Book Review – Mage-Guard of Hamor

Author: L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Cover Artist: Darrell K. Sweet
Publisher: Tor
Binding: Hardcover
Publication Date: 2008

Since Modesitt writes most of these in pairs I decided to dive straight into the next Recluce novel. The 15th in the overall series and a direct sequel to Natural Ordermage. Like Natural Ordermage Modesitt does not radically change his approach to the series in this novel. In fact, while his choice of main character and setting are interesting give the series a certain new momentum in book 14, I feel he looses some with this novel. Perhaps a bit too much attention for the military campaign. It is still a solid entry into the series though, a bit above average for a Recluce novel.

Rahl, under the tutelage of former triad and experienced Ordermage Taryl, embarks on a campaign to end the rebellion that has sprung up in Meroway. While Rahl was busy surviving the iron mines of Luba and training to become a Mage-Guard the older brother of the emperor has raised an army to seize the throne. Although removed in disgrace as a triad some time ago, Taryl is not about to let that happen. He has plans to stop this rebellion and Rahl is an important part of these plans. He is not about to tell Rahl what they might be though, but given the state Rahl was in when Taryl found him there seems little choice but to follow his lead. Soon Rahl finds his order abilities tested to the very limit in preparation of a military campaign.

Because of the special nature of Rahl’s order talents he often has to learn things the hard way. Where Taryl was once a gentle master, now there don’t seem to be enough hours in a day to fulfil all the tasks Taryl sets him. Even his successes never seem quite enough. With each progressively more challenging obstacle on the way to the final confrontation with the rebellious imperial brother Rahl’s powers grow. But so does his frustration at the increasingly high price the men around him are paying for his education.

As I mentioned in my review of Natural Ordermage, Rahl is an unusual hero of the Recluce books. Unlike most he has something of a mentor to guide him. Not there is much to guide Rahl in, despite growing up he still must find out a lot of things the hard way. Without a doubt Taryl is one of the most interesting supporting characters in the series. He has changes quite a bit by the end of the book. His motives remain unclear until the last moment, adding a bit of mystery to the book. In fact, you could say some of his back story isn’t revealed at all. I liked Taryl quite a bit. Unfortunately he also brings some of Rahl’s less endearing qualities to the surface.

By the end of book 14 I hadn’t quite made up my mind if Rahl would grow up to be someone likeable. I don’t think he has. Taryl mercilessly exposes Rahl’s weaknesses at the end of the book I don’t have the feeling he has quite overcome them. Perhaps that is one of the reasons he ends up where he does. A flawed hero as opposed to a modest one, as we more often see in Modesitt’s work. A lot of people feel Modesitt repeats himself in his novels. He certainly uses and reuses certain themes in his books but he took it in a different direction. Something driven home by the connection with Lorn, the main character in Magi’i of Cyador and Scion of Cyador, Modesitt makes at the end of the book. Rahl does not quite measure up to that standard.

Quite a bit of attention throughout the novel is devoted to Rahl’s love interest Deybri, a healer from Nylan with a thorough disliking of Hamor. Their relationship is complicated to say the least. One of Modesitt’s peculiarities is that he does not write explicit sex scenes ever. At least I have never read any and I have read close to thirty of his books. After the first kiss the camera always discretely fade to black. Most of the romances he describes are a very deep connection with two people that often crosses oceans and overcomes years of separation. While we all like to believe in love like that it was rather refreshing to have a character in the books who is not above getting horny. It keeps this romance at least as being as sickly sweet as the one between Justin and his druid in The Order War. A book I consider a low in the overall series.

One area where this novel hits an absolute low is the cover art (although the cover of The Death of Chaos is a good second). I am not a huge fan of Darrell K. Sweet’s covers, although I did mention the cover of Winter’s Heart favourably. This one however is simply an eyesore. Sweet likes using very bright colours but the green of the grass and the purple clash. At least to my eyes. And that is without getting into the artistic quality of the image itself. One of the worst fantasy covers I have seen in a great while.

Don’t let the cover discourage you however. Mage-Guard of Hamor is a satisfying conclusion to Rahl’s story. It adds some interesting titbits on Cyanor’s influence on the development of the Hamorian empire. I am not aware of any plans to write more Recluce novels but Modesitt certainly leaves himself some options. After a rather weak two books on Karl, Rahl’s unusual qualities managed to renew my interest in this series.

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