Beat-by-Beat Reaction of Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts
Last month I read Janny Wurts Curse of the Mistwraith and livetweeded my reactions as I go. I've reformated (and edited) those tweets here for you to read:
This morning I started Curse of the Mistwraith, The Wars of Light and Shadow vol. 1 by Janny Wurts. And I’m so impressed/astounded/satisfied that I’ve decided I want to Thread-Tweet (https://twitter.com/AndrewDMth/status...) my experience as I go.
First off, I want to say the last several books I’ve started, while well-loved by the masses, have fallen flat for me, for many reasons. #1 of which is I’ve had trouble getting invested in the characters and worlds. Not so with Curse of the Mistwraith.
There will be spoilers as I go. You’ve been warned. I’ll be coming at this as an author, but that doesn’t mean I won’t just gush with enjoyment. So without further ado, buy the book yourself and let’s get cracking.
Chapter 1. Opens with recovery of a pirate ship and immediately upping tension. We very quickly learn of political tension, and of a prisoner who is worth more alive than dead. Despite narrative animosity toward them, I *feel* for them.
Aside: the PROSE!! It is not flowery. It’s certainly not purple. It’s evocative. It’s thoughtful. It’s a fine vintage of Malbec or a Porto. It’s exquisite and I’m here for it.
After we give a little cheer when this bastard half-prince/half-pirate Arithon acts out with shadow magic (tell me more!) we cut away to meet the other primary protagonist—Lysaer and learn IMMEDIATELY … That he is a good man, likable, and through a flashback, the family peacekeeper in a … tetchy family circumstance.
This first chap was a hard drop into the world, and I don’t feel lost at all. If I had to pitch this book just off chapter one, I’d say “For readers who want an epic with Adolin and Kelsier as half-brothers and their father is an abusive megalomaniac Dalinar, and you CARE from page one?”
Before chapter two started I was introduced to one of the most unique narrative devices I’ve ever seen. Paragraph post situation descriptions of characters we’ve already left behind, writing in almost an Outline Bullet Point form, telling us where these chars. are off to— They’re like micro-epigraphs of characters we might not see again. But DANG are they smart!!
Chapter 2. This’ll be short. Doubling down on why we should care about Arithon and why the king is the absolute worst POS was well-handled. It verges on tortuous. But not disgustingly so. Why? Because all of the small side chars. care and have a heart. Seeing the depths people are forced to plumb in the shadow of megalomaniacal despotism is tough to do. But Janny does it! And apparently we’re world/dimension hopping? Need. More. Maps.
Chapter 3. My intrigue thermometer is rising. The ex-Queen’s curse… I question what it does. That Prince Lysaer was forcibly tossed through after his brother was apropos. But now I wonder as the brothers go on an Enemies-to-Brothers journey, how the curse plays out.
My writer brain is watching for what Life-Arc Journeys they are headed on. As protags 30+ in age, it’ll be interesting to see if Lysaer is potentially on a “Maiden” or “Queen” arc. And then if Arithon is on a Hero’s journey or something else.
“At nightfall, the sky above the Red Desert became a thief’s hoard of diamonds strewn across the black velvet…” exquisite.
Janny rides the “not-yet-known” with a master’s hand on the tiller. If I ask a reader’s question, within a page, enough of an answer is offered to satisfy me and let me know I can trust the author and keep reading.
Alright. With close of chapter three we reach the west end of map Athera. We’ve been disoriented through gates, and now… we have our bearing.
As I told my wife, the last several Trad books I’ve tried have been a struggle. I just haven’t been enjoying myself. This is the first book in a while where I’m ready to keep going. 100 pages in one evening is not normal for me when I’m always thinking about my own writing.
Chapter 4. There is often a question, in Spec Fic of when info dumping is appropriate. That’s a long conversation. But here is where War of Light and Shadow works. We can “earn” an info dump as authors by earning equity with our readers—by proving we know what we’re talking about, thus justifying the info-dumps when they come. Or… as Janny did, we can provide tidbits all along the way, and make the readers follow us blindly, too invested to ask, nay, beg, for more info. Chapter four pays out. We finally get some info! (And at the same time realize we’ve been given info all along.)
