Post by Brighitta on Sept 7, 2006 4:24:22 GMT -5
A brilliant trilogy that went right at the top of my three favourite books.
MAGICIAN'S GUILD - Sonea, a slum girl, discovers that she posesses the ability to work magic. But what will the all-power Guild do when they find her - for no-one but the high-class House people are allowed to become magicians? Aided by her friend Cery, and the the Thieves, she goes on the run, wihtout knowing that her powers will eventually kill her if she does not learn how to control them.
Once she is caught, however, she discovers that the Guild never intended to kill her. The kindly Lord Rothen teachers her Control - but she now faces a choice - join the Guild, or have her powers blocked and return to the slums. And when she sees a mysterious magician in black robes holding a bloodied knife... 7/10
THE NOVICE - Sonea is now a student at the University, but finds it impossible to fit in. Juggling lessons, bullying and the terrible secret of the High Lord Akkarin. She cannot reveal to the Guild that he is practicing the fordibben black magic, for he is many times stronger that the Guild magicians. So her and Rothen are forced to keep this terrible secret. Then Akkarin discovers they know, and takes Sonea under his guardianship. Things only complicate when Rothen's son Dorrien falls in love with her...
Meanwhile, Dannyl, Rothen's ex-student, is sent to Elyne as an embassador, where he meets a young scholar and begins to have feelings for him. But how will the conservative Guild react if it finds out? 10/10
HIGH LORD - Akkarin tells Sonea what lead him to black magic, and she begins to doubt it is all that evil. Cery, now a Theif, begins to investigate a mysterious chain of murders. Akkarin tells Sonea that rogue Sacahkan magicians are aware that the Guild has banned black magic and are planning to attack and overtake the Guild.
Then the Guild finds out that Akkarin is a black magician and he is exciled. Sonea, impulsively, goes with to Sachaka with him, hopinh to protect him from their enemies. There, she begins to have feelings for him, and the two fall deeply in love.
The Guild is invaded by the Sachakan magicians and only Akkarin and Sonea, both blakc magicians, can save the doomed Guild. Against the law, they return, so as to be near when they are called out to. Aided by the Guild, Theives and slum dwellers, they fight against the Sachakans. 10/10
The first book is just a long introduction. There was too little action for my liking, and it served just as the prelude. The second and third, were, however, spectacular, with a wonderful blend of interesting characters, highly original plot and complex relationships. 'The Novice' and 'High Lord' are a breath taking ride, each chapter more itneresting than the previous. The story shifts from one character to the next, not something I often like, but the trasnition was so smooth and natural that I did not mind.
All in all, an enthralling read that will leave you short of breath and feeling as if you had, if for a little, entered that world of intrigue, magic and adventure...
MAGICIAN'S GUILD - Sonea, a slum girl, discovers that she posesses the ability to work magic. But what will the all-power Guild do when they find her - for no-one but the high-class House people are allowed to become magicians? Aided by her friend Cery, and the the Thieves, she goes on the run, wihtout knowing that her powers will eventually kill her if she does not learn how to control them.
Once she is caught, however, she discovers that the Guild never intended to kill her. The kindly Lord Rothen teachers her Control - but she now faces a choice - join the Guild, or have her powers blocked and return to the slums. And when she sees a mysterious magician in black robes holding a bloodied knife... 7/10
THE NOVICE - Sonea is now a student at the University, but finds it impossible to fit in. Juggling lessons, bullying and the terrible secret of the High Lord Akkarin. She cannot reveal to the Guild that he is practicing the fordibben black magic, for he is many times stronger that the Guild magicians. So her and Rothen are forced to keep this terrible secret. Then Akkarin discovers they know, and takes Sonea under his guardianship. Things only complicate when Rothen's son Dorrien falls in love with her...
Meanwhile, Dannyl, Rothen's ex-student, is sent to Elyne as an embassador, where he meets a young scholar and begins to have feelings for him. But how will the conservative Guild react if it finds out? 10/10
HIGH LORD - Akkarin tells Sonea what lead him to black magic, and she begins to doubt it is all that evil. Cery, now a Theif, begins to investigate a mysterious chain of murders. Akkarin tells Sonea that rogue Sacahkan magicians are aware that the Guild has banned black magic and are planning to attack and overtake the Guild.
Then the Guild finds out that Akkarin is a black magician and he is exciled. Sonea, impulsively, goes with to Sachaka with him, hopinh to protect him from their enemies. There, she begins to have feelings for him, and the two fall deeply in love.
The Guild is invaded by the Sachakan magicians and only Akkarin and Sonea, both blakc magicians, can save the doomed Guild. Against the law, they return, so as to be near when they are called out to. Aided by the Guild, Theives and slum dwellers, they fight against the Sachakans. 10/10
The first book is just a long introduction. There was too little action for my liking, and it served just as the prelude. The second and third, were, however, spectacular, with a wonderful blend of interesting characters, highly original plot and complex relationships. 'The Novice' and 'High Lord' are a breath taking ride, each chapter more itneresting than the previous. The story shifts from one character to the next, not something I often like, but the trasnition was so smooth and natural that I did not mind.
All in all, an enthralling read that will leave you short of breath and feeling as if you had, if for a little, entered that world of intrigue, magic and adventure...
