The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit - First Book of the Wraeththu [Import] [Hardcover]

Storm Constantine (Author), Kenny McHendry (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 318 pages
• Publisher: Macdonald; First Edition edition (1987)
• ISBN-10: 0356145484
• ISBN-13: 978-0356145488
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,003,191 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful androgynous mutants, December 7, 2007

By 

Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit - First Book of the Wraeththu (Hardcover)

The first part of Storm Constantine's fantasy epic Wraeththu trilogy establishes how it all started.

Pellaz is very young, just thirteen years, living a typically isolated homestead existence for the difficult times man is now experiencing, when Cal, a handsome stranger, makes a call; Pell recognises something special in Cal, and is tempted by Cal's offer to take him away. So Pell makes contact with widely rumoured and feared Wraeththu. The Wraeththu prove to be not quite as bad as rumoured, at least not all, but a new race born from a mutation and which can incept new members. There is neither male nor female; perhaps they could be described hermaphrodite or androgynous, they are the perfect combination of male and female; the complete person. But to external appearances they are male, and they are remarkably good looking, even beautiful, some exceedingly so. They of course mate male with male, and can be either father of hostling (mother) or vice versa.

We follow Pell as he joins other Wraeththu, and is himself incepted, and as he rises through the different levels of Wraeththu; Pell is clearly someone special. But the course he must follow to attain his full potential is difficult and fraught with danger. Cal and Pell travel together, and are devoted to each other, but will their love be able to withstand all the problems ahead.

They encounter various other Wraeththu in different tribes, and we gradually gain a greater understanding of the complexity of this new race. Some of those we meet are dangerous, even sinister, others, such as Cobweb, are delightful.

It all makes for an exciting, moving and magical tale. The characterisation is very good, and Constantine Storm has clearly put a great deal of thought into the creation of the Wraeththu, considering all aspects of their physical, mental, and magical make up, along with a complex caste system. First class.