Scion of Cyador

The Saga of Recluce #11

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

L.E. Modesitt, Jr.'s Scion of Cyador continues his bestselling fantasy series the Saga of Recluce, which is one of the most popular in contemporary epic fantasy.Having survived an extended stint fighting both barbarian raiders and the giant beasts of the Accursed Forest, Lorn has proven himself to be a fine officer . . . perhaps too fine. Too much success has made him a marked man with rivals and enemies. When he returns to his home, both he and his young family become targets while all of Cyad is in upheaval over the death of the Emperor.“An intriguing fantasy in a fascinating world.”—Robert Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of The Wheel of Time® seriesSaga of Recluce#1 The Magic of Recluce / #2 The Towers of Sunset / #3 The Magic Engineer / #4 The Order War / #5 The Death of Chaos / #6 Fall of Angels / #7 The Chaos Balance / #8 The White Order / #9 Colors of Chaos / #10 Magi’i of Cyador / #11 Scion of Cyador / #12 Wellspring of Chaos / #13 Ordermaster / #14 Natural Order Mage / #15 Mage-Guard of Hamor / #16 Arms-Commander / #17 Cyador’s Heirs / #18 Heritage of Cyador /#19 The Mongrel Mage / #20 Outcasts of Order / #21 The Mage-Fire War (forthcoming)Story Recluce TalesOther Series by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.The Imager PortfolioThe Corean ChroniclesThe Spellsong CycleThe Ghost BooksThe Ecolitan MatterAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Magic, Science Fiction Fantasy, Science Fiction, High Fantasy

737 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 9, 2001

About the author

L. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.

He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit I fell in love with this book. Of course, that means I fell in love with part one of this particular story that begins with his humble-ish beginnings as a not quite good enough mage turned lancer and his rise up the ranks.

This book forms his complete tale. Must read it together. After all, it's simply the continued rise, the foiling of other's machinations, and the results are, as most people might assume, quite familiar. It's not always the pursuit of power. It's doing what you know is right, defending the people and the ideals of your heart, and always having a good moral compass. Even if you're the invader.

Yes, it's morally gray, and murder is a pretty commonplace event with one's superiors, but gosh darn it, it still FEELS moral. :)

I cannot tell whether I like this because I'm so familiar with the full worldbuilding or the timeline or whether the story is just plain good. But, as always, I just don't care because I HAD A GOOD TIME.

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever find yourself in a mood? You know, not a book slump per se, but at least a reading lull? As the pandemic drags on, I find myself balanced on this boundary quite often. Counterintuitive as it may sound, I find one of my best weapons is to pick up a book that I am sure that I won't love. That way I know it won't get tainted by my bad mood. Modesitt's books are perfect for this task for me. I like them well enough to read to the end, but I will never reread them and have zero desire to own them.

This novel is the second half of Lorn's story, begun in Magi'i of Cyador. And it confirmed my suspicions which started to develop when Lorn married Ryalth. Lorn shows himself once again to be very utilitarian, willing to do what must be done for Cyador's survival and good. He continues to be ruthless in pursuit of the good of his nation and the military personnel serving under him. Those above him are wary of him, those lower in rank reluctantly admire him.

Modesitt will never be my favourite writer, with his plodding style. At least in this book he refrains from giving measurements for every damn thing. But he still refers to horses as ‘mounts' and holds to the awkward ‘consortship' as opposed to saying marriage. The dialog was less repetitive in this book (fewer ‘yes, ser’s per page) and there was much less patrolling. Just a lot of meetings and report writing! Is that an improvement? Strangely, for me, it was. I also appreciated that Lorn's spouse, Ryalth, got a lot more page time here. The depiction of their son, Kerial, made me wonder if Modesitt had ever spent time with a baby unsupervised by a woman. He doesn't seem too well versed on realistic baby behaviour.

All of Lorn's life experience combines here to his advantage: his Magi'i parentage, his many years of service in the Mirror Lancers, and his marriage to a very successful merchanter. I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone who hasn't read these two books, but my brain began to fit the pieces together back in the first book of this dyad, when he married his lady merchanter. So although I found the plot somewhat predictable, I was interested in the details of how the author was going to deliver the goods.

I'm wavering on how much longer I intend to keep reading this series. Obviously I wanted to see how this adventure resolved. If I stick to my tentative reading plan for 2022, there are two more volumes coming up. I guess it will depend on what my reading mood is when the time comes.

Book Number 432 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book of political intrigue set in a land where the power that sustains them is failing. Lorn is higher up the chain of power now, but that just makes him a target to consider more seriously. On top of that, the emperor is dying without an heir which has the major factions turning on each other in the scramble for power. The highest civilization is falling into turmoil.

Very well done, although a bit repetitive at times. That comes through more clearly in audio, especially when I know the story well. Still, it was a great way to enjoy this book again. Very well narrated.

This is 11th in the published order, but 2d chronologically. It should be read immediately after reading Magi'i of Cyador since it also features Lorn. There are currently 19 books in the series if the book of short stories is included. See my review of the paperback version of the first book here for the chronological reading order.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

The saga of Lorn’alt, Cyad Overcaptain, Mirror Lancers continues. His fate is just beginning at the end, after he reaps that which is bestowed upon him, to his personal sorrow I think. An underestimated believer in what duty is. A man of honor who feels he acts many times too slowly. He’s surrounded on three sides by the Magi, the Merchant Traders and the Mirror Lances.
That he has a consort who understands and stands with him says much.
The last thing he wants is blood to run in the streets as in the time of Alyiakal. If wishes wee horse!
A rereading doesn’t dim the intrigue and the tension.

[Bryan Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second part of the duo of the earliest history of the land of Candar.

Our hero from the first book is now moderately well successful in the military branch of the structured remnants of the high tech society he lives in. However, his problems are not yet over. He has learned some moderate skill to control "magical" forces of chaos and has learned to use that to further his military successes.

However this leads to conflict with his military superiors who do not trust the Magi'i of the land and several of whom are looking to gather more power to themselves in the upheaval they expect as the ailing emperor continues to fail in health. Lorn is forced to confront these problems and find a way to balance all three major groups of the society

This concludes the duo of the earliest history of this land. There is not much background given of their forefathers who settled the land centuries before but hints are given of their skills and abilities with much higher technology. Nor is any indication given as to how they arrived on this planet or why.

Lorn as a master of chaos is the hero of this book. Chaos is often referred to with the color of white and sometimes as tinged in red. This becomes important in the other novels in the Recluse series.

[Mark Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scion of Cyador by L.E. Modesitt Jr. is a compelling addition to the Recluce Saga. Modesitt once again showcases his talent for world-building and intricate magic system. The protagonist, Lorn, is a well-developed character, and his journey from a young scholar to a powerful mage is engaging. The book explores themes of power, responsibility, and the consequences of one's actions. While the pacing can be slow at times, if you’ve read previous books in the saga of Recluce you will appreciate the depth and complexity of this story. Overall, Scion of Cyador is a must-read for fans of the series or if you enjoy thought-provoking narratives in a meticulously crafted world.

[Kathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/10
One of the best installments in the Saga of Recluce series, even though the island of Recluce is mentioned exactly once. This book is a close sequel to Magi'i of Cyador, continuing the story of Lorn, his consort Ryalth, and his family, friends, and enemies. This duolgy tells, I believe, the earliest events in L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s world of Candar and Recluce, and is an origin story, of sorts, of the White Wizards of Chaos.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started out reading the Recluse series in publication order but after the first 2 switched to chronological.
This book starts directly after Magii of Cyador, with Lorn as a mirror lancer off to his next posting. The powers above him are still trying to get him killed or disgraced.

[Mandell Degerness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing, as are all of the Recluse books. Perfect escapist reading.

[Hailey Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending isn't hard to guess, but it was the twists and turns that made the book enjoyable. Sad to finish Lorn's story but excited to read about another character in Modesitt's world.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first books of the Recluse saga chronologically, it is one of my favorites in the series. It is a sequel to Magi'i of Cyador & the second book I read this year as I battle an illness. As a reread, it was every bit as satisfying as the first time. I knew the story & could really appreciate the intricate world Modesitt had built.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things became much more intense for our hero Lorn, in this volume. This is filled with political intrigue, action, and magic, but its less of a plot driven story but part character study part mythological history. I enjoy the questions that Modesitt, Jr asks throughout this book in regards to power and to what makes a country or land. I'm glad I decided to read a few more books in this saga.

[Pickyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

L.E Modesitt can weave an amazing and complex story. It is a joy to read. Lorn is a honest and caring man who will keep the country of Cyad safe and whole from those who are corrupt and hungry for power.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scion of Cyador is the 4th book in Modesitt’s Recluce saga to be told from Chaos’s viewpoint, in the person of the Mirror Lancer, Lorn. In "Magi’i of Cyador" (set several generations before "The Colors of Chaos", when Cyador was still ruled by an emperor whose 3-pronged powerbase rested on the shoulders of the White Order, the mirror lancers, and the great merchant families, we met Lorn, and his mage family, witnessed his dismissal from the White Order, and his progress within the lancers, while our understanding of Chaos society deepened along with his, as he survived attacks by barbarians, wild beasts, plotting supervisors, and assassins, to wed his Trader beloved. In "Scion of Cyador", Lorn is still a junior officer attempting to understand how his homeland functions. As he moves from over-captain in a trading port to sub-majer in a frontier fort to majer in Cyad itself, he observes how Cyador is changing: the rising merchant families want lower tariffs, while the mirror lancers need more funds for armament to defend the frontier, and the mages oppose any change that will lessen their power. We learn as well, since, as always, Modesitt layers his story (the fast-paced adventure of Lorn’s rise in the mirror lancers, while fighting off accusations and assassination attempts by those whose power-base he threatens, is mirrored by Lorn’s self-education in how his society works, aided by his merchanter consort, and again by Lorn’s survival in the political atmosphere of the White City, Cyad, while he ponders the question posed by his dead father, “what is the origin of power?”). In other words, as in all his books, the deeper one reads, the more Modesitt forces the reader to think. While Lorn works to keep Cyador viable, backing the development of steam engines to replace the dying Chaos towers, he must foil the political plotting of merchants, mages, and lancers out for themselves alone. As the fast-paced novel races toward a bloody coup in the streets of the White City, we as readers race with it, anxious to discover if Lorn can preserve his homeland and its people.

[Stefan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are details in which Modesitt excels while writing dialogues. Was I annoyed whenever that baby interrupted its parents having a serious, life-heavily-impacting conversation, and mother or father had to focus their attention from that dialogue I was invested following, to nursing wants and needs of the moment, and then going back to serious conversation, interrupting my flow?
Absolutely.
But that was depiction of the most realistic conversation someone can have in a presence of a child. And Modesitt captured it so perfectly. And just so that reader by any chance wouldn’t think how it was a fluke what he’s doing, he did insistently, over and over again.

So, being annoyed at the way Modesitt decided to show just how perfectly he can write something, will be my biggest and most positive take from this book.
It is highly political, which was a breath of fresh air on this project, but the outcome was also predictable. And that is probably due to the fact that Lorn, like in the previous book, stayed pretty much omnipotent. Not just OP, but literally omnipotent. There was nothing that this guy couldn’t do, with little to no consequences.

Despite the shiny canon on the cover of the book, I did not expect (a form of) flintlock fantasy. In my limited knowledge of the genre, I thought this sub-genre was a product of way more modern times. Like, 2010s.
Awesome for me that I learned something new.

[Mary Soon Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the eleventh book in the Saga of Recluce, and a direct sequel to book 10, "Magi'i of Cyador." Both books share the same central character, Lorn. Unfortunately, I like Lorn less than any other Modesitt protagonist I've yet met. In particular, I dislike Lorn's vigilante tendencies. As a result, I enjoyed this book markedly less than most of Modesitt's fantasies.

For the record, I did still enjoy "Scion of Cyador," but not the same way I've loved reading Modesitt's other work.

For me, Lorn's low point came about ten percent of the way through the book in chapter seventeen. (There are many chapters!) Lorn had decided to kill a corrupt merchant, and duly shot the merchant in bed. Alas, the merchant's mistress was beside him, and Lorn followed up by shooting her as well. For me, it was far from sufficient that Lorn then regretted what he'd done.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everytime I read a series sometimes I wonder if they got someone else to write a book cause it was just different enough to make me feel like I am reading or listening to a different author, this was one of those books. It was a pretty good book and would have been far better if they had a different narrator, yes its the same dickhead that has been narrating all this series and I could cheerfully choke him. I can't tell you the amount of times I've stabbed myself with a needle listening to this series while sewing but its enough to piss me off and forced to knit or crochet instead HRMPH. I really really want to finish this series and delete it off my phone and it does have its possibilities for a good book but I highly recommend NOT getting it in audiobook form. The verbal sound effects are so annoying that I grit my teeth everytime there is a fight and this one had lots.

[Steve Pillinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, after reading the book I can maybe see why the Kindle version wasn't stocked by Amazon UK. It's both long (819 pp.) and long-winded; and though the ending is satisfying, it's relatively tame compared with Modesitt's other Recluce novels—and therefore not in proportion to the number of pages that lead up to it.

The story suffers from two of Modesitt's besetting sins (in my view!): his love of circumstantial detail—which can be great in giving realism to a passage, but becomes tedious if overdone; and his rigid adherence to a sequential storyline. One has to know everything. Lorn does, with few and relatively short jumps forward in the timeline.

I suspect that here Modesitt so loved the world he'd created that he lingered in it instead of getting on with the story!

I'm glad to have read it, though.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading through these for a second time and, after the first two books I am switching over to the chronological order. By that method, this is the second book in the series.

This story is part 2 of Lorn's saga and you really should read Magii of Cyador before this one. In that first book, we see a colony of chaos users whose society is at that point where it either needs to drastically change or it will collapse. Unfortunately, all those in power are too invested in the status quo to do what needs to be done. Enter Lorn. He has already risen through the ranks and married his merchanter love interest. Now, they have begun implementing the changes necessary. But they not only face opposition from those in power but also from others who seek to profit from Cyador's weakness. Will he be able to do what needs to be done? Or will it be too little too late?

[Clay Kallam · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to tell if L. E. Modesitt, Jr., is treating the world of Recluce like the universe of Stars Wars -- that is, the story's already told so he's filling in the backstory in an already created world.

If so, that's fine, as the books remain enjoyable, but it would be interesting to see the overarching narrative advance.

Regardless, this is the second book about Lorn, a clever, reluctantly ruthless, skilled and magical son of a prominent Cyadoran family. He winds up in the Mirror Lancers (the army), and must battle not only Cyador's enemies but those within the power structure who see him as a threat.

The politics are complex, the action steady and the pacing -- alternating between Lorn's adventures and his home life -- nicely done.

I'm on book 11, and plan to keep going. If the ensuing books stay at this level, there will be no reason to stop.

[BobA707 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Another classic from Modesitt, Chaos mages in a positive light, very interesting characters, great descriptions, the eventual outcome is predictable but its good tale getting there

Plotline: Not too many surprises, but well thought out

Premise: I really like the Recluce magic system, works well and is fundamental to all parts of this story. In this book the chaos towers are failing so its all about change.

Writing: Simple and elegant

Ending: Oh yes!

Pace: Never a dull moment!

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a pleasure to read. Since this entirely built off the last book in the series I already knew and cared about the characters. The last book took me a while to get into so that problem was solved.

The plot while not exactly original really attracted me because I like to think of myself constantly overcoming poor leadership in my life and work.

This book didn't do anything new it just entertained me and that's always good for 5 stars.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lorn continues on the path he entered with the Magi'i of Cyador. He continues to seek to serve Cyador despite obstacles placed in his path by higher ranked officers, self-serving Magi'i, or over-reaching merchants. His consort is one of his often overlooked assets that allow him to prosper where most fail. And his developing skills allow him to survive what would kill most Mirror Lancers. But as he often wonders, is the end goal worthy of the means to reach it?

[Jessie Lee Copeland, Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic conclusion to the Magi'i of Cyador!
This is just another great book in The Saga of Recluce.
I became invested in Lorn in book #10, The Magi'i of Cyador, and Modesitt doesn't disappoint in the conclusion of his story.
I'm not sure why this series doesn't get more love from the booktubers because this is epic fantasy at its best!

[Elizabeth Rebecca Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting tale about the troubles of a white chaos wizard who is trying to maintain his and his family's lives. He ends up entangled in the politics of the capital city even though he is usually posted outside of it. Good political intrigue and a fairly likable main character.

[Natty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new favorite in the series, I enjoy the back story of the mysterious Empire of Cyador that featured in earlier works. I think that's my favourite bit of the whole series is the stories all fit together.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This book was impossible to set down! As always, I love the authors work. The previous book to this one starts on a different direction from the previous books, but it is totally worth the following.

[Kathy Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have red 22 Recluse books

I love all the stories; but, when it comes to the books on chaos Lords stories are WONDERFUL The story ended too soon. I wanted to see him with the people. Oh well. I will miss him.

[Groucho42 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second half of Cyador pair, with Lorn continuing the path to emperor. No, that's not a spoiler, it was set out as the end at the beginning of the first book. Nothing unusual, but told in his usual style. The author always adds in the normal, day-to-day stuff, making it more personal.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just damn good stories. I really like the quick chapters that Modesitt uses throughout this series. Next one is on order.