The Seascape Tattoo
-
- $14.99
Publisher Description
Mortal enemies. Unlikely allies. A daring rescue mission that will change everything.
The Seascape Tattoo is the latest spellbinding adventure in Larry Niven and Steven Barnes' acclaimed fantasy series. Aros of Azteca and Neoloth-Pteor, the deadliest of enemies - a fierce swordsman and a powerful sorcerer - have tried to kill each other more times than either can count. But when the princess Neoloth loves is kidnapped, there is only one plan that offers any hope of rescue... and it requires passing off the barbarian Aros as a lost princeling and infiltrating the deadliest cabal of necromancers the world has ever seen.
Filled with witty banter, swashbuckling adventure, and high fantasy magic, this unlikely alliance between rivals will keep you on the edge of your seat. Bestselling authors Niven and Barnes deliver a gripping tale of sword and sorcery, complete with pirates, damsels in distress, and a thrilling quest against all odds. Don't miss this action-packed addition to The Magic Goes Away series.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Niven and Barnes team up to deliver a trite epic fantasy with a few redeeming qualities. Neoloth-Pteor, the old and jaded wizard of Quillia, is secretly in love with Princess Tahlia. When the princess is kidnapped at sea by unknown nefarious sources and the queen offers the princess's hand in marriage to any who rescue her, he decides to step up to the challenge. But to do that, he needs the help of former enemy Aros the Azteca. Readers will roll their eyes at the abundant clich s (the princess is literally locked in a tower), some of which are deeply discomfiting (a sole Smurfette-like woman wizard who's primarily valued by the men for her "beauty and mystery"; the use of the Aztec name and elements of Aztec culture for the far-off "barbarian" lands, and the characterization of Aros as a classic noble savage). But those who are willing to overlook these significant flaws will enjoy the burgeoning friendship between wizard and warrior, their schemes to infiltrate the secrets of the isolationist kingdom responsible for Tahlia's imprisonment, and the backdrop of failing magic and serious engagement with the question of whether a man can truly change. The stakes are satisfyingly personal and global, without any risk of the reader encountering something new.
