Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful New Fantasy Find!
Review: A Sorcerer's Treason centers around a Wisconsin lighthouse keeper named Bridget Lederle. Bridget is an old maid in 1899 society and lives with her housekeeper and her housekeeper's son. She has made it her mission in life to save as many of the sailors as she can by almost religiously guarding the light. When a stranger is cast ashore wearing strange clothing and speaking a strange tongue, she takes him in - and ends up changing her life forever. Bridget finds herself transported from Wisconsin to the fantastical world of Isavalta (reminiscent of Imperial Russia). She places her trust in Kalami, the handsome sorcerer who was cast upon her shore and persuaded her to go to Isavalta, but is he being honest with her? For, as soon as she travels to Isavalta, she is thrust into the dangerous political power struggle between Medeoan, the aging dowager empress, and Ananda, the foreign princess who married Medeoan's only child, Mikkel. Kalami is on the side of Medeoan, but Bridget finds herself strangely drawn to Ananda's sorcerer, Sakra. When the gods of nature choose to get involved, a new world is about to be born... The reason why I gave this book 5 stars is because of Zettel's stunning characters. Bridget is a strong woman who has been punished for past mistakes and doubts her own abilities - though her choices become quite clear cut at the end, she still struggles to do what she knows she must. Valin Kalami is a foreigner sorcerer, the only one of his race to willingly go to serve the empire of Isavalta who conquered them. Even though he uses Bridget to gain his own ends, the reader still feels empathy for him and hopes that he will succeed in some way. Sakra is Kalami's opposite in that he is completely loyal to his princess. Ananda is a strong-willed foreign princess whose greatest crime was to fall in love with her husband. Even the gods and goddesses get involved including the Vixen, the Crows, and Baba Yaga. Everyone has their own reasons and everyone is torn between difficult decisions. My only complaint about the book is that I would have liked to spend more time with Bridget. Zettel jumps back and forth between different character viewpoints, usually every chapter, sometimes more often. This can be slightly disorienting and a bit offputting as the story loses some of its flow. It is nice to see the story through other characters' eyes, but it made Bridget seem less like the focal point of the story and more like the first person that Zettel chose to tell the story through. I would have preferred that more of the story was told through Bridget's eyes, with supporting views every now and again from other characters. Other than that small complaint, I have nothing to dislike about this book. The world was rich and full of detail. There are many different cultures and plenty of old rivalries that affect the future of Isavalta. The characters are complex and multi-faceteted. I sincerely hope that we will see more of the Isvalta series to come as the end left you hungry for more.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful New Fantasy Find!
Review: A Sorcerer's Treason centers around a Wisconsin lighthouse keeper named Bridget Lederle. Bridget is an old maid in 1899 society and lives with her housekeeper and her housekeeper's son. She has made it her mission in life to save as many of the sailors as she can by almost religiously guarding the light. When a stranger is cast ashore wearing strange clothing and speaking a strange tongue, she takes him in - and ends up changing her life forever. Bridget finds herself transported from Wisconsin to the fantastical world of Isavalta (reminiscent of Imperial Russia). She places her trust in Kalami, the handsome sorcerer who was cast upon her shore and persuaded her to go to Isavalta, but is he being honest with her? For, as soon as she travels to Isavalta, she is thrust into the dangerous political power struggle between Medeoan, the aging dowager empress, and Ananda, the foreign princess who married Medeoan's only child, Mikkel. Kalami is on the side of Medeoan, but Bridget finds herself strangely drawn to Ananda's sorcerer, Sakra. When the gods of nature choose to get involved, a new world is about to be born... The reason why I gave this book 5 stars is because of Zettel's stunning characters. Bridget is a strong woman who has been punished for past mistakes and doubts her own abilities - though her choices become quite clear cut at the end, she still struggles to do what she knows she must. Valin Kalami is a foreigner sorcerer, the only one of his race to willingly go to serve the empire of Isavalta who conquered them. Even though he uses Bridget to gain his own ends, the reader still feels empathy for him and hopes that he will succeed in some way. Sakra is Kalami's opposite in that he is completely loyal to his princess. Ananda is a strong-willed foreign princess whose greatest crime was to fall in love with her husband. Even the gods and goddesses get involved including the Vixen, the Crows, and Baba Yaga. Everyone has their own reasons and everyone is torn between difficult decisions. My only complaint about the book is that I would have liked to spend more time with Bridget. Zettel jumps back and forth between different character viewpoints, usually every chapter, sometimes more often. This can be slightly disorienting and a bit offputting as the story loses some of its flow. It is nice to see the story through other characters' eyes, but it made Bridget seem less like the focal point of the story and more like the first person that Zettel chose to tell the story through. I would have preferred that more of the story was told through Bridget's eyes, with supporting views every now and again from other characters. Other than that small complaint, I have nothing to dislike about this book. The world was rich and full of detail. There are many different cultures and plenty of old rivalries that affect the future of Isavalta. The characters are complex and multi-faceteted. I sincerely hope that we will see more of the Isvalta series to come as the end left you hungry for more.
Rating: 
Summary: A truly engrossing tale
Review: As an avid fan of fantasy fiction I was looking forward to entering into this new world I'd discovered. I only gave it a 4 star rating as I felt it took to long to actually start the tale, although once started I was totally engrossed and especially found the way she included the plottings and ministrations of the gods (the vixen,Baba Yaga etc) truly marvellous! I rushed out to buy book two and must admit to being slightly disappointed as it is a prequel concerning the tale of Avanasy and Ingrid, the first book had left me desperate to find out what happened to Brigett, I can only hope the third book goes back to this enthralling tale.
Rating:
Summary: A truly engrossing tale
Review: As an avid fan of fantasy fiction I was looking forward to entering into this new world I'd discovered. I only gave it a 4 star rating as I felt it took to long to actually start the tale, although once started I was totally engrossed and especially found the way she included the plottings and ministrations of the gods (the vixen,Baba Yaga etc) truly marvellous! I rushed out to buy book two and must admit to being slightly disappointed as it is a prequel concerning the tale of Avanasy and Ingrid, the first book had left me desperate to find out what happened to Brigett, I can only hope the third book goes back to this enthralling tale.
Rating: 
Summary: Well paced, but too many rabbit trails
Review: Bridgt Lederle, a lighthouse keeper on Lake Superior, finds she has a destiny in a land called Isavalta. She discovers that she is a powerful sorcereress but is caught in the intrigue of an aging dowager, intrigue and betrayal.
I read the first book, and couldn't wait to read the next. While there are many similarities, this one took a different turn. The pace was good, there was a mapped out story, but I was left unsatisfied at the end.
There were too many rabbit trails i.e. Land of Death, Baba Yaga/Vixen, Bridgit's aunt, etc. that were never really completed. Too many areas were touched on that seemed interesting, but took you away from the main story. I also thought that Bridgit was not really the main character, the driving force of the book, nor was she the one that I admired most. She was supposed to be a powerful sorceress, but she hardly did any magic herself. If I were to choose my favorite character, it would be either Sakra or Ananada. There were also too many characters to remember and keep track of. The story lacked the driving focus of the climax; derailed so many times by those rabbit holes. It merely concluded, and then the story ended.
Sarah Zettel did try hard to weave the myths and story of Isavalta together, and it is compelling reading. It would be a fine book to get lost in if you don't mind the rabbit trails.
Rating:
Summary: A Tale of Political Intrigue and Betrayel
Review: Enter the world of Isvalta, where nothing is similar to that of the workings of the real world. Or at least, that is what Bridget Lederle found out. Bridget Lederle was a Lighthouse Keeper on Sand Island in Lake Superior, shunned by the local community, she has had to keep the light with just herself and some friends of the family. The loss of her father, and her baby sits heavily on her shoulders...and she believes her life will be this way forever. That is, until the fateful night where she rescues a man named Valin from being consumed by the lake's rage and shoals. Promising her glory and fame he takes her to the world of Isvalta, where many things happen that do not in the real world. Where magic can be woven into even the simplest things. Bridget is told that she must save the Empire, for she is a powerful sorceress. Is what Valin tells her to be believed? Read this great book to find out!
Rating:
Summary: Great!!
Review: I bought this book because I liked the cover (the UK version have beutiful covers) and it looked like other books I liked. It also said "if you loved Robin Hobb, you'll love this!" and they were right! Sarah Zettel has a great language, great characters and a wonderful imagination. After the first chapters you're completely into the story and can't put it down. Her characters have depth and feel real, they all have their reasons and feelings for doing what they do, no one's pure evil or pure good, they are all real people. The first book is in "present" time, the second book is about what happend before the first book. At first it feels a little bit irritating, but after just two chapters you're completely into the book and can't stop reading and don't mind it anymore. The writer has some original ideas, many of them very imaginative. I like writers that really make a new world and have a new idea about magic and fantasy - without getting lost into it and getting pathetic. I can really recommend this series to anyone who likes Robin Hobb, George RR Martin, Diana Wynne Jones, and the like. Great series, I'm so glad I finally bought it!
Rating:
Summary: Great!!
Review: I bought this book because I liked the cover (the UK version have beutiful covers) and it looked like other books I liked. It also said "if you loved Robin Hobb, you'll love this!" and they were right! Sarah Zettel has a great language, great characters and a wonderful imagination. After the first chapters you're completely into the story and can't put it down. Her characters have depth and feel real, they all have their reasons and feelings for doing what they do, no one's pure evil or pure good, they are all real people. The first book is in "present" time, the second book is about what happend before the first book. At first it feels a little bit irritating, but after just two chapters you're completely into the book and can't stop reading and don't mind it anymore. The writer has some original ideas, many of them very imaginative. I like writers that really make a new world and have a new idea about magic and fantasy - without getting lost into it and getting pathetic. I can really recommend this series to anyone who likes Robin Hobb, George RR Martin, Diana Wynne Jones, and the like. Great series, I'm so glad I finally bought it!
Rating:
Summary: Okay, but could have been a lot better
Review: I had really high hopes for this story after reading a review at a website for writers. I expected Birget to be whisked away to another world, well okay she was, but I didn't expect it to take nearly a third of the book! A slow start isn't so terrible, but Birget is supposed to be this woman with an amazing capacity for magic. Great! I like that kind of thing, but when I read this I found everyone BUT Birget doing it! She is supposed to be the heroine of the story and she hardly does anything! The two sorcerers Kilami and Sakra steal the show. Kilami is a bad guy and is well fleshed out, and Sakra is the good guy. To my mind Sakra is the hero not Birget and should have gotten top billing. Birget could have been so much more, but the way she is written she comes across as a waste of space! If she is to be the heroine, shouldn't she be heroic? At least she should DO something instead of watching the world go by! By the way, the second book (Usurper's Crown) is a waste of time. Don't buy it unless you like prequels. It is about Birget's mother and just rehashes everything revealed in this book about Ingrid and Avanasy all be it in greater detail. Mark E. Cooper
Author of The Warrior Within (ISBN: 0954512200)
Rating:
Summary: Buy it!
Review: I wasn't even looking to buy myself a new book, but it just caught my eye as I walked past the shelf in the bookstore where I work - and I can honestly say it's the best few pounds I've ever spent! Having never heard of Sarah Zettel before I didn't quite know what sort of quality to expect, but I found I couldn't put it down - I actually stayed up until 5 in the morning just because I couldn't bear not to finish it! Zettel is a little slow to start, but introduces her characters well and the reader is constantly kept guessing during the first third of the book as to whether Valin Kalami is a good guy or a bad guy - and is the Dowager Empress evil or just plain mad? I really began to feel a bond with Bridget and Ananda and by the end I was in tears! I'm certainly no expert in the field of fantasy novels, but I know what I like and I LIKE this - just one question... what's the next one called?
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