On the eve of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the kingdom of Branion. The four DeKatherine cousins, under the guidance of Celestus, head of the family, organize a heretical conspiracy that threatens to bring down the kingdom's leading noble family and perhaps overthrow the ruling house, too. Each cousin wrestles with internal conflicts as well as with the others and with the legality and risks of the plot. Reluctant heroes or villains in fantasy now seem to be coming in entire families--a far cry from the genre's early days, when solitary wanderers were the norm. But Patton handles the varied elements necessary to an inevitably more complicated plot very skillfully. The fourth book in a series, The Golden Sword stands well on its own, thanks in part to a chapter-by-chapter cast list that especially helps newcomers. Overall the book is a 5/5.'

My opinion of this book is great. I read this book of a series without reading the first three books. In this book what's so great about it is that you can read this book without reading the rest and still know whats happening. The only part I dislike is that they show the book from two points of veiw when truly only one point of veiw is necascary. What intrested me the most of this book is that it just wasn't some lame fanasty you see every day. But instead the author used four aspects fire, wind, sea, and oaks. This book is great for young alduts. ( )