A Sorcerer's Treason

From the first page, Zettel snared me with her characters, their predicaments, their dreams, ambitions, fears, lies, hopes ... the full gamut of human emotion and condition. Usually, when I read a novel chock full of imperial political corruption and intrigue, I'm bored or disgusted. Zettel managed to overcome the cliched and astound from the heart. Even more surprising was her ability to do this from nearly every character's point-of-view.

I did not want the story to end, and thankfully, there is more to be read from the world of Isavalta.

The title intrigues me. After finishing the book, I would call the title a bald-faced spoiler. Or it could be a red herring. Truly, there are many sorcerers and many definitions of treason, depending show more on your perception at any given point in the plot.

Highly recommended to lovers of fantasy with great characterization and plot weaving. show less

Whenever I read Sarah Zettel's books, I have an urge to cuddle up with pillows, and hot drinks, and settle in on the couch for hours. Her writing is lucid, crisp and her characters really live; I care about those character's enormously. Their struggles are mine, and their triumphs bring me tears.

In her Isavalta series, Zettel manages to mix political, high and romantic fantasy into one intriguing blend. A woman of the late 1800's journeys to another world to find herself, a new place to belong and a different life entirely - a fraught life, but more of a life than she had at home, where she tended her lighthouse and kept sailor's safe by the edge of Lake Superior, hiding herself away.

Zettel weaves Russian mythology and lore into her show more tale, and creatures of legend, such as Baba Yaga, become accessible even as they retain an air of dangerous mystery. There are many players in Zettel's world, and few can be trusted. Her plot is a labyrinth, and her characters move through it gracefully, doing what the best characters do - gradually revealing themselves, and growing along the way.

The most believable kinds of magic within fantasy are those that take something away from the crafter. Zettel's magic system is superb - intricate and delicate, it exploits the lives of sorcerers even though it gives them extra years. It's very nature is unpredictable, and the balance is fine between success and death. Bargains are struck with the old magics and creatures of lore, and the outcomes of such bargains are never certain.

Recommended for any who love mystery and magic, love and loss weaved into one beautiful tale. show less

(First of 4: Isavalta series. Fantasy)
(Re-read)

Bridget Lederle, whose mother disappeared only to come back to East Bay to give birth to her and who herself gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, keeps the light on Sand Island on the shores of Lake Superior, following in her father's footsteps. In the winter of 1899 she rescues a man from the lake who will change her life forever. When he tells her that she, and the magical power she has inherited, are needed to help save the dowager empress Medeoan of the fantastical land of Isavalta from her enemies, Bridget agrees to go with him. Her parents and daughter are dead and she has no family to leave behind except her mother's sister and no friends amongst the gossip mongers of Eastbay.

But show more it seems, when she reaches Isavalta, that Lord Sorceror Valin Kalami, has not been completely truthful with her.

This was quite a gently-paced book. I found myself putting it down quite often, probably because of the tension the double dealing and missed opportunities created in me. I felt as though the dowager empress was more pitiable than evil. The denouement was much faster to read as I raced to see if things were put right finally and I'm quite looking forward to reading the next book. I get the impression that this will cover Bridget's parents' story and the choices that Medeoan made in her youth.

A well-told story, worth persevering with. Isavalta seems based on Russia (with neighbours correlating to China and India), with recognisable elements of Russian fokelore, such as Baba Yaga with her hut on chicken legs.

3.5 stars show less

In 19th century Wisconsin, Bridget Lederle, a lighthouse-keeper with a raw untrained power is set apart from her community, as much by her circumstances, as by her visions. When her rescue of an obscure sailor, after his boat is thrown onto the rocks of Sand Island, triggers her second sight to reveal startling foreign images, Bridget finds herself on unfamiliar ground and unsure of her course regarding this most enigmatic of strangers. But after Valin Kalami, lord sorcerer and advisor to the Dowager Empress of Isavalta, reveals to Bridget he has journeyed across the Land of Death and Spirit to take her back to his home world, so she can find her rightful place and position of power, Bridget must decide the course of her future.

Thus show more begins A Sorcerer’s Treason, the first of three books in the Isavalta series. As she anguishes over the decision of leaving behind all she holds dear, very ingeniously we are told about Bridget and her world through the effects of this stranger in her midst; and learn about the difficulties and the reasons for her becoming so isolated and reviled in her community. Snippets of her abilities and the hidden agenda of Valin are knitted into the tale until the reader must afford as many misgivings as Bridget – if something seems too good to be true, then it usually is!

Whilst Bridget contemplates her choices and considers the options offered, the reader is separately allowed insight into these other worlds, and the powers at work in their alien landscapes. Once Bridget chooses to venture into the unknown, her ignorance and enlightenment serve both her and reader in the clarification of the true context of the reality; within the politics and play of these other domains. Bridget finds herself a pawn in a multifaceted pattern of magic and machinations, in actuality having little semblance to Valin’s original depiction, except in her unique magical abilities and powers, and within the truth about her origins. As Bridget learns, so do we; and cleverly the complex weavings of the story unfold – until a satisfactory conclusion to part one ensues.

I enjoyed this book for the originality of the story, the development of the strong likeable characters and the innovative ideas around the use of magic and power. And the reader is left with enough unresolved, intriguing issues tacitly remaining to warrant further reading. I have high hopes for the next book.

(Mar 15, 2008) show less

Beautifully written and an engaging tale set in an evocatively detailed world with strong emphasis on Russian folklore. I've read this book thrice now - the third reading was just after I finished reading book #2, The Ursurper's Crown. I would actually recommend reading #2 first as it contains the backstory of Bridget and I think enhances the plot more if you know the story behind Medeann as well.

Filled with twists, turns and political intrigue, Sorcerer's Treason is about an Earth woman (with sorcerous powers) drawn into a fantastical world with the intention of using her as a pawn. However, Bridget has a mind and will of her own, and will not allow herself to be manipulated.

Should appeal to fans of Robin Hobb, Juliet Marillier and show more Cecilia Dart-Thornton. show less

7/10 There were strong elements to this book—the main character, Bridget, and the settings in our world and Isavalta. Being a lighthouse lover, I enjoyed the sections on Sand Island and in Bayfield, places I have visited. I would have liked a map of Isavalta and its neighbors. The method of weaving magic, literally by weaving, was a fresh take. And there was plenty of plotting and palace intrigue, not to mention power plays by those who are beyond mortal.

So why not a higher rating? Other than Bridget, and to some extent Kalami, none of the characters had much depth or nuance. There were too many mysteries and unanswered questions, elements that were not addressed directly and didn’t become clear in context. I realize there are show more sequels, but I felt like a number of things were either glossed over or left unexplained and/or incomplete. show less

Slow to build, and in many ways not what I expected. At times it felt like there were too many plotlines and too many players (I don't love complicated court intrigue scenarios), but it paid off in the resolution.