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Blood of the Southlands #1
The Sorcerers' Plague: Book One of Blood of the Southlands
David B. Coe enthralled readers and critics with his Winds of the Forelands, an epic fantasy full of political intrigue, complex characters, and magical conspiracy. Now he takes the hero of that series to new adventures across the sea on a journey to the Southlands.
Grinsa, who nearly single-handedly won the war of the Forelands, has been banished because he is a Weaver, a Qirsi who can wield many magics. He and his family seek only peace and a place to settle down. But even on the distant southern continent, they can’t escape the tension between his magical folk and the non-magical Eandi. Instead of peace, they find a war-ravaged land awash in racial tension and clan conflicts. Worse yet, his own people try to harness his great power and destroy his family.
Amid the high tension of clan rivalry comes a plague that preys on Qirsi power across the Southlands with deadly results. When the disease is linked to an itinerant woman peddling baskets, one old man takes it upon himself to find answers in the secrets of her veiled past.
With wonderfully creative magic, dark secrets, and engaging characters faced with a world of trouble, Coe deftly weaves an epic tapestry that launches a richly-entertaining new saga in an unknown land.
Grinsa, who nearly single-handedly won the war of the Forelands, has been banished because he is a Weaver, a Qirsi who can wield many magics. He and his family seek only peace and a place to settle down. But even on the distant southern continent, they can’t escape the tension between his magical folk and the non-magical Eandi. Instead of peace, they find a war-ravaged land awash in racial tension and clan conflicts. Worse yet, his own people try to harness his great power and destroy his family.
Amid the high tension of clan rivalry comes a plague that preys on Qirsi power across the Southlands with deadly results. When the disease is linked to an itinerant woman peddling baskets, one old man takes it upon himself to find answers in the secrets of her veiled past.
With wonderfully creative magic, dark secrets, and engaging characters faced with a world of trouble, Coe deftly weaves an epic tapestry that launches a richly-entertaining new saga in an unknown land.
496 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 10, 2007
4 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
About the author
David B. Coe
66 books260 followersDavid B. Coe is an author of fantasy novels and short stories. He lives with his wife, Nancy Berner, and their two daughters on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee.
He has begun writing a new historical fantasy series under the pen name D.B. Jackson. The first one is titled Thieftaker, published in 2012.
He has begun writing a new historical fantasy series under the pen name D.B. Jackson. The first one is titled Thieftaker, published in 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 15, 2018
I read about half the book, but never could really get into it. I might have liked this more if I'd read Grinsa and Cresenne's story before this since they were the only characters I thought were worth caring about. I don't know why since they didn't have much play time, but none of the others interested me at all.
The magic & the various beliefs in how to use it bored me & so did the mystery. It was a good one, but it just took forever to develop. The magic could have been OK too, but it never was developed. Too much to take on faith, no explanations or even much done with it.
After a week or so, I just wasn't interested in picking the book up again, so I'm done. It's a shame, because I really liked his Justice Fearson books.
The magic & the various beliefs in how to use it bored me & so did the mystery. It was a good one, but it just took forever to develop. The magic could have been OK too, but it never was developed. Too much to take on faith, no explanations or even much done with it.
After a week or so, I just wasn't interested in picking the book up again, so I'm done. It's a shame, because I really liked his Justice Fearson books.
March 16, 2020
I loved Coe’s Winds of the Forelands novels, so I was eager to read more set in that world. But alas I think I’m going to skip the rest of the books in the blood of the south lands. This was in my opinion no where near as good as his previous work. Tons of page time was given to characters who were ultimately meaningless to the plot. The writing felt very different to the writing in the Forelands novels. The complexity of the forelands was lost here as well, and instead replaced with extremely repetitive sequences of towns being poisoned. Of course I like Grinsa and Cressene, but they didn’t show up until over halfway through the book and their story in this was just not compelling or interesting at all.
June 5, 2015
Confession: I had no idea there was a 5-book series in the same world as The Sorcerer's Plague. Oops.
However, knowing that now, and knowing how easily I got into the book, it shows how well-written this book is. I wasn't lost; there was enough backstory that I knew the basics of Grinsa and Cresenne's history.
I like the magic system in the series. Qirsi, the magic-bearing race, use the general magic, and there are different branches of magic: speaking to animals, fire, wind, healing, earth, mind-bending, and probably some others. The other race, the Eandi, are magicless, except for a group called the Mettai, who have a blood magic -- they require their own blood, a handful of earth, and a spoken spell to work magic. Finally, there are the Y'Qatt, a Qirsi group who choose not to use their magic because they believe that the god didn't intend for them to use magic. Why? Because using magic (Qirsi magic, at least; it wasn't very clear if it's the same for Mettai) shortens the user's life.
This book is the story of Lici, an old woman with a grudge. She sets out from her village and starts spreading a horrible plague to the Y'Qatt. Besh, an old man from Lici's village, investigates her past and tries to understand where she's gone and why she's doing.
It's also the story of Grinsa and Cresenne, who have come to the Southlands from the Forelands after fighting a civil war there. We see the Southlands through their new eyes, the conflict between the Eandi and the Qirsi and the tensions that run through the Southlands.
Finally, it's the story of Jynna, a young Y'Qatt girl who survives a bout of Lici's plague and runs to a clan of Qirsi. She, and the other child survivors, begin the process of learning to be Qirsi who use magic rather than Y'Qatt who do not.
I can't think of anything in the book that I didn't like, or that bothered me. The magic system is solid, and the characters are believable and relatable, and the story is good.
This was a good start to a trilogy. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy, and possibly the 5-book series set in the Forelands.
However, knowing that now, and knowing how easily I got into the book, it shows how well-written this book is. I wasn't lost; there was enough backstory that I knew the basics of Grinsa and Cresenne's history.
I like the magic system in the series. Qirsi, the magic-bearing race, use the general magic, and there are different branches of magic: speaking to animals, fire, wind, healing, earth, mind-bending, and probably some others. The other race, the Eandi, are magicless, except for a group called the Mettai, who have a blood magic -- they require their own blood, a handful of earth, and a spoken spell to work magic. Finally, there are the Y'Qatt, a Qirsi group who choose not to use their magic because they believe that the god didn't intend for them to use magic. Why? Because using magic (Qirsi magic, at least; it wasn't very clear if it's the same for Mettai) shortens the user's life.
This book is the story of Lici, an old woman with a grudge. She sets out from her village and starts spreading a horrible plague to the Y'Qatt. Besh, an old man from Lici's village, investigates her past and tries to understand where she's gone and why she's doing.
It's also the story of Grinsa and Cresenne, who have come to the Southlands from the Forelands after fighting a civil war there. We see the Southlands through their new eyes, the conflict between the Eandi and the Qirsi and the tensions that run through the Southlands.
Finally, it's the story of Jynna, a young Y'Qatt girl who survives a bout of Lici's plague and runs to a clan of Qirsi. She, and the other child survivors, begin the process of learning to be Qirsi who use magic rather than Y'Qatt who do not.
I can't think of anything in the book that I didn't like, or that bothered me. The magic system is solid, and the characters are believable and relatable, and the story is good.
This was a good start to a trilogy. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy, and possibly the 5-book series set in the Forelands.
July 12, 2013
I had just read the Wind of the Forelands which is one of my all time new favorite series and saw these books. I didn't know what they were about other than they were set in the same world and that they were written by David B. Coe which was enough for me. I was very happy and surprised to learn that they were about one of the main characters in the Winds of the Forelands and his continuing journey along with his new wife and child. Mr. Coe does it again. We are once agin thrown into the middle of political intrigue, action, adventure and the racism between the two races that the main character thought he'd left behind in the Forelands only to find that old grudges and feuds exist centuries later in the heart of his people's homeland. Only now a horrible plague is affecting the Qirsi's magic, using it against them, killing all in it's path and the main Weaver must find out who and or what is causing it. Especially if he wants to leave the powerful tribe of Qirsi that has claimed him. If he succeeds he and his wife may go free, if not then he must submit to the Chief and marry another Weaver leaving his wife. He doesn't intend for that to happen no matter what and his nature demands that he help to stop this horrible plague. All in all another excellent book in an awesome new series with strong characters that are as real as they come. I love this world!
July 17, 2012
David B. Coe does this thing... where he brings in multiple, throw-away characters to assist in "furthering the plot". This drives me CRAZY! I don't want to read 10 pages about someone that I'll never hear from again in the next few hundred...
But I pushed through because, as with the series previous to this, the story was so interesting and the characters are so enthralling, you just have. to. know! what happens next. If it weren't for this one habit, the book probably would have gotten 4 stars.
But I pushed through because, as with the series previous to this, the story was so interesting and the characters are so enthralling, you just have. to. know! what happens next. If it weren't for this one habit, the book probably would have gotten 4 stars.
August 7, 2012
I've read previous series by David Coe and find him to be craftsman of fantasy fiction. His characters are well-drawn, his plots are well-conceived and he provies the right amount of description to help the reader see the story.
My only criticism of The Sorcerers' Plague is a naming convention which makes it impossible to determine a character's gender and almost impossible to rememember characters' names.
I'll be starting Book Two after a short break.
My only criticism of The Sorcerers' Plague is a naming convention which makes it impossible to determine a character's gender and almost impossible to rememember characters' names.
I'll be starting Book Two after a short break.
May 30, 2024
4.5 stars! I’m trying to read more books that don’t have that many reviews and this book did not disappoint. The world was very interesting, I really liked the magic system, the characters were a little archetypal (except for Besh, I really like him), but I really enjoyed that they were different ages than usually displayed in fantasy. .5 was removed because I felt like it could’ve been fleshed out a bit more in some places, but that’s what the rest of the books in the series are for.
December 16, 2020
Very satisfying.
(FYI:The back cover description spoils the whole book)
(FYI:The back cover description spoils the whole book)
January 3, 2026
Super fascinating world! Well worth the read, with a whole trilogy to invest in.
March 18, 2012
The story plods along with too much detail regarding daily tasks, and includes a supernumerary set of characters. The book brings back characters from an earlier series, Grinsa and his wife and child, but they are not necessary to the plot, as they do no interaction with the main line.
In addition, the entire portion of the story where the Fal'Borna meet, kidnap and enslave Grinsa is unnecessary at this point. Later, it may become necessary, but at this point it feels like filler. In other words, just adding more words to make the book longer.
I enjoyed the old man, Besh, and liked that he realized what a stubborn cuss he is being, but doesn't change inmmediately. I also liked his son-in-law, Sirj, who is likable, steady, dependable and very smart and capable. I hope to see more of him in the rest of the series, assuming that I decide to brave the wordiness and excessive frame shifts and read the remaining books.
I liked the theme though - mad old woman decides to retaliate for the crimes against the mad young girl. It definitely has potential but should have gone through a rewrite to get rid of the drek before publication.
In addition, the entire portion of the story where the Fal'Borna meet, kidnap and enslave Grinsa is unnecessary at this point. Later, it may become necessary, but at this point it feels like filler. In other words, just adding more words to make the book longer.
I enjoyed the old man, Besh, and liked that he realized what a stubborn cuss he is being, but doesn't change inmmediately. I also liked his son-in-law, Sirj, who is likable, steady, dependable and very smart and capable. I hope to see more of him in the rest of the series, assuming that I decide to brave the wordiness and excessive frame shifts and read the remaining books.
I liked the theme though - mad old woman decides to retaliate for the crimes against the mad young girl. It definitely has potential but should have gone through a rewrite to get rid of the drek before publication.
July 1, 2009
David B. Coe’s ‘The Sorceror’s Plague’ (Tor, $25.95, 393 pages) is a traditional fantasy, set on a different planet in a pre-industrial society with lots of magic going on. ‘The Sorceror’s Plague’ is the first of a trilogy, though if the pace of this book is any indication, he should have gone for a two-volume set. Like Robert Jordan, pages and pages go by with not much really happening. We hear, and see, the same things over and over again, and yet, by book’s end, the plot has barely advanced.
The setup is this: An old woman leaves her village to take revenge on a group of people she feels have wronged her. After a while, we know what she’s doing and how she does it – and then some people go after her. An emigrant from a different continent is involved, which allows for some exposition, but all in all, just not enough goes on.
In other words, don’t jump into this one until the whole trilogy comes out. Coe can still deliver a satisfying saga, but he’s got his work cut out for him if he wants to make it happen.
The setup is this: An old woman leaves her village to take revenge on a group of people she feels have wronged her. After a while, we know what she’s doing and how she does it – and then some people go after her. An emigrant from a different continent is involved, which allows for some exposition, but all in all, just not enough goes on.
In other words, don’t jump into this one until the whole trilogy comes out. Coe can still deliver a satisfying saga, but he’s got his work cut out for him if he wants to make it happen.
July 4, 2010
Having read, and enjoyed, David B. Coe's other two series, I had high hopes for this one as well. I wanted to learn about the Southlands I heard so much about. My complaint about the book/series so far, is one I know many people had with the Winds of the Forelands series: there are too many characters. Unlike in Winds of the Forelands, where the story started off with a few small groups of characters who eventually converged, I don't believe I will be seeing many of the characters in The Sorcerers' Plague again. I also wonder where the climax was? Although part of a series, each book in the Winds of the Forelands had an exposition, climax, and rising resolution to set up the next book. Here, I felt it was all exposition and conflict. While reading, I was engaged but now finished, I wonder why. I enjoyed learning about the new tribes and clans of the Southlands and I hope the story expands to the other sovereignties. Knowing Coe's writing, this series has potential, but as Coe often writes having potential and living up to it are very different things.
Want to read
September 13, 2010I'm having trouble getting into this book. I REALLY liked some of David B. Coe's other works, but this one is not pulling me into the characters and plot as well as his others. My main complaint thus far is that two of the first four chapters introduces some likable characters, then kills them and their entire towns off by the end of the chapter. It's quite a depressing introduction to a necessary part of the plot and could have been presented in a much different fashion that wouldn't have, at least for in part, caused me to wonder if I'd be skipping every other chapter for the rest of the book just so I wouldn't have to read about the old lady's introduction of her brutal plague to every town she visits. I'll continue this review if I can convince myself to finish the book.
July 31, 2015
After reading all the people on goodreads say they didn't like I was worried that it wouldn't be good. That was nothing like the case. I have to say Coe kinda reminds me a little of Terry Brooks, maybe not the writing style but I really enjoyed this book just like the Shannara series.
It is a continuation of the Forelands books but I found it really easy to follow along even though I hadn't read any of those books (I will when I get the time).
Really good book and can't wait to see what happens further.
It is a continuation of the Forelands books but I found it really easy to follow along even though I hadn't read any of those books (I will when I get the time).
Really good book and can't wait to see what happens further.
September 13, 2010
This book was fun to read and was jam packed with adventure and horror. The Author David B. Coe tells the story of an old metta women who decides to curse the quirsi villages to avenge her family after the quirsi refused to help her dying village because of her race when she was younger.
January 28, 2016
With the new series, I was forced to demote the continuing story of Grinsa Hal Arriet to "generic ok fantasy novel." I only read the first Southlands book, and have no intention of reading the others, as it seems unlikely the quality will rise to match Rules of Ascension.
December 22, 2007
Full review here:
http://fantasybookreviewer.blogspot.c...
http://fantasybookreviewer.blogspot.c...
January 11, 2008
Another excellent tale from David Coe. I really enjoyed the continuation and the world that David has created in the Southlands. I look forward to continuing the journey with Grinsa and friends.
March 12, 2008
Interesting, but a bit confusing at first because I haven't read any of the other books regarding this "world"
October 9, 2008
I can't seem to get enough of these Qirsi books even though I complain about them. Does this mean I'm a desperate reader? Or are they really better than I think they are?
June 26, 2008
Good read thus far. Doesn't move super fast, but I find the characters worthwhile and largely sympathetic. I like it, and am looking forward to volume 2.
August 25, 2008
I just started it. I don't realy like it yet
September 10, 2009
Not bad. Not great. It took me a few pages to really get into the story line. I think I liked the first series a little bit better, but it has only been one book.
September 29, 2009
Blah. Fairly enjoyable until Grinsa and Co show up. They are badly written and it's pretty apparent that there have already been stories told with these characters--stories that I haven't read.
May 15, 2017
Glad I made myself read this one, it's enjoyable, but not my favorite from Coe.
Read
June 2, 2012I enjoyed this book and the other two in this part of the series. I recommend reading the earlier Winds of the Forelands books if you really want to get a better understanding of the characters.
April 16, 2012
All I can say is that I found myself cheering for the villain more than anything else. Also, the attention to detail and normal life was quite complete and well written.
September 19, 2012
A good opener to a new series. The beginning third or so was quite repetitive and annoying, but after that hurdle it gets really good really fast especially when Grinsa returns to the tale :)
October 15, 2012
I love these characters in the Winds of the Forelands series but for some reason it is lacking in something... maybe complexity? I'm not sure, I just am not loving the characters like I did before.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews