Janny Wurts' Wars of Light and Shadow

[TheBeerPatriot]

This series went out of print for awhile, and is just now being reprinted in the US.  It's comprised of five (planned) story arcs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wars_of_Light_and_Shadow), with the fourth story arc being released next.

 

I tried the first two books in the series, Curse of the Mistwraith and Ships of Merior.  While I appreciate how much work that Wurts has put into developing the landscape and the backhistory of the series, I simply could not get into the story.  I think part of the problem is that the main concept (brothers cursed with enmity for the other) eventually runs out of room and further development as the series goes on.  I think the Elaira character was interesting, but could not find any of the other characters compelling.

 

I was wondering if anyone else on here had come across this series, and what they thought of it.  It's certainly an ambitious series, but one that simply hasn't caught my interest.  Thoughts?

[Werthead]

Wurts is a bad over-writer. She doesn't use one word when seventeen would do instead, and her prose is a bit like wading through treacle. When she's writing more concisely, such as with her one-off book THE MASTER OF WHITESTORM, which is very good, she's a lot better. Her EMPIRE TRILOGY co-written with Raymond E. Feist is also excellent.

 

THE WARS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW has certainly proven too much for a lot of readers. Her first American publishers dropped the series due to low sales and her second publishers went bust, leaving the books only being published in the UK, where they are a decent sellers but nothing exceptional. Interesting to see if another US publisher tries picking the series up and giving it another shot.

[Sirayn]

Had a crack at it, but failed to get past the purpleness of the writing.

[The Fisher King]

Had a crack at it, but failed to get past the purpleness of the writing.

 

Expound please.

 

(Ive tried the first book many times and just found it so difficult to get into.)

 

 

Fish

[Sirayn]

Had a crack at it, but failed to get past the purpleness of the writing.

 

Expound please.

 

There's nothing to expound on. I tried to read it but it was too overwritten for me.

[The Fisher King]

Oh!!! Thanks!

 

I had never heard that expression before, thats all - so ''purpleness of writing'' means its been overwritten?

 

Good to learn! And in the case of that Wurts Shadow/Light Book - I Agree Completely.

 

 

Fish