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The Initiate (Time Master #1)

4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 · rating details · 637 ratings · 40 reviews

Down all the ages the twin powers of Order and Chaos have been locked in an eternal struggle for control of the worlds of men.

Somewhere beyond the realms we know, in a time when Order has triumphed, a child is born; a nameless outcast destined to restore the terrible balance. This is the tale of his initiation....

Paperback, 278 pages

Published November 11th 1985 by Tor Books (first published 1985)

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Jan 08, 2012 Alytha rated it 1 of 5 stars

The plot: (Contains spoilers)

For thousands of years, the Lords of Chaos ruled the world, but then the seven gods of Order took over (in a bloody war), and have ruled unchallenged for a couple of centuries, represented by a circle of sorcerers, the Initiates.

Thirteen year old Tarod, already an outcast in his society due to his unknown father, is in deep trouble after having accidentally killed his cousin by magic, a talent of which he never knew before. About to be tried for murder, he escapes an...more The plot: (Contains spoilers)

For thousands of years, the Lords of Chaos ruled the world, but then the seven gods of Order took over (in a bloody war), and have ruled unchallenged for a couple of centuries, represented by a circle of sorcerers, the Initiates.

Thirteen year old Tarod, already an outcast in his society due to his unknown father, is in deep trouble after having accidentally killed his cousin by magic, a talent of which he never knew before. About to be tried for murder, he escapes and runs out into a magic storm, which somehow transports him across the continent. He saves a group of travellers by blasting some bandits. The travellers turn out to be Initiates and members of a connected Sisterhood, and they take the boy to the castle of the Circle. Ten years later, Tarod is an Initiate of the seventh rank, the first one in hundreds of years, which causes some jealousy among the Circle. At some point, he starts having bad dreams, where a voice starts telling him to come back. In an effort to find out what is happening, he does a ritual, and accidentally summons a man who looks like his negative image, and who is clearly more than human. Tarod takes an overdose of a narcotic plant, and almost dies. The mysterious man, who calls himself Yandros, proposed to save his life in exchange for another life. Tarod agrees, and the next day, the High Initiate, the father of his best friend is dead, which makes him realise that Yandros is not really a nice trustworthy guy.
At the festivities for the inthronisation of the new High Initiate, his friend Keridil, he meets the socialite and novice Sister Sashka, and they fall in love. When she leaves to prepare the wedding, the bad dreams return. With Keridil and his surrogate mother Themila, Tarod attempts a ritual. Yandros appears and reveals that Tarod is not actually human, but a Lord of Chaos. Although he uses his powers to banish Yandros, the others don't feel so thrilled about this. A Council meeting is called to decide Tarod's fate. An old rival provokes a confrontation, and Themila is killed accidentally. In revenge, Tarod murders her killer, his main rival, which in turn makes Keridil turn against him, and attemot an assassination, which, predictably, backfires. Tarod escapes and rides off to find Sashka, hoping that she would go into exile with him. However, Sashka, having been informed by letter about what happened, also betrays him, and Tarod is carted back to the castle to be executed. He managed to escape through several planes of existence, and eventually stops time itself. End of volume one.

What to say about this book...

I found it really hard to emotionally connect with Tarod, as all the events which define him and his personality, like his sorcerer training and his courtship with Sashka, happen in a line of stars between two chapters. So, although you are told that he's generally a nice, easy-going guy and good friend, all you actually see about his emotions is either rage or self-pity. I had a hard time caring about him. It also made the love story pretty unbelievable.

The morality of the main characters is pretty weird, and I'm not too sure about the author's opinion on this. As every D&D player should know, Order does not equal good, and Chaos does not equal evil. Here, the chaotic characters appear, if not nicer, at least more honorable and loyal than the "good" ones. Keridil and Sashka are nominally good, but don't have the slightest concept of honour. It takes Keridil all of 10 seconds to decide between friendship to Tarod and his duties to the Circle, and the chance to get into Sashka's pants. Even worse, he doesn't even have the guts to tell Tarod, but pretends to be his friend while at the same time despatching two assassins towards him. Sashka does pretty much the same, spineless socialite hypocrite bitch that she is. They're the perfect match really, and no doubt will have many happy spineless children. Worst of all, this behaviour seems to be accepted as perfectly normal and acceptable by most people in the Circle and the Sisterhood, except by the herbalist, who is herself despised by a lot of people.
To be fair, Tarod's murderous revenge spree was not really the most intelligent thing to do in that situation, and to convince people of his innocence, but the reaction of the Circle is really beyond good and evil.

The style made it quite hard to get into the book. The point of view shifts randomly, often from one line to the next within a chapter, which can be quite confusing, and breaks up the flow of the narrative. The style is very serious, which often makes it appear pompous. I don't know if bone-serious fantasy has ever worked for me. Even classic like The Lord of the Rings have lighter passages.

So all in all, I'm not really thrilled. The only thing that speaks for this series is the unusual interpretation of good and bad, and I'm not even sure if this is intentional. As I have the other two books of the trilogy, I'll probably read them at some point. I have some faint hopes that things might move easier now that the cards are on the table.

5/10(less)

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Dec 10, 2010 TheFountainPenDiva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-fantasy

The fantasy world lost one of its brilliant lights, Louise Cooper, last year. I've been an old fan of hers from the moment I spied the classic Robert Gould cover and after all these years, this tale of clashing dualities, of love and loyalty remains a very special place in my heart. Tarod and Cyllan will always be one of my favorite romantic couples.

The Initiate introduces us to a world where Order rules over Chaos after having been vanquished in a titanic battle which reshaped the land. The sev...more The fantasy world lost one of its brilliant lights, Louise Cooper, last year. I've been an old fan of hers from the moment I spied the classic Robert Gould cover and after all these years, this tale of clashing dualities, of love and loyalty remains a very special place in my heart. Tarod and Cyllan will always be one of my favorite romantic couples.

The Initiate introduces us to a world where Order rules over Chaos after having been vanquished in a titanic battle which reshaped the land. The seven gods of Order, led by Aeoris, keep a tight grip upon their control and their believers. But to borrow a quote from Princess Leia "the more you tighten your grip, the more star systems (in this case people) will slip through your fingers". Into this eternal battle for supremacy comes Tarod, a dark-haired outcast with a power he does not understand. During an innocent game, he accidentally uses this power against his cousin, killing him instantly and arousing the wrath of the populace who chase Tarod through the streets and right into a warp storm. A warp storm is thought to be the last vestige of power of Chaos and the belief is one who is taken by a warp is never seen again. Tarod finds himself at The Star Peninisula, a mysterious spot of land magically cut off from the rest of the continent, he is taken in as an Initiate by Aeoris' group of acolytes known as The Circle, a place where Tarod finally feels he belongs. Thus sets in motion events which will have shattering reprecussions not just for Tarod, but for everyone he knows and loves. As Tarod begins to discover the dark secret behind his powers, he must also face treachery from those he considered friends and even a lover. He also discovers the unwavering loyalty of Cyllan, a peasant driver-girl with unusual amber eyes, whom he befriends at at a celebration at The Star Peninsula.

My copies of all three books are dog-eared from the many times I've returned to this world. It never feels dated, and the deeper message about the dangers of any sort of religious orthodoxy is one that no one should ignore. It should be all about the Balance.(less)

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Jun 20, 2011 Alaiel Kreuz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Somebody gave me the whole trilogy when I was 12 and, since I didn't like the covers to much (the Spanish covers, that is) I didn't pay attention to the books for more than a year.
What a waste of time... One day I was bored and had nothing else to read but these books so I thought "Well, why not? Let's give them a try...". That evening I didn't do anything else but read the first book and that night the others two (of course I had to use a lantern because, let's face it, I was a little kid and I...more Somebody gave me the whole trilogy when I was 12 and, since I didn't like the covers to much (the Spanish covers, that is) I didn't pay attention to the books for more than a year.
What a waste of time... One day I was bored and had nothing else to read but these books so I thought "Well, why not? Let's give them a try...". That evening I didn't do anything else but read the first book and that night the others two (of course I had to use a lantern because, let's face it, I was a little kid and I had to sleep early and go to school).
I think I have read the whole trilogy at least 20 more times after that. Every time I do I immerse myself in a completely new world where the Gods are really important and there's a battle that no one knows about but the Good and Evil gods... And, can you trust these gods?

The first book, The Initiate, is where the author Louise Cooper introduce us to Tarod (I wish I could name my future boy like him one day!) a kid that, after killing his cousin during a game finds himself transported for a "warp" far away from his village before the people decides to judge him for his crime. He is then found and taken to the Star Peninsula and into the Circle, a group of adepts that use magic and are the chosen of the Gods to keep the Dark forces far from the people.
He is raised by the High Priest of the Circle and Keridil (the son of the High Priest), turns into a brother for Tarod
In the Circle Tarod realizes that he has an extraordinary ability with magic... maybe because of a ring that he always wears and that is always with him.

Life goes on and he turns into a tall handsome man with unruly black hair and intense, emerald green eyes. He is loyal to the people and principles he believes in, and you wouldn't want him as an enemy.
But after a tragedy he falls in love with a gorgeous girl, Shashka, a yound lady that knows what people want to see and hear... and she uses that to get everything she wants.
He also meets a normal country girl, Cyllan, that despite the fact that she is not as pretty as Shashka is more loyal and trustworthy than her.

In the end of the first book Tarod is forced to choose between a punishment or save his life by swearing loyalty to the Evil gods... and he chooses to live in a different "place" inside the Circle. He also learns that love is not important for a girl that wants power...

In my opinion The Initiate is not the best book of the trilogy, but it builds the foundation for the next two books... And they are amazingly good.(less)

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May 24, 2013 Ithil rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biblioteca

Reseña completa: http://laestanteriadeithil.blogspot.c...

Recién terminado: Aunque al principio me ha costado un poco ubicarme, por la ausenia de explicaciones y datos del mundo, me ha enganchado y finalmente encastado. Tarod, el protagonista, aunque un poco típico al principio, me ha ido conquistado y cautivando por sus particularidades y las circunstancias. Esta tarde voy a por el segundo.

Opinión personal: El iniciado es el comienzo de una trilogía fantástica que nos sumerge en un mundo en los...more

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Dec 22, 2008 Ariestess rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow! I picked this up at Value Village because it sounded vaguely interesting. There's no vaguely about it. I now need to find books 2 and 3 in this series to complete my collection and read the whole thing. There were some kneejerk reactions to wording and editing choices that reminded me of not-well beta'd fic by a favorite author. You know the kind: not up to snuff for your tastes, but you really like the author and/or the plot is absolutely fascinating enough to mostly block out the editing...more

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May 20, 2008 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars

order blows.

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Jan 24, 2012 Verónica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: novel

Admito una cosa: cuando empecé a leer dije "Esta es la típica historia fantástica del chico con mala vida que luego es el elegido con grandes poderes y revoluciona el mundo". No es mucho lo que le erré, pero debo decir, que capítulos después de mi mala impresión, el mundo creado por Cooper, me atrapó, tanto más por su sencillez, que por su pretensión de complicaciones o de adornos innecesarios, y con un toque de originalidad, ese chico de mala vida resultó agradable, y hasta querido.

Es una lectu...more

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Nov 16, 2010 Jim Kennedy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just loved this trilogy of books. A cracking story, told at a fine pace and made all the more interesting by the fact that the views on the two opposing forces (Order and Chaos) are not as you might expect :)

I can't really say anything more without revealing spoilers, so suffice to say this is really an excellent, reasonably original fantasy story, highly readable and enjoyable.

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May 06, 2013 Cydni Perkins rated it 5 of 5 stars

This series blew my mind when I was a teenager. A person who is marked for evil, but who desperately wants to be good, is forced to run for his life. The trilogy portrays a fascinating exploration of the nature and good and evil, and the power of loyalty and love. I felt like the series was a thrilling adventure that ended perfectly.

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Jul 04, 2010 Jose Miguel Gonzalez rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastica

Fantástica. 1º Libro de la trilogía de "El Señor del Tiempo". Un chico marginado, Tarod, que tras un accidente (mata a su primo con un rayo) es trasladado por un warp (huracán) a una lejana provincia. Comenzará a descubrir sus verdaderos poderes convirtiéndose en un iniciado.

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Jul 26, 2008 Edward Butler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first novel in Louise Cooper's neglected high fantasy series, in which the standard dualistic worldview of the genre is subjected to a penetrating and surprisingly nuanced critique. Consider this a review of the entire trilogy.

Cooper's world may seem at times somewhat narrow, but I would argue that she deliberately limits the colors on her palette in order to sharpen the central conflict. After all, it is not necessary to see the world in dualistic terms, and so in order to be plausible it r...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Julia Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I really love this book and the following two volumes. It has a fantastic plot and great characters who surprise each other several times throughout the course of the trilogy.

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Nov 13, 2009 Eileen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this trilogy, probably 20 years ago, and I really enjoyed the series. I happened to glimpse the cover of The Outcast out of the corner of my eye while I was in a used bookstore a few weeks ago, and I was excited to find it. I had lost or lent or sold the books back at some point, and I had been wanting to read them again. The store had all three...yeah! So it is marked as currently reading with a rating, since I've read it before.

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Aug 21, 2009 Jen Snider rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic series of books that I have read over and over again but each tome seems just as exciting and fascinating as the first!

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Nov 12, 2010 Eric rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a gift from my aunt many years ago, and has become one of my favorite epic fantasy tales of all time.

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Mar 17, 2010 Veronica Purcell rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's one of those stories I can't wait to escape into. Louise certainly has her place in the Hall of Fantasy fiction.

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Jul 20, 2009 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well that was...different. The ending was strange, not like i imagined at all. But then again, it's an adult book, so that probably has something to do with it.

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Aug 16, 2011 Sue added it

An all-time favorite.read the entire seriies and LOVED Tarod and all the magical characters within.

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Sep 19, 2011 Dave Etherton rated it 4 of 5 stars

a reread from when I was a lot younger. read it in a day Story came right back loved it

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Mar 24, 2010 E.J. Matze is currently reading it

Shelves: unwin, fantasy

British Library Cataloguing in Publication data

The Initiate-(the Time master,1)

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Dec 13, 2009 Cliff Wichmann rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the writing style and the story held my attention.

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May 20, 2013 Sware rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great story with tragic lead character- love this trilogy.

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Aug 08, 2011 Rafael Sanchez rated it 5 of 5 stars

wow estos tres libros deberian ser peliculas!

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Mar 17, 2009 Artifice Magazine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: rebekah

Kind of fuzzy in places.

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May 08, 2012 Samuel Fernández rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tan bueno como lo recordaba. Tarod es un personaje que engancha y el libro está bastante bien escrito.

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Jan 26, 2013 Payal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, best-paranormal-books, fantasy, horror, interesting, magic, for-challenge

This was amazing read. Just loved the whole series.

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Jul 24, 2011 Jessica J. rated it 4 of 5 stars

had fun

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Nov 13, 2009 Cheri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Finished the first time on January 1, 2003. Absolutely loved the trilogy.

Was reading a short story by Nabokov the other day, called Solus Rex, and I was reminded of the books.

Started reading The Initiate again a few days ago.
Read, again, 11/13/2009.

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May 21, 2010 Mandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, 2010

Cleverly conceived. The forces at work in this book and the setting in which it takes place are entertaining enough for me to pick up the next one. That, and it took me less than a day to read it... I like quick reads.

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Apr 10, 2013 Racuna rated it 1 of 5 stars

No lo terminé, pura pérdida de tiempo. Mala la weá.

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About Louise Cooper

Louise Cooper was born in Hertfordshire in 1952. She began writing stories when she was at school to entertain her friends. She hated school so much, in fact—spending most lessons clandestinely writing stories—that she persuaded her parents to let her abandon her education at the age of fifteen and has never regretted it.

She continued to write and her first full-length novel was published when she...more

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The Initiate (Time Master #1)

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