Product Description
Imardin is a city of dark intrigues and deadly politics, where those who wield magic wield power. Into this established order has blundered a young street-girl with extraordinary magical gifts. Adopted by the Magicians’ Guild, her life is changed forever – but for better or for worse? Sonea knew that she’d face a tough time training within the Magicians’ Guild but she little realised the level of animosity she would face from her fellow novices. The sons and daughters of the most powerful families in the realm, her classmates seem determined to see her fail – at whatever cost. But in accepting the protection of the guild’s high lord, Sonea may have embraced an even bleaker fate. For High Lord Akkarin harbours a secret that is far darker than his magician’s robes.
Stephanie Noverraz @ 3:45 am
Now that Lord Fergun has been sent into exile, Sonea is starting her first year as Novice at the Magician’s Guild University, under Lord Rothen’s guardianship. She’s eager to learn, but being a slum girl she knows it won’t be easy to be accepted by, not to mention make friends with, her wealthier and nobler classmates from the Houses. However, she far from conceives the depth of their scorn yet. Indeed one of them, Regin, probably because he simply can’t stand a mere slum girl outdoing him, will rally the others and gang them up against her, bully her constantly, play pranks on her, repeatedly ambush her to exhaust her strength and destroy her notes. In other words, make her life hell.
In the meantime Lord Dannyl has taken up his new role of Second Guild Ambassador to Elyne. After an adventurous sea voyage, and after sorting out some of his appointed duties in the capital Capia, he finally has some time to himself to investigate Akkarin’s journeys. Indeed, Administrator Lorlen, who suspects the High Lord of performing Black Magic, which is forbidden by the Guild’s laws, has asked the young magician to retrace Akkarin’s footsteps, ten years earlier. Doing so, Dannyl meets Tayend, a scholar who works at the Great Library and has an amazing memory. The handsome lad will aid him in research and they’ll become close friends.
This middle novel is very exciting, I just couldn’t put it down. All the loveable characters from the first volume are back, with the exception of Cery, whom we almost hear nothing of. Replacing Fergun, Regin is suitably despicable and irritating, and you can really feel Sonea’s frustration when she can’t find proof enough to expose him. The High Lord, although first depicted as the ultimate invincible villain, becomes more three-dimensional throughout the book, and I’m looking forward to reading the thrid installment to discover what his real motives are.
History_Girl @ 4:25 am
The second in the series Sonea’s story continues as she begins to learn the finer points of magic.
Akkarin is more featured in this book and despite how ‘evil’ he is meant to be, you can’t help but be curious. This book also sees a brief love interest for Sonea.
I admit the book gets a little wordy with Lord Dannyl’s journey and I got a little bored as I couldn’t see how it was effecting the story (but trust me – you need to know it)
Overall a great sequel.
Matthew Asnip @ 6:22 am
As Bildungsromans go, this is a good one. Sonea grows a bit here and acquires more of a conscience. The other characters are expanded more and the tale is told from 4 separate viewpoints. There’s some serious bullying, a good fight at the climax, a mystery or two, a red herring, tales of adventure as the story moves out of the confines of the city into the greater world and a little romance.
All in all this is a good successor to the first book in the series. Also, as the middle book in a trilogy, it has a suprisingly satisfactory end, with just enough plot hooks to keep the reader interested without being too much of a cliffhanger.
L. Elsnau @ 8:58 am
I thouroughly enjoyed this book. Trudi kept the action moving and kept adding surprise twists to the plot throughout!
The story had many major characters and this reader got emotionaly involved with almost all of them. They were well introduced and their individual stories wove well into a complex and complicated plot. I loved it! When is her next book(S) going to be available? I definately look forward to more excellent writing.
L. Strickland @ 11:28 am
I found the first book in the series to be a light, enjoyable read. The characters, however, were a bit flat and the plot too predictable.
In this book, we start getting some dimensionality to the characters: Sonea finds that passive resistance is not as effective as active response. Rothen begins to show some of his weaknesses, including the errors of believing “if you ignore it, it will go away.” Sonea gains two new guides: one that encourages her to take control of her situation, and one that can control her.
The plot also is a bit more complicated in this book, and begins to show the ties and the weaknesses of the political world. The plot is still a bit predictable, but lends at least a few dark mysteries that probably won’t be revealed until book 3.
Overall, an enjoyable read, and an improvement over book 1.