What do you think?
Rate this book
Rast
Imagine the worst possible time, the interregnum while rebelling magic forces slowly kill the reigning Drogar. Prince Egon has to take up the succession as the new sorcerer-king of Rast, and admit the deadly magic into himself in a manner he can control.
Yet Offrangs arrive on the coast, imperialists whose power comes from steam and iron, and who disbelieve in magic. Commander Antar seeks to conquer Rast. Egon has no time for caution, he must act at once.
He also has to help Jady, Guardian of the Silent Forest, escape from the evil Deepning Pools whose resurgence she has thwarted. Even more troubling, he must send his sweetheart away, for she is not from the magic lineage who can bear him an heir. She goes to meet the Princess destined to supplant her, with anger in her heart.
The oracle given by the Pythian, living beneath the Palace of Rast, predicts the crisis can only be resolved by everyone’s efforts – even the actions of enemies – until the Prince is established securely and able to turn the magic’s fury upon itself.
Conflict between materialists and a magic based society; between love and ambition; between magic forces residing within the world itself and the one man destined to control them. Rast leads fantasy into new dimensions.
Yet Offrangs arrive on the coast, imperialists whose power comes from steam and iron, and who disbelieve in magic. Commander Antar seeks to conquer Rast. Egon has no time for caution, he must act at once.
He also has to help Jady, Guardian of the Silent Forest, escape from the evil Deepning Pools whose resurgence she has thwarted. Even more troubling, he must send his sweetheart away, for she is not from the magic lineage who can bear him an heir. She goes to meet the Princess destined to supplant her, with anger in her heart.
The oracle given by the Pythian, living beneath the Palace of Rast, predicts the crisis can only be resolved by everyone’s efforts – even the actions of enemies – until the Prince is established securely and able to turn the magic’s fury upon itself.
Conflict between materialists and a magic based society; between love and ambition; between magic forces residing within the world itself and the one man destined to control them. Rast leads fantasy into new dimensions.
ebook
First published February 27, 2011
2 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 26, 2011
RAST magic is not a convenient parlour trick, it’s a deadly force that takes no prisoners. Those who must wield it are doomed, for it never ceases to work within the mind and nerves until it destroys its master.
And now, the time of the interregnum is here; the reigning sorcerer king, the Drogar of Rast, is struggling for a last grasp on magic power while his heir, Prince Egon, must take up the deadly mantle. Egon is fearful but courageous in his duty. Not one peril threatens Rast, but many.
While he struggles to tame the magic to his command the mechanistic Offrang adventurers arrive to seize the land for their empire. The Offrangs don’t just disbelieve in magic, they treat any attempt to discuss it with withering scorn. Then, when the Drogar falters, the North Folk sweep out in their multitudes to cover the land of Rast at the behest of their depraved Casket of Scrolls. Deepning too, a creature of earth magic in its mountain pools, stirs to gain power enough to conquer Rast.
The Prince’s sweetheart Jady does her best to support him, but she is not strong enough in the power of the lineage to bear him a magic wielding heir. She sets out to meet the caravansi of the cousin princess who is sent to be his consort with duty and anger both warring in her mind. The crisis will reveal surprising enemies, surprising friends, and as the Drogar tells Jady, “Even a Drogar may not see a future not yet determined.”
I did not enjoy this book at all, I found it stiff, wooden, dry and very confusing in detail, scope and breadth. I felt like I needed a whole other book just to explain this book and even the compendium that did come with the book didn't help this reader one bit. I have come to understand one of the most difficult things for a writer to accomplish is creating a whole new world to explore and adding in other influences such as the creature, inhabitants and/or terrains of these worlds can be a very daunting task.
I found that there was too much blather and emphasis on explaining situations occurring that could have better easily expressed in simple and more poetic forms of expression. I could see where the author wanted to go with the story but I couldn't quite push myself there and after 182 pages of reading, I just had to give up and leave the story unfinished and unattended. If you like detailed and formal prose while reading a comprehensive new world fantasy then this would be for you.
And now, the time of the interregnum is here; the reigning sorcerer king, the Drogar of Rast, is struggling for a last grasp on magic power while his heir, Prince Egon, must take up the deadly mantle. Egon is fearful but courageous in his duty. Not one peril threatens Rast, but many.
While he struggles to tame the magic to his command the mechanistic Offrang adventurers arrive to seize the land for their empire. The Offrangs don’t just disbelieve in magic, they treat any attempt to discuss it with withering scorn. Then, when the Drogar falters, the North Folk sweep out in their multitudes to cover the land of Rast at the behest of their depraved Casket of Scrolls. Deepning too, a creature of earth magic in its mountain pools, stirs to gain power enough to conquer Rast.
The Prince’s sweetheart Jady does her best to support him, but she is not strong enough in the power of the lineage to bear him a magic wielding heir. She sets out to meet the caravansi of the cousin princess who is sent to be his consort with duty and anger both warring in her mind. The crisis will reveal surprising enemies, surprising friends, and as the Drogar tells Jady, “Even a Drogar may not see a future not yet determined.”
I did not enjoy this book at all, I found it stiff, wooden, dry and very confusing in detail, scope and breadth. I felt like I needed a whole other book just to explain this book and even the compendium that did come with the book didn't help this reader one bit. I have come to understand one of the most difficult things for a writer to accomplish is creating a whole new world to explore and adding in other influences such as the creature, inhabitants and/or terrains of these worlds can be a very daunting task.
I found that there was too much blather and emphasis on explaining situations occurring that could have better easily expressed in simple and more poetic forms of expression. I could see where the author wanted to go with the story but I couldn't quite push myself there and after 182 pages of reading, I just had to give up and leave the story unfinished and unattended. If you like detailed and formal prose while reading a comprehensive new world fantasy then this would be for you.
January 24, 2013
(Note: I have such a pile of books to read, I'm taking my husband's reviews on some books I WILL read (someday), so new books can be evaluated by others.)
Review on Amazon:
When you have read as much science fiction and fantasy as I have (I started with Asimov's "Pebble in the Sky" back in the '50's) it gets harder and harder to find new ideas. I was delighted to discover a truly original (at least to me) take on magic in this high fantasy novel.
There are bad times a-brewing in the world of Rast. The old ruler is dying, finally overcome by the magic he has controlled throughout his reign (more about this in a bit). His son and successor, Prince Egon, is uncertain and untested in what he must do to master this same magic, which is vital to the survival of the realm. The prince must not only conquer the magic and learn to use it, he must also marry a princess from a related line of magic-users to produce an heir able to take over when the time comes. Problem is, the woman the prince has loved from childhood is not the one who can give him this heir. If this isn't enough, his kingdom has been invaded, not once, but twice. Fanatic hordes from the north have descended upon his realm, and an anti-magic empire from across the sea has sent a force to conquer with fire and iron.
What impressed me the most about Rast was the author's depiction of magic as a sentient force that must be conquered by those who would use it, and which would eventually and inevitably destroy the user. This was a new one for me, and it is well thought out and well handled.
The sub themes of the conflict between magic and science, the political intrigue, the forbidden love between the prince and the woman he has loved since they were children, all are woven together in a complex plot that requires the reader to pay attention. That attention is rewarded by a well-crafted story.
There are a couple of places where the author gets a little carried away with descriptive passages, but even those are well-written, just a little too long. In general, the world is believable, the characters equally so (I got really fond of Jady) and the action first-rate. If you enjoy high fantasy, you'll enjoy Rast.
Review on Amazon:
When you have read as much science fiction and fantasy as I have (I started with Asimov's "Pebble in the Sky" back in the '50's) it gets harder and harder to find new ideas. I was delighted to discover a truly original (at least to me) take on magic in this high fantasy novel.
There are bad times a-brewing in the world of Rast. The old ruler is dying, finally overcome by the magic he has controlled throughout his reign (more about this in a bit). His son and successor, Prince Egon, is uncertain and untested in what he must do to master this same magic, which is vital to the survival of the realm. The prince must not only conquer the magic and learn to use it, he must also marry a princess from a related line of magic-users to produce an heir able to take over when the time comes. Problem is, the woman the prince has loved from childhood is not the one who can give him this heir. If this isn't enough, his kingdom has been invaded, not once, but twice. Fanatic hordes from the north have descended upon his realm, and an anti-magic empire from across the sea has sent a force to conquer with fire and iron.
What impressed me the most about Rast was the author's depiction of magic as a sentient force that must be conquered by those who would use it, and which would eventually and inevitably destroy the user. This was a new one for me, and it is well thought out and well handled.
The sub themes of the conflict between magic and science, the political intrigue, the forbidden love between the prince and the woman he has loved since they were children, all are woven together in a complex plot that requires the reader to pay attention. That attention is rewarded by a well-crafted story.
There are a couple of places where the author gets a little carried away with descriptive passages, but even those are well-written, just a little too long. In general, the world is believable, the characters equally so (I got really fond of Jady) and the action first-rate. If you enjoy high fantasy, you'll enjoy Rast.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews