Opening note, this novella can only be purchased directly from the author's website https://www.paravia.com/JannyWurts/bo...

One might be forgiven, reading the first few paragraphs of "The Sundering Star", that you had mistakenly picked up some sci-fi novella reminiscent of "Star Trek", rather and a book that is intricately related to author Janny Wurts' seminal "Wars of Light and Shadow" Series. 

But rest assured, dear readers, if you were looking for that sort of book - one that formed part of the "Wars of Light and Shadow" universe, you were not in the wrong place. 

Jaw proceeding to swiftly hit the floor moment when I learned that "The Sundering Star" is set approximately 20,000 YEARS PRIOR TO the events of "Wars of Light and Shadow"!!! 

In the novella, Wurts whisks us off to a place where Scathac, a world separate from that of Athera in the main series, exists. The planet of Scathac itself is painted by the author as a very bleak place, almost uninhabitable, deathly blazing hot in the day and frigid at night, where malnourished animals roam amongst volcanic ridges and flowing lava. 

But one thing this seemingly barren and inimical environment has is precious minerals. The minerals are utilized in building ships capable of light speed. Thus Scathac becomes a highly strategically important location. 

These minerals are of course, being extremely valuable, subject to those who want to exploit them. A mysterious and reclusive tribe native to Scathac, who inhabits the planet, are, at first, thought to be primitive, and merely a speed bump for mega trade organizations such as PanTac. PanTac is the group who capitalizes and exploits the minerals from Scathac.

PanTac has been created via the amalgamation of two other governments outside Scathac. PamTac has been involved in a long conflict with two competing governments.  

The space military and intelligence entity Worldfleet, enforces PanTac's mandate of mining anything useful from Scathac. A small mining outpost staffed mostly by miners, is maintained by Worldfleet on Scathac. 

Susan Amanda McTavish is a young high-flyer in Worldfleet, who has passed all their rigorous background checks and biometric assessments. At odds perhaps with much of their mandate, Worldfleet claims to value integrity and honesty above all else (the reader must suppose that only applies WITHIN the organization, and not necessarily to outsiders). 

So that vaunted high moral standard, somehow doesn't preclude Worldfleet from being PanTac's henchmen, and also from conducting numerous clandestine operations, that appear decidedly in the purpose of self-interest.   

McTavish's capabilities soon get the attention of the upper echelon of Worldfleet, for a specific purpose. 

"The surgical mind unveiled by her psych tests brought a specialist's assignment to Cultural Liaison. There, her alert manner and linguistic fluency drew the acquisitive notice of Cover Intelligence."

But McTavish is a spy within a spy, and when Worldfleet dispatches her on a secret mission to seek terms with the native tribe on Scathac, and relocate them off-planet due to the threat of impending disaster, she discovers there is more to the mission than meets the eye. Worldfleet believes the tribal people of Scathac have magic, which of course Worldfleet also wants at their disposal. 

Yet, McTavish's real name is actually Jessain, and she is a Koriani sorceress, sent by her superiors, who desire access to the tribal magic too. 

Looming large, and ominous, is a newly created, diabolical weapon that can destroy worlds, trained on Scathac. 

And Jessain, and the tribes on that planet, are squarely in its sights. 

In just 25 pages, which for many sci-fi or fantasy books is merely a chapter, Wurts, once more, accomplishes the seemingly impossible, and makes us care deeply about a character's fate. And it's not an easy character, in my opinion, to care about, at first glance. 

Of course, my viewpoint is slightly tainted because of what I have learned thus far of the Koriani in the main series, and from other novellas relating to the main series that I have read. Even though, at this point in the history of the enchantresses, Jessain makes them sound much more benevolent than my other reading of them.

Nevertheless, even though Jessain's mission from the Koriani seems mostly one of mercy, even humanitarian, there is the underlying usury that seeps through to cloud the reader's insight into Jessain's motives. The very implication of being a 'spy' normally can imply something potentially sinister. 

But we soon learn that Jessain has in fact far exceeded the Worldfleet standards for integrity. She is much more than just an ambitious Worldfleet officer. She is much more than a scheming Koriani. 

She is a wonderful, complicated, fascinating character, torn between multiple objectives, who is faced with an earth-shattering, convoluted decision, and impossible moral dilemma, that puts much more than her very life at stake. Wurts's makes us care about Jessain personally, as much as the decision in front of her, because of the author's fantastic characterization. 

I won't say more about the tribal characters that appear in the book, but rest assured, they too are extremely well drawn.

If you read enough of Wurts' books in the "Wars of Light and Shadow", certain themes, empathy and justice will be extremely prevalent, and overarching. Another theme one may find in Wurts' books are those of choice, and free will.

In Sundered Star, the protagonist Jessain is confronted with choice on an immeasurable scale. That is the main theme of the book: making the choice that does the greatest good, or perhaps - though it can appear as the same thing - merely the least harm. 

Wurts' writing continues to be transcendent, and truly I go to some other place in my mind whenever I get to lose myself in her prose again. 

"The stars blazed down, pinprick cold, on a hostile landscape, veiled under darkness....gusts rolled down off the volcanic heights, bitter and burning with chill...At each step she felt Scathac itself rejected her trespassing presence."

The uniqueness of the worldbuilding in this novella is that we plainly read a sci-fi novel that is directly connected to what seems to be, at first blush, a high fantasy series.

We are provided a brief look into Worldfleet, what its mission is, and its structure. We are treated to things such as compass with satellite tracking, space rockets, starships, mechanized all-terrain vehicles, and more that squarely placed "The Sundered Star" as in the sci-fi genre.

In an alternate world, with characteristic beautiful, evocative, uniquely lush and lyrical prose, incredible characterization, intrigue, advanced technology, moments of poignancy, danger, despair, tragedy, and ultimately hope, Wurts takes readers of her main series far, far back into time and space. Long before humans came to Athera, and the Mistwraith's geas settled, and two opponents, one representing Light, the other Shadow, grappled, with the fate of humankind in the balance. 

Readers of this book who have read the "Wars of Light and Shadow" MAY discover some absolutely startling reveals that will be highly relevant for the main series.

Reading this book is a watershed moment for me, as I truly begin to slowly understand, in reading this novella, a sci-fi book, just how massive, daunting, and wondrously staggering the worldbuilding is that Janny Wurts has created for the "Wars of Light and Shadow".

I absolutely can't wait to read and understand even more. 
5 s Laura1,153 54

Excellent background short story for the Wars of Light and Shadow. And it's more sci-fi then fantasy, fact which did take me by surprise.
There is a sci-fi background to the series, though only hinted at, so this little story delivered yet another piece of the puzzle surrounding the civilisations of Athera in an absolutely refreshing manner and the same beautiful and elegant style I have come to associate with this brilliant author.read-in-2018 short-stories-and-novellas5 s Michelle583 36

This was a very good short story in the Wars of Light and Shadow series. This time the story revolves around Jessian, a legendary almost mythological figure from the main series. Jessian is an unusual Koriani sorceress because she has a core of decency in her character. The Koriani aren't exactly known for their positive attributes! This tale fleshed out the Biedar tribe a bit more, and gave insight into Jessian's notorious legend.fantasy4 s Kaimei31

Of the three Wars of Light and Shadow short stories, I found The Sundering Star to be the most fascinating, mainly because it's, surprisingly, more sci-fi than fantasy. At the same time, though the main series of books is fantasy, it does hint at this more sci-fi background, so the story worked well. I enjoyed these short stories (the others are Child of Prophecy and Reins of Destiny) because they enrich the main series, which I look forward to getting deeper into (I'm currently reading the second book, The Ships of Merior).b-ebook1 Colin38

Short and sweet but perhaps too short, it's fun to see bits of history that are merely hinted at by the end of the 3rd book/second act of The Wars of Light and Shadow (where it says it is best enjoyed after per the website). There was hardly time to let its themes really sink in - it's perhaps TOO dense. Genna866 5

Not thrilled with this. As a short story, it seems to be trying to do too much for the space it holds. Perhaps it would be more satisfying if I'd read some of the things for which it is meant to be a prequil, but considered on its own, it would have benefited from more focus. Chris Sharp72

Working my way through the shorts now; blink-and-you'll-miss-it, I think this one might best be saved until after Stormed Fortress. More interesting for its pre-Atheran setting than anything, though I think anyone would find it hard to create something that resonates in this pint-size. Tnkw01406 18

Mostly sci-fi with just a tad of fantasy. Good story. Amarinske621 13

Interesting but also had a bit of a weird feel. I don't know why though3-star adult english ...more Alissa642 98

Very very interesting short story connected to the Wars of Light and Shadow series. More science-fiction than fantasy backdrop, the story follows a double agent sister initiate of the Koriani order, facing a crucial choice. Featuring the right combination of angst and intensity, I d to read this WoLaS story set in another world and which cast light from a different angle on the motivations of the Koriani gotha in the series, at least up to where I am now, Grand Conspiracy.
Though self-contained, this tale about the Koriani order before the arrival of humankind on Athera has a lot of intriguing information, and as I've seen connections with the events of the series starting with Fugitive Prince, I'm pretty sure more will come around in the following books.read-ebooks Blaise397 106

Very short story by Janny Wurts about the history around the War of Light and Shadow series. This is a Sci-fi story which is hinted at in the main series but not fully revealed. This story blew my mind and was a fantastic edition to the world. This should be read after Fugitive Prince in my opinion but the revelations and secrets that are revealed are game changing! I will now read the series in a different light. Job well Done Janny!2 s Mawgojzeta189 56

I had read this story before in "Under Cover of Darkness", a short story collection, but recently I was able to hear it read aloud by Janny Wurts at Minicon 49 in Minnesota. That was a treat! This is an interesting tale that can be taken on its own, but is particularly interesting if one is reading the Wars of Light and Shadows series.fantasy-and-horror sci-fi-and-dystopian Sandra 1,142 125

Excellent background short story for the Wars of Light and Shadow.fantasy Helen923 2

I was immediately stunned as I started this short - sci fi, whatever next? Excellent little story. More please. Jen323 5

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