The Charmed Sphere (Luna) [Paperback]

Catherine Asaro strays from her sci-fi background in "The Charmed Sphere," a fluffy but pleasant fantasy. While "Sphere" has a steady plot and a fair amount of charm, Asaro's built world is a bit bland and simple. But fans of romantic fantasy will enjoy the quirky lead characters.

Chime is an ordinary girl in a village -- except she has a magical ability that she keeps hidden. But the king's mage shows up one day and whisks her away, saying that she is powerful enough to be not only a mage, but the future queen. The king's rather foppish nephew Lord Muller is as displeased by this as Chime is, but they gradually warm up to one another.

Then Chime's rival Iris has a sudden burst in magical ability, reaching out to the king's long-lost son Jarid, who is even more powerful. As Iris marries and heals the tortured Jarid, both Muller and Chime find themselves displaced from the roles they thought they would have. But they don't have much time to feel sorry for themselves, since a neighboring kingdom is threatening them, and even Jarid is a possible threat to those around them...

Catherine Asaro doesn't seem entirely comfortable writing fantasy -- "Charmed Sphere" is a pleasant fantasy that seems geared at adults and teens (preferably ones who like a little romantic sparring). Just about everything in it is relatively fluffy and good, but not great.

The setting is pretty standard ye-old-medieval-European-kingdom, without much to really make it stand out. Her ideas about magic -- which are wrapped up in geometry and color -- are surprisingly unique. And her writing is good. Not outstanding, but good and descriptive, and keeping a good pace going. But Asaro really shines in some of the darker scenes, like descriptions of Jarid's inner thoughts.

Chime is a good heroine, a tomboyish country girl who wanted to stay where she was. And the magic-impaired Muller, who is initially more interested in clothes than being king, makes a good foil to Chime. But the supporting characters like Iris, and aging mage Della, tend to be 2-D and not terribly compelling. The exception is Jarid, who is tormented by his inner demons.

"Charmed Sphere" is less than charmed, but it is an amusing middleweight story. Catherine Asaro needs to darken her fantasy a little to make it really, really good.

Both Muller and Chime have responsibilities that they don't want to have, but they have to face their destiny. Muller being the heir and future King and Chime a powerful shape-mage. But their roles change, Muller is no longer the heir and Chime is no longer the most powerful, although neither one wanted what they thought to be their destiny, they wonder what will become of them when it changes. They are asked to help the new King and Queen of Aronsdale against the dark powers and armies of the neighboring Harsdown. Who are invading in time of uncertainty...

A beautifully written novel. A story of percerverence and love, set in a magical world. The Charmed Sphere was my first by the author I will be looking for her other titles, as well.

I very much enjoyed this fantasy tale, of two sets of young lovers forced together by custom and the needs of their country. This is a well created world of Aronsdale, actually a small kingdom set within a wider world of which we are only given small glimpses. Charm Headwind was plucked from a happy life because of her magical mage abilities. Muller Dawnfield was forced into his role as heir to his uncle King Doran after the death of his son and grandson. Accordingly they are meant to wed for the sake of Aronsdale. However, a new possible female mage is found in the person of Iris and then the plot thickens and deepens with the discovery by her of Jarid the true heir to the throne. The kingdom is then threatened by the more powerful neighbouring kingdom of Harsdown and an evil dark mage.
The love stories are well to the fore and are presented with a sensitive touch. All four lovers are sympathetic and each has a different set of personal demons to grapple with and overcome.
The story kept me reading, it had suspense and well drawn secondary characters in support. I will look forward to another tale set in this world - there are several vague loose ends that appear set to be picked up to that end.
However, there were frequent jarring phrasings and words that ought to have been ironed out by the editorial process. The villain was also set up in an interesting way, but at the end the entire premise collapsed most unconvincingly. Indeed the final scenes regarding the fate of Harsdown were irritating, especially after so much that was good.