Warner Aspect, Aug 2002, 13.95, 368 pp.
ISBN: 0446677043
In the Yellow City, women are second class citizens since only men can perform magic. However, rumors abound that the Mages no longer can do what has traditionally been their gift as evident by calamities such as the drought that wrecks Yellow City as magic fails to alleviate the problem. The empire is in trouble with collapse seemingly imminent.
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Shockingly, as the males lose the ability, women begin to surface with the talent though lacking the education and experience of performing magic. These female mages struggle to bond in order to bring the needed rain, but someone is killing them one by one using a new form of magic. As Raeshaldis, Summer Concubine, and Pomegranate Woman struggle to unite and utilize their abilities to save their country, the male mages are outraged, jealous, and impotent leading to assaults on women with power. However, the real challenge resides in stopping the deadly, but unknown individual killing these women if Raeshaldis, Summer Concubine, and Pomegranate Woman are to survive.
SISTERS OF THE RAVEN is an exciting fantasy tale that contains a strong morality subplot involving the role of women in society. The story line engages the audience from the beginning when the scorned Raeshaldis escapes death by fleeing into the night. The tale never eases up until the climax. The three heroines have distinct characteristics that enable the audience to appreciate their burden even more as each reacts differently. The killer is shrouded in fog with clues slowly passed onto the reader so fans of a fantasy with a bit of a who-done-it will feel they received a treat from a master magician.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
