Longeye (The Fey Duology)

By Steve Miller and Sharon Lee

Book Overview

Hidden from the human-inhabited world by the inimical magical device knownas the keleigh, the Vaitura has become a subtle battleground where the onceall-powerful Elder Fey strive against each other... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416591532
• ISBN13: 9781416591535
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Baen
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.2" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

A riveting fantasy saga

The Vaitura has long been hidden from the human world, but is the battleground for competing fairy races - including a half-human, half-Fey woman injected into the picture and a convalescing Ranger known as Longeye. Here Rebecca is held against her will in service to the Queen - and must escape her captors to form new, dangerous alliances in this riveting fantasy saga, perfect for libraries strong in action fantasy presentations.

A romp with fantasy

I am a total Liaden freak and can't wait for new installments in that saga. This venture into fantasy is good but not quite as good as the space opera. Definitely read the first one "Duainfey" before reading this one since it won't make a lot of sense without that introduction to this fantasy land. The wise trees are a fabulous touch; I have loved that concept since Tolkien introduced me to it.

Satisfying conclusion

I'm a long-time fan of Lee and Miller. I greatly enjoy their Liaden novels but was also glad to see them branch out and try something new. That said, I found Duainfey darker in tone that I care for. Longeye balances that out to some extent. The plot was engaging. Some things I saw coming, and enjoyed anticipating; others I didn't, and enjoyed being surprised by. For me, the character of the Ranger Meripen Vangleuf carried the duology. There's certainly trauma in his past and angst in his present, but he keeps putting one foot in front of the other, striving to figure out the right thing to do and then to do it. Becca I found more ... annoying. She swings from too trusting, to too downtrodden, to too paranoid. It's not a failure in the writing, exactly. She's a plausible character, with understandable reactions and flaws consistent with her experience. I just didn't like her for a good part of Duainfey and the first chunk of Longeye. She did finally come to growth that made her more appealing toward the end, but I wouldn't have stuck with her for a book and a half if it hadn't been for the alternation with Meri's point of view. And, of course, the trees. I would have stuck around just for the conversations with the trees. And I was willing to give Becca the benefit of the doubt before I came to like her, because the trees liked her. Read Duainfey first, because I don't think this one makes sense without it, but I'd recommend you have Longeye ready as a chaser.

Excellent storytelling

As with all books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Longeye is a polished gem of storytelling. This is second book of a duology (following Duainfey) and is a a continuation of the fantasy started in the first volume. Many readers will like Longeye better than Duainfey -- it's a bit lighter in tone. But what draws me to Lee and Miller's work is their ability to draw the reader into the story. This one continues that fine tradition, providing great characterizations, engaging dialogue, and growth of the characters. I will not provide spoilers, but urge anyone with an appreciation of well-told fantasy to buy this book. Lee and Miller fans will recognize this as a must read.

The Ghost Trees

Longeye (2009) is the second fantasy novel in this duology, following Duainfey. In the previous volume, Rebecca denied the collar three times and removed it. Then she reached for the dagger. She was put to sleep by Sian to keep her from suiciding. Then Diathen placed Rebecca in the protective custody of Sian. Meanwhile, Meri had been taken to the Newman village by Sam. There Jamie took him to his nest. Meri was impressed by its arrangement and comfort. In this novel, Altimere is an Elder Fey. He is one of the artificiers of the keleigh. He gave a necklace to Becca that sapped her will, then used her to gather kest -- magical energy -- from others and pass it on to himself. Rebecca Beauvelley is the elder daughter of the Earl of Barimuir. She has a withered arm from an accident. She had previously put herself into thrall to Altimere, but released herself. Becca can speak with the trees and they call her Gardener. Meripen Vanglelauf is Wood Wise and Ranger. He had been awakened from a long healing sleep to aid the Engenium with a problem near the Newman village. He finds the villagers of New Hope to be courteous, but their auras are downright gaudy. Diathen is the Queen of the Fey, She is subject to her people through the Constant, a body of powerful Elves. The Constant decided to build the keleigh despite the Queen's own objections. Sian is Engenium -- ruler -- of Sea Hold and a cousin of the Queen. Meri is beholden to her for his treatment. She sends him to New Hope to tend to the trees. Jamie is the young son of Elizabeth Moore and Palin the Wood Wise. He is also Wood Wise and can talk to the trees. In this story, Altimere finds himself trapped in the mists by his fellow conspirator Zaldore. He can shape the mists into food, drink and other artifacts, but cannot find a path back to the real world. He settles himself comfortably and waits for comprehension. Meri is terrified of entering the dwellings of New Hope, but Elizabeth Moore arranges a meeting on the common. Then they try to tell him about the problem that lead to his presence, but they cannot describe it properly. Meri sets off to see the problem for himself. Sian takes Becca to the Sea Hold through a magical shortcut. On the other side, Becca and Sian have an encounter with some younger Fey who are chasing a Brethren. Becca cleans his wounds and the Brethren considers himself as obligated to her. Later, Becca leaves the path and flees her protectors. She is accompanied by the Brethren, but is soon attacked by a monstrous horse-boar, with two Low Fey on its back. Rosamunde -- Becca's quarter fey horse -- fights the horse-boar. Becca fights one Low Fey and Nancy -- Becca's maid artifact -- fights the other. Meri arrives just as the fighting starts and drives off the horse-boar. Becca destroys her enemy, but the other Low Fey escapes. Nancy has totally used her energy to fight Becca's attackers and seems lifeless. But Becca kisses her and Nancy