Wow. WOW, Carol Berg, just… I have no words. Geez, it's like I have to drop every other book I've given 5 stars to down a notch just because they can't even come close to comparing to the power of this book...! I've just finished TRANSFORMATION and, as you can probably guess, was left utterly floored and overflowing with emotion. I don't think I've ever been so thoroughly transported by a book, and so *completely* too. Despite its length (not extreme, but it is substantial--and won't you be thankful there's plenty of it once you get a taste of how great it is!), Carol Berg's writing--no, Seyonne's writing (our main character/narrator--his voice is so solid, I can't believe anyone other than he wrote his tale!) is so solid, so transporting and flowing and filled with a unique and oddly likable blend of compassion, wry wit and the harsh bluntness necessary for conveying the horrors of his experiences, that I couldn't bear to be apart from the book for more than a few hours at a time while I was reading it. Even when I was stuck at work, I had to carry the book in with me and leave it in my desk. ^^ That's the kind of emotional death grip this book and its characters get on you. And speaking of our hero... seriously, what a hero! Seyonne, Seyonne... here's one "old friend" I'll never forget, that's for sure. Not only is his voice kind of indelibly etched in my head now, the mental/emotional journey he makes over the course of this book is just... I've never seen the equal of it. When I think back to where he was at the beginning of the story—a numb, broken-spirited slave who’d been all but destroyed in mind, spirit and body by the 16 years of cruel bondage he’d endured—and where he ends up at the end--and not only that, but how thoroughly and *believably* he made his metamorphosis… wow. I am just in awe that Carol Berg was able to fathom this story and bring it so believably to life. I don't think I've ever read such emotional truth and consistency in fictional characters before, especially when they grow and change *that much* over the course of the book. The same incredible feat of enormous yet completely authentic/believable character growth/change is worked on our other hero, Prince Aleksander, who goes the more classical way (from spoiled, tyrannical warlord to Awesome Good Guy), and all of that woven together with the unlikely (actually, it was down near “unthinkable” at the start) and breathtakingly moving friendship that grows between these two characters from diametrically opposed ends of the social ladder—this is PURE LITERARY GOLD. You pray to experience a relationship like that, or at least, vicariously experience a relationship like through literature, etc, and so seldom does someone actually pull it off right, so that it rings completely true and lingers with you and utterly floors you with how unbelievably kind a small gesture or word can be. All this PLUS some truly rich, authentic-feeling world-building that is so complete you really understand *why* certain characters end up doing things no one in their right mind in such a situation would ever do—that is some seriously powerful writing. Like, you can’t just read this book, you kind of *live* it, it’s so lush and visceral. The main appeal is definitely the human drama and the transformation of the two main characters and the against-all-odds trust and affection that slowly grows between them, but the world around it is solid and is the perfect framework for pushing these characters to the wild extremes the start in or must endure over the course of the story—a truly excellent and luminous use of the “speculative fiction” aspect of the SFF genre. This story could not have happened anywhere else… and I’m so thankful to have read it. Sorry, this isn’t the most coherent of reviews. I literally just finished the book before sitting down to write this, and I’m sure not much is making sense from within this haze of wonderment and emotion I was left in. But I hope at least that I can convey how much this book affected me, how thorough the spell of story it wove was, and how dear these characters have become to me. As amazingly fleshed out as they are, as intimately as I’ve been allowed to peep into their souls, I almost can’t imagine that these people don’t really exist, and that the extraordinary events I’ve just read—no, *experienced*—aren’t real. But that’s the power of this book. Anyway, don’t take my word for it—read Transformation, give its extremely unusual but ultimately unendingly worthy main character a chance, and you WILL be glad you did. I especially recommend this book to fans of Patrick Rothfuss’s THE NAME OF THE WIND—if you liked Kvothe, you’ll *never* forget Seyonne!
I could not put this book down and I had tears in my eyes before I had turned the hundredth page—that’s how compelling the characters were, right from the outset. Simply, Transformation is the story of two men separated by about a decade, age-wise, and a much greater gap in experience. Seyonne is a slave and Zander is his lord. Seyonne has been a slave for sixteen years, his people captured by Zander’s. He is worn by time and experience, but is still himself—to a degree. Beneath his apparent resignation, he has a core of strength one can only admire. Seyonne is also intelligent and canny, which isn’t all unusual for a character in his role, but the reader gains the sense he was destined for greater things, even if he believes otherwise. The question is: will he go on to achieve a greater purpose, or remain a slave? Zander is Seyonne’s opposite in every way. Prince and only heir to the emperor, he is young, spoilt, arrogant and cruel. He is smart, however, almost frighteningly so, and even without the clues given in the blurb, the reader quickly realizes there is more to him than a title and future crown. Zander has enormous depth and substance.Once introduced to Seyonne and Zander, this story could have taken me anywhere and I would have followed avidly. Both characters were so well drawn; more than caricatures of good and evil or ‘opposites’. When it became obvious their fates were entwined, I cheered for them both—for Zander to discover himself, for Seyonne to rediscover himself.Less simply, Transformation is the story of a world at war with demons. Layered above and below the tale of Seyonne and Zander is one of political intrigue, ambition and the classic themes of good versus evil, might against right. Transformation does not read like a first novel. Carol Berg’s writing is clear and the characters’ voices well formed. I did not once frown at a description or scene. There is a great deal of emotion packed into the story, explored through varied and complicated relationships. As mentioned earlier, I came to care for the central characters—even Zander—rather quickly and they, themselves, kept me turning the pages. The plotting works from end to end and the pacing just right. All in all, this book was as close to perfect as I have read in a long time. Another aspect that pleased me greatly was the fact the story felt complete at the end. Transformation is the first novel of a trilogy, but though I am interested in continuing to follow the story of Seyonne and Zander and their world, I am content with the end of the first chapter. I hope the other books feel as complete. That being said, I have already ordered Revelation (Rai-Kirah, book two) and look forward to reading it.
What do You think about Transformation (2000)?
An interesting book, which has a very slashy master/slave set up. Amazingly, considering the extreme slashiness of them (at one point he is drinking from his fountain of joy), I was never sure if Carol Berg was actually aware of it. At times I was really expecting things to kick off between them. She certainly doesn't mention it or resolve it, apart from letting it fizzle out. Everyone is resolutely heterosexual, although homosexuality is mentioned, but only in terms of sexual abuse of the slaves. The slave half of the equation has a grim life. His master is an absolute brute and treats him horribly, but eventually they become something like equals, in a mystical sort of way.I found myself wanting some more details about the magic they used and where it came from. Some of the worldbuilding felt a bit generic and flat. The plotting was okay and kept me on my toes most of the time. I'm not incredibly tempted to get the next one, but I might. One thing I really didn't like were the names and the made up language as it also felt too generic. Seeing as how I have a name fetish, this was quite an important factor for me.
—Louise
Everything starts somewhere and Carol Berg's novels start with Transformation. Despite being 438 pages long (in the Roc mass market) and the first volume of a trilogy that promises to a world-changing confrontation of good v. evil, Transformation's really an intimate story of an evolving friendship between a silver-spoon prince (bearing the requisite hidden, unexpected mark of greatness) and a slave so consumed by survival, cynicism, and despair that he no longer recalls his own past. There's a journey, some magic, a few duels -- not exactly the stuff of groundbreaking fantasy.What Transformation does have, though -- and why I'm looking forward to reading the remaining volumes in the trilogy -- is a solid narrative voice (the slave's, carefully balanced between detached observation and ironic self-awareness); well-drawn supporting characters (Berg's men are better than her women, of whom there are very few); natural dialog (which allows the reader to appreciate nuances of character that the slave cannot); and an exquisite sense of dramatic timing that more than compensates for the relatively low number of surprises in the plot.
—Lynn Abbey
ORIGINAL READ: 10/10 (18 September 2007 - 23 September 2007)Transformation - Carol Berg (10/10)Fantasy; book 1 of the Rai-Kirah.Another fantastic series. Carol Berg writes original fantasy that walks the line of dark fantasy with every tipping over. So we get a solid story with strong, deep worldbuilding and fascinating characters who are never simple and always flawed. The story follows both the complicated, building friendship between the slave, Seyonne and his princely owner, but their battle to save Zander's empire from being overtaken by demons. Seyonne, once trained to fight demons, finds himself caught between his loathing for the empire and his needs both to stop the demons and save Zander. There are two more books in the series - both of which promise to be equally complicated and fascinating - and I can't wait to find the time to read them.REREAD #1: 10/10 (7 February 2013 - 11 February 2013)This was equally amazing on a reread. Beyond Reality is reading it this month and I was going to let it slip by, but reading the comments in the spoilers thread reminded me just what a wonderful book this was. It also reminded me that while I have the next two books in the series (both in paper and as ebooks) I never quite got around to reading them. I did start the second one, but I don't think I got more than a chapter or two into it. I don't remember why now, but I think I found the two year time just to a different location difficult. I was also trying to read the paper book and even in 2007 I was probably finding that difficult.I'm ever so glad I did reread this. The developing friendship between Seyonne and Aleksander remains an amazing piece of writing, showing something strong and true and yet not sexual (and both men give every indication of being heterosexual) that develops between two people who should be deadly enemies and yet somehow, defying all sense, become as closer, or closer, than brothers.Outside of Seyonne and Aleksander, who are the heart and soul of the story (pun only slightly intended), the other characters are less well drawn, yet even then they are not cyphers, but instead people I would like to get to know better. I'm guessing it's likely I'll see more of Ysanne and Caitrin, but oh how I'd like to get a glimpse into the private life of Aleksander and Lydia. Those two could be the death of each other or totally magnificent. Personally, I vote for the latter.Right now I want to race through the next two books and find out what happens next. I don't want to stall out this time. Transformation could so easily be a complete book on its own, with the ends apparently tied up, that I actually find myself nervous to discover what Carol Berg is going to throw both at me and at her characters next. But this time, I'll stick with it and finish the series. Everything I've read of Berg's works and other people's reviews of her work assure me it will be worth it - if possibly a little stressful along the way.
—Kerry
