Customer Reviews

The Ships of Merior (Wars of Light & Shadow)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As is unfortunately typical for me, I read this series out of order; this comes from gaps in bookstores' stock and my own impatience. I first met Arithon and Lysaer in "Warhost of Vastmark," then read "Curse of the Mistwraith" and "Fugitive Prince," and began "Grand Conspiracy" before I finally found a copy of "Ships of Merior." It was a great relief to understand (at last!) the many back references.

"Ships of Merior" was originally the first part of a huge hardcover, with "Warhost of Vastmark" being the second half. I think this explains the slow pace of the book; it's not meant to stand on its own, even within the series; it's meant to set up "Warhost." We open a few years after the battle that ended "Curse." Arithon has been traveling with the Masterbard, while Lysaer has been living in Etarra. Dakar is sent to Arithon, and is unaware, for quite a long time, that he has found him; Arithon is nothing if not a master of disguise.

The story takes Arithon and Dakar (who can become tiresome in his drunkenness and hatred of Arithon) through several seemingly unconnected events, while Lysaer begins to take control of Tysan and gathers an army to destroy Arithon. Eventually, the brothers meet in yet another climactic battle, in which Arithon again uses guile and shadows to drive Lysaer back, at a great cost in lives. A strength of this series is the pain both brothers feel when others die in their personal war; all too often, common soldiers die and it is merely regretable, but Arithon feels each death like his own, and Lysaer (though becoming less likeable) is also tormented. Sadly, the Mistrwraith's curse twists his pain away from the obvious course -- peace -- into renewed determination to capture and kill his brother. Thus do the Wars of Light and Shadow (fortunately for us, unfortunately for the characters) continue.

The transitions between events are not always smooth, and some motivations are a bit sketchy. For example, Dakar distrusts Arithon because he misinterpreted Asandir's reasons for memory-blocking the Master of Shadows in "Curse," and because he doesn't know why Arithon used dark sorcery during the battle in Strakewood. This is not clarified well. Also, Wurts continues to overwrite. She rarely seems content with one adjective where she can fit two, or a simple sentence where she can twist it around.

Still, "Ships of Merior" does a wonderful job of showing the characters moving through their world. Elaira takes a larger role, Lysaer shoulders the burdens of a kingdom and a cause (at some cost to his original morals), and Arithon's prickly, difficult character is examined in greater depth; he has quickly become my favorite hero/anti-hero.

The tale of the two half-brothers continues in volume two of The Wars of Light and Shadow. A carefully balanced alliance has been shattered by
actions not in the control of either brother. Actions that not even the Fellowship of Seven are able to counter. Move and counter move proceed
across the continent of Paravia as Lysaer moves town Mayors and armies in his never ending desire to see the destruction of Arithon. Arithon flees back to the ships that served him so well as a pirate on his home world of Dascen Elur. But Lysaer pursues him closely.

Into this mix comes a character from Curse of the Mistwraith, Dakar the Mad Prophet, he of the West Gate prophecy. Devoted to his cups and wenching. Desiring nothing so much as to be left to his own devices he is entwined into the fate of the two brothers.

Ms. Wurts weaves a deft tale that reveals incredible depths in these characters. You care so much about each of these that it is hard to take
sides. But take sides you will. Lesser characters shine in the roles of friends, lovers or opponents. Stroke and counter stroke are described with a delicate nicety that leaves you wanting more. Events of such striking compassion occur that you will be forced to lay the book aside, but not for long, and contemplate the results.

The tale of the two half-brothers continues in volume two of The Wars of Light and Shadow. A carefully balanced alliance has been shattered by
actions not in the control of either brother. Actions that not even the Fellowship of Seven are able to counter. Move and counter move proceed
across the continent of Athera as Lysaer moves town Mayors and armies in his never ending desire to see the destruction of Arithon. Arithon flees back to the ships that served himself so well as a pirate on his home world of Dascen Elur. But Lysaer pursues him closely.

Into this mix comes a character from CURSE OF THE MISTWRAITH, Dakar the Mad Prophet, he of the West Gate prophecy. Devoted to his cups and wenching. Desiring nothing so much as to be left to his own devices he is entwined into the fate of the two brothers.

Ms. Wurts weaves a deft tale that reveals incredible depths in these characters. You care so much about each of these that it is hard to take
sides. But take sides you will. Lesser characters shine in the roles of friends, lovers or opponents. Stroke and counter stroke are described with a delicate nicety that leaves you wanting more. Events of such striking compassion occur that you will be forced to lay the book aside, but not for long, and contemplate the results.

I liked this more than the previous novel in the series "Curse of the Mistwraith" & that's hard to imagine. Part of the reason is that the world & characters are already set, so Janny could spend more time exploring how the curse played out & the characters. The world expanded & the action increased, too.

There were some things I didn't like, but I can't mention them without making a spoiler review, something I hate. I can say, that what I didn't like were necessary to the story, pieces of a hard life that was masterfully told & just ripped at my emotions - so they weren't 'bad', just heart rending. They heightened the good points to bring more joy, but they weren't easy to take.

