What do you think?
Rate this book
Wars of Light and Shadow #7
Traitor's Knot
The gripping penultimate instalment of the Alliance of Light.
When half brothers Lysaer and Arithon defeated the Mistwraith its revenge left them cursed to lifelong enmity.
Having conquered the maze and achieved self-redemption, Arithon, Master of Shadow, is now the guest of the formidable sorcerer, Davien the Betrayer. No one knows how his influence will affect Arithon’s recovered mage power, or his newly awakened rogue talent for prescience.
Meanwhile Arithon’s relentless enemies will stop at nothing to achieve his downfall. The Koriani enchantresses are determined to make him their captive and their pawn. And as the Alliance of Light fanatics regroup after their defeat, the core of their priesthood now stands corrupted by a dark cabal who plot to enslave their leader, Lysaer, and use the Mistwraith’s curse as their own private weapon to break the world’s order.
The sorcerers of the Fellowship compact are sorely beset and the clans are counting their ruinous losses. Arithon, who holds their last hope of survival, chooses the most dangerous course: heart and mind he dedicates himself to avoiding killing, though allies and enemies muster for war, single-mindedly blind to the consequences.
When half brothers Lysaer and Arithon defeated the Mistwraith its revenge left them cursed to lifelong enmity.
Having conquered the maze and achieved self-redemption, Arithon, Master of Shadow, is now the guest of the formidable sorcerer, Davien the Betrayer. No one knows how his influence will affect Arithon’s recovered mage power, or his newly awakened rogue talent for prescience.
Meanwhile Arithon’s relentless enemies will stop at nothing to achieve his downfall. The Koriani enchantresses are determined to make him their captive and their pawn. And as the Alliance of Light fanatics regroup after their defeat, the core of their priesthood now stands corrupted by a dark cabal who plot to enslave their leader, Lysaer, and use the Mistwraith’s curse as their own private weapon to break the world’s order.
The sorcerers of the Fellowship compact are sorely beset and the clans are counting their ruinous losses. Arithon, who holds their last hope of survival, chooses the most dangerous course: heart and mind he dedicates himself to avoiding killing, though allies and enemies muster for war, single-mindedly blind to the consequences.
542 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2004
58 people are currently reading
1807 people want to read
About the author
Janny Wurts
106 books1,937 followersJanny Wurts is the author of War of Light and Shadow series, and To Ride Hell's Chasm. Her eighteen published titles include a trilogy in audio, a short story collection, as well as the internationally best selling Empire trilogy, co authored with Raymond E. Feist, with works translated into fifteen languages worldwide. Her latest title in the Wars of Light and Shadow series, Destiny's Conflict, culminates more than thirty years of carefully evolved ideas. The cover images on the books, both in the US and abroad, are her own paintings, depicting her vision of characters and setting.
Through her combined talents as a writer/illustrator, Janny has immersed herself in a lifelong ambition: to create a seamless interface between words and pictures that will lead reader and viewer into the imagination. Her lavish use of language invites the mind into a crafted realm of experience, with characters and events woven into a complex tapestry, and drawn with an intensity to inspire active fuel for thought. Her research includes a range of direct experience, lending her fantasy a gritty realism, and her scenes involving magic crafted with intricate continuity. A self-taught painter, she draws directly from the imagination, creating scenes in a representational style that blurs the edges between dream and reality. She makes few preliminary sketches, but envisions her characters and the scenes that contain them, then executes the final directly from the initial pencil drawing.
The seed idea for the Wars of Light and Shadow series occurred, when, in the course of researching tactic and weapons, she viewed a documentary film on the Battle of Culloden Moor. This was the first time she had encountered that historical context of that brutal event, with the embroidery of romance stripped from it. The experience gave rise to an awakening, which became anger, that so often, our education, literature and entertainment slant history in a manner that equates winners and losers with moral right and wrong, and the prevalent attitude, that killing wars can be seen as justifiable solutions when only one side of the picture is presented.
Her series takes the stance that there are two sides to every question, and follows two characters who are half brothers. One a bard trained as a master of magecraft, and the other a born ruler with a charismatic passion for justice, have become cursed to lifelong enmity. As one sibling raises a devoted mass following, the other tries desperately to stave off defeat through solitary discipline and cleverness. The conflict sweeps across an imaginary world, dividing land and people through an intricate play of politics and the inborn prejudices of polarized factions already set at odds. Readers are led on a journey that embraces both viewpoints. The story explores the ironies of morality which often confound our own human condition - that what appears right and just, by one side, becomes reprehensible when seen from the opposite angle. What is apparently good for the many, too often causes devastating suffering to the nonconformist minority. Through the interactions between the characters themselves, the reader is left to their own discretion to interpret the moral impact of events.
Says Janny of her work, "I chose to frame this story against a backdrop of fantasy because I could handle even the most sensitive issues with the gloves off - explore the myriad angles of our troubled times with the least risk of offending anyone's personal sensibilities. The result, I can hope, is an expanding journey of the spirit that explores the grand depths, and rises to the challenge of mapping the ethereal potential of an evolving planetary consciousness... explore free thought and compassionate understanding."
Beyond writing, Janny's award winning paintings have been showcased in exhibitions of imaginative artwork, among them a commemorative exhibition for NASA's 25th Anniversary; the Art of the Cosmos at Hayden Planet
Through her combined talents as a writer/illustrator, Janny has immersed herself in a lifelong ambition: to create a seamless interface between words and pictures that will lead reader and viewer into the imagination. Her lavish use of language invites the mind into a crafted realm of experience, with characters and events woven into a complex tapestry, and drawn with an intensity to inspire active fuel for thought. Her research includes a range of direct experience, lending her fantasy a gritty realism, and her scenes involving magic crafted with intricate continuity. A self-taught painter, she draws directly from the imagination, creating scenes in a representational style that blurs the edges between dream and reality. She makes few preliminary sketches, but envisions her characters and the scenes that contain them, then executes the final directly from the initial pencil drawing.
The seed idea for the Wars of Light and Shadow series occurred, when, in the course of researching tactic and weapons, she viewed a documentary film on the Battle of Culloden Moor. This was the first time she had encountered that historical context of that brutal event, with the embroidery of romance stripped from it. The experience gave rise to an awakening, which became anger, that so often, our education, literature and entertainment slant history in a manner that equates winners and losers with moral right and wrong, and the prevalent attitude, that killing wars can be seen as justifiable solutions when only one side of the picture is presented.
Her series takes the stance that there are two sides to every question, and follows two characters who are half brothers. One a bard trained as a master of magecraft, and the other a born ruler with a charismatic passion for justice, have become cursed to lifelong enmity. As one sibling raises a devoted mass following, the other tries desperately to stave off defeat through solitary discipline and cleverness. The conflict sweeps across an imaginary world, dividing land and people through an intricate play of politics and the inborn prejudices of polarized factions already set at odds. Readers are led on a journey that embraces both viewpoints. The story explores the ironies of morality which often confound our own human condition - that what appears right and just, by one side, becomes reprehensible when seen from the opposite angle. What is apparently good for the many, too often causes devastating suffering to the nonconformist minority. Through the interactions between the characters themselves, the reader is left to their own discretion to interpret the moral impact of events.
Says Janny of her work, "I chose to frame this story against a backdrop of fantasy because I could handle even the most sensitive issues with the gloves off - explore the myriad angles of our troubled times with the least risk of offending anyone's personal sensibilities. The result, I can hope, is an expanding journey of the spirit that explores the grand depths, and rises to the challenge of mapping the ethereal potential of an evolving planetary consciousness... explore free thought and compassionate understanding."
Beyond writing, Janny's award winning paintings have been showcased in exhibitions of imaginative artwork, among them a commemorative exhibition for NASA's 25th Anniversary; the Art of the Cosmos at Hayden Planet
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 4, 2018
One of the darkest and most intense books I have ever read.
Absolutely brilliant!
RTC
Absolutely brilliant!
RTC
June 19, 2011
With every new book in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW series by Janny Wurts, it gets harder and harder to write a review without either including massive spoilers for previous volumes or simply repeating the praise already heaped on it in earlier reviews. There are only so many variations on “gorgeous prose,” “intricate world-building,” “deep characterization,” “the books are consistently excellent” and so on. It’s especially hard to avoid spoilers for Traitor’s Knot, given that it’s the fourth book in a five book “arc”, and that arc itself is the third of five such arcs within the series.
Previous volumes in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW series often included a subtle way to review past events woven into the actual story, often seen from a new perspective or with an added new twist. Traitor’s Knot is different in that it instead starts off with a separate “Story Time Line — What Has Gone Before” section, summarizing the main events in the series from the start of The Curse of the Mistwraith right up to the end of Peril’s Gate. While this is a departure from previous volumes, it’s also perfectly understandable because, by now, Janny Wurts has ratcheted up the tension so high that pausing the story to look back at the past would break the inexorable momentum she has been building up throughout this arc. If it’s been a while since you read the previous books, definitely check out the time line; if not, dive right into the story, which picks up right where Peril’s Gate left off.
As a middle book in a series, Traitor’s Knot is almost flawless: it advances the story significantly, reveals meaningful new details and hidden layers, contains a few unforgettable scenes, and has an ending that will have you screaming for the next book. Regarding those unforgettable scenes: I don’t want to go into too much detail to avoid spoilers, but two specific sub-chapters towards the end of this novel are so harrowing that it’s almost impossible to appreciate them fully on the first reading. If you’re a reader who’s been following these characters closely, you’re in for a wild ride that will push you past the boundaries of comfort.
After all, despite being the story of a world (not to say, several worlds) and its past and future, on another level this series is also a most private tale of familial strife, love and friendship. The players between them may hold the keys to the future of this world, but they’re still very human, and Janny Wurts never lets you forget this. Both dimensions are balanced throughout the series, but maybe never more so than in the breathless finale of Traitor’s Knot.
Having now read seven books in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, I consider it one of my favorite fantasy series ever, and Traitor’s Knot is yet another brilliant part of it. If you’re not reading these books yet, you’re missing out on one of the most well-rounded fantasy epics ever.
(This review was also published at www.fantasyliterature.com on 6/19/2011.)
Previous volumes in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW series often included a subtle way to review past events woven into the actual story, often seen from a new perspective or with an added new twist. Traitor’s Knot is different in that it instead starts off with a separate “Story Time Line — What Has Gone Before” section, summarizing the main events in the series from the start of The Curse of the Mistwraith right up to the end of Peril’s Gate. While this is a departure from previous volumes, it’s also perfectly understandable because, by now, Janny Wurts has ratcheted up the tension so high that pausing the story to look back at the past would break the inexorable momentum she has been building up throughout this arc. If it’s been a while since you read the previous books, definitely check out the time line; if not, dive right into the story, which picks up right where Peril’s Gate left off.
As a middle book in a series, Traitor’s Knot is almost flawless: it advances the story significantly, reveals meaningful new details and hidden layers, contains a few unforgettable scenes, and has an ending that will have you screaming for the next book. Regarding those unforgettable scenes: I don’t want to go into too much detail to avoid spoilers, but two specific sub-chapters towards the end of this novel are so harrowing that it’s almost impossible to appreciate them fully on the first reading. If you’re a reader who’s been following these characters closely, you’re in for a wild ride that will push you past the boundaries of comfort.
After all, despite being the story of a world (not to say, several worlds) and its past and future, on another level this series is also a most private tale of familial strife, love and friendship. The players between them may hold the keys to the future of this world, but they’re still very human, and Janny Wurts never lets you forget this. Both dimensions are balanced throughout the series, but maybe never more so than in the breathless finale of Traitor’s Knot.
Having now read seven books in the WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW, I consider it one of my favorite fantasy series ever, and Traitor’s Knot is yet another brilliant part of it. If you’re not reading these books yet, you’re missing out on one of the most well-rounded fantasy epics ever.
(This review was also published at www.fantasyliterature.com on 6/19/2011.)
January 2, 2019
One of my favourite epic fantasy series.
This is high fantasy at its best. Janny Wurts takes her time to build her world meticulously. The prose is dense, especially for a non native speaker, but every word is exactly the right word to fit and complete each sentence.
It's an epic series spanning years and years with wonderful characters that are fleshed out and have become very dear to me.
I recommend this series to anyone who doesn't mind slow and who appreciates beautiful writing and carefully crafted works.
This is high fantasy at its best. Janny Wurts takes her time to build her world meticulously. The prose is dense, especially for a non native speaker, but every word is exactly the right word to fit and complete each sentence.
It's an epic series spanning years and years with wonderful characters that are fleshed out and have become very dear to me.
I recommend this series to anyone who doesn't mind slow and who appreciates beautiful writing and carefully crafted works.
May 18, 2025
Death cults, fanaticism, moody teenagers.
Honestly, I didn’t even realise I hadn’t written a review for this book as it blended into book six and eight. Yet, it was 602 pages. Yes, one of the shortest in the series, but still chonky!
That is my main complaint about this series. So many pages, yet such a slow pace and repetition.
‘What is our experience, but the reflected truth of our misapprehensions and short-falls? And also the grace of our beauty and strength, and the wise choices that make up our character?’
Arithon survives the arduous challenge of the maze, achieves mastery over the Mistwraith’s curse, and recovers his mage talent. He takes sanctuary there, under guest welcome of Davien.
I wish we got more of Davien before this because I love his meddling. I want him and Dakar to meet and get more interactions between him and Asandir who has been absent recently.
Lysaer finds out his priests are corrupted and it is unclear just how deeply their claws have been sunk into Tysan’s crown council.
We start to see there may be some hope for Lysaer’s moral character where it doesn’t concern his half-brother.
I’m a series completionist, otherwise I would have dnf’ed a while ago.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Honestly, I didn’t even realise I hadn’t written a review for this book as it blended into book six and eight. Yet, it was 602 pages. Yes, one of the shortest in the series, but still chonky!
That is my main complaint about this series. So many pages, yet such a slow pace and repetition.
‘What is our experience, but the reflected truth of our misapprehensions and short-falls? And also the grace of our beauty and strength, and the wise choices that make up our character?’
Arithon survives the arduous challenge of the maze, achieves mastery over the Mistwraith’s curse, and recovers his mage talent. He takes sanctuary there, under guest welcome of Davien.
I wish we got more of Davien before this because I love his meddling. I want him and Dakar to meet and get more interactions between him and Asandir who has been absent recently.
Lysaer finds out his priests are corrupted and it is unclear just how deeply their claws have been sunk into Tysan’s crown council.
We start to see there may be some hope for Lysaer’s moral character where it doesn’t concern his half-brother.
I’m a series completionist, otherwise I would have dnf’ed a while ago.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
August 19, 2014
I could die happy wrapped in the beauty of Janny's prose. :) In this book, Arithon heals from one trauma only to plunge himself into the middle of another. His doofus brother, Lysaer, has gotten himself wrapped up with some necromancers and Arithon has to try to save the world (and his brother, btw) from their dark and nefarious clutches. Elaira is shut off from their empathic connection during this process and she (and I) nearly die of fear for his life. More of the heart stopping action, the beautiful soaring prose, and the gradual revelation of the mystery that weaves the world of Athera into such a magical and beautiful place. The only drawback is that one more book read brings me one book closer to the ending of this bewitching, compelling, and marvelous tale.
Reread August 19, 2014
Reread August 19, 2014
July 27, 2023
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
After the earth shattering revelations and emotional turmoil Janny threw our way in Perils Gate, my mind and body was preparing for the worst when picking up Traitor's Knot. Although Traitor's Knot does have its fair share of stomach turning scenes and shocking turn of events, it is balanced out by laugh out loud moments especially surrounding Dakar and Fionn. We get a little bit of a reset before the ending sequence ratchets up the intensity and is a perfect set up for the final book in Arc III, Stormed Fortress. This will be a spoiler free review but I will be touching upon events that took place in the previous volumes.
Arithon has mastered the Kewar tunnel and achieved self redemption. His reward for withstanding the internal torture the maze has to offer is he is now a guest of Davien the Betrayer and his library of knowledge. Davien is a sorcerer of the Fellowship and has been waiting in the background for the right moment to make his presence felt since his self-isolation. While studying up on past knowledge, Arithon comes to the decision that he will never shed blood again regardless of the circumstance and he will avoid battles at all costs. The Alliance of Light is moving and war may be inevitable. Lysaer is taking one head shot after another and it has very little to do with the curse. His first wife Talith dead from suicide (although we know that is a lie) while his current wife Ellaine has fled the Alliance while grieving the loss of their son Kevor. All the while, Lysaer has fallen under a strange sickness and it is up to his Lord Commander Sulfin to find answers. I won't go into too much more detail but this was a wild ride indeed!
For me, Traitor's Knot is revolves around the changing of perspectives and gaining a better understanding around two characters: Sulfin and Davien. When I was first reading about Sulfin a few books back, I didn't really like him nor understood his motivations although Janny wrote Sulfin extremely well. This shows me how much of a magician Janny really is because by the end of this book I have done a complete 180 on Sulfin and he is now one of my favorites. The only other character in fantasy to do that for me was Jaime Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire. We are shown Sulfin's past, motivations, and the sacrifices he has to make for his Lord and some of them you will not see coming. Davien is the very definition of a wild card with the ability to change the game board instantly. Slowly the layers are starting to be revealed as to his master plan, but not all at once because I respect the process even though it can be painful at times to accept.
The stage is set up for Stormed Fortress which I have been told is Janny's best work and the favorite among many fans of this series. You know a series is great when each entry keeps toping the other. I have no idea what is in store for me, but if it is anything close to the impact Perils Gate had on me, I might have to curl into a shell for a few days! That's how good this series is and thank you all for following me on my journey.
Cheers!
After the earth shattering revelations and emotional turmoil Janny threw our way in Perils Gate, my mind and body was preparing for the worst when picking up Traitor's Knot. Although Traitor's Knot does have its fair share of stomach turning scenes and shocking turn of events, it is balanced out by laugh out loud moments especially surrounding Dakar and Fionn. We get a little bit of a reset before the ending sequence ratchets up the intensity and is a perfect set up for the final book in Arc III, Stormed Fortress. This will be a spoiler free review but I will be touching upon events that took place in the previous volumes.
Arithon has mastered the Kewar tunnel and achieved self redemption. His reward for withstanding the internal torture the maze has to offer is he is now a guest of Davien the Betrayer and his library of knowledge. Davien is a sorcerer of the Fellowship and has been waiting in the background for the right moment to make his presence felt since his self-isolation. While studying up on past knowledge, Arithon comes to the decision that he will never shed blood again regardless of the circumstance and he will avoid battles at all costs. The Alliance of Light is moving and war may be inevitable. Lysaer is taking one head shot after another and it has very little to do with the curse. His first wife Talith dead from suicide (although we know that is a lie) while his current wife Ellaine has fled the Alliance while grieving the loss of their son Kevor. All the while, Lysaer has fallen under a strange sickness and it is up to his Lord Commander Sulfin to find answers. I won't go into too much more detail but this was a wild ride indeed!
For me, Traitor's Knot is revolves around the changing of perspectives and gaining a better understanding around two characters: Sulfin and Davien. When I was first reading about Sulfin a few books back, I didn't really like him nor understood his motivations although Janny wrote Sulfin extremely well. This shows me how much of a magician Janny really is because by the end of this book I have done a complete 180 on Sulfin and he is now one of my favorites. The only other character in fantasy to do that for me was Jaime Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire. We are shown Sulfin's past, motivations, and the sacrifices he has to make for his Lord and some of them you will not see coming. Davien is the very definition of a wild card with the ability to change the game board instantly. Slowly the layers are starting to be revealed as to his master plan, but not all at once because I respect the process even though it can be painful at times to accept.
The stage is set up for Stormed Fortress which I have been told is Janny's best work and the favorite among many fans of this series. You know a series is great when each entry keeps toping the other. I have no idea what is in store for me, but if it is anything close to the impact Perils Gate had on me, I might have to curl into a shell for a few days! That's how good this series is and thank you all for following me on my journey.
Cheers!
December 1, 2021
With the exception of one particular scene about three quarters of the way through, this was phenomenally good. That scene wasn't lousy or poorly written; it was just upsetting as crap. Quite the violation that was.
There are so many things happening in this book that it's hard to set it aside. And I had read it before, too. But I have been significantly short on sleep for the past several days! I'm going to read another historical fiction book before I go into the next in this series, since I need to sleep sometime 😉
There are so many things happening in this book that it's hard to set it aside. And I had read it before, too. But I have been significantly short on sleep for the past several days! I'm going to read another historical fiction book before I go into the next in this series, since I need to sleep sometime 😉
May 1, 2023
⁹9Reread of WOLAS book 7
I have finally figured out my core problem with this series. At its heart these novels are about genocide, prejudice, and racism - and the author is just not equipped to write about these topics with any kind of depth. Im not even sure Wurts realizes that Lysaer is basically Athera's version of Hitler.
This book starts off strong. Arithon is chilling with Davien like he's Belle and Davien is 'The Beast.' (Yes, I did have daydreams of the two of them ballroom dancing to an Angela Lansbury song).
Lysaer finally gets a clue and comes to the understanding that his government is *gasp* corrupt. I found this funny as Wurts has gone above and beyond to portray him as a skilled administrator and statesman but he had to be told by local corncob ,Sulfin Evend, that something was up. But hey, any inconsistencies in characterization can be blamed on the curse.
This novel focuses on defanging a cult of necromancers. Once again the Fellowship is useless and Arithon has to ride in and wipe everyone's ass. A brief conversation between Davien and Sethvir about halfway through the book prove that Davien is the only one of these idiots with a functioning brain.
Arithon is useful for the first time since "Fugitive Prince." And I have to admit I loved his strategy for dealing with the rise of the Alliance in Shand. And then he reveals his grand strategy is . . . respectability politics.*sigh* If only we had some real world examples of how well respectability politics actually work?
If Lysaer is fantasy Hitler, then Arithon is fantasy Rudyard Kipling. He does get chewed out (and rightly so) by two different characters for his bullshit, but both interactions are kind of handwaved away. The man is a self righteous potato and the clans deserve better.
The subplot of Ellaine and Kevor gets wrapped up with a fairly anticlimactic encounter with Lysaer. I was incredibly disappointed by it, to be honest.
This book was one of the stronger ones in this series. Sulfin Evend, Ellaine, and Davien provide most of the good moments.
Lysaer and Arithon just need to kill each other and get it over with. The only faction in this mess I sympathize with are the clan born.
Edit: this book also has an unintentionally hilarious sex scene where Arithon gets cockblocked by two wizards. I could not take the angst seriously.
I have finally figured out my core problem with this series. At its heart these novels are about genocide, prejudice, and racism - and the author is just not equipped to write about these topics with any kind of depth. Im not even sure Wurts realizes that Lysaer is basically Athera's version of Hitler.
This book starts off strong. Arithon is chilling with Davien like he's Belle and Davien is 'The Beast.' (Yes, I did have daydreams of the two of them ballroom dancing to an Angela Lansbury song).
Lysaer finally gets a clue and comes to the understanding that his government is *gasp* corrupt. I found this funny as Wurts has gone above and beyond to portray him as a skilled administrator and statesman but he had to be told by local corncob ,Sulfin Evend, that something was up. But hey, any inconsistencies in characterization can be blamed on the curse.
This novel focuses on defanging a cult of necromancers. Once again the Fellowship is useless and Arithon has to ride in and wipe everyone's ass. A brief conversation between Davien and Sethvir about halfway through the book prove that Davien is the only one of these idiots with a functioning brain.
Arithon is useful for the first time since "Fugitive Prince." And I have to admit I loved his strategy for dealing with the rise of the Alliance in Shand. And then he reveals his grand strategy is . . . respectability politics.*sigh* If only we had some real world examples of how well respectability politics actually work?
If Lysaer is fantasy Hitler, then Arithon is fantasy Rudyard Kipling. He does get chewed out (and rightly so) by two different characters for his bullshit, but both interactions are kind of handwaved away. The man is a self righteous potato and the clans deserve better.
The subplot of Ellaine and Kevor gets wrapped up with a fairly anticlimactic encounter with Lysaer. I was incredibly disappointed by it, to be honest.
This book was one of the stronger ones in this series. Sulfin Evend, Ellaine, and Davien provide most of the good moments.
Lysaer and Arithon just need to kill each other and get it over with. The only faction in this mess I sympathize with are the clan born.
Edit: this book also has an unintentionally hilarious sex scene where Arithon gets cockblocked by two wizards. I could not take the angst seriously.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2008
Traitor’s Knot, seventh book in The Wars of Light and Shadow series. Robert Jordan should be reading Janny Wurts to see how it is done. Complex characters with complex relationship, noble honest rouges, golden heroes who lie to themselves, a history that stretches back beyond memory, scheming, betraying, heroic sacrifices, and more that fill a storyline that actually moves along. Where Jordan’s novels have bogged down to nothing happening in 600 pages that relate the events of two or three days; months, even a year or two, are covered in each of Wurts’ novels, from the beginning of the first novel Curse of the Mistwraith to the end of the latest, 34 years have passed.
April 13, 2015
(No spoilers on the series) Stunning. I devoured this book. I was completely hooked and unable to stop turning the pages, all the while immersing with ease and tight focus in the story. Gorgeous, exciting, haunting, draining, the plot exerts an irresistible pull and throws the reader in a whirlwind of action, drama, witty bantering, tales of plunder, grim predicaments, thwarted desires, true friendships, covert entanglements and malicious, subtle plotting.
The convergence started with Peril’s Gate, and the rolling break-neck pace, keep on in this book, where the unveilings about the events entwine with the brilliance of the complex energy system governing the world of Athera. In Traitor’s Knot high seriousness and emotionally powerful scenes (including one of the grimmest chapters of the whole series so far, not to mention an unforgettable sequence of dramatic intensity where comedy and tragedy mingle unmercifully) are seamlessly accompanied by moments of clever humor, much to the delight of the reader and (some) of the characters alike; one of the many techniques in the boundless artistic arsenal of the author, who manages, once again, to reach the highest pinnacles of imaginative grace.
Even the characters-traded insults are vivid and artistic!
I love the structure of this series, where several answers are not up front or spoon-fed, the story makes the reader reach for them and live them the deeper when they arrive. I was prompted through the books to figure out what to think about the events, the world and the characters, but all the tools are always supplied and the resulting cohesive picture is incredible.
The story played with my perceptions and my sensibilities. I was thoroughly, sweepingly, utterly and inside out-ly manipulated by the author: from start to end this book delivered intense scenes with relentless pace, building on my awareness of the layers laid down in previous volumes that allowed them to move on all levels without explanation. And the smooth change from seriousness to humor to the bittersweet and back again got me off-guard most often than not, probably to the intended emotional involvement as the story progressed.
It is indeed not only what the story shows, how the plot unfolds and the characters develop, it's also how this is told, the delivery, the balance, the depth and the genuine delight at the revelations, that makes a great difference. I loved the previous books and I was satisfied, but little did I know when I started reading Curse of the Mistwraith that it was just the beginning of what has already become an all-time favorite fantasy series.
Traitor's Knot is all denouements, the story unfolds at break-neck pace and I finished the volume within a few days and didn't even notice how absorbed I was, then I approached Stormed Fortress, the longest Arc of the series finale with high expectations, and again, no letup.
It is incredible what was managed with a relatively small cast of characters in a relatively small world (no multiple worlds or continents here), but again, one of the cornerstones of Janny Wurts’ storytelling is “no sprawl”: the story doesn’t repeat itself and the characters never stagnate. This series is awesome, so well worth the journey. The story keeps flowing beautifully along with the building of more tension; the narrative takes you and simply does not let you go.
The convergence started with Peril’s Gate, and the rolling break-neck pace, keep on in this book, where the unveilings about the events entwine with the brilliance of the complex energy system governing the world of Athera. In Traitor’s Knot high seriousness and emotionally powerful scenes (including one of the grimmest chapters of the whole series so far, not to mention an unforgettable sequence of dramatic intensity where comedy and tragedy mingle unmercifully) are seamlessly accompanied by moments of clever humor, much to the delight of the reader and (some) of the characters alike; one of the many techniques in the boundless artistic arsenal of the author, who manages, once again, to reach the highest pinnacles of imaginative grace.
Even the characters-traded insults are vivid and artistic!
I love the structure of this series, where several answers are not up front or spoon-fed, the story makes the reader reach for them and live them the deeper when they arrive. I was prompted through the books to figure out what to think about the events, the world and the characters, but all the tools are always supplied and the resulting cohesive picture is incredible.
The story played with my perceptions and my sensibilities. I was thoroughly, sweepingly, utterly and inside out-ly manipulated by the author: from start to end this book delivered intense scenes with relentless pace, building on my awareness of the layers laid down in previous volumes that allowed them to move on all levels without explanation. And the smooth change from seriousness to humor to the bittersweet and back again got me off-guard most often than not, probably to the intended emotional involvement as the story progressed.
It is indeed not only what the story shows, how the plot unfolds and the characters develop, it's also how this is told, the delivery, the balance, the depth and the genuine delight at the revelations, that makes a great difference. I loved the previous books and I was satisfied, but little did I know when I started reading Curse of the Mistwraith that it was just the beginning of what has already become an all-time favorite fantasy series.
Traitor's Knot is all denouements, the story unfolds at break-neck pace and I finished the volume within a few days and didn't even notice how absorbed I was, then I approached Stormed Fortress, the longest Arc of the series finale with high expectations, and again, no letup.
It is incredible what was managed with a relatively small cast of characters in a relatively small world (no multiple worlds or continents here), but again, one of the cornerstones of Janny Wurts’ storytelling is “no sprawl”: the story doesn’t repeat itself and the characters never stagnate. This series is awesome, so well worth the journey. The story keeps flowing beautifully along with the building of more tension; the narrative takes you and simply does not let you go.
January 11, 2025
Traitor's Knot (Wars of Light & Shadow) is an epic journey and is a fantastic read. I am addicted to this authors work. What does it take to stay alive?
Jannys’ work invites readers to unravel its intricacies layer by layer. It challenges them to confront the darkness within the narrative, suggesting that those who venture into this world will want to remain amongst the pages. She masterfully weaves together a tapestry of suspenseful storytelling. The narrative unfolds through edge-of-your-seat plots and chilling enigmas that ensnare readers from the very first page.
This story seamlessly blends supernatural and paranormal elements. I am addicted! This series is gripping and exciting. It is a tangled web that leaves you breathless and craving more. It is filled with loss and hope, magic and danger, suspense and tension, humour and action within a world where nothing is what it seems.
Jannys’ work invites readers to unravel its intricacies layer by layer. It challenges them to confront the darkness within the narrative, suggesting that those who venture into this world will want to remain amongst the pages. She masterfully weaves together a tapestry of suspenseful storytelling. The narrative unfolds through edge-of-your-seat plots and chilling enigmas that ensnare readers from the very first page.
This story seamlessly blends supernatural and paranormal elements. I am addicted! This series is gripping and exciting. It is a tangled web that leaves you breathless and craving more. It is filled with loss and hope, magic and danger, suspense and tension, humour and action within a world where nothing is what it seems.
June 14, 2016
As mentioned in my previous review, the series has quickened significantly in pace and although there's still a great deal of detail about the land, this tale is about the still-impeded Seven in their battle to repair the damage done by the Prime Matriarch.
During this time, a cult of necromancy sees the opening to invade Lysaer's budding false religion with blood magic and both Sulvin Evand and Arithon fight to save the day.
This is probably the fastest read of the series and a fantastic adventure. Lysaer inches closer to his own realities while Arithon becomes more than he once was.
Davien, the Betrayer also becomes a more prominent character, foreshading future interactions.
Highly recommended. If you've gotten this far, you're for sure hooked.
During this time, a cult of necromancy sees the opening to invade Lysaer's budding false religion with blood magic and both Sulvin Evand and Arithon fight to save the day.
This is probably the fastest read of the series and a fantastic adventure. Lysaer inches closer to his own realities while Arithon becomes more than he once was.
Davien, the Betrayer also becomes a more prominent character, foreshading future interactions.
Highly recommended. If you've gotten this far, you're for sure hooked.
August 6, 2024
The deck is reshuffled. Interesting.
Wurts writes villains that are actual characters. Even though it's clear what's happening, their plots irritate me -- just before a human side is shown that makes me reassess them. In the sections I read, Koriathani just became even more despicable and Lysaer a little more humane. I have no doubt this will shift again before the volume's over.
The SF framing of the world and some of the characters is finally getting some limelight. Pretty happy to have read it this far. But no doubt there is still much to unfold.
And what a sex scene, haha! The writing compares well with Geralt and Yennefer in the library, except for this one's even less about sex and a lot about the plotlines progressing.
Wurts writes villains that are actual characters. Even though it's clear what's happening, their plots irritate me -- just before a human side is shown that makes me reassess them. In the sections I read, Koriathani just became even more despicable and Lysaer a little more humane. I have no doubt this will shift again before the volume's over.
The SF framing of the world and some of the characters is finally getting some limelight. Pretty happy to have read it this far. But no doubt there is still much to unfold.
And what a sex scene, haha! The writing compares well with Geralt and Yennefer in the library, except for this one's even less about sex and a lot about the plotlines progressing.
November 13, 2018
Book 7. Can't believe that I actually made it this far into the book. I love how they are not just fighting each other at the moment, but how instead of trying to kill each other they have other distractions. I hate how Lysaer is the leader of a group who wants to kill him. I hope that all works out in the end and both brothers fare well. One of the best books that I've read 5 stars.
October 10, 2019
...and the saga continues!
November 14, 2023
“’One path must be taken. I have foreseen. Some day fate will force you to choose which of two loyalties you will sacrifice. The land does not bear a blood-sworn oath lightly. The powers you invoke will be greater than you, and they will not treat with duplicity. You will stand before them, stripped naked, young man. Heart, mind, and body, you will be bound true. Now way else can I give you what you ask for.”
**Please note**this review touches on events that occurred in previous books in the series – thus potential SPOILERS for the previous books.**
If you thought the “Wars of Light and Shadow” would have any book in the series that is less than utterly brilliant, incredibly intense, and completely breathtaking in its ending, then think again. “Traitor’s Knot” is perhaps one of the most fast-paced, astonishing, and accomplished novels in the outstanding fantasy series, coming in at book 7 in the epic saga, that is a proposed 11 volumes long.
The plot is about as exciting, and as sinister as it comes.
The Fellowship of the Seven continue to try and right the ills done to the world by the scheming of the Koriani, as they ceaselessly endeavour to snare the Master of Shadow, Arithon. The feal clans folks are taking grievous casualties, as they are hunted down to the last clansperson, as allies of Arithon, by the Lord of Light and his minions. But another urgent, highly disturbing new peril surfaces.
Through body possession, a necromancer cult – the Gray Kralovir - plan to, in time, take over the body of Lysaer, as avatar of the religion of Light. Unconscionable? Yes, absolutely a terrifying thought. Things had started to truly look afoul with the “Cabal of Light”, but now the real peril has been revealed.
“Should Lysaer be suborned by a necromancer’s cult, the power at risk was too dire to unleash on an unsuspecting populace.”
Indeed, but Lysaer has never been more vulnerable to being suborned than the point at which we find him in the novel. He is reeling over the fate of his previous wife Talith, and what may have truly happened to her. He’s rocked from grief and loss of a loved one, estranged from his current wife, to top things off, he begins to be afflicted by a strange malady.
Who among those surrounding Prince Lysaer, is close enough to him, honourable, and stalwart enough, to stand by him in his darkest hours, and combat unremitting evil?
Meanwhile, Lysaer’s nemesis, his half-brother, the so-called Master of Shadow, Prince Arithon, recuperates, with new found powers, clarity, and determination after his ordeal at the Kewar Tunnel. But Arithon is with none other than the “rogue” fellowship sorcerer whose moniker is “the Betrayer”, Davien, who created the Kewar Tunnel. Arithon is taking advantage of the priceless wealth of knowledge accumulated in Davien’s library. But does Davien have knowledge for Arithon that will be too great to handle?
Don’t mistake me, while Lysaer and Arithon remain centre stage in this incredible series, I have to give all the MVPs in this book to the side characters. Let’s talk about that wily Davien first.
I will be repetitive here, in terms of how I have referred to Davien in my review of the short story prequel “Black Bargain” (NOT to be read until AFTER “Stormed Fortress”, which is the book that follows “Traitor’s Knot”.)
Perhaps one of the most gifted and cerebral of the Fellowship Sorcerers, Davien is an absolutely fascinating character. At the best of times, there is this extreme dichotomy to the motivations, decisions, and results of the Fellowship's plans.
On numerous occasions, throughout "Wars of Light and Shadow", what the Fellowship does can seem callous, horrific, and calculating, while still being utterly noble, altruistic, and compassionate. That's because the Fellowship, sorcerers of unimaginable power and responsibility, are playing a game on a HUGE stage, and their actions (or inactions) do not hinge on the life of a single person, or even a race of people. They are juggling with an enormity of consequences that dwarf comprehension, and they do whatever they must to cause the least amount of harm, to the greatest amount of beings.
Bound to a personal code of non-interference, and the Law of Major Balance ("no force of nature should be used without consent, or against the will of another living being"), responsible for terms and conditions of settlement of humankind on Athera that ensure survival of the mystical Paravian immortals (the agreement setting out these terms is called the "Compact") the Fellowship must make seemingly impossible choices, the weight of which would stymie lesser beings.
No sorcerer, perhaps, exemplifies this more than Davien. A maverick, an "outside-the-box" thinker by nature, imagine how the actions of someone predisposed to that kind of reasoning, combined with the Fellowship mandate, might appear to observers? It's obvious there's much more behind why Davien does what he does than meets the eye.
Specifically, when I comes to “Traitor’s Knot”, Arithon is a “guest” of Davien’s, and the Master of Shadow. How will Arithon be influenced - positively or negatively - by his interactions with this mysterious character?
More importantly, what’s Davien’s agenda? What’s his end game? He’s an ABSOLUTE WILD-CARD, completely unpredictable, someone who seems to throw utter chaos into the mix, and I love it! I go back and forth for my all-time favourite character in the series being Davien, or…
Next, I can’t emphasis enough how crucial a role Sulfin Evend plays in this book, and in the overall series. I asked who would stand beside the often detestable, and possibly insane Lysaer, as the darkness falls? Step forward Sulfin, who choices seem impossible at every turn.
Yet, every time, somehow, he makes the right choice, at great personal cost. His level-headed competence, his resolute steadfastness, his unflappable courage, are truly something to behold in this book, which for me is his real coming-out party in the series. He is immaculately drawn by Wurts, and again, one of my top characters in the series.
“Darkness and cold ran through him like water, then as suddenly fell away. He found himself in a squalid back alley, little more than an uneven footpath overhung by ramshackle eaves and sagged stairways. The prankish gusts jangled the tin talismans of iyat banes, a dissonance that seemed to frame uncanny speech as he picked his uncertain way forward. The ground-level tenements were shuttered, but not locked. Here the prospective thief was a fool, who ventured without invitation. Sulfin Evend picked his way forward, the chink of fallen slates underfoot driving vermin into the crannies. The stairway he sought had carved gryphon posts, a detail he was forced to determine by touch, since no lamps burned in this quarter. No wineshop opened its door to the night, and no lit window offered him guidance. By starlight, Sulfin Evend mounted the stair. The creaking slat risers bore his weight sullenly, no doubt inlaid with spells to warn away the unwary. Against qualifying nerves, he reached the top landing, just as the door swung open to meet him.”
How about Glendien, another new fav, introduced in “Traitor’s Knot”? Wow, what a maelstrom she is! When you get to headline a chapter entitled “Vixen”, you know this character is going to make an impression. She is described as “a beauty to wreck a man’s peace”, and she is exactly that, and so much more. I won’t say much more about her arc to avoid huge spoilers, yet suffice to say that she puts Arithon’s honour to the test, in one of the many shocking twists in the book.
How about Jeynsa, as another secondary character that plays a huge role? So blinded by grief and rage, that she can’t accept Arithon’s grace, and that grief and rage fuels the passions that sets her on a collision course with her liege lord? She is an extremely powerful and impactful character, who even in her immaturity, like Fionn, has a lot of great qualities. You know she’s redeemable, and you keep hoping and wanting her to see the real truth about what kind of person Arithon is.
Long-suffering, imminently loyal Elaria, also stands out in “Traitor’s Knot”. As do the new comedic relief team of Dakar the Mad Prophet (who is always great for laughs, usually at his expense), and the stubborn and naïve Fionn, Arithon’s young double.
And let’s not forget those cantankerous s’Brydions, who other than their matriarch, Dame Dawr (another one of my favs) seem ignorant and oblivious at times - for all their intelligence and base cunning - in their obstinate, marshal posture, and refusal to back down from a fight. This will matter LOTS, later in the series.
I’ve spoken about the characters, now let’s briefly discuss what I found was a fascinating theme (among numerous fascinating themes) in the novel presented by Wurts, that dovetails back to the hero, Arithon.
Arithon comes out of “Peril’s Gate” a changed man in so many ways. Part of that change is a newfound sense of purpose and resolution. Arithon has vowed to shed no blood, and shun war. My first thought, “never underestimate this man, and his capacity to do the impossible”. My second thought, “this is impossible, he won’t be able to do it.”
Arithon has repeatedly been forced to kill, often mercifully, but kill nonetheless. He’s the most wanted man in the world, and his Curse-driven, obsessive, and seemingly almost demented half-brother has armies out hunting for Arithon. How on earth, if he wishes to stay alive, can he avoid killing, at the very least in self-defence?
This began to rattle the question around in my brain, “Is violence, in such a situation, at all avoidable? SHOULD it be avoided, in Arithon’s case?” Arithon is sworn to protect the land, and its people. Can that sort of protection be accomplished when there will always be those seeking to destroy?
This is just one facet of Wurts’ skill, to provoke deep philosophical questions that you will grapple with, when you look at the context in terms of what is occurring on the pages of her books.
The climax in Traitor’s Knot is one of the most shocking, ghastly, and memorable ones in the entire series. I had not been that emotionally impacted since the dramatic battle near the end of “Curse of the Mistwraith”.
Yes, Janny Wurts ALWAYS sticks her landings, with the ending of her books being stand-out, but this…it is petrifying, it is grotesque, and it will make you think differently about the darker forces at play in the series.
And the necromancers depicted in the book are, as per the author, only ONE of the necromancy cults in Wurts’ universe. GULP. Get ready to squeal and squirm uncomfortably folks at the horror element here. Absolutely harrowing, terrifying stuff.
Let’s briefly address and the other “climax” (different context here) – or should be I say “non-climax”? This is probably one of the most controversial scenes in the series. Without spoiling who is involved, the scene features coitus interruptus.
Now when one reads a scene like that, I, as a reader, attempt to objectively ask myself three basic questions 1) was the scene gratuitous (unnecessary / relevant to the plot, or could have been easily accomplished without that scene)? 2) even if I consider it necessary, in my opinion, as a reader, should it have been glossed over / toned down to ensure it’s not offensive? 3) on balance, is it more over-the-top, relatively, compared to other occurrences in the novel (is it consistent with how restrained / conservative OR how flamboyant and risqué the author is with their writing?).
Everyone will have to determine for themselves how they evaluate a scene like that. Of course, every reader has that aspect of a book, on an individual level, that simply does not work for them. For me, it was just part of the emotional depth and poignancy of the scene, and the pathos of two seemingly star-crossed lovers, endless frustrated by their inability to be together intimately, in peace, as any “normal” couple would deserve.
Yet more than that, it was the REASON for the coitus interruptus that was heartbreaking: it’s due to a dastardly magical plot.
I’ve spoken at length about the resplendent, lush, and transcendent prose of Wurts, in my reviews of her other books, but, hey, what’s one more gush.
She is the consummate artist, and just as the stupefying cover and interior art she creates for her books, her prose will make you wonder how someone can be so talented. The elegance and aplomb utilized by Wurts to approach the written word, particularly the use of adjectives, is, for me, unmatched in fantasy fiction. Read her words, and be transported.
If I can sum up “Traitor’s Knot”, as how it figures in the overall series, the word that keeps coming to mind is “momentum”. Perspectives change among key characters, secondary characters come into more prominence, new threats are fully revealed, many, many mysteries remain, but we learn more and more about some of the larger ones.
The adventure and stake factor has never been higher. The plot drives relentlessly forward. The action contained therein is a gut-punch. Yet all the while, nary a loving detail is skipped, and the writing continues to be a thing of pure beauty and a revelation. Yet in the end, this books serves to truly propel the overall series in startling, exciting, and in many cases, unnerving new directions.
Seven books deep into “Wars of Light and Shadow”, it remain unquestionably my favorite fantasy series ever. “Traitor’s Knot”, ranks as my fourth favourite book in the series. Yet, to clarify, when I say “favourite”, that is by infinitesimal degrees, when I say I like any book in this series more than another. They are all marvellous, and all of the books in this series, rank high among my favourite fifty fantasy books of all time.
**Please note**this review touches on events that occurred in previous books in the series – thus potential SPOILERS for the previous books.**
If you thought the “Wars of Light and Shadow” would have any book in the series that is less than utterly brilliant, incredibly intense, and completely breathtaking in its ending, then think again. “Traitor’s Knot” is perhaps one of the most fast-paced, astonishing, and accomplished novels in the outstanding fantasy series, coming in at book 7 in the epic saga, that is a proposed 11 volumes long.
The plot is about as exciting, and as sinister as it comes.
The Fellowship of the Seven continue to try and right the ills done to the world by the scheming of the Koriani, as they ceaselessly endeavour to snare the Master of Shadow, Arithon. The feal clans folks are taking grievous casualties, as they are hunted down to the last clansperson, as allies of Arithon, by the Lord of Light and his minions. But another urgent, highly disturbing new peril surfaces.
Through body possession, a necromancer cult – the Gray Kralovir - plan to, in time, take over the body of Lysaer, as avatar of the religion of Light. Unconscionable? Yes, absolutely a terrifying thought. Things had started to truly look afoul with the “Cabal of Light”, but now the real peril has been revealed.
“Should Lysaer be suborned by a necromancer’s cult, the power at risk was too dire to unleash on an unsuspecting populace.”
Indeed, but Lysaer has never been more vulnerable to being suborned than the point at which we find him in the novel. He is reeling over the fate of his previous wife Talith, and what may have truly happened to her. He’s rocked from grief and loss of a loved one, estranged from his current wife, to top things off, he begins to be afflicted by a strange malady.
Who among those surrounding Prince Lysaer, is close enough to him, honourable, and stalwart enough, to stand by him in his darkest hours, and combat unremitting evil?
Meanwhile, Lysaer’s nemesis, his half-brother, the so-called Master of Shadow, Prince Arithon, recuperates, with new found powers, clarity, and determination after his ordeal at the Kewar Tunnel. But Arithon is with none other than the “rogue” fellowship sorcerer whose moniker is “the Betrayer”, Davien, who created the Kewar Tunnel. Arithon is taking advantage of the priceless wealth of knowledge accumulated in Davien’s library. But does Davien have knowledge for Arithon that will be too great to handle?
Don’t mistake me, while Lysaer and Arithon remain centre stage in this incredible series, I have to give all the MVPs in this book to the side characters. Let’s talk about that wily Davien first.
I will be repetitive here, in terms of how I have referred to Davien in my review of the short story prequel “Black Bargain” (NOT to be read until AFTER “Stormed Fortress”, which is the book that follows “Traitor’s Knot”.)
Perhaps one of the most gifted and cerebral of the Fellowship Sorcerers, Davien is an absolutely fascinating character. At the best of times, there is this extreme dichotomy to the motivations, decisions, and results of the Fellowship's plans.
On numerous occasions, throughout "Wars of Light and Shadow", what the Fellowship does can seem callous, horrific, and calculating, while still being utterly noble, altruistic, and compassionate. That's because the Fellowship, sorcerers of unimaginable power and responsibility, are playing a game on a HUGE stage, and their actions (or inactions) do not hinge on the life of a single person, or even a race of people. They are juggling with an enormity of consequences that dwarf comprehension, and they do whatever they must to cause the least amount of harm, to the greatest amount of beings.
Bound to a personal code of non-interference, and the Law of Major Balance ("no force of nature should be used without consent, or against the will of another living being"), responsible for terms and conditions of settlement of humankind on Athera that ensure survival of the mystical Paravian immortals (the agreement setting out these terms is called the "Compact") the Fellowship must make seemingly impossible choices, the weight of which would stymie lesser beings.
No sorcerer, perhaps, exemplifies this more than Davien. A maverick, an "outside-the-box" thinker by nature, imagine how the actions of someone predisposed to that kind of reasoning, combined with the Fellowship mandate, might appear to observers? It's obvious there's much more behind why Davien does what he does than meets the eye.
Specifically, when I comes to “Traitor’s Knot”, Arithon is a “guest” of Davien’s, and the Master of Shadow. How will Arithon be influenced - positively or negatively - by his interactions with this mysterious character?
More importantly, what’s Davien’s agenda? What’s his end game? He’s an ABSOLUTE WILD-CARD, completely unpredictable, someone who seems to throw utter chaos into the mix, and I love it! I go back and forth for my all-time favourite character in the series being Davien, or…
Next, I can’t emphasis enough how crucial a role Sulfin Evend plays in this book, and in the overall series. I asked who would stand beside the often detestable, and possibly insane Lysaer, as the darkness falls? Step forward Sulfin, who choices seem impossible at every turn.
Yet, every time, somehow, he makes the right choice, at great personal cost. His level-headed competence, his resolute steadfastness, his unflappable courage, are truly something to behold in this book, which for me is his real coming-out party in the series. He is immaculately drawn by Wurts, and again, one of my top characters in the series.
“Darkness and cold ran through him like water, then as suddenly fell away. He found himself in a squalid back alley, little more than an uneven footpath overhung by ramshackle eaves and sagged stairways. The prankish gusts jangled the tin talismans of iyat banes, a dissonance that seemed to frame uncanny speech as he picked his uncertain way forward. The ground-level tenements were shuttered, but not locked. Here the prospective thief was a fool, who ventured without invitation. Sulfin Evend picked his way forward, the chink of fallen slates underfoot driving vermin into the crannies. The stairway he sought had carved gryphon posts, a detail he was forced to determine by touch, since no lamps burned in this quarter. No wineshop opened its door to the night, and no lit window offered him guidance. By starlight, Sulfin Evend mounted the stair. The creaking slat risers bore his weight sullenly, no doubt inlaid with spells to warn away the unwary. Against qualifying nerves, he reached the top landing, just as the door swung open to meet him.”
How about Glendien, another new fav, introduced in “Traitor’s Knot”? Wow, what a maelstrom she is! When you get to headline a chapter entitled “Vixen”, you know this character is going to make an impression. She is described as “a beauty to wreck a man’s peace”, and she is exactly that, and so much more. I won’t say much more about her arc to avoid huge spoilers, yet suffice to say that she puts Arithon’s honour to the test, in one of the many shocking twists in the book.
How about Jeynsa, as another secondary character that plays a huge role? So blinded by grief and rage, that she can’t accept Arithon’s grace, and that grief and rage fuels the passions that sets her on a collision course with her liege lord? She is an extremely powerful and impactful character, who even in her immaturity, like Fionn, has a lot of great qualities. You know she’s redeemable, and you keep hoping and wanting her to see the real truth about what kind of person Arithon is.
Long-suffering, imminently loyal Elaria, also stands out in “Traitor’s Knot”. As do the new comedic relief team of Dakar the Mad Prophet (who is always great for laughs, usually at his expense), and the stubborn and naïve Fionn, Arithon’s young double.
And let’s not forget those cantankerous s’Brydions, who other than their matriarch, Dame Dawr (another one of my favs) seem ignorant and oblivious at times - for all their intelligence and base cunning - in their obstinate, marshal posture, and refusal to back down from a fight. This will matter LOTS, later in the series.
I’ve spoken about the characters, now let’s briefly discuss what I found was a fascinating theme (among numerous fascinating themes) in the novel presented by Wurts, that dovetails back to the hero, Arithon.
Arithon comes out of “Peril’s Gate” a changed man in so many ways. Part of that change is a newfound sense of purpose and resolution. Arithon has vowed to shed no blood, and shun war. My first thought, “never underestimate this man, and his capacity to do the impossible”. My second thought, “this is impossible, he won’t be able to do it.”
Arithon has repeatedly been forced to kill, often mercifully, but kill nonetheless. He’s the most wanted man in the world, and his Curse-driven, obsessive, and seemingly almost demented half-brother has armies out hunting for Arithon. How on earth, if he wishes to stay alive, can he avoid killing, at the very least in self-defence?
This began to rattle the question around in my brain, “Is violence, in such a situation, at all avoidable? SHOULD it be avoided, in Arithon’s case?” Arithon is sworn to protect the land, and its people. Can that sort of protection be accomplished when there will always be those seeking to destroy?
This is just one facet of Wurts’ skill, to provoke deep philosophical questions that you will grapple with, when you look at the context in terms of what is occurring on the pages of her books.
The climax in Traitor’s Knot is one of the most shocking, ghastly, and memorable ones in the entire series. I had not been that emotionally impacted since the dramatic battle near the end of “Curse of the Mistwraith”.
Yes, Janny Wurts ALWAYS sticks her landings, with the ending of her books being stand-out, but this…it is petrifying, it is grotesque, and it will make you think differently about the darker forces at play in the series.
And the necromancers depicted in the book are, as per the author, only ONE of the necromancy cults in Wurts’ universe. GULP. Get ready to squeal and squirm uncomfortably folks at the horror element here. Absolutely harrowing, terrifying stuff.
Let’s briefly address and the other “climax” (different context here) – or should be I say “non-climax”? This is probably one of the most controversial scenes in the series. Without spoiling who is involved, the scene features coitus interruptus.
Now when one reads a scene like that, I, as a reader, attempt to objectively ask myself three basic questions 1) was the scene gratuitous (unnecessary / relevant to the plot, or could have been easily accomplished without that scene)? 2) even if I consider it necessary, in my opinion, as a reader, should it have been glossed over / toned down to ensure it’s not offensive? 3) on balance, is it more over-the-top, relatively, compared to other occurrences in the novel (is it consistent with how restrained / conservative OR how flamboyant and risqué the author is with their writing?).
Everyone will have to determine for themselves how they evaluate a scene like that. Of course, every reader has that aspect of a book, on an individual level, that simply does not work for them. For me, it was just part of the emotional depth and poignancy of the scene, and the pathos of two seemingly star-crossed lovers, endless frustrated by their inability to be together intimately, in peace, as any “normal” couple would deserve.
Yet more than that, it was the REASON for the coitus interruptus that was heartbreaking: it’s due to a dastardly magical plot.
I’ve spoken at length about the resplendent, lush, and transcendent prose of Wurts, in my reviews of her other books, but, hey, what’s one more gush.
She is the consummate artist, and just as the stupefying cover and interior art she creates for her books, her prose will make you wonder how someone can be so talented. The elegance and aplomb utilized by Wurts to approach the written word, particularly the use of adjectives, is, for me, unmatched in fantasy fiction. Read her words, and be transported.
If I can sum up “Traitor’s Knot”, as how it figures in the overall series, the word that keeps coming to mind is “momentum”. Perspectives change among key characters, secondary characters come into more prominence, new threats are fully revealed, many, many mysteries remain, but we learn more and more about some of the larger ones.
The adventure and stake factor has never been higher. The plot drives relentlessly forward. The action contained therein is a gut-punch. Yet all the while, nary a loving detail is skipped, and the writing continues to be a thing of pure beauty and a revelation. Yet in the end, this books serves to truly propel the overall series in startling, exciting, and in many cases, unnerving new directions.
Seven books deep into “Wars of Light and Shadow”, it remain unquestionably my favorite fantasy series ever. “Traitor’s Knot”, ranks as my fourth favourite book in the series. Yet, to clarify, when I say “favourite”, that is by infinitesimal degrees, when I say I like any book in this series more than another. They are all marvellous, and all of the books in this series, rank high among my favourite fifty fantasy books of all time.
Read
February 19, 2012There is a lot of music in The Wars of Light and Shadow – not only is the series’ main protagonist a preternaturally gifted masterbard, whose music is capable of working something very close to magic and is a recurring important plot element through all of the novels, not only does Janny Wurts make constant use of musical imagery and occasionally even structure (like at the end of Peril’s Gate where Elaira’s repeated “Cry, Mercy” serves as a kind of pedal point to Arithon’s ordeal) – but in a sense, the novels are music, in so far as they are very aware of the tonal quality of language, their sentences composed with an ear for prose rhythm and melody.[return][return]In addition, there are the larger-than-life characters with their tendency to grand, sweeping gestures, the high-strung feelings and the even more high-strung language – all of which combine to give the series an operatic feel. In its best moments, Janny Wurts’ prose grips the reader with the emotional impact and powerful intensity of an aria. The musical work it is most reminiscent of, though, (and which, although it is operatic does not strictly speaking have arias) due to its grand scope, the way it entwines the mythical with the intimate and its use of leitmotifs is Richard Wagners Ring des Nibelungen. The War of Light and Shadow is not (unlike Stephen Donaldson who tried tries for the science fiction genre with his Gap Cycle) an adaption of Wagner’s work, but it does seem to share some features with it – and considering how Janny Wurts not only wrote it, but also did the covers for some editions, there maybe even be some ambition towards a Gesamtkunstwerk (and one can’t help but wonder whether some of Arithon’s tunes have actually been set to music…).[return][return]After the focused perspective of Peril’s Gate, the view widens into a broad panorama again in Traitor’s Knot, we find out what it was Davien wanted from Arithon, and we get one of the rare instances of pure, unmitigated evil in the series. There is only a brief breathing pause at the start of the novel, then things start moving again, events retaining the momentum they have gathered in the previous volumes of this arc and leading into what promises to be a grand finale.
June 20, 2016
As with Janny's other books in the Wars of Light and Shadow series, this one maintains the same level of writing prowess and tight control of the plot that has been a hallmark of the rest of her work.
I am also happy to report that Arithon actually starts doing something in this novel, which makes this one my favorite of the series, thus far. He's been being built up with all of these interesting skills, but has been so crippled by his given gift of compassion that he's been utterly useless and only capable of responding to threats instead of taking initiative. Reactive instead of proactive, if you will. But now that he's bested Kewar tunnel, he's had his mage gift unlocked and a bunch more training. Then he actually starts using his talents. Holy crap was it great to see him doing things, for once.
Lysaer, on the other hand, is still blinded by his curse and his delusions of grandeur. I'm only interested in his storyline to see how Sulfin Evend handles it all now that he's been forced to get more into the magic of Athera. The irony is thick, and thus, hilarious.
Those great things aside, I still have the usual complaints that what is meant to be funny falls flat because of the language used, the characters often seem so incredibly melodramatic it's ridiculous, and the author seems to do emotional telling instead of letting a characters' actions inform the reader as to what the character is feeling. Instead, we get long chunks of text detailing a sex scene with purple prose or another long bit of text detailing exactly how awful Arithon feels suffering due to his compassion. Getting beaten over the head with just how -hard- all of these characters have it gets old after a while. At this point, I get it. I just want to see the characters starting to do things about how awful stuff is getting.
And I think that Traitor's Knot was the start of that swing around.
Best book so far!
I am also happy to report that Arithon actually starts doing something in this novel, which makes this one my favorite of the series, thus far. He's been being built up with all of these interesting skills, but has been so crippled by his given gift of compassion that he's been utterly useless and only capable of responding to threats instead of taking initiative. Reactive instead of proactive, if you will. But now that he's bested Kewar tunnel, he's had his mage gift unlocked and a bunch more training. Then he actually starts using his talents. Holy crap was it great to see him doing things, for once.
Lysaer, on the other hand, is still blinded by his curse and his delusions of grandeur. I'm only interested in his storyline to see how Sulfin Evend handles it all now that he's been forced to get more into the magic of Athera. The irony is thick, and thus, hilarious.
Those great things aside, I still have the usual complaints that what is meant to be funny falls flat because of the language used, the characters often seem so incredibly melodramatic it's ridiculous, and the author seems to do emotional telling instead of letting a characters' actions inform the reader as to what the character is feeling. Instead, we get long chunks of text detailing a sex scene with purple prose or another long bit of text detailing exactly how awful Arithon feels suffering due to his compassion. Getting beaten over the head with just how -hard- all of these characters have it gets old after a while. At this point, I get it. I just want to see the characters starting to do things about how awful stuff is getting.
And I think that Traitor's Knot was the start of that swing around.
Best book so far!
March 19, 2009
As I've said before in other reviews, I Love Janny Wurtz, if I can just read a single book, not a series. It seems that she can't bring anything to a satisfactory conclusion. For example, an aside conflict in this series (this is book 7) is the Wizards on-going battle with some distant wraiths that occasionally free themselves of the bondage spell they are in and head to earth, this battle saps the strength from the wizards, and other than that adds nothing to the story line. In this book, as again, they battle the wraiths and once again can only put a temporary restraint on them, and I screamed, can't you finish anything, be done with this, and let's get back to the war without end. I know that Lysaer and Arithon will live 500 years, but I won't. Please, Janny, finish this and get back to Whitestorm. One other thing, why can't her heroes and/or heroines have sex lives.
September 26, 2023
The fact that each book in the Wars of Light and Shadow series manages to feel so different, despite being on a contiguous arc for 4 books now, despite the beautifully dense and poetic prose, and despite unfolding so naturally, manages to astound me every time. I'm sure the 4 books remaining will continue to do so!
To help track these feelings in my mind, I've started to label which characters I feel a book really centers around. For example, Peril's Gate is clearly Arithon's book. However, Traitor's Knot is a difficult one to pin down.
Is it Arithon's book again, because of his newfound convictions and his greater insight into the mysteries and what it enables him to accomplish in this book? (I hope it's not a spoiler that Arithon does stuff in this book)
Is it Sulfan Evend's book, because of his immense character growth and difficult decisions he must hold strong on?
Is it Davien's book, because we finally get to really see him? (Or do we? )
But no... I think this book is the women's book. Ellaine, who . Elaira, who . Dame Dawr, who has all the sense and left none for the s'Brydion boys. I could go on - Feithan, the s'Brydion wives, and on. There are strong women here in the tangle of the Traitor's Knot, and they have a habit of stealing the show when they're around. And why not?
I liked that this book had a central conflict. I think it would have been easy to be all setup for Stormed Fortress and just an in-between book, but this is a book that stands on its own merits WHILE leading smoothly into what I imagine Stormed Fortress will be.
The climax of this one is gonna stick with me for a while, I think.
I don't write very cohesive reviews, but all in all, I really enjoyed this one, and can't wait to see how the arc comes to a close.
To help track these feelings in my mind, I've started to label which characters I feel a book really centers around. For example, Peril's Gate is clearly Arithon's book. However, Traitor's Knot is a difficult one to pin down.
Is it Arithon's book again, because of his newfound convictions and his greater insight into the mysteries and what it enables him to accomplish in this book? (I hope it's not a spoiler that Arithon does stuff in this book)
Is it Sulfan Evend's book, because of his immense character growth and difficult decisions he must hold strong on?
Is it Davien's book, because we finally get to really see him? (Or do we? )
But no... I think this book is the women's book. Ellaine, who . Elaira, who . Dame Dawr, who has all the sense and left none for the s'Brydion boys. I could go on - Feithan, the s'Brydion wives, and on. There are strong women here in the tangle of the Traitor's Knot, and they have a habit of stealing the show when they're around. And why not?
I liked that this book had a central conflict. I think it would have been easy to be all setup for Stormed Fortress and just an in-between book, but this is a book that stands on its own merits WHILE leading smoothly into what I imagine Stormed Fortress will be.
The climax of this one is gonna stick with me for a while, I think.
I don't write very cohesive reviews, but all in all, I really enjoyed this one, and can't wait to see how the arc comes to a close.
April 2, 2024
[There are no explicit plot spoilers, although I describe aspects of character development and the flow of the book in broad generalities.]
Traitor’s Knot is a sparked wildfire after the dense, crisis-heavy writing of Peril’s Gate. I recall reading the first chapter in 2005 and finding the writing so fresh that it almost felt like a different series. This change mirrors a “new” Arithon s’Ffalenn, who has risen above his strangling self-revulsion thanks to the trials he faced at the end of the previous book. In contrast, we find that Lysaer s’Ilessid is no longer at the top of his food chain, having opened himself to peril through his cursed obsessions.
The vile practice of necromancy takes center stage in this book, leading to some delightfully macabre scenes and descriptions that gently stretch the genre lines between fantasy and horror. Necromancy seems to come out of left field at first glance, but a closer inspection reveals carefully planted clues showing that it has always been a menacing undercurrent on the world of Athera – from simple vignettes in Grand Conspiracy all the way back to Asandir’s joke about “dark practice” at the top of Rockfell Peak in Curse of the Mistwraith.
The relationship between Arithon and Elaira moves forward in great bounds in spite of a pivotal scene that may leave you feeling icky (for good reason, of course!) I appreciate that this relationship is atypical for the genre – there is no codependency, no imbalance of power, and no contrived drama drawn from miscommunications or plot needs. The characters are fully-formed strong protagonists in their own right, with pure emotions and the recognition that they are even better together.
Of the well-rounded supporting characters, Sulfin Evend is given the most room to shine as the conflicted commander of Lysaer’s armies. Fionn Areth, having spent most of his life under the cloud of Koriani interference, is still a muddle of unresolved beliefs, no closer to finding his own identity. And of course, Davien the Betrayer steals every scene as a dangerous outcast who seems quite willing to stretch the self-imposed rules of his Fellowship brethren. The pivotal events in Traitor’s Knot surface the first serious cracks in the dynamics between Arithon and the Fellowship of Seven, and will influence everything we see in Story Arcs IV and V.
Traitor’s Knot is a sparked wildfire after the dense, crisis-heavy writing of Peril’s Gate. I recall reading the first chapter in 2005 and finding the writing so fresh that it almost felt like a different series. This change mirrors a “new” Arithon s’Ffalenn, who has risen above his strangling self-revulsion thanks to the trials he faced at the end of the previous book. In contrast, we find that Lysaer s’Ilessid is no longer at the top of his food chain, having opened himself to peril through his cursed obsessions.
The vile practice of necromancy takes center stage in this book, leading to some delightfully macabre scenes and descriptions that gently stretch the genre lines between fantasy and horror. Necromancy seems to come out of left field at first glance, but a closer inspection reveals carefully planted clues showing that it has always been a menacing undercurrent on the world of Athera – from simple vignettes in Grand Conspiracy all the way back to Asandir’s joke about “dark practice” at the top of Rockfell Peak in Curse of the Mistwraith.
The relationship between Arithon and Elaira moves forward in great bounds in spite of a pivotal scene that may leave you feeling icky (for good reason, of course!) I appreciate that this relationship is atypical for the genre – there is no codependency, no imbalance of power, and no contrived drama drawn from miscommunications or plot needs. The characters are fully-formed strong protagonists in their own right, with pure emotions and the recognition that they are even better together.
Of the well-rounded supporting characters, Sulfin Evend is given the most room to shine as the conflicted commander of Lysaer’s armies. Fionn Areth, having spent most of his life under the cloud of Koriani interference, is still a muddle of unresolved beliefs, no closer to finding his own identity. And of course, Davien the Betrayer steals every scene as a dangerous outcast who seems quite willing to stretch the self-imposed rules of his Fellowship brethren. The pivotal events in Traitor’s Knot surface the first serious cracks in the dynamics between Arithon and the Fellowship of Seven, and will influence everything we see in Story Arcs IV and V.
October 5, 2023
Continuing my love/hate relationship with this series.
Here, Arithon finally starts taking the initiative and he does it in ways that are both surprising and sometimes funny. That's great to see. It was also nice to get at least a little bit of depth to his half-brother/nemesis Liesayer. And Davien, the renegade sorcerer, remains an interesting character, as does Dakar.
Unfortunately, the book seems largely wrapped up in things that feel like side quests. The main thread of this book involves the threat posed by a group of necromancers, who might take over Liesayer's body and thus rule the Alliance. Imagine the horrors if this mass murderer, already the puppet of the Mistwraith, became the puppet of another group of mass murderers. As with the Korianth plot to bait Arithon out of hiding by putting the double they had created into jeopardy, I simply was not on board with the stakes or the motivation involved here.
Add to that that the climax of the book was
On top of that is my continued dislike of her writing style. There are just too many redundancies here ("flat-bottomed skiff" "reeked of scent"), combined with her persistent misuse of the "if, then" construction, her use of imagery that is literally impossible to imagine, and the abundant contradictions which largely stem from her insistence on using as many adjectives as possible, and as many unusual sentence constructions as she can contrive. I read review after review of people praising her beautiful writing, and she is certainly capable of it, but I mostly don't see that. There is more here that makes the book difficult to read simply for the sake either of showing off her writing, or perhaps just to make the book difficult.
Having said all that, there is an absolutely brilliant sequence in the book where a ship is nearly destroyed by small spirits called to it by a witch's sigil. So again, there is enough in this book to keep me going, though with every book there seems to be as much that makes me roll my eyes as there are passages that I find brilliant and truly enjoyable.
Here, Arithon finally starts taking the initiative and he does it in ways that are both surprising and sometimes funny. That's great to see. It was also nice to get at least a little bit of depth to his half-brother/nemesis Liesayer. And Davien, the renegade sorcerer, remains an interesting character, as does Dakar.
Unfortunately, the book seems largely wrapped up in things that feel like side quests. The main thread of this book involves the threat posed by a group of necromancers, who might take over Liesayer's body and thus rule the Alliance. Imagine the horrors if this mass murderer, already the puppet of the Mistwraith, became the puppet of another group of mass murderers. As with the Korianth plot to bait Arithon out of hiding by putting the double they had created into jeopardy, I simply was not on board with the stakes or the motivation involved here.
Add to that that the climax of the book was
On top of that is my continued dislike of her writing style. There are just too many redundancies here ("flat-bottomed skiff" "reeked of scent"), combined with her persistent misuse of the "if, then" construction, her use of imagery that is literally impossible to imagine, and the abundant contradictions which largely stem from her insistence on using as many adjectives as possible, and as many unusual sentence constructions as she can contrive. I read review after review of people praising her beautiful writing, and she is certainly capable of it, but I mostly don't see that. There is more here that makes the book difficult to read simply for the sake either of showing off her writing, or perhaps just to make the book difficult.
Having said all that, there is an absolutely brilliant sequence in the book where a ship is nearly destroyed by small spirits called to it by a witch's sigil. So again, there is enough in this book to keep me going, though with every book there seems to be as much that makes me roll my eyes as there are passages that I find brilliant and truly enjoyable.
May 29, 2024
I've had fun trying to figure out how the titles in this series connect to the tale--and each time I have been pleasantly surprised by the depth and levels involved. I read a review of this series that said each book, rather than expanding wider like many epics, instead deepens, opening up new layers of lore and world-building with each entry. I'm finding the experience quite fun, as off-hand comments books earlier come back around in greater import and questions that flitted across my mind temporarily months ago are revisted and further explained.
In addition to getting a lot more information on the world, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters more--Davien and the Brotherhood all get more scenes and reveals. Dakar continues to shine--especially in comparison with Fionn Areth, a mirror to his former self. We get a little more Elaira and a lot more of Arithon. Lysaer's portions are thankfully shorter--yet still present, and with some very welcome--and long-time coming--comeuppance. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Sulfin Everend--a nice balance bringing a bit of humanity back to Lysaer's scenes.
In addition to getting a lot more information on the world, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters more--Davien and the Brotherhood all get more scenes and reveals. Dakar continues to shine--especially in comparison with Fionn Areth, a mirror to his former self. We get a little more Elaira and a lot more of Arithon. Lysaer's portions are thankfully shorter--yet still present, and with some very welcome--and long-time coming--comeuppance. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Sulfin Everend--a nice balance bringing a bit of humanity back to Lysaer's scenes.
July 15, 2025
I originally read Wars of Light and Shadow as the books came out, back in the days when I would lug around half a tree at a time… at least up to book 6. When Traitor's Knot came out, I didn't read it. (Or maybe I started, but didn't finish it.) The problem was the lost plot. Not of the books, but of memory; that I could not remember the storylines from 10 years earlier.
Now, I complete this seventh volume completely fresh: no threads of half-remembered storyline. Just the words put down on the page, the tale spun anew. And… while the writing is still up to scratch, it feels slightly disjointed from the series to this point. The threat brought to the fore at the end of volume 6 takes centre stage; a side-step that felt like it might carry the weight of the rest of the series. Except, its purpose was other; a temporary aside to loop off another thread and accelerate the headlong rush towards final resolution.
Now, I complete this seventh volume completely fresh: no threads of half-remembered storyline. Just the words put down on the page, the tale spun anew. And… while the writing is still up to scratch, it feels slightly disjointed from the series to this point. The threat brought to the fore at the end of volume 6 takes centre stage; a side-step that felt like it might carry the weight of the rest of the series. Except, its purpose was other; a temporary aside to loop off another thread and accelerate the headlong rush towards final resolution.
December 1, 2024
Another excellent entry.
Traitor's Knot was another excellent entry after Peril's Gate, and these two are easily my favorites in the series so far. Traitor's Knot harkens back to events in Peril's Gate quite a lot, which can only go in its favor for me.
We get to see more of one of my new favorite characters in the series here, and that's hugely beneficial to this book.
The intrigue and mysterious machinations are superbly done in this entry.
The pacing is still plodding for my taste, particularly in my current mode, but the climax was masterfully done again, and I'm incredibly hyped having finished it.
An absolute must read, for if the climaxes in these last two books are microcosms of the series, Song of the Mysteries might be a certified banger.
Traitor's Knot was another excellent entry after Peril's Gate, and these two are easily my favorites in the series so far. Traitor's Knot harkens back to events in Peril's Gate quite a lot, which can only go in its favor for me.
We get to see more of one of my new favorite characters in the series here, and that's hugely beneficial to this book.
The intrigue and mysterious machinations are superbly done in this entry.
The pacing is still plodding for my taste, particularly in my current mode, but the climax was masterfully done again, and I'm incredibly hyped having finished it.
An absolute must read, for if the climaxes in these last two books are microcosms of the series, Song of the Mysteries might be a certified banger.
September 9, 2024
Another frustrating entry. Parts of this book are great, but like every book in this series so far, it’s padded out with boring shit and needlessly verbose prose. It’s like she’s writing to hit a word count. Gonna take yet another break before I read the next one. A part of me kind of wants to just drop the whole thing and move on, but I’ve come so far and there are only four books left, surely there has to be an actual worthy endgame to all this bloated nonsense? One can hope…
August 20, 2023
This is the 7th book in the series, and it really moved along. Some of the books take their time to set up storylines, and while always well-written, they are slow to get through. This one was fast-paced with a few bright spots for our hero along with the required setbacks. I really enjoyed seeing how Arithon's attitude and approach changed after his time in Kewar Tunnel.
December 22, 2023
Finally, things happen!
Unfortunately, some of those things are necromancer cultists, which came out of nowhere? I think that, eg, Cerebeld’s corruption being simply human nature would have been a far more interesting and worthwhile story to tell, but nope, it’s all the necromancer cultists’ fault!
Unfortunately, some of those things are necromancer cultists, which came out of nowhere? I think that, eg, Cerebeld’s corruption being simply human nature would have been a far more interesting and worthwhile story to tell, but nope, it’s all the necromancer cultists’ fault!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews