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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Satisfying Conclusion to a Great Fantasy Adventure, February 8, 2008
This book concludes the story of Valen, begun in _Flesh and Spirit_, and is as surprising, action-packed and satisfying as the first. You should probably begin with the first book which starts out strong. Valen is a difficult hero; tortured by addiction, he's had a childhood so grim that being a renegade, thief and soldier is a pleasant change. The book opens with him running from the army with fellow deserters who leave him wounded in the mud and weather on the roadside. He's taken in by a local monastery that shelters a mystery. In the meantime, battles wage between princes vying for the throne and the fanatic Harrowers whose aim is to cleanse the earth, all causing death, famine and misery.
In this installment, Valen has been recaptured by the society and family who despise him. He's one of the Pureblood Sorcerers, but has never been able to learn spells or read or abide the extremely confined lifestyle he was expected to lead. His services are sold to Osriel, The Bastard, the third Prince, who is known for his dark sorcery and for the taking of the eyes of the dead... There are secrets upon secrets, of course, and things are gradually revealed all through this book. Is Osriel a demon or the savior of the realm? Will the Cabal of the Lighthouse succeed in saving some knowledge in the Dark Ages that threaten the land if the kingdom is not settled and if the Harrowers succeed with their goals? Will the mysterious magical creatures, the Danae, whose land is also dying, aid one side or other? Will Valen survive to figure out what his destiny will be--failed, addicted sorcerer or a force for good?
There are a fine cast of characters with great histories and destinies to determine. There are plot twists galore. Treachery and conspiracies, and plots for good and evil. It was all good reading, compelling and exciting with memorable people, places and societies. I would definitely recommend both of these books.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
rich world, lovely characters, want more!, January 2, 2008
I read this book in one sitting.
The world first brought to life in Flesh and Spirit is expanded into a rich tapestry of mythos and culture in Breath and Bone. These books are populated with realistic characters that live and act in true and convincing ways. The plot, while predictable to some, is engaging. With the amount of twists and the depth of detail I hesitate to try and distill the story into so few words. However, I found the Danae world of nature and dance artistically beautiful (wish there had been more!)
You are pulled along by the experiences of Valen, at times rejoicing at his triumphs and at other times you could reach through the page and strangle the man. The story, while compete, leaves you wishing for more - another story from Valen or a new tale set in this lush world. Berg once again proves herself as one of the best Fantasy writers out there and a master of first-person prose. This is a must have for any fantasy literature collector and library.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Fantastic Conclusion..., August 16, 2008
The story began in "Flesh and Spirit", and even though Carol Berg has consistantly been one of my favorite authors, that particular novel perplexed me. It creeps along for a few hundred pages before getting some footing and even then, you can tell there are "great things to come", only there's much to slog through before we get to that point. The end seems poised for all to come together in the second (and final) novel.
And it does! Where the first book floundered as it tried to establish its "world" and character motives, this one simply flies. There are so many twists, turns and surprises that it keeps you glued to the pages. I had trouble putting it down and blazed through it in a single day. She ties up all the loose threads nicely, and even though the ending leaves some questions to be answered, it is overall a very entertaining read.
My main complaints with this novel are few. Mainly dealing with the main character's obession with Jullian. I realize they had struck a friendship over the first book but it didn't seem like the kind of relationship that would drive such a blindsided obsession as Valen has over the boy's safety and so forth. There are a few more minor quibbles, that are just that - minor.
If you are looking for some great fantasy, do grab this one and its previous title, "Flesh and Spirit".
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