by
Martha Wells
ISBN: 0-380-97788-5 Order from: Amazon.com
An exciting adventure with well-drawn characters, this has lots of fighting, intelligence and systematic magic.
Reviewed by David on August 09, 2003
Genre: Fantasy (Alternate Reality, War, Multiple Worlds)
Synopsis: This book continues in the world of Ile Rien described in The Death of the Necromancer. The links are quite loose, and there is no need to read the earlier book, but it may give a bit more context.
The country of Ile-Rien, a vaguely European power in a universe with magic as well as techology, is under an attack by the mysterious Gardier. Large portions of the country are suffer devastating bombings, and the Gardier combination of technology and magic seems impervious to the best weapons of Ile-Rien.
Tremain Valiarde is a young woman, the last scion of a wealthy and once influencial family. In the bleak and increasingly chaotic days of war, Tremain's despair is sometimes an asset, as she vulunteers for deadly search and rescue duties in the bomb and fire-scarred capital.
When the desperate research of the remaining wizards requires Tremain's childhood toy—a sphere made by her father's friend the wizard Arisilde, Tremain is eager to help. The sphere is needed in the dangerous experiments to travel between worlds in the attempt to discover the untouchable Gardier's origin and weakness.
Tremain contributions, however, will be much greater than giving up a treasured toy, as the Gardier use both brute force and traitors to crush Ile-Rien.
Full Review: This is, as Wells' other novels, a literate, entertaining and tense adventure. Tremain is a capable woman, but she starts handicapped by her own sense of uselessness and lack of belief in herself. This handicap was a bit overdone, but, nonetheless, provides a solid backdrop for some of her decisions. The world of Ile-Rien, with its hints of history, plots, connections and rivalries is beautifully limned, hinting both of our own history and the exotic difference from it. Its disappearance under the onslaught of war is poignant and familiar.
Tremain and the characters around her are well drawn, likable but with common flaws. Only the enemy—the Gardier—come as one-dimensional and uninteresting, although threateningly capable.
This is clearly the first book in a larger series, and one looks forward to its sequel or sequels. One of the charms of the book is the growing friendship and affection between initially isolated Tremain and her allies—friendship that may lead to, but does not telegraph, romantic development.
Universe: Element of Fire
Overall: 6; Plot: 7; Characters: 6; Style: 6.5; World-building: 6.5; Originality: 7;
Copyright date 2003, HarperCollins (Eos), 2003, Cloth, 392 pages
ISBN: 0-380-97788-5 Order from: Amazon.com