- Paperback: 544 pages
- Publisher: DAW (Aug 2 1995)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0886776538
- ISBN-13: 978-0886776534
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 10.7 x 4.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 295 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,427,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Ingram
Breaching the sanctity of his world's ruling priesthood, whose practices provide power to all life, Darius Rhomandi discovers another source of power and founds a democratic city that falls into unrest three hundred years later. Original.
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Promising start not fulfilled,
By
This review is from: Dance Of The Rings 01 Ring Of Lightning (Paperback)
The set-up in Ring of Lightning is quite interesting. Three brothers separated by politics and family conflict, cities powered by magical energies, looming international and internal conflict over the source and use of those magical energies, eldritch beings taking an interest in human doings, historical mysteries, an eighteenth-century style setting . . . This book was a decent read, as there was a certain amount of action and intrigue to draw you in and the characters were interesting enough to make you care about whether they would sort out their problems.However, the story can be turgid at points, as events are continually reexamined from every character's point of view with the all concomitant wondering about motives, possible courses of action, etc. There's also the issue of the next two books in the series. If you like Ring of Lightning, you may be severely disappointed by its sequels, as I was. They never fulfil the promise of Ring of Lightning in terms of plot, and descend into psycho-sexual/romantic personal dramas. So, the first book is worth a look, but maybe you should read reviews of the sequels first to see if you really want to tackle this series as a whole.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantasy book in a realistic economic setting,
By "yenezie" (ithaca, NY United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dance Of The Rings 01 Ring Of Lightning (Paperback)
The first paragraph of this book is a forewarning that history is a recording of two steps away from the facts through a narrow perspective. And wow does this book throw bunch of perspectives into your face. Okay, maybe just three, and then four by the end, but I have never read a book where you really get into the eyes and mind of the focal characters. Most 3rd person narrations skims the ego and id of the various characters but in Ring of Lightning you are privy to their thoughts, angsts, anger, helplessness, desperations, uncertainties, suspicions, and deepest regrets. The story is of three brothers who are political heirs to a powerful city and its satellites. The two eldest, Deymorin and Mikhyel, are estranged while both loving the youngest brother, Nikaenor, to the point of suffocation. The story starts out told from the perspectives of Deymorin who view Mikhyel as prudish, priggish, and puppet of their great aunt, the powerful "ringmaster" whom the city depends upon to control the "leys", a source of energy aka oil/electricity. Mikhyel has essentially raised Nikaenor since their parent?s death. Both Deymorin and Mikhyel can't see Nikaenor beyond as a child and treats him so despite his protest. Nikaenor loves both Deymorin and Mikhyel and tries to be peacemaker between them, desperate for a "family." When their great aunt decides that none of the brothers would make adequate "ringmasters" she takes a different course of action and thus setting into motion of point of no return for the brothers; either they work together or be permanently splintered from one another. We are then allowed into Mikhyel's perspectives which are devastating and sad. Ring of Lightning is essentially a character study of all three brothers and their relationship to one another. It is rather intense. Right now I'm having a difficult time finding the sequel Ring of Intrigue. I can't wait to read the continuing saga of the brothers and the feisty Kiyrstin, her impromtu assassination attempt is one of the funniest I've read. Still, I have a sinking feeling that the author is far from done when it comes to Mikhyel's emotional pain.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Really doesn't live up to potential,
By Unmeel (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dance Of The Rings 01 Ring Of Lightning (Paperback)
The Ring of Lightning was built on a potentially good premise- a dysfunctional family using Rings of Power to remain in command. Unfortunately this potential is largely squandered in the book's fluffy and unexciting subplots and lack of a coherent vision.The portrayal of character relationships among the Rhomandi is the best part of the book. The rest of the plot doesn't have much to it, including an unexciting subplot about a 'leythium' creature (leythium is an electricity-like energy that is the basis of the Ring's power). The deux ex machine ending also disappointed. All in all, there are much better fantasy books to read (eg LOTR, EarthSea series, His Dark Materials by Pullman). You could possibly buy this book, but don't expect too much.
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