Jul09:
Characters: The lead makes the book. He bounces from highs to lows and all the way in between. He's got great strength and big weaknesses. He is alive. The other characters are maybe a little flat, but they are entertaining. And the lead is the only consistent character across all of the locations.
Plot: Very solid. It's pretty much 'The Never Ending Story' only without the meta-plot. It combines some monestary, some aristocrat magicians, a world in twilight and faries. And it does it all well.
Style: Very Carol Berg. There's very little outrageous action. The lead is endearing and believable. The plot doesn't have huge holes in it. Revelations are made along the way. A from me. ( )

Carol Berg has taken fairly standard elements of the fantasy genre (magic, medieval setting, otherworldly powers, battles for the throne) and has made an above-average novel out of them. She does a good job of depicting Valen's growing maturity and her world with its different religious systems is intriguing. Unfortunately, minor characters tend to be a bit interchangeable, and after a while I wished I had a map of Navronne (ironic, considering that Valen comes from a family of mapmakers) and maybe a small appendix covering those religious systems and telling me a bit more about the major players in the civil war. But since this is only the first book in a duology, things may be clearer by the end of the story. ( )

In the land of Navronne, warring religious and political factions have become so violent that some people are predicting the end of the world. However, pureblood Valen is primarily preoccupied with rebelling against his tyrannical family and aristocratic upbringing. During a job as a mercenary soldier, one of his comrades betrays him and leaves him for dead near an abbey. With no other choice, Valen seeks sanctuary, and the kind monks take him in. At first he is thrilled to receive free room and board, but when one of the warring princes shows up on the abbey’s very doorstep, he can no longer ignore the events of the outside world. Soon Valen is drawn into an unlikely conspiracy against the forces that would destroy Navronne – but his involvement is extremely dangerous, and betrayal can come from any direction.

The problem with this book is that it’s incredibly slow-paced and takes over 100 pages to get going. But once it does, it’s both exciting and absorbing. Berg’s writing is very good throughout, and her characterization of Valen is excellent. He starts out as a typical likeable rogue but changes a lot in the course of the novel. One cool thing about this book is that there’s not just one good guy and one bad guy – there are several different opposing forces, all with their own axes to grind, and very few of them are totally evil. I also love the way religion is portrayed in the book, with the old gods of Navronne (similar to the Greek pagan gods) competing with the upstart Karish religion (similar to medieval Christianity). So although it took me a while to get into this book, I definitely ended up liking it – I’ve already ordered the sequel, Breath and Bone!

This book is so unique and amazing that I have practically recommended it to everyone I know. It took me a little while to get into it, but after the first few chapters I could not put it down. At the time I read it I was so sick of romance fantasy novels, and I happened upon this book which has almost no romance in it. The book is well written and offers up a completely new world and a surprisingly unexpected hero. Valen is very heroic yet very unheroic at the same time. I just love this book and the sequel so much--they are members of my exclusive favorite group. ( )

Carol Berg's writing is consistently solid and engaging, and in Flesh and Spirit she hones her already considerable skills. The pacing of the novel is careful, setting up the milieu for the mystery rather than jumping head first into a battle. Her prose is crafted with deep consideration and conscientious skill.

Happily, Berg also moves into new territory with her main character, leaving behind the horribly wronged and tortured figures that were beginning to border on the repetitive in the Bridge of D'Arnath series. Valen is plucky, charismatic, and certainly caught in an unjust social situation, but he's also a brat who causes a good deal of his own trouble. He's a refreshing change, and a delightful character. ( )