Rating: 
Summary: Detailed action and descriptions of a fantasy society
Review: The strengths of this book are mainly in the description and levels of detail of political and social interactions in a fantasy world. Surprisingly, the book is also valid on a personal level if you can relate to the hero and his yearnings that make him something of a wanderer. This not a book for everyone. If you don't relate to the hero and his restlessness, there won't be much in the way of personal stories or romances for you in this book. Because those are close to being the qualities of the Bazil series, I can honestly say if you liked the bazil series you will like this book and vice-versa. If you didn't like Bazil, make sure to stay away from this book. The storytelling is sometimes intellectual and you may get more of it when you read it a second time or compare it with other fantasy books that lack descriptions of a coherent society. ps: You will also see that Chooks are a species of turkey-like birds, and that brilbies are a larger cousin of the mots. ....
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting read
Review: This is the first Christopher Rowley book I've read, and generally I enjoyed it. The characters and setting were interesting, and it held my attention. There were a few minor problems that kept it from being a 5-star book; the one that bothered me the most was a lack of description of the various animal races. The species that the hero belongs to, Mots, is well described, but there are at least 3 other types of intelligent creatures that are not described at all, even though they are important characters in the book. The humans don't show up until halfway through the story, but I understand why that was done (in order to show the mot's society and how their lives were lived before invasion). There was also a major character in the first half of the book who was shaping up to be the main villian, but then he completely vanishes for the second half of the book! Unless the author is planning to have him play a large role in the rest of the series, it just seems really odd that this character disappears from the story without a trace, after having such a major role in the first half. In any event, despite those qualms, I will definitly be picking up the next book in the series to find out what happens. I just hope in the next book I find out what the heck a Brilby or a Chook looks like.
Rating:
Summary: Simply enjoyable
Review: This particular book is centered around a land called Arna which the best I can ascertain is on a world once ruled by man that has degenerated into anarchy and extinction. On the back of the book it reads "For poison in his waters had become poison in his seed, and Man thinned with each generation until his light faded from the world. And there came a time when no sound broke the stillness of the world except the play of the wind. Man was no more." At first glance I thought this novel was your typical fairy tell legend story but I was mistaken it actually is quite detailed and almost believable. It is indeed one of the most fascinating reads I have had in ages. With a feudal setting and a detailed description of the culture and history of the characters in the book I became thoroughly intrigued. Although I found some things in the book a mystery and was confused about the interspecies relations (Mots, Brilbies, Chooks, Assenzi and Man the Cruel) and their history I soon learned more with ferverent reading. But the things I could not understand beyond the abstract I think will be revealed in the next book of the series. I simply could not put this book down! I said before that I did not take this book seriously above but after the first few pages I was hooked. It is my first Rowley novel and I am thirsting for more after three days of voracious weekend reading. I would recommend this to anyone because it is suited for any reader sci fi or anyone because the story is so well suited. It is not set in the past or some fantasy world this is some what of an alternate far future history novel. Like planet of the apes except more sophisticated and believable. I will give it five stars because I enjoyed it very thoroughly.
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