Son of Avonar

By Carol Berg

Magic is forbidden throughout the Four Realms. For decades, sorcerers and those associating with them were hunted to near extinction.

But Seri, a Leiran noblewoman living in exile, is no stranger to defying the unjust laws of her land. She is sheltering a wanted fugitive who possesses unusual abilities-a fugitive with the fate of the realms in his hands...

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: Feb 3, 2004
• ISBN: 9781101098745

Reviews for Son of Avonar

[dknippling_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book, but it felt like the author bit off more than she could chew: too many "clever" things that didn't pull off all that well. A lot of summary descriptions instead of scenes. However, reading it was fascinating--comparing her new work with this was an education.

[saltypepper_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is so full of fantasy cliches that, considered in the abstract, I feel I should hate it. And yet, Berg is so good, that aside from occasional moments, I was able to suspend my disbelief or annoyance with the cliches and enjoy a story well-told. This book is, if nothing else, a page-turner and I stayed up waaaay too late finishing it. Even though I figured out the hero's Big! Secret! long before the heroine, I wanted to see how they were going to get there and how it would all turn out. It's the first book of the series, and I was especially grateful for the lack of cliffhangers to carry over to book 2.

[alchemie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My favorite thing about Carol Berg's fantasy is her characters. She is wonderful at creating complex, multi-dimensional personalities that never feel fake or forced. They act in ways that make sense with the situations they are in, and while they may not always be likable they are always realistic. The plot of Son of Avonar is intriguing and keeps just the right pace - never a dull moment but never feeling rushed. Berg provides just enough clues in the build-up to lead readers along in big reveals, creating many "Aha! I knew it!" moments without any of the "What?!? Where did that come from?" type moments.
My main complaints with this novel are the heavy use of flashbacks, particularly in the first half of the book, and the lack of explanation for the magic system. Flashbacks are typically my least favorite tool for exposition; however, in this is a first-person narrative, Berg is skillful enough to make most of the flashbacks seem plausible as the narrator becoming lost in thought or reminiscing about the past. The system of magic is interesting but many terms are introduced without being explained (some are clear enough - Healers heal, Horsemasters are skilled with horses, but what exactly does a word weaver do? a speaker?). Overall a great read, and definitely gets me excited to see what happens next in the series.

[starstorm_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the first book in the Bridge of D'Arnath series, we meet Seri, a noblewoman living in exile by her own choice. Through a series of flashbacks interspersed throughout the present-day narrative--a device I really liked, as it provided just enough information to be relevant to the current action--Berg reveals the reason behind Seri's choice, while also adding layers to her character "portrait". When a mute and apparently half-mad young sorcerer almost literally appears on the doorstep of Seri's simple cottage--her home for the past ten years--she at first wants nothing to do with him, but a series of events that awaken long-buried memories and a keen investigative curiosity compel her to help him unravel the mystery of not only D'Natheil's presence in her world, but also his own existence, while keeping just ahead of those who are pursuing him, for sorcery is punishable by death, a law that Seri is intimately acquainted with. As the story progresses, Seri comes to realize that she had not only cut herself off from her past life, but she had stopped living. As the mystery of D'Natheil and his purpose is slowly revealed, Seri begins to take her first tentative steps back into living, rather than simply enduring her life.Carol Berg has an amazing talent for creating believable characters who learn and grow as a result of the events they live in her stories. There's always a sense of disappointment at the end of her books... not with the story, but because the journey has ended (at least until the next book, in the case of the first books in a series).

[irishkitsune · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Son of Avonar starts a grand tale of two worlds struggling to stay in balance through a mystical gate known as the Bridge of D'Arnath. A world of mundanes and a world of sorcerers both torn by strife and war teeter on the brink of self-annihilation, with only an unlikely former noblewoman named Seri to save them. I couldn't put down the first two books, but I've been struggling with the third book as the story slows down a bit. I also don't find the main character, Gerick, in the third book quite as interesting as Seri and Karon from the first two books.

[bluerose_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I had really high hopes for this book, and up to the very end I was really enjoying it. Note I did buy further books in the series, more to see where she was going with it, but there was one particular plot device used (and a huge spoiler so I wont give it away) that completely ruined this book for me.Provided that plot device doesn't bother you (and I know she has some huge fans so some don't care) then this is a nicely crafted Fantasy book, quite a bit of first-book-itis in thats its part of a series of four.

[amf0001 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I read a lot of fantasy, and this one just didn't grab me. I made it about half way and then skimmed to the end, but wasn't involved with the situation or the characters. Interesting enough plot, I think it was the writing that didn't sparkle for me. If Lois Bujold had written it, it would have been a far better book!

[darla_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not as intense as her Transformation trilogy, but emotional, dense fantasy that really sucks you into the world. I love this woman's writing.