Rating: 
Summary: The finest Wurts' book to date - follow Arithon's journey
Review: Peril's Gate is the finest book written by Janny Wurts. Peril's Gate continues the Wars of Light and Shadow series and is the third of four books making up the Alliance of Light sub-series - the fourth being Stormed Fortress.
Peril's Gate takes up where Grand Conspiracy left off with Arithon and Fionn Areth having just escaped Jaelot, Morriel is still camped in the Skyshiels having upset Athera's lane flux which threatens the fabric of Athera as the overstretched Fellowship battle to keep the grimwards and other protections intact. Arithon and Jieret dominate the subsequent action, carrying the reader with them on a journey that will thrill, exhilirate, appal and make them cry. This is not a book for light reading - this book will leave you shaken and disturbed because of where Arithon and Jieret take you. The grand wheel of the Wars and Light and Shadow rolls on as the wider elements of the story are evolved at a cracking pace, but the immediacy, emotion and sacrifice of the lead characters will stay with you after you put the book down. And all this without having mentioned that in this book we meet Davien, Elaira starts to take control of her destiny, a Paravian or two appears, the Fellowship battles to keep the Mistwraith contained and Kevor continues to win the hearts of his people. Peril's Gate is not simply a good book, it marks a new level in the intricate writing of Janny Wurts. A must have.
Rating: 
Summary: Passive and bloated...but the storyline keeps me hooked!
Review: Peril's gate was a pretty passive, bloated novel. I was expecting something more fulfilling when I finally read it. It was very long, but not too much actually happened until the end. We see some interesting and long-awaited developments in the overall plotline for this series as well as some good character development, but they are scattered sparsely throughout the book, with a lot of it near the end (like I said above). I won't spoil the book for those of you who haven't read it yet. The ones who have will know what plot and character development occurred. The story was not too big on dialogue. It was very big on description though. Since much of the book was a "chase", there was a lot of alone time for the main characters as well as a lot of description of THE main character's (Arithon's) suffering. Having read all the preceding novels in this series, I know how much Arithon has suffered and I got tired pretty quickly of hearing more and more about it during the course of the "chase". On the upside it does look like developments at the end of the book will bring about some changes in Arithon's viewpoint on life, the curse, and his role on Athera...so maybe he'll be suffering a bit less in the next books and "doing" more. One of the areas where the book was unnecessarily descriptive was when describing (and confusing) the reader about the ins and outs of how sorcery, magic, etc. work. The author tried to do this through numerous long, arcane, and overly descriptive passages. I personally never found a logic or thread tying together the laws that govern magic's use in this world. Sure, the author has thrown out a few blanket laws that must be obeyed, but each scenario where magic was used seemed different and esoteric to me and because they were so long and didn't tie anything together for me re: how magic works in this world, I ended up speeding through them. Having said all of this, I will add that I look forward to the next installment in this series. Even though the writing may not be perfect, the story line is quite captivating and I can't wait to see what Davien and Arithon cook up in the next book!
Rating:
Summary: A series for the 21st Century
Review: Peril's Gate, the third volume of The Alliance of Light, continues to realize the promise set forth in the previous volumes. Delving into the mystical aspect of the world of Athera, this volume takes you deep into the psyche of Arithon, Master of Shadows and lays bare the reasons he has lost his mage sight. Additionally, another layer in the intricate machinations of Desh-thiere, the Mistwraith, is revealed as Arithon struggles against an array of foes fielded by his half-brother Lysaer as well as against his own self. Peril's Gate deepens the plot and broadens the scope of the story and the characters. No fantasy novel that I have read prior to this one shows in such vivid detail that there is a price to be paid for killing, even for the hero. Other books allow the hero the dispensation of shrugging off the deaths because they are just evil creatures or evil humans. But this book puts the question squarely to the protagonist and through him, to the readers. And the question is... you'll have to read the book to find out. A tour de force, Peril's Gate will take you on a journey that will have you asking questions about your own existence and your place in the universe. This book and the previous volumes are a must own for anyone who has undertaken to walk the path to personal enlightenment.
Rating:
Summary: Top Story: Queen of Melodrama strikes again!
Review: Something has always distressed me about Janny Wurts' writing, and after reading Peril's Gate, I finally know what it is. You see, it all hinges on her near-constant use of drama italics. Not the italics that signify a barely-heard conversation, but those which mark a moment of particular tension or pathos. However, the italics are merely a symptom of the real 'peril' of this book--the endless string of events and scenarios "no human could withstand" and forces "vast beyond comprehension", complete with more tears than would well up in reading a romance novel about the apocalypse.
Every other page, it seems, someone is cast into unspeakable torment over some trifle or other, and only manages to keep his grip on sanity by a supreme effort of will. Anywhere one looks in this masterwork of melodrama one is likely to find frequent statements like the following gem of unemotional prose: "Sound detailed the agony of a will pressed beyond extreme limits, to survive an unbearable pressure." On the same page as this precious declaration, everyone else in the scene has succumbed to the orgiastic celebration of their own despair, bawling like children whose favorite stuffed animal has just been immolated by an inferno of doom.
But compared to the melodrama surrounding Arithon, the absurd protagonist in this work of high tragedy, the fit of weeping among Lysaer's men is as a molecule of water to the Pacific Ocean. Every moment of Arithon's life is one of unbelievable torture because occasionally he has to kill people who rape, burn, and disembowel his friends and allies for fun. I can't imagine the mountains of guilt that would cause me, and like him, their Names would be emblazoned on my compassionate heart.
You see, everyone in the world hates Arithon--he's the world's most cruelly misunderstood Spinner of Darkness. But if he sings, or just glowers at people long enough from under his ferocious brows, they start crying and swear their everlasting devotion, because he's actually the best swordsman, the best non-Fellowship mage (until compassion burned out his talent), the best singer, bard, master of shadow, statesman, and all-around human being ever conceived by an author, including God! And the whole world is out to make him feel guilty (which itself makes him feel unimaginable pain); boo hoo!
Arithon is mindlinked to an enchantress who feels any hurt he receives, as here: "As her outraged flesh recorded no more than the ghostly impression of bruising, she realized, through a split second of terror, that (and the rest is in italics, possibly to heighten our sympathy for the victim of a ghostly bruising) this was no ill effect from thin air. Duhn duhn duh! How dramatic! Arithon stumbled and got a bruise, but Elaira, now, she got--a ghostly impression of bruising! Ouch! It sends her into paroxysms of terror and unbearable physical agony! The pathos of the moment is more than the reader could possibly bear.
If you dare to open the pages of this tear-drenched tome, steel yourself with whatever theme music is saddest to you, and have a mountain of kleenex available for all the personal tragedy endured by the heroes of the tale.
In fact, I recommend this book without reservation to anyone who wishes to laugh uncontrollably with nearly every page, as one will who finds the ever-rising crescendo of emotional torment funny--and who would not? You will, like Jieret, shed "bitter tears. The shame rocked his core, and past record seemed inconveivable: (italics again!) that his prince had owned the magnanimous heart to forgive him for forcing his unwilling hand to an act of slaughter and mayhem." Way to go, Arithon! Your cool factor has once again been multiplied by some unimaginably high number!
Considering all the reasons to condemn this book to the "Worst Creations of Any Era in History" list--which is a very short list--you may be wondering why it has been granted two stars. The answer, my fellow melodrama enthusiasts, is simple--the book is hilariously bad! That's right--it's so tragic, it comes out the other side and the tears I shed are all of joy!
The sheer volume of tragedy in every sentence of this book is enough to melt even the hardest reader's heart...I could weep for the cheesy, overwrought melodramatic writing style everywhere in evidence, if I wasn't laughing so hard!
Rating: 
Summary: Pretentious, Overwrought and Exhausting
Review: Stilted language, scant action, nothing new. The hero Arithon has been rendered by the author as a whining cry baby who, despite his magical abilities, cannot seem to get it together and save himself. This story describes his struggle to get from point A to point B throughout nearly 700 pages. This reader estimates that 400 pages are scenery descriptions. The excuse for Arithon's misery is that he is being driven by the geas of the Mistwraith Curse. Arithon's girlfriend, Elaira, while safe at Whitehaven,is in a dream state far removed from Arithon's trial while he undergoes imaginary deaths and struggles and moans, whimpers, sobs, cries, weeps and so on. She is "remote viewing" and snivveling right along with him. An example of the overworked prose is as follows:'"Oh, cry mercy!" whispered Elaira. Ribbons of tears coursed down her dreaming cheeks.' Dreaming cheeks? All the characters talk in the same convoluted stilted high toned language style, including the illiterate goatherd forced to look like Arithon through magical mean. This puts him in the same "class" as the educated Arithon and Lysaer, Sethvir and others and is simply unbelievable. They are all reduced to one dimensional beings as a result of such pretentious prose. Every one of the characters from high Mage Sethvir to Dakkar are all dying or near death and this grim saga offers no light at the end of the tunnel. It is this reader's opinion that Peril's Gate could have been left out of the story arc entirely.
Rating:
Summary: A Grand Recovery
Review: The previous installment of this series left me hollow and wary. The few plot points covered and the repetitive nature of some of the scenes overwhelmed what granduer came from the books before. Now. Peril's Gate not only recovers well from Grand Conspiracy, but it probably exceeds the might of the first books. This is a book of wonder. The pace seems to bog down at points, but overall, the evolution of Arithon's character is masterfully articulated, which it turns out is very likely the centerpiece of the entire series. I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I recommened this series to people with only a warning that Grand Conspiracy is not up to par. Otherwise, this is equal to Thomas Covenant, Dune, and possibly even Tolkien. Thanks Janny for restoring my faith in whom I deem to be the torchbearer of modern epic fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: Janny's work gets better and better
Review: The Wars of Light and Shadow continue and Janny keeps us on the edge of our seats. Her choice of words brings the scenes alive. After reading one of Janny's books it is somewhat difficult to read other authors since you tend to expect the same depth and are often disappointed. Nothing Janny writes is a chance phrase in passing so be sure to pay attention. If you like your SF/F to immerse you in the story line, trigger your emotions, and allow you to create 'pictures' to enhance your experience then Janny's series is for you. This book makes you think. Be prepared for a great read.
Rating: 
Summary: You think you know all about modern fantasy?
Review: Then try Wars of Light and Shadow. It is fantasy, because it is recognized as such, but it has other values that make it a different proposal from countles others. * It is ambitious. In plot, characters and detail. Not a "this person went and had an adventure within the usual limits of the genre" kind of stuff. That would only mean the author would not have to explain anything, you wouldn't have to think anything and you would quickly forget about it. Oh, the author has as many topics as you like, but she does not stop at topics. * It is literature (opposite or complementary to entertainment). It has character development and character evolution, it broaches great subjects (interesting ideas on responsability and free will, by the way), it works according to a plan (with hitches, so what?) with the attempt of creating something, explaining a history, having the reader involved and, hopefully, transformed... * It cannot be readed quickly? No, it can't. So...? Many readers complain that Janny Wurts sometimes lets its language get away form her, but that only means that, when she succeds, she gives the reader an unique experience. I have braved many multi volumed fantasy sagas, which is a peculiar genre, a specific one, that has little to do with the traditional novel. This one is worth the effort. Oh, and why four stars? Because I will wait to read the end!
Rating:
Summary: A great read
Review: This book was positively marvelous! I couldn't put it down! I actually have already reread it, and I just bought the book two days ago!
If you liked the previous books in the series, you'll love Ms. Wurts' newest edition. I definitly wouldn't recommend picking this book up without having read the others in the series, but for hardcore fans like myself, GET YOUR HANDS ON THIS BOOK! (Preferrably for at least a day or two, because I doubt it will take you longer than that to make it through this page-turner!)
Rating:
Summary: Enough, already
Review: very important, nonetheless. This book had me in tears at times due to the very emotional way Ms. Wurts has in writing about some of the characters' relationships--Arithon & Jieret's for example. Sure the text is a little wordy, but I think that without all the descriptions, we may not have as good a grasp on the landscape & world as possible. Some of the best sub-plots, I thought were the ones with Lirenda. Sure, she's annoying and a complete witch, but at least she got what she deserved. I loved the increase of Ath's adepts in this book. I think they add something to the life of the book--I mean, they can disappear into thin air! How cool is that? Most annoying character in this book has to be Elaira. She was really interesting at one point, but then about 1/3 of the way through, she got really boring and annoying. The most entertaining characters in this book awards have to go to our favorite discorporate sorcerers--Luhaine and Karamandon (?). With mediation by Sethvir and Dakar, the interplay between these two surely show their talent. Add to that mix the introduction of Davien, and the players are all there. As for Davien, I think the best part of the book, where we really got to see into Arithon's mind, was when he is with Davien. But I don't want to spoil that... I think this is a great series, and many things happen in this book alone to change the way the rest of the series may run. I can't wait for the next book!
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