In Legend Born

I am aware this review is way too long. Stick with me-I'm trying to get you interested in one of my favorite novels. I've always been slightly ashamed of reading fantasy. I'm not really sure why-maybe it's because its just so escapists and my generation is supposed to confront reality full on, or maybe because it's supposed to be for geeks only, or maybe it's just, well because it is so easy to read. Often there is no thought required with fantasy. However, that is not the case with this book, this series. This is one of my favorite books, bare none, cross genera. It's also got one hell of a back story. "In Legend Born" is set on an Island nation called Sileria, which was once a great civilization and one of the earliest in the world, but was brought down first by an inner conflict between the powers of fire magic, the Guardians, who also contact the spirit world and worship the Volcano Destroyer Goddess Dar, as do the majority of the people, and the powers of water magic, the Waterlords (or the Honored Society if you prefer), who control all water on the island and demand tribute in order for people to drink. If no tribute is paid, the rivers either curl over on themselves or freeze into something like plastic or turn so cold that touching the water will kill you. Anyway, long story short, the Waterlords betrayed the Guardians, the inner power structure crumbled, and the Island was conquered a thousand years before our story begins. And then conquered by another people, and then conquered by a third, the Valdani (who you can easily compare to Rome) who then took over the rest of the known world (which isn't very big by the way.) So in our story, the setting of which is, one could say, comparable time wise to the middle of the Roman Empire, the majority population of Sileria are mountain peasants who are highly violent, always swearing blood feuds against each other which can't end `till every one of their line, and all friends of said line, are dead. They have been terribly oppressed by the Waterlords, in the from of water deprivation and "taxing" for water, and threats and killings by assassins, the personal small armies of each Waterlord, who are eerily loyal and armed with magical knives made of water. Then there are the rich, who are routinely held for ransom by the Waterlords during the rainy season when no tribute comes in, the sea born, who refuse to come off their boats until all the dragon fish have been killed, the Sisters, a sort of Nun earth cult healing sect who no one is allowed to harm or invade the sanctuary of, this apparently nuts cult who lives on the volcano that the goddess lives in and periodically one of them flings themselves in to see if they are her consort and the man destined to free the nation, and of course, the ever hated Valdani, who make no effort to understand the society at all. Thus there is a law among the mountain peasants-you betray anyone, for any reason, even under torture, even to save a life, you d

The first thing I must say is that the world found in this book is rich with history and details as are the characters. They all have a past which seriously influences the story and of which only details are revealed once and a while leaving you in suspense the entire time. It takes a little while to get used to the names or titles which are often said in Silerian, their language but once you do you do not even think about it but read as if it were in English. the story line is much more complexe than one could inmagine and the land is riddled with corruption, betrayal and alliances which keeps the story moving and interesting at all times. the story is set in Sileria an island in the middle of the sea, dominated by the valdani empire and suffering from it as they have suffered under every foreingn rule. THE valdani keep them in line easily enough since they fight among themselves instead of against them and adding. such divided and unarmed by Valdani law Sileria has littel hope. but all that is changed. Josarian a Shallaheen who has comitted the worst crime in the eyes of the Valdani, killing one of them, must run or suffer death by slow torture. the valdani search for him insistantly, his act having aroused the rest of sileria slightly from their submission and also emboldened them. they hire Tansen, a Shatai, a warrior, who was born a shaleheen and has lived nine years in exile. with his help Josarian involuntarily begins a rebellion and is pushed on by Mirabar, a young guardian. the guardians snet into hiding by Valdani law and mirabar considered a demon by all because of her flame red hair. And aided by Elelar, who has worked all her life to see the Valdani expelled from sileria and Kiloran a waterlord, sworn enemy to the guardians. Not sure whether they can trust each other they must work together towards their common dream. This book was full of twists and turns and a shock at the end. it was well written and I was turning pages late into teh night. the characters a human and interesting, the heros not perfect, the villains not pure evil. I felt drawn into the book very early on and although it takes a chapter for you to click into what is happeaning the moment you do you feel an entire new world opening around you. The end more than suggested a sequel and i await it eagerly.

After reading this epic novel of magic, revolution romance and heartbreaking betrayal I almost wanted to be transported to the land of Sileria and pick up a sword for the cause of freedom.Resnick makes a passionate case for the the land of Sileria and their fight for independence from the brutal empire of Valada.She creates memorable but flawed heroes and heroines willing to face death for freedom of the country and gives us stirring scenes of battles, romance,magic and stunning treachery!One of the best first novel I've ever read that reminds me of Kay's epic novel Tigana.

Usually when I see a book that a lot of people like, I hestitate to buy it- on the reason that most best sellers are predictable stuff concocted to keep your average brainless reader interested. This one was fantastic. I can say that with my hand on my heart, swearing to god. The characters were intersting, and well-rounded. They act like real people. These aren't some nice bodies concocted to serve a goal that everyone believes in though they don't know why. They all have their own reasons for everything. This book's romance isn't the soggy stuff of the Last Dragon Lord. People don't love each other with all their hearts because they're of the same blood. They don't exactly love with all their hearts, anyway. Everything about this book is realistic. This isn't a light read,but after you read it you'll be satisfied. The theme is cliched, but the plot is not. Suspense will grab you and keep you on the edge of your seat.

Laura Resnick has one terrific future ahead of her in fantasy. The writing, world-building, and characterization are all very strong, but what I particularly liked was the way ILB touched on very primal issues of freedom, and the cost of freedom. Underneath the magic and waterlords and the other elements that make fantasy novels fun is a story of truly epic scope. Can't wait for the next book to come out!