The Thirteenth Scroll

Aghamore #1

by Rebecca Neason

At 17, Lysandra witnessed the brutal murder of her family, and lost her sight. Now, after nearly 10 years of living in isolation, during which time she has become a master of herbology and the healing arts, and discovered her gift of clairvoyance, Lysandra emerges to answer the call of a vision that has long plagued her. Following its mystical call, she encounters Father Renan, a priest conflicted by his own magical talents -- and the very man who has been communicating with her through her dreams. According to a prophetic and sacred text, Father Renan explains, the two of them have been chosen to install the rightful queen of Aghamore on the throne. Should they fail, the kingdom will be plunged into a millennium of darkness and tyranny.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

219 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Omly · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first thoughts on this book were that it was a bit formulaic and that the author had a very "young" female voice. Once I got a bit further though, I found myself really drawn in and annoyed at things that interrupted my reading time.

Lysandra, a blind healer with a type of mystical Sight, is called by prophecy to help the "Font of Wisdom". There to help here will be a her wolf companion and a country priest. But the sorceress Aurya and a bishop with his eye towards ecclesiastical power will be out to stop her and put Baron Giraldus (Aurya's lover) on the High King's throne.

There are some mixed messages here regarding religion and magic. Female deities and other non-Christian religions are clearly evil and practiced by witches. The same church says that practicing magic in any form is wrong and immoral. Yet the prophet who Lysandra keeps seeing and who wrote the prophecy that the 3 companions are struggling to fulfill seems to have magic, and magic used on their behalf will be key to their venture.

There is descriptions of sexuality and violence, and in the first few pages sexual violence is alluded to.

[Verkiezen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one as a younger human (middle school or early high school). I revisited it for a Popsugar Challenge prompt, and it was not as good as I remembered. Had the book changed or had I? Was my reading experience so much greater that I have narrowed in on my preferred writing styles? I think yes. I'm a stronger reader. I have greater preferences than I did as a young human. My ability to devour has morphed into an ability to discard. This one is a fine fantasy novel about a blind young woman who must pursue a child in order to save a kingdom. If that sounds interesting to you, give it a try! It might be the one for you.

[Cheryl]

Because the author wrote the excellent STTNG novel Guises of the Mind.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

A blind healer battles a determined sorceress for the life of a child.

[Jordanne Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can not entirely remember the plot of this book. I just remember that I loved it. There was a lot of elements of herbology that I greatly enjoyed. I also loved her "sight" and the premise was amazing. I would give it 5 stars, but I remember putting the novel down for a period of time. I think it was because it got very slow at some points, but I truly cannot remember, and it may have just been because I picked up another one of my hobbies at that particular time.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a very long time ago, but I remember it was good.