Lost Classic: The Winter of the World Trilogy by Michael Scott Rohan (Now Complete on Kindle)
I've always loved "cold world" settings, so I've always been intrigued by The Winter of the World series by Michael Scott Rohan. Recently, I noticed that the first 2 books in the trilogy were published in digital format (showing up in the Kindle store in early November 2012). Of course my first thought was "Why publish 2 books in a 3 book series?". I held off mentioning it here, hoping the other volume would show up. I decided to do a quick search today, and noticed 2 more books in the series were in the Kindle Store. Thus, the original trilogy is complete on the Kindle, and the first book in the prequel (sorta) series is available, too. Based on the publishing schedule so far (2 books in early Nov, 2 books in mid Dec), I would assume the other 2 books might be out at the end of Jan 2013. Just a guess, though.
It appears that there are 2 trilogies. The first 3 books are the original series, and 15 years or so later a prequel trilogy (of sorts) appeared. Graham has more details on the 2nd trilogy here. Apparently the 2nd trilogy takes place way BEFORE the 1st trilogy, and there is little in common between the 2 series, other than the world itself. Thus, you can read the original trilogy and get a totally complete story.
So, if you have a Kindle and have always wanted to read this classic series, now is your chance! I plan to give it a read myself, and it is SO tempting to move this to the top of my reading pile right now. Here are the books in the series, with links to the Kindle store:
Winter of the World
1) The Anvil of Ice
2) The Forge in the Forest
3) The Hammer of the Sun
4) The Castle of the Winds
5) The Singer and the Sea
6) Shadow of the Seer
Now In E-Book Format: Wizard’s Destiny Trilogy by Susan Dexter
When I stumble on a fantasy series from the 1980s and 1990s that has been out of print for awhile, but newly released in ebook format, I try to make a quick mention of it on the blog. I remember reading The Wizard's Destiny series back in the 1980s and loving it. I'm a little (well, a lot) scared that if I try to read the series again now that I am in my 40s, I'll be disappointed. I don't have plans to read it immediately, but I will most likely download a sample to my phone and try it out between Wheel of Time books later this spring.
The blurb for book 1 from the Amazon book description:
Tristan is a teenaged wizard with dark hair and green eyes--but he’s no Harry Potter. No cozy boarding school for Tristan either--he’s been home-schooled by the old wizard who discovered him as an abandoned infant under an apple tree on Midwinter’s Night. There’s no one to tell Tristan who he is or what abilities may be his. If not for Thomas, his smart-ass cat familiar, he’d be utterly lost.
One ordinary afternoon, Tristan returns home to find that his master has vanished, leaving his unprepared apprentice to take up the entwined quests for the legendary warhorse Valadan and the lost princess Allaire of the Nine Rings. He’d be no one’s first choice, but Tristan’s the only one left to assemble the essentials of the quest--a wizard, the Warhorse, the heir to Calandra’s throne--infiltrate Nimir’s fortress of Darkenkeep, and steal Allaire from beneath the Winter King’s icicled nose. In their hundreds, the other wizards have tried--and died.
Tristan’s training is exemplary. His will is indomitable. His confidence, however, is nonexistent, and his magic is flawed and unreliable. The fate of his world depends on him--whether he thinks himself equal to the task or not.
I found this review from a year ago on another blog. I also read a bio of the author on B&N and it says she recently "reworked and expanded" the trilogy..changing the name from The Wizard King's War to The Wizard's Destiny. Interesting..guess the series has been tweaked a bit. Would be neat to talk to the author and ask some questions about what she changed.
Books:
-The Ring of Allaire (Book 1)
-The Sword of Calandra (Book 2)
-The Mountains of Channadran (Book 3)
Anyone else read it besides me (either this updated version or the original books)?
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