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The Hidden City: The House Wars: Book One Hardcover – March 4, 2008

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 461 ratings

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The incredible story that fans of The Sun Sword series have been waiting to read-the battle for control of House Terafin-from a writer of "talent and depth."*

Orphaned and left to fend for herself in the slums of Averalaan, Jewel Markess- Jay to her friends-meets an unlikely savior in Rath, a man who prowls the ruins of the undercity. Nursing Jay back to health is an unusual act for a man who renounced his own family long ago, and the situation becomes stranger still when Jay begins to form a den of other rescued children in Rath's home. But worse perils lurk beneath the slums: the demons that once nearly destroyed the Essalieyan Empire are stirring again, and soon Rath and Jay will find themselves targets of these unstoppable beings.
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michelle West is the author of three interconnected series: The Sacred Hunt duology, the six-volume Sun Sword series, and The House War novels. She has published numerous short stories, as well as fantasty novels, under her maiden name, Michelle Sagara. She was a two-time nominee for the Campbell Award. She works part-time at BAKKA Books, one of Toronto's larger bookstores, and writes a column for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. She can contacted via her website, michellesagara.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ DAW; First Edition (March 4, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 624 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0756404703
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0756404703
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.94 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.91 x 9.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 461 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
461 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book's engaging plot and character development. They found the writing style impressive and well-crafted. Readers described the series as amazing and a great start to a fantasy series. They appreciated the author's exploration of morality and the weight of judgement in the story. Overall, customers felt the book was an enjoyable read and a good introduction to the author's work.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

34 customers mention "Readability"34 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story enjoyable and worthwhile, saying it's a satisfying start to a new series. Readers appreciate the author's writing style and enjoy the whole series.

"...It’s extremely hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters..." Read more

"...It was so interesting reading it that I was very happy to find out there are already more books in the series and I will be buying those as well." Read more

"...flaws (and there are a number I haven't mentioned), it's a good read with many virtues and certainly worthwhile to those who have read the Sun Sword..." Read more

"...Really, it keeps your interest and often has turns you don't see coming." Read more

18 customers mention "Plot"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the plot intriguing and complex. They appreciate the characters' depth and texture, as well as the excitement, suspense, and adventure in the stories. The plot is thought-provoking with plenty of foreshadowing and mystery elements.

"...It’s extremely hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters..." Read more

"...of the long-abandoned underground city that gives the book its name are intriguing, but, unfortunately, West gives them little space in this 600-page..." Read more

"This is well written and has a diversity of characters. Interesting story line. The books are long enough to be satisfying...." Read more

"...and less about the destination, because Michelle West paints an amazingly rich and detailed world and it's one heck of a great ride...." Read more

17 customers mention "Writing style"13 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style. They find the author's writing impressive and praise her as a talented writer. The characters are well-drawn, though enigmatic.

"...to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters and excitement in..." Read more

"This is well written and has a diversity of characters. Interesting story line. The books are long enough to be satisfying...." Read more

"...but nearly every character is well-rounded and her writing style is impressive" Read more

"Michelle west is a rich author with a writing style that you don’t dare read or skim fast. Characters have deep texture, amazing parts in the story...." Read more

16 customers mention "Character development"16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters' development. They find the characters interesting and have deep characterization.

"...who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters and excitement in the stories." Read more

"...I loved the storyline and how she built the characters and the world they inhabit...." Read more

"...other than what they are, is also a wonderfully drawn if enigmatic character...." Read more

"This is well written and has a diversity of characters. Interesting story line. The books are long enough to be satisfying...." Read more

9 customers mention "Series content"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the series content. They find it an excellent start to a fantasy series with wonderful characters and adventure. The storyline is well-linked, and the world-building is excellent. Readers appreciate that the author doesn't produce many short books but provides a longer narrative.

"...I also love the fact that Michelle does not produce a multitude of short books but provides a longer and more complete portion of the saga in one..." Read more

"...it that I was very happy to find out there are already more books in the series and I will be buying those as well." Read more

"...books of the Sun Sword, so I'm very pleased that the author has written another series from her perspective...." Read more

"...Great characters, good story line and link for a series, excellent world building, and lots of mayhem and adventure...." Read more

8 customers mention "World building"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's world-building. They find it engaging and well-crafted, with a hidden city and beautiful characters. The author has improved Jewel's characterization from previous books. Overall, readers describe the book as beautiful and hooked.

"...I loved the storyline and how she built the characters and the world they inhabit...." Read more

"Weird and confusing writing technique but a beautiful book which got me hooked unexpectedly in my very harsh taste for high end fantasy genre." Read more

"...This set of stories has already much, much, much better characterization of Jewel than the previous stories...." Read more

"...Great characters, good story line and link for a series, excellent world building, and lots of mayhem and adventure...." Read more

5 customers mention "Morality"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's morality interesting. They say it wrestles with the definition of good and bad, and the weight of judgement and guilt. The story is thought-provoking and draws them in.

"...favorite author as she seems to have a clear understanding of pain, morality and guilt that is easily presented in her books." Read more

"Fantastic story. Bittersweet and thought-provoking...." Read more

"Real feeling characters. High stakes. Draws you in and holds you...." Read more

"Interesting the way she wrestles with morals, definitions of good and bad, and the weight of judgement and guilt!..." Read more

4 customers mention "Author"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the author's books. They find them excellent and a great series.

"Got of to a slow start but then I couldn't put it down. Love all the books by Michelle West." Read more

"Michelle is a great author and I really enjoy her books. I like learning about Jewel's life and how things started. On to the next book!" Read more

"Another great series by Michelle West/Sagara. Rounds out some of the characters you meet in the Huntbrother series. Her books are addictive." Read more

"Another excellent read from Michelle West!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2019
    Michelle is one of my all time favorite authors. I find it hard to set Michelle’s books as five star when they really deserves to be in the realm above a five star rating system. I own almost all of the author’s books and have never been happy setting them down in the middle of a story to take a break. As a result there have been many overnight reading sessions or simply falling asleep while reading. As I am not a person who reads and drops a good book, I have continually returned to these books to read over and over again. I also love the fact that Michelle does not produce a multitude of short books but provides a longer and more complete portion of the saga in one book. It’s extremely hard to find such an interesting and exciting author who not only writes intelligently but also provides top rated plots, characters and excitement in the stories.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2021
    I got the Kindle version of this book because I was not going to be able to bring an actual book with me and needed something good to read. I loved the storyline and how she built the characters and the world they inhabit. It was so interesting reading it that I was very happy to find out there are already more books in the series and I will be buying those as well.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2009
    It must be difficult to write a prequel. The author's hands are tied by what the readers already know about the characters and their histories. We know Jewel Markess will eventually become very powerful, that her mentor Rath will be murdered, and that several of her "den", including the dangerous and thoroughly unlovable Duster, will die bloody deaths. On the other hand, Jewel's reluctant benefactor Rath never appeared in West's earlier novels except as a vague memory. It's perhaps not surprising, then, that so much of what is good about THE HIDDEN CITY has to do with Rath and not with Jewel or the orphans she collects. Rath's friend Haval, a man who teaches Jewel and Duster how to be seen as something other than what they are, is also a wonderfully drawn if enigmatic character. The wonders of the long-abandoned underground city that gives the book its name are intriguing, but, unfortunately, West gives them little space in this 600-page-plus book. As always, West overdoes it a bit; a good editor could have cut the book down to 400 pages, making it punchier without losing anything of importance. Despite the book's flaws (and there are a number I haven't mentioned), it's a good read with many virtues and certainly worthwhile to those who have read the Sun Sword series and the earlier Hunter books. Note that readers may find value in re-reading the Hunter books, particularly HUNTER'S DEATH, before tackling HIDDEN CITY.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2018
    This is well written and has a diversity of characters. Interesting story line. The books are long enough to be satisfying. I really hate a book that is the equivalent of short stories designed to take your money. These are long and remind me of A Song of Ice and Fire where you need it broken up because of length. Really, it keeps your interest and often has turns you don't see coming.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2019
    This book starts the backstory on Jewel (Jay) Markess, who features prominently in the Sun Sword series by this same author. It shows how she first met Rath, how she built her "den" and answers a lot of questions about her past. We sort of lost track of this character in the final books of the Sun Sword, so I'm very pleased that the author has written another series from her perspective. A very satisfying start to a new series about this spunky young woman.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2022
    Had to take multiple breaks while reading this story.
    It is worthwhile to read this story.
    But read with caution.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2022
    Weird and confusing writing technique but a beautiful book which got me hooked unexpectedly in my very harsh taste for high end fantasy genre.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2018
    I originally read this book in paperback. More recently I bought a copy for the kindle because that where I spend most of my reading time and I wanted to re-read this series. If you enjoy characters that do things that are good, and don't make you cringe while at the same time are not "superman, master of the universe" you'll enjoy this author. If you like slightly lighter fare start with the "Cast In ..." series from the same author (under the name Michele Sagara).
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • rhueless
    5.0 out of 5 stars vivid and sad
    Reviewed in Canada on June 23, 2014
    This book is a real tearjerker but I would recommend it anyway and I can't believe that kindle demands a certain number of words per review!
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2014
    Fascinating introduction to Jewel and her "den" as they begin their journey from the streets to the highest House in the city. At the end of the book, the den are living with the man who rescued Jewel and scraping a living finding and selling historical artefacts and trying to avoid the attentions of demons.
  • Amélie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un début de série prometteur
    Reviewed in France on July 6, 2013
    Après un succes unfructueux avec Broken Crown, j'ai enfin réussi à rentrer dans l'univers crée par Michelle West grâce à Hidden City. Son world building est fabuleux, avec énormément de détails, les personnages sont fascinants et grandissent petit à petit; je me suis beaucoup attachée à Rath et à Jewel.

    J'ai beaucoup aimé les ruines de la cité caché qui forment un environnement très mystérieux et parfois angoissant. Le scénario est égaement très intéressant et j'avais tellement hâte de voir ce qui aller se passer que j'ai lu les deux premier tomes de la série en un weekend.
  • Sharman Horwood
    4.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative and Interesting
    Reviewed in Canada on November 4, 2024
    This novel has good characterization, and a very good plot. The story is well thought out and the characters believable--as is the magic, and I wish there'd been more of that. Really enjoyed the book and have ordered the sequel.

    However, she does draw out her dramatic moments a bit too much (otherwise I'd have given it five stars).
  • Susan Cook
    4.0 out of 5 stars A really good read.
    Reviewed in Australia on May 4, 2019
    I enjoyed this book but found the beginning a bit slow. Jay the female lead character is an interesting character and both mature and naive for a ten year old. Rath her new mentor is somewhat distant and often gets lost trying to understand her and has no idea how meeting her will affect the life he lives. Loved the Michelle Sagara “Tales of Elentra” series and this book indicates that the House War saga could be as good.