Sam Bowring (1)

An uneasy stalemate has existed between the lands of Kainordas and Fenvarrow, the lands of light and shadow respectively, for a thousand years. A prophesy foretells the coming of a blue-haired man who will finally break the balance. Many years later, deep inside a forest, a blue haired child is born. Emissaries from each land race to find the child, and the resulting battle between powerful mages has an unexpected result: the boy’s soul is torn apart, creating two children. Each side show more claims one child - uncertain whether they now possess the child of prophesy who will lead them to victory.

As the trilogy began with a splitting of souls you might think that it will follow a predictable story line. Bowring keeps the reader guessing right until the very end, and one of the best written scenes in the series is the final clash between Bel and Losara for dominance of their reunited soul. This is a great series which questions the nature of good and evil and how they are determined, and examines the interplay between the ego and id. I think it is a fresh look on some over-used themes in Fantasy and would be a great read for lovers of the genre. Story-telling of this calibre is rarely seen and is especially exciting in a young, developing author. show less

I'm going to be honest with you here: I had forgotten exactly how mesmerizing Sam Bowring's writing is. I was hooked into this story moments after I began reading! The novel is equally driven by action and its characters, executed brilliantly by Bowring in his unique style. A wonderfully spun tale of magic, camaraderie and betrayal, The Legacy of Lord Regret sets up the Strange Threads duology beautifully, and I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel, The Lord of Lies, to bring this tale to (I'm show more sure) its thrilling conclusion.

The novel begins with the travellers Rostigan and Tarzi discovering that a whole town has disappeared. As though it never existed! As they continue on their journey, more strange tales reach them until it is clear that the Wardens, thought long gone, have returned. Bowring gradually introduces his readers to the Wardens, from the well-intentioned Yalenna to the sadistic Forger, and through each of them we learn a little more of the past and of this new world. I enjoyed Rostigan's character the most because he seems at odds with himself: he has created an identity for himself and has almost convinced himself of its reality, but the return of the Wardens has opened up some deep wounds and he has some hard truths to face. In contrast, I didn't like Tarzi much at all - as a performer she is skilled in using her body to get what she wants (and not just in the obvious way you are thinking) and she's skilled at manipulation, and something about her just didn't sit right with me.

Moments of emotionally charged character development and heart stopping action are cleverly interspersed throughout this book, resulting in a book with few, if any, lulls. It kept me guessing, and every time I thought I had things figured out something would happen and everything changed again. One of the wonderful things about Bowring's writing style is that he doesn't under-estimate his audience - so anytime he wants you to be in the dark about something, you are truly in the dark, which keeps the suspense levels high. The plot elements tie together beautifully and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The calibre of Australian fantasy keeps improving, and Sam Bowring's latest novel is a prime example! The Legacy of Lord Regret is a must read for all fans of Fantasy, and anyone planning their first foray into the genre should consider Bowring's earlier works: The Broken Well Trilogy.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic. show less

The story follows a hectic flat with three friends, a love interest, and a landlord always demanding for rent. The entire premise is Sam, Jake, and Dylan want money. They decide on various ideas to earn money quickly, each applying their destructive characteristic and creating nothing but a mess. This magical realism story is a comedic read and a pleasure to read.

An uneasy stalemate has existed between the lands of Kainordas and Fenvarrow, the lands of light and shadow respectively, for a thousand years. A prophesy foretells the coming of a blue-haired man who will finally break the balance. Many years later, deep inside a forest, a blue haired child is born. Emissaries from each land race to find the child, and the resulting battle between powerful mages has an unexpected result: the boy’s soul is torn apart, creating two children. Each side show more claims one child - uncertain whether they now possess the child of prophesy who will lead them to victory.

The amazing story of Bel and Losara is continued in Destiny’s Rift, as each man discovers more about his character, and wonders what he has lost to his counterpart. Both fall in love, and wonder what impact the eventual reunification of their soul will have on their lovers. The choice between light and dark is also a difficult one: Bel frequently lapses into an uncontrollable blood lust, lacks compassion and is very self-centred. On the other hand, Losara is always aware of the consequences of his actions to others, but seems to lack passion for his cause. The good and evil characteristics in the human soul are thus examined.

The second book of the Broken Well trilogy is just as captivating as the first, and is well worth a read! show less