In Modesitt's fourth absorbing book of the Spellsong Cycle (The Soprano Sorceress, etc.), the student Secca picks up the mantle of musically managed magic from Sorceress-Protector Anna, protagonist of the earlier novels set in the Europeanoid world of Erde. Secca reluctantly serves the legitimate Lord of Defalk, for whom Anna was regent, and the imperfect leader Robero a bumbler known less elegantly in childhood as Jimbob. One of Robero's annoying habits is matchmaking (few, if any, suitable consorts exist for powerful women with frightening and exhausting powers). The early pages demonstrate road-building, a constructive and popularly supported sorcery performed with a band of musicians, and then a solo, slow-acting assassination as examples of "the shadow side of sorcery" Secca uses that term in weighing the death of one cruel man against the sufferings of many, but later is surprised when she herself is referred to as "shadow sorceress" for her manipulating events from the sidelines. Defalk's leaders must face the consequences of Anna's desperately inventive changes in their war-torn country, as well as the serious ongoing threat of the Sea-Priests from beyond, who employ major sorcery and subjugate women in literal chains. Secca's taking charge and developing her staff and personal relationships provide the chief interest here; the full story of the Sea-Priest invasion presumably awaits future volumes in the series.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-This is the fourth book in the series, which started with The Soprano Sorceress (Tor, 1997), but it provides a good entry point. The main character of the first three books, Anna, is dead, and her apprentice Secca must step into her leadership role. Modesitt provides readers with an overview of the politics of Liedwahr, his fantasy continent, and shows how its magic works and what it can and cannot do. The book then follows Secca, her apprentice Richina, and a large ensemble cast as they venture forth trying to stop the machinations of the evilly chauvinistic Sea-Priests, who curiously remain off-stage throughout. Secca must also face her own loneliness in a romantic subplot, which is handled with skill and decorum. The main enjoyment of the novel comes from the simple pleasure of escaping into the world the author has created. The writing style is easy and the characters are interesting and sympathetic. There is no resolution in this volume, however, and readers will have to wait for the next book to find out what happens to Secca, the Sea-Priests, and Liedwahr.
Paul Brink, Fairfax County Public Library System, VA
Description:
From Publishers Weekly
In Modesitt's fourth absorbing book of the Spellsong Cycle (The Soprano Sorceress, etc.), the student Secca picks up the mantle of musically managed magic from Sorceress-Protector Anna, protagonist of the earlier novels set in the Europeanoid world of Erde. Secca reluctantly serves the legitimate Lord of Defalk, for whom Anna was regent, and the imperfect leader Robero a bumbler known less elegantly in childhood as Jimbob. One of Robero's annoying habits is matchmaking (few, if any, suitable consorts exist for powerful women with frightening and exhausting powers). The early pages demonstrate road-building, a constructive and popularly supported sorcery performed with a band of musicians, and then a solo, slow-acting assassination as examples of "the shadow side of sorcery" Secca uses that term in weighing the death of one cruel man against the sufferings of many, but later is surprised when she herself is referred to as "shadow sorceress" for her manipulating events from the sidelines. Defalk's leaders must face the consequences of Anna's desperately inventive changes in their war-torn country, as well as the serious ongoing threat of the Sea-Priests from beyond, who employ major sorcery and subjugate women in literal chains. Secca's taking charge and developing her staff and personal relationships provide the chief interest here; the full story of the Sea-Priest invasion presumably awaits future volumes in the series.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-This is the fourth book in the series, which started with The Soprano Sorceress (Tor, 1997), but it provides a good entry point. The main character of the first three books, Anna, is dead, and her apprentice Secca must step into her leadership role. Modesitt provides readers with an overview of the politics of Liedwahr, his fantasy continent, and shows how its magic works and what it can and cannot do. The book then follows Secca, her apprentice Richina, and a large ensemble cast as they venture forth trying to stop the machinations of the evilly chauvinistic Sea-Priests, who curiously remain off-stage throughout. Secca must also face her own loneliness in a romantic subplot, which is handled with skill and decorum. The main enjoyment of the novel comes from the simple pleasure of escaping into the world the author has created. The writing style is easy and the characters are interesting and sympathetic. There is no resolution in this volume, however, and readers will have to wait for the next book to find out what happens to Secca, the Sea-Priests, and Liedwahr.
Paul Brink, Fairfax County Public Library System, VA
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.