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Empress (Godspeaker, Book 1) Mass Market Paperback – Illustrated, April 1, 2008

by Karen Miller (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 269 ratings
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In a family torn apart by poverty and violence, Hekat is no more than an unwanted mouth to feed, worth only a few coins from a passing slave trader.

But Hekat was not born to be a slave. For her, a different path has been chosen.

It is a path that will take her from stinking back alleys to the house of her God, from blood-drenched battlefields to the glittering palaces of Mijak.

This is the story of Hekat, precious and beautiful.

A new fantasy trilogy of power and politics, treason and betrayal, and the rise and fall of Empires . . .
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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 3
    Godspeaker Trilogy
  2. Print length
    717 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Orbit
  5. Publication date
    April 1, 2008
  6. Dimensions
    4.25 x 1.5 x 6.75 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0316008354
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0316008358
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karen Miller was born in Vancouver, Canada, and moved to Australia with her family when she was two. Apart from a three-year stint in the UK after graduating from university with a BA in communications, she's lived in and around Sydney ever since. Karen started writing stories while still in elementary school, where she fell in love with speculative fiction. She's held a variety of interesting jobs but now writes full time.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orbit; Illustrated edition (April 1, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 717 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316008354
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316008358
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1.5 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 269 ratings

About the author

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Karen Miller

Karen Miller

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Karen Miller was born in Vancouver, Canada, but was raised in Sydney, Australia where she still lives today. She wanted to be a writer from early childhood, but that took some time to happen. While she was waiting she worked as a public servant, a receptionist, in the horse industry, in local government, in publishing, in telecommunications, as a college lecturer and ran her own science fiction/fantasy/mystery bookshop. She fell in love with Star Wars when she saw it on the big screen, the very first time it was released in 1977. That love affair has lasted her whole life. So far she's written six mainstream fantasy novels and two Stargate SG-1 tie-ins.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
269 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Elle
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible and underrated
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
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I read 50+ fantasy books a year and this is an incredible read. I loved the thoroughly complicated and nearly unlikeable main character, I loved the supporting cast, it made me think and wonder about the gods... lovely and compelling world building -- I felt i could feel the sand under my feet.

It's very good. It's not 'traditional romantasy' but full of complex, morally gray characters. Devoured and moving onto book two.
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Phenomenal
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2024
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Well, first this was very well written and made it to where I could crawl into the places.

Secondly, the characters were very likable except the main character. In this case, you are not supposed to like her.

Overall, I loved the book. I can't wait to jump into the next story.

I would recommend this book if you want something dark and challenging.
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Nerine Dorman
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is not for everyone
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2014
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I’m going to start by saying that this book is not for everyone, especially judging by the reviews that it has already received. Many hated it enough to spew some truly vituperative opinions. Plainly put, there are a number of reasons why readers would put the hate on.

First reason: Hekat. She starts out as the unwanted, unloved spawn of a goatherd in a village where women are little better than livestock themselves. In fact, Hekat has no name until she is sold to slavers. Hekat can be forgiven, in that regard, for not knowing love. But as for blind ambition and religious fervour, she has that in abundance. Her survival instinct is strong and she isn’t afraid of using every opportunity to better herself. I have to hand it to Karen Miller. Hekat could not have been an easy character to write because she has few, if any redeeming qualities. Even the love she feels for one of her sons smatters of obsession.

I often wondered how many of Hekat’s actions were taken out of her ability to lie to herself about what she *thought* the god of Mijak wanted instead of that which was truly just. Hekat murders to get what she wants, which is to stand as supreme ruler of a united nation. On one hand, her meteoric rise to power is fascinating to watch, and in that sense she is engaging. The fact that she won’t allow her lowly origins or gender to stand in her way is commendable, even if her methods are distasteful. She is so convinced – utterly so – of her right to power, that she won’t let anything or anyone stand in her way.

Vortka was taken as a slave at the same time that Hekat was, and was chosen to serve the god. Though the religion of Mijak is cruel and bloodthirsty, requiring much sacrifice, Vortka however sees another aspect of the god – that of love and mercy. In that, he stands as Hekat’s opposite in many things, and tempers many of her harsher judgments, though he himself is powerless to stop her from making her more rash decisions. He is nonetheless complicit to her wrongdoings, blinded by his adoration of her.

Other characters also find themselves hampered by their love or hate of Hekat. Her sons, the priest Nagarak, and all to a degree are but a means to an end for her. There really is little to like about her, even if she possesses the vision to unite a nation of warring factions.

At the heart of this novel, and perhaps the reason why I feel it is so good, is the depiction of religion in the hands of people, and how they are able to transform it into a tool for good and for evil. Human interpretation of divine will is depicted in its subjectivity, making the readers aware of this danger when people allow their personal whims free rein – especially catastrophic when these same people are in positions of power.

And Hekat does become drunk on her power.

Other aspects to mention include the setting, which evokes the exotic – somewhat a blend of the Middle East with Asian Huns. If you liked the way GRRM wrote about the Dothraki, then the nation of Mijak will hit the spot.

Readers who are disturbed by graphic depictions of violence and animal cruelty had best avoid this novel. What I appreciated about Empress was the setting and the subject matter – vastly different from stock standard fantasy. This sort of culture shock might not be for everyone. In this regard Empress is a challenging but rewarding read, and I am looking forward to the novels that follow.
11 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Trilogy
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2010
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So often with fantasy novels the evil/bad guy story line is almost always uninteresting to me. It always feels like an after thought and I generally skim read those chapters. With Empress you get to know the characters on the wrong side of the track so to speak. You get to know their world and what makes them tick. It is never dull or boring. The country of Mijak and the story of Hekat are bold and full of life. Another reviewer mention an old world testament feel to the story and I agree. There are no shades of grays in Mijak. Mijak is a country where live revolves around their God, who requires sacrifice in pain and in blood & will smite the wicked. It's very hard to give a review of this book with out it sounding a little scary or gory. But I found it to be neither of those things. I was more then a little worried by the reviews I read, but intrigued at the same time, so I downloaded the free sample and I was completely hooked! The first book is a really great story, give it a try.

I would give the rest of the series 4 stars. The only problem with it is the characters seem to have many of the same arguments again and again. And it is a bit more narrative driven then plot at times and that is not my preference. But overall the whole series was so enjoyable it made me get off my duff and write a review.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Papito
2.0 out of 5 stars Two Stars
Reviewed in India on November 16, 2017
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Very annoying.
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Chloe
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2014
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This book is probably the second best I've ever read (after Magician by Raymond Feist). I've read Empress about 5 times now and it never fails to amaze me. Every book by Karen Miller is fantastic, I love them all. I still have a lot more fantasy to read, but I can't imagine I'll find a book to top this one any time soon... I've read the negative reviews about this book, some are just ridiculous. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, given, but hopefully you'll love it as much as I do!
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Bren
4.0 out of 5 stars Empress
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 23, 2014
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Unfortunately I read the Empress second instead of first in the set but I really enjoyed this book and reading it out of sequence id not deflect my enjoyment.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2020
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Brilliant book that sets the trilogy up perfectly.
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jenny
3.0 out of 5 stars lack of empathy or compassion in the book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2020
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I liked the premise of the book but was really disappointed in the delivery. too much blood and gore not enough empathy or compassion or sympathy. except at the very end when the prince got fed up of killing everything in sight.
it was a good story line but could have been done much better. i persevered to the end but nothing persuaded me to read the second novel. very disappointed.
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