To Ride Hell's Chasm

When I opened To Ride Hell's Chasm, I was enthralled with characters that deepened with every page, unexpected emotion, and a wonderfully detailed plot. Each character is masterfully created, with an attention to detail that makes them leap from the page and into your mind. Even the animals within the plot take on personality and emotion as they become a focus point for both the action and the drama of the storyline. From a deceptively gentle start, the pace of the action increases until you are left breathless at the climax. The plot weaves a complex world into a wonderfully varied whole that adds to the richness of the reading. This book is an original, avoiding standard fantasy cliches which are so often encountered. It tells a human story that has echoes within our own world. It gets better with each reread.In case you can't tell - I loved it!

To refresh herself after the emotional toll of sending Arithon through Kewar Tunnel in Peril's Gate, Janny Wurts has written this stand alone story of honour, integrity and redemption as Mykkael, the coloured mercenary charged with securing and protecting the safety of the Anja, crown princess of Sessalie, through the physical and metaphorical trial of Hell's Chasm.The story is deceptively simple - on the day the High Prince of Devall arrives in Sessalie to formalize his betrothal to Anja, Anja disappears and sorcery is suspected. Her intended fiance and her brother both want her found, the King of Sessalie orders Mykkael to find her and protect her. Has she been abducted or has she run? Mykkael is an outsider in both colour and origin and suspicion quickly falls on him, the populace of Sessalie easily led to this conclusion.With sorcery afoot in Sessalie, Mykkael is forced to re-live his previous failure to protect a princess from sorcerous pursuit. With Sessalie turned against him, Mykkael must master both the real demons in Sessalie and the demons from his past. This book is as much a study of a principled character of robust integrity set under immense pressure as any "simple" chase story.The world of Sessalie pulsates with the hallmarks of Janny Wurts' writing - self-serving nobility, the seething masses of the general populace, the populace easily swayed by rumour and innuendo and a fear of foreigners.As a standalone novel, this is a good read and well worth following the trials of Mykkael to the emotional ending. As a tempter for the writing style of Wurts for those who have yet to read the massive Wars of Light and Shadow series, this is an essential starting point for the magic that is the writing of Janny Wurts

I would heartily recommend this book to both die hard fantasy fans and those who have never picked up Lord Of The Rings. The elements of fantasy writing are there, in the form of demonic magic, but it is the believability of the characters and the strength of the plot line that elevates this book to a five star ranking.The backdrop is a mountain kingdom under a subtle attack from a demon, an attack that very few of those embroiled in the court politics realise. The integrity of the main characters forces them into conflict for the stakes are too high to allow for any mistakes and the plotting of the demon's minions makes following orders a path of destruction.Ms Wurts has once again transcended the normal fantasy stereotypes. This is no wannabe Tolkien battle between a small band of men and elves against a massive evil army. Instead this is two people, six horses and a ride down the ravine Hell's Chasm.

In this time of global strife when it has become necessary to lean even more upon the strength of the warrior, it is important to remember that the warrior has a code of ethics that can be demanding in its exactitude. This tale of two warriors and a princess effectively illustrates the questions that are often posed to the warrior in the execution of his duty.To Ride Hell's Chasm deals with these questions from two disparate points of view: that of Mykael who is the Captain of the Lowergate garrison and that of Taskin, Commander of the Royal Guard. Taskin is bound by the rules of the upper city and the royal court and as such many of his actions are dictated, but he brings a powerful sense of fair-mindedness to the execution of his duties. Mykkael is an outlander mercenary who won his position and whose experiences as a mercenary bring a different perspective to how he runs the garrison.When Princess Anja goes missing before her betrothal it becomes the job of these two men to determine what has become of her. Has she been kidnapped or has she run off. Taskin and Mykkael must work together to find her but find themselves at odds as to just what has happened to the princess to the point that Mykkael himself becomes a suspect. The ethics of two men come into play as time becomes short in their efforts to find Anja.This story takes place over just five days and is fast paced. There is enough action and magic to satisfy those readers who like a quick story. However, the story still contains the level of intricate detail of character and plot that are the hallmark of a Janny Wurts novel and, as is the case with any of her stories, you will be left thinking about the events and decisions until you have to come back and read it again.

To Ride Hell's Chasm is a singleton fantasy novel. The Kingdom of Sessalie is a quiet highland realm that longs for an outlet to the sea. The King and Chancellors have arranged a marriage for Princess Anja with the High Prince of Devall to gain treaty access to their seaport and the two royals have fallen deeply in love. The High Prince has returned to Sessalie for the upcoming betrothal ceremony and the town has become a madhouse of wild and drunken celebration.In this novel, Captain Mykkael and his Garrison troopers have had busy days and busier nights. Mykkael hasn't slept in twenty hours and barely has the energy to tend to his lame knee. His sword shows use and needs a good cleaning if he can find time. The rumors have been varied and fantastic, including a new one that Princess Anja has disappeared. Then he is summoned to appear before the King.The rumor doesn't have the half of it. The princess has apparently fled on her own and is no longer anywhere in the castle, town or environs. The Seneshal is frantically worried that the betrothal will be rejected by the High Prince, but the prince seems only to be deeply concerned for the princess, urging all possible measures to find her. Commander Taskin of the Palace Guard has men searching all of the princess's old childhood hiding places within the castle, but soon has to agree with Mykkael that the princess is no longer there. A sorcerer's mark has been found in the castle cellars, but Mykkael knows that it is false, having had experience with the real thing. In fact, Mykkael is almost the only man in Sessalie who knows anything about sorcery and demons, having fought against them on several occasions, and is one of the few survivors of the futile defense of Efandi before it was overwhelmed by sorcery. Another sorcerer's mark is only too real, killing one of the few other men in the kingdom with the knowledge to defend against sorcery. Other deaths also seem to have been caused by sorcery, even though some of the nobles blame Mykkael and try to force his trial for these deaths. However, the King is well aware of the captain's history and charges him with responsibility for finding and protecting the princess.This story is a study of a man with heavy responsibilities, horrific experiences, and sorrowful memories. It is also a tale of the love that can develop between a man and woman enduring exhausting and terrible tests of stamina and perseverance. Underlying it all is the threat of demons, bound sorcerers, and their minions.Highly recommended for Wurts fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of loyalty, persistence, and competence in the midst of great trials.