ISBN: 0-312-87426-X Order from: Amazon.com
A pleasant, at times tense fantasy, this novel features an appealing heroine, lots of politics, magic, and a certain amount of view-hopping.
Reviewed by David on December 14, 2002
Genre: Fantasy (War, Magic, Intrigue, Coming of Age)
Synopsis: This is a sequel to Through Wolf's Eyes.
Firekeeper was raised by the intelligent Royal Wolves of the western forests. Named Lady Blysse by the humans, she uneasily adopted to the human ways, clothing and speech. However, her preference is still to hunt barefoot, and her dearest friend is the giant wolf Blind Seer.
One thing that is not strange to Firekeeper, is the politics. Both her old people, the Royal Beasts, and her new society of humans hunger and scheme for power.
Both peoples distrust and fear magic—the power that once devastated the continent. And so when a dispossessed Queen Gustin seizes the rumored magical artifacts, everybody is trying find and take back the ominous relics of the past.
However, everyone has different hopes for the deadly magic—including Firekeeper herself.
Full Review: In this novel, the second in the series, Firekeeper, a.k.a. Lady Blysse is a little better adopted to human life, and so less time is spent explornig the contrast with the human mores, and more on plot developments. More magic is seen, as well as the reasons for fearing it. There are some dark moments.
The plot is still a little oversimplified; but there is enough development to keep the reader's attention. The villains are well drawn, and an impressive and subtle one is developed.
The viewhopping between different characters is somewhat distracting, but will probably be acceptable to most readers.
On the whole, this is a good, solid continuation in this pleasant fantasy series with an appealing, well-described heroine.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 2002 {Publication Date: August 2002, Tor, Cloth, 608 pages
ISBN: 0-312-87426-X Order from: Amazon.com