The Blackgod (Chosen of the Changeling, Bk 2) - Hardcover
Prepare to encounter a world where magic springs from earth and sky and water, and where danger, heartache, fear, and friendship each wait to claim their place in the grand design of life. J. Gregory Keyes pursues a tale as big as life in the stunning sequel to The Waterborn.
The River flowed from the mountains to the distant sea, and everywhere he touched, he ruled. Powerful and hungry, he had scoured every rival godling from the land. But the world beyond the River's reach was a riot of gods and ghosts and other deities, large and small. Strange spirits jostled and contended with each other, and with the humans who shared their range.
Into this rich and dangerously open land came a surprising refugee: Hezhi, the River's own daughter.
When the magic that was her heritage awakened in her back in the glittering palace of imperial Nhol, Hezhi fled for her life. With Perkar, a youth in search of honor, and loyal Tsem, her half-Giant bodyguard, she sought refuge among the barbarian Mang. She had hoped for the freedom to build a life of her own, but in these demon-haunted hinterlands, every bubbling spring, crevasse, and hillock boasted some spirit. Until she learned to wield the powers of her birthright, she would be vulnerable to any arcane attack. Hezhi's sanity, and her very soul, would be at risk.
Meanwhile, grisly danger followed her from the world she thought she had escaped. The River focused all his might and cunning on the task of finding his wayward child.
From the depth of his yearning, the River plotted to take Hezhi alive.
For Perkar, her champion, he had no such benign end in view ...
Only the Blackgod saw a way for Hezhi and Perkar to defeat the River, once and for all. But he was a creature of guile and limitless duplicity; to trust him might be the most perilous move they could make. Perkar knew that better than anyone else -- better, at least, than anyone still alive ...
The River flowed from the mountains to the distant sea, and everywhere he touched, he ruled. Powerful and hungry, he had scoured every rival godling from the land. But the world beyond the River's reach was a riot of gods and ghosts and other deities, large and small. Strange spirits jostled and contended with each other, and with the humans who shared their range.
Into this rich and dangerously open land came a surprising refugee: Hezhi, the River's own daughter.
When the magic that was her heritage awakened in her back in the glittering palace of imperial Nhol, Hezhi fled for her life. With Perkar, a youth in search of honor, and loyal Tsem, her half-Giant bodyguard, she sought refuge among the barbarian Mang. She had hoped for the freedom to build a life of her own, but in these demon-haunted hinterlands, every bubbling spring, crevasse, and hillock boasted some spirit. Until she learned to wield the powers of her birthright, she would be vulnerable to any arcane attack. Hezhi's sanity, and her very soul, would be at risk.
Meanwhile, grisly danger followed her from the world she thought she had escaped. The River focused all his might and cunning on the task of finding his wayward child.
From the depth of his yearning, the River plotted to take Hezhi alive.
For Perkar, her champion, he had no such benign end in view ...
Only the Blackgod saw a way for Hezhi and Perkar to defeat the River, once and for all. But he was a creature of guile and limitless duplicity; to trust him might be the most perilous move they could make. Perkar knew that better than anyone else -- better, at least, than anyone still alive ...
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Review:
The Blackgod brings the tale begun in The Waterborn to a satisfying conclusion. J. Gregory Keyes continues the adventures of Princess Hehzi of Nhol and her unwilling champion, Perkar of the Cattle People, as they struggle to survive the machinations of both the insatiable River God and his brother, the trickster Blackgod, Karak. This is epic fantasy at its best--original, richly textured, and filled with compelling characters.
From the Publisher:
Hehzi and Perkar are with the Mang, nomadic, horse-worshiping people. Under the protection and guidance of a shaman, Brother Horse, Hehzi learns to control and use her ability to manipulate the spirit world. But Ghe, the priestly assassin Perkar beheaded in The Waterborn, has been restored by the River and sent after Hehzi, and another clan of the Mang has declared war on Perkar's people. Their shaman has had a vision that demands Perkar's death. And the Blackgod wants them to journey to the River's source and slay him. People who don't read epic fantasy can enjoy this high adventure. Fans of the genre may be reminded of Kate Elliott's Jaran series and Philip José Farmer's Riverworld saga. Don't be put off by the size of these books; Keyes has the storytelling power to carry you swiftly through them. --Nona Vero
True story: my sister, Joan Narvaez (you can call her and ask if this isn't the truth), had really enjoyed THE WATERBORN, Book One of this two-book series. So naturally, I let her know when THE BLACKGOD was coming out. Now, Joan is a good sister and normally insists on buying our books, but in this case, she begged me to get her one of the advance reading copies we were doing for THE BLACKGOD--not to save the cost of the hardcover, but so she could have the book in hand by the time she was due to have her first baby: she wanted her husband to read THE BLACKGOD to her in the delivery room. She said it was the only thing she could think of that could possibly take her mind off the ... what do they call it these days, discomfort? Which is about the highest praise you can give an author.
Of course--as those of you who have been through the birthing process may have anticipated--it didn't work. But she did love the book, when she finally got the chance to read it.
--Veronica Chapman, Senior Editor
Of course--as those of you who have been through the birthing process may have anticipated--it didn't work. But she did love the book, when she finally got the chance to read it.
--Veronica Chapman, Senior Editor
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- PublisherDel Rey
- Publication date1997
- ISBN 10 0345403940
- ISBN 13 9780345403940
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages559
- Rating
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