Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Tor Books (2006), Edition: 1st, 496 pages
Description
Five Winters have passed since young king Bridei ascended the throne of Fortriu. Five years, in which the people have felt a contentment unknown for generations. But the security of a people can vanish in a heartbeat, for wolves are often drawn to fields filled with fattened sheep. Bridei is determined to drive the Gaelic invaders from his lands once and for all. And so, with his land secure and his house in order, he prepares for war. One of Bridei's plans to win the war to come involves the beautiful young Ana. A princess of the Light Isles, she has dwelt as a hostage at the court of Fortriu for most of her young life. Despite being a pawn of fortune, she has bewitched all at court and is dearly loved by Bridei and his queen. But Ana understands her duty. And so she will travel north, to make a strategic marriage with a chieftain she has never seen, in the hopes of gaining an ally on whom Bridei's victory relies. For secrecy's sake, Ana must travel at a soldier's pace, with a small band led by the enigmatic spymaster Faolan. Bridei implores Ana to trust him and see the good in Faolan...but Ana cannot see beyond his cold competence and killer's eyes. Then, when she arrives at the chieftain Alpin's stronghold in the mysterious Briar Woods, her discomfort and unease increase tenfold, for this is a place of full of secrets and her betrothed is an enigma himself. The more Ana tries to uncover the truth of her new life, the more she discovers a maze of polite diversions that mask deadly lies. She fears Faolan, but he may prove to be the truest thing in her world. Or her doom.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member TheBooknerd
As with all of Marillier's work, this book is beautifully written and highly compelling. This blend of history and fairy tale successfully sends to reader into another time, another world, that inspires, entertains, and mystifies.
The story takes place a few years after "The Dark Mirror". This time
The story takes place a few years after "The Dark Mirror". This time
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the focus is royal hostage Ana and Bridei's standoffish spy, Faolan. Truthfully, I was not a fan of Ana or her plight; my real interest here was Faolan. So, much as I enjoyed this book, I was thrilled to learn about the third book, which picks up Faolan's story. Still, "Blade of Fortriu" is a wonderful example of storytelling. Show Less
LibraryThing member Unreachableshelf
This review contains spoilers.
At long last, after the cancelation of the trade paperback release for unknown reasons (the representative of Tor whom I spoke with at the American Library Association convention certainly seemed surprised), this book is out in an American paperback edition in mass
This is possibly Marillier's best work to date, and is certainly her most surprising. As always, it is almost as much a Romance as a Fantasy, but as is rarely the case in such a story, the author appears to set up a different romance before the true one. Even more rarely, out of the three men who Ana is caught between, two of them are good men whom the reader would believe deserve her. The story is equally satisfying as historic fantasy, with an ample share of the plot taking place at court or in the field with Bridei, although on these fronts the main plotlines are more predictable. However, although the "whats" may be easy to guess, it is worth reading to learn the "hows." There are some surprising small twists as well.
There are some unsatisfying aspects of this book, for example the truth about the chieftan's brother's past. It appears that in Marillier's world, a good person can be put in situations where they are forced to do bad things, or where there are no good choices, but a good person can never do something bad without purpose, even if it is accidental. Anything that could be construed as truly evil has to be done by an evil person.
Secondly, there is the discontinuation of the human sacrifice we saw in The Dark Mirror. A large part of Bridei's fitness to be king was demonstrated by his willingness to help with the sacrifice and bear the horror of it. Now that he is king, he puts an end to that ritual? The reader is expected to accept it as a necessary evil in the first book and to see it as something that can be put aside in the second? These two are a strange step towards the black and white of good and evil in a series that refuses to look at war in such simplistic terms.
My most important question: will The Well of Shades be here in paperback about a year after its release in hardback (meaning around May 2008), or six months later when it will have been a year since this book's paperback release?
At long last, after the cancelation of the trade paperback release for unknown reasons (the representative of Tor whom I spoke with at the American Library Association convention certainly seemed surprised), this book is out in an American paperback edition in mass
Show More
market format. Five years after the end of The Dark Mirror, King Bridei is on the verge of driving the Gaels out of his territory. To seal an alliance, he sends the royal hostage Ana to marry a chieftan in the north, with his bodyguard and spy Faolan leading her escort.This is possibly Marillier's best work to date, and is certainly her most surprising. As always, it is almost as much a Romance as a Fantasy, but as is rarely the case in such a story, the author appears to set up a different romance before the true one. Even more rarely, out of the three men who Ana is caught between, two of them are good men whom the reader would believe deserve her. The story is equally satisfying as historic fantasy, with an ample share of the plot taking place at court or in the field with Bridei, although on these fronts the main plotlines are more predictable. However, although the "whats" may be easy to guess, it is worth reading to learn the "hows." There are some surprising small twists as well.
There are some unsatisfying aspects of this book, for example the truth about the chieftan's brother's past. It appears that in Marillier's world, a good person can be put in situations where they are forced to do bad things, or where there are no good choices, but a good person can never do something bad without purpose, even if it is accidental. Anything that could be construed as truly evil has to be done by an evil person.
Secondly, there is the discontinuation of the human sacrifice we saw in The Dark Mirror. A large part of Bridei's fitness to be king was demonstrated by his willingness to help with the sacrifice and bear the horror of it. Now that he is king, he puts an end to that ritual? The reader is expected to accept it as a necessary evil in the first book and to see it as something that can be put aside in the second? These two are a strange step towards the black and white of good and evil in a series that refuses to look at war in such simplistic terms.
My most important question: will The Well of Shades be here in paperback about a year after its release in hardback (meaning around May 2008), or six months later when it will have been a year since this book's paperback release?
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LibraryThing member Pompeia
Blade of Fortriu is the second book of the Bridei Chronicles. I found it perhaps better than the first one, but still the plot was very foreseeable and not very tightly paced.
The main character is Ana, a hostage princess sent to make a political marriage. However, the prospective groom turns out
So, the story is not very original, and at times waiting for things that you know are going to happen can get very annoying. Still, there is something I like in Marillier's writing and I think I will go on to read the third book.
The main character is Ana, a hostage princess sent to make a political marriage. However, the prospective groom turns out
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to be less than pleasant and soon enough Ana finds herself the target of amorous intentions of no less than three men. The only help she has are the king's spy Faolan and a bunch mysterious birds.So, the story is not very original, and at times waiting for things that you know are going to happen can get very annoying. Still, there is something I like in Marillier's writing and I think I will go on to read the third book.
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LibraryThing member Ameliaiif
I didnt really like this one as much as the first book. I don't know why. The writing is just the same quality as in The Dark Mirror, but that book seemed to have more depth and more heart than this. I always get sad when Main Characters from the 1st book are pushed to the back to make room for New
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Characters in book 2. I wished for more Bridei-Tuala interaction, as they were the most important characters in the first story (I mean, come on: it's called the BRIDEI Chronicles...) Faolan and Ana were interesting, but they didnt hold my interest. I kept asking, "Why are Bridei and Tuala suddenly 'Boring?'" So anyway. I dont really have much else to say, except that the story was alright, but not as deep or heart-felt as its predecessor. Show Less
LibraryThing member LarissaBookGirl
Five years, and a life time, have gone into this, and now after all this time King Bridei is ready to march into battle to unite his people, to drive out the invaders, to save the gods he loves. As with every war there are uncertainties, and for Bridei the north holds one of these; Alpin of Briar
As a hostage and princess of Fortriu Ana's duty compels her to agree to an arranged marriage to a man of unknown character but of fearful reputation. For Bidei's sake, and that of Fortriu, Faolan, Ana and a small party set out northward in the hopes of securing an alliance for the King. However no one could have predicted the horrors of what awaited them.
Lives are about to change through war, imprisonment, freedom, truth, love and death. Bridie faces an uncertain future where death seems the only outcome. Ana follows duty to a fault until she learns there are more important things in life. Faolan is a man unmoved by emotions but will find new strength in his weaknesses. A secret prisoner is held by bonds of blood and guilt and one very big cage until love sets him free.
The Blade Of Fortriu is a symbol of hope and courage to a people who's lives, land and religion are under threat from invaders. However the Blade of Fortriu is much more then a symbol or an idea, it is a man, the one man fated to unite a land. As people are change, loves are found, hearts are broken and lives are taken, this story, part history, part myth, part fantasy, will capture your imagination as well as your heart.
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Wood.As a hostage and princess of Fortriu Ana's duty compels her to agree to an arranged marriage to a man of unknown character but of fearful reputation. For Bidei's sake, and that of Fortriu, Faolan, Ana and a small party set out northward in the hopes of securing an alliance for the King. However no one could have predicted the horrors of what awaited them.
Lives are about to change through war, imprisonment, freedom, truth, love and death. Bridie faces an uncertain future where death seems the only outcome. Ana follows duty to a fault until she learns there are more important things in life. Faolan is a man unmoved by emotions but will find new strength in his weaknesses. A secret prisoner is held by bonds of blood and guilt and one very big cage until love sets him free.
The Blade Of Fortriu is a symbol of hope and courage to a people who's lives, land and religion are under threat from invaders. However the Blade of Fortriu is much more then a symbol or an idea, it is a man, the one man fated to unite a land. As people are change, loves are found, hearts are broken and lives are taken, this story, part history, part myth, part fantasy, will capture your imagination as well as your heart.
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LibraryThing member KarenIrelandPhillips
Book 2 of a Trilogy. This fantasy is set in Britain, but revolves more around the Picts, the pre-Celtics inhabitants of part of the Isles. The romance is more pronounced, and better handled, than in some of her earlier work.
LibraryThing member DebbieMcCauley
Book Two of The Bridei Chronicles (Bridei Trilogy): This book carries on the story of young king Bridei who has held the throne of Fortriu for five years now. His preparations for war include Ana; the captive princess of the Light Isles who has been held hostage at the court of Fortriu for many
Escorting Ana on her journey is Bridei's assassin and spy, Faolan. Their ill-fated journey includes a terrible flash flood, death, a mysterious prisoner as well as a future husband who is not what he seems to be.
A great read.
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years. Bridei strategically plans to wed Ana in an effort to forge alliances. Ana will travel north to marry Alpin of Briar Wood who Bridei hopes with aid him in his effort to rid Fortriu of the Gaelic invaders. Escorting Ana on her journey is Bridei's assassin and spy, Faolan. Their ill-fated journey includes a terrible flash flood, death, a mysterious prisoner as well as a future husband who is not what he seems to be.
A great read.
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LibraryThing member threadnsong
Wow. I didn't think it could happen. A part of a trilogy that brings other, minor characters into the fore and fleshes them out. But here you have that twist, in the hands of a master writer, who keeps both lines of a story going a la Two Towers.
Still building his kingdom and dealing with the
Then you have the primary plot of Faolan, the spy and trusted companion of Bridei, who is to escort the young Ana to her betrothed, Alpin, in distant Briar Wood. Both characters are mentioned as minor details in a larger tapestry in Well of Shades; here they have the central stage of events in the story. Such a deviation from the normal method of storytelling helps the history of Fortriu move forward while still keeping the reader's interest.
Again, there are plot twists that keep you alert and guessing and interested in every character's outcome. Even the bad ones: are they going to get their just desserts? And what is going to happen to one group of individuals or to another?
The writing is still more terse than Daughter of the Forest (whose writing is on par with Guy Gavriel Kay and Patricia McKillip), but I think that style adds to the difference in plot between the two. And landscape and culture and history.
Still building his kingdom and dealing with the
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problems of the Gaels in the West of his country is new king Bridei with his wife Tuala at his side and a baby to inherit the kingdom. The battle scenes are well-written and what I would imagine war on horseback with weapons to be: all the blood, pain, and sudden turns of change.Then you have the primary plot of Faolan, the spy and trusted companion of Bridei, who is to escort the young Ana to her betrothed, Alpin, in distant Briar Wood. Both characters are mentioned as minor details in a larger tapestry in Well of Shades; here they have the central stage of events in the story. Such a deviation from the normal method of storytelling helps the history of Fortriu move forward while still keeping the reader's interest.
Again, there are plot twists that keep you alert and guessing and interested in every character's outcome. Even the bad ones: are they going to get their just desserts? And what is going to happen to one group of individuals or to another?
The writing is still more terse than Daughter of the Forest (whose writing is on par with Guy Gavriel Kay and Patricia McKillip), but I think that style adds to the difference in plot between the two. And landscape and culture and history.
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Subjects
Awards
Aurealis Award (Winner — Fantasy Novel — 2005)
Sir Julius Vogel Awards (Finalist — Novel — 2006)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2006
Physical description
496 p.; 6.33 inches
ISBN
0765309963 / 9780765309969
Local notes
As the young king Bridei prepares to lead his forces in a major offensive against the Gaels, the princess Ana, a hostage at the court of Fortriu, is sent on a difficult journey north to make a strategic marriage with a chieftain she has never met.
Ex-library.
Ex-library.