I have recently started reading Trudi Canavan and began with the Black Magician Trilogy, for no other reason then I liked the look of the cover, shallow I know, but so what.
I have become so disillusioned with trilogies that I almost did not read this one, but I am very glad that I did.
The first of the three, the Magician's Guild begins with the yearly purge in the city of Imardin. Each year the magicians purge the city of the poor, forcing them into the very outskirts of town. This is the cause of much anger, but the magicians are unconcerned as they are shrouded by an impenetrable shield. Until Sonea, who is so angry with the rough and uncaring treatment of her family and frightened of having to move puts all her rage into throwing a stone. Strangely it passes through the shield and injures a magician.
The second book, The Novice, details Sonea's training at the Guild. I will not go into too much detail as I feel the story is too good to spoil. Finding it difficult to fit in amongst all the high born students she has no friends until she challenges a fellow student to a dual and wins their respect. Meanwhile she discovers a secret about black magic that could destroy the guild.
The third and final book, The High Lord, finds Sonea in the middle of a complex plot. Is black magic really as evil as everyone makes out?
I found each book to be unputdownable, even though the second and third books were not really two stories, but rather one that was split into two. There are enough mysteries and twists to keep it interesting and the plot is not as generic as most questy type fantasy novels are.
All in all a great read if you like fantasy and be prepared for the review of The Age of the Five coming soon...
I give this book 5 phallic fruits.
