What do you think?
Rate this book
Rose of the Prophet #1
The Will of the Wanderer
Since time began, twenty Gods have ruled the universe. Though each god possessed different abilities, each was all-powerful within his realm. Now one of the Gods has upset the balance of power, leaving the others scrambling for control in the new order...
Here is the epic tale of the Great War of the Gods—and the proud people upon whom the fate of the world depends. When the God of the desert, Akhran the Wanderer, declares that two clans must band together despite their centuries-old rivalry, their first response is outrage. But they are a devout people and so reluctantly bow to his bidding.
Enemies from birth, the headstrong Prince Khardan and impetuous Princess Zohra must unite in marriage to stop Quar, the God of Reality, Greed, and Law, from enslaving their people.
But can Khardan and Zohra keep from betraying each other? Can their two peoples maintain their fragile alliance until the long-awaited flowering of the legendary Rose of the Prophet?
Against the powerful legions of the evil Amir, Khardan and Zohra fight to save the desert people—a fight unexpectedly joined by an exiled wizard named Matthew and the mysterious powers of his alien land.
Here is the epic tale of the Great War of the Gods—and the proud people upon whom the fate of the world depends. When the God of the desert, Akhran the Wanderer, declares that two clans must band together despite their centuries-old rivalry, their first response is outrage. But they are a devout people and so reluctantly bow to his bidding.
Enemies from birth, the headstrong Prince Khardan and impetuous Princess Zohra must unite in marriage to stop Quar, the God of Reality, Greed, and Law, from enslaving their people.
But can Khardan and Zohra keep from betraying each other? Can their two peoples maintain their fragile alliance until the long-awaited flowering of the legendary Rose of the Prophet?
Against the powerful legions of the evil Amir, Khardan and Zohra fight to save the desert people—a fight unexpectedly joined by an exiled wizard named Matthew and the mysterious powers of his alien land.
444 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1988
49 people are currently reading
3070 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Weis
677 books5,832 followersMargaret Edith Weis is an American fantasy and science fiction author of dozens of novels and short stories. At TSR, Inc., she teamed with Tracy Hickman to create the Dragonlance role-playing game (RPG) world. She is founding CEO and owner of Sovereign Press, Inc and Margaret Weis Productions, licensing several popular television and movie franchises to make RPG series in addition to their own.
In 1999, Pyramid magazine named Weis one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons, saying she and Hickman are "basically responsible for the entire gaming fiction genre". In 2002, she was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame in part for Dragonlance.
In 1999, Pyramid magazine named Weis one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons, saying she and Hickman are "basically responsible for the entire gaming fiction genre". In 2002, she was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame in part for Dragonlance.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
August 12, 2016
I don't know if I'm allowed to love this book so unreservedly. See, it was published a while ago and is fantasy that plunders eastern culture for its inspiration in terms of setting and characters. But it is written by white people casting their eyes on the culture and I know that these days there is more of a cry for authentic eastern cultures written by people who are actually *of* that culture.
The thing is, though, I feel that in a lot of ways this novel is quite enlightened. There are different types of god and worship, showcasing the fact that religion is approached in many different ways. There is polygamy, thanks to the harems and seraglios. Within the first third of the novel, the idea of a gay relationship with one of the main characters is gently explored (although his potential partner does die in a horrid way, so I'm not sure if that would cause issue).
The setting breathes from the pages in a gorgeous spill of words. The characters are memorable and three dimensional. The fantasy is breathtaking and well-imagined.
I first read this novel when I was in my teens and was scared it wouldn't stand up to a more jaded adult view (such as the David Eddings novels I have revisited), but this is sturdy and enjoyable, and I'm delighted to move onto the rest of the trilogy.
Recommended.
The thing is, though, I feel that in a lot of ways this novel is quite enlightened. There are different types of god and worship, showcasing the fact that religion is approached in many different ways. There is polygamy, thanks to the harems and seraglios. Within the first third of the novel, the idea of a gay relationship with one of the main characters is gently explored (although his potential partner does die in a horrid way, so I'm not sure if that would cause issue).
The setting breathes from the pages in a gorgeous spill of words. The characters are memorable and three dimensional. The fantasy is breathtaking and well-imagined.
I first read this novel when I was in my teens and was scared it wouldn't stand up to a more jaded adult view (such as the David Eddings novels I have revisited), but this is sturdy and enjoyable, and I'm delighted to move onto the rest of the trilogy.
Recommended.
December 23, 2023
Rating: 4.5/5.
This series was recommended to my close friends by Brandon Sanderson himself, who applauded it for the engrossing storyline as well as for the queer representation. A classic fantasy story drawing elements from Arabian culture, this book kept me thoroughly entertained from the beginning to the end. On to the next book in the trilogy!
Detailed review to come soon.
This series was recommended to my close friends by Brandon Sanderson himself, who applauded it for the engrossing storyline as well as for the queer representation. A classic fantasy story drawing elements from Arabian culture, this book kept me thoroughly entertained from the beginning to the end. On to the next book in the trilogy!
Detailed review to come soon.
December 22, 2015
MATEO ES EL PERSONAJE MÁS CUQUI PRECIOSO QUE HE CONOCIDO EN MUCHO TIEMPO Y NO HABÍA ESCENA EN QUE NO QUISIESE ABRAZARLE MUY FUERTE Y PROMETERLE QUE TODO IBA A SALIR BIEN.
Zohra me ha gustado mucho, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta la fecha en la que está escrito el libro, y Khardan igual (salvo cuando aparece Meryem en escena y deja de pensar con el poco cerebro que le quedaba... Exacto)
En resumen, me ha gustado mucho el planteamiento del libro y cómo han ido jugando con los personajes. Aunque los últimos capítulos han sido un tanto precipitados estoy deseando ver cómo desenredan lo ocurrido en el siguiente.
Zohra me ha gustado mucho, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta la fecha en la que está escrito el libro, y Khardan igual (salvo cuando aparece Meryem en escena y deja de pensar con el poco cerebro que le quedaba... Exacto)
En resumen, me ha gustado mucho el planteamiento del libro y cómo han ido jugando con los personajes. Aunque los últimos capítulos han sido un tanto precipitados estoy deseando ver cómo desenredan lo ocurrido en el siguiente.
Read
October 1, 2019Si por algo se caracterizan los mundos que crea Margaret Weis, con cualquiera de sus múltiples colaboradores, es por el detalle con el que desarrolla las partes divina y ritualística de sus religiones. Así, varias de sus sagas se centran precisamente en esa dimensión como zona de conflicto, lo que no quita para que incluso en aquellas en que no sucede acabe teniendo bastante peso. Para que podáis verlo, voy a hacer un repaso sobre la religión y cómo se trata el tema en relación a la trama principal en sus obras menos conocidas.
Su cosmogonía más conocida es la de la Dragonlance, aunque cabe resaltar que se basaron en la existente en el juego de rol Dungeons and Dragons para, a partir de ahí, sugerir algo nuevo. Aunque hay muchas más deidades en el mundo, como Mishakal, el combate se centra en Takhisis y Paladine en un primer momento para, en la segunda trilogía, hablar de la hibris humana, encarnada en el personaje de Raistlin y su búsqueda de la deificación. Puede parecer poca cosa, ya que no trabajó sola, pero plantear un mundo sin clérigos o cuyos clérigos saben que sus deidades son falsas, así como el resentimiento completo de los seres inferiores hacia las divinidades debido al Cataclismo, fueron detalles que alejaron al mundo de la Dragonlance en sus inicios de otros mundos más clásicos, como pueden ser Reinos Olvidados o Greyhawk (Falcongrís, que se tradujo en España). Sin embargo, es un panteón “de encargo”, por decirlo de algún modo.
[...] En La Rosa del Profeta, el mundo visto desde la perspectiva filosófica es, literalmente, una gema de veinte caras; en el centro Sul, el dios principal y cuya verdad está vedada a los seres humanos (excepto a los magos, pero estos con muchas limitaciones), y en cada uno de los vértices se sitúa un dios, que tiene tres características. Los que están en la parte superior de la gema podrían considerarse el Bien, los que están en la cara inferior, el Mal, y los que están en los puntos intermedios, los Neutrales. (Una característica que ya se ve en los dioses de la Dragonlance, que allí se debe a las alineaciones morales del sistema de rol de D&D).
Continúa en... https://lanaveinvisible.com/2018/01/2...
Su cosmogonía más conocida es la de la Dragonlance, aunque cabe resaltar que se basaron en la existente en el juego de rol Dungeons and Dragons para, a partir de ahí, sugerir algo nuevo. Aunque hay muchas más deidades en el mundo, como Mishakal, el combate se centra en Takhisis y Paladine en un primer momento para, en la segunda trilogía, hablar de la hibris humana, encarnada en el personaje de Raistlin y su búsqueda de la deificación. Puede parecer poca cosa, ya que no trabajó sola, pero plantear un mundo sin clérigos o cuyos clérigos saben que sus deidades son falsas, así como el resentimiento completo de los seres inferiores hacia las divinidades debido al Cataclismo, fueron detalles que alejaron al mundo de la Dragonlance en sus inicios de otros mundos más clásicos, como pueden ser Reinos Olvidados o Greyhawk (Falcongrís, que se tradujo en España). Sin embargo, es un panteón “de encargo”, por decirlo de algún modo.
[...] En La Rosa del Profeta, el mundo visto desde la perspectiva filosófica es, literalmente, una gema de veinte caras; en el centro Sul, el dios principal y cuya verdad está vedada a los seres humanos (excepto a los magos, pero estos con muchas limitaciones), y en cada uno de los vértices se sitúa un dios, que tiene tres características. Los que están en la parte superior de la gema podrían considerarse el Bien, los que están en la cara inferior, el Mal, y los que están en los puntos intermedios, los Neutrales. (Una característica que ya se ve en los dioses de la Dragonlance, que allí se debe a las alineaciones morales del sistema de rol de D&D).
Continúa en... https://lanaveinvisible.com/2018/01/2...
March 20, 2021
Plenty of promise, this one.
The Will of The Wanderer is High Epic Fantasy in the mould of the works of Feist and co. Most of the late 20th century fantasy authors wrote this particular subgenre, with the equivalent tropes: a high king, a farm boy hero, an elfen/human damsel, an entire world at risk of destruction by either alien invasion or an evil Sorcerer-King of sorts...
TH and MW are popular for their Dragonlance books, which I imagine will follow the tropes eternally laid down by the likes of David Eddings and Gemmell, making this particular work all the more unique...
The story has a rich, rich world that is based on Islamic Mythology. The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A Chakraborty is woven from much the same source, hence, certain comparisons can be made. However, the world created by MW and TH is much, much more vast, and has better lore.
Infact, the lore is the best-done aspect of the book. I cannot say more about it without giving away major spoilers, but I'd say it's a sweet combination of regular fantasy pantheons and Islamic Mythology. So there are plenty of gods and djinn, as well as angels and Imams. There are walled, thriving cities, veritable economic hubs. There are wild desert tribes with barbaric cultures with a curious notion of honor...
It's certainly a well-told story, with well-paced buildup, zero unnecessary embellishments and witty dialogue. Book 2 promises to be even better.
The Will of The Wanderer is High Epic Fantasy in the mould of the works of Feist and co. Most of the late 20th century fantasy authors wrote this particular subgenre, with the equivalent tropes: a high king, a farm boy hero, an elfen/human damsel, an entire world at risk of destruction by either alien invasion or an evil Sorcerer-King of sorts...
TH and MW are popular for their Dragonlance books, which I imagine will follow the tropes eternally laid down by the likes of David Eddings and Gemmell, making this particular work all the more unique...
The story has a rich, rich world that is based on Islamic Mythology. The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A Chakraborty is woven from much the same source, hence, certain comparisons can be made. However, the world created by MW and TH is much, much more vast, and has better lore.
Infact, the lore is the best-done aspect of the book. I cannot say more about it without giving away major spoilers, but I'd say it's a sweet combination of regular fantasy pantheons and Islamic Mythology. So there are plenty of gods and djinn, as well as angels and Imams. There are walled, thriving cities, veritable economic hubs. There are wild desert tribes with barbaric cultures with a curious notion of honor...
It's certainly a well-told story, with well-paced buildup, zero unnecessary embellishments and witty dialogue. Book 2 promises to be even better.
April 9, 2013
One of my favorite 'pick it back up' fantasy series for whatever reason. I haven't really read many other Weis/Hickman stories because they fall into the generic D&D style fantasy that got old in middle school. They have a particular 90s flavor that is nostalgic, but not something I need to rehash.
This series goes in a different direction that makes it a fun read. Not great literature, but no dragons or even traditional wizards. I like how magic is handled in the series, and familiar immortals (djinn, angels, etc) are introduced with a cool backstory. I just really love the whole world view and wish the authors had considered doing more in the setting.
Primarily the books take place in 'fantasy generic Arab land', much like most fantasy takes place in 'generic medieval Europe'. I can't say that the presentation is super accurate or anything, but at least some attempts are made to depict Bedoin and Persian cultures among others. The books also follow several strong female characters and even a... homosexual? bisexual? character with dignity. Pretty awesome stuff.
This series goes in a different direction that makes it a fun read. Not great literature, but no dragons or even traditional wizards. I like how magic is handled in the series, and familiar immortals (djinn, angels, etc) are introduced with a cool backstory. I just really love the whole world view and wish the authors had considered doing more in the setting.
Primarily the books take place in 'fantasy generic Arab land', much like most fantasy takes place in 'generic medieval Europe'. I can't say that the presentation is super accurate or anything, but at least some attempts are made to depict Bedoin and Persian cultures among others. The books also follow several strong female characters and even a... homosexual? bisexual? character with dignity. Pretty awesome stuff.
September 9, 2020
This ended up being more fun than I remembered, and I remember a good read. I think I recognize more of the humor than I did previously. Maybe the story is not the best literature, but it is pretty darn good fiction. I had fun reading a magical adventure that took place in a middle eastern-like setting, away from castles and lords, with an interesting premise on religion and magic that just anchors the adventure and plot really well, in my humble opinion. It really is unique and a lot of fun. I look forward to the following books in the series.
December 23, 2023
Though this is mainly fantasy and not romance I am delighted that there are hints of a polycule between the prince, princess and the wizard. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that it finally happens in the next book. A charming, engaging story from start to finish.
