This prequel memoir follows the life of Belgarath, the first disciple of the God Aldur, spanning seven thousand years of history in the world of the Belgariad. The narrative begins with his abandonment as a village thief and his eventual apprenticeship under a deity to master the Will and the Word. It details the theft of the Orb of Aldur by the god Torak, the cracking of the world, and the long centuries Belgarath spends manipulating bloodlines to prepare for a prophesied confrontation. He chronicles the rise of empires, the construction of the city of Riva, and his personal losses across generations.
Epic fantasy readers read this volume to understand the internal logic and historical backstory of the Rivan Codex. It appeals to those who prefer a first-person, cynical perspective on legendary events rather than a detached mythological tone. The reader gains a comprehensive timeline of the conflict between the West and the Angarak nations. They finish the book with a technical understanding of how sorcery functions in this universe and how the various kingdoms evolved from tribal origins into the political powers seen in the main series.
Practical, outward-looking, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1995
- Language
- EN
