If this is a return visit, please reload to see latest additions. Here before you is the latest in a long line of reviews we’ve logged here at Raven Queen’s Domain. This, the very first offering from a now-beloved fantasy author. Read on. by Janny Wurts Stormwarden concerns three children, an evil sorceress, an ill-fated, once loved sorcerer, and an age-old grudge. Siblings Taen and Emien watch as their beloved Stormwarden, Anskiere, is dragged from his home by an angry mob, accused of facilitating the destruction of another seaside town. Taen can’t believe it, and follows along, in secret, to find out what is to become of her friend; her brother Emien does believe Anskiere could have destroyed this town, and follows, just to make sure justice is done. Both stowaway on the ship that is to bring the Stormwarden to his doom, and found out, Taen scrambles away, aided by the Stormwarden, while her brother falls completely under the evil sorceress, Tathagres’ spell. Tathagres wants only one thing: The Keys to the tower of Elrinfaer, and she will have them, whether Anskiere wants to give them to her, or not. Meanwhile, Anskiere has his own designs, and path to freedom from the evil Tathagres’, but escape means imprisonment in a cavern of ice, and the call put out to old masters, an unexpected path for Taen, and a summons to Kerainson Jaric, the heir of his once-enemy, a lonely, somewhat lame young man, in the far away kingdom of Morbrith keep. And under all these clouds, two countries are about to come to blows. What will Taen learn on her journey? What will Jaric? What will become of the hardened Emien at Tathagres’ hands? Will Taen and Jaric succeed? Will Anskiere remain forever imprisoned? Will Tathagres’ succeed at her evil plan? You will have to read to find out. This is the first book by Ms. Wurts, and one whose language and feel I enjoyed very much. It has an elegance that seems to me to be lacking in a lot of contemporary fantasy and for that, I savored the book. There were also many delightful little surprises here and there, specifically, Taen’s tutors—but I don’t want to give away the reason why (you’ll just have to read it to see). On the other hand, I felt it was a little . . . rushed, perhaps? But all in all, it was a good read, by an author beloved in the field. If you looking for a good, rousing adventure, do give Stormwarden a try. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised. ~Webmistress also reviewed (a little different) at our Examiner page back to the Review archive |