Customer Reviews

White Order

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An interesting departure from the earlier Saga of Recluce stories, as Cerryl is the first White to be a protagonist in the series. It might have been more of a departure, however, had Modesitt chosen to write about, say, Jeslek (the ending of such a story would necessarily be abrupt). Cerryl is really little different from Modesitt's Black heroes of earlier books. If the point is to show that Order and Chaos are basically the same, I think it might be better to have a Black villain in one of the stories. The Blacks of Recluce may be harsh and unfair, shortsighted, and perhaps even corrupt, but never evil. Enough on my first point. There are a lost of loose ends in this story, but so far Modesitt has tied up every loose end or hint of a story in a future book (and since this book has a sequel, I don't imagine that will change). All in all, one of the better installments in the Saga of Recluce (considering The White Order, Fall of Angels, etc., perhaps the series needs to be renamed).

This book was great. I loved the emphasis on the White side of the story. It makes you think that the 'bad guys' are not all bad. It let you understand both sides to the story and more fully enjoy the series.

A nice change of direction. Instead of being from the Black Mage's point of view,(the 'good guys'), it is written from the perspective of an('evil') White Wizard. An apparently normal guy with powers that align with the White Wizards. A nice little twist that puts to rest the on-going trend that 'all' things White are evil, & all things Black are good. For those of you who have not read this series, the Whites(or Chaos Wizards) are aligned with destruction & short term answers to long term problems. The Black Mages are aligned with healing, adding order, & of course, long term solutions. A very enjoyable series. Don't let the fact that each book is about a different character put you off or confuse you(did me!). It comes together nicely as you read more books, & picks up where it leaves off in later books...BS

While this wasn't really the most exciting book of the series, it was still one of the best. Mainly because of the alternative perspective that it gives the reader about Whites. This book chronicles the rise of Cerryl, who one day becomes the leader of the Whites in their fight against Recluce. This book makes it clear that all Whites aren't evil and that the school of white mages actually teaches and believes that it does more good for Candar than bad, and even the bad is only a necessary action for the future good of the people.
This book is very well written (as are all of Modesitt's books) and the characters are great. The story line is cool, with plenty of action as well as lots of intrigue within the order of the Whites (mainly counter play between Sterol and Jeslek). This book is definitely a valuable addition to the saga of Recluce. Modesitt continues to fill in the missing blanks of his multi-generational story.

I have read all of Modesitt Jr.'s book and i have loved each and everyone. They can not be predicted as are most books written by an author. Each book I have read has consumed me til i am done. I read it and get so involved in the world of Recluce. Each book is different from the next and brings out an whole new part of the world created by Modesitt. He is Great and i would highly advise you to read not only this book, but the entire Recluce Series.

The Recluce series is a great read. This book is midway in the series. I'd recommend that you start with book 1 The Magic of Recluce. If you like Scifi Fantasy, you'll enjoy this series.

This is one of Modesitt Jr that I didn't have I had most of the rest of Recluse Saga I have enjoyed every one of his books the other ones I have bought have the rest of those as well and I do enjoy a good read.I have found the works of Modesitt Jr.very clever and enjoying the waiting of each page to find out what is the next saga to come out of this work of art keeping every one on the edge of their seats.He is a fine writer he knows how to keep everyone wanting more of these works of art keep on Modesitt Jr.

What can I say, I am a HUGE Recluse Saga fan. I think the books in the series are excellent and I love the flowing writing style. These are those books that you read and can't put down. I have often come to the end of a chapter and needed to go to bed or go do something else, and been so "into" the story that I had to start the next chapter. This Saga will capture you.

The books can be read out of order but some books in the series are sequential - the first book starts a story about a given character, the next book in the sequence finishes off that story. Be sure to read the first of these to start. Other books in the series are stand alone and can be read solo. But trust me, it would be VERY tough to read only one book in this series.

Some series have great "re-read" value and I hold this Recluse Saga as one of my most "re-read" ever. Some of these I have read 4 or 5 times and still enjoy them and have trouble putting them down. From Karl the cooper to Rahl and his issues, the characters in these books come alive and we get real buy-in to what happens to them.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a couple of the Recluse Saga books. You won't be disappointed.

I have never read any of the other books in the Recluse series, but I found the fantasy world and the themes interesting. As for plot, however, the novel was painfully tedious and slow moving. The book chronicles young Cerryl's journey to adulthood in pages and pages worth of unnecessary detail. The other main flaw is that there is a preponderance of references and hints that are never resolved at the end. Some of this makes sense because the next book continues Cerryl's story, but many of the lose ends are too minor and occur far too early in the story to provide a good carry over to the next book. I did enjoy the novel enough while I was reading, but I was left rather dissatisfied.

In The White Order, we start to see this world from the other point of view. A young boy has talents with Chaos magic, but must also undergo ordeals. Homeless and hungry he finds a place, and eventually enters the wizard society.

There, he has to master his powers or die, and even worse, survive the individualistic power struggles of the society he is now part of.