Wheel of the Infinite

 

Wheel of the Infinite is an engaging and very well written character driven standalone fantasy by Martha Wells. Originally published in 2000, this reformat and re-release from Macmillan on their Tor imprint is 368 pages and is available in this edition in paperback and ebook formats. (The unabridged sudiobook is available from Tantor with a run time of 13 hours 51 minutes).  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. 

The author is wonderfully talented (and rightly celebrated). This is an earlier work, but clearly up the the standards of the rest of the author's oeuvre. The world building is sufficient, but not overwrought, based loosely on Tibetan Buddhism, with a rhythmic religious order based on the infinite wheel of the cosmos. 

The middle aged female lead (yes!) is intelligent, driven, complex (excommunicated from a powerful position as a seer), and traveling incognito with a troupe of actors. Joining forces with a swordsman, they're drawn into a cosmic crisis which could unravel the entire universe. 

It's a standalone, and although Wells had a perfect opportunity to continue the story (the ending was satisfying, but somewhat open ended), but has apparently resisted.  

Four stars. Satisfying. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home library, SF/Fantasy book club selection, or a buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.