ISBN: 0-553-57807-3 Order from: Amazon.com
With what appears to be the start of a conventional fantasy epic, this novel feautures a travelogue-type plot with lots of fight scenes, an ancient evil menace, and politics.
Reviewed by David on October 15, 2000
Genre: Fantasy (Sword and Sorcery, War, Coming of Age)
Synopsis: Several young men on the brink of becoming adults in their ritual-based community mature quickly as a deadly magic invasion from an old enemy to the North starts to take shape. Fighting monsters, the young men, including the narator, Tarrant Hawkins, become instrumental in bringing the news to the capital. However, despite their courage and the alliance of elven warriors, the human politics prove nearly as deadly as the immortal power invading the South.
Full Review: The novel combines a lot of action with conventional dialogue and politics. There are a couple of innovative elements, especially the societies and the rituals surrounding Hakwins' and his friends entry into the adult world. These elements add an element of exoticness to the otherwise standard plot with elves, orc-equivalents and politics. The romantic element is fairly minor, and is handled well, and the main character is likable if a bit too familiar as a well-meaning but naive hero.
On the whole, while mildly enjoyable and exciting, the novel elements in this fantasy provide a slender advantage in this member of a very large sub-genre: an epic fantasy war series.
Overall: 5; Plot: 4.5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 4; World-building: 4.5; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 2000, Bantam Books (Bantam), March 2000, Mass market paperback, 402 pages
ISBN: 0-553-57807-3 Order from: Amazon.com