Janny Wurts

The Wars of Light and Shadow — (1993-2009) Booklist: For more than 500 years the Mistwraith has darkened the world of Athera. Where once were fields, flowers, and unicorns, there now are bareness, poverty, and desperation. The curse can be lifted only by the combined powers of two half-brothers who have been raised apart as enemies. Blond Lysaer, who grew up in the castle, is a born diplomat with a strong sense of justice and latent powers of light. Dark-haired Arithon, called the Master of Shadows, is skilled in music and magic and possesses an overwhelming empathy for all living things. When the two are thrown together in exile, an uneasy bond begins to form between them, and under the guidance of the Fellowship of Sorcerers, they work toward lifting the bane. But the Mistwraith fights back by twisting their talents and turning them against each other, plunging the kingdom into a bloody conflict.
Read an excerpt of The Curse of the Mistwraith here. Listen to excerpts here. (Excerpts of other WoLaS books also available.)

Arc III: Alliance of Light

Forthcoming: 
Arc IV: Sword of the Canon: Book 2: Destiny's Conflict
Arc V: Song of the Mysteries

The Curse of the Mistwraith

The Mistwraith has blanketed the world in dank fog for five centuries. But those who believe the Mad Prophet’s words keep faith that a descendant of the long ago banished high kings will come from another world to defeat it. Arithon, the son of a pirate-king, has been trained to be a Master of Shadows but his hearts desire is to be a bard. Crown-prince Lysaer has been denied the teaching needed to skillfully wield his powers of light, but is schooled in way of politics and leadership. Despite having the same mother, these princes have been raised as enemies and their personal passions may plunge the very world which is their destiny to save into even deadlier conflicts.

The Curse of the Mistwraith sets the stage for The WarS of Light and Shadow series which is finally being re-released in North America. This is the most unique storyline I’ve ever read that falls within the realm of traditional high fantasy. (In fact, it’s so good that it’s made it tougher for other books to get five stars from me.)

Janny Wurts is also a famous fantasy artist and it’s as if she uses those same artistic instincts for light and color to create these awe-inspiring tales. She combines vibrant words with a unique prose that paints a story as much as tells a tale. Her writing has a spellbinding elegance that works perfectly for a fantasy story. This world and story is so life-like, that it easily felt like I was really there. The system of magic is very detailed and believable, but still inspires that sense of wonder. The characters are so endearing that their tragedies are truly heart-wrenching and their triumphs heart-warming.

Consider yourself warned; this series requires more commitment than the usual big epics, but its well-worth it and then some. I’m chomping at the bit to start the next book, Ships of Merior, and I know I’ll fondly miss this world and these people when it’s over. Fantasy doesn’t get any more captivating than this, which is a good thing because if it did, I might not be able to bring myself back to reality!
—Greg Hersom

The Curse of the Mistwraith

The Curse of the Mistwraith took me completely by surprise. Based on (obviously mistaken) assumptions, I expected something completely different — epic fantasy, yes, but nothing even close to the gorgeous prose and astounding depth I found in this novel.

The plot of this story is hard to summarize, partly because there are so many twists and turns that it's almost impossible not to run into spoiler territory very quickly. Two half-brothers, Arithon and Lysaer, are on opposite sides of a conflict that spans generations. As they become involved in the struggle against the Mistwraith that keeps the world of Athera in a stranglehold, the reader quickly realizes that the half-brothers' conflict doesn't just go back generations, but literally ages.

The Curse of the Mistwraith is old-fashioned, in a good way: rather than the standard cotton-candy fantasy tomes you find nowadays, here's a book that requires the reader's full attention and engages it on several levels, from the gorgeous prose to the elegant narrative structure to the real challenge of trying to understand many of the characters' motivations.

There aren't many wasted words in this book. I can't remember the last time I had to go back and re-read sections so many times, both from a genuine desire not to miss too many details, and for the sheer pleasure of taking in the richness of the prose again.

Best of all, this is only book one of a longer series, some of which is still in the process of being written. The Curse of the Mistwraith is (thankfully) a solid story on its own, not to say several stories — but at least it has a beginning, an end and no cliffhangers. At the same time, it sows a great many seeds and gives a lot of hints, some more oblique than others, about what will happen in the future. You'll be satisfied by the ending, but at the same time, you'll want more.

The one thing that had me balancing between giving it four stars or five is that, for a long time, I found it hard to connect with the majority of the characters. There are very few ordinary people in this book, not much light dialogue or humor, and early on it was hard for me to think of the characters as actual people. Especially the early part of the book consists of several tableaux in which everyone and everything is larger than life. However, as you read on, you discover that what initially seemed a weakness has a very solid motivation... and as you get into the last 100 or so pages of The Curse of the Mistwraith, the characters will have become very real and understandable. I had to wait a day or so to let the ending of this story sink in before attempting to write about it.

I don't want to hammer home the "old-fashioned" word (which, again, is meant in a very good way here), but I found myself imagining a different fantasy genre... one in which most of the last 30 years hadn't happened. When hearing the word "fantasy," people wouldn't immediately think Harry Potter or sexy vampires or 12 book series that never end. In such a world, you can probably still find an innocent reader, brand new to the genre, who just finished reading The Lord of the Rings and is now eagerly looking for something that has similar depth and elegance. If I were to make a reading list for such a hypothetical reader, The Curse of the Mistwraith would definitely be included. —Stefan Raets

The Ships of Merior

Janny Wurts amazes me.

