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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book. Can't wait for the next one!, October 1, 2001
By A Customer
This book sort of sneaks up on you. The set up is pretty standard fantasy stuff, though with an Asian feel. Llesho, the poor slave who always seemed a little different, is really a lost prince of a conquered realm. His mentor dies, telling him that he must find his brothers, who have also been sold into slavery, and take back his kingdom. There is a strong ensemble cast of supporting heroes, all of whom have their own motives. The humble laundry man with a mysterious past, the former assassin, Llesho's two young compatriots, even an overprotective bear. While they mostly seem a little familiar, they are still very effective. In the villain, we see the classic evil magician's rise to power. He is all the more frightening here because his motives too are unclear. One of the real outstanding things about this book is the way Benjamin develops a sense of place. This is a large world with a range of fully developed cultures. We are not overwhelmed with long historical surveys or anything, but there is a sense of a living world with people and politics and religion. The book itself is excellent. As a set up, it is even better. The ending has a twist or two that really raises the stakes for the rest of the series. I can't wait for the next one to come out.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not a one-time read!, September 21, 2001
I read the book in two sittings, and only stopped the once because I had to write a paper. I won't call the storyline itself brilliant, the basic line being a lost prince who is trying to get back to his homeland and free it. I actually had not been to terribly hopeful when I bought the book (else I would not have started to read the book *before* my paper had been written). I was pleasantly surprised, about the book, anyway. Before I realized how engrossed I was, I was halfway through the book. The telling of the story is wonderfully discriptive and flowing. The actual plotline had an ending that I had not really anticipated, which to me is a big plus to the author. I hate reading a story, guessing the ending, and being right. That means it is being predictable. However, I didn't find this book that predictable, nor were the plot twists so strange that I could not understand what had happened (which tends to be the other extreme). In fact, I am going back to read the book a second time to see what I missed the first time. I am also eagerly awaiting the next book in the series (it is almost irritating to discover a great writer when they've just begun their career). I honestly think that if people like Mercedes Lackey or Anne McCaffrey, they will like this gentleman. His work is a little less on the thought and background than Lackey's recent books, but he does make up for that with diverse characters and creative plotlines. This gentleman has a promising career in front of him, and he is worth keeping tabs on!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful debut - well worth reading, May 9, 2002
I was thoroughly delighted by Curt Benjamin's debut. This is an author I will watch for in the future, especially for the continuation of the story begun so well in The Prince of Shadows. Having read science fiction and fantasy for almost 50 years, I approach new authors with a mix of anticipation and scepticism. I was continuously pleased and never disappointed by Mr. Benjamin. His plot, well laid out with interesting and very unexpected twists and turns, appears to have very loosely used Chinese mythology and history as a springboard to a world which includes magic, dragons, warlords, an emperor, a nomad enemy group, and many other interesting characters and groups. His characters are well developed and his hero and companions likeable well rounded, believable and likeable, with even his hero and deities having weaknesses as well as strengths, and a sense of humor. His descriptions of surroundings set the scene for the action very clearly and efficiently, giving a good picture of "where" you are without being tedious, and with nice touches to make each setting a part of a "real" world. I raced through this story, turning each page to eagerly learn what would happen next, and finished it feeling well satisfied. Llesho, in his mission to find and rescue his brothers and free his homeland, encounters interesting and exciting adventures, setbacks and triumphs, with companions bringing their own distinct personalities, strengths and weaknesses to enliven the plot. This is a keeper, and a book to re-read. Now that I know how it ends, I want to go back and see what nuances and hints of what is to come that I missed in my excitement to see what happens on the next page.
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