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The Saga of Recluce #10
Magi'i of Cyador
Magi'i of Cyador marks the beginning of a new tale from deep within the rich depths of the history of Recluce. This is the story of Lorn, a talented boy born into a family of Magi'i. A diligent student of remarkable talent, Lorn lacks only the single most coveted attribute required of a Magus of Cyador: unquestionable loyalty. Lorn is too independent for his own good.
So Lorn is forced to become a lancer officer, and he's sent to the frontier to fight off the all-too-frequent barbarian raids--a career that comes with a 50% mortality rate. His enemies don't expect him to survive . . .
So Lorn is forced to become a lancer officer, and he's sent to the frontier to fight off the all-too-frequent barbarian raids--a career that comes with a 50% mortality rate. His enemies don't expect him to survive . . .
544 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2000
142 people are currently reading
2003 people want to read
About the author
L.E. Modesitt Jr.
191 books2,590 followersL. E. (Leland Exton) Modesitt, Jr. is an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. He is best known for the fantasy series The Saga of Recluce. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, lived in Washington, D.C. for 20 years, then moved to New Hampshire in 1989 where he met his wife. They relocated to Cedar City, Utah in 1993.
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
He has worked as a Navy pilot, lifeguard, delivery boy, unpaid radio disc jockey, real estate agent, market research analyst, director of research for a political campaign, legislative assistant for a Congressman, Director of Legislation and Congressional Relations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a consultant on environmental, regulatory, and communications issues, and a college lecturer and writer in residence.
In addition to his novels, Mr. Modesitt has published technical studies and articles, columns, poetry, and a number of science fiction stories. His first short story, "The Great American Economy", was published in 1973 in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
May 16, 2021
I could just say that I really enjoyed this tale of a chaos mage that couldn't cut it, who was shipped off to be a lancer on the rough borders of Cyador, but I won't. That's a given.
What I will mention is this: I've developed a relationship with Modesitt's books. With other authors, I tend to expect certain things, maybe great tech, rules, battles, or high emotions in their characters. Some books are volatile.
These have the unique distinction of being emotionally balanced. Logical. Reasonable. They always make me feel good. In charge. Able to cope. They make me ... better.
There's no other way to describe it.
I'm definitely not saying these are boring. There are tons of deaths and bloodshed and backstabbing and intrigue, but at their core, the MAIN CHARACTERS always pull it all together and give us a solid, rather amazing, balanced outlook that always wins out in the end, despite the travails.
I mentioned this kind of thing in previous reviews in the full series. I even complained a little about how the MCs are all cut from the same cloth.
But now? I'm coming to RELY upon it. A tale, an adventure, a love story, and despite setbacks, a constant upward trend. I'm really starting to love this effect.
So yes, it's still about mixtures of chaos and order and yes we're deep in the middle of an ongoing tapestry of Cyador's history. That's all still great. But what might be better is how it makes me feel. :)
What I will mention is this: I've developed a relationship with Modesitt's books. With other authors, I tend to expect certain things, maybe great tech, rules, battles, or high emotions in their characters. Some books are volatile.
These have the unique distinction of being emotionally balanced. Logical. Reasonable. They always make me feel good. In charge. Able to cope. They make me ... better.
There's no other way to describe it.
I'm definitely not saying these are boring. There are tons of deaths and bloodshed and backstabbing and intrigue, but at their core, the MAIN CHARACTERS always pull it all together and give us a solid, rather amazing, balanced outlook that always wins out in the end, despite the travails.
I mentioned this kind of thing in previous reviews in the full series. I even complained a little about how the MCs are all cut from the same cloth.
But now? I'm coming to RELY upon it. A tale, an adventure, a love story, and despite setbacks, a constant upward trend. I'm really starting to love this effect.
So yes, it's still about mixtures of chaos and order and yes we're deep in the middle of an ongoing tapestry of Cyador's history. That's all still great. But what might be better is how it makes me feel. :)
October 16, 2021
This book is very consistent with the previous volumes. It is perfect for people who don't care for strong emotions. (Which is strange for characters who are specializing in chaos manipulation!) The characters act ultra-rational at all times, which does not accord with my experience of dealing with people at all. Obviously a fantasy world. A side effect of this is really dull dialog, with no witty repartee, no emotional exploration, no snark. It is similar in my mind to those who prefer their food bland, eschewing any kind of spice or bite. Plus I've realized that there is not a sniff of religion in this series—even when getting married (or consorted, the awkward term used here), the ceremony consists of signing in an official book and paying a small fee. Very practical, but very cold.
The plot is extremely similar to earlier volumes as well. A young man enters his profession and public life and finds that there is corruption of some flavour somewhere above him in the hierarchy. But he calmly and rationally focuses on doing his job to the best of his ability, while being careful about possible plotting. Success always results. As usual, the setting is military and the events are unremarkable and repetitive, which may be accurate but doesn't make for scintillating reading. A distressing amount of the dialog consists of repeated “Yes, ser.”
Lorn is marginally more interesting than previous main characters in that he is not 100% honest with those around him and he likes to stack the deck in his own favour. Lying is particularly difficult among the Magi'i, who have finely honed truth sensing talents. Misdirection and distraction seem to work well for Lorn, who is easily the shiftiest main character to date. I think he is also the first who seems to think he understands women, not considering them to be confusing or unfathomable. That's a semi-pleasant change. On the flipside, his family consider him a “ladies man.” He is also willing to dress as a member of a “lower" social position to facilitate his liaisons and to perform some “charitable" crimes. Possibly as a side effect of his choices, Lorn appears to have no real friends (except his sisters, from whom he is separated by his profession), another first among Modesitt's main characters. At least he has a sincere, loving relationship with Ryalth.
Modesitt seems focused on describing the very boring diets of his world. (That's another new feature of Lorn, his sweet tooth). At least there's less cheese consumption in this book! The other thing I really noticed in this installment was his tendency to provide measurements for everything. How thick a wall is, how tall each man is, how far it is between towns, etc. I find this incredibly tedious, especially when he uses invented measures (e.g. cubits, kays). It reminded me of Philip Jose Farmer, in his Riverworld series, where he provides measurements of every damn thing in both metric and imperial. Add to that his tendency to refer to horses as “mounts,” which annoys me with its clunkiness.
Regarding the cover art, I am glad to see that Darrell K. Sweet has returned to illustrating horses, obviously his favourite subjects. This cover is a vast improvement over The Colors of Chaos, which was sadly forgettable.
Book number 425 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.
The plot is extremely similar to earlier volumes as well. A young man enters his profession and public life and finds that there is corruption of some flavour somewhere above him in the hierarchy. But he calmly and rationally focuses on doing his job to the best of his ability, while being careful about possible plotting. Success always results. As usual, the setting is military and the events are unremarkable and repetitive, which may be accurate but doesn't make for scintillating reading. A distressing amount of the dialog consists of repeated “Yes, ser.”
Lorn is marginally more interesting than previous main characters in that he is not 100% honest with those around him and he likes to stack the deck in his own favour. Lying is particularly difficult among the Magi'i, who have finely honed truth sensing talents. Misdirection and distraction seem to work well for Lorn, who is easily the shiftiest main character to date. I think he is also the first who seems to think he understands women, not considering them to be confusing or unfathomable. That's a semi-pleasant change. On the flipside, his family consider him a “ladies man.” He is also willing to dress as a member of a “lower" social position to facilitate his liaisons and to perform some “charitable" crimes. Possibly as a side effect of his choices, Lorn appears to have no real friends (except his sisters, from whom he is separated by his profession), another first among Modesitt's main characters. At least he has a sincere, loving relationship with Ryalth.
Modesitt seems focused on describing the very boring diets of his world. (That's another new feature of Lorn, his sweet tooth). At least there's less cheese consumption in this book! The other thing I really noticed in this installment was his tendency to provide measurements for everything. How thick a wall is, how tall each man is, how far it is between towns, etc. I find this incredibly tedious, especially when he uses invented measures (e.g. cubits, kays). It reminded me of Philip Jose Farmer, in his Riverworld series, where he provides measurements of every damn thing in both metric and imperial. Add to that his tendency to refer to horses as “mounts,” which annoys me with its clunkiness.
Regarding the cover art, I am glad to see that Darrell K. Sweet has returned to illustrating horses, obviously his favourite subjects. This cover is a vast improvement over The Colors of Chaos, which was sadly forgettable.
Book number 425 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.
July 31, 2017
This is the first of a duology following Lorn, the son of a Magi family who is too intelligent & questioning to follow the party line completely enough. Great character who thinks ahead & is still forced into too many situations where he has to scramble to stay afloat among the cut throat politics of a dying nation, one founded on technology that is stopping.
As usual, Modesitt does a great job of creating an interesting society full of twisty politics & strict economics. His hero knows the score, but is too junior to do much save survive in this book. The next one, Scion of Cyador, shows him maturing into a better position to become a player to be reckoned with. These two should be read in order & back to back. Excellent story & well narrated.
My library finally got Modesitt's books in audio. The Recluce series is one of my favorites & I've read all the books in paper several times. I read them in published order, keeping up with the series as he adds to it, his recommended order. It makes sense since he expands on a variety of themes & I also recommend that order for a first read. After that, reading them in chronological order is a treat, though. There doesn't seem to be a good list around for that, so I've started my own which I'm keeping in my review of the paperback version of the first book here. This book is the first book chronologically, at least so far.
As usual, Modesitt does a great job of creating an interesting society full of twisty politics & strict economics. His hero knows the score, but is too junior to do much save survive in this book. The next one, Scion of Cyador, shows him maturing into a better position to become a player to be reckoned with. These two should be read in order & back to back. Excellent story & well narrated.
My library finally got Modesitt's books in audio. The Recluce series is one of my favorites & I've read all the books in paper several times. I read them in published order, keeping up with the series as he adds to it, his recommended order. It makes sense since he expands on a variety of themes & I also recommend that order for a first read. After that, reading them in chronological order is a treat, though. There doesn't seem to be a good list around for that, so I've started my own which I'm keeping in my review of the paperback version of the first book here. This book is the first book chronologically, at least so far.
March 28, 2021
Feb2021 I've been extremely ill for months, too ill to read more than the snippets on the computer. I needed something to get me back into the habit & I chose this. I've read it several times before, but it & it's sequel are probably my favorites in the series. As usual, I enjoyed it tremendously. Modesitt's attention to economics & the intricacies of societies is shown well. Since I knew the basic story, I could just enjoy & ponder the details.
July2017 A Chaos based society, although Order workers are part of the society; they're just not as highly thought of since their powers aren't usually as flashy. The hero is Modesitt's standard guy; thoughtful, responsible & with limited, but above average powers. A hero in his understated way. This is one of my favorite books of the series & it's one of my favorite series. IOW, highly recommended.
This is currently the first book in the Recluse series chronologically, although a short story or two predate it. Modesitt recommends reading this series in published order. While I agree for a first read, I think a chronological reread is great, too. To that end, I've created the list & put it in my review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July2017 A Chaos based society, although Order workers are part of the society; they're just not as highly thought of since their powers aren't usually as flashy. The hero is Modesitt's standard guy; thoughtful, responsible & with limited, but above average powers. A hero in his understated way. This is one of my favorite books of the series & it's one of my favorite series. IOW, highly recommended.
