Cloak of Magic by SA Rule

Rate and review Cloak of Magic! | What does everyone else think?

Summary A refreshing and involving story.

Cloak of Magic is the first book in the Shaihen Heritage series by SA Rule.

Synopsis
Somewhere along the line where human nature meets human imagination, myths are created. Somewhere in that space lives the spirit that created and sustains Shahaios, the Fair Land.

One man embodies the gifts of the spirit. A man all too susceptible to the human flaws that lie beneath the cloak of magic.

The journey of self-discovery for Kierce, heir to the Lord High Magician, and Caras, heir to the chief of Oreath, is inextricably bound up with the history of their land. The survival of their self-sufficient agrarian culture is threatened by the might of the sophisticated Empire of the Sacred Union, and neither Kierce’s cunning nor Caras’s courage may be enough to save the Fair Land.

Cloak of Magic is an impressive debut novel; a book of satisfying depth featuring characters worthy of empathy and a story that weaves and turns in a way conducive to the heightening and retaining of the reader’s interest. You will find that the best fantasy novels are always strong on characterisation and this is certainly the case here. Central to the story is Kierce, heir to the Lord High Magician and a charismatic, yet flawed man. He contains hidden power and the destiny of the land he loves will rest on how he can harness that power. Strong supporting players surround Kierce; there is his childhood friend Caras, a rock of a man, trustworthy, loyal and single minded.  King Rainur, the King's wife Cathva, the Imperial Commander Hiren and Orlii complete an impressive list of memorable characters that the reader will find easily identifiable.

“Caras liked his way through life clearly marked, and changes to come at a measured pace. The worst disruption to his world so far had been the loss of his parents to a fever epidemic when he had barely attained adulthood, and that was a grief shared by many other in the Holding.”
Cloak of Magic: Chapter 12 – Arhaios

The characters constantly evolve as the story progresses, some go from unpleasant to likeable and then right back to unpleasant again. These are, as has already been mentioned, very well built characters that are described skilfully using a third person narrative that allows the reader to experience their inner thoughts and emotions.

The setting of Shehaios and the Empire are described in vibrant detail, the Empire being reminiscent in places of Rome in its pomp. The author's love of history and folklore shine through and help produce and refreshing and involving story that can be favourably compared to Gemmell and Feist.

This is the first book in a series. The foundations set within Cloak of Magic are solid and have left ample room for growth. Sometimes, after having read the first book in a series, there is a sense of obligation to read the entire series to completion less the time and effort invested be wasted. This is not the case with Cloak of Magic; you find that you actually WANT to find out what happens to these characters that now have a life of their own. Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy and sword and sorcery books.

Sue Rule lives in Edenbridge, Kent. She has been writing bits of the fictional history of Shehaios since she first dreamed up the world and its rather prosaic magic in the early 1970’s.

The Shaihen Heritage grew out of Sue’s love of history and folklore and tracks the fictional history of an imagined world which is not unlike our own. The name “she-haios" means "the home of the spirit of life" and the people who live there have an intuitive understanding of that mysterious force which created mankind and the world we all live in.

For more information on Sue Rule and The Shaihen Heritage visit www.shehaios.co.uk.

Cloak of Magic: Book 1: Cloak of Magic (Shaihen Heritage) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Susan A. Rule
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 348
Publication date: 2006-02-09
Publisher: Authors Online Ltd

RRP: £12.50
Lowest new price: £8.79
Lowest used price: £1.80

Shaihen Heritage: Book 1: Cloak of Magic (Amazon.com)

Author: S.A. Rule
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 348
Publication date: 2006-02-09
Publisher: Bright Pen

RRP: $17.95
Lowest new price: $16.16
Lowest used price: $8.89

Somewhere along the line where human nature meets human imagination, myths are created. Somewhere in that space lives the spirit that created and sustains Shehaios, the Fair Land. One man embodies the gifts of the spirit. A man all too susceptible to the human flaws that lie beneath the cloak of magic. The journey of self-discovery for Kierce, heir to the Lord High Magician, and Caras, heir to the chief of Oreath, is inextricably bound up with the history of their land. The survival of their self-sufficient agrarian culture is threatened by the might of the sophisticated Empire of the Sacred Union, and neither Kierce's cunning nor Caras's courage may be enough to save the Fair Land. A story that will take you on a wonderful trip into a fantasy world and maybe reveal aspects of the real one.
Product Description

Submit your own mini-review

Let people know what you think about Cloak of Magic. You can write your own mini-review and give the book the rating that you think it deserves. Your reviews will go towards giving Cloak of Magic its overall rating that will decide where Cloak of Magic finishes in the top 100 fantasy books of all time.

Books you may also enjoy...

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece. The Lord of the Rings is the best known as most enjoyed fantasy book of all time. If you have never read this, or The Hobbit before, then you are in for a real treat! ... read the full review

Summary: It is hard to put into words the happiness that can be felt when reading literature as good as this.

Reader reviews | Write review

The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin

The Earthsea Quartet brings together Ursula Le Guin’s four legendary Earthsea sagas for the first time in a single volume. ... read the full review

Summary: Stunning, thought-provoking fantasy.

Reader reviews | Write review

The Mad Ship by Robin Hobb

The Liveship Traders series continues with the second book, The Mad Ship. Althea Vestrit continues her quest to reclaim her rightful inheritance, the liveship Vivacia. The Vivacia has been seized by pirates led by the enigmatic Kennit, a man who believes that destiny leads him to become King of the Pirate Isles. The Vestrit family are nearing financial ruin which leads them closer to the mysterious Rain Wild Traders who own the ship. Amidst these events the mad ship, Paragon is once again launched despite the history of death and despair that surrounds him. ... read the full review

Summary: A spell-binding story full of wonderful characters and intrigue.

Reader reviews | Write review

Also in this sub-genre...

• The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
• The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin
• The Mad Ship by Robin Hobb
• The Judging Eye by R Scott Bakker
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
• Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
• The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Assassin’s Quest by Robin Hobb
• The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
• Magician by Raymond E Feist
• The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip
• Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
• Lord Fouls Bane by Stephen Donaldson
• Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb
• Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
• A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E Feist
• The Other Wind by Ursula Le Guin
• Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
• Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
• The Illearth War by Stephen Donaldson
• Wizards First Rule by Terry Goodkind
• The Power That Preserves by Stephen Donaldson
• Tales From Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin
• Fool’s Errand by Robin Hobb
• The Golden Fool by Robin Hobb
• Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb
• The Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle
• Silver Mage by CM Debell
• Shaman’s Crossing by Robin Hobb
• The Ice Crown by Sean Beech
• The High Lord by Trudi Canavan
• The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
• The House of the Stag by Kage Baker
• The Magicians Nephew by CS Lewis
• The Diamond Throne by David Eddings
• The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
• The Wounded Land by Stephen Donaldson
• The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien
• Jarrak’s Darkness by Colin R Parsons
• The Riddler’s Gift by Greg Hamerton
• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
• The Novice by Trudi Canavan
• Magyk by Angie Sage
• The Lost Barkscrolls by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
• Fire by Kristin Cashore