The Light of Eidon

by Karen Hancock

Book Overview

Book 1 of Legends of the Guardian King which follows the life of Abramm Kalladorne in his turbulent search for truth and self--a search that will transform him from a sickly, head-in-the-clouds youth to a legendary hero of strength and courage. Set in a world of swords and cloaks, of glittering palaces and mystical temples, of galley ships and ancient, mist-bound cities, his journey illustrates how God pursues and how He uses suffering to mold His...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764227947
• ISBN13: 9780764227943
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Christian fiction meets fantasy of the highest order

Karen Hancock is the real deal. I haven't been this excited about a relatively new author in a long time. Her debut novel, Arena, was fantastic, a stunning merger of science fiction and Christian fiction. Now, with her second book, she begins a fantasy series dubbed Legends of the Guardian-King, a storyline pitting good against evil in an otherworldly mediaeval setting. There is an element of sword and sorcery here, and I could not help but wonder just how effectively the author of Arena would deal with the grim realities of battle and bloodshed and mine the depths of evil in the hearts of men. Well, Hancock nails it - it's as simple as that. The Light of Eidon is just exquisitely rendered fantasy that keeps you turning the pages deep into the night. It's dark, grim, sometimes bloody, but ultimately imbued with an essential spirituality that places it on a far different plane than run-of-the-mill fantasy. Hancock is a master of characterization, really taking us inside the hearts and souls of the novel's central characters and surrounding them with fascinating individuals who manage to surprise us no matter how well we think we know them. Good and evil exist on two planes, the external and the internal, and that gives this story great depth. On the face of it, this might look like one in a long line of fantasy plots - the young prince who repudiates his birthright, finds himself betrayed and sold into slavery, then fights to gain his freedom and inspire his people in the process. The framework is familiar, but the story Hancock tells goes far beyond the familiar and mundane. For eight years, Abramm Kalladorne, the fifth son of the king of Kiriath, has dedicated himself to the service of his god Eidon. Just as he is preparing to finally take the solemn vows of his order, however, his life is turned upside down. The years of seclusion leave him unprepared to deal with the excitement that greets his appearance in the capital - or the fact that the suspicious deaths of his father and several brothers have left him a heartbeat away from the throne. Having yet to feel the touch of the flames of Eidon, he is worried enough about being found unworthy during the upcoming ceremony, but he is soon torn apart by complications of political intrigue. His own brother the king is a Terstan, having adopted a religion that is anathema to Abramm; the Terstans believe that their god is accessible to all, which goes against everything Abramm has been taught. Soon, though, he begins to question everything he knows, everything he spent eight years learning, as he hears speculation that his holy mentor is only using him to attain secular power over Kiriath itself. Emotional turmoil envelops Abramm's soul, and even he can no longer set aside his doubts after he is betrayed and sold as a slave to the men of the southern lands. Abramm had never shown any skill with a weapon in his childhood, and he had devoted the last eight years of his life to a purs

Amazing

I was unable to put this book down. The writing style is completely flawless, and the character development was some of the best I've ever seen. It tells the story of Abramm Kalladorne, a Kiriathan prince who gave it all up years ago to join the strict religious group of the Mataio. When his religious mentor betrays him and he is sold into slavery by his own brothers, he is at loss for who to turn to. Does Eidon care about him anymore? And does his friend Trap Meridon, a Terstan, hold the right beliefs? This book is dark, powerful, and strangely beautiful. I've read it four times and every time I read it something new pops out at me, every time I feel the same tingle go down my spine and the heart-clenching emotion and see the vivid imagery. It is the story of how a weak, sickly youth becomes a legend and hero...and the best book I've ever read. Highly recommended.

Fantastic Fantasy

I often skim read a book to find out how it ends, and then if I am interested read the book through at my leisure. I could not do that with this book. Every chapter was fascinating and held my interest to the point that I did not want to skim read ahead to see how the story was going to end.The story itself is a fascinating allegory that can best be described as a cross between the Arabian Nights and C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. The hero of the story, Abramm finds his destiny by a series of betrayals, each of which takes him further away from the life he has chosen for himself. In his struggle to stay alive he discovers a strength within himself that he did not know existed. At the climax of the book Abramm discovers that his strength is also his greatest weakness, because it blinds him to his need to submit to a greater power. The book is full of unexpected twists and turns in the plot, which mirror the realities of life. "For who knows what a day will bring forth."When I read this book to my children at bedtime, I expect every night to hear, "Read one more chapter Daddy, just one more."

Worth 6 Stars!

What can I say:1. One of those rare books that held my attention to point of not wanting to put it down.2. An uplifting book in that her Christian perspective fills the book with allegory and symbolism, making you think about the reality in Christ as you read.3. Most books of this type pit an equal good against an equal evil - much in the same way they view the world, I would say - but Hancock reveals her faith in the telling of the story of how this is not the case. Eidon (symbolic for God) is ultimately sovreign, and plainly so. However, this doesn't make for boring, because the story is told from the eyes of those who are still on the journey to discover his sovereignty. It's a masterpiece in that way!I can't wait for the next one. The only negative thing I have to say is that now I don't look forward to going back to other authors who write about mystical lands where good and evil are equal forces, and only people will decide the difference. There needs to be more authors like Hancock out there. I could see how faith-filled authors could totally re-take this arena of fiction books.

Light of Edion shines

Abramm has the heart of a seeker, but after being manipulated and lied to for years, when he is finally offered truth he can't bring himself to trust it. While "Light of Eidon" offers a gripping tale of adventure and heroism, it also challenges the reader to join Abramm in examining issues of faith, the preconceptions that keep us from embracing truth, and the distortions that trick and trap us.Light of Eidon is not for the faint of heart. Gritty realism and gladiatorial violence are part of the rich and textured world that Karen Hancock has created. A complex geo-political structure provides a backdrop for the very compelling story of one man called to a unique destiny.Her created world is alive with interwoven societies and people groups, conflicting loyalties, strange cultures, and creatures painted with vibrant description. Yet the novel never bogs down in those details. I believe that is because of Ms. Hancock's power in sharing authentic and multi-faceted characters that we deeply care about. I felt a visceral level of shared experience as I traveled with Abramm through tragedy and hope. A great book leaves me changed at some level. Light of Eidon, with its unflinching look at the battles of life, has inspired new courage in me for my own day's challenges.