David B. Coe, The Sorcerers' Plague

The Sorcerers' Plague

David B. Coe

Tor, December 2007, $25.95

ISBN: 9780765316387

The Southlands are populated by three groups who distrust one another. The Oirsi practice a life stealing magic; the Mettai use blood mixed with the earth to cast spells; and the Eandi do not use any form of magic. Over six decades ago a deadly enigmatic plague destroyed the Mettai village of Sentaya, killing everyone except a child Lici. No one seemed to know the cause, but because the disease was mysterious and life stealing, the Mettai assume the Oirsi wielded a magical epidemic.

Sixty-four years later the same plague strikes again at Kirayde, the village where Lici resides. Meanwhile Lici vows vengeance against those who caused the endemic disaster years before, using blood earth magic to attack the Oirsi, even as she vanishes. However, elder Besh, from her adopted village begins to fathom a pattern that every place Lici visits the disease follows. He fears she is abusing blood earth magic, but wonders who she is to be able to do this.

Book one of the Blood of the Southlands trilogy is set in the same captivating world as the Winds of the Forelands saga takes place. In fact, some characters from the latter appear in the former. Readers will enjoy the cast as David B. Coe examines racism caused by ignorance of the other tribes, as much as by the acceptable form and use of magic. Fans of the author will rejoice at this strong return to the Coe realm.