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Top:Arts and Humanities:Literature:Books
After reading Illusion, I started looking for other work by Paula Volsky. This book did not disappoint me. The first character we meet is the prince Varis. We are introduced to him as a young man. He is afflicted with an extreme sensitivity to light and spends a great deal of his time studying books, unlike his much haler and loutish brothers (one of whom is king). I actually developed some sympathy for Varis early on. That sympathy stayed with me throughout the book, even as the focus shifted to other characters. It isn't possible to describe any of the other characters without giving away significant parts of the plot, unfortunately. However, I can tell you about the setting. Rhazaulle is a powerful (and slightly barbarous) kingdom that is gripped by bitterly cold winters. It is split east-to-west by a mountain range that prevents all contact between the northern and southern kingdoms during the winter. Naturally, the capital is in the northern half. Rhazaulle also seems to have an inordinately large number of ghosts lurking about, along with a strong prohibition against practicing necromancy (which is the only game in town if you're interested in magic). The combination of an abundance of ghosts and a prohibition against necromancy results in a few people secretly using these lost souls for their own purposes. Regrettably, most necromancers end up "spifflicated" eventually -- that is, reduced to blithering idiots. The rush of commanding the spirits proves to be an addiction that they cannot control, and they overreach their abilities. There you have it: a seasonally-divided, ghost-infested, semi-barbarous kingdom where necromancy is strictly proscribed with a king who has two very different brothers. Mix together. Stir well. Let simmer for one winter too many. Serves up trouble for one northern kingdom. Volsky's characters are excellent, with an interesting interaction between hero and anti-hero/villain. The plot is good, keeping the reader guessing for most of the book. The described world is rich in detail. And, as seems to be a trademark for Volsky, the prose is dense and skillfully written. Page created 5/27/97. |
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