K. Miller's "The Innocent Mage"

Kingmaker, Kingbreaker duology

I've yet to read the second book (I only just finished the first one)... but this is stunning! There's simply SO MUCH in here. Aside from the obvious, a tale of commonfolk and royalty (which is great fun to read) like Hobb's Farseer Trilogy etc, it has so many layers. There's analyzing the law, power in general, people as pawns... and so much more!

Is knowledge itself or simply its reaching the wrong hands a dangerous (evil) thing? Should we shy away from precious knowledge if it might disrupt the current peace and calm? Does the law apply to everyone? Where do you draw the line between justice and vengeance and which is preferable? Simple life or politics (read the previous post)? Is it right to use people as pawns in the game of life (does the end justify the means?), uncaring of their own feelings, petty things? ...

Is royalty any different from "common" people and should they be treated as "something honorable etc"? Is one race below the other one when the other one has qualities that outshine the one's? Who knows best? The king?

And here's a fun fact: the author's Australian! So there's a bit of that Aussie accent there (I have the books in English, not sure a translation even exists). You see new words and stuff (especially with the "lower class" speaking - their not-so-perfect speech)...

It seems as if none of the characters are good or evil through and through, which is very-very nice. Makes them more 'human' (or Olken and Doranen - the races, the former being magickless (as known to the public), latter magical and hence superior). Everyone has their flaws (who's too cold (the heart), who's too straightforward (to the point of rudeness), who's feeling too superior...) and their good sides. You can see people with rather different personalities and attitudes towards... stuff.

Anyway, you can read an extract, it's from the beginning of the book. You can't really see what's about to happen from that, though it should spike an interest. A lovely introduction.

As to the description of the 'world' in that book, it comes piece-by-piece throughout the story. You can gather little snippets here and there, not before you'll need to know them.

I'm afraid I don't know the whole ordeal yet, since I've only read through half of the story. It's been amazing so far, I don't think the ending will disappoint.

PS. here's her blog (: