The Bristling Wood: Dawnspell: Deverry Act One: Book 3 (Review)

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553285815
Publisher: Spectra (April 1, 1990)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

The World of Annwn Blurb:

Over a thousand years ago the People of Deverry were driven from their splendid kingdom by their enemy, the Hordes, and forced to find sanctuary in the remote forests in the east of their lands where they eventually settled. Succeeding generations remembered these terrible events as the Burning - and they never forgot the cities, towns and marvels of the far, far west.

Dawnspell, the third compelling volume in Katharine Kerr's epic Deverry series, continues the bold saga of Nevyn, Rhodry and Jill as they battle with the evil forces threatening the world of Deverry in the decades that follow the Burning. Rooted in celtic mythology, this dazzling novel offers a vision of an extraordinary universe of magicians, kings, elves and prophets, of a world where love is triumphant - even over death

It is easy to see why this is such an enduring and much loved series. It just keeps getting better the more you read it. The story tightens up in this third installment of act one. This is due in large part to the reduction in past incarnations of the main characters. This go round only two are covered. There is the present reincarnation featuring Jill and Rhodry and a previous incarnation that takes place when the Kingdom of Deverry - as Jill and Rhodry know it - is being formed. By default, with the focus tightened, the character development is also more focused, making this my favorite book so far.

Of course, it helps that by now I am used to Katharine Kerr's writing style. I have seen it described as Celtic storytelling; meaning the story is told in segments according to importance to the main storyline. This explains the jumps in timeline and the seemingly random bits of back-story. Only they are not random; each jump has some bearing on the present events and is inserted into the book in order of relevance, even though you might not pick up on the exact relevance at the time. Once you get used to this, you learn to file away certain events in the old brain filing cabinet, because trust me, at some point later you will have an "Ah ha!" moment. It is actually alot of fun, kind of like putting a puzzle together without seeing the picture on the box first.

There is another fun component to the whole reincarnation factor. You never know who is going to show up in what role, although you can be sure that at some point in the story they will all cross paths. However, once they do, will they be the best of friends or deadly enemies? It makes the whole saga a joy to experience.

So is there anything I do not like about this book? Well, not really. It has all of the elements I love most about High or Sword and Sorcery Fantasy. It has elves, dwarves, elementals, tons of magic, a kick butt strong female lead, back-stabbing politics, high adventure, true love, more twists then a slinky, interfering gods and forces of evil. In this tale, Jill is truly coming into her own, playing both heroine and victim to perfection. Nevyn remains a fascinating character as he begins to show just how far he will go to save his beloved kingdom and Rhodry, both as himself and as his past incarnation, Maddyn, manages to surprise me with his depth of character. Equally as interesting is Perryn, though we are not sure exactly what he is. He plays a complicated role as both a truly evil individual and a purely innocent one. The balancing act that Katharine Kerr plays with this character is simply amazing. You hate him with a passion only to turn right around and feel sorry for the poor guy. By the time it is all said and done, you are not sure what to think.

Content is not as harsh as in book two. There is rape of a sort, cannot elaborate without giving away an important plot detail. There are love scenes but nothing terribly graphic. There is slavery and torture, which is never pretty but again, most of the details are left to your imagination. And, of course, it is a violent world at times but I do not think I have ever read a fantasy that did not contain violence. As with most good fantasies though, all of the bad elements are balanced by the good. Love, trust, and loyalty in the face of impossible odds, and in this case, lasting 100s of years, more then make up for the harsher elements.

There is one more book in Act 1 and I am off to savor it now. It will be interesting to see how Katharine Kerr wraps things up. (It has been so long since I read these I honestly do not remember.) Once this Act is concluded, the story is continued in two more acts consisting of four books each, followed by an epilogue, which has not been written yet. All of this just insures that those of us who love the world of Deverry will have plenty to enjoy for years to come.

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Darkspell: Deverry Act One: Book 2 (Review)

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553568884
Publisher: Spectra Revised edition (November 10, 1994)
Paperback: 432 pages

Publisher's Blurb:

On the long roads of Deverry ride two mercenaries whose fates like hidden deep in that of their own land. But Lord Rhodry, exiled from the dragon court of Aberwyn, has yet to discover his true parentage, and his swordmaster-lover, Jill, has barely glimpsed her awesome powers. Meanwhile, the ancient sorcerer Nevyn, held back by his vows from boldly intervening in their lives, can only watch and wait as Rhodry and Jill move ever closer to danger. For as the two struggle to recover the Great Stone, the mystic jewel that guides the conscience of the kingship of Deverry, malevolent dark masters are weaving terrifying spells against them--and displacing messengers of death.

Katharine Kerr has extensively rewritten Darkspell, incorporating major changes in the text, making this her definitive edition. Here the epic saga that began with the Daggerspell continues--a tale of might and magic, lust and glory, dark danger and poignant desires that echo from Deverry's sapphire waters to its secret mountain caverns. It's a spellbinding story destined to please fantasy lovers everywhere.

The second book of Act 1 is, if possible, even better then the first book. This time around we get to delve deeper into the personalities of the main characters while the back story (previous incarnations) continues to build. We also go much deeper into the "dark" side of dweomer magic.

Since I have already mentioned the dark arts, I am going to go ahead and give you a content warning. If you are at all bothered by rape, specifically the repeated rape of a male character, then certain aspects of the aforementioned dark arts will trouble you. It is not terribly graphic but close and you are left with no doubt about what is occurring. This is the type of thing that crosses age barriers. I know folks my age that would shy away from this subject while I know High School kids who know this type of thing goes on and would not be bothered by it in the slightest. Atleast not past feeling a certain amount of sympathy for the victim. It is also an important part of the story so you cannot just skip over it and still understand the result. I do want to note that it does not occur for shock value, it plays a vital role in character development and as a component of the magic system.

OK, now that we have that aspect covered, on with the good stuff!

I am not much of a plot person, being way too much of a character lover but as far as plots go, I prefer one that is complicated and multilayered. Well you do not get any more layered then this story. You have the present storyline that revolves around Jill, Rhodry, and Nevyn fighting against the forces of evil. You have the previous incarnations with their storylines covering the extensive back-story and you have the ever-present question, will Nevyn be able to help Jill fulfill her destiny in this lifetime or will he have to wait, once again, for her to be reborn. Whenever I read a book like this, I think of a tapestry. You start out with a bunch of individual threads of various colors, and then you weave them together, creating an intricate picture. It is really pretty amazing if you think about it, and this story gives me that very same feeling.

There is another aspect of this story that blows me away and that is how well it flows. You would think that a story that jumps timelines as much as this one does would be really confusing. And, ever so often, due to no fault of the author, I will miss a switch in timelines and be caught off guard, but as a rule, I have no problem with the change in focus. When you consider that these are not just simple changes of PoV, these are complete changes in characters, settings, story, and time, with Nevyn as the only common denominator, this is an amazing feat. It is also, as I mentioned in my review of Daggerspell, kind of fun. With each reincarnation, once you (or Nevyn) have figured out who is who this time; you look forward to seeing which traits remain the same and which ones change for better or for worse. The whole concept is very enjoyable.

Well, that is enough about book two. I am off to read book three. Meanwhile I hope you enjoyed the walk down memory lane and if you have not read this series yet, I hope you give it a try. It remains one of my favorites and one I reread atleast once every few years.

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Daggerspell: Deverry Act One: Book 1 (Review)

By Katharine Kerr

Genre: Sword & Sorcery, 16+
ISBN: 0553565214
Publisher: Spectra (November 1, 1993)
Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages

Publisher's Blurb:

Even as a young girl, Jill was a favorite of the magical, mysterious Wildfolk, who appeared to her from their invisible realm. Little did she know her extraordinary friends represented but a glimpse of a forgotten past and a fateful future. Four hundred years-and many lifetimes-ago, one selfish young lord caused the death of two innocent lovers. Then and there he vowed never to rest until he'd rightened that wrong-and laid the foundation for the lives of Jill and all those whom she would hold dear: her father, the mercenary soldier Cullyn; the exiled berserker Rhodry Maelwaedd; and the ancient and powerful herbman Nevyn, all bound in a struggle against darkness. . . and a quest to fulfill the destinies determined centuries ago.

This series is not only a beloved classic; it is an example of Sword & Sorcery at its best. The story is so unique that you will remember it years after you have forgotten the name of the series and the characters. I know this to be fact because I have seen many questions like this on forums over the years.

"What is the name of those books about a wizard who can not die until he finds his reincarnated fiancé and makes amends for causing her untimely death?"

Which is an accurate description of this series, though it is a bit more complicated then that.

Inside the covers of this book, you will find plenty of familiar Fantasy tropes. You have the disgraced Prince in exile, outcast mercenaries, the ancient wizard posing as a simple herbman, elusive, misunderstood (and thus feared) elves, evil sorcerers plying the Dark Arts, gnomes and fae type creatures that only magic wielders can see, and the list goes on... However, it is how Katharine Kerr handles these tropes that gives this book, and series, its charm.

The worldbuilding is incredible. The setting is rich in Celtic overtones, as is the language used. The magic system is well thought out, with limitations in place as to its use. (I love magic with rules) The method of story telling itself is different and may take a bit of getting used to but let us see if I can explain further, without making you scratch your head in confusion.

There are four storylines and each is told in small chunks. First, we have poor Nevyn who has lived for 400 years and is in search of the current reincarnation of the five souls whose destiny he must set right. Then we have the original fiasco where a set of unfortunate choices results in the destruction those five lives, interfering in their predestined Wyrds. The story then switches between several other reincarnations that have taken place between the time of original events and Nevyn's current search. Confused yet? Well it does take some quick thinking at times but if you stick with it, it will all begin to make sense. Not only will it make sense but you will find yourself addicted to the story and losing whole chunks of your own life in the process. You will even find yourself trying to guess which person in each reincarnation matches one of the original five, or atleast I did. Trying to figure it out before Nevyn is half the fun!

Once you get used to the storytelling style, you will discover a tale that keeps you fully engaged in the unfolding events. Boring is not a word I could imagine using in conjunction with this book. It twists, it turns, it has action pouring off the pages and there is constant underlying question, will Nevyn ever find a way to make things right? Meanwhile you have plenty of entertaining characters, desperate wars, evil sorcerers, human tragedies and heart wrenching love stories, all designed to keep you glued to the pages until you look up and wonder where the time went.

As far as content goes, this book has definite adult overtones, which should be taken into account. There is incest, moderate profanity, plenty of violence and a few mildly descriptive love scenes but nothing overly graphic. I am comfortable with saying it is readable by 16+ but that will depend on the maturity of the reader. As always, this is only my opinion and should be taken as such.

There is a reason why this series remains in print and I for one am grateful for this fact. Over the years, I have worn out or loaned out, and never gotten back, multiple copies of the books in this wonderful classic. Highly, highly recommended!

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Worldweavers (Series Summary)

A Fantasy Series Summary

Author: Alma Alexander
Series: Worldweavers
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+
Publisher: Harper Teen
Book Reviews of: Gift of the Unmage - Spellspam - Cybermage

The Worldweavers trilogy by Alma Alexander is a unique blend of magic, technology, spirituality, ancient cultures and alien races. I can hear you now going "huh?" How do you mix all that and make it work? Well all I can tell you is that this is why Alma Alexander is an author and I am not. She not only pulls off this feat of creativity, she does so in some interesting and fun ways.

This is the story of Thea, a magicless girl in a magical world. In many ways, Thea is not so different from teenage girls in our reality. She has school, friends, annoying siblings, and parents who do not understand her. She has fears, doubts, and insecurities. She also has aliens who will pay any price to possess her, a world that expects her to be the most powerful mage to ever have been born, and an aunt who can smell emotions.

Intrigued yet? Well, all is not fun, games and magic spells for our poor wannabe mage. You see, she has not shown a glimmer, not even a smidgen of a hint of this awesome magical power she is supposed to possess. As a result she is the butt of her sibling's jokes, a severe disappointment to her parents, considered by her teachers at magic school to be a hopeless case and if that is not bad enough, is facing being sent to the Wandless Academy. Or, as Thea calls it, "The Last Ditch School for the Incurably Incompetent."

The Worldweavers trilogy is a coming of age story filled with difficult choices and emotional turmoil. It is also about love, faith, the loyalty of good friends, conquering your fears and dealing with the consequences of your actions. If it was about just these issues alone, it would be a great story, but set in Alma Alexander's vivid and original world, it entertains as well. The result is a delightful series that will keep you in empathy with the characters and turning pages way past your normal bedtime.

Adults will find this a fun read that will bring back memories of their time as a teenager while wishing that our world was a bit more like the one Thea lives in. Teens will be entertained by the uniqueness of Thea's world while identifying with some, if not all of the issues that Thea and her friends face. It is a delightful read for almost any age.

If you want more information on this series, I suggest reading the individual reviews where I go into a bit more detail. (Though not too much!) Highly recommended for lovers of character driven fantasy, especially those who are looking for something with unique settings and interesting adventures.

Read an Interview with Alma Alexander Similar Reads from LibraryThing Free Fiction by Alma Alexander The-Homemaker Author's Web Presence Website - Blog - Facebook Available in Ebook and Kindle See the individual reviews for purchasing options

Gift of the Unmage: Worldweavers: Book 1 (Review)

By Alma Alexander

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, 12+
ISBN: 0060839554
Publisher: HarperTeen (March 13, 2007)
Hardcover: 400 pages
Read an Excerpt

Publisher's Blurb: (Highlight to read blurb, personally I think it gives too much of the story away.)

Who knew you'd be a true weaver?

Great things have been expected of Thea, the seventh child of two seventh children. Now, with Cheveyo, a mage, Thea has begun to weave herself a new magical identity, infused with elements of the original worlds. But back home, Thea keeps her abilities hidden and attends the Wandless Academy, the one school on Earth for those who have no apparent magical talent. It is there that Thea realizes that her enemies are hungrier and more dangerous than she knew. What's more, her greatest strength may be the powerlessness she has resisted for so long.

I had some reservations when Alma Alexander asked if I would look at her Worldweavers series. A quick glance told me it contained computers, which gave me pause. I much prefer alternate realities that take place in historical or original settings. THEN, I noticed that it had aliens. I am not fond of reading Science Fiction either. I do not mind watching it on TV but reading about warp drives and space travel makes my eyes go crossed. However, I did not give up, I keep reading and I ran across references to ancestral Indian spirituality and a Federal Bureau of Magic and I realized that this was a completely new situation. I mean how can you resist a book that contains alien races, computers, and ancestral magic. For that matter, almost everybody in this world has magical abilities! Suddenly I could not wait to see where all this was going.

I was not disappointed. The world that Alma Alexander created is uniquely her own. Computers and cars aside, it bears alot and yet very little resemblance to our own. This world literally has everything you could imagine. Time travel, portals, alternate realities, other dimensions, aliens from other worlds, ancestral spiritual beings, and almost everybody has some type of magical ability. Even better then that, all these divergent elements feel natural. If I could open a door and step into this world, I believe I could live happily there without too much of an adjustment and never look back. Does worldbuilding get any better then that?

Oh but it gets better. This book not only fired my imagination, it has great characters too. This is the type of YA fantasy that even an old fart like me can really enjoy. Thea, the main protagonist, is so identifiable. If you were, or knew that teenager who never fit in, you will connect with Thea. Poor girl was supposed to be the next great mage. As the seventh child of two seventh parents, she was expected to possess an amazing magical talent. All of the Double Sevens, as the ones who had been born before her were called, exhibited some type of exceptional magic. That is until Thea came along. Instead of being exceptional, it appears that she has no magical talent at all! This teenager, at an age where just being a teenager is bad enough, has to deal with not only being a disappointment to the world (actually, several worlds) but to her family as well.

Alma Alexander does an excellent job of showing the angst, self-doubt, hurt, and the defiant self defense mechanisms that somebody in Thea's position might struggle with. You understand her anger mixed with sadness, her fear of that look of disappointment in her father's eyes as she fails in magic school, the one he tries to hide. You sympathize with her jealousy of her six older and magically talented brothers (well, there is Frankie but atleast he has some magic, even if he never quite gets things right.) Plus, she is not the only great character in the book, just the main one. (Warning, bad pun incoming...) It was love at first read! (Feel free to groan now, I did....)

It gets even better, no seriously, it does. The pacing was perfect and exactly what I would hope for in a YA book. Information was evenly paced, not coming at you too slow or too fast. And yet, alot happens in just 400 pages. So much that I was frankly amazed at how much activity the story covered and how smoothly it all progressed. Life long friendships are formed, characters develop, the main conflict is resolved, the mystery is solved, or most of it anyway. It had a very satisfying ending but not so much that you do not want to immediately move on to book two and experience more of the adventures of Thea and her friends. If there are any faults in this book, I am unaware of them. Likely, they got lost in my delight in both the story and the characters. YA it might be but I feel like I have made some new friends and now, if you do not mind, I think I will go spend some more time with them. I will be back at the conclusion of book two!

Highly, highly recommended for both YA and adults who love an imaginative world peopled with very real human beings.

Series Summary
Other books in the series
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