Mirage

I picked this book up at the local bargain book store, caught by the intriguing cover art that reminds me of old style Tarot cards. Somehow I knew it would be good, and I was not disappointed. The characters are all very real. Kyre, the Sun Hound and hero, has to find out who he is. No small task considering that the people who summoned him aren't even sure. The climatic ending literally had me sitting on the edge of my seat. That hasn't happened for years!

This book was my introduction to Louise Cooper. I actually picked it up because I liked the cover art and the synopsis read good. I read the book in one evening. You enter this devastated world with the main character, Krye. As he grows and moves through the story, you're drawn deeper into the character with him. I simply couldn't put the book down. The pace of the book is well-thought out, and the climax is thrilling, if just a bit over the top. However, the villainess, Calthar, is wonderfully wicked. She ranks as one of the greatest villains I've ever encountered. This signals the true strength of the novel: The well-developed characters. They all seem so real. I realize this book can be very hard to find nowadays, but it is VERY much worth the effort. I've reread this story many times, and it never fails to entertain.

I thought that this book was great especially the cast of the characters, it was well thought of and hard to put down. Althought you find this with all Louise Cooper books I thought that this book was especially good.

Out of Louise Cooper's mulitudes of novels this is one of my favorites. The atmosphere is incredible, and because you step into the story at the same place as the protagonist, Kyre, every step of the way his world is revealed to you at the same rate, so you receive the same revelations. It is a great display of how history can affect the future, but not always in ways you would expect. If you like novels, that make you regret the story is over. If you want a challenging book to read that is difficult to put down, I finished in two days. If you haven't read Louise Cooper before, Mirage would be a good starting point, and will be your first of many purchases.