Karavans

Karavans by Jennifer Roberson is the first novel in her new Karavans series. The second book has already been published and is titled Deepwood: Karavans # 2 (Karavans), the third novel titled The Wild Road is scheduled to be released sometime in 2009. Some authors I come upon based on a friends recommendation, some I stumble upon because of an interesting cover, I found Ms. Roberson based off a short story titled `Ending and Beginning' in the DAW 30th Anniversary Fantasy Anthology. I had never heard of her before, but after that short story, I knew I wanted to read more. So, I was able, based on a friend's recommendation, to track down this novel - which is based in the same world as the short story. So, it seemed natural that this would be the novel I would want to read. I would suggest, that if you are considering reading this novel, to first read the short story. It adds a little bit to the overall enjoyment of this novel. Incidentally, the short story can be found directly from the author's website. (http://www.cheysuli.com/author/story.karavans.html) Here are my thoughts on this novel. The plot of this book is actually several plots roller together, with a much larger plot line wrapped around everything. Some of the plot lines are mere hints at something larger, that will no doubt be talked about in future books such as the forest of Alisanos moving and creating a hazard for those unlucky enough to be in its path. The large over riding plot focuses of the forest and things that may be occurring within it, and too it. However, the true sense of things are not fully revealed until the very end of the novel. There are also several sub plots, some explored more than others of course. Things such as; a family trying to make a new life in a new region and the trials they face to make that happen, the relationships between multiple sets of characters, just who and what the Hecari are and what their purpose is, and the responsibilities of a karavan master and what he will go through to fulfill his duties. After finishing the novel, I was left with a couple thoughts on the overall story. First, it was well done, and I really enjoyed it. But, to be more specific, I was slightly disappointed that the novel felt more like a really long prologue than a true novel. To me, it seemed like there was more world building and setting up for future events then there was actual substance to the story. However, with that said, I didn't have a problem with it because it flowed together so well and the world building was done at such a high level. So, while the story may feel like it is mostly a setup to future novels it is none-the-less a fantastic read. The characters in this novel are what originally drew me in. Even in the first short story the characters came alive and felt real. There are so many different characters in this book, each with their own feel. Such as voice, motivations, flaws, biases, etc. Some of the more memorable characters are; Rhuan, Ilona

Karavans (2006) is the first fantasy novel in the Karavans series. Alisanos -- the Deepwoods -- is a place where demons live. If humans come close enough, demons capture them. Some humans return from Alisanos, but they have been changed. One such human is rejected by Alisanos and comes to the place of farewell in Sancorra where the karavans assemble before going elsewhere. In this novel, Audrun is the wife of Davyn and the mother of Gillan, Ellica, Torvic and Megritte. She is bearing her fifth child. Their family has been burned out by the invading Hecari tribesmen and they are now fleeing to her kinfolk in Atalanda. After Davyn leaves to talk to Jorda -- the Master of the last karavan of the season -- Audrun and her children are the first to encounter the changed man from Alisanos. Rhuan is a guide for Jorda's karavan. He is Shoia, not human, and can rise from the dead six times. Hearing that Dardannus -- the Kantic priest -- is divining with Shoia bones, he pays a little visit to the bone diviner. Dardannus sends him to Hezriah the bonedealer. Rhuan is confronting Hezriah when the man from Alisanos enters, faces him and falls down dead. Brodhi is a courier and brings news to the place of farewell of the death of Sancorra of Sancorra at the hands of the Hecari. Brodhi is also Shoia, cousin to Rhuan -- their fathers are brothers -- but Brodhi and Rhuan do not get along with each other. Brodhi thinks Rhuan likes the humans too much and Rhuan thinks Brodhi is too disdainful of the humans. Rhuan and Brodhi are the only Shoia known to those in the settlement. Ilona is one of the diviners in Jorda's karavan. One night she has a premonitory dream. Being only a reader of hands, she takes her dream to Lerin -- a dream-reader -- but the dream was too fragmentary to read as a whole. Yet Lerin does leave these fragments available to Ilona's waking mind. Darmuth is a fellow guide and partner of Rhuan. Ferize is the wife of Brodhi. Yet both are demons from Alisanos, who are accompanying Brodhi and Rhuan in an oath quest. In this story, Audrun and her family are accepted into the karavan despite the slowness of their oxen. They are assigned to the last position in the karavan, behind the Sisters of the Road. Although their oxen are slow, the lack of speed will not matter that much before they reach the turn off to Atalanda, where they will leave the karavan. Rhuan tries to talk them out of taking that particular turn off to Atalanda. It is much too close to Alisanos and they will not have the protection of the others in the karavan. But Audrun and Davyn have been told by fourteen diviners that the baby must be born in Atalanda and so it will be. This story describes a peaceful land being invaded by mounted tribesmen much like the Mongols. Their weapons may be different, but their methods are very similar. One of their tools is decimation, culling the settlements by killing one in ten. Alisanos is located in another dimension

Once again Jennifer Roberson captivates her readers with the creation of a perilous world full of humans, demons, and demi-gods, all entwined at a momentous moment in time. On this fantastical adventure, the author leads us on a quickly moving, colorful, and suspenseful trail of clues which combine along the way to reveal the characters' true personalities, motivations, and personal circumstances, yet ever raising deeper, probing questions. This exciting method of tale-weaving makes for a wonderful new novel. There is only one frustrating aspect: the story is so compelling it leaves the reader already aching to dig into the next novel! It is truly worth paying the hardback price now for this book in order to join up with the Karavan. You won't be disappointed along the journey.

Wow! I just finished reading Karavans. I have long been a reader (started when Shapechangers first came out) and I have always loved her work. But this one blew me away right from the beginning. Everything seemed so real. I knew these people, I felt what they felt. I suffered when they did. I was right there with them. I could close my eyes and see the events unfolding. It was an incredible experience. I was so involved in the story that when I turned the last page I was surprised. I was hungry for me. Kudos to Jennifer for writing such a compelling wonderful story. I normally wait to buy paperbacks (hardbacks being so $$$) but I knew I had to have this story. Best decision I've made in awhile. Run, don't walk, to your book store and find this book. It's worth every penny.

KARAVANS is a gloriously written novel that introduces a unique and deeply envisioned world complete with richly detailed settings and fully fleshed characters. You'll fall in love with them, hate them, worry about them, and wish you could give one or two of them a good kick in the posterier. And when you finally lift your attention from the pages, you'll be dazed to discover you haven't actually been traveling beside them along Alisanos for real. Readers expecting a complete story arc in this volume may be disappointed, as the book is an introduction piece, presenting story elements and unveiling the players for the following volumes, but--as one who generally doesn't appreciate that structure--I found the book satisfying as a whole, with enough resolution to provide the sense of closure I expect. Think of this work not as a digital photograph, full of sharp detail and no vision, but as the first painting in triptych by one of the old masters.