Resenting The Hero
Source and Shield book one
by Moira J Moore
At some unspecified time in the future, humans leave Earth for another planet. The planet
looks just fine, but the settlers soon discover that it is wracked by natural disasters
constantly. In order to keep it habitable, pairs of Source and Shield deflect the powers
of nature and thus, are not only essential, but revered and envied. Or, rather, the
flamboyant Sources are envied, while the Shields do the boring work and are kept in the
background. This situation suits young Dunleavy Mallorough, and she hopes that her pairing
will be with some quiet, unremarkable Source. Unfortunately, she ends up with the showy,
legendary and drop-dead gorgeous Lord Shintaro Karish, younger son of a Duke and a living
legend for his remarkable powers both as a Source and in bed. They are sent to the high
risk area of High Scape, but soon both find themselves embroiled in intrigues beyond their
wildest dreams.
Now read on! This is the sort of book that reminds me of how much I like fantasy.
The author manages to pack a satisfying story, enough description, and some interesting
characters into less than 300 pages, a rare feat in this wordy genre. Dunleavy tells the
story in her own words, and it is easy to sympathize with her, which makes her a fine
choice for narrator. This is a well-realized world, with the hoary but highly effective
setup of being a planet populated by the descendants of humans, thus explaining the names
and eliminating a need for other races a la Pern. The author can get on with the story
rather than too much world-building, and it is an enjoyable tale that swept me along with
it. It is also a story that looks into the joys and woes of having to get along with people,
relationships, and prejudices, as well as the ethics of doing the right things for the
wrong reasons. I will be looking out for book two, The Hero Strikes Back, later
in 2006. |
The Reviewer |
Rachel A Hyde |
Reviewed 2006 |
NOTE: |
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