dnf - quite boring. made it about half way through. if you want to try because you like the books he writes under "james rollins", don't bother.

First in the “Banned and the Banished” fantasy series in which Elena, a young farm girl in Alasea discovers (with the help of her Uncle Bol) that she is the Wit’ch long prophesied to help the world slip out from under the dark rule of Lord Gul’gotha. She ends up banded together with a bunch of people and creatures of legend, they sworn to protect her and she only longing for the simple farm life she once had. Quite enjoyable and while there are some clichéd plotlines similar to many epic fantasy tales, it’s also sufficiently different to keep it interesting for the most part. There’s a fair bit of graphic violence and gory creatures and such, so best not for those prone to nightmares. LOL ( )

Witch Fire begins with a book within a book, a literary device I love. There is something fascinating about that “literature turned back on itself” idea that just seems to have limitless potential, from The Princess Bride to In the Mouth of Madness to The Arabian Nights. Here the beginning is very promising. The first thing we read is a warning that continuing to read without authorization is illegal, and in fact in the past was punishable by death. We are also cautioned that everything we are about to read is the most vile and cunning lies. The next part is a manuscript fragment telling us about the origin of the real story, which we are about to start (so there’s actually a manuscript within a manuscript within a manuscript; are you lost yet?) Then the actual story begins.

Unfortunately, this is when everything falls apart. We get very standard fantasy: Humble person of average status is actually the chosen one, unbeknownst to her. One day with no warning terrifying beings of awesome power start pursuing her and she must flee, starting her on a massive quest to jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj
Whoops, sorry, my nose hit the keyboard as I fell asleep. Did you notice that the “actual” story is simply The Fellowship of the Ring with a sex change? Yes, complete originality is hard (or impossible?) at this point in history. Yes, there is value in telling The Story* in a new way. But you have to give us something original! To be fair: The passage in which the bad guys first attempt to get the heroine is done a little better than in the average fantasy novel. But with such an often-used plot element, a little better isn't really enough.

Just like a previous reviewer, I have started this twice and twice been unable to finish it.

* "There is only one story anyway. Our hero has an ordinary life, goes on an adventure, meets with forces that change her, and returns home a new person." - LT member zodiacdeb, FantasyFans group, 6/8/08. ( )

This is the first in a five book fantasy series set in Alasea. It tells of a world that is bereft of magic powerful enough to combat the evil of the Dark Lord of Gul'gotha and his minions. For 500 years Alasea and its people have been under the rule of the Gul'gothan hoards, unable to break free, until finally they did not even remember that life had been different to how it was now. That is except for the whispered stories told as fables and legends of the last Mages and their final sacrifice.

Elena, a thirteen year old girl just becoming a woman, is the hope of Alasea though no one but the Dark Lord is aware of it. The story tells of her flight from evil, her loss, her fear and her courage. It tells of the people she meets, sent to help or to hinder. And it tells of the difficult choices that will be hers alone.

I started this book thinking, "Another quest, another battle between good and evil, let's see how it pans out". Well I was impressed. It was James Clemens' first novel and although the plot could have been a well worn rehash of many others, I thought it was well thought out and fresh. Many of the magical aspects of the plot were original and inventive, and strangely enough for a fantasy novel, believable.

I especially liked the characterisation. There are many figures in this story and what I particularly liked was that the evil ones were not always knowingly wicked, and the good not always to be trusted. The relationships were also very well written, so much so that I felt as if I was there with the people, sympathising with or reviling their motives as I came to know them better.

I enjoyed this story so I'm looking forward to continuing the adventure in the next book, and hopefully learning more about the history of Alasea and the different races. ( )

The twist on majic with the use of the hand was kind of cool. It started too slow, but once I plodded through the intorductory chapters, things started to roll. ( )