FANTASY REVIEW: Sword of the Canon 1: Initiate's Trial - Janny Wurts

Release Date: 27/10/11

SYNOPSIS:

The long-awaited beginning of the fourth story arc - Sword of the Canon - in the epic fantasy series, the Wars of Light and Shadow.

Betrayed and double-crossed, Arithon s'Ffalenn is held captive by the Order of the Koriathain. The desperate Fellowship Sorcerers have gambled the weal of Athera and forced through the perilous bargain that spared him, as the last Prince of Rathain, and their sole hope of unity. To suspend the Prime Matriarch's decree of execution, Arithon lives only to battle Marak's horde of free wraiths, unleashed one by one from the shielding grip of the star wards.
But on the day the last wraith is redeemed, the inflexible terms sealed by Dakar's oath of debt will come to be forfeit…
Against a world backdrop, in which the Religion of Light has undergone schism, the zealot True Sect's canon grips Tysan, its high priesthood stands consumed by its thwarted ambition: to conquer Havish, last crown bastion and backbone of order that secures the terms of Paravian survival. Now Lord Mayor of Etarra, Lysaer s'Ilessid must fight the pull of the Mistwraith's curse, and battle for sanity to uphold his just ethic. Another young defender will stand at his side, newly sworn by the Sorcerer's auspices.
As Arithon's life once again becomes the fulcrum that shifts the game board, Elaira's choice might save or break the unstable future; while at large and answerable to no mortal law, Davien and the dragon that holds his service throw in the wild card no one predicts…


REVIEW:

Readers have long been after the next part in the Wars of Light and Shadow and Janny doesn’t disappoint with this, the opening to a new part of the epic series. It’s cleverly written has some classic fantasy double dealing and a lead protagonist that will keep the reader interested as well as wondering what Arithon can do to turn things to his own advantage if only to save his own skin.

Add to this a great overall arc, some hints as to darker aspects to come alongside decent prose, dialogue and description which overall will keep the reader more than satisfied with this release. Cracking good fun.