Russell, Sean
THE SHADOW ROADS
Sean Russell
EOS/Harper Collins 2004
Hb 433 pages
ISBN#
0-380-97491-6
Third in the Swan's War Trilogy, this is
only for readers of Russell's THE ONE KINGDOM and ISLE OF
BATTLE. Where the first book sweeps the reader into a slow,
mysterious story, and the second captures the imagination with
horror, this third book culminates in a pounding frenzy as the
children of Wyrr throw the land between the mountains into a
chaotic war. And, we finally get a clearer understanding of why
the trilogy is called Swan's War: Long ago there was once a
black swan named Meer who knew two sorcerers--Tusival and
Mea'chi. Tusival "was full of life," though Mea'chi "was
wounded by living." Eventually Mea'chi became known as Death.
He tried to take the swan Meer but Tusival prevented him. Death
then taunted the immortal pair and eventually tricked Meer into
a bargain where during the day she would be human so she could
know the love of Tusival. Three children were born to them: two
human boys--Wyrr and Aillyn--and a swan/girl named Sianon [no,
this is not the same Sianon who took Lady Elise Wills but an
aunt by the same name]. Death then stole the girl/swan Sianon.
Tusival tried to get her back to no avail. So Tusival sealed
Death into his own kingdom away from the living, then Death took
Tusival. But all these long years later, the swan Meer still
wants her daughter back. She it was who woke Caibre, son of
Wyrr, thus setting in motion the Swan's War.
Now the spell around Death is breaking
down. He has sent minions into the land of the living. Death
sends a spell-book to Caibre (also known as Hafydd and sometimes
known as Sir Eremon). This spell-book will aid Caibre in taking
over the land of the living and allow Death out of his kingdom.
But this spell needs to be preformed over the body of Wyrr
(asleep but not dead somewhere in the River Wynnd). So it is a
race for the children of Wyrr to see who can get to their
father's resting place first--the one who wants to kill him or
the two who wish to prevent this catastrophe.
Meanwhile, the war between the Renne and
the Wills continues, and it's mightily confusing for all
concerned because several noblemen change sides--some for greed
and others who realize their real enemy is Hafydd. It's a
deadly game full of hatred bent on revenge not only for the
mortals but the immortals as well.
THE SHADOW ROADS follows four groups of
people through hidden paths and much danger. If you haven't
recently read books One and Two, it is recommended that you do
or you could end up as confused and lost as the poor characters
trapped in this horrific war. The characterization and plotting
are grand, but they are quite thick. The biggest stumbling
block for this reader was the fact that Wyrr's sister and
daughter have the same name (and this point wasn't emphasized by
the author--the reader has to figure that out on his/her own).
But what prose! Again, any Sean Russell
book is worth reading just for the beauty of the prose. It is
so eloquent that the reader is sucked right into Russell's
phenomenal world without a blink. An example: "Toren rolled out
of his blankets and, barefoot, followed A'brgail. The mist had
cleared away, and a sliver of moon hung almost directly
overhead, casting a faint light. The knight led him down to the
edge of the water, where the small pebbles cast up by the river
made less noise beneath their feet. Twenty paces on he saw a
figure crouched by the water, with another standing nearby, like
a sentinel. In the water, a few feet before these two, a pale
creature of mist and moonlight. Toren could see its eyes, like
moons. Elise--for certainly it was no other--appeared to be
speaking, but Toren could not parse her speech from that of the
river. The creature slipped beneath the surface, like the moon
going down into the sea, and Elise turned and started down the
beach toward A'brgail and Toren, who had not a moment to slip
away. 'Wake everyone,' she said as she passed. 'We have rested
enough. Hafydd makes all speed.'"
Perfect balance. The Swan's War Trilogy is
recommended for fans of high fantasy. It offers a delicate
balance of all good story elements. You do not get bored
reading these books, instead, you float away with them.
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