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Celia Freidman
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Publisher | Orbit | ||
ISBN | 978-184149541 | ||
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Synopsis
Over a millennium ago, Erna, a seismically active yet beautiful world was settled by colonists from far-distant Earth. But the seemingly habitable planet was fraught with perils no one could have foretold, and the colonists found themselves caught in a desperate battle for survival against the fae, a terrifying natural force with the power to prey upon the human mind itself, drawing forth images from a person's worst nightmare or most treasured dreams and indiscriminately giving them life. Twelve centuries after fate first stranded the colonists on Erna, mankind has achieved an uneasy stalemate, and human sorcerers manipulate the fae for their own profit, little realising that demonic forces which feed upon such efforts are rapidly gaining in strength. Now, as the hordes of the dark fae multiply, four people - Priest, Adept, Apprentice and Sorcerer - are about to be drawn inexorably together for a mission which will force them to confront an evil beyond their imagining, in a conflict which will put not only their own lives but the very fate of humankind in jeopardy ...
Review
Initially when I first saw this book, I was put off by the fact that it was a trilogy, it seemed rather heavy and voluminous, despite that it had essentially ticked all the right boxes. I needn't have worried. Celia Friedman is a master at weaving great plot lines, building nicely rounded out characters and creating a well padded out backdrop, with only sometimes being stuck in the details. She paces the story well, taking her time in places to build upon angst and tensions, then rushing you into the thick of action and adventure.
It's also refreshing to read an original take on the Sci Fi/Fantasy genre. How evolutionarily she has regressed her world from technologically advanced people, to an almost Renaissance era whilst maintaining certain highly scientific, astronomic and medical knowledge. Then add to this the elements of power, magic, Faeries, good and evil, and you have yourself a nice epic saga!!
Hopefully volume 2, When true night Falls, won't disappoint!
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