Black Sun Risingby Layla LawlorReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 7 Erna is a world suffused with magical energy called fae, which responds to human fears and nightmares, making the demons of the human imagination come to life. Only the strongest and bravest dare to venture into the monster-haunted wasteland outside the cities — people like Damien Kilcannon Vryce: loner, wanderer and warrior-priest of the One True Church.Damien's lover, Ciani, is an Adept, an individual who can see the currents of the fae and use them to alter reality (as the fae does automatically in response to human imagination and emotions). But Ciani is stripped of her powers in a mysterious accident. To help his ladylove, Damien must venture deep into the lethal wilderness to find the evil sorcerer known as the Hunter, a soul-vampire who feeds upon human fear and suffering — and who may be the only person who can help Ciani before she drives herself mad from the loss of her magesight. This is the first book of a trilogy, and to be honest, my least favorite of the three. The initial setup is predictable fantasy-quest material and the pace drags along as Damien and his group of misfit companions travel from town to town encountering various obstacles in their journey. Friedman has a good hand with characterization and an intriguing setting, but the book doesn't start to pick up steam until about halfway through, when things start to go seriously haywire. Damien's black-and-white view of human nature receives the first of many blows when he learns that the success of his quest may depend upon allying himself with his greatest enemy, a demonic being whose very existence is abhorrent to him. He also begins to discover that the world of Erna is so responsive to human consciousness that human thoughts can direct the very course of evolution itself. Damien has devoted his life to serving God — but is God real, or merely another construct of the human imagination given flesh? The farther Damien and his companions press into the wilderness, the more Damien is forced to confront his most deeply-held convictions about his life, his world ... and himself. Written: April 1, 2003
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