Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
HarperVoyager (2003), Edition: Reissue, 704 pages
Description
An epic fantasy standalone novel from the author of the stunning Wars of Light and Shadow series. When Princess Anja fails to appear at her betrothal banquet, the tiny, peaceful kingdom of Sessalie is plunged into intrigue. When Princess Anja fails to appear at her betrothal banquet, the tiny, peaceful kingdom of Sessalie is plunged into intrigue. Two warriors are charged with recovering the distraught king's beloved daughter. Taskin, Commander of the Royal Guard, whose icy competence and impressive life-term as the Crown's right-hand man command the kingdom's deep-seated respect; and Mykkael, the rough-hewn newcomer who has won the post of Captain of the Garrison - a scarred veteran with a deadly record of field warfare, whose 'interesting' background and foreign breeding are held in contempt by court society. As the princess's trail vanishes outside the citadel's gates, anxiety and tension escalate. Mykkael's investigations lead him to a radical explanation for the mystery, but he finds himself under suspicion from the court factions. Will Commander Taskin's famous fair-mindedness be enough to unravel the truth behind the garrison captain's dramatic theory: that the resourceful, high-spirited princess was not taken by force, but fled the palace to escape a demonic evil?… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member dchaikin
A fantasy book that introduces good characters early, but only slowly reveals itself. By the end it's all tied together, and quite wonderfully.
For whatever reason, I'm obsessed with the structure of the book. The feel changes quite a bit as the book progresses. The first part comes across as really
At some point, that same "rich" feel became instead more like a thick feel. The story slows, the description stays the same, and things seem to go slow-motion. Then it gently picked up again, but with a new and very different feel. The end is total rush of story and realization - and suddenly you appreciate everything. I found myself constantly rethinking things through.
A better summary is this, from a post by LT user reading_fox:
"I found the shape of the book to be something somewhat like riding a river over a waterfall - there is a long slow period where you are in a deep moving current, you then find this is too strong to get out of but not especially fast, then very rapidly you are swept into the maelstrom battered and ripped by currents and at the far of the plunge pool you emerge shaken and into placid waters once more."
For whatever reason, I'm obsessed with the structure of the book. The feel changes quite a bit as the book progresses. The first part comes across as really
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nicely written, but a bit slow. It gives the book a rich feel, with enjoyable character build up. But, it's tough going, something about the wording which I can't quite explain; in a way the words only indirectly describe what is actually happening.At some point, that same "rich" feel became instead more like a thick feel. The story slows, the description stays the same, and things seem to go slow-motion. Then it gently picked up again, but with a new and very different feel. The end is total rush of story and realization - and suddenly you appreciate everything. I found myself constantly rethinking things through.
A better summary is this, from a post by LT user reading_fox:
"I found the shape of the book to be something somewhat like riding a river over a waterfall - there is a long slow period where you are in a deep moving current, you then find this is too strong to get out of but not especially fast, then very rapidly you are swept into the maelstrom battered and ripped by currents and at the far of the plunge pool you emerge shaken and into placid waters once more."
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
A small kingdom suddenly comes under attack from a sorcerous neighbour coverting the territory. The proncess escapes and starts to flee for her life. Only a dreadful passage across the mountains to a remaining ally can possably provide help. Fortunetly the captain of the guard remains to aid her
Well written, but somehow fails to quite capture the right spirit in places. I'm not quite sure why this book didn't appeal to me more, the imagery is good and the plot inventive, with an intresting world, but somehow it doesn't quite fit.
Updated - after reread.
Maybe I'd had an off period, it was much better this time around. A really inventive magical system, easy to comprehend with exciting consequences. Demons live in a nether world, but can drive bargins from sorcerers who rapidly become enslaved. Their power can reach out across distance, but is counteracted by geometry and songs of the southern tribal shamens. (Quite where the traditional demons' counterpoint the gods fit in is unexplained). Mykkael - southern born but nothern raised is the garrison captain who's staunch skills and character aid the Princess on her desperate quest.
Extremely well written, especially the love for the horses. Gripping - though slightly slow to get going as the confusion in the capitol is spun out.
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progress, hardbitten and experianced he can meet any danger - but can she save him, at the last? Well written, but somehow fails to quite capture the right spirit in places. I'm not quite sure why this book didn't appeal to me more, the imagery is good and the plot inventive, with an intresting world, but somehow it doesn't quite fit.
Updated - after reread.
Maybe I'd had an off period, it was much better this time around. A really inventive magical system, easy to comprehend with exciting consequences. Demons live in a nether world, but can drive bargins from sorcerers who rapidly become enslaved. Their power can reach out across distance, but is counteracted by geometry and songs of the southern tribal shamens. (Quite where the traditional demons' counterpoint the gods fit in is unexplained). Mykkael - southern born but nothern raised is the garrison captain who's staunch skills and character aid the Princess on her desperate quest.
Extremely well written, especially the love for the horses. Gripping - though slightly slow to get going as the confusion in the capitol is spun out.
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LibraryThing member Uffer
The style this is written in doesn't quite come together into the deep, rich smoothly allusive tone that shows itself to such advantage throughout the Wars of Light & Shadow books; at times it can be a little grating - if I'd had to read once more about the strained edge of bar-q-whatsit reflex
As other reviews have noted, there was a slow section in there where not a great deal was going on and we seemed to be mainly waiting for the demon's minions to make a move, and then it allhappensatonce in a mad scramble. But it's a great plot.
Oh, and did I mention the world-building? I really enjoyed the world, even - or maybe especially - the bits we only get to see by implication. I particularly enjoyed the magic system, which has lots of different cultural specifics to it. This school uses geometric patterns, these folk use song, those over there use demons and human sacrifice... It's so much more multi-layered and human than saying, right, magic in this universe works this way, and there's nobody using any other method.
I'd love to see something else in this universe, though I gather Hell's Chasm was specifically intended to be a one-shot. I guess I'm just too thoroughly seduced by that world-building...
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that keeps the good captain on the edge of berserk homicide for a great deal of the book, I really think I would have screamed. That said, it's pretty much the worst criticism I can level at the book, apart from just how sugar-and-spice the kingdom of Sessalie was supposed to be. On the other hand, the world-building is beautiful, building up by implication, rather than by long exposition of the 'as you know, the King, your father...' type.As other reviews have noted, there was a slow section in there where not a great deal was going on and we seemed to be mainly waiting for the demon's minions to make a move, and then it allhappensatonce in a mad scramble. But it's a great plot.
Oh, and did I mention the world-building? I really enjoyed the world, even - or maybe especially - the bits we only get to see by implication. I particularly enjoyed the magic system, which has lots of different cultural specifics to it. This school uses geometric patterns, these folk use song, those over there use demons and human sacrifice... It's so much more multi-layered and human than saying, right, magic in this universe works this way, and there's nobody using any other method.
I'd love to see something else in this universe, though I gather Hell's Chasm was specifically intended to be a one-shot. I guess I'm just too thoroughly seduced by that world-building...
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LibraryThing member readafew
To Ride Hell's Chasm is a stand-alone fantasy novel. Overall I enjoyed the story line and feel most of the timing was at a good pace. For me the biggest negative for the book were all the interactions and conversations taking place between Mykkael and most everyone else.
I can only say that many of
I really enjoyed Wurts work with Feist and I plan on reading another one of her books in the future, but there were to many problems with character interactions that I couldn't accept, to truly make this a great book.
I can only say that many of
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the reactions of people on both sides of conversations were not in any way how I would expect the comments to be taken. I can only assume that there was a level of subtlety beyond my understanding. Also many seem to be smart people who keep making the same mistakes that they should have already learned to avoid.I really enjoyed Wurts work with Feist and I plan on reading another one of her books in the future, but there were to many problems with character interactions that I couldn't accept, to truly make this a great book.
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LibraryThing member elbakerone
To Ride Hell's Chasm is an epic tale with many elements of classic fantasy - evil sorcerers, a strong sworded warrior, and a princess in peril. What would seem cliche however is woven into a fresh and exciting story under the expert pen of Janny Wurts. Her sorcerers wield demonic power instead of
At first I was intimidated by the expanse of To Ride Hell's Chasm. However, Wurts artfully handles a magnificent world and paints a rich setting for readers. Her characters are complex and multi-faceted and while reading the book I got the sense of making new friends - at first I wasn't sure about some but as more dimensions of their personalities were revealed, they grew on me and I was almost sad to part with them at the end. One of the very unique features of this book was Wurts's use of horses - that sometimes stole the spotlight from their human companions. The descriptions were so well written that I could almost hear them galloping in my head.
As noted in other reviews, some of the exposition in the beginning of the book slowed the pace slightly but for me, all the details served to solidify the characters in my mind. Especially on reflection, I think the characters were more realistic for having back stories and their early interactions revealed a lot of dimension to them. Also, once the action really took off it was a thrilling journey that concluded as brilliantly as it began.
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magic wands; the warrior is a foreigner mistrusted and suspected of evil; and the princess is a strong willed fighter and horsewoman. At first I was intimidated by the expanse of To Ride Hell's Chasm. However, Wurts artfully handles a magnificent world and paints a rich setting for readers. Her characters are complex and multi-faceted and while reading the book I got the sense of making new friends - at first I wasn't sure about some but as more dimensions of their personalities were revealed, they grew on me and I was almost sad to part with them at the end. One of the very unique features of this book was Wurts's use of horses - that sometimes stole the spotlight from their human companions. The descriptions were so well written that I could almost hear them galloping in my head.
As noted in other reviews, some of the exposition in the beginning of the book slowed the pace slightly but for me, all the details served to solidify the characters in my mind. Especially on reflection, I think the characters were more realistic for having back stories and their early interactions revealed a lot of dimension to them. Also, once the action really took off it was a thrilling journey that concluded as brilliantly as it began.
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
A missing princess and a handful of strange deaths bring together two men, a mysterious foreigner and a rigidly focused captain of the royal guard. Caught in a vise of politics and diabolical plotting, the two men must decide whether to trust enough to stand together and face a nameless horror.
Wurts has outdone herself. Gut-wrenching and powerful, this stand-alone novel drags the reader along on a desperate plunge to outrace the minions of hell itself.
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Should either falter, more than a kingdom will fall.Wurts has outdone herself. Gut-wrenching and powerful, this stand-alone novel drags the reader along on a desperate plunge to outrace the minions of hell itself.
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LibraryThing member MrsLee
This book was a real page turner. Set in a medieval type world, the combination of magic, evil and fantasy creatures was an interesting challenge for the heroes of the story. The characters unveil themselves slowly, growing on you as the story progresses. I enjoyed this story and found it
It was a library book, so I returned it. Though I did enjoy the read, it does not compel me to own it or read it again, though I would recommend it to others as a fine story.
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satisfying. It was a library book, so I returned it. Though I did enjoy the read, it does not compel me to own it or read it again, though I would recommend it to others as a fine story.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Well written, solo fantasy book.
LibraryThing member jimmaclachlan
Wow! Janny told me the story got really exciting during the last half. Wrong! It was really exciting all the way through. If there is any fault at all in the book, it is that the excitement NEVER slacks off & it's really hard to put down. That's not really fair when it is so long - yet seems not
The plot is beautifully crafted, lovingly revealed & the resolution left me gasping (& a bit teary eyed). The characters are amazingly human, yet heroic, each in their own way. The prose is a bit dense at times. Each word was obviously chosen with professional care, so be warned if you like to quickly skim a novel - don't do it. You might get away with it with this one, but you don't want to. The description is too acute, the world perfectly formed & a quick read will simply dim it.
My highest praise is reserved for her handling of the horses. Obviously, she KNOWS horses. She knows their strengths, weaknesses & personalities. Yes, each horse has a personality. They're not simply hooved cars. They're not cutsey, caricatures, either. There is no anthropomorphism here. They're every bit as 'real' as the fictionalized humans. If you don't know horses, there may be a few terms that could use some definition, but not many. Most are well enough described. The 'near' side of a horse is the left side, for instance. It is a proper equestrian term.
Anyway, it's a fantastic read & I highly recommend it. I've yet to be disappointed by one of her books & this one just raised my esteem for her writing another notch.
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long enough. I'd love to read more about this world & its characters.The plot is beautifully crafted, lovingly revealed & the resolution left me gasping (& a bit teary eyed). The characters are amazingly human, yet heroic, each in their own way. The prose is a bit dense at times. Each word was obviously chosen with professional care, so be warned if you like to quickly skim a novel - don't do it. You might get away with it with this one, but you don't want to. The description is too acute, the world perfectly formed & a quick read will simply dim it.
My highest praise is reserved for her handling of the horses. Obviously, she KNOWS horses. She knows their strengths, weaknesses & personalities. Yes, each horse has a personality. They're not simply hooved cars. They're not cutsey, caricatures, either. There is no anthropomorphism here. They're every bit as 'real' as the fictionalized humans. If you don't know horses, there may be a few terms that could use some definition, but not many. Most are well enough described. The 'near' side of a horse is the left side, for instance. It is a proper equestrian term.
Anyway, it's a fantastic read & I highly recommend it. I've yet to be disappointed by one of her books & this one just raised my esteem for her writing another notch.
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LibraryThing member evedeve
Rollicking good fun -
LibraryThing member SnowNSew
I am really struggling with this review. As I read, I didn't feel that I really loved it - but I never really hated it either. Yet, the overwhelming feel of the story continues to be on my mind.
I finished this book. But it took me 2 months. Or, rather, the first 200 pages took me 2 months - the
The beginning seemed quite slow to me. (I suppose this should be obvious as it took me so long to read.) That being said, I fell in love with Mykael very early on, which is another reason I stuck it out.
I am much more drawn to characters than I am to world building. This book seemed, to me, to have a very well crafted world, but not quite so much character building. The characters seemed, well, not quite one dimensional - but not 3d either - so lets call them two dimensional.
The action starts out very slowly - with a missing princess - and, as is expected, more questions than answers. During this time, the author slowly draws her world and crafts her characters. As the story progresses, the action picks up remarkably and leads the reader on a fascinating jaunt until the story concludes (and answers all the previous questions).
The writing style also slowed me down. And, I cannot put my finger on the how and why of that. It just did. When I devoured the last 400 pages, I didn't struggle nearly as much as I did with the first 200. Also, the author's vocabulary is HUGE. This is the first time I found myself using the "look up" feature on my e-reader. And, I found it very convenient as I read.
I believe this book to be very well written. The world building is beautiful. In the end, I think it is just not the type of book that was right for me at the time I read it.
I finished this book. But it took me 2 months. Or, rather, the first 200 pages took me 2 months - the
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last almost 400 pages (which I dove into because I had another book that I wished to read) took me 2 days. (I really wanted to finish it because I really like the author and she was involved in a group read.)The beginning seemed quite slow to me. (I suppose this should be obvious as it took me so long to read.) That being said, I fell in love with Mykael very early on, which is another reason I stuck it out.
I am much more drawn to characters than I am to world building. This book seemed, to me, to have a very well crafted world, but not quite so much character building. The characters seemed, well, not quite one dimensional - but not 3d either - so lets call them two dimensional.
The action starts out very slowly - with a missing princess - and, as is expected, more questions than answers. During this time, the author slowly draws her world and crafts her characters. As the story progresses, the action picks up remarkably and leads the reader on a fascinating jaunt until the story concludes (and answers all the previous questions).
The writing style also slowed me down. And, I cannot put my finger on the how and why of that. It just did. When I devoured the last 400 pages, I didn't struggle nearly as much as I did with the first 200. Also, the author's vocabulary is HUGE. This is the first time I found myself using the "look up" feature on my e-reader. And, I found it very convenient as I read.
I believe this book to be very well written. The world building is beautiful. In the end, I think it is just not the type of book that was right for me at the time I read it.
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LibraryThing member Alissa-
This book came as a surprise, as always, praise be sung to Goodreads community for their recommendations. This is the first book I've read by Janny Wurts and I'll surely look for more of her works. To Ride Hell's Chasm is uniquely written, and I struggled with the complex phrasing, the subtle
I enjoyed the second part of the book as well, more action-packed and fast paced, until the inevitable drawing to an end, which, while entirely coherent, left a bit of hurried aftertaste and a longing for a less steep epilogue, particularly after the care deployed in the first part of the book. I liked the princess as well, and the lead of Mykkael and Anja is not wanting, but I missed the balance of uncertainties and the keen undertones of the Taskin/Mykkael conflict. Warmly recommended.
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choice of words, and the masterful descriptions. Yet the plot, carefully unwinding in the first part of the book, and the compelling characters, fully rounded and intriguing, did not fail to make me feel for this great book, and devour the pages with hunger for more. This fist part is the one I enjoyed the most, with the pair Taskin and Mykkael in charge.I enjoyed the second part of the book as well, more action-packed and fast paced, until the inevitable drawing to an end, which, while entirely coherent, left a bit of hurried aftertaste and a longing for a less steep epilogue, particularly after the care deployed in the first part of the book. I liked the princess as well, and the lead of Mykkael and Anja is not wanting, but I missed the balance of uncertainties and the keen undertones of the Taskin/Mykkael conflict. Warmly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Andorion
Finished reading To Ride Hell's Chasm by Janny Wurts.
Its an excellent book. Since it is a true standalone the intensity of the events and the heady pace can sometimes feel like an adrenaline rush. In fact after the first bit of setup the book takes off and never looks back.
The emotional quotient in
The author puts detail in the strangest things. This is the first time I was genuinely worried about a horse.
The way the worldbuilding takes place is very interesting. The story takes place in a relatively small area which is easy enough to construct, but the way the wider world is portrayed through memory and the way the sorcerous threat is built up is very interesting. The juxtaposition of scarred veterans and brutal sorcery against the rather bucolic insular society of Sessalie made for a very interesting contrast.
I have read in multiple places about Wurts' style of writing - her tendency to use the occasional archaic word or phrase. To me this did not detract from the story at all. After I took a couple of chapters to get settled in, the narrative moved fast and smoothly.
On the other hand I could not help but feel that the characters of the Anja and Mykaael were somewhat exaggerated. Of course this may have been a side-effect of the book focussing so much on them. Also I would have liked to know more about how things worked out in Sessalie and the Empire at the end really merited more explanation.
Overall, a very enjoyable book which I would recommend.
Its an excellent book. Since it is a true standalone the intensity of the events and the heady pace can sometimes feel like an adrenaline rush. In fact after the first bit of setup the book takes off and never looks back.
The emotional quotient in
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this book is very high as several pretty major events happen in a relatively short time.The author puts detail in the strangest things. This is the first time I was genuinely worried about a horse.
The way the worldbuilding takes place is very interesting. The story takes place in a relatively small area which is easy enough to construct, but the way the wider world is portrayed through memory and the way the sorcerous threat is built up is very interesting. The juxtaposition of scarred veterans and brutal sorcery against the rather bucolic insular society of Sessalie made for a very interesting contrast.
I have read in multiple places about Wurts' style of writing - her tendency to use the occasional archaic word or phrase. To me this did not detract from the story at all. After I took a couple of chapters to get settled in, the narrative moved fast and smoothly.
On the other hand I could not help but feel that the characters of the Anja and Mykaael were somewhat exaggerated. Of course this may have been a side-effect of the book focussing so much on them. Also I would have liked to know more about how things worked out in Sessalie and the Empire at the end really merited more explanation.
Overall, a very enjoyable book which I would recommend.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2003
Physical description
704 p.; 4.5 inches
ISBN
0007101112 / 9780007101115