A Cavern of Black Ice
J.V. Jones,
Publisher: Time Warner Books Uk
ISBN: 1857237439
DDC: 813
Edition: Paperback; 2000-01-06
Summary:
A Cavern of Black Ice opens J.V. Jones's Sword of Shadows trilogy.
(Her first novel was The Baker's Boy.) The story is set in a land
divided among small warring clans of hunters and more sophisticated
southern cities whose lords covet the clan territories. Young
clansman Raif has a touch of "old blood" magic that guides his arrows
to the heart. Bad times come when a hunting party that includes his
father and clan chief is wiped out by a supernaturally aided attack,
and Raif's open suspicion of the brutal new leader eventually drives
him into exile. Meanwhile, Iss, overlord of Spire Vanis city, keeps a
chained-up sorcerer whose powers he channels by revolting means, and
has unexplained but shuddersome plans for his "foster daughter"
Ash--herself an unwilling focus of dread forces. Raif and Ash find
themselves fleeing together through wintry, hostile clanlands,
pursued by Iss's vilest henchmen, seeking the dubious goal of the
Cavern of Black Ice. What lifts this tale far above routine quest
fantasy is Jones's deft characterization, relentless intensity, and
unsparing depiction of pain and slow-healing injury. She has a flair
for memorably horrid images. Here a sorcerer gloats over one of his
nastier tricks: "A man could not fight when his corneas were snapped
from his eyes like badges from a chest." This hefty volume is over
800 pages long, but the narrative grips hard once it's gained
momentum, and the pages turn increasingly fast. Strong meat. Next
comes book two, A Fortress of Grey Ice. --David Langford,
Amazon.co.uk
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