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In Serein #1
Sorcerer and Apprentice
In Serein is a hypnotic and spellbinding adult novel trilogy which takes the reader deep into the heart of power, control, magic, love and logic.
The entire trilogy can be read online for free.
At the centre of the story lies the dark romance between a 14 year old virgin, Isca, and the ancient immortal Lord of Darkness, Lucian Tremain. As each begins to discover their unique weapons of powerful magic which arises not from the use of artefacts, but from within the wellsprings of their own beings, their actions threaten the dominion of the ruling secret order of priest-magicians who set out to destroy them both.
Merged against their will to a single timeless fate, Isca and Lord Lucian have to fight the Serein, the demons of their own past and of each others for their lives, for their sanity, their soul and their redemption.
Victim and torturer, master and slave, saviour and destroyer, sourcerer and apprentice - each must become all or far more than just their own lives will be lost forever.
The entire trilogy can be read online for free.
At the centre of the story lies the dark romance between a 14 year old virgin, Isca, and the ancient immortal Lord of Darkness, Lucian Tremain. As each begins to discover their unique weapons of powerful magic which arises not from the use of artefacts, but from within the wellsprings of their own beings, their actions threaten the dominion of the ruling secret order of priest-magicians who set out to destroy them both.
Merged against their will to a single timeless fate, Isca and Lord Lucian have to fight the Serein, the demons of their own past and of each others for their lives, for their sanity, their soul and their redemption.
Victim and torturer, master and slave, saviour and destroyer, sourcerer and apprentice - each must become all or far more than just their own lives will be lost forever.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
3 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
StarFields
9 books4 followersStarFields is the pen name of Silvia Hartmann used mostly for her fiction works. Also known as Nick Starfields or SFX in short.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 19, 2009
I read all 3 books online during a really shitty job. This book was deep dark and amazing. A great insight into mental capacity and the struggle with love versus evil. Utterly well written. This is NOT for everyone and in fact sometimes it was a down right struggle to watch the love and hate between the characters. I don't know if I could ever re-read these books because it just pulled at my heart so much. This is a deep look into a madness that can only come of living so long. It's a unique look at a world that once had magic. It's tough to stick with, but worth it for the insight.
December 2, 2012
I first read this novel – the first part of the ‘In Serein’ trilogy – in online form some time back. I rather expected to be let down in rereading.
Instead, I found myself liking it more than on the first read. I must say right off that, despite being a pretty sizable novel to work through (and there are two more like it to finish the trilogy) it is not a difficult read. Although the prose occasionally comes across as a bit hasty and unpolished, it is an honest, forceful, no-nonsense voice, that keeps the story on track.
This is a fantasy novel, essentially, yet most of the fantasy elements could probably be explained in science fiction terms (psychokinesis, etc.). At times, it seems reminiscent of the work of Michael Moorcock (not at all a bad writer of whom to be reminded). Which is not to say it is in any way derivative — ‘Sorcerer and Apprentice’ stands quite well on its own as a unique world and narrative.
Note that there is a certain amount of sex and even more of graphic violence. It is a part of the characters and of the world in which they move (I suppose if one were a ‘Game of Thrones’ fan, one would feel right at home). Although the protagonist, Isca, is a teenage girl, I would not recommend the book to younger readers. It is not a YA novel!
I would recommend it to anyone else, however, who is interested in a good fantasy read with more than a bit of character insight and psychological exploration. That is what lifts it above the average offering in the genre.
Instead, I found myself liking it more than on the first read. I must say right off that, despite being a pretty sizable novel to work through (and there are two more like it to finish the trilogy) it is not a difficult read. Although the prose occasionally comes across as a bit hasty and unpolished, it is an honest, forceful, no-nonsense voice, that keeps the story on track.
This is a fantasy novel, essentially, yet most of the fantasy elements could probably be explained in science fiction terms (psychokinesis, etc.). At times, it seems reminiscent of the work of Michael Moorcock (not at all a bad writer of whom to be reminded). Which is not to say it is in any way derivative — ‘Sorcerer and Apprentice’ stands quite well on its own as a unique world and narrative.
Note that there is a certain amount of sex and even more of graphic violence. It is a part of the characters and of the world in which they move (I suppose if one were a ‘Game of Thrones’ fan, one would feel right at home). Although the protagonist, Isca, is a teenage girl, I would not recommend the book to younger readers. It is not a YA novel!
I would recommend it to anyone else, however, who is interested in a good fantasy read with more than a bit of character insight and psychological exploration. That is what lifts it above the average offering in the genre.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews