The Astreya ‘Verse | Seymour Hamilton

In search of his strange inheritance, Astreya is deceived, betrayed and cheated, but he also finds love and makes loyal friends who help him achieve his destiny. Astreya is a tale of the sea, a mystery and a love story.

The Astreya Trilogy consists of three books: The Voyage South, The Men of the Sea, and The Wanderer’s Curse. The trilogy chronicles the adventures of Astreya, the son of a mysterious father he never knew.

River of Stones continues the saga, beginning 20 years after the end of The Wanderer’s Curse.

Ellie continues with an adventure featuring the eponymous Ellie, who first appeared in River of Stones.

Astreya’s Sorrow begins when Astreya has spent six years trying to find ou thow to avoid another Great Calamityu. He returns to find his familyk fleet and home port in conflict.

A work of great power, insight and ferocious imagination.

Spider Robinson, Hugo and Nebula Award Winner

Book 1: The Voyage South

Angel’s Share is a novella that is prequel to The Astreya Trilogy. The story is as told to Astreya and Lindey by a very old man who appears briefly in The Wanderer’s Curse.

When Astreya turns 17, his widowed mother gives him his father’s knife, a riddling notebook and a bracelet with a mysterious green stone. He sails south, hoping to understand what his father’s gifts mean. He encounters a community murdered by men cursed to sail forever, is storm-struck, betrayed by a shipmate, abandoned by his skipper, and rescued only to be enslaved. His luck changes, and he travels to The Castle.

He meets a painter, Gar, who is more than he seems, and his striking assistant, Lindey. Astreya is beginning to trust Gar and hoping that Lindey might share what he is feeling, when he discovers, too late, that Gar knew more about his father’s connnection with the men whose ships wander the ocean. Astreya respects Gar’s parting words and journeys to the sea with Lindey. Just as they are about to declare their love, Astreya is kidnapped by the Men of the Sea.
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When I first started reading Astreya, it drew me into its world in a way no other book ever has. Astreya is a fantasy, but its world is much closer to us in the US and Canada than the typical fantasy fare of European-folklore-inspired vampires or werewolves, or princesses and fairies. Author Seymour Hamilton has achieved a tale that is simultaneously magical and convincingly real
– Jessica Knauss

Book 2: Men of the Sea

Astreya, Book 2, The Men of the Sea Aboard Cygnus, one of the great ships whose mission is to ‘shun land lest honour be lost,’ Astreya must learn how to wield the power of his stone from his grandfather, even as he yearns to return to Lindey, who is working ashore and wondering whether if they will ever meet again. Astreya’s grandfather wants to decide his future, a cousin schemes against him, an uncle wants him enslaved or dead.

Who can he trust? People offer him knowledge and skills, only to turn against him or to die before they can tell him all he needs to know. As a consequence of two of these deaths, Astreya navigates Cygnus to find Lindey before his murderous, scheming uncle Mufrid does. A battle at sea ensues, involving death (real and apparent) and some revelations, more betrayals, and the need to repair damaged ships and restore Astreya and his friends to health. The book concludes with Lindey taking Astreya and his friends to Matris, the village she left to find her fortune.

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I was happy to see this latest edition that finalized this story, it was a great book series. I’m sad that it’s over.
Brad McGlothlin (Goodreads)

Book 3: The Wanderer’s Curse

Book three begins with Astreya and his uncle Mufrid each thinking that the other is dead. Astreya and Lindey face immediate problems with their reception in Matris, where her grandmother’s benign rule has been usurped, and the community is under pressure from a power struggle that is aggravated the arrival of Astreya and his friends. The effects of Astreya’s past adventures in book one catch

up with him, while at the same time Mufrid is rekindling his search for the navigation stones that Astreya can control and he can’t. His search takes him towards Astreya’s village in the great ship Cygnus, with Astreya trying to get there first to warn and protect the people where he grew up.

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If you’ve read [the series] this far, you’ve probably already read my two previous reviews for this book’s two predecessors. The only thing I have to add to them is that this book brings the trilogy to a very pleasing close, with just enough of the mysteries explained and all of the problems fairly solved. It is a trilogy to read aloud at bedtime to your companion, if you have that custom; they’ll be grateful.
Spider Robinson, Hugo and Nebula Award Winner

River of Stones

A sequel to The Astreya Trilogy, 20 years later.
Book 4 of the series

Only three stones of power remain, and only the eight descendants of Zubin can wield them. A ruthless and power-hungry man is intent on stealing the stones, murdering the three leaders of the fleet, and torturing the secrets of navigation from their children.

Grand master Astreya gives his daughter Mairi command of a ship with instructions to keep the younger members of his family far from danger. However, safety is elusive. Mairi must face political turmoil ashore, resolve conflicts with her twin brother Trogen, and lead her young crew through storms, dangerous passages, and battles at sea before she can discover the secret that will lead to the river of stones. This story can be read “stand alone”.
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The latest, the fourth in the series, has just been released. It’s titled River of Stones and it’s a gem. If I hadn’t already read the other three books, I know I still would have been swept away by this one. It stands on its own even while continuing the fascinating saga.
– Amazon Reviewer

Ellie

Ellie is a story about how Astreya’s neice lost her way and found it again.

Book 5 of the seriees

Ellie, the youngest navigator in the fleet, challenges the authority of her uncle Astreya, the Grand Commander. Only hours later, cannon shots cripple her boat, she falls overboard and is lost ashore. Ellie tries to return home to Matris, but unexpected friends and threatening foes intervene.

As her uncle, sister, and cousins search for her, Ellie is forced to travel by foot, horseback, and land crawler to the Castle, where the Governor is fomenting war. This novel will be of most interest to people who have read The Astreya Trilogy and River of Stones, but it can be read on its own. The illustrations are by Shirley MacKenzie.
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A perfect entry-point into a unique vision of a post-apocalyptic world…. so well-written you’ll probably be joining the many who plunge into the entire saga … and hope for more.Alex Morton, Author and sailor

Book 6 of the series

For six years Astreya has been trying to find out how to avoid another Great Calamity. He returns to find his family, fleet, and home port in conflict.

Can Astreya overcome his doubts and restore order?

The seventh book in this series about the adventures of a dynasty of maritime traders … It reads like immersive historical fiction.
A slow burn with many poignant moments, a range of emotions, and human nature revealed.
Linda Collison, Author

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Angel’s Share

A prequel to The Astreya Trilogy

Book 7 of the series

Angel’s Share is a story as told to Astreya and Lindey when they returned from the Village about how Able Angel helped establish Matris. This novella will be of most interest to people who have read The Astreya Trilogy and River of Stones, but as a prequel to the Trilogy, it can be read on its own. The illustrations are by Shirley MacKenzie