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The Cycle of Fire #1
Stormwarden
The first novel in the The Circle of Fire trilogy. As a new plot threatens mankind's survival, three children stand at the crux. All possess extraordinary talents, but each of them is flawed. In need of all their help is the Stormwarden, last Vaere-trained sorcerer, condemned now and trapped in a desperate quandry. Previous publisher: Ace.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
87 people are currently reading
2947 people want to read
About the author
Janny Wurts
106 books1,937 followersJanny Wurts is the author of War of Light and Shadow series, and To Ride Hell's Chasm. Her eighteen published titles include a trilogy in audio, a short story collection, as well as the internationally best selling Empire trilogy, co authored with Raymond E. Feist, with works translated into fifteen languages worldwide. Her latest title in the Wars of Light and Shadow series, Destiny's Conflict, culminates more than thirty years of carefully evolved ideas. The cover images on the books, both in the US and abroad, are her own paintings, depicting her vision of characters and setting.
Through her combined talents as a writer/illustrator, Janny has immersed herself in a lifelong ambition: to create a seamless interface between words and pictures that will lead reader and viewer into the imagination. Her lavish use of language invites the mind into a crafted realm of experience, with characters and events woven into a complex tapestry, and drawn with an intensity to inspire active fuel for thought. Her research includes a range of direct experience, lending her fantasy a gritty realism, and her scenes involving magic crafted with intricate continuity. A self-taught painter, she draws directly from the imagination, creating scenes in a representational style that blurs the edges between dream and reality. She makes few preliminary sketches, but envisions her characters and the scenes that contain them, then executes the final directly from the initial pencil drawing.
The seed idea for the Wars of Light and Shadow series occurred, when, in the course of researching tactic and weapons, she viewed a documentary film on the Battle of Culloden Moor. This was the first time she had encountered that historical context of that brutal event, with the embroidery of romance stripped from it. The experience gave rise to an awakening, which became anger, that so often, our education, literature and entertainment slant history in a manner that equates winners and losers with moral right and wrong, and the prevalent attitude, that killing wars can be seen as justifiable solutions when only one side of the picture is presented.
Her series takes the stance that there are two sides to every question, and follows two characters who are half brothers. One a bard trained as a master of magecraft, and the other a born ruler with a charismatic passion for justice, have become cursed to lifelong enmity. As one sibling raises a devoted mass following, the other tries desperately to stave off defeat through solitary discipline and cleverness. The conflict sweeps across an imaginary world, dividing land and people through an intricate play of politics and the inborn prejudices of polarized factions already set at odds. Readers are led on a journey that embraces both viewpoints. The story explores the ironies of morality which often confound our own human condition - that what appears right and just, by one side, becomes reprehensible when seen from the opposite angle. What is apparently good for the many, too often causes devastating suffering to the nonconformist minority. Through the interactions between the characters themselves, the reader is left to their own discretion to interpret the moral impact of events.
Says Janny of her work, "I chose to frame this story against a backdrop of fantasy because I could handle even the most sensitive issues with the gloves off - explore the myriad angles of our troubled times with the least risk of offending anyone's personal sensibilities. The result, I can hope, is an expanding journey of the spirit that explores the grand depths, and rises to the challenge of mapping the ethereal potential of an evolving planetary consciousness... explore free thought and compassionate understanding."
Beyond writing, Janny's award winning paintings have been showcased in exhibitions of imaginative artwork, among them a commemorative exhibition for NASA's 25th Anniversary; the Art of the Cosmos at Hayden Planet
Through her combined talents as a writer/illustrator, Janny has immersed herself in a lifelong ambition: to create a seamless interface between words and pictures that will lead reader and viewer into the imagination. Her lavish use of language invites the mind into a crafted realm of experience, with characters and events woven into a complex tapestry, and drawn with an intensity to inspire active fuel for thought. Her research includes a range of direct experience, lending her fantasy a gritty realism, and her scenes involving magic crafted with intricate continuity. A self-taught painter, she draws directly from the imagination, creating scenes in a representational style that blurs the edges between dream and reality. She makes few preliminary sketches, but envisions her characters and the scenes that contain them, then executes the final directly from the initial pencil drawing.
The seed idea for the Wars of Light and Shadow series occurred, when, in the course of researching tactic and weapons, she viewed a documentary film on the Battle of Culloden Moor. This was the first time she had encountered that historical context of that brutal event, with the embroidery of romance stripped from it. The experience gave rise to an awakening, which became anger, that so often, our education, literature and entertainment slant history in a manner that equates winners and losers with moral right and wrong, and the prevalent attitude, that killing wars can be seen as justifiable solutions when only one side of the picture is presented.
Her series takes the stance that there are two sides to every question, and follows two characters who are half brothers. One a bard trained as a master of magecraft, and the other a born ruler with a charismatic passion for justice, have become cursed to lifelong enmity. As one sibling raises a devoted mass following, the other tries desperately to stave off defeat through solitary discipline and cleverness. The conflict sweeps across an imaginary world, dividing land and people through an intricate play of politics and the inborn prejudices of polarized factions already set at odds. Readers are led on a journey that embraces both viewpoints. The story explores the ironies of morality which often confound our own human condition - that what appears right and just, by one side, becomes reprehensible when seen from the opposite angle. What is apparently good for the many, too often causes devastating suffering to the nonconformist minority. Through the interactions between the characters themselves, the reader is left to their own discretion to interpret the moral impact of events.
Says Janny of her work, "I chose to frame this story against a backdrop of fantasy because I could handle even the most sensitive issues with the gloves off - explore the myriad angles of our troubled times with the least risk of offending anyone's personal sensibilities. The result, I can hope, is an expanding journey of the spirit that explores the grand depths, and rises to the challenge of mapping the ethereal potential of an evolving planetary consciousness... explore free thought and compassionate understanding."
Beyond writing, Janny's award winning paintings have been showcased in exhibitions of imaginative artwork, among them a commemorative exhibition for NASA's 25th Anniversary; the Art of the Cosmos at Hayden Planet
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
February 20, 2020
“The waters of the world are deep. Chart your course with care.”
Wizards, demons and coming of age story with a twist. All in a classic epic fantasy setting of the noble good against the hideous evil.
Stormwarden! What a great title, no? Yet, be warned that the wizard of wind and wave, one Anskiere, a Stormwarden of Imrill Kand serves only as a background for the whole story that revolves around him, but without his direct involvement most of the time.
