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The Lighthouse Duet #2
Breath and Bone
As the land of Navronne sinks deeper into civil war and perilous winter, everyone wants to get their hands on the rebellious sorcerer Valen -a murderous priestess, a prince who steals dead men's eyes, and even the Danae guardians, whose magic nurtures the earth and whose attention could prove the most costly of all.
Addicted to an enchantment that turns pain into pleasure -and bound by oaths he refuses to abandon- Valen risks body and soul to rescue one child, seek justice for another, and bring the dying land its rightful king.
Yet no one is who they seem, and Valen's search for healing grace leads him from Harrower dungeons to alien shores. Only at the heart of the world does he discover the glorious, terrible price of the land's redemption-and his own.
Addicted to an enchantment that turns pain into pleasure -and bound by oaths he refuses to abandon- Valen risks body and soul to rescue one child, seek justice for another, and bring the dying land its rightful king.
Yet no one is who they seem, and Valen's search for healing grace leads him from Harrower dungeons to alien shores. Only at the heart of the world does he discover the glorious, terrible price of the land's redemption-and his own.
449 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2008
36 people are currently reading
1551 people want to read
About the author
Carol Berg
33 books1,128 followersCarol Berg is the author of the epic fantasy
The Books of the Rai-kirah, The Bridge of D'Arnath Quartet, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award winning Lighthouse Duet - Flesh and Spirit and Breath and Bone - the standalone novel Song of the Beast , and the three novels of the Collegia Magica.
Berg holds a degree in mathematics from Rice University, and a degree in computer science from the University of Colorado. Before writing full-time, she worked as a software engineer. She lives in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and is the mother of three mostly grown sons.
The Books of the Rai-kirah, The Bridge of D'Arnath Quartet, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award winning Lighthouse Duet - Flesh and Spirit and Breath and Bone - the standalone novel Song of the Beast , and the three novels of the Collegia Magica.
Berg holds a degree in mathematics from Rice University, and a degree in computer science from the University of Colorado. Before writing full-time, she worked as a software engineer. She lives in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, and is the mother of three mostly grown sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
June 10, 2016
This book almost makes me want to go back and lower every star rating I’ve given in the past 2.5 years by one star, to allow this book to have its own special place on the scale. It’s not that I don’t think the other books I’ve rated deserved the ratings I gave them; it’s just that this book deserves a six-star rating. :)
This was the sequel and conclusion to Flesh and Spirit. The first book was great, but this book was even better. At around the 10 or 11% mark, something was revealed that completely surprised me. This caused my cat great alarm, because I actually squealed very loudly and he’s not used to hearing such strange noises from his human. At that point I wanted to start all over from the beginning of book one and read everything again. There were other revelations throughout the book, but they weren’t as surprising. One revelation in particular was something I’d suspected from early in the first book and was pleased to see confirmed. I loved it all.
I wish there were more books, but the ending was great. It didn’t leave me frustrated by leaving things up in the air or unanswered, but neither did it spell everything out so that the ending seemed too pat or convenient. I was left with a clear picture of what lay in the future for the various characters and what choices they were likely to make, but there was still enough leeway left that I could allow my own interpretation of the characters to color my vision for the ending. A new book would inevitably mean the author would have to invent more ways to torture the poor characters just when things are looking up, so I guess I’d rather leave them in peace. :)
I did learn, however, that there’s another duology set in the same world but with different characters, published more recently. (It’s The Sanctuary Duet, starting with Dust and Light.) So I plan to read that in the very near future, while the world-building is fresh in my head. I’m going to take a short break first though, and read the next Discworld book on my list. I think, after feverishly reading this book, I need to read something that won’t be quite as all-consuming so I can allow reality to reassert itself for a while. I also became so attached to the characters in this series that I’m not quite ready to let the author suck me into an attachment to a new set of characters yet, if that makes any sense.
This was the sequel and conclusion to Flesh and Spirit. The first book was great, but this book was even better. At around the 10 or 11% mark, something was revealed that completely surprised me. This caused my cat great alarm, because I actually squealed very loudly and he’s not used to hearing such strange noises from his human. At that point I wanted to start all over from the beginning of book one and read everything again. There were other revelations throughout the book, but they weren’t as surprising. One revelation in particular was something I’d suspected from early in the first book and was pleased to see confirmed. I loved it all.
I wish there were more books, but the ending was great. It didn’t leave me frustrated by leaving things up in the air or unanswered, but neither did it spell everything out so that the ending seemed too pat or convenient. I was left with a clear picture of what lay in the future for the various characters and what choices they were likely to make, but there was still enough leeway left that I could allow my own interpretation of the characters to color my vision for the ending. A new book would inevitably mean the author would have to invent more ways to torture the poor characters just when things are looking up, so I guess I’d rather leave them in peace. :)
I did learn, however, that there’s another duology set in the same world but with different characters, published more recently. (It’s The Sanctuary Duet, starting with Dust and Light.) So I plan to read that in the very near future, while the world-building is fresh in my head. I’m going to take a short break first though, and read the next Discworld book on my list. I think, after feverishly reading this book, I need to read something that won’t be quite as all-consuming so I can allow reality to reassert itself for a while. I also became so attached to the characters in this series that I’m not quite ready to let the author suck me into an attachment to a new set of characters yet, if that makes any sense.
June 5, 2022
An amazing conclusion!! Kept you guessing all the way to the end and all of the characters make the most astonishing growth and discoveries.
This is a perfect example of how fantasy stories should be written! Full of magic, excitement and of course a battle between good and evil.
As I said before the characters in these books were amazing and they are all so different by the time you reach the end of this book and Berg does a great job of making you feel like you've been on that journey with them.
This story definitely stands out in my mind when I think of good fantasy.
Ratings:-🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a perfect example of how fantasy stories should be written! Full of magic, excitement and of course a battle between good and evil.
As I said before the characters in these books were amazing and they are all so different by the time you reach the end of this book and Berg does a great job of making you feel like you've been on that journey with them.
This story definitely stands out in my mind when I think of good fantasy.
Ratings:-🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
August 21, 2010
This really is more just the second half of the first novel than it is a standalone. It takes all that is built up in the first novel, and kicks it full tilt into action, twists, and turns. This novel moves the story along down a dark and slippery path at a fast pace. This really is a mature, well written, dark and dirty fantasy. The characters are all flawed and not perfect cutouts, which adds depth and realism to their persona's. I highly recommend this duology to all fantasy lovers that want to read more than the standard YA fantasy adventure.
August 17, 2022
Lots of late twists. Creative writing. I do get a bit aggravated when an author continues to have their main character make bad decisions. Of course the character will get into some sort of trouble and then we are required to read how they get out of the situation. In some cases, the mini-episodes add little to the story. This peeve of mine kept my rating at an even three stars.
A reminder. This tale in two books is actually a stand alone, single novel that was split. Definitely, not a series.
A reminder. This tale in two books is actually a stand alone, single novel that was split. Definitely, not a series.
September 17, 2022
Re-read number 52,001 ;)
Why Carol Berg isn't more well-known I'll never figure out. Her writing skills are excellent! The beauty of her evocative language, her characters, (the characters!!), her world building and her excellent plots...she's quite well rounded as an author. She's also under the radar for most readers, which is a darned shame.
As I mentioned in my review of book one, I must have read the Lighthouse duet at least twenty times over the years. And every time I pick up this series I feel as if I'm visiting with old friends. I doubt this will be the last time I read it. I won't go into the storyline since there are some terrific reviews out there that handle that aspect quite well...better than I could, as a matter of fact. I just highly recommend it!
November 29, 2015
"I was no grand thinker. No mighty warrior. No martyr or hero or scholar."
November 7, 2009
As I mentioned in my review for the prequal of this book, I actually started reading this one first. I didn't expect to like it so much that I'd go back to read the first book, but I did. I so did.
Carol Berg's unique writing style continued to fascinate me all throughout the book. If she were to rewrite the phonebook in her idiosyncratic style, I would stil find it the most fascinating thing on the planet. It's like a song - the words just flow together, unhindered by the occasional period or semicolon. B-E-A-utiful.
Several moments in this book made me huff "no waaaay". One moment made me laugh so hard I hit my head on the wall and I didn't care (humor always makes a book more interesting, but this one was so interesting it wasn't until this particular moment that I realized there were so few funny parts) And one moment in this book slapped me so hard I had to put it down and pace my room, scream in my pillow, and take a break of about a day. It was the moment when a mysterious prince finally revealed his face, forever rumored to be crippled and deformed to match his sick, black soul. It took the rest of the book from me to accept it.
When the kind of Navronne passed away, he didn't name an heir, and so his three sons split the land. Rumor had it that the king had named a successor in a will, but no one knew where it was. The eldest prided himself on his physical and military strength, but was not considered smart enough to rule. The middle son was intelligent and manipulative, but too much of a coward to face the land's conflicts. And the youngest, Prince Osriel, was the illegitimate child, a sorcerer sumored to sneak onto battle fields after his brothers' men had finished fighting to steal their eyes, where the soul of a man lay. No one knew what he looked like, and no one wanted to know the face of the sickest sone of their beloved king. And now, Valen is bound to his service and finds out the former king's will named Osriel king of Navronne. Yikes.
I hate it when good books end, but this one tied up all the loose ends, and the proceeded to leave the reader with a mystery that made me forget for a second that it was over.
Carol Berg's unique writing style continued to fascinate me all throughout the book. If she were to rewrite the phonebook in her idiosyncratic style, I would stil find it the most fascinating thing on the planet. It's like a song - the words just flow together, unhindered by the occasional period or semicolon. B-E-A-utiful.
Several moments in this book made me huff "no waaaay". One moment made me laugh so hard I hit my head on the wall and I didn't care (humor always makes a book more interesting, but this one was so interesting it wasn't until this particular moment that I realized there were so few funny parts) And one moment in this book slapped me so hard I had to put it down and pace my room, scream in my pillow, and take a break of about a day. It was the moment when a mysterious prince finally revealed his face, forever rumored to be crippled and deformed to match his sick, black soul. It took the rest of the book from me to accept it.
When the kind of Navronne passed away, he didn't name an heir, and so his three sons split the land. Rumor had it that the king had named a successor in a will, but no one knew where it was. The eldest prided himself on his physical and military strength, but was not considered smart enough to rule. The middle son was intelligent and manipulative, but too much of a coward to face the land's conflicts. And the youngest, Prince Osriel, was the illegitimate child, a sorcerer sumored to sneak onto battle fields after his brothers' men had finished fighting to steal their eyes, where the soul of a man lay. No one knew what he looked like, and no one wanted to know the face of the sickest sone of their beloved king. And now, Valen is bound to his service and finds out the former king's will named Osriel king of Navronne. Yikes.
I hate it when good books end, but this one tied up all the loose ends, and the proceeded to leave the reader with a mystery that made me forget for a second that it was over.
May 18, 2010
Outstanding. Great story and great storytelling. Excellent characterization, and enough plot twists--most fully appropriate to the character and times--to keep the reader turning pages. A world and a reality which keeps growing. And Carol finishes the tale!
While you're waiting to Rothfuss, Sanderman, et al. to finish what they've started, read Carol Berg's fantasy duo. (For best effect, read them as a single work--as they should have been published.)
Carol Berg has rocketed to the top of a crowded, competitive field. Her work has the depth and substance--a "truth"--which demands comparison to J. R. R. Tolkien. (Robert Jordan had the affront to advertise himself as Tolkien's successor; he wasn't even close. Berg is.)
While you're waiting to Rothfuss, Sanderman, et al. to finish what they've started, read Carol Berg's fantasy duo. (For best effect, read them as a single work--as they should have been published.)
Carol Berg has rocketed to the top of a crowded, competitive field. Her work has the depth and substance--a "truth"--which demands comparison to J. R. R. Tolkien. (Robert Jordan had the affront to advertise himself as Tolkien's successor; he wasn't even close. Berg is.)
January 11, 2019
This is a great book! I love Valen. He's a great example of how to write a rouge and not make him a jerk. After all the suffering he went through, he finds out who he truly is, the truth about Osriel the Bastard and what has to be done to save his land.
Also, he spends much of the book running around naked. I will have to read this again.
12/19/12
This book is so good. It is the excellent conclusion to the first book in the series and this is where all the good stuff happens. Just read it. It's fantastic and it makes me all misty eyed. It makes everything Valen went through so worth it!
1/19
So I read it again and I wish it was illustrated because Valen runs around naked a lot and just because I don't want to touch the art doesn't mean I don't enjoy looking at it.
Also, he spends much of the book running around naked. I will have to read this again.
12/19/12
This book is so good. It is the excellent conclusion to the first book in the series and this is where all the good stuff happens. Just read it. It's fantastic and it makes me all misty eyed. It makes everything Valen went through so worth it!
1/19
So I read it again and I wish it was illustrated because Valen runs around naked a lot and just because I don't want to touch the art doesn't mean I don't enjoy looking at it.
November 27, 2017
So. Freaking. Good. I may have accidentally stayed up all night reading this.
December 30, 2010
This is the second book in the Lighthouse Duet by Carol Berg. As I mentioned in my review for the first book, Flesh and Spirit, the end of the first book left me needing to read the second book immediately. Unlike the first book I thought this was an amazing book. It continues right where the last book left off; except this time the fast pace of the end of the first book continues throughout the second book.
Valen has been contracted to serve The Bastard, Price Osriel. In service of the Bastard, Valen will come to find out many things about his heritage and about how all of the mysteries of the Brotherhood and the princes of the realm are tied together. He will also discover the truth of what is wrong with the land of Navronne and how it can be healed.
This book was much more like what I expect from a Carol Berg book. The characters are complex, the themes dealt with in the book bring up greater questions of life, of heaven and of hell. Valen really comes into his own in this book. In his effort to keep his vows he takes both a physical and mental journey that is at times heartbreaking and at other times very joyful. The transformation of Valen's character really is amazing. That is not to say that the other characters lack at all; Prince Osriel is intriguing, Valen's brother Max is also interesting, Price Osreil's healer is a delight, and Elene also has great character. The only character complaint I have is that Valen's sister seems to have fallen of the face of the earth in this book; I had hoped to spend more time learning about her.
Although Valen's journey is vast and very busy; at times the book was paced a bit slow. In this book that worked for me because those periods of slow pacing were filled with beautiful writing describing the trials that Valen undertook. I really loved this book. The beauty of the writing reminded me of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series. The book ended well; although I was a bit sad when it was over. It makes me wonder if we will see more of this world. There are so many characters in this book, outside of Valen, that have interesting stories to tell. Where the first book was as dark a story as I have ever read, this book was full of light and hope and happiness.
Very good book, definitely redemmed the first book. I still think if some of Valen's time at the monestery had been cut from the first book that this duet could have made a wonderful single book.
Valen has been contracted to serve The Bastard, Price Osriel. In service of the Bastard, Valen will come to find out many things about his heritage and about how all of the mysteries of the Brotherhood and the princes of the realm are tied together. He will also discover the truth of what is wrong with the land of Navronne and how it can be healed.
