148 of 150 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Hamilton Entirely, August 7, 2001
After reading all 8 of Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake series and "A Kiss of Shadows" I honestly thought I knew what to expect from Hamilton as a writer. When her debut novel was recently re-released I naturally picked it up, expecting to find the 'prototype' of the Blake series. I was more than a little surprised to find that "Nightseer" was in another genre entirely and that Laurell Hamilton is capable of excellent traditional fantasy. One can see hints of Anita in Keleios Nightseer, but for the most part it is as if we had stepped into an entirely different world.
Noble half elf Keleios is endowed with three magical powers. Originally she was a master enchanter and a skilled prophet. Suddenly she demonstrated powers as a sorcerer, and has had to relinquish her master rank and return to the school at Zeln's Keep to learn to control her new power. When Keleios was a child her mother was destroyed by the black witch Harque. In Keleios' quest for revenge she has walked the pit of Hell, and bears the mark of demonic corruption. Although she is not comfortable with the taint, she is able to control both black and white disciplines. In addition, she is also expert with weapons, particularly those bespelled or enchanted.
Entering a state of prophecy in the dreaming rooms at Zeln's Keep, Keleios has a horrible vision, the Keep under attack and destroyed, many of the residents enslaved or killed. She barely has time so make her warnings before the attack is under way. The Keep betrayed by one of Harque's own students. Against demonic forces Keleios is only able to assemble a small group of survivors. Lothor the dark healer, whose price is betrothal, Tobin, companion mage and close friend, Master Eroar, a true dragon and Poth, the cat. This team is betrayed into the hands of Harque and must struggle to free themselves from the witch and her minions.
This is pretty strong stuff. Hamilton, especially in her earlier novels is capable of managing a tremendous amount of plot complexity and action. The only time for relaxation here comes right after the words 'the end.' Hamilton also builds her characters very naturally. Unlike the Blake series, "Nightseer" is written in the third person, but Hamilton provides plenty of insight into Keleios, and makes masterful use of dialogue to flesh out the rest of the characters. This is a very skilled performance for a debut novel. Somewhat reminiscent of Barbara Hambly's work.
My only complaint is that "Nightseer" feels like the middle volume of a trilogy. There is clearly a great deal of story that preceded it, and too many threads are left incomplete at the end. One can only hope that someday Laurell Hamilton will be motivated to return to Keleios' world and tell the rest of the story.
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120 of 125 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Entertainment!, April 8, 2002
"Nightseer" is Laurell K. Hamilton's first published novel, and it is, for the most part, well written and highly entertaining. This book is action-packed and filled with interesting characters who live in an intriguing fantasy world.
"Nightseer" is a little slow at the beginning, and it takes a while to become familiar with the alternate reality Hamilton has created, but once the story gets going it moves at a lightning fast pace.
The story revolves around noble half-elf Keleios Nightseer, skilled prophet and master enchanter. Upon reaching adulthood, Keleois found herself gifted with the power of sorcery, and so she was forced to relinquish her master status and return to the magic school at Zeln's Keep to learn to control her new power.
Entering a state of prophecy, Keleios has a terrible vision - the Keep under attack and on fire and the students and masters taken prisoner or killed. Keleios barely has time to warn the residents before the attack is under way, the Keep betrayed by Keleios' roommate Fidelis, a student of Harque, the evil witch who killed her mother years ago. Keleios manages to assemble a small group of survivors, consisting of herself, Tobin, a young prince, Lothor, a dark healer who agrees to help Keleios only if she agrees to be his consort, Master Eroar, a shape-shifting dragon, and Poth, a cat with powers of sorcery. These five must fight against the demonic forces threatening to destroy them. Keleios, who once walked the pit of Hell in a quest of revenge for her mother, bears the mark of demonic corruption, which gives her a certain power over demons.
Keleios and the rest of her team are betrayed by a ruthless High Councilman, and delivered into the hands of Harque. Now Keleios and her friends must struggle to free themselves from the evil witch and her demonic minions. And Keleios seeks to have her revenge on her mothers' murderer.
"Nightseer" is full of non-stop action and thrilling suspense. Hamilton has created yet another fascinating world that her readers can immerse themselves in. Though there are some flaws in the plot, it is on the whole a very impressive first effort. I do wish there were not so many loose ends left dangling when the book came to a close, but this didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book as a whole. "Nightseer" is a fun-filled romp through a wild and wonderful world of dragons, sorcerers, witches and demons, and it is most certainly worth reading!
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48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I read it in one sitting!, September 21, 1998
I originally chose this book to quench my overwhelming thirst for more Anita Blake novels while I immpatiently await the next one, but I soon fell in love with the characters and story. I love Keleios and her world. The action was non-stop. The sexual tension between Keleios and Lothor reminded me of that between Anita and Jean-Claude in the earlier Anita novels. I would love to see a sequel to this book. I know that more adventure is waiting for Keleios. The novel ends without all the loose ends being tied up. I would be one of the first in line (on-line) to snatch up a sequel to this one. Are you listening Laurell?
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