CBR14 Bingo: “Shadow” – One of the wells of sorcery is Shadow, gifting the user with the ability to switch places with their shadow and move between shadows.
Siege of Rage and Ruin is the conclusion to Wexler’s “Wells of Sorcery” trilogy that started with Ship of Smoke and Steel, and was followed up by City of Stone and Silence.
Isoka’s plan is simple. Sneak ashore outside Kahnzoka’s harbor. Hitch a ride with a merchant traveling to the city. Get to her sister Tori and slip out of the city before Kuon Naga (head of the Immortals, defacto leader of Kahnzoka, and Isoka’s blackmailer) even knows she is back. Her plans quickly evaporate once Isoka learns of the rebellion that is currently raging in the city. Isoka is concerned for Tori’s safety but assumes she is securely tucked into the house in the upper class Third ward. Time to switch gears and figure out a way across military lines into and back out of the besieged city.
Tori is not out of harm’s way in the Third ward, instead she is barely hanging on in the morass of the rebellion. She has somehow found herself as the leader of the uprising and the siege is at somewhat of a stalemate. With no access to the harbor the rebels are limited to what food was already within the city walls. Time is not on their side as the Emperor’s Legions are on the march, heading for Kahnzoka to crush the rebellion.
Siege of Rage and Ruin is a satisfactory conclusion to the “Wells of Sorcery” trilogy. I could see part of the solution to the rebellion far in advance but didn’t mind as I was pleasantly surprised with how the story got there. I particularly liked how Wexler combined Isoka and Tori’s powers at the climax. It was unexpected but the ground work had been laid across the books so it felt organic. This series is a fun read that stayed consistently good throughout and I recommend it.