Magi'i of Cyador by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could just say that I really enjoyed this tale of a chaos mage that couldn't cut it, who was shipped off to be a lancer on the rough borders of Cyador, but I won't. That's a given.

What I will mention is this: I've developed a relationship with Modesitt's books. With other authors, I tend to expect certain things, maybe great tech, rules, battles, or high emotions in their characters. Some books are volatile.

These have the unique distinction of being emotionally balanced. Logical. Reasonable. They always make me feel good. In charge. Able to cope. They make me ... better.

There's no other way to describe it.

I'm definitely not saying these are boring. There are tons of deaths and bloodshed and backstabbing and intrigue, but at their core, the MAIN CHARACTERS always pull it all together and give us a solid, rather amazing, balanced outlook that always wins out in the end, despite the travails.

I mentioned this kind of thing in previous reviews in the full series. I even complained a little about how the MCs are all cut from the same cloth.

But now? I'm coming to RELY upon it. A tale, an adventure, a love story, and despite setbacks, a constant upward trend. I'm really starting to love this effect.

So yes, it's still about mixtures of chaos and order and yes we're deep in the middle of an ongoing tapestry of Cyador's history. That's all still great. But what might be better is how it makes me feel. :)

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