In Legend Born [Hardcover]

Laura Resnick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1998

Fantasy novel. In a world ruled by fire magic and water wizards, five enemies unite to free their embattled nation from centuries of oppression.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Resnick, who has written 11 romance novels under the pseudonym Laura Leone, breaks into historical fantasy with this lengthy chronicle of the land of Sileria's quest for freedom. This island nation has been oppressed for a thousand years by one conquering neighbor after another because the various segments of its population can't unite against a common enemy, currently the merciless Valdani Empire. Rising from his humble hovel to challenge the Imperial Roman-like overlords, the messianic Firebringer, Josarian the peasant, allies with the exiled arch-warrior Tansen, the cunning courtesan Elelar, the fire-Guardian Mirabar and the wizardly waterlord Kiloran. Gathering steam for a united Silerian rebellion requires enough pages to allow Resnick to concoct a rich brew of conspiracies, simmer several juicy romantic entanglements in a heady broth of blood feuds and massacres, and baste her conventional sword-and-sorcery plot with spicy rituals and trendy psychobabble. Resnick's most convincing figures are Josarian and Tansen, each haunted by shattering past mistakes and losses, but her principal women, the mouthy teenager Mirabar and the all-for-the-cause leg-spreading Elelar, come off as contemporary romance heroines whose fantasy costumes seem to be chafing them raw. Big and brawly, this first installment of Silerian history dangles in midair, screaming for its announced sequel. (Aug.) FYI: Resnick, daughter of award-winning SF author Mike Resnick, won the 1993 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Science Fiction Writer.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Determined to free their country of Sileria from its Valdani conquerors, a freedom fighter, a noblewoman, an exiled warrior, and a vengeful mage put aside their personal vendettas to follow the lead of a young seer whose visions promise an end to slavery. Romance author Resnick makes her fantasy debut with a smoothly narrated, intricate tale of revolution and the human heart. The characters' efforts to overcome the barriers that divide them and discover their common bonds provides a welcome depth to this series opener and sets the stage for future titles. A solid choice for most fantasy collections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312890559
• ISBN-13: 978-0312890551
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,889,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laura Resnick is the author of the popular Esther Diamond series, whose releases include UNSYMPATHETIC MAGIC, DOPPELGANGSTER, DISAPPEARING NIGHTLY, and the upcoming VAMPARAZZI. She has also written traditional fantasy novels such as IN LEGEND BORN, THE DESTROYER GODDESS, and THE WHITE DRAGON, which made the "Year's Best" lists of Publishers Weekly and Voya. An opinion columnist, frequent public speaker, and the Campbell Award-winning author of many short stories, she is on the Web at www.LauraResnick.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new Talent is Born!, April 6, 2000

By 

Rodney Powell "fairmont66" (Macon,Georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Legend Born (Hardcover)

After reading this epic novel of magic, revolution romance and heartbreaking betrayal I almost wanted to be transported to the land of Sileria and pick up a sword for the cause of freedom.Resnick makes a passionate case for the the land of Sileria and their fight for independence from the brutal empire of Valada.She creates memorable but flawed heroes and heroines willing to face death for freedom of the country and gives us stirring scenes of battles, romance,magic and stunning treachery!One of the best first novel I've ever read that reminds me of Kay's epic novel Tigana.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, August 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: In Legend Born (Hardcover)

Usually when I see a book that a lot of people like, I hestitate to buy it- on the reason that most best sellers are predictable stuff concocted to keep your average brainless reader interested.

This one was fantastic. I can say that with my hand on my heart, swearing to god. The characters were intersting, and well-rounded. They act like real people. These aren't some nice bodies concocted to serve a goal that everyone believes in though they don't know why. They all have their own reasons for everything.

This book's romance isn't the soggy stuff of the Last Dragon Lord. People don't love each other with all their hearts because they're of the same blood. They don't exactly love with all their hearts, anyway. Everything about this book is realistic.

This isn't a light read,but after you read it you'll be satisfied. The theme is cliched, but the plot is not. Suspense will grab you and keep you on the edge of your seat.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the better books in my favorite genre, November 22, 2001

By 

David Simpson (Fort Stewart GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Legend Born (Hardcover)

When I picked up this book, I was in the middle of a month-long training rotation (I'm in the Army), and I just needed something to read. Little did I know what I was getting into!
This book engulfed me from the start. I found myself alternately yelling at the characters, "Don't do that, you'll regret it, its wrong!", exhorting them, "That's it, thats what you need to do!", or simply cheering with them through their triumphs.
It is not just her excellent portrayal of all her main characters that grabs me about this book. Nor is it only her obvious thoroughness in creating a world with a complexity rivalling that of Tolkien or Asimov. Nor is it the fact that the book successfully and skillfully took me through, not one, but two gripping climaxes. No, on their own, these elements would not catch me up. I have been reading all my life, especially in the fantasy genre, and frankly, I just don't get into books the way I used to. What grabbed me and literally pulled me into her world was the fact that Laura Resnick quite literally took all the basic elements of a great fantasy series and wove them into HER FIRST BOOK! Everything that a discriminating reader of fantasy could possibly want is contained in this book--action scenes galore, high magic, a well-thought world, incredibly adept political intrigue, and a good smattering of nitty-gritty details--high fantasy in all its glory.
As well, her perspective on both her heroes and her villains is completely in keeping with my own ideas--the heroes always strive to do what is right, while the villains always do their utmost to stamp out the heroes and continue their own despotic reign. Even the characters painted in shades of grey--allied with good, but using questionable and downright wrong methods to gain their idea of "the best thing", are portrayed perfectly.
I finished this book in less then a full day's time (I usually read these books slower, simply because I can't get into them), and found myself waiting for the sequel promised at the end with baited breath. Kudoes to Laura Resnick and here's to her sequel!