The Veil of a Thousand Tears (The Pearl Saga, Book 2) (Hardcover)

by Eric Van Lustbader (Author) "Riane and Giyan were alone in the Library of the Abbey of Warm Current..." (more)
Key Phrases: hyperexcited ions, power bourns, ion mace, Nith Batoxxx, Konara Inggres, Dar Sala-at (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Bestseller Lustbader offers the second installment in an ambitious fantasy saga both sketchy and overly detailed. Having saved the besieged planet Kundala from destruction in The Ring of Five Dragons (2001), Riane, the magically transformed and gifted child of the Kundalan sorceress Giyan and the assassinated regent of the V'ornn invaders, stands revealed as the Dar Sala-at, the Chosen One of Prophecy. Now Riane searches for the Veil of a Thousand Tears and its power to release Giyan from possession by the archdaemon Horolaggia. En route she acquires information (little of which anyone understands at this stage in the epic) and companions with names like Tezziq, Rekkk and Thigpen. Resistance fighters, nobles and others pursue their own agendas through an impenetrable maze of destiny and double-crossing. While his blend of pseudoscience and fantasy owes a lot to Arthurian legend, Asian fairytales and the work of Frank Herbert, Lustbader creates a unique tale with the compelling style that has distinguished his writing since his renowned Sunset Warrior fantasy cycle in the 1970s. Unfortunately, maps and appendices do little to unravel the elaborate physical and sociopolitical background, swamped by an abundance of names and terms more easily gargled than remembered. Even experienced disbelief-suspenders will have trouble believing in members of a warrior caste who only know one swear word. Lustbader fans will be thrilled, but readers used to more mainstream fantasy may be daunted.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Fulfilling her role as the Dar Sala-at, the destined liberator of the Kundalan people from their V'ornn conquerors, Riane delivered her world from destruction by finding and using the legendary Ring of Five Dragons. Now, however, the world lies vulnerable to a plague of daemons, suddenly freed from their imprisonment by the cosmic energies of a dangerous spell. The only hope for banishing these creatures rests in the discovery of an ancient artifact known as the Veil of a Thousand Tears. The sequel to The Ring of Five Dragons plunges deeper into the history of the land of Kundala, unlocking new secrets in a fascinating world of forbidden sorceries and alien technomagic. A solid choice for fantasy collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 672 pages
• Publisher: Tor Fantasy; 1st edition (July 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312872364
• ISBN-13: 978-0312872366
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,246,975 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Female Dar Sala-at, September 15, 2006

By	Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Veil of a Thousand Tears (The Pearl Saga, Book 2) (Hardcover)

The Veil of a Thousand Tears (2002) is the second Fantasy novel in The Pearl series, following The Ring of Five Dragons. In the previous volume, Giyan removed Annon's mind from his body, stored it in Riane's body, and surrendered Annon's body to the V'oorn hunters so that the search for Annon will end. Kurgan played his father against Kinnnus Morcha until both are dead. Riane deactivated the Tymnos device by inserting her finger into the Ring of Five Dragons, but the Storehouse Door did not open. Riane then stabbed Malistra with a shard of oily heartwood and the sorceress died.

In this novel, the Dar Sala-at and her friends settle into the abandoned Abbey of Warm Current. Riane and Annon have become accustomed to residing in the same body, but Riane's mind is still producing moments of vivid memories from her forgotten life. Annon is uncomfortable with still loving Eleana in his female body. Giyan is also uneasy with her son residing in a female body, but she soon learns to love Riane as much as Annon.

Rekkk is still Rhynnnon, dedicated to Giyan's protection, and is now her lover, but her secrecy makes him doubt her love. Eleana is beginning to suspect Annon's presence within Riane. Both are Rekkk and Eleana are becoming impatient with their passive role in the Dar Sala-at's retinue.

Riane wonders why the Storehouse Door did not open for her to retrieve the Pearl. Giyan responds with the warning that the Portals between their realm and the Abyss must have been breached. Riane has actually seen a Tzelos possessing Rekkk. But this means that an Archdaemon has taken a host in this realm and is at work on Kundala.

As they are speaking, a daemon takes possession of Giyan. Riane is hit by a spell and knocked off her feet. Giyan levitates out the smashed window into the courtyard. Riane grabs her ankles, but cold fire forces her to let go. Rekkk and Eleana attack Giyan, but are driven off. Riane crosses over into Otherwhere and sees Ras Shamra, Giyan's sorcerous avatar, caged, with its powerful wings pinioned at its side. As Riane tries to release the avatar, an Eye of Ajbal opens and she flees the Otherwhere. In the normal world, Riane discovers that Giyan is gone, taken by the daemon.

Kurgan is now Regent, but he feels stifled by his duties and ignores them as much as he can. He has been encouraging the Kundalans to plot against the V'oorn, fanning the flames of resistance. All is a game to him.

The only inconvenience to his game is Nith Batoxxx, the Gyrgon who has secretly trained him from childhood. Batoxxx views him as one piece in the game. Kurgan tires of being yanked around by the Gyrgons, especially by Batoxxx. Now Batoxxx interrogates him about the Dar Sala-at and commands him to search for the seven Portals and to resume construction of Za Hara-at. Kurgan carefully notes the interest that Batoxxx has in these subjects, but also resolves to work toward domination over the Gyrgons.

During his father's Rescendance rite, Kurgan talks to Sornnn SaTrryn about the Korrush and his plans to rebuild Za Hara-at, the ancient Kundalan city; Sornnn invites him to travel with him to the site. Then Kurgan asks Olnnn Rydddlin, the new Star-Admiral, about the investigation of thefts of military equipment. Kurgan also talks to his sister, Marethyn, who chastises him for not inviting their older brother, Terrettt, to the ceremony.

Olnnn Rydddlin circulates among the mourners searching for Line-General Lokck Werrrent, but first he encounters Bronnn Pallln, a self-appointed candidate for the position of Prime Factor. Olnnn has been looking for a stalking-horse to implicate Sornnn SaTrryn in the theft of V'oorn weapons and Bronnn seems the ideal person for the job. He sets up an appointment to brief Bronnn and then goes on to set up another appointment with Lokck Werrrent.

In this story, Kurgan is playing everybody against each other, with Nith Batoxxx being his primary target. Sornnn SaTrryn and Marethyn become lovers and he introduces her to the Resistance. Marethyn also learns that someone, probably a Gyrgon, has tampered with Terrettt's brain as an infant, causing him to have seizures and to be unable to talk; yet Terrettt is not really mad.

Riane and her friends are racing the clock to free Giyan before the Archdaemon takes over her soul. Meanwhile, the possessed Giyan is being used to infiltrate the Ramahan in the Abbey of Floating White. Konara Inggres feels that something is wrong with the leaders of the Abbey; even her friend Konara Lyystra seems to be acting weirdly.

This novel introduces the daemons from the Abyss as major players in the Kundalan crisis. Several characters are possessed by daemons of one sort or another. In the worst case, the only way to return a daemon to the Abyss is to kill the host. That could be the fate of Giyan unless Riane can free her with the Veil of a Thousand Tears.

This volume continues the violence of the first novel. In many respects, the V'oorn are like the Shogunate Japanese in their treatment of inferior races. The Kundalans are treated much like the Koreans and the Okinawans were treated by the Japanese. Torture and murder were the methodology of that time, imposing order through fear. Both the method and its results are evident in this story.

The author uses a short, choppy style in this novel. Every segment seems to end with the hero/heroine in dire straits, like The Perils of Pauline. At least one segment is less than a page in length. This approach maintains the suspense, but leaves too many plot lines up in the air until the author returns to that element. Longer plot segments would probably reduce the confusion level.

Recommended for Lustbader fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high adventure, impromptu violence and intuitive magic.

-Arthur W. Jordin

4.0 out of 5 stars d'gramma, July 7, 2009

By	d'gramma (Prescott, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Veil of A Thousand Tears (The Pearl, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

I bought this book as a gift for my 14 year old granddaughter. I always read the books I buy for my grand children, to ensure that the content is really age appropriate. This is the 2nd book in the series & it continues very nicely from where the 1st one left off. And, like the 1st book, it kept my attention clear to the end, when everything is tied together and/or resolved.

5.0 out of 5 stars Really good., July 11, 2006

By	Robin Parrish "Experiance is something you do... - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Veil of a Thousand Tears (The Pearl Saga, Book 2) (Hardcover)

When I read the 1st book (The ring of five dragons) several years ago I never thought that this one would turn out like this. Now after reading this one and the thrid book (The mistress of the pearl) I am completely dumbfounded and simply cannot wait for the forth book to come out.

The Veil of a Thousand Tears is a really good book for Adults. It is desriptive but not overly borining in doing so. It gets to the point and haves alot of good plot lines in it. I would really recommend this book if you enjoyed the 1st (The ring of five dragons) and if you like Fantasy\Science Fiction novels. Its sorta like Star Wars with Magic overtones.

Its a book for both Woman and Men and its over all good in the plot line, and keeps you interested so it doesn't get overly borning so you just want to skip the boring parts (because there isn't any) You want to keep reading so that you will find out what happens to Annon/Raine and you want to know more about "Rianes" past and try and figure out who exactly she is and who she use to be.

I couldn't help feel sorry for Raine in the 1st book because Annons personality just over ran hers all the time. This book gives the real Raine more of a chance to come out and blend in with Annon.

Its a really good book and I give it a big 5! I have already let one of my friends borrow the 1st book and she is already planning on buying a set of her own.

I just can't wait till the forth comes out and hopefully it will tell what happens to the Vorrn and The Kundlans I wait with baded breath.