The Sundered Realm

The War of Powers #1

by Robert E. Vardeman, Victor Milán

Fost Longstrider's mission seemed ordinary. He'd been hired to deliver a jug to a wizard on the far side of the forest. Unfortunately the jug contained a sex-starved genie, the wizard was dead by foul means, and Fost was probably next to die.

Then the genie was stolen and spirited away to the City in the Sky. It was up to Fost to steal it back from two beautiful sisters. They were fighting to become Queen and, using dark powers, had called forth a demon. Now Fost's foray was suddenly a terrible war.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Sword and Sorcery, Science Fiction Fantasy

222 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Also writes as:
Daniel Moran
F.J. Hale
Edward S. Hudson
Karl Lassiter
Jackson Lowry

Reviews

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vardeman's "War of Powers" is one of the earlier series of fantasy writing that I ever read, and it remains one of my all time favorites. There's sword play and sorcery, heroes, villians, a bad-ass evil princess, a bad-ass good princess, sex, adventure evil over-endowed aliens, over-endowed alien sex, bad-ass warrior babes and bears; the list goes on and on. If you've never read the series, read it. It's pure, old-school adventure fun. Good luck finding it, but if you do find it, buy it, then sit down on the floor of the bookstore and start reading it right away. If they try to kick you out, tell them to go home and you'll close up.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a sword and sorcery yarn this story has it all. Like any other stories in this vein it has fighting, violence and betrayal. Not to mention sex, a floating city, and a golem-like demon. Quick and fun this is purely an escapist book. Plus there are five more after it!

[Andrew Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I don't want to hear about your secrets. Only trouble comes to those who learn a sorcerer's dark knowledge."

This started off reasonably entertaining, but eventually it took on tropes and clichés for what would come off as a quick and shallow turn-arounds for the market. The protagonists dark adventure turned into the politics and intrigue of a haughty civilization. Still, it was entertaining and I will read the rest of the series. That's the gist so the following longer review is me critiquing much for fun.

Longer Review:
A world of arcane magic and wild wastelands, where those touched by magic are easily compelled to let a sorcerer inside and control them, but a barbaric low-born who resists such intrusions finds it intoxicating to be invited inside without magic. So goes the adventures of Fost and Moriana. Well, not actually.

A low-born Casanova finds dark adventure among the roads of a courier's career. A high-born princess, remarkably tomboy-ish in a haughty environment, enjoys coming down from her lofty perch to slum in the paths of thievery and the loins of barbarism. A high-and-mighty city depends on the rock hard ... ummm ... underbelly of demonic influence to stay afloat by empowering women to the highest position available. Unfortunately, to keep that magic going, the demon must give himself violently to the leading ladies.

The men are presented in a way that puts them at odds with the protagonist male, to steer the reader into cheering for violence between the two, and therefore the males are usually lesser characters. The women are presented in a way that magnetizes them to the male protagonist, for the reader to anticipate and eventually enjoy the fiery passion building, and this results in the women as appearing more held together and more appealing than the men. In addition, the main male villain is emasculated and the main female villain is so horny and assertively vile that no man or beast is safe from her desires. Hornbulls all day for her.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

Full disclosure, I’m reading this in the combined 3-book version but I realized I set a goal for this year for reading and this book is 1000 pages so…

This was a fun start. One of those books with a map and a timeline in the beginning, but it was a bit hard to read on my e-reader so I didn’t bother giving it a thorough once-over but despite that it was very well established in the material so that was nice! Lots of lore and some interesting characters with punchy dialogue. All the characters are a little the same and it’s super indulgent in what it’s doing which I am down for. It’s got a vision for sure, and a nice forward momentum, which I dig.

I like Fost the way I’ve grown to like my RPG created characters: is a man with a big stick and a good brain but is best at hitting things. While I can appreciate a nuanced, challenged main character, I just like to watch Fost hack stuff apart and not feel cheated that I rarerly worry for his mortal peril. Big himbo energy.

[David Wollaston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I can't believe it took me until 2023 to find this author. I'm really enjoying his work.

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

I'm finally going through my physical library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.

I'm only adding one book per author and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)

First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Duane Olds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say, this was an interesting book: but after finishing it I'm not too sure if I want to continue the series. The story is good and it ends in the middle of the 'quest' but past that I could stop now and be fine not knowing the rest of the story. Hell, after reading this I'm not sure I know what's even going on, there's lots of moving parts in here and when you think about it a lot of them are moving for no reason but for the sake of being an obstacle for the hero.

All I can tell you is at times it felt like a horny 16 year old boy wrote this with all the sex scenes and mentioning of sex and various sex related things happening. They are chased, they have sex, escaped prison, they have sex, hiding from guards, they think about having sex, flying away on a huge bird, they think about having sex, he talks about sex, the spirit constantly talks about sex. No, seriously. Hell even Conan the Barbarian never got laid once every other chapter like clock work like this guy. How did he even have enough energy to fight after all that?

[Dale Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foss Lingstrider is a courier. His job is to take what ever he is given from here and take it to there...no questions asked... no excuses... and Foss is one of the best. So, he's a little concerned when the package he is carrying suddenly begins to talk to him... and not just talk... but Foss finds his life completely turned upside down. Attacked by strangers and beautiful thieves, Foss is thrown into a kingdom's upheaval and attempted regicide... and worst of all he STILL needs to deliver that d*&n package.

Robert Vardeman and Victor Milan kick off the WAR OF POWERS series with this first book and they deliver with a funfilled fantasy that hits all the elements. Kingdoms in turmoil... displaced disinherited princesses... disembodied voyueristic monks... sadistic princes... lost cities.

A lot of fun and adventure in 222 pages...and more to come.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts as a fun S&S story. Ends on that note again. But the middle section is pretty boring.

There’s a map, which I enjoyed. There’s also a ludicrously detailed timeline at the start. Plus it slips into one of my pet peeves: using periods of time that are way too long. Why is there anything from 30,000 years ago that’s relevant? How is one monarchy ruling for 3,000 years, and it’s just common knowledge what they were doing back then?

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just a lot of fun. Funny, a bit ridiculous - just a good time.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheesy, sometimes cringe-inducing, but fun 80's style sword and sorcery.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Seems very standard for the time it was written.

[James]

The War of Powers: Book One - The Sundered Realm222pp. A lusty hero, a quest, action, intrigue, magic, mystery... all add up to a rousing tale!Keywords: Fantasy

[Darin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say that I was bored reading the book, but here is a paragraph from page 124 to give you an idea of the writing:

"Their tongues flowed together. His hands, at once rough and gentle, tugged open her tunic with a snap! of the lacings. Her own fingers deftly undid the front of his garment, and stroked cooly across his hirsute chest."

Note that I believe (and follow) the meanings Goodreads gives for what each number of stars means. Therefore, the majority of my ratings are 3 stars ("liked it").

[Printable Tire]

I started this book all the way back in the freakn' SUMMER and just finished it now. It isn't that it's necessarily horrible, I've just been busy and this is a better lolling beach/pool read and my reading time's decreased since I quit smoking (you get a lot of reading done standing outside). It was published by Playboy Paperbacks, which I'm assuming has some connection to the illustrious magazine, so there's some raunchiness to spice things up, including a horndog geenie in a bottle, who was once a philosopher who espoused virginity until he died and realized he was totally wrong. Everyone has a goofy fantasy name and there's an incomprehensible, frankly boring world history/geography, and there are passages like this:

"Moriana's cloak billowed in his face. He brushed it aside, allowing it to stream over his shoulder. He was rewarded with the sight of here slim, white back and shapeley buttocks flattened aginast the hight-cantled saddle. He had forgotten that the Sky City's fugitive princess was still naked beneath the burrowed cloak
'What a vision of loveliness!' Erimenes caroled. 'Doesn't it stir your manhood, Fost? Why, if the delectable princess were to lean a touch father forward, perhaps you could plunge your doubtlessly raging manhood-'" (192-193)

I've had the whole series on a shelf in my bedroom for years. Each paperback has a really cool cover. I'll probably try reading the second one in the series this summer, and it'll probably deteriorate to the condition of this one after being schlepped across the country for a whole year.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great epic

[Dave Peticolas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Generic fantasy I read long ago.

[Jeff Correll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book "back in the day." I'm not a big fan of the genre, but there was something in here that clicked with me. I really loved all the books.

[Thuan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crap.