Warhost of Vastmark by Janny Wurts
Warhost of Vastmark by Janny Wurts takes up directly where The Ships of Merior left off. The two books are definitely meant to be read back to back — together they comprise Arc 2 of the author’s THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW series, and some editions actually combine both of them in one cover.
It’s hard to give many details of the story without throwing in spoilers for The Ships of Merior, so I’ll just say that the ongoing conflict between Arithon and Lysaer, which reached a seeming climax at the end of The Ships of Merior, actually balloons to even larger proportions and reaches a stunning high point at the end of the novel. The book contains a hilarious moment of hijinx (the “triple theft”) that’s so carefully set up and brilliantly executed you’ll want to re-read the chapter. Some characters show some (to me at least) unexpected changes, and some previously minor characters develop into very fascinating pieces of the puzzle.
While the story progresses, we also learn more about the world of Athera, its past, and the various groups and factions that make this such a complex and intriguing fantasy universe. The odd side-effect of this slow revelation of world-building details is that you simply want to read and learn more, even as the picture gradually resolves and the story progresses. These novels all have a solid and very satisfying ending, but at the same time they definitely leave the reader hungry for more.
Janny Wurts‘ novels are generally complex and challenging, and as such they require the reader’s full attention. I’m sure people looking for light reading might be turned off by their rich prose and long-term plotting. However, if you’re willing to give them the time they deserve, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. I’ve rated the previous two books in this series 5 stars, and astonishingly, Warhost of Vastmark is at least as good as The Curse of the Mistwraith and The Ships of Merior. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite epic fantasies.
~Stefan Raets
Cheers to Ms. Wurts!
The Mistswraith’s curse has taken hold of Prince Lysaer’s inherited mistrusts and blinded him into the belief that his step-brother, Arithon the Master of Shadow, can be anything other than evil and must, at all costs, be exterminated. Lysaer’s warhost relentlessly pursues Arithon and the clans to the craggy wastes of Vastmark. But Lysaer may soon learn the hard lesson that a wolf is most dangerous when cornered.
The Wars of Light and Shadow saga is one of the most original epic fantasies — and uniquely written stories — I’ve ever read. Janny Wurts is an amazing author who not only writes with an elegant prose that is easily identifiable as her very own, but her themes break new ground. At the heart of this story is a conflict of obsessions: Lysaer’s unyielding dedication for justice and Arithon’s unreserved compassion — two ideals which should go hand-and-hand but, when put at fanatical odds, a world can be devastated.
If you’ve read the first two books, The Curse of the Mistwraith and Ships of Merior, I’m sure you’re already hooked just like I am. Warhost of Vastmark will only further fuel your enthusiasm.
Since my own personal taste in fantasy usually leans toward darker and grittier stories (and probably because I’ve gotten a little cynical in my middle-age), I’ve become rather callous about the characters in most books I read. Cheers to Ms. Wurts! She has managed to stir up in me a compassion for fictionalcharacters that I have not felt in quite some time.
~Greg Hersom
The Wars of Light and Shadow — (1993-2017) Booklist: For more than 500 years the Mistwraith has darkened the world of Athera. Where once were fields, flowers, and unicorns, there now are bareness, poverty, and desperation. The curse can be lifted only by the combined powers of two half-brothers who have been raised apart as enemies. Blond Lysaer, who grew up in the castle, is a born diplomat with a strong sense of justice and latent powers of light. Dark-haired Arithon, called the Master of Shadows, is skilled in music and magic and possesses an overwhelming empathy for all living things. When the two are thrown together in exile, an uneasy bond begins to form between them, and under the guidance of the Fellowship of Sorcerers, they work toward lifting the bane. But the Mistwraith fights back by twisting their talents and turning them against each other, plunging the kingdom into a bloody conflict. Read an excerpt of The Curse of the Mistwraith here. Listen to excerpts here. (Excerpts of other WoLaS books also available.)
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I think you'll enjoy it.
sounds fascinating--on my list!