Pawn of Prophecy

Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings



Book one: 224 pages.
As I mentioned yesterday I am reading the Belgaraid series of 5 books.
Although these books have been out for a long time there is a new version now in TPB. All 5 books are held in 2 trade paperbacks at 12.98 each. Much better price than buying 5 individual paperbacks!
So... I finished book one : Pawn of Prophecy.
In the first book, like many series, characters are introduced and a pattern is set as to what is to come. When it begins we find Aunt Pol taking care of Garion at the farm house. When he is nearly 14 things really begin to happen.
The people he knows as Aunt Pol and the storyteller "the Old Wolf" he suspects, aren't who he thought they were. Things begin to happen in the lands that require Old Wolf's and Pol's help. Not willing to let Garion out of her sight they take him with them when they decided to leave the farm, along with Durnik the blacksmith, who seems to have an eye for Aunt Pol.
All Garion seems to know is that he is no longer sure who he is or who Aunt Pol is or the storyteller. He surmises that they are searching for someone who sold something of large importance, but who and what he hasn't a clue.
The great adventure that Garion thought he was going on quickly turns out to be not so much fun. Pol is determined to keep him under her thumb as a little boy, and Garion is bursting to begin to grow up.
Meanwhile they meet up with some friends of Wolf's, a bear of a Cherek man from Val Alorn, named Barak and a weasel looking man named Silk, a known thief.
No one is who they seem to be.
Wars are a distinct possibility.
And someone wants to kill Garion!
Things escalate as all adventures do and you find yourself unable to stay away from the books for very long! I've quickly remembered why I love Belgarath, or maybe I should say, Old Wolf, who we find out is a sorcerer a few thousand years old. I think it is because I feel close to his age that attracts me ..heh.
An awful lot happens in this short first book... Everyone seems to have 2 or even 3 names, Kings become indebted to Garion for finding a spy, Barak becomes doomed, Silk is in reality, royalty, Old Wolf is known as Belgarath and Aunt Pol is his daughter! .....
And it just keeps getting better!........
I am very glad that they have reissued this series of books into TPB since I really don't think these books should just quietly fade away. They've been around a good many years, and I suspect they are due for a whole new younger audience. I'm just not sure I want to share Belgarath!