Clock Strikes Sword

Shadow World #2

by Ian Hammell, Arthur Morey (Reading)

Firoze and two rival nations that share the same island. The powerful Firozians are famous for their magical swords and warlike spirit. The gentle Gnomons are known for their precision clocks - and for their power over time itself. The death of an innocent boy sparks war between Gnomon and Firoze. Swords are sharpened and spells prepared. But no sooner than the battle lines are drawn, a foreign power attacks the island. Now the two enemy nations have only one to fight together, spells and swords combined, to defend their common home against the ruthless Vargans ...

Genres: Fantasy

MP3 CD

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

A pseudonym of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad.

She has also published as:
Rachel Caine
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune

Reviews

[Tobias · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is abolutely terrible. Even when considered outside of the context of the Shadow World setting, which it seems to have nothing in common with in any way.

[Derek · Rating 1 out of 5]

It seems completely determined to puncture every bit of tension or construction. Fifty opening pages set up the violent conflict between Firoze and Gnomon, only to have its first battle interrupted/prevented at the last minute--in a single page of action--by the appearance of an unanticipated third party aggressor. The events that triggered this nascent war then resolve, also in about a page or two. Gnomon "time magic", as laboriously detailed at its introduction, is eventually overshadowed by a more general and well-worn form of witchcraft.

[WonderGoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book. I am really curious to find some info on the setting. I really want to read the spell lists of the Gnomanese Clockmakers Guild.

About the book, though, it read well despite a slow start. The characters were interesting and the action fun. I would have liked some more depth to the characters, but the characterization thatbis present gets the job done.