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Title: The Wilding

Author: C. S Friedman

Narrator: Marc Vietor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-15-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The long-awaited sequel to C.S. Friedman's epic, In Conquest Born.

The tribal Braxan - created to become the ultimate warriors. The Azeans - raised to master the power of the mind. Two civilizations fighting an endless war over a long-forgotten cause. Now, after a century and a half, the legacy of their greatest military leaders threatens to tear apart both empires.

Members Reviews:

Unnecessary sequel

"To have an enemy worthy of ones respect that is a prize beyond measure. What is a lovers touch compared to such a thing? Love is but weakness shared, trials halved for being met in tandem. While a skilled enemy provides stimulation, challenge, and ultimately growth for all those who test their strength against his".

I didnt think that C.S. Friedmans wonderful space epic In Conquest Born needed a sequel, but here it is, nonetheless. The Wilding can stand alone, but In Conquest Born is a better book, so Id suggest reading it first.

Its a couple of generations after Zatar the Braxin and Anzha the Azean lived, but their legacies remain. The inbred Braxin society is still in danger of becoming extinct and they desperately need some new but acceptable genetic material. Their leader, the Pritiera, who has a genetic fault he hides by secluding himself, is unable to find a mate who doesnt quickly commit suicide. The Azean psychics, meanwhile, went mad and may actually be extinct, though many people think theyre hiding somewhere in space.

Conflict between the two races again comes to a head with the stories of three characters. Psychic twins Zara and Rho were separated at birth; Rho was raised as a psychic while Zara was not aware of her genetic potential. When Zara starts to get premonitions, she goes looking for answers and discovers her heritage and her special powers.

Tathas is a political traitor who has been sentenced to death by the Braxins. Encouraged by his lover KTeva (who may not be trustworthy), he invokes the right of the Wilding in which he goes into exile but may return if he can find a suitable mate (or just some good genetic material) for the Pritiera. While on their individual quests, Talthas and Zara meet and find some common ground, and they discover that both of their races want to understand the genetics behind psychic powers so they can crush their enemies.

What I liked most about In Conquest Born was its extensive world building, exciting action, and its exploration of some fascinating moral and scientific issues. The focus on psychology and genetics is still here in The Wilding (and Friedman gets her science right), but because its a sequel, the world-building has already been done and is no longer an emphasis here.

The plot of The Wilding doesnt quite make up for this loss. Its missing the intense action that made In Conquest Born so exciting. But what The Wilding is missing most is appealing characters. None of the characters, except for perhaps KTeva, are particularly interesting or admirable. This was a problem with In Conquest Born, too, but that book made up for it by introducing us to a fascinating new world and having a tight plot with plenty of action. And its main characters were interesting, even if they werent likable.

I didnt dislike The Wilding, but I didnt like it as well as I liked In Conquest Born and I dont think it added anything necessary to the story.