Son of Avonar

February 15, 2004
In the Four Realms, sorcery is persecuted with a thoroughness that recalls the Third Reich, and Leiran noblewoman Seri has gone into exile to avoid not only that but also the faction fights of the royal family. Unfortunately, Leiran soldiers drive a mute, fugitive warrior to seek shelter with her. She helps him recover his identity, though as the story progresses, it appears that he may be a mage as well as a warrior, and may prove crucial for dealing with a menace that the Four Realms have brought on themselves by their war against magic. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger. On the way to it, Berg exhibits her skill with language, world-building, and the intelligent development of the magic that affects and is affected by the characters. The first book of the Bridge of D'Arnath launches a promising new multivolume work that should provide much intelligent entertainment.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)