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Cloudmages #2
Mage Of Clouds #2:
In the Before time, the mage-lights ruled the night skies, and the cloudmages drew that magic into the stones known as the clochs na thintri. And though they could have worked great wonders for the benefit of humankind, invariably, each time the magic returned to these spell-stones over the millenia, the cloudmages used it to wage war.
Nearly two decades ago, the mage-lights had returned to the sky and a young woman named Jenna had found the stone known as Lamh Shabhala, the master stone that was the only means through which to reawaken the power of all the other clochs. Jenna had lived to become First Holder, but she'd sacrificed even more than she'd gained, cut off from family and friends, and caught up in a magical war which would see far too many dead. And through an uneasy peace was instituted in the aftermath of the war, a peace that has existed, however precariously, until the present day, that delicate balance is about to be shattered once again.
Jenna MacEagan has been Banrion in the realm of Inish Thuaidh since the end of the devastating conflict with the lords of all the other Tuatha. But now the Ri Ard, the High King of those Tuatha, has grown frail and may soon be replaced. And when Jenna's own half brother Doyle appears in the heart of Dun Kiil Keep to tell her that their mother has died and to warn her that both he and the future Ri Ard await only the right moment to strike at Jenna and those she holds dear, she knows she can no longer put off the inevitable. She must send her daughter Meriel to the Order at Inishfeirm to be trained in the use of the clochs na thintri. For Jenna feels that one day Meriel may well be called upon to fill her place as First Holder, the wielder of Lamh Shabhala.
Yet Inishfeirm may not prove either the training ground or the haven that Jenna expects it to be. For Meriel is not like her mother, and she has no desire for power. As she begins her training with the cloch known as Treorai's Heart, Meriel finds it offers her a magic more to her liking and one which is extremely rare - the ability to heal. And she finds both a mentor and friends among the Order. But when Doyle makes good in his threat and stages an attack on the Order, friendship turns to betrayal and Meriel finds herself thrust into the hands of her mother's enemies. Suddenly she has become a pawn in a deadly game where lives are worth far less than the clochs na thintri.
Will Jenna trade everything she has fought for - and so many have died for - to save her daughter's life? Or will Meriel become a helpless sacrifice in the devastating struggle between her mother and her uncle?
Nearly two decades ago, the mage-lights had returned to the sky and a young woman named Jenna had found the stone known as Lamh Shabhala, the master stone that was the only means through which to reawaken the power of all the other clochs. Jenna had lived to become First Holder, but she'd sacrificed even more than she'd gained, cut off from family and friends, and caught up in a magical war which would see far too many dead. And through an uneasy peace was instituted in the aftermath of the war, a peace that has existed, however precariously, until the present day, that delicate balance is about to be shattered once again.
Jenna MacEagan has been Banrion in the realm of Inish Thuaidh since the end of the devastating conflict with the lords of all the other Tuatha. But now the Ri Ard, the High King of those Tuatha, has grown frail and may soon be replaced. And when Jenna's own half brother Doyle appears in the heart of Dun Kiil Keep to tell her that their mother has died and to warn her that both he and the future Ri Ard await only the right moment to strike at Jenna and those she holds dear, she knows she can no longer put off the inevitable. She must send her daughter Meriel to the Order at Inishfeirm to be trained in the use of the clochs na thintri. For Jenna feels that one day Meriel may well be called upon to fill her place as First Holder, the wielder of Lamh Shabhala.
Yet Inishfeirm may not prove either the training ground or the haven that Jenna expects it to be. For Meriel is not like her mother, and she has no desire for power. As she begins her training with the cloch known as Treorai's Heart, Meriel finds it offers her a magic more to her liking and one which is extremely rare - the ability to heal. And she finds both a mentor and friends among the Order. But when Doyle makes good in his threat and stages an attack on the Order, friendship turns to betrayal and Meriel finds herself thrust into the hands of her mother's enemies. Suddenly she has become a pawn in a deadly game where lives are worth far less than the clochs na thintri.
Will Jenna trade everything she has fought for - and so many have died for - to save her daughter's life? Or will Meriel become a helpless sacrifice in the devastating struggle between her mother and her uncle?
528 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
12 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Farrell
12 books50 followersS.L. Farrell also writes as Stephen Leigh and Matthew Farrell.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 24, 2013
Wasn't sure I'd like the generational gap but indeed I did.
Not entirely keen on the continuing fued between Jenna and her half brother but I guess I'll live. We'll see if it's continuation in the next book is more annoying to me.
Great book and Great series!
Not entirely keen on the continuing fued between Jenna and her half brother but I guess I'll live. We'll see if it's continuation in the next book is more annoying to me.
Great book and Great series!
February 21, 2021
Brush up on Celtic or Gaelic. I had to google the meanings of some words. All in all, great read!
May 20, 2010
This book like the first took a while to get started. I really got into this one. This one was a lot better than the first. A lot more adventure she experiences. Jenna becomes pregnant and gets married to another man, after the death of the father.
I don't like her brother. He should be loyal to his sister and he should protect her. He's one of them trying to steal the stone away from her. By the end of the book I want him dead. I'm sick of him at this point.He's just like his father. I don't like him also, because is Padriac's son. I don't like Padriac.
There is a lot of betrayal in the book. I lot of selfishness ro go with it. A lot of these people are motivated by selfishness. It all makes it's hard on Jenna. Imagine what it would feel like to truly be alone like she does. Her family and most of her friends have turned against her. Those friends who stick by her don't want the pain of the stone she holds and don't want power. Her friends make a lot of sacrifices for her.
I don't like her brother. He should be loyal to his sister and he should protect her. He's one of them trying to steal the stone away from her. By the end of the book I want him dead. I'm sick of him at this point.He's just like his father. I don't like him also, because is Padriac's son. I don't like Padriac.
There is a lot of betrayal in the book. I lot of selfishness ro go with it. A lot of these people are motivated by selfishness. It all makes it's hard on Jenna. Imagine what it would feel like to truly be alone like she does. Her family and most of her friends have turned against her. Those friends who stick by her don't want the pain of the stone she holds and don't want power. Her friends make a lot of sacrifices for her.
February 19, 2016
I didn't jump right into this book after reading the first. These epic fantasies are exhausting in their own way. I liked this one as much as the first even though the main focus shifted from Jenna to her daughter Meriel. I liked Meriel and look forward to seeing her in the third installment of this series. My only criticism was that in the twenty years that passed between the settings of the first and second books, Jenna didn't seem to have any growth. She didn't seem to apply the lessons she so painfully learned in the first book. She was just as stubborn as ever. She didn't mother her daughter well, she didn't make-up with her own mother before her death, and even after learning what might be possible for using Lamh Shabhala to build rather than tear down as the First Holder, she didn't seem to work to realize any of that potential. Instead it has fallen to her daughter and other descendants. I will read the third book for that potential.
January 13, 2012
Wonderful capturing story. Mage of Clouds moved a lot faster than the previous book and it was far more enjoyable
This book has most of the main characters from Holder of Lightning and introduces many others. The story focuses on Meriel, Jenna's daughter, and the continuance of the Lamh Shabhala and the Cloch Mors.
The story is full of heartfelt emotions from many of the main characters. Jenna, the first holder, was not as annoying as she was in book 1.
I enjoyed this one immensely and would love it if there was another book in this series.
This book has most of the main characters from Holder of Lightning and introduces many others. The story focuses on Meriel, Jenna's daughter, and the continuance of the Lamh Shabhala and the Cloch Mors.
The story is full of heartfelt emotions from many of the main characters. Jenna, the first holder, was not as annoying as she was in book 1.
I enjoyed this one immensely and would love it if there was another book in this series.
October 4, 2007
Book gets off to a slow start. When I got to the 5th Chapter, which is a series of adolescent love letters, I closed the book and gave up since I had lost patience with the book. However, I gave the book a second chance, and it soon became an enticing page-turning read again, almost as good as the first.
April 13, 2010
I'll say it was better than the 1st one simply because the writing seemed smoother. Better or not, I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Like the 1st, this book can be read by itself, but will be better read in series. order.
August 15, 2008
A very readable series. Haven't finished the series yet but am through book 3.
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June 12, 2018A bit of a heavy read but worth it
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews