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• Beautiful

  Beautiful continuation to the epic struggle between curse felled brothers.

• Story Arc II (part 2 of 2)

  [There are no explicit plot spoilers, although I describe aspects of character development and the flow of the book in broad generalities.] Warhost of Vastmark begins immediately following the “mid-season” climax at the end of Ships of Merior. Interference from the Order of the Koriathain has negated the impact of Arithon s’Ffalenn’s clever tactics at Minderl Bay, and he finds himself in flight from Lysaer s’Ilessid’s warhost, burgeoning with recruits from four separate High Kingdoms. Meanwhile, the actions of the all-powerful Fellowship of Seven inadvertently put the planet of Athera at greater risk to the malevolent Mistwraith, whose greater essence still lurks in a dead civilization beyond the stars. This part of the story is almost 75% denouement, with all of the chess pieces from previous Volumes carefully positioned for a satisfying rush to the conclusion. The action takes us across the High Kingdoms of Shand and Havish and it’s great fun to read about Arithon’s quick-witted counterplays to maintain his advantage. Lurking beneath the surface of this ingenuity is the royal gift of farsight inherited from Arithon’s mother, Talera s’Ahelas, which allows Arithon to understand the long-term consequences of each action taken. With Arithon playing the obvious role of the wily pirate, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Lysaer shares this gift as well. Once again, the evolution of supporting characters like Dakar, Diegan, and Talith ground the story with interpersonal connections. Chapter II, which focuses on Tharrick, could easily be a self-contained novella for the way it captures the transformation and healing of the disgraced guardsman from Alestron. Not every character avoids tragedy, and I found the final meeting between Lord Diegan and his adversary to be particularly touching. Even if you go no further than Warhost of Vastmark, Volumes I - III of the Wars of Light and Shadow are an enthralling, complete bookend for the rest of the series. This Volume in particular has a very intimate, immediate storyline that you can enjoy for its character relationships without worrying too much about the larger world view. While I love the series as a whole, Story Arcs I and II hold a special place in my heart for their narrow focus and visceral connections. Story Arcs III and IV widen the aperture to encompass many more factions and types of magecraft that were silently present all along, pushing the series emphatically into the “epic fantasy” category, while the soon-to-be-released Story Arc V, Song of the Mysteries, weaves everything back together into a fantastic culmination.

• The best in nautical fantasy!

  This is the second volume in The Ships of Merior book. The paperbacks split the hardcover book into two books. This has the best nautical scenes I have read since Moby Dick, it feels authentic. This is master story telling - world building, plots, characters and an outstanding prose.

• The third book of this inspired epic fantasy series was everything I could ask for

