I just recently got a copy of this book and ever since I've been glued to it! It's a really good book. Definitely worth the time it takes to read. The only problem is the ending, and there are 2 more to help with that. I have no complaints about this book. The confrontations especially are superbly well done, if you have any inclination toward fantasy or science fiction (especially both) this is one book you should look up.

If you are young, romantic, impressionable, warning! You are about to have a hero (Tarod) for life! This book is so melodic and finely balanced I never read it without hearing a silent wail of the perfect background music: U2's Achtung baby album... probably Mysterious Ways, Y Love is blindness.. And wasn't that just the best album they produced? I believe this series is LC's most outstanding trilogy.. it is achingly beautiful and impossibly tragic...
Okay I hope I'm not putting you off it here, but honestly, this is still one of the best books I have ever read, and I've read more than a few. For similarly smashing books, see my so you want to list...
Read the book and then write you can write your own overly gushy & cringe worthy descriptions trying to capture it's essence, and convince others to read it. Until then...

I first read this trilogy as a teenager, more than 10 years ago, and unlike other fantasy writers who shall remain nameless, these books have stood the test of time. My only regret is that Cooper's stuff, like that of other excellent UK fantasy writers, is difficult to find.

"The Initiate" is the first of the Time Master Trilogy, which also consists of "The Outcast" and "The Master," in that order. The series takes place in a nameless world, vaguely bronze-age, which is ruled by a triad of powers, two of which are religious and one of which is secular. The reason that religion is so powerful in this world becomes clear as the series progresses. Thar's gods in them thar hills, and they come into the world periodically to clash, wreak havoc, and overturn the very nature of human society. At the start of the series, this overturning has happened at least once that we know---when the gods of Chaos were overthrown by the gods of Order (related in a prologue, and in the later-published "Star Ascendant" trilogy). An unfathomable amount of time later, the world has been ruled by Order for so long that no one remembers anything of Chaos other than dark rumor and superstition.

The story focuses on a young boy, nameless at first, who through tragic circumstances reveals that he has a phenomenal amount of sorcerous power. He is miraculously transported to the Castle of the Star Peninsula, the ruling seat of the highest of the two religious organizations which govern the world: the Circle. There the boy, who names himself Tarod, seems to fit in perfectly, in an environment where his hunger for occult knowledge and magical power are encouraged---at first. But Tarod is different from the other initiates of the Circle. He's arrogant and hot-tempered and a bit cold and cruel, although he is also fiercely loyal and scrupulously honorable. He scorns their adherence to ritual and tradition, and experiments with magic in ways that no one else would dare. Yet the greatest difference between him and the other initiates only begins to make itself known gradually and insidiously, slipping into his dreams and darkening his personality yet further. His fellow initiates react to these changes with fear and suspicion, and gradually they begin to close ranks against the outsider. Matters come to a head when Tarod's best friend, the young High Inititate Keridil, discovers Tarod's true nature. Will he decide Tarod's fate according to his friendship with Tarod, or the tenets of tradition? Whatever he decides will affect Tarod's decision between the path of good and the path of... something else.

This is only the start of an extremely complex look at the old good/evil, order/chaos theme---an original one, which deliberately plays with the reader's conception of the two powers. The defenders of Order are not good; Keridil is motivated as much by jealousy and lust as he is by his duty as the High Initiate. The agents of Chaos are not evil; although their motives don't become clear until later books, most of them are driven by love and loyalty. There is order and chaos in *every* character, not just in the unseen gods. Which of the two powers will win? It's not clear until the end (of the series).

This book is slower-paced than the other two in the series, but that's in part because it's more of a character study than the other two, which are more event-driven. The tone of the next two is set, however, with a spectacular occult ritual in the climax that has unexpected results.

There are two other trilogies set in this world--- the "Chaos Gate" trilogy, and the "Star Ascendant" series. CG has been published in the US, but only the first volume of Star Ascendant made it over here. The Time Master trilogy, though, is the first, and the best.

In this second book we find Tarod 'prisoner' in a castle with the time stopped, he himself provoked this stasis. His soul is trapped in a jewel and he waits...

Until Cyllan, the drover girl he had met in the first book is caught by a warp and ends in the shores of the castle. Tarod and Cyllan get to know each other, but mainly they discover Tarod, his true nature and what a startling nature that is! Cyllan becomes very loyal to Tarod, and eventually the stasis is broken and they are again loose in the world...

This book is more fast paced than the previous and the relations between the characters are very interesting. We begin to see that it's wrong when only one side rules (in this case order), there needs to be an equilibrium.

I found this book absolutely fantastic. I read it about ten years ago and lent my whole set to somebody who never returned them. I'd love to read them again but have only been able to purchase the first and last one as 'The Outcast' is out of print at present. Please, please, if anybody out there knows where I can get a copy, please let me know - I'm desperate! I can't wait to get back into the story of Tarod and after reading the reviews above, I want to read them even more.

babs@phil57.freeserve.co.uk

Louise Cooper is a great author, I'm in the process of reading all her books (to bad they're so hard to find). But I think The Outcast will always be the best. It's fast paced and the plot is spellbinding. I read this book before the Initiate but I still caught on to plot okay, yet its not redundant. The character development is so good that it makes you fall in love with the good guys(Chaos) and forever despise the bad ones (I can't even make myself type the evil -O- word, that's how much I hate them). This book brings out the best and worst in a person's emotions, at times I wanted to cry and other times I wanted to kill. The plot revolves around Tarod, who in the previous book, was almost executed before he stopped time, living soulless, timeless, and alone in the castle while the rest of the world lived on, until Cyllan and the Heir Margrave, Drachea, broke through the barrier. A barrier of mistrust, misunderstanding, and dislike quickly arises between the three of them. Until one of them (I won't say who) breaks through it so they can work together to restore time and Tarod's soul then leave the castle and live together and not bother anybody. But something interferes (I won't say what) and screws up their plan. You'll just have to read it to find out.

I thought that this book was great especially the cast of the characters, it was well thought of and hard to put down. Althought you find this with all Louise Cooper books I thought that this book was especially good.

Out of Louise Cooper's mulitudes of novels this is one of my favorites. The atmosphere is incredible, and because you step into the story at the same place as the protagonist, Kyre, every step of the way his world is revealed to you at the same rate, so you receive the same revelations. It is a great display of how history can affect the future, but not always in ways you would expect. If you like novels, that make you regret the story is over. If you want a challenging book to read that is difficult to put down, I finished in two days. If you haven't read Louise Cooper before, Mirage would be a good starting point, and will be your first of many purchases.

Indigo is traveling with a family of performers, who have kind of adopted her in their midst. But all goes well until they reach a land where people start to rise from their beds and going soemwhere no one knows of, the crops start to bligth and amongst other things the sun doesn't rise.

In this state of eternal night and a forest of thorns growing everywhere, Indigo is sure she has found her demon, but to locate him, that's more difficult. The demon seems to be everywhere, through his illusions, and Indigo's powers of denial must be great not to believe him.

It's interesting how we see from book to book the development of Indigo's character, she really evolves becoming more determined, human, and grown up.

Nocturne is perhaps my favorite chapter in the epic journey of Indigo, although it is hard to pick one.In Nocturne, Louise Cooper blends contrasting elements very effectively. On the one side you have Indigo joined up with a travling show. Where motleys of colors and myriads of songs are the norm. But then color starts to depart from the landscape around them, and in the wake of blighted crops fear starts to grow. It is here Indigo meets her third demon, and unlike those in the past, her power takes center stage. This book gives haunting questions of reality, as well as what is the true nature of fear. With all these elements, it would have been very easy to fall victim to meaningless cliches. But as any fan of Louise Cooper will attest, one of her strongest suits is her ability to take ideas you have seen or heard before, and show them to you in a completely different way. If you are considering staring a series by Louise Cooper, make sure you have every book of the series before you start reading them, or you just might drive yourself crazy in the interim.

This book is very interesting, it tells the voyage of Varka, while he searches for his dead love, 'following' the tarot's major arcana cards. It's very simple and at the same time very complicated, in a manner that shows Louise Cooper's talent and originality. The word paradox will follow you throughout the book.

I, like other reviewers, read this book in the early seventies.
It is one of the most profound books I have read because 30 years later I am still trying to find a copy.

Buy it; read it; do not ever lose it.

I read this book in 1974. Lost the copy and have been searching for another copy for 24 years. Last week I found one for an exorbanant cost and bought it. It is worth every penny.

I read Louise Cooper's Time Master trilogy and the first book of the Time Master prequel series (when Chaos rules), and enjoyed them for their chilling, vivid imagery. They were un-put-downable. I had to read through the night to finish them. Cooper has one of the most original, malign, and imaginative minds in the fantasy business. When I was unable to locate the two other books of the Time Master prequel, I started working my way through one of her earlier series: the Indigo books, of which "Nemesis" is the first.

"Nemesis" is the story of a Celtic Pandora named Anghara who opens the wrong box and lets evil back into the world. There are large sections of imaginative, Cooperesque fantasy and well worth reading. In fact, I've already ordered the second book in the Indigo series. However, overall I'd have to guess that 'Nemesis' is one of Cooper's first ventures into fantasy. The heroine is an arrogant, impulsive, headstrong adolescent who doesn't really change through the course of the book, even though her whole family is slaughtered by the demons she frees, and her lover is condemned to purgatory until she can rescue him.

The lover is the character I really feel sorry for. He is brave, kind, and completely innocent of wrong-doing and yet he is condemned to a particularly awful life-in-death while Anghara-Indigo escapes pretty much unscathed from her own act of wickedness (her hair turns gray and a few months into the plot, she sprains her ankle).

With occasional pick-me-ups from the Earth Mother, Anghara-Indigo sets out to recapture the demons she let loose on the world, hindered by her nemesis (an evil copy of herself with what appear to be vast supernatural powers) and helped by a talking wolf.

'Nemesis' is a good fantasy and worth reading, just not as good as Cooper's later books.

This is a very good book to start a very good series! I had never read Louise Cooper before, but I will definitely read more of her books now. The story begins kind of slow, but more than makes up for it through the whole book. It is an excellent story of an obnoxious princess who, out of arrogance and foolhardiness, ruins her perfect life and curses the world when she releases the seven demons in the fabled Tower of Regrets, and must not rest (or die) until she restores peace to the Earth Mother. It has many, many qualities, emotionally, suspensefully, and most importantly, fantasy! Three cheers for Louise Cooper!!

I read these books probably five or six years ago when a friend lent them to me. Of course, since they are so hard to get a hold of, she made me give them back to her right away, so I only got the chance to read them once. I have been dying to get my hands on my own copies ever since. Although each book could probably stand alone, I recommend that you read them all, in order. Indigo is an intriguing heroine, a headstrong princess who inadvertently makes a terrible mistake and is forced to spend decades setting things right again. Although these books are very hard to find, I highly recommend you put in the effort - they are worth it!

I really would've given Infanta four and one half stars, I figure it will average out with the other reviewers. Infanta took awhile to get going, and while it was interesting, it wasn't the most captivating intro Louise Cooper has written. The initial slowness, and the constantly looking for someone to aid her in her quest are the reasons for the rating. I felt that Indigo was given this quest, she was told she can't die, so why such conservatism? Any problems that her rashness would've inflicted on the people, would easily out weigh the danger of having a demon in their midst. Objectively, though, I feel that her hesitancy might've been necessary to round out the story. Because of the nature of this book I will stray from any details, so as not to ruin any of the surprises. An overall view on this book then: In Infanta the demon is far more complex an entity than Charchad of Inferno, and Indigo is forced to rise to that level. Mystery is all around Indigo, but there never seems to be a plausible source to turn to for answers. No Jasker this time. At every turn Indigo is thwarted, making her goal appear less and less likely to succeed. I found myself really raking my mind to guess as to how her situation would be resolved. Infanta once it picks up speed really grabs a hold of you. It is, however, only one small piece in the puzzle of Indigo. Get all eight books.

'Infanta' is probably the most original book of the Indigo series. The plot is concerned with Indigo destroying the second demon she released from the Tower of Regrets. This book has a timespan of several years, a lot more than any of the other Indigo books.
The setting of the novel, and the way the mystery was unraveled made it very captivating, making the reader feel like a part of a world that becomes very real through the vivid descriptions. Although it has been a few months since I read this, I can still remember how I pictured each place or building in the story because of the detail the author has gone in to.
'Infanta' did not focus on Indigo's character as much as the other books, but she is still portrayed like a real person who makes mistakes, unlike many of the 'perfect' heroes of other fantasy novels. There were other characters in the story too, such as the Infanta, Grimya and Macce, who each had distinct personalities.
The quest to find the second demon is balanced with the appearance of the Nemesis and the bringing up of the Infanta. The events of this novel, and the form of the demon contrasts a lot with the preceding and following books in the series.
There were some things which I did not particularly like, such as the way the demon was destroyed, and events seeming to happen too suddenly with little warning. I found that the pace of the book seemed too slow or too fast a lot of the time.
But, all the aspects of the plot come together quite well, and I think overall this is a great novel.

This is the third book in the Indigo series, and although not one of the more fast paced, one of the best, in my opinion. The stone takes Indigo to Simhara, the Jewel of the East; in a time of turmoil, for the city has been taken by a conqueror. But the omens are ambigous, and as she takes care of the infanta, to be among the happenings, time passes. But she never forgets the words of the fortune teller: Beware the serpent eater...

Indigo is obviously doomed to encounter the second demon she released from the tower of regrets, but hers is a work of patience, and the only soul she can trust is Grimya, her devoted, talker wolf friend.

This book is an excellent resource for researching the life and works of Beethoven. The sections regarding compositions are broken down by ensemble and type, and provide important information such as performance dates, key signatures, time signatures, and movement headings. Almost all topics, including such things as Beethoven's handwriting, favorite literature, philosophies, thoughts on other composers, are covered. Very handy for reference, as well as a guide to starting Beethoven research. Well worth it at twice the price!

Undoubtedly thousands of books have been written about Beethoven, but what sets this one apart from the others is its well-organized and exhaustive structure. Perhaps the best way to highlight this for the prospective buyer is to list the actual sections contained in this book. 1. Calendar of Beethoven's life, works and related events 2. Beethoven's family tree 3. Who's who of Beethoven's contemporaries 4. Historical background 5. Musical background 6. Beethoven as an individual 7. Beethoven's beliefs and opinions. Following section 7 are several more sections dedicated solely to his music. As you can see, this book offers several aspects that many others neglect to include. This structure also affords one the opportunity to go directly to an area of interest without having to wade through myriad pages. Also included are eight pages of paintings, sculptures and sketches of the maestro. This book is equally at home in the bathroom, on the coffee table, or in the study. It is an invaluable source of information for anyone desiring to learn more about this amazing genius.

This book offers chapter after chapter of information on every aspect of Beethoven. I find that every time I pick this book up, I can find something interesting to read about. Obviously the music as catalogued and described. Beyond that, details of the great composer's personality, writing style, health difficulties, as well as his known views on a variety of topics provide endless hours of fascinating reading. I am impressed by the thoroughness of this book. Listings of people who Beethoven knew or interacted with, his influences and those he influenced, pictures and descriptions of his handwriting and manuscripts, the historical perspective on the times he lived in, all clearly described. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about this great master, and to anyone who is interested in the life and times of one of the most influential artists to ever live. In summary I have found it accurate and complete and always interesting. It is an indispensable reference.

I recently stumbled across The Sleep of Stone in my local library and thought it looked interesting. My read of it turned out to be a predictable, but pleasant experience.

It is a very short novel about the origens of a local legend. The shortness makes it an enjoyable quick read and the legend, although influenced by various fairy tales, is fresh and captivating. The story is presented in a simple storytelling frame structure. An old man encounters a young couple in a local romantic grotto and ends up telling them the sadly romantic legend associated with it of a young couple from years before and of the creature whose consuming love of the young man tried to destroy them. It is a story sweetly told, but with a close eye to the deep emotions of the characters.

I found the actual tale of the Sleep of Stone to be the best part of the book. The frame story was cute, but it was distracting. It actually took me a few tries in starting the book because I couldn't get past that part. While the end part is good, the beginning part (which sets up the real story) is not very captivating.

The real strength of the book was the way as a reader I was able to empathize with the characters' emotions. The young love of the couple was evident, but most vivid were the feelings of the creature that tried to destroy that love. The creature's obsessive love of the young man completely consumed her. This burning desire pushes her to trick, murder, and unleash utter chaos at the young couple's wedding. The passion is so real, it is disturbing.

The book follows a typical plotline for a fairytale type story, but it still is a touching and enjoyable read. Pick it up for a short cozy evening and have fun.

The Sleep of Stone is marvelous. It's a simple story, but told with stunning beauty and depth. The atmosphere is dreamy and slightly surrealistic. This wonderful little treasure can be read on so many different levels-- The Sleep of Stone just goes to show that fantasy doesn't have to be of epic proportions to be excellent. This slim little volume touched me more than six or seven hundred pages of complex plots and myriad characters could have.

You have to read this book it was the best book ever to be written and one you simply just can't pass up. I rated it a ten only because there were no higher choices!!! There is just not enough words in the english dictionary to describe how wonderful a book this really was!!!

This book is another example of coopers excellent writing style. His wonderful world where life depends on what side your on. A must read!!

This book is the first volume to the 'Star shadow' trilogy which is a prequel to 'The time master' trilogy. I think the second and the third volume in the trilogy aren't yet available in the U.S.A. but I have the English edition and they are entitled: Eclipse (the second volume) and Moonset (the third volume). I give 10 to the entire trilogy because this volumes are also awesome. I think it's really interesting to read this trilogy before 'The time master' trilogy because you already have a background to the story and understand much better a lot of things. I think the story is very well structured and original and the characters aren't stereotyped. Chaos is ruling the world through the magi and the gods of order are exiled and can't reach the world, but there are people still loyal to the gods of order whom the magi call heretics. When the first magus dies, magus Vordegh becames first magus, but though he's a poweful sorcerer he's evil and insane and starts to take measures to erradicate the heretics that doesn't meet with a consensus among the magi... Iselia Darrow is loyal to the gods of order and was recently married to a man who's also loyal to her gods. She's captured by the chaos riders during a warp,(they don't know she's an heretic) and taken to the castle. Benetan Liss is the Captain of the chaos riders, he was captured when he was 12 and was betrothed to Iselia. When he discovers she's in the castle, feelings he didn't remember come back and he becomes divided between love and duty.... Louise Cooper's view of the eternal war between chaos and order is very interesting, and you get the idea that if the equilibrium of the world is to be maintained neither can rule forever!

As usual Ms. Cooper has outdone herself, stepping back into the artfully created world of her 'Time Master' trilogy. Going back into the recesses of history, she unveils some of the myth and legend of the time before the Lords of Chaos were displaced from their rulership. Good plot twists, excellent character development. If you found either of her previous Time Master trilogies interesting, this will be a must have series as well.