Fugitive Prince: The Wars of Light and Shadow (Third Part) (Alliance of Light/Janny Wurts, 1st Bk)

Book Description

Two half brothers, cursed by a Mistwriath to a lifelong enmity, whose gifts of Light and Shadow are set into violent conflict.

Lysaer, Prince of the Light. A dedicated, charismatic leader, sworn to uphold justice and set humanity free from the sorcerer's rule, he will claim divine power to safeguard his people from an enemy he firmly believes will destroy them.

Arithon, Master of Shadow. Brought up a trained mage, given a musical talent that has won him the title of Masterbard, he wishes for nothing but to defuse war and strife, and search out the vanished old races, whose grace holds the key to the world's fragmented peace.

With the appalling destruction of the Vastmark warhost, recoil and grief reshape the balance of power in the Five Kingdoms. Koriani enchantresses join forces with Lysaer in a desperate bid for power, and their intrigues threaten Arithon's hard-won autonomy.

The aging Koriani Prime Matriarch wants the Shadow Master taken captive, no matter what the costor the means. For his life stands as her bargaining chip to break the deadlocked rivalry with the fellowship sorcerers.

Here begins the Alliance of Light. With faction set against faction, heart set against heart, and spells of high mastery engaged to cast down the ancient mysteries, the moves made by hunters and fugitive alike will remake the course of world destiny.

Customer Reviews:

A satisfying read...best in series since 'Curse.'.......2007-05-09

Wow - looking at previous reviews, the newest of which is in 1998 or 1999 I guess this isn't an overly popular series. I have no idea why. I find the characters and the premise to be positively engaging. Can't imagine why more people aren't reading - and reviewing.

Okay - so anyone who has read my previous reviews on all of the preceeding books knows that I have an issue with Lysear and how he is written. Well - he is given more attention in 'Fugitive' and let me just say...he is definatley becoming less and less likeable regardless of the curse or geas that he is under because of the mistwraith. On more than one occasion Lysear is given the opportunity to really *see* beyond the curse and how his actions are affecting the world of Athera. He has the potential to overcome the curse, as Arithon has, and does not take it on at least three different occasions. It would be difficult - but it could be done. Despite or because of this the reader still cannot help but feel for the fair haired prince. In his quest for 'justice' he loses many things - two of which in this book that can't help but pull at your heart. It's all the more sad as you, the reader, know that it didn't have to be so.

My irritation in the previous books that Arithon was always upstaging Lysear in an unfair turn of events and was always written as the martyr and hero was really turned on me in this book. I got what I thought I wanted in that it appeared that Lysear finally had the upper hand. Turns out that is not what I wanted at all. I was on the edge of my seat as the Alliance closed in on Arithon and found myself hoping against hope that he would be able to come up with another clever trick to get himself out of the situation. He could not. Due to assistance from the Korianni, Arithon was all but out of commission and unable to aid in his own escape. Luckily, those around him, the loyal band of followers that have sworn oath to him (including Dakar) were able to pick up the slack. Some secondary and highly likeable characters really come into play to help save their soveriegn. And in an act of desperation, Asandir, one of the fellowship sorcerers open a grimward to help aid in Arithon's flight. It is an amazing journey within a dragon's dream and across time that is definately one of the highlights of this book.

New allies, enemies, betrayals and plots all come in to play in this fourth installment and will have long reaching implications well into the next few books. One particularly startling plot is only hinted at towards the end. It involves the Korianni and will take years to come to fruition. The means and method used is horrifying - as well as the person forced to participate. For this alone you will want to read and see how it all plays out. Exactly what is done is revealed at the beginning of the next book...Grand Conspiracy.

The Fugitive Prince is definately an engaging and enjoyable read.

Good read for a middle-of-the-series book.......1998-11-10

As always, the characterization is excellent. Janny's editors might want to watch word repetition. I had hoped for a more satisfying development of the story, but even so I recommend this series without reservation.

A must read!! If you haven't read it, get it!!.......1998-10-13

Just read it!! Wonderfully created, you can't help but feel sorry for both princes, especially the clans that follow my fav - Arithon, Master of shadow. Your doing great work Janny, keep it up(which is not hard for some one so talented) and you'll still have your many readers here in the 'land of the long white cloud', plus the tongans.

And that creep from new york, as if the person had written a master piece in their miserable little life! How dare they be so negative! About something so far out! Anyway, like great wine, great magic takes time... So anyone waiting long has definitely not been to nz, where it so happens we get everything last!

Great Book in a series of great books.......1998-09-27

First I want to make a point. There are plenty of useless fantasy writers out there, and Ms. Wurts is completely and utterely, and without a shadow of a doubt, NOT one of them. So naturally I am horrified when I see some of the commentaries on this book, where the occaisional Philistine urged people not to read the book, or worse still, urge Ms. Wurts to stop writing. I have read every last one of her books, and, countrary to the general Law of Sequels, they get better as they go on. The Wars of Light and Shadows series is my number #1 series in any type of book (and I read a LOT). I make weakly visits to the local book store to see whether the next in the series has come out. Fourtunately, I found that those who liked the book far outweighed the detractors of it. So I will now enjoy complementing Ms. Wurts on another really first class book. I openely invit any who wish to comment on my comments to e-mail me.

darker but still gripping.......1998-09-26

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series being a follower of Janny's work since her Feist collaborations (thoroughly recommended). This book fully lives up to Janny's development as a writer of compelling, believable characters and far from being a slow read, it carried me on a very consuming journey. Why does this installment feel so unleavened with humour and joy? I found this novel too dark to merit a full five stars - not enough of Elaira's presence, Dakar's growing maturity and a catastrophic event in the weave of characters might be a few of the reasons. I don't know if I can take too much more desperate straits, depletion of Arithon's resources and faint hope in the face of adversity without some moments to lift my sinking heart. I care about these characters and reading this actually put a strain on my emotions. Please, Janny, give some thought to what you are doing to us! Marvellous work, though - I am waiting earnestly for the next installment.

Fugitive Prince (Wars of Light & Shadow)

Average customer rating:

The Noose Is Tightened...
Great setup for later conflicts!
A strong mid-series volume
Otherwise Imaginative, Complex Tale Still Hampered By Prose
Not as captivating as other Wurts novels, still a good read.

Fugitive Prince (Wars of Light & Shadow)
Janny Wurts
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0061054682

Amazon.com

The third cycle in the Wars of Light and Shadow series begins with Fugitive Prince, book 1 of the Alliance of the Light triptych. Lysaer and Arithon are brothers divided by a curse of enmity; one driven by rapacious pride, the other marking a lonely fugitive path. In a style reminiscent of Tolkien or Herbert, Janny Wurts has concocted a world of enchantresses and runes, ciphers and prophecies, conjurers and plotters, in which the forces of good and evil are distilled to their most human levels. Be warned: after a taste of her potion, you may be under her spell for a very long time. This series is Ulyssesean in scope, comprising eight volumes at last count. --Jhana Bach

Book Description

The wars of light and shadow

With the appalling destruction of the Vastmark warhost, recoil and grief reshapes the balance of power in the Five Kingdoms. Two half brothers, cursed by a Mistwraith to a lifelong enmity, are set into violent conflict: Lysaer, Prince of the Light. Arithon, Master of Shadow. And there are those between who will stop at nothing to fulfill secret desires and consolidate their own power. With faction set against faction, heart set against heart, and spells of high mastery engaged to cast down the ancient mysteries, the moves made by hunters and fugitive alike will remake the course of world destiny.

Customer Reviews:

The Noose Is Tightened..........2006-06-16

If you've blindly stumbled onto this book, I would recommend reading the prior books (Curse Of The Mistwraith, Ships Of Merior, Warhost Of Vastmark) to understand and appreciate the depth and scope of the epic that Janny is detailing.

Fugitive Prince revolves around Arithon's quest to escape the blind, fanatical following of his equally cursed half-brother, Lysaer. At first Arithon seeks escape across the sea, and when he returns, seeks to bring captured clanborn out of slavery under Lysaer's rule.

Playing in the background, the leader of the Koriani (a group of herbalist witches, for want of a better description), seeks the demise of Arithon by setting a trap of frightening intricacy and proportion, and working in league with Lysaer.

For those with short attention spans, I would advise staying clear of this series of books. For those with more patience, I would thoroughly recommend it - Janny populates her world with vibrant, well-crafted characters, details complex battle scenes and the intricate nature of spellcraft, while masterfully interweaving separate plot lines into a complex tapestry, leaving the reader wanting more, and always wondering what will happen next.

Great setup for later conflicts!.......2005-07-16

Fugitive Prince begins the third arc in the overall five arc series and develops Lysaer's chilling new strategy for dealing with his half brother as well as the eventual rammifications. Arithon also changes his strategy to one of avoidance and goes sailing to find the lost Paravians, much to the frustration of the Koriani Prime. However, the Prime has her own plans for using Elaira and others to lure Arithon back to shore to further her own plot against the Fellowship.

This arc is longer than the previous two which allows for more character and insidious plot development. Janny does an excellent job of showing us each person's viewpoint, creating truly three dimensional characters that are never all good or all evil. She couples that with her unique descriptive style, which may seem awkward to those new to her writing, but is rich in imagery and perfectly describes each scene. This series is also unique from others i've read in that you gain more knowledge and shift your perception of characters after each new book comes out. Rereading the entire series becomes a treat because of this. I highly recommend reading this book and this entire series even though it isn't finished, because each book wraps up fairly well, instead of leaving readers in a cliffhanging lurch.

A strong mid-series volume.......2005-07-12

This book begins the Alliance of Light portion of the Wars of Light and Shadow. As with the rest of the series, the characters are compelling and well-rounded, without the cookie-cutter villains I've come to expect in fantasy. The plot points introduced in this volume are built upon in later volumes. However, I recommend starting with Curse of the Mistwraith, since that is the first book in the Wars of Light and Shadow, and you miss a lot if you haven't read that first.

Otherwise Imaginative, Complex Tale Still Hampered By Prose.......2000-08-13

There is much to recommend this series: an imaginative world and realm of magic, strong and diverse character development, and a complex, multi-layered tale. This book, along with the "Warhost of Vastmark," are improvements upon the first two books in the series, and under normal circumstances I would be tempted to give it a higher scoring. However, the author's dense and often over-wrought language continues to obstruct both the pace and the accessibility of the narrative, through style further convoluting an already complex tale, and often interrupting and intruding upon the rhythm and evolution of the plot. Action is often halted by digressions into unnecessary and over-stated detail, and when a simple explanation or description would suffice, a heavily laden sentence instead is interjected. Though often the author's use of language can be applauded for its vividness of description or singular expression, she turns this strength into a fault, unable to distinguish when language would best serve the story rather than its own internal and stylistic voice. As many other readers have noted the author's propensity to over-work her prose, I think that it must be admitted even by the series' adherents that the use of language here presents an obvious flaw that distances many readers from the tale it is supposed to serve.

That said, there continues to exist much merit and interest in this epic that will continue to propel the reader along if they are willing to wade through the author's self-conscious and at times unnecessary verbiage. It is readily apparent that the author takes her work seriously and has ample creative power to render a complex and multi-dimensional tale. And when her writing skills are not distracted by studied considerations of style, she is able to imbue her story with all the emotional and imaginative engagement present in the best fantasy has to offer.

Not as captivating as other Wurts novels, still a good read........1999-12-21

By far the best of Janny Wurts' works is this series, however I must admit that at times I found this chapter in the series a trifle boring.

I suppose I am expecting the same very high standard that marks her previous novels. She is by far my favourite author, and this novel simply falls short of her standard - however, it is still a very good book and worth the read - just don't expect too much, like I did ;)

This novel focuses on the growing power of Lysear's Alliance, Koriathian plots and intrigues, and Arithon's efforts to escape their traps and manipulations. The novel does provide a lot of valuable information that will no doubt become instrumental in the following novels.

I have one big complaint though - There was certainly not enough about Elaira. Am I wrong to assume he is the lead female character? When, (Oh when!) are we going to learn more about her, and her experiences. And when will she meet Arithon again?