The Ships of Merior flawlessly continues The Wars of Light and Shadow saga. Arithon, the Master of Shadow, is on the run, which is fine by him because his perfect cover is also his heart’s desire: working as apprentice to the master-bard Halliron. Lysaer has been far from idle during Arithon’s absence. He carries on his plans to become appointed high king, courts Talera, begins the rebuilding of the ruins of Avenor, and wins over the townships to his cause of hunting down Arithon. Meanwhile, the Fellowship of Seven dangerously pursue the means to defeat the Mistwraith once and for all and to lift the curse that has Arithon and Lysaer at each others’ throats, threatening to plunge Athera into bloody war.

If there is anyone who can write more beautifully than Janny Wurts, I haven’t run across ‘em yet. Her characters are so genuine and her worlds are so life-like, it seems as if she isn’t making up these stories, but translating them onto paper as the characters relate them.

What makes Ms. Wurts's stories so "real" is her extensive knowledge regarding everything she writes about. In The Ships of Merior, she describes music in such a way that the reader can't help but realize that there truly is something magical about it. Her descriptions of shipbuilding recognize that it’s an art form as well as a practical skill. Wurts's biography states that she’s a musician and an offshore sailor, among several other remarkable achievements. What it doesn’t say is that she’s apparently a military strategist as well! The clans’ guerrilla tactics and the campaign of Lysaer’s war-host reveal the wisdom of a seasoned general.

The more books by Janny Wurts I read, the more I’m impressed by her genius. —Greg Hersom

The Ships of Merior

The Ships of Merior is the first part of Arc 2 of THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, the incomparable epic fantasy series by Janny Wurts. The novel was originally released in 1994, and has most recently been re-released by HarperCollins Voyager in a lovely mass market paperback edition, featuring brand new artwork by the author herself. This is the first US paperback edition of the novel in at least 7 years. Further novels in the series will be re-released in late 2009 and throughout 2010, in anticipation of the next novel in the series, Initiate's Trial, in late 2010.

If it's been a while since you've read the first book in the series, you'll find the important events of that novel recapped early in the novel, not in the form of a summary but rather as an integral part of the story, usually seen from a different perspective or recounted by another person. In this way, Janny Wurts refreshes her readers' memories while deepening their understanding of this many-layered story. At the same time, there are plenty of surprises in store, including some information about the Fellowship's origin that dizzyingly changes the entire perspective of the series, and some (in comparison minor) twists and shocks that are sure to make you blink.

If you enjoyed The Curse of the Mistwraith, there's simply no reason or excuse not to read The Ships of Merior. The novel features all of the many strengths of its predecessor: meticulous plotting, strong characters, attention to the smallest details of world-building, and most notably Janny Wurts' gorgeous prose. Simply put, I can't think of many fantasy authors who can rival the richness and subtlety of language that Janny Wurts deploys in her novels.

One contrast with The Curse of the Mistwraith is the amount of humor in The Ships of Merior. While the earlier book had just a few glimpses of lightheartedness, The Ships of Merior displays this side of the author more often, especially when recounting the exploits of the mad prophet Dakar early in the novel. The grimmer tone of the second half of the book is probably at least in part due to the fact that Dakar spends much of it drunk to the point of unconsciousness.

The Ships of Merior and Warhost of Vastmark, the second book in this Arc of THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, were originally envisioned (and published) as one very large novel, but have been split into two titles in many editions. Fortunately, one of Janny Wurts' hallmarks is a midpoint climax, halfway through each novel — which in this case has the happy result of creating an unforgettable ending in the last chapters of The Ships of Merior (which were originally the middle chapters of the complete Arc 2). The book ends on an unmitigated nail-biter that left me unable to stop reading until the very end, and eager to get into Warhost of Vastmark as soon as possible. —Stefan Raets

Warhost of Vastmark

Cheers to Ms. Wurts!

The Mistswraith’s curse has taken hold of Prince Lysaer’s inherited mistrusts and blinded him into the belief that his step-brother, Arithon the Master of Shadow, can be anything other than evil and must, at all costs, be exterminated. Lysaer’s warhost relentlessly pursues Arithon and the clans to the craggy wastes of Vastmark. But Lysaer may soon learn the hard lesson that a wolf is most dangerous when cornered.

The Wars of Light and Shadow saga is one of the most original epic fantasies — and uniquely written stories — I’ve ever read. Janny Wurts is an amazing author who not only writes with an elegant prose that is easily identifiable as her very own, but her themes break new ground. At the heart of this story is a conflict of obsessions: Lysaer’s unyielding dedication for justice and Arithon’s unreserved compassion — two ideals which should go hand-and-hand but, when put at fanatical odds, a world can be devastated.

If you’ve read the first two books, The Curse of the Mistwraith and Ships of Merior, I’m sure you’re already hooked just like I am. Warhost of Vastmark will only further fuel your enthusiasm.

