Children of Fire

Starred review from July 15, 2013
This energetic epic revitalizes the traditional fantasy quest with tragic heroes, evocative imagery, and sweeping conflict. Decades after the tyrannical Order of the Crown suppresses magic with the violent “Purging,” the Legacy, a barrier protecting the mortal realm from ancient Gods, is weakened. Lucifer-like Daemron transports four pieces of enchanted stone into the mortal world through the birth of four children. Each child is destined to wreak destruction with chaotic powers, thrust into a cruel and desperate war among gods, mages, and kings where the prize is reality itself. Keegan, one of the four children, burns with chaos and struggles between rage and mercy without realizing he is a pawn between old magic and the church. Karpyshyn (author of numerous novels in the Star Wars and Mass Effect universes) injects mature moral dilemmas and powerful characterization into frenzied moments of battle, betrayal, and terror. This intricately layered adventure breathes realism and overshadowing menace into ancient mythic archetypes, exposing the pain and wonder inherent in magic and the mingled hope and cynicism of modern fantasy. Agent: Ginger Clark, Curtis Brown.

Starred review from August 1, 2013

Slayer has had plenty of time to plan his escape. The one-time champion of the Old Gods, appointed to stand against the demonic spawn of Chaos, was himself raised to immortality by the power of their talismans. However, he was corrupted by his power. For the past several centuries, Slayer has been imprisoned behind a magical barrier known as the Legacy. But the Old Gods were drained beyond recovery by their creation of the Legacy, and the Legacy itself is weakening. Slayer's plan is to send his seed across the barrier to create a child of Chaos in the mortal world--a child destined to tear down the Legacy. But even a god's plan can be flawed: the seed splits as it crosses the Legacy, and not one but four children of fire are born, each an heir to one aspect of Slayer: prophet, wizard, warrior, and king. VERDICT Karpyshyn, the author of several novels in the "Star Wars: The Old Republic" and "Star Wars: Darth Bane" series, weaves a compelling tale with complex characters. This first series volume has all of the elements of a great new epic fantasy. The reader is left not knowing where the story will end up but definitely wanting to be along for the ride. Recommended for all lovers of epic fantasy.--William Baer, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib., Atlanta

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