  The engulfing finale of the scenario unrolled with The Ships of Merior, Warhost of Vastmark offers frantic chases, layers of carefully planned subterfuge, ingenious bending of circumstances and counterploys, fateful auguries, bloody battles and the incredible, growing cast of well-rounded characters I’ve come to love in this series, whose wills closely intertwine with the strategies pursued by the Princes with unexpected results. The Fellowship Sorcerers, in their quest to free Arithon and Lysaer from the geas that is lacerating them, learn new and dire details about the nature of Desh-thiere, and come to realize the unnatural fog that veiled the sky for five centuries was just a small part of the force still at large beyond the World Gates: a danger too dire to provoke. Meanwhile the Koriani enchantresses, engaged in their own quest for survival, strive to retrieve their long-lost Waystone, whose location has finally been revealed, and regain in full their role as humanity's wards. Both wish for the subduing of any threat to their world with dramatically diverging premises, while the complexity of adherence to their tenets, the personal ambitions, their sympathies -or lack thereof- and all the idiosyncrasies which make even the most powerful magic user a human being mingle and mold the course of events. The lines are drawn: as if the setback in Minderl Bay never happened, Lysaer successfully applies his natural skill in “the art of fine statecraft” and charisma to win the commitment of his allies, in order to fight for the cause of ridding the world of Athera from the evils of the Master of Shadow. Arithon, burdened by yet another oath and still bounded to the mad prophet Dakar, turns his sight towards the ruthless mountains of Vastmark pursuing his own, mysterious plans with peerless efficiency and the help of a carefully tended intelligence network, all the while seeding “clear logic mayhem” in the warm seas of Shand plying “the time-honoured trade of his family”. Whereas Arithon fights his fate with a full understanding of the curse that shackles his will and chooses to spurn dependency and ties, resolute in “private subterfuge and flight”, Lysaer's sense of justice, mercy and morality are wrenched awry and his “public cry to take arms for a misdirected justice” dangerously borders on a blind obsession that hears no reason. He has already proven himself a political mastermind of incredible finesse, able to deftly turn the results of his poor strategy and tactics to his own advantage; however, this time he’s ready, in honest resolve, to take the conflict to a whole new level of worldwide consequences and let nothing steer him away from justice's due course and the greater good of Athera. The prince of the West wielding the gift of Light and the reserved, lithe new Masterbard of Athera, in the thrall of their opposite desires, are inexorably dragging in their conflict the disparate factions of the towns and the old-blood clans, cultures long-locked in the “hatreds of entrenched feud” and ready to seize any opportunity to advance their cause; the people of Athera and even the most beloved friend or lover won’t come unscathed from crossing the path of the half-brothers’ Mistwraith-sanctioned confrontation. As the story unfolds, twists and turns, matters become even more entangled and the inevitable meeting on a battleground cannot be forestalled for much longer. The pair Arithon-Dakar plays a central role, but there is a lot more insight on Lysaer, and as the reader accosts the depth of his self-blinded delusion, it is difficult not to wonder to what extent are both princes the victims of circumstances, or the shapers of their own fate. It was very interesting to discover the new developments of the story and characters in the light of actions, thoughts and mishaps encountered in the previous books; Warhost of Vastmark's promise of full delivery of the seeds sown in Merior is masterfully fulfilled, the story never disappoints or repeats itself, but converges and opens new threads of action. The third book of this inspired epic fantasy series was everything I could ask for, gorgeously written, both action-packed and full of emotional impact on many levels, I can see it clearly how this and Merior are aptly part of the same story Arc; not lacking in funny humor or wry satire, either, particularly at Dakar’s expense, but also thanks to the hotblooded clanborn s’Brydions brothers. The intricate world of Athera, full of political strife, mysteries, old traditions and new needs as well as its variety of impeccably described landscapes and the daily struggles of common people, feels authentic and realistic; interspersed with the action, I absolutely loved the level of introspection offered on both Lysaer and Arithon. The many point of views of the narration may lend a sympathetic angle toward the Master of Shadow, but to see through Dakar, the clansmen, and even Tharrick and Jinesse the scope of Arithon's torment and integrity, or to see through Diegan’s and Talith’s love and devotion the Lysaer behind the royal mantle was delightful. The princes who first banished the Mistwraith and their friends are profoundly changed, and I have seamlessly started book 4, Fugitive Prince, to see how things are going to play out after the resolute climax of Vastmark.

• A Damned Good Writer

  This book; indeed the series; is not perfection, but is it so close as to require the hair of a Mink to define the differences. Tolstoy, Tolkien, Feist, Jordan, Brooks, Martin, Williams, Elliott - Set the standard. Janny Wurts meets that standard - In my opinion. The authors writing is impecable, storyline, prose and charactarisation. I loved reading this book and the series, it carried me away to a different world, provided me with an escape from the humdrum of life - a good nights sleep. Faults: Sometimes the the author constructs sentances that stretch to paragraghs, which need to be read twice or thrice to glean the meaning, which can be a real bugger when reading. The only fault I have with this author, is that the author writes a wonderful piece of work, but does not read it back, to ensure quality and ensure a child can understand. If I wrote a book, I would want all to appreciate it. Having said this; this author and her books are by far the best; and are set apart from the rubbish that 'Amazon' would want us to buy (Some of which are really awefull). I love Janny Wurts Hope you do too ????????????????

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