The Ambassador's Mission (Traitor Spy Trilogy, #1)

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The Ambassador's Mission (Traitor Spy Trilogy #1)

3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 · rating details · 4,885 ratings · 238 reviews

Sonea, a Black Magician of Kyralia, is horrified when her son, Lorkin, volunteers to assist the new Guild Ambassador to Sachaka. When word comes that Lorkin has gone missing, Sonea is desperate to find him, but if she leaves the city she will be exiled forever. And besides, an old friend is in need of her help.

Most of her friend's family has been murdered - the latest in a...more

Hardcover, 528 pages

Published May 18th 2010 by Orbit (first published January 1st 2010)

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Nov 22, 2012 Allison rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ebook-deals, own-it-e-book

I was really disappointed in this. I've loved Canavan's previous work - she's one of my favorite authors! But something went wrong here. It was just so incredibly boring. There's not enough that's new, but instead a lot of time is spent explaining how things have changed from 20 years ago, or rediscovering the past that has already been explored in the Magician's Apprentice. I think Canavan would have been better off building a whole new world with new conflicts and magic rather than re-hashing...more I was really disappointed in this. I've loved Canavan's previous work - she's one of my favorite authors! But something went wrong here. It was just so incredibly boring. There's not enough that's new, but instead a lot of time is spent explaining how things have changed from 20 years ago, or rediscovering the past that has already been explored in the Magician's Apprentice. I think Canavan would have been better off building a whole new world with new conflicts and magic rather than re-hashing a world and characters that I already know and love.

What is new is the character of Lorkin, but I really can't tell you much about him. I don't feel that he is well-defined enough, although I hope that improves in the next books. There is so much reminiscing about the past by return characters that we don't get a clear enough sense of the present and why we should care about it.

I mainly just felt nostalgic for the days of the Ichani invasion, and felt like I was having sumi with my old friends from the war, chatting about how times have changed and feeling sad that they haven't turned out better after all that effort. I can't believe I'm writing this - I had such hopes for this sequel!

There are really two distinct plots in the book. One is Lorkin's adventures in Sachaka. Apparently he wants to find old magic for some reason, but I don't really feel his excitement or know why it's important enough to him to risk his life going there. He just seems to want a grown-up adventure and a chance to prove himself. The unasked-for adventures that he gets should be a lot more exciting, but the gripping, engaging aspect of the previous books is missing.

The other plot sticks with Cery and Sonea in their separate spheres in Imardin. It's sort of a murder mystery, but it's hard to care because you're mainly getting the characters' inner dialogue on what's changed in the last 20 years, or speculating about how a situation could go 3 different ways. And there's not nearly enough magic to help make up for it - what there is is just incidental, like opening and closing doors, and some levitation. I think I've made my point by now - it just really dragged.

Can I also say that Sonea being an overprotective mother is not what I want to read about? That's the main addition to her character in this, other than the fact that she's been stuck in the same restrictions for the last 20 years. She really needs to move on from the past and find a way to gain the trust of the Guild so she can do more than work in the hospices. I expect (hope) that what happens in the rest of the trilogy gives her a way to do that, and to let her son be an adult. In other words, I'll have to go ahead and read the rest of the trilogy and hope it gets better. It's too late to turn back now.

Honestly, what's missing is the one person who can't make an encore appearance. No wonder it's so lackluster - all of the true mystery and the reason for everyone's existence is gone. The best character EVER leaves a gaping hole.

I am now more upset than ever that The High Lord ended the way it did. It could have had a way happier ending, everything resolved to some degree and - finished. Complete. I could have been so happy. Why? Why?

I WANT MY OLD BLACK MAGICIAN BACK!!!!(less)

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Nov 10, 2010 Soteris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although not as good as the original, its still an excellent read. Most of our favourite characters are back, some more than others but they are all in there, just a bit older. I found it a little too slow and some of the characters Trudi has concentrated on are not my favourites. I always had a soft spot for good old Rothen but hes hardly in it. Without giving much of the plot away, Sonea now has a son who is all grown up. the book is based 20 years after the finale of the first series. He goes...more

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May 13, 2013 Maurinejt rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading the continuing story of Sonea and company, but this book had major problems. The first and foremost being that it started in the wrong place. The Ambassador's Mission dealt with two plotlines: the tale of the new Ambassador (Dannyl) and his assistant--Sonea's and Akkarin's son, Lorkin--to the neighboring country that caused all the problems in the first trilogy. The second plot is the insidious corruption at home, of an irresistable drug that turns people to mindless addicts in...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Nadya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, 2012

Trudi Canavan is one of those writers that really grows as she writes. I thoroughly enjoyed the first of her newest trilogy, which starts a couple of years after the 1st trilogy ends. Black Magician Sonea's son is grown, and the city has a rogue. Or possible, a couple of rogues. It also has a deadly addiction threatening to take over the city and/or the Guild.

And a lot of other interesting things happen as well. ;)

It has been a long time since a book kept me so bound that I read it within a few...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Ella rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is as far as fantasy goes pretty straightforward. I thoroughly enjoyed the Black Magician trilogy even if I think that Canavan's characterization is a little lackluster, I'm sorry but for the most part I couldn't care less what happens to her characters.

