Defenders of Ulthuan

The high elves have long battled their dark kin, known as the druchii, since before time began. Their homeland of Ulthuan is well known for the magic that sustains it. At the heart of Ulthuan lies a magical vortex, created by mages long ago to save the land. Those mages have been trapped within the vortex since its creation. There, they endlessly work the spell to this day to keep the world from becoming a seething Realm of Chaos. Anorion the Green, Archmage of Saphery, is intrigued when his daughter brings him a man tossed ashore by the sea. He had been muttering that he must give Taclis an urgent message. The man can remember nothing except that he is a survivor of a ship wreck. Anorion soon finds that this is not a case of amnesia. Instead, the man has been ensorcelled to forget everything before he went into the sea. Someone did not want the man to remember something vital. They set off immediately for the White Tower and an interview with Taclis. Other parties are en route to the White Tower, Gaen Vale, and the famous Gates. Each party knows nothing of the others, yet one thing is for certain, war comes. Ulthuan comes under attack from the forces of Chaos. Dark elves led by the Witch King and the hag sorceress, Morathi. It is up to the high elves to hold firm. ***** There are so many things happening at once, involving many characters in various places, that I find it impossible to tell much without giving spoilers. This is the first book telling of an epic struggles of war on the land of the high elves. I found myself enraptured by the descriptions of the Isle of the Dead and the Black Arks of the dark elves. However, it was Gaen Vale that fascinated me the most. It is said that if you sail close to the Isle of the Dead, you will see the day of your own passing. The Black Arks are the most feared sea-going vessels of the druchii in the world crewed with thousands of slaves and an entire army of deadly corsairs. Gaen Vale is the place each woman is told to visit at least once in her life. The warrior women of the Mother Goddess jealously guard its shores and no male dares to set foot on that island. Any that try are never seen again. Author Graham McNeill made the hag sorceress so beautiful, yet showed her evil so well that I almost shivered in dread. That is but one example of the author's talents in detailing the characters within this tale. I look forward to the second installment of this battle upon Ulthuan. ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.