Echoes

Short Stories (Michelle Sagara West) #1

by Michelle West

Kallandras is a Master Bard trained in the famous Senniel College. He is often sent by the Bardmaster into war zones - because he always survives. There is a reason for this; the training he received in the Bardic College was not the only training to define his life. Set during the desert trek through the Sea of Sorrows, this is the story of Kallandras’ youth, in the labyrinths of the Brotherhood of Assassins.

This is a novella that takes place in the universe of Michelle West's DAW novels.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Ebooks, Epic Fantasy

42 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2011

About the author

See also:

Michelle Sagara West
Michelle Sagara

Michelle is an author, book­seller, and lover of liter­ature based in Toronto. She writes fantasy novels as both Michelle Sagara and Michelle West (and some­times as Michelle Sagara West). You can find her books at fine booksellers.

She lives in Toronto with her long-suffering husband and her two children, and to her regret has no dogs.

Reading is one of her life-long passions, and she is some­times paid for her opinions about what she’s read by the venerable Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. No matter how many book­shelves she buys, there is Never Enough Shelf space. Ever.

She has published as Michelle Sagara (her legal name), as Michelle West (her husband's surname), and as Michelle Sagara West (a combination of the two).

Reviews

[Kari Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been fascinated by Kallandras, and I enjoyed reading about his early days in the Brotherhood.

[WillowBe · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK- I really like Ms. West/Sagara's books. But this thing in her books, or at certain pivotal junctions of the novels where I can't tell what the hell happened is driving me nuts! Maybe I'm just not smart enough for her style of writing. Or maybe my brain is too old or lazy to make the literary leaps which lead to understanding. Maybe all the EZ-2-Read paranormal stuff I read for Hot Jollies has jellied my intellect.

Whatever the reason, I like a story that I can tell what has happened. I know to feel happy or sad.I am not a big fan of tone poems,which is what this is somewhat like.

Dont'get me wrong: I thought this was a beautiful story, an affecting story, lyrical and melancholy, transporting me to another world by the 2nd page. I mean, it kept me from getting my work done, bec I had to read a bit more and more til I was done. That's how well she writes; I turn into a bad employee! But when I'm flummoxed at the end of the story, it's like being extremely parched, but given just enough water to wet your mouth, yet not quench your thirst. it's VERY unsatisfying. That's why I gave it two stars despite the great craft she displays in the telling.

[Amélie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this short story before all Michelle West’s other books set in this universe and it’s the one which made me want to read them.

Now that I read it again after reading the sacred Hunt duology, I can better appreciate Kallandras abilities as a bard-born and his childhood in the Dominion – a detail that I had completely forgotten but which certainly explained his grasp of their customs. It was also interesting to see the building of his relationship with his brothers and it allowed me to better understand the depth of his betrayal.

[Estara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating memory interlude into the initial choice and initiation of the boy who called himself Kallatin into the Brotherhood of the Dark Lady - and a memory of the one brother whom he lost and misses most.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get to learn of Kallandras's entrance into the southern assassin's brotherhood of the Kovaschaii and how his early training and investiture went as well as the first friendship he formed and how it ended. The friendship was sweet but not fleshed out enough to be truly moving for me.

[Gene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was confusing, but overall, the story was good.