Set about two decades after the events of the high lord Lorkin (Sonea and Akkarins son) volunteers to assist guild-ambassador Dannyl to sachaka, that place full of slave-owning black magician bad-guys who murdered his father from the l...more This book is as far as fantasy goes pretty straightforward. I thoroughly enjoyed the Black Magician trilogy even if I think that Canavan's characterization is a little lackluster, I'm sorry but for the most part I couldn't care less what happens to her characters.

Set about two decades after the events of the high lord Lorkin (Sonea and Akkarins son) volunteers to assist guild-ambassador Dannyl to sachaka, that place full of slave-owning black magician bad-guys who murdered his father from the last trilogy, because, as you will learn if you read this book, Lorkin is not very bright. Naturally adventure and magical hijinks ensues!

Honestly he seems to be a half-hearted attempt at an another Akkarin, only without the badassitude. I don't know if we're supposed to like him or something, but there isn't enough of him to like, he's very dull; "hopeless romantic" and "magician" seem to be his only personality traits and that last one doesn't really count and to top it all off he's kind of an idiot - a universal trait it seems to be among magicians-he's very slow to react to things that are going on around him and all of the plot twists and turns aren't really a surprise because any semi-discerning reader is smarter than the bulk of the characters in this book. Also these bloody traitors, so far we only meet a handful, and the focus is mainly on Tyvara the eponymous "Traitor spy" she's supposed to be a tough, independent badass who Lorkin can't help but fall for but she's comes across as too obnoxious, too in-your-face and FAR too condescending, granted we only see her from the point of view of a rather dimwitted young man but still, methinks heavy-handed equality lessons and militant feminism will be found aplenty in the rest of this trilogy

Sonea does nothing!...I mean, at all...it's a gilded cage scenario where all the other magicians simply rely on her goodwill not to rebel or object and yet treat her like some sort of dangerous criminal. I love the world-building but the characters are as dull as hell, they all have a very black and white mentality, even the decidedly grayer Akkarin turned out to be a good-hearted hero in the end...yawn, introduce some actual moral conflict will you Canavan?
All in all it's a good read but not brilliant,unless she introduces some radical out of left field plot twists then I already know what is going to happen, will the traitors start a war with Shachaka? Will Lorkin play an important role? Will he and painfully boring Tyvara fall in love? Will Regin an Sonea get closer? Will the thief hunter be stopped? Gee I have no freaking idea...(less)

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Jun 22, 2012 Mjhancock rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Ambassador's Mission is the first book in Trudi Canavan's Traitor Spy Trilogy, and it takes place about two decades after her previous trilogy, the Black Magician. A lot of the characters are carried over between the two series, but if you haven't read the first one (or you're just very forgetful, like me), it's fairly easy to establish who's who. The plot quickly splits in two, with Sonea becoming embroiled in uncovering a plot to kill the city's head thieves while her son gets into diplomatic...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Kuno rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Meine Meinung:

Kaufgrund:
Rezensionsexemplar – aber ich hätte es mir auch so geholt, ich wollte unbedingt wissen, wie es weitergeht!

Sprache, Ausdruck:
Am Anfang bekommt man einen kleinen Eindruck von dem, was in der Trilogie „Die Gilde der Schwarzen Magier“ passiert ist, aber nicht viel.
Auch in diesem Buch wird wieder die Sicht gewechselt – zwischen Sonea, Lorkin, Dannyl und Cery. Und trotz dem Sichtwechsel hatte ich das Gefühl, dass die Geschichte hauptsächlich um Lorkin geht – denn dieser Teil ha...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Mike Finn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: speculative-fiction

A decade ago, when I read “The Magician’s Guild”, the first of the “Black Magician Trilogy”, I was filled with excitement. Young Sonea’s struggle with her new found powers, her attempts to understand and survive the upper-class world she was pushed into and the complex loyalties she had to navigate had immediate appeal and, although it was a long book, kept me eagerly turning the pages to find out what happened next.

For me, “The Ambassador’s Mission”, the first volume in the “Traitor Spy” trilog...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Bianca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Mögen die Steine weiter singen.”

Als ich ein Buch in der Hand hielt, mit dem Namen “Sonea” und einer Hauptcharaktere Sonea, dachte ich eigentlich, mich mit diesem Charakter durch das Buch schlagen zu dürfen. Der Eindruck täuscht aber.
Was zu Anfang alles noch fast parallel abläuft, teilt sich schnell in drei Handlungstränge auf, wobei der Geschichte von Schwarzmagierin Soneas Sohn Lorkin und Dieb Cery mehr Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt wird, als Sonea selbst, was ich sehr schade fand.
Als Trudi Canavan...more “Mögen die Steine weiter singen.”

