This fantasy is full of imagination and introduced me to a
thread of magic I hadn’t come across before. Whether that type of magic is
entirely the invention of the author or not I don’t know, but it’s a very
effective story element.
I was hooked straight away by this tale of intrigue, with
the mad king intent on apparent self-destruction as he greedily sets about obliterating
all that is good in his kingdom. The central protagonists, male and female, are
fully realised characters about whom the reader very quickly cares. The lesser
characters are cleverly drawn so that they, too, are real people. Many
different quirks and faults are employed to make the cast into real
individuals.
The story moves quickly and the pace only slows when
appropriate, allowing the reader to gather background information and details
of relationships before being plunged into further action. I found the balance
of description and action very well done.
I read this in ebook form and wasn’t able to access a map,
which would have been a useful addition. I don’t know whether the book comes
with a map or not.
Personal commitments prevented me reading this lengthy tome
at one sitting, but I was always eager to get back to it. It’s a page-turner.
If you like your fantasy told with skill, passion and imagination, you’ll enjoy
this read. I thoroughly recommend it.
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