Mage of Clouds (The Cloudmages #2)

by S.L. Farrell

Book Overview

The second salvo in the acclaimed epic fantasy trilogy DAW proudly continues the magnificent Cloudmages fantasy saga that began with Holder of Lightning. Here is Book II, Mage of Clouds-set in the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0756402557
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: DAW
• Length: 672 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.5" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Tremendous fantasy

Jenna's enemies still lurk and are planning the abduction of Jenna's precious daughter Meriel by her Uncle Doyle, whose vow to do no harm to his half-sister ended when their mom died.Meriel's uncle is obsessed with obtaining the Lamh Shabbala stone that channels all magic. If it means the death of his niece and anyone else so that he gains full power, so be it as he believes he was the one not Jenna who should have been the First Holder. Jenna is stunned as she loves her daughter but fears the price of acceding to the demands of her sibling as there are no guarantees that Meriel will live or that the peace will hold. She also worries about those loyal to her for she remembers what happened to her beloved.The second book in the "Cloudmages" series, MAGE OF CLOUDS, is a tremendous fantasy due to the dilemma confronting the heroine of the first book. Though the story line focuses much on Meriel's plight, Jenna is the key ingredient as she struggles between the bigger good and her own micro need; either way someone will be hurt by her decision. Meriel is a solid character while her uncle is delightfully villainous. Fans of the first book, the author (in his variety of writing aliases), and fantasy aficionados will greatly value this powerful book that ignores the middle syndrome with a powerful plot and deep cast.Harriet Klausner

The First Holder's Daughter

Mage of Clouds in the second novel in the Cloudmages series, following Holder of Lightning. In the previous volume, First Holder Jenna Aoire and the Inishlanders faced the combined clochs of the Tuatha at Dun Kiil. The Creneach came and fought with the Inish, some ripping the gates open. As the Inish stormed through the gates, Tuatha holders focused on Jenna and hammered her until she was cowering on her knees. She fell back into the Lamh Shabhala and it allowed her to absorb the energy of the clochs being used against her. She forced a settlement upon the Tuatha and Inish alike, but Padraic Mac Ard would not accept defeat and forced Jenna to slay him.After withdrawal of the Tuatha forces, Jenna married Kyle MacEagan and was chosen as Banrion of Inish Thuaidh. She met her baby brother Doyle for the first time on the tiny isle of Inishduan while returning the body of Padraic Mac Ard to her mother Maeve. Prior to his death, Mac Ard had legitimized the child and left him an estate. Jenna saw her mother for the last time as Maeve lit off the funeral byre.In this novel, nearly two decades later, Doyle comes to Dun Kiil Keep to notify Jenna of their mother's death and to warn her that the Tuatha will be coming again. Doyle also tells her that he considers Lamh Shabhala to be his inheritance from his father and that he will be attacking persons near to her if she doesn't voluntarily yield it to him. After he departs, Jenna sends her daughter Meriel to the Order of Inishfeirm for training and to protect her from Doyle and others in the Order of Gabair.Meriel reacts badly to the news that she is being sent to Inishfeirm and tries to run away with her boyfriend, but is frustrated by Mundy Kirwan, the current Maister of the Order of Inishfeirm. He conducts Meriel back to the island and settles her into the life of an acolyte of the Order. Meriel soon finds her smooth hands becoming rough with the menial labor that is part of such a life.Meriel has only recently discovered the delight of male companionship. She writes daily letters to her boyfriend, but his one and only reply is terse enough to show his loss of interest. Thady MacCoughlin, a third year student with the Order, shows her around and invites her to slip out for a drink or two at the village tavern. Owaine Geraghty. a Brathair of the Order, seems to show up everywhere she goes. However, the Saimhoir Dhegli, a changeling and possessor of the Salmon of power, is the man/seal that interests her the most.In this story, Doyle leads an attack on the Order of Inishfeirm and kidnaps Meriel, carrying her off to captivity. Dhegli sees the attack in a vision but arrives too late to avert it. However, he offers to take Owaine to the point where the Meriel was taken ashore and Owaine immediately accepts the offer, for he holds a clochmion that finds things. If he can get close enough, Owaine can follow Meriel and free her. Owaine climbs into a currach with only his clothes and his cloch a

The First Holder's Daughter

Mage of Clouds (2004) is the second novel in the Cloudmages series, following Holder of Lightning. In the previous volume, First Holder Jenna Aoire and the Inishlanders faced the combined clochs of the Tuatha at Dun Kiil. The Creneach came and fought with the Inish, some ripping the gates open. As the Inish stormed through the gates, Tuatha holders focused on Jenna and hammered her until she was cowering on her knees. She fell back into the Lamh Shabhala and it allowed her to absorb the energy of the clochs being used against her. She forced a settlement upon the Tuatha and Inish alike, but Mac Ard would not accept defeat and forced Jenna to slay him. After withdrawal of the Tuatha forces, Jenna was chosen as Banrion of Inish Thuaidh. She met her baby brother Doyle for the first time on the tiny isle of Inishduan while returning the body of Mac Ard to her mother Maeve. Prior to his death, Mac Ard had legitimized the child and left him an estate. Jenna saw her mother for the last time as Maeve lit the funeral byre. In this novel, nearly two decades later, Doyle comes to Dun Kiil Keep to notify Jenna of their mother's death and to warn her that the Tuatha will be coming again. Doyle also tells her that he considers Lamh Shabhala to be his inheritance from his father and that he will be attacking persons near to her if she doesn't voluntarily yield it to him. After he departs, Jenna sends her daughter Meriel to the Order of Inishfeirm for training and to protect her from Doyle and others in the Order of Gabair. Meriel reacts badly to the news that she is being sent to Inishfeirm and tries to run away with her boyfriend, but is frustrated by Mundy Kirwan, the current Maister of the Order of Inishfeirm. He conducts Meriel back to the island and settles her into the life of an acolyte of the Order. Meriel soon finds her smooth hands becoming rough with the menial labor that is part of such a life. Meriel has only recently discovered the delight of male companionship. She writes daily letters to her boyfriend, but his one and only reply is terse enough to show his loss of interest. Thady MacCoughlin, a third year student with the Order, shows her around and invites her to slip out for a drink or two at the village tavern. Owaine Geraghty. a Brathair of the Order, seems to show up everywhere she goes. However, the Saimhoir Dhegli, a changeling and possessor of the Salmon of power, is the man/seal that interests her the most. In this story, Doyle leads an attack on the Order of Inishfeirm and kidnaps Meriel, carrying her off to captivity. Dhegli sees the attack in a vision but arrives too late to avert it. However, he offers to take Owaine to the point where the Meriel was taken ashore and Owaine immediately accepts the offer, for he holds a clochmion that finds things. If he can get close enough, Owaine can follow Meriel and free her. Owaine climbs into a currach with only his clothes and his cloch and is towed over the sea by Dhegli. This story i