Wild Magic - Book Two of "Fool's Gold"

As magic returns to Elda, the rival lands of Istria and Eyra once again find themselves moving toward war, swordmaker Katla Aransen finds her ability to commune with the earth strenthening, and Katla's father Aran sets off on an expedition to the far north.

Banished centuries before with the imprisonment of the gods, the magic continues to return, slowly, to the land of Elda in Fisher's densely plotted sequel to Sorcery Rising (2002). Juggling six major plot lines, the book covers the landscape of Elda from frozen north to volcanic south. In between, the seafaring Eyran islanders try to keep their Viking-like culture from falling under the domination of the more populous, Italianate Kingdom of Istria. Katla Aransen, swordmaker and daughter to Aran Aranson, lord of Rockfall, finds that her ability to commune with the earth forces her to accept a destiny not of her own choosing. Her father, less blessed, tries to make his fortune in an ill-fated expedition to the far north. Meanwhile, avatars of the captive gods move toward the center of the brewing war between Eyra and Istria. In addition to the large and somewhat unwieldy cast, with multiple links among them, Fisher fills the book with historical asides, myths, songs and folklore. But even if certain problems remain unresolved, the plot does advance. Noticeably, characters react according to their cultural backgrounds, providing the kingdoms and peoples with some sense of individuality. Nor are the obvious heroes or villains without both flaws and virtues. If the whole seems too close to romanticized history, it compensates with engaging details and strong female characters.
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Fisher's complex tale skillfully weaves together the stories of several characters: the mysterious Rosa Eldi, Rose of the World, whose stunning beauty maddens men with desire but who has no memory of her past; the sorcerer's assistant who kidnaps the Rosa Eldi and an unusual cat but doesn't know how to control either; an oppressive religious tyrant's daughter, whose greatest wish is for freedom and who carries a child of destiny; master bladesmith Katla Arenson, whose blood sings with the energies of earth, wood, and metal; and Katla's father, insanely driven by a map he believes will lead him to a stash of riches. And there are other, equally memorable characters. All of them are wild and strong in their own ways, caught up in a huge drama that is incomprehensible to them. As ancient, unpredictable magical forces reawaken throughout the land, each character unknowingly plays an integral part in shaping Eldi, the world that is to be. Thumbs-up. Paula Luedtke
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