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Lens of the World #2
King of the Dead
Book two of the award-winning Lens of the World trilogy, this volume finds the dwarflike Nazhuret a modest and fastidious lens grinder. Although he could have chosen an exalted and wealthy life as a noble member of the court, he wishes to live in humble and undisturbed poverty with his lady Arlin. But the ordinary life that Nazhuret wants is abruptly shattered when a vicious attack by paid assassins forces him to run. With possible enemies on all sides, the only place to go is the neighboring kingdom of Rezhmia, where Nazhuret has an ancient blood-tie. However, he finds that Rezhmia is no safe haven, for dark clouds are gathering there, intent on destruction of the homeland of Nazhuret¿s heart. Evil tidings, treacherous family members and powerful sorcery threaten to overtake him, but Nazhuret must survive for the sake of those he loves.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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About the author
R.A. MacAvoy
18 books200 followersRoberta Ann (R. A.) MacAvoy is a fantasy and science fiction author in the United States. Several of her books draw on Celtic or Taoist themes. She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1984. R. A. MacAvoy was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Francis and Helen MacAvoy. She attended Case Western Reserve University and received a B.A. in 1971. She worked from 1975 to 1978 as an assistant to the financial aid officer of Columbia College of Columbia University and from 1978 to 1982 as a computer programmer at SRI International before turning to full-time writing in 1982. She married Ronald Allen Cain in 1978.
R.A.MacAvoy was diagnosed with dystonia following the publication of her Lens series. She now has this disorder manageable and has returned to writing. (see http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/non...)
R.A.MacAvoy was diagnosed with dystonia following the publication of her Lens series. She now has this disorder manageable and has returned to writing. (see http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/non...)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 3, 2016
I wish I knew why I liked this book (and the series) as much as I do. It's not for the plot; while there was nothing wrong with the plot, it wasn't the main attraction.
Perhaps it is the writing. The prose is perfection: simple, elegant, clean, minimalistic, and not flashy or distracting. The descriptions are understated, and somehow it sets a tone and an atmosphere. RA MacAvoy is a writer's writer, and has a great command of the language.
Or perhaps it is the characters. There are only a few characters, and they are sketched in just a few strokes, but they are different and interesting in their own way.
In any case, the book is not like most other fantasies. In some sense, not a lot happens. But in an another sense, a lot of little things happen, each of them a mini-story in their own right, and just like a travelogue, you have fun along the way.
Perhaps it is the writing. The prose is perfection: simple, elegant, clean, minimalistic, and not flashy or distracting. The descriptions are understated, and somehow it sets a tone and an atmosphere. RA MacAvoy is a writer's writer, and has a great command of the language.
Or perhaps it is the characters. There are only a few characters, and they are sketched in just a few strokes, but they are different and interesting in their own way.
In any case, the book is not like most other fantasies. In some sense, not a lot happens. But in an another sense, a lot of little things happen, each of them a mini-story in their own right, and just like a travelogue, you have fun along the way.
April 13, 2022
Nazhuret, of such innate decency that he tends to give everything he owns away, is sent to forestall a war. Grieving at a loss caused by an assassin's attack, he and Arlin track across grasslands populated by savage tribes to the earthquake-ridden mountains beyond, haunted by Nazhuret's double, aided, somewhat, by a magician, to where Nazhuret's grandfather is emperor. Encountering magic and prophecy, which he despises, Nazhuret tries to mkake sense of an alien world and survive deadly intrigue, but it may already be too late to stop the war.
It seems pointed to claim Nazhuret's decency and humane principles and scientific rigour make him an unusual fantasy hero. Even at the time of original publication, he was no callow farm-boy off to find his destiny, and he's definitely not the kind of cynical amoral character of modern grimdark, but everything about these books so far feels unique. Nazhuret is like a Renaissance hero in a setting that hasn't quite entered its Renaissance but is, perhaps, getting there. Fiercely independent and self-sufficent (except for Arlin, naturally) he'd happily live out his life in obscurity and squalor if his talents and honesty and heroism weren't occasially required to save the day. He spends most of his time being rather hard on himself and exasperated by circumstances, but can be remarkably forgiving of human foibles and failings, with one or two notable exceptions, and even then, he's hard on himself because of it.
A character that you can admire and respect - now isn't that rare enough? And that's to say nothing of the formidable figure of Arlin. Add to that adventures and excitement, mysteries and strangeness, and all under 200 pages - absolutely perfect.