This is currently the first book in the Recluse series chronologically, although a short story or two predate it. Modesitt recommends reading this series in published order. While I agree for a first read, I think a chronological reread is great, too. To that end, I've created the list & put it in my review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 30, 2017
7/10
This installment in the Saga of Recluce series takes us to what is, for now anyway, the earliest events in the chronology. No Black Order wizards--the Dark Angels have not yet fallen from the skies. Still, the Chaos weilders are not only centuries into their time on Candor, but are already beginning to experience the failure of their Chaos storage units, a fact the Emperor and the Magi'i (predecessors of the White Wizards) are trying to keep secret.
This book is devoted to the development and maturation of Lorn, and appears to be laying the foundation for later events that one may hope are more momentous. Lorn, his family, and Ryalth hold center stage, but the most interesting intrigue surrounds the Emperor and his closest counselors, who are not fleshed out in much detail--I had trouble keeping them straight.
Hoping the next book pulls things together more as it is a direct sequel to this one.
This installment in the Saga of Recluce series takes us to what is, for now anyway, the earliest events in the chronology. No Black Order wizards--the Dark Angels have not yet fallen from the skies. Still, the Chaos weilders are not only centuries into their time on Candor, but are already beginning to experience the failure of their Chaos storage units, a fact the Emperor and the Magi'i (predecessors of the White Wizards) are trying to keep secret.
This book is devoted to the development and maturation of Lorn, and appears to be laying the foundation for later events that one may hope are more momentous. Lorn, his family, and Ryalth hold center stage, but the most interesting intrigue surrounds the Emperor and his closest counselors, who are not fleshed out in much detail--I had trouble keeping them straight.
Hoping the next book pulls things together more as it is a direct sequel to this one.
March 9, 2015
OK because I am odd I have decided to read these books in internal chronological order. The author has stated that this is not his preferred order, but I am not only odd but stubborn.
This is the first of a duo of novels concerning the earliest history of the land of Candor. Set probably hundreds of years after a high technology group landed on the planet to set up a colony it tells the story of their decedents struggling to maintain some of their high technology in a low tech world. Having lost their supporting infrastructure a structured society was created to try to preserve knowledge and lifestyle as long as possible.
However, entropy is now winning and the fate of the kingdom is threatened by the non-high-tech barbarians outside their lands as well as political machinations within. The structures of their society are also struggling as more and more of the misunderstood high tech fails.
The hero of the book Lorn is thrust into this world as a young man. He is forced to make his way not fitting well into any of the structured groups of Magi'i, Lancers (military), or Merchants. The military path is the most flexible and he ends up there having to face antagonism from all around him.
This is the first of a duo of novels concerning the earliest history of the land of Candor. Set probably hundreds of years after a high technology group landed on the planet to set up a colony it tells the story of their decedents struggling to maintain some of their high technology in a low tech world. Having lost their supporting infrastructure a structured society was created to try to preserve knowledge and lifestyle as long as possible.
However, entropy is now winning and the fate of the kingdom is threatened by the non-high-tech barbarians outside their lands as well as political machinations within. The structures of their society are also struggling as more and more of the misunderstood high tech fails.
The hero of the book Lorn is thrust into this world as a young man. He is forced to make his way not fitting well into any of the structured groups of Magi'i, Lancers (military), or Merchants. The military path is the most flexible and he ends up there having to face antagonism from all around him.
December 3, 2021
This overly bloated, horridly repedative, snails pace, no climax, no character growth, too many characters with similar-sounding names, lots of useless/unnecessary details, odd setting/action jumps without any understandable transition, story about nothing really could be cut in half literally and you wouldn't miss a thing. This is really just one very very very long drawn out week in the life of a military guy. Also, there are a few inconsistencies that don't make much sense because they are never fixed or explained why the change happened it just does and you can forget about how things were set up and just go with the flow. Lots of stuff that should be important is skipped over and you have to guess to fill in the blanks. The world-building is nill which sucks. Hopefully, it's explained in other books down the line?
This is the 10th book written for the Saga of Recluse series but it's the first in regards to the timeline of the series. I had heard that the series should be read in publication order but I like to start at the beginning of a series and book 1 timeline-wise made sense because it sets up the world of the series. Not so with this series apparently. Even though the rest of the series (starting in the middle of the timeline with book 1 in publication order with this as its backstory and history) is based on the actions of the characters here it makes little to no sense, since we are dropped into a story as if we already know how the world is set up.
Am I crazy to think a first timeline book in a series should set up the world-building for an entire series?
This overly long book is about Lorn and his life over about 5 to 6 years (but feels like 1 or 2) as a soldier. He is born into a family of magi'i, magic users who use a power called chaos to make technology that makes and uses fire...created by magic...to make things like tanks run. The magic is running low, the magi'i families are becoming inbreed and losing power, and the evil magic black forces that oppose chaos magic on its own is growing. There is a magic wall/towers around a forest full of black magic and horrible creatures. The wall/towers are failing but the people in power, the emporer, and his court of magi'i resembling the church gone corrupt is keeping the general populace in the dark. The magi'i order is set up like the church/Vatican hierarchy and they expect all magi'i working for them to be fanatical and unquestioning of their higher-ups. Since Lorn is always seeking answers to questions they don't want asked and he can't blindly follow them he gets reassigned to the firelancers, the military that protects people from the evil forest, and a more recent problem "barbarians" in the northern territory whos land the "civilized" people of the magi'i took from them/ran them off of ages ago. Since he still has the power to use magic the higher up magi'i fear him becoming like the very first "true" emporer of their land, a military magic commander now a legend who brought about their current civilization and power. So they have him watched and sent to the most dangerous places in the hopes he'll be killed or if he gets to powerful to have him killed.
The majority of the book is his day-to-day, week to week, endless repetitive training, fighting of barbarians, and later fighting creatures from the forest. (seriously everything Lorn or his direct underlings gets repeated verbatim again, and again, and again... Seriously we get it, fire at will, short bursts, formation 2x2 does not need to be said and repeated by all characters every third paragraph! Also if I never read thank you and yes sir again any time soon it will be too soon.) Every once in a while we jump to the emporer and people of power talking about how the magic is failing and the evil is spreading and what can be done about it without telling the general public. We get to see rare interactions with the merchant woman who becomes Lorn's wife. We also get to see snippets of Lorn with his family, all magic users.
Their culture kinda reminded me of the middle east with the way they live, think about/treat women, think about other cultures, ext. This is a male-dominated society and women are second class. They must be healers if they have magic, and can't do any other job if they work at all outside the house depending upon the man's decisions. Also healing drains them of their life force slowly but surely, but this isn't really brought but besides the fact that it does happen.
If you need a reading page count or just something bland to fill in time this will work for you. If you want excitement, adventure, intregue, romance, a battle of good and evil magic this is not for you.
Since this is book 10 publication-wise, I might skip timeline-wise and read book 1 publication-wise to see if it's any good and sets up the worldbuilding (again why isn't book 1 timeline-wise, the history published book 1 is based on not a worldbuilder?).
This is the 10th book written for the Saga of Recluse series but it's the first in regards to the timeline of the series. I had heard that the series should be read in publication order but I like to start at the beginning of a series and book 1 timeline-wise made sense because it sets up the world of the series. Not so with this series apparently. Even though the rest of the series (starting in the middle of the timeline with book 1 in publication order with this as its backstory and history) is based on the actions of the characters here it makes little to no sense, since we are dropped into a story as if we already know how the world is set up.
Am I crazy to think a first timeline book in a series should set up the world-building for an entire series?
This overly long book is about Lorn and his life over about 5 to 6 years (but feels like 1 or 2) as a soldier. He is born into a family of magi'i, magic users who use a power called chaos to make technology that makes and uses fire...created by magic...to make things like tanks run. The magic is running low, the magi'i families are becoming inbreed and losing power, and the evil magic black forces that oppose chaos magic on its own is growing. There is a magic wall/towers around a forest full of black magic and horrible creatures. The wall/towers are failing but the people in power, the emporer, and his court of magi'i resembling the church gone corrupt is keeping the general populace in the dark. The magi'i order is set up like the church/Vatican hierarchy and they expect all magi'i working for them to be fanatical and unquestioning of their higher-ups. Since Lorn is always seeking answers to questions they don't want asked and he can't blindly follow them he gets reassigned to the firelancers, the military that protects people from the evil forest, and a more recent problem "barbarians" in the northern territory whos land the "civilized" people of the magi'i took from them/ran them off of ages ago. Since he still has the power to use magic the higher up magi'i fear him becoming like the very first "true" emporer of their land, a military magic commander now a legend who brought about their current civilization and power. So they have him watched and sent to the most dangerous places in the hopes he'll be killed or if he gets to powerful to have him killed.
The majority of the book is his day-to-day, week to week, endless repetitive training, fighting of barbarians, and later fighting creatures from the forest. (seriously everything Lorn or his direct underlings gets repeated verbatim again, and again, and again... Seriously we get it, fire at will, short bursts, formation 2x2 does not need to be said and repeated by all characters every third paragraph! Also if I never read thank you and yes sir again any time soon it will be too soon.) Every once in a while we jump to the emporer and people of power talking about how the magic is failing and the evil is spreading and what can be done about it without telling the general public. We get to see rare interactions with the merchant woman who becomes Lorn's wife. We also get to see snippets of Lorn with his family, all magic users.
Their culture kinda reminded me of the middle east with the way they live, think about/treat women, think about other cultures, ext. This is a male-dominated society and women are second class. They must be healers if they have magic, and can't do any other job if they work at all outside the house depending upon the man's decisions. Also healing drains them of their life force slowly but surely, but this isn't really brought but besides the fact that it does happen.
If you need a reading page count or just something bland to fill in time this will work for you. If you want excitement, adventure, intregue, romance, a battle of good and evil magic this is not for you.
Since this is book 10 publication-wise, I might skip timeline-wise and read book 1 publication-wise to see if it's any good and sets up the worldbuilding (again why isn't book 1 timeline-wise, the history published book 1 is based on not a worldbuilder?).
June 10, 2015
I made it to page 165 (of around 500) and just couldn't take it anymore. The worldbuilding was kind of interesting but the writing is pretty terrible. It takes him SO LONG to say stuff and he includes all these details that are super boring and unnecessary. For example, in order to introduce the members of the protagonist's family, he says how many slices of dark or light bread they each take as they pass the bread basket around the table. "Bob took a slice of dark bread. George took one slice of dark bread and one of nut bread." Except there are SEVEN (I think, I don't remember/care) people and they are not named Bob and George, they all have dumb weird fantasy names that are difficult (for me) to remember.
And instead of saying something like "he gave orders to move the squad ahead" he'll say the exact words the commander said, as dialogue, and then tell us what his subordinate said to his troops! Every time! I ain't got time for that shit.
I tried, for a while, I swear, but life is too short. I decided to re-read Dune instead. I used to think Herbert was a great story-teller but mediocre writer, but suddenly I think maybe he's not so bad after all.
And instead of saying something like "he gave orders to move the squad ahead" he'll say the exact words the commander said, as dialogue, and then tell us what his subordinate said to his troops! Every time! I ain't got time for that shit.
I tried, for a while, I swear, but life is too short. I decided to re-read Dune instead. I used to think Herbert was a great story-teller but mediocre writer, but suddenly I think maybe he's not so bad after all.
January 11, 2024
Ended up buying Kindle edition as I lost my paperback copy amongst my Xmas mess. For those concerned 🤣 I found it after ringing several places to see if I’d left it behind 🤦♀️
Read this again after reading a chat between fans on Modesitt’s home page (https://www.lemodesittjr.com/2022/03/... ) cross referencing his new book “From the Forest” with “Magi’i of Cyador.”
Here the Emperor Alyiakal is a footnote in the history books of Cyad. “Despite his many successes in establishing the current borders of modern Cyador, and his formalization of the balanced power structure that has come to govern Cyador, he has become the “One Never to be Mentioned” among the Magi’i and Mirror Lancers of Cyad.”
I was once again caught up in the political juggling and infighting of the Magi’i, the Lancers and the traders.
I love Lorn and his lady trader Ryalth. Both strong characters who stand in their own way against the treachery of those who would manipulate them with chaos forces.
Read this again after reading a chat between fans on Modesitt’s home page (https://www.lemodesittjr.com/2022/03/... ) cross referencing his new book “From the Forest” with “Magi’i of Cyador.”
Here the Emperor Alyiakal is a footnote in the history books of Cyad. “Despite his many successes in establishing the current borders of modern Cyador, and his formalization of the balanced power structure that has come to govern Cyador, he has become the “One Never to be Mentioned” among the Magi’i and Mirror Lancers of Cyad.”
I was once again caught up in the political juggling and infighting of the Magi’i, the Lancers and the traders.
I love Lorn and his lady trader Ryalth. Both strong characters who stand in their own way against the treachery of those who would manipulate them with chaos forces.
December 3, 2009
After loving the Imager books and being in the mood for more fantasy of the alt/secondary world kind, I started reading the Recluce saga in chronological order. The first complete duology of Cyador (Magi and Scion) begins the saga and tell the story of Lorn, mage and soldier. Lorn is actually sort of similar to Rhenn of Imager, though this one starts slower dues especially to the third person narration which lessens the immediacy of the Imager books; the final book of the duology is excellent though
March 22, 2019
Fabulous
This is an enjoyable coming of age story. Lorn is a lovable character. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
This is an enjoyable coming of age story. Lorn is a lovable character. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
April 27, 2023
Magi'i of Cyador, chronologically is the starting point for the saga of Recluce. In a city with a dying Emperor, the three seats of power, the Magi, the Merchants and the Mirror Lancers contend to put one of their own on the throne. Lorn, born of a Magi family but lacking the commitment to that life finds himself in the Lancers. His postings are perilous as seniors hope his early death will avoid future problems. He fights to survive and save his country from barbarian threats.
The pace of this book may at first seem slow, and the unobtrusive prose combines with the story as if the characters were real. The characterisation is Modesitt’s strong point both Lorn and Ryalth are beautifully brought to life. Throughout the story, there are moments of high action and although Lorn is often wonderfully normal, at times he is alarmingly ruthless. The short chapters and readable prose make the pages flow with ease. There is a lot of everyday, slice-of-life details that may not suit everyone’s reading tastes. However, there are enough twists and turns to make this an absorbing reading experience.
An excellent series and one I previously read way back in 1991 when Magic of Recluce was first released. This is my first read-through chronologically. Ultimately, you will either love this series or not. For me, my go to series when I feel a little jaded.
Highly recommended.
The pace of this book may at first seem slow, and the unobtrusive prose combines with the story as if the characters were real. The characterisation is Modesitt’s strong point both Lorn and Ryalth are beautifully brought to life. Throughout the story, there are moments of high action and although Lorn is often wonderfully normal, at times he is alarmingly ruthless. The short chapters and readable prose make the pages flow with ease. There is a lot of everyday, slice-of-life details that may not suit everyone’s reading tastes. However, there are enough twists and turns to make this an absorbing reading experience.
An excellent series and one I previously read way back in 1991 when Magic of Recluce was first released. This is my first read-through chronologically. Ultimately, you will either love this series or not. For me, my go to series when I feel a little jaded.
Highly recommended.
July 1, 2022
Its been a little over 20 years since I last read a Magic of Recluce novel. I remember the series being a bit slow to start, nonlinear from book to book, with most of them being in pairs of chronological tales, and that they were nuanced and thoughtful. This book was definitely nuanced, but was not plot driven rather more of a character study. This book serves to illuminate some ancient history in the lore of this world, exploring the story of Lorn, a character who mixes order and chaos and is therefore an enemy of the traditional chaos-run society. He is maneuvered into positions where he is supposed to fail, but he succeeds by thinking outside of the box and bucking tradition, which just gets him promoted into an even more dangerous position. Through it all, he remains rational, finds love, and starts to build the foundations of power. I enjoyed this book, but it didn't grab me as much as the previous Magic of Recluce novels have. Perhaps it was the lack of a plot-driven story, or perhaps it was the dryness of the characters or the repetition of the story, or perhaps my tastes have changed over the past 20 years. I did enjoy the political plotting and the hints of science fiction in the origins of chaos in this world. I liked many of the world-building aspects. It was still enjoyable, but not one of my favorites of the series. I'm still interested enough to check out the next book though.
June 27, 2020
Modesitt once more spins a multilayered coming-of-age story that examines both a society and its use and misuse of power. This latest entry in The Recluse Saga takes the reader back to humanity's first centuries on the continent of Candar, longbefore the settlement of Recluse, when the wielders of chaos lived in the white city of Cyad, pulling energy from their broadcasting towers to seal off their land from intrusion by the forces of order. Lorn, the eldest son of the Magus Kien, is a boy who easily masters the demands of school and sport. His seemingly effortless achievements alarm the senior Magi'i, who pull him from magus training and assign him to military service. As a Lancer officer, Lorn is assigned to protect the borders of Cyador from intrusion by invading barbarians in the north and marauding wildlife from the Great Forest on the east. This mysterious eastern land will be known in the future as Naclos--where order and chaos exist together. Before leaving on his first assignment, Lorn rescues and falls in love with a Trader girl, Ryalth, who opens the mysteries of commerce to him. As Lorn fights off attacks by barbarians, wild beasts, plotting supervisors, and assassins, he begins to comprehend the machinations of the three ruling classes of Cyador society--Magi'i, Lancers, and Traders--and begins to realize only he possesses the vision to keep his people from destruction. This fast-moving fantasy belongs on the shelf of every library that serves young adults. It offers an action-packed plot, with an involving cross-class love story and a thoughtful allegory of the price paid for exploitation.
