A Secret Atlas

Book One of “The Age of Discovery” series

by Michael A. Stackpole

$6.99, Bantam Spectra, 604 pp

The first thing I noticed about this book is that it has a flavor of the European age of discovery but with an overlay of oriental influence. I found the magic and the people’s attitudes about it truly believable. There were several different viewpoints and each has its own story line. The story is fast paced and draws you in.

The world was destroyed by war several centuries back. The Empress Cyrsa took her armies to meet the enemy in Ixyll so that the release of magics from the battle would not destroy the world. Before leaving she divided the known world into nine princedoms to prevent anyone else from becoming emperor before her return. Unfortunately the release of magics was enough to cause years of no sun and a time of black ice.

The main story line follows a family of cartographers as they prepare to send out two expeditions, one to explore the Eastern sea, the other to seek out the lost spice route through Ixyll.

Jorim’s expedition on the Stormwolf through the Eastern sea is reminiscent of Columbus’ voyage to the new world. They are searching for an alternate route for the spice trade, and looking to explore any new lands they come across.

Keles’ trip to rediscover the way through Ixyll reads more like typical fantasy, with wild magic, combat, attacks from agents of another prince, and even a love story.

The magic has rules and anyone can use it provided they can become perfect at their craft. I spent the days between the release of this volume and the release of the next (30 days) being impatient and checking the mail daily.

Buy this book, but wait for the third volume to read it else you will go through extreme withdrawal symptoms. - Bob LaPierre