On Earth, the Barbed Coil is a ring that transports Tessa McCamfrey to another world. After Tessa appears in the city of Bay'Zell, she quickly meets up with a mercenary named Ravis, who takes her under his wing just in time for the pair to be drafted by Camron of Thorn. Camron is bent on defeating the mad king, who is being controlled by a larger version of the Coil. And Tessa's newly discovered gift for magical illuminations might be the best weapon in the fight. J. V. Jones, one of fantasy's hottest new authors, provides plenty of action in The Barbed Coil.


From Kirkus Reviews
Doorstopper new fantasy from the author of the Book of Words trilogy (Master and Fool, 1996, etc.). Tinnitus sufferer Tessa McCamfrey finds a remarkable barbed ring. When she puts it on, its points pierce her finger--and the pain transports her to another world. Here, Tessa will meet new people and enjoy various adventures involving the cruel and insanely ambitious King Izgard of Garizon: He wears a magic crown, the Barbed Coil--a larger version of Tessa's ring!--that helps its wearer win wars. In this world, too, illustrations--complex illuminations like those of medieval manuscripts--exert magic effects. Amid various subplots, the old scribe Ederius paints illustrations that transform Izgard's harras troops into relentless beast-warriors. Fortunately, Tessa's own scribing talents help counteract Ederius. Both crown and ring, she learns, are ``ephemera,'' magical objects that tumble in and out of reality. An ancient and mighty illumination binds the crown, preventing it from falling away into another world. So, somehow, Tessa must scribe an even mightier unbinding illumination to free the Coil and allow it to vanish, thus frustrating Izgard's dreams of conquest. Sparkling ideas embedded in vast swathes of conventionally inflated mediocrity: Fans of the previous trilogy should feel right at home. (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Download Description
Tessa McCamfrey, young and rootless resident of Southern California, has never found much in life that interests her. All of that changes when she stumbles upon a ring that transports her to a distant time and place. There she discovers her unexpected talent: She can create luminous, magical illustrations that have the power to influence others' lives. She becomes involved in the fate of kingdoms when her power is brought to bear against an evil king whose mind has been taken over by a golden crown called the Barbed Coil. As in The Book of Words trilogy, J. V. (Julie) Jones imbues every one of her characters with personality, from the dashing mercenary Ravis, who becomes Tessa's protector in this strange new world, to the sailors, innkeepers, soldiers, and others who populate her lush, involving story.

FROM OUR EDITORS

A modern woman suffering from tinnitus (a severe ringing in the ears) finds relief when she stumbles into another world. She finds danger there, landing as she does in the middle of a war, but also an unexpected talent since she proves adept at the world's magical system, which is based upon intricately painted patterns reminiscent of Celtic knotwork. Jones's many fresh touches lift her novel above some of the more standard high-fantasy elements that are also a part of the book. She also bucks the trend and presents the whole story in one volume without sacrificing either detail or scope.
—Charles de Lint

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Tessa McCamfrey has always so avoided roots and relationships that now, as her car winds up the California mountains, she no longer knows if she's driving away from her life, or being driven toward it. When she turns off the road and discovers an abandoned crime scene she also comes across an intricately designed, barbed ring. She slips it on her finger, points pierce her, and Tessa is suddenly in another world. Here in the colorful, thriving city of Bay'Zell, she'll face both immediate danger and a possible ally: Lord Ravis of Burano, an enigmatic, tormented mercenary. But Tessa's adventure is only beginning. Bay'Zell is on the brink of war; Ravis is the target of fanatical assassins from several lands; and Ravis and the girl from California are both about to be drafted into Camron of Thorn's campaign to avenge his noble father's murder.

SYNOPSIS

Tessa McCamfrey, young and rootless resident of Southern California, has never found much in life that interests her. All of that changes when she stumbles upon a ring that transports her to a distant time and place.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Like her popular Book of Words trilogy, Jones's first hardcover is a predictable hybrid of fantasy adventure and romance. Contemporary heroine Tessa McCamfrey, purposeless and tormented by an inner-ear disorder, strikes out on a San Diego freeway only to find a magical barbed ring that whisks her to Bay'Zell, port city of a parallel universe. There, rescued from rapists by the irresistible black-clad mercenary strategist Lord Ravis, Tessa devotes her awakening talent for sorcerous illumination to the cause of an orphaned prince, Camron. The prince's realm is threatened by the evil wizard-king Izgard, who seeks omnipotence for himself and land for his demonic followers. Izgard tortures his scribe Ederius into painting magical patterns aimed at destroying his enemies, while Tessa, falling victim to Ravis's potent charms, must quickly master the same complex art to restore order to the realm. The colorful artistic lore imbues Jones's styrofoam cast with a certain spirit, but this fantasy quest lacks mythic resonance, and graphic, seemingly gratuitous violence disrupts the love stories on which the author lavishes so much care. Simultaneous Time Warner audio; author tour. (Sept.)

Kirkus Reviews

Doorstopper new fantasy from the author of the Book of Words trilogy (Master and Fool, 1996, etc.). Tinnitus sufferer Tessa McCamfrey finds a remarkable barbed ring. When she puts it on, its points pierce her finger—and the pain transports her to another world. Here, Tessa will meet new people and enjoy various adventures involving the cruel and insanely ambitious King Izgard of Garizon: He wears a magic crown, the Barbed Coil—a larger version of Tessa's ring!—that helps its wearer win wars. In this world, too, illustrations—complex illuminations like those of medieval manuscripts—exert magic effects. Amid various subplots, the old scribe Ederius paints illustrations that transform Izgard's harras troops into relentless beast-warriors. Fortunately, Tessa's own scribing talents help counteract Ederius. Both crown and ring, she learns, are "ephemera," magical objects that tumble in and out of reality. An ancient and mighty illumination binds the crown, preventing it from falling away into another world. So, somehow, Tessa must scribe an even mightier unbinding illumination to free the Coil and allow it to vanish, thus frustrating Izgard's dreams of conquest.

Sparkling ideas embedded in vast swathes of conventionally inflated mediocrity: Fans of the previous trilogy should feel right at home.