The Arm of the Stone

ISBN: 0-380-79751-8 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com

A finely textured and slightly wordy novel of magical oppression, politics, revenge and romance; with enough originality for excitement.

Reviewed by David on January 18, 1999

Genre: Fantasy (Revenge, Dispossessed Heir, Religion, Politics)

Synopsis: Bron's family has always harbored a secret. In a society with where highly regimented magic-users called the Guardians of the Stone tightly control the use of tools and ruthlessly suppress all innovation, even the thought of defying the order of Guardians is treated as treason. However, behind closed doors and illegal mental barriers, Bron's mother tells of a thousand-year old destiny of regaining the magic Stone from the usurping Guardians.

When Bron's bright and impetuous older brother, an apprentice smith, improves an agricultural implement, the Guardian's deadly anger descends on Bron's family.

Scarred by the tragedy, the young boy vows revenge. Years later, as Bron penetrates the Guardian hierarchy under a false name, he faces many tests in surviving the cruel schooling the order metes to its novices, while hiding his rage. The deadliest test of all, however, comes not only from the corrosive hatred of fanatic Guardians, but from the dedicated and well-meant fellow students.

Full Review: The book is filled with detailed passages interspersed with long chronological gaps. Much of the narrative traces the progress of Bron from an apprehensive young boy, to a bitter survivor, to a powerful but flawed rebel. In addition, it describes the life of the other protagonist, the unusual female empath Liliane, and the collision of these two different but very capable individuals.

The events are described with attention to detail of food, dress, building and emotion that helps solidify the world. On this meticulous background, the misery, and the rare moments of pleasure or pride of the protagonists, seem both realistic and intense.

There is a significant amount of both student cruelty and political conspiracies in the order of the Guardians. As Bron learns that the order is not a monolithic repressive structure, he also reluctantly acquires respect and even affection for some of its members, while earning the undying enmity of others. There is heavy use of magic surrounding Bron's evolution, complicated both by the tricky nature of his Gift, and the almost mystical nature of the Stone imprisoned in the center of the Guardian's fortress.

During the latter stage of the book, the constant tension of secrets is complicated by a romantic subplot. There is a pervasive motif of deadly danger, containment, control and endurance, with occasional outbursts of emotions and magic. The book comes to a painful, explosive, and open-ended conclusion.

The novel uses a theme of evil oppressors and revenge common in many fantasy (and romance, in the classic sense of the word) plots. The book avoids genericity, however, by the detailed and skilled descriptions, and by the unusually well-defined system of magic and politics within the Guardian order.

While for the most part the length of descriptions does not detract from the suspense, in one long passage a series of events is told twice, from two different points of view. That, plus several extended areas of narrative where the protagonists are ignorant of the facts made apparent to the reader, make for some awkwardness in the last portion of the book.

Despite a common theme, and some flaws, The Arm of the Stone has a number of original elements which make this an enjoyable fantasy.

Victoria's Web page has more information about her work, including an excerpt from the sequel to The Arm of the Stone.

Overall: 6; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6; Style: 5.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 5.5;

ISBN: 0-380-79751-8 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com