Ordermaster

This was another great Recluce novel by Moedesitt. He continues the story of the Wellspring of Chaos. I was again immersed into the world of Recluce, and enjoyed every page of it.

Modesitt's sequel involving Kharl the cooper, turns ship's carpenter, turned mage, turned Lord of Austra is as equally brilliant as the opener. But that's not unexpected from Modesitt who has proven time and time again with his Saga of Recluce that, not only has he the ability to weave an astonishingly complete world picking his stories through the ages to create a vibrant history, but that his talents for spinning a simple yet utterly captivating story mean he is in the very top class of fantasy authors. Luckily he shows no sign of putting down his pen. The sequel flows immediately from the end of the first, Kharl taking a couple of eightdays out at his new Cantyl estate to meet his steward and set an easy homestead in motion before he is called upon by Lord Ghrant to help head of an inevitable revolt by the other Austran Lords who see the chance to gain control of the island. Unfortunately, Kharl's ability to use order to discern lies and truths means the revolt kicks off far earlier and he is forced to hunt down several white mages whilst improving his order magery to reflect chaos back at those casting it at him. The results are inevitably spectacular as he moves around the countryside picking off the rebel lords and their white mages with his air hardening technique. The climax is reached as he defeats an extremely powerful white sorceress when he discovers he can turn chaos back to the sender amongst the chaos links generated and get through their shields. Having earned Lord Ghrant a kingdom and being guided by Chancellor Hagan, Kharl returns to Cantyl for several months, taking time to build his cooperage before he is called on one more time to return to Brysta to head off Lord West and his evil son Egen who are seeking to gain control of Brysta and then threaten Austra. This gives him the chance to settle old scores from the first novel. It is tinged with sadness as he learns of the death of his youngest son. However, he is able to find Jeka in the midst of the new rebellion and develop their relationship whilst fighting off more white mages as Lord West is killed and his sons struggle for power. Eventually he puts the least terrible of the sons on the throne, destroys yet again Hamorian interests in causing trouble and returns peaceful to Cantyl with Jeka as his consort. An ending of sorts, but there is so much more scope for this unassuming cooper to become a mage as great as Creslin. There is not much more to say. Modesitt's brilliance shines from each page as brightly as any of his other novels. There are several authors out there who have produced great fantasy series but with longevity comes mediocrity. Not so with Modesitt. He just gets better and better.

Ordermaster (2005) is the thirteenth Fantasy novel in the Recluce Saga series, following Wellspring of Chaos. In the previous volume, Kharl ended the insurrection against Lord Ghrant by killing the two White Wizards and Lord Ilteron, Ghrant's older brother. He also rescued Lord Ghrant from the battlefield and brought him back to the Seastag. Lord Ghrant rewarded Kharl for his services with a landgrant, a stipend and the title of minor lord. In this novel, Kharl has spent two eightdays getting to know the personnel and grounds of his new estate. He has made plans to build a cooperage where he can contribute something tangible to its upkeep. Then the Seafox docks at his private pier and Lord-Chancellor Hagen asks him for a favor. Kharl returns to Valmurl with Lord Hagen to attend formal audiences as Lord Ghrant's Mage. After a good night's sleep, Kharl wakes when a servant delivers a breakfast tray to his room . . . laden with poison. After reporting the problem to Lord Hagen, he returns to his room with Undercaptain Charsal and a sergeant. The sergeant takes the breakfast tray away to be tested for poison and the Undercaptain takes Kharl to the kitchen for a better breakfast. On the way back to his room, Kharl is ambushed on the staircase by three men with crossbows. At the audience of Guillam of Desfor, chief factor of Austra, Lord Ghrant questions the man about his actions and loyalty during the recently completed conflict. Guillam lies about everything. Then Kharl is allowed to question him and Guillam continues to lie. Since he refuses to tell the truth, Kharl suggests that he start telling the truth or choke on his lies. When he continues to lie, Kharl solidifies the air around him until he suffocates. After this starling session, Lord Hagen calls in the top three military commanders and questions them about their prior actions and current loyalty. Commander Vatoran equivocates and then fakes a coughing spell. Commander Norgen states that he fears Lord Ghrant may not prove to be the ruler that his father was without continued good counsel, but he is loyal to the man despite his flaws. Commander Casolan does not think highly of Lord Ghrant's abilities either, but is still loyal to him. Lord Vatoran is questioned further and Kharl judges him to be disloyal to Lord Ghrant. Vatoran is taken away by guards to the deep cell. The rebellion starts shortly thereafter. This novel is about truth and actuality and the difference between the two. Kharl can tell whether someone is lying about his actions and intentions, but not necessarily about differences in viewpoints and beliefs. Kharl can only detect the lie when the speaker knows that his words are incorrect. Since the whole of actuality is unknown to anyone, a wrong belief is indistinguishable from a correct belief, except when Kharl is personally aware of the facts. Kharl also becomes intimately aware of the extent of his own responsibilities. Since he does not know eve

