Aramaya

Dion Demonslayer: 3

ISBN: 0-380-79428-4 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com

A very good stand-alone book in a fantasy series, this polished novel lacks the sense of delighted discovery that made the first installment such a pleasure.

Reviewed by David on July 04, 1999

Genre: Fantasy (Demons, Intrigue)

Synopsis: Dion, the girl mage introduced in the excellent Mage Heart, has now matured into a young woman of skill, power and some measure of wisdom. Traveling to the powerful and sophisticated Empire of Aramaya, Dion hopes to find a young relative lost for many years. While her reputation is helping her on her travels, old demonic enemies and new heartaches make the trip perilous to her happiness, and possibly her life.

Full Review: In this novel, Dion is twenty-seven, married, titled and with a reputation of a powerful mage. Reunited for the trip with her old friend, the fascinating Kitten Avignon, Dion is happy to see the fabulous Aramaya, an ancient, sophisticated and dangerously political cultural center of her world. One of her reasons for travel is a chance to find Dally, her alienated niece. Another is the unhappiness at home. Dion's old enemy, the demon Bedazzer, haunts Dion's conscience as much as her lost niece. In Aramaya, the Imperial politics seem intertwined with Necromantic plots, and dangerous religions and dangerous mages stand ready to assault Dion's heart, honor and life.

It is inherently difficult to write a series about a single character. The greatest interest comes with describing a great change in the character. Usually, after one becomes an adult, most great changes come as tragedies. Certainly, few plots are as conducive to a happy fantasy as the coming of age stories.

While more polished than before, and full of interesting and realistic characters, this book lacks the excitement of Dion's first adventure. Naturally, Dion is no longer a prodigy. The adulthood cannot bring the same character changes as the coming of age, and Dion's magic power is impressive but no longer asonishing. While it is reassuring to see the limitation on Dion's strength, as well as her well-intentioned but difficult struggle for happiness and justice, the sense of delighted if occasionally terrifying discovery of magic, lust, friendship and love can hardly be repeated.

While this book is heartily recommended, it doesn't quite stand up to the exceptional standard set by the beginning of the series, not due to any lack of authorial skill, but due to its subject matter.

Overall: 6.5; Plot: 6.5; Characters: 7; Style: 6.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;

ISBN: 0-380-79428-4 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com