Tracy & Laura Hickman, Mystic Warrior

Mystic Warrior

Tracy & Laura Hickman

Aspect, April 2004, $24.95

ISBN 0446531057

Three different worlds exist in different dimensions but what happens in one world affects the other two.

In the world of humans and dwarves, the seven dragons rule. An annual festival is held in which those that are mad or have Deep Magic are taken away from their homes never to be seen again. Galen Arnold hears inanimate objects talk and visits other realms in his dreams and he is caught by the Inquisitor and brought to a central location where others like him are trained to fight in a war that the general populace doesn't know exists.

The Titans once ruled another world but all that is left is machines that don't work and books that are used for burning. The goblins want to fix these machines but the only one who has an affinity for them is Mimic who rises to power.

Queen Tatayna's world of faery is besieged on two fronts. In the north the centaurs and satyrs struggle to take control; while Lord Pheor in the south plans to overthrow her highness and marry her daughter to become the ruler. The faery seeker Dwynwym struggles to find a truth that will save her homeland.

Galen's Deep Magic has the power to influence events in the other worlds and is strong enough if he learns to use it properly to change his own.

Tracy and Laura Hickman have created fantasy worlds that exist on separate planes but impact each other. Just how deep they interact will be explained in further installments of The Bronze Canticles. Each world is different and fascinating with characters created specifically for that realm. Readers will care about several protagonists, hoping they survive their trials and tribulations. The Hickmans deserve an award for originality and creativity.