"Fine fantasy"
One thousand years ago, the great and powerful and socially
enlightened city of Amenkor was caught in the White Fire, a
phenomenon that didn't change immediately change things but
soon famine, disease, and madness slowly infested the land.
The city was slowly able to bounce back until five years
ago when the White Fire returned and this time the people
are in dire straights. Varis, a child of the slums, grows up to become a tracker
and spy for a guard who obeys The Mistress sitting on THE
SKEWED THRONE. Varis has a special sense that allows her to
see people in grays (those who are good) and reds (those
who would do harm) so she knows that the Seeker guard Erick
is hiring people who commit crimes and kill. When she is
sick of her role, she flees into the heart of the city
where she saves the life of a merchant targeted by an
assassin. He hires her and they soon learn that with the
famine wide spread there is a dangerous cabal of merchants
that are gathering all the goods that would be needed over
the winter so they can sell them for a huge profit. The
Mistress won't listen to her people who need her to take
control and save what is left of Amenkor so desperate
people try to shake the political structure of the city. The heroine is the main reason THE SKEWED THRONE is such an
interesting fantasy. She goes from a slum child struggling
to survive to an adult with a strong sense of morality. She
sees what she had done in her past and tries to become a
better person in the present. She is stubborn and loyal in
a place where people behave dishonorably. The very survival
of her city forces her to do something she finds abhorrent.
Readers are treated to a realm in flux where one person's
actions can make a difference. This is a fine fantasy that
readers will enjoy immensely. Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted December 15, 2005
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted January 25, 2007
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