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The Wars of Light and Shadow
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Review
‘Astonishingly original and compelling’ Raymond E. Feist
‘It ought to be illegal for one person to have so much talent’ Stephen Donaldson
Product Description
Janny Wurts’s epic tale of two half-brothers cursed to life-long enmity continues in this spectacular second volume, now re-released with a striking new cover.
The half-brothers Arithon, Master of Shadow, and Lysaer, Lord of Light, have defeated the Mistwraith and dispersed the fogs that smothered Athera’s skies. But their victory comes at a high price: the Mistwraith has set them at odds under a powerful curse of vengeance. The two princes are locked in deadly enmity, with the fates of nations and the balance of the world’s mystical powers entangled in their feud.
Arithon, forced out of hiding, finds himself hounded by Lysaer and his mighty army. He must take to his natural element – the seas – in order to evade pursuit and steal the initiative. However, his efforts are impeded by outside magical factions, not to mention a drunken prophet sent to safeguard his life, but who seems determined to wreck his cause by misadventure.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first mass-market version of a couplet, the "Ships of Merior" and the sequel "Warhost of Vastmark" originally published as a single hardbound volume, too large a work to publish singly in mass-market format, and comprising the second of "The Wars of Light and Shadow" projected pentad. The author continues her rich and multi-faceted story, building upon the struggle between two cursed brothers who represent the salvation of the world into which they have found themselves unwillingly thrown. While a previous reviewer (See US review) has in truth suggested a difficulty choosing between the combative and curse-bound differences that drive a rift between the two main protagonists, there is little doubt, despite a division of the tale between the two brothers' adventures and conflicts, that in terms of his presence and sympathetic treatment, Arithon s'Ffalenn dominates the narrative, a judgment reflected by his singular portrayal on all the author's successive covers (She is, by the way, the artist) following the first book.
Wurt's style of writing is richly detailed, worded and compressed, having a reach of language that is impressive and alliteratively stretched, though at times she strays towards over-writing passages, confounding clarity in an effort to enliven speech where a simple sentence would have sufficed. Further, the first couple hundred pages of this work read suspiciously of fill, as if the author encountered difficulty wrapping up some of the dangling elements left over from the first book and was unable to entirely weave them back coherently into the thread of her primary plot, despite their loose construction upon events to follow. Nonetheless, episodes and characters such as the s'Brydion brothers, regardless of a swashbuckling element that would have done Errol Flynn proud, are delightful despite their over-wrought staging, and Dakar, regardless of his tiresome complaints, infuses elements of buffoonish humor that often succeed. And, after the initial uneven start, the book soon narrows its focus into a stirring and climactic chain of events.
The treatment of Arithon and Elairas' relationship is particularly poignant and deft, and the author has succeeded in creating a cast of characters both diverse and with depth. Additional strengths can be found in the multi-staged complexity of her tale, the depth of her imaginative magical creations, and the richness, when not over-worked, the author lavishes upon her descriptive detail. This is a work deserving of more praise than censure, and has continued to carry my interest. Further, except for instances when the author gets carried away, the scope of descriptive language is both vivid and endlessly varied, with abundant sentencing sure to cause the admiration and envy of many wordsmiths.
Finally, on a side note, I must take the author to task for her comments in her introductory notes regarding her intention not "to produce an unending parade of sequels." The target of this barb is obvious, and the implied criticism seems petty and unworthy of the author's many talents.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
24 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
slow but rewarding, despite overwriting
30 Nov 2000
Format:Mass Market Paperback
As is unfortunately typical for me, I read this series out of order; this comes from gaps in bookstores' stock and my own impatience. I first met Arithon and Lysaer in "Warhost of Vastmark," then read "Curse of the Mistwraith" and "Fugitive Prince," and began "Grand Conspiracy" before I finally found a copy of "Ships of Merior." It was a great relief to understand (at last!) the many back references.
"Ships of Merior" was originally the first part of a huge hardcover, with "Warhost of Vastmark" being the second half. I think this explains the slow pace of the book; it's not meant to stand on its own, even within the series; it's meant to set up "Warhost." We open a few years after the battle that ended "Curse." Arithon has been traveling with the Masterbard, while Lysaer has been living in Etarra. Dakar is sent to Arithon, and is unaware, for quite a long time, that he has found him; Arithon is nothing if not a master of disguise.
The story takes Arithon and Dakar (who can become tiresome in his drunkenness and hatred of Arithon) through several seemingly unconnected events, while Lysaer begins to take control of Tysan and gathers an army to destroy Arithon. Eventually, the brothers meet in yet another climactic battle, in which Arithon again uses guile and shadows to drive Lysaer back, at a great cost in lives. A strength of this series is the pain both brothers feel when others die in their personal war; all too often, common soldiers die and it is merely regretable, but Arithon feels each death like his own, and Lysaer (though becoming less likeable) is also tormented. Sadly, the Mistrwraith's curse twists his pain away from the obvious course -- peace -- into renewed determination to capture and kill his brother. Thus do the Wars of Light and Shadow (fortunately for us, unfortunately for the characters) continue.