Book Description

After enduring years of cruelty and abuse at the hands of several families who successively owned her in Bermuda and the West Indies, Mary Prince traveled to London in 1828, in the service of the Woods family. There she was granted her freedom in accordance with English law. But England's anti-slavery ruling did not extend to Antigua, and, in order to remain free, Prince had to abandon hopes of rejoining her husband, who had been left behind. Seeking help from Britain's Anti-Slavery Society, she was offered domestic employment and met her employer's friend, Susanna Strickland, to whom she dictated this gripping story of her life.

When it was published in 1831, Prince's History provoked a libel action and counter-suit and required three editions to keep up with public demand. A moving, painstakingly detailed record of the experiences of the author and of her fellow slaves, it became a powerful instrument in the Anti-Slavery Society's campaign against the slave trade. Sara Salih's introduction and notes place the narrative within the context of black history, and examine, as well, Victorian constraints, which required the narrative to be made palatable for contemporary audiences. This edition also includes a chronology and supplementary material on slavery and the case of Mary Prince.

Customer Reviews:

An important document of the slave experience.......2001-01-06

Born in Bermuda in the late 18th century, Mary Prince was a Black woman who survived enslavement in the colonial world of the Caribbean. She orally told her story to a third party, who transcribed it. First published in England in 1831, "The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave" is one of the most important narratives of the slave experience in the Americas.

This book describes in detail the reality of the slave experience: the dehumanization of Black people, the moral degradation of their masters, and the ever-present violence. Prince's story is also an important early defense of the humanity of people of African descent. She notes that slave masters "think that black people are like cattle, without natural affection. But my heart tells me it is far otherwise."

Prince tells of her labor in the salt ponds of Turk's Island, her conflict with a hired mulatto woman, her spiritual life in the Moravian Church, and many other topics. Ultimately, she celebrates the desire and hope for freedom: "All slaves want to be free."

"The History of Mary Prince" does not quite attain the level of literary craftsmanship and psychological complexity as do some other classic slave narratives (I am thinking in particular of those of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs). But it is still a powerful, authoritative, and important human testament. Mary Prince declares, "I have been a slave--I have felt what a slave feels, and I know what a slave knows." We of later centuries need to hear her words.

A Woman's Voice and the Experience of Slavery.......2000-09-25

First published in 1831, "The History of Mary Prince" is an extraordinary cultural document. It is the first published account of a female British ex-slave. Mary Prince, a slave in the West Indies in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, tells the story of her life in an effort to awaken sympathy for the abolitionist movement in England.

Mary particularly emphasizes instances of the arbitrary punishments meted out by her various masters. She repeatedly questions how the British, a civilized nation, could permit its colonists to treat its colonial work force like brute beasts. Mary elicits our attention and respect in the ways she manages to resist the brutality of her masters, both physically and vocally. She often shows herself speaking out against cruelty regardless of social taboos, accepted colonial norms of unquestioning obedience, and the image of the "benevolent" slave owner.

Mary's narrative is also remarkable for her characterization as the "self-made heroine." Mary tells us extensively about her attempts to save enough money to purchase her freedom, and to engage, convert, and marry the man of her choice. As the editor of this edition points out, as Mary begins to learn the value of her labor, she more easily manipulates her owners into realizing their own powerlessness over her. A sort of Wollstonecraftian feminist hero, Mary Prince bases her self-definition on her ability to be financially, as well as physically independent, and to improve herself through education and religion.

One limitation of "The History of Mary Prince" is the fact that it was only dictated by Prince. It was transcribed and published by British abolitionists, who may have suggested the emphasis on brutality and deemphasis on specifically sexual violence. It is impossible to know the extent of the editing process, which was out of Prince's hands. Nonetheless, this edition, edited by Moira Ferguson, contains many relevant historical documents which provide a rich context for Prince's narrative.

Average customer rating:
The History of Mary Prince: A West Indian Slave Narrative
Mary Prince
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Caribbean & West Indies | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
Caribbean & West Indies | Americas | History | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Americas | History | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | World | History | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

White Witch of Rosehall

The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings: Revised Edition (Penguin Classics)

Obi; or, The History of Three-Fingered Jack (Broadview Edition)

Politics and Empire in Victorian Britain: A Reader

The Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave

ASIN: 0486438635

Book Description

The first black woman to escape from slavery in the British colonies and publish a record of her experiences, Prince vividly recalls her life in the West Indies, her rebellion against physical and psychological degradation, and her 1828 escape in England. A straightforward, often poetic account of a struggle for freedom.

I Came As a Stranger: The Underground Railroad

Average customer rating:

An uplifting read for young readers of all ages
A Must Have

I Came As a Stranger: The Underground Railroad
Bryan Prince
Manufacturer: Tundra Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Canada | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Canadian | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Prairie Provinces | Regional Canada | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Ontario | Regional Canada | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0887766676
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Book Description

Honor Book for the Society of School Librarians International’s Best Book Award – Social Studies, Grades 7-12

Winner of 2005 Children’s Nautilus Book Awards (Non-fiction)

Prior to abolition in 1865, as many as 40,000 men, women, and children made the perilous trip north to freedom in Canada with the help of the Underground Railroad. It was neither underground nor was it a railroad, and was most remarkable for its lack of formal organization, so cloaked in secrecy that few facts were recorded while it “ran.”

The story of the Underground Railroad is one of suffering and of bravery, and is not only one of escape from slavery but of beginnings: of people who carved out a new life for themselves in perilous, difficult circumstances. In I Came as a Stranger, Bryan Prince, a descendent of slaves, describes the people who made their way to Canada and the life that awaited them.

From Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Dresden, Ontario to Harriet Tubman’s Canadian base of operations in St. Catharines, the communities founded by former slaves soon produced businessmen, educators, and writers. Yet danger was present in the form of bounty hunters and prejudice.

Complemented by archival photos, I Came as a Stranger is an important addition to North American history.

Customer Reviews:

An uplifting read for young readers of all ages.......2004-06-12

Highly recommended, Bryan Prince's I Came As A Stranger: The Underground Railroad is a fascinating history and site guide to the American Underground Railroad, a pre-Civil War secret organization of conspirators who risked life and freedom to help fugitive slaves make the perilous journey to the freedom in Canada. Black-and-white illustrations, and compelling testimony make I Came As A Stranger an educational and uplifting read for young readers of all ages.

A Must Have.......2004-03-04

Very seldom do we get the opportunity to read history from the voices of those that lived it and, the persons who are descendants of those who lived it. In this amazing volume, you have both. Bryan Prince is not only a consumate historian, he is a descendant of the fugitives who made it to freedom and settled in Southern Ontario. While intended for young adults, older readers, especially from the U.S. will have the opportunity to learn "the rest of the story" of the Underground Railroad.

Fugitive Prince: The Wars of Light and Shadow

Average customer rating:

Fugitive Prince: The Wars of Light and Shadow
Janny Wurts
Manufacturer: HarperPrism
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEN5HW

Twenty-two Years a Slave and Forty Years a Freeman

Average customer rating:

Twenty-two Years a Slave and Forty Years a Freeman
Austin Steward
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

African-American & Black | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0486434494

Book Description

Revealing, poignantly written autobiography describes what life in America was like for a former slave: the help he received from abolitionist groups; his years as a successful merchant in Rochester, New York; and his support of a small ex-slave community in Canada.

$100 reward: Ranaway from my residence in Upper Marlboro', Prince George's County, Md., on Wednesday morning, the 25th instant, my negro man John Dent

Average customer rating:

$100 reward: Ranaway from my residence in Upper Marlboro', Prince George's County, Md., on Wednesday morning, the 25th instant, my negro man John Dent
Horatio C Scott
Manufacturer: H.C. Scott
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008BFU42

$50 reward: Ranaway from the subscriber, living near Upper Marlboro', Prince George's County, Maryland, on Monday, the 25th instant, negro man Lewis

Average customer rating:

$50 reward: Ranaway from the subscriber, living near Upper Marlboro', Prince George's County, Maryland, on Monday, the 25th instant, negro man Lewis
Thomas Clagett
Manufacturer: T. Clagett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008BFU3S

Average customer rating:

Fugitive Prince
Janny Wurts
Manufacturer: Voyager
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8U7EC

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books