First Truth (Truth, Book 1)
by Dawn Cook
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Book Summary Information
Author: Dawn CookEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-05-28
ISBN: 044100945X
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Ace
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780441009459
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of First Truth (Truth, Book 1)
Book Review: A Quest for First Truth
Summary: 5 Stars
First Truth (2002) is the first fantasy novel in the Truth series. Once upon a time, there was a Hold hidden deep in the Mountains where Masters taught magic to Keepers. One day, Talo-Toecan -- the Headmaster -- entrusted his student Meson with the book First Truth and the Keeper took it away and hid it.
In this novel, Meson is a farmer from the foothills and is married to Rema, a woman of the deep plains. Meson tells his daughter Alissa stories of the Hold and his Master. When Alissa finds the hidden First Truth, he begins to suspect that she will be a Keeper and capable of finding the book wherever he hides it. Meson leaves his wife and daughter to return the book to his master and is never seen again.
When Alissa starts acting strangely, Rema realizes that the Hold is beginning to pull on her Keeper daughter. She stows necessary items in a pack and gives Alissa a small pouch to wear from her neck. Alissa asks about the contents and Rema has her smell it. After she perceives the rank smell of the stinking substance, Rema knows that Alissa is truly a Keeper and must leave to find her destiny.
Of course, Alissa doesn't believe in magic, but she knows better than to argue with her mother. With her kestrel Talon flying overhead, she starts off to find the Hold and her book. She has about a month until the snow starts to fall in the mountains.
Strell is a plainsman, the seventh son of a well known family of potters. He is returning over the mountains from the coast after several years of wandering. His path briefly crosses with that of Alissa, but they pass with only a few hints of each other's presence. He continues onward to the foothills market, where he learns of the death of all his family. With disbelief and fear, he returns to his home place only to find all evidence of their presence and property washed away by a spring flood.
Fleeing in his grief, Strell returns to the mountains and eventually discovers Alissa trapped in a ravine. After hearing his story, Alissa remembers the tragedy and tries to treat him with compassion. Still, their different heritages cause clashes and both are strong-willed enough to have grand and glorious arguments over almost anything.
In this story, Alissa has moments when she hears the thoughts of another being, whom she eventually learns is Talo-Toecan, her father's old Master. While she is immersed in the memories that Talo-Toecan stimulates, she is totally absorbed in her internal thoughts and unaware of the outside world. During these times, Strell is addressed from Alissa's body by Talo-Toecan, whom he starts to call Useless.
While she is possessed, Alissa relives other peoples lives. She relives her father's encounter at the Hold with his old acquaintance Bailic, who had been his friend and became his enemy. Later, she relives the meeting between Strell's grandfather and a shaduf -- a person who can foresee deaths -- that leads to Strell being allowed to become a minstrel rather than a potter.
Despite repeated demands by Useless to sent Alissa back to her farm, Strell is unable to divert her from her intended destination. They travel on to find the Hold and Bailic and Useless, but no one else, and then the snow starts falling and confines them to the Hold. Unhappily, Bailic -- her enemy -- is fully capable of using magic and Useless -- her potential ally -- is trapped in the dungeon. Of course, Alissa is not deterred from her plans by these minor setbacks.
This story has some of the feel of the first part of Cherryh's Fortress in the Eye of Time, particularly within the huge yet deserted Hold. It is also reminiscent of scenes within the Wizard's Keep in the Sword of Truth series. Despite the occasional presence of other characters, the scenes seem to be more close and intimate. In the last portion of the tale, Alissa, Strell, Talon, Bailic and Useless interact in complete isolation from the rest of the world.
Highly recommended for Cook fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magical quests, tempestuous romance, and forced maturity.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Summary of First Truth (Truth, Book 1)
Before she wrote as New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison, Dawn Cook write the Truth...This is the first novel of Dawn Cook's extraordinary coming-of-age fantasy featuring Alissa, a young novice in the art of magic, who embarks on an epic journey of discovery and danger.
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