The Lady of the Sorrows - Softcover

Dart-Thornton, Cecilia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0330489569 ISBN 13: 9780330489560

Publisher: Tor, 2003

Synopsis

Though her memory remains clouded by sorcery, Imrhien (heroine of THE ILL-MADE MUTE) must take vital news to the King-Emperor of Caermelor, hoping also to find there the fearless ranger who has won her heart. She assumes the identity of 'Rohain', a noblewoman visiting from the distant Sorrow Isles, but finds the King and his rangers heading off to battle the Unseelie hordes. Meanwhile, awaiting their return, the newcomer must survive in a court where treachery and deceit are as deadly as any eldritch peril.

Worse still, attacks by nightmare monsters of the Wild Hunt grow ever more frequent and brutal, and when evil forces lay siege to the royal sanctuary on a hidden mystic island, she realises with horror that she herself is the real target of these onslaughts -- but has no idea why.

About this title

Review:

The Lady of the Sorrows changes both the name of the protagonist of The Ill-Made Mute and much of the earlier book's tone. Where the hideous mute Imrhien wandered the land of Erith accumulating friends and connections, she now, restored to speech and beauty, finds herself caught up in palace intrigue under her new name Rohain, and increasingly aware of just how crucial it is that she regain her lost memories. She has powerful enemies, both at court and in the wider world--all the more so when she finds out who her beloved Thorn really is. The eventual secret of her identity, and the reasons why she is being pursued with such intense supernatural enmity, are actually on a scale that justifies the build-up Cecilia Dart-Thornton has given them. Typically too, they turn out to relate to versions of known folk-lore--her habit of naturalising existing legends into her fantasyland serves her well here. This is an intelligent fantasy novel rather than one which ever breaks new ground; even when it is at its least original, as is the case during Rohain's stay among the bitching and fripperies of court, it has interesting insights into stock material. --Roz Kaveney

Review:

Outstanding imaginative writing from Dart-Thornton in this sequel to The Ill-Made Mute. Though her memory remains clouded by sorcery, Imrhien must take vital news directly to the King-Emperor of Caermelor. But, since no commoner may approach the royal court, she must assume a new identity as 'Rohain', a noble visitor from the distant Sorrow Isles. On arrival, she discovers that the King and his rangers have gone off to battle the Unseelie hordes which have suddenly declared war against mortals. Awaiting their return, the newcomer Rohain is trapped by her own subterfuge, facing a court where treachery and deceit are as deadly as any eldritch peril. As always, changes of fate and fortune occur, and for a brief while it seems Rohain's dream of happiness may be achieved. But her joy is short-lived...

About this edition

• Publisher: Tor
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0330489569
• ISBN 13: 9780330489560
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 640