Customer Reviews

Peril's Gate (Wars of Light and Shadow, Book 6)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Wurts'latest book in the Wars of Light and Shadow series is, in a word, magnificent.

After a somewhat repetitive period in the last few books that focused on the exile of Arithon and pursuit of his half brother, Lysear, Wurts has in "Peril's Gate" created a new scenario. This time, Arithon is not successful in his attempt to seek solace on the wide blue ocean. Instead, due to circumstances beyond his control, he is forced to stay on dry land. As such, Lysear is able to feel the pull of his half brother through the curse they share, and orders a relentless pursuit of Arithon.

Peril's Gate moves paces ahead in the story of the two half-brothers. Wurts draws readers deeper into the troubles of the world and the roles the magicians play in saving it. In "Peril's Gate", we experience the growth of Dakar the Prophet, soul-searching of Arithon, a renewed love for Arithon by Elaira, mysterious events that occur around Lysear's wife and son, and we learn more of Davien the Betrayer.

The book is brilliant, pace-y and brings renewed interest and focus to Wurts' world. It is a step up and forward from previous dallying. It is darker, heavier, more serious; but all the more pleasurable to read.

I can't wait for the next book, as we reach a pinnacle and pivotal point of the story of the Master of Shadow.

Peril's Gate probably exceeds the might of the first books. This is a book of wonder. The pace seems to bog down at points, but overall, the evolution of Arithon's character is masterfully articulated, which it turns out is very likely the centerpiece of the entire series.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I recommened this series to people with only a warning that Grand Conspiracy is not up to par. Otherwise, this is equal to Thomas Covenant, Dune, and possibly even Tolkien.

Thanks Janny for holding my faith in whom I deem to be the torchbearer of modern epic fantasy.

Peril's Gate is the finest book written by Janny Wurts. Peril's Gate continues the Wars of Light and Shadow series and is the third of four books making up the Alliance of Light sub-series - the fourth being Stormed Fortress.
Peril's Gate takes up where Grand Conspiracy left off with Arithon and Fionn Areth having just escaped Jaelot, Morriel is still camped in the Skyshiels having upset Athera's lane flux which threatens the fabric of Athera as the overstretched Fellowship battle to keep the grimwards and other protections intact. Arithon and Jieret dominate the subsequent action, carrying the reader with them on a journey that will thrill, exhilirate, appal and make them cry. This is not a book for light reading - this book will leave you shaken and disturbed because of where Arithon and Jieret take you. The grand wheel of the Wars and Light and Shadow rolls on as the wider elements of the story are evolved at a cracking pace, but the immediacy, emotion and sacrifice of the lead characters will stay with you after you put the book down.

And all this without having mentioned that in this book we meet Davien, Elaira starts to take control of her destiny, a Paravian or two appears, the Fellowship battles to keep the Mistwraith contained and Kevor continues to win the hearts of his people.

Peril's Gate is not simply a good book, it marks a new level in the intricate writing of Janny Wurts. A must have.

I've been following the Wars of Light and Shadow for about three years now, and I've re-read the books countless times in that period. I find the whole story simply wonderful, and I appreciate greatly Ms. Wurts unique style of storytelling; so detailed, I'm sure that I could smell some of the scenes she describes. Sometimes though, that leads to the books seeming long-winded, describing in great detail events which aren't particularly interesting. Not in this book.

This book is turning point in the series in every sense. Events of great importance happen; things I never thought I'd see, and it all comes together to set a very different scene than the ones we have come to expect. Ms. Wurts pulls all these plot points off magnificently, her use of language noticeably honed in this volume. I held my breath probably through the entire time I read it; there was so much happening to so many people, and we were all able to see it in wonderful detail. The language seemed especially aimed to affect your emotions, and it did, by goodness.

I felt more satisfaction at the end of this book than in any of the previous books, though they were all marvellous. It really is a fantastic read, and if you've been following the series, than you must read this book. In my opinion, the Wars of Light and Shadow have, only now, really begun.

What I like about Janny Wurts's writing is how beautifully textured and rich the world and characters are. While I wouldn't recommend starting with this book, I would highly recommend starting with Curse of the Mistwraith, the first book in The Wars of Light and Shadow. Wurts creates characters who grow, make mistakes, change, and sometimes do amazing things. Arithon, the hero, draws readers in from the first book. I also like that the world of Athera is itself almost a character in the book. The characters affect the land and the land affects the characters. I can never predict where Wurts will take her characters next; I do know that I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next.

Buried in this massive volume is an outstanding story with engaging characters shackled by painfully executed prose. In many ways Ms. Wurt's descriptions of magic remind me of the metaphysical diarrheic prose David Brin can sink in to as read in "Earth" and "Kiln People". After so many paragraphs of "elevated harmonics" "polarities" and "magnetics" you start to wonder if you are reading epic fantasy or a "Star Trek" novel and ultimately it all translates into "blah blah blah." But you keep reading, skimming most of the magic babble much like skimming the parts of "Moby Dick" that relate to the technical aspects of whaling. You keep going because there is a rousing good yarn in there and you are determined to liberate it from the pages no matter the cost. The characters are great, if a bit over-wrought and self-tortured. Even manly-men in this series practically break down in tears when they have to kill someone or are faced with the unknown mysteries of ancient magic. After a while it starts to wear thin. Finally, the reader does not learn the meaning of "Peril's Gate" until almost the very end of the novel and while the rite of passage our protagonist wades through is epic, brutal and appropriate, it takes far too many pages most of which rehash things we already know. In the end this novel has wonderful characters, convincing emotion and moments of brilliance separated by gulfs of ponderous magical prose. I will buy the next volume but not in hard cover.

Combined the two siblings were a power like none the world has ever seen before. However, after defeating an invincible evil, the duo turns towards each other. The Prince of Light Lysaer demanding justice wants to kill his brother Prince of Rathain Arithon just as the Curse predicted they would. However, in spite of some powerful allies, Lysaer has found Arithon living up to his birth born Master of Shadow abilities as the latter escapes perfect traps.

Both brothers use magic to survive as their rivalry leads each into separate adventures. However, Arithon knows that Lysaer is coming closer so he needs an ally to counterbalance his sibling's magical associates. Reluctantly, Arithon turns to the enchanter Davien the Betrayer who has also lived up to his name, having betrayed and killed Arithon's kin and could just as likely do the same to the Master of Shadow.

PERIL'S GATE is an exhilarating sword and sorcery thriller, but feels bloated as Janny Wurts adds filler material. Still the adventures of the siblings are exciting when the subplots remain steady and not filled with sidebars. Sub-genre fans will enjoy the events that seem to slowly bring the siblings closer to the final confrontation, leaving the latest entry in the Wars of Light and Shadow clearly for the S&S crowd.

Harriet Klausner

A fantastic read. Get the whole series.

30 years of a possible 500-year storyline have passed by the end of this book. The main character, Arithon has found refuge from the curse of the Mistwraith and is about to embark on several months of contemplation and study with Davien the Betrayer as a company. Arithon has mastered his conscience and accepted himself, and this will have a huge impact on the way he will do things in future books.

The message of this book is clear: when we face ourselves, come accept ourselves completely, good and bad, then we can move on. When we change in ourselves, this will start to be reflected in the world around us.

Ms. Wurts never shirks from her chosen path of challenging the reader on all levels. From the unfamiliar words set in beautiful Austen-like prose, to the impact that emotion, or a sweep of beautiful scenery should have on our senses, but doesn't because of our jaded modernity, she doesn't hold back one iota. She challenges assumption, never letting us settle for any kind of answer, only further and deeper insight and understanding.

The result is a rich tapestry of character, detailed physical settings; taut, unabashed emotion; thought-provoking twists of plot and character development; woven through with ideals of love, and full of contrasts like truth and lies, love and lust, true vocation and ambition.

My favourite aspect of Wurt's writing in this series is her version of Magic. She blends scientific and esoteric principals to lend a sense of massive cosmic force and adds variety to this vision by including elements of individual spiritual progress, training and personality quirks. I particularly like the notion that all things, animate and inanimate have a consciousness and that in order to use even the tiniest stone; the magic user has to ask permission. The sacredness of nature is celebrated and at the same time is under attack by the greed of the townborn - and as the reader, I am as anxious about that issue, as I am for the Paravians to return, for Elaira and Arithon to unite, for the Mistwraith to be beaten, the Fellowship to be together and the Royal families to return and restore the Clanborn to freedom etc...

It's not a series for the faint-hearted, complacent or jaded. Be prepared to live it as you read it.

If you want a quick, easy, throwaway read, stop now. This epic of Ms. Wurts' is quite complex, and compelling. There are points in the previous books that could bring you to ribs aching with laughter, fury at injustices perpetrated in the name of justice, or even tears of sorrow. But the main aspects of this series, above all others that has me drooling with anticipation for the next book the moment I am finished with the current one, is Janny's ability to provoke thought, and challenge dearly held views.

There are some who complain of her use of big words, or wordy sentences. I see this "flaw" as a tribute from an author who does not need to talk down to or patronize her readers by "dumbing down" her prose. Janny trusts her readers to be intelligent people, who, while they may or may not agree with her viewpoints on justice, compassion or non-violence, are, nonetheless, intelligent people. I find myself reaching for the dictionary, but I find that fun, since I like "collecting" new words.

Arithon, her protagonist, is a man tormented by the violence and ugliness perpetrated not only against himself, but against his liegemen, his enemies, and even against the natural world itself. He serves as a kind of metaphor for people like Mahatma Gandhi [one of Ms. Wurts' own heroes] or Martin Luther King... people who stand, non-violently, for profound change and justice, while being subjected to unspeakable violence and injustice.

You will laugh, or cry, or perhaps react in another way altogether. But you will THINK. That, above all, is Ms. Wurts' gift in this series.

I'm actually a fan of Wurts, ever since I read her Empire series collaboration with Feist (whom I don't much like). However, I disliked this book, primarily for the following 3 reasons:

The pace of the book is awful. From the first page we are told that Arithon is in the worst danger possible; the kind of danger that would threaten Athera itself....and the Fellowship is threatened...and Arithon really, really, this time must break down and destroy the world... well, no this time he will break down and destroy the world... ok, this time he is really, really stretched and a catastrophe must happen... no? Get the picture? Dangers pile on dangers, and throughout the book, Wurts wants us to believe that we're balancing on the very edge of disaster. The only thing is, this is pretty hard to believe in as a reader - especially when you know you've got 600 more pages to go before the end of this book (and God knows how many volumes left in the series).

Another example of the bad pace are the multiple times in the story where we are told some character must make a split-second decision; upon which we are then treated with 2-3 pages of the character intensely contemplating what s/he should do in the next second. Doh!

Secondly (and perhaps I am a minority here), I am finding it increasingly difficult to emphatize with the characters in these books. The reason is that every one of them is painted as either black or white; every character in the book can be considered either divinely good (Arithon and his bunch), diabolically evil with no redeeming attributes (Lysaer, the Witches and a few of his henchmen), or good but fighting in an evil cause (most of Lysaer's henchmen). Also, every character in the books are described as being brave, unbowed, giving their all for their cause though harried to the end of their endurance, etc. No ordinary humans on Athera, that's for sure (the only one, Dakar, has now converted to join the divinely good fraternity).

Finally, the flowery prose. This is the reason I love Wurt's writing, but unfortunately also the reason why I am beginning to dislike it. After 100 pages describing how beat up, worn out, on the edge of endurance, unwashed, etc. Arithon is, I'm sure we know how he looks. This book could be half its current size and it would be much better.

IMO, this book should never have been written (it was, incidentally not in the original publishing plans either). All it does is blow up the size of a series which is looking increasingly unmanageable, and though a few important plot developments occur, I fail to see why they should require 700 pages!! As a long time fan of the series, I plan on buying the next (and hopefully the final in the Alliance of Light cycle) book, but if there are no significant improvements in this story, I doubt that I will continue reading it.

So why 2 stars? Well, there are a few wonderfully evocative passages in the book. There is no doubt that Wurts knows her stuff, and can write like few others. Just a pity she overdoes it.

If you're a new reader, my suggestion is that you try some of her other work. If you're an old reader of her work and getting tired of it; stay away from this one (unless you're really wanting to punish yourself).