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DAW BOOKS , March 2009
THE QUICK OVERVIEW:
It's 25 years after the events of A MAGIC OF TWILIGHT. A boy king--Audric, the grandson of the legendary Kraljica Marguerite--rules Nessantico under the tutelage of Sergei ca'Rudka, but the boy is ill and there are those who are waiting impatiently for the Sun Throne to become vacant again. The continent-spanning empire of the Holdings has broken in half, with Firenzcia and neighboring countries to the east creating a rival alliance. The Concénzia Faith has also been sundered, with Archigos Ana ca'Seranta ruling in Nessantico while another in Brezno claims the same title. In Firenzcia, Allesandra ca'Vörl plots against the Holdings, and Semini ca'Cellibrecca, the Archigos of Brezno, quake with fury at tje acceptance of the Numetodo heretics in the Holdings. In the far west, there is war with the Tehuantin, the people of the Hellins, and that war does not go well. In Nessantico herself, in the warrens of Oldtown, agents of the Tehuantin are watching...
And with a roar of flame and unexpected death, great and terrible events are set in motion, and Nessantico must face a threat unlike any other in its long, illustrious history: a threat that will take it to the knife-edge of destruction.
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Reviews
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"A Magic of Nightfall is beyond the shadow of a doubt one of the very best fantasy novels released in 2009... It's now obvious that a lot of groundwork was laid out in A Magic of Twilight, and it surely pays dividends in A Magic of Nightfall....
"It was a delight to return to a world akin to the Italian city-states of the Renaissance. Still... one of the most fascinating aspects of this novel was the portions occurring in the Westlands. Indeed, every scene involving Niente, the Nahual of the Tehuantin, offered glimpses of their land and their culture, once again demonstrating that this is a work of fiction which resounds with depth...
"The characterization was top notch, with every POV character well-drawn and genuine... The struggle between science, sorcery, and religion remains an important theme, one that Farrell handles quite well. In addition, the author's eye for details creates a vivid setting which brings the story alive.
"A Magic of Nightfall is a multilayered tale of politics, intrigue, religion, magic, love, and treachery. One that should not be missed. Definitely one of the fantasy books to read in 2009. With superior worldbuilding, a convoluted plot, and complex characters, A Magic of Nightfall is a wonderful read. Highly recommended!"
-- Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
"Complicated political maneuvering, fascinating three-dimensional characters, and unpredictable plot twists combine to make Farrell's superb fantasy hard to put down. Richly imagined and finely written..."
--VOYA (Rachelle Bilz)
""A Magic of Nightfall” starts off with a bang, literally, and from there goes on a roll until its superb ending almost 600 pages later... In the end, a very ambitious tale of intrigue, politics, love, assassinations and war, “A Magic of Nightfall” is just a superior epic... “A Magic of Nightfall” finds the author raising his game to the next level and producing a work that is comparable to any epic fantasy currently being published today. Highly, highly recommended."
-- Fantasy Book Critic (Liviu C. Suciu)
"Politics rule A Magic of Nightfall and set it apart from most of epic fantasy -- very few attain the sophistication here that would have Machiavelli spinning on his (albeit dead) head."
-- Nethsapce
"S.L. Farrell delivers a vast, sprawling but riveting novel... The plot is complex and intricate, demonstrating masterful skill at the finer points of world building, and the cast is strongly drawn... Farrell's work compares favorably to Martin's Song of Fire and Ice epic, with equivalent complexity, sophistication and luxurious detail. Fans of one will absolutely want to read the other.... Books like this define the new generation of epic fantasy. Farrell has brought forth a terrific new series, one wherein the reader is kept guessing up to the last page (and beyond). I'm already eager to read the next installment. Strongly recommended."
-- Drew Bittner on SFRevu
A fascinating read... S. L. Farrell is more than just a great world-builder; he understands that the essence of power is manipulating your opponents and allies to do your bidding.
-- Genre Go Round
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