Enchanter: Book Two of the Axis Trilogy
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Amazon.co.uk Review
There is always a worrying extent to which first fantasy novels, and especially first fantasy trilogies, are liable to consist of the same old ideas more or less meaningfully arranged. Sarah Douglass, in her first novel Battleaxe and this sequel, has not entirely escaped these charges, yet manages largely to evade them by a colourful pictorial imagination and moral underpinning that makes much of what she deals with new and fresh. Caught up in prophesies, Axis struggles politically with his human half-brother, King Borneheld, and magically with his other half-brother, the ambitious chimera Gorgrael, whose legions of monsters squirm South through the snow. He has not only to do the right thing, but do it in the right way, or, says prophecy, all will crumble in his grasp. Torn between his love for two magically gifted women, and between the urge to do what is right and the need to comply with destiny, Axis is an interesting flawed hero, whose dilemmas matter both as those of a convincing character and as those implicit in the sort of book this is. Douglass shows real promise, and even these first books deliver the goods. --Roz Kaveney
Review
Praise for previous books in The Axis Trilogy:
‘The twists, revelations and foreshadowings keep you turning pages’
SFX
‘Absorbing. Those who like their battles bloody and realistic will get their desire, but here also are moments of great tenderness’
Starburst
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Following on from "Battleaxe" this is the second in the Axis trilogy. Characterisation is excellent, and the way in which Douglass weaves the complex plots and characters makes compelling reading. If I was to be critical I'd point out a few instances where she makes the obvious seem complex, and reveals answers to puzzles in a way that makes it look like we were never expected to work it out for ourselves. Anyone who missed the obvious allusion to the fact that Azhure's parentage was not all it seemed, when she stepped on the bridge at Sigholt would not have been reading properly. I fugured out who her father was at least 10 chapters before the end, (and I know who he walks the earth as too!).
A bit more characterisation of the Sentinels would not go amiss, and Douglass falls into the classic trilogy trap of rushing the end as she realises the book is getting too long.
That said this is a fantastic book, in a fantastic series. Think Tolkein, Feist, McCaffrey, Eddings - the Tolkein fans will call me insane, but I think she is up there with them all.
Format:Paperback
I bought the book because I acquired parts one and two of the second trilogy at a book fair in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Having noticed that I lacked the earlier story I decided to get those as well. Now that I have read the first two books of the Axis trilogy I can't wait for the rest.The tale is quite fetching in its development and as an adventure and quest story it fulfills all its promises. It certainly is as enchanting as the title hints at.
Format:Paperback
This is book two of the Axis Trilogy, and follows the same path as many middle novels in trilogies - lots of events but mainly getting all the main players into the right places for the big wrap up in book three. In this novel Axis is trying to bring the Prophecy to fruition - seeking to unite the Acharites with the Avar and the Icarii against opposition from his half-brother Borneheld and, ultimately, Gorgrael. We learn more about the mysterious ninth Talon and finally discover Azhure's heritage.
I've awarded this book three stars because, despite its many faults, I felt compelled to constantly read just one more chapter. Douglass whips through events at a mind-boggling pace and delivers said events with a smooth narrative.
However, I don't quite know why I wanted to keep reading! The book is cliche-ridden, from the fact that there is a Prophecy guiding the steps of the main protagonists to the Ravensbundmen, a nomadic horse tribe with bells chiming in their hair and tattoos covering their faces.
In addition to this, I also found it hard to like any of the characters: Axis is cruel in the manner with which he treats Faraday and I find him a little too smug and arrogant; Faraday is a complete martyr - her doormat tendencies at the end of the book make me incredibly frustrated. And Azhure! Where do we start with her? She is just so AMAZING (to the other characters, not to me) all the time - everyone loves her or lusts after her; she is a village girl who ends up being given squads to train and has remarkable leadership qualities; she looks after the supply needs for a garrison of 3000 men. All this on top of being remarkably beautiful and perceptive. And intelligent. And compassionate. You get the picture. I ended up reading with complete disbelief all the myriad capabilities of this woman and it quickly became very tired.
On the plus side Douglass does well with her character development - even the secondary characters are fleshed out and given strong visual descriptions at the very least, while some of them are almost as memorable as the main characters. The only area where she fails in this is the SunSoar family and their attendants (and how I still hate the cutesy manner in which Douglass names the Icarii with all those random capital letters!) I find most of the Icarii completely interchangeable - only StarDrifter stands out properly from the rest (but this is possibly due to revulsion, after he vowed he would woo his grand-daughter - that is just too disturbing).
My final negative point concerns the fact hat everything seems to come too easily to these characters - they have a lot of moments where they make bizarre leaps of logic to serve the plot. There are a progression of events that lead me to exclaim in disgust: Axis needs everyone to hear the Prophecy, so it is made magically memorable; Axis needs food at Sigholt for his new army, so the lake miraculously makes vegetables grow quicker. The Icarii are accepted by the Acharites, despite eons of hate and enmity. Both the Icarii and Acharites just accept Axis' leadership once Borneheld is out of the way. It leads me to the point where I feel little tension or fear for the characters.
To summarise: this book left me thinking 'beige'. I read it quickly enough, but there was enough to feel exasperated by that I don't rate this trilogy as a must-read for anyone.
I've awarded this book three stars because, despite its many faults, I felt compelled to constantly read just one more chapter. Douglass whips through events at a mind-boggling pace and delivers said events with a smooth narrative.
However, I don't quite know why I wanted to keep reading! The book is cliche-ridden, from the fact that there is a Prophecy guiding the steps of the main protagonists to the Ravensbundmen, a nomadic horse tribe with bells chiming in their hair and tattoos covering their faces.
In addition to this, I also found it hard to like any of the characters: Axis is cruel in the manner with which he treats Faraday and I find him a little too smug and arrogant; Faraday is a complete martyr - her doormat tendencies at the end of the book make me incredibly frustrated. And Azhure! Where do we start with her? She is just so AMAZING (to the other characters, not to me) all the time - everyone loves her or lusts after her; she is a village girl who ends up being given squads to train and has remarkable leadership qualities; she looks after the supply needs for a garrison of 3000 men. All this on top of being remarkably beautiful and perceptive. And intelligent. And compassionate. You get the picture. I ended up reading with complete disbelief all the myriad capabilities of this woman and it quickly became very tired.
On the plus side Douglass does well with her character development - even the secondary characters are fleshed out and given strong visual descriptions at the very least, while some of them are almost as memorable as the main characters. The only area where she fails in this is the SunSoar family and their attendants (and how I still hate the cutesy manner in which Douglass names the Icarii with all those random capital letters!) I find most of the Icarii completely interchangeable - only StarDrifter stands out properly from the rest (but this is possibly due to revulsion, after he vowed he would woo his grand-daughter - that is just too disturbing).
My final negative point concerns the fact hat everything seems to come too easily to these characters - they have a lot of moments where they make bizarre leaps of logic to serve the plot. There are a progression of events that lead me to exclaim in disgust: Axis needs everyone to hear the Prophecy, so it is made magically memorable; Axis needs food at Sigholt for his new army, so the lake miraculously makes vegetables grow quicker. The Icarii are accepted by the Acharites, despite eons of hate and enmity. Both the Icarii and Acharites just accept Axis' leadership once Borneheld is out of the way. It leads me to the point where I feel little tension or fear for the characters.
To summarise: this book left me thinking 'beige'. I read it quickly enough, but there was enough to feel exasperated by that I don't rate this trilogy as a must-read for anyone.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very enjoyable.
Enchanter is the second book of the Axis Trilogy (beginning with BattleAxe _The Wayfarer Redemption in the US_ and ending with StarMan). Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2002 by Stephanie Noverraz
Excellent and spellbinding adventure
This sequel is as spellbinding as BattleAxe. It continues the opening of the hidden mysteries of the past and brings the internal battle of Tencendor to it's hights. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2001 by "kimbudolph"
Builds Upon the Strength of the First Novel
With "Enchanter" Sara Douglass improves upon her first effort, continuing the saga of the Starman and the two women that are to play such a pivotal role in his life, both... Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2000
Better than the first, but not much
Sara Douglass, to give her credit, does not hold back on the emotion. I wish she would hold back a little more, actually. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2000
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