Martha Wells
This book is actually a combo of Wells first two novels, where she creates the Ile-Rien world. It includes:
- The Element of Fire, and
- The Death of the Necromancer.
The first (Element of Fire) is set a century before the Ile-Rien trilogy of Tremaine. So really deep background (since I am reading it last). In this story, it takes a while (first third?) to figure out who really is the protagonist. I can definitely see a less polished writer in Wells than her later works. Some meandering descriptions as she works to build the world. Even so, an engaging story of captain of the Queens Guard Thomas Boniface, and a returning rogue sorceress Kade Carrion, who also happens to be part fayre. In many ways a classic political thriller, with dysfunctional rulers and coup attempts that require sorcery and subterfuge. In the end, my biggest complaint is that Wells never came back to Kade Carrion for more storytelling.
The second (Death of the Necromancer) is set 100 years later, with Nicholas Valiarde as a young mafiosio in Vienne. There are only brief references to the characters and story of The Element of Fire. The main plot driver here is that Valiarde's foster father and mentor (Edouard Villar) was executed for necromancy after a false conviction, Nicholas entire driving purpose is to enact revenge on the perpetrator. And while this driver is maintained throughout the novel, it is effectively a wrapper for the real story, which introduces us to Valiardes crew, the sorcery spheres created by Viller and Arisilde, and live in the Ile-Rien capital of Vienne.
Overall, this is a fantastic world. I would read more
4 stars (out of 4)
