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"Fine fantasy"

Three different worlds exist in different dimensions but what happens in one world affects the other two.

In the world of humans and dwarves, the seven dragons rule. An annual festival is held in which those that are mad or have Deep Magic are taken away from their homes never to be seen again. Galen Arnold hears inanimate objects talk and visits other realms in his dreams and he is caught by the Inquisitor and brought to a central location where others like him are trained to fight in a war that the general populace doesn't know exists.

The Titans once ruled another world but all that is left is machines that don't work and books that are used for burning. The goblins want to fix these machines but the only one who has an affinity for them is Mimic who rises to power.

Queen Tatayna's world of faery is besieged on two fronts. In the north the centaurs and satyrs struggle to take control; while Lord Pheor in the south plans to overthrow her highness and marry her daughter to become the ruler. The faery seeker Dwynwym struggles to find a truth that will save her homeland.

Galen's Deep Magic has the power to influence events in the other worlds and is strong enough if he learns to use it properly to change his own.

Tracy and Laura Hickman have created fantasy worlds that exist on separate planes but impact each other. Just how deep they interact will be explained in further installments of The Bronze Canticles. Each world is different and fascinating with characters created specifically for that realm. Readers will care about several protagonists, hoping they survive their trials and tribulations. The Hickmans deserve an award for originality and creativity.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted February 29, 2004

New York Times bestselling master of fantasy Tracy Hickman and his wife, author Laura Hickman, offer the first book in a major, new, dragon-laden epic fantasy. The Bronze Canticles is an expansive new saga chronicling the world-altering changes that take place as three connected universes--the Human world, the Goblin world, and the Faery world--are slowly drawn together. In Book One, young Galen Arvad, a human with magical powers, must avoid the ritual that puts those with such talents to death. It seems that in the eyes of the community magic is a sign of lunacy, and in a yearly ritual the local "crazies" are offered up to the Dragon Priests. Having successfully dodged the "elections" for many years, Galen is suddenly captured and hauled away with others that are deemed "insane." Now, as Galen's wife, Berkita, and his friend, Cephas the dwarf, set off to rescue him, Galen learns of the fate that awaits him...a fate far worse than even his own death.