Wartorn : Resurrection

Rating:
Summary: Great start to a new series
Review: The various city-states in the Isthmus have never known wholesale war but that is about to end. The ruler of Felk, Lord Motokin has planned for years to conquer the city- states and become Emperor of the Isthmus. He amassed a large army and trained in his own college a group of powerful wizards who would give that army instant transportation and communications. He places them under the command of a two hundred and fifty year old general remembered in the history books as Dardas the Butcher.

The city states of Windal, Callah and Sook fall immediately and the entire population of U'delph are killed, the city leveled to the ground. Although Dardas knows he needs periodic rejuvenation spells from a wizard under Motokin's command, the general is plotting to turn the magician's loyalty towards him. However, there are plans in the works from an assortment of people to stop this madness. One man is raising up a resistance in Callah while the leader of the powerful city-state Petgrad is trying to unite the city states so there's a chance they can win against the horde that is coming for them.

This story is told from the perspective of many individuals including a mercenary, a scholar, a collaborator, a resistance fighter and Dardas. Once the reader adjusts to the changing points of view, the transitions between these various viewpoints are smooth and makes for a fascinating reading experience. With the exception of the collaborator and the general who are deliberately made despicable, the audience will like the other characters and feel close to them. That Robert Asprin and Eric Del Carlo can accomplish such a feat is a testament to their tremendous talent.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Nothing really new here!
Review: This story is told through the eyes of six different characters. Each character gets their own chapter 1, chapter 2, etc.; and all five chapter 1's, 2's, etc. are presented in a row. (i.e. Bryck(1), Dardas(1), etc.) There are 30 chapters. The time period for all characters in each of their five individual chapters is essentially the same, so you are seeing some of the same events from a different perspective or place. The writing is interesting, as well as are some of the characters. However, because of the number of characters, what we essentially have are six short stories about six different people in the same time period. Its just not that interesting. In the end it comes down to; "Would I spend my money to read the next book in this series?" The answer in "No". The plot has been done before, "resurrection of bad guy, save the world from bad guy", and the writing is just not good enough to overcome this and the, "sequenced character chapters". If you want to read a good series try the "Belisarius" series by David Drake and Eric Flint.