The Element of Fire

by Martha Wells Narrated by Derek Perkins

Overview

The kingdom of Ile-Rien lies in peril, menaced by sorcerous threats and devious court intrigues. As the weak King Roland, flattered and misled by treacherous companions, rules the country, only his ruthless mother, the Dowager Queen Ravenna, guards the safety of the realm. But now rumors arise that Urbain Grandier, the dark master of scientific sorcery, has arrived to plot against the throne. And Kade, bastard sister of King Roland, appears unexpectedly at court. The illegitimate daughter of the old king and the Queen of Air and Darkness herself, Kade's true desires are cloaked in mystery. Is she in league with the wizard Grandier, or is she laying claim to the throne?



It falls to Thomas Boniface, Captain of the Queen's Guard and Ravenna's former lover, to sort out who is friend and who is foe in a deadly game to keep the Dowager Queen and the kingdom she loves from harm. But is one man's steel enough to counter all the magic of fayre?

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

In this rich fantasy debut, the medieval-like country of Ile-Rien is threatened by internal turmoil and invasion by the forces of the Fayre. Ile-Rien, ruled in name by weak young King Roland but in fact by the Dowager Queen Ravenna, becomes the staging area for the sorcerer Urbain Grandier's vengeance against his native land, where he had been the victim of an inquisition mounted against magic. Thomas Boniface, captain of the Queen's Guard and Ravenna's former lover, aids the dowager in her fight to maintain stability and counter the pernicious influence of powerful nobles. The political balance is further upset when the court sorcerer dies, weakening the palace's defenses against Fayre and allowing Kade Carrion, the king's illegitimate half-sister, whose mother was the Fayre Queen of Air and Darkness, to return to court after many years of banishment. Skillfully blending the fantastical and the mundane, Wells delights with deft and sympathetic characterization while demonstrating a fine touch for adventure. (July)

From the Publisher

"Skillfully blending the fantastical and the mundane, Wells delights with deft and sympathetic characterization while demonstrating a fine touch for adventure." ---Publishers Weekly

NOVEMBER 2013 - AudioFile

This initial book in the twenty-year-old Ile-Rien series, together with a number of other books in the series, has recently been released in the audio format. Derek Perkins perseveres through the introductory descriptions of a setting that is reminiscent of eighteenth-century France. He navigates listeners through the court intrigue with a sense of engagement. When the narrative voice is Thomas, the captain of the Dowager Queen’s Guard, Perkins is a strong, quiet, and dependable champion. When Roland, the king, takes over the storytelling, Perkins adroitly conveys his weak character, especially his terror of his mother, the Dowager Queen. Magic, swordplay, and adventure are present in abundance. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171066888
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	09/16/2013
Series:	Fall of Ile-Rien , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	907,967

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