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Book Review By David Pearce
Warhost of Vastmark by Janny Wurts

This is the third book in a series describing the war against the mistraith and the lives of two half brother princes. Each prince has magical powers and together they form the world's best defense but the mistwraith has cursed them to be enemies.

Arithon, prince of shadow returns to his shipyard at Merior to find his new ships burned by a former guardsman Tharrrick seeking revenge for punishments which he unjustly blames on Arithon. Arithon rescues Tharrick from the shipwrights and slowly convinces him that he is not the evil tyrant he is portrayed by his brother. Everyone struggles to complete two ships from the wreckage as Prince Lysaer's fleet approaches. Arithon escapes with one ship while Tharrick stages a rearguard diversion to try to escape with the second. Prince Lysaer enters the town and convinces the people that the man who has treated them honourably and well for the last year is evil.

Arithon travels to vastmark to seek a new army amongst the impoverished free shepherds. He rescues two children from a Wyvern though one dies despite his attempts to use his masterbard magic combined with that of Dakar the mad prophet. In the casting Dakar sees into Arithon's mind and begins to truly believe he is innocent of the crimes claimed by Lysaer prince of light.

Arithon arranges the kidnap and ransom of Lysaer's wife Talith who has foolishly decided to join her husband on campaign. He steals the gold enroute so managing to be paid twice over, while Talith too begins to believe Arithon is not evil. Lysaer can not accept this and his love for her disappears.

Arithon tries to stop the war by making a demonstration of slaughtering 500 men sent against him, returning 25 to tell of the disaster. Lysaer's general intercepts the men, and knowing they may cause Lysaer to halt his invasion, kills the witnesses. Lysaer attacks and his army is duly routed by tricks of mages Arithon and Dakar.

Dakar has a vision of Arithon being killed by a spelled arrow sent by Duke Bransion and the Koriani sorceress Moriell. He saves Arithon's life by taking the arrow himself, finally believing Arithon speaks the truth. Bransion and his brothers are captured, then convinced of Arithon's honour compared to Lysaer's deceptions which had brought them to the war on Lysaer's side.


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
Family relations Yes
Descript. of chases or violence - 10 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
If magical mental powers: - fire/lightning/weather cntrl - can see into the future

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - fire/thunder/weather cntrl
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Terrain
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How much dialogue? - mostly dialog
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