Trinity Rising

January 1, 2013
Follow-up to Songs of the Earth (2012), the author's promising fantasy debut. Cooper adopts multiple narratives as she first generously fills in and recaps the back story before moving forward. Naturally, a MacGuffin, known as the starseed, is involved. Malevolent renegade Guardian Savin plots with a mysterious dark power to destroy the Veil separating the world from the Hidden Kingdom. Gair, the previous book's protagonist, despite an all but irresistible urge to challenge Savin and still grieving over the loss of his lover and soul mate, has little to do until the latter stages, when he accompanies wise old Guardian Alderan to the desert kingdoms. In the north, Drwyn has ambitions to become Chief of Chiefs of the nomad tribes and reclaim the territories lost to the Empire when they were defeated 1,000 years ago. To ensure Drwyn's success, Speaker Ytha unleashes her magic to gain the assistance of the imprisoned death-goddess, Maegern. Teia, Drwyn's unwilling bed warmer, endures rape and beatings at his hands--but she does discover she has magic powers perhaps strong enough to defy Ytha. Emperor Theodegrance, having long abandoned the border fortresses, finds it impossible to believe that the nomads once again pose a threat. And old, ailing Preceptor Ansel of the Eadorian Knights, anticipating terrible battles to come, seeks to broaden the intake of the novices, to the outrage of conservative factions within the church. This vast expansion in the story's scope comes not without cost to focus and intensity, though Cooper maintains the quality of her characters and writing. Still, readers may find the switch to plotlines that invariably end in irresolute cliffhangers disconcerting and maybe disappointing. Best advice to fans of Book 1: read this one, wait--and hope.

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February 15, 2013

Exiled from his home and from the Church he had vowed to serve as a Knight because of his ability to hear the songs of the earth and wield its magic, Gair finds that war clouds are gathering around him. The Speaker for one of the tribes of Nordmen seeks Gair's aid in summoning the Goddess and her Wild Hunt. Sensing the approaching conflict, the Church that exiled Gair has seen the necessity to make sweeping changes of its own, as it begins accepting women into its knighthood. VERDICT In this sequel to the acclaimed Songs of the Earth Cooper's voice remains strong and fresh, her characters are genuine and well-developed, and the world she has carefully built comes vividly to life. Fantasy lovers and fans of Maria Snyder, Kate Elliott, and Robin Hobb should find this novel satisfying.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2013
This the newest installment in the Wild Hunt Trilogy, and it quickly builds on the momentum from Cooper's first novel, Songs of the Earth (2012).Gair has proven himself to be the strongest of the Guardians in terms of sheer power but weakest in experience and judgment. Those who want to extinguish the power of the song are hunting Gair and his mentor, Alderan. Teia is a seemingly powerless young woman whose body is being used by her clan's Chief for his own pleasure. Her Chief has grand plans to take back the weakening Veil through violence. Teia is not weak, though: she carries the magic of the Guardians deep inside and foresees rising from her Chief's destruction to become The Speaker, the most powerful and respected mage of her clan. The Guardians of the Veil and Gair must join together and fight forces far larger than themselves, or risk destruction and death. Cooper has proven herself yet again to be an author worth spending time with.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)