Nor Iron Bars a Cage [Paperback]

Caprice Hokstad (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2007

Two baby boys are lost in the hostile country of Ganluc-one the firstborn son of a prince and princess (third in line for the Royal Throne of Latoph) and the other a bastard half-breed born to an Itzi slavegirl and fathered by a licentious owner who was executed for treason. Yet Duke Vahn is determined to rescue both of these boys. Scores of knights and bounty hunters have risked their lives trying to retrieve them, yet none can even find a clue to their whereabouts. When all else fails, a bold plan is proposed to send Vahn's most trusted servant posing as a runaway slave in order to gather information. Reluctantly, Vahn sends a strange trio off to Ganluc-his brave captain, a middle-aged healer, and an Itzi slave. Little does he know what challenges await both the trio and his own house, now forced to survive without its key leaders.

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Vici Publishing (October 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615163602
• ISBN-13: 978-0615163604
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,069,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Caprice spends most of her time dreaming up other worlds to live vicariously in. Her first half-million words were spent on the fantasy setting of Byntar (where her published Ascendancy Trilogy novels are set). She went to Baylor University in Texas and lived in a log cabin in the mountains for ten years directly from college. She now lives--with her husband, two teens, an 8-year-old, a dog, a cat, two big rats, and a tankful of guppies--in a mobile home in southern California.

She regularly stares at her simulated aquarium screensaver, singing "I Wish I Were a Fish" from "The Incredible Mr. Limpet". Her ultimate aspiration is to live in the first undersea colony, Atlantica, currently being built off the coast of Florida. She has been assured they will have electricity and internet and that there will be room for her laptop, so she can continue to write. At that point, she may change her screensaver, but no promises.

Visit Caprice's website at Latoph.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've been on an epic journey..., December 21, 2007

By 

Grace Brigette Francis "Irish Kiwi" (Global Wanderer) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nor Iron Bars a Cage (Paperback)

...and it cost me a good few sleepless nights. I'm usually not this keen on fantasy, but this time the author drew me in so strongly that I couldn't put the book down. It is a long book, and a deep read - one of those stories that takes you into another world and keeps you there until you turn the last page. And that lasted five days (or rather, nights) for me.

The curtains open at the point where the last episode ended. Having also read "The Duke's Handmaid" some time ago, I enjoyed the benefits of some familiarity with the world of Latoph and Byntar - customs of slavery and royalty, colourful peculiarities of language and grammar. In this second volume, we get to know the characters better - most of them were also in Book One, but now it goes deeper and we get a long look at their reactions under pressure of all kinds. Yes, there is cruelty, but the folks we're rooting for consistently deal with it in an honourable manner despite their suffering.

Duke Vahn's freewill slave Keedrina, known here by her slave-name "kee", undertakes a dangerous mission to recover the duke's young son, held captive in the dangerous neighbouring realm of Ganluc. This story, involving the cage in the title, takes up most of the first half of the book, but that is by no means all you will discover. During kee's absence, the duke himself accepts a hasty challenge and must deal with the unpleasant consequences, providing an insightful view of his behaviour in what is certainly a humiliating experience for him.

The storyline is at least as unusual as the title, and you can't tell from the back cover where it's going to end up. It's chock full of cliffhangers and climaxes, and also challenges for the characters we have come to love. They must endure a series of highly unusual and uncomfortable situations, which most accomplish with uncommon grace. In fact, kee is almost too good to be true, but it's clear she is motivated by her great love for the duke.

At first glance, things may seem very black and white. The good guys are exemplary in personality and behaviour, while the bad guys (and girls) are completely bound by their self-centred thinking. However, on reading further, the human weaknesses of heroes and heroines are also visible, and likewise a measure of true understanding on the part of their enemies. Of course, I mean "human" in the broader sense, since in Byntar the people are Elva and Itzi. Interactions between these complementary breeds make a fascinating level of dynamics within the tale.

The reason I don't usually go for fantasy is that most of it is set in a world largely resembling medieval Europe, and that can get predictable after a while. But here, that is not the case at all. Sure, there are similarities, and the level of technology is comparable with our own Middle Ages. Yet in every line we are made aware that these events are taking place on a different planet, and the action is upheld by two non-human species living under double suns and moons.

There's a delicious rhythm in the telling. You can tell that the writer has studied her craft and knows what she's doing. Each word is deliberate yet gentle, painstakingly carved out, a fragile thing of beauty indeed. The language is emotive and evocative, colourful and contoured, warm and tangible. I doff my hat to Caprice, in wonder at her authorly diligence while keeping up a household and homeschooling all those kids, too. That's what I call a hardworking mom.

You'll enjoy the breadth of situations in these pages, and the thorough exploration of deep questions and wonderings. How would a royal person deal with slavery and cruelty? It made me remember how the King of Heaven came down to earth to live as a lowly man. There is no word of reference to God or Christianity, but you will find richly-woven themes of sacrifice and humility, love and friendship, good versus evil, and the final victory of justice and hope, like a fairytale for grown-ups. Go ahead and dive into the intensity of this experience - take the journey, and come back changed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Story to be Savored, November 28, 2007

By 

Michael A. Heald "A Rumor of Dragons" (APO, AA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nor Iron Bars a Cage (Paperback)

Set in the land of Latoph, on the world of Byntar that has two suns, two races, and two classes (slave and free), the story addresses themes of justice and mercy, sacrifice and perseverance in a kingdom where birthright and bloodline determine one's status in a rigid social system. Daring to make slavery, and the characters' responses to the institution of slavery, the fulcrum of the story is a remarkable achievement by Ms. Hokstad. Creating an enjoyable story makes the achievement wonderful.

Ms. Hokstad's delightful prose draws the reader effortlessly into her scenes and through her story.

"Slices of suns' light pierced the morning fog. Captain Zinto paced the dock; his white cotton shirt and loose knee-pants billowed in the salty breeze. Deck-seasoned feet made too little sound for his mood, so he stomped to remedy the annoying silence."

The story is written to be savored, for here there be no monsters, no wizards, no clashing of swords - just the refreshing story of forbidden love, with characters who choose to lead lives of honorable passion rather than passionate expediency.

Though the book can stand on its own merits, the reader's understanding of the significance and meaning of the characters' actions would be deepened if the first book in the series, The Duke's Handmaid, is read first.

Recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Nor Iron Bars a Cage, September 8, 2011

By 

Kat Heckenbach - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Nor Iron Bars a Cage (Paperback)

This is the sequel to The Duke's Handmaid, which is a fabulously written book. I recommend starting with that one so you can really appreciate the world Caprice Hokstad has created and better understand this book.

Caprice's writing is nothing less than smooth. The world she has created is rich and unique. Her characterization skills are wonderful.

The first book (The Duke's Handmaid) focused more on the character of Kee, but Nor Iron Bars a Cage leans more toward what is going on with Kee's master (yes, the culture in this book is one that utilizes slavery) Duke Vahn. The portrayal of Vahn is a conflicting one. On one hand, he is aristocracy and yet he treats his slaves far better than most. But he's arrogant, and at times rather immature. Even though he is not in any way the villain, he needs to do some serious growing up.

What amazes me about this book is that Caprice took me from having mixed feelings about Vahn to cheering for him wholeheartedly.

I fully recommend this series and am anxiously awaiting the third book!