Customer Reviews

D'Shai

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being and acrobat performing with Cirque du Soleil, as well as a big fan of science fiction, I've found this book to be one of the most accurate interpretations of the life of an acrobat. some authors seem to have no clue, but Rosenberg does a very convincing job...

My favorite Rosenberg book! The book is set in D'Shai, a land ruled by the Lord Toshtai, where the people have magical talents - kazuh. Some have the kazuh for running, others for acrobatics, swordsmanship, cooking, etc. Kami Khuzud, eldest son of a kazuh acrobat, seems to have none, but finds his talent - an undiscovered kazuh - during his investigation of his sister's death. The kazuh skills and the interaction of Kami - a peasant acrobat - with the upper classes (who can kill peasants at whim) and his acrobat troop make this tale one well worth reading.

I liked Joel Rosenberg's Guardians of the Flame series but not his others, so stumbling on D'shai a while back was a welcome surprise. This book is simply superb, as is the sequel, Hour of the Octopus. Kami, the protagonist, is likable though flawed and weaves a fascinating mystery. The setting, an eastern mythos that was a great deal of fun, was richly painted and a nice departure from the watered-down-ren-fair stuff we are too often fed. D'shai is packed full of neat little cultural commentaries and has its share of twists. I would dearly love to see Mr. Rosenberg write another in this series... and another... and another.

A well-written, light mystery set in an interesting medieval society. The opening pages introduce the notion of ka'zuh (a sort of skill-specific fugue state, achieved/earned only through long practice and skill), and the rigid class society built around that. The characters feel real, and no 'high magic' but an interesting theory of magic in the background. Good writing rounds it all out.

I first started reading Rosenberg with his Guardians of the Flame series. I enjoyed the first several books in tha series, and sought out other Rosenberg novels. I found this two book series - D'Shai and Hour of the Octopus - to be probably the most enjoyable. This fits in the genre of Fantasy Mystery - similar to David Duncan's Alchemist series. Well crafted, throughly enjoyable.

Rosenberg's books are so good I wonder why they don't have a wider audience? The worlds he creates are consistent and believable. His characters have depth. Plots in his books are always interesting, endings are satisfactory without being tied up too neatly. I have never ever regretted the time and money spent on his books. I wish I could say that for half of all the fantasy books I have ever bought and read.

This book and the follow up to it, Hour of the Octopus, are very different from his Guardian novels. The writing is more spare, but there is no lack in plot or character. Again the world is believable and the magic system consistent and also believable.

Highly recommend.

D'shai is a refreshing fantasy novel set in a land you haven't seen before. The system of magic used in the book is refreshing and new and the characterizations are engaging. I highly recommend this book.