Sinner

The first book of the Wayfarerer Redemption, an enthralling continuation of The Axis trilogy, by the bestselling Australian author Sara Douglass Forty years have passed, Axis and Azhure have taken their rightful places among the other Star Gods. Their cherished first-born, Caelum Starson, now rules and all appears peaceful. But the Throne of the Stars brings frightful responsibilities, and sometimes Caelum listens to the wrong advice. Old resentments between Acharite and Icari threaten to overwhelm Caelum's tentative control, and civil war looms on the horizon. As there are tensions in the land and among the peoples of Tencendor, so are there tensions among the SunSoar family itself. Drago, denied his Icari heritage as punishment for a treacherous infancy is constantly reminded that while his brothers and sisters revel in power and youth, he ages under the restrictions of his human blood. Riverstar is now a vain and spiteful young woman, and Zenith, his youngest sister, is experiencing memories that are destroying her peace of mind. But a far more menacing threat to the peace of Tencendor lingers beyond the Star Gate. The children that Wolfstar hurled to their deaths hundreds of years ago want their revenge, their whispering is becoming louder and they are not alone. Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly In Australian author Douglass's solid fourth installment in her Wayfarer Redemption series (after 2002's Starman), control of the land of Tencendor has passed from Axis SunStar to his son, StarSon Caelum SunSoar. A benevolent ruler, Caelum faces his first great challenge when Zared, Prince of the North, plots treason against him. Surprised by Zared's betrayal, Caelum doesn't take the threat seriously until disaster strikes. Meanwhile, Caelum's unpopular brother, Drago, who has already tried to kill Caelum, stands accused of murdering his twin sister, RiverStar. Drago flees for his life, taking with him the Rainbow Scepter with which Axis destroyed the monster Gorgrael in Starman. Caelum must save Tencendor from a multitude of dangers, any one of which is likely to tear the country to pieces. While Douglass smoothly fills in some backstory about the SunSoar dynasty, even those who've read the three earlier volumes will welcome the extensive glossary. The bouts of narcissism that some characters suffer tend to slow the plot, but fans of this ambitious epic fantasy should be eager to find out what happens in book five after the muted cliffhanger of an ending. Copyright ® Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Booklist At the end of the first three volumes of the Wayfarer Redemption, the Starman, Axis SunSoar, defeated the evil Gorgrael and brought peace to the humans, Icarii bird people, and the Avar of the trees of the world of Tencendor. Eventually, Axis and his consort retired to the celestial sphere, leaving the kingdom to their son Caelum. Now, after a generation or so of peace, envy and bitter memories are resurfacing. Many humans feel dispossessed because there is no longer a human king, but the other two peoples, long oppressed by humans, don't want one. The ancient enchanter WolfStar, formerly a dubious supporter of the Starman, returns, again weaving webs of intrigue. In the middle of things is Axis' son Drago, who, deprived of immortality when he attempted murder as an infant, has aged while his siblings have not. Douglass' return to a well-established world features strong characters and, set as it is in the aftermath of a hero-king's departure, an interesting milieu. Readers of Sinner's predecessors--and not only they--won't be disappointed. Frieda Murray Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.