Sileria is one of the oldest nations/civilizations in Resnick's rich fantasy world. Its people are bent to the yoke of foreign invaders because of their inability to unite forces against a common enemy. The peasants don't get along with the fire mages don't get along with the water lords, who don't get along with anybody else. Uniting a Silerian rebellion requires several supporting conspiracies, romantic entaglements, blood feuds and massacres. The two characters that really leap from the pages are Tensen and Josarian, both lower caste men with heart-shattering pasts. The principle women, Mirabar and Elelar struggle against their stereotypical roles.

Anyone in the mood for a good rebellion story.

The characterization of Tansen and Josarian. The women I could really care less one way or the other, which is a surprise, as I am very much a fan of strong female characters in fantasy.

Elelar's character bugged the be-jeebers out of me. Could she be any more the stereotype? Yes...if she wasn't sleeping around for a cause, she could be, but that's about it.

Run out and buy the next book of the series. Amazing hook.

Like grabbing up two swords of my own and joining Josarian's crusade.

It's a richly constructed world and civilization, with believable feuds and animosities between the different levels of society.

The female characters chaffed me a bit.

If you're looking for a book that ignites the human spirit, this is it. It's powerful and compelling in the way only a book about freedom can be, but it makes you care about the characters first so that you want them to be free as much as they want it for themselves.

Anyone who has trouble creating sympathetic male characters could learn a few things from Resnick (just don't take any notes on creating likeable females...)

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Created May 15, 2007 at 1:52pm • Submit your own review...