Although the magic plays a pivotal role it doesn't overpower the individual stories. Each of those stories and characters are interesting enough to hold their own in a standalone novel, but bringing them together in this book makes the idea all the more intriguing.
Their lives and stories do eventually come together at a certain point in time during great conflict. This collision sets them all on completely different paths.
Elias has always used his gift to help himself and others. Selfless acts of magic to help everyone survive another day. When he accidentally reveals his gift to someone ruthless he falls into a trap that puts his family at risk. Having to use his magic for evil instead of good goes against every grain in his body. It's the beginning of the end.
Daw and Nancy come together under less than auspicious circumstances. He wants to use her null potential to steal, however the two of them end up finding more than they bargained for. Nancy ends up becoming a strategic player in an unexpected coup.
Then there is the old swordsman Tellius, who happens to stumble upon Arthur, a young orphan. It doesn't take Tellius long to discover that he has found a magic being older than time itself. His kind hasn't been seen or heard of for centuries. Unfortunately that also makes the being very desirable to a lot of people. What follows is a intrigue laden battle for power in the midst of a coup, and the possible assassination of a king.
It has all the ingredients for a great read, and it certainly lives up to the hype and Iggulden's reputation. It's as if the magic draws all of them together for the greater cause, and yet none of them can see the individual threads. I am eager to see where this tale goes from here. I have to admit that Arthur and his story might have made me aww a little. It reminded me of the little boy in AI (Spielberg). It tugs on the heartstrings a little.
It's a really good read.
Buy Darien at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
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