Warhost of Vastmark

This is the second volume in The Ships of Merior book. The paperbacks split the hardcover book into two books.This has the best nautical scenes I have read since Moby Dick, it feels authentic. This is master story telling - world building, plots, characters and an outstanding prose.

With a hundred pages left in this book and in the midst of an admittedly well-written battle scene I must admit to having to put this book down and being unable to pick it back up for weeks. One particular thread of the storyline is frustrating me to no end and I'm finding that it decidedly detracts from my enjoyment of the book (and series) as a whole. It could very well be that it bothers only me and someone else wouldn't bat an eye at my particular qualm.I loved the first book. It intrigued me, it hooked and absorbed me and then it left me upset and heartbroken that the brothers that had become friends were once again enemies. I think that is why i'm having such a hard time now. Wurts treatment of Lysear I find extremely hard to read. He is supposed to be the villain and I guess he is -but the dynamics are just hard to swallow (for me). His own goodness and sense of justice is used against him - making him appear as a misguided tyrant - which essentially, I guess he is. It just bothers me okay :) I liked him. Spoiler alert****** Wurts, through Arithon, takes away two very important people from Lysear in this book - one by death and the other in a very different manner. Arithon is always given the upper hand and to top it all off he has the Fellowship sorcerers on his side.And I do like Arithon too. He is very compelling and has some great moments in this book (often at Lysears expense - hence my conflicting frustration). Wurts gives deeper insight into Arithon from not just his POV but from many around him. Wurts expects us I believe to root for Arithon and I do up to a certain point. It's hard to root for Lysear as that means destruction and death, which ends up happening anyways - if to a lesser degree. But what's hard to read is how desh-their's curse is twisting Lysear who has no means to fight it and is made out the villian, while Arithon is set up as the conflicted martyr and hero and is given so much more compassion from the author (unintended pun there).That said - I will of course continue to read as I just can't help myself. The plight of these two brothers and all drawn into their cursed emnity is too compelling to just give up the remainder of the series. One of the best parts of this book for me was the eventual and grudging respect that Dakar formed for Arithon. He truly is Arithon's man now - but it was a long and reluctant journey for him. Dakar's character runs hot and cold for me - you like him for a minute and then you don't - but he appears to have greatly matured from when we first met him in 'Mistwraith.' Over all - the book is well written and continues the story seamlessly. Worth reading for sure.

Janny Wurts is absolutely brilliant. Her writing is so beautiful. This is one of the best books I've ever read.

I thought my review of The Ships of Merior would be inadequate, but I feel even more that way now, after finishing the direct sequel. While the division between the two books was done in such a way that they individually satisfy, Warhost really brought the whole 1100 page sequence to a grand conclusion.The two books together serve as Arc II of Janny's huge epic, The Wars of Light and Shadow. Originally intended as a single volume, the work was split into two. The division gives a reader a chance to pause between the books, though I for one found myself diving right into Warhost. What it did do was eliminate the trademark double climax of other Wurts novels, unless we put them back together and consider the two books with the climaxes at the end of each volume. As such, it works, delivering with a bang after lots of buildup.I gave this one 5 stars while the first part I gave 4. I'm adding a star here because of the way it brings the whole of Arc II nicely together. Without spoiling anything, I will say that the end of Warhost of Vastmark satisfies. What's more, it sets the stage for Arc III and leaves at least this reader salivating for more of the world of Athera.

There are excellent reviews of the The wars of light and shadow available..18 books. All I can say is do yourself a favour and start reading them (the books that is, although the reviews I've read make good reading also).