Path of Fate [Paperback]

Diana Pharaoh Francis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Path of Fate | Publication Date: November 4, 2003

In the land of Kodu Riik, it is an honor to be selected by the Lady to become an ahalad-kaaslane-to have your soul bonded with one of Her blessed animals, and roam the land serving Her will.

But Riesil refuses to bow to fate-a decision that may have repercussions across the realm...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This pleasant read by a new writer tells the story of Reisil. Once an orphan, taunted by the other children in her village, she is now a newly minted healer, hoping to find a secure place in a world that has known sporadic fighting for years. But the lady she serves chooses her to be ahalad-kaaslane, or a wandering judge-warrior-explorer bound through a companion animal to no one but the lady. Afraid of losing her newly won security to go adventuring, Reisil refuses the honor and the companion goshawk. She picks a bad time, however. The leaders of the warring lands have agreed to a truce as a preliminary to ending the war, but many who have suffered on both sides regard the truce as a betrayal. Moreover, Reisil's decision threatens the truce. Plausible, engrossing characters, a well-designed world, and a well-realized plot distinguish Francis' debut. Frieda Murray
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Roc (November 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451459504
• ISBN-13: 978-0451459503
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Diana Pharaoh Francis has written the fantasy novel trilogy that includes Path of Fate, Path of Honor and Path of Blood. Path of Fate was nominated for the Mary Roberts Rinehart Award. Her latest series is The Crosspointe Chronicles. They include The Cipher and The Black Ship. Her next book, The Turning Tide, will be available in May of 2009. Diana teaches at the University of Montana Western. For a lot more information including where to go to read her blog, maps of her worlds, updated news, and other odd and fun tidbits, go to www.dianapfrancis.com. Diana also keeps a regularly updated blog at http//difrancis.livejournal.com and also has a MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/difrancis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good First Effort, May 15, 2004

By 

ChaucerCat "ChaucerCat" (Staten Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Path of Fate (Paperback)

In a nutshell, "Path of Fate" is what would happen if Gayle Greeno's "Ghatti's Tale" series met and married Joanne Bertin's "Dragonlord" series. There are mind-melding animal partners, a reluctant heroine who doesn't want to leave a career she loves, and evil, evil mages.

I won't say the plot was original, but the book was decently written--although I did catch a few awkward sentences and grammatical errors. The pace and language were good, and the plot twists were well executed. And even though the characters were more "types" than fully realized individuals, they were written fairly well.

I liked that Resil, our heroine, had to pay for a big mistake right at the beginning--that of refusing Saljane the goshawk as her divinely sent "ahalad-kaaslane". I also liked that Reisil was a poor judge of character from time to time, as well as unsure of herself. It made her seem more like a real person.

I have a feeling that as Ms. Francis' career progresses, we will see great things from her. As it is, "Path of Fate" was a good first effort.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars realistic and emotionally moving fantasy, November 7, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Path of Fate (Paperback)

Ever since she was a baby, abandoned by her mother all Reisil ever wanted was a place to call home. Growing up in Kallas, she was fostered to different families so that nobody would have to bear the burden of another mouth to feed for any extended periods. When Reisil is old enough, the village pays for her training as a healer and she hopes that they will want her to stay with them permanently.

Just when it looks like her dream will come true; the goshawk comes to bond with Reisil, choosing her to be one of the Lady's soldiers in the fight against evil. Reisil tries to avoid this dubious honor but when a noble woman from another country is kidnapped in Kallas and spirited away, Reisil accepts her destiny to find her. If she fails, the realm of Kudas will be plunged into war against an army that can use magic to cause terrible harm.

Very rarely does a writer's first novel come along that is so realistic and emotionally moving that it achieves total acclaim from reviewers and readers alike. PATH OF FATE will because of the strong protagonist who grows and changes to meet each situation that comes her way. She charms her way into the readers' hearts and the audience will adore the special relationship she has with Saljane the goshawk who has a winning and loveable personality of her own.

Harriet Klausner

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A World & People with Complex Depth & Balance, May 17, 2004

By 

"theshamandomina" (The Golden Gate) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Path of Fate (Paperback)

Unlike other fantasy novels I have struggled through in the past, with omnipotently dynamic main characters that exist outside of the world they live in, Di Francis has created a place where the soul, magic and nature work together. What brings Kodu Riik together as a community is this mythology that thrives in every single person in the town of Kallas. I like the way that purpose and meaning was woven into the daily ritual of guards, innkeepers and even the homeless squatting outside the town walls.

By establishing a vibrant community like this from the beginning, Di Francis instilled a unique vitality to the main character, Reisil, the newest "ahalad-kaaslane"; guardians with animal companions chosen by "The Blessed Lady" to protect "her people". Reisil had many personal struggles that tugged at her new responsibility and I liked that. Even those with mystical powers can feel all-too-human insecurities at their heels sometimes. Reisil's struggle honored the complexity of being human; that there are times that you must listen to your inner truth instead of following the "official" wisdom sanctioned by elders who over time may have been blinded by their egoes.

I could go on and on but I'll get to the point - obviously, I LOVED THIS BOOK and look forward to picking up PATH OF HONOR when it hits the shelves!!!