Fugitive Prince: First Book of The Alliance of Light
By Janny Wurts
4/5
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About this ebook
Where there is light, there must always be shadow… The fourth volume in Janny Wurts’s spectacular epic fantasy.
The schism began with two half-brothers empowered to subdue a Mistwraith. In revenge it cursed them to a life of perpetual conflict. Each believes absolutely in his cause, and loathes the other for opposing it…
Lysaer, Prince of the Light – a charismatic leader sworn to set humanity free from sorcerous oppression. He claims divine power to safeguard his people from an enemy he is convinced will destroy them.
Arithon, Master of Shadow – a trained mage who wishes for nothing but to defuse war, and search out the vanished old races who hold the key to restore the world’s shattered peace.
When Koriani enchantresses join forces with Lysaer, new intrigues upset Arithon’s hard-won autonomy. Faction is set against faction, heart against heart, and the scene is set for an explosive recurrence of war. The curse of the Mistwraith echoes eternal…
Janny Wurts
Janny Wurts is the author of the ‘Cycle of Fire’ series, co-author of the Empire series and is currently working through the Wars of Light and Shadow series. She paints all her own covers and is also an expert horsewoman, sailor, musician and archer.
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Titles in the series (9)
The Curse of the Mistwraith Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Warhost of Vastmark Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fugitive Prince: First Book of The Alliance of Light Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ships of Merior Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Peril’s Gate: Third Book of The Alliance of Light Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Grand Conspiracy: Second Book of The Alliance of Light Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Traitor’s Knot: Fourth Book of The Alliance of Light Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Initiate’s Trial: First book of Sword of the Canon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Destiny’s Conflict: Book Two of Sword of the Canon Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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Reviews for Fugitive Prince
140 ratings7 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Since this is the fourth book in the Wars of Light and Shadow, I would rather not speak about the plot. I don't want to accidentally spoil someone who has just started the series.This is a remarkable instalment. It also begins a new arc in this epic series. The conflict widens and the tension is almost unbearable by now. The twists, turns, and intrigues are still surprising. The plot remains compelling. The characters are wonderfully developed, growing more in each book.The prose is beautiful and the work Janny Wurts has put into this series shows in every sentence.Anyone who loves epic high fantasy, should definitely try The Curse of the Mistwraith.What makes this read even better for me is the incredible group on Goodreads that is currently buddy reading it, and the fact Janny Wurts is answering all our questions in an ongoing Q&A.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This continuation of the epic fantasy series sees the start of a new arc of the story. The time Arithon had bought at the end of the previous book is rapidly dwindling as Lysaer attempts to trap his half-brother by forming alliances that cross the country so that he will have nowhere to hide. Lysaer has also re-introduced the abhorrent act of slavery for those that seek to aid Arithon and put a bounty on the head of any clansmen that can be found. He wants them to man the oars of the newly built fleet of ships to be used in blockade to stop anyone escaping by sea. And even though he opposes the use of sorcery, Lysaer is willing to receive aid from the Koriani if it will serve up Arithon to justice. Will Arithon be able to untangle the web that the Koriani Prime Matriarch is spinning to ensnare him and what actions will the already beleaguered Fellowship of Sorcerers be able to manage to ensure his continued existence?Being the first part of a new arc there is a lot of set-up in this book. Not only does it provide the background for potential new readers it also introduces new characters galore and fleshes out those that carry over and come more to the fore this time around. The books in this series are not quick and light affairs. They are complex and at times heavy going but are so worth the effort in the end. The world-building, character development and their actions and consequences are all superbly handled and you can't help feel for them as the cursed half-brothers draw closer to confrontation and how this affects those that are drawn in to these events.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The curse of the Mistwraith continues to twist the best of traits into something ugly and destructive. Arithon is on the run as his half brother Lysaer plots his destruction. Lysaer is in the ascendant, and Arithon holds on by sheer stubborn determination. There seems to be no movement toward a final resolution as the Koriani move against Arithon too.Despite wanting to strangle Janny as she twists the knife into our Fugitive Prince, finally toward the end, events conspire to finally give Arithon a tiny bit of hope. It's enough for me, although, things are still dire as even the Sorcerers are stretched beyond their limits.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This series started out with a lot of promise, and the first few books were very good. However, by this book the villian is a mindless machine of evil, and the hero is so torn by angst at every death on his behalf that it gets very tiresome. It also drags out the plot to a painfully slow pace. The hero is still an excellent character, and so are all of his allies. Unfortunately, the slow pace becomes a very negative factor.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's not easy being on the run. Especially when your half brother is stirring up entire continents worth of people to hate the very idea of your existance. So what you really don't need is a magical sisterhood designating you target no.1 for their particularly convolute plots. However on the plus side you've still got a few people prepared to die for you (well Lyessar wants to kill them too, so in the meantime they'll die in your cause rather than his) plus the not inconsiderable might of what's left of the Seven powerfull Sorcerers, even if they are hampered by ethics of permission.I spent a lot of this book going "Oh dear" as first one then another plot falls foul of chance, clever characters, magic, or ancient ruins. The best laid plans of Mice, Men and even Magicians go oft awry, which is lucky for Arithon because that's just about all thats keeping him alive. There's a lot more focus on the Korinthian order - although Elaria is still in the background, and we learn more about why the Fellowship dislike them so. There is a small amount explanation of the world's history here - fascinating explantation why 1000s of year sof humankind haven't managed to develop more technology - and a subtle barb at modern society. This is really a minor characters book though. Arithon spends a lot of it unconscious or just sailing about, Lyessar doesn't get to have much of a character as he's subsumed into the Mistbane's curse, and so it's left to assisstants, sorceresses, and clansmen to keep the plot moving. The increasingly disjointed plot lines do mean it's a slightly less immersive experience than the previous works though. I particularly disliked the prose devise of scrying into the next scene that happens a few times, and there's also some contrived time travel, which is another personal dislike, and a favourite character is killed off. There is always a bit of attrition in epic fantasy - it's almost one fo the defining characteristics of the genre but I thought this person was safe enough. Oh no.A worthy continuation of the series and the convenient starting point of a new story arc - notable in the absence of Arithon contrived masacres of Lysesar's forces which were heading towards predictable in the last books and a welcome change. The style continues as complex and enjoyable as ever. See how it all works out in the 5 centuries of the brothers lives in the next few volumes.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Arithon continues to scramble, staying barely a set ahead of the pursuing armies of light. The tragically bought breathing space that resulted from Lysaer's horrific loss in the Warhost of Vastmark has closed. Lysaer is more determined than ever to find and slay his half-brother; he'll even accept to proffered aid of Koriani witches provided it bears fruit. And the tenuous hold Arithon maintains over the Mistwraith's curse is slipping. As a holy war kindles, the Fellowship can do nothing but strive to hold the warp and weft of the world together.Wurts' elegant style makes reading her books a pleasure, even as the story continues toward a grim conclusion. Definitely worth investing the time, but I'm hoping Arithon's plight eases just a bit soon!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An intriguing start to the Alliance of Light, the third part of the Wars of Light and Shadow. I found it slightly weaker than the other books in the series, but it still remains an impressive work, able to be read again and again.