Review: Intriguing series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 3, 2013
I have read 4 books in this series.  It is set in a background where different gifts are allowed to chosen people on different continents.  One continent has technology (including nano bots) but is not allowed magic (and for an unfathomable reason, seems to be the only one that does not grow crops or herd cattle, as least not that is prepared normally.  Their food comes in tubes).The story so far is centered on a continent that can use magic, magic used to create permanent items out of dirt or whatever and remain as solid as a building made by laying stones,  and magic that creates some type of items  that feel solid but can be  created, recreated or  erased using symbolic magic (designed for that object) which is etched on rocks or coins or whatever is handy. They have buiding magic, healing magic, truth magic and I am not sure how many more.  They actually grow  food and fish and have herds but magic can be (but is not always) used to cook and prepare food. This world is basically medieval, kings, princes, counts, commoners.  Commoners have litle options. Physical height can be a strong indicator of royal blood  (close to and over 8 feet tall being fairly common).  There are ancients (those gifted with extreme longevity 3000+years or more) but who can be killed. There is a lot of intrique, lying, deceit, manipulation  and even abuse. The upper classes have an indifference to the commoners, even to children, schooling must be purchased  It is difficult to know who to trust and for the elite, they seem to feel that what is good for one of them individually is sufficient justification to use  of almost any means (and in some cases any means) to to reach their goal.  (Not much in the way of Noblese Obige.)Born into this world is a powerful Builder (a magic maker) and his family (in hiding at first as Bakers) but later found to have royal and ancient blood (though on the short side,  5'5" being tall for them.  The hero, so far is a young teenager, when the series starts, unaware of how talented he is at first, and as his skills grow and the manipulations worsens trys to maintain a sense of honor and fair play and a trusting soul.  Watching him become less innocent and more careful around others, even those he trusts, makes  him real.  In another boork watching the same thing happen to his younger brother, at age 12, makes one think.  They have a great deal of power and  the later books may show how corrupting this becomes or if they can maintain their basic sense of morality and decency, in a world which has not much of either.I like the series, I think the books so far develop the concepts logically and it is a wonder that the main character can stil accept friendship from people who cannot fully give it.  It is a complicated scenario, but I am finding it worth it.