February 1, 2021
Strange book, and confusing to me why this rating is so high. I think the bread eaten around the dinner table is described with more details than the world, which was flat, uninteresting, and not notable. Complicating this was that just about every place mentioned in the book was not even shown on the map in the beginning. I think I flipped to the map 20 times before giving up.
Nearly every character besides the main character (Lorn) is inseparable from others. I'm fine with boatloads of character names, but these were indistinguishable from others.
I couldn't get into the love story, which seemed to be predicated on the idea that Lorn will just murder anyone threatening his relationship, and how romantic is that. Weirdly, the consequences of being that way are never brought up.
Overall, both shallow and confusing.
Maybe the mistake I made was reading this first -- in reading the positive reviews, I can't even understand what they are talking about -- and perhaps a lot of these reviewers are just used to this world and series by now. This was the first I read (on the suggestion of a website who said to start in chronological order). I don't think I'll be continuing.
Nearly every character besides the main character (Lorn) is inseparable from others. I'm fine with boatloads of character names, but these were indistinguishable from others.
I couldn't get into the love story, which seemed to be predicated on the idea that Lorn will just murder anyone threatening his relationship, and how romantic is that. Weirdly, the consequences of being that way are never brought up.
Overall, both shallow and confusing.
Maybe the mistake I made was reading this first -- in reading the positive reviews, I can't even understand what they are talking about -- and perhaps a lot of these reviewers are just used to this world and series by now. This was the first I read (on the suggestion of a website who said to start in chronological order). I don't think I'll be continuing.
November 10, 2017
The narrator has to be the most boring narrator ever, I am almost thinking that it would be better to use this series as a sleeping pill and only listen to it at night, except for the fact that I would like to know what happens. Saying that this book coulda taken half of it out and it would have been a great book but far to much of it was so boring it was helping the narrator put me to sleep far to often for my peace of mind and work ethics. I like to listen to audiobooks while I work on patterns that need my concentration enough that I am unable to watch tv or read ebooks. I really hate when they make me dopey and want to go to bed instead of finish my project. The book series isn't half bad so far but it has far too much crap that wasn't needed.
February 7, 2024
The wonderful world of Recluce
After more years than I care to consider, I'm diving back into Modesitt's Recluce series. While I've read most before, I've decided to read them in chronological order this time. I'm always surprised that this series isn't mentioned often in articles about fantasy series. For me, his ability to create fully crafted worlds and societies for his characters is unsurpassed.
After more years than I care to consider, I'm diving back into Modesitt's Recluce series. While I've read most before, I've decided to read them in chronological order this time. I'm always surprised that this series isn't mentioned often in articles about fantasy series. For me, his ability to create fully crafted worlds and societies for his characters is unsurpassed.
October 17, 2020
This one was drudgery. Riding around, killing things, riding around. Too many descriptions of food and fashion, as usual.
I was a bit dismayed at the main character's ease at killing people who threatened him or his lady. No weighing options, no emotional turmoil, no remorse .
I was also a bit pissed after reading 545 pages to find this is just half the story. Not gonna go back to this for a good while, if ever.
I was a bit dismayed at the main character's ease at killing people who threatened him or his lady. No weighing options, no emotional turmoil, no remorse .
I was also a bit pissed after reading 545 pages to find this is just half the story. Not gonna go back to this for a good while, if ever.
February 10, 2019
Took me forever to get into this one. The characters lie flat the setting is unidentifiable which considering this is 10 books in is weird. Finally though I did get hooked and I am interested to see what happens next. I am gifting this one 3 stars because I did enjoy some of it and the next book continues the story.
December 11, 2023
Frightfully dull. The pacing is glacial and the plot is so drawn out it's almost threadbare. Most of it is just dull descriptions of Lorn going from place A to place B, training, patrolling, filling in reports, talking to his superiors, killing barbarians or Forest creatures, and occasionally brooding about the fact that everything in Cyador feels a bit shifty. You only start to get a feeling for what the main plot is around page 385, which is insane. We waste pages and chapters on stupid nonsense like Lorn and Rhyalt visiting some manufacturers or talking about merchant business, or Lorn and his men talking about the weather, and not enough on worldbuilding and fleshing out characters.
To make matters worse, the writer seems dead set against any sort of plot advancement. Every time Lorn comes anywhere close to figuring out what is ailing Cyador (such as where do the barbarians keep coming from? who is supplying them with weapons? why are the chaos towers failing?) his superiors decide to move him to a different outpost, and he has to start his detective work from scratch. It's immensely frustrating. And while we're at it, the whole premise for why Lorn keeps getting relocated is awfully unconvincing. He's not obedient enough to be one of the Magi'i, so he's sent to join what is basically the army and expected to forget about the fact that he can use chaos. But he has to use chaos because he's never given enough men to fulfill his duties. And his superiors keep dropping subtle hints that if he keeps using chaos they'll unalive him. And his dad, a very powerful Magi, is supposedly aware and totally cool with this because ???
The characters and their stories are nothing to get invested in either. Thanks to some "convenient" bit of worldbuilding, the Magi'i have this ability to discern truth from lies, spy on each other, and also tell if someone has been using chaos inappropriately. As a result, all the characters talk in a very cryptic way and hardly ever say anything to one another. I think the "best" bit of character portrayal is a needlessly protracted scene describing how many slices of bread each character takes, which is supposed to tell us everything we need to know about them.
Speaking of which, I'm not sure if we're even meant to like Lorn. He's cunning and duplicitous, and even though he's an efficient military leader who cares about his men, he's also the kind of person that literally runs around murdering anyone who gets in his way. Like... I dunno bro, I'm not exactly warming to you.
I should also add that I picked up this book at complete random in a pub, not knowing that despite the fact that it's #10 in publication order, it's actually #1 in reading order. And then I was severely annoyed to find out that there's a part two to this book that supposedly concludes this story installment. Unfortunately I very much doubt I'll pick up anything else by this Modesitt Jr geezer.
To make matters worse, the writer seems dead set against any sort of plot advancement. Every time Lorn comes anywhere close to figuring out what is ailing Cyador (such as where do the barbarians keep coming from? who is supplying them with weapons? why are the chaos towers failing?) his superiors decide to move him to a different outpost, and he has to start his detective work from scratch. It's immensely frustrating. And while we're at it, the whole premise for why Lorn keeps getting relocated is awfully unconvincing. He's not obedient enough to be one of the Magi'i, so he's sent to join what is basically the army and expected to forget about the fact that he can use chaos. But he has to use chaos because he's never given enough men to fulfill his duties. And his superiors keep dropping subtle hints that if he keeps using chaos they'll unalive him. And his dad, a very powerful Magi, is supposedly aware and totally cool with this because ???
The characters and their stories are nothing to get invested in either. Thanks to some "convenient" bit of worldbuilding, the Magi'i have this ability to discern truth from lies, spy on each other, and also tell if someone has been using chaos inappropriately. As a result, all the characters talk in a very cryptic way and hardly ever say anything to one another. I think the "best" bit of character portrayal is a needlessly protracted scene describing how many slices of bread each character takes, which is supposed to tell us everything we need to know about them.
Speaking of which, I'm not sure if we're even meant to like Lorn. He's cunning and duplicitous, and even though he's an efficient military leader who cares about his men, he's also the kind of person that literally runs around murdering anyone who gets in his way. Like... I dunno bro, I'm not exactly warming to you.
I should also add that I picked up this book at complete random in a pub, not knowing that despite the fact that it's #10 in publication order, it's actually #1 in reading order. And then I was severely annoyed to find out that there's a part two to this book that supposedly concludes this story installment. Unfortunately I very much doubt I'll pick up anything else by this Modesitt Jr geezer.
July 30, 2024
“Are Lorn’s hopes to lead a better Cyad worth more than Maran’s dreams of holding together an old Cyad, or worth more than the barbarians’ dreams of bringing it down? Does the best dream win? Or more powerful dreamer? Or are all dreams merely illusions that crumple in the end upon the Steps to Paradise with the deaths of their dreamer?”
In the end, I have decided to continue reading series in its chronological order, so my second book in the series after Magic of Recluce is actually 10th in publication order, so it’s no surprise to see vast improvement in writing.
So far, what I can say that I appreciate about Modesitt is that he doesn’t make his characters purposefully dumb so he could move the plot forward. He rarely makes them act out of their character, which will make his job in entertaining the reader slightly harder by simply having to go above and beyond in his storytelling. But will also save readers some nerves.
And I am definitely intrigued by his worldbuilding and magic system and the whole concept of “order vs chaos”.
There are still some flaws, however. It seems that Lorn is omnipotent. Or in worst case scenario, he gets away with everything he does. I’m not saying he doesn’t go through trials and tribulations – the whole story is about him being relocated from place to place because of his disobedience – however there are little to no actual consequences for him, no matter what he does.
In the end, I have decided to continue reading series in its chronological order, so my second book in the series after Magic of Recluce is actually 10th in publication order, so it’s no surprise to see vast improvement in writing.
So far, what I can say that I appreciate about Modesitt is that he doesn’t make his characters purposefully dumb so he could move the plot forward. He rarely makes them act out of their character, which will make his job in entertaining the reader slightly harder by simply having to go above and beyond in his storytelling. But will also save readers some nerves.
And I am definitely intrigued by his worldbuilding and magic system and the whole concept of “order vs chaos”.
There are still some flaws, however. It seems that Lorn is omnipotent. Or in worst case scenario, he gets away with everything he does. I’m not saying he doesn’t go through trials and tribulations – the whole story is about him being relocated from place to place because of his disobedience – however there are little to no actual consequences for him, no matter what he does.
April 17, 2024
L. E. Modesitt, Jr., continues to delve into the backstory of the world of Recluce, this time the White kingdom of Cyador, which was founded by people who came from another star system. But the advanced power sources that support the comparatively modern society are slowly failing, and the adjustment is difficult. Barbarians -- who have been the protagonists of other books in the series -- threaten the northern border, and the Accursed Forest, a powerful entity of unknown origin and strength, threatens the east.
Lorn, born with strong magical powers that he must, for various reasons, disguise, winds up fighting both the barbarians and the Accursed Forest, while dodging attacks from the powers-that-be in Cyador.
Like other books in this series, it is clearly just the first of two or three total, and so stops more than ends. It also moves a little more slowly than previous books, but Modesitt is a good writer, and the pages turn at a satisfactory rate.
I'm beginning to wonder, though, if the series will a) ever move beyond where the first book started; and b) if it will, like "The Magi'i of Cyador" just stop more than conclude.
Lorn, born with strong magical powers that he must, for various reasons, disguise, winds up fighting both the barbarians and the Accursed Forest, while dodging attacks from the powers-that-be in Cyador.
Like other books in this series, it is clearly just the first of two or three total, and so stops more than ends. It also moves a little more slowly than previous books, but Modesitt is a good writer, and the pages turn at a satisfactory rate.
I'm beginning to wonder, though, if the series will a) ever move beyond where the first book started; and b) if it will, like "The Magi'i of Cyador" just stop more than conclude.
December 2, 2023
I am reading through these for a second time and, after the first two books I am switching over to the chronological order. By that method, this is the first book in the series.
200 years previous to this book, a group of settlers from the "rational stars" have colonized the world of Recluse. Now, the technology and infrastructure they set up is beginning to fail and some great changes need to happen or their society will collapse. Enter Lorn. He is born a magi, but since he doesn't unthinkingly follow the party line, he ends up part of the military and in love with a woman from the merchant class. Even in the military, his creative thinking and innovative tactics often rub the top brass the wrong way. Can he survive as his rise in the ranks draws the attention of ever more dangerous enemies?
200 years previous to this book, a group of settlers from the "rational stars" have colonized the world of Recluse. Now, the technology and infrastructure they set up is beginning to fail and some great changes need to happen or their society will collapse. Enter Lorn. He is born a magi, but since he doesn't unthinkingly follow the party line, he ends up part of the military and in love with a woman from the merchant class. Even in the military, his creative thinking and innovative tactics often rub the top brass the wrong way. Can he survive as his rise in the ranks draws the attention of ever more dangerous enemies?
July 15, 2019
Lorn is a student magus who is not as committed to chaos as is deemed necessary to continue in that field. For that lack of commitment, he becomes a Mirror Lancer officer who ends up facing the barbarians of the grasslands and with a promotion to captain, he is sent to patrol the wall that keeps the Accursed Forest from reclaiming its former territory. Lorn manages to tick off important people, but with effort, skill, luck, and good choices he manages to survive. Now all he need to do is keep his consort happy while finding out what awaits him in the next book.
April 11, 2022
I find his books to often be slow-moving. But I like that when I'm in the mood, which is not always.
This book speaks briefly of Alyiakal who has his own short story in "Recluse Tales". It's the third story: "The Forest Girl".
A short introduction to Alyiakal (“The One Never Mentioned”) can be found in Chapter XIII of “Magi’i of Cyador.” There is some background about his accomplishments and why the Magi’i, the Lancers, and even the Merchanters disliked him, despite his success in leading Cyador.
This book speaks briefly of Alyiakal who has his own short story in "Recluse Tales". It's the third story: "The Forest Girl".
A short introduction to Alyiakal (“The One Never Mentioned”) can be found in Chapter XIII of “Magi’i of Cyador.” There is some background about his accomplishments and why the Magi’i, the Lancers, and even the Merchanters disliked him, despite his success in leading Cyador.
December 25, 2023
This is the first book in chronological order, 18 centuries before The Magic of Recluse. It features a different perspective. Set in Cyador, the realm of chaos, they see order as the enemy.
Lorn, the eldest son of the 4th Magi has much potential, but not the devotion to serve the Magi'i. He is sent to serve as a Chaos lancer on the border, risking his life with every mission.
The Emperor seems a good man, but for some reason the 2nd Magi has it out for Lorn, his reasoning is unclear.
Lorn, the eldest son of the 4th Magi has much potential, but not the devotion to serve the Magi'i. He is sent to serve as a Chaos lancer on the border, risking his life with every mission.
The Emperor seems a good man, but for some reason the 2nd Magi has it out for Lorn, his reasoning is unclear.
May 14, 2022
I have been enjoying this series, reading them in published order, not chronological. I enjoyed this one being set in the very early years, examining the world before the Angels arrived.
However, this novel to me didn't really have a climax to the story. Was it when Lorn and Ryalth get married? (I'm sorry, become consorts.) Was it the end of his time at the edge of the Accursed Forest? There didn't seem to be a climax to this one.
I still enjoyed it and am on, of course, to the next book in the series, but this was a little disappointing.
Also, since this is supposedly Year 1 of the Saga of Recluse, you'd think there'd be some major event marking the time. I didn't see it myself. Maybe it will become apparent later on, but it was part of the letdown of this book.
However, this novel to me didn't really have a climax to the story. Was it when Lorn and Ryalth get married? (I'm sorry, become consorts.) Was it the end of his time at the edge of the Accursed Forest? There didn't seem to be a climax to this one.
I still enjoyed it and am on, of course, to the next book in the series, but this was a little disappointing.
Also, since this is supposedly Year 1 of the Saga of Recluse, you'd think there'd be some major event marking the time. I didn't see it myself. Maybe it will become apparent later on, but it was part of the letdown of this book.
June 3, 2022
This is the first exploration of the magic wielders on Candar before the Angels fell from Heaven. After only glimpses of the aging Cyadoran culture in previous novels, this novel follows Lorn as he navigates Cyad's cultures and relationships. Once again from the perspective of a white (chaos wielder), more is learned through how the white characters interact and resolve conflict amongst one another. The book is great and the writing excellent, and I look forward to reading it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2024
The Saga of Recluce is a highly under rated fantasy series and this is a very good addition to the series.
I really enjoyed reading about the early days of chaos and its chaos driven society. Lorn is an interesting character in shades of gray rather than pure white. Modesitt has woven a rich story about a highly talented young man who adapts to the many different situations he finds himself thrust into.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys epic fantasy novels!
I really enjoyed reading about the early days of chaos and its chaos driven society. Lorn is an interesting character in shades of gray rather than pure white. Modesitt has woven a rich story about a highly talented young man who adapts to the many different situations he finds himself thrust into.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys epic fantasy novels!
November 6, 2024
A start to a duology early in the timeline. While waiting for an ILL, From the Forest came out. While set even earlier, the two are too similar. While the basic pattern is similar throughout the saga, this one has two young men with magical talents send to be Lancers "because" and who then b eat the odds against enemies and the supposedly evil Forest. A good tale, even with the repetitiveness, and wine taking the place of his usual talk of ale from Recluse and Grand Illusion.
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