After learning of her fate from the Multitude, Liza is taken from her husband, Prince Conar McGregor, by his jealous twin brother Galen. Conar and the forces of six kingdoms attempt to rescue her from Norus Keep, but Galen has called upon Raphian, the Storm God, to bring Conar back to the Domination. During the siege upon the keep, Liza and Galen disappear. Conar is determined to follow her and demands that he go alone, to the priest Kaileel Tohre, one of the many who had molested him as a child during his studies as a youth, to pay the price that he will be demanded of him.
Liza is returned to her home while Conar fulfills his half of the bargain. While recovering, Liza finds it difficult to use her magic to determine what is happening with her husband, but there are those who do know and are willing to help find him. Sentian, Liza's chosen guardian and friend to Conar, goes with two others to retrieve the Prince from the Domination, using Galen to help them reach the place of his captivity. Conar escapes his captivity but not the power that has been awakened in him and the consequences of his decision.
The story moves along quickly, though since "The Windseeker" is part of a greater story arc, being the second book of nine, it is hard to pinpoint the ultimate end. It is also imperative that the reader know the content of the first novel to ground the characters and their history; the past simply seems too vague. Conar has a detailed history. Liza seems too passive for the words she speaks and the fierceness she appears to feel. The large number of characters makes it difficult to keep track at times.
While omniscience is the obvious choice for the point of view, constantly shifting between characters was sometimes frustrating. The history of the world was confusing at best without having read the preceding novel. The content of "The Windseeker" was sometimes disturbing, including sexual violence, but it was handled in a suitable manner. The pace of the story was consistent throughout, never once resting enough to make a reader want to stop, with good attention to details of place and person. Overall, Charlotte Boyett-Compo weaves an engaging, but very dark, fantasy tale.
--J. Anne Mauck-- Inscriptions Magazine
Inscriptions Magazine (Vol. 4 Issue 30)
ISSN: 1522-3728