Lorna Freeman
COVENANTS: A Borderlands Novel
Lorna Freeman
ROC 2004
Pb 548 pages
ISBN
0-451-45980-6
A quest across the land and into magic, anthropomorphism style. I like this
book—the main character grows and explores, and learns about himself and the
world around him.
A human named Rabbit grew up on the wrong side of the Border where animals and
trees walk on two legs and have intelligent conversations. Apprenticed to a
[secretly evil] mage, Rabbit runs away, over to the human side of the Border
where he tries to pretend he’s a nobody soldier in the Royal Army. This works
for five years until his past catches up with him and Lieutenant Lord Rabbit Ibn
Chause e Flavan has to admit that he is a mage and a noble, heir to the kingdom
of Iversterre. It all begins when, as scout for his troupe, he has to make a
covenant with a wandering Faena to get his men unlost. What comes after is a
journey into the unknown, full of weirdness, challenge [lots of personal
conflicts], danger, and a murder mystery. Nobles in the royal city of Iversly
are paying for poaching in the Borderlands [sparking rumors of war with that
land], selling what they smuggle to a neighboring country [that would just as
soon invade Iversterre], and using the profits to foment rebellion in their own
kingdom. King Jusson needs his cousin Rabbit as well as Rabbit’s comrades at
arms, even when Rabbit accidentally turns his friends into animals [Captain
Suiden for example, is a large obsidian dragon]. Rabbit not only helps put down
the rebellion in Iversterre he then accompanies Ambassador Laurel Faena [a
mountain cat with strong magic] back to the Borderlands to meet with elves.
Along the way they encounter ghosts, a djinn storm, and a dark mage with
incredible power.
A wonderful, well-written story full of action and adventure, highly recommended
for fans of sword & sorcery.
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