Book Review: Canticle

Canticle

By: Ken Scholes

Publisher: Tor

Publish Date: October 2009

Genre: Fiction, Science

Series: Second book of the Psalms of Isaak. (If you would like to read my quick review of Lamentation, the first book, click here.)

Recommendation: Oh Yes!!! If you really like a detailed mystery set in a science fiction fantasy world. AWESOME!!

First Sentence: Sunrise on the Churning Wastes was a terrifying glory.

Book Synopsis:

COME BACK TO THE NAMED LANDS.

Nine months ago, the power and wealth of the now-dessolved Androfrancine Order passed into the hands of Rudolfo, General of the Wandering Army and Lord of the Ninefold Forest Houses. Nine months ago, his consort, Jin Li Tam, told him that she was finally with child and he would have an heir. Nine months ago, Rudolfo and Isaak began the arduous task of transcribing the books and records from the devastated city of Windwir that were stored in the memories of the mechoservitors, and collection whatever books remained in the Named Lands into a new Great Library.

Today, many noble allies have come to the Ninefold Forest for a feast in honor of Gerneral Rudolfo's first-born child. Jin Li Tam lies in childbed, laboring to give birth...

Suddenly, as the feast begins, the doors of the hall fly open and magicked, invisible assassins attack. The Gypsy Scouts are unable to fight them off, and all of Rudolfo's noble guests are slain, including Hanric, the Marsh Queen's Shadow. And yet Rudolfo himself is not touched.

And at the same time, on the Keeper's Gate, which guards the Named Lands from the Churning Wastes, a strange figure has appeared with a message for Petronus, the Hidden Pope.

Thus begins the second movement of The Psalms of Isaak, Canticle.

My Review and Synopsis:

I have really gotten taken away by this series so far. There are going to be five books in all. The characters are well developed and you really get a feel for them all, even the ones you think may be the "bad" guy or girl. The world that is created in these two books is amazing. You have different cultures, religions, believes and gods. All well done to give you just what you need to understand the rules and what is going on, yet enough to keep you with the feel of mystery.

I think Ken Scholes is an awesome author with an epic tale to tell. He lays the paths of possible ways the story could go, we just have to wonder if we are thinking the correct path. Just when you are on the right path you come to the fork in the road again. The story can change directions at any time, but the rules never change and the information is there to keep you on the correct path of thought, thus creating a great mystery adventure.

Being a second book of a series Ken has started us right into the next story. Not even 50 pages into the book and I was caught up with where I left off on the first book and full scale right into the middle of another great mystery of the Whymr maze in this amazing fantasy book.

This book has; mechoservitors ~ Kens' term for metal men, magick ~ which has limits, Gods ~ are a distant past but are there in the background, an ancient vendetta of two old families and ways of lives, and current people trying their hardest to find where there home is.

These books are amazing reads from the point of view of the characters. You learn so much in this way with the way Ken writes it. Very well done to understand what is going on, just pay attention to get the details.