The Lightstone

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From Publishers WeeklyZindell (_Neverness_) stirs together the grail legend, a dash of Blake and a sprinkling of Tolkien with other bits of lore in this classic fantasy quest, a revised version of an earlier novel and the first entry in a new series. Young knight Valashu Elahad, seventh and least son of the king of Mesh, has no love for war. But minions of the evil Morjin are at work in the land of Ea. King Kiritan of Alonia invites the knights of Ea to his court to formally begin the grand quest for the Lightstone, the long-lost Cup of Heaven. Driven by visions of the golden cup, Val sets off for Alonia, joined by warrior-scholar Master Juwain and hedonistic but goodhearted Brother Maram. Along the way Val's company grows, even as nightmares trouble his soul deeply. By the end, the company numbers seven, echoing an ancient prophecy: "A seventh son... will slay the dragon. The old world will be destroyed and a new one created." Vivid characters and richly detailed settings offset some uneven pacing and a few predictable elements. (June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From BooklistStarred Review Zindell, a reputable writer of better-than-average fantasy, here begins a saga that, substantially revised from its original British edition, may prove his breakthrough to a larger audience. Seasoned fantasy readers will recall Tolkien as they read of the island continent Ea coming under the power of the fallen dark angel Morjin. All Morjin needs to rule forever is the Lightstone, a talisman so long lost that no one has any idea of where it might be. Most who seek it don't come back. Enter Prince Valashu, who as the seventh son in a royal household is somewhat at loose ends, and his companion-squire-whatever, Maram, who, of course, set out to find the Lightstone. En route, Maram becomes more than a sidekick, and Valashu encounters people and situations the likes of which he never met while living in the palace. What direction this saga will take is so much guesswork at this stage, but it seems that it will be character-centered and include a wide range of emotions and motivations as Valashu and Maram pursue their classic quest. Roland GreenCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved