4.5/5 stars. In the same way that book 2 expands upon the green rider universe, book 3 added to the history and the lore while introducing us to the growth of the characters in exciting and real ways. Karigan has grown from a novice and scared but brave woman into a sort of teacher herself through the series but continues to learn. Overall the plot of the book was exciting, even if some minor questions remain unanswered for the next book. The book shifts perspectives between several different groups which lets the reader in on the entire context, but I found it a touch annoying because I was so invested in what was happening with Karigan. I enjoy romance within fantasy and I think that it is done well here where it is not at all center-stage but a small part of the larger plot. ( )

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: The High King's Tomb

The D’Yer Wall is all that stands between the evil magic of Blackveil Forest and the kingdom of Sacoridia. If it falls, evil will be unleashed and the descendants of Mornhavon will be one step closer to their goals. Over the centuries, knowledge of the D’Yer wall has faded away, and the guardians within it are beginning to fail. Though Karigan sent Mornhavon forward in time, there is no telling when he will reappear in their future. As the fate of the wall hangs in the balance, Mornhavon’s descendants are beginning to mobilize, utilizing magic unseen since Mornhavon’s time. The green riders have no idea the enemy they are about to face, and the power they wield.

When Karigan is asked to deliver messages and purchase horses for the green riders, they seem like ordinary enough tasks. But along for the journey is a new green rider named Fergel. Karigan was quite the troublemaker as a student, and Fergel is going to test her patience. Reading how Karigen becomes frustrated trying to find ways to work with Fergel will make readers reflect on how Karigan herself behaved in the first novel. Readers will find Fergel has many difficulties emotionally and mentally he has to face, adding extra depth of layer to the character.

The High King’s Tomb makes many characters face the mistakes of their past. Not only does Karigan find herself with a difficult student but Alton D’Yer is faced with the consequences from book two. As the only person able to help the D’Yer wall, he embodies frustration at the inability to complete his task. This elicits anger and outbursts as he tries to process and face the reality of his actions. Kristen Britain does a fantastic job showing characters during difficult times and the downward spirals they can experience. Alton’s struggles coincide with the wall’s deterioration, building a sense of unease and gradually mounting tension.

The amount of character growth and development seen in this series is phenomenal. The High King’s Tomb also continues to expose the lore of the world, unearthing forgotten magic and past fears. There are small moments teased throughout the novel showing how far Mornhavon’s followers will go to bring back his evil. And despite such small actions on their part, they elicit rippling effects felt by everyone. I cannot wait to see where book four ventures, and what Karigan and crew will face next. ( )

August 16th
I started reading this late yesterday, and I've gotten into the story pretty quickly. Its been quite a while since I read the first two books, and I am feeling rather lost and I forget what happened in the first two. As this book seems to take place a month or so after the second book, I think I need to put it down and re-read the first two before I continue.
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December 13th
Ok - finished reading the first two books again, and have started the third book again. Amazingly enough, I understand what is going on now! :-)
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January 2, 2010
Finished! The story was good, but I was easily distracted from it so took longer to finish than expected. I really hope that the next book wraps up the story - it feels like it is dragging on too long. ( )

I'm very 3.5-4 on this one. I can't really decide. If I could give midway points, it would be a 3.5 or maybe a 3.7. A friend of a friend/a friend was super excited when I recognized a Green Rider poster on her wall recently, and her enthusiasm (along with the invitation to take part in an upcoming trip to a viewing of *actual Kristen Britain manuscripts*) interested me in finally picking up the rest of the series. Especially as she said Book 3 was her favorite, and that supposedly I would never be able to put it down one the book left The Frost House.

I listened to this as an audiobook but never felt compelled to go out of my way to find ways to listen until the last day, which was well after the Frost House, and I manage to read all of Nemesis Games & two of the paleo cookbooks before the main characters even got to the Frost House. I loved most of this book. I love the different places it was told and the far reaching story again. I still have some long term, from originally reading book 1-2 and all these year until 3, issues with her reliance on certain reactions/actions from characters.

Specifically -- everyone licks their lips, or gets lost in their thoughts and misses out on conversation bits, or beads of sweat from one specific spot.

The plot itself was good though. Well paced. Characters were believable in both joy and frustration. The continual ramping of more Second Empire, without a satisfying smack down, was a great job of leading into further books. I continue to lean the hardest on wanting to hear more about just Zachary and Karrigan, which is probably going to go badly for me, because the only directions this can go are very soap-opera-y and I'm invested in all three characters in those moments.

I was very disappointed that once Karrigain, Fergus, Dale, Alton, Mara, Amberhill, etc were all given their conclusion bow out dues in amazing stead that the author chose to narrate without detail the Larin-Estora conversation. I was incredibly disappointed about it. Especially when those two characters had thought a lot through the book about getting to that point. Which was more important to me than Larin-Estora bringing it to Zachary, who had the response I predicted he would in whatever first chapter referenced the need for the talk.

July might see me buying the next one in this series, too. We shall see.

( )

Update: July 9, 2018. Decided I would try it again.
Old review follows: Gave up after 57 pages. Prose just couldn't compare to what I've just been reading by Jennifer Roberson. Chapter endings didn't feel right. Too much narrative explanation. Too much female "silliness", like what I'd expect in a romance novel. Disappointing ... I'm just glad I didn't actually buy the book.

Update: April 26, 2019. Gave up again, pretty much for same reasons. ( )