Covenants: A Borderlands Novel

by Lorna Freeman

Book Overview

Rabbit is a trooper on the Border Guards, just another body in the King's army. But when his patrol encounters a Faena-one of the magical guardians of an uneasy ally-Rabbit is thrust into a political and magical intrigue that could start a war. Because Rabbit isn't just another trooper. He is the son of nobility-and a mage who doesn't know his own power...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451459806
• ISBN13: 9780451459800
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Roc
• Length: 548 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

A Splendid Debut!

This fantasy will definitely stay near the top of my list. I am amazed that it is the writer's first book and hope not her last. The plot is unique and exhilarating and the characters absolutely endearing from a trooper all the way to the dark elf lord. Freeman has written a spellbinding tale intermingling humans with the fae and the fantastics effortlessly. There is never a dull moment with both story and characters holding you from page 1 to page 548. Length is definitely not a problem here. Just wish there is more. Told from Rabbit's view, I often found myself laughing out aloud at the happenings around him. Don't get me wrong. Covenants is by no means comical. Far from it. It is just Freeman's marvellous and enlightening writing style. Some reviewers complain about the lack of romance. But it is the very absence of romance, (a common theme which could be boring in a good fantasy-boy meets girl, fall in love and happily ever after), which makes Covenants totally engaging and absorbing. Some complain about the lack of female role but I always like stories concentrating on the brotherhood of men, be them humans or fae, and Covenants has that. Nothing sexual but that's what makes the story great. And of course the protagonist Rabbit is absolutely adorable. I hope to read more of him in the next Borderland novel, which is long overdue. I wish a hard copy is available because this one is for keeps.

One of the most impressive fantasy debuts of recent memory

Covenants is a fascinating, stellar fantasy novel that will have many readers scrambling to find all of Lorna Freeman's previous novels - but there are no previous Lorna Freeman novels. The book reads as if it is the work of a master craftsman in the genre, but Covenants is in fact the author's first published work. This novel is so engaging that I actually read it twice. The action takes place in a world divided into two kingdoms, one human and the other Faena. The Border kingdom is made up of "magical" creatures of all shapes and sizes - dragons, fairies, sprites, elves, and the like. They once called the land of Iversterre home, and they trounced the human army of Iversterre once before in the not too distant past. Mysterious forces at work threaten to bring war to the land once again. Rabbit is a regular soldier in the Royal Army of Iversterre, a self-described farmer's son who left the Border in order to see the world; when we meet him, he and his entire troop are lost, right on the outskirts of their base in Freston. Up in the hills, Rabbit encounters a Fae cat named Laurel, and a meal covenant between the two sets the stage for a grand adventure that takes the reader to the heart of the royal palace in Iversterre and then all the way to Elanwryfindyll, a coastal city deep within the Border kingdom itself. Laurel has come from the Borderlands on a mission of peace, and Rabbit soon finds himself playing a crucial role in preventing another war between Iversterre and the land of his birth. A number of secrets are revealed as Rabbit and his fellow troopers accompany Laurel to Iversterre, including the fact that Rabbit is actually a cousin to King Jusson of Iversterre and family to many of the leading members of the human aristocracy. Rabbit holds an even deeper secret than that, though - one that has everything to do with why he left the Border kingdom in the first place. War appears to be imminent; raiders have plundered the Borderland, killing significant numbers of its sacred residents and turning them into staffs, furniture, armor, and the like. It turns out that significant conspiracies - against both King Jusson of Iversterre and the High Council of the Borderlands - are afoot. The novel takes a number of twists and turns, staying ever fresh, exciting, and unpredictable. Even Rabbit's commanding officers are much more than they seem. The whole novel is in fact filled with all manner of fascinating characters, human as well as "magical," and the complexity of the interpersonal and professional relationships keeps this story zooming along in a highly addictive manner. Things can be confusing a bit early on, especially when Rabbit begins seeing men in their translated (magical) form, but all is made clear when the reader learns just who and what Rabbit actually is. For his part, Rabbit is a remarkably normal, likeable character who wants nothing more than to be an anonymous soldier but is compelled to become a hero by th

Fantastic book - fascinating characters and very funny

Covenants is a terrific book on many levels. The protagonist, Rabbit, is well drawn, likeable and sometimes downright hilarious in regards to the smarmy comments he interjects into various situations -- he reminds me of Miles Vorkosigan or Naga Teot at times. The plot, while somewhat familar in that it follows the journey of a "chosen one" as he grows into his power and responsibilities, is exciting and fast paced. The author avoids infodumping and lets us discover aspects of Iverterre, Turalian & Border culture along with the characters. I dislike books that provide the reader with too much information and the characters with too little, leaving the reader frustrated with the seeming stupidity of the characters. Freeman avoids this pitfall while many other contemporary fantasy authors have not. My favorite part of the novel (along with Rabbit's sense of humor) is the characterization. All too often, fantasy novels feature a cast of thousands among which only a few have any relevance to the story or are discussed in detail. In contrast, every main and supporting character in Covenants comes alive. Even those with "bit parts" are described in such a way that you can picture them clearly and understand their relationship to the story. The people that surround Rabbit have their own lives and stories to tell and don't just exist to move him from point A to B. Indeed, most of the story consists of Rabbit being swept along by other's desires and agendas. However, he never becomes a puppet of other wills and always retains his honor and sense of self. I definitely recomend this book to anyone who enjoys strong characterization, humor and lots of intrigue as well as to those who appreciate a novel that wraps up loose ends by the last page.

AMAZING polish for a FIRST novel.

If I had any Idea how good this was it would have been read as soon as I got my hands on it. I like to try novels from first time authors, and ROC is wise enough to publish them in paperback so you can afford to try books by their new authors. So when I saw this on the shelves I picked it up and put it onto my pile of first time writers to be read when I had finished off some books by favorite authors. And there it sat until last weekend.Once I started I was drawn into the charaters, the world the author has created and the story she has spun and pulled along until I had finished the book. All these parts were so polished that it is still hard to believe that ( as far as I know) this is a first novel. One of the real strengths is that the central character - Rabbit - is surrounded by such interesting/strong characters that it is more as if the story revolves around him than that he is the "hero". So if you are looking for a Fantasy read, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. And know that when the next Borderlands novel comes out ( we are promised the author is working on that), that it will be going straight to the top of my "To Read List".

A brilliant, fast-paced book

Covenants is a wonderful book by a new author - with twists and turns of plot, a glowing backdrop of politics and fantasy, and a likeable, flawed main character with a dozen or more strong secondary characters behind him. This is, I think, one of the best new fantasy novels to be printed in several years. The book was immediately engaging, had a fast, labrynthine plot, and the characters are all incredibly intriguing. This is the kind of book where each new main character seems to deserve an entire novel in his or her own right, and they come together for a story that is unpredictable, enthralling, and gorgeously told. Obviously, I cannot reccomend it enough, or indeed, stop babbling about it.If you are fond of fantasy, you must read this book. If you're not a fan of the fantasy genre, read Covenants anyway and then see if you like fantasy.