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The Warlocks of Talverdin #3
Warden of Greyrock
Maurey, the half human, half Nightwalker Warden of Greyrock, and Annot, the dauntless Baroness of Oakhold, have settled down in Greyrock Castle, but those who still hate and fear the Nightwalkers threaten to destroy all they've worked for. While Maurey hunts for two outlaws who may guard an ancient secret, his liegeman Korby begins to uncover the truth about the cult of the Yehillon. Their enemies are always one step ahead of them though. Captured by the Yehillon and held as a hostage against Maurey, Annot struggles to survive and escape. A terrible choice lies before Maurey. If he abandons his defence of the border to save Annot, all Talverdin may fall as the Yehillon, led by their veiled prince, finally carry out a long-laid plan to wipe the warlocks from the face of the earth.
- GenresFantasy
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2009
About the author
K.V. Johansen
27 books143 followersMostly, I write secondary world fantasy about people on the edges, with shapeshifters, demons, gods, and occasionally dragons. These days, I largely write for adults, though I've written many children's and YA fantasy novels and some children's science fiction, as well as picture books, plus I've been known to perpetrate literary criticism. I also write as Kris Jamison -- a contemporary lit book, Love/Rock/Compost.
My main scholarly interests are ancient and medieval history and languages, and the history of children's fantasy literature. What else can I say? My life is unexciting. I'm acquiring more guitars as I get older; music is very important to me even though I'm no good at it. I'm also, occasionally, an artist.
Here on Goodreads, I'm only rating/reviewing books I've really liked a lot. Sometimes I rate with stars, sometimes I don't, but a book is only on my Goodreads shelves if I liked it. For serious critical analysis from me, you'll have to turn to Quests and Kingdoms or Beyond Window-Dressing.
My main scholarly interests are ancient and medieval history and languages, and the history of children's fantasy literature. What else can I say? My life is unexciting. I'm acquiring more guitars as I get older; music is very important to me even though I'm no good at it. I'm also, occasionally, an artist.
Here on Goodreads, I'm only rating/reviewing books I've really liked a lot. Sometimes I rate with stars, sometimes I don't, but a book is only on my Goodreads shelves if I liked it. For serious critical analysis from me, you'll have to turn to Quests and Kingdoms or Beyond Window-Dressing.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 29, 2009
Warden of Greyrock is the third book in the Nightwalkers of Talverdin series. The action picks up some short time after the end of Treason in Eswy. Maury has been installed as the warden of Greyrock – the tower that forms the guard space between the lands of the humans and of the Nightwalkers. Fitting, as he is the half human, half warlock relative of the royal families of each of land. Though in love with Annot, the couple have still not married, because he refuses to marry without the blessings of his Nightwalker queen aunt. This story takes place at a delicate period in the reconciliation of the two races. Maury is a hugely emblematic figure in the process of reconciliation, and finds that his political duties preclude his following his own desires in the matter of marriage.
As the story begins, Korby, the other main character of the books, a Fenlander and witch, is off spying amongst enemies of the crown, and finding himself following the trail of the Yehillon that was laid down in the previous book. The Yehillon, it seems, are a shadowy group of conspirators with a serious hatred for the nightwalkers. Maury is busy tracking two young witches who may play an important role in the future of the race and of the conflict. Annot is splitting her time between the Greyrock and her own lands, until she is kidnapped early in the book, and finds herself a captive of a Prince Alberich, who may be the greatest threat the nightwalkers will ever face.
After the kidnapping of Annot, Maury must balance his duties as protector of the nightwalkers, with his need to rescue Annot. The book alternates between being narrated by Maury, Korby, and Annot. We learn of Annot’s captivity and attempts to escape, and watch as Korby and Maury race to unravel the mystery of the Yehillon and to bring an end to the threat facing them individually and as a country.
The action is fast-paced, and continues the tradition of these books in giving us highly developed characters that jump off the page. The world is deeply imagined and seemingly very real, in all of its bloody, filthy, glory. The age-old hatreds and passions of the many characters carry a feeling of weightiness, and reading the story gives new insight into the effects, and the nonsensical nature, of prejudices and generational hatreds. The undercurrents of the story felt very timely, and bore resonances for the hatreds and xenophobias we are seeing cropping up in our own world. That, I think, sets this series apart amongst the huge crop of current speculative fiction for young people.
This entry into the series felt like it was written for a slightly older audience. Perhaps, like many series, the narrative has matured with the characters. It is an excellent trilogy, and there is room for more in the series, as there are still loose ends that could be tied up. I highly recommend for teens or for readers of all ages who enjoy medievalistic worlds, and thought-provoking fantasy.
As the story begins, Korby, the other main character of the books, a Fenlander and witch, is off spying amongst enemies of the crown, and finding himself following the trail of the Yehillon that was laid down in the previous book. The Yehillon, it seems, are a shadowy group of conspirators with a serious hatred for the nightwalkers. Maury is busy tracking two young witches who may play an important role in the future of the race and of the conflict. Annot is splitting her time between the Greyrock and her own lands, until she is kidnapped early in the book, and finds herself a captive of a Prince Alberich, who may be the greatest threat the nightwalkers will ever face.
After the kidnapping of Annot, Maury must balance his duties as protector of the nightwalkers, with his need to rescue Annot. The book alternates between being narrated by Maury, Korby, and Annot. We learn of Annot’s captivity and attempts to escape, and watch as Korby and Maury race to unravel the mystery of the Yehillon and to bring an end to the threat facing them individually and as a country.
The action is fast-paced, and continues the tradition of these books in giving us highly developed characters that jump off the page. The world is deeply imagined and seemingly very real, in all of its bloody, filthy, glory. The age-old hatreds and passions of the many characters carry a feeling of weightiness, and reading the story gives new insight into the effects, and the nonsensical nature, of prejudices and generational hatreds. The undercurrents of the story felt very timely, and bore resonances for the hatreds and xenophobias we are seeing cropping up in our own world. That, I think, sets this series apart amongst the huge crop of current speculative fiction for young people.
This entry into the series felt like it was written for a slightly older audience. Perhaps, like many series, the narrative has matured with the characters. It is an excellent trilogy, and there is room for more in the series, as there are still loose ends that could be tied up. I highly recommend for teens or for readers of all ages who enjoy medievalistic worlds, and thought-provoking fantasy.
August 11, 2011
The Warlocks of Talverdin, as a series, is a little uneven, not in writing style or level of interest, but in the narrative structure of the individual texts. Nightwalker (2007) and The Shadow Road (2010) stand alone quite effectively, but Treason in Eswy (2008) and Warden of Greyrock must be read as one longer narrative. Warden continues the search to discover the meaning of the Yehillon cult: its history, its impetus, its diabolical plans to annihilate all Nightwalkers from the world… and further. But that is in The Shadow Road.
The story opens with a flashback to a flashback initially given us in Treason in Eswy: the death of Robin and Fuallia’s grandfather near the Kanifglin Pass. This sets the stage for the continuation of the previous story, and the action then switches back to Korby’s activities as a spy on the mainland (remember? Treason also opened with Korby’s cloak-and-dagger search of a library on the mainland). The parallel is effective, returning us to the central plot that was rendered peripheral in Treason by the escape and eventual marriage of Eleanor of Eswy.
The most serious incident in Warden is the kidnapping of Annot, Baroness Oakhold, who is still not married to Maurey’lana, as his Queen and Aunt has not given her blessing, hoping that he will ultimately marry another Nightwalker and thus strengthen his hereditary ability as a Maker. In the chapters focused on Annot, Johansen slips from her usual first-person staggered narration. At first, I wondered at this, until reminded of what Annot experienced in her captivity. Annot is severely beaten in her abduction, and suffers significant, permanent, but not completely debilitating brain damage, but also awaking her latent witch-powers, related to those that manifest so strongly in her cousin Korby. For this reason—Annots lack of reason much of the time—her chapters are related in limited-omniscient third-person. This gives us the opportunity, too, of learning more of the thoughts and motivations of Katerina, erstwhile lady’s-maid to Eleanor, now wife of Alberick, the chosen lord of the Yehillon, sent in disgrace by her lord to serve the despised captive Annot.
The plot is complicated, yet woven carefully and concisely. Not strings are left untied in the end; no questions in the reader’s mind stand out strongly as unanswered. Which is not to say that there are no unanswered questions: only that we feel, at the end of the novel, that the issues of import at the moment, have been resolved. As at the end of Nightwalker, and moreso at the end of Treason in Eswy, the immediate resolved concerns leave the reader with only enough sense of closure to sustain until the next installment: the real history is still slowly, fascinatingly, being revealed.
I suggest that anyone reading this review, who appreciates The Warlocks of Talverdin even a quarter as much as I do, write to Orca Publishers (orca@orcabook.com, attention Sarah Harvey, Orca Young Readers, Juvenile & Teen Fiction Editor) and let them know how much we want to see that fifth—and sixth, and seventh—installment.
The story opens with a flashback to a flashback initially given us in Treason in Eswy: the death of Robin and Fuallia’s grandfather near the Kanifglin Pass. This sets the stage for the continuation of the previous story, and the action then switches back to Korby’s activities as a spy on the mainland (remember? Treason also opened with Korby’s cloak-and-dagger search of a library on the mainland). The parallel is effective, returning us to the central plot that was rendered peripheral in Treason by the escape and eventual marriage of Eleanor of Eswy.
The most serious incident in Warden is the kidnapping of Annot, Baroness Oakhold, who is still not married to Maurey’lana, as his Queen and Aunt has not given her blessing, hoping that he will ultimately marry another Nightwalker and thus strengthen his hereditary ability as a Maker. In the chapters focused on Annot, Johansen slips from her usual first-person staggered narration. At first, I wondered at this, until reminded of what Annot experienced in her captivity. Annot is severely beaten in her abduction, and suffers significant, permanent, but not completely debilitating brain damage, but also awaking her latent witch-powers, related to those that manifest so strongly in her cousin Korby. For this reason—Annots lack of reason much of the time—her chapters are related in limited-omniscient third-person. This gives us the opportunity, too, of learning more of the thoughts and motivations of Katerina, erstwhile lady’s-maid to Eleanor, now wife of Alberick, the chosen lord of the Yehillon, sent in disgrace by her lord to serve the despised captive Annot.
The plot is complicated, yet woven carefully and concisely. Not strings are left untied in the end; no questions in the reader’s mind stand out strongly as unanswered. Which is not to say that there are no unanswered questions: only that we feel, at the end of the novel, that the issues of import at the moment, have been resolved. As at the end of Nightwalker, and moreso at the end of Treason in Eswy, the immediate resolved concerns leave the reader with only enough sense of closure to sustain until the next installment: the real history is still slowly, fascinatingly, being revealed.
I suggest that anyone reading this review, who appreciates The Warlocks of Talverdin even a quarter as much as I do, write to Orca Publishers (orca@orcabook.com, attention Sarah Harvey, Orca Young Readers, Juvenile & Teen Fiction Editor) and let them know how much we want to see that fifth—and sixth, and seventh—installment.
July 30, 2009
Reviewed by Christina Tsichlis for TeensReadToo.com
WARDEN OF GREYROCK by K. V. Johansen is something of a gem. It is the third book in THE WARLOCKS OF TALVERDIN series, but even if you pick up the story in this novel, everything one needs to understand the world and the basic storyline is included in book three. Even so, it makes you want to pick up books one and two just to get the details that you're missing.
This book is written from three different perspectives, each chapter being in the perspective of one character. It is an interesting style of writing because each character who is speaking is so different.
One, Maurey, is a man who is effectively of two worlds. One, Korby, is a man who is a bit more of a rough and tumble sort of warrior and owes his allegiance to Maurey while still being the chief of his people. And the third, Annot, is the beloved of the first and the cousin of the second. Each voice is distinct, and in Annot's case, changes as circumstances change.
Maurey, the half-human and half-Nightwalker Warden of Greyrock, is the title character of the book and everything that happens and all of the characters involved are tied to him like the spokes on a wheel. He has chosen to settle down with Annot, the Baroness of Oakhold, in Greyrock Castle on the border between the Nightwalker and human kingdoms. The two races from which he was born are trusting him to guard their borders and their peace. However, there are still people plotting against them and the peace that has been created.
While Maurey is out hunting down a pair of sisters who hold ancient secrets, Korby begins to uncover the truth about the cult of Yehillon, and Annot becomes a captive of the Yehillon. Annot struggles to free herself while dealing with the fact that she thinks that she is going mad in her captivity. Maurey faces the fact that if he leaves Greyrock he may save his ladylove while leaving the Nightwalkers to be slaughtered by the veiled prince of the Yehillon. Korby has to find a way to save his cousin without being executed for treason for leading his people to war on her behalf, protect his lord, and help defeat the Yehillon.
All and all, they are in for an interesting journey - and the reader along with them.
WARDEN OF GREYROCK by K. V. Johansen is something of a gem. It is the third book in THE WARLOCKS OF TALVERDIN series, but even if you pick up the story in this novel, everything one needs to understand the world and the basic storyline is included in book three. Even so, it makes you want to pick up books one and two just to get the details that you're missing.
This book is written from three different perspectives, each chapter being in the perspective of one character. It is an interesting style of writing because each character who is speaking is so different.
One, Maurey, is a man who is effectively of two worlds. One, Korby, is a man who is a bit more of a rough and tumble sort of warrior and owes his allegiance to Maurey while still being the chief of his people. And the third, Annot, is the beloved of the first and the cousin of the second. Each voice is distinct, and in Annot's case, changes as circumstances change.
Maurey, the half-human and half-Nightwalker Warden of Greyrock, is the title character of the book and everything that happens and all of the characters involved are tied to him like the spokes on a wheel. He has chosen to settle down with Annot, the Baroness of Oakhold, in Greyrock Castle on the border between the Nightwalker and human kingdoms. The two races from which he was born are trusting him to guard their borders and their peace. However, there are still people plotting against them and the peace that has been created.
While Maurey is out hunting down a pair of sisters who hold ancient secrets, Korby begins to uncover the truth about the cult of Yehillon, and Annot becomes a captive of the Yehillon. Annot struggles to free herself while dealing with the fact that she thinks that she is going mad in her captivity. Maurey faces the fact that if he leaves Greyrock he may save his ladylove while leaving the Nightwalkers to be slaughtered by the veiled prince of the Yehillon. Korby has to find a way to save his cousin without being executed for treason for leading his people to war on her behalf, protect his lord, and help defeat the Yehillon.
All and all, they are in for an interesting journey - and the reader along with them.
September 10, 2011
I really like her story. I find myself a little frustrated with the author not giving me enough. She is very good at relaying all info needed very concisely and efficiently. For example: I like her characters, but I don't love them and am not invested in them like I could be with more meaningful conversation, interaction and growth. She also skips periods of time without telling us how much time has passed, and why did we skip? Like I said, she is very good at giving highlights, but I think we are missing out on some good stuff she is leaving out- kind of like a movie; she hits the important stuff, but the book is almost always better because of the stuff the movie left out! I've read 1000 page books and felt like they could have been better at 500 pages. Her book is 228 pages and I feel like it could be better if it were closer to 400 pages. That being said, she still tells a good story.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews