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The Master of Whitestorm
This classic fantasy adventure from the acclaimed author of the Wars of Light and Shadow series "is storytelling at its best" (Raymond E. Feist, #1 New York Times-bestselling author).
Chained at the oar on a Mhurgai galley, a sullen slave who never speaks is considered a madman by his fellow captives--until the hour Korendir announces a plan, which is certainly doomed to failure, for no one ever escapes the merciless Mhurgai alive . . .
Korendir's silence hides a devious intellect. And his benchmate, Haldeth, is desperate to end his cruel captivity, even if mercy comes to him under the murderous knives of the Mhurgai. When Korendir's daring plan frees them both, Haldeth is compelled to follow his determined companion on an even more impossible quest: to lift a curse that despoils the kingdom of Torresdyr by recovering a legendary wardstone from a witch. His prize if he succeeds? A wizard's treasure. If he fails? A grave with the legion of defeated champions before him. Far from content to retire from danger, Korendir's restless nature will not embrace peace, his insatiable taste for impossible odds skating the thin edge toward insanity . . .
"Powerful . . . Epic grandeur . . . Magnificent." --Anne McCaffrey, New York Times-bestselling author
"Feeling like an old-fashioned episodic adventure fantasy, the novel gradually reveals an underlying thread that explains the main character's personality. Think Lethal Weapon in a complex fantasy setting." --Tor.com
"A large, varied, and original fantasy world, a unique magic concept, and a beautiful romance." --Fantasy Literature
Chained at the oar on a Mhurgai galley, a sullen slave who never speaks is considered a madman by his fellow captives--until the hour Korendir announces a plan, which is certainly doomed to failure, for no one ever escapes the merciless Mhurgai alive . . .
Korendir's silence hides a devious intellect. And his benchmate, Haldeth, is desperate to end his cruel captivity, even if mercy comes to him under the murderous knives of the Mhurgai. When Korendir's daring plan frees them both, Haldeth is compelled to follow his determined companion on an even more impossible quest: to lift a curse that despoils the kingdom of Torresdyr by recovering a legendary wardstone from a witch. His prize if he succeeds? A wizard's treasure. If he fails? A grave with the legion of defeated champions before him. Far from content to retire from danger, Korendir's restless nature will not embrace peace, his insatiable taste for impossible odds skating the thin edge toward insanity . . .
"Powerful . . . Epic grandeur . . . Magnificent." --Anne McCaffrey, New York Times-bestselling author
"Feeling like an old-fashioned episodic adventure fantasy, the novel gradually reveals an underlying thread that explains the main character's personality. Think Lethal Weapon in a complex fantasy setting." --Tor.com
"A large, varied, and original fantasy world, a unique magic concept, and a beautiful romance." --Fantasy Literature
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Janny Wurts
92 books1,628 followersJanny Wurts is the author of War of Light and Shadow series, and To Ride Hell's Chasm. Her eighteen published titles include a trilogy in audio, a short story collection, as well as the internationally best selling Empire trilogy, co authored with Raymond E. Feist, with works translated into fifteen languages worldwide. Her latest title in the Wars of Light and Shadow series, Destiny's Conflict, culminates more than thirty years of carefully evolved ideas. The cover images on the books, both in the US and abroad, are her own paintings, depicting her vision of characters and setting.
Through her combined talents as a writer/illustrator, Janny has immersed herself in a lifelong ambition: to create a seamless interface between words and pictures that will lead reader and viewer into the imagination. Her lavish use of language invites the mind into a crafted realm of experience, with characters and events woven into a complex tapestry, and drawn with an intensity to inspire active fuel for thought. Her research includes a range of direct experience, lending her fantasy a gritty realism, and her scenes involving magic crafted with intricate continuity. A self-taught painter, she draws directly from the imagination, creating scenes in a representational style that blurs the edges between dream and reality. She makes few preliminary sketches, but envisions her characters and the scenes that contain them, then executes the final directly from the initial pencil drawing.
The seed idea for the Wars of Light and Shadow series occurred, when, in the course of researching tactic and weapons, she viewed a documentary film on the Battle of Culloden Moor. This was the first time she had encountered that historical context of that brutal event, with the embroidery of romance stripped from it. The experience gave rise to an awakening, which became anger, that so often, our education, literature and entertainment slant history in a manner that equates winners and losers with moral right and wrong, and the prevalent attitude, that killing wars can be seen as justifiable solutions when only one side of the picture is presented.
Her series takes the stance that there are two sides to every question, and follows two characters who are half brothers. One a bard trained as a master of magecraft, and the other a born ruler with a charismatic passion for justice, have become cursed to lifelong enmity. As one sibling raises a devoted mass following, the other tries desperately to stave off defeat through solitary discipline and cleverness. The conflict sweeps across an imaginary world, dividing land and people through an intricate play of politics and the inborn prejudices of polarized factions already set at odds. Readers are led on a journey that embraces both viewpoints. The story explores the ironies of morality which often confound our own human condition - that what appears right and just, by one side, becomes reprehensible when seen from the opposite angle. What is apparently good for the many, too often causes devastating suffering to the nonconformist minority. Through the interactions between the characters themselves, the reader is left to their own discretion to interpret the moral impact of events.
Says Janny of her work, "I chose to frame this story against a backdrop of fantasy because I could handle even the most sensitive issues with the gloves off - explore the myriad angles of our troubled times with the least risk of offending anyone's personal sensibilities. The result, I can hope, is an expanding journey of the spirit that explores the grand depths, and rises to the challenge of mapping the ethereal potential of an evolving planetary consciousness... explore free thought and compassionate understanding."
Beyond writing, Janny's award winning paintings have been showcased in exhibitions of imaginative artwork, among them a commemorative exhibition for NASA's 25th Anniversary; the Art of the Cosmos at Hayden Planet
Through her combined talents as a writer/illustrator, Janny has immersed herself in a lifelong ambition: to create a seamless interface between words and pictures that will lead reader and viewer into the imagination. Her lavish use of language invites the mind into a crafted realm of experience, with characters and events woven into a complex tapestry, and drawn with an intensity to inspire active fuel for thought. Her research includes a range of direct experience, lending her fantasy a gritty realism, and her scenes involving magic crafted with intricate continuity. A self-taught painter, she draws directly from the imagination, creating scenes in a representational style that blurs the edges between dream and reality. She makes few preliminary sketches, but envisions her characters and the scenes that contain them, then executes the final directly from the initial pencil drawing.
The seed idea for the Wars of Light and Shadow series occurred, when, in the course of researching tactic and weapons, she viewed a documentary film on the Battle of Culloden Moor. This was the first time she had encountered that historical context of that brutal event, with the embroidery of romance stripped from it. The experience gave rise to an awakening, which became anger, that so often, our education, literature and entertainment slant history in a manner that equates winners and losers with moral right and wrong, and the prevalent attitude, that killing wars can be seen as justifiable solutions when only one side of the picture is presented.
Her series takes the stance that there are two sides to every question, and follows two characters who are half brothers. One a bard trained as a master of magecraft, and the other a born ruler with a charismatic passion for justice, have become cursed to lifelong enmity. As one sibling raises a devoted mass following, the other tries desperately to stave off defeat through solitary discipline and cleverness. The conflict sweeps across an imaginary world, dividing land and people through an intricate play of politics and the inborn prejudices of polarized factions already set at odds. Readers are led on a journey that embraces both viewpoints. The story explores the ironies of morality which often confound our own human condition - that what appears right and just, by one side, becomes reprehensible when seen from the opposite angle. What is apparently good for the many, too often causes devastating suffering to the nonconformist minority. Through the interactions between the characters themselves, the reader is left to their own discretion to interpret the moral impact of events.
Says Janny of her work, "I chose to frame this story against a backdrop of fantasy because I could handle even the most sensitive issues with the gloves off - explore the myriad angles of our troubled times with the least risk of offending anyone's personal sensibilities. The result, I can hope, is an expanding journey of the spirit that explores the grand depths, and rises to the challenge of mapping the ethereal potential of an evolving planetary consciousness... explore free thought and compassionate understanding."
Beyond writing, Janny's award winning paintings have been showcased in exhibitions of imaginative artwork, among them a commemorative exhibition for NASA's 25th Anniversary; the Art of the Cosmos at Hayden Planet
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
April 2, 2014
I've begun to realize that reading fantasy** has given me a superpower. It's not generally considered a superpower per se, but it IS a power I've received from my reading ventures. And maybe it's not necessarily a power, but it is a skill and really that's all superpowers are right? Cool skills.
**Quite possibly reading fiction in general, but I like to think it's just fantasy
Fine, okay, but Batman's a superhero and has no superpower ... so maybe it fits in there, somewhere.
Does this have a point? Why would you ask?
That superpower (sticking with it!) is that of perception. Rarely have I seen it better displayed than in The Master of White Storm by Janny Wurts.
The power of perception (alliteration makes it a power) is prominently on display here as Korendir begins his plan of escape as a galley slave, rowing for his Mhurga slave masters.
Not only is it all but unforeseen for slaves to escape the Mhurga, if one does escape, that slave is hunted down along with his or her family and all killed or made to suffer. In essence, you have to be crazy to mess with them.
It's through his perception that Korendir sees holes in his slavers' characters and in their routines and he exploits them after years of preparation and careful study.
It's amazing what being perceptive can do for you. Through reading, I have personally become more perceptive. I walk into a room and I notice things that others wouldn't normally notice. I can spot characters in movies and point them out in older or newer shows they are in without the use of IMDB (a highly lucrative power I have).
Most importantly, and something that has been pointed out in studies and articles, perception helps to give you empathy. If there is anything the world needs more of, it's empathy.
Korendir is a character with a world of empathy and that's what makes him such a strong and wonderful character. Janny Wurts understands exactly what that means and I've noticed that this is a powerful trait in many of my favorite characters she writes. They understand other people and will do anything to prevent others from suffering. Anything they have they will give to alleviate that suffering.
Wurts weaves a powerful tale as Korendir comes into his power and takes on task after task because that is the kind of person he is. He could sit back and enjoy his life, but he doesn't. I took away a powerful lesson. It's nice to think about what life would be to relax and take it easy. To have your every need taken care of. But how can you do so with so many people out there in need?
The Master of Whitestorm is a stand-alone book, filled with adventure after adventure. It's much more straight-forward than say The Wars of Light and Shadow, but that's a given since 450 pages can't contain the depth and complexity of an 11 volume (circa 800 pages per book) series. This is an excellent entry point into the works of Janny Wurts just like To Ride Hell's Chasm, which I reviewed earlier.
4.5 out 5 Stars (highly recommended)
Note: The Master of Whitestorm was recently re-released in ebook format and it is also under production for an audiobook, so that's great news for you headphone jockeys out there.
**Quite possibly reading fiction in general, but I like to think it's just fantasy
Fine, okay, but Batman's a superhero and has no superpower ... so maybe it fits in there, somewhere.
Does this have a point? Why would you ask?
That superpower (sticking with it!) is that of perception. Rarely have I seen it better displayed than in The Master of White Storm by Janny Wurts.
The power of perception (alliteration makes it a power) is prominently on display here as Korendir begins his plan of escape as a galley slave, rowing for his Mhurga slave masters.
Not only is it all but unforeseen for slaves to escape the Mhurga, if one does escape, that slave is hunted down along with his or her family and all killed or made to suffer. In essence, you have to be crazy to mess with them.
It's through his perception that Korendir sees holes in his slavers' characters and in their routines and he exploits them after years of preparation and careful study.
It's amazing what being perceptive can do for you. Through reading, I have personally become more perceptive. I walk into a room and I notice things that others wouldn't normally notice. I can spot characters in movies and point them out in older or newer shows they are in without the use of IMDB (a highly lucrative power I have).
Most importantly, and something that has been pointed out in studies and articles, perception helps to give you empathy. If there is anything the world needs more of, it's empathy.
Korendir is a character with a world of empathy and that's what makes him such a strong and wonderful character. Janny Wurts understands exactly what that means and I've noticed that this is a powerful trait in many of my favorite characters she writes. They understand other people and will do anything to prevent others from suffering. Anything they have they will give to alleviate that suffering.
Wurts weaves a powerful tale as Korendir comes into his power and takes on task after task because that is the kind of person he is. He could sit back and enjoy his life, but he doesn't. I took away a powerful lesson. It's nice to think about what life would be to relax and take it easy. To have your every need taken care of. But how can you do so with so many people out there in need?
The Master of Whitestorm is a stand-alone book, filled with adventure after adventure. It's much more straight-forward than say The Wars of Light and Shadow, but that's a given since 450 pages can't contain the depth and complexity of an 11 volume (circa 800 pages per book) series. This is an excellent entry point into the works of Janny Wurts just like To Ride Hell's Chasm, which I reviewed earlier.
4.5 out 5 Stars (highly recommended)
Note: The Master of Whitestorm was recently re-released in ebook format and it is also under production for an audiobook, so that's great news for you headphone jockeys out there.
May 23, 2017
This is a refreshing fantasy book featuring a complex adult main protagonist dealing with his fears and an original, psychological story crafted with the trademark rhythm and style of Janny Wurts.
At the beginning of the story both Korendir and Haldeth, the other main character, end up as slave oarsmen in the same nightmarish pirate galley that have captured them, but over the course of the book they evolve very differently. Haldeth, the eldest, reveals his painful experience while Korendir, little more than a teenager, dumbly reacts with voiceless fury to any human stimulus or mistreatment. The two forge a deep friendship and relate with each other, but eventually take very different paths in reaction to their inner demons, and the reader confronts with almost opposite ways of dealing with life and fear. The story unfolds like a reverse spiral, in each episode the reader is confronted with new hints about the past and the motivations of the hero, and as the circles widen some of the mysteries are finally revealed, all the little initial seemingly patternless clues begin to show their importance and Korendir is displayed in all his complexity. His motivations are not easy to guess, but from the beginning, a character so honest, determined, angry, can only be the result of a personal tragedy of epic proportions.
During the first adventures, which are of episodic nature (varied, engaging and further challenging), the enormous talents of Korendir are evident, but it also emerges his sense of fallibility, the darker shadow of fear that chases him. His quest, pursued with stubbornness and integrity, is to build the safest stronghold, an impenetrable fortress able to sunder him from the violence of men and the power of wizards. Towards this end, Korendir relentlessly studies ancient texts of lore and history and begins working as a mercenary, and with his growing reputation, he accepts increasingly burdensome assignments.
Yet, whilst his dream of security is in need of money, what moves him is clearly something deeper, as it is shown in the episode of the wereleopards or of the South Englas princess, and the reader is left to wonder and ponder on the clues. For some time, Korendir continues his mercenary activity, and his sparseness of words, his refusal to justify his actions even when wrongly accused, his superficial impassivity turn him into an unsolvable mystery for those who try to interact with him; but his talent is undeniable, and his services highly sought after even if his mien scares the most daring of employers. Howbeit, Korendir, as quick with the sword as with his wits, and quiet connoisseur of humanity, is not perfect, and his fear of repeating tragedies, his cold manners, give the outer appearance of impenetrability but just below the surface he is conflicted and fragile and his actions are clearly not those of a madman, even if Korendir teeters dangerously close to the precipice.
After the mission in the exotic city of the Sultan, he seems to break, to abandon any reserve, and starts accepting assignments of very different nature and motivation from the previous ones, what moves him seems to change. With pain, the friend Haldeth points out that his behavior "has turned his addition to risk and violence toward murder", and understandably worries that "the violence of his trade has overtaken him" and despairs: "somewhere in your quest for protection you've learned to live just to slaughter". To all outer appearances, Korendir walks the thin edge of insanity, but his inner self starts to unveil after the intense meeting with Ithariel at the pinnacle of his path. The adventure in Tir Amindel marks the beginning of the second part of the story where the hero's past is revealed, and with all the layers, there are many surprises in store for the reader, and Korendir’s reckless actions, his courting death on the brink of madness all resolve in their tragic inevitability. I also liked very much the part where the White Circle takes stage and the mystery of the origins of the hero thickens, branches, and the threads converge as the plots unravels.
The end is intense, and many plot twists are still in for the characters and for the reader, who is involved in a crescendo of emotions in the depth of the events, following Koredir shaping his fate. I personally related to the various characters as I avidly turned page after page and I was very satisfied by the denouement, heartwrenching and full of hope at the same time.
The scenes at sea, in the mountains, in the wilderness are all carefully tended to detail and extreme realism by the artistic hand of the author, who always manages to keep the balance between showing and letting the reader’s mind wander. The various dangers and obstacles, the missions faced by Korendir are fascinating and at times brutal: the battle with the Dathei, the incredible confrontations with the elementals, the game with the witch Anthei...
The wordbuliding is very solid, the world of Aerith and his Eleven Kingdoms are a living element in which the characters move and the magic system is complex and interesting. Ithariel is a disruptive character, of incredible strength, quiet but relentless, also plagued by a tragedy of which she was helpless victim, but she struggles to overcome her fears, too, and only thanks to her Korendir can try to come to terms with his inner fragility.
The writing style is lyrical, poetic and rich. The sheer elegance of the prose adds indefinitely to the story, a style that I have come to love after reading White Storm and To Ride Hell’s Chasm, two very different novels (with the common ground of bravura storytelling, careful worldbuilding and deep character development). It is always a matter of taste of course, but for me it’s a win win.
I highly recommend this book, a classic fantasy of refreshing and original quality, I simply found awesome all the conundrums Korendir solves with wit and knowledge first, fighting prowess second.
Soon, I will start the Light and Shadow series with The Curse of the Mistwraith, I cannot get enough of Janny Wurts’ highly evocative style, carefully layered characters and very original plots! After two fantasy standalones, both quick-paced and with strong adult lead characters I absolutely want to discover the heights and depths of her longer series.
High fantasy at its best, with ageless grace, lyrical authenticity of detail, poignant story and round characters. Look no further.
At the beginning of the story both Korendir and Haldeth, the other main character, end up as slave oarsmen in the same nightmarish pirate galley that have captured them, but over the course of the book they evolve very differently. Haldeth, the eldest, reveals his painful experience while Korendir, little more than a teenager, dumbly reacts with voiceless fury to any human stimulus or mistreatment. The two forge a deep friendship and relate with each other, but eventually take very different paths in reaction to their inner demons, and the reader confronts with almost opposite ways of dealing with life and fear. The story unfolds like a reverse spiral, in each episode the reader is confronted with new hints about the past and the motivations of the hero, and as the circles widen some of the mysteries are finally revealed, all the little initial seemingly patternless clues begin to show their importance and Korendir is displayed in all his complexity. His motivations are not easy to guess, but from the beginning, a character so honest, determined, angry, can only be the result of a personal tragedy of epic proportions.
During the first adventures, which are of episodic nature (varied, engaging and further challenging), the enormous talents of Korendir are evident, but it also emerges his sense of fallibility, the darker shadow of fear that chases him. His quest, pursued with stubbornness and integrity, is to build the safest stronghold, an impenetrable fortress able to sunder him from the violence of men and the power of wizards. Towards this end, Korendir relentlessly studies ancient texts of lore and history and begins working as a mercenary, and with his growing reputation, he accepts increasingly burdensome assignments.
Yet, whilst his dream of security is in need of money, what moves him is clearly something deeper, as it is shown in the episode of the wereleopards or of the South Englas princess, and the reader is left to wonder and ponder on the clues. For some time, Korendir continues his mercenary activity, and his sparseness of words, his refusal to justify his actions even when wrongly accused, his superficial impassivity turn him into an unsolvable mystery for those who try to interact with him; but his talent is undeniable, and his services highly sought after even if his mien scares the most daring of employers. Howbeit, Korendir, as quick with the sword as with his wits, and quiet connoisseur of humanity, is not perfect, and his fear of repeating tragedies, his cold manners, give the outer appearance of impenetrability but just below the surface he is conflicted and fragile and his actions are clearly not those of a madman, even if Korendir teeters dangerously close to the precipice.
After the mission in the exotic city of the Sultan, he seems to break, to abandon any reserve, and starts accepting assignments of very different nature and motivation from the previous ones, what moves him seems to change. With pain, the friend Haldeth points out that his behavior "has turned his addition to risk and violence toward murder", and understandably worries that "the violence of his trade has overtaken him" and despairs: "somewhere in your quest for protection you've learned to live just to slaughter". To all outer appearances, Korendir walks the thin edge of insanity, but his inner self starts to unveil after the intense meeting with Ithariel at the pinnacle of his path. The adventure in Tir Amindel marks the beginning of the second part of the story where the hero's past is revealed, and with all the layers, there are many surprises in store for the reader, and Korendir’s reckless actions, his courting death on the brink of madness all resolve in their tragic inevitability. I also liked very much the part where the White Circle takes stage and the mystery of the origins of the hero thickens, branches, and the threads converge as the plots unravels.
The end is intense, and many plot twists are still in for the characters and for the reader, who is involved in a crescendo of emotions in the depth of the events, following Koredir shaping his fate. I personally related to the various characters as I avidly turned page after page and I was very satisfied by the denouement, heartwrenching and full of hope at the same time.
The scenes at sea, in the mountains, in the wilderness are all carefully tended to detail and extreme realism by the artistic hand of the author, who always manages to keep the balance between showing and letting the reader’s mind wander. The various dangers and obstacles, the missions faced by Korendir are fascinating and at times brutal: the battle with the Dathei, the incredible confrontations with the elementals, the game with the witch Anthei...
The wordbuliding is very solid, the world of Aerith and his Eleven Kingdoms are a living element in which the characters move and the magic system is complex and interesting. Ithariel is a disruptive character, of incredible strength, quiet but relentless, also plagued by a tragedy of which she was helpless victim, but she struggles to overcome her fears, too, and only thanks to her Korendir can try to come to terms with his inner fragility.
The writing style is lyrical, poetic and rich. The sheer elegance of the prose adds indefinitely to the story, a style that I have come to love after reading White Storm and To Ride Hell’s Chasm, two very different novels (with the common ground of bravura storytelling, careful worldbuilding and deep character development). It is always a matter of taste of course, but for me it’s a win win.
I highly recommend this book, a classic fantasy of refreshing and original quality, I simply found awesome all the conundrums Korendir solves with wit and knowledge first, fighting prowess second.
Soon, I will start the Light and Shadow series with The Curse of the Mistwraith, I cannot get enough of Janny Wurts’ highly evocative style, carefully layered characters and very original plots! After two fantasy standalones, both quick-paced and with strong adult lead characters I absolutely want to discover the heights and depths of her longer series.
High fantasy at its best, with ageless grace, lyrical authenticity of detail, poignant story and round characters. Look no further.
November 9, 2015
This standalone fantasy had the all the building blocks for a good story. The world building was good, the plot was interesting, and the characters were intriguing and far from perfect. Unfortunately Janny Wurts writing seemed a bit distant to me and as a result I failed to engage on an emotional level with the plight of the characters or any of the happenings. A shame really as this had the potential to be a great read.
Korendir spent years in silence chained as a galley slave under the brutal whips of the marauding Mhurgai. The first words his bench mate heard him speak was his intent to escape. A tall task as no galley slave had ever escaped from Mhurgai chains. Korendir does the impossible and escapes with Haldeth in tow. It is merely the first of many impossible tasks undertaken by the newly free mercenary as he seeks to fund his own dream of building an impenetrable fortress. As Korendir flings himself into all sorts of suicidal missions his friend Haldeth is left to fear that no walls will ever by high enough to make the Master of Whitestorm feel secure from the demons of his memory.
I really wish I had enjoyed this more as Korendir should have been a fantastic anti-hero and his inventive methods of defeating everything from dragons to water elementals' should have been exciting!
This is not my first Janny Wurts read and it is probably time to admit that while I do like her ideas I just do not fully gel with her writing.
Rating: 3 stars.
Audio Note: Simon Prebble did an excellent job with the audio.
Korendir spent years in silence chained as a galley slave under the brutal whips of the marauding Mhurgai. The first words his bench mate heard him speak was his intent to escape. A tall task as no galley slave had ever escaped from Mhurgai chains. Korendir does the impossible and escapes with Haldeth in tow. It is merely the first of many impossible tasks undertaken by the newly free mercenary as he seeks to fund his own dream of building an impenetrable fortress. As Korendir flings himself into all sorts of suicidal missions his friend Haldeth is left to fear that no walls will ever by high enough to make the Master of Whitestorm feel secure from the demons of his memory.
I really wish I had enjoyed this more as Korendir should have been a fantastic anti-hero and his inventive methods of defeating everything from dragons to water elementals' should have been exciting!
This is not my first Janny Wurts read and it is probably time to admit that while I do like her ideas I just do not fully gel with her writing.
Rating: 3 stars.
Audio Note: Simon Prebble did an excellent job with the audio.
November 25, 2013
As Master of Whitestorm starts off, Haldeth, a blacksmith turned galley slave, gets involved in an escape attempt by his mysterious and silent bench mate—a man who quickly proves to have surprising skills and hidden depths. The two companions strike out together after their escape. The mysterious man, whose name is Korendir, takes on a number of mercenary missions. It quickly becomes clear that Korendir is, to put it mildly, very focused on gathering enough money to build an impregnable fortress on the cliffs of Whitestorm…
Master of Whitestorm, a standalone novel that has just been released in ebook format after being out of print for years, is an excellent example of Janny Wurts‘ gorgeous prose style and impressive storytelling skills. Initially an episodic story consisting of a number of separate “missions” Korendir undertakes, the novel gradually reveals an underlying thread that explains Korendir’s distinctive personality (think Lethal Weapon in a complex fantasy setting) and builds up to an impressive climax and a moving conclusion.
Read the entire review on my site Far Beyond Reality!
Master of Whitestorm, a standalone novel that has just been released in ebook format after being out of print for years, is an excellent example of Janny Wurts‘ gorgeous prose style and impressive storytelling skills. Initially an episodic story consisting of a number of separate “missions” Korendir undertakes, the novel gradually reveals an underlying thread that explains Korendir’s distinctive personality (think Lethal Weapon in a complex fantasy setting) and builds up to an impressive climax and a moving conclusion.
Read the entire review on my site Far Beyond Reality!
May 21, 2017
2nd DNF book this week for me. This is my first Janny Wurts book and I'm really disappointed. I think I just picked the wrong book to start with. This one starts out interesting - on the slave galley where the two main characters are trying to escape, but then it just ended up being a bunch of short story adventures that get more and more outrageous. There's no plot really. I got about halfway through and quit. This book reminds me of playing an MMO and just reading a bunch of quest text. The main hero goes from one improbable scenario to the next. It just wasn't for me at all. That being said, I'm not giving up on Wurts, I have too many friends here that rave about her books, so I think I just need to choose something that's more like a novel and not a bunch of short stories.
October 22, 2014
This was a good, stand alone fantasy novel. The hero is complex & very tough. The descriptions of horses & especially sailing scenes are especially well done. The author's obvious familiarity with these two subjects shines through.
The story line is excellent. While not indicated by sections, there are distinct parts to the hero's life, each one building to a climax & logically leading to the next. The suspense never ends in a world that is complex & dangerous.
The cover art was excellent & done by the author. A very talented lady. You can see it on her web site:
http://www.paravia.com/JannyWurts/web...
I highly recommend it.
The story line is excellent. While not indicated by sections, there are distinct parts to the hero's life, each one building to a climax & logically leading to the next. The suspense never ends in a world that is complex & dangerous.
The cover art was excellent & done by the author. A very talented lady. You can see it on her web site:
http://www.paravia.com/JannyWurts/web...
I highly recommend it.
October 5, 2015
3.5 stars for this stand-alone epic fantasy complete with wizards, bloody butchery, and a touch of bittersweet romance. I had never read Janny Wurts before, but based on positive reviews, decided to give it a go. She's a whiz with words, that's perfectly clear. A masterful writer. She also crafts some very clever plots — particularly the tricks the hero Korendir uses to defeat various über-powerful banes.
Most of the book portrays Korendir fighting various evils that imperil the eleven kingdoms. Especially memorable are the tricks he used on the weather elemental (Cyondide?) at White Storm Cliff, and the subterfuge employed to reel in the Demons of Mathcek.
In some sense, this fantasy — while grim and dark — has a happy ending, but by no means should a reader expect a feel-good story of conviviality among comrades. And even though there is a heartfelt love affair, this doesn't read like a love story.
Quibbles: For me, there's not enough character development or relationship development. Various heroic, highly-intelligent endeavors (against wereleopards, witches, demons, dragons, etc.) carry the book, not the characters. It took too long to get to know and love the heartbroken, compassionate hero — Master of Whitestorm. He transformed overnight from galley-slave to brilliant strategist and sword fighter (did he learn that at home, before getting enslaved at age 17?). But I did eventually care about him, and I liked the heroine, Lady Ithariel the Enchantress. I gradually lost interest in the blacksmith, Heldrith. His role in the story diminishes midway through the book.
I felt the relationship development between Korendir and Ithariel was rushed. So, bottom line, I wasn't especially moved by this book. When bad things happened to various good people, I cared a little, but I didn't shed a tear. I liked the scene at Whitestorm Fortress, when all the wizards came knocking.
Good narration by Simon Prebbles, but he employed a gruff tone of voice for the hero that -- compounded with his accent -- was hard to understand.
Most of the book portrays Korendir fighting various evils that imperil the eleven kingdoms. Especially memorable are the tricks he used on the weather elemental (Cyondide?) at White Storm Cliff, and the subterfuge employed to reel in the Demons of Mathcek.
In some sense, this fantasy — while grim and dark — has a happy ending, but by no means should a reader expect a feel-good story of conviviality among comrades. And even though there is a heartfelt love affair, this doesn't read like a love story.
Quibbles: For me, there's not enough character development or relationship development. Various heroic, highly-intelligent endeavors (against wereleopards, witches, demons, dragons, etc.) carry the book, not the characters. It took too long to get to know and love the heartbroken, compassionate hero — Master of Whitestorm. He transformed overnight from galley-slave to brilliant strategist and sword fighter (did he learn that at home, before getting enslaved at age 17?). But I did eventually care about him, and I liked the heroine, Lady Ithariel the Enchantress. I gradually lost interest in the blacksmith, Heldrith. His role in the story diminishes midway through the book.
I felt the relationship development between Korendir and Ithariel was rushed. So, bottom line, I wasn't especially moved by this book. When bad things happened to various good people, I cared a little, but I didn't shed a tear. I liked the scene at Whitestorm Fortress, when all the wizards came knocking.
Good narration by Simon Prebbles, but he employed a gruff tone of voice for the hero that -- compounded with his accent -- was hard to understand.
June 1, 2014
I was introduced to Janny Wurts by first reading The Curse of the Mistwraith and totally loving it, so was hooked. Being my compulsive self, I couldn't stop reading until I finished that series before working my way backward through her earlier works.
This book tells the story of Korendir, first introduced as a galley slave. He's a 'typical' Wurts hero in that he's tough, defended, smart, prickly (extremely), and underneath it all, a total cream puff. Having been introduced to this sort in the Mistwraith series, I was therefore patient with him and enjoyed the ride through his adventures early in the book. As events unfold, we finally learn the reasons for his behavior, and he becomes more human. This slow uncovering is also a Wurts hallmark, and one that I totally enjoy. While I was sure that would happen, other plot twists are less predictable and we are served up the climax with psychological depth and deep understanding - another Wurts characteristic, which is only one of the things I enjoy so much about her writing.
This is a standalone novel and a good introduction to the writing of Janny Wurts. The writing style is less complex than the style of the Mistwraith series, and so it's an easier read, for those who would like to dip their toe into the work of this outstanding author.
REREAD: I listened to the new audio edition of this book and couldn't believe how rich the narration of it is. Simon Prebble's voice and interpretation is magnificent. He pours emotion into his reading that is rare in other books I've listened to him read. I was sobbing at the end. Beautiful.
This book tells the story of Korendir, first introduced as a galley slave. He's a 'typical' Wurts hero in that he's tough, defended, smart, prickly (extremely), and underneath it all, a total cream puff. Having been introduced to this sort in the Mistwraith series, I was therefore patient with him and enjoyed the ride through his adventures early in the book. As events unfold, we finally learn the reasons for his behavior, and he becomes more human. This slow uncovering is also a Wurts hallmark, and one that I totally enjoy. While I was sure that would happen, other plot twists are less predictable and we are served up the climax with psychological depth and deep understanding - another Wurts characteristic, which is only one of the things I enjoy so much about her writing.
This is a standalone novel and a good introduction to the writing of Janny Wurts. The writing style is less complex than the style of the Mistwraith series, and so it's an easier read, for those who would like to dip their toe into the work of this outstanding author.
REREAD: I listened to the new audio edition of this book and couldn't believe how rich the narration of it is. Simon Prebble's voice and interpretation is magnificent. He pours emotion into his reading that is rare in other books I've listened to him read. I was sobbing at the end. Beautiful.
August 16, 2023
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
For those of you who follow me on twitter and my reviews know how much of a fan I am for the works of Janny Wurts. Janny writes her stories with emotionally impactful scenes combined with beautiful prose to go along with it. I thought now would be a good chance to take a look at one of the standalone novels written by this amazing author. The Master of Whitestorm is an episodic volume and different than most other stories I have had the pleasure of reading, but the characters just shine on every page and the the true motivations of the two main POV’s will come to the forefront. By the end, you will question everything and ask yourself did the characters not understand each other or was it me?
I won’t go into too many details due to spoilers, but the story begins on a slave ship with our two main characters chained together as oars mates on a Mhurgai galley. Korendir is considered to be a madman due to his silence and sheltered behavior. What these prisoners don’t know is that this is by design as Korendir has a devious intellect for his ultimate plan. Korendir’s mate Haldeth looks to escape the bondages of his captives by any means necessary. Korendir is able to free the two of them and they embark on a long journey to the cursed kingdom of Torresdyr. To free the land of a curse, they first need to uncover a legendary wardstone from a witch. The future of Korendir and Haldeth’s adventures will be riddled with success and pain as the Master of Whitestorm will always be looking for the next impossible task.
As I mentioned before, each chapter is considered the next part and/or episode in the lives of our dynamic duo. Korendir seems to wear an emotional armor for his own protection and in order to hide his true ambitions. I found myself caring for Korendir immensely because I have always had a difficult time expressing myself in my younger days and it is never something you truly learn to outgrow. Some people will call this a defensive mechanism and sometimes it is the only way to cope with the traumas and the shitty parts of life. Everything will heal with time but they are never forgotten. Throughout this journey, Janny’s amazing writing brought me back to my teenage years and made me realize the person I am today is due to my past and not in spite of it. Our two main characters battle magical creatures, elementals, and achieve great glory but will the cost be too great?
If you haven’t read a single work by Janny Wurts, this is a great place to start. Very few authors will provide the emotional impact and the beauty of lyrical prose the way that Janny can. Characters are the shining beacon for this standalone adventure with the emotional gut punches to go along with it. Join me in diving deep into the works of this critically acclaimed author because the best is yet to come.
Cheers!
For those of you who follow me on twitter and my reviews know how much of a fan I am for the works of Janny Wurts. Janny writes her stories with emotionally impactful scenes combined with beautiful prose to go along with it. I thought now would be a good chance to take a look at one of the standalone novels written by this amazing author. The Master of Whitestorm is an episodic volume and different than most other stories I have had the pleasure of reading, but the characters just shine on every page and the the true motivations of the two main POV’s will come to the forefront. By the end, you will question everything and ask yourself did the characters not understand each other or was it me?
I won’t go into too many details due to spoilers, but the story begins on a slave ship with our two main characters chained together as oars mates on a Mhurgai galley. Korendir is considered to be a madman due to his silence and sheltered behavior. What these prisoners don’t know is that this is by design as Korendir has a devious intellect for his ultimate plan. Korendir’s mate Haldeth looks to escape the bondages of his captives by any means necessary. Korendir is able to free the two of them and they embark on a long journey to the cursed kingdom of Torresdyr. To free the land of a curse, they first need to uncover a legendary wardstone from a witch. The future of Korendir and Haldeth’s adventures will be riddled with success and pain as the Master of Whitestorm will always be looking for the next impossible task.
As I mentioned before, each chapter is considered the next part and/or episode in the lives of our dynamic duo. Korendir seems to wear an emotional armor for his own protection and in order to hide his true ambitions. I found myself caring for Korendir immensely because I have always had a difficult time expressing myself in my younger days and it is never something you truly learn to outgrow. Some people will call this a defensive mechanism and sometimes it is the only way to cope with the traumas and the shitty parts of life. Everything will heal with time but they are never forgotten. Throughout this journey, Janny’s amazing writing brought me back to my teenage years and made me realize the person I am today is due to my past and not in spite of it. Our two main characters battle magical creatures, elementals, and achieve great glory but will the cost be too great?
If you haven’t read a single work by Janny Wurts, this is a great place to start. Very few authors will provide the emotional impact and the beauty of lyrical prose the way that Janny can. Characters are the shining beacon for this standalone adventure with the emotional gut punches to go along with it. Join me in diving deep into the works of this critically acclaimed author because the best is yet to come.
Cheers!
January 21, 2013
Janny Wurts is one of my favorite authors. Her stories are always interesting and her voice refreshing. Master of Whitestorm was no different. I had been spoiled by the Empire Series, as I consider it to be one of the best SciFi/Fantasy series I’ve ever read, but that aside, Master of Whitestorm delivered a solid read.
The protagonist, Korendir, was a solid, if perhaps too typical character. In a sense he was predictable to where you knew what he would do, and yet, he was a strong enough character that you willingly followed him through each trial.
What I found lacking in the book was a definitive plot. It was more like a series of tests, sort of like the twelve labors of Hercules, where the protagonist went from one to another with not much in between. It left little room for other characters to develop. And I guess now that I’ve said that, the lack of strong secondary characters might be the biggest ‘lack’ for me. I was so impressed with the secondary characters in Empire that I think I expected them here.
Even so, Master of Whitestorm was a good read. It was entertaining, and there’s not much more you can ask for in a good read.
The protagonist, Korendir, was a solid, if perhaps too typical character. In a sense he was predictable to where you knew what he would do, and yet, he was a strong enough character that you willingly followed him through each trial.
What I found lacking in the book was a definitive plot. It was more like a series of tests, sort of like the twelve labors of Hercules, where the protagonist went from one to another with not much in between. It left little room for other characters to develop. And I guess now that I’ve said that, the lack of strong secondary characters might be the biggest ‘lack’ for me. I was so impressed with the secondary characters in Empire that I think I expected them here.
Even so, Master of Whitestorm was a good read. It was entertaining, and there’s not much more you can ask for in a good read.
March 23, 2016
Technically this wasn't my first exposure to Janny Wurts. I read the Empire trilogy she wrote with Ray Feist back when I was 13 or so; I remember enjoying it, and not much else about it. 13-year-old me had questionable taste in many ways, though, and I've learned not to put too much stock in his opinions.
I also know her from /r/Fantasy, where Janny consistently addresses complicated and difficult questions with thoughtfulness and wisdom, frequently enough that any time an interesting question is asked I find myself automatically looking forward to whatever she has to say. So on that score, I had pretty high expectations going into this. And she certainly delivered.
Though I enjoyed it from the start, it took a while to really get what I would call good. The book is a series of small stories with no clear overall plot direction, at least at first. Structurally it reminded me a lot of Cugel's adventures from Jack Vance's Dying Earth. The first few adventures Korendir undertook felt like very straightforward sword-and-sorcery; fun to read, but nothing particularly memorable. As the story went on, though, there was a gradual shift, so slow that it took me a while to realize it. It went from the chronicle of Korendir's adventures to an exploration of the man himself; what drove him, what his goals were, and his past, and his future.
He's a complicated man, with a great deal going on beneath the surface. The challenges he faced steadily increased in scope and in cost, with the consequences growing steadily more and more tragic. Each gain revealed more about the man, and even more so the price he paid for it. And the more his fortunes rose, the more the dread in the pit of my stomach intensified, because the more he had, the more he had to lose. There was a line from the Dresden Files that kept coming to mind as I read this story: "he was not a man to die in bed."
The ending was as bittersweet as any I've ever read, including Frodo sailing West and anything that heart-wrenching beautiful bastard Guy Gavriel Kay can come up with. It warmed my heart and made me want to cry at the same time.
I've heard great things about many of Janny's books, and if they can match this one, they'll be more than worth it.
I also know her from /r/Fantasy, where Janny consistently addresses complicated and difficult questions with thoughtfulness and wisdom, frequently enough that any time an interesting question is asked I find myself automatically looking forward to whatever she has to say. So on that score, I had pretty high expectations going into this. And she certainly delivered.
Though I enjoyed it from the start, it took a while to really get what I would call good. The book is a series of small stories with no clear overall plot direction, at least at first. Structurally it reminded me a lot of Cugel's adventures from Jack Vance's Dying Earth. The first few adventures Korendir undertook felt like very straightforward sword-and-sorcery; fun to read, but nothing particularly memorable. As the story went on, though, there was a gradual shift, so slow that it took me a while to realize it. It went from the chronicle of Korendir's adventures to an exploration of the man himself; what drove him, what his goals were, and his past, and his future.
He's a complicated man, with a great deal going on beneath the surface. The challenges he faced steadily increased in scope and in cost, with the consequences growing steadily more and more tragic. Each gain revealed more about the man, and even more so the price he paid for it. And the more his fortunes rose, the more the dread in the pit of my stomach intensified, because the more he had, the more he had to lose. There was a line from the Dresden Files that kept coming to mind as I read this story: "he was not a man to die in bed."
The ending was as bittersweet as any I've ever read, including Frodo sailing West and anything that heart-wrenching beautiful bastard Guy Gavriel Kay can come up with. It warmed my heart and made me want to cry at the same time.
I've heard great things about many of Janny's books, and if they can match this one, they'll be more than worth it.
November 23, 2015
An enjoyable stand-alone fantasy from Janny Wurts, who is becoming one of my favorite authors.
The Master of Whitestorm, Korinder is an interesting character. He seems to be emotionally dead at first glance, but as the story progresses we see more deeply into his personality.
The tragic scenes that he has to deal with are very effective. I don't want to go into that too deeply and spoil anything, but there are a few scenes in this book that will stay with me for a long time.
As far as the accomplishments of Korendir, he builds a reputation for taking on impossible quests. What impresses me most about these adventures is the way Janny handles them. His success at these is plausible and creative. He's not just another typical hero with an S on his chest that defeats every challenge simply because of prophecy or being a chosen one. No, this guy uses his brain and succeeds where others fail because he always takes a new approach to solving the problems. He thinks outside the box. It doesn't hurt that he has good allies to help pull him out of the fire once in awhile, like his best friend Haldeth, a codgy old blacksmith who just wishes Korendir would settle down.
All in all, a very good book to escape with. Like other Janny Wurts books that I've read, this isn't a quick and easy rush through the pages. It takes more focus than the average adventure yarn and the payoff for more diligent reading is always there. It's not what I'd call "work" to read her books, but it does take a slower savoring of the language and her flow of narrative. And once again, she builds her story up to a satisfying and unexpected ending that delivers.
The Master of Whitestorm, Korinder is an interesting character. He seems to be emotionally dead at first glance, but as the story progresses we see more deeply into his personality.
The tragic scenes that he has to deal with are very effective. I don't want to go into that too deeply and spoil anything, but there are a few scenes in this book that will stay with me for a long time.
As far as the accomplishments of Korendir, he builds a reputation for taking on impossible quests. What impresses me most about these adventures is the way Janny handles them. His success at these is plausible and creative. He's not just another typical hero with an S on his chest that defeats every challenge simply because of prophecy or being a chosen one. No, this guy uses his brain and succeeds where others fail because he always takes a new approach to solving the problems. He thinks outside the box. It doesn't hurt that he has good allies to help pull him out of the fire once in awhile, like his best friend Haldeth, a codgy old blacksmith who just wishes Korendir would settle down.
All in all, a very good book to escape with. Like other Janny Wurts books that I've read, this isn't a quick and easy rush through the pages. It takes more focus than the average adventure yarn and the payoff for more diligent reading is always there. It's not what I'd call "work" to read her books, but it does take a slower savoring of the language and her flow of narrative. And once again, she builds her story up to a satisfying and unexpected ending that delivers.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
April 5, 2024DNF at p248. Just after halfway. Can't do it. Finally got some back story on the main character but it does not help that the writing is so dull and lifeless regarding any sort of emotional intrigue or liveliness. The events themselves are adventurous, often action-packed, but I cannot handle the way the information is translated that is utterly boring to me.
March 27, 2016
I tried so hard with this book, I really did. The general concept was ok, and there were some cool creatures like wereleopards, but due to the mini-plots/quests that made up the story they never really developed. The writing itself isn't horrible, but the characters felt flat and the disjointed mini-plots within it meant that side characters got no development before they were killed off, or became irrelevant. The individual quests really suffered from poor development plot-wise. For example the sheer stupidity of suffering blood loss from even a magical cut on a thumb, and then the mysterious disappearance of said mortal wound.
I found Korendir completely unbelievable - when exactly did he have time to become a brilliant fighter between childhood and slavery? His mad schemes you could almost forgive for working since everyone gets lucky now and then, but it helps when they're not so overly complex it's completeIy ridiculous. Six throwing knives, and you need exactly six? Why not get ten? Or God forbid, five? Why not bring along a freaking crossbow, because apparently he also had time to become an archer too.
The few female characters were particularly horrible, swinging wildly from one mood to another. I'm not even going into how flat the ending was. All in all, I was really disappointed, particularly having read Wurts and Feist's empire trilogy.
I found Korendir completely unbelievable - when exactly did he have time to become a brilliant fighter between childhood and slavery? His mad schemes you could almost forgive for working since everyone gets lucky now and then, but it helps when they're not so overly complex it's completeIy ridiculous. Six throwing knives, and you need exactly six? Why not get ten? Or God forbid, five? Why not bring along a freaking crossbow, because apparently he also had time to become an archer too.
The few female characters were particularly horrible, swinging wildly from one mood to another. I'm not even going into how flat the ending was. All in all, I was really disappointed, particularly having read Wurts and Feist's empire trilogy.
September 3, 2011
'The Master of Whitestorm' is fantasy as classic as it comes. Beautiful writing, a gifted, headstrong, tortured hero, vicious monsters, a mysterious love interest and a fascinating approach to magic. The book is episodic, each episode dealing with a different threat to Korendir, our hero, and each episode raises the stakes just far enough on the preceding to be new and exciting. The sheer imagination on display when it comes to the monsters is staggering.
If there's something that makes this book distinct from its high fantasy brethren, it's pace. 'The Master of Whitestorm' isn't long to start with, and broken up into so many chunks, the chunks end up not much more than short-story sized. While the depth and complexity of the characters suffers a little as a result - not as much as it would in the hands of many less-gifted writers - the result is a book which piles forward with all the energy and tension of a thriller. This is a hard book to put down, and a good deal more accessible than most high fantasy.
If there's something that makes this book distinct from its high fantasy brethren, it's pace. 'The Master of Whitestorm' isn't long to start with, and broken up into so many chunks, the chunks end up not much more than short-story sized. While the depth and complexity of the characters suffers a little as a result - not as much as it would in the hands of many less-gifted writers - the result is a book which piles forward with all the energy and tension of a thriller. This is a hard book to put down, and a good deal more accessible than most high fantasy.
September 28, 2013
The book has that serial-adventurer format which reminds me of old Conan stories (& etc) but more sophisticated/emotional/psychological.
The writing has a definite fairy-tale feel which recalls Patricia McKillip -
but it also has that epic-fantasy-tale aspect which Wurts does so well....
Good book!
The writing has a definite fairy-tale feel which recalls Patricia McKillip -
but it also has that epic-fantasy-tale aspect which Wurts does so well....
Good book!
March 16, 2007
This is a solid fantasy read.
June 10, 2009
Great Book!!!!!!
January 7, 2014
Great book!! I need to get off my @$$ and review it.
Read
July 18, 2022About the only book I've ever DNF. I just couldn't.
February 6, 2014
For most of the book, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Master of Whitestorm is written well, and it has some interesting ideas, but I think that mainly just didn't like the style of the storytelling. The third-person point of view used here combined with the personality of the characters made it so that I just didn't care about them. I never really knew how they ticked, and the one point in the story where we get more of the Master Whitestorm's back-story, it didn't make me like him more. He had a hard life before and during his time as a galley slave, but it didn't mean he had to be such a douche bag for the rest of his life. It was just so hard to feel for and route for the main character, that I was frustrated for a lot of the book, even when he succeeds, moments that should be at least slightly happy. I did like the idea of the story, where it was almost like a literary version of a video game, with the Mercenary always taking on new quests. It's also well done, but in the end there wasn't much of a point for it all. There isn't a whole lot of worldbuilding, other then there being a group of magic users that draw on the power of an alternate universe, where demons reside and can sometimes crossover if the mage isn't careful. There's also some random creatures (were-leopards) that are kind of cool, and elementals, which were interesting but not developed very well other than something to conquer/use to complete quests using guile instead of strength of arms. What's weird, is that even though the reader sees almost all of the Master of Whitestorm's life, you never see how he became a master swordsman and tactician, he just is. I'll repeat that I did relatively enjoy reading the book, even though it took me a little long to finish since it was easy to put down since there was really no overarching story or character growth. Ultimately, I still considering giving the book 4 stars if I liked the ending, but when I got to the actual ending, I absolutely hated it. It was one of the worst endings to a book that I've ever read, and it was a complete letdown that to me made the whole journey of the book completely worthless. I won't spoil it, but I'll say just say that it's not a good ending, and the reason it happens is ridiculous, and the epilogue with the one side character made it even worse. I guess that the whole idea of the book is that no one changes, and if that's what's the author was going for she succeeded, and while it's not a bad book, I just didn't love it, and would not recommend it, although your mileage definitely might vary.
July 19, 2014
Janny Wurts’ The Master of Whitestorm is a stand-alone high fantasy that, like the author’s other work, differentiates itself from other fantasies published in the late 20th century that feature a medieval-style setting. The book has recently been produced in audio format by Audible and is read by British actor Simon Prebble, a highly decorated audiobook narrator and someone whose name I’m always happy to see in the credits. As expected, he does a wonderful job with The Master of Whitestorm and I recommend this audio version to anyone who wants to read or re-read this exciting and emotional story.
The story begins in the slave galley of a ship. Haldeth, whose wife and children were slaughtered by the Murghai, is now chained to the oar of one of their ships. As he slaves for his captors, he observes his benchmate, a man named Korendir who looks fierce but so far has ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
The story begins in the slave galley of a ship. Haldeth, whose wife and children were slaughtered by the Murghai, is now chained to the oar of one of their ships. As he slaves for his captors, he observes his benchmate, a man named Korendir who looks fierce but so far has ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
November 12, 2010
This book proved to be a good introduction to the author. I had never read any of Janny’s books previously and was hoping to take to this book. I did it gripped me from the first page, I liked the driven nature of the hero and the way that the novel without wanting to create any spoilers had an ending that was logical and did not create a sense of incredulity. I kept asking myself did I want the main character to be more fleshed out, on a certain level, I did, the literary snob in me, but that might have slowed the tale and have felt contrived. The sense of atmosphere, particularly the passages that involved sea travel and the battle with snow and ice were very well done. I will be reading another of Janny’s books in the not to distant future thanks to this offering. Only those who detest fantasy should avoid this book.
Read
December 12, 2013Excellent standalone fantasy adventure. I'm a sucker for prickly, difficult characters who wall themselves up in all kinds of emotional armor, and protagonist Korendir is a perfect example of the type. Plus, as a climber myself, how could I resist a book that mixes mountaineering and magic? Wurts writes some great heart-pounding scenes involving ice climbing and high alpine travel, not to mention some badass magical monsters. The book is a great read, and one I'd heartily recommend to anyone who enjoys adventure fantasy (especially if you liked my own novels!).
April 2, 2014
This is probably my favorite stand-alone book by Wurts, although her Empire trilogy with Feist is up in my favorites as well. Korendir, who becomes the Master if Whitestorm, stays true to his core beliefs throughout the book...irregardless of whether those beliefs prove a strength, like in the beginning of the book, or a weakness, like in the end....well, not necessarily a weakness...but Korendir's stubbornness and commitment to his beliefs provide a very understandable, and poignant end to a remarkable book.
March 31, 2011
but wait, there's more endings, almost discreet short stories of a hero's life
April 2, 2013
Loved it, the main character reminded me of Arithon from the mistwraith series. Very Janny Wurts in style a great read. Also a good standalone novel didn't feel hurried or compacted.
November 20, 2013
This is a new release from Event Horizon EBooks, an e-book reprint of the original 1992 ROC printed edition. Note that the rating is posted by the publisher.
August 25, 2016
Another rating: 8/10
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews