Age of Legend
The Legends of the First Empire series, Book 4
Michael J. Sullivan
Del Rey
Fiction, Fantasy
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: After their hard-won victory at Alon Rhyst, the human forces of the Rhunelands continue their advancement into Fhrey territory, but the going is slow, a years-long slog that ends in a stalemate, neither side able to budge against the other. Persephone still holds a dim hope that perhaps the years of bloodshed and heavy losses on both sides have softened the Fhrey fane Lothian to negotiating a peace treaty, while her elven consort Nyphron is convinced that victory will only come when the Forest Throne is in flames. Now, the words of Malcolm - the man who is more than a mere man, who may be older than the hills and has more secrets than the stars - might offer a path forward... if any are brave (or foolish) enough to follow.
In the Fhrey capital of Estramnadon, the war is also taking a heavy toll: the elves still see "Rhunes" as nothing more than bipedal animals, and cannot fathom how such beasts are causing so much trouble. Lothian himself is nearly driven to insanity by his failures, particularly vexed by the "dragon" that arrived at Alon Rhyst and continues to accompany the advancing human army. Still not believing that the "lesser" species could have practitioners of the Art, he's determined to figure out how they conjured the beast, no matter the cost.
The longer the stalemate in the war lasts, the more desperate both sides become, until each will take risks that might end in catastrophic consequences for all involved...
REVIEW: After the relatively fast pace of the first three installments of this series, this book slows down a little, spanning several grueling years of war and loss and sacrifice that change everyone, not always for the better. Persephone continues to reign as the human keening, though despite a half-elven son her relationship with Nyphron continues to be more professional and political courtesy than anything resembling love; her heart still belongs to the late Raithe, for all that she still understands and accepts the necessity of the sacrifice and her choice. Keeper Brin continues her work on her book and the new art of writing, though her relationship with warrior Tesh undergoes some serious strain as he becomes more and more enamored of bloodshed... particularly Fhrey blood, not necessarily making a distinction between ally and enemy. Inventor Roan and potter/fledgling mage Gifford are at last together, though her post-traumatic reactions after a lifetime of abuse still present some obstacles. Her inventions don't take center stage as much in this stretch of the tale, but she still has some significant contributions to the story, while Gifford begins to grow into his power more even beyond Suri's tutelage. As for the mystic Suri, her life remains hard and isolated, as people still ask so much of her without truly understanding the costs of what she's already done. When given a chance to act as ambassador to the Fhrey as a possible means to end the war, she is as eager as the keening for the violence and sacrifices to end, so she can finally be done with the whole business of humans and go back to her old home in the hawthorn glen beyond Dhal Rhen... though, of course, things do not go as smoothly as either envisioned. With that plan fouled, clan outcast Tressa steps up with a message from Malcolm, but few are willing to listen to her - and those who do may end up in more danger than Suri, a journey to a destination straight out of legend and a literal leap of faith.
On the elven side, fane Lothian starts to crack under the strain of a war he cannot truly fathom against an enemy he refuses to understand. Even having witnessed firsthand the incredible power unleashed by the human mystic, he will not even consider that "Rhunes" are more than simple beasts. Naturally, his spoiled son Manwyndule is even worse, though he also personally witnessed the same attack and defeat, yet even he sees how his father's grip is slipping; the prince remains as insufferable and ineducable as ever, though his role in the tale is relatively small. There's also some follow-up on Imaldy, who has her own ideas on the future of her people, though ultimately the Fhrey side of things feels a bit sidelined in this volume, with little tangible advancement.
The whole volume offers intrigue, danger, magic, mystery, interesting characters, a little humor, and new adventures... everything I read epic fantasy for. Sullivan has managed to maintain the quality, and my interest as a reader, admirably well, for all that I'm getting a little tired of the whiny Fhrey prince being so stubbornly whiny. The final pages end things on something of a cliffhanger for the major plot threads, though, more than previous installments. Hopefully my library and Libby have the next installment available sooner rather than later; I need closure here, dang it.
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