In my never-ending search for overlooked gems (and because I am tired of the mostly over-hyped new releases) I frequently browse the vintage shelves. Stormwarden was first published in the 1980s and I think that it must have been somewhat storm breaking back then. Today, it is a mixture of some great ideas (stormfalcon! I want one!) and some very bad ones (violet eyes? David Gemmell approves) that, nevertheless, come together quite nicely, mainly thanks to a very distinctive if at times, slightly archaic narrative (for, woe is me!, there is no epic fantasy without grandeur of style and some pathos to complement it).
Mostly, it is a coming-of-age story. In fact, the main characters are so young that almost too young to be proper fantasy protagonists and engage in all the usual fantasy shenanigans; I think that even Ms Wurts realised this at some point and orchestrated some fast forwarding necessary to enable the kids to do what was expected of them. Still, it irked me that the main antagonist is kept referred to as a “boy” even when he quite ruthlessly kills and f*cks around (when I read “a boy tugged at the fastening of her gown” the only thing I can think of is “paedophilia”!).
In general, things are happening fast in Stormwarden. Somebody does something you do not like and you are enemies for life. One step and you are on the dark side of the force. And there is no going back. It’s simplistic, and I think it might not sit well with some readers. On the other hand, Ms Wurts does her best to explain the behaviour of her protagonists (although she lacks the finesses I know from To Ride Hell's Chasm or, indeed, her opus magnum, Wars of Light and Shadow series). But the fast-track does not concern merely the psychological dimension. You get a sword one day, next you are a fencing pro (it really drives me crazy in vintage fantasy that is a bit toononsensical fantastical at times), you do a magic training nearly overnight, and learn crafts in one-tenth of the time normally required. But it also made me hopeful, for those of you have not so fond of the coming of age stories, the that whole Cycle of Fire is not about some three random snow-flakes growing up, but about what we love in epic fantasy the best: a valiant fight of the good against an overwhelming forces of evil.
And what a fight it is. What Ms Wurts can and does superbly is showing how magic works. She has the inner logic of supernatural forces sorted out to the tiniest detail and so while she is not an expert in the martial scenes and indeed cuts those to minimum, her magic battles are stupendous. I do not know another author so talented and imaginative when it comes to writing magic. But what makes this series particularly interesting, is the fact that her imagination transcends the purely magical tropes.
Have you ever wondered who was the first person who put together things that are not obvious team-mates? Like ham and pineapple, tuna and halva, mars bar and deep fry (greetings from Glasgow, folks). These are currently sort of staples in many places, but I bet that when they were introduced for the first time, the first reaction must have been like: does it really go together? Stormwarden also has some unapparent combos But there were also other things I appreciated and this allowed me to enjoy the book even though I struggled to relate to two of the three MCs . Only Jaric is interesting because he is the only one to cross serious borders and face significant limitations both of physical and mental nature. His growing up is genuine and not faked either by speeding things up (Taen) or just by putting him on an autopilot (Emien).
And so, while I have questions and doubts about several issues I do recommend the Stormwarden if you have a craving for something uplifting and heartwarming or just relish traditional epics with clear cut divisions between the forces of good and the minions of evil. While the novel is old school, it is more comforting than annoying; something that can still be enjoyed not only by YA fans.
Also in the series:
2. Keeper of the Keys ★★★☆☆ (warning, I am being generous here)
3. Shadowfane ★☆☆☆☆
Wizards, demons and coming of age story with a twist. All in a classic epic fantasy setting of the noble good against the hideous evil.
Stormwarden! What a great title, no? Yet, be warned that the wizard of wind and wave, one Anskiere, a Stormwarden of Imrill Kand serves only as a background for the whole story that revolves around him, but without his direct involvement most of the time.
In my never-ending search for overlooked gems (and because I am tired of the mostly over-hyped new releases) I frequently browse the vintage shelves. Stormwarden was first published in the 1980s and I think that it must have been somewhat storm breaking back then. Today, it is a mixture of some great ideas (stormfalcon! I want one!) and some very bad ones (violet eyes? David Gemmell approves) that, nevertheless, come together quite nicely, mainly thanks to a very distinctive if at times, slightly archaic narrative (for, woe is me!, there is no epic fantasy without grandeur of style and some pathos to complement it).
Mostly, it is a coming-of-age story. In fact, the main characters are so young that almost too young to be proper fantasy protagonists and engage in all the usual fantasy shenanigans; I think that even Ms Wurts realised this at some point and orchestrated some fast forwarding necessary to enable the kids to do what was expected of them. Still, it irked me that the main antagonist is kept referred to as a “boy” even when he quite ruthlessly kills and f*cks around (when I read “a boy tugged at the fastening of her gown” the only thing I can think of is “paedophilia”!).
In general, things are happening fast in Stormwarden. Somebody does something you do not like and you are enemies for life. One step and you are on the dark side of the force. And there is no going back. It’s simplistic, and I think it might not sit well with some readers. On the other hand, Ms Wurts does her best to explain the behaviour of her protagonists (although she lacks the finesses I know from To Ride Hell's Chasm or, indeed, her opus magnum, Wars of Light and Shadow series). But the fast-track does not concern merely the psychological dimension. You get a sword one day, next you are a fencing pro (it really drives me crazy in vintage fantasy that is a bit too
And what a fight it is. What Ms Wurts can and does superbly is showing how magic works. She has the inner logic of supernatural forces sorted out to the tiniest detail and so while she is not an expert in the martial scenes and indeed cuts those to minimum, her magic battles are stupendous. I do not know another author so talented and imaginative when it comes to writing magic. But what makes this series particularly interesting, is the fact that her imagination transcends the purely magical tropes.
Have you ever wondered who was the first person who put together things that are not obvious team-mates? Like ham and pineapple, tuna and halva, mars bar and deep fry (greetings from Glasgow, folks). These are currently sort of staples in many places, but I bet that when they were introduced for the first time, the first reaction must have been like: does it really go together? Stormwarden also has some unapparent combos But there were also other things I appreciated and this allowed me to enjoy the book even though I struggled to relate to two of the three MCs . Only Jaric is interesting because he is the only one to cross serious borders and face significant limitations both of physical and mental nature. His growing up is genuine and not faked either by speeding things up (Taen) or just by putting him on an autopilot (Emien).
And so, while I have questions and doubts about several issues I do recommend the Stormwarden if you have a craving for something uplifting and heartwarming or just relish traditional epics with clear cut divisions between the forces of good and the minions of evil. While the novel is old school, it is more comforting than annoying; something that can still be enjoyed not only by YA fans.
Also in the series:
2. Keeper of the Keys ★★★☆☆ (warning, I am being generous here)
3. Shadowfane ★☆☆☆☆
June 9, 2025
2021 reread: again, 5 full stars!
Delightful and rich, this is a high fantasy tale in the best of Janny Wurts’ tradition, so definitely not easy to fit into genre conventions: the story is geared towards a wider audience but it’s not a classic coming-of-age tale or YA in outlook because there are powerful sorcerers and demons, but they are not all-seeing; there is a medieval-flavoured world full of lore and magic, but also intriguing sci-fi elements; the villains are both normal and surprising…the list could go on, anyway the innovation I liked the most (particularly considering the first publishing year, where this wasn’t common) is that there is a classic fantasy structure along with a very modern focus on characters’ psychology and morality.
While this book doesn’t have the complex upending of tropes or the deep challenge of the reader’s assumptions which I’ve come to love in her later works, Wurts weaves the story with impeccable rhythm, a skillful rising of tension, clear direction and, at the same time, little predictability of how the plotlines are going to unfold.
As a fan of The Wars of Light and Shadow, I could see in Stormwarden some familiar elements, like sailing, prophecies, good vs evil without clear-cut lines, the pitfalls of obsession in a perfectly logical mind, empathy, a full-fledged magic system and several aspects of what defines well-rounded and multifaceted characters. Even though the similarities are loose, a returning reader won’t fail to appreciate both her staple themes and how Wurts, unfailingly, never writes the same tale twice.
In this first book of the Cycle of Fire trilogy I particularly liked the gripping premise and the protagonists, two boys and a girl, all flawed and not always able to make the right decisions at the right time. Their personalities are complex and the result of their strengths, weaknesses and childhood experiences; they have different ways to relate to their mistakes, inadequacies and self-doubts born of tragedy; facing similar challenges and ever-changing circumstances, they have their own personal reactions, from hatred to love, from the will to carve a path to the future standing on their own merits to sheltering in self-deception. All of them, invariably, strive to make their choices count and pursue their own interests as they’re caught in the machinations of the ancient powers vying for supremacy in the world of Keithland.
What if they play someone's else game?
The themes are mature and the tones are not light, there is hope but also a sense of foreboding and impending doom throughout, and I liked the gravitas of the narration, which is probably the only concession to the ’80s fantasy fashion. As I expected this book doesn’t end with a cliffhanger, but the story is open and I’m really eager to read Keeper of the Keys and immerse again in the tale of Jaric, Emien, Taen and Anskiere.
This is an epic story of future and past, of strength that could arise out of weakness, of cross-manipulation, denied dreams, burning ambitions, courage, cowardice, choices and destiny. The world is vividly depicted, no fans of sailing will be disappointed, there are several forms of magic and an engaging mix of action and mysteries. I cannot seem to get enough of Wurts’ characters, creativity, great world-building and design. Her storytelling makes her tales simply different, original, and each a unique voyage.
Driven by a venomous tide of bitterness, the boy wished he had never tasted the illusion Anskiere had brought: that life could reward a man who aspired to develop his strengths, and that security and happiness were things of faith within reach of any who strove.
Delightful and rich, this is a high fantasy tale in the best of Janny Wurts’ tradition, so definitely not easy to fit into genre conventions: the story is geared towards a wider audience but it’s not a classic coming-of-age tale or YA in outlook because there are powerful sorcerers and demons, but they are not all-seeing; there is a medieval-flavoured world full of lore and magic, but also intriguing sci-fi elements; the villains are both normal and surprising…the list could go on, anyway the innovation I liked the most (particularly considering the first publishing year, where this wasn’t common) is that there is a classic fantasy structure along with a very modern focus on characters’ psychology and morality.
While this book doesn’t have the complex upending of tropes or the deep challenge of the reader’s assumptions which I’ve come to love in her later works, Wurts weaves the story with impeccable rhythm, a skillful rising of tension, clear direction and, at the same time, little predictability of how the plotlines are going to unfold.
As a fan of The Wars of Light and Shadow, I could see in Stormwarden some familiar elements, like sailing, prophecies, good vs evil without clear-cut lines, the pitfalls of obsession in a perfectly logical mind, empathy, a full-fledged magic system and several aspects of what defines well-rounded and multifaceted characters. Even though the similarities are loose, a returning reader won’t fail to appreciate both her staple themes and how Wurts, unfailingly, never writes the same tale twice.
In this first book of the Cycle of Fire trilogy I particularly liked the gripping premise and the protagonists, two boys and a girl, all flawed and not always able to make the right decisions at the right time. Their personalities are complex and the result of their strengths, weaknesses and childhood experiences; they have different ways to relate to their mistakes, inadequacies and self-doubts born of tragedy; facing similar challenges and ever-changing circumstances, they have their own personal reactions, from hatred to love, from the will to carve a path to the future standing on their own merits to sheltering in self-deception. All of them, invariably, strive to make their choices count and pursue their own interests as they’re caught in the machinations of the ancient powers vying for supremacy in the world of Keithland.
What if they play someone's else game?
The themes are mature and the tones are not light, there is hope but also a sense of foreboding and impending doom throughout, and I liked the gravitas of the narration, which is probably the only concession to the ’80s fantasy fashion. As I expected this book doesn’t end with a cliffhanger, but the story is open and I’m really eager to read Keeper of the Keys and immerse again in the tale of Jaric, Emien, Taen and Anskiere.
This is an epic story of future and past, of strength that could arise out of weakness, of cross-manipulation, denied dreams, burning ambitions, courage, cowardice, choices and destiny. The world is vividly depicted, no fans of sailing will be disappointed, there are several forms of magic and an engaging mix of action and mysteries. I cannot seem to get enough of Wurts’ characters, creativity, great world-building and design. Her storytelling makes her tales simply different, original, and each a unique voyage.
Driven by a venomous tide of bitterness, the boy wished he had never tasted the illusion Anskiere had brought: that life could reward a man who aspired to develop his strengths, and that security and happiness were things of faith within reach of any who strove.
January 20, 2023
It’s rare a book goes straight into my all time favorites. Stormwarden is an immediate addition to the list. Beautiful prose, great characters, awesome wizards! This whole book was perfection. I loved EVERYTHING. It could be that it’s what I needed at the time but I am left so satisfied.
I CANNOT WAIT to read more of Janny Wurts books
I CANNOT WAIT to read more of Janny Wurts books
February 8, 2019
4.5 Stars.
I seem to like fantasy from decades ago. There's something comforting about it.
Stormwarden is a coming-of-age story, but also epic fantasy at its best. There's sorcerers, demons, and aliens. Yes, aliens.
The characters are amazing, and I especially love Wurts' ability to show people as the mixture of good and bad that they are. Most people aren't evil, most people believe in certain truths without seeing the bigger picture. I think it's something that applies to all of us. We believe in certain things, make judgements, look at things in certain ways simply because of what we were taught and what we see. But are we in the right?
Many of Wurts' characters come to conclusions based on evidence they're presented with and from then on obsessively follow their path without realising / understanding they might be wrong after all.
Javert in Les Misérables was such a character, and I hated him for his stubbornness. Wurts, however, showed me how such characters come to be, why they do what they do, and it's become one of my favourite aspects of her books.
Wurts' writing is complex and beautiful and demands a lot of attention from the reader, but I recommend it to any high / epic fantasy fan.
If you'd prefer trying an author out via a standalone, there's To Ride Hell’s Chasm and if you'd like an eleven book series instead, look at The Curse of the Mistwraith.
I seem to like fantasy from decades ago. There's something comforting about it.
Stormwarden is a coming-of-age story, but also epic fantasy at its best. There's sorcerers, demons, and aliens. Yes, aliens.
The characters are amazing, and I especially love Wurts' ability to show people as the mixture of good and bad that they are. Most people aren't evil, most people believe in certain truths without seeing the bigger picture. I think it's something that applies to all of us. We believe in certain things, make judgements, look at things in certain ways simply because of what we were taught and what we see. But are we in the right?
Many of Wurts' characters come to conclusions based on evidence they're presented with and from then on obsessively follow their path without realising / understanding they might be wrong after all.
Javert in Les Misérables was such a character, and I hated him for his stubbornness. Wurts, however, showed me how such characters come to be, why they do what they do, and it's become one of my favourite aspects of her books.
Wurts' writing is complex and beautiful and demands a lot of attention from the reader, but I recommend it to any high / epic fantasy fan.
If you'd prefer trying an author out via a standalone, there's To Ride Hell’s Chasm and if you'd like an eleven book series instead, look at The Curse of the Mistwraith.
May 8, 2025
Such a strong start to a series. I had a great time in this world and I'm so excited to be diving back into a Janny Wurts series.
The only thing that held it back from being a full 5 stars for me was a bit of a disconnect with the characters—and the fact that I read it a little sporadically while finishing Of Empire and Dust.
The only thing that held it back from being a full 5 stars for me was a bit of a disconnect with the characters—and the fact that I read it a little sporadically while finishing Of Empire and Dust.
October 17, 2010
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.
This is a great time to be an audiobook reader! I’ve said often recently that I’m so pleased with Audible Frontiers for bringing us some older fantasy literature on audio, and this month their UK production team released Stormwarden, the first novel of Janny Wurts’ The Cycle of Fire trilogy which was first published in 1984.
Having greatly enjoyed Wurts’ stand-alone novel To Ride Hell’s Chasm, and knowing how several of my fellow FanLit reviewers feel about her The Wars of Light and Shadow saga, I’ve been waiting and hoping to find one of her epics on audio. So when Audible Frontiers UK released Stormwarden, I snapped it up within a few hours.
Stormwarden is a coming-of-age story that focuses on three youth (Jaric, Emien, and Taen) who get caught up in a battle between kingdoms, sorcerers, demons, and aliens. There are some now-classic fantasy characters here — scrawny orphan boy who gets a sword, white-bearded sorcerer who controls the weather, a beautiful enchantress with white hair and violet eyes, and a beautiful dreamweaver with black hair. (Someday I want to read about a middle-aged, overweight, brown-eyed sorceress with thin mousy hair… or maybe I don’t.) But these characters are treated with respect by both author and audiobook reader (David Thorpe) who pack them full of vigor, drive, and both admirable and reprehensible character traits and emotions.
There’s plenty of the unexpected, too. For example, much of the story takes place at sea. Also, an alien endows humans with supernatural powers by injecting them with crystallized demons. For a coming-of-age story, the plot is refreshingly unpredictable and Stormwarden ends with an exciting action-packed climax — a trademark Janny Wurts feature. The reader also gets a sense of Wurts’ expertise in sailing, horsemanship, and other outdoor pursuits — all of these elements feel real and this is something that sets this fantasy novel apart from most of its peers.
The narrative style is more expository than is my preference, and sometimes it’s wordy (for example, “cognizant of the fact that…” instead of “knowing…”), but it’s full of passion and David Thorpe’s perfect performance lends enthusiasm and verve, allowing Wurts’ characters to live and to capture our hearts. I look forward to continuing their adventure in Keeper of the Keys, the next novel in The Cycle of Fire, soon to be released by Audible.
This is a great time to be an audiobook reader! I’ve said often recently that I’m so pleased with Audible Frontiers for bringing us some older fantasy literature on audio, and this month their UK production team released Stormwarden, the first novel of Janny Wurts’ The Cycle of Fire trilogy which was first published in 1984.
Having greatly enjoyed Wurts’ stand-alone novel To Ride Hell’s Chasm, and knowing how several of my fellow FanLit reviewers feel about her The Wars of Light and Shadow saga, I’ve been waiting and hoping to find one of her epics on audio. So when Audible Frontiers UK released Stormwarden, I snapped it up within a few hours.
Stormwarden is a coming-of-age story that focuses on three youth (Jaric, Emien, and Taen) who get caught up in a battle between kingdoms, sorcerers, demons, and aliens. There are some now-classic fantasy characters here — scrawny orphan boy who gets a sword, white-bearded sorcerer who controls the weather, a beautiful enchantress with white hair and violet eyes, and a beautiful dreamweaver with black hair. (Someday I want to read about a middle-aged, overweight, brown-eyed sorceress with thin mousy hair… or maybe I don’t.) But these characters are treated with respect by both author and audiobook reader (David Thorpe) who pack them full of vigor, drive, and both admirable and reprehensible character traits and emotions.
There’s plenty of the unexpected, too. For example, much of the story takes place at sea. Also, an alien endows humans with supernatural powers by injecting them with crystallized demons. For a coming-of-age story, the plot is refreshingly unpredictable and Stormwarden ends with an exciting action-packed climax — a trademark Janny Wurts feature. The reader also gets a sense of Wurts’ expertise in sailing, horsemanship, and other outdoor pursuits — all of these elements feel real and this is something that sets this fantasy novel apart from most of its peers.
The narrative style is more expository than is my preference, and sometimes it’s wordy (for example, “cognizant of the fact that…” instead of “knowing…”), but it’s full of passion and David Thorpe’s perfect performance lends enthusiasm and verve, allowing Wurts’ characters to live and to capture our hearts. I look forward to continuing their adventure in Keeper of the Keys, the next novel in The Cycle of Fire, soon to be released by Audible.
did-not-finish
February 26, 2025I was growing confused with this book and wasn’t enjoying it much. I would power through but the sequels reviews don’t seem to be that wonderful so I’ll just pass.
May 18, 2016
This is a great epic fantasy! The two older sorcerers The Stormwarden, Anskiere & the Firewarden, Ivain had a major falling out and there was a geas placed on Ivain’s son and son’s of his son’s so now it comes to pass that Anskiere has called upon this geas .Which is where the children Jaric & Taen come in.
What makes this an Epic fantasy is there are children who know not what they can do or where they come from, there is a quest and there are demons and sorcery. There is adventure and kidnapping and betrayal this book just has it all!
Janny Wurts has done a great job at world building it is so well written and just takes you along for the ride. I thoroughly enjoyed this book I know my description above does not do it justice but with everything going on it is hard to describe. This was my first book by Janny Wurts and I plan on finding everything she’s written!
If you like epic fantasy this is a must read!
I listened to this on audio and the narration by, David Thorpe is Fantastic! His voices and accents are first rate he has become one of my favorite narrators just from this one book. He has great range and cannot wait to hear him read the rest of this series and anything else I can find narrated by him.
5 Stars
What makes this an Epic fantasy is there are children who know not what they can do or where they come from, there is a quest and there are demons and sorcery. There is adventure and kidnapping and betrayal this book just has it all!
Janny Wurts has done a great job at world building it is so well written and just takes you along for the ride. I thoroughly enjoyed this book I know my description above does not do it justice but with everything going on it is hard to describe. This was my first book by Janny Wurts and I plan on finding everything she’s written!
If you like epic fantasy this is a must read!
I listened to this on audio and the narration by, David Thorpe is Fantastic! His voices and accents are first rate he has become one of my favorite narrators just from this one book. He has great range and cannot wait to hear him read the rest of this series and anything else I can find narrated by him.
5 Stars
March 4, 2014
This book had so much potential. The ideas are brilliant, the characters are great, the central conflict as well as the character's? Compelling. So, what went wrong? Well, put simply...priorities were clearly mismatched. When the author can spend six pages at a time describing the grueling process of sailing on harsh waters and details regarding comparatively insignificant background events whilst travelling from place to place, but then sneeze central character's backstories in LESS THAN A PAGE AND A HALF in the LAST CHAPTERS, you can tell there's a big problem. By far, the best chapters dealt with Taen's growth and efforts to reach her brother as well as Jaric and Telemark's relationship. It's a shame that nearly all of these stories were "wrapped up" so abruptly and that such boring and mundane details were treated as being more important. I hope the author resolved the issue in her other installments. Again, the central story and the associated ideas are brilliant and original but they need to be told as such. Don't prioritize detailing the intricacies of sailing above your characters growth and personal stories.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think this is a BAD book. I think this is a good book falling short.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think this is a BAD book. I think this is a good book falling short.
September 27, 2010
A great fun fantasy romp for YA. Written in 1986(?) or so, a lot of precursor for the Wars of Light and Shadow. Not at all in the story, but in some of the fantasy elements, and definitely the sea and sailing. Now I can't wait for 2&3 to come out on Audible.
dnf
May 17, 2015Once again the curse of the YA book has struck. Granted, this is not "officially" classified as YA despite its three young protagonists, and to the extent that I listened (nearly 6 hours into a book of roughly 16 hours length) it was neither simplistic nor predictable in its plotline, as I often complain about with YA books.
Nonetheless, the tone of the writing continually irked me. We spend very little time inside the heads of any of the characters. Many times I wanted to know more about what a character was thinking or feeling, but instead we only got surface descriptions of the action. And fairly frequently that action was unbelievable (to me) -- I didn't believe that the character would actually do what he or she was depicted as doing. The writers' job is to suck me in and make me believe everything that's going on, and that just didn't happen.
And then, after I'd already listened to about 5 1/2 HOURS of this book, Wurtz suddenly drops into my lap without any warning whatsoever. It was jarring, it was eye-rolling, and I literally yelled "Whaaaaaaaaaat???" at my iphone. It is possible to handle a melding of f and sf gracefully -- but that wasn't the way to do it.
I might go back to this eventually. But for now -- nah.
Nonetheless, the tone of the writing continually irked me. We spend very little time inside the heads of any of the characters. Many times I wanted to know more about what a character was thinking or feeling, but instead we only got surface descriptions of the action. And fairly frequently that action was unbelievable (to me) -- I didn't believe that the character would actually do what he or she was depicted as doing. The writers' job is to suck me in and make me believe everything that's going on, and that just didn't happen.
And then, after I'd already listened to about 5 1/2 HOURS of this book, Wurtz suddenly drops into my lap without any warning whatsoever. It was jarring, it was eye-rolling, and I literally yelled "Whaaaaaaaaaat???" at my iphone. It is possible to handle a melding of f and sf gracefully -- but that wasn't the way to do it.
I might go back to this eventually. But for now -- nah.
September 15, 2013
great fantasy the first in a series which i must admit i am excited to continue reading!!
January 19, 2019
An old, epic fantasy and coming-of-age tale from the '80s. It was enjoyable and I look forward to the sequel.
October 21, 2024
Stormwarden I found very challenging for about the first third of the story and I couldn't decide how I felt about it until it clicked. The story began to take shape and the characters were sorted into place and the rest is history. Janny's work with a pen is second to none and the blend of fantasy and sci-fi is magical to behold. Very emotional writing that only Janny could pull off. Eager to start book 2.
August 5, 2021
It's been an awfully long time since I read this but it holds up well.
Set in a world where humanity is in constant threat of annihilation by demons we find a sorcerer called Anskiere arrested for the murder of four thousand people. During his arrest he releases a geas, to the surviving son of his once fellow sorcerer who betrayed him, which forces Jaric to come and find him. In the course of his arrest a brother and sister, Emien and Taen, also find their paths going in very different directions.
I've read this series a few times but the last time was probably over fifteen years ago. I remembered most of it but it was very nice re-visiting it. There are three main POV's; Jaric, Taen and Emien. Each are well written though there is a similarity in that they are all scarred mentally from instances in their childhoods. This does lead to a lot of angst ridden internal monologues though to be fair Taen is not as bad as the two boys. Emien is a really great character in that you can see how someone so sensitive can be lead down the wrong path by both real and perceived injustices. His story truly embodies the idea of each small wrong step can lead to a very dark place. Jaric is set up as the counterpoint to that.
There is a lot of soul searching in these books, as there is in most of Janny Wurts' books I've read, and it can sometimes almost reach the eye rolling stage but I do still enjoy the overall feel of the story. There's not much merriment or humour but there's a great story here. The world is very interesting and is one of the better instances I've found of blended fantasy and science fiction. It starts off small but becomes more apparent as the story progresses. The history and magic system is well thought out and as usual it has beautiful maps drawn by the author herself (I think).
The language can be dense so might not be everyone, the same with the melodrama, but it is very well written and a great story that holds up very well considering it's nearly forty years old. Looking forward to the next one.
4.5 stars rounded up
Please see this and other reviews at https://barrysbloodybooks.home.blog/
Set in a world where humanity is in constant threat of annihilation by demons we find a sorcerer called Anskiere arrested for the murder of four thousand people. During his arrest he releases a geas, to the surviving son of his once fellow sorcerer who betrayed him, which forces Jaric to come and find him. In the course of his arrest a brother and sister, Emien and Taen, also find their paths going in very different directions.
I've read this series a few times but the last time was probably over fifteen years ago. I remembered most of it but it was very nice re-visiting it. There are three main POV's; Jaric, Taen and Emien. Each are well written though there is a similarity in that they are all scarred mentally from instances in their childhoods. This does lead to a lot of angst ridden internal monologues though to be fair Taen is not as bad as the two boys. Emien is a really great character in that you can see how someone so sensitive can be lead down the wrong path by both real and perceived injustices. His story truly embodies the idea of each small wrong step can lead to a very dark place. Jaric is set up as the counterpoint to that.
There is a lot of soul searching in these books, as there is in most of Janny Wurts' books I've read, and it can sometimes almost reach the eye rolling stage but I do still enjoy the overall feel of the story. There's not much merriment or humour but there's a great story here. The world is very interesting and is one of the better instances I've found of blended fantasy and science fiction. It starts off small but becomes more apparent as the story progresses. The history and magic system is well thought out and as usual it has beautiful maps drawn by the author herself (I think).
The language can be dense so might not be everyone, the same with the melodrama, but it is very well written and a great story that holds up very well considering it's nearly forty years old. Looking forward to the next one.
4.5 stars rounded up
Please see this and other reviews at https://barrysbloodybooks.home.blog/
April 9, 2020
Another of my "Lockdown of 2020" rereads.
This one took me longer than some of the others; it's denser and slower paced to read. It's also very interesting to reread it after having read part of Janny Wurts' Wars of Light and Shadows. It feels that there's a lot of proto-Wars to be found in this book. Ideas and concepts, within the of what the fantasy genre was in the mid- to late-Eighties. In fact, there are things here that were probably ground-breaking at the time - and probably also part of why I liked the series.
It wears some of its history and tropes on its sleeve. The protagonists are YA age, even though it was written for all age readers. The bad guys are fairly black and white, even the one whose journey we are kind-of following. The story is a coming of age tale of young, white folks with the privilege of magic if not high class upbringing. But these are things that read as well-treaded largely because I'm rereading the book 35 years after it was published.
The writing is less polished than Wurts can write now - but she is a master of prose now, so what she wrote in the past is still pretty high quality.
I very much enjoyed by reread and I look forward to books 2 and 3. Even more, I look forward to the last i>Wars of Light and Shadow book, so that I can reread the early books in that series and go on to the ones I didn't get too. (Even if I am also totally intimidated.)
This one took me longer than some of the others; it's denser and slower paced to read. It's also very interesting to reread it after having read part of Janny Wurts' Wars of Light and Shadows. It feels that there's a lot of proto-Wars to be found in this book. Ideas and concepts, within the of what the fantasy genre was in the mid- to late-Eighties. In fact, there are things here that were probably ground-breaking at the time - and probably also part of why I liked the series.
It wears some of its history and tropes on its sleeve. The protagonists are YA age, even though it was written for all age readers. The bad guys are fairly black and white, even the one whose journey we are kind-of following. The story is a coming of age tale of young, white folks with the privilege of magic if not high class upbringing. But these are things that read as well-treaded largely because I'm rereading the book 35 years after it was published.
The writing is less polished than Wurts can write now - but she is a master of prose now, so what she wrote in the past is still pretty high quality.
I very much enjoyed by reread and I look forward to books 2 and 3. Even more, I look forward to the last i>Wars of Light and Shadow book, so that I can reread the early books in that series and go on to the ones I didn't get too. (Even if I am also totally intimidated.)
January 11, 2025
I read this book when it first came out and when I came across it again had to dive right in. It's just as good as I remember.
Stormwarden (The Cycle of Fire, #1) is an intriguing and epic journey and is a fantastic read. I am addicted to this authors work.
Jannys’ work invites readers to unravel its intricacies layer by layer as you venture into a world that you will not want to put down and want to remain amongst the pages. She masterfully weaves together a tapestry of suspenseful storytelling. The narrative unfolds through edge-of-your-seat plots and enigmas that ensnare readers from the very first page.
This story seamlessly blends fantasy, high fantasy, supernatural and paranormal elements. This series is gripping and exciting. It is a tangled web that leaves you breathless and craving more. It is filled with loss and hope, magic and danger, suspense and tension, magic and action.
Stormwarden (The Cycle of Fire, #1) is an intriguing and epic journey and is a fantastic read. I am addicted to this authors work.
Jannys’ work invites readers to unravel its intricacies layer by layer as you venture into a world that you will not want to put down and want to remain amongst the pages. She masterfully weaves together a tapestry of suspenseful storytelling. The narrative unfolds through edge-of-your-seat plots and enigmas that ensnare readers from the very first page.
This story seamlessly blends fantasy, high fantasy, supernatural and paranormal elements. This series is gripping and exciting. It is a tangled web that leaves you breathless and craving more. It is filled with loss and hope, magic and danger, suspense and tension, magic and action.
February 28, 2023
This book surprised me! I went into it expecting classic sword and sorcery, but this proved to be far more complex. This stands as unique fare even among modern fantasy. Beautifully descriptive writing style and in-depth character study as well!
September 19, 2016
I found it overly complex, but if complexity is your thing, she is a good author.
July 3, 2020
3.5 stars
May 31, 2025
Five stars! Very happy that this book is my first, and likely only, Goodreads review.
This book is so good. It ticks every box I look for in a fantasy novel. However, while the characters and world building and story are excellent, it’s Wurts’ beautiful prose that sets this book apart for me.
Further, if you’re a fan of fantasy novels, especially the kind that have very little military combat, and include flawed characters, this book is for you.
This is my favourite book of all time, but given its successor is merely 300~ pages, it might be soon eclipsed.
This book is so good. It ticks every box I look for in a fantasy novel. However, while the characters and world building and story are excellent, it’s Wurts’ beautiful prose that sets this book apart for me.
Further, if you’re a fan of fantasy novels, especially the kind that have very little military combat, and include flawed characters, this book is for you.
This is my favourite book of all time, but given its successor is merely 300~ pages, it might be soon eclipsed.
November 24, 2017
Het verhaal komt een beetje traag op gang omdat eerst de personages moeten voorgesteld worden. Een noodzakelijk kwaad dat i veel fantasy, dat vaak uit meerdere dikke boeken bestaat, voorkomt en meteen aanleiding is voor de schrijver om een staaltje van zijn/haar kunnen te gven zodat de lezer uitgenodigd wordt om verder te lezen.
Al snel pikt het verhaal snelheid op en krijgen we zicht op de goeden, slechten en de twijfelgevallen.
Merkwaardid, zoniet uniek, is de integratie met Sci-Fi, waar een geavanceerde computer het met behulp van de mensen opneemt tegen demonen. Ik kan niet besluiten of dit nu een goede of mindere bijdrage aan het verhaal geeft, het vult zeker op een originele manier een aantal potentële witte vlekken op.
Een strijd ontbrandt maar je voelt al direct dat dit niet de finale is, het grote treffen tussen goed en kwaad. Toch kent dit deel nog een merkwaardige plotwending vlak voor het einde - niet echt een cliffhanger, we gaan gewoon verder met deel 2.
Al snel pikt het verhaal snelheid op en krijgen we zicht op de goeden, slechten en de twijfelgevallen.
Merkwaardid, zoniet uniek, is de integratie met Sci-Fi, waar een geavanceerde computer het met behulp van de mensen opneemt tegen demonen. Ik kan niet besluiten of dit nu een goede of mindere bijdrage aan het verhaal geeft, het vult zeker op een originele manier een aantal potentële witte vlekken op.
Een strijd ontbrandt maar je voelt al direct dat dit niet de finale is, het grote treffen tussen goed en kwaad. Toch kent dit deel nog een merkwaardige plotwending vlak voor het einde - niet echt een cliffhanger, we gaan gewoon verder met deel 2.
September 26, 2014
I liked the basis of this story just fine, the only thing keeping me from really liking it was the fact that a good portion of the action scenes take place on ships/boats at sea. If you are a sailor this would have been fine but the use of so much sailor jargon left me feeling lost just when I should have been on the edge of my seat. I haven't decided if I will continue the series due to this writing style, but I feel engaged in the plotline and want to discover what happens to the characters so it's a possibility.
July 18, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. This was an enjoyable read, nothing outstanding or groundbreaking in my opinion, but I liked it all the same.
The sorcerer Anskiere, master of wind and water bound the Mharg-Demons with the help of his fellow sorcerer, Ivain, master of fire and earth. Unfortunately, during the binding, Ivain, who had gone insane in from trying to master the Cycle of Fire, betrayed Anskiere during the binding. Anskiere was able to accomplish the binding anyway, and he laid a geas on Ivain and Ivain's descendants that if he should ever summon them they were bound to fulfill a task of his choosing.
Fast forward some years later, and some humans are trying to release the demons and Anskiere makes good on his summons. The physically frail apprentice scribe Jaric, unbeknownst to himself and to those around him, is actually the son and heir of Ivain, so it falls to his slight shoulders to answer Anskiere's summonses.
In many ways this is a bog-standand fantasy novel, with many of the tropes (I hate the word "tropes" and TV tropes but I can't think of what other word to use instead) we have come to know and somewhat tolerate in the genre: the Unsuspecting Chosen One, the Mysterious Yet Benevolent Wizard, the Gentle Empath, the Badass Pirate King, the Beautiful Scheming Sorceress, the Angry Young Man Who Vows Vengaence and Is Pulled Over to the Dark Side, etc.
I found the prose to be well done in the main, in a dense, descriptive way, though at times the author became a little too fond of stacking together adjectives. Ms. Wurts must be a fan of high-seas adventure; come prepared to read extensively about nautical pursuits. (Me, I can't really tell the aft from the stern or what a halyard is; I have pretty much given up on trying to understand the layout of a ship, so I just went with it). Also there is a lot of magical pyrotechnics, which were pretty fun to read, I must admit.
Though in some ways Stormwarden treads a well-worn path, there were certain things I found unique and intriguing about it.
The prose, as I mentioned, is dense and descriptive, and on occasion a bit repetitive. I mean, I don't need to be reminded a dozen times about Jaric being insecure about his physical frailties. I get it, he's got an inferiority complex. Let's move on, shall we? But overall, I enjoyed the book, and look forward to reading the next two installments of it (one of the advantages to buying an omnibus edition is that you have the whole trilogy lined up in a single volume).
The sorcerer Anskiere, master of wind and water bound the Mharg-Demons with the help of his fellow sorcerer, Ivain, master of fire and earth. Unfortunately, during the binding, Ivain, who had gone insane in from trying to master the Cycle of Fire, betrayed Anskiere during the binding. Anskiere was able to accomplish the binding anyway, and he laid a geas on Ivain and Ivain's descendants that if he should ever summon them they were bound to fulfill a task of his choosing.
Fast forward some years later, and some humans are trying to release the demons and Anskiere makes good on his summons. The physically frail apprentice scribe Jaric, unbeknownst to himself and to those around him, is actually the son and heir of Ivain, so it falls to his slight shoulders to answer Anskiere's summonses.
In many ways this is a bog-standand fantasy novel, with many of the tropes (I hate the word "tropes" and TV tropes but I can't think of what other word to use instead) we have come to know and somewhat tolerate in the genre: the Unsuspecting Chosen One, the Mysterious Yet Benevolent Wizard, the Gentle Empath, the Badass Pirate King, the Beautiful Scheming Sorceress, the Angry Young Man Who Vows Vengaence and Is Pulled Over to the Dark Side, etc.
I found the prose to be well done in the main, in a dense, descriptive way, though at times the author became a little too fond of stacking together adjectives. Ms. Wurts must be a fan of high-seas adventure; come prepared to read extensively about nautical pursuits. (Me, I can't really tell the aft from the stern or what a halyard is; I have pretty much given up on trying to understand the layout of a ship, so I just went with it). Also there is a lot of magical pyrotechnics, which were pretty fun to read, I must admit.
Though in some ways Stormwarden treads a well-worn path, there were certain things I found unique and intriguing about it.
The prose, as I mentioned, is dense and descriptive, and on occasion a bit repetitive. I mean, I don't need to be reminded a dozen times about Jaric being insecure about his physical frailties. I get it, he's got an inferiority complex. Let's move on, shall we? But overall, I enjoyed the book, and look forward to reading the next two installments of it (one of the advantages to buying an omnibus edition is that you have the whole trilogy lined up in a single volume).
August 9, 2022
I have become aware of Janny Wurts being a fantasy writer reaching back in the 1980ies I was curious to discover another one of early women fantasy authors.
My local library has the whole trilogy of the Cycle of Fire available on audiobook and so I make the jump and get started with discovering a new to me author and a story that was written nearly forty years ago.
What always fascinates me is the diction and language used in these books that came before the digital age. They seem to be more coherent and much more focussed than current publications are.
I am intrigued by this story that charges three teenagers to sort out the wrong their forebears have wrought in a world that seems very slow and feudal.
Who and what the Vaere are becomes only very slowly apparent and is an on going theme throughout the three books.
On the other hand there is the real problem in this physical world that is the Stormwarden who gets captured and casts a spell that will hold them all together until the problem is solved.
however there is a lot of representation that nowadays just no longer works and makes you rather shudder. Specially the description and storyline of the young woman involved made me cringe more than once as she is aged through the Vaere beyond the age her physical body holds, and therefore you have basically the topic of a woman in a childs/teenager's body.
Also, the roles are very stereotypically distributed where the male gets the active / dangerous role and the woman gets the mind/spirit walking, so to speak 'soft' part. However, looking over the three volumes, this on the surface held stereotype is undermined by the story that evolves eventually and it is the female party that keeps the story moving forward and keeps the male characters moving and changing.
What I loved in this book was the inclusion of nature, specially the inclusion of the elements of wind and fire and water and earth. This was amazingly done.
In addition, the overall cast of the characters covers all ages, something, I always appreciate.
My local library has the whole trilogy of the Cycle of Fire available on audiobook and so I make the jump and get started with discovering a new to me author and a story that was written nearly forty years ago.
What always fascinates me is the diction and language used in these books that came before the digital age. They seem to be more coherent and much more focussed than current publications are.
I am intrigued by this story that charges three teenagers to sort out the wrong their forebears have wrought in a world that seems very slow and feudal.
Who and what the Vaere are becomes only very slowly apparent and is an on going theme throughout the three books.
On the other hand there is the real problem in this physical world that is the Stormwarden who gets captured and casts a spell that will hold them all together until the problem is solved.
however there is a lot of representation that nowadays just no longer works and makes you rather shudder. Specially the description and storyline of the young woman involved made me cringe more than once as she is aged through the Vaere beyond the age her physical body holds, and therefore you have basically the topic of a woman in a childs/teenager's body.
Also, the roles are very stereotypically distributed where the male gets the active / dangerous role and the woman gets the mind/spirit walking, so to speak 'soft' part. However, looking over the three volumes, this on the surface held stereotype is undermined by the story that evolves eventually and it is the female party that keeps the story moving forward and keeps the male characters moving and changing.
What I loved in this book was the inclusion of nature, specially the inclusion of the elements of wind and fire and water and earth. This was amazingly done.
In addition, the overall cast of the characters covers all ages, something, I always appreciate.
August 9, 2018
An older book, a bit stooped and gnarled under the burden of years, that still bears its age proudly and well. Don't come to Stormwarden looking for something you've never seen before (although, with a rather brilliant world building twist, it does deliver something you've probably never quite seen before). Rather, approach it to be swept off your feet by a fast moving plot described in elegant prose that has a persistent rythem that would have you losing yourself in a different world. Based on descriptions of The Wars of Light and Shadow I(the magnum opus of this books' author) I expected Stormworden to be a slow burn of a story, but the truth of it is quite the opposite. Events pile on with sometimes overwhelming pace, with no pagecount at all dedicated to cheff and superfluous descriptions of mundanity that some other fantasy series exhibit. There's barely any fighting in the books, but excitement is kept high by awesome displays of sorcery and some really abysmal weather.
Stormwarden is great, and fantasy enthusiests would get hooked early and enjoy the ride. A shame getting the rest of the trilogy might prove difficult with them out of print...
Stormwarden is great, and fantasy enthusiests would get hooked early and enjoy the ride. A shame getting the rest of the trilogy might prove difficult with them out of print...
April 8, 2021
I love a well written book with beautiful language but I felt Janny Wurtz tried too hard with her writing. Similes were often overblown and so numerous as to obscure what she was trying to say. I didn’t need quite as many descriptive similes of minor scenery and her frequent use of passive voice made it sometimes difficult to follow along
The story itself is interesting and complicated enough to keep a reader engaged. I was so enmeshed in her fantasy world that I found the sudden introduction of the Vaere and their technological world jarring
That said, I’ll probably read the next installment
The story itself is interesting and complicated enough to keep a reader engaged. I was so enmeshed in her fantasy world that I found the sudden introduction of the Vaere and their technological world jarring
That said, I’ll probably read the next installment
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2019
I haven’t read a fantasy novel in yonks. And when I started this book, I hadn’t been reading much (frustrated) and at the time I was bedridden with a cold. This book got me through and I’m impatient to start its sequel. I think Janny Wurts is a fabulous storyteller. It’s not difficult to read but she’s a cut above most other fantasy authors because she consistently fashions an interesting fantasy world, has complex stories and plot and develops character arcs. It’s not literature but who cares? It’s a good read.
October 8, 2022
Too much time spent on inconsequential details. Great world building and concept overall. Implementation is a different manner. Story stagnated multiple times times with the author going rambling on in extreme detail about things that don’t matter or things that have already been covered. Felt more like things were just happening to the characters instead of them really doing anything. Too much telling and not enough showing.
April 22, 2024
A pretty decent epic fantasy that has lots of sea-related settings. I had no complaints except one -- and it isn't fair to the author. I've read a lot of fantasies like this. It's not bad, but it doesn't stand out above all the others just like it. And I include LeGuin in that company, so it doesn't compare poorly.
I did have a pretty good time with the novel. I just wish I had read it earlier on.
Standard fare, fairly interesting characters, conflicts, and good scope.
I did have a pretty good time with the novel. I just wish I had read it earlier on.
Standard fare, fairly interesting characters, conflicts, and good scope.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews