D. Wallace Peach is, as far as I’m concerned, the master of world creation. In Liars and Thieves, she blends goblins, elves, and changelings against a vivid backdrop that transports you with its gorgeous descriptions.
In the world of Liars and Thieves, there is the Veil, a shimmering wall behind which a malevolent presence, Kalann Il Draak, dwells. He cannot penetrate the wall but unravels its material for seeds of chaos to slip through. And chaos is beginning to spread, beginning with the inexplicable disappearance of members of all three races. Three individuals find themselves placed squarely in the path of the oncoming storm: Elanalue Windthorn (Alue), an elf and a soldier who can’t seem to stop herself from acting without thinking; Talin Raska, a changeling who lives with Alue in the form of her pet martin, but who is actually is a talented liar, thief, and spy for the Changeling Queen; and Naj’ar, a half-breed goblin and a loner, with a talent he cannot control. These characters are so well-limned that the reader finds themself in their heads.
Goblins consider themselves to be superior. They have brilliant minds when it comes to engineering skills. Furthermore, they mine crystals which are the main source of power for the rest of the Borderlands, selling them in a rationing system to the Elves and Changelings. Elves need them to power their world, including weapons, while changelings need their power to be able to morph. The elves are arrogant, competitive, and dismissive of treaties and laws in their pursuit of ways to steal the crystals. Changelings are just plain devious. It’s no wonder these three characters are enemies for a good part of the story, but fate, calamity, and the powers governing each of these races forces them together to determine just what is happening and why.
If you like elves or goblins or changelings – or just a darned good yarn, this is the book for you.
About the author from Amazon):
Wallace Peach started writing later in life after the kids were grown and a move left her with hours to fill. Years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books, and when she started writing, she was instantly hooked. Diana lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two dogs, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.
The author can be found
On twitter: @Dwallacepeach
On her blog: http://mythsofthemirror.com
On her website: dwallacepeachbooks.com
Liars and Thieves can be found on Amazon:
Fabulous review for an equally fabulous writer! <3 Sharing…
Well, you are a ‘peach’ to say that!
Thanks so much, Bette. You are a peach. Lol.
Thanks so much for the wonderful review, Noelle. I happened upon it this morning on Amazon, and then here, and couldn’t be more grateful. Thanks you for taking the time to read and jot down your thoughts. Have a marvelous week. Happy Writing and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. 🙂
Same to you, Diana, and thanks for giving me the pleasure of reading your book!
Noelle, a wonderful review and I agree wholeheartedly with your first sentence! Diane is an expert at creating magical worlds and transporting us directly there! This is on my kindle to read soon … when I can sit down and savour it without interruptions!
Thank you Annika! You have a treat awaiting you!
Thanks so much for stopping by Noelle’s to read her review, Annika. I’m honored by her kind thoughts and tickled that you’re going to give the book a try. Thank you. I hope you have a relaxing holiday ahead with plenty of time for books! Hugs.
I hope so too … this year we are not travelling up to my brother and family so I should definitely have more relaxing time!
We’re going with a quiet Christmas too – making the best of it. <3