Since my own personal taste in fantasy usually leans toward darker and grittier stories (and probably because I’ve gotten a little cynical in my middle-age), I’ve become rather callous about the characters in most books I read. Cheers to Ms. Wurts! She has managed to stir up in me a compassion for fictionalcharacters that I have not felt in quite some time. —Greg Hersom

Warhost of Vastmark

Warhost of Vastmark by Janny Wurts takes up directly where The Ships of Merior left off. The two books are definitely meant to be read back to back — together they comprise Arc 2 of the author's THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW series, and some editions actually combine both of them in one cover.

It's hard to give many details of the story without throwing in spoilers for The Ships of Merior, so I'll just say that the ongoing conflict between Arithon and Lysaer, which reached a seeming climax at the end of The Ships of Merior, actually balloons to even larger proportions and reaches a stunning high point at the end of the novel. The book contains a hilarious moment of hijinx (the "triple theft") that's so carefully set up and brilliantly executed you'll want to re-read the chapter. Some characters show some (to me at least) unexpected changes, and some previously minor characters develop into very fascinating pieces of the puzzle.

While the story progresses, we also learn more about the world of Athera, its past, and the various groups and factions that make this such a complex and intriguing fantasy universe. The odd side-effect of this slow revelation of world-building details is that you simply want to read and learn more, even as the picture gradually resolves and the story progresses. These novels all have a solid and very satisfying ending, but at the same time they definitely leave the reader hungry for more.

Janny Wurts' novels are generally complex and challenging, and as such they require the reader's full attention. I'm sure people looking for light reading might be turned off by their rich prose and long-term plotting. However, if you're willing to give them the time they deserve, I doubt you'll be disappointed. I've rated the previous two books in this series 5 stars, and astonishingly, Warhost of Vastmark is at least as good as The Curse of the Mistwraith and The Ships of Merior. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite epic fantasies. —Stefan Raets

Fugitive Prince

Fugitive Prince was recently re-released in the UK, AUS and NZ with a new cover (see above).  It was first published in North America in 1997.

With this book Janny Wurts forays into the great battle between the cursed half-brothers Lysaer and Arithon. Lysaer, disbelieving that he is cursed and convinced of the justice of his cause, embarks on the creation of a false religion, The Alliance of Light, in order to sway the masses and realize his ends: the eradication of his brother, Arithon, and the Clans that support him. This book is the beginning of the great middle Arc III, The Alliance of Light, of The Wars of Light and Shadow, and it is the typical Wurts style of story-telling: a building of tension for the first half of the book, and then an explosion of action that pulls the reader from doing just about anything else and keeps spouses awake (“Will you please turn the light off now?”).

Central to the story are the plans of Arithon to steal Lysaer’s ships under construction at Riverton in Tysan, so that the Clans of Tysan can leave the continent and be free from the closing gauntlet of Lysaer’s Alliance of Light and the resulting slavery aboard Tysan’s commercial galleys. However, the Koriathain Prime Enchantress, Morriel, has other plans, and creates a grand conjury that will ensnare Arithon and those around him. Then there are the subplots: The Fellowship of Seven, the Princess Talith, Mearn s’Brydion, Elaira, and the cabal surrounding Lysaer.

Fugitive Prince really focuses the reader of this series on the evils of letting the ends justify the using of any means necessary to achieve them. Lysaer suffers cruelly for his own short-sightedness (though at least partially curse-induced) in pursuing this course of action, and in quite a poignant scene with the Fellowship of Seven, his terrible loss is made very clear, despite his apparent successes elsewhere. The Koriathain are shown to be so very focused on their own vision for humanity’s best interests that they will stop at nothing (and I mean, nothing) to achieve them, so this over-arching theme of the series is well explored. Like the other books in this series, Wurts is exploring the theme of might versus right, and how the winner writes history. Another theme she explores at length is the concept of personal responsibility for one’s decisions, and how that responsibility must include the willingness of a person to look beyond their own perception, and to see that they might, just might, be wrong about a few things.

As the beginning of a story arc, the reader is being set up for more. Wurts has really begun to develop her characters, and their growth is startling. I would draw the new reader’s attention to this mechanism in Wurts’ writing, because by the end of The Alliance of Light, the development is quite exceptional. So few writers make their characters change as a result of adversity, and Wurts, in my opinion, is the best there is at this important part of telling a story. In particular, watch Mearn s’Brydion, Dakar the Mad Prophet, Lirenda of the Koriathain, and Sulfin Evend. These are all supporting characters, and although the main characters are developed very nicely, it is in the supporting characters that Wurts’ skill at this is really demonstrated.

As for plot developments, watch out. There are twists and turns and ups and downs that would make expert roller-coaster designers envious. AND PAY ATTENTION, especially to the birth augury near the beginning of the book! Seemingly small details in this book (and all the others) will be dealt with down the line. There is not one wasted sentence in this entire series, which is great, because when you re-read them, you pick up the details you missed the first time when you were too busy following the main plot. Also, these are not stand-alone novels, and must be read in the order set out above (if you skip one, you will be utterly lost).

However, as pointed out by other reviewers, Wurts is not fantasy lite. This is a seven-course meal with all the trimmings, and it requires time to digest (which is why it is so good for re-reads).  If you are not an epic fantasy fan, and if you do not like prose that opens the complete vista of the English language to the reader, then this book, aye, this series, is not for you. The patient reader is handsomely rewarded, as once you learn what Wurts is doing with her style, language opens up like a new frontier full of possibilities. Tuck your napkin into your shirt collar, and dig in! You are sure to be sated by the end. —Angus Bickerton

Fugitive Prince

At book 4, The Wars of Light and Shadow is still going strong.

In Fugitive Prince, we learn just how overwhelming the Mistwraith’s curse is for the half-brothers. Years have passed, and to Lysear’s great disappointment, Arithon is still at large without a trace. With the absence of the Prince of Shadow, Lysear’s desperation intensifies to the point of justifying deplorable acts. Arithon’s strategies are ingenious, but may not prove to be quite clever enough to stay ahead of Lysear’s new alliance with the Korianni. And as if Lysear’s growing obsession to destroy Arithon was not bad enough, the meddling of the Korianni enchantresses makes the Fellowship of Sorcerers’ struggle to return the Paravians to order seem hopeless.

Fugitive Prince is the fourth door-stopper in The Wars of Light and Shadow epic — a huge, complex story with a fascinating magic system. I can think of only a handful of authors who have the skill to maintain this kind of story — let alone keep it moving forward — so for most epics, this is where I usually begin to lose interest. But Ms. Wurts is not only managing to keep me hooked — she actually kicks things up a notch in Fugitive Prince.

Most importantly, though, the characters remain the driving force behind the tale without the reader getting overwhelmed with an endless number of forgettable names. There is a constant emotional connection with the characters and the story has a feeling of “realness” that is so difficult to attain in a traditional fantasy epic. —Greg Hersom

Fugitive Prince

Fugitive Prince is the fourth novel in THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW by Janny Wurts, but because of the series' unique structure, it's actually the start of a brand new "arc" inside the overall story: book 1 comprises the first arc, books 2 and 3 together are the second arc, and the third arc consists of books 4 through 8 (the first of which is Fugitive Prince). Looking forward, the forthcoming 9th novel, Initiate's Trial, will be the first of 2 books in the 4th arc, and the 11th and final novel will also be the final arc.

If you're keeping track, all of this means that the series' 5 arcs have a nicely symmetrical 1-2-5-2-1 structure, and also that, just in case you're not familiar with this truly excellent series yet, you still have the amazing opportunity to read the first 3 arcs, which are recently all in print again, before Janny Wurts' next novel hits the shelves.

Just one of the wonderful aspects of THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW (which, in case you hadn't noticed yet, has garnered unanimous rave reviews here at Fantasy Literature) is that Janny Wurts always makes it easy to get back into the story, even if it's been a while since you've read the last novel. She does this by recapping the events from previous novels, not in a "The story so far" section at the front of the book, but much more elegantly, by including those events into the narrative, often from a different perspective, so your understanding of the series deepens at the same time. (However, if your memory is as bad as mine, and you prefer a more traditional chronological recap, this can be found in a later novel, and there's also a book by book time line available on the author's excellent website).

Fugitive Prince picks up close to the end of Warhost of Vastmark, and for fear of spoiling even the slightest bit of enjoyment for new readers, this review won't cover much in the way of plot summary. Suffice it to say that the conflict between the the half-brothers Arithon and Lysaer continues unabated. The "Alliance of Light" mentioned in the title of this third arc refers to Lysaer's coalition of mostly townborn loyalists, built around a religion and a true cult of personality centered on him, with the goal of ridding the world of Athera of both his half-brother and the last remnants of the clan-born.

Many familiar characters from earlier novels return, and several new and fascinating ones are introduced. This being the start of a new arc, the plot logically includes a bit more set-up than the previous 3 novels did, making the first half of this novel probably the weakest section of the series so far — which isn't saying much, as it still sticks head and shoulders above almost everything else in the genre. However, in the style I've more or less come to expect by now, the midway point of the novel presents a tipping point, leading to a truly excellent, hard-to-put-down second half and an exciting finale that will leave you eager to get to the next book in the series.

Janny Wurts also continues to reveal secrets and layers in THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW's improbably complex fantasy universe, this time maybe not of the truly mind-bending kind (although, that grimward scene...) but still enough to keep you on your toes — especially some casually mentioned tidbits about the Koriani enchantresses that'll add a whole new perspective to your understanding of this series. Every book in THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW will have you reconsider the previous ones in an entirely new light.

One aspect of Fugitive Prince — and the entire series — that bears emphasizing is its unique descriptions of magic. In fantasy, magic is sometimes portrayed as an almost scientifically rational process complete with systems and charts (a la Brandon Sanderson), or, at the other extreme of the scale, as unexplained and vaguely described hand-waving. To be fair, Arithon's powers sometimes lean towards the second of those options, but in Fugitive Prince you'll find a description of an elaborate spell construct by Morriel Prime that hits the perfect middle ground between the two: it's so carefully described and (for want of a better word) rational that you can practically see it in front of you, but at the same time it manages to keep the true mystery and wonder of its nature. It's simply one of the most memorable descriptions of magic I've ever encountered in fantasy. Then again, Janny Wurts' prose almost constantly hits that same level, with some of the most carefully worded and nuanced writing you'll find in the genre. While her style can be demanding on the reader, it's equally rewarding if you're willing to adjust to a level of detail and depth that's unparalleled in fantasy.

Fugitive Prince is another excellent installment in one of the best fantasy series out there. If you're not on board yet, seriously — go find a copy of The Curse of the Mistwraith now! —Stefan Raets

Grand Conspiracy

It gets harder and harder to review each subsequent novel in Janny Wurts’ excellent epic fantasy series THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW without either repeating yourself or including spoilers for earlier volumes. My previous reviews have highlighted the series’ complexity, level of detail, deep characterization, gorgeous prose, and inventive descriptions of magic. All of those positives can again be found in Grand Conspiracy, the fifth book in the overall series and second in the Alliance of Light arc.

So, what’s left to say? Grand Conspiracy will not disappoint anyone who has read the previous four novels in the series. As a matter of fact, if (like me) you felt that the previous installment, Fugitive Prince, moved more slowly than the first three books in the series, because as the first book of this five-book arc it contains more set-up than usual, you’ll probably be happy to hear that, despite some ebbs in the plot, Grand Conspiracy moves things along at a more solid pace again.

As always, you’ll also encounter a mid-novel peak in the action, followed by a relentless rush to an exciting resolution that, at the same time, sets things up effectively for Peril’s Gate, the next novel in the series. Since that’s also the middle book in the overall series (book 6 of a projected 11 novels), I’m 100% sure that it’ll be yet another memorable novel.

So, to avoid spoilers and repetition, I’ll keep this review short and simple, and leave it at that: this is another great book in what’s quickly becoming one of my favorite fantasy series. Now all the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW novels are available and in print again, and with the ninth book in its final stages of completion, you’re seriously missing out if you’re not reading what’s sure to become a classic of epic fantasy. —Stefan Raets

Peril’s Gate

Peril’s Gate picks up right where Grand Conspiracy left off: Arithon is once again on the run, pursued by an Alliance of Light army led by its Lord Commander, Sulfin Evend, and his half-brother Lysaer. The Koriani enchantresses are also still trying to capture Arithon, with Elaira forced to walk a precarious line between betraying her order and helping her beloved. In Arithon’s desperate bid to stay ahead and stay alive, he receives help from Earl Jieret’s war band, an elite force but one surely not strong enough to prevail against the vast forces of the Alliance of Light. The Fellowship of Seven is unable to lend much assistance, as they are scrambling to keep Athera from falling apart... but help may still reach Arithon from an unexpected — and maybe unwelcome — direction...

Parts of Peril’s Gate have the same level of suspense as the second half of To Ride Hell’s Chasm, which is one of my favorite standalone fantasies. In one sense, this book is one big chase scene similar to the end of Hell’s Chasm, but because these characters and this world have by now, after five previous novels in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW series, acquired so much depth and so many layers, the wild chase in Peril’s Gate has much more impact than you’d expect and may just be the most dramatic chase scene I’ve ever encountered in any medium.

Still, while the chase takes center stage, there are several sub-chapters offering glimpses of other events taking place on Athera, so the story continues to deepen even as you’re pulled along in the whirlwind of Arithon’s desperation. Most significantly, Janny Wurts describes the Fellowship’s desperate efforts to protect the planet after Morriel’s misguided actions at the end of Grand Conspiracy, but you’ll also read about the actions of Prince Kevor, Dakar and Fionn Areth, the machinations of the Koriani enchantresses, and several others.

The final quarter of the book contains one of the most grueling scenes in the series so far, as Arithon is forced to relive the most traumatizing events in his past, this time experiencing them from more than just his own perspective. Janny Wurts doesn’t pull any punches describing this truly harrowing experience, which at times is so intense it may give readers a visceral reaction. At the same time, this unforgettable finale shows Arithon growing and transcending his suffering in an almost mystical way, giving Peril’s Gate a spiritual dimension that’s quite unlike anything I’ve encountered in fantasy before.

There are other chapters and scenes in this book that are simply unforgettable, making Peril’s Gate one of the strongest installments in the series so far. You’ll find true heroism and heartbreaking sacrifice in the chapters focusing on the Companions as they try to protect their liege Arithon. You’ll also learn much more about Athera and its history. Finally, even though you won’t find an “Ars Arcanum” section at the back of these books, there are several highly intricate magic systems displayed in these novels, and Peril’s Gate begins to show their differences as well the real depth behind them for the first time.

While the first two novels in the Alliance of Light arc of this series contained a bit more set-up, all the pieces are now firmly in place in Peril’s Gate, resulting in a more rewarding novel that doesn’t let up in pace or intensity until you’ve turned the final page. Not only is this one of the strongest books in the series so far, it’s also one of the most memorable fantasy novels I’ve ever read. Highly recommended.
—Stefan Raets

Traitor's Knot

Once again, Janny Wurts keeps the reader spellbound with a fantasy that is so rich and complex that the detail rivals our own world. This is no sword-and-sorcery schlock, nor is it another Tolkien imitation. Rather, it is world-building on the scale of Tolkien, but with originality that is Wurts' own. Like Tolkien and other great fantasy writers (Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin), these books, because of the complexity of the plot and sub-plots, cannot stand alone.