This book was much more like what I expect from a Carol Berg book. The characters are complex, the themes dealt with in the book bring up greater questions of life, of heaven and of hell. Valen really comes into his own in this book. In his effort to keep his vows he takes both a physical and mental journey that is at times heartbreaking and at other times very joyful. The transformation of Valen's character really is amazing. That is not to say that the other characters lack at all; Prince Osriel is intriguing, Valen's brother Max is also interesting, Price Osreil's healer is a delight, and Elene also has great character. The only character complaint I have is that Valen's sister seems to have fallen of the face of the earth in this book; I had hoped to spend more time learning about her.
Although Valen's journey is vast and very busy; at times the book was paced a bit slow. In this book that worked for me because those periods of slow pacing were filled with beautiful writing describing the trials that Valen undertook. I really loved this book. The beauty of the writing reminded me of Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series. The book ended well; although I was a bit sad when it was over. It makes me wonder if we will see more of this world. There are so many characters in this book, outside of Valen, that have interesting stories to tell. Where the first book was as dark a story as I have ever read, this book was full of light and hope and happiness.
Very good book, definitely redemmed the first book. I still think if some of Valen's time at the monestery had been cut from the first book that this duet could have made a wonderful single book.
November 2, 2011
this, along with flesh and spirit are really only one book--if you read only the first, where it ends will not be satisfying for very long (luckily i had the second book right there). and if you read only the second, huge chunks of it will not make any sense. so this is a review of both books.
a young man with an arrow embedded in his thigh and another wound in his back is abandoned, by his partner in thievery, in a ditch near a monastery. somehow in the cold and dark, the monks find him and take him in. the only thing of value that his companion left him with was a book of maps. the monks decide he can stay, probably in large part because of the rare and valuable book he carries. you think you have an idea where this story is going. trust me, it isn't going there.
every time you think you have your footing, the book twists you away to somewhere else--rather like our protagonist, who can't stand being confined or doing any one thing for very long. initially i didn't like him much and despaired, since nothing can turn me off a book faster than not liking any of the characters. but there were a few that i liked and then i grew to like him and then i was well and truly caught up--i stayed up until 4:30 in the morning to finish the first book. fortunately i timed the second book better, and made it to bed at 11:00.
by the end, i wished with all my heart that there was a third book because i want to know what happens next. i loved so many things about this book. but what i think i liked the most is that the author talks about dance the way that i think about music.
if you don't like fantasy with a quasi-medieval setting of monks and thanes and swords and magic, you're not going to like this book. and i got very worried as i neared the end that she wasn't going to be able to bring it off. but she succeeded. i'm very satisfied except for the part where i want more.
i've been getting these books out of the library because i have plenty of books, right? but i think i might need to own these--i want to reread parts of it, at least, already.
a young man with an arrow embedded in his thigh and another wound in his back is abandoned, by his partner in thievery, in a ditch near a monastery. somehow in the cold and dark, the monks find him and take him in. the only thing of value that his companion left him with was a book of maps. the monks decide he can stay, probably in large part because of the rare and valuable book he carries. you think you have an idea where this story is going. trust me, it isn't going there.
every time you think you have your footing, the book twists you away to somewhere else--rather like our protagonist, who can't stand being confined or doing any one thing for very long. initially i didn't like him much and despaired, since nothing can turn me off a book faster than not liking any of the characters. but there were a few that i liked and then i grew to like him and then i was well and truly caught up--i stayed up until 4:30 in the morning to finish the first book. fortunately i timed the second book better, and made it to bed at 11:00.
by the end, i wished with all my heart that there was a third book because i want to know what happens next. i loved so many things about this book. but what i think i liked the most is that the author talks about dance the way that i think about music.
if you don't like fantasy with a quasi-medieval setting of monks and thanes and swords and magic, you're not going to like this book. and i got very worried as i neared the end that she wasn't going to be able to bring it off. but she succeeded. i'm very satisfied except for the part where i want more.
i've been getting these books out of the library because i have plenty of books, right? but i think i might need to own these--i want to reread parts of it, at least, already.
December 6, 2010
This was an excellent conclusion to Valen's story, started in Flesh and Spirit. Even though I had guessed Valen's parentage halfway through the first book, the second one, despite a few fantasy tropes, threw one surprise after another at me. Considering how much fantasy I've read, that is pretty unusual. Valen is a junkie. a thief and a liar and doesn't exactly heroically overcome those things, even if he's found a cause to fight for. Everybody is flawed to a certain degree in this book, the good guys have some pretty evil plans, while the bad guys aren't evil just because, the villains at the end aren't the same ones as in the beginning, and someone else get the girl. All this and dancing. Wholly satisfying.
June 8, 2022
I liked main character and several secondary characters were also interesting - even though writing style made it a bit hard to relate to them sometimes.
The world and atmosphere were so much more appealing in this book than in the first installment. Everything felt so much more alive.
Story was interesting and there were some thrilling moments as well. Pacing was a bit slow, especially during the first 50 % of the book.
This really was worth reading but also a bit demanding book to read.
The world and atmosphere were so much more appealing in this book than in the first installment. Everything felt so much more alive.
Story was interesting and there were some thrilling moments as well. Pacing was a bit slow, especially during the first 50 % of the book.
This really was worth reading but also a bit demanding book to read.
June 29, 2009
Equally as exciting and intriguing as the first novel in this two-book sequence, Breath and Bone careens through an incredible landscape of destruction and hope and ends after satisfactorily depositing the reader in the cradle of its clever close. Not since Lois McMaster Bujold's fantasy novels have I enjoyed (and not winced at) such an irreverent and well-told tale of a place so different from our own that it occasionally seems the same.
February 5, 2023
This is a prime example of why I don't read series back to back. You can see the authorial handprint so much starker, I feel, and I can judge the motivations of characters much more minutely. To the detriment of the series, in this instance.
CONTENT WARNING:
It's a straight continuation of book 1, so the stuff I like is the stuff I liked then. I think where this fell down for me is that the author backed off from all the nastiness she'd set up in book 1, intent rather on redeeming the guy we saw as the big bad instead of letting him be what he was. There's also a shoehorned in romance that only starts after a failed rape, which YIPES.
CONTENT WARNING:
It's a straight continuation of book 1, so the stuff I like is the stuff I liked then. I think where this fell down for me is that the author backed off from all the nastiness she'd set up in book 1, intent rather on redeeming the guy we saw as the big bad instead of letting him be what he was. There's also a shoehorned in romance that only starts after a failed rape, which YIPES.
August 9, 2025
These books are really hard for me to rate. The writing style is difficult for me and if I hadn’t been buddy reading with a friend that had read it before I would have been lost a lot of the time. But it was a super unique and creative duology with a lot of cool stuff that happened and I loved all of the characters. There are so many twists and turns right up until the end. I loved the ending as well which is always a nice way to close out a series.
April 3, 2008
A very satisfying conclusion. I was even more pleased with this one than the first. One thing that made me especially happy was that his love interest from book 1, if you could even call it that, didn't work out. Of course, he did end up falling for someone else, but at least Carol didn't do the obvious thing.
Breath and Bone picks up right where Flesh and Spirit left off, and the action doesn't let up a bit. Now thorughly involoved in the conspiracy, Valen finds himself contracted--permanently--to the most feared and hated lord in the kingdom, caught up in the bitter dispute between the three claimants for the throne, and desperate to expose a traitor to the conspiracy, who has murdered two novices of the monastary and kidnapped another.
When Valen discovers that his master is the head of the conspiracy he has become a part of, he becomes somewhat more agreeable to being in his service, but is still wary of him, because Valen knows his master is involved in black magic.
In addition, he has sworn off nivat, the drug he is addicted to, even though he knows that without it he will go mad from the craving. Under the care of his master's peronal physician however, he survives coming off the drug with his sanity intact, although he will always be especially susceptible to nivat.
Valen also uncovers a skeleton in his family's closet: Valen is not a pureblood. The man he believed to be his grandfather is in fact his father, who simply appeared at the family home one day and managed to convince two confidants to lie and claim they witnessed his birth. His "parents" went along with the scam, because exposure would have meant humiliation for the family. The truth about his heritage explains a great deal about Valen and certain odd things that had plagued him all his life.
Again, by the end of the book, all the plot lines were neatly tied off, but there is still potential for a follow up novel.
Breath and Bone picks up right where Flesh and Spirit left off, and the action doesn't let up a bit. Now thorughly involoved in the conspiracy, Valen finds himself contracted--permanently--to the most feared and hated lord in the kingdom, caught up in the bitter dispute between the three claimants for the throne, and desperate to expose a traitor to the conspiracy, who has murdered two novices of the monastary and kidnapped another.
When Valen discovers that his master is the head of the conspiracy he has become a part of, he becomes somewhat more agreeable to being in his service, but is still wary of him, because Valen knows his master is involved in black magic.
In addition, he has sworn off nivat, the drug he is addicted to, even though he knows that without it he will go mad from the craving. Under the care of his master's peronal physician however, he survives coming off the drug with his sanity intact, although he will always be especially susceptible to nivat.
Valen also uncovers a skeleton in his family's closet: Valen is not a pureblood. The man he believed to be his grandfather is in fact his father, who simply appeared at the family home one day and managed to convince two confidants to lie and claim they witnessed his birth. His "parents" went along with the scam, because exposure would have meant humiliation for the family. The truth about his heritage explains a great deal about Valen and certain odd things that had plagued him all his life.
Again, by the end of the book, all the plot lines were neatly tied off, but there is still potential for a follow up novel.
June 5, 2011
This book was better than the first book, Flesh and Spirit.
We continue to learn more about the characters we originally met in Flesh and Spirit and are introduced to a few new ones. In general, they're the strongest part of this series, and most of them ended up feeling quite real by the end. My favorite overall was the prickly physician Saverian, whose unfortunate name tripped me up quite a few times as it's quite similar to a completely different character. (It was somewhat funny to picture Severian in this world.) In any case, I liked her for her dry outlook on life and because she wasn't your typical fantasy female. I kept hoping that
The book also flipped between really boring (I hate training montages!) and quite engrossing. The parts with the Danae were the most boring for me, because they provided the setting for the training montage and because I'm getting sick of the primitive-cultures-who-live-close-to-nature-and-know-more-than-humans trope. The Danae characters are also less developed than the humans and therefore are less interesting to read about.
