Wit'ch War

✍ Scribed by Clemens, James

• Book ID: 107114292
• Publisher: Del Rey
• Tongue: Dutch
• Weight: 338 KB
• Series: The Banned and the Banished 3
• Category: Fiction
• ISBN-13: 9780345417107

✦ Synopsis

In her hands, the young wit’ch Elena holds the awesome energies of blood magick, and the destiny of Alasea. For the fate of that fabulous kingdom hinges on her recovery of the Blood Diary. Only by mastering the secrets recorded in its pages can Elena defeat the evil magicks of the Dark Lord. But the Diary lies hidden in A’loa Glen–the fabled city that belongs to Shorkan, chief lieutenant of the Dark Lord, and his fearsome army.

With the help of her allies, including the ocean-dwelling Sy-wen and her great dragon, Elena prepares a desperate invasion of A’loa Glen. At her side stands the one-armed warrior Er’ril, who knows how to unlock the wards that surround the Blood Diary. But unknown to Elena, Er’ril is the brother of the dreaded Shorkan. Will he continue to act as her protector, or will he choose to betray her?

From Publishers Weekly

This third, stout volume recounts the dramatic climax of the quest for the Blood Diary, which holds the secret magic of the evil Black Heart. Three groups of do-gooding warriors are trying to track down the diary: Elena, the wit'ch, and her one-armed companion, Er'ril; Elena's Aunt Mycelle (a reformed shape-changer) and her motley crew; and the pirate Kast the Bloodrider and his beloved Sy-wen. Clemens tediously details each group's long journey, which concludes in a final confrontation on the island of A'loa Glen. There, the adventurers must confront the evil mage Shorkan (who happens to be Er'ril's brother). No tyro, Clemens does intelligent things with Elena and her brother, Joach, as they fight not only their enemies but also the dangers of their magical powers. He writes suggestively about shape-changing, and the final battle is so well constructed that it demands to be read at one sitting. But Clemens's decision to reveal only toward the end that the Blood Diary does not in fact hold the real key to the power of the Black Heart (thereby invalidating the purpose of the quest) produces terrific disappointment. (It does, however, suggest that he'll write at least one more novel in this series.) Although the scenario revolves around strong women and an abundantly detailed world, such a plot is hardly a novelty in contemporary fantasy fiction. Weakly executed, this book won't compel the attention of more discriminating readers.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Gifted with the long-lost power of blood magic, the wit!ch Elena travels to the ancient city of A!loa Glen to retrieve the Blood Diary, a tome whose power will enable her to save her land from the evils of the sorcerer known as Black Heart. Clemens!s epic fantasy features a strong heroine along with a memorable cast of supporting characters marked by their loyalty to one another and to the young woman whose cause they serve. Libraries owning Wit!ch Fire (LJ 6/15/98) and Wit!ch Storm (LJ 5/15/99) should purchase this companion volume.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.