Breath and Bone

Wonderful book. Better than the first volume. Mysterious and transcendent. She brings all the disparate elements together in a very satisfactory and unexpected conclusion.

This book concludes the story of Valen, begun in _Flesh and Spirit_, and is as surprising, action-packed and satisfying as the first. You should probably begin with the first book which starts out strong. Valen is a difficult hero; tortured by addiction, he's had a childhood so grim that being a renegade, thief and soldier is a pleasant change. The book opens with him running from the army with fellow deserters who leave him wounded in the mud and weather on the roadside. He's taken in by a local monastery that shelters a mystery. In the meantime, battles wage between princes vying for the throne and the fanatic Harrowers whose aim is to cleanse the earth, all causing death, famine and misery. In this installment, Valen has been recaptured by the society and family who despise him. He's one of the Pureblood Sorcerers, but has never been able to learn spells or read or abide the extremely confined lifestyle he was expected to lead. His services are sold to Osriel, The Bastard, the third Prince, who is known for his dark sorcery and for the taking of the eyes of the dead... There are secrets upon secrets, of course, and things are gradually revealed all through this book. Is Osriel a demon or the savior of the realm? Will the Cabal of the Lighthouse succeed in saving some knowledge in the Dark Ages that threaten the land if the kingdom is not settled and if the Harrowers succeed with their goals? Will the mysterious magical creatures, the Danae, whose land is also dying, aid one side or other? Will Valen survive to figure out what his destiny will be--failed, addicted sorcerer or a force for good? There are a fine cast of characters with great histories and destinies to determine. There are plot twists galore. Treachery and conspiracies, and plots for good and evil. It was all good reading, compelling and exciting with memorable people, places and societies. I would definitely recommend both of these books.

My favorite thing about Carol Berg's writing is that every time you think you have things figured out, every time you think you know how the story is going to resolve and how things fit together, some amazing new revelation happens and everything is thrown into a new perspective. This book is no exception. New and exciting pieces of plot keep furthering your interest in the story. In Breath and Bone especially she seems to know exactly how much information to give you along the way to keep your attention glued to the page.

I really liked the first book about Valen and was worried how the second in the series would hold up. No fear. The second book is amazing. The mysteries about our hero (and the world he lives in) are uncovered and his character develops at a wonderful rate. It's a book to put on your shelf, instead of donating to a used book store or charity, and reread. I'm just hoping I didn't donate the first book in the series to Good Will because then I will have to buy another copy. Frankly, I remember NOT even liking Valen that much in the first book, but in the second so much is revealed about our flawed hero that he becomes someone to root for and admire. Good characters, twisty plot, edge of seat suspense, a little (very little) romance, nice mix of male and female characters, which I as female appreciate. There are some male writers whom I like but whose characters are about 95% male with a tavern wench or two thrown in, which I don't like.

I read this book in one sitting. The world first brought to life in Flesh and Spirit is expanded into a rich tapestry of mythos and culture in Breath and Bone. These books are populated with realistic characters that live and act in true and convincing ways. The plot, while predictable to some, is engaging. With the amount of twists and the depth of detail I hesitate to try and distill the story into so few words. However, I found the Danae world of nature and dance artistically beautiful (wish there had been more!) You are pulled along by the experiences of Valen, at times rejoicing at his triumphs and at other times you could reach through the page and strangle the man. The story, while compete, leaves you wishing for more - another story from Valen or a new tale set in this lush world. Berg once again proves herself as one of the best Fantasy writers out there and a master of first-person prose. This is a must have for any fantasy literature collector and library.