The Sorcerers' Plague: Book One of Blood of the Southlands (Hardcover)

by David B. Coe (Author)
Key Phrases: shaping magic, travel sack, twelve sovereigns, C'Bijor's Neck, Blood Wars, Torgan Plye (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Coe follows the Winds of the Forelands series (Weavers of War, etc.) with this absorbing trilogy opener set across the sea in the Southlands, where a mysterious plague is heightening tensions among three groups: the Qirsi, who wield life-draining magic; the Mettai, who cast spells with blood and earth; and the nonmagical Eandi. Decades earlier, the plague destroyed the Mettai villagers of Sentaya, leaving only young Lici alive. No one in Lici's adopted village of Kirayde realizes the depth of her mental scars until she disappears 64 years to the day after her arrival, intending to use blood magic to punish the Qirsi she feels were responsible for the plague. Fans will cheer on Forelands series hero Grinsa, a powerful but pacifist Qirsi, who ties the two series together as he strives to understand Lici's motivation and aims to find a peaceful resolution to the escalating Qirsi-Eandi strife that follows in her wake. (Dec.)
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Review

“Full of magic and intrigue, [it] will keep fans turning the pages to the exciting climax.” --Publishers Weekly on Weavers of War
 
“Fans of Terry Goodkind’s brand of fantasy intrigue will be pleased.” --Publishers Weekly on Shapers of Darkness

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (December 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765316382
• ISBN-13: 978-0765316387
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #791,647 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, December 21, 2007

By	W. L. McCalla Jr. (Indiana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Sorcerers' Plague: Book One of Blood of the Southlands is a great new novel that continues the wonderful storytelling that David Coe started in the Winds of the Forelands series.

Continuing with great characterization, wonderful plot and a new intriguing world Mr. Coe sets his bar one higher and may have written his best book yet in my opinion.

Grinsa, Cresenne and their daughter, Bryntelle, characters from the first series arrive looking for a new home in the Southlands trying to understand this strange land and even stranger customs and prejudices even from others of their own race.

Lici, an old Mettai woman plagued by a past of death and tragedy, seeks revenge on the ones she feels responsible for her loss.

Besh, a villager from the same village that Lici has lived for many years, looking into the mystery that is Lici, Besh discovers some interesting facts about her past and goes out try try to stop her and find answers before its too late.

Old characters and new, Mr Coe gives them depth and personality in his writing. With a fresh new story and series that will make his fans wanting more. I can not wait until the second book in this series comes out.

I highly recommend this book to any fantasy reader.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasing, September 28, 2008

By	James A. Goodman "Avid SciFi/Fantasy Reader" (Utah) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A continuation of the Weaver War series, I found the book to quite readable and enjoyable. David B. has the ability to tell a good story that your mind has no trouble at all creating the world in which you enter. You can trust your main characters to have a consistent set of values and behave accordingly.

I mainly read to be entertained and this book was entertaining.

4.0 out of 5 stars starting up another potential whirlwind [no spoilers], February 29, 2008

By	Oscar "DaRK KNighT" (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

"The Sorcerers' Plague" begins the "Blood of the Southlands" saga after the "Winds of the Forelands" five-part series. Other than Grinsa and Cresenne, all new characters give a solid beginning to a tale including two new cultures involving both the Eandi and Qirsi races. The character development and environmental description are well-written including the introduction of a menacing plot against a Qirsi culture.

A creatively clever plague begins attacking the Y'Qatt, a Qirsi society that does not believe in using magic at any time. Conversely, the Mettai are an Eandi race using blood magic, crafting powerful magic by mixing their blood with earth. Besh and Lici sufficiently illustrate the Mettai abilities but the Y'Qatt's do not receive much development outside of the vicious plague contact. At this point in the series do not expect any significant political maneuvering but building the series foundation.

Lord Tavis Curgh from the original series is mentioned in passing. The list of characters at the end should better reflect the characters and their standing.

I recommend this series to any fan of the fantasy genre.

Thank you.