The Mageborn Traitor

Exiles #2

by Melanie Rawn

The Mage Guardians have survived the war?barely. Now Mage Captal Cailet and her sister Sarra are struggling to rebuild their society?politically, economically, and magically. Yet though defeated, their ancient enemies, the Malerissi, have not been destroyed, and under the leadership of Cailet?s and Sarra?s sister Glenin, these masters of a darker magic are once again weaving a web with which to entangle the entire world. And even as Cailet?s dreams of a restored Mage Hall become a reality, Glenin prepares to strike at the veryheart of both her sisters? power...

? The second novel in the Exiles trilogy!
? 1.8 million copies of Melanie Rawn?s DAW books in print!
? All of Melanie Rawn?s books have been national bestsellers
? Stunning cover art by Michael Whelan

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Magic, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Epic

775 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1997

About the author

Melanie Rawn received a BA in history from Scripps College and worked as a teacher and editor before becoming a writer.

She has been nominated for a Locus award on three separate occasions: in 1989 for Dragon Prince (in the first novel category), in 1994 for Skybowl (in the fantasy novel category), and again in 1995 for Ruins of Ambrai (in the fantasy novel category).

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is really one and a half stars. Glenin, Sarra and Cailet are all grown at the start of this book, and they stop being pawns and start actually moving pieces themselves. Some more successfully than others.

Okay, here's where Rawn lost me: for some unknown, incomprehensible reason, Sarra and Cailet come over all stupid for plotting purposes. And not just for brief moments - for entire stretches of the second half of the book, I was muttering "you're supposed to be smarter than that". And the women from the first book were smarter, I think... Or at least they were smart enough to know when they were doing something dumb, especially when that dumb thing is passively shambling along towards a certain trap. And I think this is enough text to hide any spoilers underneath the fold, so you've been warned.

Spoilers: Cailet is an idiot. She knows that one of the most powerful mages in generations has arrived at her school, and she knows it's one of two people. And then inexplicably, she just frets about it. She doesn't cast any spells, she doesn't appear to do much digging or observation, she just waits for the evil one to show his hand. And then the still-undercover evil one kills what looks to be three-fourths of the remaining Guardian Mages, and does she act then? NO! She then knowingly and with very little preparation walks right into Glenin's trap. What the hell?

Sarra, feh. She seems to be a politician who has no real feel for politics, shoving through legislation that is a good idea but not good timing. But moreover, when Glenin's trap swings shut, Sarra appears to have not even considered what the teeth of the trap would be. Of COURSE she's going to unmask you, you idiot - you and Cailet! You're the politician, you're the one who should have seen this coming! Ugh!

As for Glenin? She is a vicious, nasty, conceited creature who executes a rather brilliant plan perfectly. And her sisters are so stupid that I have to say Glenin really did deserve to succeed. Yeah, she'd turn into a brutal tyrant, but at least she knew how to use politics and magic accurately.

By the end of the book, I truly didn't care which of the boys was Glenin's son. I'd guessed early on which one he'd be, and the amount of red herrings thrown into the mix didn't really divert me so much as bore me. It felt drawn out needlessly, and with Cailet sitting there like a stump, it's not like there was any real promise of action. Collan's death ("death", I'm pretty sure) was abrupt and weird. So was the Deux ex Grandmachina. So was the domestic violence vignette.

And lastly, lastly lastly: I have no earthly notion why Jored wasn't killed dead where he stood. Who cares that it was Taigan holding the sword? Why the hell would Cailet stop her from finishing him? Why would she remotely imply that Taigan shouldn't kill him because she'd feel - what, guilt for it afterwards? It's insane, he just successfully plotted to kill her dad! He's a wildly powerful mage who wants to kill some of your family and sexually enslave the rest, and he's standing there defenseless for a few moments... Stab him! Lop off an arm! He's wiped out almost an entire generation of mages single-handledly, and he's going to try to murder you if you don't pin him to the floor with a sword RIGHT NOW. Kill kill kill!

That might have been the last straw for me, come to think of it. Bored by the is-he-or-isn't-he-evil game, then disgusted by Sarra and Cailet's idiocy, then whiplashed by Collan's death ("?"), then doubly disgusted by Sarra's political blindside, and now I have to sit here and read about Cailet literally preventing her niece from finishing off a mass-murderer because of feeeeeeliiiiiings or something. Die in a fire, all of you.

