'~WoNdErFuL 2 ThOuSaNd 6..

Saturday, April 23, 2005
23rd april aka World Book Day..

So on a world book day...
What else would be more important than to celebrate reading, authors..share opinions on the play, novels u have just watched/read..?
So here forth, I present to u the review of the black magician trilogy..

Sonea is a girl, a slum dweller who was living with her aunt and uncle since her mother's death and her father disappearance. Today, she was sent to the north quarters to find a residing area as they had just been evicted from their home. She met her 'thieves' friends who had gathered for the yearly Purge. They were throwing stones at the guards and magicians. But their stones fell when they hit an invisible shield created by the magicians. Sonea was given stones to throw at the magicians. She threw the stone and as expected, it hit the barrier and fell off. But her second throw, she focused on her feelings of hatred for the magicians' guild and the king and all the injustice that has been done to her and her family onto the stone and released it from her hand n willed it to hit the barrier. But to her amazement and shock, it passed through the barrier and hit the magician's temple, knocking him out. Chaos ensued, and in the confusion, a boy near her was charred by the numerous strikes from the magicians. She was horrified by the ordeal, and her friends who found her quickly let her to an escape route.

She had hidden herself from the magicians and secretly tried out her skills under the encouragement of her friends. But she soon lost control and was on the verge of destroying herself and part of the city when the magicians found her and teach her CONTROL of her powers. She was captured and taught control. But there's a trial when she's ready, to agree whether to bind her powers or let her be a trained magician. She was blackmailed by one of the magician to agree to his terms. But before the trial ends, her friend, Cery, was released from being hostage. Seeing her friend's safety, she went on to tell the truth and consented to a truth read by the administrator of the university, Lord Lorlen. Through the process of truth-reading Sonea's mind, he saw his friend, Akkarin aka High Lord, performing black magic in an underground room. Surprised, shocked and angered by what he saw, he also felt for the safety of Sonea if she leaves the compounds of the guild. So he urged her to keep what she saw a secret and remain in the guild for her safety. He also told her to reveal this information to Lord Rothen, her Guardian who will take care of her well-being in the university.

Then, the summer intake swearing ceremony is going to begin. She and several of the summer intakes of novices were to agree upon abiding the rules/laws of being a magician. Lessons started the next day after the ceremony. But she had gained the disapproval of a boy in her class. His name is Regin. He seems keen on making her the butt of his jokes, and collaborating with his classmates to make fun of her. She knew she wouldn't be well-liked, but she did not expect them to ridicule her. She had thought they would leave her alone. Well, gaining the dislike of her present classmates, she requested to be upgraded to the winter intake class. She had to finish the half year class within three months and pass a mid-yr test. Thereafter, she had to catch up with the winter class covered topics. It was surely hard-work but she was determined to do it, and she had amazingly succeeded. But Regin was not determined to let her off. He was soon in the same winter intake class as he had followed what Sonea did.

The winter intake classmates were more serious in their work and hangs on in pairs. She had gained one friend, Poril. He was poorer in his studies. Thus, he was retained in the winter class. But Regin was not gonna let Sonea off so easily. He threatens Poril not to talk to Sonea anymore. Feeling a stab of hurt, and anger, she suffered in silence. Meanwhile, Regin was still gathering people to attack her on her way back to the novice quarters. Things took for a change for the worse when Akkarin found out that his secret is let out of the bag, and took Sonea as his apprentice by force. In doing so, Lord Rothen, Administrator Lorlen and Sonea would keep to themselves the deadly secret. By things do not change for Sonea, Regin and his gang still gathered to set traps for her. But each time, she would lose to them. They would abuse her physically. Until she couldn't take it anymore, she requested to fight Regin in a formal battle. The battle was won by Sonea. And thereafter, Regin did not lay anymore attacks for her. But there is still one thing that feared her.

Days seemed to be for the better as Sonea won the formal battle against Regin. She has gained quite a few classmates ever since she was the High Lord’s favourite who won the formal battle. Regin has not been laying traps for her, and admitting his defeat. But Sonea still had a bigger worry in mind. Series of deaths related to the use of black magic has surfaced to terrorise the city. Sonea was let in on the black magic secret by Akkarin himself. Learning of his past, she suddenly felt how much pain he has suffered. She doubted his practise of the black magic in the past but now that he has shown her evidence of slaves of Ichani, she believes in him. She is also in awe in his ability to fend off the black magicians over the years, keeping the city safe from Ichani. But recently, more slaves of Ichani has entered the city and started to kill the innocent, drawing their magical powers to enhance their own. Akkarin is getting weaker each day after the fight. Sonea knew she had to do something, she had to help. Much as Akkarin was unwilling to teach her black magic, she was also unwilling to learn it. But for the sake of protecting her country, she felt it is necessary to learn it in case Akkarin was no longer able to defeat them, she could still help. But soon the guild knew of their black magic practises. They hold a trial and sentenced them the exile to the Sachaka, the land of Ichani. Despite hearing their stories, the king foolishly passes the sentence without verifying the truth first.

They finally knew the truth a tad too late. Sonea and Akkarin were already in Sachaka. The stories they had heard from Akkarin and Sonea about the Ichani was real. They tried in vain to contact Akkarin and Sonea. But Sonea and Akkarin was coming back to help their country. Taking a round about, they pass through the South pass and was heading back when they met with a Ichani. They managed to kill the Ichani with their combined effort and Lord Rothen’s son, Dorrien. Knowing that they were telling the truth, Dorrien sent them back to the city with the help of his villagers. They arrived but the city was going to turn into wreckage. Their arrival was timely. The Ichani did not know of their arrival. So they could lure them out one by one and kill them. The battle between Ichani and magicians of the guild has started. And the magicians lost the battle bitterly. When the battle is finally over, thanks to Akkarin and Sonea, the city was in a bad form. Houses were demolished by magic. After the battle was won, a lot of the positions in the Guild is reshuffled. Sonea, though not a magician yet, has gained the term Black Magician. The Yearly Purge has been admonished by the king and a hospital was build to provide healing services to the dwellers, once exclusive to the rich only. And Sonea is expecting the child of Akkarin in her womb.

Comment: This trilogy has several subplots and though at the beginning it may seem boring, the story was filled with vivid details to enrich the imagination. Many a times, you would take pity in the heroine, Sonea, or even share her joys, sorrow and congratulate her for her strong determination to keep on going. She never let anyone down. It reveals its major plot in the third book, but you would find that you want to keep on reading to find out the ending. The numerous subplots in the trilogy were interesting. It is definitely one trilogy that would keep you in mystery till the very end. Fascinating.

=WiN=

WiNter's FirsT Snowflake.. @ 11:07:00 AM