Rating: 
Summary: Breathlessly waiting...
Review: "The Grand Conspiracy" isn't quite as grand as it could've been. I've read the other Wars of Light & Shadow books and liked each successive volume better than the last... until now. About 90% of this book revolves around Lysaer and the Koriani. Unfortunately for the reader, Lysaer and the Koriani don't do much of interest. That's a big recipe for boredom. The conspiracy that the title alludes to is mildly interesting but definitely shouldn't have taken over 700 pages to conclude and even when it does it's kind of anti-climactic. On the positive side, Arithon's chapters almost always picked up the pace and then there's the biggest reason, IMO, to read "Grand Conspiracy": Davien the Betrayer makes a few appearances (IIRC, this is the first time we get to see what he's doing). I suppose I could sum up my thoughts on this book by saying that the whole plot seemed kinda, well... unnecessary in the grand scheme of things on Athera. If you haven't read the first WoLaS books yet, I'd strongly urge you not to start here as it probably wouldn't make a whole lot of sense. Of course, if you're a fan of the series like I am, "Grand Conspiracy" will be worth your time... but just barely.
Rating: 
Summary: The Grand Conspiracy...
Review: "The Grand Conspiracy" isn't quite as grand as it could've been. I've read the other Wars of Light & Shadow books and liked each successive volume better than the last... until now. About 90% of this book revolves around Lysaer and the Koriani. Unfortunately for the reader, Lysaer and the Koriani don't do much of interest. That's a big recipe for boredom. The conspiracy that the title alludes to is mildly interesting but definitely shouldn't have taken over 700 pages to conclude and even when it does it's kind of anti-climactic. On the positive side, Arithon's chapters almost always picked up the pace and then there's the biggest reason, IMO, to read "Grand Conspiracy": Davien the Betrayer makes a few appearances (IIRC, this is the first time we get to see what he's doing). I suppose I could sum up my thoughts on this book by saying that the whole plot seemed kinda, well... unnecessary in the grand scheme of things on Athera. If you haven't read the first WoLaS books yet, I'd strongly urge you not to start here as it probably wouldn't make a whole lot of sense. Of course, if you're a fan of the series like I am, "Grand Conspiracy" will be worth your time... but just barely.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful fantasy written with the grace of a Master
Review: Ahhh..I have the dubious honor of being the person to review this book. Where to start? I have been reading fantasy for almost 20 years, and this is without a shadow of doubt a work of High Fantasy of which there are very few equals. With all due respect to feminist fervor which may label me as sexist, there are a handful of women who can write fantasy such as this. I will go as far to say Ms. Wurts is THE BEST. There is no other. Not even Marion Bradley can come close. The plot of the entire Mistwraith series is not easily surmised, suffices to say that it is beyond the grasp of the reader, until the author wishes it otherwise. I wish, I could keep reading and reading, very few things in life have held me enthralled like this. All praise aside, I do have one regret; that the interaction of Arithon and Elaira is barely documented. Elaira is rarely mentioned in this book as well as the one before it. We want to see her more, if not see her finally reunite with her beloved. The reunion at the end is so brief, one can barely savor it. This one critique set aside, I cannot wait for the sequel. Two years to wait is an awfully long time. Oh well, I will bide it, and reread the whole series thrice over, and throw in ...of the Empire series for good measure. Thank you Janny, for providing us with a world that can entrance for days on end.
Rating:
Summary: Breathlessly waiting...
Review: Although I must agree with some of the other reviews for this book, that find it slightly below the standard set by the other books, I must attribute that to the author's need to split this section of the story into four different sections. Grand Conspiracy is only the second, in what Janny Wurts calls a story arc, of this particular plot thread. For my own curiosity, I sought out Wurts' website. This site answered many of my questions regarding the series, and even gives some insight into backround history not included in the series at this point. Of course, this information has only set my mind spinning off in a dozen new directions, trying to fathom the next plot thread in the next book (something I should have learned long since not to try, because of my abysmal success rate in the venture). I encourage any and all to visit the site, as it will answer many questions you might have regarding the series, or the author's plan for its future. This series is fantastic, and I would recommend it to any lover of SF/F. However, I do recommend starting with the first book Curse of the Mistwraith. It will save you much frustration, and increase your reading pleasure infinitely.
Rating:
Summary: Grand Conspiracy : Alliance of Light
Review: Easily one of the best series I have read. Arithon s'Ffalenn's tribulations continue as his enemies line up and plot against him. While Arithon evades his half-brother Lysaer's attempts to catch him, Morriel (head of the Koriani Order of Witches) executes a particularly threatening plan which strips away her professed self-righteousness and reveals her true nature. Wurts' talent for creating memorable and believable characters extends even to the minor players and allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in this intricate story.
Rating:
Summary: Taking stock: The Wars of Light and Shadow so far
Review: Grand Conspiracy is the fifth volume in Janny Wurts's The Wars of Light and Shadow series. It is also the second volume in The Alliance of Light, which in turn is the third "story arc" in the series as a whole. Confused? I don't blame you. What it boils down to is this. The entire series will consist (according to Wurts) of five so-called "arcs". The first is Curse of the Mistwraith. The second consists of The Ships of Merior and The Warhost of Vastmark. The third is called The Alliance of Light and kicks off with Fugitive Prince, now followed by Grand Conspiracy. There will be two more books to go in the "Alliance" arc, (tentatively?) called Peril's Gate and Stormed Fortress. After that, there are two more arcs to complete. Neither need be (according to Wurts) as long as "Alliance". Still, at a conservative estimate, I'd expect there to be at least five more books to come, and that puts Grand Conspiracy smack in the middle of the series. A good place to take stock, then. Should you be reading this book or, indeed, the series? Well, I'm ambivalent. Wurts is clearly an intelligent and knowledgeable writer, but...her style is long-winded and rather pretentious. Worse, it can be awkward, with lots of unnecessary adjectives and convoluted grammar bogging down the story's progression...If Wurts had stuck to her basic story line and kept things sharp and to the point, The Wars of Light and Shadow might have been very wonderful. As things stand now, though, the series is in danger of drowning in its own verbosity.
Rating: 
Summary: How to write an entire chapter when a sentence would do.
Review: Having immensely enjoyed the "Empire" trilogy (in fact, I would rank it second only to "Riftwar Saga") by Wurts and Raymond E. Feist, I had really looked forward to reading "Grand Conspiracy". Argh! It has taken me several weeks of reading (and at times a lot of scanning) to finally finish the book. To quote the opening of one of the songs in "My Fair Lady", "Words, words, words...". If you like long, long, long descriptive passages, then you might enjoy this book. For me it was like trying to walk uphill in January through the worlds worst snowstorm. Wurts takes pages and pages to describe every piece of action. Actually, before I get a case of Wurts I'd better close.
Rating:
Summary: The best series I've encountered yet
Review: I am an avid reader of 20+ years, in all genres. This is by far the best book/series I have ever read. There is a depth of characters, and depth in characters that is rarely seen. Janny does the work to make even minor characters 3-dimensional. Every character and place has a history and a meaning. Each word and scene is carefully crafted to build the story. Unlike some other reviewers, I thoroughly enjoy the epic proportions of this story. This is a major work of art, reflecting decades of planning and work. Every 'brushstroke' is carefully considered and placed. I am more often saddened by stories where the author just rushes through to the finish, without bothering to fill in the rest of the canvas. I will be eagerly anticipating each subsequent volume in this series, never begrudging Janny any of the time that it takes to write it, and thoroughly enjoying her mastery of the art. Thank you, Janny, for caring enough to do this well.
Rating:
Summary: This book was great!
Review: i couldn't put this book down. there are so many twists and turns that are just so unexpected. You can see all the double-agents, but when something actually goes through, it's a total surprise. Ms. Wurts' language and descriptions just seem to jump off the page. I also noticed that she has started dating the beginning of every chapter--which helps a lot. the development of lysaer and arithon's hatred gets more intense. i felt like i could actually see arithon's anguish at the lies being spread; and i was indignant with how lysaer's ego gets bigger & bigger. i can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!
Rating:
Summary: Grand Conspiracy : Alliance of Light
Review: I eagerly awaited the arrival of this latest installment and was not disappointed at all! Janny Wurts' books are complex, fun, serious, full of the adventure and magic that characterize the genre. If that were ALL her books contained, I wouldn't bother to buy them! Luckily for me her books have a powerful sense of beauty, a deep conviction of the ways of worlds and peoples, and a truthfulness with tragedy that will no doubt annoy the shallow reader. For those of us who are willing, however, the journey with Ms. Wurts is to be taken with a deep breath of anticipation, a gleeful grin and a headfirst dive into wonder!
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