Roberson, Jennifer
SHAPECHANGERS
Jennifer Roberson
Daw 1984
PB 221pgs
ISBN# 0-88677-140-4
Jennifer Roberson
Daw 1984
PB 221pgs
ISBN# 0-88677-140-4
THE SONG OF
HOMANA
Jennifer Roberson
DAW 1985
PB 352 pgs
ISBN# 0-88677-434-9
This story is for sword and sorcery fans. Ms.
Roberson's CHRONICLES OF THE CHEYSULI goes on for at least eight books, but
these are the first two, and they set the scene. SHAPECHANGERS and THE SONG
OF HOMANA are being reviewed here together because they actually are one story
in two volumes about a race of people who can change their shape into animal
form--a specific animal for each person. So the story goes: the Cheysuli used
to shapechange to different forms long ago, but now the old blood is lost, the
blood of the Firstborn. The Cheysuli are barely surviving the qu'mahlin, the Homanan king's
attempt at exterminating the entire race of Cheysuli. Those not born gifted
believe the Cheysuli are demons. Not only can Cheysuli change their shape,
they also converse with their lir--[an animal spiritually bonded to a
specific Cheysuli warrior. Example: one warrior has a wolf lir; when he
shapechanges, it is into the form of a wolf. The warrior gifted with a hawk
lir shapechanges into a hawk. Note: Cheysuli warriors cannot live without
their lir.].
SHAPECHANGERS begins the saga with the story of
Alix, daughter of a simple woodland crofter, or so she has been raised to
believe. As the story unfolds, Alix discovers she is actually the king's
granddaughter and she is tainted with demon's blood. Apparently her mother
ran off with her father's Cheysuli liegeman, thus angering the king so that he
began the qu'mahlin to rid the world of all Cheysuli. Alix stumbles
onto this fantastic story when she is stolen by a Cheysuli warrior who needs a
mate--Shaine's qu'mahlin has left few Cheysuli and these warriors are
worried that they will die out. Unfortunately for this warrior (Finn), he is
told by his lir about Alix's heritage that he cannot have her. Alix has the
old blood and is meant for another, Finn's half-brother Duncan. The Cheysuli
take their prophecy very seriously, what they call their tahlmorra,
which reads: "One day a man of all blood shall unite, in peace, two magical
races and four warring realms," thus all action is aimed at achieving this
prophecy. And for a man of all blood to be born, Alix must begin the line by
taking Duncan as her mate. But this is not what Alix wants. She's in love
with the prince of Homana--Carillion. Carillion has his own problems,
however, because that other magic race, the Ihlini are moving against the
Homanans. Ihlini magic is different from the Cheysuli's, it is evil. If Alix
is to save the man she loves, she must accept that she is Cheysuli and learn
how to shapechange.
THE SONG OF HOMANA continues "five years later"
after the end of the first book. Exiled Prince Carillion returns secretly to
his homeland with his Cheysuli liegeman Finn. They are joined by a harper
with a magic of his own--he can conjure images in people's minds with his
music. As he travels, singing The Song of Homana, he brings men to
Carillion's aid for the retaking of the throne. It is quite a challenge, too,
because now seated on that throne is the strongest of the Ihlini sorcerers,
Tynstar--ruthless and power hungry.
I found this storyline a nice change of pace away
from hard sci-fi. The general idea of shapechanging into animals is fun. Ms.
Roberson's romance is fairly good. I had three problems that will keep me
from finishing the series: -1- often the hero goes into dangerous situations
alone, and when this is the prince I just can't buy that his men would
continually allow it; -2- flowery prose is fine when the main character is
female but comes across as purple when the main character is male; -3- hmmm,
now this isn't any fun: one chapter closes with a couple going into the
bedroom and the next chapter begins near the end of a battle. What happened
to all of the good stuff in-between?! All in all though, I do recommend these
books if you want to get lost in a story for awhile--they do hold your
attention. Rate them a five.
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