However, when dueling, skills and experience play a key role in duels. The comparison is a simple process a pure blood is stronger than a quarter blood due to having more mage blood in them. The gnostic strength of a mage depends on what rank they are. The final rank belongs to the Ascendants, those who have taken ambrosia, and they are the most powerful of magi. The gnosis is a hereditary ability that grows weaker through continued dilution of the original mage's blood. The Keepers, the magi gifted with Ascendancy by the Rondian Empire for years of loyalty and service, were granted roughly an extra 20 years from becoming Ascendants, which is made more impressive by them being so old as they could barely walk, proving the powerful vitality of Ascendant level gnosis. Justina Meiros was over 150 years old andlooked to be a woman in her late thirties. Ascendants had immense lifespans, with Selene Corinea living from Y380 to Y930 and beyond, and appearing to be a woman just out of her prime. Those with the gnosis were granted extended lifespans depending on their blood rank.
Pure bloods had great difficulty in producing children, even more so when mating with other magi, and Ascendants had even more difficulty, some being essential infertile.
The lowest, the one sixteenth bloods, were functionally human and suffered no discernible problems, but moving up the ranks, infertility rates increased. After many years of study, the 16 studies of the gnosis were named and began being taught to the magi.Īll magi suffered with differing levels of infertility due to having the gnosis, depending on their blood rank.
MOONTIDE QUARTET SEQUAL INSTALL
These original Ascendants used their new found strength to overthrow the Rimoni Empire and install the Rondian Empire in its place. The original 1000 members of Johan Corineus' group each took a measure whereupon 500 of them died, 100 went irrevocably insane, 100 became Souldrinkers, and the remaining 300 gained the gnosis. At that time, the potion was vastly different to the current version, due to decades of study and refinement, and such the success rate was much lower. That said, I'm looking forward to the next two books in this amazing series, (hopefully minus Alaron Mercer).The gnosis was first created in Year 380 by Baramitus through the use of the ambrosia. Fortunately the Mercer character doesn't appear too often, and when he does, it gives me a chance to go make coffee, or play with the dog, until he goes away. I suppose the character is necessary to the story, but in my opinion he spoils what would otherwise be a perfect experience. I admit he is as well written as the other characters, and that is proven by the very fact that he elicits such a strong reaction, but every time a chapter is given over to what he's doing, I cringe, and only listen with half an ear, until we get to one of the other character's exploits. If I have a complaint about this, and the first book, (and even though I haven't read them yet, the two books to follow this one, most likely), its the character of Alaron Mercer.
The heroes are heroic and the villains are as villainous as they need to be. As with the real world, there are characters I like, those I don't. All the characters, heroes and villains are wonderfully written, and the world they inhabit is so vivid. As always Nick Podehl's performance is brilliant.
MOONTIDE QUARTET SEQUAL SERIES
I am mightily impressed with this series so far, and I have two more books to look forward to. East and West have clashed before, but this time, as secret factions and cabals emerge from the shadows, the world is about to discover that love, loyalty and truth can be forged into weapons as strong as swords and magic. Alaron, a failed mage, the gypsy, Cymbellea, and Ramita, once just a lowly market-girl, have pledged to end the cycle of war and restore peace to Urte. But the emperor's greatest treasure, the Scytale of Corineus, has slipped through his fingers and his ruthless Inquisitors must scour two continents for the artefact, the source of all magical power.Īgainst them are the unlikeliest of heroes. They are slaughtering and pillaging their way across Antiopia in the name of Emperor Constant. The Moontide has come and the Leviathan Bridge stands open: now thrones will shake and hearts will be torn apart in a world at war.Ī scarlet tide of Rondian legions is flooding into the East, led by the Inquisition’s windships flying the Sacred Heart, the bright banner of the Church's darkest sons.
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