Rating: 
Summary: Not what I was hoping for
Review: As I read this book, I kept asking myself "Is this the same Janny Wurts who wrote the Servant/Daughter/Mistress of the Empire trilogy with Raymond E. Feist?" The richness of language, the depth of detail, the passion of story that can be found in her collaboration with Feist are all missing in this book. There was too much "this happened, then that happened, then this, then that." There just wasn't any reason to finish the book- so I didn't. I think I've ready Wurts' best work, so I won't be reading any more of her books.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I was hoping for
Review: As I read this book, I kept asking myself "Is this the same Janny Wurts who wrote the Servant/Daughter/Mistress of the Empire trilogy with Raymond E. Feist?" The richness of language, the depth of detail, the passion of story that can be found in her collaboration with Feist are all missing in this book. There was too much "this happened, then that happened, then this, then that." There just wasn't any reason to finish the book- so I didn't. I think I've ready Wurts' best work, so I won't be reading any more of her books.
Rating: 
Summary: The start of an incredible series
Review: CotM is the start of Janny Wurt's incredible, beautiful, moving series "The War of Light and Shadows". Each book builds and builds on the previous books in the series. Rereading CotM reveals hidden nuggets of information that can be pieced with snippets from here and there to build a picture of the overall story, which -- knowing how twisted this story is -- is probably all wrong! But that's part of the joy and magic in this series. Just like Arithon's character there are layers upon layers and twists within twists.CotM, by necessity, has a lot of setup information. And *nothing* is irrelevant information -- the more you read, the more you see this is true. I particularly liked the opening, with the reader thrown right into the midst of what seems to be the story, and I was surprised to discover the motivation behind Arithon's early antagonistic actions. Not your usual fantasy hero. In fact, this series takes many of the usual fantasy notions and stands them on their heads. It is a series tailormade for philosophical debate, though that shouldn't stop anyone from just enjoying it! Janny's words make beautiful pictures, just like her cover paintings. I have generally avoided fantasy, having concluded that most of it is just rip-offs of "The Lord of the Rings" (which I dearly loved). The WoLaS is not a LotR clone; it is, however, the only work I would mention in the same sentence.
Rating: 
Summary: Complex epic
Review: Curse of the Mistwraith is the start of a grand, sweeping epic. It teeters on the edge of traditional high fantasy with its sorcerers, princes, and world-shaking problems. Nonetheless Janny Wurts presides over it all with a firm grasp on her interwoven plots, three-dimensional characters, and lyrical writing. This book is not for all. You can be easily lost in the complexity of her language, instead of moved by it, and the fine detail--from every perspective imaginable--that prevents this from becoming a typical quest story also causes events to drag their feet along, leaving you impatient with an urge to flip ahead. This is not light reading; prepare to spend time delving into each page, each paragraph, each word. Janny Wurts has spent time building this story, and she lovingly uncovers each aspect of it at her own pace. I obviously enjoyed this book; it was sprinkled through with humor and followed by a glossary that makes the created words less daunting, it was relished during a time when I needed a slow, deep read. There are times when I have to wince at the overworn ideas--light versus shadow, the power of music--but I closed the back cover with the urge to search out the sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: Definatly one of the best books I've ever read. A must-read
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and original
Review: Despite the difficult language of this book I enjoyed it very much. I liked the idea of a fantasy series based on two people who manage to liberate a world dominated by the mistwraith and after being cursed by it, manage to turn the world into chaos. It is so unlike the idea of some other series where some hapless mortals are fighting against a 'big baddie'. I also found the characters very life-like, and many of them very likeable. Despite the books grim contents it is often very funny, especially in the scenes whe Dakar is involved. The one thing that does marr this book is its complex and difficult language. I had to use a dictionary to look up a lot of words, and normally I don't have to do that often. I also had to re-read several sentences to work out their meaning. This is a book that you have to spend a long time reading.
Rating:
Summary: An increadible beginning to an even better series
Review: Having read a number of opinions on this series, the first thing to say is: Don't read this just because you liked the Empire series! I have not read it, therefore I can't make a proper comparison. However, I have read some of Feist's work. It's much more along the lines of adventure stories - fast paced, not terribly introspective, fun, possibly engrossing, but not deep. This is a very different thing. The scope of this work is mind-boggling. As I understand it, Janny Wurts had the books planned out very well and worked on the series for twenty years! That care shows. Firstly, the pace of the book is extraordinarily well modulated. If you were looking for quick catharsis, this is not the book for you. Wurts has you stewing in your own juices in anticipation for the length of entire books (and hers are considerable). Resolutions don't come until your feelings have twisted and turned every which way. You go through the phase of burning anticipation, then the phase of enraged screaming, "Why do I have to wait?! Why can't it just come?!" Well, because in real life, fate doesn't jump to obey your frustrated feelings! In this - realism - Janny is a master. And a torturer :). (But I am what I call a literary masochist, you should know.) When the cathartic moment comes, you are well aware of all the ways things could go wrong. Also, of the fact that so much waiting may have dulled the characters' original drive for the goal. Except nothing is ever dulled in Janny's books. To play the devil's advacate - and to offer fair warning, I should mention the very few buts. Janny Wurts is very articulate and possesses an astounding bank of vocabulary (I know I learned a lot from her). On occasion, this ability of hers goes a little berserk :). The sentences get to twisty and complicated, to the point where you might have to re-read each one three times. I needed a dictionary by my side, on occasion, too. But, this improves. Everything in Janny's books improves with each volume - it gets better, far better - not worse. The other small bother is Janny's fondness of lengthy descriptions of magic technique. And I do mean technique. Her magic philosophy is very interesting and very complicated. Since we can't try to follow the directions to weave a spell or ask a rock for its cooperation, we don't really need to know the details of doing that. A few paragraphs sound like a cookbook, a bit. On the whole, though, that is no deterrent. Onto the pleasant stuff, I adore Janny's exploration of a number of realistic points... Love that is unbearably poignant, but does not override every other consideration. Unselfish love, so frustrating and painful. Self-deception. Spell-driven, Lysaer spends a lot of time resetting all events in the world to a point of view that makes a god of him and evil-incarnate of his half-brother, Arithon. Sometimes, his arguements are such a stretch, that you cannot imagine how Lysaer can possible make people believe him. But he does. And if you didn't know better, then he'd make a believe of you, as well. He has that much charisma, conviction, strength of character and oratorical skill. People who mean well and are good and righteous are not always right. Being a good person does not preclude the possibility of your being misled. So what you have is good people everywhere - on both sides of every battle. The world is nothing but shades of grey. Do you defend the sane cause, which will save lives of people dedicated to protecting the world? Or do you let them die? After all, they are the minority after this much fighting. After all, the other side may be insane and might destroy the world, but they are just people who don't know what they're doing. You see innocents on all sides. But your morals can't bend, because they are not rhetoric, but the absolute last chance of survival this world had. Well, I cannot go through every wonderful thing this series has. I can say that it is executed beautifully. Of course, there are flaws. Even Robin Hobb has flaws, and her name in my mind is synonymous with infallibility. The point is that the flaws do not detracts from the story. And the story is beautiful and engrossing. Impossible to put down.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Read...With Caveats
Review: I bought this book because of how much I LOVED Ms. Wurts' collaboration with Raymond Feist on the Daughter/Servant/Mistress of the Empire books. Having run through all of Mr. Feist's offerings I was hungry for more from the pen of a gifted writer and decided to give Ms. Wurts a go. While I did enjoy this book and will likely read more in the series I found myself somewhat disappointed. As others have noted, the language the author uses can be problematic. Often very complicated turns of phrase are used to say something that could perhaps be said more simply and effectively. I often found myself reading passages and thinking "What the heck did I just read?" I also felt that certain relationships and circumstances could have been better developed. For example, it didn't seem to take the two title characters long to put aside their multi-generational blood feud and become congenial traveling companions. I also had to go back and re-read an early segment to figure out just how Lysaer too came to be exiled beyond the World's End Gate. Last I'd read it was only a possibility he "might" be exiled along with Arithon yet, next thing we know he's waking up on Athera. We also listen to Lysaer pining after a princess he left behind on Dascen Elur to whom we were not introduced at all. Had the author spent more time developing these relationships and situations the reader would have been more emotionally invested and ultimately more satisfied with the book. I felt Ms. Wurts didn't give me good enough reasons to care about these characters. As it was, this was like finishing a good ham sandwich yet still being hungry. Conclusion: Raymond Feist Lite.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read...With Caveats
Review: I bought this book because of how much I LOVED Ms. Wurts' collaboration with Raymond Feist on the Daughter/Servant/Mistress of the Empire books. Having run through all of Mr. Feist's offerings I was hungry for more from the pen of a gifted writer and decided to give Ms. Wurts a go. While I did enjoy this book and will likely read more in the series I found myself somewhat disappointed. As others have noted, the language the author uses can be problematic. Often very complicated turns of phrase are used to say something that could perhaps be said more simply and effectively. I often found myself reading passages and thinking "What the heck did I just read?" I also felt that certain relationships and circumstances could have been better developed. For example, it didn't seem to take the two title characters long to put aside their multi-generational blood feud and become congenial traveling companions. I also had to go back and re-read an early segment to figure out just how Lysaer too came to be exiled beyond the World's End Gate. Last I'd read it was only a possibility he "might" be exiled along with Arithon yet, next thing we know he's waking up on Athera. We also listen to Lysaer pining after a princess he left behind on Dascen Elur to whom we were not introduced at all. Had the author spent more time developing these relationships and situations the reader would have been more emotionally invested and ultimately more satisfied with the book. I felt Ms. Wurts didn't give me good enough reasons to care about these characters. As it was, this was like finishing a good ham sandwich yet still being hungry. Conclusion: Raymond Feist Lite.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent excellent
Review: I first read Janny's work when she collaborated with Raymond Fiest for the Daughter of the Empire books.
Let me just say if you prefer a simple easy-to-read book do not read this book.
I'm reading this for the second time in order to finally read it's sequals and it is rare for me to forget so much of a novel as I did with this book. Not because it was forgetable, but because Janny Wurts is so detailed in her craft that her books simply cannot be read once and understood completely.
Janny Wurts truly cares about these characters you can tell by how she depicits them. She shows all their good and bad sides with equal care and skill. No sloppiness or tangents of petty and uninteresting behaviour. Even when a character who was once good, goes bad you can still feel for them and understand why and what led them there. These people are real and yet also not real as they exist in a world where magic is real.
If you enjoy the kind of depth that brings tears to your eyes as well as a well crafted world full of characters of good, bad and those torn between the two you will enjoy this book and the ones to follow.
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