Fantasy/SF Book Reviews
The Eyes of God by John Marco
Daw, January, 2002Hardcover, 688 pages
ISBN: 0756400473
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
The youthful King Akeela is determined to wage
peace as fiercely as his late father waged war.
In order to finally end a long war, he travels to Reec,
the city of his age-old enemies, to form an
alliance. He is accompanied by the Bronze Knight,
his childhood friend Lukien, who was raised with
Akeela after Lukien rescued the young Akeela from street toughs.
Lifelong friends, the two men are inseparable.
Akeela agrees to marry Cassandra,
the beautiful daughter of King Karis,
and they return to Liiria, against the advice of Lukien,
who senses that the marriage may not be a good idea.
But the marriage goes forward, and tragedy ensues. Despite
their best intentions, Lukien and Cassandra fall in love. When
Cassandra falls deathly ill, Akeela sends Lukien and two
companions on a desperate journey to the faraway desert land of
Jador to find The Eyes of God, two
mystical amulets which can reportedly cure any ill and bestow
immortality. But the extraordinary quest is just the beginning
of this compelling fantasy tale, which is full of adventure,
political intrigue, battles, magic, mystery and forbidden love.
John Marco, critically acclaimed author of the Tyrants and Kings trilogy (The Jackal of Nar, The Grand Design and The Saints of the Sword) returns with another breathtaking epic fantasy which is sure to cement his reputation as one of the hottest new fantasy authors around. Always inventive, Marco takes the standard quest device and takes it a step further by asking the unusual question: what happens after the quest is completed? In this case, quite a bit. The characters change and evolve in complex ways over the course of the book. From the quiet Akeela who harbors an obsession with his wife, to the beautiful Cassandra who pays a terrible price for her eternal beauty, to the quiet bravery of the long-suffering Lukien, all the characters are vividly portrayed. John Marco is a major fantasy talent who is sure to garner more fans with his newest series. Highly recommended.
--Claire E. White
Enchanter by Sara Douglass
Tor, October, 2001Hardcover, 511 pages
ISBN: 0312875827
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
This is the second book in the six-part Wayfarer Redemption
series by bestselling Australian author Sara Douglass,
which is now being released in the United States. In
Enchanter, Axis Sunsoar has discovered his true
heritage -- that he is a powerful enchanter of the
birdlike Icarii. His life is linked with a mysterious
prophecy; Axis is destined to play a large role in
the fate of the world, which is on the verge of destruction.
Axis must battle his two half-brothers and his love for
two very different women: the lovely Faraday, who is
the abused wife of his half brother Borneheld, and the
mysterious Azhure. Icarii family ties are complex and
full of intrigue -- there is betrayal, conspiracy,
jealousy aplenty in this family. And Axis has great
challenges ahead of him if he is to fulfill the prophecy and
save the world he loves.
Sara Douglass is new to American fantasy fans, but she has quite a following in Australia. Her world building abilities are excellent, and her high fantasy epic will also have plenty of appeal to romance lovers. There is magic, adventure and passion here, as well as a skillfully told story and vivid characters. Lovers of epic fantasy have quite a treat for them with the release of Sara Douglass' works in the United States.
Return to the February 2002 issue of The IWJ.
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