus comes from the reality of Tiger and Del and the way they reveal themselves, by bits and turns, to be so very human. I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone looking for a good read that will stick to your ribs and leave you with memories of a life not your own, but one just as impactful all the same. So go out and buy Sword Dancer, the first installment, and before you know it, you will be setting down Sword Breaker, the fourth book, with a wry smile and a strange affection for uppity horses.

This series, and thusly, this book, are required reading for any fantasy fan. Roberson made an interesting choice in using first person perspective, and even though it is a strange choice in this genre, she carries it out flawlessly.

Also, an interesting commentary on various social issues.

This series is one of my favorite. It takes you over and each character lives on in your mind, even after setting the book down. If you like first-rate fantasy with wonderful plot and characters, this is a "must read."

. . . she's a warrior, a princess, a shapechanger who, unlike her fellow Cheysuli, can take any shape whatsoever and talk with any lir (totem animal) while being bound by none (again, unlike any other Cheysuli). But she's lonely. Her brother Corin has gone off to rule Atvia, her other brothers Hart and Brennan are doing their own things too (ruling other kingdoms, or helping to rule), and in any event, she's miserable.

Topping everything off, she's about to be married off, which she hates. She's trained, mostly in secret, to become the best warrior possible. She fights with knife, bow, and in lir-shape; she does not want to be told she's weak in any way, shape or form. And she most certainly doesn't want to marry, as the only marriages and long term relationships she's ever seen have been predicated on the women being weaker than the men -- and them liking it that way.

And that's definitely not for her. What's to do?

Keely's betrothed, Prince Sean, looks on from afar, and is impressed. He likes her spirit and wants her for herself, yet he knows she won't believe him. Why would she, when she's been told so many inaccurate things about how to behave "like a woman," when she's never been any of them (meek, mild, eager to please, inoffensive)? He pretty much figures, "Why would she believe me, anyway? Even though I do want her as is." So he devises an ingenious plan . . . .

I don't want to give away too much more of the plot than that. Suffice it to say that Keely is a very engaging character; she's smart, tough, nobody's fool, and extremely impetuous. She's also gifted, a good warrior, a loyal friend and companion -- and manages to get taken running away from her betrothed, right into the arms of Strahan the Ihlini.

One problematic point. There is an extremely long series of rapes in this book; some younger readers might miss it, but just in case, it'd be better not to have them read it until they're older and can understand. It is consistent with how Strahan has been shown in earlier Cheysuli books; the man is evil, and doesn't care who he hurts so long as he does right by his own lights -- which are deeply and horribly skewed due to early influences by his father.

I respected Keely all the more after she'd been raped, because she didn't give up. As she swelled in pregnancy, she refused to give in, despite believing her child would be the worst tainted imaginable (due to her mother's mental illness and Strahan's evilness). The child dies, thankfully unborn; that spared a whole lot of angst on that side.

However, just because the child ends up dying before birth doesn't mean the moral implications are shirked; Ms. Roberson explores 'em all, with great virtuosity and depth of feeling. Anyone reading of Keely's plight will share her pain in the horrible circumstances, while sighing in relief after her unborn child (born of the rape) dies unborn, unless they are totally callous and have no heart whatsoever.

What Keely fights in the latter half of the book is not only societal strictures against the "appropriate" roles for women, but also her own beliefs. She never wanted this to happen, and loses most of her self-esteem, sense of worthiness, and becomes deeply depressed, yet hides her condition from others. This, too, is very plausible; it's how victims of rape act, especially if they've become pregnant from the act of violence.

It's because of Keely's heroism, internal and external, that I'd recommend this book not only to fantasy and romance readers, but to others who need to know there is a way to survive and go on. Keely managed it; others can too, by reading how she manages to survive. Even though Keely is a fictional character, she's true to life, moving, honest, and seems more real than many people you might meet on the streets of the world's cities today.

Better yet, Keely rebuilds her life, if painfully, and finds not only life again, but love eternal, all without sacrificing one iota of her beliefs. This is an extremely powerful, uplifting message, one worth sharing with just about everyone you know in my opinion.

Highly recommended for anyone over the age of about fourteen or fifteen. Five stars plus.

This is one of the best books I have ever read .It starts with keally sword fighting a habit knowen by those who have read the books that came before this. Ironically her sister in law is with a child again and keally has her temper flaered up again by this for Alieein may die. then finding out she is bethroed to sean, then meeting his half brother rory she finds out that sean,well never mind I can`t tell you, you have to read this great series.

This book is a great read, and definitly one of my favorite in the Cheysuli series. Daughter of the Lion focuses on Keely, Niall's daughter. Keely is a greatr heroine, a lot like Alix in many aspects. In a Pride of Princes (book 5), Keely's 3 brothers had to accept their destinies as well as fight off the Ihlini. In this book, Keely finally faces the challenges the of the Ihlini and learns to accept that she is a woman, even though she was raised on weapons. Sean and Rory are great characters, too, and theirs an interesting plot twist at the end. Also, more of Taliesin, the Ihlini harper, whom I love, the a'saii (cheysuli purists), and Maeve, Keely's older half sister, although she does not play a crucial role in the story.
This book gave me another loveable heroine, who will not be forced to do what she decides not too, and who can fight for herself. If you liked book 1 (Shapechangers), my other favorite, and Alix's character, then your bound to like Daughter of the Lion, too (or vice versa). Also, in reading this book it does hgelp if you have some background with the Cheysuli books, although you dont have to have read the other books; it can stand alone. In all events, this is a great read, and I heartily reccomend it, especially to cheysuli readers.

If you enjoy fantasy, you will enjoy this book. It is the last book the the Cheysuli Chronicles, and finishes a saga that covers one-hundred years of fantastical history and brings about the end of a magical prophecy. It is my favourite book in this series next to Daughter of the Lion. If you like Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andre Norton or Anne Mcaffery, you will enjoy reading this!

Like I said, this is far and away the best series I ever read. There are things in this particular book that broke my heart (like a death near the beginning), but there are also things that made me cry out of pure joy (like the cartain birth near the end). I was only about 13 when I read this the first time... four years later I still find it one of the most moving, best writtin series I have ever been privelaged to happen upon, and... well I sure like it, now YOUR turn to read!

The book is an excellent follow-up to Flight of the Raven. I currently have the whole series and still enjoy reading them from time to time.

What a fantastic book!
I married into the "Campbell clan" 6 years ago and approx the same time went to a Campbell family reunion. There was much talk of history/pride of clan etc, until one of the old aunties told me the Campbells were actually famous in scotland as murderers of Macdonalds!
I had never heard of the "Glencoe Massacre" until then, and stumbled across "Lady of the Glen" by pure chance.
What a gripping read from start to finish! Jennifer Roberson's writing style is wonderfully involving and had me hooked, i literally couldnt put it down. the story between Cat and Alasdair is truly beautiful (who cares if that is the only part of the storyline that is fictional?) and involving, and really made the dry facts of an historical event 300+ years ago come alive.
2 thumbs up for this unforgettable book and i cant wait to read the rest of her books!
I notice some of the other reviewers found the book a bit slow/boring/too historical - if it is a bawdy "romance" novel you are looking for, this is not the book for you, but if you are looking for a beautifully told, historically accurate account of realistic characters - you wont be disappointed.

I have never heard of the Glencoe Massacre until I stumbled across "Lady of the Glen" by pure chance. What a gripping read from start to finish! The story between Cat and Alasdair is truly beautiful and involving, and made the facts of an historical event a couple of hundred years ago come alive. I agreed with one viewer saying that this is a heavy historcal book...but the love story seems to fit into the book very well..when you read the book, you feel like you were there too... you feel their sorrow, joy, and anger...this is a book that will have you laughing out loud and crying your eyes out at the same time... all in all, this is a nice book for both romance novel readers and historical book readers...

It is real. It is powerful. This book strikes dead center. There really isn't anything more to say to be said.

Like many other fans, I was drawn to Sword-Sworn because of Tiger and Del. In past books, they and their relationship has always been a fascinating one: a male chauvinist meets girl power and because he falls in love with her, has to learn to deal with it. Certainly, over the span of the series, Tiger's attitude changes and his character becomes more likeable (to women at least).

What does not change (much) is Tiger's thinking, his internal comments and arguments are along the same lines as in early books, but the reader,as well as Tiger himself, recognises that he becomes more hypocritical as result. His chauvinistic tendencies no longer fit. Del has changed him; and he has changed himself. Tiger has become an unlikely hero, messiah and mage. But deep down, Tiger is just Tiger: the best Sword-dancer in the Southern lands.

And in this final epic episode, Tiger proves that he is just that. Despite ordeals Tiger has had to survive and resultant loss of fingers, Tiger can still dance.

I felt that this book started slow. Perhaps this was done with reason - Tiger himself does not really know where he is going (or where he needs to go) until well past half way in. But I felt a bit of strain and struggle by the author here. We dilly-dally and some of the plot development seems stretched. We expect a set-back or two, of course since a hero never reaches his goal without them, but I'm unsure that Del's fate with the sandtiger constitutes a serious obstacle in terms of Tiger's path of growth and discovery. Nor am I entirely convinced that Tiger's exploration of magical abilities is entirely meaningful.

I also felt that, sadly, Del's role in this book was almost redundant. She has become a mere hanger-on, a character with no goals, no purpose, whereas in earlier books, Tiger was Tiger because of Del. Del helped Tiger on his path, helped shape him, made him who he is. We almost forget that in this book, because this story is about Tiger. I found it lacking, since so much of the strength of earlier books was due to the role Del plays in Tiger's life. Here she plays no role, other than to settle Tiger down (and in an almost disappointing way, taking away any kind of adventure to their future lives).

Further, some important developments, such as Tiger's son and daughter, Abbu and the building of a new teaching facility, could have been developed more deeply instead of skimming over them at the end of the book. This might possibly be because of the first person POV, which has its limitations. I can't help but think it could have been handled more meaningfully since although this ties up some loose ends neatly for the author, we know that (psychologically and internally) life does not tend to be as neat.

As an avid fan of the series, I enjoyed this book and am glad that it was written. Personally, I believe the series might have ended 2 books earlier, and let the remaining stories of Tiger and Del live in the readers' imaginations.

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I've always strongly enjoyed the Tiger and Del series. They certainly aren't great literature, but they offer a satisfying mix of action-packed fantasy adventure, witty banter between two intelligent protaganists, and a growing and touching romance between the Southern Tiger and his Northern bascha, Del. Perhaps the biggest accomplishment is that a series written by a woman, who obviously has strong feminist convictions, is told from a male point of view, and convicingly at that. Ms. Roberson is also a good world-builder; the North, the South, and also Skandi sometimes seem so real you feel like you are there.

This book brings the series to a satifying conclusion. Tiger and Del have returned to the South, after Tiger's harrowing experience of becoming a mage in Skandi. Tiger has vague dreams of establishing a school to teach his sword-dancing skills, but first he must deal with the horde of other sword-dancers who want to kill him because he broke his own sword-dancer oaths. He also meets up with a young, handsome man who claims he wants to learn from Tiger, but may be interested in Del as well. The series does a good job of tying up all of the loose ends, and includes a number of surprises (including one I had hoped would happen). There isn't quite as much action in this one as in some previous books (especially Sword Dancer, which is still probably the best book in the series) and the banter between Del and Tiger may have finally worn out its welcome, but the last fifty pages will bring one revelation after another. If you've enjoyed Tiger and Del's stories before, you will like this book. If not, read Sword-Dancer to get a feel for the series.

Jennifer does it again in this last installment of the Tiger and Del series. This is one of my all time favorite writers and after you read this book, (or ANY book she has written) you will see why. Her talent in painting such vivid characters, evocative scenery and in weaving such sensual, colorful worlds with wonderfully unique customs will take your breath away. Its unusual to find such strong female characters that are at the same time believable, but Jennifer is the master! No fan of literature, let alone fantasy, should be with out Jennifer Robersons books. Her historical novels are also beautifully written and with such talent its an effortless journey deep into her worlds! Be sure and check out her web site to learn more about this fascinating author http://www.cheysuli.com/. And, no Im not friend and unfortunately have never had the privilege of even meeting Jennifer. Im just a huge fan and as a writer myself I am in awe of her work and am in total appreciation of her artistry.

Jennifer Roberson's Cheysuli series is a fun read. Obviously a lot of thought and care has been put into the characters, and the developement of the vaious races. Roberson has taken pains to create a complete universe, and I thouroughly enjoyed exploring it.

It's not *great* literature, and the later books I think show how Roberson has grown as a writer. The series has some flaws, as does much of the genre in general. However, this was the first and only fantasy series that I read all the way through without growing bored, which is a testament to the author's abilities.

I absolutely love this series. I find the magical races of the Ihlini and Cheysuli fascinating and very imaginative. Rarely have I come across a fantasy novel that captured my interest and held it as this one has. It has been my observation that most novels are interesting to begin with, but then they become stale and boring. This, however, is truly captivating and beautifully written.

Even if you hadn't read the books when they first came out, if you're a fantasy fan of such likes as JRR Tolkien or the Wheel of Time, you've found yourself a niche in this wonderful, emotional series by Jeniffer Roberson. Rarely is it that we find a series of books written with such devotion, love, and obvious caring for the characters, such maturity and lyrical prose. When a character dies....you FEEL it as though it were a friend of yours. Miss Roberson manages to convey in this wonderful world all the things we wish we could be and all the thing that should be said in today's society. Vivid, strong, confident and mesmerizing, the Chronicles of the Cheysuli should not be missed by anyone young or old.

This book is a sequel to Ms. Roberson's hit novel "Lady of the Forest." I adore that book. I was very excited when I discovered that there was a sequel. I read it in three days and was fairly satisified. I would not recommend you read it if you have not read "Lady of the Forest." The characters are not very well detailed in "Lady of Sherwood" and there is a lot of action that doesn't resolve itself until late in the book. But all in all, it was very enjoyable and I enjoyed reading it!

I must start out by saying that Lady of the Forest is my absolute favorite book. When I first read it, I was utterly captivated and entranced. I have read it several times since with the same result. Jennifer Roberson has an amazing ability to completely bring the scenes to life, in vivid color. All of the characters in Lady of the Forest are fully developed and interesting; you want to know more about them and what is happening to them. I was expecting the same kind of magic in Lady of Sherwood and was a little disappointed. It almost felt as though the author was trying to catch you up on the last book for half of Lady of the Forest. I found the characters to be less-developed, if possible, with absolutely no growth whatsoever. I found it difficult to find the central plot, whereas in Lady of the Forest it was very clear. I enjoyed the book because it involved the characters that I had come to love, but other than that, I don't believe I would recommend the book to anyone who has not read Lady of the Forest.

I don't want to give away the plot, especially since the book just came out. I've been waiting for this book for such a long time and had to read it the moment I got it.

Lady of Sherwood tells of the actual legend as we know of it, while Lady of the Forest was a prequel to the legend. Lady of Sherwood holds you until the end. Again, I wish deLacey was dead or worse. I'm also happy that this book doesn't strictly follow the politics, but focusing on the characters. You especially notice a change in Marian from the previous book.

For those of you who loved Lady of the Forest, you'll be wanting to read this. For those of you who have not yet read lady of the Forest, I would not say it is essential to reading the first book before this, but you'd be missing a great book.