Curse of the Mistwraith (Wars of Light and Shadow) (Paperback)

by Janny Wurtz (Author) "The longboat cleaved waters stained blood red by sunset, far beyond sight of any shore..." (more)
Key Phrases: meth isle, guild ministers, shadow mastery, Mad Prophet, Lord Governor, Warden of Althain (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Two magic-wielding half-brothers are forced to battle one another in this entertaining first volume in a series called The Wars of Light and Shadow.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Two brothers, heirs to lands and locked in a blood feud, are drawn across a dimensional portal into a world where they are hailed as the promised saviors. As Arithon, the Master of Shadows, and his half-brother Lysaer, the Lord of Light, prepare to do battle against the Mistwraith, who has for centuries cloaked the world of Athera in darkness, they face an additional battle born of their mutual distrust of each other. Although fantasy author Wurts breaks no new ground in this series opener, her elaborate and vivid world-building and complex protagonists recommend this title to fans of epic fantasy.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 704 pages
• Publisher: Roc (December 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451454162
• ISBN-13: 978-0451454164
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 3.7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #747,787 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Complex epic, April 5, 2000

By	"uneyay" (Stanford, CA) - See all my reviews

Curse of the Mistwraith is the start of a grand, sweeping epic. It teeters on the edge of traditional high fantasy with its sorcerers, princes, and world-shaking problems. Nonetheless Janny Wurts presides over it all with a firm grasp on her interwoven plots, three-dimensional characters, and lyrical writing.

This book is not for all. You can be easily lost in the complexity of her language, instead of moved by it, and the fine detail--from every perspective imaginable--that prevents this from becoming a typical quest story also causes events to drag their feet along, leaving you impatient with an urge to flip ahead. This is not light reading; prepare to spend time delving into each page, each paragraph, each word. Janny Wurts has spent time building this story, and she lovingly uncovers each aspect of it at her own pace.

I obviously enjoyed this book; it was sprinkled through with humor and followed by a glossary that makes the created words less daunting, it was relished during a time when I needed a slow, deep read. There are times when I have to wince at the overworn ideas--light versus shadow, the power of music--but I closed the back cover with the urge to search out the sequel.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Complex And At Times Dense Fantasy, July 15, 2000

By	Elyon (Mesilla, New Mexico) - See all my reviews

I had held off reading Janny Wurts in part because of her past association with Raymond Feist: I assumed this would be more lightweight and, if at times engaging, conventional fare similar to that author's writing (Apologies in advance to Feist fans; his books, though found simple, can be fun). However, Wurt's efforts here are far more ambitious---some might say overly so. After a rather awkward, sketchily limned and shifting start in the first fifty pages---additionally marred by the shadows of Mearth that bear too close a resemblance to Jordan's Shadar Logoth to be entirely comfortable---upon arrival in Athera the story begins to quickly settle in to an expansive and largely inventive plot. While many traditional conventions abound, Wurts has broadly recontextualized many, while creating a tale as tangled in subplots as say Jordan's, but that forges ahead at a far more brisk pace.

Densely descriptive and extravagantly detailed, the writing at times wearies, as would a constant diet of richly seasoned food, yet never entirely disengages interest. Rarely will one find anything said simply or directly. As another reviewer implies, this may lead some to conclude that the style of writing at times verges on being over-written, and I myself would have welcomed a more judicious use of language. Nonetheless, one is forced to admire the breadth of the author's use of words, as well as the energy behind its application, a descriptive rhythm that punctuates the entire narrative and is nothing if not varied and elaborately realized. Whether or not it becomes too much I'll leave for the individual reader to decide; one person's stylistic extravagance may become another's aesthetic valuable.

This is a book brimming with energy and a desire to tell a much multi-faceted tale. There is enough lore and magic here to fill several volumes of some other authors' works. While without further expansion this compression might prove a fault, I suspect in the volumes to follow that the author will elaborate upon the many themes and plot threads she has initially sown, and look forward to their maturation. Since I've already gone out and purchased the next installment, that should say it all.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hang in there for the rest ..., June 22, 2000

By	Phome "phome" (NY, USA) - See all my reviews

Like many people, it cost me a lot of effort to "plow" through this book. Nevertheless, I was completely swept away by the powerful characters and fascinating story line. This book is unlike any other fantasy book I've read. Although the plot is based on the usual good vs evil, Ms Wurts uncovers very complex themes and heros. One moment you like Lysaer, the next you know that he's turning but you don't want to admit it, and then finally you have to face the fact that he's really not likeable at all. Arithon is equally difficult to make out at first, and needs to grow a reader's trust and respect as he's ever elusive. Yet, although we never find out enough about him, Arithon sweeps us off our feet, like the mysterious boy next door. The Fellowship of Seven are hilarious old men, and my grandpa would have fit right in.

This is a complex book, with many details and it's easy to miss changes in the plot unless you read carefully. However, it is a brilliant set up for the rest of the series, where the characters are further explored, their humanity uncannily realistic and grow into personalities. Readers will learn to love some characters, sympathise with others and dislike a few, as you would in real life.

If you can grit your teeth and cling on to follow the plot through the verbose jungle, then you find your energy and time well spent ... for the rest of the series.