Helpful Score: 2
...although a little disjointed. The book begins from one perspective, and moves onto another, and another, in different times and places, and towards the end of this volume, brings them mostly together. I did not care much for the writing style, as it seemed forcedly descriptive most of the time, though a few of the chapters seemed to spontaneously flow incredibly easily. I honestly would not have finished this book save for the intriguing storyline.
A baby prince is born without magic-also known as Life in the world of this series. As such, he is condemned as Dead by society, and therefore condemned to death. He is the first of many babies who suddenly are born Dead; without magic. The law of the land is that the Dead may not be suffered to live, or else they might procreate and in time, be the downfall of all magic through their breeding. However, some parents refuse to give up their children to the deathwatch, and instead flee with or hide them, thereby breaking the law, for which punishment is severe. A prophecy given to the Church, a major power in the world, cryptically warns each new Bishop that something dead, brought to life, will bring the end of the world. The story revolves around multiple main characters; the Bishop, the Catalyst (a priest born with a rare magic that can enhance the magic of others and who posesses a keen knack for mathematics), and the Dead (a young boy whose mother fled from the Church with her baby, who was born without magic). Through a series of events, the characters are brought into play in a plot that does not seem originally to be related to itself, but somehow twists into something larger than all of them.
A baby prince is born without magic-also known as Life in the world of this series. As such, he is condemned as Dead by society, and therefore condemned to death. He is the first of many babies who suddenly are born Dead; without magic. The law of the land is that the Dead may not be suffered to live, or else they might procreate and in time, be the downfall of all magic through their breeding. However, some parents refuse to give up their children to the deathwatch, and instead flee with or hide them, thereby breaking the law, for which punishment is severe. A prophecy given to the Church, a major power in the world, cryptically warns each new Bishop that something dead, brought to life, will bring the end of the world. The story revolves around multiple main characters; the Bishop, the Catalyst (a priest born with a rare magic that can enhance the magic of others and who posesses a keen knack for mathematics), and the Dead (a young boy whose mother fled from the Church with her baby, who was born without magic). Through a series of events, the characters are brought into play in a plot that does not seem originally to be related to itself, but somehow twists into something larger than all of them.
This series was an entertaining read.
Excellent Trilogy
Outlawed by the mage-priests of Thimhallen since the Iron Wars, the Ninth Mystery, called Technology, has survived only among society's outcasts until a young man born without magic and a priest who is a catalyst of magical energy form an alliance that shakes their complacent and stagnant world. The authors of the "Dragonlance" series again demonstrate their talent for vivid world-crafting and strong characterization in a novel that will appeal to fans of epic fantasy.
Outlawed by the mage-priests of Thimhallen since the Iron Wars, the Ninth Mystery, called Technology, has survived only among society's outcasts until a young man born without magic and a priest who is a catalyst of magical energy form an alliance that shakes their complacent and stagnant world. The authors of the "Dragonlance" series again demonstrate their talent for vivid world-crafting and strong characterization in a novel that will appeal to fans of epic fantasy.
Jefferson N. (Jefferson) reviewed Forging the Darksword (Darksword, Bk 1) on + 170 more book reviews
In a world of magic, one child is born without it, and his presence could spell the doom of his world. When he grows to adulthood, he teams with a priest to find a way to bring justice to this world where the most magical rule. And to do so...the Darksword which absorbs magic is born. This is a very imaginative new fantasy series that was the first to follow the Dragonlance Chronicles by the same authors. It's worth a shot. Give it a read.