The transitions between events are not always smooth, and some motivations are a bit sketchy. For example, Dakar distrusts Arithon because he misinterpreted Asandir's reasons for memory-blocking the Master of Shadows in "Curse," and because he doesn't know why Arithon used dark sorcery during the battle in Strakewood. This is not clarified well. Also, Wurts continues to overwrite. She rarely seems content with one adjective where she can fit two, or a simple sentence where she can twist it around.
Still, "Ships of Merior" does a wonderful job of showing the characters moving through their world. Elaira takes a larger role, Lysaer shoulders the burdens of a kingdom and a cause (at some cost to his original morals), and Arithon's prickly, difficult character is examined in greater depth; he has quickly become my favorite hero/anti-hero.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
The best Fantasy I've read since the Lord of the Rings.
15 Jun 1997
Format:Hardcover
The tale of the two half-brothers continues in volume two of The Wars of Light and Shadow. A carefully balanced alliance has been shattered by
actions not in the control of either brother. Actions that not even the Fellowship of Seven are able to counter. Move and counter move proceed
across the continent of Paravia as Lysaer moves town Mayors and armies in his never ending desire to see the destruction of Arithon. Arithon flees back to the ships that served him so well as a pirate on his home world of Dascen Elur. But Lysaer pursues him closely.
Into this mix comes a character from Curse of the Mistwraith, Dakar the Mad Prophet, he of the West Gate prophecy. Devoted to his cups and wenching. Desiring nothing so much as to be left to his own devices he is entwined into the fate of the two brothers.
Ms. Wurts weaves a deft tale that reveals incredible depths in these characters. You care so much about each of these that it is hard to take
sides. But take sides you will. Lesser characters shine in the roles of friends, lovers or opponents. Stroke and counter stroke are described with a delicate nicety that leaves you wanting more. Events of such striking compassion occur that you will be forced to lay the book aside, but not for long, and contemplate the results.
actions not in the control of either brother. Actions that not even the Fellowship of Seven are able to counter. Move and counter move proceed
across the continent of Paravia as Lysaer moves town Mayors and armies in his never ending desire to see the destruction of Arithon. Arithon flees back to the ships that served him so well as a pirate on his home world of Dascen Elur. But Lysaer pursues him closely.
Into this mix comes a character from Curse of the Mistwraith, Dakar the Mad Prophet, he of the West Gate prophecy. Devoted to his cups and wenching. Desiring nothing so much as to be left to his own devices he is entwined into the fate of the two brothers.
Ms. Wurts weaves a deft tale that reveals incredible depths in these characters. You care so much about each of these that it is hard to take
sides. But take sides you will. Lesser characters shine in the roles of friends, lovers or opponents. Stroke and counter stroke are described with a delicate nicety that leaves you wanting more. Events of such striking compassion occur that you will be forced to lay the book aside, but not for long, and contemplate the results.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Simply, the Best!
28 Jun 1997
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The tale of the two half-brothers continues in volume two of The Wars of Light and Shadow. A carefully balanced alliance has been shattered by
actions not in the control of either brother. Actions that not even the Fellowship of Seven are able to counter. Move and counter move proceed
across the continent of Athera as Lysaer moves town Mayors and armies in his never ending desire to see the destruction of Arithon. Arithon flees back to the ships that served himself so well as a pirate on his home world of Dascen Elur. But Lysaer pursues him closely.
Into this mix comes a character from CURSE OF THE MISTWRAITH, Dakar the Mad Prophet, he of the West Gate prophecy. Devoted to his cups and wenching. Desiring nothing so much as to be left to his own devices he is entwined into the fate of the two brothers.
Ms. Wurts weaves a deft tale that reveals incredible depths in these characters. You care so much about each of these that it is hard to take
sides. But take sides you will. Lesser characters shine in the roles of friends, lovers or opponents. Stroke and counter stroke are described with a delicate nicety that leaves you wanting more. Events of such striking compassion occur that you will be forced to lay the book aside, but not for long, and contemplate the results.
actions not in the control of either brother. Actions that not even the Fellowship of Seven are able to counter. Move and counter move proceed
across the continent of Athera as Lysaer moves town Mayors and armies in his never ending desire to see the destruction of Arithon. Arithon flees back to the ships that served himself so well as a pirate on his home world of Dascen Elur. But Lysaer pursues him closely.
Into this mix comes a character from CURSE OF THE MISTWRAITH, Dakar the Mad Prophet, he of the West Gate prophecy. Devoted to his cups and wenching. Desiring nothing so much as to be left to his own devices he is entwined into the fate of the two brothers.
Ms. Wurts weaves a deft tale that reveals incredible depths in these characters. You care so much about each of these that it is hard to take
sides. But take sides you will. Lesser characters shine in the roles of friends, lovers or opponents. Stroke and counter stroke are described with a delicate nicety that leaves you wanting more. Events of such striking compassion occur that you will be forced to lay the book aside, but not for long, and contemplate the results.
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