Revelation - Carol Berg

Having really enjoyed "Transformation", the first in the Rai-Kirah series, I had very high hopes for "Revelation" and I'm glad to say that for the most part it lived up to my expectations.

"Revelation" is set a year or so after the events in the first book. Seyonne, having regained his homeland and his wife, now finds himself fighting not only the ever present demons but also his people's dogmatic traditions. When Seyonne awakes one morning to find his pregnant wife without child and a conspiracy of silence surrounding what happened to it he is forced to question everything he has been taught since birth. The theme of Seyonne questioning the rigid traditionalism of the Ezzarians was explored somewhat in Transformation (reviewed here) but is done in much greater depth here. The title "Revelation" is particularly apt as this book is loaded with surprises. Pretty much everything we thought we knew from the first book is flipped on it's head, particularly regarding demons and the rai-kirah prophecy and it makes for compulsive reading.

One of the few flaws with this book is the absence of Aleksander, who only appears for a few chapters throughout the entire novel. The Derzhi prince is one of the most interesting characters I've ever read and the relationship that develops between him and Seyonne is the highlight of the series. However while Aleksander is mostly absent we are treated to a few interesting new characters such as Blaise and Balthir. The character of Fiona in particular was a joy to read and I look forward to seeing how her character develops in the final volume.

I should mention that the novel also has some issues with pacing. The opening and closing chapters zip along at a fairly good, brisk pace while those in the demon world (about a third of the book, maybe more) seem to drag a little. This is a minor issue however and barely detracts from the enjoyment of this superbly written, incredibly enjoyable novel. Carol Berg has proven in this series that she has a natural flare for good characters and rich storytelling. Hopefully her other novels can live up to the high standards she has set here.

Final Verdict: 8/10.