View source for Wars of Light and Shadow

The '''Wars of Light and Shadow''' is a series of fantasy books by [[Janny Wurts]] which takes place on the world of [[Athera]]. The story explores the ambiguities of good and evil through the tale of two [[half-brothers]], [[Arithon]] and [[Lysaer]], set in conflict.

The idea for this series originated while the author was researching tactics and weapons.  A documentary film on the brutal Battle of Culloden Moor gave her the historical sense of the fighting stripped of any romantic patina.  It also helped her realize that education, written history and entertainment serve to justify the actions of the winners and portray the losers as morally wrong and evil.  The series portrays the fictional conflict of [[Lysaer]] and [[Arithon]] in sympathetic terms, illustrating each side with equal pathos.  The story tracks the martial, political and personal conflicts of the characters, and the different tactics used by each - a mass following in one case, and a solitary wandering in the other.  [[Janny Wurts|Wurts]] narrates each character from their own perspectives, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions about the morality of individual actions<ref name="wiki-wurts" />.  

[[Janny Wurts]] has written many other books outside of this series -- a complete list can be found on the [[Bibliography]] page.

==Story Arcs==

The entire story as envisioned by the author is organized into five story arcs. As the series progresses, some story arcs have been split into multiple bindings due to the physical limitations on the size of a bound book. When this occurs, the author ensures that each book within the arc ends at a reasonable stopping point in the action and the overall momentum of the plot culminates in the final book of the arc.

===Major Story Arcs===
*'''Arc I: Curse of the Mistwraith'''
**[[Curse of the Mistwraith]]
*'''Arc II: Ships of Merior'''<ref name="none-som" />
**[[Ships of Merior]]
**[[Warhost of Vastmark]]
*'''Arc III: [[Alliance of Light (story arc)|Alliance of Light]]'''
**[[Fugitive Prince]]
**[[Grand Conspiracy]]
**[[Peril's Gate]]
**[[Traitor's Knot]]
**[[Stormed Fortress]]
*'''Arc IV: [[Sword of the Canon]]'''
**[[Initiate's Trial]]
**[[Destiny's Conflict]]
*'''Arc V: Song of the Mysteries'''
**[[Song of the Mysteries]] (forthcoming)

===Short Stories in this Universe===
[[Janny Wurts]] has also written six short stories which take place in the Wars of Light and Shadow universe. These short stories are not required reading to enjoy the main story, but they provide insight and detail that will allow readers to understand and anticipate future events.

{{Box|...if you read the related stories it will give you a window into what you are seeing in the novels. Each one fleshes out a facet (and sometimes even, previews) a major unfoldment that the story will cover - but if you have access to the short material, you will see it coming in the main novels in FAR MORE detail than you would if you looked at the novels, alone. I am not making it impossible to see these issues from the main story alone - but when the main story covers these points, there will not be NEARLY the insight and detail, as the focus of the novel can't shift sideways to accommodate.<ref name="chat-focus" />}}

* [[Child of Prophecy]]
* [[The Sundering Star]]
* [[Reins of Destiny]]
* [[The Decoy]]
* [[Black Bargain]]
* [[The Gallant]]

The author has provided a recommended reading order for the short stories:<ref name="reddit-order" />

* [[The Gallant]] can be read at anytime, independent of the main series.<ref name="chat-order" />
* [[Child of Prophecy]], [[Reins of Destiny]], and [[The Decoy]] should be read anytime after [[Curse of the Mistwraith]], and can be read in any order.
* [[The Sundering Star]] is best read after [[Warhost of Vastmark]].
* [[Black Bargain]] is best read after [[Stormed Fortress]].

==Author's Commentary==
{{Spoiler|multiple books in the series}}

The author states that each arc of the story has a specific creative thrust. ''"Each arc gradually deepens the reader's understanding of the other factions and the interaction/flow of the various forces inherent in Athera, coupled with those that live there."''<ref name="chat-arcs" /> While the series does not sprawl, it continues to unpack the context behind and beneath the straightforward action, altering the reader's perception of past and ongoing events.

* Arc I sets the stage for the entire series.
* Arc II shows the shifts in perspective of each [[half-brothers|half-brother]] resulting from the failure of their respective strategies.
* Arc III lifts the vantage point of the reader to a world view, allowing them to begin understanding the various factions.
* Arc IV starts staging for a view from the perspective of [[Athera]]'s Mysteries -- a more planetary view.
* Arc V will open the struggle to the Epoch level, finishing the series with all levels in play.

==Reviews==
* [http://www.fantasyliterature.com/fantasy-author/wurtsjanny/ Reviews of Wars of Light and Shadow and more of Janny's work at fantasyliterature.com]
* [http://www.amazon.com/review/product/1592220819/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt/104-8337425-0659919?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 Amazon Reviews of Traitor's Knot]
* [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stormed-Fortress-Alliance-Light-Shadow/dp/customer-reviews/0007217803/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&customer-reviews.start=1#customerReviews AmazonUK Reviews of Stormed Fortress]
* [http://www.amazon.com/Initiates-Trial-Sword-Canon-Shadow/product-reviews/000721782X/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 Amazon Reviews of Initiate's Trial]
* [https://www.amazon.com/Destinys-Conflict-Sword-Canon-Shadow-ebook/product-reviews/B00HPLP6BK/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_top?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews Amazon Reviews of Destiny's Conflict]

==References==
<references>
<ref name="wiki-wurts">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wars_of_Light_and_Shadow Wars of Light and Shadow entry] on Wikipedia</ref>
<ref name="none-som">Some editions have a single binding.</ref>
<ref name="chat-focus">[https://forum.urizone.net/t/new-stories/267/18 Forum Post], February 18, 2007</ref>
<ref name="chat-arcs">[https://forum.urizone.net/t/a-question-for-janny-regarding-twolas/455/6 Forum Post], December 15, 2004</ref>
<ref name="reddit-order">[https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/7hnjsl/just_finished_curse_of_the_mistwraith/dqsljwy/ Reddit Post], December 6, 2017</ref>
<ref name="chat-order">[https://forum.urizone.net/t/verrains-story/264/34 Forum Post], August 5, 2018</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Published Books]]