This is the penultimate book in the Alliance of Light Arc of the series, and sets up the finale of the Arc with, Stormed Fortress, which is available in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. There is, as yet, no North American publisher with the demise of Meisha Merlin earlier this year.

Some have complained that the writing is too complex, but that is why I like this series. It is adult-level, intelligent fantasy, with a deep moral core to the story, and an excellent illustration of how might is not always, and in fact is rarely, right. Some have called the writing archaic and over-descriptive, but when world-building, description is essential. And the writing is artistic, not archaic. It does not display the laziness of modern novelists. This being said, Janny Wurts could, I think, have written this Arc in fewer novels, however, the complex sub-plots would have not been given proper attention, and the wonderful realism and tapestry-feel that you get from this series would have suffered.

There are some excellent parallels between Lysaer's Alliance of Light and George W. Bush's War on Terror.

The whole series is five star, so it is unfair to rate any one book. They do not stand alone, because the reader needs the previous novels to orient them in the current one.

I strongly recommend The Wars of Light and Shadow to the fantasy fan who is interested in something other than a light escape. Start with Curse of the Mistwraith, and work your way through all the books or you will be lost. Also, this ensures that there is lots of wonderful and inspired writing for the discerning reader to enjoy. It still boggles my mind that we in North America have been denied a decent marketing of this series, which is easily the best ongoing series in modern epic fantasy. When will the publishing houses wake up, back this author, and market an amazing catalogue of work? If they do, the series will make them money, because it is GREAT! —Angus Bickerton

Traitor's Knot

With every new book in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW series by Janny Wurts, it gets harder and harder to write a review without either including massive spoilers for previous volumes or simply repeating the praise already heaped on it in earlier reviews. There are only so many variations on “gorgeous prose,” “intricate world-building,” “deep characterization,” “the books are consistently excellent” and so on. It’s especially hard to avoid spoilers for Traitor’s Knot, given that it’s the fourth book in a five book “arc”, and that arc itself is the third of five such arcs within the series.

Previous volumes in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW series often included a subtle way to review past events woven into the actual story, often seen from a new perspective or with an added new twist. Traitor’s Knot is different in that it instead starts off with a separate “Story Time Line — What Has Gone Before” section, summarizing the main events in the series from the start of The Curse of the Mistwraith right up to the end of Peril’s Gate. While this is a departure from previous volumes, it’s also perfectly understandable because, by now, Janny Wurts has ratcheted up the tension so high that pausing the story to look back at the past would break the inexorable momentum she has been building up throughout this arc. If it’s been a while since you read the previous books, definitely check out the time line; if not, dive right into the story, which picks up right where Peril’s Gate left off.

As a middle book in a series, Traitor’s Knot is almost flawless: it advances the story significantly, reveals meaningful new details and hidden layers, contains a few unforgettable scenes, and has an ending that will have you screaming for the next book. Regarding those unforgettable scenes: I don’t want to go into too much detail to avoid spoilers, but two specific sub-chapters towards the end of this novel are so harrowing that it’s almost impossible to appreciate them fully on the first reading. If you’re a reader who’s been following these characters closely, you’re in for a wild ride that will push you past the boundaries of comfort.

After all, despite being the story of a world (not to say, several worlds) and its past and future, on another level this series is also a most private tale of familial strife, love and friendship. The players between them may hold the keys to the future of this world, but they’re still very human, and Janny Wurts never lets you forget this. Both dimensions are balanced throughout the series, but maybe never more so than in the breathless finale of Traitor’s Knot.

Having now read seven books in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, I consider it one of my favorite fantasy series ever, and Traitor’s Knot is yet another brilliant part of it. If you’re not reading these books yet, you’re missing out on one of the most well-rounded fantasy epics ever. —Stefan Raets

Stormed Fortress

Wow — This book has it all: intrigue, suspense, epic battles, romance, tragedy, bravery, evil, and incredible strength. The trouble is that I can hardly talk about the contents without creating spoilers.

This is the last book in The Alliance of Light, which is the third story arc in The Wars of Light and Shadow, and as a result a lot of sub-plots are wound up, and in a way that makes the faithful reader of this series almost explode with each turn of the page. This is easily the strongest book of The Alliance of Light arc.  So many loose threads are wrapped up and woven into the tapestry of this series that the reader feels somewhat sated at the end, yet enough is left undone that leaves the reader eagerly awaiting the beginning of Arc IV (as yet untitled).  The Wars of Light and Shadow is an epic series with five story arcs. Arc IV and V remain, and will likely total three books (by the author’s estimation), to add to the eight already released in this series.

What I find most thrilling about Stormed Fortress, and the series as a whole, is that it is in no way predictable. The villains in this series are multi-dimensional, believe themselves to be on the side of right, and at times are sympathetic. Also, the so-called good guys are not necessarily good all the time. The conflict is a very human one, and is therefore very honest. There is no Dark Lord here, but rather the much more ordinary and everyday human evil, which is perhaps much harder to face. As a result, this read is not escapism, but it is a book (and a series) that makes you better for having read it.

Wurts uses the siege of the s’Brydion fortress of Alestron to focus the conflict between the half-brothers Arithon and Lysaer in such a manner that the conflict really becomes a battle inside all of the individual characters, not just the brothers. This is Wurts’ main strength. Her characters are all distinct, and do not remain static from book to book in this long a series, which is a complaint that I have about much epic fantasy. Also, her writing is a rich weaving of words that create a tapestry that is evocative of a time when the reading world was not dumbed-down by text-messaging, e-language and reality television.  Her prose is beautiful and multi-layered, her command of the written word is inspiring, and her world-building is unparalleled.

Do not read this book as a stand alone. If you have not read any in the series yet, start with The Curse of the Mistwraith, as The Wars of Light and Shadow is now at eight novels, and it is complex and full of sub-plots and developments that require the series to be read as a whole.  It is truly epic fantasy that tackles issues of personal and societal morality, and it is not light sword-and-sorcery fluff. There is even an obvious and yet unintentional parallel with current events in our world, which shows how history so easily repeats itself. To the reader who has not started this series, I am envious of the great first-time reading that you will enjoy. A fabulous book, well worth the overseas shipping (I paid about $30.00 for thebook including shipping through amazon.co.uk). 5 stars! —Angus Bickerton

Stormed Fortress

Stormed Fortress is book 5 in the second arc of The Wars of Light and Shadow.
For long time fans of Ms. Wurts this represents a significant closure of many different facets of a series that has been many years in the crafting. This is not a starting point in the series despite a good summation of the previous books at the beginning.

Ms. Wurts has been developing a running conflict between the two half-brothers Arithon and Lysaer which has been exacerbated by a magical curse to ensure their enmity and that their cooperation doesn’t allow for a complete solution to much of the world’s problems. The conflict finds a significant culmination as allies of Arithon are exposed for the role they have played in undermining Lysaer’s interests. The results of this major engagement and the events leading up to it are the meat of the story.

The more important undercurrent of Stormed Fortress is a continuation of Wurts’ discussion of how faults and character weaknesses can be exploited. This has been an on-going issue throughout the story, but it rises as a major subplot when characters are repeatedly twisted into actions and situations not of their choosing because of their own flaws. This leads to some really interesting examination of how our purest motivations can be twisted entirely out of the scope of our intent.

Stormed Fortress represents a very acceptable resting place in the story, but it is far from the end. If you have enjoyed The Wars of Light and Shadow thus far, then that’s not a bad thing. Many important seemingly underdeveloped storylines are brought to a successful conclusion and there are also sweeping changes affected on many of the steady supporting characters. Some of this is sad, but other changes, and the comeuppance that certain factions endure, are gloriously satisfying.

What I enjoyed most in the story has been the evolution of Sulfin Evend. A central figure to the forces of the opposition to the protagonist, his evolution from blinded fanatic to enlightened, knowing catalyst in support of the good in his twisted master, has been very well done. This is not a simple wave of the wand from bad guy to good guy, but a knowing, painful transition between ignorance and knowledge. Great stuff.

The writing is very vocabulary intensive. Don’t expect weak descriptive terms that are used over and over again. Ms. Wurts doesn’t skimp in trying to give description to experience and events that would normally defy the attempt. How do you describe the breath-taking harmony of a musically based magical event that affects an entire battlefield? Well, she does.

Stormed Fortress has been worth the wait and seeds a happy anticipation of what is still to come.
—John Hulet

Stormed Fortress

Stormed Fortress is the eighth novel in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW series by Janny Wurts, and the fifth and final novel in the Alliance of Light sub-arc. I’ve reviewed every novel in the series so far, and all of those reviews have been extremely positive, so by now it’s probably no secret that I’m a huge fan of these books and their author. That being said, Stormed Fortress is an outstanding novel even by the incredibly high standards of this series.

The conflict between the half-brothers Lysaer and Arithon continues unabated. The fortress mentioned in the book’s title is Alestron, home of the s’Brydion family which has played such a large and complex role in the conflict between Lysaer, the false avatar of the Light, and Arithon, the Master of Shadow. Lysaer leads the forces of his Alliance of Light to the s’Brydions’ doorstep, and through no fault of his own Arithon is drawn there too, which sets up the confrontation between the two half-brothers that’s been brewing throughout this arc.

Plot threads that were introduced four books ago at the start of the Alliance of Light arc come to fruition in Stormed Fortress. All the setup that took place in the earlier books pays off here, from Arithon’s involuntary doppelganger Fionn Areth to Lysaer’s complex and fascinating henchman Sulfin Evend. The Koriathain continue to plot, with Arithon’s love interest Elaira caught in the middle, and the Fellowship of Seven balances its long-term duties and goals with the immediate danger posed to the key players in this story.

As you’d expect from the title, a siege plays an important part in the plot of Stormed Fortress. And as people who are familiar with Janny Wurts would probably expect, the author describes this siege in a way that’s second to none. Just like the previous book in the series contained a description of a necromantic ritual that simply blew every other instance of necromancy in fantasy out of the water in terms of depth and attention to detail, what we get in Stormed Fortress is almost the platonic ideal of the description of a siege. The tension is practically unbearable, not in the least because the author manages to maintain it for hundreds of pages and describes it from various points of view, from the common soldier on up:

“Let us do what we can for your people.” Hard-set, dedicated to practical mercy, Talvish shouldered his captaincy. He was no sorcerer, no musician, no blood-born seer stung by the vista of far-sighted consequence. He accepted that he had naught else to give but the conviction of human resolve.

The amazing thing about this series is that it’s incredibly complex, but in a completely different way than you’d expect based on its size. Writing even a basic summary of the state of affairs at the end of this eighth novel would take up several pages. Janny Wurts achieves this level of complexity with a relatively small cast of characters, as opposed to series like Steven Erikson’s MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN, which features huge numbers of characters and races. With Janny Wurts, the complexity lies instead in the web of motivations that drives each of her characters, both as individuals and as part of whatever group or faction they belong to. Before I started reading this series, I was told that “it doesn’t sprawl, it deepens” — and now, after having read everything but the newest novel Initiate’s Trial, I understand completely what was meant by this: the story that’s being told here is essentially the same as the one we started out with at the beginning of The Curse of the Mistwraith, but throughout the series the author continues to reveal additional layers, reposition the markers, and explore the characters’ relationships and Athera’s deepest mysteries in ever-increasing depth. It’s no wonder that this is one of those series people end up reading and re-reading over and over.

I’m starting to get to the point where I will buy extra copies of The Curse of the Mistwraith, the first book in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, to hand out to fantasy fans who haven’t discovered the series yet. It’s simply incomprehensible to me that more people aren’t reading these books. The entire series is back in print in the U.S., and the latest book in the series, Initiate’s Trial, is coming out today, so if you are looking for an intellectually challenging but incredibly rewarding fantasy series to read, this is a great time to get started. —Stefan Raets

Initiate’s Trial

Janny Wurts’s latest novel in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, Initiate’s Trial, is another rock-solid installment in what has become one of my favorite series. Janny’s use of the English language, her ability to sculpt characters with concepts and characteristics that make them live and her continuing commitment to solid storytelling make her work some of the best ever. Initiate’s Trial is a perfect example of why her books are always worth the wait.

As often happens in a series, there are elements of the plot that have happened in between books. In this case, Arithon has been placed under the custody of the Koriathian Sisterhood, loathsome spiders, to continue the process of freeing Athera from the lasting threat of the Mistwraith. Janny does a superlative job of not just describing the process that it takes to do this, but also how the lingering effects of his complete loss of memory enable him to develop his skills in other ways. It’s like the way that a person deprived of a primary sense, like sight, will often find that their other senses become sharper as their use is increased to compensate. Beautiful, lyrical descriptive efforts, such as the way Wurts envisions Arithon’s use of his innate skills as Masterbard and skilled sorcerer to complete such a peril-fraught task even without his full training and heritage to fall back on, are what make this series something special.

For Lysaer, the imprisonment of Arithon has bought his centuries of peace from the insidious influence of the Mistwraith’s curse. The stark, shocking realization that he underwent previously has carried over and he has distanced himself from the religion that he created to hunt and hound his nemesis and half-brother. The story of Lysaer has always been tragic and his life as the Mayor of Etarra has clearly not been satisfying, but I am led to respect him to a certain degree because he has realized the false nature and inherent evil of the political/religious cult that he created. Yet I loathe him still for being too cowardly to challenge and bring down the false priests and religious bigots who have overtaken his creation.

Inject into this caustic mix the ongoing feud between the Fellowship sorcerers who are tied at every turn as they seem to be outmaneuvered over and over again by the slimy and ruthless Prime Matriarch of the Koriathian. These overburdened, morally pure heroes never can seem to get ahead. I am left in awe of the fortitude that Sethvir shows as he reads the events of the world, at times powerless to intervene despite the incredible horrors that are being perpetrated on innocents. There are bright moments, things like Asandir’s continued role as Kingmaker, responsible for selecting and empowering the heirs to the Kingdoms and the awakening of the grand mysteries.

Initiate’s Trial is full of wonderful side stories as well. The youthful exuberance of young Clanmembers from Rathain who are bent on saving their liege lord, the humorous events surrounding the attempted execution of Arithon and his newly won friend, and finally the heart-wrenching service of the heir of Sulfin Event and her unstinting desire to save Lysaer from himself at any personal cost she must bear. These are examples of the moral fortitude and at times misplaced loyalties that have been the hallmark of the ethical questions that Janny Wurts has made a wonderful underlying theme of this series. Is misguided loyalty and service in fact evil when it enables bad choices to go unpunished? Such great ideas to consider, amid a story filled with action and adventure.

I am a die-hard fan of Janny Wurts and I love this series. If you are just starting with The Curse of the Mistwraith or you are returning to the world of Athera after a break, I can assure you that this latest book is worth reading. This is epic high fantasy at its finest and immersing yourself in this world of beauty, magic and characters that are both real and painfully flawed is simply a joy. I can’t wait for the next book. —John Hulet