Monday 8 August 2011

FANTASY REVIEW: The Hudrumal Crisis 1: Dangerous Waters - Juliet E McKenna

Release Date: 04/08/11

SYNOPSIS:

The Archmage rules the island of wizards and has banned the use of magecraft in warfare, but there are corsairs raiding the Caladhrian Coast, enslaving villagers and devastating trade. Barons and merchants beg for magical aid, but all help has been refused so far.

Lady Zurenne’s husband has been murdered by the corsairs, and a man she doesn’t even know stands watch over her and her daughters. Corrain, former captain and now slave to the corsairs, knows that Zurenne’s guardian is a rogue wizard.

If Corrain can only escape, he’ll see justice done. Unless the Archmage’s magewoman, Jilseth, catches the renegade first...

Dangerous Waters is the start of a stunning new fantasy trilogy by highly-respected fantasy writer, Juliet E. McKenna.


REVIEW:

Juliet as an author can feel a little hit or miss to me as she takes some roads that I would have preferred that had been left alone whilst other less travelled tracks had my attention more. What this new series from the prolific author has to offer is a world of magic, a world of double dealing and of course a whole host of characters who, when not serving their own masters are serving their own selfish needs and desires which, all in make for the key ingredients to a successful fantasy novel.

The characters are crisp and strong enough to stand on their own, the world wonderfully descriptive and vivid and when added to Juliet’s own unique writerly voice makes this a title that was more than a joy to spend some time with. Add to this some wonderful prose and stand alone dialogue which demonstrates the authors own unique style and it’s a well rounded title that will more than satisfy. Great stuff.

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