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Northlight
She’s a Ranger, a wild and savvy knife-fighter, determined to get help in finding her partner who’s lost on the treacherous northern border. He’s a scholar who sees visions, eager to escape the confines of city life and the shadow of his charismatic mother. With the assassination of a beloved leader and the city in turmoil, the two have only each other to turn to. What begins as a rescue mission turns deadly as together they unravel the secret that lies beneath Laurea’s idyllic surface.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 30, 2012
Oh, how did I miss this when it first came out in paperback! This is a wonderful SF novel of the tradition I think of as cultural-anthropological SF. It was just re-released on e-book under the author's current writing name, Deborah J. Ross, but it's the same Northlight released in 1995 by Deborah Wheeler. I wanted to give you all a real review, because if you like my Nuala books, I think there's a good chance you'll enjoy Northlight.
If I was to sum this story up in one sentence, I would say that Northlight is a tale about the many forms of love, regret, and second chances.
http://www.bookviewcafe.com/index.php...
Kardith the Ranger is an exiled woman of the steppes who has found a home and a purpose working as a border ranger for the the country of Laurea on the planet Harth. When we meet her, she is in a panic, half-killing her beloved hill pony as she tries to reach the capital city in time to get permission to search for her partner, the Ranger Aviyya, who has gone missing in the badlands. Laurea is on the verge of war with the northern barbarians, and Kardith's superiors will not allow any ranger to go off on a fruitless rescue mission.
Kardith has a slim hope she can convince their beloved leader Pateros to give her that permission -- partly because her partner Avi is the daughter of a powerful government official, a woman who saw her people through a great plague and now tries to moderate the military's influence on their peaceful land. Kardith's hope fails when a would-be assassin strikes Pateros, leaving the capital in chaos.
As it turns out, Kardith has one person who believes in her and will help her. Avi's brother Terricel has grown up into a young man dangling at loose ends, relegated to his mother's shadow, his own future as a scholar threatened by his mother's power and fame.
Terricel wants to help Kardith and the sister he remembers fondly. He's smothered by his mother's protection, and worried that something is rotten in Laurea -- something that the assassin's appearance reveals is ripening. Ever since he was a child, Terr has been uncomfortable in the great hall of the government, prone to "spells" that amuse those who feel nothing strange about the building. Terr has done all he can to help his mother hold the government -- now, it's time to make new choices.
Terr's a person who notices things -- like Kardith's awareness of something "wrong" before the assassin even struck. Kardith has a talent for recognizing breakers -- the heart of a group, the focus of energy, the end point of a chain of events.
Together they will discover conspiracy at home, secrets beyond belief and a future poised on the brink of disaster. Where do you go when you need answers, when myth may actually be history, and some kinds of progress may destroy an entire civilization? The barbarians go to Northlight -- and in the end, so will Kardith and Terricel.
The story starts with the Ranger, and this was a brilliant choice. Kardith's status as outsider turned Ranger, her hyper-aware training and her innate abilities are what tells you that something is rotten in the system -- and keeps you looking beneath the surface at every point. Things seem to take a breath once you reach Laurea and Ter's POV, but not really. Look closely -- it's a fine watch works moving with precision. Although the world is old and layered, the weight of it is light. We learn only what we need to know, even as other glimpses intrigue.
You will not forget the POV characters, or the others who help and hinder them on their quest. And at $2.99 for the e-book over at Book View Cafe, this is a steal. Highly recommended!
If I was to sum this story up in one sentence, I would say that Northlight is a tale about the many forms of love, regret, and second chances.
http://www.bookviewcafe.com/index.php...
Kardith the Ranger is an exiled woman of the steppes who has found a home and a purpose working as a border ranger for the the country of Laurea on the planet Harth. When we meet her, she is in a panic, half-killing her beloved hill pony as she tries to reach the capital city in time to get permission to search for her partner, the Ranger Aviyya, who has gone missing in the badlands. Laurea is on the verge of war with the northern barbarians, and Kardith's superiors will not allow any ranger to go off on a fruitless rescue mission.
Kardith has a slim hope she can convince their beloved leader Pateros to give her that permission -- partly because her partner Avi is the daughter of a powerful government official, a woman who saw her people through a great plague and now tries to moderate the military's influence on their peaceful land. Kardith's hope fails when a would-be assassin strikes Pateros, leaving the capital in chaos.
As it turns out, Kardith has one person who believes in her and will help her. Avi's brother Terricel has grown up into a young man dangling at loose ends, relegated to his mother's shadow, his own future as a scholar threatened by his mother's power and fame.
Terricel wants to help Kardith and the sister he remembers fondly. He's smothered by his mother's protection, and worried that something is rotten in Laurea -- something that the assassin's appearance reveals is ripening. Ever since he was a child, Terr has been uncomfortable in the great hall of the government, prone to "spells" that amuse those who feel nothing strange about the building. Terr has done all he can to help his mother hold the government -- now, it's time to make new choices.
Terr's a person who notices things -- like Kardith's awareness of something "wrong" before the assassin even struck. Kardith has a talent for recognizing breakers -- the heart of a group, the focus of energy, the end point of a chain of events.
Together they will discover conspiracy at home, secrets beyond belief and a future poised on the brink of disaster. Where do you go when you need answers, when myth may actually be history, and some kinds of progress may destroy an entire civilization? The barbarians go to Northlight -- and in the end, so will Kardith and Terricel.
The story starts with the Ranger, and this was a brilliant choice. Kardith's status as outsider turned Ranger, her hyper-aware training and her innate abilities are what tells you that something is rotten in the system -- and keeps you looking beneath the surface at every point. Things seem to take a breath once you reach Laurea and Ter's POV, but not really. Look closely -- it's a fine watch works moving with precision. Although the world is old and layered, the weight of it is light. We learn only what we need to know, even as other glimpses intrigue.
You will not forget the POV characters, or the others who help and hinder them on their quest. And at $2.99 for the e-book over at Book View Cafe, this is a steal. Highly recommended!
April 11, 2011
I had a great opportunity to read "Northlight" as an Early Reviewer for Library Thing.
Wow Deborah Ross has written a brilliant story that displays all the elements writers should include in a book.
The book revolves around Karadith, a Ranger who has stronger strength and senses than others. Karadith's order was to go to Laurea, to meet with General Montborne, deliver a packet of very important papers. Captain Derron also ordered her not to go on any expeditions of her own meaning finding fellow Ranger Avi, who everyone thinks she is dead except for Karadith.
If only it was that easy, in the midst of delivering the papers Karadith tries to save the Guardian of Laurea and notices Terricel sen' Laurea. Who is the next heir as he is the son of Esmelda of Laurea.
I love this quote from the book involving Terricel, "He'd learned to sit absolutely still through the long meetings, not a muscle quivering. Learned to keep his breathing slow and deep, his hands steady, his eyes unflinching as he followed the debate. It became a matter of pride that he let nothing show of what he truly felt. "
Just from this paragraph alone, I could feel everything Terricel was feeling, it intrigued me greatly. I just had to keep reading and find out what was going to happen. I think this was the turning point for me as I connected with Terricel and I could not stop reading. I wanted to know what this character was going to do, was he going to show how he truly feels and speak up to others? Was he going to change? Was he going to be heir, I needed to know.
I loved the Terricel's character, I was able to visualize how he looked, acted and I could actually feel what he was feeling. As with all the other characters. I enjoyed it greatly.
I was amazed how Deborah continually blew me away with her descriptions so I could see everything unfold before my eyes. Deborah's writing was a pleasure to read as she put so much detail in describing the scenes, the time, the characters and the plot that unraveled.
I have not read any of Deborah's books before and after reading Northlight, I will definitely be adding her to my collections. As I know that, the words on the page are going to explode, into a brilliant and unearthly experience.
Well done
Wow Deborah Ross has written a brilliant story that displays all the elements writers should include in a book.
The book revolves around Karadith, a Ranger who has stronger strength and senses than others. Karadith's order was to go to Laurea, to meet with General Montborne, deliver a packet of very important papers. Captain Derron also ordered her not to go on any expeditions of her own meaning finding fellow Ranger Avi, who everyone thinks she is dead except for Karadith.
If only it was that easy, in the midst of delivering the papers Karadith tries to save the Guardian of Laurea and notices Terricel sen' Laurea. Who is the next heir as he is the son of Esmelda of Laurea.
I love this quote from the book involving Terricel, "He'd learned to sit absolutely still through the long meetings, not a muscle quivering. Learned to keep his breathing slow and deep, his hands steady, his eyes unflinching as he followed the debate. It became a matter of pride that he let nothing show of what he truly felt. "
Just from this paragraph alone, I could feel everything Terricel was feeling, it intrigued me greatly. I just had to keep reading and find out what was going to happen. I think this was the turning point for me as I connected with Terricel and I could not stop reading. I wanted to know what this character was going to do, was he going to show how he truly feels and speak up to others? Was he going to change? Was he going to be heir, I needed to know.
I loved the Terricel's character, I was able to visualize how he looked, acted and I could actually feel what he was feeling. As with all the other characters. I enjoyed it greatly.
I was amazed how Deborah continually blew me away with her descriptions so I could see everything unfold before my eyes. Deborah's writing was a pleasure to read as she put so much detail in describing the scenes, the time, the characters and the plot that unraveled.
I have not read any of Deborah's books before and after reading Northlight, I will definitely be adding her to my collections. As I know that, the words on the page are going to explode, into a brilliant and unearthly experience.
Well done
May 12, 2011
While this book is classified science fiction, this is not the high-tech space travel science fiction that you might be expecting. I am vaguely reminded of the book "Dreamsnake" by Vonda Mcintyre, which I also enjoyed.
I highly enjoyed this adventure following the adventures of Kardith and Terricel as they search for Aviyya who is lover and brother, respectively. This is a tale of coming to terms with one's past, both as an individual and as a culture, and the story, like the journey, builds in anticipation, slowly at first and then, as the journey embarks, building more rapidly to an intriguing climax. Throughout the book, the story alternates viewpoints between Terricel's third person and Kardith's first -person - sometimes overlapping, which can be a jolt. Despite the occasional jolt from the story, I found the book highly engaging and the characters quite interesting. I would recommend this to people who like light sci-fi, stories of alternate universes, and perhaps even those who like epic fantasy or Westerns.
I received a copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
I highly enjoyed this adventure following the adventures of Kardith and Terricel as they search for Aviyya who is lover and brother, respectively. This is a tale of coming to terms with one's past, both as an individual and as a culture, and the story, like the journey, builds in anticipation, slowly at first and then, as the journey embarks, building more rapidly to an intriguing climax. Throughout the book, the story alternates viewpoints between Terricel's third person and Kardith's first -person - sometimes overlapping, which can be a jolt. Despite the occasional jolt from the story, I found the book highly engaging and the characters quite interesting. I would recommend this to people who like light sci-fi, stories of alternate universes, and perhaps even those who like epic fantasy or Westerns.
I received a copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
April 14, 2011
First of all I think the cover with the face and dome fit the book a whole lot better than the one with the horse, and quite frankly, if I had chosen to read the book, because of the cover I wouldn't have picked it up in the latter case. Yet, quite obviously, I was fascinated by the premise and requested it when I had the chance to through the Early Reviewers program.
I love the genre of science fiction and was not disappointed. I soon found myself immersed in a wonderfully drawn world with superbly devised characters. The narrative runs smoothly and is as descriptive and elaborate as the world Deborah Wheeler created here. Switching between the POV of Karadith, the Ranger, and young Terricel, the story of their journey to find fellow Ranger Avi, who's also Terricel's sister, slowly unfolds and while this has certainly been one of the best science fiction novels I read in a long time, I must admit that it was, in parts, a bit too wordily for my taste and for some readers this might even translate into a tedious experience.
In short: If you like strange worlds in elaborate settings, I can only recommend this book to you!
I love the genre of science fiction and was not disappointed. I soon found myself immersed in a wonderfully drawn world with superbly devised characters. The narrative runs smoothly and is as descriptive and elaborate as the world Deborah Wheeler created here. Switching between the POV of Karadith, the Ranger, and young Terricel, the story of their journey to find fellow Ranger Avi, who's also Terricel's sister, slowly unfolds and while this has certainly been one of the best science fiction novels I read in a long time, I must admit that it was, in parts, a bit too wordily for my taste and for some readers this might even translate into a tedious experience.
In short: If you like strange worlds in elaborate settings, I can only recommend this book to you!
April 24, 2011
This was my first book which I won for review from LibraryThing. It was an e-book so it was difficult for me to read it in a stretch but somehow I managed and completed reading the book. Now it is the time to review. I liked the book rather quite enjoyed reading it. Deborah Joss has done a wonderful job in describing the characters but there was something missing in the characters though I don’t know what it was. But the characters could have been more forceful.
The twists in the book will keep your interest going. The sketches of landscapes are fantastic and you would assume that you are in the places yourself. The use of language is evocative and you will like it too. Deborah brilliantly describes the incidents happening and your urge to read further keeps on going.
The end could have been better. Overall, the book was nice to read since it was Free! A joke apart, the book is a good read. I will recommend my friends to read it.
The twists in the book will keep your interest going. The sketches of landscapes are fantastic and you would assume that you are in the places yourself. The use of language is evocative and you will like it too. Deborah brilliantly describes the incidents happening and your urge to read further keeps on going.
The end could have been better. Overall, the book was nice to read since it was Free! A joke apart, the book is a good read. I will recommend my friends to read it.
May 28, 2011
This was my first book which I won for review from LibraryThing. It was an e-book so it was difficult for me to read it in a stretch but somehow I managed and I completed reading the book. Now it is the time to review. I liked the book rather quite enjoyed reading it. Deborah Joss has done a wonderful job in describing the characters but there was something missing in the characters though I don't know what it was. But the characters could have been more forceful.[return][return]The twists in the book will keep your interest going. The sketches of landscapes are fantastic and you would assume that you are in the places yourself. The use of language is evocative and you will like it too. Deborah brilliantly describes the incidents happening and your urge to read further keeps on going.[return][return]The end could have been better. Overall, the book was nice to read since it was Free! A joke apart, the book is a good read. I will recommend my friends to read it.
September 1, 2011
I always hesitate to review my favorite books thinking my review wouldn't do justice with the book. This book turned out to be my favorite from page 1. I received the e-copy of this book through LibraryThing Giveaway. This book took me pretty long time to read, partly because of the fact that I didn't want it finish. The author produced a very vivid descriptions of landscapes and the fictitious Laureal City. The book is half narrated by Kardith, and half in the third person. I personally enjoy the books with switching narration. I loved the characters especially Kardith and Terricel. There wasn't much about their past in the beginning, everything was revealed as the story went on. This is a great book and I strongly recommend it to fantasy lovers.
Read my full review here.
Read my full review here.
April 28, 2011
Of the two covers, I liked the cover without the horse the most as I found the horse cover a bit misleading. However I did enjoy the book although I found it a bit too wordy by places, yet there were enough twists and turns in an entertaining fantasy world to keep me interested. I will not go over what the book is about as every review does that and I won't give the story away. I just want future readers to know that the characters are wonderfully woven together in a creative and interesting story well worth the read.
April 6, 2011
Kardith is everything you could want in a strong heroine—confident and determined, but with a past that gives her depth. Terricel has a softer strength that even he is unaware of at the beginning of the book.
Very unlikely companions that join together on a journey that is important to each of them personally and to the survival of all they hold dear.
Northlight is an expertly crafted tale with many layers that is sure to entertain.
Very unlikely companions that join together on a journey that is important to each of them personally and to the survival of all they hold dear.
Northlight is an expertly crafted tale with many layers that is sure to entertain.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews