ISBN: 0-812-54171-5 Order from: Amazon.com
A rather tedious filling-in of Modesitt's Saga of Recluce, suffering from long passages with little action, predictability and lack of conflict.
Reviewed by David on October 13, 1999
Genre: Science Fiction (Coming of Age, Pseudo-Scientific Fantasy)
Synopsis: In Candar, the might of the White Wizards of Chaos is almost unchallenged, with only remote constraints imposed by the Order-based island nation of Recluce. Having little tolerance for challenge, the Chaos Masters destroy any outsider that exhibits magical talents.
Young Cerryl, orphaned at a young age, is growing up under the shadow of the White Order. Even after his ambitious and gifted father is killed, Cerryl continues to search for magic. This novel describes Cerryl's early life, from hiding his talent as a poor mill-worker, to a despised student in the dangerous but sophisticated citadel of the Chaos Wizards—the white city of Fairhaven.
Full Review: While a reasonable storyteller, occasionally Modesitt goes overboard in describing the details of ordinary life. Such is the case here. Pages after pages are devoted to cutting lumber, loading carts, buying provisions, and many other things up to and including sewer cleaning. While helping to create a solid environment, this technique turns to tedium with overuse. The matter is not helped by the fact that this novel is largely a set-up for Cerryl's future adventures, thus lacking much conflict or suspense. Even worse, this is a retelling of a story that Modesitt already described in The Magic Engineer.
Overall, this is a disappointing novel, lacking in drama, and appealing mostly to intense fans of the Saga of Recluce.
Overall: 4.5; Plot: 4.5; Characters: 4; Style: 4; World-building: 5; Originality: 4.5;
Copyright date 1998, Tor, May 1999, Mass market paperback, 468 pages
ISBN: 0-812-54171-5 Order from: Amazon.com