Nine Gates

I have been eagerly anticipating this sequel to THIRTEEN ORPHANS, wondering what new challenges Brenda Morris and her compatriots would encounter. Much to my satisfaction, NINE GATES was an excellent story. Unlike many other books where characters become type-cast as predictable villains and heroes, NINE GATES allows the characters to grow and develop. People are wounded ~ people betray one another ~ people are selfish... and yet, the characters do not remain one dimensional. NINE GATES is enjoyable because the reader is challenged to think along with the characters. Beyond the unusually strong character development, NINE GATES also has an intriguing plot. What will happen as the characters make their journey through the Guardian Domains? Will their "novice" skills be sufficient? Can Brenda and her allies learn to work with their rivals to succeed?

I'm still in the middle of the book, but I'm enjoying it every bit as much as the Thirteen Orphans, the first in the Breaking the Wall Series. The characters are varied and interesting. In all Jan Lindskold's books, I enjoy the depth of plot and levels of intrigue. Nine gates doesn't disappoint. The magic in this urban fantasy is not just limited to this world as Brenda, Pearl, Des, and the rest open the gates...

I found this a fascinating novel. I admire the rotating of points view that let you gain insight into the thinking and development of the principal characters. The magic system seem real in that magic user exert energy to work their magic, and growth in using one powers is slow and basic on painstaking study and practice. This is an excellent follow up to the 13 Orphans but it should be read in sequence since the back story is thankfully very minimal.

Up until recently, college student Brenda Morris had no idea that The Land of Smoke and Sacrifice existed. She has since learned a lot about the fact that Chinese myths were turned into this alternate earth several millennium ago and more stunningly her ancestors crossed over from this place (see THIRTEEN ORPHANS). However the greatest shock is she knows she has some of the powers of the Zodiac Rat; her Aunt Pearl is the Dragon; and her compatriot in training is the Dog. . The few surviving Exiles and their descendants have a world crisis as war has ignited inside the Land and threaten to spill over to the earth. The Thirteen Orphans Guardians between worlds are the only ones who can prevent a calamity of pandemic proportions. . However four of them are trapped on this side leaving it to the others to build the Nine Gates and rescue their Guardian comrades in arms. The second Morris urban fantasy is an exhilarating thriller based on the Chinese Zodiac that will thrill fans who relish elaborate but somewhat convoluted insight on Chinese mythology; at times the level of minutiae detracts from the otherwise enjoyable plot. The protagonists confront Herculean level challenges that seem impossible for them to succeed. These magical battles make for a fun paradox as the reader wonders how the magnificent nine can win the day against adversaries that if they defeat them they endanger two worlds but if they lose they endanger two worlds. Harriet Klausner