Book Review By Harriet Klausner
Enchanter - Wayfarer Redemption 2 by Sara Douglass



Tor, Nov 2001, 27.95, 544 pp.
ISBN: 0312875827

    When puissant Icariian enchanter Axis Sunsoar meets Faraday, wife of his half-brother Borneheld, he falls in love with her. He vows that she will become his wife one day soon. Faraday, a follower of the Mother Goddess, expects her beloved Axis to save her from her current abusive husband.

    However, raging jealousy for stealing the affection of his spouse, begrudging his sibling's recent success, and envying his half-brother's new relationship with their father leads Borneheld to seek Axis' death. Adding to the relationship mess is that for no apparent reason, Icariian desires the mysterious Azhure. With traitors inside his inner circle ready to destroy him, Axis must find a means to neutralize Borneheld and stop another half-brother if he is to fulfill the prophecy of ruling his fellow bird like people and the forest dwellers.

    The second novel in Sarah Douglass' Wayfarer Redemption series, ENCHANTER, is a deep relationship fantasy that is filled with action and adventure, but succeeds because the various populations that make up this globe seem real. Though the tale starts slow, especially for those who read book one, as Ms. Douglass patiently reintroduces the cast, once the story line gets into motion, it races faster than the speed of light. Subplot threads remain dangling for more sequels but fans will concur to this enchanting novel deserved to win the Australian Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel.

Harriet Klausner


Plot
Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Romance Yes
Romance plotlets: - two lovers coping with tough mission - - love triangle/polygon
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - overthrowing govt/kingdom
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - - - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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