From archive (archive)
Subject: THE SPELLSTONE OF SHALTUS by Linda E. Bushyager (mild spoiler)
From: duane@anasazi.UUCP
Organization: Anasazi, Phoenix Az.
Date: 13 Jun 86 07:05:34 GMT




The jacket reads:

  "In the days of the Great War between the Eastern Kingdoms and
  S'Shegan, the evil wizard Shaltus had been brutaly punished for an
  unspeakable crime. Now he had returned, seeking vengeance from the
  void of hell. The black soul of Shaltus lived again!

  Battling for survival, cast out by her own people, the sorceress Leah
  had to marshall the forces of might and magic. For she alone could
  banish the barbarous evil that had invaded the castle of the S'Carltons
  and had sworn not to rest until the house of S'Carlton had been
  annihilated."

The teaser is not especially illuminating, and it is not particularly
accurate. Leah is indeed a sorceress, but not by profession -- she was
born with the talent, along with all of her siblings. Nor is she the
only one who can destroy the wraith.

The story is quite a bit more involved than the jacket summary would
have you believe. Leah comes from two cultures and is accepted by
neither. Both sides play roles in the story, and among both sides there
are those who aid Leah, and those who oppose her. The most concrete
aid comes from a wandering sorcerer, Rowen; in fact, it is Rowen who
assumes leadership in the battle agains the wraith.

I recommend this book if you're looking for an exciting, fast read. It's
a good adventure: interesting, multi-faceted characters, a fast
pace, a coherent theme, many small climaxes and one big one at the
end, where it should be. I give the book 3.0 stars out of 4 (i.e.,
it's pretty good).
-- 

Duane Morse	...!noao!{mot|terak}!anasazi!duane
(602) 870-3330


From archive (archive)
Subject: THE SPELLSTONE OF SHALTUS by Linda E. Bushyager (mild spoiler)
From: duane@anasazi.UUCP
Organization: Anasazi, Phoenix Az.
Date: 13 Jun 86 10:05:34 SDT



The jacket reads:

  "In the days of the Great War between the Eastern Kingdoms and
  S'Shegan, the evil wizard Shaltus had been brutaly punished for an
  unspeakable crime. Now he had returned, seeking vengeance from the
  void of hell. The black soul of Shaltus lived again!

  Battling for survival, cast out by her own people, the sorceress Leah
  had to marshall the forces of might and magic. For she alone could
  banish the barbarous evil that had invaded the castle of the S'Carltons
  and had sworn not to rest until the house of S'Carlton had been
  annihilated."

The teaser is not especially illuminating, and it is not particularly
accurate. Leah is indeed a sorceress, but not by profession -- she was
born with the talent, along with all of her siblings. Nor is she the
only one who can destroy the wraith.

The story is quite a bit more involved than the jacket summary would
have you believe. Leah comes from two cultures and is accepted by
neither. Both sides play roles in the story, and among both sides there
are those who aid Leah, and those who oppose her. The most concrete
aid comes from a wandering sorcerer, Rowen; in fact, it is Rowen who
assumes leadership in the battle agains the wraith.

I recommend this book if you're looking for an exciting, fast read. It's
a good adventure: interesting, multi-faceted characters, a fast
pace, a coherent theme, many small climaxes and one big one at the
end, where it should be. I give the book 3.0 stars out of 4 (i.e.,
it's pretty good).
-- 

Duane Morse	...!noao!{mot|terak}!anasazi!duane
(602) 870-3330