July 17, 2025
5.1/10
August 27, 2013
This is the first book in the Rose of the Prophet series. This has long been a favourite series of mine. I like that it has a very different setting to most fantasy being mainly based in the desert and with desert people, a great well developed mythology with all the different gods and the different peoples that worship these gods and some wonderful characters to tell the story with.
The journey begins in this book for your main characters, particularly Khardan, Zohra and Matthew and the people and djinn that become involved in their fate.
There is quite a cast of characters in this series, and you get to see a lot of insight into each of them which is interesting. A lot of the books I read these days tend to stick to one or two character perspectives, so it was a bit different reading something that jumped around between several. But, it was a great way to get to know a large array of different characters and to tell the story from several different perspectives.
I always loved the story the between Khardan and Zohra, and Matthew’s part in it. And the war in heaven as well on earth was a great backdrop to their stories. This story gives you a great introduction into their world and begins their journey, which gets worse before it gets better.
The journey begins in this book for your main characters, particularly Khardan, Zohra and Matthew and the people and djinn that become involved in their fate.
There is quite a cast of characters in this series, and you get to see a lot of insight into each of them which is interesting. A lot of the books I read these days tend to stick to one or two character perspectives, so it was a bit different reading something that jumped around between several. But, it was a great way to get to know a large array of different characters and to tell the story from several different perspectives.
I always loved the story the between Khardan and Zohra, and Matthew’s part in it. And the war in heaven as well on earth was a great backdrop to their stories. This story gives you a great introduction into their world and begins their journey, which gets worse before it gets better.
January 18, 2016
This is an amazingly powerful trilogy. The people are complex, strongly portrayed, and have a sense of self unlike any I've encountered in books before. Their gods are powerful, believable, and- perhaps most importantly of all- have deeply human emotions that make them very likable. The plot is tightly woven, dropping the reader into the blackest pits of despair yet still somehow retaining that small, impossibly held hope that somehow, someway, everything will work out. A masterful work of art worthy of J.R.R. Tolkien himself, and a must read for anyone who loves fantasy.
February 6, 2016
The dialogue in this book is freaking hilarious! A fun fantasy set in an Arabian setting, the characters are so rich and fun, the gods are meddlesome, and the immortals take the cake. Really interesting world-building - even for the person who's not really into fantasy, Weis and Hickman make it really come to life. A worthwhile read!
December 22, 2020
Weis & Hickman never fail to entertain. A fascinating look into other cultures and religions with fantastical and intriguing adventures.
October 19, 2012
The Will of the Wanderer is the first book in the series "Rose of the Prophet." It's a desert fantasy filled with magic, religion, superstition, love, betrayal, adventure, battle and fate. There are 20 Gods, each with 3 different facets, and a sort of "head God" named Sul, who is a the centre of things. The three primary Gods of interest are Promenthas (Mathew's God), who has a hierarchy of angels; Akhran (the desert people's God), who has djinn servants; and Quar (the "neutral God"), who wants to kill the other Gods and reign supreme. Akhran, determined to thrwart Quar, tells two of his djinn that the son (Khardan) and daughter (Zohra) two warring tribes are to marry and make peace. This, naturally, leads to a bunch of other problems that are complicated by the volatile djinn themselves.
I'm not usually a fan of the omniscient point of view (although it does dive into a character's head for the occasional thought), but it works well here. It's almost as if Sul--or some other God-- is watching the story and has knowledge that the characters being observed do not. Dramatic irony abounds, and everything that can be misunderstood and misinterpreted by the other side is. It's hilarious.
The actions of the djinn open another can of worms entirely. Pukah's narcissism, for example, adds fuel to an already blazing inferno. At some points, I wanted to scream at the other characters to stop Pukah from doing more "clever" things to gain Akhran's praise/save the day, when all he was doing was making things worse!
I died laughing when His whole feminity causes problems right from the get-go, and there isn't much he can do about it other than decide whether he'd rather live or die.
I am not sure how this series will end, but I look forward to what misfortunes and misunderstandings will take place in the next installment.
I'm not usually a fan of the omniscient point of view (although it does dive into a character's head for the occasional thought), but it works well here. It's almost as if Sul--or some other God-- is watching the story and has knowledge that the characters being observed do not. Dramatic irony abounds, and everything that can be misunderstood and misinterpreted by the other side is. It's hilarious.
The actions of the djinn open another can of worms entirely. Pukah's narcissism, for example, adds fuel to an already blazing inferno. At some points, I wanted to scream at the other characters to stop Pukah from doing more "clever" things to gain Akhran's praise/save the day, when all he was doing was making things worse!
I died laughing when His whole feminity causes problems right from the get-go, and there isn't much he can do about it other than decide whether he'd rather live or die.
I am not sure how this series will end, but I look forward to what misfortunes and misunderstandings will take place in the next installment.
March 3, 2014
Ok, this one is very hard for me. I remember reading these a long time ago and loving them. Now my feelings aren't so positive.
First, I should say that the plots and characters are not the problem. I still like both. But, OMG, the writing style is SO juvenile I'd be reluctant to let kids read them. Mix that with some slightly mature content (note slightly) and I don't know who I could feel comfortable handing these to with my recommendation.
It's a shame really because the concepts and characters are a lot of fun and I know the authors can do better. Now these were written earlier in their careers and seem like they were possibly taken from somebodies role playing game like some of the Gygax books way back when. I'll give them some excuse for those reasons.
I'll finish the series just because I like the characters (and I already bought them) but I'm not expecting much.
Take them for what they are. ...
First, I should say that the plots and characters are not the problem. I still like both. But, OMG, the writing style is SO juvenile I'd be reluctant to let kids read them. Mix that with some slightly mature content (note slightly) and I don't know who I could feel comfortable handing these to with my recommendation.
It's a shame really because the concepts and characters are a lot of fun and I know the authors can do better. Now these were written earlier in their careers and seem like they were possibly taken from somebodies role playing game like some of the Gygax books way back when. I'll give them some excuse for those reasons.
I'll finish the series just because I like the characters (and I already bought them) but I'm not expecting much.
Take them for what they are. ...
August 2, 2011
This is the first book in the Rose of the Prophet trilogy.
This book introduces you to a world full of main and secondary characters that will be much more enjoyable come the second book. This book plods along at times and the action is barely enough to keep your interest and you barely care for some of these characters.
Hang in there I know the 2nd book gets much better.
This book introduces you to a world full of main and secondary characters that will be much more enjoyable come the second book. This book plods along at times and the action is barely enough to keep your interest and you barely care for some of these characters.
Hang in there I know the 2nd book gets much better.
July 24, 2009
I loved this series, and I'm not even a science fiction fan. Keep in mind, I read these a few years back and probably need to go back for a reread, but all I know is that these books were insanely addictive and I read all three in the course of two weeks or so. We get a love story, some magical intrigue, battle scenes, you name it. And a happy ending to match. What more could you want?
April 9, 2023
Weet niet wat ik van dit boek moet vinden, over het algemeen zijn de verhalen van Weis best wel goed te lezen, maar dit boek voldeed niet echt mijn verwachtingen.
dnf
August 8, 2015It just so dragged out. And I never felt connected so dnf
September 10, 2016
Snore. The characters became annoying, having the same arguments throughout the whole book. Barely finished, and couldn't care enough about the story to read the second volume
October 13, 2024
I'm fairly certain I held a nonzero number of books in higher esteem than they might deserve, just because there's a hot redhead in it.
That said, Mathew DOES end up crossdressing and, when given the choice, resigning himself to life as a wife to avoid being murdered for happening to be 1. male, and 2. a foreigner. I don't recall a lot more that "she" does other than get along with the first wife Zohra out of a sort of sisterhood of spite.
Otherwise, it's a huge D&D session where even the deities are fighting. It was an interesting read, but I think I might judge it more harshly nowadays. Four stars for benefit of the doubt and nostalgia.
(re-reading update)
So I found a copy and am jumping back in to see how my tastes have changed.
First: I had naturally forgotten that the VERY BEGINNING of the series starts with this weird second-person narration (eventually revealing a first-person narrator who claims to be the storyteller for the overall trilogy) explaining that the "Rose of the Prophet" is a cactus that appears to stab things beyond its reach, that "you" suddenly have thorns in your footwear despite not having gone near it, and this is the story of that "hideous thing with a beautiful name." Noting that for future reference, because clearly I WILL forget again.
Second: Wow, super wordy. Granted, it's a LOT of exposition about the setting of a twenty-sided (icosahedral) universe and the god(desse)s related to the sides, so I guess that's to be expected, but my mind wandered EVERYWHERE when trying to read just this much. Hope it picks up sooner than later! :/
There's also a map, but I feel like I never remember details well enough to say, oh, that part took place here, and etc. I can't even figure out which part the prologue is referring to. Sigh.
(second update)
Huh. Chapters are pretty short.
Also, I have barely read a third of the book, and it's almost all of what I remember of the entire trilogy! What does that say about what happens later? (or, of my memory?)
It also strikes me that this is sort of why I am AGAINST pantheism, actually—mostly, the bickering of TWENTY DIFFERENT GOD(desse)S and how sailors have to appease two (or more?) deities just to minimise the threat of danger feel like basically gang wars, and how would anyone know of ALL the deities to have a running spreadsheet of what to sacrifice to which to just remain alive?? Sure, a lot of them are neutral and have a working "noninterference" policy, but the ones that don't? Mathew's group of missionaries from Promenthas (and Promenthas himself) found out the hard way just how badly other religions can react to being proselytised.
Besides, I prefer Douglas Adams's interpretation of religion... or, rather, the lack of it. The issue with even ONE "all-powerful" deity is that deity must be the greatest power in all of existence... meaning 1. there's an upper limit, and 2. the greatest power in existence can only make inferior products (kind of depressing, when humans have created untold numbers of things that surpass what we can do ourselves: cars, trains, etc. go fast; planes and helicopters fly; medicines eradicate disease; etc.). More impressive is when simple things make bigger, more complex things: atoms become molecules become compounds become whole entire THINGS and ORGANISMS! Much more fascinating, and potentially limitless!
I mean, it's still fun reading about Sularin, but I wouldn't want to live there.
(update)
Adding the "LGBTQ" tag since apparently Promenthas believes all love is valid. Mathew's living as a woman under duress aside, since—yes—he DID choose to live as a "mad" woman rather than die as a sane man... though in some ways the persecution of trans people has somewhat similar results (Leelah Alcorn choosing to die rather than continue to live in the wrong body).
Also, really cool that, of all people, ultra-tomboy Zohra is the one who approaches Mathew and seeks to hear the other side of the story, vs. clinging to the one known interpretation of why magic is a "woman's" art but he can use it.
(conclusion)
I don't know if I feel like re-writing this to a coherent review.
Firstly, I'm still undecided on Mathew's treatment. Forcing someone to live in the wrong body is wrong, period, BESIDES treating him and Zohra BOTH as "crazy" people (though Mathew even moreso). HOWEVER, it's also reflective of a "compromise" for an otherwise unflinchingly homophobic/transphobic people.* So... ? I mean, I vaguely remember the end is happy *enough*, that most of the characters anybody cares about are still around. (Mostly I remember that .)
Second, Pukah and Asrial's "relationship" (or, what Pukah believes there is of one) bothers me, mostly because the concept of angels in popular culture bothers me: Mathew isn't able to see the one remaining proof of his god's presence in this "forsaken" land, but a lowly immortal from a different god can? It feels like cheating, when Pukah tells Mathew that he has an angel watching over him... reminding me how Touched by an Angel (a show my nonreligious mother would watch, I guess because it was on) always felt insulting to Christians since the angels never seemed to be able to do their job without revealing they were angels—how would that make YOU feel, as a Christian, that YOU never had an angel appear before you? That you didn't merit their miracles?
The book also ends in a frustrating place, where . It's especially frustrating, since I can't easily just *get* the next (or last) book—it's all special order/online shopping, since what bookstore will just stock specific *35 YEAR OLD* books in the event a nostalgic reader happens through. (Yes, e-book is possibly an option, but I'm full up on ones I want to get through at the moment for what time I can even get myself to read e-books in the first place, between battery drainage and the fact they hurt my eyes.)
Overall assessment is about the same, though: I found it entertaining, and it sticks out in my mind as one of the first major "epic" books I've read... but it's not my favourite by a long shot.
*I'm aware—or, if wrong about, at least under a strong impression—that some ultra-conservative nations actually support sex changes when it means a same-sex couple would then become a "man and woman" couple, but don't quote me on that.
That said, Mathew DOES end up crossdressing and, when given the choice, resigning himself to life as a wife to avoid being murdered for happening to be 1. male, and 2. a foreigner. I don't recall a lot more that "she" does other than get along with the first wife Zohra out of a sort of sisterhood of spite.
Otherwise, it's a huge D&D session where even the deities are fighting. It was an interesting read, but I think I might judge it more harshly nowadays. Four stars for benefit of the doubt and nostalgia.
(re-reading update)
So I found a copy and am jumping back in to see how my tastes have changed.
First: I had naturally forgotten that the VERY BEGINNING of the series starts with this weird second-person narration (eventually revealing a first-person narrator who claims to be the storyteller for the overall trilogy) explaining that the "Rose of the Prophet" is a cactus that appears to stab things beyond its reach, that "you" suddenly have thorns in your footwear despite not having gone near it, and this is the story of that "hideous thing with a beautiful name." Noting that for future reference, because clearly I WILL forget again.
Second: Wow, super wordy. Granted, it's a LOT of exposition about the setting of a twenty-sided (icosahedral) universe and the god(desse)s related to the sides, so I guess that's to be expected, but my mind wandered EVERYWHERE when trying to read just this much. Hope it picks up sooner than later! :/
There's also a map, but I feel like I never remember details well enough to say, oh, that part took place here, and etc. I can't even figure out which part the prologue is referring to. Sigh.
(second update)
Huh. Chapters are pretty short.
Also, I have barely read a third of the book, and it's almost all of what I remember of the entire trilogy! What does that say about what happens later? (or, of my memory?)
It also strikes me that this is sort of why I am AGAINST pantheism, actually—mostly, the bickering of TWENTY DIFFERENT GOD(desse)S and how sailors have to appease two (or more?) deities just to minimise the threat of danger feel like basically gang wars, and how would anyone know of ALL the deities to have a running spreadsheet of what to sacrifice to which to just remain alive?? Sure, a lot of them are neutral and have a working "noninterference" policy, but the ones that don't? Mathew's group of missionaries from Promenthas (and Promenthas himself) found out the hard way just how badly other religions can react to being proselytised.
Besides, I prefer Douglas Adams's interpretation of religion... or, rather, the lack of it. The issue with even ONE "all-powerful" deity is that deity must be the greatest power in all of existence... meaning 1. there's an upper limit, and 2. the greatest power in existence can only make inferior products (kind of depressing, when humans have created untold numbers of things that surpass what we can do ourselves: cars, trains, etc. go fast; planes and helicopters fly; medicines eradicate disease; etc.). More impressive is when simple things make bigger, more complex things: atoms become molecules become compounds become whole entire THINGS and ORGANISMS! Much more fascinating, and potentially limitless!
I mean, it's still fun reading about Sularin, but I wouldn't want to live there.
(update)
Adding the "LGBTQ" tag since apparently Promenthas believes all love is valid. Mathew's living as a woman under duress aside, since—yes—he DID choose to live as a "mad" woman rather than die as a sane man... though in some ways the persecution of trans people has somewhat similar results (Leelah Alcorn choosing to die rather than continue to live in the wrong body).
Also, really cool that, of all people, ultra-tomboy Zohra is the one who approaches Mathew and seeks to hear the other side of the story, vs. clinging to the one known interpretation of why magic is a "woman's" art but he can use it.
(conclusion)
I don't know if I feel like re-writing this to a coherent review.
Firstly, I'm still undecided on Mathew's treatment. Forcing someone to live in the wrong body is wrong, period, BESIDES treating him and Zohra BOTH as "crazy" people (though Mathew even moreso). HOWEVER, it's also reflective of a "compromise" for an otherwise unflinchingly homophobic/transphobic people.* So... ? I mean, I vaguely remember the end is happy *enough*, that most of the characters anybody cares about are still around. (Mostly I remember that .)
Second, Pukah and Asrial's "relationship" (or, what Pukah believes there is of one) bothers me, mostly because the concept of angels in popular culture bothers me: Mathew isn't able to see the one remaining proof of his god's presence in this "forsaken" land, but a lowly immortal from a different god can? It feels like cheating, when Pukah tells Mathew that he has an angel watching over him... reminding me how Touched by an Angel (a show my nonreligious mother would watch, I guess because it was on) always felt insulting to Christians since the angels never seemed to be able to do their job without revealing they were angels—how would that make YOU feel, as a Christian, that YOU never had an angel appear before you? That you didn't merit their miracles?
The book also ends in a frustrating place, where . It's especially frustrating, since I can't easily just *get* the next (or last) book—it's all special order/online shopping, since what bookstore will just stock specific *35 YEAR OLD* books in the event a nostalgic reader happens through. (Yes, e-book is possibly an option, but I'm full up on ones I want to get through at the moment for what time I can even get myself to read e-books in the first place, between battery drainage and the fact they hurt my eyes.)
Overall assessment is about the same, though: I found it entertaining, and it sticks out in my mind as one of the first major "epic" books I've read... but it's not my favourite by a long shot.
*I'm aware—or, if wrong about, at least under a strong impression—that some ultra-conservative nations actually support sex changes when it means a same-sex couple would then become a "man and woman" couple, but don't quote me on that.
Read
October 23, 2025Since time began, twenty Gods have ruled the universe. Though each god possessed different abilities, each was all-powerful within his realm. Now one of the Gods has upset the balance of power, leaving the others scrambling for control in the new order...Here is the epic tale of the Great War of the Gods--and the proud people upon whom the fate of the world depends. When the God of the desert, Akhran the Wanderer, declares that two clans must band together despite their centuries-old rivalry, their first response is outrage. But they are a devout people and so reluctantly bow to his bidding.Enemies from birth, the headstrong Prince Khardan and impetuous Princess Zohra must unite in marriage to stop Quar, the God of Reality, Greed, and Law, from enslaving their people.But can Khardan and Zohra keep from betraying each other? Can their two peoples maintain their fragile alliance until the long-awaited flowering of the legendary Rose of the Prophet?Against the powerful legions of the evil Amir, Khardan and Zohra fight to save the desert people--a fight unexpectedly joined by an exiled wizard named Matthew and the mysterious powers of his alien land.
September 9, 2023
I started reading this book because I love a good arranged marriage story that ends happily. It’s not that. Don’t get me wrong, later in the series things could change, but the main focus of this story is not Khardan and Zohra’s relationship. Or I should say, not just that.
Instead, this story is filled with complex relationships: the ties between gods, gods, immortals, humankind, tribes, foreign lands. The list goes on.
The relationships that intrigued me the most were those between the Wandering god Akhran and his worshippers and Zohra and Matthew.
For Akhran, his believers do not follow him, they live free and unfettered existences until suddenly Akhran decides to change that. They resent him for it, consider disobeying him, but ultimately continue in the path that he has set for them. At one point Matthew thinks something along the lines of “Akhran is not their god, he is more like a friend, a father.” That lead to some intriguing contemplation on my part about the relationships between people and the gods they worship.
The relationship between Zohra and Matthew shows the complexity of emotions and conflict of cultural differences, pride, loneliness, disdain, passion, and the effect of the self (hatred, love, etc.) on intimate bonds.
I don’t know which relationships to root for and which to cast aside, but I just want to see where this is going.
Instead, this story is filled with complex relationships: the ties between gods, gods, immortals, humankind, tribes, foreign lands. The list goes on.
The relationships that intrigued me the most were those between the Wandering god Akhran and his worshippers and Zohra and Matthew.
For Akhran, his believers do not follow him, they live free and unfettered existences until suddenly Akhran decides to change that. They resent him for it, consider disobeying him, but ultimately continue in the path that he has set for them. At one point Matthew thinks something along the lines of “Akhran is not their god, he is more like a friend, a father.” That lead to some intriguing contemplation on my part about the relationships between people and the gods they worship.
The relationship between Zohra and Matthew shows the complexity of emotions and conflict of cultural differences, pride, loneliness, disdain, passion, and the effect of the self (hatred, love, etc.) on intimate bonds.
I don’t know which relationships to root for and which to cast aside, but I just want to see where this is going.
December 13, 2023
I have read several of Weis and Hickmann's books. Death Gate Cycle is one of my all time favorites. It was a joy to get reacquainted to the authors. As with their other works, the quality of the story is excellent. They are masters at bringing the various aspects-characters ,settings, storylines, writing- and piecing them seamlessly into the story.
In this series, we have a lot happening. The story is occurring in three different planes-god, immotal and human. On the human plane, there are 4 tribes. The only difficulty I had in keeping all this straight was with the various djinns and what human they were paired with. The characters are all wonderfully flawed and that provides us with some great lighter moments. The wedding scene involving sworn enemies was portrayed with a master's touch.
The one issue the authors have is with exposition and this book is no exception. It makes for a clunk opening and some pacing issues. The preface serves no purpose and I would suggest skipping it. The first chapter is difficult to get through but plow on, you will be rewarded in the end.
In this series, we have a lot happening. The story is occurring in three different planes-god, immotal and human. On the human plane, there are 4 tribes. The only difficulty I had in keeping all this straight was with the various djinns and what human they were paired with. The characters are all wonderfully flawed and that provides us with some great lighter moments. The wedding scene involving sworn enemies was portrayed with a master's touch.
The one issue the authors have is with exposition and this book is no exception. It makes for a clunk opening and some pacing issues. The preface serves no purpose and I would suggest skipping it. The first chapter is difficult to get through but plow on, you will be rewarded in the end.
October 9, 2021
I’ve had this book sitting on my shelves for about 10 years now and finally decided to give it a try. It took a while for me to get into the story. It started slow and I had no clue what was actually going on. This might also be because the book was translated to my native language and not in English. After getting into the flow of the book it started making more sense and it is actually a really fun book! I liked the Middle Eastern setting and enjoy seeing the main characters development, no matter how small they are.
July 2, 2024
This was an ok book. What a slog to get to the plot, i didn’t think the set up did it justice. This novel had some fantasy elements, but for the most part felt like a fictional Arabian tale. Sure there are elements of gods, and magic, but both really anything to stick out. I would say this definitely felt like the Darksword series in the way they write their early novels. I happen to have this whole trilogy and i am interested in the second and third book, but i am in no hurry to read this mediocre series.
January 30, 2019
Weis y Hickman han escrito maravillas como está cada vez que se han sentado a colaborar. Aquí, la novela épica fantástica deja las fantasías europeas para meterse con magia y guerreros en una tierra inspirada en la riqueza de medio oriente, con tribus de nómadas libres y guerreras, djinns y efreets, y unos dioses muy cercanos a los hombres y mujeres del desierto, que se inmiscuyen en los asuntos de los mortales y utilizan a estos para zanjar sus problemas.
November 13, 2024
Started off feeling like it was going to be formalistic with 1 dimensional characters.
However, the plot deviated from what I thought was going to be the obvious, and the characters developed into at least 2 dimensional and I found myself liking a lot of them.
Ended on a bit of a cliffhanger making continuing with the next book a must.
However, the plot deviated from what I thought was going to be the obvious, and the characters developed into at least 2 dimensional and I found myself liking a lot of them.
Ended on a bit of a cliffhanger making continuing with the next book a must.
December 22, 2019
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the story a lot. It's not too complex, just a fun read. The setting (an arabian-like Fantasy world) is refreshing and the characters are great. The narrating could use some refining though. For example, sometimes things shouldn't be explained as elaboratly as they were.
August 6, 2020
Madre mía, Maricarmen, no sé ni por dónde empezar. La historia cumple con los mínimos del género con más pena que gloria (bueeeeno, vale), pero he tardado dos semanas en acabarlo porque esta traducción es un dolor. No se pilla por ninguna parte.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews