mw2k's review
3.0
Not bad, not bad at all, though I had this uncanny sense that I'd read books practically identical to this one before. On its own merits, there isn't much wrong with it. Some of the characterisations aren't quite what they need to be. I baulk at a few of the story concepts too, that verge on "oh please" type situations. In all, solid but nothing that'd give you pause or bring on spates of deep thoughtfulness.
pippajay's review
4.0
*Warning - there is a spoiler in this review!*
Wonderful world building in this - a mixture of fantasy and scifi that I thoroughly enjoyed. It follows the journey of a man who wakes with no memory going from the backward humble village to the city, recovering himself along the way and realising that the goddess-like powers of the primitive religion on this world are actually alien technology that he himself is familiar with. The supposed deification of 'sky-fools' - those with a special talent to manipulate the 'pattern' of reality - is actually the culling of certain minds for space travel, and the fearsome Sidhe are behind it all. I also loved the way this tied in with Principles of Angels but you could read this as a stand-alone book and/or read Principles another time.
Wonderful world building in this - a mixture of fantasy and scifi that I thoroughly enjoyed. It follows the journey of a man who wakes with no memory going from the backward humble village to the city, recovering himself along the way and realising that the goddess-like powers of the primitive religion on this world are actually alien technology that he himself is familiar with. The supposed deification of 'sky-fools' - those with a special talent to manipulate the 'pattern' of reality - is actually the culling of certain minds for space travel, and the fearsome Sidhe are behind it all. I also loved the way this tied in with Principles of Angels but you could read this as a stand-alone book and/or read Principles another time.
halfmanhalfbook's review
4.0
Damaru is one of the 'skytouched', one of the few who can affect reality and change matter by their thoughts. One day he finds a man in the swamp outside their village; the man has no idea who he is and is totally naked. Damaru's mother Kerin takes him in to care for him. She calls him Sais, or stranger.
As a 'skytouched', Damaru must travel to the City of Light to be tested by the Beloved Daughter, where if he is worthy, he will become a Consort. Sais is well enough to travel, but still has no idea who he is, and him and Kerin accompany Damaru to the journey. One of the priests on the way their helps Sias start to recover his memories, and as he realises what he was, he comes to learn that all is not what it seems on this world.
Thought that this was really good overall. Fenn has managed to mesh effectively a low technology world and religious system with a high technology race that act as gods to these people. The characters are engaging and the whole plot is well thought through. I like the way that she has picked up the themes from the first book in the series, even though it is on a different world. Looking forward to the next book now.
As a 'skytouched', Damaru must travel to the City of Light to be tested by the Beloved Daughter, where if he is worthy, he will become a Consort. Sais is well enough to travel, but still has no idea who he is, and him and Kerin accompany Damaru to the journey. One of the priests on the way their helps Sias start to recover his memories, and as he realises what he was, he comes to learn that all is not what it seems on this world.
Thought that this was really good overall. Fenn has managed to mesh effectively a low technology world and religious system with a high technology race that act as gods to these people. The characters are engaging and the whole plot is well thought through. I like the way that she has picked up the themes from the first book in the series, even though it is on a different world. Looking forward to the next book now.
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