Carolyn Kephart
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"Carolyn Kephart may not be a great
name in fantasy, but she should be!" ~Dark Moon
Rising Magazine
Read First Chapters of WYSARD, LORD BROTHER,
and QUEEN
OF TIME
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Reviews of the first editions of WYSARD and LORD
BROTHER
The following
excerpts critiqued the paperback first editions of
1999 and 2001,
and were not posted at Amazon or other bookstore
sites.
Reviews of WYSARD
"WYSARD is
Carolyn Kephart's debut novel, and what a
debut. If you're looking for a new author with
the potential of Goodkind and Jordan you've
found it ... The author has created the frame
for a world to rival the best and is building
as we go along, making the culture and the
people seem wonderfully real. Magic is also
part of the story but the tale is driven forth
by the story itself, and the magic is just a
part of the whole. If you're ready to be drawn
into a new and wonderful fantasy world, I
would highly recommend that you check out this
book." Sffworld
"Extremely vibrant storytelling ... characters
are complete and complex ... settings are
photo-realistic, described with such clarity
that every object seems tangible, every action
seems to be taking place at that moment ...
You may curse the fact that you will be left
hanging at the end of WYSARD. You may be
thrilled that there are even more adventures
to come. Like many of the weapons in the book,
it is a double-edged sword. Unlike some of the
unfortunate characters we see dispensed in a
flurry of blood and steel, the reader is in a
win-win situation. With a book this involving
and entertaining, the promise of a second
volume can only be good news. Just be patient.
It will be worth the wait." The
SF Site
"... this multi-layered,
engrossing, well-written fantasy presents a
unique world, with a polytheistic society not
based on any mythology now extant. Kephart
weaves a vivid but marvelously complicated
tapestry of actions and interactions, of magic
and malice, and of heroes and helpers ... I
loved the story." Crescent
Blues Book Views
"A
masterful fantasy by an extremely talented
author, WYSARD is certainly not to be missed.
Ms. Kephart has created a beautiful world,
complete with many different civilizations,
peoples, laws, and creatures. She's given it
life, imbuing it with feudal hostilities,
caste grudges, religious debates and politics.
Throughout the novel, we learn much about this
world, but it never takes over the storyline
or does more than register in the reader's
mind. The focus remains on Ryel, on his quest
and his destiny.
"I know without a doubt, WYSARD will be placed
on my keeper shelf after I finish rereading it
and if LORD BROTHER is anything like its
predecessor, it too will be a must read." In The Library
Reviews
"On the
surface, this is a classic tale of good versus
evil, of young innocence encountering the
evils of the world, and having to conquer them
to achieve certain goals. But Ms. Kephart’s
style turns this story into something much
more. We really get to know these characters,
not through endless descriptive passages to
which so many authors resort, but rather
through their actions and interactions with
others. And Ryel is no single-dimensional
character either. Over the course of the two
books he grows as a result of his experiences,
changing from a somewhat naïve dependent boy
to a powerful Wysard capable of amazing
healing abilities and magic as well as into an
insightful, worldly man. Once again the
author’s word choice is superb, allowing her
phrasing to carry the quality of the prose to
a level on par with classical literature." TopDragon
Fantasy Book Reviews
"A solid grasp of story and setting,
including the socio-economic and ethnic
frameworks crucial to a good fantasy ... and
Kephart has created a wonderful foil for her
hero in the henchman of his nemesis: Lord
Michael Essern is a strong character who
deserves a closer look. One note about
Kephart's fantasy is the absence of dragons,
elves, fairies, talking swords, and so
forth. Her plot and scenes are driven
entirely by human and demonic forces, which
some readers may prefer." The
Bookshelf: Science Fiction and Fantasy
"A great read with characters you truly care
about. Carolyn Kephart has created a fantasy
world of intrigue and turmoil. The story is
fast-paced and interesting, with a strong
character in Ryel who is continually
learning and changing, but whose core values
stay the same, even under trying times." Rebecca's
Reads
"This
book has all the elements of a superior
fantasy novel, including the creation of a
unique, full-blooded world. WYSARD's world
is more like four worlds, since there are
four great cities described. Another element
is the battle of good against evil, with the
good not being perfect, and the evil
tempting its characters. The book will make
the reader think and wonder, not only about
the storyline, but about the nature of life,
death, and fate. As in real life, there are
no easy or simple answers.
"The author keeps the action flowing while
revealing the inner workings of the wysard's
mind. The language and imagery of the book
are rich and eloquent. The plot has a
satisfying amount of twists and keeps the
reader turning those pages ... I'm hooked."
Sirius
Book Reviews
"WYSARD is billed by the author as 'a tale
of love and magic,' and that it is.
Surprisingly, the love is not just the
romantic love that we conjure when the word
is usually bandied about. Instead the focus
on relationships, sexual repression and
lust, friendships, family, and passion,
bring the theme of Eros to life in subtle,
and not-so-subtle ways.
"The
world Kephart has created is life-like and
enchanting. The life-styles of the city of
Markul, the homeland of Ryel, and the city
of Almancar (where much of the action of the
story takes place) are flavorful, colorful
and realistic. Kephart immerses the
spellbound reader in her world with artistic
flair." Dark
Moon Rising
"A well-written, intelligent fantasy with a
beautifully crafted world ... A book to
ponder, savor, contemplate but not rush
through at breakneck speed, WYSARD adds new
dimensions to the fantasy genre by adding
new concepts, or by looking at old concepts
in a fresh manner. Concise but lyric, the
prose complements the tale." Crescent
Blues Book Views
Reviews of LORD BROTHER
"As well-written
and enjoyable as WYSARD is, this second
novel is an amazing step forward. There is a
palpable maturity and confidence in
Kephart's latest effort that impresses and
entertains. With the second volume of this
continuing saga, she has truly hit her
stride. Fans of WYSARD (and there are
multitudes) are going to be even more firmly
attached to Kephart by the last page
of LORD BROTHER.
"Kephart has a firm grip on the features
that keep readers coming back for more.
True, she has a wide range of alien
settings, ranging from the frozen,
forbidding Steppes to the lush world of The
One Immortal -- all vividly portrayed. And,
she has no dearth of fascinating characters,
weaving such lethal creatures as the
priestess Theofanu and the gentle Belphira
into the complex tapestry of her dark
fantasy. But, it is her talent for leaving
questions unanswered and desires still
unfulfilled that holds readers rigidly await
for the next morsel of the tale. Look for no
last-minute wrap-ups here; Kephart is too
wily for that.
"Relish the rich fantasy. Wince at the
danger and adventure. Be ready for the next
volume in the series, because, if Kephart
continues as she started, the best is yet to
come." The
SF Site
"Every so often, I turn
from my penchant for re-discovering the
classics of fantasy fiction and from my
never ending attempt to devour the popular
titles of the day, to try the new and the
lesser-known novels of the genre. Carolyn
Kephart has provided me, and many other
fantasy readers with a superb first novel,
WYSARD. She has since followed up with part
two, LORD BROTHER, the two of which were
originally intended as a single novel.
"The writing
style is pure joy. The author has obviously
chosen each word with great care, for there
are no parts of the story, sentences, or
even words that do not advance the telling
of the tale. Lyrical phrasing results in a
similarity to poetry in the way it conveys
enormous emotion within a few lines. The
reader dares not skim any for fear of losing
the trail of the plot. This book is not
thick and yet at its conclusion, we feel as
if we have lived through, and truly enjoyed,
an epic. And we know that there is more yet
to come, for the mission is only just now
becoming well defined.
"I am
anxiously awaiting the second volume of this
tale in order to complete the story. Those
readers that are growing tired of huge,
multi-volume epic fantasies, would do well
to read Carolyn Kephart. It is my firm
belief that we will be hearing much more
from this new fantasy talent." TopDragon
Fantasy Book Reviews
"LORD
BROTHER, the stunning sequel (literally the
second half) of Carolyn Kephart's beautifully
crafted novel, WYSARD, returns us not only to
the quest of Ryel Mirai, but also to the art
which is Kephart's prose.
"Kephart tells a great story. The scenes are
vivid and detailed, real enough to envision.
It's quite easy to lose yourself in the story;
I had a hard time putting it down! I think one
of the greatest accomplishments of the book is
that you don't see the next thing coming. The
story twists and turns, leaving you surprised
and excited, but never startled (well, except
once...). The ending, however, is surely the
best part of the book. I had never even
considered an ending like Kephart gives us in
Lord Brother. And, to top it off, it's a Lady
or the Tiger ending. The story is complete,
but the ending leaves several things open. If
Kephart does decide to publish further books
about Ryel and his world, I'll be waiting
eagerly. If not, then the ending of LORD
BROTHER leaves a lot up to the readers, and
should spark some interesting discussion among
Kephart fans.
"I
would wholeheartedly recommend LORD BROTHER,
and if you missed it, WYSARD. The two are
a beautiful tapestry woven of exquisite prose
and detail. The heroic fantasy is told anew
with a flawed protagonist who learns and grows
before your eyes." Dark
Moon Rising
"An
action-packed sequel delivering even more
layers to a fantasy world with a
character-driven plot. Ryel is a great hero,
and I look forward to more from Carolyn
Kephart." Rebecca's
Reads
©
Carolyn Kephart, 2020
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