Blood and Memory

May 30, 2005
In this enchanting sequel to Australian author McIntosh's fantasy Myrren's Gift
, young Wyl Thirsk finds to his surprise that the "gift" the condemned witch Myrren granted him in the first book wasn't just a one-shot deal—every time he "dies" he takes on the outward appearance of his murderer. Worse yet, the gift has its own goals, chiefly to kill tyrannical King Celimus and put Wyl in Celimus's place as the rightful ruler of Morgravia. Trapped in an ever-growing number of different bodies, Wyl is desperate to stop the gift from continuing its inevitable progress toward King Celimus. Yet the more Wyl learns about Celimus, the more convinced he is that the evil king must die. Despite this being the middle of a trilogy, McIntosh manages to sustain suspense while deftly handling a large cast of characters and an intricate plot. Agent, Chris Lotts.

July 15, 2005
Through the manipulations of the corrupt King Celimus, Wyl Thirsk, general of the Morgravian Legion, must flee his own country at the risk of his life. Having witnessed the murder of his best friend and the torture of his sister, Thirsk is trapped in the body of a hired assassin -a female killer. As he searches desperately for the being called the Manwitch, who gave him his special magical talent, Thirsk also seeks a means of rescuing the woman he loves from a loveless, forced marriage to Celimus. This sequel to "Myrren's Gift" provides a further look at McIntosh's exquisitely detailed world. Strongly conceived, believable characters and a swift plot make this fantasy epic a good addition to most libraries.

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.