Daggerspell By Katharine Kerr

Daggerspell

by   Katharine Kerr

     The world is harsh for young Gillian, the life on the road as the daughter of a Silver Dagger is no true life for a young lass. Though truth be told she wishes for no other.  Loving the sights and sounds and the life on the road more than any other girl would. Feeling comfortable enough in boys clothing and enduring her fathers sometimes harsh moods. 

     Her life was never simple for that was not her wyrd. Her fate  has been twisted together with a few other people for many lifetimes and there is a chance that this time she will live it out to its true potential. With help from another who is entwined to her, Nevyn - no one- the old herb man who is so much more, and the lord who has loved her for so many lifetimes. 

     This story is told over a few of Jill's lifetimes, and you are introduced to Nevyn and his actions that led him to his very long life. It is a interesting way of a story being told, one character who lives forever watching and guiding the others in the ways he can. At the very start I there is a clear chapter like marking them though there isn't really normal numbered chapters. 

     This world has a magic that is a simple and practical kind. The basic ideas of it aren't too complicated and it's simple to follow the ideas of what is going on. The majority of the world does not generally know of it or realizes when it is being used around them. In the present timeline Dweomer is starting to make itself known to the general people of the world. Just slowly. 

     The Arther chose to use words that are a kind of made up Celtic - I am likely being unfair to her, it likely took a lot of work to do... it adds a little but not that much. I just don't feel the need, when a choice like this requires three pages of non-story to explain these words AND a glossary at the end... it just feels un-needed... I read the words in my way anyways (Nevyn sounding more like Neville in my head) that I don't know why she bothered... I don't think the gain out weighed the work she likely put into it... 

     The story though is a good one. I just now realized that it is just the beginning of a very long series (15 books). Heres hoping I can find more.