From Publishers Weekly
Although "judicious matriarchy vs. brutish patriarchy" may have been done to death, Modesitt has boldly taken on the task of breathing new life into this venerable feminist clich‚, and done a more than credible job. Alucius, a young shepherd-turned-soldier from the proud but impoverished Iron Valley, is wounded and captured by the invading Matrite army. He manages to disguise his magical Talent well enough to pass the inspection of the Matrial, the seemingly immortal ruler whose magic reaches to every corner of her kingdom, and is assigned to fight in a company of Matrite cavalry. As he gains valuable knowledge of patience, warfare and honor, Alucius also comes to realize that despite his hatred of the slavery and prejudice that are so integral to the Matrite society, he can't help admiring the order and prosperity that accompany them. Resolving this internal dilemma is only one of his struggles: he must also work to regain his freedom, practice and improve his Talent and figure out why magical creatures appear at odd moments and aid or attack him seemingly at random. The historical background is somewhat sketchy and difficult to follow, and Modesitt still has trouble reconciling science and magic; but the warfare and dialogue are clear and authentic, and he's learned a lot about pacing in the 11 years since the first Recluce books were published. Thoughtful readers will be appreciative, and the author's fans will be impressed.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
As the son of a Nightsheep herder, Alucius learns the survival skills necessary to protect his valuable flock from the sand wolves and other strange predators that dwell in the cold northern lands. He also realizes the more subtle ways of his Talent, a magical ability common to those with herder blood. When the armies of Madrien invade his home, Alucius goes off to war, only to be captured and forcibly conscripted into the enemies' slave armies. Careful to hide his Talent, Alucius dreams of escape and revenge. The author of the popular "Recluce" series introduces a new world of subtle magic and ancient legends in this tale of a young man's coming of age in a war-torn land. Modesitt excels at portraying the everyday lives of people caught up in world-shaking events, thus making his characters both believable and sympathetic. This top-notch series opener is highly recommended. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
In the first book in a new series, Modesitt introduces a world in which, centuries after a great catastrophe, strange animals (mutations?), some outright monsters, and human beings possessed of powers called Talents all exist. Alucius, raised by his mother and grandparents on the family ranch, is a member of a prosperous Nightsheep family, and he is Talented. He must keep that secret, however, lest he be abducted and enslaved. As he grows up, the political situation deteriorates, and as a young man in the militia, he is captured by a hostile army and enslaved. With his concealed Talent and his inside knowledge of the enemy's situation, he strikes a blow that changes the terms of war for all sides. Slow-moving because much of it portrays Alucius' coming of age and with less than Modesitt's best characterization in evidence, Legacies compensates with world building as detailed and intelligent as any from Modesitt. And, of course, further volumes resolving further and more complex problems are on the way. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
“The consistent excellence of L. E. Modesitt makes him by far the most entertaining of today’s fantasy writers.”--Romantic Times Magazine



Review
“The consistent excellence of L. E. Modesitt makes him by far the most entertaining of today’s fantasy writers.”--Romantic Times Magazine



Book Description
A New Age Begins

The First Book of the Corean Chronicles

Millennia ago, a magical disaster caused the fall of a great civilization that spanned a continent, and ended a golden age. Corus today is a world of contending countries, of struggling humans, strange animals and elusive supernatural creatures. Though much has been forgotten, it is still a place of magical powers, and of a few people who are Talented enough to use them.

Even as a child, Alucius showed very strong Talent. He was warned never to reveal it, lest others seek to exploit it. But as he grows to young manhood, Alucius must serve in the Militia like his father before him. When his country is invaded by the slave armies of the Matrial, immortal ruler of a nearby land, Alucius is captured and magically enslaved.

A time of changes has come upon all of the world of Corus. If the evil surrounding the Matrial is not ended, those changes will not be happy ones. Alucius and his Talent have a central role to play.



About the Author
L. E. Modesitt, Jr. lives in Cedar City, Utah.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
If the first book of L. E. Modesitt Jr.'s brilliant Corean Chronicles, Legacies, is any indication of what's to come, this series will be more entertaining and fully realized than even his epic Spellsong Cycle and Recluce sagas. The story revolves around Alucius, a young boy with a secret, powerful Talent, being raised by his mother and grandparents on a rural ranch. While he enjoys herding nightsheep, Alucius knows that when he comes of age he must serve in the military and begin life on his own. But when his peaceful country is invaded by slave armies and Alucius is captured, he begins to realize his Talent is directly linked to stopping the bloodshed spreading across Corus.

