Nightwalker: The Warlocks of Talverdin [Paperback]

K.V. Johansen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Warlocks of Talverdin | Publication Date: March 1, 2007

Maurey has always been persecuted for the colour of his skin and eyes. He has never known more about his parents than that his mother died the day he was born. When the king's chancellor discovers that Maurey possesses a ring belonging to the missing queen and another that may be the key to finding the hidden kingdom of the inhuman warlocks of Talverdin, he is imprisoned, revealed as a Nightwalker, and sentenced to execution in philosopher's fire. Rescued by a young baroness with her own reasons for fearing the chancellor, Maurey sets out on a dangerous journey to the land of his father's people. If he and Annot are to survive and prevent the destruction of the last refuge of the Nightwalkers, Maurey will have to call on human and inhuman skills he never knew he possessed, and win the trust of both sides of his family.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–8—On the isle of Eswiland, wizards are called "Night-eyes," or "Nightwalkers," because of their dark features and magical powers that allow them to travel safe and unseen through shadowy places. However, these powers didn't stop "Good King Hallow," a historical hero to the human population, from practically wiping them out. His weapons were propaganda and "philosopher's fire," which burned only Nightwalkers. Two generations and a lot of tedious family histories and expository conversation later, a suspiciously dark-eyed boy and a displaced duchess escape the current human king's court and make for the magically fortified mountain of the wizards. Along the way, Johansen includes a couple of funny scenes involving, for example, pigs charging the throne room. Unfortunately, she also throws off the pacing and misses the opportunity for character development by focusing on the action scenes while glossing over the getting-to-know-you parts of the journey. This causes real problems toward the end, where she stages a change-of-heart-and-reconciliation scene that isn't a bit believable. Johansen cites Tolkien as an influence, and is at her best when writing about war councils and political intrigues. This book might entertain readers who are waiting for the next book by Megan Whalen Turner or Diana Wynne Jones, but it won't leave a lasting impression.—Emily R. Brown, Providence Public Library, RI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Expelled from Cragroyal University's grammar school after the death of his guardian, orphaned Maurey has been forced to work as a scullion. The students torment him for his dark hair and eyes, features associated with nightwalkers-their island's feared sorcerers. His situation worsens when a ring he wears seems to link him to both the royal family and to nightwalker magic, causing the university's chancellor, a close advisor to the malleable king, to throw Maurey in the dungeon. A plucky young baroness helps him escape, and they live off the land as they travel toward Talverdin, the legendary realm of the nightwalkers. In Talverdin, Maurey discovers his true origins and learns that he must prevent the chancellor from bringing a large force through Talverdin's magical protections. Despite some predictable elements, the fast-paced adventure, compelling characters, and conflicts that make sense will reward readers of this fully realized fantasy, a promising start to the Warlocks of Talverdin series. Diana Herald
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551434814
• ISBN-13: 978-1551434810
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,398,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

K.V. Johansen was born in Kingston, Ontario, and is the author of numerous works for children, teens, and adults. She predominantly writes secondary-world fantasy, but is also the author of some science fiction and literary criticism, and of a collection retelling medieval Danish ballads. With an artist friend, she is also working on a manga-style adaptation of a short story set in the Blackdog world. Johansen has an M.A. from the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto. Her lifelong interest in ancient and medieval history and the history of languages has had a great influence on her writing and world-building. Johansen was the editor of Stalin Versus Me, the final, posthumously-published volume of Donald Jack's "Bandy Papers" series. She is hard at work on more Torrie books and on further works set in the world of Blackdog, a secondary world fantasy for adults coming out in September 2011.

She has a house full of exotic trees, most of which have gotten too big to pretend to be bonsai any more. Her websites can be found at www.pippin.ca & www.kvj.ca .

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Story Siren Reviews:, October 11, 2008

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The Story Siren "Kristi" (Indiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nightwalker: The Warlocks of Talverdin (Paperback)

Why I haven't heard more about this series, I don't fully understand. Being a fan of fantasy I've read more than my share and to find such a well written fantasy novel that is relatively unknown is always a surprise.

Although the novel doesn't have the outstanding depth of other fantasy greats like Eragon and Harry Potter, I wouldn't discredit Johansen's story telling ability. Her world of Nightwalkers and sorcery is just as if not more entertaining than its lengthy counterparts. It would have been easy to fully immerse myself and read the entire novel in one sitting if I would have actually had the time to do so!

It's faced paced which is always a plus with me and the elements of action, humor, adventure! The characters were likable and witty without seeming phony. It was just overall a good novel and an enjoyable read. I'm dying to start the next book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, March 12, 2007

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TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightwalker: The Warlocks of Talverdin (Paperback)

Maurey used to be a student at the grammar school at Fowler College, but that was before his guardian passed away. Suddenly all of his tuition money, paid through college degree level, mysteriously disappeared. Now Maurey is an unpaid servant at the school, and whipping boy for bored students. In addition to being a charity case, he bears a striking physical resemblance to the sorcerers who were driven from the land many years ago. He is insulted, harassed, even assaulted, at virtually every turn. His only escape is the dark tunnels underneath the school. His extraordinary night vision helps him navigate and elude his captors. Until tonight.

Tonight he got away from the bullying students and ran directly into the King, along with the master of the school and the King's Chancellor. As a result of the impact, the chain around his neck bearing rings from his mother, the only thing he has that connects him to her, falls out of his shirt. First accused of theft, closer examination of the rings causes a much greater stir. Maury finds himself locked in a dungeon, waiting to be tried for sorcery. If his greatest fears about his ancestry are true, Maurey will undoubtedly be killed. His only possibility for help seems to be a very unlikely and unwise choice.

All I can say is WOW! I've read a fair amount of fantasy/paranormal books, and this is one of the best I've come across. Amazingly well-developed and imagined, both character and story-wise, intelligent, and witty. It's books like this, and the knowledge that it's only book one, that make me love this job!

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman