Keeper of the Keys (The Cycle of Fire, #2)

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Keeper of the Keys (The Cycle of Fire #2)

by Janny Wurts (Goodreads Author)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 691 ratings · 9 reviews

'THE FIRELORD'S HEIR MUST BE HUNTED DOWN AND SLAIN!'

This is the cry of the Accursed as they sweep through the ruins of doomed Elrinfaer. Their prey is Ivainson Jaric, Keeper of the Keys, heir of the Firelord. The geas placed by the Stormwarden on Firelord has passed down to his son - and Jaric must guard the Keys that keep the Mharg-demons bound.

His blood gifts him with

...more

Paperback, 350 pages

Published 1990 by Grafton (first published 1988)

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Oct 31, 2010 Sandra aka Sleo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, fantasy

The Cycle of Fire continues, with Jaeric running from his destiny because of his horror of ending like his father. How contemporary is that? The elements of science fiction are more plausible than they were in the first book. Sailing and the sea are vivid elements in the story, well written, making me feel the wind and the surf and the salt spray.

The demons are nasty and disgusting critters, the magic intriguing, and the characters finely drawn. It's interesting reading this early work after rea...more

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Nov 17, 2010 MissSusie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, audio, favorites

In this one we see Jaric still trying to not become his Father Ivain the Firelord, to run from his responsibilities yet deep down knows he must face them sooner or later. IMHO This book explores the question does the power make a man mad or is the man mad to begin with? Just because the Firelord Ivain, Jerics father, was mad/crazy with power does that mean that Jaric will be too?

Taen is going through some troubles of her own plus still trying to save Anskiere and Jeric. There are some nasty demo...more

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Dec 17, 2010 Kat Hooper rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

In this second episode of The Cycle of Fire, Ivainson Jaric witnesses some crucial history: how his father the Firelord and Anskiere the Stormwarden, both Vaere-trained sorcerers, bound the demons at Elrinfaer; how his father went mad and betrayed Anskiere; and how, though the demons were eventually bound, the land was destroyed in the process. Jaric also receives forewarnings, in the form of visions, of what the future will hold if he does not master his...more ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

In this second episode of The Cycle of Fire, Ivainson Jaric witnesses some crucial history: how his father the Firelord and Anskiere the Stormwarden, both Vaere-trained sorcerers, bound the demons at Elrinfaer; how his father went mad and betrayed Anskiere; and how, though the demons were eventually bound, the land was destroyed in the process. Jaric also receives forewarnings, in the form of visions, of what the future will hold if he does not master his powers to help Taen and Anskiere subdue the rising demonkind who have now recruited Emien, Taen’s brother, as one of their leaders.

Keeper of the Keys is a "middle book," so much of the plot involves Jaric’s gradually increasing realization and conviction that he can no longer deny the world the talents he was given as Firelord’s heir, even though he risks the madness that his father suffered. Though there are many exciting episodes in Keeper of the Keys, they mainly serve to get Jaric ready to prepare himself for the future.

Janny Wurts’ story is creative and I especially like the fantasy/science fiction mix which is reminiscent of Andre Norton’s Witchworld. Wurts’ characters are likable and the transitions they go through, especially Jaric’s, are realistic (though I was really ready for Jaric to man up by the end of this book). I especially like a couple of the gruffer characters: The Kielmark (Lord of Cliffhaven and King of Pirates) and his captain Corley. Wurts is particularly good with these types of characters and they are a nice counterpoint to Jaric’s occasional whininess.

I listened to Keeper of the Keys on audio (Audible Frontiers) with narrator David Thorpe. Thorpe’s enthusiastic voice is charming and I read on Ms. Wurts’ forum that he has all of the names and places pronounced correctly. I have one complaint, though — something I mentioned in my review of Stormwarden and which I’ve now realized may be specific to the audio version: Though the dialogue is quite nice and the scenery and action are clearly described, I find that, for me at least, the occasional wordiness and frequent use of participial phrases at the beginning of sentences reduces the vividness of my mental imagery and interrupts the plot’s tension. This occurs in sentences constructed this way:

* Rooted in total acceptance of the powers which had torn her from youth, her poise was an embarrassment.
* Inured to the pain of stressed tendons, he wrenched his body upwards and hooked his forearm over the edge.
* Cued by a shift in his master’s stance, Corley slipped his whetstone in his pocket.

When read out loud, especially with Mr. Thorpe’s enthusiastic voice, passages with several of these types of sentences occasionally feel choppy and the action sometimes feels sluggish. Interestingly, when I checked the print version, this was not so much of an issue — maybe because I read faster than the audiobook reader narrates, or because I process the entire participial phrase at once instead of with the same pause and inflection that Thorpe gives each one. When I’m listening to the audiobook I also notice that Ms. Wurts has a preference for polysyllabic words, but I didn’t notice this in the print version — probably because I don’t “hear” the separate syllables when reading. Because I’m a Strunk & White kind of girl, the conspicuousness of the style affected my enjoyment of the audio version, but it’s only likely to bother weird people like me. (Weird people such as me, I mean.) I should also mention that The Cycle of Fire is Janny Wurts’ first epic and that I prefer her later style.

But I’m looking forward to Shadowfane, the last novel in The Cycle of Fire. I don’t doubt that Jaric and Taen will save the world, but it will be fun to see how they triumph, to find out what happens to Emien and Anskiere, and to learn more about the history of the Vaere and the Corinne Dane. Janny Wurts writes with creativity and passion, so I'm expecting an exciting finale! (less)

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Jun 26, 2011 Noelle Campbell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Really great action, though the protagonist wears on you with his constant denial of his calling. He has other redeeming traits that make you forget his vices.

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Apr 10, 2009 Caroline rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-before-2000, fantasy

I remember this being a very entertaining trilogy back when I read it, not quite as epic as the Mistwraith series but that's part of its charm.

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Jun 20, 2009 Diana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I can't say enough about Janny Wurts, her books are the kind where you fall in love with the characters and feel you know them, where you keep turning the pages cause you have to find out what happens next!!!!

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Aug 11, 2009 Grimward rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Was happy to see the series started with Stormwarden continued. Enjoyed this book too, although not as much as Stormwarden.

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Mar 31, 2011 Helen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

#2good plot, rough edges to narrative, badly proofed in places

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Jan 10, 2012 Elise rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think this book is my least favorite Janny Wurts book. Halfway through the book, I stopped caring about Jaric. Taen's dreamsense made me wonder why the book wasn't told in true third person instead of watching through her powers. Oh, and Jaric sailed. A lot. Every other page, it seemed. I get it. He's a sailor. Good for him.

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May 18, 2013 Anthony rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 18, 2013 Scott Hartup rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 17, 2013 Jefg Grainger marked it as to-read

Shelves: default

May 17, 2013 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 17, 2013 Alexandra Welsby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 15, 2013 Ferry Wever rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 14, 2013 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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May 12, 2013 Ben rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 10, 2013 Lauren Isaacs rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 10, 2013 Gretchen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 09, 2013 Lee Long rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

May 08, 2013 Amanda added it · review of another edition

May 07, 2013 Popoola Tolulope rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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May 06, 2013 Mary Elliott rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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May 04, 2013 Kerry Evans rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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About Janny Wurts

Janny Wurts is the author of War of Light and Shadow series, and To Ride Hell's Chasm. Her eighteen published titles include a trilogy in audio, a short story collection, as well as the internationally best selling Empire trilogy, co authored with Raymond E. Feist, with works translated into fifteen languages worldwide. Her latest title in the Wars of Light and Shadow series, Initiate's Trial, cul...more Janny Wurts is the author of War of Light and Shadow series, and To Ride Hell's Chasm. Her eighteen published titles include a trilogy in audio, a short story collection, as well as the internationally best selling Empire trilogy, co authored with Raymond E. Feist, with works translated into fifteen languages worldwide. Her latest title in the Wars of Light and Shadow series, Initiate's Trial, culminates more than thirty years of carefully evolved ideas. The cover images on the books, both in the US and abroad, are her own paintings, depicting her vision of characters and setting.

Through her combined talents as a writer/illustrator, Janny has immersed herself in a lifelong ambition: to create a seamless interface between words and pictures that will lead reader and viewer into the imagination. Her lavish use of language invites the mind into a crafted realm of experience, with characters and events woven into a complex tapestry, and drawn with an intensity to inspire active fuel for thought. Her research includes a range of direct experience, lending her fantasy a gritty realism, and her scenes involving magic crafted with intricate continuity. A self-taught painter, she draws directly from the imagination, creating scenes in a representational style that blurs the edges between dream and reality. She makes few preliminary sketches, but envisions her characters and the scenes that contain them, then executes the final directly from the initial pencil drawing.

The seed idea for the Wars of Light and Shadow series occurred, when, in the course of researching tactic and weapons, she viewed a documentary film on the Battle of Culloden Moor. This was the first time she had encountered that historical context of that brutal event, with the embroidery of romance stripped from it. The experience gave rise to an awakening, which became anger, that so often, our education, literature and entertainment slant history in a manner that equates winners and losers with moral right and wrong, and the prevalent attitude, that killing wars can be seen as justifiable solutions when only one side of the picture is presented.

Her series takes the stance that there are two sides to every question, and follows two characters who are half brothers. One a bard trained as a master of magecraft, and the other a born ruler with a charismatic passion for justice, have become cursed to lifelong enmity. As one sibling raises a devoted mass following, the other tries desperately to stave off defeat through solitary discipline and cleverness. The conflict sweeps across an imaginary world, dividing land and people through an intricate play of politics and the inborn prejudices of polarized factions already set at odds. Readers are led on a journey that embraces both viewpoints. The story explores the ironies of morality which often confound our own human condition - that what appears right and just, by one side, becomes reprehensible when seen from the opposite angle. What is apparently good for the many, too often causes devastating suffering to the nonconformist minority. Through the interactions between the characters themselves, the reader is left to their own discretion to interpret the moral impact of events.

Says Janny of her work, "I chose to frame this story against a backdrop of fantasy because I could handle even the most sensitive issues with the gloves off - explore the myriad angles of our troubled times with the least risk of offending anyone's personal sensibilities. The result, I can hope, is an expanding journey of the spirit that explores the grand depths, and rises to the challenge of mapping the ethereal potential of an evolving planetary consciousness... explore free thought and compassionate understanding."

Beyond writing, Janny's award winning paintings have been showcased in exhibitions of imaginative artwork, among them a commemorative exhibition for NASA's 25th Anniversary; the Art of the Cosmos at Hayden Planet(less)

More about Janny Wurts...

Books by Janny Wurts

The Curse of the Mistwraith (Wars of Light & Shadow, #1; Arc 1, #1)

Warhost of Vastmark (Wars of Light & Shadow, #3; Arc 2 - The Ships of Merior, #2)

The Ships of Merior (Wars of Light & Shadow, #2; Arc 2 - The Ships of Merrior, #1)

Fugitive Prince (Wars of Light & Shadow #4; Arc 3 - Alliance of Light, #1)

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