Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme feels like an outsider amidst his extendedfamily. While his generational heritage is with ship building as he is anoffspring of renowned shipwrights who prefer to stay home, he figures hemust be adopted as he dreams of sailing. Considered of an age andexperience to head the quality insurance of the latest vessel, Ven beginshis inspection.
However, before he can complete his task, fire pirates attack his ship.Ven barely survives and only because the crew of another ship traveling theIsland of Serendair rescue him. Ven is thankful to not only have a littlemagical adventure but unbeknownst to him he is the center of a conspiracythat started with the piracy raid. Unknown assailants believe Ven can leadthem to the uncharted Floating Island where they can obtain the Water ofLife; if his family, friends, and workers must die so be it.
Ven's journal entries and sketches found centuries later by archeologistsmake THE FLOATING ISLAND seem genuine though it is a sword and sorcerytale. The story line is action-packed as Ven relates his first adventuresyears before he becomes famous for his classic later works The Book of AllHuman Knowledge and All the World's Magic. Readers will appreciate thiscoming of age story as the look back by archeologists at the "authentic"persona and events make the realm of THE SYMPHONY OF AGES series settingreal inside a fun fantasy. Elizabeth Haydon is at the top of her game withthis superb sword and sorcery "historical".