The Still

The newest volume in "The Seafort Saga". Young Prince Rodrigo is heir to the throne of Caledon--and the most powerful magic that belongs to the kingdom's rulers. When his mother dies, leaving him at the mercy of a scheming uncle, Rodrigo learns that reclaiming his empire will require courage, statesmanship--and winning the fiercest battle of all.

Doorstopper fantasy from the author of a paperback military science fiction series, the Seafort Saga. At Castle Stryx, Elena, Queen of Caledon, lies dying; her son and heir, the impatient and thoughtless Rodrigo, has but a single friend, the saintly Rustin, but two younger brothers, Elryc and Pytor. To inherit the Queen's magic Power, known as the Still, Roddy must never tell a lie, he must be chaste, and he must be crowned king. So when Elena expires before Roddy attains his majority, his ambitious, scheming uncle Margenthor, Duke of Stryx, declares himself Regent, refuses to present Roddy to the Council, and grabs the sacred Vessels that comprise the Still. More arrogantly yet, Margenthor snatches Pytor and declares the hastily absent Elryc a traitor. Tantroth of Eiber arrives with his fleet and his army to beseige the castle, forcing Roddy and Rust to follow Elryc into exile. So begins Roddy's quest to find his magic and regain his throne--but first he needs to learn some sharp lessons about life and about himself. Roddy's character transformation from spoiled brat to true prince seems to occupy thousands, not hundreds, of pages; still, younger fantasy addicts should find it well handled and satisfying, if blandly unoriginal. Anticipate sequels. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

After the sudden death of his mother, young Prince Rodrigo of Caledon has to fight for his right to rule rather than be subjected to a regency he probably would not survive. Unfortunately, he also appears unfit to rule. He is callow, selfish, and burdened by the requirement to remain a virgin (with women, anyway) in order to wield royal power. Thanks to a fascinating array of friends (including his companion and lover, Rustin) and enemies (including his uncle and half the nobility of Caledon, plus foreign invaders), Rodrigo slowly and painfully matures. The process may be slow and painful for some readers, too, for Feintuch is definitely prolix in large parts of this book. On the other hand, the maturing of an adolescent ruler in a fanciful medieval society has seldom been handled in such painstaking detail. Not quite up to the level of his Nicholas Seafort series, Feintuch's latest is an intelligent and ultimately admirable book, nevertheless, and it hints strongly at a sequel. Roland Green