Wysard

By Carolyn Kephart

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1563151448
• ISBN13: 9781563151446
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Sterlinghouse Publisher
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Down right enthralling!

Ryel Mirai is taught the Art behind the gates of Markul by his kinsman, Edris. A vile sorcerer, Dagar, captures Edris and holds him in the Void. A prophecy waits to be fulfilled and Ryel begins a mystical journey, searching for Srin Yan Tai, who would tell him all he needed to know. Ryel's journey takes him to many places that overflow with danger, witchcraft, and treason. The fate of the World is in his young wysard hands. ***** This story will hold its readers to their seats tighter than Super Glue! I could not stop reading and I turned the pages eagerly in my quest to see what would happen next. Author Carolyn Kephart has created a realm with a cast of amazing characters that will enchant even the most reluctant reader. I can hardly wait to begin the sequel LORD BROTHER. Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

Enchanting and Mystical, Highly Recommended

This lush and magical fantasy novel tells the story of Ryel Mirai, a lord of Markul, who embarks on a treacherous quest in which the stakes are higher than his life or the lives of those he loves-- the stakes include their souls and their world. In flashbacks we learn that Ryel entered the city and began learning to become a wysard (think "wizard") at a young age. He had to leave behind his family in the process, but he gained a new family in the wysards who taught him, including Edris, who had old and enigmatic ties to Ryel's family.At the opening of the book, Edris has died under mysterious circumstances that tormet Ryel. Ryel is also hearing voices-- actually, just a single, taunting voice that is telling him to venture beyond the walls of the city and travel elsewhere to save a beautiful princess, as well as his own mother, who is sick and dying. While he may have ignored the plight of a princess who was a stranger to him, he cannot ignore his mother's need of his skill as a learned physician and a powerful wysard. Ryel soon finds that dark forces are intertwined with the horrific events in his life: the evil sorcerer, Dagar, is determined to defeat him and rule Markul. This is only the beginning of a battle between good and evil.This book has all the elements of a superior fantasy novel, including the creation of a unique, full-blooded world. Wysard's world is more like four worlds, since there are four great cities described. Another element is the battle of good against evil, with the good not being perfect, and the evil tempting its characters. The book will make the reader think and wonder, not only about the storyline, but about the nature of life, death, and fate. As in real life, there are no easy or simple answers.The author keeps the action flowing while revealing the inner workings of the wysard's mind. The language and imagery of the book are rich and eloquent. The plot has a satisfying amount of twists and keeps the reader turning those pages. Most of the characters are three-dimensional: they are human and realistic, with flaws, secrets, and complexities. The only prominent character that would be served well with further development was the love interest, the princess Diara. Perhaps that will be something to look forward to in the next book.As for criticism, I can only say that I did not know this was book one of a series that will be continued in Part II, and I can't wait to read that one as well. I'm hooked. If it has not been released yet, I urge Ms. Kephart to hurry up and publish it. I highly recommend this book.

A new, ORIGINAL masterpiece

Ryel, the young protagonist, has spent most of his life in a walled city with other wysards for company. He has lived a very sheltered life. He left home as a child with his uncle and mentor to gain knowledge and refine his magical skills. However, his mentor is killed by an evil presence, Daggar, and a young princess cries out for help. Ryel must leave his home and return to the world for revenge, or is there a way to help his mentor?Think you've heard it all before? Well, maybe you have, but you haven't heard it like this. Each character is well developed and very real. Each has flaws, quirks, momments of courage, and momments of almost insurmountable self-doubt. They form loving friendships, and destroy friendships because of suspiscion. You will feel their triumphs, as well as their pain.Even more impressive is the imagery of this novel. You will be transported to Ms. Kepharts world. The descriptions of Almancar left me overwhelmed. I read these passages over and over.And finally, the story: though you may find yourself rapidly turning pages to quench your overwhelming desire to find out what's next, I caution the reader to read slowly and not miss a word of Ms. Kephart's beautiful prose.

A great novel! A gifted author!

Carolyn Kephard earned her Ph.D. in English Literature from Penn State University. Her area of expertise includes English Literature through the Medieval, Renaissance and Restoration periods. Wysard is the first of a two-part series revolving around a young adept named Ryel Mirai, who leaves his harsh existence on the Inner Steppes to study with Edris, his father's brother, in Marcul learning the art of the Wysand.As Ryel discovers, his father Yorganar is not really his father: "Ryel had never in his life heard any man other than his father call his mother by her name. It was unfit, as it was unfit for a married woman to remain in the presence of an newcomer after the first greetings were done, or speak to her brother-in-law, or oppose her husband in anything. But his mother was not of the Steppes, and had kept the ways of her city. What shocked Ryel even more was that his father had not ordered her to withdraw, nor rebuked her for her presumption. He felt confused and uneasy at so much law-breaking."Ryel studies for a dozen years in Markul, learning that his gift is great and that there is a dark side to the art...a wraithworld of the void. Precocious as he is, Ryel overreaches and is rewarded with the dark eyes seen only by fellow wysands. Edris dies mysteriously, and Ryel is lured out into the world by Dagar, a disembodied spirit from the shadows, who promises much in his lust to occupy Ryel's body. Ryel takes the challenge and finds that he has allies in high and powerful places...who are also of his blood. As his powers grow, so does the danger, as he travels ever closer to the void which entraps Edris.Wysard is superbly well crafted, and Carolyn Kephart is going to pick up a fan in anyone who picks up this book. She has the power to truly convey the reader into this pleasurable world of magic and yearning. Her imagination is as rich as her writing is concise. Kephard picks up the reader, who embarks on a river of fantasy, only to whimper for more when the story reaches its stopping point. All the reader can hope for is a speedy second book to reestablish the connection at the earliest possible time. Wysard is a fascinating, and Kephard is talented. Shelley Glodowski, Reviewer

Intimate, insightful, a MUST read - The Wysard

As an avid fantasy reader, I have read books by many authors. Few have the technical skill and rich depths of prose found in the Wysard. This book reveals a world filled with striking cultures and offers insights into the characters that are not often seen in this genre. The main character Ryel is surrounded by a building sexual tension that changes his role in the world as he discovers the machinations of the malevolent Dagar. From intensely intimate scenes between Ryel and Edris, to Michael's stark cruelty, this book was crafted with word by word care and it shows. I eagerly await part 2 of the Wysard and highly recommend this first book in the Wysard series.