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Wars of Light and Shadow #3
Warhost of Vastmark
Janny Wurts’s epic tale of two half-brothers cursed to life-long enmity reaches new heights in the third volume, now re-released with a striking new cover.
Tricked once more by his wily half-brother, Lysaer, Lord of Light, arrives at the tiny harbour town of Merior to find that Arithon’s ship yards have been abandoned and meticulously destroyed, and that the Master of Shadow has disappeared as if into thin air.
Meanwhile Arithon and the Mad Prophet Dakar are travelling on foot through the treacherous Kelhorn Mountains towards the Vastmark clans, there to raise further support for his cause. But raising a warhost is a costly business. Is it mere coincidence that Princess Talith – Lysaer’s beautiful, headstrong wife – is taken captive and held for a vast ransom by a master brigand?
The forces of light and shadow circle and feint, drawing ever closer to a huge conflict. And in the background the Fellowship of Seven Sorcerers and the Koriani Enchantresses watch and plan, and wait…
Tricked once more by his wily half-brother, Lysaer, Lord of Light, arrives at the tiny harbour town of Merior to find that Arithon’s ship yards have been abandoned and meticulously destroyed, and that the Master of Shadow has disappeared as if into thin air.
Meanwhile Arithon and the Mad Prophet Dakar are travelling on foot through the treacherous Kelhorn Mountains towards the Vastmark clans, there to raise further support for his cause. But raising a warhost is a costly business. Is it mere coincidence that Princess Talith – Lysaer’s beautiful, headstrong wife – is taken captive and held for a vast ransom by a master brigand?
The forces of light and shadow circle and feint, drawing ever closer to a huge conflict. And in the background the Fellowship of Seven Sorcerers and the Koriani Enchantresses watch and plan, and wait…
522 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1995
50 people are currently reading
2319 people want to read
About the author
Janny Wurts
102 books1,867 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
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August 31, 2021
The engulfing finale of the scenario unrolling in The Ships of Merior, Warhost of Vastmark offers frantic chases, layers of carefully planned subterfuge, ingenious bending of circumstances and counterploys, fateful auguries, bloody battles and the incredible, growing cast of well-rounded characters I’ve come to love in this series, whose wills closely intertwine with the strategies pursued by the Princes with unexpected results.
The Fellowship Sorcerers, in their quest to free Arithon and Lysaer from the geas that is lacerating them, learn new and dire details about the nature of Desh-thiere, and come to realize the unnatural fog that veiled the sky for five centuries was just a small part of the force still at large beyond the World Gates: a power too dreadful to provoke.
Meanwhile the Koriani enchantresses, engaged in their own quest for survival, strive to retrieve their long-lost Waystone, whose location has finally been revealed, and fully regain their role as humanity's wards.
Both wish for the subduing of any threat to their world with dramatically diverging motivations, while the complexity of adherence to their tenets, their personal ambitions, their sympathies -or lack thereof- and all the idiosyncrasies which make them human beings mingle and mold the course of events.
The lines are drawn: as if the setback in Minderl Bay never happened, Lysaer successfully applies his charisma and natural skill in “the art of fine statecraft” to win the commitment of his allies, in order to fight for the cause of ridding the world of Athera from the evils of the Master of Shadow. Arithon, burdened by yet another oath and still bounded to the mad prophet Dakar, turns his sight towards the ruthless mountains of Vastmark pursuing his own, mysterious plans with peerless efficiency and the help of a carefully tended intelligence network, all the while seeding “clear logic mayhem” in the warm seas of Shand by plying “the time-honoured trade of his family”.
Whereas Arithon fights his fate with full understanding of the curse that shackles his will and chooses to spurn dependency and ties, resolute in “private subterfuge and flight”, Lysaer's sense of justice, mercy and morality are wrenched awry and his “public cry to take arms for a misdirected justice” dangerously borders on a blind obsession that hears no reason. He has already proven himself a political mastermind of incredible finesse, able to deftly turn the results of his poor strategy and tactics to his own advantage; however, this time he’s ready, in honest resolve, to take the conflict to a whole new level of worldwide consequences and let nothing steer him away from righteousness due course and the greater good of Athera.
The luminous prince of the West and the reserved, lithe new Masterbard of Athera, in the thrall of their opposite desires, are inexorably dragging in their conflict the disparate factions of the towns and the old-blood clans, cultures long-locked in the “hatreds of entrenched feud” and ready to seize any opportunity to advance their cause; the people of Athera and even the most beloved friend or lover won’t come unscathed from crossing the path of the half-brothers’ Mistwraith-sanctioned confrontation. As the story unfolds, twists and turns, matters become even more entangled and the inevitable meeting on a battleground cannot be forestalled for much longer.
The pair Arithon-Dakar plays a central role, but there is a lot more insight on Lysaer, and as the reader accosts the depth of his self-blinded delusion, it is difficult not to wonder to what extent are both princes the victims of circumstances, or the shapers of their own fate. It was very interesting to discover the new developments of the story and characters in the light of actions, thoughts and mishaps encountered in the previous books; Warhost of Vastmark's promise of full delivery of the seeds sown in Merior is masterfully fulfilled, the story never disappoints or repeats itself, but converges and opens new threads of action.
The third book of this inspired epic fantasy series was everything I could ask for, gorgeously written, both action-packed and full of emotional impact on many levels, I can see it clearly how this and Merior are aptly part of the same story Arc; not lacking in funny humor or wry satire, either, particularly at Dakar’s expense, but also thanks to the hotblooded clanborn s’Brydions brothers.
The intricate world of Athera, full of political strife, mysteries, old traditions and new needs as well as its variety of impeccably described landscapes and the daily struggles of common people, feels authentic and realistic; interspersed with the action, I absolutely loved the level of introspection from both Lysaer and Arithon. The many point of views of the narration may lend a sympathetic angle toward the Master of Shadow, but to see through Dakar, the clansmen, and even Tharrick and Jinesse the scope of Arithon's torment and integrity, or to see through Diegan’s and Talith’s love and devotion the Lysaer behind the royal mantle was delightful.
The princes who first banished the Mistwraith and their friends are profoundly changed, and I have seamlessly started book 4, Fugitive Prince, to see how things are going to play out after the resolute climax of Vastmark.
The Fellowship Sorcerers, in their quest to free Arithon and Lysaer from the geas that is lacerating them, learn new and dire details about the nature of Desh-thiere, and come to realize the unnatural fog that veiled the sky for five centuries was just a small part of the force still at large beyond the World Gates: a power too dreadful to provoke.
Meanwhile the Koriani enchantresses, engaged in their own quest for survival, strive to retrieve their long-lost Waystone, whose location has finally been revealed, and fully regain their role as humanity's wards.
Both wish for the subduing of any threat to their world with dramatically diverging motivations, while the complexity of adherence to their tenets, their personal ambitions, their sympathies -or lack thereof- and all the idiosyncrasies which make them human beings mingle and mold the course of events.
The lines are drawn: as if the setback in Minderl Bay never happened, Lysaer successfully applies his charisma and natural skill in “the art of fine statecraft” to win the commitment of his allies, in order to fight for the cause of ridding the world of Athera from the evils of the Master of Shadow. Arithon, burdened by yet another oath and still bounded to the mad prophet Dakar, turns his sight towards the ruthless mountains of Vastmark pursuing his own, mysterious plans with peerless efficiency and the help of a carefully tended intelligence network, all the while seeding “clear logic mayhem” in the warm seas of Shand by plying “the time-honoured trade of his family”.
Whereas Arithon fights his fate with full understanding of the curse that shackles his will and chooses to spurn dependency and ties, resolute in “private subterfuge and flight”, Lysaer's sense of justice, mercy and morality are wrenched awry and his “public cry to take arms for a misdirected justice” dangerously borders on a blind obsession that hears no reason. He has already proven himself a political mastermind of incredible finesse, able to deftly turn the results of his poor strategy and tactics to his own advantage; however, this time he’s ready, in honest resolve, to take the conflict to a whole new level of worldwide consequences and let nothing steer him away from righteousness due course and the greater good of Athera.
The luminous prince of the West and the reserved, lithe new Masterbard of Athera, in the thrall of their opposite desires, are inexorably dragging in their conflict the disparate factions of the towns and the old-blood clans, cultures long-locked in the “hatreds of entrenched feud” and ready to seize any opportunity to advance their cause; the people of Athera and even the most beloved friend or lover won’t come unscathed from crossing the path of the half-brothers’ Mistwraith-sanctioned confrontation. As the story unfolds, twists and turns, matters become even more entangled and the inevitable meeting on a battleground cannot be forestalled for much longer.
The pair Arithon-Dakar plays a central role, but there is a lot more insight on Lysaer, and as the reader accosts the depth of his self-blinded delusion, it is difficult not to wonder to what extent are both princes the victims of circumstances, or the shapers of their own fate. It was very interesting to discover the new developments of the story and characters in the light of actions, thoughts and mishaps encountered in the previous books; Warhost of Vastmark's promise of full delivery of the seeds sown in Merior is masterfully fulfilled, the story never disappoints or repeats itself, but converges and opens new threads of action.
The third book of this inspired epic fantasy series was everything I could ask for, gorgeously written, both action-packed and full of emotional impact on many levels, I can see it clearly how this and Merior are aptly part of the same story Arc; not lacking in funny humor or wry satire, either, particularly at Dakar’s expense, but also thanks to the hotblooded clanborn s’Brydions brothers.
The intricate world of Athera, full of political strife, mysteries, old traditions and new needs as well as its variety of impeccably described landscapes and the daily struggles of common people, feels authentic and realistic; interspersed with the action, I absolutely loved the level of introspection from both Lysaer and Arithon. The many point of views of the narration may lend a sympathetic angle toward the Master of Shadow, but to see through Dakar, the clansmen, and even Tharrick and Jinesse the scope of Arithon's torment and integrity, or to see through Diegan’s and Talith’s love and devotion the Lysaer behind the royal mantle was delightful.
The princes who first banished the Mistwraith and their friends are profoundly changed, and I have seamlessly started book 4, Fugitive Prince, to see how things are going to play out after the resolute climax of Vastmark.
April 23, 2020
“Is winning and losing all you understand? Then I pity you.”
So, do you like it when an authorrams their favourite character in the book down your throat spoonfeeds you with the one protagonist you’re expected to cherish, love and admire?
Yeah. Me neither.
And this is the main problem I have so far with this series in general, and with the Warhost of Vastmark in particular.
Let me recap: we have two hapless brothers who, to large extent, remain puppets of circumstance exchanging blows and counterblows in a war of attrition under the influence of a geas. And because both have considerable magical powers and longevity, this conflict between them comes very close to the end of the world, if you can imagine a 500-year-long apocalypse.
From the very beginning we are informed that there are different stories told about these wars but that the tales are many and truth is one and that we’ll have to find it ourselves. We are given this truth by the author who does not even attempt to deny that:
a) both of the brothers were manoeuvred into their positions;
b) forces of light versus forces of the shadow does not equal good versus evil;
c) she cheers for the underdog.
And so as we accompany each of the half-siblings, we see that where Lysaer blunders blindly either willingly or just because, Arithon strives to fight the curse or at least minimise it by imposing an inhuman self-restrain on himself. But it is not only this, it is also about how we see both brothers. Arithon’s tale is a string of small kindnesses, individual encounters with the impoverished, marginalised, ignored. To the contrary, Lysaer happily builds his dominion on the merit of his ability to manipulate wealth and might. Arithon is somebody who will rescue every puppy along his way. May train it later to become a ruthless killer, but nonetheless. Lysaer, instead, wrecks the ancient ruins lest sentimentality hinders him from achieving his goal. For Arithon a pledge to a simple village woman is as important as an oath to the Fellowship Sorcerer. For him, there is no gradation of importance on the basis of social position. Lysaer is never bound by any commitments; he enslaves others to his cause not only using (or abusing them) but basically divesting them of their own human dignity and agency which I find particularly repulsive. To use a pawn in a power play, this I can understand as an inherent element of this game. This is something Arithon does. While it is not laudable, I can accept the rationale behind.
But to carry on the “war of hearts and minds” the way Lysaer does, that, to my mind, falls into the steps of those dictators who while appearing as benevolent fathers, required not only obedience but also undying love from their subjects.
Consistently, we have been told that “all that is gold does not glitter” and that “a light from shadows shall spring”. There is minimal to none nuance regarding both brothers. This is truly disappointing.
Here, finally forced to somehow make things more complicated for the reader, what does Janny Wurts do to mar her Mr Perfect? Oh, he is snappish and a little bit moody. Also introvert and sarcastic. (It seems that I, during my PMS, am a perfect antagonist material). When he opts for questionable means we are much too invested in his end (and the end never waivers!) to ignore how he’s been pushed along the way that left him no other option at all.
So instead of belittling him, she makes him even more appealing in his audacity (I so cheered for his daring scheme aimed at securing necessary funds!), whereas Lysaer remains a pompous prick, not only unable but not even trying to transcend his own limitations regardless of who invites him to do so either by words of reason or by invoking feelings or the mystical plane of reference: to the contrary he willingly feeds his of delusions of grandeur.
Forgive me this long diatribe but I wanted you to understand what has dominated my reading experience of this otherwise quite splendid novel and series. Other characters grow throughout the story and have enough complexity to make me change my mind about them (well, yes Dakar, I admit) or mourn for them when they die. We traverse forbidding wyvern-infested ranges, learn more about the Desh-thiere (I loved the trans-humanist vibes), weigh personal dreams against the universal needs along the political and cultural lines of the continent that culminate in bloody clashes that are superbly written.
And because the book managed to surprise me with small details, I am continuing the series hoping that the Author’s finesse will also manage to deliver a grand-scale flip that will leave me not only speechless but also humbled.
1. The Curse of the Mistwraith ★★★★☆
2. The Ships of Merior ★★★★☆
4. Fugitive Prince
5. Grand Conspiracy RTC
6. Peril's Gate RTC
7. Traitor's Knot RTC
8. Stormed Fortress RTC
9. Initiate's Trials RTC
10. Destiny's Conflict RTC
So, do you like it when an author
Yeah. Me neither.
And this is the main problem I have so far with this series in general, and with the Warhost of Vastmark in particular.
Let me recap: we have two hapless brothers who, to large extent, remain puppets of circumstance exchanging blows and counterblows in a war of attrition under the influence of a geas. And because both have considerable magical powers and longevity, this conflict between them comes very close to the end of the world, if you can imagine a 500-year-long apocalypse.
From the very beginning we are informed that there are different stories told about these wars but that the tales are many and truth is one and that we’ll have to find it ourselves. We are given this truth by the author who does not even attempt to deny that:
a) both of the brothers were manoeuvred into their positions;
b) forces of light versus forces of the shadow does not equal good versus evil;
c) she cheers for the underdog.
And so as we accompany each of the half-siblings, we see that where Lysaer blunders blindly either willingly or just because, Arithon strives to fight the curse or at least minimise it by imposing an inhuman self-restrain on himself. But it is not only this, it is also about how we see both brothers. Arithon’s tale is a string of small kindnesses, individual encounters with the impoverished, marginalised, ignored. To the contrary, Lysaer happily builds his dominion on the merit of his ability to manipulate wealth and might. Arithon is somebody who will rescue every puppy along his way. May train it later to become a ruthless killer, but nonetheless. Lysaer, instead, wrecks the ancient ruins lest sentimentality hinders him from achieving his goal. For Arithon a pledge to a simple village woman is as important as an oath to the Fellowship Sorcerer. For him, there is no gradation of importance on the basis of social position. Lysaer is never bound by any commitments; he enslaves others to his cause not only using (or abusing them) but basically divesting them of their own human dignity and agency which I find particularly repulsive. To use a pawn in a power play, this I can understand as an inherent element of this game. This is something Arithon does. While it is not laudable, I can accept the rationale behind.
But to carry on the “war of hearts and minds” the way Lysaer does, that, to my mind, falls into the steps of those dictators who while appearing as benevolent fathers, required not only obedience but also undying love from their subjects.
Consistently, we have been told that “all that is gold does not glitter” and that “a light from shadows shall spring”. There is minimal to none nuance regarding both brothers. This is truly disappointing.
Here, finally forced to somehow make things more complicated for the reader, what does Janny Wurts do to mar her Mr Perfect? Oh, he is snappish and a little bit moody. Also introvert and sarcastic. (It seems that I, during my PMS, am a perfect antagonist material). When he opts for questionable means we are much too invested in his end (and the end never waivers!) to ignore how he’s been pushed along the way that left him no other option at all.
So instead of belittling him, she makes him even more appealing in his audacity (I so cheered for his daring scheme aimed at securing necessary funds!), whereas Lysaer remains a pompous prick, not only unable but not even trying to transcend his own limitations regardless of who invites him to do so either by words of reason or by invoking feelings or the mystical plane of reference: to the contrary he willingly feeds his of delusions of grandeur.
Forgive me this long diatribe but I wanted you to understand what has dominated my reading experience of this otherwise quite splendid novel and series. Other characters grow throughout the story and have enough complexity to make me change my mind about them (well, yes Dakar, I admit) or mourn for them when they die. We traverse forbidding wyvern-infested ranges, learn more about the Desh-thiere (I loved the trans-humanist vibes), weigh personal dreams against the universal needs along the political and cultural lines of the continent that culminate in bloody clashes that are superbly written.
And because the book managed to surprise me with small details, I am continuing the series hoping that the Author’s finesse will also manage to deliver a grand-scale flip that will leave me not only speechless but also humbled.
1. The Curse of the Mistwraith ★★★★☆
2. The Ships of Merior ★★★★☆
4. Fugitive Prince
5. Grand Conspiracy RTC
6. Peril's Gate RTC
7. Traitor's Knot RTC
8. Stormed Fortress RTC
9. Initiate's Trials RTC
10. Destiny's Conflict RTC
May 10, 2018
*** 4.75 ***
Beautiful and heartbreaking! Hopefully, once I get back home I will be able to write a longer review, but I had to say just how much I love this series!!!
Beautiful and heartbreaking! Hopefully, once I get back home I will be able to write a longer review, but I had to say just how much I love this series!!!
September 28, 2013
Warhost of Vastmark is the third book in the Wars of Light and Shadow series, but it was originally intended as the second half of book two. Either way, with all of the set up that happened in The Ships of Merior, book two, Warhost was a blast to read from page one.
There will be spoilers from this point in the review on, but I'll try to keep them to the first two books.
Warhost starts right of the bat with one of the biggest mysteries from the last books. What happened to Kharadmon, one of the disembodied sorcerers of the Fellowship? His was the task to find out more about the mistwraith and bring back more information from the universe.
In each book, I keep thinking that the world and the story is already complicated and intricate and beautiful and unending, and yet each book expands the world and story in unimaginable ways. This book was filled with tiny bits of information that I had to reread a couple times just to stop my head from spinning. This world is so well though-out, so amazingly intricate, and yet I'm still missing so many things and learning plenty more. I just have to stand back in awe at what an amazing talent Wurts is.
Warhost also continues the story of Arithon, the fugitive prince of Rathain, and Dakar, the Mad Prophet. Dakar is attached to Arithon whether he likes it or not, and he definitely does not. Their relationship continues to grow in new and profound ways and I'll stop there because it's such a subtle relationship that I don't want to spoil.
Arithon is still running away from his half-brother, Lysaer, who insists on tracking him throughout the continent. Lysayer continues to convince everyone around him that it's necessary to expend so many troops and moneys on hunting Arithon because ... because he has to!
Lysaer's a brilliant character in both his motivations and how he is drawn. You want to root against him, but he's so compelling and you know it's not his fault. He will stop at nothing to see his half-brother stopped and you will see what that phrase actually means in this book. The body count is probably the most I've ever read in any fantasy book.
And yet that's not at all the intent of Arithon. Arithon is the scapegoat for every catastrophe, but he is the most compassionate character you will ever read. I've spoken of this before, but it is demonstrated even moreso in Warhost how Arithon will do anything he can to prevent war. I have never seen a character do this much to stop it in all my years reading fantasy. Usually, characters drag their feet going to war or fight knowing it is wrong, but Arithon goes out of his way to stop it and it is the most captivating reading experience I have had.
The characters that Wurts writes are second to none. They will have you crying one moment and cheering the next. They're so powerful and set in the backdrop that is the world of Athera (and all the other worlds), this is a series not to be missed. It only gets better and that really doesn't compute because how do you get better from absolutely stunning?
5 out of 5 Stars (epic fantasy with emotion)
The Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts
Arc I
1) The Curse of the Mistwraith (review)
Arc II: The Ships of Merior
2) The Ships of Merior (review)
3) The Warhost of Vastmark (We're here man)
Arc III: Alliance of Light
4) Fugitive Prince
5) Grand Conspiracy
6) Peril's Gate
7) Traitor's Knot
8) Stormed Fortress
Arc IV: Sword of the Canon
9) Initiate's Trial
10) Destiny's Conflict (forthcoming)
Arc V
11) Song of the Mysteries (forthcoming)
There will be spoilers from this point in the review on, but I'll try to keep them to the first two books.
Warhost starts right of the bat with one of the biggest mysteries from the last books. What happened to Kharadmon, one of the disembodied sorcerers of the Fellowship? His was the task to find out more about the mistwraith and bring back more information from the universe.
In each book, I keep thinking that the world and the story is already complicated and intricate and beautiful and unending, and yet each book expands the world and story in unimaginable ways. This book was filled with tiny bits of information that I had to reread a couple times just to stop my head from spinning. This world is so well though-out, so amazingly intricate, and yet I'm still missing so many things and learning plenty more. I just have to stand back in awe at what an amazing talent Wurts is.
Warhost also continues the story of Arithon, the fugitive prince of Rathain, and Dakar, the Mad Prophet. Dakar is attached to Arithon whether he likes it or not, and he definitely does not. Their relationship continues to grow in new and profound ways and I'll stop there because it's such a subtle relationship that I don't want to spoil.
Arithon is still running away from his half-brother, Lysaer, who insists on tracking him throughout the continent. Lysayer continues to convince everyone around him that it's necessary to expend so many troops and moneys on hunting Arithon because ... because he has to!
Lysaer's a brilliant character in both his motivations and how he is drawn. You want to root against him, but he's so compelling and you know it's not his fault. He will stop at nothing to see his half-brother stopped and you will see what that phrase actually means in this book. The body count is probably the most I've ever read in any fantasy book.
And yet that's not at all the intent of Arithon. Arithon is the scapegoat for every catastrophe, but he is the most compassionate character you will ever read. I've spoken of this before, but it is demonstrated even moreso in Warhost how Arithon will do anything he can to prevent war. I have never seen a character do this much to stop it in all my years reading fantasy. Usually, characters drag their feet going to war or fight knowing it is wrong, but Arithon goes out of his way to stop it and it is the most captivating reading experience I have had.
The characters that Wurts writes are second to none. They will have you crying one moment and cheering the next. They're so powerful and set in the backdrop that is the world of Athera (and all the other worlds), this is a series not to be missed. It only gets better and that really doesn't compute because how do you get better from absolutely stunning?
5 out of 5 Stars (epic fantasy with emotion)
The Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts
Arc I
1) The Curse of the Mistwraith (review)
Arc II: The Ships of Merior
2) The Ships of Merior (review)
3) The Warhost of Vastmark (We're here man)
Arc III: Alliance of Light
4) Fugitive Prince
5) Grand Conspiracy
6) Peril's Gate
7) Traitor's Knot
8) Stormed Fortress
Arc IV: Sword of the Canon
9) Initiate's Trial
10) Destiny's Conflict (forthcoming)
Arc V
11) Song of the Mysteries (forthcoming)
May 16, 2018
What a wonderful and heartbreaking conclusion to this arc in the Wars of Light & Shadow series. Parts of it broke my heart, parts of it made me chuckle, and parts of it made me yell at my Kindle.
We learn a lot more about the world of Athera and our protagonists. I don't want to spoil anyone and will refrain from mentioning plot. Just know the world building is intricate, the various factions and magic systems intriguing and well developed. The characters are complex from the very beginning but get to grow throughout the story and the prose is beautiful.
If you're at all into high fantasy, please consider this series and bring all the patience you've got because these books deserve an attentive reader who appreciates the complexity. You won't be disappointed.
We learn a lot more about the world of Athera and our protagonists. I don't want to spoil anyone and will refrain from mentioning plot. Just know the world building is intricate, the various factions and magic systems intriguing and well developed. The characters are complex from the very beginning but get to grow throughout the story and the prose is beautiful.
If you're at all into high fantasy, please consider this series and bring all the patience you've got because these books deserve an attentive reader who appreciates the complexity. You won't be disappointed.
June 27, 2018
How can I do proper justice to the book that made me fall head over heels for this series, when I'm bad with words?
It's impossible! So I'm not even gonna try. I'll use the tip I got from one of my friends instead and tell you all, what this book made me feel while reading.
Chapter 1
BANG! From the very start. I'm on the edge of my seat.
Whoa! Watch out! Please, please, please be ok!
And OMG!!! What have they done to that poor man! What humans are capable off!!!
Chapter 2
This sucks! Humans are so fickle! And it makes me so sad!
Chapter 3
How can I laugh so hard one instant and then cry the next?!
My heart is breaking for one and my patience's sorely tested by the other.
Chapter 4
You've got to be kidding me!!!
I'm laughing so hard right now that my belly aches. I sure as hell didn't see that coming!!!
Chapter 5
Why do we always need to lay the blame for our faults on the head of others? This is making me so sad!
Chapter 6
I don't remember ever reading another book that made me feel so much and change moods so often and so sudden.
I'm laughing again and the next instant I'm left gutted!!!
And that man!! Gah! Will someone please help him find his right mind?!
Chapter 7
Don't plan on being happy today. Right now I'm numb.
This was so horrifying!!! So many dead and such a slaughter! Where the hell was the point to all that?!
btw. - I may also feel the wild urge to rip a certain guy's head off. This book does bring out the worst in me. :D
Chapter 8
I think there may be something wrong with me!!
Because this is a slaughter! A horrible massacre with thousands of wounded and dying! And I ended up laughing! LAUGHING for crying out loud! Because that tactic was so...
Damn! I've never read anything like this till now. This is some amazing writing!
Chapter 9
Phew! That was so close! I just about thought... Well, never mind.
Now do you see why!? I cannot help it!I'm officially head over heels in love with this series!
It's impossible! So I'm not even gonna try. I'll use the tip I got from one of my friends instead and tell you all, what this book made me feel while reading.
Chapter 1
BANG! From the very start. I'm on the edge of my seat.
Whoa! Watch out! Please, please, please be ok!
And OMG!!! What have they done to that poor man! What humans are capable off!!!
Chapter 2
This sucks! Humans are so fickle! And it makes me so sad!
Chapter 3
How can I laugh so hard one instant and then cry the next?!
My heart is breaking for one and my patience's sorely tested by the other.
Chapter 4
You've got to be kidding me!!!
I'm laughing so hard right now that my belly aches. I sure as hell didn't see that coming!!!
Chapter 5
Why do we always need to lay the blame for our faults on the head of others? This is making me so sad!
Chapter 6
I don't remember ever reading another book that made me feel so much and change moods so often and so sudden.
I'm laughing again and the next instant I'm left gutted!!!
And that man!! Gah! Will someone please help him find his right mind?!
Chapter 7
Don't plan on being happy today. Right now I'm numb.
This was so horrifying!!! So many dead and such a slaughter! Where the hell was the point to all that?!
btw. - I may also feel the wild urge to rip a certain guy's head off. This book does bring out the worst in me. :D
Chapter 8
I think there may be something wrong with me!!
Because this is a slaughter! A horrible massacre with thousands of wounded and dying! And I ended up laughing! LAUGHING for crying out loud! Because that tactic was so...
Damn! I've never read anything like this till now. This is some amazing writing!
Chapter 9
Phew! That was so close! I just about thought... Well, never mind.
Now do you see why!? I cannot help it!I'm officially head over heels in love with this series!
July 9, 2024
This one gets 4-stars.
Arithon is still the character that I am most invested in but I am now warming to The Mad Prophet as well.
I don't know when I will be returning to the series but I have all the books on my shelves so it will happen at some point.
If you like long series then this will likely be right up your street, and in my opinion it is better written than most other lengthy series.
Happy reading.
Arithon is still the character that I am most invested in but I am now warming to The Mad Prophet as well.
I don't know when I will be returning to the series but I have all the books on my shelves so it will happen at some point.
If you like long series then this will likely be right up your street, and in my opinion it is better written than most other lengthy series.
Happy reading.
August 19, 2022
Always the most difficult but enjoyable of books to review, as they are some of the most challenging but glorious books to read, here is my review of the next novel (third) in the iconic "Wars of Light and Shadow" series by the incomparable Janny Wurts, "Warhost of Vastmark".
The book picks up immediately following what transpired in "Ships of Merior". With the Korani enchantresses, emboldened by the discovery of a long-lost talisman of their power, and their rival Fellowship Sorcerers trying to steer the two Princes from destruction, the magical influences in the background continue their behind-the-scenes struggle for influence and domination.
Caught in the middle are Princes Lysaer and Arithon, the half-brothers, now sworn enemies, who are coping with the fallout of the events at Minderl Bay. Arithon is on the run, and Lysaer is still in dogged pursuit.
Despite experiencing horrible troop losses at the cunning hands of the so-called Master of Shadow, Arithon, Lysaer is determined to destroy his half-brother, and will not rest until he does. Pressed by Lysaer's persistence and ability to inspire loyalty and troops to risk everything in the Prince of the West's cause, Arithon takes to the unforgiving mountain range of Vastmark, to elude, or perhaps to entrap Lysaer's forces.
Arithon keeps his plans close to the vest, stymying even some of his closest allies. But the rash actions of Lysaer's wife will throw well-made plans into disarray, and potentially alter the course of the brother's conflict in unforeseen ways. The entire world is at stake, because should the brothers' considerable magical power ever clash completely head-on, everything on earth could be ripped apart.
Arithon and Lysaer, and their enduring enmity, are still of course what drives this story. But for me, this book really had some of the secondary players stand up and demand additional notice, more so than previous installments in the series.
Wurts' secondary characters have been amazing throughout the first two books, but for whatever reasons, in this book they absolutely came to the forefront for me. The three auxiliary characters that will leave a distinct, and unforgettable impression on the reader, I believe, in this book are the Dakar the Mad Prophet, Princess Talith, and Tharrick.
Dakar, the first, has become one of my all-time favourite characters in any fantasy series, rivalling Joe Abercrombie's Sand Dan Glokta. If you thought you knew Dakar, all I can say is, think again, after this book. He is incredibly well-drawn, and the pathos of his magic-bound despising of Arithon and love for Lysaer, and his glimmers of nobility through an otherwise detestable character will delightfully frustrate the reader. Moreover, he still provides much of the book's humour, though we spend most of our time laughing at him, rather than with him. But what happens to him in this book will have you completely broken for this otherwise unlikeable character, trust me.
Talith did not appear, at first, to be of great significance, but she certainly was a mover and shaker in this book. Outwardly, she appeared vain, manipulative, willful, spoiled, and a horrible decision maker, who did nothing save compromise her husband's position. The worst part was that she did this with the opposite intent. But by the end of the book we see some more depth to dispel perhaps initial impressions of her being a more vapid, pretty, impulsive liability to Lysaer, despite Lysaer's love for her.
Meanwhile the laconic Tharrick, and his softening wherever Jinesse is concerned, was heartfelt to watch. His suspicion of, yet grudging respect for Arithon, courage, and pragmatism was very realistic and well portrayed. He has earned my appreciation as a great fictional character.
The moral posturing of the Fellowship and the Korani, both believing they are on the side of the greater good, the same way Arithon and Lysaer do, seem incredibly devious, often misguided, and ultimately vulnerable to the individual agendas and human frailties of the specific magic wielders. Still, there is an effort to do good...but what KIND of good? The brothers seem to be as much pawns in the schemes of the two sorcery factions, as they are captive to the Mistwraith's malice. At times both sides appear benevolent, and at times extremely sinister. The truth is likely somewhere in between.
By this book, third in the series, it becomes evident that for all his intelligence, political savvy, charisma, and strong if not flawed sense of justice, Lysaer has not proven to be the equal of Arithon as a strategist. But you wonder if at some point Arithon's cunning won't be enough, because Lysaer is so dogged in his approach, he seems due for a big triumph.
It has also become evident to me, that despite their obvious differences, the two enemies share a lot in common. The half-brothers' opposing philosophies, at first glance appear diametrically at odds. And, as a result, Arithon (the "underdog") it would seem, has the "right" stance. The reader can be led to believe this, potentially, because things seem to be favouring Arithon at every turn, though with arguably greater cost to the psyche of Arithon than that of Lysaer.
But in the end, Lysaer's "win by any means necessary, which must unfortunately include bloodshed to prevent eve more bloodshed", versus Arithon's "avoid bloodshed as much as possible, but and win to prevent more bloodsheed, at all costs" seem identical, just phrased differently. Yet the mentalities of the brother's and their motivations feel very different, irrespective of the evil spell they are under, and even if the end goals end up sounding somewhat similar.
Wurts always strategically reminds the reader, however, that both half-brothers, of course, as still driven to hatred, bewitched by the inescapable curse of the Mistwraith. This curse affects their judgement, emotions, and every move they make, driving them to see one another as an antithesis. Both are tortured by their own morality, and both are more than willing to accept responsibility for their action, yet still find a way to blame the other for the ills of the world, and force them to make the decisions they make.
The parallels are fascinating, and make this series utterly compelling.
Some of the moments in this series continue to shock and disturb, as the human cost to both sides escalates, and those closest to the princes will not be spared. Wurts' ability to show both sides of the conflict and make us care about the opponents on both sides is nothing short of brilliant. The reader's heart will be broken a few times in this book, for characters one may not have even particularly liked. But the tragic circumstances of their passing, the futility and cost of war, will be prevalent in the reader's mind, when some important characters meet their fate.
Bloody, thrilling large-scale battles, betrayals, revenge, utter ruthlessness, political machinations, and unforgettable moments of quiet, philosophizing, and reflection, combined with lovely, moving passages make this book one that will stay with you long after its finished.
The world building is flawless. From grandiose courts, to humble countryside, rough terrains, the open waters, and more, the landscape and settings are meticulously described, but done so organically throughout the novel one will absorb them completely before you realize what's happened.
The various realms, clans, feudal allegiances, militaries, customs, histories, and intrigues are all part of a fully realized world, with a backstory dating back thousands of years. A stunning achievement. The spectre of magic creatures from the past continue to loom, monsters roam and ancient fantastic evil beasts threaten present characters.
Captivating magical confrontations, and subtle manipulations of the Fellowship and Korani, as we are treated to a taste of their powers, adds to the fascination the reader will feel with what is possible and what COULD be possible in the future. It is apparent only the surface is being scratched here in terms of the supernatural elements that might come to bear in this series.
It takes reading exactly one of her books to realize that you will have likely never read anything like Wurts' writing before. Her incredibly diverse vocabulary, with longer, flowing sentence structure, maximizing the meaning of every single word, is fabulously nuanced and complex. It is methodical, precise, and can be exacting on the reader.
It requires patience, perseverance, and investment. It is also absolutely, sumptuous, and beautiful. Wurts' ability to squeeze every last drop of poignancy and impact out of a sentence is, in my opinion, unparalleled. This is the kind of writing many writers would give anything to be able to emulate.
It is also not a style of writing that will be for everyone, but it is definitely for me. It is so rich and luxurious that after I finish one of her books I struggle to get into what I read next, because I go through withdrawal, missing Wurts' style.
"The spellbinder set his teeth and glared at rain-chiselled stone, that would endure through long ages, indifferent to the trails of mortal suffering. He measured himself in unprecedented cold logic, and understood, should he shy from the choice, the courage of a boy and a little girl's brown eye, beseeching, were going to haunt him forever. He bitterly dreaded to face their contempt in the dregs of every beer keg, to the ruin of his irresponsible pleasures."
Just marvellous.
It is rare that one can honestly say that with each book a series just gets better and better. That is assuredly the case with "The Wars of Light and Shadow". As I have noted previously, this series has easily become my favourite fantasy series of all time, and "Warhost of Vastmark" has only served to cement my enduring love for this epic saga. I am completely hooked, and I feel that for many a fantasy reader, if you give this phenomenal series, and this astounding writer a chance, you will be too.
Now three books in the series, I know that I have not comprehended everything in a series of such incredible depth and breadth, and that there is much more to be revealed as I draw a bit closer to the halfway point of "The Wars of Light and Shadow", but that's just fine.
To reiterate from my review of the previous book, "Ships of Merior", I am more determined than ever to focus on enjoying the ride, and being content to have all things revealed to me, in good time, rather than trying to solve all the mysteries at once.
I suggest if you read this book, to consider doing the same, to enhance the pleasure of your reading experience. Discard preconceived notions and expectations, and just love the read, because I will guess many assumptions about this series will be incorrect. Many of mine certainly have been, with all the unforeseen twists, turns, and surprises in the narrative.
There is more than enough outstanding prose, breathtaking worldbuilding, captivating themes, and masterclass storytelling and plot for me to be able to focus on the glory of the book itself, as opposed to the need to understand everything all at once.
Wurts is one of the most distinguished fantasy writers of her generation. When one mentions the iconic writers and series of all time, such as the Erikcson's and "Malazan", the Martin's and "A Song of Ice and Fire", the Jordan's and "Wheel of Time", we need to be mentioning Wurts and "Wars of Light and Shadow" in the same breath. While this does happen in many reading circles, I do not believe it happens nearly enough.
I already have the next book, "Fugitive Prince" on my shelf, and will be counting the days until I can re-immerse myself in the world of Light and Shadow.
The book picks up immediately following what transpired in "Ships of Merior". With the Korani enchantresses, emboldened by the discovery of a long-lost talisman of their power, and their rival Fellowship Sorcerers trying to steer the two Princes from destruction, the magical influences in the background continue their behind-the-scenes struggle for influence and domination.
Caught in the middle are Princes Lysaer and Arithon, the half-brothers, now sworn enemies, who are coping with the fallout of the events at Minderl Bay. Arithon is on the run, and Lysaer is still in dogged pursuit.
Despite experiencing horrible troop losses at the cunning hands of the so-called Master of Shadow, Arithon, Lysaer is determined to destroy his half-brother, and will not rest until he does. Pressed by Lysaer's persistence and ability to inspire loyalty and troops to risk everything in the Prince of the West's cause, Arithon takes to the unforgiving mountain range of Vastmark, to elude, or perhaps to entrap Lysaer's forces.
Arithon keeps his plans close to the vest, stymying even some of his closest allies. But the rash actions of Lysaer's wife will throw well-made plans into disarray, and potentially alter the course of the brother's conflict in unforeseen ways. The entire world is at stake, because should the brothers' considerable magical power ever clash completely head-on, everything on earth could be ripped apart.
Arithon and Lysaer, and their enduring enmity, are still of course what drives this story. But for me, this book really had some of the secondary players stand up and demand additional notice, more so than previous installments in the series.
Wurts' secondary characters have been amazing throughout the first two books, but for whatever reasons, in this book they absolutely came to the forefront for me. The three auxiliary characters that will leave a distinct, and unforgettable impression on the reader, I believe, in this book are the Dakar the Mad Prophet, Princess Talith, and Tharrick.
Dakar, the first, has become one of my all-time favourite characters in any fantasy series, rivalling Joe Abercrombie's Sand Dan Glokta. If you thought you knew Dakar, all I can say is, think again, after this book. He is incredibly well-drawn, and the pathos of his magic-bound despising of Arithon and love for Lysaer, and his glimmers of nobility through an otherwise detestable character will delightfully frustrate the reader. Moreover, he still provides much of the book's humour, though we spend most of our time laughing at him, rather than with him. But what happens to him in this book will have you completely broken for this otherwise unlikeable character, trust me.
Talith did not appear, at first, to be of great significance, but she certainly was a mover and shaker in this book. Outwardly, she appeared vain, manipulative, willful, spoiled, and a horrible decision maker, who did nothing save compromise her husband's position. The worst part was that she did this with the opposite intent. But by the end of the book we see some more depth to dispel perhaps initial impressions of her being a more vapid, pretty, impulsive liability to Lysaer, despite Lysaer's love for her.
Meanwhile the laconic Tharrick, and his softening wherever Jinesse is concerned, was heartfelt to watch. His suspicion of, yet grudging respect for Arithon, courage, and pragmatism was very realistic and well portrayed. He has earned my appreciation as a great fictional character.
The moral posturing of the Fellowship and the Korani, both believing they are on the side of the greater good, the same way Arithon and Lysaer do, seem incredibly devious, often misguided, and ultimately vulnerable to the individual agendas and human frailties of the specific magic wielders. Still, there is an effort to do good...but what KIND of good? The brothers seem to be as much pawns in the schemes of the two sorcery factions, as they are captive to the Mistwraith's malice. At times both sides appear benevolent, and at times extremely sinister. The truth is likely somewhere in between.
By this book, third in the series, it becomes evident that for all his intelligence, political savvy, charisma, and strong if not flawed sense of justice, Lysaer has not proven to be the equal of Arithon as a strategist. But you wonder if at some point Arithon's cunning won't be enough, because Lysaer is so dogged in his approach, he seems due for a big triumph.
It has also become evident to me, that despite their obvious differences, the two enemies share a lot in common. The half-brothers' opposing philosophies, at first glance appear diametrically at odds. And, as a result, Arithon (the "underdog") it would seem, has the "right" stance. The reader can be led to believe this, potentially, because things seem to be favouring Arithon at every turn, though with arguably greater cost to the psyche of Arithon than that of Lysaer.
But in the end, Lysaer's "win by any means necessary, which must unfortunately include bloodshed to prevent eve more bloodshed", versus Arithon's "avoid bloodshed as much as possible, but and win to prevent more bloodsheed, at all costs" seem identical, just phrased differently. Yet the mentalities of the brother's and their motivations feel very different, irrespective of the evil spell they are under, and even if the end goals end up sounding somewhat similar.
Wurts always strategically reminds the reader, however, that both half-brothers, of course, as still driven to hatred, bewitched by the inescapable curse of the Mistwraith. This curse affects their judgement, emotions, and every move they make, driving them to see one another as an antithesis. Both are tortured by their own morality, and both are more than willing to accept responsibility for their action, yet still find a way to blame the other for the ills of the world, and force them to make the decisions they make.
The parallels are fascinating, and make this series utterly compelling.
Some of the moments in this series continue to shock and disturb, as the human cost to both sides escalates, and those closest to the princes will not be spared. Wurts' ability to show both sides of the conflict and make us care about the opponents on both sides is nothing short of brilliant. The reader's heart will be broken a few times in this book, for characters one may not have even particularly liked. But the tragic circumstances of their passing, the futility and cost of war, will be prevalent in the reader's mind, when some important characters meet their fate.
Bloody, thrilling large-scale battles, betrayals, revenge, utter ruthlessness, political machinations, and unforgettable moments of quiet, philosophizing, and reflection, combined with lovely, moving passages make this book one that will stay with you long after its finished.
The world building is flawless. From grandiose courts, to humble countryside, rough terrains, the open waters, and more, the landscape and settings are meticulously described, but done so organically throughout the novel one will absorb them completely before you realize what's happened.
The various realms, clans, feudal allegiances, militaries, customs, histories, and intrigues are all part of a fully realized world, with a backstory dating back thousands of years. A stunning achievement. The spectre of magic creatures from the past continue to loom, monsters roam and ancient fantastic evil beasts threaten present characters.
Captivating magical confrontations, and subtle manipulations of the Fellowship and Korani, as we are treated to a taste of their powers, adds to the fascination the reader will feel with what is possible and what COULD be possible in the future. It is apparent only the surface is being scratched here in terms of the supernatural elements that might come to bear in this series.
It takes reading exactly one of her books to realize that you will have likely never read anything like Wurts' writing before. Her incredibly diverse vocabulary, with longer, flowing sentence structure, maximizing the meaning of every single word, is fabulously nuanced and complex. It is methodical, precise, and can be exacting on the reader.
It requires patience, perseverance, and investment. It is also absolutely, sumptuous, and beautiful. Wurts' ability to squeeze every last drop of poignancy and impact out of a sentence is, in my opinion, unparalleled. This is the kind of writing many writers would give anything to be able to emulate.
It is also not a style of writing that will be for everyone, but it is definitely for me. It is so rich and luxurious that after I finish one of her books I struggle to get into what I read next, because I go through withdrawal, missing Wurts' style.
"The spellbinder set his teeth and glared at rain-chiselled stone, that would endure through long ages, indifferent to the trails of mortal suffering. He measured himself in unprecedented cold logic, and understood, should he shy from the choice, the courage of a boy and a little girl's brown eye, beseeching, were going to haunt him forever. He bitterly dreaded to face their contempt in the dregs of every beer keg, to the ruin of his irresponsible pleasures."
Just marvellous.
It is rare that one can honestly say that with each book a series just gets better and better. That is assuredly the case with "The Wars of Light and Shadow". As I have noted previously, this series has easily become my favourite fantasy series of all time, and "Warhost of Vastmark" has only served to cement my enduring love for this epic saga. I am completely hooked, and I feel that for many a fantasy reader, if you give this phenomenal series, and this astounding writer a chance, you will be too.
Now three books in the series, I know that I have not comprehended everything in a series of such incredible depth and breadth, and that there is much more to be revealed as I draw a bit closer to the halfway point of "The Wars of Light and Shadow", but that's just fine.
To reiterate from my review of the previous book, "Ships of Merior", I am more determined than ever to focus on enjoying the ride, and being content to have all things revealed to me, in good time, rather than trying to solve all the mysteries at once.
I suggest if you read this book, to consider doing the same, to enhance the pleasure of your reading experience. Discard preconceived notions and expectations, and just love the read, because I will guess many assumptions about this series will be incorrect. Many of mine certainly have been, with all the unforeseen twists, turns, and surprises in the narrative.
There is more than enough outstanding prose, breathtaking worldbuilding, captivating themes, and masterclass storytelling and plot for me to be able to focus on the glory of the book itself, as opposed to the need to understand everything all at once.
Wurts is one of the most distinguished fantasy writers of her generation. When one mentions the iconic writers and series of all time, such as the Erikcson's and "Malazan", the Martin's and "A Song of Ice and Fire", the Jordan's and "Wheel of Time", we need to be mentioning Wurts and "Wars of Light and Shadow" in the same breath. While this does happen in many reading circles, I do not believe it happens nearly enough.
I already have the next book, "Fugitive Prince" on my shelf, and will be counting the days until I can re-immerse myself in the world of Light and Shadow.
May 7, 2025
If you want an author who can write character arcs as beautifully as Robin Hobb, may I introduce you to Janny Wurts.
Desh-thiere’s curse had bent Arithon to private subterfuge and flight, not as Lysaer, to raise a public cry to take arms for a misdirected justice.
However, the two enemy brothers may yet be needed as we learn of the looming threat of the wraiths cut off beyond South Gate.
Arithon’s compulsion by his birth line to compassion just causes so much heartache. For him and by him, yet he always acts for the least amount of pain for others.
‘I am master of nothing,’ he answered then on a queer, wrung note of exhaustion. ‘My own fate least of all.’
Threads of previous books are still being woven and enemies are turned reluctant ally, friend turned foe, hatred to understanding.
I do think Dakar the Mad Prophet’s grudge is so contrived based on his fleeting friendship with Lysaer of book one. His drunken self thought they were platonic soulmates and I have no idea how he got this sentiment or held onto it for so long.
Of course, his character arc was predictable, but I still enjoyed reading Janny’s handling of it.
Overall, a step up from book two.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Desh-thiere’s curse had bent Arithon to private subterfuge and flight, not as Lysaer, to raise a public cry to take arms for a misdirected justice.
However, the two enemy brothers may yet be needed as we learn of the looming threat of the wraiths cut off beyond South Gate.
Arithon’s compulsion by his birth line to compassion just causes so much heartache. For him and by him, yet he always acts for the least amount of pain for others.
‘I am master of nothing,’ he answered then on a queer, wrung note of exhaustion. ‘My own fate least of all.’
Threads of previous books are still being woven and enemies are turned reluctant ally, friend turned foe, hatred to understanding.
I do think Dakar the Mad Prophet’s grudge is so contrived based on his fleeting friendship with Lysaer of book one. His drunken self thought they were platonic soulmates and I have no idea how he got this sentiment or held onto it for so long.
Of course, his character arc was predictable, but I still enjoyed reading Janny’s handling of it.
Overall, a step up from book two.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
October 23, 2014
Another fantastic adventure in all meanings of the word. I love the subtle way the curse wends its way through circumstance & sorcery. Better yet is the way truth & justice are twisted about. Best of all, it's set to an epic fantasy.
As a hardback, The Ships of Merior is the book & it contains both the story in that paperback & this one. To any Wurts fan, that means the summit reached at the end of the first book is grand, but the one in this book is even better. Everything is drawn into such a fine weave that when the last few pages are finally read, there's an almost physical relief. Wow.
As a hardback, The Ships of Merior is the book & it contains both the story in that paperback & this one. To any Wurts fan, that means the summit reached at the end of the first book is grand, but the one in this book is even better. Everything is drawn into such a fine weave that when the last few pages are finally read, there's an almost physical relief. Wow.
June 25, 2025
This book is absolutely brilliant - both in what was accomplished in regards to character development, world building, intrigue AND the way in which it was written.
Even though the first two books in this series were also superb, somehow this author manages to keep raising the bar. I suspected from the start that WARHOST OF VASTMARK would be my favorite of the series so far and the book did nothing but prove me right with each chapter.
If you've read the first two books, then you'll be aware of the relationship of Dakar and Arithon, my top two favorite characters thus far. I won't go into spoilers, but I will say that I was moved to tears on several occasions reading about this pair.
I'm already experiencing a bit of sadness that I only have 8 books left in this series.
Even though the first two books in this series were also superb, somehow this author manages to keep raising the bar. I suspected from the start that WARHOST OF VASTMARK would be my favorite of the series so far and the book did nothing but prove me right with each chapter.
If you've read the first two books, then you'll be aware of the relationship of Dakar and Arithon, my top two favorite characters thus far. I won't go into spoilers, but I will say that I was moved to tears on several occasions reading about this pair.
I'm already experiencing a bit of sadness that I only have 8 books left in this series.
November 23, 2015
I thought my review of The Ships of Merior would be inadequate, but I feel even more that way now, after finishing the direct sequel. While the division between the two books was done in such a way that they individually satisfy, Warhost really brought the whole 1100 page sequence to a grand conclusion.
The two books together serve as Arc II of Janny's huge epic, The Wars of Light and Shadow. Originally intended as a single volume, the work was split into two. The division gives a reader a chance to pause between the books, though I for one found myself diving right into Warhost. What it did do was eliminate the trademark double climax of other Wurts novels, unless we put them back together and consider the two books with the climaxes at the end of each volume. As such, it works, delivering with a bang after lots of buildup.
I gave this one 5 stars while the first part I gave 4. I'm adding a star here because of the way it brings the whole of Arc II nicely together. Without spoiling anything, I will say that the end of Warhost of Vastmark satisfies. What's more, it sets the stage for Arc III and leaves at least this reader salivating for more of the world of Athera.
The two books together serve as Arc II of Janny's huge epic, The Wars of Light and Shadow. Originally intended as a single volume, the work was split into two. The division gives a reader a chance to pause between the books, though I for one found myself diving right into Warhost. What it did do was eliminate the trademark double climax of other Wurts novels, unless we put them back together and consider the two books with the climaxes at the end of each volume. As such, it works, delivering with a bang after lots of buildup.
I gave this one 5 stars while the first part I gave 4. I'm adding a star here because of the way it brings the whole of Arc II nicely together. Without spoiling anything, I will say that the end of Warhost of Vastmark satisfies. What's more, it sets the stage for Arc III and leaves at least this reader salivating for more of the world of Athera.
November 2, 2021
I'm glad that I read this again. The first time I had read it, I seemed to have looked at the major Vastmark scenes in a certain way. But now I saw things in a slightly changed way. Maybe my attention span or state of mind was different for each reading. Who knows? Truthfully, I like the perspective from this time around much better.
Lysaer is still in dire need of that slap upside his head. He seriously does. Or a good whooping. Anything to knock his silly, manipulative & vain self off his high horse. Twit.
Lysaer is still in dire need of that slap upside his head. He seriously does. Or a good whooping. Anything to knock his silly, manipulative & vain self off his high horse. Twit.
October 16, 2009
Warhost of Vastmark by Janny Wurts takes up directly where The Ships of Merior left off. The two books are definitely meant to be read back to back - together they comprise Arc 2 of the author's THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW series, and some editions actually combine both of them in one cover.
It's hard to give many details of the story without throwing in spoilers for The Ships of Merior, so I'll just say that the ongoing conflict between Arithon and Lysaer, which reached a seeming climax at the end of "Merior", actually balloons to even larger proportions and reaches a stunning high point at the end of the novel. The book contains a hilarious moment of hijinx (the "triple theft") that's so carefully set up and brilliantly executed you'll want to re-read the chapter. Some characters show some (to me at least) unexpected changes, and some previously minor characters develop into very fascinating pieces of the puzzle.
While the story progresses, we also learn more about the world of Athera, its past, and the various groups and factions that make this such a complex and intriguing fantasy universe. The odd side-effect of this slow revelation of world-building details is that you simply want to read and learn more, even as the picture gradually resolves and the story progresses. These novels all have a solid and very satisfying ending, but at the same time they definitely leave the reader hungry for more.
Janny Wurts' novels are generally complex and challenging, and as such they require the reader's full attention. I'm sure people looking for light reading might be turned off by their rich prose and long-term plotting. However, if you're willing to give them the time they deserve, I doubt you'll be disappointed. I've rated the previous two books in this series 5 stars, and astonishingly, Warhost of Vastmark is at least as good as The Curse of the Mistwraith and The Ships of Merior. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite epic fantasies.
(This review will also appear on fantasyliterature.com in the near future)
It's hard to give many details of the story without throwing in spoilers for The Ships of Merior, so I'll just say that the ongoing conflict between Arithon and Lysaer, which reached a seeming climax at the end of "Merior", actually balloons to even larger proportions and reaches a stunning high point at the end of the novel. The book contains a hilarious moment of hijinx (the "triple theft") that's so carefully set up and brilliantly executed you'll want to re-read the chapter. Some characters show some (to me at least) unexpected changes, and some previously minor characters develop into very fascinating pieces of the puzzle.
While the story progresses, we also learn more about the world of Athera, its past, and the various groups and factions that make this such a complex and intriguing fantasy universe. The odd side-effect of this slow revelation of world-building details is that you simply want to read and learn more, even as the picture gradually resolves and the story progresses. These novels all have a solid and very satisfying ending, but at the same time they definitely leave the reader hungry for more.
Janny Wurts' novels are generally complex and challenging, and as such they require the reader's full attention. I'm sure people looking for light reading might be turned off by their rich prose and long-term plotting. However, if you're willing to give them the time they deserve, I doubt you'll be disappointed. I've rated the previous two books in this series 5 stars, and astonishingly, Warhost of Vastmark is at least as good as The Curse of the Mistwraith and The Ships of Merior. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite epic fantasies.
(This review will also appear on fantasyliterature.com in the near future)
October 23, 2010
I remain totally blow away by this series. I know that's not helpful as any kind of review, but in truth they are something to experience for oneself and not something I can describe. Certainly not in this moment as I finish. If I can, I'll add something later, but I make no promises.
August 8, 2014
This book picks up right where Ships of Merior left off; in fact they were originally written as one book. Once again, I would give the book six stars if it were possible. In fact, as I look through the books I have given five stars before, I am tempted to rate some of them down to four.
After the burning of Lysaer's ships, the tension builds as he regroups and continues his attempts to kill/wage war on his half brother, who is trying with all his might to avoid fighting and death. Dakar continues to haunt Arithon's every move, in between bouts of drinking. Arithon takes Lysaer's wife Talith hostage in a brilliant coup and attempt to get financing for his inevitable battle. The accomplishment of this and the subsequent theft of the ransom, the raising of another ransom, Talith's escape from Arithon's clutches, his brilliant 'discovery' of her right where his men had left her, raises the tension and suspense.
Talith's time in the company of Arithon and the men who work for him begins to make her doubt the justice of her husband's fight against him. In the end, when she is returned, their marriage is never the same. She questions Lysaer, and he cannot live with the ambiguity of her thinking and never returns to her bed, poor dumb lout.
Meanwhile, Arithon and Dakar explore the mountains of Vastmark, a rugged and isolated community in the south of Athera and find two wounded children. Reread 1/23/13: This one moves me the most so far. The ratcheting up of tension is intense and the transformation of Dakar is incredibly moving.
Arithon tells Dakar they are going to have to weave a spell to heal the girl, and Dakar and Arithon have an experience similar to what Arithon and Elaira went through. While Dakar has a new view of events from Arithon's perspective, he doesn't trust his own senses. He has a vision that Arithon will be killed in the mountains.
Once again, the plotting is superb, the writing beautiful, the characters complex, intriguing, and multi-dimensional. Any attempts by me to summarize it are woefully simplified, and there are so many twists and turns and subtleties that I have left out.
The development of the relationship between Dakar and Arithon was the high point of this book for me. I was in tears at the end when Dakar sacrifices himself to save Arithon from the arrow meant for Arithon and sent by the Prime matriarch of the Koriani order. One of the dukes who sided with Lysaer begins to see through his charisma and announces that his campaign to kill Arithon is sacrificing thousands of men for what is, essentially, a personal vendetta. He decides to side with Arithon.
The ending is very satisfactory. Arithon is in a ship heading off to find some distant islands where he thinks the unicorns and centaurs may be living.
Reread 8/8/14. As enthralling as ever.
After the burning of Lysaer's ships, the tension builds as he regroups and continues his attempts to kill/wage war on his half brother, who is trying with all his might to avoid fighting and death. Dakar continues to haunt Arithon's every move, in between bouts of drinking. Arithon takes Lysaer's wife Talith hostage in a brilliant coup and attempt to get financing for his inevitable battle. The accomplishment of this and the subsequent theft of the ransom, the raising of another ransom, Talith's escape from Arithon's clutches, his brilliant 'discovery' of her right where his men had left her, raises the tension and suspense.
Talith's time in the company of Arithon and the men who work for him begins to make her doubt the justice of her husband's fight against him. In the end, when she is returned, their marriage is never the same. She questions Lysaer, and he cannot live with the ambiguity of her thinking and never returns to her bed, poor dumb lout.
Meanwhile, Arithon and Dakar explore the mountains of Vastmark, a rugged and isolated community in the south of Athera and find two wounded children. Reread 1/23/13: This one moves me the most so far. The ratcheting up of tension is intense and the transformation of Dakar is incredibly moving.
Arithon tells Dakar they are going to have to weave a spell to heal the girl, and Dakar and Arithon have an experience similar to what Arithon and Elaira went through. While Dakar has a new view of events from Arithon's perspective, he doesn't trust his own senses. He has a vision that Arithon will be killed in the mountains.
Once again, the plotting is superb, the writing beautiful, the characters complex, intriguing, and multi-dimensional. Any attempts by me to summarize it are woefully simplified, and there are so many twists and turns and subtleties that I have left out.
The development of the relationship between Dakar and Arithon was the high point of this book for me. I was in tears at the end when Dakar sacrifices himself to save Arithon from the arrow meant for Arithon and sent by the Prime matriarch of the Koriani order. One of the dukes who sided with Lysaer begins to see through his charisma and announces that his campaign to kill Arithon is sacrificing thousands of men for what is, essentially, a personal vendetta. He decides to side with Arithon.
The ending is very satisfactory. Arithon is in a ship heading off to find some distant islands where he thinks the unicorns and centaurs may be living.
Reread 8/8/14. As enthralling as ever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2024
Fantasy at the highest degree. A wordsmith who speaks to the soul, Janny is showing all the wannabe Tolkien men out there how fantasy is REALLY done. This book had me emotionally bereft, in fits of shock and awe, it made me laugh and it also confirmed my now favourite character relationship in all of fantasy.
This and Ships are one vast story with Dakar at the heart and soul of it. This man goes on a a journey! A journey of understanding and self reflection and it completely transforms his relationship with Arithon through the most heart wrenching moments.
New revelations abound as we learn more of the vast history of this world and the characters occupying it. The stage is set, events shifting and ready to move onto my favourite arc yet.
This and Ships are one vast story with Dakar at the heart and soul of it. This man goes on a a journey! A journey of understanding and self reflection and it completely transforms his relationship with Arithon through the most heart wrenching moments.
New revelations abound as we learn more of the vast history of this world and the characters occupying it. The stage is set, events shifting and ready to move onto my favourite arc yet.
July 25, 2022
Going to pause the series, probably won't continue. The writing is very good but the plot progression is incredibly slow. I am interested in Wurts' other books though at some point.
I didn't feel much connection with the characters. The overall plot is interesting but the majority of the page count does not focus on the plot points I am most interested in and the books have already tread similar ground for each book in the series so far.
Really wanted to like this but it didn't click for me enough to continue this huge series.
I didn't feel much connection with the characters. The overall plot is interesting but the majority of the page count does not focus on the plot points I am most interested in and the books have already tread similar ground for each book in the series so far.
Really wanted to like this but it didn't click for me enough to continue this huge series.
April 4, 2019
The depth and intricacy of the writing are amazing. Your emotional response will be off the charts at times-mad as hell at times and laughing out loud at others. Anyone who likes epic fantasy must try this series. This will make you think and rethink your personal moral and ethical stances on a large scale. I highly recommend this for anyone!
June 7, 2021
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
Prince Lysaer, having been made a fool on at Merior, is out for revenge against his half-brother and the shadow prince Arithon. Lysaer and his warhost of allies will have to travel through the mountains of Vastmark for his revenge while still being under the gaes of the Mistwraith. Arithon has plans of his own to stop the invading forces and not every encounter will end at the tip of a sword. The stage is set for the ultimate battle of wits, might, alliances, and betrayals. The investments you put into this series are starting to be paid back in spades with plenty more to come. I have been told this by Janny on several different occasions and I am going full speed ahead until the end. This will be a spoiler free review, but I will be speaking on certain scenes from the first two novels.
Let me state from the beginning that Ships of Merior (book 2) and Warhost of Vastmark were originally published as one complete novel, but eventually split in two at a great stopping point. It would be better for you as the reader to jump straight to Warhost upon the completion of Ships of Merior. It is almost impossible to discuss this series without going into spoilers as perceptions and theories you might have made when completing the first two works will be changed drastically by the end of this book. Characters both primary and secondary will shift their motives, desires, and will only grow on you throughout the story. Small details will come to the forefront in a big way while never feeling too overwhelming. The bigger scope of the Fellowship as well as the Koriani will come into focus and their presence will be felt on both sides of the conflict. I can’t speak enough about how much I enjoyed the writing of this series. Janny is a magician with the pen as the layers of this world are being woven together seamlessly and with the utmost care. You don’t come across works of this magnitude often but when you do, they are a sight to behold!
Character development is where Janny’s words really shine and Warhost is a prime example of this. Multiple times through the course of this novel, my emotions and theories about certain characters were tossed out the window with my heart on my sleeve. I won’t go into everyone, but I would like to talk about two characters who really jumped off the page. The first one is Talith, brother to commander Diegan and wife of Prince Lysaer. Talith was not a character that moved the needle in any direction when I first read about her, but by the end she will be a forever on my radar. This was not done in one big scene but slowly and methodically over the entire novel. The gears in my head will continue to turn until I revisit this world again. The other character I wish to discuss is Tharrick. Once a guard at the s’Brydon Armory, Tharrick was flogged and beaten by the s’Brydon brothers after Arithon set fire to the place killing seven people. Tharrick vowed revenge on the shadow prince and that is where his story begins in Warhost. Tharrick starts as a character driven by vengeance to one of the most complex and determined characters I have come across in a fantasy novel. There is so much more beneath the gruff exterior if you can just peel back the layers. No one will be able to guess his story arc and where he will end up but Janny will not steer you wrong.
Lysaer is driven by the compulsion of the Mistwraith to rid the world of magic influence and he is not afraid to accomplish his task with death and destruction. Arithon is driven by a desire to avoid bloodshed and to bring peace to the lands by other means. These two opposing forces will meet at center stage and it is interesting to see how some tactics may need to be changed before the end. You will experience some of the most shocking and emotionally driven moments in any fantasy book with this series. With seven books left on my plate to be all caught up with the War of Light and Shadow, I have a lot of catching up to do. With Janny as my guide, this will be a series for the ages and one I will revisit for ages to come!
Cheers!
Prince Lysaer, having been made a fool on at Merior, is out for revenge against his half-brother and the shadow prince Arithon. Lysaer and his warhost of allies will have to travel through the mountains of Vastmark for his revenge while still being under the gaes of the Mistwraith. Arithon has plans of his own to stop the invading forces and not every encounter will end at the tip of a sword. The stage is set for the ultimate battle of wits, might, alliances, and betrayals. The investments you put into this series are starting to be paid back in spades with plenty more to come. I have been told this by Janny on several different occasions and I am going full speed ahead until the end. This will be a spoiler free review, but I will be speaking on certain scenes from the first two novels.
Let me state from the beginning that Ships of Merior (book 2) and Warhost of Vastmark were originally published as one complete novel, but eventually split in two at a great stopping point. It would be better for you as the reader to jump straight to Warhost upon the completion of Ships of Merior. It is almost impossible to discuss this series without going into spoilers as perceptions and theories you might have made when completing the first two works will be changed drastically by the end of this book. Characters both primary and secondary will shift their motives, desires, and will only grow on you throughout the story. Small details will come to the forefront in a big way while never feeling too overwhelming. The bigger scope of the Fellowship as well as the Koriani will come into focus and their presence will be felt on both sides of the conflict. I can’t speak enough about how much I enjoyed the writing of this series. Janny is a magician with the pen as the layers of this world are being woven together seamlessly and with the utmost care. You don’t come across works of this magnitude often but when you do, they are a sight to behold!
Character development is where Janny’s words really shine and Warhost is a prime example of this. Multiple times through the course of this novel, my emotions and theories about certain characters were tossed out the window with my heart on my sleeve. I won’t go into everyone, but I would like to talk about two characters who really jumped off the page. The first one is Talith, brother to commander Diegan and wife of Prince Lysaer. Talith was not a character that moved the needle in any direction when I first read about her, but by the end she will be a forever on my radar. This was not done in one big scene but slowly and methodically over the entire novel. The gears in my head will continue to turn until I revisit this world again. The other character I wish to discuss is Tharrick. Once a guard at the s’Brydon Armory, Tharrick was flogged and beaten by the s’Brydon brothers after Arithon set fire to the place killing seven people. Tharrick vowed revenge on the shadow prince and that is where his story begins in Warhost. Tharrick starts as a character driven by vengeance to one of the most complex and determined characters I have come across in a fantasy novel. There is so much more beneath the gruff exterior if you can just peel back the layers. No one will be able to guess his story arc and where he will end up but Janny will not steer you wrong.
Lysaer is driven by the compulsion of the Mistwraith to rid the world of magic influence and he is not afraid to accomplish his task with death and destruction. Arithon is driven by a desire to avoid bloodshed and to bring peace to the lands by other means. These two opposing forces will meet at center stage and it is interesting to see how some tactics may need to be changed before the end. You will experience some of the most shocking and emotionally driven moments in any fantasy book with this series. With seven books left on my plate to be all caught up with the War of Light and Shadow, I have a lot of catching up to do. With Janny as my guide, this will be a series for the ages and one I will revisit for ages to come!
Cheers!
August 13, 2025
This is why I love big epic series, the character journeys. Getting a lot of time with characters to see them grow… or not, to see them make wise and foolish decisions and have to live (or die) with the consequences of their decisions.
Some of the plot lines felt a bit along the same lines as previous books, but the character additions and journeys we had from the growing cast and the deepening burdens placed on the whole cast really made it a worthwhile ride despite the similarities it had with the previous books.
Some of the plot lines felt a bit along the same lines as previous books, but the character additions and journeys we had from the growing cast and the deepening burdens placed on the whole cast really made it a worthwhile ride despite the similarities it had with the previous books.
July 11, 2025
Ya’ll are SLEEPING on this series! 🗣️
The third book in The Wars of Light in Shadow, Warhost of Vastmark might be my favorite yet. It’s meant to go hand in hand with book 2 and I can definitely see why as this concludes this arc neatly in set up for book 4.
One again, I am in awe of just how beautiful Janny’s writing is. Some people say it’s too dense and complex but I’ve been eating it up since I cracked open book 1. What Janny really wowed me with here though is the character work. Dakar was someone I was getting heavily annoyed with by the end of ships of Merior, and by the end of this I shed an actual TEAR for him. It calls to mind the masterful character arc of Malta in Realm of the Elderlings (if you know, you know). The themes in this book continue to dive deeper into good and evil, justice and compassion…this series is just so good. Magic, wizards, kingdoms and wars, magical races of centaurs and unicorns…what more do you want? ⚔️
The third book in The Wars of Light in Shadow, Warhost of Vastmark might be my favorite yet. It’s meant to go hand in hand with book 2 and I can definitely see why as this concludes this arc neatly in set up for book 4.
One again, I am in awe of just how beautiful Janny’s writing is. Some people say it’s too dense and complex but I’ve been eating it up since I cracked open book 1. What Janny really wowed me with here though is the character work. Dakar was someone I was getting heavily annoyed with by the end of ships of Merior, and by the end of this I shed an actual TEAR for him. It calls to mind the masterful character arc of Malta in Realm of the Elderlings (if you know, you know). The themes in this book continue to dive deeper into good and evil, justice and compassion…this series is just so good. Magic, wizards, kingdoms and wars, magical races of centaurs and unicorns…what more do you want? ⚔️
December 15, 2024
In this book, both Dakar and Lysaer are forced to confront the validity of their beliefs in Arithon’s malevolence. Dakar, gaining unrestricted access to Arithon’s mind, eventually acknowledges that his best friend (or so he thinks of him), Lysaer, is irredeemably corrupted by the Mistwraith and deluded about Arithon.
Lysaer becomes more steadfast in his delusion that Arithon poses an existential threat to the world.
whatever the cost in human lives. This time, Lysaer raises an army 40,000 strong, including s’Brydion brothers and their mercenaries, Etarrans and Jaelot men, to close in on Arithon in Vastmark. No prizes for guessing the outcome.
Meanwhile, the Fellowship has to deal with nine free mistwraiths who have followed Kharadmon back from his fact-finding expedition into outer space.
At this point, you wonder whether you are reading Scifi or Fantasy – a dystopian novel with added magic (or maybe just highly advanced science that no-one understands yet).
Moriel pits the Koriani sisterhood against Arithon, seeking his death – mainly because the Fellowship wants/needs him alive. Are their crystals, through which their power flows, some form of brain-interfacing machine?
This series is ultimately about how we (all of us!) are able to twist what we see and hear to support our already accepted beliefs. Contradictions are ignored or explained away – fake news, a devious enemy plan – or seen in another light, a justification for what we know to be true.
“Lysaer bound his following to love and devotion. He was the honed sword, the just light, and the high star to follow. Without the bedazzling example of his strength, like Lord Diegan, the company he gathered to his banner were as men lost. … A puzzle of subtlety set in absolute contrast, Arithon rejected dependency, spurned even his sanctioned claim to royal ties. He discouraged without mercy the weak spirits who sought to cling. The likes of Jinesse and Thar-rick found their need turned around in painful, brisk handling that left them whole and contained in themselves; and enemies found their hatreds used against them. … The spirit who followed the Shadow Master’s course in the end acted by informed choice, freely sharing loyalty and respect”
Lysaer becomes more steadfast in his delusion that Arithon poses an existential threat to the world.
“Misconstrued by the gift of the s’Ilessid royal line, which bound his relentless pursuit of justice, Tysan’s lost prince remained the sad puppet of circumstance. To the root of his conscience, he stayed righteously assured that he held to honourable principles. He believed his born cause was to hunt down and eliminate a confirmed minion of evil.”
whatever the cost in human lives. This time, Lysaer raises an army 40,000 strong, including s’Brydion brothers and their mercenaries, Etarrans and Jaelot men, to close in on Arithon in Vastmark. No prizes for guessing the outcome.
Meanwhile, the Fellowship has to deal with nine free mistwraiths who have followed Kharadmon back from his fact-finding expedition into outer space.
“As we guessed, Desh-thiere was created by frightened minds as a weapon of mass destruction. A faction on Marak built on the laws of physical science, then meddled in theories that came to unbalance the axis of prime life force. The intent was to interweave spirit with machine. These men desired to create the ultimate synergy between the human mind and a physical construct, and transcend the limits of the flesh. Well, their works went wrong. The ionized fields of mists that contained the captive spirits over time drifted their awareness out of self-alignment. The experiment turned on its creators.”
At this point, you wonder whether you are reading Scifi or Fantasy – a dystopian novel with added magic (or maybe just highly advanced science that no-one understands yet).
Moriel pits the Koriani sisterhood against Arithon, seeking his death – mainly because the Fellowship wants/needs him alive. Are their crystals, through which their power flows, some form of brain-interfacing machine?
This series is ultimately about how we (all of us!) are able to twist what we see and hear to support our already accepted beliefs. Contradictions are ignored or explained away – fake news, a devious enemy plan – or seen in another light, a justification for what we know to be true.
September 6, 2016
The Mistswraith's curse has taken hold of Prince Lysaer's inherited mistrusts and blinded him into the belief that his step-brother, Arithon the Master of Shadow, can be anything other than evil and must, at all costs, be exterminated. Lysaer's warhost relentlessly pursues Arithon and the clans to the craggy wastes of Vastmark. But Lysaer may soon learn the hard lesson that a wolf is most dangerous when cornered.
The Wars of Light and Shadow saga is one of the most original epic fantasies -- and uniquely written stories -- I've ever read. Janny Wurts is an amazing author who not only writes with an elegant prose that is easily identifiable as her very own, but her themes break new ground. At the heart of this story is a conflict of obsessions: Lysaer's unyielding dedication for justice and Arithon's unreserved compassion -- two ideals which should go hand-and-hand but, when put at fanatical odds, a world can be devastated.
If you've read the first two books, The Curse of the Mistwraith and Ships of Merior, I'm sure you're already hooked just like I am. Warhost of Vastmark will only further fuel your enthusiasm.
Since my own personal taste in fantasy usually leans toward darker and grittier stories (and probably because I've gotten a little cynical in my middle-age), I've become rather callous about the characters in most books I read. Cheers to Ms. Wurts! She has managed to stir up in me a compassion for fictional characters that I have not felt in quite some time.
The Wars of Light and Shadow saga is one of the most original epic fantasies -- and uniquely written stories -- I've ever read. Janny Wurts is an amazing author who not only writes with an elegant prose that is easily identifiable as her very own, but her themes break new ground. At the heart of this story is a conflict of obsessions: Lysaer's unyielding dedication for justice and Arithon's unreserved compassion -- two ideals which should go hand-and-hand but, when put at fanatical odds, a world can be devastated.
If you've read the first two books, The Curse of the Mistwraith and Ships of Merior, I'm sure you're already hooked just like I am. Warhost of Vastmark will only further fuel your enthusiasm.
Since my own personal taste in fantasy usually leans toward darker and grittier stories (and probably because I've gotten a little cynical in my middle-age), I've become rather callous about the characters in most books I read. Cheers to Ms. Wurts! She has managed to stir up in me a compassion for fictional characters that I have not felt in quite some time.
Read
February 2, 2016I'm on my first read-through of this series, and wow. Cannot believe I went so many years without discovering this masterwork of the epic fantasy genre. I just love the layers in these books. Character actions and motivations make sense on one level, and then you get new information that gives everything a deeper, more fascinating meaning. All the plot threads so carefully set up in Ships of Merior came together and paid off big time in this book, and it was just a wonderful experience. One thing that particularly impressed me was how skillfully Wurts handles character change and growth. If you enjoy intricate, richly detailed epic fantasy, you’ve got to give the Wars of Light and Shadow a try.
January 11, 2025
Warhost of Vastmark (Wars of Light & Shadow) sends the reader on an intriguing and epic journey and is a fantastic read. I am addicted to this authors work.
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.
July 13, 2022
The conclusion of this second arc is fantastic.
It cuts just as deep as it on my first read so many years ago and still brings as much joy.
The Wars of Light and Shadow series is a masterpiece.
It cuts just as deep as it on my first read so many years ago and still brings as much joy.
The Wars of Light and Shadow series is a masterpiece.
January 14, 2024
i think im just too ignorant for what this book is trying to get at
October 21, 2019
Favorite Scenes:
-Lysaer questions his sanity at the Ath's brotherhood. Knowing there was a chance at self awareness makes the rest of the book more painful. See also: doubling down
-Dakar being useful
-Dakar's sacrifice (these two words together next to each other. Dakar? Sacrifice? What world is this, I like Dakar now?)
-The twins breaking free, you go little ones!
-Arithon and Tallith's verbal sparring
-Tallith shorns her hair off for no goddamn reason, gg
-Lysaer convinces himself he must become a god to so everyone knows that Arithon is totally the Ultimate Evil. Seriously, the constant doubling down Lysaer does on his ideology is just insane (at the cost of all of his relationships). Watching Lysaer talk himself into this near the end of the book was really, really sad. Feels like there is really no hope for him anymore.
-Sethvir fools the Koriani into thinking they met the Centaur's ghost (for the lulz but also to save them)
-S'brydion defection
Oddly missing:
-WHERE IS ELAIRA???? MY GIRL.
Vastmark was a huge improvement over Merior, to me. The pacing was great. Conclusion was great. The characters are all growing more complex and interesting. On to Fugitive Prince!
-Lysaer questions his sanity at the Ath's brotherhood. Knowing there was a chance at self awareness makes the rest of the book more painful. See also: doubling down
-Dakar being useful
-Dakar's sacrifice (these two words together next to each other. Dakar? Sacrifice? What world is this, I like Dakar now?)
-The twins breaking free, you go little ones!
-Arithon and Tallith's verbal sparring
-Tallith shorns her hair off for no goddamn reason, gg
-Lysaer convinces himself he must become a god to so everyone knows that Arithon is totally the Ultimate Evil. Seriously, the constant doubling down Lysaer does on his ideology is just insane (at the cost of all of his relationships). Watching Lysaer talk himself into this near the end of the book was really, really sad. Feels like there is really no hope for him anymore.
-Sethvir fools the Koriani into thinking they met the Centaur's ghost (for the lulz but also to save them)
-S'brydion defection
Oddly missing:
-WHERE IS ELAIRA???? MY GIRL.
Vastmark was a huge improvement over Merior, to me. The pacing was great. Conclusion was great. The characters are all growing more complex and interesting. On to Fugitive Prince!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2025
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