- Paperback: 343 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz; New Ed edition (1 Jun 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1857989279
- ISBN-13: 978-1857989274
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 881,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The lords of Caladore were once in contact with powerful elemental forces--the dragons of the sea; conquered by fire worshippers, they are forced to renounce those powers forever. Yet their women keep the faith in secret for two centuries... Thus far, Storm Constantine's first excursion into heroic fantasy is a standard combination of the religious and the military, portraying a world in which power is all, but its location never obvious. What pulls it out of the rut is the clarity with which she sees her characters--the neurotic incestuous Pharinet, and her brother Val, emotionally scarred by a ritual gone wrong. Above all, she makes us feel for Val's second wife Varencienne, a princess imposed on him by the emperor he serves, and in spite of being a foreigner and an enemy, the most loyal servant Calador's dragons will ever have. This is a heartless world--friendship counts, but love is a gambit; Storm Constantine's usual taste for the mystically perverse is on display here, coupled with an unusually strong sense of the ambiguities of most characters. Varencienne's brother Bayard is a destructive nuisance in the lives of her new friends, but is also the person closest to her. This is a satisfying start to an attractive series. --Roz Kaveney
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Where the wild mountains of Caradore, in the northernmost part of Magravandias, reach the ocean, there the sea dragons make their mournful lament . . . The emperor, seeking the powers and ancient wisdom granted to the Palindrakes by the sea dragons, forces them to submit to a rite that surrenders their heritage to the fire god Madragore. Though the emperor has succeeded in subjugating the family, a secret female sect keeps alive the memory of the old magic until the time comes for a new Sea Dragon Heir to reclaim the powers of his ancestors. Now, three generations on, the twins Pharinet and Valraven Palindrake are about to discover their mystical heritage. The first book in a marvellously evocative trilogy.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Magravandias series (starting with this book) is probably the easiest Storm book to get your hands on. Out of all her books, this series is closest to what I always thought regular "fantasy" books would be like -- has a Medieval type setting, castles, dragons, heroes on a "quest" for artifacts, noble ideals, forces of darkness to be overcome, etc. That said, I think Storm turns a lot of the cliches on their heads and makes it all quite twisted :) The books have a big undercurrent of sexuality, notably a strong same sex attachment while at the same time tying in with things like Medieval sagas and German myths. Best of all, the books really lead up and up to a cool conclusion which you don't see coming and which is very satisfying.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The only other book by Constantine I've tried (one of the Wraethru novels) I hurled across the room, but I was very pleasantly surprised by Sea Dragon Heir. Tales of fallen families and their attempts to rise again with the help of the gods are common in fantasy, but rarely do they come across as anything but deserving. I won't spoil the book by giving away any of its secrets, but I think readers of authors such as Patricia McKilip, Victoria Strauss, Tanith Lee, Sarah Ash, amongst others, will enjoy this book highly.
Format:Paperback
An intriguing plot and well developed characters make this book special. By telling the first half of the book from the view of one character and switching the view to a second character for the second half, your perceptions of good and bad people become twisted. In the end you just realise there is no definite good or evil just different aims and means.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fantasy that felt real
Set in the bewitching heart of Caradore, Storm weaves a tale that enchants and enthrals. It is dark and dangerous yet full of life and love. Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2002 by "ljanuary"
Compelling but disturbing
I quite enjoyed this book, and found it impossible to put down. That said, I also found it impossible to like the characters, and I am unconvinced about reading the rest of the... Read more
Published on 13 April 2002
A good read but ultimately unsatisfying
I enjoyed this book but it wasn't compelling enough to make me read the rest of the trilogy. The story feels somewhat contrived, as if the protagonists are doing things the author... Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2002
A good read but ultimately unsatisfying
I enjoyed this book but it wasn't compelling enough to make me read the rest of the trilogy. The story feels somewhat contrived, as if the protagonists are doing things the author... Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2002
Enthralling characters in a gripping and innovative fantasy
The world in Sea Dragon Heir is a rich and complex one, fascinating from the start. In addition, the characters involved are deep and real. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2001 by "ljanuary"
Not your standard fantasy
I liked this book because of its non-standard portrayal of gods and monsters, or gods and families in this case. Read more
Published on 15 July 2000 by Clea Neil
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