Customer Reviews

Lord Brother

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The best books are like good music: They seduce you, they comfort you, they transport you to another place and time, they unsettle you, they make you see things as you hadn't before, they make the blood surge in your veins and make your heart pound like you're on a roller-coaster ride down Mount Everest.

Lord Brother by Carolyn Kephart is such a novel. It's a tremendous, virtuoso perormance of the writer's art that takes the reader to fantastic highs and lows, often within the span of a few paragraphs; it's brimful with inspiration, imagery, memorable characters, and crackling energy. It's a novel of nervewracking suspense, aching romance, heart-stopping beauty, and breathless terror...and the fact that it's only the author's second book makes it all the more impressive.

Lord Brother continues the adventures of Ryel Mirai, Adept of the sorcerous Arts of Markul, who is searching for a way to restore the "rai" or spirit of his mentor, Edris, to a physical body, and defeat the will and the minions of the daimon Dagar, who wish to plunge the World into evil. Ryel's quest, begun in the equally-impressive Wysard (see my review, he said in a shameless fit of self-promotion), leads him from his lonely tower in Markul to the Steppes home of his boyhood, to the magnificent city of Almancar, where he meets its ruler Priamnor, and Priam's sister Diara, whose daimon-induced madness Ryel heals. But a fight between Ryel and a Dagar-goaded Priam leads to the former being wounded, then healed by arch-enemy Michael Essern, Dagar's human protege. Wysard ends, and Lord Brother begins, with Ryel meeting Srin Yan Tai, a wysardess of great power, who gives Ryel information vital to his mission.

Lord Brother takes Ryel further in his travels, through the northen city of Hallagh, the grim wysard-enclave of Ormala, the home of Dame Gwynedd, a wysardess who keeps a dramatic secret -- and to Riana, the One True Immortal, whose tremendous impact on both Ryel and his story cannot be overestimated. These places, and what goes on in them, make Lord Brother a feast for the mind -- there was not a momonent in reading it that I wasn't entranced, thrilled, or seduced by the power of Ryel's story, and by the force of Kephart's writing. Her gifts for descriptive prose and the surprising plot-twist serve her well, even better in some instances than in Wysard. Kephart's ability to surprise the reader is rare indeed, especially in a genre where too many writers seem content to follow the same worn-out footpaths, and to write the same old Tolkienesque prose. Kephart does neither of these; she is an original in almost every respect. As an example let me cite this wonderful moment just past Lord Brother's midpoint, where Ryel attempts to save another of his friends from Dagar's cruel depradations:

"He opened his eyes to the snow, and murmured a phrase. The white flakes began to fall thick, and a rising wind began to blow it about ever more violently, until in a minute's space the entire courtyard was engulfed in a raging storm. Amid the blizzard Ryel could only just discern staggering fleeing figures, and maddened horses. Upon and around the platform, battle reddened and trampled the fresh cold white into bloody slush. The air throbbed with shrieks and cries and sword-clangs, the howl of wind and hiss of storm-driven snow. But one noise rose above it. Out of the high balcony Dagar craned st full length, screaming in fury for Roskerrek's death..."

I'll leave you there to contemplate what may or may not come next. It certainly wasn't what I expected.

Lord Brother's flaws are few and far between. Again Kephart has populated her story with a multitude of characters, so many that it's hard to keep track of them all upon a first reading. A couple of times I had to page back to someone's first appearance to remind myself of who they were, and why they were there. Once I even had to refer to Wysard, the first book, for such information...but I never minded a little research now and then. Another area where I felt Lord Brother lacked was more specific: Ryel's dramatic confrontation with nemesis Michael Essern, which for my tatses wasn't as detailed as I'd have liked it to be. I felt Kephart gave that particular area of her story short shrift -- but it's the only such time I felt that way in reading either of her novels.

In other areas Kephart has made forward strides, like her treatment of female characters. They're far better written here than in Wysard. Riana in particular made a very strong impression on me, and Srin Yan Tai if anything was better as a character than before. Even Diara, who in Wysard seemed little more than a plaything, has been "fleshed out," and Ryel's mother and sister were more than rough sketches of people this time.

All in all, Lord Brother was even more impressive to me than Wysard--a novel I was very impressed with in the first place. I wouldn't hesitate to reccommend it to any lover of the fantasy genre, or any lover of good writing for that matter. I also understand Ms. Kephart is writing another chapter in Ryel Mirai's adventures. When it's done, I'll be one of the first in line to buy it.

The Lord Adept of Markul Ryel Mirai allegedly seeks the truth behind the death of Edris, his mentor for twelve years, but the wysard actually searches for a spell that would enable him to bring back to life his teacher by rejoining the soul with the body. As Ryel starts on his dangerous quest, the daiman Dagar has other plans for the wysard. Dagar plots to return to this world by occupying Ryel's "corpse" after his obedient servant Lord Michael Essern completes a special mission deadly to his chosen "host".

Ryel continues his quest to save Edris, but has side adventures on the way. He liberates individuals suffering from Dagar's sorcery and nears the inevitable battle with the daiman. The price of defeat is not just losing his life for defeat to Dagar will allow the daiman to use the wysard's body to commit atrocities at a level unheard of on the unsuspecting world.

LORD BROTHER is a fabulous, vividly descriptive epic fantasy tale that brings to life a different real that seems so real under the brilliant tutelage of Carolyn Kephart. Though the action never lets up, the support cast makes this good vs. evil novel so much fun to read. Also adding to the fun is that Ryel is a strong hero but Dagar is an even more powerful villain. Newcomers to the series will want to obtain WYSARD while joining in the chorus of readers shouting at the author to release the next tome in the Ryel saga.

Harriet Klausner

Liked:

The writing, as in Wysard, was excellent. Ms. Kephart creates amazing imagery with beautiful prose.

The plot and storyline are engrossing.

There are none of the errors that are so rampant in many Indie books. This is an extremely well-edited book of publishable quality.

Disliked:

Keeping up with the many names of each person in this book almost requires the reader to keep a notebook handy.

Imagine you are introduced to someone whose name is John Smith. Then, you find out he is John James Smith. Then, you find out he is a Lord. Later, he becomes a Prince. Even later, he obtains the nickname Red Wolf. Then, you write a book about Lord Prince Red Wolf John James Smith. But, every time you refer to him, you use a different portion of his name. It doesn't matter who talks to him or about him, a different name is used. Very annoying and confusing.

Overall:

The writing and the story make up for the 'name' issue to allow me to give 4 stars. Without the 'name issue', I would have given five.

Length: Full Novel. It seemed a bit longer than "Wysard".

Rating: R for violence and sexual content

I am not a huge fantasy fan, though there are fantasy writers I like a lot, such as McCaffrey, LeGuin and Tepper. Kephart writes a thrilling saga that should please the most discriminating of fantasy afficionados. "Lord Brother" is much better, more exciting and more interesting than its predecessor "Wysard."

You should read "Wysard" first for the background of Ryel's society and his history, starting with the loss of his mentor Edris. In "Lord Brother", Ryel continues his quest to bring Edris back to life, joins a bloody brotherhood, is befriended by the delightful Markess Gwynedd and suffers great pains along the way.

There is a lot of adventure here, and very fine imagery. I only wish the print were not as fine in this book--the typeface was for my eyes a bit difficult....but for the average reader of fantasy (younger than I!) it should pose no problem at all.

Everything I said about the first of this series (Wysard)applies to this book as well (see my review under Wysard on this site). The book can be reviewed as a reader and as a writer: As a reader, it draws me into it, transports me to another world of magic and treachery, romance and suspense, with memorable characters who I feel I know and care about. As a writer, the book inspires me to write more myself and aspire to do the same, with beautiful imagery and eloquent language. Bravo!

Once again, I join those clamoring for the next book in the series!
Sirius Recommends Book Reviews at sirius-books.com

When last seen Ryel Mirai, Lord Adept of the wysard-citadel Markul, was preparing to leave Lady Srin. In this sequel, Ryel heads North, to the city of Hallagh. There he finds Redbane and takes the Bane of the Red Esserns upon himself.

Ryel must fulfill the prophecies of the Foretold, which he learns from Riana, The One Immortal. Dagar's depredations MUST be stopped and Edris' rai must be brought back from the Void.

Many twists pop up in this book. Every time I believe Ryel is almost omnipotent, the author does something unexpected to make his powers seem childish in comparison. The character of Dagar, the evil villain, was done especially well. He seemed almost unbeatable, which added a delightful tension to the whole story.

If you have not read the first book, WYSARD, I recommend you do so before beginning this second book. Though you would be able to understand all that happens, it would flow nearly as smoothly. Wonderfully composed novel!

Reading Carolyn Kephart's second book is not unlike riding a colorful black and red and gold intricately weaved carpet on air - to some far away destination.

The scenery flies by - sometimes you can hardly notice it. From an action packed scenes you descend into a small spot of quiet and enchanted beauty only to soar up to another explosion of action again. The pace is sometimes nearly feverish - Ryel Mirai is burning with the urgency of finding whatever magical remedy he can find to save the world from a daimon and bring Edris, his sorcerer father, back from the Void. The stops to rest or heal are brief and the time is not really noticed by the hero - like his enchanted stay with with the Immortal sorceress who dwells in night flowered jungle and commands live statues of gods to serve her. Kephart's style is sometimes reminiscent of the old sagas and tales where a year can pass in a blink of eye and ages are described with one phrase.

The main theme is hardly new - the old as the universe story of Evil trying to leak into the world and a brave man doing whatever it is he can do to stop it. It is the way the story is told, the author's voice that makes it such a gripping read. Carolyn Kephart certainly knows that word is magic when used properly. I was planning to make the book last for two or three evenings but it took decision out of my hands and made me sit till early morning hours following the Overreacher's twisting route through both the physical world of high steppes, magic-built citiesa and cages glowing with the blinding light of white-hot swords - and a complicated twisted inner universe of his relationsips with foes and friends.

More than once was I reminded of Ursula LeGuin's beautiful words from her "Foreword to Tales From Earthsea": "So people turn to the realm of fantasy for stability, ancient truths, immutable simplicities". Once more we turn to a book to find a noble and courageous man fighting evil. And if we know he is going to win - it does not make the story less attractive, quite the opposite. Carolyn Kephart brings words like honor, duty, beauty and courage to the world that too often forgets those ancient truths.

Carolyn Kephart does not disappoint with this much-anticipated sequel to her first novel, Wysard. Both her voice and writing style are mature and very readable, which helps make her more colorful character's archaic dialog flow smoothly. She is very good at describing her scenes, and you should have no problem following her vision as you read. Both Wysard and Lord Brother were written at the same time so the transition from one book to the other is seamless. If there were one thing I would mark as a negative it would be the type face chosen by the publisher, which I found to be somewhat difficult to read, but please don't let this detract from the excellence of the story. Carolyn Kephart is a wonderful writer with an equally wonderful vision, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

The second half of the Ryel Mirai story is perhaps better than the first, well-balanced and more insightfully written. The story of a strong young wysard is continued, in a quest to save himself, his mentor, and the world from an unspeakable foe.

In "Wysard," Ryel went on a quest to defeat the evil daimon Dagar and to reunite the body and rai (soul) of his mentor Edris. In the twisting path, Ryel saved the lovely Sovrena Diara, and encountered Michael, an acolyte of Dagar. Now Ryel is on the road again, encountering a simpering poet and a tough soldier.

But when Ryel cures a man called Redbane of a strange illness, he contracts the illness himself (much to Dagar's delight). And to find the spell he's looking for, Ryel must go into deeper, darker places than he's ever gone before: the Fraternity of the Sword, religious fanatics -- and if he loses his battle with Dagar, he will lose everything.

Kephart's fantasy world is a stark, complex one, a bit like Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea, but much grittier, sexier, frightening one. No elves or dwarves, pixies or time travel here. Instead, Kephart takes care to craft a bunch of different cultures, religions, customs and traditions, all well-written and very intriguing to read about.

It's possible to get a little lost even if you've read "Wysard" (and you should -- readers who don't will be hopelessly lost if they don't). The plotting is steadier and we have a better glimpse into Ryel's mind as his situation gets worse and worse. The prose flows a little better, as does the dialogue.

Ryel is a solid hero, flawed but very likable; Edris pops up from time to time, gruff but a good mentor for Ryel. And Dagar takes the cake as a seemingly indestructible, very gleeful villain; other characters like the Countess and Alleron are good supporting cast. All the characters are distinct and individual, very well-written.

"Lord Brother" is a worthy follow-up to "Wysard," and a treat for those who like their fantasy a little darker and unpredictable. "Lord Brother" is a rare read.

An OK book. Story became quite predictable.The lack of smooth transitions was confusing. The basic outline was good but the execution needed much editing.