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Now at last, the Orb has been regained and the quest nears its end.Tags
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{Fourth of 5 in Belgariad series; fantasy, high fantasy, quest fantasy, young adult} (1984)
Warning: possible **spoilers for the previous books** ahead.
The quest for the Orb has been fulfilled but now the company need to get it out of Cthol Murgos and back to the Hall of the Rivan king, collecting Ce’Nedra on the way so she can present herself there on her sixteenth birthday. Garion feels that this is the end of the adventure and wonders what he is going to do with his life from now on, after realising that he can no longer return to Faldor’s farm as he had once assumed that he would. But he discovers that the quest was only the beginning and the Prophecy has not finished with him yet.
One criticism I‘ve seen about this series is show more that Garion doesn‘t get told everything. Well, apparently there‘s a reason …
(but later on in the story:)
Sometimes that little voice in your head can get just a bit too annoying.
The recovery of the Orb leads to the catalyst that awakens Torak, the maimed god of the Murgos, which in turn will renew the aeons old war of East agains West. As we know, Belgarath warned the monarchs of the countries the group passed through to start preparing for war and now the armies start massing. Both Garion and Ce’Nedra accept that they have no control over their own destinies and grow into the roles that the Prophecy has proscribed for them.
This series was some of the very first books I read in fantasy and helped cement my love for the genre. I’m re-reading it for the 2022 group read. The trademark banter is still there in this book, even in the prologue, but with the approach of war things get a bit more serious. Eddings makes it clear that war is not all fun and glory.
(Um …. diplomacy?) As we know, Alorns never go looking for a fight ...
Amongst the story and the banter he scatters some descriptive gems.
I love that feeling of adventure when the rest of the world is hushed and the air is cool with the promise of a beautiful day ahead. For me, that happens on early mornings; I‘m not a morning person so it happens rarely, which makes it more special.
There's a little side adventure with a witch in the fens (once again there's a gentle hint that the prophecy is not the only thing happening in this world). I didn't agree with what Vordai had done with her fenlings but maybe that was the point? Just because you have power and intend to do good, it may not be the right thing to do.
I found this book very readable (although, disappointingly, most of the title pages for the different sections have come out as blacked out rectangles in this edition (Corgi 9780552168366 2012) and there is no Contents page. At least the maps all seem to be there). For someone who has only managed 16 books so far this year and been struggling especially with re-reads, I zipped through this in under 24 hours. Still enjoying being back in this world.
(April 2022)
4.5 stars show less
Warning: possible **spoilers for the previous books** ahead.
The quest for the Orb has been fulfilled but now the company need to get it out of Cthol Murgos and back to the Hall of the Rivan king, collecting Ce’Nedra on the way so she can present herself there on her sixteenth birthday. Garion feels that this is the end of the adventure and wonders what he is going to do with his life from now on, after realising that he can no longer return to Faldor’s farm as he had once assumed that he would. But he discovers that the quest was only the beginning and the Prophecy has not finished with him yet.
One criticism I‘ve seen about this series is show more that Garion doesn‘t get told everything. Well, apparently there‘s a reason …
He wondered also about his own life. The visit to Faldor's farm had forever closed that door to him, even if it had ever really been open. The bits and pieces of information he had been gathering for the past year and more told him quite plainly that he was not going to be in a position to make his own decisions for quite some time.
'I don't suppose you'd consider telling me what I'm supposed to do next?' He didn't really expect any kind of satisfactory answer from that other awareness.
'It's a bit premature,' the dry voice in his mind replied
'We'll be in Riva tomorrow,' Garion pointed out. 'As soon as we put the Orb back where it belongs, this part of the adventure will be all finished. Don't you think that a hint or two might be in order along about now?'
'I wouldn't want to spoil anything for you.'
'You know, sometimes I think you keep secrets just because you know that it irritates people.'
'What an interesting idea.'
The conversation got absolutely nowhere after that.
(but later on in the story:)
'Very well done, Belgarion,' the dry voice complimented him.
'Oh, shut up,' Garion said.
Sometimes that little voice in your head can get just a bit too annoying.
The recovery of the Orb leads to the catalyst that awakens Torak, the maimed god of the Murgos, which in turn will renew the aeons old war of East agains West. As we know, Belgarath warned the monarchs of the countries the group passed through to start preparing for war and now the armies start massing. Both Garion and Ce’Nedra accept that they have no control over their own destinies and grow into the roles that the Prophecy has proscribed for them.
This series was some of the very first books I read in fantasy and helped cement my love for the genre. I’m re-reading it for the 2022 group read. The trademark banter is still there in this book, even in the prologue, but with the approach of war things get a bit more serious. Eddings makes it clear that war is not all fun and glory.
Great was the wrath of the Emperor of Tolnedra. He assembled his armies to cross the Sea of the Winds and do war. Then the peaceloving Alorns held council to try reason upon this rash Emperor. And they sent out a message to advise him that, should he persist, they would rise up and destroy Emperor and kingdom and sweep the wreckage thereof into the sea. And the Emperor gave heed to this quiet remonstrance and abandoned his desperate adventure.
(Um …. diplomacy?) As we know, Alorns never go looking for a fight ...
Amongst the story and the banter he scatters some descriptive gems.
It was still early spring, and the night was cool but not chilly. There was a fragrance in the air, washing down over the city from the high meadows in the mountains behind Riva and mingling with peat smoke and the salty tang of the sea. The stars overhead were bright, and the newly risen moon, looking swollen as it rode low over the horizon, cast a glittering golden path across the breast of the Sea of the Winds. Garion felt that excitement he always experienced when starting out at night. He had been cooped up too long, and each step that took him farther and farther from the dull round of appointments and ceremonies filled him with an almost intoxicating anticipation.
I love that feeling of adventure when the rest of the world is hushed and the air is cool with the promise of a beautiful day ahead. For me, that happens on early mornings; I‘m not a morning person so it happens rarely, which makes it more special.
There's a little side adventure with a witch in the fens (once again there's a gentle hint that the prophecy is not the only thing happening in this world). I didn't agree with what Vordai had done with her fenlings but maybe that was the point? Just because you have power and intend to do good, it may not be the right thing to do.
I found this book very readable (although, disappointingly, most of the title pages for the different sections have come out as blacked out rectangles in this edition (Corgi 9780552168366 2012) and there is no Contents page. At least the maps all seem to be there). For someone who has only managed 16 books so far this year and been struggling especially with re-reads, I zipped through this in under 24 hours. Still enjoying being back in this world.
(April 2022)
4.5 stars show less
This will be the same review for all the books in ‘The Belgariad’ and ‘The Mallorean’.
These books changed me.
I started reading them as an 11 year old who was kind of floating around in this thing called life. I had friends at school, but no meaningful connections. This I didn’t understand until I was older. By reading these books I was drawn into an incredible world filled with characters that I knew and loved, and in some cases wanted to be (come on people, I can’t be the only kid that put a streak of white paint in their hair). The story is Garion’s ‘hero’s journey’ but I felt that the adventure belonged to me too. It was my ‘Neverending story’ if you will and it gave me the confidence to be more present in my show more own life. I own all the copies of both series set in this marvellous world and most of the extras too. They are a pretty tired looking collection of books because I bought them as a university student from second book shops all over Christchurch and Auckland. I love that they have been released again relatively recently with a fresh new look so that they can appeal to the younger generation. I thoroughly recommend these books for lovers of high fantasy, action, and relatable characters. It is the quintessential hero’s journey. show less
These books changed me.
I started reading them as an 11 year old who was kind of floating around in this thing called life. I had friends at school, but no meaningful connections. This I didn’t understand until I was older. By reading these books I was drawn into an incredible world filled with characters that I knew and loved, and in some cases wanted to be (come on people, I can’t be the only kid that put a streak of white paint in their hair). The story is Garion’s ‘hero’s journey’ but I felt that the adventure belonged to me too. It was my ‘Neverending story’ if you will and it gave me the confidence to be more present in my show more own life. I own all the copies of both series set in this marvellous world and most of the extras too. They are a pretty tired looking collection of books because I bought them as a university student from second book shops all over Christchurch and Auckland. I love that they have been released again relatively recently with a fresh new look so that they can appeal to the younger generation. I thoroughly recommend these books for lovers of high fantasy, action, and relatable characters. It is the quintessential hero’s journey. show less
Ik snap het niet. De plot is voorspelbaar, de humor ook, de actie ook, de personages ook. En ik geniet met volle teugen! Het is een feest van herkenning, van ontspannen vermaak. Volgens mij is dat de kracht van Eddings.
First: Ce'Nedra peacing out in the Hall of the Rivan King once she realizes what's up is one of the greatest moments in the whole series and also hilarious. Also that later, Polgara and Belgarath are like, "yeah, it took an actual god to get Ce'Nedra to go to Riva, you do not want to fuck with that girl" is pretty great.
Ce'Nedra does not get enough credit from anyone, though I appreciate in the next book Ran Borune is like "she gave me an epileptic fit to steal the legions! BOSS BITCH KWEEN". We're talking a 16 year old princess raised to believe the Prophecy is fake, who has been sleeping on the ground with the truest believers, brainwashed by a god to go to Riva, forced to marry a guy out of nowhere and be happy about it, who still show more has the tactical wherewithal to realize the army needs a figurehead and logical reasons why she is the best choice AND pulls off this plan with basically zero adult supervision or help. If I were the Alorn kings and my 16 year old boy figurehead ran off to be a noble idiot and took the best sorcerer and spy in the world and this 16 year old girl is like "hi, I volunteer as tribute and I understand that I'm not actually doing military planning, just being a figurehead and raising troops including the legions you desperately need and will not be able to otherwise get!" I'd be like "YAS BOSS BITCH RIVAN KWEEN!" and not 5 chapters of "but she's a GIRL!" after three thousand years of Polgara doing whatever she wanted and giving 0.0 fucks about it.
Oh, no, she can be kind of shrill and stuck-up, except in any situation where that's not called for. See also her entire reaction to Faldor's once Garion gives up Zubrette. I mean, random peasant girl too good to sleep on ground, but not the Imperial princess? I'd be miffed, too. She saves the wren for Polgara. When Layla calls Ce'Nedra on her kind of justified fit, she's like "OMG, you mean Garion and the world's gonna die unless this army works? so how do I make the army work?" and Ce'Nedra *finds the damn answer*. She even has genuine ethical dilemmas she worries over like a real person!
What I'm saying is that Ce'Nedra is the real MVP of this book and I think she's slept on as a great female fantasy character. Thus ends another one of my rambles about these books, which I love too much. show less
Ce'Nedra does not get enough credit from anyone, though I appreciate in the next book Ran Borune is like "she gave me an epileptic fit to steal the legions! BOSS BITCH KWEEN". We're talking a 16 year old princess raised to believe the Prophecy is fake, who has been sleeping on the ground with the truest believers, brainwashed by a god to go to Riva, forced to marry a guy out of nowhere and be happy about it, who still show more has the tactical wherewithal to realize the army needs a figurehead and logical reasons why she is the best choice AND pulls off this plan with basically zero adult supervision or help. If I were the Alorn kings and my 16 year old boy figurehead ran off to be a noble idiot and took the best sorcerer and spy in the world and this 16 year old girl is like "hi, I volunteer as tribute and I understand that I'm not actually doing military planning, just being a figurehead and raising troops including the legions you desperately need and will not be able to otherwise get!" I'd be like "YAS BOSS BITCH RIVAN KWEEN!" and not 5 chapters of "but she's a GIRL!" after three thousand years of Polgara doing whatever she wanted and giving 0.0 fucks about it.
Oh, no, she can be kind of shrill and stuck-up, except in any situation where that's not called for. See also her entire reaction to Faldor's once Garion gives up Zubrette. I mean, random peasant girl too good to sleep on ground, but not the Imperial princess? I'd be miffed, too. She saves the wren for Polgara. When Layla calls Ce'Nedra on her kind of justified fit, she's like "OMG, you mean Garion and the world's gonna die unless this army works? so how do I make the army work?" and Ce'Nedra *finds the damn answer*. She even has genuine ethical dilemmas she worries over like a real person!
What I'm saying is that Ce'Nedra is the real MVP of this book and I think she's slept on as a great female fantasy character. Thus ends another one of my rambles about these books, which I love too much. show less
This book picks up the pace of the story at an almost alarming speed. It does slow down every so often but you soon figure out that actually the slowing down is simply there in order to lull you into a false sense of security because they are about to make a very sharp turn.
I love it.
The book reveals much about Garions rather mysterious background. Garion again becomes the rather agreeable character he is in the first book rather than the sullen moody teenager he is in books two and three and I for one found it refreshing. However, Garion's transformation isn't as surprising as the transformation that Ce'Nedra goes through. We still see glimpses of the spoiled child we first met but now they are more of a character trait and not her show more whole character. I don't really want to write more in case it spoils anyone.
I really love how Eddings (or should I say the Eddingses as Davids wife Leigh was heavily involved in writing these books) manage to portray the teenagers who are their main characters. They really feel authentic. show less
I love it.
The book reveals much about Garions rather mysterious background. Garion again becomes the rather agreeable character he is in the first book rather than the sullen moody teenager he is in books two and three and I for one found it refreshing. However, Garion's transformation isn't as surprising as the transformation that Ce'Nedra goes through. We still see glimpses of the spoiled child we first met but now they are more of a character trait and not her show more whole character. I don't really want to write more in case it spoils anyone.
I really love how Eddings (or should I say the Eddingses as Davids wife Leigh was heavily involved in writing these books) manage to portray the teenagers who are their main characters. They really feel authentic. show less
Yeah, there are issues, racial and sexist and stuff and the stereotypes abound but it's also covered in rose-coloured gloss of teenage reading. Silk is still fun and reminds me why I played Rogues in many early role-playing sessions (these days Clerics are my favoured class). Garion et al head for Riva, escaping the collapsing citadel where they found the orb and Errand. Then Garion realises what his future is, then copes with the implications, including the quest to defeat Torak.
Epic quests and lots of characters and lots of footprints in later fantasy.
Epic quests and lots of characters and lots of footprints in later fantasy.
April 2020 reread: Ahh yes, the slowest book in the series. Still an enjoyable read. And Ce'Nedra's still annoying though I think she has grown as a character by the end. Only one book to go! Review from 2013 below.
---------
The quest begun all those months ago at Faldor's Farm is coming to its end. The Orb of Aldur has been recovered. Now it is a matter of getting it to the island kingdom of Riva before Erastide. With Belgarath incapacitated by his fight with Ctuchik and Polgara concentrating entirely on shielding the child Errand, bearer of the Orb, leadership has been thrust upon Garion to get them to safety. As they journey across the lands, Murgo soldiers and Grolim sorcerers try to stop them. After that, however, Garion was sure show more that his part in these events would be over. But the evil god Torak begins to stir from his long sleep and the Prophecy has more in store for Garion than he imagines.
Castle of Wizardry is the fourth book of The Belgariad. The story picks up immediately after events in Castle of Wizardry. While a few events do happen to move the story along, this book focuses more on the characters than what we've seen previously. It is also the set up for the final book so reads more as the middle book in a series to me than the previous two. As we have less events happening, the book is a slightly slower read than those previous as well. This is also the point when Eddings has more characters than the story needs. A few get focused on while the rest fade into the background.
Two characters we were briefly introduced to in the last book become members of the party: Errand, an innocent child and unlikely thief, and Taiba, a slave woman the party rescues. While he plays a larger role in the second series, here Errand is primarily used as a plot device. He is the only true innocent on the planet and therefor able to touch the Orb. His name comes from "errand" being the only word he says as he tries to give the Orb to anyone he sees. His innocence is also used occasionally as a distraction to get others to do the right thing. Taiba seems primarily to be a foil to Relg. Being a slave her entire life, she has had a hard life and is unused to the outside world. She also represents the ultimate temptation for Relg: sin. It is through her that Relg starts to have a small character arc as he realizes that the world is not as black and white as he would like. Ironically, after the party gets to Riva, these characters pretty much fade into the background.
Garion continues to grow, transitioning from a typical teen to the beginnings of maturity. After his true heritage is announced to the world, Garion has no choice but to accept the role the Prophecy has laid out for him. It is with a mixture of relief and trepidation that he looks full on his destiny and choose the path that will save the most lives.
Ce'Nedra also begins her character arc. For the first time in her life she realizes that she is not the center of the universe and cares more for another than for herself. It is through this strength that she is able to complete the tasks set out for her by the Prophecy. It is good to see her as something more than a spoiled princess.
One of the downsides to The Belgariad is that Eddings sets up little side stories and then they don't go anywhere. It's a shame really as some of those stories could have been interesting. It is probably to keep things focused as many of those asides don't have much bearing on the overall story, but it still would've been neat as a way to revisit other areas of the world. show less
---------
The quest begun all those months ago at Faldor's Farm is coming to its end. The Orb of Aldur has been recovered. Now it is a matter of getting it to the island kingdom of Riva before Erastide. With Belgarath incapacitated by his fight with Ctuchik and Polgara concentrating entirely on shielding the child Errand, bearer of the Orb, leadership has been thrust upon Garion to get them to safety. As they journey across the lands, Murgo soldiers and Grolim sorcerers try to stop them. After that, however, Garion was sure show more that his part in these events would be over. But the evil god Torak begins to stir from his long sleep and the Prophecy has more in store for Garion than he imagines.
Castle of Wizardry is the fourth book of The Belgariad. The story picks up immediately after events in Castle of Wizardry. While a few events do happen to move the story along, this book focuses more on the characters than what we've seen previously. It is also the set up for the final book so reads more as the middle book in a series to me than the previous two. As we have less events happening, the book is a slightly slower read than those previous as well. This is also the point when Eddings has more characters than the story needs. A few get focused on while the rest fade into the background.
Two characters we were briefly introduced to in the last book become members of the party: Errand, an innocent child and unlikely thief, and Taiba, a slave woman the party rescues. While he plays a larger role in the second series, here Errand is primarily used as a plot device. He is the only true innocent on the planet and therefor able to touch the Orb. His name comes from "errand" being the only word he says as he tries to give the Orb to anyone he sees. His innocence is also used occasionally as a distraction to get others to do the right thing. Taiba seems primarily to be a foil to Relg. Being a slave her entire life, she has had a hard life and is unused to the outside world. She also represents the ultimate temptation for Relg: sin. It is through her that Relg starts to have a small character arc as he realizes that the world is not as black and white as he would like. Ironically, after the party gets to Riva, these characters pretty much fade into the background.
Garion continues to grow, transitioning from a typical teen to the beginnings of maturity. After his true heritage is announced to the world, Garion has no choice but to accept the role the Prophecy has laid out for him. It is with a mixture of relief and trepidation that he looks full on his destiny and choose the path that will save the most lives.
Ce'Nedra also begins her character arc. For the first time in her life she realizes that she is not the center of the universe and cares more for another than for herself. It is through this strength that she is able to complete the tasks set out for her by the Prophecy. It is good to see her as something more than a spoiled princess.
One of the downsides to The Belgariad is that Eddings sets up little side stories and then they don't go anywhere. It's a shame really as some of those stories could have been interesting. It is probably to keep things focused as many of those asides don't have much bearing on the overall story, but it still would've been neat as a way to revisit other areas of the world. show less
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David Eddings was born on July 7, 1931 in Spokane, Washington. He received a B.A. in English from Reed College in Portland in 1954 and a M.A. in Middle English from the University of Washington in 1961. After serving in the U.S. Army for two years, he worked as a grocery clerk, as a sales clerk for the Boeing Company, and as an English teacher in show more a business college and a teachers' college. During his lifetime, he wrote more than 25 books, many of them with his wife Leigh Eddings. His first novel, High Hunt, was published in 1973. His other works include the Belgariad series, the Mallorean series, the Elenium series, and the Dreamers series. He died on June 2, 2009 at the age of 77. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- Castle of Wizardry
- Original title
- Castle of Wizardry
- Original publication date
- 1984-05
- People/Characters
- Adara; Anheg (King of Cherek); Ariana; Barak (the Dreadful Bear, Earl of Trellheim); Belgarath (the Eternal Man, Mister Wolf, Old Wolf); Brand, the Rivan Warder (show all 36); Ce'Nedra (Imperial Princess of Tolnedra, jewel of the House of Borune, the Queen of the World); Cho-Hag (King of Algaria); Durnik (the Man with Two Lives, the One with Two Lives); Eriond (Errand); Garion (Belgarion, the Child of Light); Gorim; Greldik; Hettar (the Horse Lord); Islena (Queen of Cherek); Layla, Queen of Sendaria; Lelldorin of Wildantor (the Archer, the Bowman); Mandorallen (Baron of Vo Mandor, the Knight Protector); Merel (Countess of Trellheim); Olban; Poledra; Polgara (Aunt Pol, the Duchess of Erat); Porenn (Queen of Drasnia); Relg (the Blind Man); Rhodar (King of Drasnia); Riva Iron-grip; Rundorig; Sadi (the Man Who Is No Man); Silar (Queen of Algaria); Silk (Ambar of Kotu, the Guide, the Nimble Thief, Prince Kheldar, Radek of Boktor); Taiba (the Mother of the Race That Died); Taur Urgas (King of the Murgos); Vordai (the witch of the fens); Xera; Zubrette; Aldur
- Important places
- Algaria; Drasnia; Isle of the Winds; Rak Cthol, Cthol Murgos; Faldor's farm, Sendaria; Ulgo (show all 9); Vale of Aldur; Asturia, Arendia; Arendia
- Dedication
- For Bibbidie,
and for Chopper Jack
and for Jimmy and Eddie
- close and special friends who have given support from the start. - First words
- Being an account of how Riva Iron-grip became Guardian of the Orb of Aldur and of the evil wrought by Nyissa.
- based upon The Book of Alorn and later accounts
Now a time came when Cherek and his three... (show all) sons went with Belgarath the Sorcerer into Mallorea. (prologue)
Ctuchik was dead - and more than dead - and the earth itself heaved and groaned in the aftershock of his destruction. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Ce'Nedra sighed, then squared her shoulders and led the Tolnedran legions across the sunny fields to swell the ranks of her army.
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- English
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