Black Raven: Book 2 (Dragon Mage) - Softcover

Katharine Kerr

Softcover

ISBN 10: 055337950X ISBN 13: 9780553379501

Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, 1999

Synopsis

Sorceress Cerr Cawnen's schemes to kill her ancient enemy, Rhodry Maelwaedd, unwittingly unleashes Rhodry's guardian dragon upon the land. Original.

About this title

Review:

The Black Raven is Book Two of The Dragon Mage and the tenth volume of the Deverry series, a fantasy epic consisting of three interrelated quartets. The past and the present are weaved together in these novels, and the final volume will link with the first to reveal an overall design akin to a Celtic knot threading back and forth upon itself. This is a strange pseudo-Celtic world in which reincarnation is a reality and past lives forever affect the present in surprising and unexpected ways. So while The Black Raven can be read on its own it is advisable to begin with the first book Daggerspell.

In a complex novel of civil war, sacrifice and power an epic canvas is most impressively used to tell a strongly characterised and very human tale of hatred and destructive evil and of the consequences of past malevolence on both the heroine Lilli and the Prince Maryn. By keeping the narrative tightly focused around a small number of characters and by maintaining strict limits to the rather elaborately conceived elements of magic and the supernatural Katherine Kerr ensures that her fantastical history does not overwhelm the more personal and affecting dimensions of the tale. The result is a polished, emotionally involving and powerful novel in which even the dreams of a dragon may come evocatively to life. --Gary S. Dalkin

Review:

‘An unusually scholarly writer of fantasy.’
TELEGRAPH

‘Much as I dislike comparing anything to THE LORD OF THE RINGS, I have to admit that on this occasion it’s justified.’
INTERZONE

About this edition

• Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 055337950X
• ISBN 13: 9780553379501
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 333