Rating: 4 out of 5
Though in some cases, Ms Wurts’ understanding of will is one that’s too liberal for me—though Arithon’s journey was one I while wholly enjoyed and with Jaric also, it’s become more and more important to let him do things his way—, here in broad terms the journey of Jaric is one which makes sense, if only for reasons that become apparent at the end. This means that the numerous sidesteps that the main characters go through are understandable, even if the reader could prefer for Jaric to step into his inheritance.
Some parts of this book seem parallelized later in Arithon’s journey though it’s always a surprise how things exactly play out. In this too, the major difference is that sorcery can travel over water which gives both humans and demons their place to fight. How the demons have come to fear water, yet travel and battle on it for so much of this book, is an interesting note that the author has not yet described. Even without knowing the specifics, it’s possible to enjoy the other relations that come about because of these interplays.
I think this is a very good story! This book seems to suggest a specific ending for Emien, but having met so many of Ms Wurts’ characters over the years, I have to wonder if this is really so. It’s one of the many subjects that I’m looking forward to understanding better in the final instalment.
