For nine hundred years the Forelands knew peace, but unrest among the magical Qirsi people has blossomed into a conspiracy against the Eandi rulers. What started with an occasional "accidental" death of a lord has exploded into violence, rending the fabric of Forelands society. Led by a mysterious Qirsi "Weaver" with powers that can reach into the minds of others even in their sleep, the rebellion is now turning Qirsi against Qirsi, as it weakens alliances among the Eandi.
Some Qirsi ministers are torn between plotting to overthrow the Eandi and staying loyal to their lords; others have been ready for a rebellion for a long time and are active in the burgeoning and increasingly violent rebellion. Even some Qirsi who oppose the rebellion are forced to take sides against their lords, while an Eandi lord in league with the conspiracy prepares for war against rival houses.
Yet as the world tilts toward terrible upheaval, some stand firm against the chaos. Grinsa, a Qirsi gleaner, is trying to head off the war he knows would spell disaster for his own people as well as the Eandi. Traveling with Lord Tavis of Curgh as the young noble seeks revenge on the assassin who killed his betrothed and thus set the chaos in motion, Grinsa may be the only person who can stop the Weaver from shattering the long peace. But even Grinsa can't do it alone. His sister, Keziah, archminister to King Kearney, himself a staunch advocate of peace, works to prevent war, too. They may be too late, though, as realms plunge toward war, goaded by traitors within their gates.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
Description:
For nine hundred years the Forelands knew peace, but unrest among the magical Qirsi people has blossomed into a conspiracy against the Eandi rulers. What started with an occasional "accidental" death of a lord has exploded into violence, rending the fabric of Forelands society. Led by a mysterious Qirsi "Weaver" with powers that can reach into the minds of others even in their sleep, the rebellion is now turning Qirsi against Qirsi, as it weakens alliances among the Eandi.
Some Qirsi ministers are torn between plotting to overthrow the Eandi and staying loyal to their lords; others have been ready for a rebellion for a long time and are active in the burgeoning and increasingly violent rebellion. Even some Qirsi who oppose the rebellion are forced to take sides against their lords, while an Eandi lord in league with the conspiracy prepares for war against rival houses.
Yet as the world tilts toward terrible upheaval, some stand firm against the chaos. Grinsa, a Qirsi gleaner, is trying to head off the war he knows would spell disaster for his own people as well as the Eandi. Traveling with Lord Tavis of Curgh as the young noble seeks revenge on the assassin who killed his betrothed and thus set the chaos in motion, Grinsa may be the only person who can stop the Weaver from shattering the long peace. But even Grinsa can't do it alone. His sister, Keziah, archminister to King Kearney, himself a staunch advocate of peace, works to prevent war, too. They may be too late, though, as realms plunge toward war, goaded by traitors within their gates.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
From Publishers Weekly
Civil war between the Qirsi people and the dominant Eandi race slowly ignites in Coe’s intricate third entry in his Winds of the Forelands fantasy series (after 2003’s Seeds of Betrayal). The wizard known as the "Weaver" heads the Qirsi movement to take back the Forelands from the Eandi, who have ruled the country for nine centuries. Opposing the power-obsessed Weaver is Grinsa jal Arriet, a Qirsi gleaner, who dedicates himself to preserving the peace between the two races. While Grinsa has his hands full trying to rescue his distrustful lover, Cresenne, and their newborn child from the Weaver’s web, as well as protecting Tavis, a young Eandi royal, talky subplots and frequent shifts of view among the huge cast of characters slow the pace. The action finally picks up after Grinsa uncovers the Weaver’s true identity. The notion of a charismatic leader who directs his followers by "turning" them to his will via dream telepathy gives this series an evocative edge, though little attention is paid to how this magic works. Readers unfamiliar with the story so far might wish they had a scorecard.
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From Booklist
Coe continues the Winds of the Forelands' story of intensifying conflict between the Qirsi, who possess magic, and the nonmagical Eandi, who rule most of the Forelands. For 900 years, the lands had known relative peace, and many Qirsi served Eandi lords as high ministers and counselors. But a mysterious Qirsi, Weaver, who can influence the minds of others even against their will, preaches rebellion against the Eandi, generating great civic unrest and turning Eandi against Qirsi, Qirsi against Qirsi, and Eandi against Eandi, which allows anyone with a few fighters to grab what can be got. Coe's saga is densely plotted and slowly paced, but that is appropriate for a narrative arc depending on rumor, innuendo, gradual erosion of trust, and slow communication. The characters are very well wrought, and the burgeoning aura of suspicion is only too convincingly realized. Admirers of Rules of Ascension (2002) and Seeds of Betrayal (2003) will be gratified by their new series mate. Frieda Murray
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