Again, the book ended logically & on crescendo of action. There's obviously plenty of room for the story to go on. My hardback edition has both this book & "Warhost of Vastmark" together as one book. Since it is a first edition, signed to me by the author, I didn't read it but the paperback which makes two books out of them.

If you liked the Lord of the Rings, I think you'll love this series. If you're used to skimming candy books, be warned that Janny's prose is dense. Each word is polished & set in place like a fine jeweler sets stones. If you skim, you'll miss points, but most of all, you'll miss an almost poetic tale.

The Ships of Merior is the first part of Arc 2 of THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, the incomparable epic fantasy series by Janny Wurts. The novel was originally released in 1994, and has most recently been re-released by HarperCollins Voyager in a lovely mass market paperback edition, featuring brand new artwork by the author herself. This is the first US paperback edition of the novel in at least 7 years. Further novels in the series will be re-released in late 2009 and throughout 2010, in anticipation of the next novel in the series, Initiate's Trial, in late 2010.

If you enjoyed The Curse of the Mistwraith, there's simply no reason or excuse not to read The Ships of Merior. The novel features all of the many strengths of its predecessor: meticulous plotting, strong characters, attention to the smallest details of world-building, and most notably Janny Wurts' gorgeous prose. Simply put, I can't think of many fantasy authors who can rival the richness and subtlety of the language Janny Wurts deploys in her novels.

One difference with The Curse of the Mistwraith is the amount of humor in the book. While the earlier book had just a few glimpses of lightheartedness, The Ships of Merior displays this side of the author more often, especially when recounting the exploits of the mad prophet Dakar early in the novel. The grimmer tone of the second half of the book is probably at least in part due to the fact that Dakar spends much of it drunk to the point of unconsciousness.

The Ships of Merior and Warhost of Vastmark, the second book in this Arc of THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, were originally envisioned (and published) as one - very large - novel, but have been split into two titles in many editions. Fortunately, one of Janny Wurts' hallmarks is a midpoint climax, halfway through each novel - which in this case has the happy result of creating an unforgettable ending in the last chapters of The Ships of Merior (which were originally the middle chapters of the complete Arc 2). The book ends on an unmitigated nail-biter that left me unable to stop reading until the very end, and eager to get into Warhost of Vastmark as soon as possible.

The Ships of Merior flawlessly continues The Wars of Light and Shadow saga. Arithon, the Master of Shadow, is on the run, which is fine by him because his perfect cover is also his heart's desire: working as apprentice to the master-bard Halliron. Lysaer has been far from idle during Arithon's absence. He carries on his plans to become appointed high king, courts Talera, begins the rebuilding of the ruins of Avenor, and wins over the townships to his cause of hunting down Arithon. Meanwhile, the Fellowship of Seven dangerously pursue the means to defeat the Mistwraith once and for all and to lift the curse that has Arithon and Lysaer at each others' throats, threatening to plunge Athera into bloody war.

If there is anyone who can write more beautifully than Janny Wurts, I haven't run across `em yet. Her characters are so genuine and her worlds are so life-like, it seems as if she isn't making up these stories, but translating them onto paper as the characters relate them.

What makes Ms. Wurts's stories so "real" is her extensive knowledge regarding everything she writes about. In The Ships of Merior, she describes music in such a way that the reader can't help but realize that there truly is something magical about it. Her descriptions of shipbuilding recognize that it's an art form as well as a practical skill. Wurts's biography states that she's a musician and an offshore sailor, among several other remarkable achievements. What it doesn't say is that she's apparently a military strategist as well! The clans' guerrilla tactics and the campaign of Lysaer's war-host reveal the wisdom of a seasoned general.

The more books by Janny Wurts I read, the more I'm impressed by her genius.

** spoiler alert ** If I could, I'd give these books 5.5 or 6 stars! I don't know when I've been so enthralled with a story. I feel quite inadequate to write a review. The last book ended with Lysaer's total defeat by Arithon, although Lysaer's troops decimated the clansmen who fought with Arithon. Arithon sings the souls of the departed on to the afterlife, and Halliron, the Masterbard of Athera asks him to be his apprentice.

When this book begins, Arithon disguises himself with his gift of shadow and names himself Medlir, and stays with the Masterbard for five years while he learns his craft and is able to do what his heart desires - make music - and avoid another battle with his half brother. To his sadness, his gift of Magic is gone, a consequence of his `unmaking' the crossbow of an archer who was decimating the men who fought with him in the battle with Lysaer. This deed is wrought with danger because it destroys the delicate balance and interconnection that exist ...more If I could, I'd give these books 5.5 or 6 stars! I don't know when I've been so enthralled with a story. I feel quite inadequate to write a review. The last book ended with Lysaer's total defeat by Arithon, although Lysaer's troops decimated the clansmen who fought with Arithon. Arithon sings the souls of the departed on to the afterlife, and Halliron, the Masterbard of Athera asks him to be his apprentice.

When this book begins, Arithon disguises himself with his gift of shadow and names himself Medlir, and stays with the Masterbard for five years while he learns his craft and is able to do what his heart desires - make music - and avoid another battle with his half brother. To his sadness, his gift of Magic is gone, a consequence of his `unmaking' the crossbow of an archer who was decimating the men who fought with him in the battle with Lysaer. This deed is wrought with danger because it destroys the delicate balance and interconnection that exists between all things. He carries a tremendous amount of guilt for his role in the deaths of the clansmen and their wives and children in the battle of the last book. His ability to have compassion and to see all sides of a story burdens him with grief and melancholy that he hides with sarcasm and antagonism. Only a few see beneath his cover.

Every thread of the story is intertwined and important to the forward momentum. Janny manages to weave her tale with a complexity and compelling momentum that hardly lets me lay the books down.

Dakar, the Mad Prophet, has been given the task of protecting Arithon as a penance by his master Asandir, one of the circle of seven sorcerers tasked with maintaining the delicate balance in the world and with restoring the ancient unicorns and centaurs who have left Athera eons ago.

Dakar is angry with the seven because they let Lysaer bear the brunt of the Mistwraith attack and Lysaer was his favorite of the two. Throughout the book, he plots to get Arithon killed and because he's a drunk and a ne'er-do-well, every plot goes hilariously afoul except that they earn Arithon the enmity of many of the citizens of Athera. Finally, an accident in one of the escapades gives Halliron a grave injury, and he and Arithon barely escape with the injured Halliron in their wagon. During this ordeal, Arithon plays his Lyranthe and his playing is able to arouse the old magical energies in the earth that creates an upheaval in the corrupt city and topples buildings and heaves up the ground, while never harming a soul.

Lysaer solidifies his power, rebuilds an old city to be his capital, marries his love, the beautiful Talith, and gathers his troops for another assault on his half-brother, carrying out the 'curse'. Lysaer is in every way, Arithon's opposite. Where Arithon is small and dark, Lysaer is tall and blonde and handsome. He wins people to his side with charm and smiles and his single minded pursuit of `justice' as he sees it. Reminds me of some people I can think of on the national stage.

Elaira, the girl that Arithon met in book one, is sent to the little town of Merior by the Koriani order of enchantresses to seduce Arithon because they see him as dangerous to them. Elaira loves him but cannot disobey because of her vows to the order. She does not try to seduce him, but they begin to spend time together, as Arithon wants to learn her healing skills and about herbs and poultices. Finally a fisherman is badly wounded and the two strive to heal him, Elaira with her craft, and Arithon with his Lyranthe and song. They are able to see inside each other during this process and it is one of the most intense, passionate, powerful scenes I have ever read. They declare their love to each other, but Arithon turns from her because of her vow of chastity to the Koriani order.

The climax comes when Lysaer finds Arithon and leads his troops to take the village of Merior and destroy Arithon's ships. Arithon is able to defeat him once again, building a shadow fleet out of fishing boats and disguising them as powerful sailing warships, and Lysaer has a huge attack of rage and sends out his gift of light and burns his own fleet that was supposed to take his armies to Merior.

The mere telling of the plot conveys none of the brilliance of the writing, the complexity of the characters, the intensity of the emotional impact.

I've long been a fan of Janny Wurts. She develops well constructed plots and evokes images of her worlds and characters with descriptions which make most authors pale by comparison. While many state that her prose is too wordy, Janny stands tall and easily defends this tactic - if she used different words, they would impart other meanings, and if she didn't use those words, then which ones should she use?

Ships of Merior is a worthy sequel to "Curse of the Mistwraith". Arithon inherits the title of Masterbard, and the origins of the Fellowship Of Seven are explained, all the while drawing Lysaer closer to war with his half-brother.

As a guitarist myself, it's nice to see someone with an understanding and appreciation of music bringing it to life in a book. In reality, I know of no other author which brings the true scope and power of a Masterbard to life. I've always thought that a bard should be able to evoke magic through music, yet Janny is the only one that I know of to attempt tackling this subject.

My copy was around 700 pages, so be warned - it's not for those who prefer shorter books. That being said, it's well worth the read...and the journey.

Those who felt Curse of the Mistwraith was good better hold on to their hats; Ships of Merior takes the series to a new level.

The groundwork has already been laid in Curse of the Mistwraith, now we begin to see the results of that curse. You also begin to see a little more about the various characters Janny has introduced to us. The polarization of the world begins as different factions find themselves taking sides.

But things are not always what they seem as you will see plots and counter plots draw you deeper and deeper into the story.

While it is possible that this book could be read first, I highly recommend that the series be read in order because you gain a better understanding of the intent behind the scenes.

It has normally been my experience that when an author begins an epic series with a book as long as Curse of the Mistwraith, the tale normally ends in a never ending list of badly written sequels trying to profit from the interest generated by the first. Happily, my experience with Ms Wurts in terms of the Wars of LIght and Shadows allow me to revise such an opinion. The characters merely deepen their appeal in the subsequent novels, rather than follow a series of shallow plot twists and revelations. Arithon merely becomes more pitiable and noble as time goes on. What can't you say about him? He is one of the most memrable fantasy characters that I have ever read about...and I have read a LOT of fantasy novels! This series is worth every star it can get, and you can email me at c_lambert@hotmail.com if you would care to talk more about it.