Als ich ein Buch in der Hand hielt, mit dem Namen “Sonea” und einer Hauptcharaktere Sonea, dachte ich eigentlich, mich mit diesem Charakter durch das Buch schlagen zu dürfen. Der Eindruck täuscht aber.
Was zu Anfang alles noch fast parallel abläuft, teilt sich schnell in drei Handlungstränge auf, wobei der Geschichte von Schwarzmagierin Soneas Sohn Lorkin und Dieb Cery mehr Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt wird, als Sonea selbst, was ich sehr schade fand.
Als Trudi Canavan Neuling, hätte ich gerne mehr über Sonea erfahren, da sie ein sehr sympatischer Charakter zu sein scheint.
Aber als Neuling hat man es in “Sonea” generell nicht sehr leicht.
Trudi Canavans Schreibstil ist fantastisch, doch auch gut geschrieben sind zu viele Informationen einfach zu viele Informationen, was gerade die ersten Kapitel etwas sehr träge macht. Es passiert handlungstechnisch nicht viel, jedoch versucht Ms Canavan viele Informationen aus “Die Gilde der schwarzen Magier” einzubringen, die später vielleicht (oder eben vielleicht auch nicht) für Neulinge hilfreich sein könnten. Zum Teil haben die Informationen geholfen, zum Teil waren es zu viele, und an manchen Stellen haben dafür dann aber Informationen gefehlt die vielleicht sehr hilfreich gewesen wären.
Aber wenn sich durch den Anfang durchkämpft, wird gegen Hälfte des Buches, wenn die Handlung dann richtig spannend wird, belohnt. Es ist wie eine Grenze (seltsamerweise war es glaube ich sogar im Buch der Moment, als die Grenze nach Saschaka überfahren wurde), die man überschreitet, und man möchte das Buch dann kaum noch aus der Hand legen.
Vorallem gegen Ende, zieht die Autorin dann fast alle Asse aus dem Ärmel die sie hat, und überrascht die Leser mit einigen Dingen, die man (bzw. vorallem ich) nicht erwartet hätte. Aber natürlich bleiben noch ein paar Spielkarten verdeckt, so dass ich mir auf jeden Fall den nächsten Teil so bald wie möglich kaufen werde. In der Hoffnung, dass “Sonea” dann dem Titel etwas gerechter wird, und wir auch mehr über die Schwarzmagierin erfahren dürfen.(less)

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Sep 13, 2011 Lya06 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Qui la recensione completa: http://bookland89.blogspot.com/2011/0...

La storia è ambientata vent’anni dopo la conclusione della prima saga ed i personaggi sono gli stessi, Sonea è ormai uno dei due maghi neri del regno di Kyralia, Lokrin, suo figlio già adulto, deve affrontare la sua gioventù paragonandosi spesso a suo padre Akkarin ex sommo Lord, Dennyl è ancora studioso di storia e Cery l’amico Ladro che aveva collaborato a sconfiggere, nella guerra accaduta vent’anni prima, gli Ichani(maghi ne...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Crazyjamie rated it 4 of 5 stars

In reading terms, I think I owe Trudi Canavan quite a lot. I say that because the Black Magician trilogy was the first set of books that I read away from the truly mainstream series such as Harry Potter. From the Black Magician trilogy I went on to Age of Five, and from there my reading really took off. So I very much see Trudi Canavan as the first author that wasn't in some way pushed on to me by public perception (not that I resent Harry Potter for that, but the distinction is important). What...more In reading terms, I think I owe Trudi Canavan quite a lot. I say that because the Black Magician trilogy was the first set of books that I read away from the truly mainstream series such as Harry Potter. From the Black Magician trilogy I went on to Age of Five, and from there my reading really took off. So I very much see Trudi Canavan as the first author that wasn't in some way pushed on to me by public perception (not that I resent Harry Potter for that, but the distinction is important). What's more, the Black Magician trilogy remains one of my favourite fantasy series, and as such it was with significant anticipation that I started to read the Ambassador's Mission, the first in the sequel trilogy to the Black Magician trilogy.

The Ambassador's Mission is set 20 years after the end of the Black Magician Trilogy. Sonea is a Black Magician within the Magician's Guild, but with black magic still illegal in the country, there is a further magician within the Guild who has been trained to the same level. Thankfully a lot of familiar faces return, with the likes of Dannyl, Rothen, Regin and Cery all playing significant parts in the new story. Of the new characters, the most notable is Lorkin, Sonea's son. The plot of the first book sees Dannyl and Sonea traveling to Sachaka in search of answers to questions surrounding the history of the Guild and Imardin in general. Back in the city itself, thieves are being murdered by a rogue magician, and Cery attempts to track the rogue down with the help of Skellin, the most powerful thief in the city.

The trademark characteristic of Canavan's writing is that she manages to write adult novels that are incredibly accessible to all ages, and the books set in this world have also had the added bonus of being suitable for a wide range of ages as well. I am happy to say that the Ambassador's Mission continues this trend, with interesting characters and easy flowing dialogue. It's the sort of book that you can become absorbed in and feel like you are involved in rather than simply observing from a distance.

The real joy of this book is seeing how the familiar characters have evolved in two decades, and in this regard the book certainly doesn't disappoint, but the new characters are worthy additions to the cast as well, and give the plot a sense of freshness. There is no element of repetition in terms of plot here; despite familiar characters, the book constantly feels like it is treading new ground and building on the story from the previous series.

The only criticism that can be aimed at this first book is that it is not quite as dynamic as other standout fantasy books. The magic system is simple and doesn't provide standout entertainment by itself, and whilst there are some good action sequences, set pieces and twists, the book feels a little lightweight overall. This is especially so when compared to the likes of the Black Prism, which is another first book in a trilogy that I read recently. However, it remains an accessible and enjoyable read in the classic Canavan style. It also sets things up in an intriguing fashion for the next book, so if you are a Canavan fan, this is essential reading. (less)

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May 11, 2011 Coligne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nord, fantasy

Quello che mi piace, dei romanzi della Canavan, è che, pur facendo parte di una saga, sono tutti più o meno autoconclusivi. Era così per i tre libri della Black Magician trilogy, ed è vero anche per questo primo capitolo della sua nuova trilogia.
Ciò, in un panorama che ormai impone come la norma le trilogie -o anche saghe più lunghe-, in un rincorrersi di "arrivederci alla prossima puntata, è un bene. Ogni tanto può far piacere leggere un libro, e al momento di svoltare l'ultima pagina, poter di...more Quello che mi piace, dei romanzi della Canavan, è che, pur facendo parte di una saga, sono tutti più o meno autoconclusivi. Era così per i tre libri della Black Magician trilogy, ed è vero anche per questo primo capitolo della sua nuova trilogia.
Ciò, in un panorama che ormai impone come la norma le trilogie -o anche saghe più lunghe-, in un rincorrersi di "arrivederci alla prossima puntata, è un bene. Ogni tanto può far piacere leggere un libro, e al momento di svoltare l'ultima pagina, poter dire: bene, è finito. Non trovarsi interrotti nel bel mezzo della narrazione, con ancora la parte migliore a venire.

Oh, certo, non è completamente autoconclusivo, alla fine la Canavan ci apre a nuove prospettive, che andranno a svilupparsi nel prossimo libro, ma le trame aperte all'inizio del libro alla sua fine raggiungono una conclusione, piaccia essa o meno.

Trame che potremmo riassumere a due: Da una parte la caccia al Mago fuorilegge, il cacciatore, tra le stadie di Imardin, che vede protagonista Sonea; dall'altra tutta la parte ambientata a Sachaka, con il rapimento/fuga di Lorkin -il figlio di Sonea- ed il conseguente tentativo di salvarlo da parte di Dannly.
La Canavan sceglie quindi di seguire due strade, Con Sonea si rifugia nel porto sicuro dei vecchi, collaudati personaggi, che opera nell'altrettanto familiare capitale Kyraliana. Mentre Lorkin rappresenta la novità, sia perché è un personaggio effettivamente nuovo, sia perché le trame che lo coinvolgono si svolgono tutte a Sachaka, terra finora poco esplorata (se non nel prequel alla saga, dato alla stampe -in Italia- lo scorso anno, ma in misura marginale rispetto al qui presente tomo).
Devo dire di aver apprezzato maggiormente la parte con Lorkin protagonista. Non che Sonea sia divenuta un brutto personaggio, ma la sua avventura sapeva di già visto, quasi l'autrice avesse voluto inserire quella parte come un "porto sicuro" nel quale rifugiarsi nel caso Lorkin non fosse piaciuto...
In effetti, se invece di dedicare tanto spazio ai vecchi personaggi avesse dedicato quelle pagine ad approfondire la società Sachakana, sarebbe stato meglio.

Secondo me, infine, avrebbe dovuto curare meglio la caratterizzazione dei personaggi. A volte i loro comportamenti stridevano con quanto mostratoci di loro fino a quel momento.
Ad esempio Sonea, all'inizio sembra voler muovere mari e monti, per salvare suo figlio; per poi contraddirsi alla fine, quando accetta la decisione del figlio di rimanere con le sue "rapitrici" troppo facilmente, quasi con stanca rassegnazione. Non è da lei questo, e stride in maniera netta con tutto quanto ha fatto e detto in precedenza, riguardo suo figlio.(less)

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Mar 10, 2011 sabisteb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: buch, fantasy

Seit The Magician's Apprentice / Magie sind 700 Jahre vergangen, seit Die Meisterin. Die Gilde der Schwarzen Magier 03 / The High Lord: The Black Magician Trilogy, Book 3 etwas über 20 Jahre. Sonea und Kallen sind die beiden schwarzen Magier der Gilde und dürfen die Stadt nicht verlassen. Entsprechend behütet wuchs Soneas und Akkarins Sohn Lorkin im Kreise der Gilde auf. Aber das Erbe seiner Eltern wiegt schwer, man erwartet von ihm, oder zumindest er erwartet von sich selber, irgendwann etwas G...more Seit The Magician's Apprentice / Magie sind 700 Jahre vergangen, seit Die Meisterin. Die Gilde der Schwarzen Magier 03 / The High Lord: The Black Magician Trilogy, Book 3 etwas über 20 Jahre. Sonea und Kallen sind die beiden schwarzen Magier der Gilde und dürfen die Stadt nicht verlassen. Entsprechend behütet wuchs Soneas und Akkarins Sohn Lorkin im Kreise der Gilde auf. Aber das Erbe seiner Eltern wiegt schwer, man erwartet von ihm, oder zumindest er erwartet von sich selber, irgendwann etwas Großes zu schaffen. Als Dannyl sich um den Posten des Botschafters in Sachakka bewirbt meldet sich Lorkin als sein Gehilfe. Dannyls Leidenschaft ist immer noch die Geschichte, er hofft in Sachaka auf Unterlagen zu stoßen, um die Lücken in seiner Geschichte der Magie zu schließen. Lorkin hingegen wird von dem Wunsch getrieben eine neue Art von Magie zu finden, eine Art von Magie, die schwarze Magie unnötig macht und so seiner Mutter ihre Freiheit wiedergeben würde.
Während Dannyl und Lorkin ihrer Aufgabe in Sachaka nachgehen, treibt ein Mörder in der Stadt sein Unwesen. Dieser Mörder scheint ein abtrünniger Magier zu sein und er hat es auf die Diebe der Stadt abgesehen. Cerys Familie wird Opfer des Meuchelmörders und Cery bittet Sonea um Hilfe, diesen Magier zu fassen.

Dieser erste Band der neuen Trilogie von Trudy Canavan, in welcher die Autorin wieder in die Welt von Sonea zurückkehrt heißt im englischen The Ambassador's Mission: The Traitor Spy Trilogy, Book 1, also die Mission des Botschafters, im Deutschen setzt man jedoch auf die Sonea Schiene und versucht dadurch den Kauf anzukurbeln indem man das Buch Sonea: Die Hüterin nennt. Die Haupthandlung jedoch rankt sich um Lorkin und seine Suche nach einer vergessenen Art der Magie, die dem Leser bereits in Seit The Magician's Apprentice / Magie begegnete. Der zweite Handlungsstrang um Sonea wirkte für mich künstlich, als wenn er extra hineingeschrieben wurde, um die Fans nicht zu enttäuschen, die Sonea liebten. Sonea jedoch hat sich verändert. Sie ist nicht mehr die unabhängige Heldin, sie wurde zu einer nervigen Mutterglucke.
Ich fand es gut, dass endlich die Geschichte der Verräter weitererzählt wird, die in The Magician's Apprentice / Magie begonnen wurde, so wird dieser Einzelband langsam zum Teil der ganzen Geschichte und bekommt seine Daseinsberechtigung zwischen den Trilogien.
Das Buch strotzt voller Hinweise mit dem Zaunpfahl, in welchem die Autorin wie üblich schon sehr früh die Handlung und deren Auflösung vorwegnimmt. Trudi Canavan war nie die Königin der subtilen Hinweise und so kann man wohl schon in Band 1 eine Prognose wagen wie es weiter und ausgehen wird.

SPOILER / Prophezeiung der nächsten beiden Bände ANFANG
- Lorkin wird der Befreier der Sklaven Sachakas, der Reformer der Magie und der Vereiner der bekannten Welt...
- Am Ende dieser 3 Bände sind Regin und Sonea ein glückliches Paar (die Hinweise dazu sind ja so häufig und nervig)
- Lorkin und Tavara werden ein Paar und ein Bündnis mit der Gilde herstellen. Sie werden Sachakka reformieren, Die Traitors übernehmen die Kontrolle über Sachakka und Friede Freude Eierkuchen, nach einer fiesen verlustreichen Schlacht der alten Elite gegen die neuen Traitor Führer....
- Achati sympatisiert sehr mit dem Lebensweise der Gilde, er wird ein Zünglein an der Waage sein, wenn es darum geht, dass die Sachakans sich den alliierten Ländern anschließen.
- Achati und Dannyl werden ein Paar und es wird noch Stress mit Tayend geben.
- Mit der rod Abhängigkeit von Kallen wird ein neuer Konfliktherd für Band 2 eröffnet, nachdem der Diebesmörder gefangen wurde. Der Ausgang - Milde ausgedrückt vorhersehbar, aber zumindest eine ABM Maßnahme für Sonea. Kallen wird gemeinsame Sache mit Skellin machen, um seine Sucht zu befriedigen und dabei gegen Sonea intrigieren, um zu verhindern, dass diese Skellin suchen kann. Regin wird zum Retter in der Not. Sonea erkennt ihre Liebe zu Regin.
- Sonea wird mal wieder zur Retterin, diesmal zusammen mit Regin und wahrscheinlich um Lorkin zur Hilfe zu eilen.
- Dann war da noch diese irgendwann erwähnte Magierin an die Ceri sich erinnert als der die Abtrünnige beobachtet. Die wird demnächst auch wieder auftauchen und wohl was mit Cery anfangen, er braucht ja eine neue Frau. Sie wird dann wohl an der Seite der Gilde kämpfen, während diese das Gesetz wie sich fremde Magier verhalten müssen diskutieren.
SPOILER / Prophezeiung ENDE

FAZIT: Insgesamt ist auch diese Reihe so vorhersehbar wie das Zeitalter der 5 wo ich nach Band 1 den Plot der restlichen beiden vorhersagen konnte. Die Autorin verteilt auch so unglaublich viele, sehr direkte und teils nervende Hinweise im Text, dass man kaum weiterlesen will. Solide und unterhalsam, mehr nicht.(less)

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Jan 12, 2011 Ithlilian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

The Ambassador's Mission is much better than The Magician's Apprentice, but no where near as entertaining as The Black Magician Trilogy. The plot can be summed up as follows: someone is killing thieves, and Lorkin goes for a long walk in Sachaka. The characters are no where near as dynamic and interesting as they were in The Black Magician Trilogy. Cery is old and worn out, Sonea is tepid and uninteresting. Lorkin isn't any more exciting than anyone else. If this book was written by anyone else...more

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May 09, 2013 Lauren rated it 2 of 5 stars

Brutal. I loved the first series and this novel was very disappointing.

In the Black Magicians Trilogy, I noticed that Canavan's writing improved significantly with each installment. In the Ambassador's Mission, the quality of writing regresses terribly.

If this wasn't bad enough TC managed to kill my love of old characters (she totally neuters Cery and whimpifies Sonea). Also she does practically zero character development with Lorkin - at best he is a one dimensional character. His most notable...more

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Jun 24, 2010 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would've rated this 3.5 if I could. While I did enjoy reading this book I was a little disappointed because it wasn't as good as I'd hoped, and it definitely didn't compare to the Black Magician Trilogy.

Whilst Lorkin was a interesting new addition to the book, I missed Sonea and thought the small part she had in this story was a waste for a character like her. She's supposedly one of the most powerful magicians in Kyralia and yet she spent the majority of this book doing trivial tasks and wor...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Freddiekins rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I came into this book straight off four solid nights of reading The Black Magician trilogy - love, love, love! Leapt right into this book and as a whole it's a very average read.

It's been twenty years since the events of "The High Lord" and the Ichani Invasion and Sonea and Akkarin's son, Lorkin, has grown up and passed through the University. But now he's bored and itching to get out of the shadow of his parents' legacy.

Lorkin as a character is a little weak: he doesn't have the spark that Son...more I came into this book straight off four solid nights of reading The Black Magician trilogy - love, love, love! Leapt right into this book and as a whole it's a very average read.

It's been twenty years since the events of "The High Lord" and the Ichani Invasion and Sonea and Akkarin's son, Lorkin, has grown up and passed through the University. But now he's bored and itching to get out of the shadow of his parents' legacy.

Lorkin as a character is a little weak: he doesn't have the spark that Sonea had when we first met her - the scared orphan with budding powers beyond her control and an utter contempt for the Guild and Magicians - and he comes off as rather childish for a young man of nineteen years. There's a little character development as the book moves along and he takes the initiative to try and forge relations with the Traitors in the hopes of bringing back a new magic, storestones and other ~magical mysteries, to Imardin. Ultimately, he's a little bland as a character and I wasn't exactly vying for him in the way I was for Sonea. The Traitor society has potential and I'm interested where Canavan takes the storestone and other magic plot to.

Speaking of which, Sonea's back and she's a fully fledged Black Magician. However, as part of being recognised as a Black Magician, she's been restricted in her movements throughout the city and is a bit of a wet blanket most of the time. This is probably a result of her only love dying before her eyes and being left alone to raise their child. She's a wee bit protective of Lorkin and it's endearing in a motherly-love kind of way but it's a little sad because the Sonea from The Black Magician trilogy wasn't this subdued nor was she exceptionally cautious. I'm unsure about the whole Regin situation (~~a small part of my brain is shipping them~~) but I'm willing to blur the lines - it's been twenty years, Regin can't be that much of an asshat still, can he?

The thing that annoyed me the most, and I'm not even sure why, is the complete and utter lack of sympathy or empathy portrayed by Sonea over Cery's family's death. It was a good hook - poor Cery discovers his young family slaughtered in the first chapter - but the way it was handled, or really, not handled, was a little disappointing. Sonea and Cery have been friends for such a long time and yet they both brush it under the carpet and never mention it. Cery himself is still adorable, even in his older age. He's the only character to have "matured" and he does make light of his aging situation, which was refreshing.

I really want Anyi to be a main character but I doubt that's going to happen.

Another twing of irksomeness, the constant italicising - which are people's thoughts - to explain everything that happens from one page to the next, and the constant reiteration of what occured from the first trilogy. It got a little tiresome after a while and repetitive. There were perks: it did help when points were brought up and I wasn't paying attention.

Perhaps I should stop trying to draw parallels between the two series and treat this as a stand alone? I'm going to echo what other people have said and say this book really reads as a filler book, a book written for the sole purpose of merging the storylines and worlds of The Black Magician trilogy with this new trilogy. It's not a bad read - there are lots of new concepts and magic introduced and there is a tonne of potential for character development - but as an introductory book into a new series it was a little lackluster.

... and then I remember that I consider "The Magician's Guild" to be the weakest book in The Black Magician trilogy and that turned out to be a kick-arse series! I have hope for this series and intend to continue.(less)

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Jan 17, 2011 Melaszka rated it 4 of 5 stars

If, like me, you liked Canavan's previous Kyralia novels, then the latest instalment probably won't disappoint. It traces the complex relationships between different nations in her imagined world and those between official society and minorities and underground movements within one nation. She keeps lots of gripping plot strands on the boil at once, uses shifting viewpoint to help you identify with a range of characters and, with breathtaking use of detail, draws you deep into another world.

On t...more If, like me, you liked Canavan's previous Kyralia novels, then the latest instalment probably won't disappoint. It traces the complex relationships between different nations in her imagined world and those between official society and minorities and underground movements within one nation. She keeps lots of gripping plot strands on the boil at once, uses shifting viewpoint to help you identify with a range of characters and, with breathtaking use of detail, draws you deep into another world.

On the downside:

The novel relies quite heavily on prior knowledge of the other Kyralia novels. I actually had read the Black Magician Trilogy and the Magician's Apprentice before I started this, but the former a few years ago, and even I got a bit confused by the constant allusions to characters and events in earlier books, so I really wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read Canavan's earlier work.

I really felt the absence of some of the biggest characters from the first trilogy - e.g. Akkarin, Fergun, Faren, and although Rothen is still there, he's reduced to a walk-on. I don't think there's a character to match Akkarin's stature or even a villain as compelling as Fergun. Still, Sonea, Dannyl and Cery are still engrossing and there are some reasonably interesting new characters, too, like Tyvara and Achati (although at the moment I'm finding Lorkin a little bland)

As in her earlier books, I remain amused and frustrated by the speed with which Canavan's characters manage to absorb, process and come to terms with shocking/terrible news. There are far too many moments of: "My lord, I have to tell you that your entire family have been murdered/permanently banished! Also, it turns out that Lord X, one of the most distinguished members of the Guild, is a depraved villain who is breaking every law of the land". "Oh, no!" "But don't worry, my lord. Look on the bright side, eh? Things could be worse. Life must go on." "Oh, well. Yes, I suppose you're right. Fancy a cup of raka?"

(less)

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Mar 15, 2013 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sword-laser-books

My rating is actually a 4.5...only because it took me a little while to really get into all of the main story lines. I was really intrigued by the plots involving Sonea and her son Lorkin, especially after Lorkin became involved with Tyvara. But the plot with Dannyl the historian and the plot with Cery the thief took a good 70 pages or so to really start to get into. I mean, I liked Dannyl and enjoyed his enthusiasm for history, but once he was separated from Lorkin, I actually sort of lost inte...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Dave rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book by Canavan I have read. In the timeline of this world, it is the fourth book, though the first of a trilogy set 20 years after the original trilogy.

First the bad - I could put the book down, and often did at first. I read two other novels before I was hooked on this one. It was over 100 pages before I felt that events started to happen. This story had two main plots and the set-up took a long time.

Now the good - I kept wanting to pick the book back up, and the last 200 pa...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Nickey rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Trudi Canavan

I was surprised to find myself struggling though this book. I have read seven other of Trudi Canavan's books and got through most of them within two or three days. This time it took me over a week.

I think the two main problems are that I read The Magician's Apprentice before this one and that Canavan placed this story twenty years after the Black Magician Trilogy.

Due to the circumstance that I knew a lot of the historical aspects of the story world from TMA it was very unnerving and almost borin...more I was surprised to find myself struggling though this book. I have read seven other of Trudi Canavan's books and got through most of them within two or three days. This time it took me over a week.

I think the two main problems are that I read The Magician's Apprentice before this one and that Canavan placed this story twenty years after the Black Magician Trilogy.

Due to the circumstance that I knew a lot of the historical aspects of the story world from TMA it was very unnerving and almost boring to have Lorkin and Dannyl slowly stumble upon bits and pieces of the same throughout the plot. It wouldn't have hurt the book to loose a good 100 pages in the beginning - that would have quickened the pace and given room to actual, new information.

The second, for me much bigger, problem was the time difference between The Black Magician Trilogy and The Ambassador's Mission. Before, most of the main characters were more or less my age - now they are suddenly twenty years older and they didn't exactly develop the way I would have liked them.
Sonea has grown timid and scared to do a misstep. I would have loved to see her explode and do what SHE thinks is right. She is still grieving over the loss of Akkarin and yet she lets the Guild decide to let Lorkin go without putting up fight. Where has all her fight gone?
Regin has turned nice. NICE? Hello?
And Cerry is old. Even he keeps pointing that out. Following a twenty-something around town chasing a murderer is fun and exciting - following a forty-something is just painful. It says a lot that still his plot arch was the one that I enjoyed the most.
Dannyl hasn't actually changed that much, it's just that his quest for more research is rather boring to the facts mentioned above.
And newcomer Lorkin, I don't see much of either of his parents in him. Canavan had to actually point it out to her readers. All in all he seems shallowly written and I can't follow his decision making process at all. His behaviour just seems irrational.

I can only hope that The Rogue is going to be MUCH better.(less)

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Feb 10, 2013 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this next instalment in the magician's range. This has moved on about 20 years but still includes many of the same characters such as Sonea, the main character from the Magician's guild trilogy along with her old enemy Regin, her old mentor Rothen and Ambassador Dannyl. I found this book not quite as good as any of the Magician's guild trilogy but still enjoyable. The relationship between Sonea and Regin has shifted from animosity to mural respect and support and I think this will prob...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Lisa by: Jade

Shelves: 2012

I was in desperate need of a break from Les Miserables and slipping back into this familiar, simpler world (even with magic and assassinations and whatnot) felt like putting on a comfy pair of slippers after a long walk.

Set twenty years or so after the events of The Black Magician trilogy, we find Sonea confined to the grounds of the Guild and her Hospice due to her part in those events, with a grown up son, Lorkin, who has volunteered to go with the Kyralian ambassador on his trip to Sachaka. A...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Amanda Bartoszek rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was nice seeing all my favourite characters again, and how they had got on since the end of the first trilogy. Of course I felt that faint sadness and nostalgia when I saw how the Thieves were no longer working together, and the Thieves' Road was no longer in use, and also how Imardin has become a slightly darker place. It does feel like there is less hope and positivity in Kyralia now, which makes me feel sad. But at the same time it's good that I feel that,...more

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May 24, 2010 Alice rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 10, 2012 Sean the Bookonaut rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian-women-writers

The Ambassador's Mission is the first book in The Traitor Spy Trilogy. The third instalment, The Traitor Queen is out next week (14 August for us lucky Australians).

The Ambassador's Mission was one of those blessed surprises that you get sometimes as a reviewer. Not that this was a review copy. I was offered an interview with Trudi Canavan (out shortly) and to my shame she’s been one of those fantasy authors that has been forever on my TBR pile.

The beautiful and engaging covers have taunted me...more The Ambassador's Mission is the first book in The Traitor Spy Trilogy. The third instalment, The Traitor Queen is out next week (14 August for us lucky Australians).

The Ambassador's Mission was one of those blessed surprises that you get sometimes as a reviewer. Not that this was a review copy. I was offered an interview with Trudi Canavan (out shortly) and to my shame she’s been one of those fantasy authors that has been forever on my TBR pile.

The beautiful and engaging covers have taunted me from afar when ever I have had the joy of walking into a bricks and mortar store.

So with a week to prepare myself for interview I decided to wrangle up some Trudi Canavan books from the library.

Now getting back to blessed surprises.

As a reviewer you get used to reviewing books outside your preferences, your favourite authors, even your genre. That can wear on you after awhile, can start to make reading even good books a bit of a chore. So what when that happens you need something refreshing to cleanse the palate, something that moves along and drags you through the story. The Ambassador's Mission was that kind of a book. Within two paragraphs I knew I was going to kick back, relax and enjoy.

Canavan writes in a simple, transparent style that lets the story come to the fore. In my upcoming interview with her she talks about how she likes to write accessible text, not dumbed down, but written so that inexperienced readers can enjoy it as much the veterans.

Simple also does not mean bland and while the text might be uncomplicated, Canavan doesn’t shy away from complex subjects. Take for instance the gay relationships featured in The Ambassador's Mission. The plot contains mystery and intrigue, sets up the major conflicts in the coming two books and manages to keep us on the edge of our seat in this one.

The depiction of magic is more narrative focussed, you won’t find an detailed treatise on the inner workings of magic as one might expect from Brandon Sanderson. I suspect that Canavan is unlikely to exercise the “kill your darlings” maxim with the ferocity of George R.R. Martin either. The Ambassador's Mission and I suspect the Traitor Spy trilogy are traditional fantasy in that we follow the heroes, see them threatened with danger and adversity but ultimately they are victorious.

The world building is nicely woven into the fabric of the story. The reader is not overwhelmed by a mountain of history and culture. The book is sprinkled with flavouring that alludes to a larger meal. There is certainly enough however to differentiate cultures, to allow for plausible conflicts to arise and give depth to the story.

While The Ambassador's Mission introduces readers to characters from a previous trilogy, now much older and ready to pass on adventure and excitement to their children, I didn’t find it hard to pick up the gist of things, nor did I feel necessarily poorer for not having read the preceding works.

I’d happily recommend Canavan and The Ambassador's Mission to those teetering on the edge of considering fantasy, perhaps those who grew up with Harry Potter and who have a penchant for wizards.
(less)

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Aug 09, 2012 Wally rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Not as good as the black magician trilogy books. Maybe the next two of this trilogy are better.
In the black magician trilogy, maybe I just remember it with nostalgia and better than it was, but we had the story turning in unexpected ways, having a clear end after each book, but still leaving room to curiosity as how the unsolved details will unfold.
In this book the story is quite predictable all along,the characters, their choices and decisions . For instance, from the moment of meeting Skellin...more

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Dec 11, 2010 Ferdy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Trudi Canaven since the black magician triology while The Ambassador's Mission was a fairly enjoyable read it lacked the substance from her previous books. I enjoyed the different storylines but the plot was slow and choppy. The new characters are dull and one dimensional particularly Lorkin and Tyvara. Sonea, Ceri and Dannyl were just as likeable as they were in the black magician trilogy, Trudi stayed true to their charcters. My main issue was defintely Lorkin who turned o...more

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Jul 02, 2010 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

On some level, I keep being disappointed by Trudi Canavan's work. After the Black Magician Trilogy, which was okay, and the Age of the Five Trilogy, which was brilliant, the prequel and sequel to the BMT have not lived up to their expectations. I surely would have appreciated further development of her Character designing skill, yet it rather dropped back.
It surely isn't a good sign when the reader is mostly interested in one minor storyline (involving Dannyl) and neglects the others, which are...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Jacky rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Overall story:
Sometimes a little bit boring, sometimes a little bit interesting, the story never really starts - well it does, but at the very end of the book which means this book is merely a teaser. I liked only one of the four storylines and that one turned out to be not what it promised to be. Nonetheless I'm looking forward to the next book because their might still be a story I could like.
For the most part I read it to be done with it although it was never really, really boring ... it was...more

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About Trudi Canavan

Trudi Canavan was born in Kew, Melbourne and grew up in Ferntree Gully, a suburb at the foothills of the Dandenongs.

In 1999 she won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Short Story with “Whispers of the Mist Children”. In the same year she was granted a writers residency at Varuna Writers’ Centre in Katoomba, New South Wales.

In November 2001, The Magicians’ Guild was first published in Australia. T...more

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Books by Trudi Canavan

The High Lord (The Black Magician Trilogy, #3)

The Magicians' Guild (The Black Magician Trilogy, #1)

The Novice (The Black Magician Trilogy, #2)

The Magician's Apprentice (The Black Magician Trilogy, #0.5)

Priestess of the White (Age of the Five, #1)

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“What was I thinking? Of all the assistants I could have wound up with, why did I have to choose the one with the scary mother and troublemaking in his bloodlines? I am doomed.” — 29 people liked it

“Achati chuckled. "You may be surprised. Some might come in the hopes of being snatched away to a secret place ruled by exotic women.” — 4 people liked it

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The Ambassador's Mission (Traitor Spy Trilogy #1)

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