Pillars of Light

What if the one thing that kept your world together was nothing but promises, and those promises were beginning to fall apart? That's the question that got me hooked on Pillars of Light, Book Two of Mike Medeiros' Saga of the Chain, and kept me up late past bedtime. The book is a sequel to the siege of Stonebridge. In this book, Falkvar and his companions find out that the shadows they fought were only a symptom. There is a Chain, a hidden lattice of light (anchored by ancient Pillars, and fed by vows and memory) that runs underneath everything. But it's failing. Consequently, what follows is a long, journey through rivers, marshes, mountains, and glittering cities. Along the way, the distinction between real light and a convincing fake becomes increasingly blurred.

The best part is that it's not just monsters that are the big threat. It's the ‘false light’, something that copies the shape of goodness without its heart. There are councils that look ideal and feel wrong, festivals with laughters that are not quite human, and water is a little too placid. I began to doubt every pretty scene; which is what the book would like you to do. It's the characters, though, that make it all real. Falkvar is a calm, thoughful man, a leader that carries his sword ‘like a question he could not stop carrying.’ The battle-worn Taral gets some of the best dialogue in the book, and Rale, who listens to the earth with her bare hands, soon became my favourite. The fellowship continues to expand: a fiery mother and her three elementally powerful sons, a hunter who has two wolves (I would die for Skarn and Veyra), a moon-touched family with a spear and a song, and a warrior whose fire is hotter than is good for her. I liked them all, and there were a couple of moments in the second half which really hit me.

The story is not just good vs. bad, which I appreciated. In the middle, the book begins to question whether it is the right thing to save the Chain and what it costs those that maintain it. That shift gave the second half real weight. The book is lyrical, full of rivers, memory and rhythm, and recurring touches like the the word ‘Steady’ and the four-count, pay off in lovely ways. The quest itself is a story of grief, legacy and a carrying forward the light of those who have gone. After reading the dedication at the beginning, that theme was even more significant to me.

Now the honest part. This book is lengthy, and the action is deliberate. Some parts of the travel blur together, and the chain-and-river imagery is constantly repeated. I wanted to skip a few times and just let the story move on, rather than go over the same hum under the ground again. Also, the cast is large and I had to pause and refresh myself on their roles. There are also some minor continuity issues and a couple of inconsistencies with namespelling that could be cleaned up with a final edit. But I didn't find any of it detracting from my enjoyment; although readers who prefer fast-paced plots should be aware of what they are in for.

Nevertheless, I finished this feeling moved, and that is unusual for me. I’d recommend this piece for anyone who enjoys a mythic, almost poetic, tone for their epic fantasy. It’s also a great choice for fans of classic epic fantasy in the style of Tolkien and Robert Jordan, and fans of found-family fellowships. Tabletop RPG players will feel right a home with this party. It's also for anyone who wants to experience a journey that is slow-burn and emotionally rich rather than action-packed. Still, this is best read in conjunction with Book One. 5 out of 5 stars from me and I can't wait until Book Three.