Earth Logic: Elemental Logic: Book 2 [Hardcover]

This is no Lord of the Rings clone, the magic here feels 'real', just another tool, another 'talent' the indigenous people of Shaft'al have mastered to help them survive in a harsh environment. The story is epic, but it is the 'shades of gray' epic of real life: wonderful, noble, flawed characters trying to do the right thing.

Ms. Marks is a wonderful storyteller and I think I actually enjoyed Earth Logic even more than its predecessor, particularly the perspective of the weary, conflicted Sainnite invaders. I noticed someone compared Ms. Marks work here with Ursula Le Guin, which I think is accurate. Like Le Guin, Ms. Marks creates a complete world and a compelling, epic tale without getting mired in too much detail. Her writing is lyrical and sharp, much like the citizens of Shaft'al.

I have to admit one of the things I love about this series makes some uneasy: the egalitarian society. There is no sexism, racism, or homophobia, but it is far from a utopia. It feels pragmatic, as if the deadly winters have stripped them to the bare essentials. Or maybe it's the Elemental Logic that's the great equalizer. In any case, it works. All of it.

I can't say that this one riveted me. Slightly more interesting than the first volume it still has many of the same flaws FIRE LOGIC was prone to. The sexual orientation of what seems to be the entire population is still very much non-straight and seeing how children figure prominently in the story line I am still baffled as to how they even came about let alone can have a major impact in this alternate universe. Anyway the romance portions of this book are still decidedly one-sided and just as dull. Maybe this was intended to be a gay targeted work, if so more power to her but it makes it a bit of a yawner for the rest of us.

Not much in the way of character development. A few new ones are introduced but they are really just duplicates of the ones already there; a super masculine female and an extremely effeminate male, nothing new.

The plot itself was good enough to hold my attention for at least long as long as it took me to read it. I can say it beats watching TV so I'll RECOMMEND it but it wouldn't be my first choice.

Although the Sainnites believe they have destroyed the mages and it no longer exists, it has just been hidden waiting for the right time to surface. Karis the new G'deon is an earth witch who has the power to heal the land but she chooses to stay in the background, helping her people in small ways until the right moment comes to make a stand. Even then the Sainnites must be willing to live in peace with the Shaftal and that will take a miracle since they see no need to lay down their arms to a conquered people.

Aside from the talking ravens that let Karis and her group spy on the Sainnites, the magic in EARTH LOGIC is muted because it would just get in the way of trying to find a way to peace. Karis is a good leader, a smart technician who is approachable to those close to her but keeps others at a distance so readers don't really feel like they know her. Laurie J. Mark's fantasy novel is exciting because of the clash between two different cultures and this differentiation makes this book a fascinating look at a world in flux.

Harriet Klausner