What George R.R. Martin’s ‘Game of Thrones’ did for the War of the Roses, Starkston has done for the forgotten Bronze Age Hittite civilization. Mystery, romance, political intrigue, & magic… – Amalia CarosellaA curse that consumes armies, a court full of traitors, a clutch of angry concubines and fantastical creatures who offer help but hate mankind.Tesha’s about to become queen of a … mankind.
Tesha’s about to become queen of a kingdom under assault from all sides, but she has powerful allies: her strategist husband, his crafty second-in-command, and her brilliant blind sister.
Then betrayal strips her of them all. To save her marriage and her world, she will have to grapple with the serpentine plot against her and unleash the goddess Ishana’s uncontrollable magic—without destroying herself.
“Based on historical events in the Bronze Age, Starkston wraps history and magic together in an unforgettable package.”
If you like unique world building, ancient sorcery, and mythical beasts, with richly portrayed characters and enthrallingly complex plots, then immerse yourself in Sorcery in Alpara, the second in this award-winning epic historical fantasy series. See why readers call the Tesha series “fast-paced,” “psychologically riveting” and “not to be missed.”
more
Exotic, fast-paced, and riveting!
The first thing that drew me to Starkston’s books was the fact that they are based in real and little-known history, and that the author is a classicist who knows her Bronze Age well. Maybe that’s why her fictional world, unfamiliar and magic-filled as it is, hangs together so well. It’s consistent, vividly portrayed, and feels exhilaratingly (and sometimes terrifyingly) real. Her heroine, Tesha, is based on a Hittite queen who must have been a remarkable woman – certainly her fictional counterpart is unforgettable and fascinating. In fact, all of Starkston’s characters are fully developed, believable human beings, and that I have to chalk up to her skills as a novelist, even if the underpinnings of the setting and some of the characters are drawn from history.
As an aside, if you happen across this book before you read the first book in the series, don’t let that deter you. Starkston brings the reader up to speed effortlessly in the first couple of chapters. Don’t get me wrong, you will certainly want to go back and read the first one once you’ve finished this one, but have no fears about starting here if that’s how it works out for you.
Tesha and her new husband Hattu are dropped in the thick of things before they even finish their trip from her home, where they met, back to the city where he rules. A terrifying magical onslaught immobilizes their accompanying army, and Tesha must use all of her own magical, priestess-learned talents to oppose it. In the process a subplot spins off, involving her beloved blind sister and Hattu’s dearest friend and right-hand man, and the reader follows the two plots in alternation for much of the book. This has the result of heightening tension in both stories (and there is plenty of tension to go around!).
I particularly enjoyed the way Tesha’s clever sister Daniti uses the talents and skills that she has developed to compensate for her lack of sight. Starkston makes her a credible and sympathetic character, someone the reader both admires and is concerned for (and not without reason – formidable forces are aligned against both sisters).
In good fantasy, magic must carry a cost, and Starkston delivers. We see and feel what the use of powerful magic does to Tesha, and it is abundantly clear that this is not a fix-everything talent that she can just pull out and use whenever things get a little difficult. Each expenditure of magic takes its toll, and makes it less certain that she can muster what it takes to do it again, if needed. And it keeps being needed. The reader will question, along with Tesha, who can be trusted, who speaks the truth, who is trying to manipulate Tesha and Hattu and drive a wedge between them. Adding to all of this is the problem that magic is controversial in this world, and Tesha’s use of magic, while essential to her own survival and that of those she loves, in itself poses a serious danger to her.
Recommended for lovers of both history and fantasy, and for anyone who loves an exciting and satisfying story of courage, loyalty, love, and adventure. I’m eager for the next one in the series!
Grand epic fantasy
Starkston pens a grand story in Sorcery in Alpara. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. The characters were real, and fit the genre, and story. This author brings the story to life. The characters had a lot of depth, and were very realistic. Curses and traitors, and wonderful sorcery behind every corner, along with the twists that enter the life of Tesha. I like this character, strong and powerful. Who could ask for more, when it’s filled with magical/fantastical creatures and other interesting beings. This story was intriguing and kept the reader guessing. If you like fantasy stories, enter Tesha’s life. This author has a great imagination and I’m glad it’s being shared with stories. It is a very well-written story, and I enjoyed it. It is always a joy to read this author’s stories. Sorcery in Alpara is a definite recommendation by Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.
A startling sequel, Sorcery in Alpara, is one intense tale. Tesha, in a series of events becomes an outcast even in the eyes of Hattu. Time and again, situations are twisted to make her situation worse. Powerful magic, sorcery, and a coterie of people who want to see her fall make this story a joy to read. Time and again, I would wonder how much Tesha could take. Masterful characters, a multi-faceted plot that keeps the reader in suspense…a good read indeed. 4
Starkston has done it again. Her masterful touch with elements of fantasy, romance, history, and mystery create a layered narrative that draws you in from the first page and keeps you engrossed until the very last word.