Modesitt delivers what his readers expect in this new eddition to the Recluce Saga. While following the same basic story outline as his past books, of a humble man discovering his talent for magery and then being forced to use it to influence world events in huge ways, L.E. is also able to continue adding much detail to his rich world of Recluce. In this sequel to The Wellspring of Chaos, Kharl the cooper/beggar/sailor/carpenter/mage/lord continues his adventures on the island nations of Nordla and Austra. Fighting (and killing) mage after mage throughout the book makes for an exciting read and having the story take place in another part of the world besides Candar and Recluce helps in expanding the reader's understanding of the lands and their people. By some accounts, Kharl could be the most powerful order mage we've encountered up till now, able to withstand the effects of death and chaos better than other powerful mages. He surely faced and defeated more white wizards in one on one combat than any yet written about. Even if he isn't the most powerful per se, he has undoubtably discovered one of the most powerful uses of order in unlinking bound order and thus creating a chaos explosion. Regardless, Kharl is one of my favorite characters of the entire series. Powerful and imposing, he stands up to every challenge boldly (no matter how uncomfortable or unfamiliar) and prevails. If you've become tired of Modesitt's world of Recluce, stop reading these books for a while. I find that if I space them out by a couple of months or more I am not turned off by the seemingly repetitive story lines. Each character and story is different in large and small ways and all are enjoyable.

After saving the life and the throne of Lord Ghrant of Austra, former cooper and sailor Kharl is made a Lord and given an estate. He barely settles in when Kharl's friend lord- Chancellor Hagen whisks him to the capital. Lord Ghrant needs his help in quelling rebellious lords, abetted by the Hamorian Empire who wants to make Austra a part of their dominion. After Kharl defeats the mages and the rebellious lords he returns home but once again his rest is short-lived. Hagen tells him that Lord Ghrant wants him to be the envoy to Nordla, Kharl's former homeland, the place he fled because Lord West and his son Egen wanted to kill him. He accepts the job realizing that he has changed so much his enemies will never recognize him. He is to report on the activities of Hamorians reputed to be there in large numbers. In Nordla, Kharl realizes that Egen is allied with the Hamorians who want to overthrow his father and place the son Egan on the throne. Kharl refuses to let this happen because Egan is so evil he will destroy Nordla. In the upcoming battle Kharl must destroy four powerful white wizard masters of chaos magic before they try to kill him. ORDERMASTER, the sequel to WELLSPRING OF CHAOS returns the reader to the further adventures in store for Kharl, a powerful mage, a reluctant Lord and a champion of justice. He is a character so likeable and endearing readers will root for him to prevail in battle and in Nordla win the hand of the woman he loves. There is plenty of action in the book though not at the expense of character development as L.E. Modesitt, Jr. has written another exciting action adventure in his Recluce Universe. Harriet Klausner