"Fine fantasy"
In the Fourlands several years have passed since THE YEAR
OF OUR WAR, but now a rare challenge to a position in
Emperor San's Circle of the immortal Eszai occurs.
Shockingly the newcomer defeats Gio Ami, and replaces him
as the Swordsman, Serein. Feeling humiliated by his defeat,
as only the second immortal to lose the vaunted inner
circle position in several centuries, Gio vows to regain
his place of prominence and more. Meanwhile San sends Eszai members Comet Jant Shira, the new
Serein, and the Sailor to negotiate with the natives of a
newly discovered island, Tris to obtain their agreement to
join the Fourlands. The mission fails as the islanders,
knowing they were once the fifth land of the Fourlands,
want their paradise to remain out of the empire. However, a
deadly Insect, who should never have been on board the
Stormy Petrel, is released on Tris at about the same time
Gio leads an assault on San's castle. The sequel to THE YEAR OF OUR WAR is a fine fantasy that
contains two major well written subplots: the future of
Tris and the insurgency led by former Swordsman Gio. There
are also several minor threads involving specific
relationships between characters, but those weigh down the
prime sagas even when Jant uses drugs to visit the
intriguing and critical to this tale realm of Shift. Still
this is a well written original thriller that fans will
enjoy as more people see the "Emperor's New Clothes" while
the Insects still cause havoc. Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 16, 2006
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted January 25, 2007
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