Transforms from depressing to inspiring, eventually

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	• Transformation (Rai-Kirah) Carol Berg Orbit, 2001 - 506 pages average customer review:based on 80 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Transforms from depressing to inspiring, eventually

The author of this book sure does know how to write; I really like her style. She's clever and insightful. Unfortunately, though, in spite of that, I had grave reservations about this book whilst reading its first half, which was dark and depressing, full of absolutely horrific slavery and brutality that went on and on, chapter after chapter, repeated over and over. I know the writer had to show the reader just how awful the main character's existence was, living as a slave, but I think there really was too much of it to make for easy reading. By halfway through the book, I almost didn't want to go on reading it.

The second half of the book, however, was much better -- powerful, uplifting, engaging stuff, fast paced and interesting, with characters who were the kind of people I could really empathise with and care about, doing laudable things at last. There were changes of scenery too, as the characters finally moved out of the stagnant, depressing fortress into more interesting climes. My faith in the book was redeemed, and I ended it feeling glad that I had read it after all.

If you are planning to read this book, I urge you, stick with it till the end...it gets better the further you go along.

By the way, is it just me who is concerned by some of the other reviewers here, the ones who said they loved the first half of the book but not the second half? Those people must be huge fans of brutality, torture and humiliation! Ugh!

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Fast paced start to the Trilogy

The beginning of this book jumps right into the action, and you will find that the book goes by very quickly. It is a very promising start to this trilogy, even after having read Berg's successful series The Bridge of D'Arnath. There are new concepts that are enhanced by detailed characters that really bring this story to life.

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A slave's dilemma

Seyonne has been a slave for sixteen years, half his life, since his people were defeated by the Derzhi. He has had several masters, some worse and more brutal than others, but know he has come onto the hands of Crown Prince Aleksander, heir to the Derzhi ruled Empire, an impetuous and powerful warrior. Seyonne is literate, and so is employed directly by Aleksander as his scribe, but this does not excuse him the other menial and burdensome tasks assigned to slaves, nor does it mean he escapes Aleksander's wroth.
Seyonne, an Ezzarian with special magical powers now taken from him by his captors, gets through his hardships by living each moment as it comes, with no thought for either past or future. But when he alone discerns an evil threat in the form of the Kehlids, the nation the Empire is negotiating with for an alliance, he finds himself in a dilemma. Should he warn the Prince, with possible risk to his own life or limb for presumptuously speaking up, or should he keep quiet; even though the consequences of ignoring the threat are far reaching, beyond even the Empire.
Seyonne, despite his degradation, is a bold, courageous and principled man; by contrast Aleksander is a selfish and arrogant warrior. As the plot unfolds an unusual relationship develops between the two men, and Seyonne finds himself playing the key role that will determine the fate of the Empire.
An enthralling tale with a complex plot and interesting, even appealing characters, but perhaps the most captivating aspect of the story is the relationship between the two men, lowly slave and powerful master. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

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tale of 2 books

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. It was a fresh take on fantasy, especially considering the main character was a slave. There wasn't alot of your typical fantasy with magic and battles as well as heroes that never seem to die. The characterizations were done well and the dialogue between the 2 main characters as well as watching their relationship grow really kept my interest.

And then the book changed...

Nearly at the midway point the story kicks into your typical fantasy fare. I won't reveal much, but you get a very predictable plot line that follows along the fantasy guidelines to where you can pretty much predict what is upcoming.

This was disappointing. I really liked the direction the story started and got through that in just a few days, but found it hard to read the 2nd half and to maintain my interest.

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You should be reading the book, not my review

"Transformation" is one of my favorite books of all time, and has a very fitting title. It describes the transformations of both a haughty Prince of an empire and his slave Seyonne. What I love best about this author is that her novels feel as though she is telling us the character's story, as opposed to some of the authors out there today that feel like glorified typists. Everything about them feels very real and natural, and it is easy to fall into the world she's created.

While there are villains in this story, there are also shades of gray, and human nature is brilliantly depicted. No one is flawless, and sometimes the heroes even make mistakes. Aleksander and Seyonne are both interesting, three-dimensional characters and I felt like I experienced both of their journeys alongside them.

I love the details she uses, including physical racial differences in the people populating the world and the differences in their lands. The system of magic is interesting and well thought out. I liked that the Ezzarians are ruled by a woman, because it is done subtly, instead of some other novels that shove feminist agendas down the reader's throat.

"Transformation" breaks so many molds of fantasy books, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Seyonne is a man waiting to die. He has been a slave for sixteen years, almost half his life, and has lost everything of meaning to him: his dignity, the people and homeland he loves, and the Warden's power he used to defend an unsuspecting world from the ravages of demons. Seyonne has made peace with his fate. With strict self-discipline he forces himself to exist only in the present moment and to avoid the pain of hope or caring about anyone. But from the moment he is sold to the arrogant, careless Prince Aleksander, the heir to the Derzhi Empire, Seyonne's uneasy peace begins to crumble. And when he discovers a demon lurking in the Derzhi court, he must find hope and strength in a most unlikely place...

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