It seems pointed to claim Nazhuret's decency and humane principles and scientific rigour make him an unusual fantasy hero. Even at the time of original publication, he was no callow farm-boy off to find his destiny, and he's definitely not the kind of cynical amoral character of modern grimdark, but everything about these books so far feels unique. Nazhuret is like a Renaissance hero in a setting that hasn't quite entered its Renaissance but is, perhaps, getting there. Fiercely independent and self-sufficent (except for Arlin, naturally) he'd happily live out his life in obscurity and squalor if his talents and honesty and heroism weren't occasially required to save the day. He spends most of his time being rather hard on himself and exasperated by circumstances, but can be remarkably forgiving of human foibles and failings, with one or two notable exceptions, and even then, he's hard on himself because of it.
A character that you can admire and respect - now isn't that rare enough? And that's to say nothing of the formidable figure of Arlin. Add to that adventures and excitement, mysteries and strangeness, and all under 200 pages - absolutely perfect.
August 8, 2018
In this book, set some years after the first in the series, Nazhuret and his partner Arlin are being targeted by assassins and the attack which opens the story is the most serious so far. Meanwhile, war is brewing with the nearby country of Rhezmia where Nazuret discovered personal ties in the first volume. He and Arlin are chosen as emissaries to try to talk peace with the Emperor, but their personal assassins follow them, and things become more complex and difficult. As with the first volume it becomes clear that there is a hidden agenda and possible traitor.
As with the first volume the characters are multi faceted. Nazhuret persists in trying to be a scientist in a mostly non scientific world yet the meaning of his name - King of the Dead after an old god - is constantly being imposed upon him by others, and confusion of identity is a strong theme. Firstly, there are a lot of gender identity aspects - Arlin as usual but a tribal shaman they journey with for part of the way sometimes dresses as a woman and implies that he takes on a woman's persona, Arlin is thought to be a 'gelding', and they do in fact encounter an actual enuch. Secondly Nazuret himself has a family resemblance to someone near to the Rezmian throne, with various confusions and consequences stemming from that.
I enjoyed the book but not quite as much as volume one, possibly because there were a lot more unearthly experiences/visions and at times it wasn't clear what was going on, for instance, at one point two horses disappear from the stables at an inn and this is meant to be signficant but I couldn't work out whether they had been stolen and ended up in the meat market or some other fate. A shame if so, as horses in this series do have a personality of their own - . So a 4-star read this time.
As with the first volume the characters are multi faceted. Nazhuret persists in trying to be a scientist in a mostly non scientific world yet the meaning of his name - King of the Dead after an old god - is constantly being imposed upon him by others, and confusion of identity is a strong theme. Firstly, there are a lot of gender identity aspects - Arlin as usual but a tribal shaman they journey with for part of the way sometimes dresses as a woman and implies that he takes on a woman's persona, Arlin is thought to be a 'gelding', and they do in fact encounter an actual enuch. Secondly Nazuret himself has a family resemblance to someone near to the Rezmian throne, with various confusions and consequences stemming from that.
I enjoyed the book but not quite as much as volume one, possibly because there were a lot more unearthly experiences/visions and at times it wasn't clear what was going on, for instance, at one point two horses disappear from the stables at an inn and this is meant to be signficant but I couldn't work out whether they had been stolen and ended up in the meat market or some other fate. A shame if so, as horses in this series do have a personality of their own - . So a 4-star read this time.
November 5, 2012
This second book in the Lens of the World fantasy series was at least as good as the first. Again, our female author writes from the point of view of a male character in a story that does not pass the Bechdel test for non-male-centered stories (two female characters must have a conversation about something other than a man.) There are multiple characters who cross-dress, however. The major character of Arlin, a woman named "Charlan" at birth who poses as a man, is called a gelding at one point (by a male character who will later disguise himself as female). Later in the story, an actual eunuch is introduced.
A lot of this story set in an alternate late-Medieval world revolves around discussions of (and debunking of traditional ideas about) gender and race. It reminds me of the work of Ursula Leguin and of Ellen Kushner. In the way that science fiction explores technology, these fantasy novels by female writers are really social fiction, exploring sociological concepts.
While character development was not very important in the kind of sci fi I grew up reading, it is crucial to this kind of social fantasy. It is the characters in King of the Dead (rather than voice, plot or even subversive gender play) that I find most compelling. In particular, the main character and narrator, Nazhuret, is particularly sympathetic.
I found the character of the eunuch a little unresolved or unsatisfying. Without too much of a spoiler, I wanted to see more of him and know more about him than we did.
Don't start this book on a day when you have important things to do. You may not want to put it down.
A lot of this story set in an alternate late-Medieval world revolves around discussions of (and debunking of traditional ideas about) gender and race. It reminds me of the work of Ursula Leguin and of Ellen Kushner. In the way that science fiction explores technology, these fantasy novels by female writers are really social fiction, exploring sociological concepts.
While character development was not very important in the kind of sci fi I grew up reading, it is crucial to this kind of social fantasy. It is the characters in King of the Dead (rather than voice, plot or even subversive gender play) that I find most compelling. In particular, the main character and narrator, Nazhuret, is particularly sympathetic.
I found the character of the eunuch a little unresolved or unsatisfying. Without too much of a spoiler, I wanted to see more of him and know more about him than we did.
Don't start this book on a day when you have important things to do. You may not want to put it down.
June 28, 2025
2025 reread: this still stands up as a great novel. It continues Nazhuret’s story beautifully, focusing less on the worldbuilding and plotting that we find in other epic fantasy’s and focusing more on the intimate and small details of life in this imagined world a slight twist away from our own. We focus relentlessly on our heroes adventures, barely catching a glimpse of the wider world unless he interacts with it directly, making it a myopic epic, but one that fits that mood beautifully. But we’ve always read MacAvoy for the characters and writing, not the plot.
June 10, 2022
4stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
Nazhuret and Arlin, now at last a couple, are tasked by Velonya's king with stopping a war, using only their wits, skills, and a tenuous family relationship.
Review
This second in the Nazhuret trilogy is not quite as strong as the first, in part because the approach is simply more familiar, but also because, while it brings in more actual magic, it also leaves too many threads unresolved or poorly resolved. The prose and characters, however, remain respectively fluid and engaging.
The center of the book is its strongest portion. It seems to take MacAvoy some time to get things moving, and until Nazhuret and Arlin’s journey properly begins, the story hasn’t found its footing. The book is at its strongest when Nazhuret is discovering the world and himself, applying his natural curiosity. The ending slows again. In part, the chief resolution is foreseeable for quite some distance. Also, when it is resolved, it’s handled quite quickly and without much apparent interest from the author. And one promising thread is not addressed at all.
Overall, the prose and characters remain strong, but the storytelling isn’t quite up to the level of its predecessor.
Summary
Nazhuret and Arlin, now at last a couple, are tasked by Velonya's king with stopping a war, using only their wits, skills, and a tenuous family relationship.
Review
This second in the Nazhuret trilogy is not quite as strong as the first, in part because the approach is simply more familiar, but also because, while it brings in more actual magic, it also leaves too many threads unresolved or poorly resolved. The prose and characters, however, remain respectively fluid and engaging.
The center of the book is its strongest portion. It seems to take MacAvoy some time to get things moving, and until Nazhuret and Arlin’s journey properly begins, the story hasn’t found its footing. The book is at its strongest when Nazhuret is discovering the world and himself, applying his natural curiosity. The ending slows again. In part, the chief resolution is foreseeable for quite some distance. Also, when it is resolved, it’s handled quite quickly and without much apparent interest from the author. And one promising thread is not addressed at all.
Overall, the prose and characters remain strong, but the storytelling isn’t quite up to the level of its predecessor.
September 25, 2017
Man I really, really like these books. These are mac and cheese for me -- just the right blend of prose and character and story.
This one continues the life of Nazhuret from book 1, and again it is pseudo-epistolary. This time Nazhuret is writing to his teacher, Powl, and he picks up the story at age 28 (the previous story left off at 22). This time he and Arlin are off to prevent a war.
The theme of perception vs. reality vs. possibly-magic continues, with the addition of Zhurrie living up to his name's meaning of "King of the Dead" and its implications. It is not at all coincidental that the main character considers himself to be a scientist in a mostly pre-scientific world, and that he attempts to find rational explanations for unexplained phenomena; nor that both the first two books have added distance from the stories they're telling because they're epistolary. The layers of distance between lived experience, imagined/dreamed experience, remembered experience, analyzed experience, and retold experience are all evident if the reader is paying attention (though as I mentioned in my review of book 1, this can also all be ignored if you just want a fun adventure story). One telling quote from the book: "If I can, I will call my magical experiences drug poisoning, or deep philosophy, but all these names do not change the fact that I do not understand."
I'm just so very pleased with these books. Not too dark, not too light, not too angsty, but angsty enough to hold attention. Not pretentious, but not mere fluff, plenty of drama without being overblown. Few wasted words, plenty of subtlety, graceful and thoughtful. Great comfort reading. I'm already about 2/3 of the way through book 3.
This one continues the life of Nazhuret from book 1, and again it is pseudo-epistolary. This time Nazhuret is writing to his teacher, Powl, and he picks up the story at age 28 (the previous story left off at 22). This time he and Arlin are off to prevent a war.
The theme of perception vs. reality vs. possibly-magic continues, with the addition of Zhurrie living up to his name's meaning of "King of the Dead" and its implications. It is not at all coincidental that the main character considers himself to be a scientist in a mostly pre-scientific world, and that he attempts to find rational explanations for unexplained phenomena; nor that both the first two books have added distance from the stories they're telling because they're epistolary. The layers of distance between lived experience, imagined/dreamed experience, remembered experience, analyzed experience, and retold experience are all evident if the reader is paying attention (though as I mentioned in my review of book 1, this can also all be ignored if you just want a fun adventure story). One telling quote from the book: "If I can, I will call my magical experiences drug poisoning, or deep philosophy, but all these names do not change the fact that I do not understand."
I'm just so very pleased with these books. Not too dark, not too light, not too angsty, but angsty enough to hold attention. Not pretentious, but not mere fluff, plenty of drama without being overblown. Few wasted words, plenty of subtlety, graceful and thoughtful. Great comfort reading. I'm already about 2/3 of the way through book 3.
March 20, 2015
This review will contain a few spoilers for R.A. MacAvoy’s previous book, Lens of the World. You’ll want to read that book before beginning King of the Dead.
King of the Dead is the second story in R.A. MacAvoy’s LENS OF THE WORLD trilogy about Nazhuret, a man who is writing his life story for his friend, the king. When we met Nazhuret at the beginning of Lens of the World, he was an ugly orphan who had been raised in a government military academy. Upon reaching his majority, he left and became an apprentice to Powl, a man who is much more than the lens grinder he pretends to be. Powl thoroughly educated Nazhuret in a multitude of subjects and disciplines. Only toward the end of that first book do we realize why Powl took an interest in an ugly orphan — he recognized Nazhuret... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
King of the Dead is the second story in R.A. MacAvoy’s LENS OF THE WORLD trilogy about Nazhuret, a man who is writing his life story for his friend, the king. When we met Nazhuret at the beginning of Lens of the World, he was an ugly orphan who had been raised in a government military academy. Upon reaching his majority, he left and became an apprentice to Powl, a man who is much more than the lens grinder he pretends to be. Powl thoroughly educated Nazhuret in a multitude of subjects and disciplines. Only toward the end of that first book do we realize why Powl took an interest in an ugly orphan — he recognized Nazhuret... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
December 29, 2014
This review will contain a few spoilers for R.A. MacAvoy’s previous book, Lens of the World. You’ll want to read that book before beginning King of the Dead.
King of the Dead is the second story in R.A. MacAvoy’s LENS OF THE WORLD trilogy about Nazhuret, a man who is writing his life story for his friend, the king. When we met Nazhuret at the beginning of Lens of the World, he was an ugly orphan who had been raised in a government military academy. Upon reaching his majority, he left and became an apprentice to Powl, a man who is much more than the lens grinder he pretends to be. Powl thoroughly educated Nazhuret in a multitude of subjects and disciplines. Only toward the end of that first book do we realize why Powl took an interest in an ugly orphan — he recognized Nazh... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
King of the Dead is the second story in R.A. MacAvoy’s LENS OF THE WORLD trilogy about Nazhuret, a man who is writing his life story for his friend, the king. When we met Nazhuret at the beginning of Lens of the World, he was an ugly orphan who had been raised in a government military academy. Upon reaching his majority, he left and became an apprentice to Powl, a man who is much more than the lens grinder he pretends to be. Powl thoroughly educated Nazhuret in a multitude of subjects and disciplines. Only toward the end of that first book do we realize why Powl took an interest in an ugly orphan — he recognized Nazh... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
April 17, 2024
This was a decent follow up to the first book in this series. Unfortunately it has some of the same flaws and feels more like the outline version of the story rather than the full story. The travels are described, but not in enough detail to sound terribly interesting. Nazhuret and Arlin apparently love each other although the story makes it seem more like they just like to hang out together. Nazhuret does not seem to really engage with those around him much and that makes the story move like it is in a fog. The whole story was simply hard to get into.
I found the lack of chapters to distinguish what was going on as unhelpful. I also found it strange when they put a preview for the final book in the series that covered nearly half of that book's story. I am used to something like 10-15 pages from the beginning of the next book's story to draw the reader's interest. Maybe they put so much in the preview because there really wasn't that much in the third book to draw the reader's interest.
I found the lack of chapters to distinguish what was going on as unhelpful. I also found it strange when they put a preview for the final book in the series that covered nearly half of that book's story. I am used to something like 10-15 pages from the beginning of the next book's story to draw the reader's interest. Maybe they put so much in the preview because there really wasn't that much in the third book to draw the reader's interest.
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September 1, 2022Alas, this is a quest fantasy, with the author making up adventures to excuse drawing out the journey. That is the first half of the book. However, it is so well written, and MacAvoy has given the main characters such poetry of soul, that I was dragged by their power through the second half. A war may explode or it may be miniaturized if our heroes are successful.
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Read 2 times
April 23, 2025
King of the Dead
Shut did and he companions travel to the land of Rhezia which is preparing war. He meets the emperor who is his actual grandfather and meets Dowln who is a magician, jeweller and predictor of the future. The go back and run into king Rudouf who joins forces with the Rehzians who were attacked by the Naaish. It will be interesting to see how the story ends
Shut did and he companions travel to the land of Rhezia which is preparing war. He meets the emperor who is his actual grandfather and meets Dowln who is a magician, jeweller and predictor of the future. The go back and run into king Rudouf who joins forces with the Rehzians who were attacked by the Naaish. It will be interesting to see how the story ends
February 13, 2023
This felt like it continued our story, and at the same quality as book 1. I liked this quite a bit.
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April 27, 2023The second book in the Lens of the World trilogy follows Zhurries and Arlin on a dangerous quest to Rhezmia, partly to discover who has been attempting to assassinate them, and then who has been instigating war between their native Velonya and the empire to the south. Where the first book, Lens of the World, gave us fantasy as seen—and challenged—by a scientific viewpoint, this story immerses the characters in a world of visions and prophecies. This isn’t the magic of Tolkien’s Middle Earth, and it may not even be magic at all. As Zhurrie himself says, “If I can, I will call my magical experiences drug poisoning, or deep philosophy, but all these names do not change the fact that I do not understand.” So we’re left with haziness, ambiguity.
I have plenty of appetite for ambiguity. But what doesn’t work so well here is MacAvoy’s use of visions and hallucinations to invoke the grayness of this world’s magic. Zhurrie’s narration is already at an arm’s length from the action (that’s MacAvoy’s style), and there are times when the retrospective storytelling oddly doesn’t allow us the benefit of hindsight. Yes, Zhurrie might have been confused in the moment, but why are so many confusions left unresolved when he’s had time to reflect afterward? Wouldn’t he be able to piece together the action afterward with greater detail? The result to me was that the book got mushy in the middle. Too many dreamlike sequences, too many confused action scenes. The story does redeem itself at the end with some very concrete action, and the characters continue to live and breathe convincingly throughout, so I will stick with this trilogy. But the second book did not live up to the strong first entry.
I have plenty of appetite for ambiguity. But what doesn’t work so well here is MacAvoy’s use of visions and hallucinations to invoke the grayness of this world’s magic. Zhurrie’s narration is already at an arm’s length from the action (that’s MacAvoy’s style), and there are times when the retrospective storytelling oddly doesn’t allow us the benefit of hindsight. Yes, Zhurrie might have been confused in the moment, but why are so many confusions left unresolved when he’s had time to reflect afterward? Wouldn’t he be able to piece together the action afterward with greater detail? The result to me was that the book got mushy in the middle. Too many dreamlike sequences, too many confused action scenes. The story does redeem itself at the end with some very concrete action, and the characters continue to live and breathe convincingly throughout, so I will stick with this trilogy. But the second book did not live up to the strong first entry.
January 29, 2011
If this book were food it would have about 10 courses, involving salads and sorbets and roast lamb. This stuff is so damned addictive.
I would like to ask this idiot publisher why he/she/it chose to praise the first two books in the trilogy all over the cover and title page, but not list the third book ANYWHERE? Jeez.
I would like to ask this idiot publisher why he/she/it chose to praise the first two books in the trilogy all over the cover and title page, but not list the third book ANYWHERE? Jeez.
March 19, 2010
Outstanding book!
June 5, 2009
Even when writing a fairly standard fantasy, MacAvoy's lovely prose and deft characterization stand out.
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January 9, 2010ereader ebook
August 14, 2012
It was better than the first one in the series.
August 31, 2014
This is NOT about zombies.
April 22, 2015
Horses and visions and earthquakes. What's not to like?
September 1, 2016
Excellent second installment of the Lens of the World series.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews