Author: Card has written many novels -- mostly fantasy and science fiction. He has a few historical fiction and poetry as well. He was originally born in Washington and grew up in California, Utah and Arizona. He also served a mission for the LDS church in Brazil in the early 1970s. He writes, teaches classes and workshops and also directs plays. He recently began a longterm teaching job in Virginia and resides with his wife and youngest daughter in Greensboro, NC.
Synopsis: In Card's world, the gods once traveled freely between Westil and Earth. Westil strengthened their powers and if they were too long on earth then their powers weekend. 1300 years before the book takes place was a gate mage named Loki. The gates are what allowed the gods to travel where they wanted including to and from Westil. Loki stole all the gates, leaving some gods in Westil and some stranded on earth. The ones on earth had very weak power and were determined to murder any gate mages that were ever born. Wad and Danny are both gate mages in different worlds or times -- it was unclear until the end of the book. They were both gate mages who had to hide their powers for fear of being discovered and murdered. This is a coming of age story for Danny as he discovers who he is and what he wants to become. As for Wad, he must try to remember who he is and figure out who he can trust and who is truly his enemy.
Review: Orson Scott Card's world was easy to follow. With all the magics and worlds I was a little worried that I would be confused but I was not. I was engaged in it the entire time, excited to see what would happen. Danny disappointed me in some of his choices but I think it was important to see his struggles so the reader could realize how difficult it is for a gate mage and why they were considered so powerful and feared by other mages. When Danny and Eric were together there was a bit more profanity in it than I was comfortable with and some crude humor. The story was great and in the last few chapters the stories of Wad and Danny are finally intertwined and the reader discovers why both were followed throughout the book. It was a fun read!
Rating: **** Four Stars