I hit pause mid-chapter five last night. Upon waking, I find myself wondering about the authorial origins of Wars of Light and Shadow (‘93). Wurts published her first novel in 82, only a few years after the other book I’m reading at the same time (Riddle Master of Hed…) Let’s just say that these are VERY different books. Hed has the Arthurian re-telling feel. Wurts doesn’t read like that at all. Nor does it bear the the angst of Hobb. Yet they’re most certainly contemporaries…
I can’t help but wonder at the evolution of the genre from ‘76, to Sorcerer’s Legacy in ‘82, to WoLaS in ‘93. Was it an answer to the many chonker epics being written in the 80s that were derivative of LOTR?
While there is a classic epic flare to WoLaS, I don’t get “LOTR Rehash Vibes” at all. I’m in the middle of writing my own epic, and I try my darndest to intentionally acknowledge or avoid riding any derivative tropes. But where does Wars of Light and Shadows originate?
Chapter 6. Khadrim met and the eloquent and beautifully prosed drawing of the sword. Yep. I’m right back in!
In the middle of chapter 7 and they just reached the Argonath… er… Standing Gate.
Finished chapter 8. Arithon got his lyranthe and I wanted more. I guess I’ll just have to keep reading…
Chapter 9 took us to the intrigue of Althain Tower and as with every page, I feel I gain better bearing to the scope of the world.
The council of sorcerers feels so much more rounded than others I’ve read. These are not the disciples of Aldur in the Belgariad, who are nothing more than characterful old men with no agency. These wizards are instead rife with personality and personal, unspoken goals.
Chapter 11, Desh-Thiere. I’m bringing in the subconscious question is often have in regards to the lore of Warhammer 40k and the Nids. What do I mean? While the protags struggle to understand WHAT Desh-Thiere is, I can’t help wondering what happened in the world they came from? If there are lots of worlds through various gates, are the mists a curse sent to Athera? Or something that was banished to free another world? (Or a desolated world that is now dead.) Why 40K comparison? Because it is one of the most well-fixed settings in sci-fi. (It started as such a slipshod story that better authors have fixed over time.) I’ve always found it intriguing, asking the questions of why things, people, creatures migrate, to escape or go to better pastures.
Chapter 12. Now THAT was a great chapter! Resolution. Upped stakes. No doubt problems that Future Lysaer and Future Arithon will have to deal with.
Chapter 13 and I’m enjoying the intrigue playing out at Etarra! And I’m enjoying seeing the brothers show some initiative and agency! Admittedly, there are a lot of old men to keep track of. But after nearly 400 pages, I’m invested and trusting the story to tell me what I need to know as I need it. So this is not a real problem for me. I write big cast stories myself too (with plenty of older characters I might add...) and I’ll say the Sorcerers (and now a Master Bard) are not one note. I’m merely still gaining my bearing on who is who.
Wow. Chapter 14! What a turning point! My heart breaks for both princes AND for the destruction of such a priceless piece…
Whether it’s *only* his mage training, or perhaps his ensorcelled endowment of empathy, Arithon has a connection to ALL life force. Not just humans, but to the felling of trees too. The Inklings would be proud, Janny.
So, there is the fact that the nobility and the peasantry switched places entirely. At least in two of the major kingdoms. Thus, with how important prophecy and order is, one might even conclude that a coronation by the “peasantry” now ruling to be illegitimate to the prophecy. Thus, the swearing of fealty in the woods to Arithon might constitute a coronation. I know. Probably not. At minimum this is a “David’s Mighty Men” situation, but the theory above does come to mind. It is also interesting thinking about the returning of flowers. The Black Rose prophecy is said to happen after coronation. And the sorcerers all assume that it’s a magic return. But you can easily argue it’s part of the recovery of sunlight.
In general, there are few characters in this book I dislike. But Merrial and Lirenda are right up there with how base and smug they can be. “Allegiance owed me because it is owed.” They make sense tho. The Prime because she is “old and knows better” and the “ends justify the means.” Lirenda tho… if she becomes prime… no bueno.
Chapter 15 finished!! Three to go!
When I first read the Name of the Wind, the descriptions of music played at the Eolian were inspirational and evocative. They were a dim shadow compared to the music described to come from any bard in Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts. I find myself holding my breath. The last page of the first section of chapter 16 (right before “Incarceration”) was my first tear pulled from me in this series (and likely not my last.) That short closing scene between Dania and Steiven broke my heart.
The seaside campfire chat between Elaira and Traithe earned me respect for both of them. It wasn’t a question of “If” I’d buy into Elaira. It was a matter of “when.”
Chapter 17. Arithon said it best. “Lysaer, oh Ath, Lysaer, no!”
Chapter 18. What can I say about chapter 18. Dakar told us so.
The End
My Review of Curse of the Mistwraith posted on Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This morning I started Curse of the Mistwraith, The Wars of Light and Shadow vol. 1 by Janny Wurts. And I’m so impressed/astounded/satisfied that I’ve decided I want to Thread-Tweet (https://twitter.com/AndrewDMth/status...) my experience as I go.
First off, I want to say the last several books I’ve started, while well-loved by the masses, have fallen flat for me, for many reasons. #1 of which is I’ve had trouble getting invested in the characters and worlds. Not so with Curse of the Mistwraith.
There will be spoilers as I go. You’ve been warned. I’ll be coming at this as an author, but that doesn’t mean I won’t just gush with enjoyment. So without further ado, buy the book yourself and let’s get cracking.
Chapter 1. Opens with recovery of a pirate ship and immediately upping tension. We very quickly learn of political tension, and of a prisoner who is worth more alive than dead. Despite narrative animosity toward them, I *feel* for them.
Aside: the PROSE!! It is not flowery. It’s certainly not purple. It’s evocative. It’s thoughtful. It’s a fine vintage of Malbec or a Porto. It’s exquisite and I’m here for it.
After we give a little cheer when this bastard half-prince/half-pirate Arithon acts out with shadow magic (tell me more!) we cut away to meet the other primary protagonist—Lysaer and learn IMMEDIATELY … That he is a good man, likable, and through a flashback, the family peacekeeper in a … tetchy family circumstance.
This first chap was a hard drop into the world, and I don’t feel lost at all. If I had to pitch this book just off chapter one, I’d say “For readers who want an epic with Adolin and Kelsier as half-brothers and their father is an abusive megalomaniac Dalinar, and you CARE from page one?”
Before chapter two started I was introduced to one of the most unique narrative devices I’ve ever seen. Paragraph post situation descriptions of characters we’ve already left behind, writing in almost an Outline Bullet Point form, telling us where these chars. are off to— They’re like micro-epigraphs of characters we might not see again. But DANG are they smart!!
Chapter 2. This’ll be short. Doubling down on why we should care about Arithon and why the king is the absolute worst POS was well-handled. It verges on tortuous. But not disgustingly so. Why? Because all of the small side chars. care and have a heart. Seeing the depths people are forced to plumb in the shadow of megalomaniacal despotism is tough to do. But Janny does it! And apparently we’re world/dimension hopping? Need. More. Maps.
Chapter 3. My intrigue thermometer is rising. The ex-Queen’s curse… I question what it does. That Prince Lysaer was forcibly tossed through after his brother was apropos. But now I wonder as the brothers go on an Enemies-to-Brothers journey, how the curse plays out.
My writer brain is watching for what Life-Arc Journeys they are headed on. As protags 30+ in age, it’ll be interesting to see if Lysaer is potentially on a “Maiden” or “Queen” arc. And then if Arithon is on a Hero’s journey or something else.
“At nightfall, the sky above the Red Desert became a thief’s hoard of diamonds strewn across the black velvet…” exquisite.
Janny rides the “not-yet-known” with a master’s hand on the tiller. If I ask a reader’s question, within a page, enough of an answer is offered to satisfy me and let me know I can trust the author and keep reading.
Alright. With close of chapter three we reach the west end of map Athera. We’ve been disoriented through gates, and now… we have our bearing.
As I told my wife, the last several Trad books I’ve tried have been a struggle. I just haven’t been enjoying myself. This is the first book in a while where I’m ready to keep going. 100 pages in one evening is not normal for me when I’m always thinking about my own writing.
Chapter 4. There is often a question, in Spec Fic of when info dumping is appropriate. That’s a long conversation. But here is where War of Light and Shadow works. We can “earn” an info dump as authors by earning equity with our readers—by proving we know what we’re talking about, thus justifying the info-dumps when they come. Or… as Janny did, we can provide tidbits all along the way, and make the readers follow us blindly, too invested to ask, nay, beg, for more info. Chapter four pays out. We finally get some info! (And at the same time realize we’ve been given info all along.)
I hit pause mid-chapter five last night. Upon waking, I find myself wondering about the authorial origins of Wars of Light and Shadow (‘93). Wurts published her first novel in 82, only a few years after the other book I’m reading at the same time (Riddle Master of Hed…) Let’s just say that these are VERY different books. Hed has the Arthurian re-telling feel. Wurts doesn’t read like that at all. Nor does it bear the the angst of Hobb. Yet they’re most certainly contemporaries…
I can’t help but wonder at the evolution of the genre from ‘76, to Sorcerer’s Legacy in ‘82, to WoLaS in ‘93. Was it an answer to the many chonker epics being written in the 80s that were derivative of LOTR?
While there is a classic epic flare to WoLaS, I don’t get “LOTR Rehash Vibes” at all. I’m in the middle of writing my own epic, and I try my darndest to intentionally acknowledge or avoid riding any derivative tropes. But where does Wars of Light and Shadows originate?
Chapter 6. Khadrim met and the eloquent and beautifully prosed drawing of the sword. Yep. I’m right back in!
In the middle of chapter 7 and they just reached the Argonath… er… Standing Gate.
Finished chapter 8. Arithon got his lyranthe and I wanted more. I guess I’ll just have to keep reading…
Chapter 9 took us to the intrigue of Althain Tower and as with every page, I feel I gain better bearing to the scope of the world.
The council of sorcerers feels so much more rounded than others I’ve read. These are not the disciples of Aldur in the Belgariad, who are nothing more than characterful old men with no agency. These wizards are instead rife with personality and personal, unspoken goals.
Chapter 11, Desh-Thiere. I’m bringing in the subconscious question is often have in regards to the lore of Warhammer 40k and the Nids. What do I mean? While the protags struggle to understand WHAT Desh-Thiere is, I can’t help wondering what happened in the world they came from? If there are lots of worlds through various gates, are the mists a curse sent to Athera? Or something that was banished to free another world? (Or a desolated world that is now dead.) Why 40K comparison? Because it is one of the most well-fixed settings in sci-fi. (It started as such a slipshod story that better authors have fixed over time.) I’ve always found it intriguing, asking the questions of why things, people, creatures migrate, to escape or go to better pastures.
Chapter 12. Now THAT was a great chapter! Resolution. Upped stakes. No doubt problems that Future Lysaer and Future Arithon will have to deal with.
Chapter 13 and I’m enjoying the intrigue playing out at Etarra! And I’m enjoying seeing the brothers show some initiative and agency! Admittedly, there are a lot of old men to keep track of. But after nearly 400 pages, I’m invested and trusting the story to tell me what I need to know as I need it. So this is not a real problem for me. I write big cast stories myself too (with plenty of older characters I might add...) and I’ll say the Sorcerers (and now a Master Bard) are not one note. I’m merely still gaining my bearing on who is who.
Wow. Chapter 14! What a turning point! My heart breaks for both princes AND for the destruction of such a priceless piece…
Whether it’s *only* his mage training, or perhaps his ensorcelled endowment of empathy, Arithon has a connection to ALL life force. Not just humans, but to the felling of trees too. The Inklings would be proud, Janny.
So, there is the fact that the nobility and the peasantry switched places entirely. At least in two of the major kingdoms. Thus, with how important prophecy and order is, one might even conclude that a coronation by the “peasantry” now ruling to be illegitimate to the prophecy. Thus, the swearing of fealty in the woods to Arithon might constitute a coronation. I know. Probably not. At minimum this is a “David’s Mighty Men” situation, but the theory above does come to mind. It is also interesting thinking about the returning of flowers. The Black Rose prophecy is said to happen after coronation. And the sorcerers all assume that it’s a magic return. But you can easily argue it’s part of the recovery of sunlight.
In general, there are few characters in this book I dislike. But Merrial and Lirenda are right up there with how base and smug they can be. “Allegiance owed me because it is owed.” They make sense tho. The Prime because she is “old and knows better” and the “ends justify the means.” Lirenda tho… if she becomes prime… no bueno.
Chapter 15 finished!! Three to go!
When I first read the Name of the Wind, the descriptions of music played at the Eolian were inspirational and evocative. They were a dim shadow compared to the music described to come from any bard in Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts. I find myself holding my breath. The last page of the first section of chapter 16 (right before “Incarceration”) was my first tear pulled from me in this series (and likely not my last.) That short closing scene between Dania and Steiven broke my heart.
The seaside campfire chat between Elaira and Traithe earned me respect for both of them. It wasn’t a question of “If” I’d buy into Elaira. It was a matter of “when.”
Chapter 17. Arithon said it best. “Lysaer, oh Ath, Lysaer, no!”
Chapter 18. What can I say about chapter 18. Dakar told us so.
The End
My Review of Curse of the Mistwraith posted on Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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