In this sequel of "God Stalk," Hodgell follows her main character from that book, Jame, but the tone of the story changes drastically. "Dark of the Moon" is a much more 'epic'-feeling fantasy, as Jame returns to her mission to find her brother, whom she suspects is now High Lord of the Kencyr . So she sets forth with the 'giant' man, Marc, and her mind-bonded blind hunting cat, Jorin, and much questing and adventure ensues...
Meanwhile, her brother, Torisen, is indeed High Lord, and as such is dealing with much political maneuvering, as Kencyr society is bound by all kinds of strict traditions and rigid ideas about honor... which can get in the way of dealing with issues that come up, such as shape-changing impostors, assassins, power-hungry rivals, not to mention the rumors of a three-million-strong, half-human cannibal horde about to overrrun civilized lands...
Well-done fantasy but I have to admit that I missed the more intimate tone of the first book, as well as the intriguing setting of the city of Tai-Tastigon.
Meanwhile, her brother, Torisen, is indeed High Lord, and as such is dealing with much political maneuvering, as Kencyr society is bound by all kinds of strict traditions and rigid ideas about honor... which can get in the way of dealing with issues that come up, such as shape-changing impostors, assassins, power-hungry rivals, not to mention the rumors of a three-million-strong, half-human cannibal horde about to overrrun civilized lands...
Well-done fantasy but I have to admit that I missed the more intimate tone of the first book, as well as the intriguing setting of the city of Tai-Tastigon.
Second in the series after Godstalk.
When the holy city of Tai-Tastigon went up in flames, Jame the Kencyr hit the road. No longer apprenticed to the Master Thief, she is on her own on a dread and dangerous journey. Pursued by monsters, compromised by the treachery of enemies, and tormented by her own powers raging nearly out of control, she searches desparately for her lost twin brother Torisen.
Torisen has problems of his own. Now the Highlord of the Kencyrath, his rule is besieged from within by intrigue, and there are armies at his borders. Only Jame holds the secret that can protect his kingdom's warriors from slaughter and the rest of the troubled world from doom...
When the holy city of Tai-Tastigon went up in flames, Jame the Kencyr hit the road. No longer apprenticed to the Master Thief, she is on her own on a dread and dangerous journey. Pursued by monsters, compromised by the treachery of enemies, and tormented by her own powers raging nearly out of control, she searches desparately for her lost twin brother Torisen.
Torisen has problems of his own. Now the Highlord of the Kencyrath, his rule is besieged from within by intrigue, and there are armies at his borders. Only Jame holds the secret that can protect his kingdom's warriors from slaughter and the rest of the troubled world from doom...
This series is just dense with characters, places, tribes, stories, ghosts, you name it. Reality is not always reality - they can step into the past, they can be in dreams, they can shift into a dimension just a little off from their own. I am still having a problem visualizing what's happening; there's a lot of verbiage but Hodgell doesn't always explain what's going on well enough for me to "see" it in my mind's eye. The list of characters in front helps, and the maps do a little although even that wasn't always helpful. This book alternates POV between Jame and her twin brother Torisen, with a few brief sidesteps into other characters. Both Jame and Tori are quite likable, Marc has potential, the others are just supporting players. Definitely going to read the next in the series as this is a very intriguing setup.
