Its been so long since I've read a straight fantasy that I've almost forgotten what its like. Don't get me wrong I love my urban fantasies, my romance fantasies...but I miss my straight ones. Glenda Larke is a favorite of mine from her 'Isles of Glory' books (of which I still haven't read book 3...), I'd even put her on par with my enjoyment of the Mistborn books or Tredana books honestly.

Stormlord starts out rather bleakly. Terelle has a dark future ahead of her as a handmaiden in Madame Opal's snuggery. As a handmaiden she's basically little better then a Geisha--she is company for men, sings, dances, plays musical instruments--but with the added duty of being a pleasing companion in bed as well. Mind you she's only 12 years old, her father sold her into this life and her older half-sister Vivie keeps telling her to suck it up and go with the flow.

From there we head to where Nealrith, son of Granlon (a cloudmaster, ie: very important guy), is visiting the water cisterns with Kaneth, his friend. Things are bad, the water levels being no where near where they should be. The solutions presented by Kaneth are both impossible and morally black, but the options are few. Is it better to be rid of a great many to save a few or should they all perish the same, slow, death?

There is a number of different intrigues going on--politically, personally and wide spread. Its not just that the water shortage problem is just now occurring, the problem is that its happening when there hasn't been enough Stormlords. In the last decades only a handful or so of potentials have been born and through disease, death and inability none of them are suitable for the position.

As one should expect from Larke's writing the narrative is lush with details. The layers of society are pretty simple to understand, but the world itself is more complex. From the religion (there is the Sunlord and the Raingiver--both practical given the world and concerns) to the social hierarchy (the more water sensitive you are, the better off you will be) Larke weaves an intricate net of survival.

I found myself liking Kaneth and Ryka despite some of my earlier misgivings. Kaneth is something of a playboy, until recently not prone to overthinking matters or worrying over the future. Current situations being what they are he's beginning to take a more active stance. Is it too late however? Ryka is a bookish woman with a slightly bitter attitude towards men (and Kaneth in general) and marriage. She is however someone you want beside you, she is intelligent, quick-witted and thinks on her feet. She's fiery as well, but that can sometimes be to her detriment.

I am, of course, impatient to read the next volume. With the North American release not until March 2010 (cry with me) and the subsequent volumes not being released until March and September 2010 in Australia, it feels like a loooong wait.

I will say this, I like the Australian cover much more then the US one. I think it fits better. The US/Orbit cover looks kind of like Gail Z. Martin's Necromancer cover and I don't think green is the best color to have. ( )

This story has great worldbuilding. It is set in a land where there is no natural rain, but various characters can control water to varying degrees Character development is so-so. Some characters are developed, but others are mostly cliches The book ends on a cliffhanger (ugh), but I am curious as to what happens, so maybe someday I will read the rest of the series. ( )

3.5 stars

Water is indeed the element at the core of this book: the Quartern, the hot and arid part of the world where the story unfolds, suffers from a chronic lack of water that is supplied only through the action of stormlords, who are able to gather water vapor from the sea and channel it into rains that are stored in vast cisterns. When the novel starts, only one stormlord survives and he’s old and ailing, aware that the rainlords’ lesser ability to manipulate water will not be enough to ensure survival, even with enforced rationing or the extreme measure of condemning part of the populace to die of thirst so that the rest can go on.


FULL REVIEW AT SPACE AND SORCERY BLOG ( )

You know it's a good book when your brain space after reading it is still filled with the images of the world inside the book and the faces of the characters you come to love and hate.

This is a great fantasy yarn with some typical fantasy elements, an interesting premise, great characters & world building. I breezed through this book and usually that indicates how good the story telling is for me. Some really great characters & relationships in this too.

Jumped straight to Book #2 after this one...

Addendum: The main form of transport in this book is what sounds like giant centipedes... and honestly that is just all kinds of nasty for me! Giant centipedes. SHUDDER. But after reading this, yeah(!), giant pedes! Why not! Any book that can make me say yes(!) to giant pedes is... wow. Haha. Although I would probably still go batsh!t crazy on encountering a real centipede. =_=
( )

A fantastic book with a unique and intriguing magic system. I personally love books that follow several different characters throughout the story. Allowing the reader to see several different aspects of the conflicts, areas, or people creates a suspenseful experience - as you wait and anticipate the characters crossing paths or influencing each other.

Strong characters, an intricate plot with schemes and twists, a deadly yet beautiful world, and an absolutely fascinating culture made this book a joy to read.

I'm definitely putting this on my 'favourites' list as I had such a great time immersing myself in this world. ( )