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Long ago, there was war in Heaven. Rann, guardian of the Underworld, fought with the Nulefi, and in that battle the Nulefi were defeated. But though their bodies were destroyed, the spirits of the Nulefi remained, and they wander the world of Myr, cloaked in the shattered form of the Swarms, waiting for the moment of their revenge.
Now they have re-awoken, remembering the glory and power of their ancient days – and one human boy, Vivreki, has witnessed that rebirth. The Swarm calls to him, pleads with him, whispers to him the secrets of a vanished age. To Vivreki this seems a miracle, but to his masters it is heresy. For very few now honour the elder gods, and those who still do keep silent about it.
In fear and peril of his life, Vivreki is hidden away from those that would kill him for his special knowledge. His memory is erased, his past denied, and a new life started for him half a world away. But the Nulefi have not forgotten Vivreki – he alone can hear them, and now he alone can save them. And as the Nulefi struggle to reach their only ally in the world, Herrukal - father of the gods - discerns the rise of a new power on Myr. He will not tolerate another war, so even if the price of peace is the destruction of creation itself, then Herrukal will break the world. And only Vivreki can stop him...
From the Author
Let's talk about magic shall we? Magic, and the idea of magic, is intrinsic to Swarmthief's Dance, and indeed, most Fantasy novels I can think off. But since I can only talk for my own work, this is how I think of magic as it applies to the stricken world of Myr.
The first kind is what I am referring to when I say that magic applies to all Fantasy novels - that is, the classic, Sense of Wonder. It is difficult to define, and I know there are people who entirely lack such a thing - people who do not enjoy reading fiction at all because they cannot suspend their disbelief, or simply do not want to; there is no criticism intended here, what we read is very much our own choice. To those of us who enjoy the unpredictable freedom of such imaginings it is almost second nature - almost goes without mentioning - it is an everyday pleasure. Perhaps the only time we consciously confront and give silent thanks for such a faculty is when, as a parent, we watch our children discovering the simple truths of stories for themselves.
Secondly, in relation to Myr, there is the established framework of magic that predominantly belongs those in power: the Church, Shemari and Bakkujasi. This magic is what sets such people above the everyday rank and file of the society. Whilst Myr is ruled by these people their grasp and control over such power is not as secure as might be imagined because it comes directly from capricious (and somewhat insensitive) Gods. The magic and power ripples outwards from that source, growing weaker as it reaches the outside of the pond, until, all that those on the periphery - such as Viv and Stief - have to sustain them is their belief that the magic is real. And in Myr, unlike our own world, it is.
And that's where the third kind of magic comes in - diluted until it is composed of belief, need, and emotion, rather perversely the third kind becomes the most powerful of all. Vivreki epitomises this third magic - he is brim-full of self-belief when we first meet him (actually, to the point of arrogance!) and he knows how to manipulate people by engaging their Sense of Wonder. He knows how to conjure and create minor illusions but, until he meets Ayshena he cannot do any real magic, although he has such a 'glamour' about him that many people think he can.
We've all met people like Vivreki, and, sad to say, often we don't like them very much - he's bright, funny, good-looking, gauche and self-assured - he is not a bad person, quite the reverse, but he has grown used to other people's fascination with him and he takes those around him somewhat for granted - that, ultimately leads to all sorts of trouble.
Somewhere in between these three kinds of magic lie simple, unassailable truths just as in the real world; Vivreki and his companions must chart a course through massive, world-changing events and yet, ultimately, it is not magic that they must rely on but their own strength and each other.
I hope you enjoy reading SWARMTHIEF'S DANCE as much as I enjoyed creating it. I am currently working on the second book, so I hope you'll come back to Myr as the adventure continues!
With very best wishes
Deborah J.Miller.
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