Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Now for a little fantasy!

Thirteen Orphans by Jane Lindskold
This is a new fantasy series by the author of "Through Wolf's Eyes". I wanted to read it for its Oriental flavor. The story is good but I agree with the reviewer who said that there is "too much information" - especially about mah-jong. I didn't want to know quite so much about the game and it bogged down the narration. Brenda Morris is a 19-year-old college student who has come to California with her father to meet with a family friend but instead finds herself learning more about her heritage and that of her father and his friends. They are ancestors of those who came from the Lands Born from Smoke and Sacrifice, the place formed from lost knowledge and lore from Imperial China. The Thirteen Orphans have concealed their magic in the game of mah-jong and they have taken the characteristics of the Chinese zodiac - for instance, Rat, Dog, Tiger, etc. Brenda learns that her father is the Rat and she is the one to inherit his abilities. In the process of warning other of a new danger, Brenda's father is attacked and loses his memories of his magical abilities. Brenda has some but not all. Fortunately, Pearl Bright, an older woman, who is the Tiger, is there to lead the remaining four in their quest to solve the problem of Brenda's father and the others whose memories are missing. The story is very good, except for the too long passages dealing with mah jong. It drags down the action but I suppose is necessary for the back story. Maybe the next book in the series will flow better.

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