Džoana Bertin je bila deo velikog Torovog povratka na scenu, koji se odigravao krajem 1999. i početkom 2000. godine. Njen prvenac, The Last Dragonlord, primljen je sasvim solidno i kod kritike i kod publike, ali je zato drugi roman smešten u isti svet, The Dragon and the Phoenix, najstrašnije flopnuo. Taj drugi roman objavljen je pre dvanaest godina i sećam se kako sam ga velikom mukom nabavio iz Kanade, samo da bih se u izvesnoj meri razočarao pročitavši ga. Sada kada se osvrnem na celu tu stvar, shvatam da je problem pre bio u meni nego u romanu. Zapravo, tada kada sam ga čitao nisam bio spreman za fuziju epske fantastike i orijentalnih motiva, koja je sada sve prisutnija na sceni.
Bard's Oath by Joanne Bertin je izgleda blag zaokret prema spisateljicama kao što su Mercedes Leki i Lin Fleveling, što bi se moglo pokazati zanimljivim. U svakom slučaju, eto mi podstreka da se podsetim prvog romana u ovom sada već serijalu, pre nego što počnem da čitam Bard's Oath.
Bard's Oath (Dragonlords) by Joanne Bertin
In
The Last Dragonlord and
Dragon and Phoenix Joanne Bertin created a world
unlike our own, where Dragonlords soar in the skies above the many realms of the land.
The Dragonlords’ magic is unique, giving them the ability to change from dragon to
human form; to communicate silently among themselves; and other abilities not known
to mortals.For many millennia, the Dragonlords have been a blessing to the world, with their
great magic and awesome power. And though they live far longer than the humans who
they resemble when not in their draconic state, these fabled changelings are still loyal to
their human friends. Now in
Bard's Oath, their magic is not the only power abroad in the world. And not
all the magic is as benign as theirs.
Leet, a master bard of great ability and vaulting ambition, has his own magic,
but of a much darker nature. Years ago, death claimed the woman he loved, setting him
on a course to avenge her death, no matter the consequences. Now, mad with hatred and
consumed by his thirst for revenge, Leet has set in motion a nefarious plot that ensnares
the friend of a Dragonlord, using his bardly skills . . . and dark powers only he can
summon, to accomplish his bitter task.
Raven, a young horse-breeder friend of the Dragonloard Linden Rathan, is
ensnared by Leet and under the bard’s spell, is one of the bard’s unwitting catspaws.
When accused of a heinous crime, Raven turns to Linden, and while Dragonlords
normally do not meddle in human affairs, Linden comes to Raven’s aid, loath to abandon
him in his time of desperate need.
But Raven, and others victimized by Leet, are at the mercy of human justice. Can
even a Dragonlord save them from a dire fate before it is too late?
