ISBN: 0-671-87737-2 Order from: Amazon.com
This novel of struggle of decent people against murderous magic features appealing characters amid a slew of fantasy staples.
Reviewed by David on February 14, 1999
Genre: Fantasy (Swordfighting, Magic)
Synopsis: Reandn was a happy senior guard in a royal court losing relevance in a world of communications frayed by the disappearance of magic years ago. His happiness is shattered when magic makes its reappearence—by killing the people he loves. Hampered by disbelief and suspicion, Reandn struggles to find the murderer in a world convinced that magic no longer exists. Reandn, working without friends and plenty of enemies, fears the magic even more than the magician: because if the magic returns, the world will be filled with ruthless, powerful wizards, and no one will be safe.
The true problems for the desperate guard start when his only help comes from the people strangely intent on restoring the magic...
Full Review: A pleasant, competent fantasy, this book features an unusual character legitimately opposed to magic. The world of Keland lacks in originality, with the low-tech vaguely European culture of hand weapons, horses, ale houses and remote villages so common in fantasy. The characters and their interactions are handled well, with most people behaving rationally and plausibly, even the villains.
The only exception was an adolescent boy Tanager, who was incredibly annoying. The grandson of a former magician acted improbably badly even for our modern world, and even more so for the presumably less forgiving world of Keland.
In general, this is a competent, enjoyable book featuring well-drawn characters in a mostly derivative world.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 6.5; Style: 6; World-building: 6.5; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 1996, Baen Publishing Enterprises (Baen), August 1996, Mass market paperback
ISBN: 0-671-87737-2 Order from: Amazon.com