Wit'ch War (The Banned and the Banished, Book 3) [Paperback]

James Clemens (Author)

Book Description

Series: Banned & the Banished | Publication Date: July 5, 2000

With Wit'ch Fire and Wit'ch Storm, two novels of extraordinary imaginative power and originality, James Clemens staked his claim to being among the finest writers of fantasy to emerge this decade. Now Clemens adds to his masterpiece in the making with Wit'ch War, the dazzling third volume in the epic saga of The Banned and the Banished . . .

In her hands, the young wit'ch Elena holds the awesome energies of blood magick--and more. For the fate of all Alasea hinges on her recovery of the Blood Diary, a potent talisman forged five hundred years ago, then locked away behind wards too strong for any mage to break. But only with the secrets recorded in its pages can Elena defeat the evil magicks of the Dark Lord. The challenge? The Diary lies hidden in A'loa Glen, the fabled city that belongs to Shorkan, chief lieutenant of the Dark Lord, and his fearsome army.

Now, with the aid of the ocean-dwelling Sy-wen and her great dragon, Elena prepares a desperate invasion of A'loa Glen. At her side stands the one-armed warrior Er'ril, her faithful protector and the only man who knows how to unlock the wards surrounding the Blood Diary--a man who also happens to be the brother of the dreaded Shorkan.

Meanwhile, Elena's brother, whose magick brings him prophetic dreams, has glimpsed a future in which Elena falls by the deadly sword of . . . Er'ril. But his visions do not always come true. How can he act against his sister's trusted guardian on the basis of a future betrayal that may never happen? For Elena's sake, and for the sake of all Alasea, how can he afford not to?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This third, stout volume recounts the dramatic climax of the quest for the Blood Diary, which holds the secret magic of the evil Black Heart. Three groups of do-gooding warriors are trying to track down the diary: Elena, the wit'ch, and her one-armed companion, Er'ril; Elena's Aunt Mycelle (a reformed shape-changer) and her motley crew; and the pirate Kast the Bloodrider and his beloved Sy-wen. Clemens tediously details each group's long journey, which concludes in a final confrontation on the island of A'loa Glen. There, the adventurers must confront the evil mage Shorkan (who happens to be Er'ril's brother). No tyro, Clemens does intelligent things with Elena and her brother, Joach, as they fight not only their enemies but also the dangers of their magical powers. He writes suggestively about shape-changing, and the final battle is so well constructed that it demands to be read at one sitting. But Clemens's decision to reveal only toward the end that the Blood Diary does not in fact hold the real key to the power of the Black Heart (thereby invalidating the purpose of the quest) produces terrific disappointment. (It does, however, suggest that he'll write at least one more novel in this series.) Although the scenario revolves around strong women and an abundantly detailed world, such a plot is hardly a novelty in contemporary fantasy fiction. Weakly executed, this book won't compel the attention of more discriminating readers.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Gifted with the long-lost power of blood magic, the wit!ch Elena travels to the ancient city of A!loa Glen to retrieve the Blood Diary, a tome whose power will enable her to save her land from the evils of the sorcerer known as Black Heart. Clemens!s epic fantasy features a strong heroine along with a memorable cast of supporting characters marked by their loyalty to one another and to the young woman whose cause they serve. Libraries owning Wit!ch Fire (LJ 6/15/98) and Wit!ch Storm (LJ 5/15/99) should purchase this companion volume.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; 1st edition (July 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345417097
• ISBN-13: 978-0345417091
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,785,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Clemens was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1961. With his three brothers and three sisters, he was raised in the Midwest and rural Canada. He attended the University of Missouri and graduated with a doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1985. The lure of ocean, sun, and new horizons eventually drew him to the West Coast, where he established his veterinary practice in Sacramento, California. Wit'ch Fire is his first novel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars You will like this if you've enjoyed this series., July 31, 2000

By 

Mike Windsor (Fort Worth, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wit'ch War (The Banned and the Banished, Book 3) (Paperback)

If you have not read any of the Wit'ch series, don't start with Wit'ch War. The other books in the series are better and darker. In fact, what set this series apart is its dark story and some very wicked characters. Unfortunately this novel seems like the middle of the series. The plot advances, and it is usually interesting (although at times it sounds like so many other fantasy stories). When it was over, however, I felt as thought the whole novel was simply getting everyone in place for something more.

If you've read the other books in the series, you may feel a bit let down by this one. Given the strong first two novels, I will acknowledge that middle acts are often the most difficult, and I look forward to Mr. Clemen's next novel. This one certainly didn't turn me off to the series.

If you are thinking about starting this series, you may want to consider a few matters. As I mentioned, the bad guys are very bad. Sometimes what happens to their victims is described in graphic detail; if this turns you off, you might want to consider another series. Also, these novels are not overly long. This is not a novel that describes every loose board in every country inn. I like the fact that the story moves along, but some readers might want more detail. This pace, however, means that some characters get cursory treatment, and some potential plots are left undeveloped.

At the end of this novel, the author says that we should leave the characters to rest and prepare for their next adventures. More than anything else in the novel, that passage sums up Wit'ch War.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply put...a wonderfully magical adventure., July 18, 2000

By 

"miss_caprice" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wit'ch War (The Banned and the Banished, Book 3) (Paperback)

A tale of good and evil, black magick versus white magick, treachery,betrayal,tragic loss, love...it has it all. This series was my introduction into the fantasy genre. I had it on good authority ;-) that I would probably enjoy this series and I admit I am pleasantly hooked. This third installment is by far the best in the series thus far in my opinion, where Clemens demonstrates the full potential of his writing skill and his very vivid imagination. Being an avid reader, I can truly say authors of this calibre are few and far between, someone who can paint detail into his story to the point where you can imagine yourself there, where you're angry right along with the characters, where your stomach lurches in a few scenes (think squidlike skull beasties), where you feel the emotion between Sy-wen and her bonded Ragnar'k/Kast (my personal favorite character), where you hate Kral to the point of a private cheering when he gets exposed for being a shape shifter.... A wonderfully intricate plot where you find yourself completely immersed in this epic tale of classic good versus evil. You simply don't want it to end...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clemens does it again and leaves you aching for more., October 10, 2000

By 

Jessi Smith (Richmond, Va USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wit'ch War (The Banned and the Banished, Book 3) (Paperback)

Well, I have just finished reading the third installment of what I now consider the BEST fantasy series I have ever had the pleasure of laying my hands on and the only bad thing I can say is that the fourth book cannot possibly be out soon enough.

Wit'ch War is most definitely only for those who have read the previous two books. If you're considering this book, I implore to go back and first read Wit'ch Fire and Wit'ch Storm before buying this one...if you do so, you WON'T be disappointed. Wit'ch War, like it's predecessors grabs hold of you and doesn't let you go. Clemens continues to blend rich story lines and characters with an amazing nack for suspense. Though the tale of Elena and her companions is now well set, there are STILL surprises around every corner. Just when you think you've discovered every last thread of the plot Clemens throws a new twist into the roller coaster ride that is the chronicles of the banned and the banished. I especially loved this book for it's emotional impact. This book, more than the previous two, clutches at the reader's emotions, wrenching them this way and that until you can't help but feel what the characters are feeling. I don't believe I have ever felt the pangs of loss or the joy of love so strongly in any other novel I've read. Clemens has written this third installment so well that I actually found tears rising to my eyes at the trials of Elena and her friends. This is truly a book for lovers of adventure AND for lovers of romance.