The Chosen by Ricardo Pinto

From the Publisher

Young Carnelian has spent his entire life alone with his father, who years ago rejected the savage cruelty of the Masters of Osrakum and was sent into exile. But now a ship has come flying through the winter gales to shatter his quiet world. Three Masters disembark, and as they remove their masks of gold, Carnelian is awed by the light that seems to radiate from their skin. In formal conclave they beg Carnelian's father to return with them to Osrakum to oversee the election of a new God Emperor.

And so Carnelian begins to fulfill his destiny. Along his perilous journey to the Osrakum, he is forced to learn bitter lessons in bloodshed, power, intrigue, love, and treachery--and sets in motion the concluding events in a story four thousand years old.

Carolyn Cushman

...[A]n involving tale....a fascinating world crafted in intricate detail, a substantial backdrop for a series — and a very impressive first novel. —Locus

Publishers Weekly

The launch novel to debut author Pinto's epic fantasy trilogy begins with a fairly conventional tale about the coming of age of Carnelian Suth, a young aristocrat. Suth, who's been in exile (with his father) from his native land, returns to the Imperial capital of Osrakum when his father is called back to act as regent during a succession crisis. From there, Pinto, who's Portuguese but lives in Scotland, draws a luscious picture of a viciously hierarchical and decadent society and tells a complicated story involving a dowager empress, a set of twins, homosexuality, emperors, putsches and two lovers imprisoned in giant jars and left to await their execution. The novel takes readers on an extremely literate and detailed journey distinguished by Pinto's outstanding imagination, extensive research and excellent world-building. The book is full of memorable conceits--resident aristocrats always wear masks and body paint, for example, and court servants, deprived of every sense except touch, keep their records on strings of beads--but Pinto frequently seems to get so lost in his ornate world that he forgets he's telling a story. Still, an exceptionally fine 300-page novel lurks within the decorative flourishes of this 500-page-plus book. Agent, Victoria Hobbs. (Mar.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Locus - Carolyn Cushman

...[A]n involving tale....a fascinating world crafted in intricate detail, a substantial backdrop for a series — and a very impressive first novel.

Asimov's Science Fiction - Peter Heck

Pinto has crafted a surprisingly vivid imaginative world, one full of sharp edges and oppressive dangers. The level of violence here may be higher than some readers are comfortable with, but on the whole this is a very promising debut. Likely to appeal strongly to the same audience that has put Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind on the genre bestseller lists.

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