Covenants [Paperback]

 

 

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Covenants is a fascinating, stellar fantasy novel that will have many readers scrambling to find all of Lorna Freeman's previous novels - but there are no previous Lorna Freeman novels. The book reads as if it is the work of a master craftsman in the genre, but Covenants is in fact the author's first published work. This novel is so engaging that I actually read it twice. The action takes place in a world divided into two kingdoms, one human and the other Faena. The Border kingdom is made up of "magical" creatures of all shapes and sizes - dragons, fairies, sprites, elves, and the like. They once called the land of Iversterre home, and they trounced the human army of Iversterre once before in the not too distant past. Mysterious forces at work threaten to bring war to the land once again.

Rabbit is a regular soldier in the Royal Army of Iversterre, a self-described farmer's son who left the Border in order to see the world; when we meet him, he and his entire troop are lost, right on the outskirts of their base in Freston. Up in the hills, Rabbit encounters a Fae cat named Laurel, and a meal covenant between the two sets the stage for a grand adventure that takes the reader to the heart of the royal palace in Iversterre and then all the way to Elanwryfindyll, a coastal city deep within the Border kingdom itself. Laurel has come from the Borderlands on a mission of peace, and Rabbit soon finds himself playing a crucial role in preventing another war between Iversterre and the land of his birth. A number of secrets are revealed as Rabbit and his fellow troopers accompany Laurel to Iversterre, including the fact that Rabbit is actually a cousin to King Jusson of Iversterre and family to many of the leading members of the human aristocracy. Rabbit holds an even deeper secret than that, though - one that has everything to do with why he left the Border kingdom in the first place.

War appears to be imminent; raiders have plundered the Borderland, killing significant numbers of its sacred residents and turning them into staffs, furniture, armor, and the like. It turns out that significant conspiracies - against both King Jusson of Iversterre and the High Council of the Borderlands - are afoot. The novel takes a number of twists and turns, staying ever fresh, exciting, and unpredictable. Even Rabbit's commanding officers are much more than they seem. The whole novel is in fact filled with all manner of fascinating characters, human as well as "magical," and the complexity of the interpersonal and professional relationships keeps this story zooming along in a highly addictive manner. Things can be confusing a bit early on, especially when Rabbit begins seeing men in their translated (magical) form, but all is made clear when the reader learns just who and what Rabbit actually is. For his part, Rabbit is a remarkably normal, likeable character who wants nothing more than to be an anonymous soldier but is compelled to become a hero by the remarkable circumstances of his heritage.

Covenants easily secures a spot on my list of "must read" fantasy novels. Freeman has written a highly entertaining, refreshingly original story that proceeds at a fast pace, introduces us to dozens of unforgettable characters (not to mention spirits), and takes us to a world brimming with fantastical possibilities and intrigues. There is also a lot of humor to be found in these pages. The plot itself is rather complex, but Freeman's writing is so polished and well-nigh perfect that few readers should have any problems keeping up. The story is told in the first person, from Rabbit's viewpoint, so the reader feels as if he is right there each and every step (and surprise) of the way. It takes a special kind of writer to make a first-person fantasy novel work, and Lorna Freeman shows herself to be more than up to the challenge. Covenants is an extraordinary debut by a rising star in the fantasy genre.

Honored Lorna Freeman, if you are reading this review, you are a fantastic writer.

I loved this book and it's sequel. Rabbit and his world are so compelling and imaginative. This is a book of fascinating characters in a complex and multi-faceted world, where just when you think you know what's going on, another layer is revealed, and everything changes. Then you get your bearings within what you now know, and again, another dimension is added and everything changes again.

I read a lot of fantasy, and this is one of the best new series I've read in years. It's also one of those books that stays with you. You find yourself thinking of the characters and their world long after you've put it down.

I would just warn people not to read it when they have to get up early the next day. It's the kind of book you just can't put down even if it is 4 in the morning.

Having read the first 2 books in this series, I can hardly wait for the third.

It is so much more, which is wonderful!

From start to finish it was like watching a flower bloom. I uncovered layer upon layer of new details and plot turns and knowledge about the characters involved in this wonderful tale. I laughed AND I cried AND I was SURPRISED by plot turns (this does not happen often). The world is rich, the characters tangible and the story beautiful and satisfying. For a 'first book' this is remarkable and I am very much looking forward to Lorna Freeman's next journey into the Borderlands. Waiting, ready to POUNCE! I would so love to be translated. (You'll have to read it to know what I mean by THAT ;)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-Paced & Deep
Rabbit doesn't seem the sort to have great adventures--and in fact, he doesn't really want them. He doesn't want to be a mage of amazing strength, or related to the king of... Read more

Published on July 19 2004 by DragonHonor

5.0 out of 5 stars Spellbinding
I finally picked up this book willing to at least give it a try (I don't like fantasy). I finished it 48 hours later. Read more

Published on Jun 25 2004 by J Tinker

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING polish for a FIRST novel.
If I had any Idea how good this was it would have been read as soon as I got my hands on it. I like to try novels from first time authors, and ROC is wise enough to publish them... Read more

Published on Jun 25 2004 by read_er

5.0 out of 5 stars Covenants
Want to go where you've never gone before? Try Covenants, an original, immaginative, intelligent story that reels you in and keeps you going to the last page. Read more

Published on Jun 17 2004 by Eileen Austen

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!!!
This is, without a doubt, one of the best fantasy novels I've read in quite some time. The action and suspense are once it starts almost nonstop and makes the book almost... Read more

Published on May 28 2004 by Temarius Coleman

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read by New Author
I picked this up to kill some time and it did. Lost quite a few hours reading an enjoyable, quick paced story that begs for a sequel. Read more

Published on May 20 2004 by Darrel Pantalone

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant, fast-paced book
Covenants is a wonderful book by a new author - with twists and turns of plot, a glowing backdrop of politics and fantasy, and a likeable, flawed main character with a dozen or... Read more

Published on May 18 2004 by Paula C. Allen

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
This novel kept me up till 6 AM in the morning (granted I am a colledge studen, but still it was a good book). Read more

Published on May 10 2004 by Donald

5.0 out of 5 stars very enjoyable
A truly enjoyable read. The heroes are good the bad guys are bad and the story moves quickly. If you enjoy Eddings, Fiest, or Salvatore buy this book.

Published on May 6 2004 by John Forai

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful and enthralling fantasy
Once the magicals (sprites, dragons, fairies, etc.) lived in Iversterre until the humans pushed them into the Borderlands. Read more

Published on April 29 2004 by Harriet Klausner

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