Hidden Warrior (Tamir Trilogy, Book 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lynn Flewelling (Author), John Jude Palencar (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2003

A trick of magic, a twist of fate.

As the orphaned nephew of the king, trusted companion to his cousin, and second heir to the throne of Skala, Prince Tobin’s future is clear. But not as clear as the spring in which a hill witch shows him his true face--and his secret destiny....

Now Tobin carries a burden he cannot share with even his closest friend, Ki, his squire. He is to rule--not as he is but as he was born: a woman. Given the shape of a boy by dark magic, Tobin is the last hope of the people of Illior--those who desperately seek a return to the old ways, when Skala was ruled by a line of warrior queens. They still believe that only a woman can lift the war, famine, and pestilence that have run rampant through the land since the king usurped his half sister’s throne. It is these outlaw wizards and witches who protect Tobin--and it is for them that Tobin must accept his fate.

With the unsuspecting yet fiercely loyal Ki at his side, Tobin must turn traitor against the only blood ties he has left. He must lift the masks of Skala’s rulers to show their true colors--before he can reveal the power of the woman within himself.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Prophecies of old say that Skala will prosper as long as a queen of the true lineage holds the throne. But for many years, a usurper king has ruled, with tragic and devastating consequences for the people. Moreover, keeping the rightful future queen safe directly beneath the eyes of her deadliest enemies is the sacred mission of Skala's renegade wizards. To fulfill that intent, they magically changed the infant girl's body to that of a boy. Eventually shown her true, female face, Tobin is shocked and confused but struggles successfully to navigate "his" complex world, rife with secrets, assassins, and political agendas, and to come to terms with her destiny, which he isn't at all sure he wants. Ultimately, orphaned Tobin must betray his only remaining family and reveal them for the conniving traitors they are. That is a difficult enough task, but Tobin's most bizarre secret must yet come to light before she can claim the throne. A beautiful, compelling, dark tale. Paula Luedtke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

A fantasy that does not flinch from its premise all the way to a satisfying conclusion. The story pulled me under and carried me off with it' Robin Hobb 'It got its hooks into me on the first page and didn't let loose until the last' George R R Martin 'Original, well-written and totally absorbing ! a moving and thoroughly recommended read' Starburst --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Spectra (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553583425
• ISBN-13: 978-0553583427
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #342,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lynn Flewelling is the author of two internationally acclaimed series: The Nightrunner Series and the Tamír Triad. Her books have been published in a dozen countries, including Japan and Russia. A Maine native, she currently resides in sunny southern California with her husband Douglas and two naughty dogs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Living up to my expectations!, September 19, 2003

By 

Megan Lindholm - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hidden Warrior (Tamir Trilogy, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have one major complaint about this book, and that is that I didn't have a chance to read it sooner!

The strengths of Lynn Flewelling's writing are in her unique characterizations, unusual systems of magic and her unflinching pursuit of story. The Bone Doll's Twin left me amazed with the growth in her story telling abilities. That is not to say that I was dissatisfied with any of her earlier books, only that she continues to hone her skills as a writer. This sequel to Bone Doll, Hidden Warrior, plunges us immediately back into her world and her tale. I was very pleased with how quickly I re-entered that world, with no need to look back at the earlier book to refresh my memory as to who someone was or what their motivation was; her characters and plot had remained that strong within my memory.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes their fantasy with a streak of dark magic and ambition to it, and who doesn't quail at where that ambition can lead even the 'good' characters. It is also a good read for readers who want things to actually happen in the middle book of a trilogy, rather than for characters to simply mark time.

In too many fantasy books these days, the minor characters seem to be created for the convenience of the lead character, with no motivations or lives of their own. This is certainly not the case in Hidden Warrior. Because the lesser characters have their own concerns and lives, and because their aspirations are not always in tune with the main character, the plot is not predictable nor staid.

Also, to put it in the vernacular, Flewelling retains the ability, first demonstrated in the Bone Doll's Twin, to plain old creep me out. This book was enough to take my mild phobia of dollies and raise it to an all new high. At the same time, she forced me to feel great sympathy for Brother and the injustice of his shadow existence. That's quite a feat.
Don't start with this book; you owe yourself the enjoyment of the full reading experience of starting with The Bone Doll's Twin and gradually being drawn into this world. Hidden Warrior simply pulls the mesh tighter around you.

As a fellow writer of fantasy, my time for reading for pleasure has become all too limited of late. There are few writers who make me drop what I'm working on to pick up their new book. Lynn Flewelling is one of them.

Megan Lindholm (Robin Hobb)

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for the third book..., July 12, 2003

By 

Silea (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hidden Warrior (Tamir Trilogy, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

After reading Bone Doll's Twin, and discovering that i had to wait many many months for the next book in the series, i went out and picked up the Nightrunner trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, but actually gave up on the 2nd one halfway through. Quitting in the middle of a book is a very rare occurance for me. Thus, when i finally did get my hands on Hidden Warrior, i was worried. If Flewelling choked in the middle of the last series, who's to say she wouldn't do the same here? Well, she didn't. Some of the criticisms other reviewers have made are valid: the story loses some steam, character development slows a bit, and some parts are even somewhat predictable.

After a few hundred pages, the story is back to the point where i couldn't put it down to save my life. And fortunately, this one ends at a more stable point than Bone Doll's Twin, so waiting for the concluding volume will merely be uncomfortable, not the torture of waiting to see if all would be well and good after the violence at the end of book 1.

And after this, i'm even considering digging up my copies of the Nightrunner series. Maybe book 2 is worth another try.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thankyou Robin Hobb, April 17, 2004

By 

Gwen Le "smurfles" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hidden Warrior (Tamir Trilogy, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was looking for a book to read, and picked this one up, with a Robin Hobb recommendation on the front cover. Being a fan of Robin Hobb, I thought, "Why not", and bought the book. (Yes I know it's silly to read the second book of a series but I couldn't find "The Bone Doll's Twin" in the bookstore.)
Anyway, I started reading and didn't stop till I finished it a day later. Extremely engaging, giving new vitality into the 'girl disguised as a boy' routine. King Erius and Korin are not shown as evil, 2D characters, but are as equally charismatic as the book's protagonists.
An excellent book, with an original, well-thought out world, reminiscent of Grecian culture...Thoroughly recommended!