by Roberta Trahan
Paperback, 317 pages
Published September 18th 2012
Published September 18th 2012
by 47north
More than five hundred years have passed since the legendary age of Camelot and the Stewardry, the magical order charged with protecting the old ways of power and magic, has fallen into decay, disorder, and distrust.
Now Hywel, a new king promised by prophecy, has come to claim his crown. But as he journeys toward his throne, those preparing the way are besieged by agents of destruction - from within and without. A great evil stirs at Hywel's coming, unleashing a corrupting power intent on his destruction and opening the gates to a hellish army that will sweep across the land and plunge it into an era of terror and darkness.
As a sorceress born of an ancient bloodline sworn to defend the Stewardry at all costs, Alwen is determined to fulfill her oath.
Yet when black magic begins claiming those closest to her and traitors plot to steal the Stewardry's source of power, she realizes that the king's survival - and that of all the realms - may require that she sacrifice her own.
The Well of Tears is a well crafted beginning to a new high fantasy series. The story opens at the dawn of a new age where prophecies are about to come into fruition. The Stewardry is tasked to assist the new king and the four sorceresses that had been sent into exile for their protection until the time for coming together are called home to help the king preserve his thrown and protect the magic that will be needed to prevail and keep the balance.
Now Hywel, a new king promised by prophecy, has come to claim his crown. But as he journeys toward his throne, those preparing the way are besieged by agents of destruction - from within and without. A great evil stirs at Hywel's coming, unleashing a corrupting power intent on his destruction and opening the gates to a hellish army that will sweep across the land and plunge it into an era of terror and darkness.
As a sorceress born of an ancient bloodline sworn to defend the Stewardry at all costs, Alwen is determined to fulfill her oath.
Yet when black magic begins claiming those closest to her and traitors plot to steal the Stewardry's source of power, she realizes that the king's survival - and that of all the realms - may require that she sacrifice her own.
The Well of Tears is a well crafted beginning to a new high fantasy series. The story opens at the dawn of a new age where prophecies are about to come into fruition. The Stewardry is tasked to assist the new king and the four sorceresses that had been sent into exile for their protection until the time for coming together are called home to help the king preserve his thrown and protect the magic that will be needed to prevail and keep the balance.
The world building is very well done and the characters come alive. There is treachery, greed for power, great love, and wonderful battles keeping me on the edge of my seat. I definitely found myself becoming emotionally invested in the outcome of the tale and as with most high fantasy there is a lot to absorb, which kept me glued to my reader not wanting to put the book down. The conclusion is very satisfying with the right amount of open-endedness that left this reader eager to dive into the next installment and find out what happens next.
I would recommend this book to high fantasy fans, especially those to love the beginning of a new saga with all the complicated world building and characters these entertaining tales include. I received this book via NetGalley.
4 Sheep
DeniseZ
About the Author:
Roberta Trahan is the bestselling author of THE DREAM STEWARDS epic fantasy series and the SciFi novella AFTERSHOCK. Her lifelong love of speculative fiction began at an early age, when a certain star-trekking television series inspired an alien-encounter essay that both shocked and horrified her third-grade teacher.First published nationally as a teenager, Roberta went on to earn a degree in journalism and advertising at the University of Oregon and then worked in various sales, publicity, and marketing positions before eventually turning to creative writing as a career.
Roberta credits the work of classical masters like J.R.R. Tolkein, Marion Zimmer- Bradley and Mary Stewart with igniting her love of fantasy, folklore and history. But it is her own Celtic heritage that she claims as her muse. She blames a rogue alien genetic marker for her chronic addiction to caffeinated substances and her compulsion to invent imaginary worlds. She is also enamored with hummingbirds, and easily distracted by small, shiny objects.
A Pacific Northwest native, Roberta currently resides with her family in the Seattle area and is actively involved with her local writing community as an instructor and speaker.
No comments:
Post a Comment