Overall, this was a decent series with pretty well-developed characters. After this, I'd read a book about Saverian in a heartbeat. She was awesome. I won't be re-reading the series, though.
We continue to learn more about the characters we originally met in Flesh and Spirit and are introduced to a few new ones. In general, they're the strongest part of this series, and most of them ended up feeling quite real by the end. My favorite overall was the prickly physician Saverian, whose unfortunate name tripped me up quite a few times as it's quite similar to a completely different character. (It was somewhat funny to picture Severian in this world.) In any case, I liked her for her dry outlook on life and because she wasn't your typical fantasy female. I kept hoping that
The book also flipped between really boring (I hate training montages!) and quite engrossing. The parts with the Danae were the most boring for me, because they provided the setting for the training montage and because I'm getting sick of the primitive-cultures-who-live-close-to-nature-and-know-more-than-humans trope. The Danae characters are also less developed than the humans and therefore are less interesting to read about.
Overall, this was a decent series with pretty well-developed characters. After this, I'd read a book about Saverian in a heartbeat. She was awesome. I won't be re-reading the series, though.
May 25, 2012
This is the second half of the story begun in "Flesh and Spirit". It is much easier to get into, as the environment has been painted in the prior book where the characters were introduced. The language (of clothes, distances etc.) is now not a barrier to understanding, but a password into the world in which we are now immersed . This book is like an ocean liner, a little slow to get started but unstoppable once it gets going! Even though it is a first person narrative, there are still many viewpoints portrayed - principally the two parallel worlds of men and Danae.
In summary, the book finds our hero, Valen, at the epicenter of the two-dimensional war that threatens not only to turn humankind’s world into a wasteland (to allow it to regenerate) but would also destroy the domain of the Danae. Valen has been recaptured by his family, from whom he has been hiding for 16 years. He is then sold to the illegitimate son of the dead King, one Osriel, who is one of the three claimants to the throne. However, he is also in demand by the Harrower priestess, Sila, for her own unique vision. Each of these potential masters is seen as a fearsome choice, but each has their own understandable motivations, and questionable methods for carrying them out (read the book for the details). Through this, he starts to understand his own ancestry and discovers his own unique gifts and what he has to offer to both worlds.
The story moves at a fast pace, but still allows for superb descriptions of magical events, such as Valen’s induction into Danae rites and capabilities. (Sorry – slight giveaway there). It is an excellent choice – my only gripe is that I wish it has been joined to the first book and the two had been issued as a single book.
In summary, the book finds our hero, Valen, at the epicenter of the two-dimensional war that threatens not only to turn humankind’s world into a wasteland (to allow it to regenerate) but would also destroy the domain of the Danae. Valen has been recaptured by his family, from whom he has been hiding for 16 years. He is then sold to the illegitimate son of the dead King, one Osriel, who is one of the three claimants to the throne. However, he is also in demand by the Harrower priestess, Sila, for her own unique vision. Each of these potential masters is seen as a fearsome choice, but each has their own understandable motivations, and questionable methods for carrying them out (read the book for the details). Through this, he starts to understand his own ancestry and discovers his own unique gifts and what he has to offer to both worlds.
The story moves at a fast pace, but still allows for superb descriptions of magical events, such as Valen’s induction into Danae rites and capabilities. (Sorry – slight giveaway there). It is an excellent choice – my only gripe is that I wish it has been joined to the first book and the two had been issued as a single book.
March 29, 2011
Review:
Carol Berg is one of those talented story spinners whose author's voice is so wonderful that the story just flows. Berg makes the emotions of Valen so tangible and the tangy smell of the sea so real I could almost taste it! I really like this author's voice! The masterful author's voice was the only reason I didn't rate book 1, Flesh And Spirit, a less than 3. Which it automatically would have scored, given how I hate cliffhanger endings. However, (good for me) I borrowed both books of the Lighthouse Duet at the same time so I was able to continue reading book 2 as soon as I hit the cliffhanger in book 1. Disaster averted. This book also started out slow but the pace gets quicker and quicker and it builds to a wonderful crescendo at the end with a satisfying bang! The plot is twistier than a texan twister which kept springing surprises at me. What a pleasure to read! There are minor points which can be quibbled as not quite believable which could bring the suspension of disbelief a notch down, but on the whole I can forgive all those nitpicking for the wonderful reading experience I get at the end of it! Highly recommended! Though you have to trudge through book 1 first.
Emperically I would rate this book as:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 5
Ending = 6
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = 4.5
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Carol Berg is one of those talented story spinners whose author's voice is so wonderful that the story just flows. Berg makes the emotions of Valen so tangible and the tangy smell of the sea so real I could almost taste it! I really like this author's voice! The masterful author's voice was the only reason I didn't rate book 1, Flesh And Spirit, a less than 3. Which it automatically would have scored, given how I hate cliffhanger endings. However, (good for me) I borrowed both books of the Lighthouse Duet at the same time so I was able to continue reading book 2 as soon as I hit the cliffhanger in book 1. Disaster averted. This book also started out slow but the pace gets quicker and quicker and it builds to a wonderful crescendo at the end with a satisfying bang! The plot is twistier than a texan twister which kept springing surprises at me. What a pleasure to read! There are minor points which can be quibbled as not quite believable which could bring the suspension of disbelief a notch down, but on the whole I can forgive all those nitpicking for the wonderful reading experience I get at the end of it! Highly recommended! Though you have to trudge through book 1 first.
