ISBN: 0-441-00440-7 Order from: Amazon.com
A shallow book of political intrigue, a vicious fight for power in a world overseen by gods.
Reviewed by David on August 23, 1998
Genre: Fantasy (High Fantasy, Politics, Epidemic)
Synopsis: A group of thieves gets involved in a power struggle as a unprincipled usurper of a nearby kingdom plots a takeover of the port city of Braedon.
Full Review: The city of Braedon's thieves are split between two factions: one led by the noble Lord Deveren, who urges moderation, and the other bent on murder as a tool to political power. When the king of a nearby kingdom dies under mysterious circumstances, the evil councilor imprisons the young heir and conspires with the thieves and pirates to attack Braedon. The two countries are overseen by a handful of gods, whose priests (called Blessers) can occasionally use the god-given powers.
Using the perverted magic of the god Health, the usurper plots to wound Braedon with a curse. Only a handful of patriots in both countries, and a few of thieves of Braedon stand between the coming evil and the fragile peace of both nations. After many fall victim to the dark plots, the wrathful gods assist the brave defenders and help them save the day.
The style of the novel is fairly pedestrian, and the plot strained. For instance, why would not one but two wealthy lord be part of a dangerous profession, and why, if Lord Deveren is so concerned about the relatively small handful of the loyal thieves did he not help them find safer occupation?
The villains are all very flat, and the struggle is quite predictable. The world description is highly generic with pseudo-medieval technology, and most characters' behavior can be predicted within a minute of their first appearance. The only unusual element of an otherwise juvenile-level fantasy is fairly brutal torture and murder of a couple of good characters.
Overall: 4.5; Plot: 4; Characters: 4; Style: 4; World-building: 4.5; Originality: 4;
Copyright date 1997, Berkley Publishing Group (Ace), May 1997, Mass-market, 326 pages
ISBN: 0-441-00440-7 Order from: Amazon.com