The Charmed Sphere (Misted Cliffs, Book 1)

The Charmed Sphere (2004) is the first fantasy novel in the Misted Cliffs series. In the small, but affluent kingdom of Aronsdale, mages are able to use shapes and colors to initiate spells. Two-dimensional polygons power can be used to generate minor spells, but three-dimension polyhedrons can produce the strongest spells.

The colors of the rainbow determine the type of spells, with red spells creating light, orange spells soothing physical pain, green spells revealing the emotions of others, blue spells healing physical wounds, and indigo spells healing emotional wounds.

In this novel, Chime is the daughter of a couple of apple tree farmers. Chime believes that she is a shape-mage, but doesn't want to leave her family or home. When King Daron progresses through Jacob's Vale, Chime hides up in a tree to escape Lady Della, the Shape-Mage Mistress of Castle Suncroft.

Muller Startower Heptacorn Dawnfield is the heir of King Daron. The king's grandson had disappeared long ago in the same incident that had killed his son and daughter-in-law. Muller is the King's nephew and his closest known relative.

Everyone is expecting Muller to take the throne after King Daron passes away, but Muller doesn't want to be king. Although he hides his powers, Muller is himself a shape-mage, but with an erratic talent. Since shape-mages are usually females, none suspect his powers until Chime comes into his life. She causes him to lose control in some very spectacular ways and soon learns his secret.

Anvil the Forged is a powerful shape-mage who lacks all green magic, but can detect such magic applied against him. He explains his deficiency as due to the persecutions against his mage family by the inhabitants of Stonce, his home village. He is working with King Varqelle of Harsdown to conquer Aronsdale.

Iris is another shape-mage discovered by Lady Della. She is much more voluptuous than Chime and she also appears to be more powerful. Iris easily understands the procedures, but has difficulties performing the spells.

In this story, Chime runs away from the King's Progress the night before they are to reach Castle Suncroft. Muller also leaves the castle to avoid meeting this powerful shape-mage who is slated to become his wife. By chance, they meet in the woods and are attracted toward each other.

Unfortunately, the Prince's bodyguards find them and they learn each other's true identity. Naturally, they turn away from their designated spouses after that. But they do enjoy each other's company and soon become besotted with each other.

Chime has an unfortunate relationship with Iris. Her insecurity and lack of courtly manners causes her to say things in awkward and often misunderstood ways. Then Chime discovers the reason for Iris's inability to perform at her highest level and soon she realizes that Iris is a more powerful mage than herself.

Since tradition requires the King's heir to marry the most powerful of the eligible shape-mages, Iris obviously should be one to marry Muller. By then, Chime and Muller have truly become enamored with each other. Oh, the complications that arise.

This story also has another major character who complicates the situation even further. High in the Boxer-Mage Mountains, Unbent lives in a modest cottage with his adopted son, whom he calls Dani. The boy is blind, deaf and mute, but has the shape-mage talent.

One day, Iris detects this strong talent and is sent out to bring the boy back to the castle. Unfortunately, the guards confuse and scare the boy and he is brought to the castle trussed up like an animal. Things don't go very well until Iris contacts the boy with her talent and soothes his fears.

The story presents an exotic form of magic in a fairly standard tale of a power-hungry king trying to conquer a smaller and richer, but magically powerful, neighboring country. The romance between Chime and Muller is subject to powerful traditions, but it all works out at the end. The romance between Iris and Dani is less traditional, but it too ends well.

Highly recommended for Asaro fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of exotic magic, insecure adolescents, and romantic twists.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Great book from start to finish. I was first introduced to Catherine Asaro when I read "Moonglow" and I have not been disappointed. I love the geometry-based magic and the colours it incorporates. I was looking forward to seeing Jarid and Iris in more detail in this book but I was well satisfied with the development of Chime and Muller. I highly recommend this book. I don't know what others are talking about when they give less 4 stars reviews but if you want a great read that keeps you coming back, this is the book for you!

I have never read Asaro's work before but after reading this delightful book, she is quickly becoming one of my favorites. The true attraction about this book was the interplay of language between Iris and her lover, the lost Prince. It isn't the deep cold realities of George R. R. Matin's Clash of Kings, but still an immensely enjoyable book for a frivolous past time. I highly recommend it to readers who are looking for a warm hearted romantic story set in a magical world where good and evil are too well defined so your loyalties will not lie elsewhere. Misted Cliff's is the sequel following the second generation and also highly recommended.

Both Muller and Chime have responsibilities that they don't want to have, but they have to face their destiny. Muller being the heir and future King and Chime a powerful shape-mage. But their roles change, Muller is no longer the heir and Chime is no longer the most powerful, although neither one wanted what they thought to be their destiny, they wonder what will become of them when it changes. They are asked to help the new King and Queen of Aronsdale against the dark powers and armies of the neighboring Harsdown. Who are invading in time of uncertainty...

A beautifully written novel. A story of percerverence and love, set in a magical world. The Charmed Sphere was my first by the author I will be looking for her other titles, as well.

When the King and his retinue came to Jacob's Vale searching for mages, Chine tried to hide since she didn't want to leave the family orchard and go to Castle Suncroft. Della No-Cozen, the mage-mistress immediately saw how much power she had and persuaded her to come to the castle to learn how to use her abilities properly. The king's nephew and heir, Prince Muller is expected to marry Chine, but he doesn't want to wed anyone nor become king.

Chine also doesn't want to be queen and the thought of marrying the prince is ludicrous until she comes to know him. Muller quickly falls in love with his betrothed but Della finds Iris, another mage more powerful than Chine and Iris locates Javid the king's grandson thought to have died fourteen years ago. Muller and Chine are both chagrined and happy to realize they won't be monarchs but they still have a very important role to play in the kingdom. King Varquelle of Harsdown plans to invade and annex the land of Aronsdale with the help of his powerful mage, Anvil and it will take the special powers of Chine and Muller to stop them if they can learn to control their magic.

Readers will love this epic romantic fantasy that reads like an adult fairy tale. There are two couples who must overcome many obstacles before they can admit their love for one another and it is fascinating watching them slowly mature into heroic figures to be admired. This is a very different kind of work than Catherine Asara's science fiction novels involving the Skalian Empire, but this novel is just as engrossing and enthralling.

Harriet Klausner