Emperically I would rate this book as:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 5
Ending = 6
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = 4.5
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
April 20, 2010
The Lighthouse Duet by Carol Berg is simply wonderful. The duology begins with Flesh and Spirit and concludes with Breath and Bone . This intriguing and multi-layered story is extremely well crafted. It is apparent that the author really thought about her plot and characters and how they all intersected.
The story centers around Valen, a rebellious anti-hero who desperately seeks to escape his assigned place in life and simply exist on his own terms. However, it is not to be. While the set-up seems typical of an epic fantasy, the story-telling is head and shoulders above what is on the market today. In particular, Berg’s use of plot twists and character revelation is superb. You don’t see most of it coming but once you learn the truth it all fits perfectly, and frankly, that’s pretty hard to do in a novel. Throughout, I was much invested in the plot and the characters – I deeply cared about them and what happened to them – for me, that quality is what raises a novel to the level of excellence.
I won’t outline the plot here since many plot summaries are available in other reviews – but if you are a lover of poetic, epic fantasy pick these books up. Note - the books should certainly be read together - one is incomplete without the other.
The story centers around Valen, a rebellious anti-hero who desperately seeks to escape his assigned place in life and simply exist on his own terms. However, it is not to be. While the set-up seems typical of an epic fantasy, the story-telling is head and shoulders above what is on the market today. In particular, Berg’s use of plot twists and character revelation is superb. You don’t see most of it coming but once you learn the truth it all fits perfectly, and frankly, that’s pretty hard to do in a novel. Throughout, I was much invested in the plot and the characters – I deeply cared about them and what happened to them – for me, that quality is what raises a novel to the level of excellence.
I won’t outline the plot here since many plot summaries are available in other reviews – but if you are a lover of poetic, epic fantasy pick these books up. Note - the books should certainly be read together - one is incomplete without the other.
August 18, 2014
Second reading; August, 2014
4.5 stars
Awww, I forgot how great this book is. Berg lifts you to the peeks of hope, just to plunge you into the depths of despair and then all over again... Valen grows in leaps and bounds and learns not just to accept his Danae heritage, but how to become a better man. Although I have read the book before and remembered some things along the way, I was still surprised by Osriel's identity and pleased with how the author dealt with various romantic entanglements (they never become the focus of the story and take away from the fantasy). The ending is perfect: not everything is solved, but everything is hopeful. I remembered why I liked Berg's books. So much so that, when I finish with several books that are waiting for me, I will probably reread all her other novels. Highly recommended.
Original review:
The action of the second novel - or second part of the bigger novel - suited me more. I liked how different threads of past and present, of human and Danae history converged together and how the characters - both good and bad - have grown to realize their full potential.
In the end, Lighthouse story is a true fairy tale for grownups, with great characters, imagery and wonderful magic system and I enjoyed it very much.
4.5 stars
Awww, I forgot how great this book is. Berg lifts you to the peeks of hope, just to plunge you into the depths of despair and then all over again... Valen grows in leaps and bounds and learns not just to accept his Danae heritage, but how to become a better man. Although I have read the book before and remembered some things along the way, I was still surprised by Osriel's identity and pleased with how the author dealt with various romantic entanglements (they never become the focus of the story and take away from the fantasy). The ending is perfect: not everything is solved, but everything is hopeful. I remembered why I liked Berg's books. So much so that, when I finish with several books that are waiting for me, I will probably reread all her other novels. Highly recommended.
Original review:
The action of the second novel - or second part of the bigger novel - suited me more. I liked how different threads of past and present, of human and Danae history converged together and how the characters - both good and bad - have grown to realize their full potential.
In the end, Lighthouse story is a true fairy tale for grownups, with great characters, imagery and wonderful magic system and I enjoyed it very much.
March 6, 2010
This book is the second volume in the Dané series, following "Flesh and Spirit".
Renegade sorcerer and mapmaker Valen Cartamandua was recaptured and punished by his family. His ultimate punishment is his new employer, rather described as his owner since Valen is bound to his will by means of his contract.
But when Valen learns who really is the one he develops a fierce loyality that doesn't even stop where his life is in charge.
This book to me was even better than the first, maybe because all the slow world - building and introduction of staff was out of the way and the author could foucus on telling her story.
I found the beings she created, the Dané, a fantastic treat and greatly enjoyed meeting them and getting to know them together with Valen. Wonderful story twists (although a bit predictable at times since Berg occasionally uses stereotypes) and a colorful and enthralling storytelling engulfed me into the story and made me sigh longingly when I had to close the book after I finished it.
Greatly recommended for dreamers, children at heart and reality escapees.
Renegade sorcerer and mapmaker Valen Cartamandua was recaptured and punished by his family. His ultimate punishment is his new employer, rather described as his owner since Valen is bound to his will by means of his contract.
But when Valen learns who really is the one he develops a fierce loyality that doesn't even stop where his life is in charge.
This book to me was even better than the first, maybe because all the slow world - building and introduction of staff was out of the way and the author could foucus on telling her story.
I found the beings she created, the Dané, a fantastic treat and greatly enjoyed meeting them and getting to know them together with Valen. Wonderful story twists (although a bit predictable at times since Berg occasionally uses stereotypes) and a colorful and enthralling storytelling engulfed me into the story and made me sigh longingly when I had to close the book after I finished it.
Greatly recommended for dreamers, children at heart and reality escapees.
June 14, 2017
I was left with so many questions after the first book that I felt exhilarated by this fast-paced second part. Revelations and mysteries stumble upon each other right from the start and all the way to the end.
Valen, the main character, who seemed only to be a by-stander unwillingly caught up in a world-wide conflict, appears more and more to have a centre role to play in it. After a lifetime of avoiding responsibilities, he's getting even more than he would ever have bargained for. He's going through a lot of changes, psychological and physical, that bring him progressively to the point of being able to act upon the blight affecting his world.
After the slow start of the first book, this second book takes us to a much higher level and leaves us with a poetic conclusion to this gripping story.
Valen, the main character, who seemed only to be a by-stander unwillingly caught up in a world-wide conflict, appears more and more to have a centre role to play in it. After a lifetime of avoiding responsibilities, he's getting even more than he would ever have bargained for. He's going through a lot of changes, psychological and physical, that bring him progressively to the point of being able to act upon the blight affecting his world.
After the slow start of the first book, this second book takes us to a much higher level and leaves us with a poetic conclusion to this gripping story.
April 7, 2008
Okay, can I just say that I am completely not buying the main character as heterosexual? The novel works pretty well as a coming-out metaphor, but I don't think that's what Berg was shooting for.
I should probably give Breath and Bone three stars, but it was such a disappointment after Flesh and Spirit. In Flesh and Spirit, Berg created this fascinating world, with great political intrigue, a fascinating social/magical system, and interesting questions about religion. In Breath and Bone, she ignores most of that in favor of a looong plot about how nature-loving fairies can save the world and the main character's voyage towards self-discovery and embracing his true inner nature. I'll read Oprah books for the self-discovery stuff, thanks very much.
I should probably give Breath and Bone three stars, but it was such a disappointment after Flesh and Spirit. In Flesh and Spirit, Berg created this fascinating world, with great political intrigue, a fascinating social/magical system, and interesting questions about religion. In Breath and Bone, she ignores most of that in favor of a looong plot about how nature-loving fairies can save the world and the main character's voyage towards self-discovery and embracing his true inner nature. I'll read Oprah books for the self-discovery stuff, thanks very much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2009
More engaging than the first book; of course this one picks up right where Flesh and Spirit leaves off. I actually really liked all the characters, the magic, and world. I'm used to Berg mutilating her characters somehow... but this one was actually happy! I know I ragged on the first book being slow... but now I wish I had more.
October 2, 2023
The first book in this duology was good. But this second was fantastic.
Taking up events directly after Flesh and Spirit, Breath and Bone starts with Valen in Osriel the Bastard's service. But things start deviating from a simple and tortured pure blood sorcerer trying to stay alive to something much larger and grander in scope. We learn more of the Danae here, long-lived guardians of the land. We learn more about Osriel and his desires for the kingdom. And we learn more about Valen and how he is tied to pretty much everything.
The pacing and plot were well done. This book contains many twists and revelations that I really didn't see coming. The reader gets to fill the holes brought on by questions from the first novel and continues to piece things together well as the story progresses. The end settled things nicely and left some of the future to our imagination. The book is dark at times and light at times, and brings into question even harder themes likes souls, heaven/hell, and justice.
Valen continues to be troubled but takes on more and learns more, finally understanding what he wants and what he can do for the world. The varying characters are fleshed out nicely, being villains or good-guys or something in-between, feeling real.
As music is integral to Berg's Song of the Beast, dance is integral in Breath and Bone. The descriptions of dancing were incredible here, full of life and emotion and meaning. Probably one of my favorite aspects of this novel is the feel of the dances as seen through Valen's eyes.
Recommended. Heartily.
Taking up events directly after Flesh and Spirit, Breath and Bone starts with Valen in Osriel the Bastard's service. But things start deviating from a simple and tortured pure blood sorcerer trying to stay alive to something much larger and grander in scope. We learn more of the Danae here, long-lived guardians of the land. We learn more about Osriel and his desires for the kingdom. And we learn more about Valen and how he is tied to pretty much everything.
The pacing and plot were well done. This book contains many twists and revelations that I really didn't see coming. The reader gets to fill the holes brought on by questions from the first novel and continues to piece things together well as the story progresses. The end settled things nicely and left some of the future to our imagination. The book is dark at times and light at times, and brings into question even harder themes likes souls, heaven/hell, and justice.
Valen continues to be troubled but takes on more and learns more, finally understanding what he wants and what he can do for the world. The varying characters are fleshed out nicely, being villains or good-guys or something in-between, feeling real.
As music is integral to Berg's Song of the Beast, dance is integral in Breath and Bone. The descriptions of dancing were incredible here, full of life and emotion and meaning. Probably one of my favorite aspects of this novel is the feel of the dances as seen through Valen's eyes.
Recommended. Heartily.
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