RANGE of GHOSTS, the first in Elizabeth Bear's Eternal Sky duology, is fascinating on a number of levels. Firstly, her phenomenal world-building resembles the Mongols with their nomadic traditions and steppe horses rather than the traditional medieval knights, swords and castles. Her abilities to create environment goes far beyond simple descriptions: as one travels from land to land, the sky changes, mimicking each people's cultural beliefs. One land has a moon for every descendant while another will have a yellow sun for example.

Some might feel that RANGE of GHOSTS is too slow paced, but I found it just right. Her lyrical proses matches the pacing and mood of the novel and while it doesn't move at a blistering pace, it never lags either. Her characters have depth far beyond those found in many fantasies as well.

Temur, the grand-son of the Khan is one of the only survivors of a great battle between an older brother and an uncle. Determined to survive, he travels on horseback and runs into another Plains family. He befriends Edeene, but the leader of an evil cult has plans for him. The family is attacked by blood ghosts raised from the victims of battle who were not properly laid to rest, and Edeene and e is taken away. The other reason I found this book admirable, is there isn't a white person to be found which is a nice change.

Temur vows to find and rescue her. Along the way, he meets with Samarkar, once princes of the Rasan empire, and now a wizard. Together they and their friends will try to wrest Edeene from the clutches of the cult leader and restore peace to the empire.

I've simplified this to a great degree. The political plays and different magics and creatures of the land have far more to them than I could possibly give in a short review. Suffice it to say, that this is my first foray into Elizabeth Bear's work, and it certainly won't be the last. Not only will I read the second book in the duology, The Shattered Pillars, but I will seek out her other series as well.

Bear not only excels at character development, plot twists and describing the different cultures, beliefs and environments of her characters, but her writing is beautiful. I found myself going back sometimes to re-read paragraphs for appreciation.

Book Summary

Temur, grandson of the Great Khan, is walking away from a battlefield where he was left for dead. All around lie the fallen armies of his cousin and his brother, who made war to rule the Khaganate. Temur is now the legitimate heir by blood to his grandfather’s throne, but he is not the strongest. Going into exile is the only way to survive his ruthless cousin.

Once-Princess Samarkar is climbing the thousand steps of the Citadel of the Wizards of Tsarepheth. She was heir to the Rasan Empire until her father got a son on a new wife. Then she was sent to be the wife of a Prince in Song, but that marriage ended in battle and blood. Now she has renounced her worldly power to seek the magical power of the wizards. These two will come together to stand against the hidden cult that has so carefully brought all the empires of the Celadon Highway to strife and civil war through guile and deceit and sorcerous power.