Baen, May 2004, 26.00, 498 pp. ISBN: 0743488210 Though badly outnumbered, hradani horse stealer Bahzell Bahnakson persuaded Sothoii leader Baron Tellian to surrender to him rather than lose to him, as Bahzell is the War God's champion. As part of the agreement reached by Bahzell and Tellian, he allowed the Sothoii to go home in peace in one piece. Named by his father the hradani chief as ambassador to the Sothoii, Bahzell travels to the Wind Plain. Being extremely tall, he sees this as an opportunity to obtain a large steed, something the Sothoii are noted for and why they detest the hradani for stealing and eating their horses. Surprisingly several Sothoii accept Bahzell as a windrider—the first hradani to achieve such acclaim. However, between the surrender when they outnumbered the enemy by 30 to 1 even if he is the War God's favorite and the honor of windrider bestowed upon a hradani, many Sothoii purists are outraged; this outsider has battered their pride in their heritage. An insurgency surfaces further stirred by the Goddess Queen of Hell and those who recently lost power plotting assassination to bring down the current rulers including Bahzell. Harriet Klausner | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Political power play Yes Political plotlets - preventing/managing clash/war between govts/kingdoms Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Religious overtones? Yes Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript |