Product Description

The first novel in a trilogy, this book recounts the adventures of Carnelian. He is taken away from his own race of majestic but cruel beings called the Masters, due to his father's self-imposed exile. Years later, through bitter winter gales, a great black ship arrives to shatter his world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #280058 in Books
• Published on: 2000-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 718 pages

Customer Reviews

Its the little things
The story kept me hooked even though I had to put it down for a week (outside reasons) but it was the little things that where intresting, links with the the pre-conquest cultures of central/southern American , the use of lingistic terms and a pre iron age socity that is obsessed with genetics, gave an archaeology student so many moments of joy. Plus the departure from the standard straight love story and the lack of good and bad guys.

but the ending is... , thank the twins its a trilogy.

Fascinating & compellingly strange
If you are after fast flowing fights this probably isn't for you. It follows the son of an exiled "Master" through his family's journey back to their homeland to aid in the election of the new God Emperor. It deals with him facing the ever growing strictness imposed by this strange culture that he is supposed to follow... and he gets dragged into the election process of the new ruler.

Ricardo Pinto likes to add a lot of detail to the surroundings, I've seen this criticised by people but I found it a nice touch as it creates a world in which the adventures live rather than just the story and nothing else.

I bought this one on a business trip when I forgot to pick up my Robert Jordan book...this one was so compelling that it took precedent. That's saying a lot as once I start a WoT book I generally don't let anything distract me till it's finished.

I'm looking forward to the next volume of this series very much.

Abolutely stunning. Fantasy has matured at last!
Finally not the standard 'evil-dark-necromancer-wants-to-destroy-world-and-kid-saves-the-day-with-hidden-magic-talent'-bad-Tolkien-imitation we see so often, but mature, detailed, beautifully writen fantasy about a strange, cruel, but convincing world. As good as Tolkien, as strong als Mervyn Peake, but the quality is uniquelly Pinto. Stunning detailed world, strong characters and no fluffy elves. If you want a book that goes beyond conventional fantasy, read this!