I'm guessing Rawn knows she lost control of this story. She's never going to finish it, I'm pretty sure. And to be honest, now that Cailet's lost all of her childhood spark, Collan's "dead", Sarra's... well, she's boring, frankly, and apparently not a very good political mind. And Glenin's dead as well, of course, more by chance than anything else. So Rawn managed to kill off all the children, the comic relief, the wicked witch, and now we're left with Jored, who may well be an evil mastermind but I'm quite certain Rawn had a major redemption storyline queued up for him, and I'm just not sure I could take that in the third, never-to-be-written book.

Meh!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As much as I love this series I would almost suggest not picking it up at all. This book was written around 15 years and the author apparently has no intention of finishing the series. Her husband died sometime after she wrote this book and she fell into a great depression and stopped writing for a while. Though she has started to write other series, I've read that she can't bring herself to work on these books because her late husband played such a huge part in their development of them. Sad for her loss and sad for ours as well. These are both great books.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although I LOVED this book and the firstone in the series, I do NOT recommend that anyone read either of them, YET. The third book has never been written and it has been over 12 years since the last one was published. If and when the final book comes out I will change this rating, but so many unanswered questions/cliff hangers really spoil the first two books.

[Amanda R · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/29/17: AAGGGHHHHH THIS BOOK.

--------

So good. So, so good. There are many valid criticisms to make - for example, this review cracks me up because she is not wrong! But there is so much else to love that I'm willing to forgive the bits that don't make sense as well as the scads of little inconsistencies, some of which can be chalked up to as-yet-unsolved mystery but some of which are just sloppy writing.

Overall, though, these books still own a huge piece of my heart and I will never stop loving them.

[Patrick St-Denis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like many fantasy readers of my generation, I was a big fan of Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince and Dragon Star series back in the 90s. And when The Ruins of Ambrai, first volume in the Exiles trilogy, was published in 1994, I bought the hardcover edition as soon as it hit the shelves. Did the same when its sequel, The Mageborn Traitor, came out. Daunted by the proliferation of big fantasy series on the market, like I did with many other SFF sequences, I decided not to read them until the entire trilogy was done. Which turned out to be the right decision, for as most of you know, the final installment, The Captal's Tower, has yet to see the light. But now that Rawn is working on the third volume, it was time to give this series a shot.

According to the majority of the author's fans, Exiles is by far Rawn's best work to date. For that reason, I had lofty expectations when I finally sat down to read The Ruins of Ambrai. Other than her latest high fantasy series, The Glass Thorns, I've read everything she has written. Hence, knowing what she brings to the dance, far be it from me to doubt anyone's claim that this trilogy was Melanie Rawn writing at the top of her game. And yet, as I've mentioned plenty of times, expectations have a way to come back and bite you in the ass, and this is exactly what happened to me with that book.

After a confusing beginning and an uninspired few hundred pages, I had a feeling that The Ruins of Ambrai would be a total disaster. Absolutely nothing worked for me and this was by far the author's weakest novel that I had ever read. I should have known better than to throw in the towel, for Rawn came through with a captivating engame and an interesting finale. Sadly, it wasn't enough to save the book. It was not a complete loss, however, and I still wanted to read the subsequent volumes to discover what happens next. But even though it got better toward the end, The Ruins of Ambrai was plagued by too many shortcomings to be a satisfying reading experience in its own right. Given how much love this series has been getting over the years, one had to wonder if The Mageborn Traitor raised the bar to another level, for the first installment could not possibly warrant that much appreciation.

Unfortunately, The Mageborn Traitor doesn't raise the bar. If anything, it lowers it. To my dismay, this sequel suffers from all the flaws that nearly killed its predecessor, while adding yet more shortcomings to the list. And although my expections were nowehere near as high as they had been for The Ruins of Ambrai, this second installment was a major disappointment.

Here's the blurb:

The Mage Guardians have survived the war, barely. Now Mage Captal Cailet and her sister Sarra are struggling to rebuild their society, politically, economically, and magically. Yet though defeated, their ancient enemies, the Malerissi, have not been destroyed, and under the leadership of Cailet's and Sarra's sister Glenin, these masters of a darker magic are once again weaving a web with which to entangle the entire world. And even as Cailet's dreams of a restored Mage Hall become a reality, Glenin prepares to strike at the very heart of both her sisters' power…

Worldbuilding is an aspect in which Melanie Rawn habitually shines and to a certain extent that was the case with The Ruins of Ambrai. She created an intriguing matriarchal society and was in complete control of the genealogy and the convoluted history of her universe. Problem is, the presentation of everything left a lot to be desired. As far as the setting was concerned, the world and its people truly came alive through the author's vivid prose. But most of the information was conveyed to the reader through some massive info-dumps that really bogged down the narrative. Too often the reader was subjected to a barrage of names/family trees/family connections/history. This was as confusing as it was overwhelming, and made it quite difficult to keep track of everyone's loyalty and where they fit in the greater scheme of things. Sadly, in that regard things are even worse in The Mageborn Traitor. Especially considering that one family in particular breeds like vermin, the complicated genealogies are impossible to sort out. We are introduced to what feels like hundreds of men and women and children, most as forgettable as the next. As a fan of George R. R. Martin, Steven Erikson, and Robert Jordan, I'm used to vast casts of characters. I have no problem keeping track of a huge number of protagonists and secondary characters. Trouble is, most of those introduced in The Mageborn Traitor have little or no importance as far as the plot is concerned. Which means that other than bewildering readers, they serve no purpose. To tell the truth, I started skimming through portions of the narrative in which Rawn introduced us to yet another batch of unimportant people early on and kept doing that throughout the book. Another disappointment stemmed from the fact that the author doesn't elaborate a whole lot on the way magic works, especially the Mage Globes, or on the Malerissi themselves.

Interestingly enough, you may recall that I didn't have any problem with the over-the-top matriarchal society and its ramifications until I got to the Selective Index at the end of The Ruins of Ambrai. When I learned the planet was colonized during what is referred to as the Second Great Migration by thousands of mainly Catholic settlers following a 7-year intergalatic voyage, things immediately went downhill. Since Rawn doesn't elaborate on any detail that could have explained the shift from a more patriarchal to a decidedly hardcore matriarchal society, all of a sudden one of the underpining elements of the series' backdrop lost most of its credibility and didn't make any sense anymore. Unfortunately, The Mageborn Traitor doesn't shine some light on this. Moreover, the gender role reversal occasionally gets even more ludicrous. Female readers have often condemned male authors, with good reason, for writing female protagonists that were little more than men with tits. For all that they were written by a woman, most female characters other than the three sisters definitely are like that. Even worse, most of the male characters are chicks with dicks, so to speak. I mean, no matter how emasculated they can be, to have male characters become absurdly frivolous fops who care about the colors of wallpapers and fabrics, trendy clothing, style, yada yada yada, while women are the only practical ones often felt ridiculous. Until Rawn explains just how Catholic settlers grew into a matriarchal society in which men have basically no rights, the entire backdrop of the Exiles trilogy will continue to make little sense.

As was the case with its predecessor, the political intrigue at the heart of The Mageborn Traitor is a bucket that doesn't always hold much water. The Council and the Assembly are ineffectual and at times dumb and naïve in a manner that defies comprehension. The politicking involved is often quite gauche in its execution. The great plan orchestrated by the Malerissi is too drawn out and takes too much time to come to fruition. Hence, what was meant to be one of the novel's most pivotal moments ends up being more than a little lackluster. The same can be said of the repercussions caused by Sarra's legal reforms. And the trial. . .

Characterization is usually a facet in which Melanie Rawn excels at. And though there were a few in The Ruins of Ambrai, for the most part the protagonists were not as engaging and interesting as I expected. Things go downhill in this second volume, which I didn't see coming. It's mostly due to the fact that both Sarra and Cailet, both of whom are supposed to be intelligent women, act absolutely stupid for plot purposes. Sarra, who supposedly has a knack for politics, shows incredibly poor judgement and no political or social savvy. Cailet, now Captal, is aware that a powerful Mageborn has been sent to murder her and destroy the Mage Guardians, that it is one of two potential suspects, and yet she does nothing to unmask him. Their combined stupidity leads to the destruction of all they hold dear and the death of countless loved ones. Given how smart they're supposed to be, this should never have happened. Trusting in old wards is no excuse for showing such poor judgement. Sarra and her sister Glenin continue to be two sides of the same coin. The former is over-the-top good, in that she wants to end poverty, inequalities, etc. Glenin, on the other hand, due to her upbringing is the polar opposite and is over-the-top evil and vicious. In the end, their being too much, one way or the other, makes it impossible to relate to either sister. The twins, approaching young adulthood, act like they're ten-year-olds and are nearly as annoying as their mother. The supporting cast is made up of a revolving door of forgettable characters that often bring little or nothing to the tale. All in all, I've never read anything that featured such a weak cast of protagonists by Melanie Rawn. All the main characters are insufferable and the incessant bantering between them often makes the book sound like a Friends episode.

In terms of rhythm, The Mageborn Traitor is an interminable slog. The last hundred pages or so see the pace pick up as we move toward the endgame. But it's a case of too little, too late. Once more, all the info-dumps, the poor political intrigue, the inexplicable stupidity of the main protagonists, and the occasional clumsy execution prevented this book from achieving its full potential. In The Ruins of Ambrai, Rawn closed the show with style and aplomb with an ending that promised a lot of good things to come. It's just that you had to go through a lot of extraneous material to get to the good stuff. The problem with this sequel is that you have to go through the same crap for hundreds of pages, only to find out that the ending is somewhat uninspired and not at all satisfying.

Now that all of the groundwork had been laid out, I was hoping that Melanie Rawn would return to form and that The Mageborn Traitor would be everything it could be. In my review, I opined that The Ruins of Ambrai was Rawn's weakest work to date. That was true then. Sadly, The Mageborn Traitor is no improvement and turned out to be the author's worst novel thus far.

A major disappointment. . .

For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now if only she'd pretty please finish the series!

[Lee Ramsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving this book 4 stars, not because it's bad (it's actually one of the best Melanie Rawn ever wrote, in my opinion) but because after twenty-five years we're still waiting for her to finish and publish the third book in the trilogy, "The Captal's Tower."

Now that that mini-rant is over, I can proceed.

Stylistically and in terms of narrative, The Mageborn Traitor is a superior book in Rawn's crown. Many of the pacing issues I took issue with, as well as some of the world building complexity, are much more approachable in this outing while still maintaining a rich setting and complex political narrative. It leapfrogs a number of years from the end of Ruins of Ambrai to advance the overall story, but does a good job of explaining what happens in those intervening years - particularly as society begins a push toward men's equity (remember, the society is matriarchal in this series, flipping the power script most people are familiar with).

If there is anything that is really on the weaker side, it's the self-doubts of the protagonists. This is, unfortunately, a hallmark of Rawn's writing style, and comparable to her villains wanting everything because it's owed to them (insert borderline 1930's supervillain mustache twirl). Don't get me wrong, moments of self-doubt are perfectly fine and very humanizing, but Rawn generally has issues balancing them with an innate hubris in characters who are phenomenally rich, powerful, politically connected, and (oh yes, dear prospective reader) handsome/gorgeous.

That being said, Rawn is trying to address her own weakness in this book. The protagonist of Cailet has damned good reasons for doubting herself, and being hesitant with intimacy. This is almost kind of ruined with the character of Sarra, though, who essentially has to be hit with a brick to understand how arrogant and entitled she can be. Then there is Glenin, who has no qualms about being an arrogant and entitled bitch, and revels in it. So, at least there is some balance.

Things I Like:

- Definitely a sociopolitical commentary set in a fantasy setting, with complex themes that kept me hooked. It's definitely not a hack-and-slash sword-and-sorcery book.
- Interpersonal interactions between a number of characters are far more plausible and human than they were in the Dragon Prince/Dragon Star trilogies.
- Decisions and Actions in Rawn's worlds have consequences, but the plot armor for some characters in Mageborn Traitor is definitely less noticeable and better executed.

Probably one of the best series/books I read, and it really had an influence on how I approach my own character development. Definitely worth the read, if you're prepared for the heartbreak of knowing the series will probably never be finished at this point despite Rawn saying for years that she would do it.

[Martin L. Cahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent followup to the first book, but very plainly the middle of a trilogy. I continue to enjoy Rawn's creation of a matriarchal society in a fantasy setting. It's unfortunate Rawn's never written the third book. The characters are so rich and the overarching plot unresolved that readers deservedly have begged for completion. On the good side, both books are still complete stories unto themselves, with satisfactory if not fully happy endings in both cases.

SPOILERS:



The only two quibbles are these: first, and least spoilery, is that the question if Lenfell's origins never comes up in this second volume. Readers know Lenfell stands for Land Fall and that the Mageborn either migrated from another planet or another dimension. I don't know why the clues to this aren't dealt with from the first book. It's almost as if Rawn just cast that aside.

Secondly -- and a HUGE SPOILER.....



Collan's mostly off-screen death (or is he?) near the end of the book shows that he has learned about his true self, the Wards wiped away, but doesn't tell/show the reader what that origin is. I wonder if that would have been revealed in the third book somehow, even if he is dead. Not to mention, he's one of the most Han Solo-cum-minstrel type characters I've ever seen in fantasy and I'm gonna miss him.

[Jessica Carmody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to give this five stars, but since this is currently the last book, and it ends unresolved, and the third book will likely never come out, I'm only handing out 4 stars.

This is actually a great opportunity for some fan fiction, a series with great characters and a great start that just needs an ending.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but was disappointed by some of the plot twists. Makes me wonder if those plot twists are the reason she can't get the last book written. 12 years and counting between books is a bit ridiculous.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first book if not better. Waited for 9 years for the 3rd book. Its fine if it don't ever come out I understand the circumstances that the author went through.

[Daniel McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just really wish she'd write the third one already.

[Sir Vicks of Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a preteen, maybe eleven or twelve, I found this tome in my library. I often found myself sifting through the shelves, all wide eyes and a silently screwed up mouth that smiled at the covers like old friends. When I found Mageborn Traitor I felt drawn to it. Cailet Ambrai looked so beautiful and strong, if somehow unsure or worried. She intrigued me immediately. The colors jumped off the cover, and I drank them in. I fell into the world of Ladders and Mageborns and lords of Malerris.

I was driving through town yesterday and a new multiplex of condos appeared: Tapestry, they called them. I was like oho! We are all but threads in the Great Tapestry and I was so sad, then, because I love this story and this world so much but I will never find out the mysteries of this story.

I read the first book after I finished this one, and reread this story after. I have been gifted hardback and paperback copies of both. People know I love it.

But who cares?
Captal's Tower is not forthcoming.
I try to make it a year before I check again. Nothing changes.

I will never see Cailet again. I won't know if Collan will be alright or who his parents were. I'll never hear Gorsha again or travel by ladder someplace exciting and dangerous.

I understand Rawn has had some sort of mental issues that prohibit her from writing the conclusion of this epic story. Hire a ghost writer. Do what George RR Martin does and give people the plot points and let them take it away and make it fabulous and finished.

Please read this series. Please enjoy. And please, after you've finished, sit with me in my heartbreak. The pain of an unrequited love.
RIP Exiles series.

[Sallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled through the”Ruins of Ambrai”, half the time lost, not amongst fallen stones, but in the irrelevant genealogies of innumerable family "webs" and relationships. But it had the grace of a flowing storyline with excitement, adventure and good personalities developing that captured one and overrode the extraneous stuff.
My personal grip is with the meaningless, formless weakness of this the second book of the series "The Exiles". The interesting protagonists slid into mediocrity, losing much of their bite and character, the whole story seemed to lose it’s enegy, shape and direction. I’m so disappointed because I love a huge thick book of high fantasy.
It’s obvious that Melanie Rawn is a talented and experienced writer, but i feel that this book would have been better for being half the size, and twice the punch. Perhaps her other books are better, the fans are there to vouch for it, maybe try the Dragon series instead.
I’m afraid that I started skipping words, then paragraphs, then pages, until I said to myself, “why am i doing this, life is too rich” and stopped with huge relief from forcing myself to read to the end, which i always consider a gross failure on my part. Sadly the story was never finished anyway.

[John Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie Rawn was a powerhouse in the fantasy world.
Big, BIG ideas.
Wonderful stories and worlds.
But then she fell ill and was sidelined for the better part of a decade.
Through no fault of her own she lost the writing vision she had.....
However, her earlier works these two amoung them are brilliant.
I devoured them both and was waiting hungrily for more when she took ill.
Some things are just not to be.
We can always hope.
But, I did get some amazing books.
This series deals with the betrayed and destroyed Mages and the attempt of the last of the old mages to bring new life to the order by finding and rescuing the next generation of mages.

[Jen Christopherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters, each one is clearly on their own quest or mission with their own thoughts and feelings and opinions.
The problems practically begin on the first page and continue through the last page. Just when you think you have it figured out the author brings to light more complications and problems. The plotting of this novel had to be a nightmare because it keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what else could possibly go wrong.
The setting is given to you as it's needed and without any interruption of the action.
In my humble opinion, this is a masterwork.

[Sandy Frediani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting continuation of the journey begun in The Ruins of Ambrai. I am in awe at the writing, the story, the characters - all of it. As with Ruins, this was difficult to put down. I was deeply invested in the characters and their stories. The intrigue, the betrayals, the magic, everything drew me in and held me throughout. The story is filled, and ends, with hope.

I'm deeply saddened to learn that the series won't be completed. I understand why, but am saddened nonetheless. However, it leaves the reader - me, anyway, - open to 'making' their own ending.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book of a trilogy that was never finished, and you know the middle book is more reaction and set-up than action or resolution, so that’s what this is. I might give it 5 stars if there were a third book and I could fully appreciate the second act for how it fit into the entire act, but until then, 4.

[Books With Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dont start this series until book 3 is actually released.

That being said, this series is in my top 10, ever. Handsdown, hence the 5 stars. However I have been waiting for almost 20 years for Captals Tower. I wont read another of her work unless completely finished until Captals tower is completed.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh, I've read this book a dozen times and I STILL cry. Every time. God I hope Melanie remembers what she was thinking about and writes The Captal's Tower! I can't think of a book I'm waiting more anxiously for!

[Tiffany Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fear she has written herself into a corner she can never get out of so she will never finish the series. Which is sad because it's one of my all-time favorites.

[Etta Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreakingly good. Ending to throw the book over and then go rushing to pick it back up.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad sequel but slow. Still hoping for the third and final book 20 years later

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pity the trilogy will never be finished
But still a good book

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

After I had reviewed the first book in the series, Ruins of Ambrai, I had pretty much thought that I had discovered my Achilles Heel of blogging. After trying to review this second book in the series, I'm positive that reviewing epic fantasy is not my strong suit. With epic fantasy there are so many story lines all vying for your attention and such a large (though brilliant) cast of characters, that it's hard for me to separate out what I should tell you and what is safe to leave out of a review. I'm actually hoping that Melissa of My World...In Words and Pages decides to read this trilogy because she is brilliant at reviewing epic fantasy. She is able to give the right details and sum up the action in a way I can only bow to.

What I do want to say about this book is that it acts as a good transition from the world building and action of the first one. It starts a few years later and continues the action that was set up in Ruins of Ambrai. It adds more layers to the society so we are able to see some of the motivations of the characters and the society as a whole a little clearer. The first half of the book is really the prelude for what happens in the latter half. By the time you get to the end of this book your head will be spinning and you will sit there for a while as you digest and contemplate the ramifications of how this installment ends.

There are only two other things I want to briefly touch upon. Melanie Rawn has no problems killing off characters, both minor and major. She proved it with the rather large body count in the first book and she continues that trend in this one. Characters you love and love to hate bite the dust in both books, some of them will make you very sad to see them go. What I appreciate about how she does is though is that every death makes sense. None of them are wasted since they all help to propel the story forward.

The second issue I wanted to briefly touch upon is that this book was first published in 1997. Thirteen years later we are still waiting for the final book in the trilogy, The Captal's Tower, to be written. A lot of the delay has been attributed to Melanie Rawn's health, though at this time there is still no information on when the book will be done. Now with that being said, I would still encourage everyone to read these first two books so you are able to experience epic fantasy at it's best. I promise that even if this trilogy is never finished (let's not even think about that), you will not find that you wasted your time by reading the first two books.

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really give proper reviews so I'm just going to throw it out there with not style or order.
I'm really hoping she writes the third book. I want to know why Collan was Warded, I want to understand his revelation, I want to know who his family was. I want to see Cailet come to accept Joss romantically, I want them to have a chance at happiness together. I want to see Sarra come into her magic. I want to know how Sarra's (and Cailet's and Glenin's) Ambrai Grandparents met.
I want to understand the things that have not been made clear. Tell me more about Falundir being Mageborn. Where did Fieran and Anniyas meet? Why did he throw his lot in with her? What was Gornyel Desse's mistake for which he became untrusted? Was it Fieran? Who will change the laws now that Sarra is not a Councillor? WHY DID SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE? And with so little fanfare (if you wish to call it that). Many characters deaths were casually mentioned in passing. Collan's wasn't given much attention. Afterwards, Sarra and Mikel focused on it, but as it happened you're just left wondering 'what was that' and what exactly happened? As far as I know Collan was not Mageborn, so how did he affect Glenin's magic so strongly?
The one major complaint about this series that I do have? I get so confused with the multitude of names and families, the intertwining histories and marriages, the similar names. I would really appreciate a comprehensive family tree that makes this easier to follow.

[Josephine McNabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as much as the first one. I loved how the three sisters grew into themselves and their various roles, although Glenin had already been prepared to take over. I loved how this book spanned years and held my attention throughout.

I loved watching Caliet come to terms with who she was, is and will become. She went from a nervous child to a confident woman but still not the all powerful mage captal that she portrayed to her world.

Sarra has been by far one of my favourite characters. the chemistry between her and Collan just seems so real, it jumps off the page and curls around your heart. Sarra is no nonsense and a straight talker to her family but can. talk circles around everyone else. She is just brilliant!

Enter Taigan and Mikel. I am endeared to them solely because they are Sarra and Collan's children. I enjoyed seeing their world through their eyes, their opinions and comparing them to those of their mother and aunts from the previous book. More than that, I loved watching them come into their magic.

I can't say a lot more without spoiler, my heart broke and yearned for vengeance as much as the characters did. There will be more growth and destruction in the next book I'm sure, when it's written. I will be one of the first to buy the book. These books are so easy to read, if you can keep up with the various Names and characters. A wonderful first two parts of the series.

[Rudi Bracaglia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this series when Rawn first started it 12 years ago (OMG it's been that long?? Right in the childhood and dear Christ I'm getting old :( )

I was in tears when Collan died and Cailet lost so many loved ones - pretty much devoured the book and eagerly anticipated the next book. And I waited. And waited. And waited some more. I had no idea what had happened but assumed things would eventually be resolved. It took Tolkien 12 yrs to finish his masterpiece after all.


Imagine my fury when 10 yrs go by and the next book MR puts out isn't the final chapter of her trilogy - BUT SOME COMPLETELY UNRELATED BOOK - written with no hope of ever giving a ending to the Mage series and no explanation other than she apparently had some sort of nervous break down due to the pressures of writing.

Um, seriously?? So irresponsible and frankly lame. It is one of the most impossibly irritating literary memories I have while growing up - right up there with JK Rowling's post series "revelations" that literally make me want to scream like a demented banshee

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely fantastic novel continuing in the years after the first volume of Exiles. The characters are engaging, the plot complex, and the politics amazingly relatable. There are only three flaws with this book. 1) The third book has not been, and likely will not be written. 2) The phrase "truly told" seems to be the only way that people are capable of expressing honesty. Truly told? That gets old when you see it every other page for 700 pages. 3) The system of magic is not very codified. Magic is a thing that lives inside people that sometimes acts on its own, sometimes under the direction of the person who has it, and generally is never really explained at all.

So, if any of the above is a dealbreaker for you, don't read this book. If you enjoy high fantasy with real adult POV characters (the teen angst is to a minimum), complex narratives involving several decades of planning, and a world built on a Calendar of Saints, this is definitely worth your time. Start with the first book to catch all the details.

[King Haddock · Rating 3 out of 5]

For once, the second in a series is better than the first! The plot is more definite and intertwined, the characters more memorable, and a much clearer goal is outlined. True, it is slow in starting - the entire first section, though interesting and developing for the remaining characters in the previous novel, contributes little to the general plot. In the main body of the book, the Captal knows one of the Prentice Mages is a Malerrisi and traitor - as well as her own nephew - but she cannot figure out which character it is. I am happy to announce that Glenin's son is not my favorite character, although of course he is one of the two highly suspicious candidates. The ending I also find unique and, oddly enough, contenting. I have yet to get a hold of the third book of this trilogy.