To Light a Thought

Sorry to have put this post on the back burner. I finished this up on the nineth or the tenth. I had to hurry up and get on to the Pullman books since I had already used up all my renews and I still have one more book right now that I need to finish before another week. And of course it is a part of a whole trilogy I need to read. Lol.

Full marks so far for the Obsidian trilogy. To Light a Candle charges forward from where the Outstretched Shadow left off. New characters, new scenery, new mobs to fight. Good stuff. Of course, just as a warning for the particular- warning- dragons, elves, magic, demons, and unicorns therin. And they all talk.

Now, for those that don't mind a little bit of cliche.

I enjoyed the departure from standard magic systems. Incantations, sacrifices, showy fireworks, accompanied with high drama, is boring. Cost is taken away from your lifetime magic pool or what not. Many writers put more development in character and economy than they do the arcana. What then is irritating, to then rely heavily upon said magic for turning points, major events, and character development. To me, taking for granted having a working magic system is building the house on shifting sand.

So far, the trilogy not only has one magic system, but three entwined within it - differing rules to boot in their usage.

Main plot so far - the demons are trying to take over the world. Sorry folks, I guess there is only so many ways to serve peril. Plague, war, prophecy, nuclear winter, pestilence, boredom... and I can't think of anything that tops annihilation and demonic enslavement. Moving along.

So far, I'm a huge fan for the amount of depth in the characters. Deep emotion, sincerity, plausible train of thought are what making up engrossing characters. Put offs are that the actions of a character should be naturally understood, or within reason - denying the reader to become closer to the story by seeing the whole journey rather than the beginning and the outcome. So far the detail hasn't ruined the story that has still held some surprises. Big political intruigue, personal sacrifice and perseverance, death, life, beauty.

My only regret is that I knew when I started reading the books is that it is a trilogy. That in and of itself gives part of the story away- you know when things will end, how long a character will live, and that there will probably not be any surprise cliffhangers or stories at the end or soon following. Rumor has it that Book 3 will be the Fall of Night.