Amazon.co.uk: Grand Conspiracy (Alliance of Light : Book Two): Janny Wurts: Books

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Amazon.co.uk Review
Janny Wurts's justifiably skilful and lovingly composed Wars of Light and Shadow series joins the ranks of Robert Jordan's protracted Wheel of Time series, et al., as either--depending on which camp you hail from--the height of high fantasy or the deeply frustrating (yet persistent) problem with the genre.

All that said, Wurts has wooed many fans to her series with compelling characters, a tremendously complex (and painstakingly developed) web of plot lines, and distinctively lush and lyric storytelling. Grand Conspiracy represents part two of part three of a five-part epic--to her credit, Wurts broke the series' third story arc (Alliance of Light) into three parts only reluctantly. The action in this instalment surrounds Arithon's Ffalenn, the fugitive Master of Shadow and the victim of the title's grand conspiracy. Everyone's got it in for him these days, and even his beloved, Elaira, has been shanghaied by her Koriani cronies into playing a role in his betrayal--she must transform an innocent, Fionn Areth, into Arithon's double to draw him out. Grand Conspiracy delivers more of the same, perhaps lacking a bit of the action of previous instalments; check out Cures of the Mistwraith if you're new to the series. --Paul Hughes, Amazon.com

Synopsis
Where there is light, there must always be shadow! The fifth volume in Janny Wurts's spectacular epic fantasy, now re-released with a striking new cover design along with the rest of the series. The wars began when two half-brothers, gifted of light and shadow, stood shoulder to shoulder to defeat the Mistwraith. Their foe cast a lifelong curse of enmity between them that has so far woven three bitter conflicts and uncounted deadly intrigues. It is a time of political upheavel, fanaticism and rampaging armies. Distrust of sorcery has set off a purge of the talented mageborn -- none reviled more than Arithon, Master of Shadow. Through clever manipulation of events at the hands of his half-brother Lysaer, Lord of Light, Arithon's very name has become anathema. Now the volatile hatreds that spearheaded the campaign against Shadow have overtaken all reason. Those that still stand in Arithon's desperate defence are downtrodden, in retreat and close to annihilation. The stage is set for the ultimate betrayal.

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4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Convoluted, overdone, miserable. Get to the point, pleaaase!, 20 Aug 2000

By A Customer

I was extremely disappointed by this book. I have read all the others in the series and I really liked them - unfortunately, this weighty volume has rather spoiled it. The language is SO over the top - and how many times do we have to be told that Arithon has black hair and green eyes and Lysaer has blue eyes and blonde hair? I for one am sick of hearing the same old descriptions trotted out in ever more flowery and hyperbolic ways. Similarly, I'm getting pretty sick of Arithon and his compassion. I'm sure it's all very nice, but frankly, I've had more than enough of it. He's become extraordinarily irritating. Why do we have to put up with hearing about his endless bouts of emotional agony and self-blame? Someone should really give him a slap and tell him to pull himself together. He's become a character who wallows in pessimism and self-pity. Lysaer becomes increasingly repulsive - his treatment of his wife is despicable, and hey, how long will it be before little Kevor notices and goes over to Arithon's side? Sorry Janny, I used to love your characters, I used to care about them. Unfortunately, they've become more like caricatures than real people and I've had enough of their misery. The depressing thing is that there is NO HOPE. In the very first book we're told that the Wars of Light and Shadow go on for 500 years. So Arithon's not going to find the Paravians, the whole debacle is never going to be sorted out, instead we're going to get an endless parade of tragedy and misery. Anyway, doesn't the Black Rose prophecy state that the paravians won't be found until Arithon's been crowned King of Rathain? Who knows? At this stage, frankly, who cares?

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3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Many Levels, 8 Jan 2002

By	roisin@sanpeople.com (Stellenbosch, South Africa) - See all my reviews

Wurts has created a work that transcends Fantasy. Her suberbly crafted writing stretches our vocabulary, weaves a brilliant imagery, and gives deep insight into the human spirit. The intricacy and scope of the plots and sub-plots leaves plenty to the imaginations of those who delight in unravelling mysteries and guessing future developments in the novel.

It's rich in character development. I have followed Arithon's development as a character with the same enjoyment as I did Ursula K. Le Guin's character,Ged. She has real skill with major and minor characters, using them to continually reflect new angles and interpretations of the themes and characters of the series.

Wurts harkens back to a time when the land was held as something sacred. The Paravians represent lost innocence, and the compact a reminder that we
borrow the land from future generations. Her descriptions of magic are multi-sensory journeys that take us towards a more subtle understanding of what world consciousness is and touches on the oneness of everything.

What I found most valuable in these books was the portrayal of the causes of conflict, and the machinations of war. She puts war and greed under an unforgiving spotlight, but also refuses to typecast. Lysaer is portrayed both as liberating leader and protector of the people and deluded tyrant. Arithon is at once freedom fighter and terrorist. We are not asked to choose a side and blame the other, but encouraged to have compassion and understanding, and to see the whole picture. We are shown graphically that war leads to further wars, there is never an end to them, unless there is dialogue and an attempt towards mutual understanding. We are not allowed to give into euphoria after 'justice' has been served, but read on and discover the horrific consequences. It makes us question what is true justice, and whether there is a place for human compassion in it.

The curse itself is an accurate and menacing metaphor for blind, ignorant prejudice that has the same effect on the leaders and followers of this world, as it does on Athera. She powerfully describes the effects of illusion and delusion that create mobs and narrow-minded communities. She neatly portrays blinkered opinion and assumption and shows how they develop into reasons for wiping out other ethnic groups.

When you read her books, suspend judgement. Don't get lost in plot and in trying to interpret the Black Rose Prophecy. Use a dictionary for the more
difficult words. Let her writing take hold of your imagination and leave youself open to seeing the parallels of Athera to Earth. Identify with the characters, experience them as aspects of yourself. Make it a journey of discovery. Read each book twice!

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2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

A Grand Disappointment, 17 Dec 2002

By	Mugen (Helsinki, Finland) - See all my reviews

I have been following Janny Wurts's writing since her collaboration with Raymond E. Feist, and have more or less enjoyed all that she has had to offer. Maybe that is why I was so deeply disappointed with this book - to put it simply, it is a terrible story. It reads like a a sappy romance novel, with all its dashing heroes doing only the most dramatic of gestures, their very lives the stuff sorrowful myths are made of, with wind whipping in their hair in the meanwhile. The characters that were interesting have become like caricatures of their former selves, and the story itself is paper-thin, all the way to its conclusion... To say the language and situations are overly melodramatic is like saying that Titanic had a little scrape with an iceberg. I just hope that "The Grand Conspiracy" hasn't sunk a good career in fantasy.

I would love to say something nice about this book, but all I can say is that I sighed in relief when I finished it. Still, I am sure Ms. Wurts can do better as she has proven before - I certainly hope so, since I bought the following part before reading this one. Now I don't know if I dare open it.

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