"Epic fantasy"
Centuries have passed since the mage-lights disappeared
taking all of the realm's magic with it. Seventeen-year
old Jenna Aoire, a crofter's daughter living in
Ballintubber, tends sheep on Knobtop Hill when the mage-
lights suddenly reappear. She picks up a brightly colored
shining stone not realizing that she has found Lamh
Shabhala, the master stone that will reawaken the other
dormant stones once it is charged up with power. Noble Tiarna Mac Ard, pledged to the high king Ri Gabair,
comes to take Jenna and her mother to court so they will be
protected from anyone who wants to steal Lamh Shabhala.
When she gets to court she learns that everyone wants to
either use her for their own end or try to take the stone
from her. Every time she harnesses the power of the mage-
lights it takes a painful toll on her physically but when
all the other stones of power are charged up, Jenna's
troubles begin. Magic walks the land and people will
attempt to abuse Jenna, controller of the most powerful
artifact of all, as a weapon if she fails to apply her
magic for the greater good. HOLDER OF LIGHTNING, an epic fantasy novel, is based on
ancient Celtic tradition and legend yet is set in a realm
that is subtly different. The heroine goes from a naïve
peasant fearing the responsibility that she has been given
into a ruler in her own right, not afraid to take charge of
her own destiny and that of others. Now that magic is let
loose in the land, it will be interesting to see, in future
installments, how mankind deals with it. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted December 15, 2002
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In Holder of Lightning, Book One of The Cloudmages, a
seventeen-year-old farm girl named Jenna picks up a small
but strangely alluring stone on Knobtop Hill-and, with that
single act, her peaceful life is forever changed. First,
the lights appear-the mage-lights which shone only in
legends from the time Before. Then, with the lights, come
the trouble and the magic, too... For what Jenna holds in her hands is the Lamh Shabhala, the
master stone of legend which could reawaken all of the
stones. And the Holder of this stone is said to pay the
greatest price for wielding such powerful magic. Now, Jenna fears for her home, her friends, and her family. Ancient legends are waking-and walking the earth.
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