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18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Spare yourself a headache, December 20, 2005
I have to say, I was downright appalled by the time I finished reading this book. In the first novel we are introduced to both Faraday, a compassionate and self-sacrificing heroine, and Axis, your typically courageous and quick-witted hero. The story is intriguing, and one starts on the second book with reasonably high hopes. Unfortunately, everything is torn down when Axis notices a strange chemistry between himself and Ahzure, and consequentially begins to fall in love with her. Not only is poor girlish Ahzure's character suddenly forced upon the reader (did Sara Douglass whip this idea out two days before sending in the draft?), but the only (rare) thoughts that Axis spares for his "ex-true-love" tend to be more selfish than guilty: Oh woe is me, I'll have to wed that hag who married my abomidable brother to save my life.
The majority of the other characters also become more and more dislikeable, and those few that retain their decent qualities tend to get mud shoved in their face for their troubles. To make matters even more unbearable, Axis appears to have picked up a bit of a Parzival quality; the various peoples can't seem to get enough of him no matter WHAT faults he posesses, and his infidelity is basically chalked up to 'boys will be boys'. He is quite generally hypocritical, condeming various people (eg. his ex-lover what's-her-name, or his father) for faults that he also posesses, and shelters Ahzure like she's some sort of feeble and emotionally-crippled child, when the hurt that really matters is inflicted by him; funny to think that this Starman who cooks up ingenious spur-of-the moment solutions and quick-fixes is so ignorant when it comes to those closest to him. Axis doesn't seem to know Faraday in the least, terrified that she will doom the world out of spite if he can't marry her first. He dosn't even seem to recognize the majority of Ahzure's emotional anguish, a CONSTANT and ever-present theme.
If Axis had acted like a man and confessed everything upon his reunion with Faraday, I probably would have been able to attempt the third book. Unfortunately, the most disgusting and abomidable stage in the story is the compilation of scenes following said reunion. (SPOILERS) He completely neglects to mention that he's fallen in love with, and make a brood of babies with another woman. Faraday is given a few days of false bliss before she is brought back to hell with a reverbrating impact when Axis announces(before the whole kingdom) that his son with Ahzure will be his true heir. Hopefully that apple will fall much further from the tree than our beloved 'hero' seems to have.
All in all, the only thing I can do is to warn all Faraday-sympathizers to please, for the love of God, purchase a different book. Sara Douglass is a talented writer, but her protagonist becomes so morally sadistic by the end of the story that we completely forget ever pulling for him in the first place. It would be best to just leave it at book one and make up your own happy ending, rather than looking back on the sequel two years later with just as much resentment as you had upon finishing.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable story, April 4, 2003
Enchanter = book two of the Wayfarer Redemption series. Pro = Continued in the same enjoyable, story telling form as the first book Pro = Some nice plot twists. Never really sure what was going to happen next. Pro = Same enjoyable characters and more background revealed. Con = This book resolves the conflict between Axis and his half-brother, Bornheld. Felt the final conflict was a bit anti-climatic. Con = the battle between the armies seemed poorly handled. There was no real stategy, flanking of forces, etc. It was one big crashing of two forces and seeing who wins. Kind of like a brawl vs. a technical boxing match. So much potential that the author didn't take advantage of. Overall = worth continuing the series
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Less Than Enchanting, July 26, 2002
Enchanter picks up immediately after the final events of The Wayfarer Redemption with the fall of Gorkenfort. There is no synopsis at the start of Enchanter to recount the events of the previous book. This would normally be a concern, however the author, Sara Douglass, presents the necessary background material during the course of the narrative. As with the previous book, Enchanter is told from an omniscient point of view. The unseen narrator dips into the thoughts of one character after another, often jumping through several characters in a single page. One moment Axis is talking and the narrator states what he thinks and feels; the next moment the narrator states what Azhure feels in response. This fluid style of storytelling adds an interpretive layer between the characters and the reader that inhibits the formation of a deep, sympathetic bond. One of the first lessons writers hear when they study the craft of writing fiction is "show, don't tell." It is more effective for an author to show what a character's actions and allow the reader to interpret the meaning. Don't tell the reader that Black Bart is evil; rather show him kicking a puppy across the street as he is on his way to rob a little old lady. Let the reader draw his own conclusions from what he sees Black Bart doing. Often, the narrator in Enchanter interpreted the feelings and thoughts of the characters rather than allowing their actions and expressions to speak for themselves, preventing the reader from being an active participant in the story. Prophecies are tricky, not only for characters, but for authors as well. If a prophecy is vague, it may not make sense even after it is fulfilled. At the other extreme, a prophecy that is transparent leaves no room for misinterpretation and becomes a blueprint for the plot of the story. An effective prophecy needs the delicate level of murkiness that appears clear only in hindsight. Unfortunately, The Prophecy of the Destroyer falls closer to the blueprint end of the spectrum. All the characters know the first two verses due to a convenient enchantment that ensures all who hear it will never forget it. They frequently discuss the meaning, carefully avoiding correct, and often obvious, interpretations beforehand. Whenever a fragment of the prophecy is fulfilled, one of the characters provides and unambiguous statement confirming what everyone just saw. Despite these narrative weaknesses, the plot of Enchanter is compelling. As the relationships evolve through the course of this novel, they head toward disaster, often knowingly. Even though there is little doubt that the heroes will win the day, they often do so in a manner that causes a great deal of pain. Enchanter is an ambitious novel. It has a strong plot filled with powerful characters. Overall, it is an interesting early novel from one of Australia's most successful fantasy authors.
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