Customer Reviews

Days of Air and Darkness

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I don't get it: Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series has received 2,867 reviews here, and Martin's recent two books, "Game of Thrones" and "Clash of Kings," have garnered 436 reviews alone! But Katharine Kerr's eight books in the "Westlands" series to date have seen a mere 38 reviews, and seven of those are mine! I don't know if it's due to poor marketing on the part of the publisher, Bantam, or whether readers were initially put off by the first book - admittedly somewhat weak - but for whatever reason the word needs to go out that Kerr's "Westlands" books are among the best that fantasy has to offer, and a worthy rival to the works of Jordan and Martin.

While Kerr's story may lack some of the wonderful detailing that Jordan may lavish upon his work - I suspect he would have added at least 4,000 more pages had he told this tale - and Kerr's storytelling is much more understated than either his or Martin's, it certainly rivals both in terms of scope and its creation of a wondrous and living realm, and inventively surpasses them by interweaving multiple story lines over a span of generations. This may prove a difficulty for those readers used to linear plots and chronology, or those seeking instant gratification in the rewards of cause and effect - bad character does evil and is immediately punished; heroine gets kidnapped but is rescued in a timely manner - but, once I got past the first book, the shifts of plot time line have contributed richness and complexity to a story as intricate as those being spun by either author. And, while borrowing upon genre conventions such as elves and dwarves, as well as turning to celtic mythology, this is no rehashing of Arthurian legend or a Misty Mountain romp, and Kerr has created a marvelous world that is largely original and unique, populated by characters that are mature in both action and thought while avoiding the common taint of juvenile or gender stereotype.

Compared to the work overall, my complaints are rather petty. Kerr has an annoying habit at times of abandoning characters without fully, to my mind, resolving their departure from the script, as well as leaving other plot threads dangling. However, as the story is still unfolding, as well as parallely dispersed across hundreds of years, perhaps these issues will find conclusion in future volumes? Some instances of this found in earlier books were resolved in later, so I will hope that all will become clear in future. In a similar vein, Kerr really needs to provide a complete chronology and cast of characters with each book covering the entire span of her tale and encompassing all periods. As her story unfolds over centuries, with recurring shifts in time line, it becomes an at times herculean effort to remember who is who, especially when certain characters are abandoned only to reappear several volumes later. Also, I do not understand singling out the next book, "The Red Wyvern," as "Book One of the Dragon Mage," as it is obvoiusly a continuation of the story - or stories - begun in the "Westlands" books, and predicated upon the conclusion to "Days of Air and Darkness." Finally, for those of you who may note my reservation in reviewing the preceding volume to an appearance of a dragon, it seemed to work; Either my objections were overridden by the strength of the tale, or, as I have grown older, I have lost earlier powers of discrimination.

This is a great series, so stop reading Jordan and Martin over and over, or waiting for their next installments. Another wonderful world awaits you in the Westlands

I got hooked on Kerr's novels years ago. I always find that the time between volumes is too long. Often I go back and re-read at least two or three previous volumes so I know where the new book fits in. But that's not all bad; they're great to read again and again! My one criticism is the lack of a list of complete character IDs and a timeline. Because Kerr uses lots of flashback, it's difficult sometimes to remember how the characters fit into the overall story. I read the latest (?) release: "The Red Wyvren" and was somewhat disappointed that she didn't make more progress in the most recent timeframe, but chose to emphasize a much earlier time. Does this mean that another volume will be released soon? I hope so.

Katharine Kerr's novels of Deverry and the Westlands form a Gordian Knot of love & hate, sorrow & joy, and death & rebirth. Set in a beautifully conceived fantasy world, complete with Dragons and Dweomer, these novels drew me in the same way Tolkien's Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and Silmarillion still draw me back every couple of years. Unfortuanately, there are also a few slow points , (just as with Tolkien), but they don't last for long.

In my opinion, this is Kerr's best novel. Everything that has gone before was great, but this is like the climax, in the way that Dragonspell or the Dragon Revenant is the climax of the Deverry series. I love Kerr's direct approach to writing, and how the characters are being continuously carried over (Jill, Rhodry), but as one departs, their place is filled by a formerly minor character taking on a bigger role. In this way, there is no sudden breaking off and all the novels in Kerr's fantasy world of Deverry and the Westlands fit seamlessly into one another. It makes for a wonderful saga of epic proportions.

The latest in Kerr's celtic-style fantasy saga centering on Rhoddry and Jill. The story of Rhoddry Maelwaed has kept me eager for the next book in the sequel to come out. The jumping between alternate timelines is not too bad once you get used to it, and Kerr tells the story very well. I like the part about the dragon, Arzosah, becoming an ally of Rhoddry because she believes he has power over her by knowing her true name. Only thing I miss about the later books in this series is the fact Nevyn is gone. Jill is a competent Master of Aether, but will never match Nevyn.

The city of Cengarn is under siege, with armies both astral and physical massing on opposite sides of the cause of the goddess Alshandra, who seeks to prevent the birth of one fate-bound child. It falls to the dweomermaster Jill and her allies to protect Princess Carra, the child's human mother, and more important, the future foreseen for Deverry by past masters of magic. But history is built on many a foundation: as the berserker Rhodry wings his way to the battle on dragonback, he is unaware that he will soon be meeting this fight on a more personal front. Lying in wait for him is Alshandra's high priestess Raena, a dangerous sorceress and Rhodry's ancient enemy, ready to use any means to destroy him. Their confrontation could turn the tide of the siege--and change the fate of Deverry forever....

Rhodry and his new dragon ally, Arzosah, have joined forces with the dwarven axemen and are rushing to the aid of the besieged town of Cengarn. Meanwhile, within the town walls, the Princess Carra--and her precious unborn child--is under the protection of the sorcerers Jill and Dallandra who eagerly await the arrival of their allies. But Cengarn's food supplies are beginning to wand and their chances for survival look bleak. They can only survive for so long...

And as time grows ever shorter the surrounding Horsekin army, under th einstruction of the goddess Alshandra, are preparing to end the siege once and for all.Only by destroying Alshandra can there ever be peace between Horsekin and humankind. But it seems an impossible task...

Katherine Kerr's writing takes a bit of getting used to, but it's worth the effort. She approaches her stories with a Celtic storytelling mindset, which means she conveys events according to their significance to the story, as opposed to chronologically. Consequently, while the stories begin in the "present" (which is an elastic concept, anyway, in a fantasy setting), the events unfold, chapter wise, both in the "present" and in the distant past. This can be frustrating, at first, but Kerr's writing is heavily steeped in Pagan and Western Mystery tradition, and the Celtic setting (and mindset) of her characters means that time, or chronological time, is not essentially relevant. To be honest, I found the first book infuriating, as I spent a lot of time trying to adjust to the writing style. However, I found the story engrossing enough that I persevered, and by the second book was so hooked I've read all ten in her three series.

Kerr's story evolves around the concept of reincarnation, and unfinished business, and "karma", and fate. The same souls recur again and again, just in new bodies, over the course of the centuries over which the story unfolds.

Kerr's world is one of High Fantasy, populated by Elves, Men, and Dwarves, as well as faeries/elementals, which she terms the "Wildfolk". However, hers is a slightly more dark, dangerous and less clear cut world than the works of other High Fantasy authors, not the least due to the fact that someone who was your friend in a former life can re-emerge in the story centuries later as a foe, and vice versa. There is a tremendous amount of magic, but it's the magic of the Western Mystery tradition (quite a bit of Golden Dawn and even Enochiana), and that of R.J. Stewarts Faery tradition. There are dragons, and giant beast men.

The Elves are a fallen race, driven out of their magnificent and palatial cities centuries before by invaders, and who now roam the plains as primitives. They possess the potential to be superlative magicians, but the knowledge was lost in the fall of their civilization. Humans, though warlike and shorter lived, have preserved this knowledge, but guard it jealously. The Wildfolk, basically magic incarnate, are unhinged from the effects of "karma", but lack permanence of personality, and cannot grow or develop, cursed to stagnation. The Dwarves are a secretive mystery, entrenched within the earth. Each has something to offer the other, and the story that unfolds is the story of this "technology" exchange, of sorts, between them.

Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, who clearly influenced Kerr, will be enraptured by this series, as will fans of Kate Eliott, who Kerr, herself, clearly influenced. It's phenomenal! Devotees of the New Age, Esoteric or Occult will find themselves nodding and smiling as they read, and sincerely hoping Kerr's writing will do for the Western Mystery and Faery traditions what Bradley's has done for Wicca.

Katherine Kerr's superb descriptions and well-thought out story will always leave you hungering for more. You join all of Kerr's exquisite characters through their lives, whether it be in a far past life or their life 20 years ago. They make you wonder... what's going to happen to the characters next? The plot will make you gasp, shudder, and stay up until four thirty in the morning just... reading. I promise you -- buy this, and you won't regret it. I certainly didn't. This will make a GREAT addition to ANY book collection... even if you don't HAVE a book collection, get this one, I tell you! It's a MUST have!

This was my first book written by Katharine Kerr that I've *currently* read. Right now.. I'm clicking on almost every Kerr book on Amazon.com and putting them in my shopping cart -- does that tell you anything?

This book arrived quite promptly - very speedy shipping. the book cover condition was not as good as it was rated. But the book pages are in very good condition. All in all a satisfied customer (since I will be donating this book to the library and was not purchasing it to keep in my home library).

I absolutly loved this book. The plot has so many twists and turns. It's not boring. This book is great for those readers who love a page turner thats not too bland, but not too graphic. The twistedness of this plot is soo cool. I absolutly think you should read it.