This book provides in terms of action, adventure and pure science fiction this book was a great ending to a great story. it really had a lot of twists in plot. i thought that Angus Wells could have put more emotion to work with but i may be wrong.

I picked up the first book and a whim, and loved it. The second is just as good as the first. I am not this man who will write up a HUGE review on all the details of the book. All I can say is as I read the book, I actually felt the impending doom.. and at times, I even wondered if this was truly the last book. I read alot of fantasy, so, most of the time, I know the good guys will win.. but, this, even though I knew they would, I was still guessing. If you like the first, you'll love the second. My only complaint, I honestly think Mr. Wells could have made this into a trilogy.. :)

As the editor who commissioned this book and originally worked with the author on it, I am delighted that readers are so glowing about it. It is certainly deserved. Angus has written a truly accessible book and the commissioned photographs, using time-lapse photography as well as sequential shots, give the reader ample opportunity to really understand what they are doing.

This is my favorite tai chi book. It has helped me re-learn tai chi and then go beyond. As an exercise that seems so non-strenuous, tai chi has significantly improved my muscle tone and control.

I agree with another reviewer in that I don't think tai chi can be learned entirely through a book, but I had taken tai chi lessons for over a year. I stopped practicing and quickly forgot most of what I had learned. The book has helped to bring it back to me.

My first reason for chosing this book is that it matched the form I learned in class - the Chen Man Ching version of the Yang Short Form. There is a recommended variation part way through the book, but it also provides the original postures.

Even better, the book's instructions include a visualization/ meditation to go with many of the postures. For example, with the first movements of the single whip, you are asked to imagine your hands casting a small fishing net and "surrounding yourself with a spray of silver light."

I have found the warm-up exercises in this book to be helpful too. Some are deceptively simple yet powerful. Finally, the end provides some suggestions on how to incorporate tai chi practice into daily home and work life. You don't have to go through the whole form. If you have only a few minutes or a small space, you can practice one or two movements and concentrate on those.

This book is worth seeking out.

If you wish to learn Tai Chi, any book alone is probably insufficient. That said, an introductory reference and overview is equally likely essential. Angus Clark has drawn from his broad experience and deep understanding of the history, forms, and practical benefits of this art in crafting this lovely book.

The book begins with a very helpful historical perspective of Tai Chi and articulates well its relationship to other Chinese martial arts. The presentation of the Short Form (a variation of the Cheng Man-Ch'ing short form) is quite well done with additional material on useful variations.

Throughout the book the breadth of Tai Chi's value is constantly reinforced. From relaxation and exercise, through general health and fitness, to defense and martial forms, Clark nicely opens the door to the cosmos of Tai Chi.

Of particular value are a collection of short notes from Westerners who have taken up this art for a variety of reason and for varying lengths of time. I found these particularly encouraging.

As a newcomer to Tai Chi, I will be supplementing this book with videos and probably local courses. Clark's work is superbly supported with that of the numerous talented illustrators. The result is a lovely book to enjoy, share, and reread often.

Everyone has had one at one point in their reading life. A dry spell. A point in which you have read everything by your favorite authors and none of them seems pressured to publish anything new.

That's what was happening when I found this book. I hate having to try out new authors, but desperate to quench my thirst I starting reading Angus Wells series. After a while I found myself wondering what was going to happen in the next chapter and actually skipping a few chapters ahead to see what happened with particular characters. This book and it's series is new but it gives off a familiar feel. The author has created strong likable characters and an interesting plot.

Highly recommended to everyone who longs for the good old days of fantasy writing! Great plot, great writing, and a smooth read throughout the book.

Unlike much of the writing just mass produced these days, Angus Wells actually has spent time to sit down and create a true diamond in the rough that shines!

Angus is a good story teller, I have read several of his books. Exile was the first. Angus creates wonderful characters, colorful lands, and terrifying enemies. In Exile, he takes a slice of american colonial life, and drops it off in a fantasy world. there are nomadic tribes, and a rich "civilized" land. The book follows the course of these tow groups of people. This is where I had a problem with the book. Angus has always been a little long winded for my tastes. And he will devote several chapters to one set of characters, then jumps back to the others, who you have nearly forgotten. This is very annoying for me, as i prefer that the switch be made more often, after every two chapters or so. Just a personal preferance, but I warn you about it.

This is an unusual story that is told very well. If you love fantasy and are looking for a different twist in a seemingly static genre, this is a book for you.

With this book Angus Wells shows us a struggle between good and evil.It shows us some great excitement and just enough love that it makes the story interesting without getting off the issues.A book that is fun to read,and I believe should be highly reccommened

Though the third book carries the same level of action that occupies the first two books of the series, it is completely ruined by it's unsatisfactory conclusion. The whole plot of all three novels is keeping the god Tharn from being awakened by destroying the book that tells how to wake him up. This never happens in the story. As soon as the book has been taken from the insane wizard who is trying to bring back Tharn, Wells simply concludes the novel with a quick "happily ever after" type ending that tells the reader nothing. The four main characters simply ride off into the sunset without actually completing the task they have been attempting to complete over the course of three novels. Wells simply implies that they will get around to it. I'm sorry, but I believe it to be a rip-off when an author simply dumps an ending like this. It's as if he doesn't care anymore

Wild Magic kept pace with the first two books in this trilogy, and kept my attention just as much. The personal trials that Calandryll, Bracht, Katya, and Cennaire go through flesh these characters out even more. The battle at the end of the book was good, and the conclusion was captifying as well. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a fantasy series.

THE GODWARS. When the First Gods created all things, they brought forth two lesser gods, Tharn and Balatur, to walk upon the new world. But greed and power twisted their minds and turned their ambition into madness. And so the First Gods condemned them to eternal sleep in order to preserve creation. Now, the exiled prince Calandryll, the mercenary Bracht, and the warrior woman Katya pursue Rhythamun, a powerful wizard who would wake one of the mad gods and provoke apocalypse. He carries with him the Arcanum, an ancient book of power that--simply by virtue of having been discovered--already stirs the god from his slumber. But Calandryll and his companions are chased by another vengeful mage, whose dark magics have created Cennaire, an undead murderess, to thwart their efforts. And as they face the perils of civil war, magical assaults, and the ever-present threat of Cennaire's treachery to reach Rhythamun before he wakes the god, they live with the knowledge that the fate of the world rests solely in their hands.

The book is very great, and invokes all sorts of emotions. This is one of those books where the romance is pretty decent ( in a fantasy type of way of course). Surely beats the romance from his Exiles Saga where the girl Flysse is too stubborn in her ways, and the gentleman Arcole becomes all meek! Matter of fact, this book was very well paced compared to Exiles. Made you keep reading, and I didn't think there was really any too slow parts, and this is probably one of the very few books in teh fantasy genre that is well written in the 1st person.

You can read from other reviews what this book is about so I am not really going to comment on that. Very well written and all, the only thing that could've worked out better is the actual "behavior" of the characters and the things they do. I.E. The fact that the authority figure from each race would meekly submit after so many centuries of fixed hatred and opinions is pushing a little. But even more than that, the concept of means and end is little backwards.

The author seems to think that peace can be won from total destruction of concentration of power that oppose them, not to mention innocent slaughtered for this same peace. I understand fantasy is beyond this world, but since they're about humans, the author should at least follow the same value system we have present in our current world. Learn from our own history to know that what he is proposing won't work (i.e. Germany after the end of World War I).

But this disagreement is just on an opinion, and not on the quality of writing.

This was the first book that exposed me to the world of fantasy fiction. There was a mixture of love, hate, power and struggle amongst the characters and not only did Wells did a superb job at bringing the characters alive in my mind, this book provided cues to our every day lives, especially when dealing with people of different cultures and races. The description of the sceneries was vivid and the romance between Daviot and Rwyan added spice to the story. Read it and be captivated !

I've read a few hundred fantasy books and while I prefer series to single books, I found that I liked this one extremely well. In multiple book series, you get to know the characters and see them change. You grow to like/dislike these characters. This is one of the remarkably few books where you get to see all this happen in only a few hundred pages in only ONE book. This is my favorite book in only one volume series. It evoked emotions which only a dozen other books have done. I suggest this book to anyone who wants a true classic in their possession.

Like all of Wells' work, which I have read all but one of, the story is written with simple characters. None of Wells characters seems to grow much, and they make major decisions at the drop of a hat. Characters fall in love without actually having spoken to one another, and the romance is usually non-existant.

The story was an intersting enough tale, that could have been helped with more character dialogue. Another 50-100 pages might have made the story truly good.

I give the story 3 stars, based on the fact that the concept was good, but the character development and interplay was poor. As with most of Wells's work, it is more suited to a Junior High or early High School student than an adult.

If you like strong character development and dialogue...skip this book. If you like a basic tale without too much of the above, then by all means, read it. Personally, I need more to really enjoy a book.

Yesterday's Kings is the story of two races: the Kandarians and the Durrym. The Durrym were forced out of their ancestral lands by the iron-bearing Kandarians so there is little love lost between the two peoples. The Durrym made a new home for themselves across the river, which they use as a barrier to keep the Kandarians out. There they shape nature with their magic and are involved in their own petty clan disputes. Little do they know that the Kandarians are looking at their border with greedy eyes. The Kandarians are running out of room for their people and the church has found a way to cross the barrier to the Durrym world.

Cullyn is a simple woodsman whose greatest desire is to buy himself a fine horse. He lives in the forest in harmony alone and does not really understand the village people. When Lofantyl, a Durrym, befriends him, Cullyn begins to see the Durrym as people instead of traditional enemies. Lofantyl falls in love with Adris, Lord Bartram's daughter (a border lord who keeps the Durrym out of Kandaria). He risks everything to visit her in the keep and is captured. Lofantyl's kinsmen come and rescue him and kidnap Adris. She is in love with Lofantyl, but not sure if she can be happy among the Durrym. Lofantyl's father, Isydrian, doesn't like Kandarians, but he is hoping that the Kandarians will attack so that he can send them to his enemies and take over their land.

Meanwhile, back in the forest, the priest Per Fendur has found out that Cullyn was friends with Lofantyl and intends to torture information out of him. Cullyn escapes with Laurens, a guardsmen, and seeks out the help of Eben, a half-Durrym, half-Kandarian wizard. They escape over to Durrym land, where they fall into the hands of Isydrian's enemies. There Cullyn falls madly in love with the lord's daughter and becomes champion for a battle of arms to win the lord's daughter and to somehow make peace between all of the warring factions.

It was a little frustrating to read this book, because it had so much potential to be much more than it was. In many ways, this is the classic tale of Britain and the fey folk who lived there before men with iron chased them out. Except here, the fey folk simply relocated and are still a force to be reckoned with. The plot was fast paced and kept the reader interested, but there was little or no character development, which was disappointing. Cullyn and Lofantyl fall in love literally at first sight and are willing to go to any means to be with the woman they want to wed. Cullyn, as the main character of the story, was the least developed ironically. He goes from being a simple forester who has never even held a sword to a champion in Durrym where he jousts and swordfights with a battle trained Durrym. This is weakly explained as his being the syn'qui or someone whom fate revolves around. Also, it would have been nice to get a little more information on the different cultures and how magic differed between them as it grew to be important to the story, but was never really explained.

This book will be enjoyed by new, younger readers of fantasy and those looking for a quick, easy read in between longer, more detailed fantasy epics.

Many years ago, people crossed the sea and using steel armor and swords to defeat the indigenous population, the Fey. Forced to retreat, the Fey also known as the Durryn, crossed the Algador River and set up a magical shield to keep the Kandorians away from them.

Centuries pass and the Kandorians vastly multiply needing new land. The current King and the Church unite to find a means to penetrate the Durryn barrier.

Cullyn lives in the forest, wanting nothing to do with the Kandorians and their ever-expansive requirements. He refuses to sound an alarm when he meets and befriends Lafantyl, the son of a Durryn Lord. Cullyn allows Lafantyl to use his home as a place to rendezvous with a border lord's daughter. When the Kandorians discover the trio's activities, they move forward expecting manifest destiny to enable their latest expansion.

The Angus Wells realm is similar to that of medieval England and France except that in his world the Fey is a force and not just mythical legends. Cullyn who enjoys his simple, back to nature existence becomes the catalyst of events between the Kandorians and the Durryn thus, providing readers with a hero for those who enjoy Beowulf, the Hobbit tales and similar high fantasy novels.

Harriet Klausner

Travel with Calandryll, Bracht & Katya on their quest to stop the evil necromancer, Rhythamun, from raising the Mad God Tharn. The addition of a revenant adds to the interest and keeps the reader hooked, hoping they can excape its evil clutches in order to save their world. A great second novel. Can not wait to finish the third.

Being an avid science fiction and fantasy reader I am constantly on the lookout for new authors and tales to capture my interest. With this novel Angus Wells kicks off his Godwars saga. As a whole the series is very enjoyable, if not particularly original. I found this book to be good, if a trifle slow in places. The story follows the scholarly prince Calandryll on his voyage to recover the mysterious arcanum. With the help of Bracht the kern freesword, and Katya the beautiful and capable swordswoman of the Vanu. Calandryll matures from a fopish princeling to a capable adventurer. Assailed along the way by assassins and evil wizards the three travel into hostile lands to find the book, so that it may be destroyed.
Don't expect this to be the best book you have ever read, but it is still very entertaining.

I read Tolkien when I was seven and have been an avid fantasy fan ever since. I am known for devouring the worst of fantasy and liking it. But I just could not get through this book. I have tried and tried and tried. I bought this book four years ago and I keep on coming back to it, but it's always the same. By page 120 I'm still not certain why I'm supposed to be interested in this guy. I plod through character and plot description and realize that I haven't ingested a word, so I'm forced to restart the chapter. I just put it down a moment ago, and all I can remember is that the guy was a rich kid and I think he was running away because he didn't like his dad. Or something. Even for lovers of fantasy who devour all of the Forgotten Realms books (which are fun for us fantasy-freaks, but you have to be honest, not Jordan or Martin caliber), I would suggest staying away. Try the Belgariad. It's similar in plot, but much much more interesting. Plus you have the option of continuing with David Eddings and when you start on that track, you'll never have a lack of reading material.

(1 out of 10)

Forbidden Magic is a good, if not excellent, trip into an interesting--though not terribly--world that is perhaps too real to be overly exciting. In any case, the book is a good, solid read worth chekcing out. ...

Who in the hell is Angus Wells? I admit I had never heard ofthe author or his previous works, even though I read fantasy like itsgoing out of style...wait...it was never IN style.

But I borrowed these books from him, and even though the plot lacks a bit in the history department, and the central theme is the "Mad God" plot reminiscent of the Belgariad series, I actually found myself rather involved in Callyndryl and Bracht's adventure.

Likeable characters, (although Callyndryll seems quite ignorant at times), and a nicely paced story made this and the others in the trilogy a worthwhile way to spend an afternoon or two while I wait for the next George R R Martin or Terry Goodkind novel to be released.

Go ahead and give it a shot. Its a pleasant fantasy series. END