While I enjoyed Modesitt's Spellsong and Recluce series, this series is like an exhilarating breath of fresh air -- it's so different than anything I've ever read from Modesitt. The main characters are well developed, and the magical realm of Corus, with its strange and supernatural creatures like dustcats and sandwolves, is a place I can't wait to visit again. Paul Goat Allen

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Millennia ago, a magical disaster caused the fall of a great worldwide civilization, the end of a golden age. New civilizations have fought their way up from the ancient destruction and chaos, knowing little of the lost world that preceded them or the details of its fall. Corus today is a world of contending countries and people, and also of strange animals and supernatural creatures. It is a place of magical powers, and of a few people who are Talented enough to use them. Alucius, the hero of the story, is one." "Born into a successful herder family, son of a father who was killed in action while serving in the Militia, Alucius is raised on the family Nightsheep ranch by his mother and grandparents, and schooled at home. He shows very strong Talent even as a child and is warned gravely that he must never reveal this, lest he spend his life in servitude to some rich and powerful person. But as he grows to young manhood, Alucius must serve in the Militia like his father before him. When his country is invaded by the slave armies of the Matrial, immortal ruler of neighboring Madrien, Alucius is captured and enslaved." A time of changes has come upon the world of Corus. If the evil surrounding the Matrial is not ended, those changes will not be happy ones. Gradually, Alucius realizes that he and his Talent have a central role to play.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Although "judicious matriarchy vs. brutish patriarchy" may have been done to death, Modesitt has boldly taken on the task of breathing new life into this venerable feminist clich , and done a more than credible job. Alucius, a young shepherd-turned-soldier from the proud but impoverished Iron Valley, is wounded and captured by the invading Matrite army. He manages to disguise his magical Talent well enough to pass the inspection of the Matrial, the seemingly immortal ruler whose magic reaches to every corner of her kingdom, and is assigned to fight in a company of Matrite cavalry. As he gains valuable knowledge of patience, warfare and honor, Alucius also comes to realize that despite his hatred of the slavery and prejudice that are so integral to the Matrite society, he can't help admiring the order and prosperity that accompany them. Resolving this internal dilemma is only one of his struggles: he must also work to regain his freedom, practice and improve his Talent and figure out why magical creatures appear at odd moments and aid or attack him seemingly at random. The historical background is somewhat sketchy and difficult to follow, and Modesitt still has trouble reconciling science and magic; but the warfare and dialogue are clear and authentic, and he's learned a lot about pacing in the 11 years since the first Recluce books were published. Thoughtful readers will be appreciative, and the author's fans will be impressed. (Nov. 1) FYI: Earlier this year Modesitt published a well-received SF novel, Archform: Beauty (Forecasts, June 10).

VOYA - Marsha Valance

Not only a gifted storyteller but also a gifted teacher, Modesitt layers his adventures, always offering the reader a glimpse of the economic and philosophical underpinnings of the worlds he creates. In this first book of the Corean Chronicles, he portrays a post-Catactysm world, slowly developing an economic and social base that will ease the lives of its inhabitants. The young protagonist, Alucius, is a psychically gifted farm boy, growing up in his retired colonel grandfather's house after his father's death in military service. They raise mutant Nightsheep, aggressive black beasts with razor-sharp horns and hooves, whose diet of metallic salt renders their meat inedible but their wool of great value. Alucius wants only to be a herder like his grandfather, but is called up for military service. His grandfather's training and his psychic ability help him survive until the slave soldiers of the Madrien, a neighboring matriarchy, capture him. Enslaved with a lethal collar, Alucius must learn about his captors to survive and escape to his beloved home and fianc￯﾿ﾽe. Modesitt's continuing appeal is partially based on his ability to offer a fast-paced adventure-usually a hero's journey-where the protagonist's growing understanding helps his moral development. Alucius must question why, in the slave-owning matriarchy, the majority of the population is happier, wealthier, and healthier than in his own republic of small farming villages and merchant centers. Each Modesitt adventure is a disguised minicourse in moral philosophy-an attribute that makes them of inestimable value to high school libraries. VOYA Codes: 4Q 4P S A/YA (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YAappeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2002, Tor, 560p,

Library Journal

As the son of a Nightsheep herder, Alucius learns the survival skills necessary to protect his valuable flock from the sand wolves and other strange predators that dwell in the cold northern lands. He also realizes the more subtle ways of his Talent, a magical ability common to those with herder blood. When the armies of Madrien invade his home, Alucius goes off to war, only to be captured and forcibly conscripted into the enemies' slave armies. Careful to hide his Talent, Alucius dreams of escape and revenge. The author of the popular "Recluce" series introduces a new world of subtle magic and ancient legends in this tale of a young man's coming of age in a war-torn land. Modesitt excels at portraying the everyday lives of people caught up in world-shaking events, thus making his characters both believable and sympathetic. This top-notch series opener is highly recommended. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews