Synopsis
Members of the ruling Phesaotois clan must put aside winemaking and family intrigue when their realm is invaded by plagues of monsters--and some high-tech aliens show up asking questions
Reviews
Willey's first novel is an entertaining, though meandering fantasy strongly reminiscent of Roger Zelazny's Amber books. Lord Gwydion has been ruling the Dominion of Argylle since his mother, Freia, fell into the family's magical Spring during a sorcerous battle. Following that conflict, Freia's grieving brother and husband went into a self-imposed exile, leaving Gwydion and his four siblings without the help of their elders' prodigious magical and leadership skills. Alone they must face numerous tribulations: a gigantic dragon of immeasurable age and magical power who threatens their borders; an untrustworthy cousin from a neighboring realm; and most disturbingly, a young woman who arrives claiming to be a lost sister. Meanwhile, Gwydion stumbles across some highly sensitive secrets--including hints about his mother's true fate--which could exact a terrible price from his family. This book is an occasionally bewildering but interesting amalgam of medieval gentility, high-tech alternate worlds, family drama and the sometimes jarring inclusion of SF elements in a fantasy framework. Willey's characters and their interactions, if a bit derivative, are appealing; her potential as a fantasist makes her atmospheric tale worth reading.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Strange, complicated fantasy with confusing, science-fiction- ish intrusions: Willey's agreeable, often impressive debut. The near-immortal, magic-touched extended family that rules Argylle is missing a few key members: grandfather Prospero has gone visiting; father Gaston vanished more than 20 years ago after his wife, Freia, fell into the Spring, the source of Argylle's magic, and was absorbed by it during a magical battle; uncle Dewar, the family's most powerful sorcerer, has also gone mysteriously missing--leaving young sorcerer Gwydion reluctantly in charge. A huge dragon manifests itself, beyond Gwydion's powers to kill, requiring huge magical effort even to dislodge. Then young, timid Ulrike arrives involuntarily, by magical means; she claims to be Gwydion's long-lost sister. And Argylle's Battlemaster, Thiorn, shows up, bearing complaints: someone has stolen a copy of Freia's genetic makeup--and Gwydion wonders anew about Ulrike. What's really going on? Well, uncle Dewar knows that Freia is still alive, as a sort of inspirational ghost within the Spring; she's unhappy and not doing a good job, but the Spring's previous patron, a powerful ancestor, is striving desperately to hang on to Freia. Gaston absented himself because he couldn't bear to remain among the family without Freia; Dewar, once considered mad, has been engrossed in sorcerous attempts to provide Freia with another body. The air is thick with international and inter-family intrigue, as everybody is willing to meddle in everybody else's business. The template here--much too obviously--is Roger Zelazny's Amber series. Withal, Willey's construction offers a splendid cast, well-considered magicking, and a weak, sprawling plot. Assured, different, superior. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
This superior first novel is a fantastical coming-of-age story with strong picaresque elements. Young Prince Gwydion is newly on the throne after the disappearance of his father and uncle, and that mystery isn't the only problem he faces. There is a plague of monsters attacking his people, a treaty to be negotiated with an undiplomatic cousin, a mysterious woman who may be his long-lost sister or a spy, and a few other hassles to spice the brew. The whole story is handled with care, intelligence, and frequently an element of humor that almost elevates it to the level of a comedy of manners. Ultimately, it fits into no category except that of good reading. Roland Green
Prince Gwydion faces his first real challenge as ruler of Argylle when a Great Dragon makes an unexpected appearance in his land. This first novel introduces a fantasy world where modern technology coexists with a magic that stems from the Earth itself. Reminiscent of Zelazny's "Amber" series, this quirky fantasy adventure takes a lighthearted approach to the genre. A tendency toward overcomplication is a minor flaw in an otherwise entertaining novel. Large libraries should consider this for their fantasy collections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
