Set in a Mediterranean-inspired peninsula called the Palm, the narrative centers on a group of rebels attempting to overthrow two rival sorcerer-kings, Brandin of Ygrath and Alberico of Barbentain. The central conflict stems from Brandin’s magical erasure of the name and history of the province of Tigana as punishment for the death of his son. Only those born in the province before its fall can hear its name; to all others, it logicially does not exist. The protagonist, Alessan, leads a band of musicians and survivors who use espionage and political manipulation to restore their cultural identity.
Readers of historical fantasy and political drama value this book for its focus on the psychological cost of resistance and the fragility of collective memory. It appeals to those interested in the morality of revenge and the burden of preserving a heritage that the world has been forced to forget. A reader finishes the story with a clear understanding of how language shapes reality and how the loss of a name can effectively annihilate a civilization’s past.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1990
- Language
- EN
