Like the previous Dragon Age I greatly enjoyed. Although not the best book in the series I was enamoured with a few of the characters enough to enjoy the novel. At times I wondered what relevance the book had with the game series but although it was confusing in relation to the game at times, I did enjoy the exploration of Templar and Mage relationships within the Circle.
Rhys, the main character of the book, was an interesting character, cunning enough to deal with Templar-Mage politics and intelligent enough to investigate and adapt to different situations. What startled me about his character is that he is Wynne’s son, Wynne’s being a character in the Dragon Age: Origins. Wynne is a Mage like her son, but in the game he is out in the Brecillian Forest looking for or living with Dalish Elves (Can’t quite remember…) So already this is confusing, what is Rhys doing in the circle? Unless the author wrote the book as if Rhys had been convinced to return to the Circle within the Dragon Age: Origins game.
Wynne shows up herself. An incredibly cunning character, as smart as she seemed in the game. It was good to read her in this book since you don’t hear much news of her in later games. Sadly, she makes one grand sacrifice at the end of the book which saddens me immensely as she is one of my favourite characters in the game.
Evangeline was an incredible character. She reminds me of someone in Dragon Age Inquisition. A woman of honour and duty but not blinded buy duty, able to think on her feet and adapt. She is loyal but not idiotically so, she takes what she knows and uses it to find the best solution. What’s more she is a kind-hearted Templar, one who has compassion for the mages she protects and guards, although at times her actions seems harsh and she seems little more than a sheep following her master’s rules. But she is no sheep, and she is an integral character later in the book.
It was interesting to read about the conclave that began the politics of the Dragon Age Inquisition, First Enchanter Vivienne is very much biased against the Rebel mages in the game and so speaks ill of Grand Enchanter Fiona and those who decided to fight against Templar rule, but in the book you can see reason as to why the Mages chose to rebel, Seeker Lambert, for example, was not a lovable character, blinded by hate and biased judgement he hates mages simply for being mages and believes the only good Mage is a caged or dead one. As a result the conclave became about rebellion and freedom of Templar hatred. Although Vivienne is wrong to paint all rebel mages with the same brush you can see the divide, the Mages are living in terror, afraid for their freedom and lives within the Circles but by rebelling they have only given Templars and the people more reason to hate them.
And Cole. My God, what an incredible read. Having played the game first, I know Cole is a spirit, or at least I though he was, but this book had me thoroughly convinced he was once a Mage himself. To find out in the end that he is indeed a spirit, one who shielded and absorbed the essence of the Mage Cole, was incredible. It reminded me of Wynne’s own story. She dies in the Circle tower during Dragon Age: Origins and a benign spirit tried to save her, unfortunately it went wrong and the spirit was somehow forced to possess her, to share its energy with her to keep her alive. In Cole’s case, or rather the spirit’s case, the spirit stayed with Cole, forced to watch as the real Cole died in the dungeons, helpless to act as a spirit has no power outside of the fade/beyond unless they possess a host. So the spirit absorbed the remnants of Cole, his emotions, his thoughts, what made Cole, Cole. Convinced it was Cole it dwells in the tower for years, invisible to most and becoming the ghost of the spire. The only question by the end of the book is what kind of spirit is Cole? I would have called him a benign spirit since he is so softly spoken in the game, but reading how willing Cole is to kill in the book suggests a stronger spirit, perhaps?
It was a very interesting read. It certainly gave me food for thought, but I admit I did not find it as good as The Calling. Not a necessary read for fans of the game series but an enjoyable one. I certainly cannot complain!
- Goodreads rating – 3.97
- FEEDBACK – Vixie