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First Truth (Truth #1)

by Dawn Cook, Kim Harrison (Goodreads Author)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 2,082 ratings · 169 reviews

Alissa doesn't believe in magic. Her father's stories about the Hold, a legendary fortress where human Keepers learn magic from the enigmatic Maters, are just that―stories. But her mother insists that Alissa has inherited her father's magical ability, and so she must go to the Hold―the only place her talents can be trained.

On her way, she crosses paths with Strell, a wand...more

Paperback, 336 pages

Published May 28th 2002 by Ace Books

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Aug 09, 2011 Ducky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic-journey, fantasy-high

I'm not quite sure if this deserves three or four stars. I would've given this one five stars, but Strell got on my nerves with his incessant cheesy, romantic lines.

----

"Who," he breathed roughly, "will sing you to sleep when your rest is troubled?"

Clang!

"Who will tease you until you stamp your foot?" he sobbed, his unnoticed tears of frustration freezing on his cheek.

Clang!

"And who," he whispered fiercely, raising Alissa's staff high over his head. "Who will ever love you more than I?"

----

That...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Chibineko rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you aren't already aware, Dawn Cook is the pen name of Kim Harrison, author of the Hollows series. It was because of this that I picked this book up in the first place. After all, I love the Hollows books & even though this isn't exactly my cup of tea, I figured that I'd enjoy this series.

First Truth follows the character of Alissa, a young woman who is forced to set out in search of a place she's only heard about in stories- the magical Hold of the Masters. She doesn't know where to go-...more If you aren't already aware, Dawn Cook is the pen name of Kim Harrison, author of the Hollows series. It was because of this that I picked this book up in the first place. After all, I love the Hollows books & even though this isn't exactly my cup of tea, I figured that I'd enjoy this series.

First Truth follows the character of Alissa, a young woman who is forced to set out in search of a place she's only heard about in stories- the magical Hold of the Masters. She doesn't know where to go- just that her mother insists that she must travel to this place. Along the way she runs into flute player Strell, who was originally heading back home before hearing tragic news. When Alissa discovers that not only does he carry one of her father's maps, but one that gives the location of her destination, the two of them set out to reach the Hold before winter sets in. Unfortunately for them, there's only one sole human occupying the Hold. And he's far from benevolent...

I won't lie- I've been a little burnt out on what I call "hard core fantasy" for the last few years. (To me, hard core is any fantasy that's set on an alternate world ala DragonLance, although some might argue that First Truth isn't all that hard core.) However, once I got past the slow start I found that I really did enjoy this book. There's a fun chemistry between Strell & Alissa, so I enjoyed their bantering back & forth. I even loved the insane Bailic, who has easily turned into my favorite character of the series.

It's just that the story took a long time to get where it was going. The story didn't really pick up until our duo reached the Hold, which was about halfway in the book. It was a necessary evil, as events that took place during this time do come up later in the book.

If you are picking this up in the hopes that it'll be another Hollows-esque book, then I have to warn you that it isn't really similar at all. These series are two entirely different beasts (apart from the obvious) & you'll probably find yourself disappointed. I'd recommend this as a nice leisurely read for a good rainy (or snowy) day. Despite the slow beginning, the rest of the book was fun to read & I'm curious to get the next book in the series. My advice? Keep with the book. It gets better.

I still struggled through this book, so I can't really give this book more than three stars. Hopefully the future books will improve upon that & I have faith that they will. (less)

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Nov 05, 2011 Sky rated it 5 of 5 stars

Best damned book about dragons ever... period. Some might argue that fact, but they haven't read this book. Or they're a guy and they prefer their dragons spitting fire.

I've never read a book that describes magic so thoroughly either. You start thinking you might actually be able to grasp how it's all done, and attempt some of it yourself.
Also, very real relationships throughout the series.
I can say this as well... it all ends very nicely, and is wrapped up beautifully.

I just didn't want the...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Aer1th rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cover/Aussehen
Das Cover ist zugleich mystisch und sexy gestaltet, allerdings ist es auch irreführend, da die Frau scheinbar Alissa, unsere weibliche Protagonistin, darstellen soll, sie im Buch aber optisch ganz anders beschrieben wird.
Dennoch ist das Cover ansprechend und hat mich zum Kauf des Buches animiert.

Inhalt
Als Alissa beginnt immer rastloser zu werden und an den unmöglichsten Orten einzuschlafen, ahnt ihre Mutter bereits, dass die Zeit gekommen ist, ihre Tochter fortzuschicken. Doch Alis...more Cover/Aussehen
Das Cover ist zugleich mystisch und sexy gestaltet, allerdings ist es auch irreführend, da die Frau scheinbar Alissa, unsere weibliche Protagonistin, darstellen soll, sie im Buch aber optisch ganz anders beschrieben wird.
Dennoch ist das Cover ansprechend und hat mich zum Kauf des Buches animiert.

Inhalt
Als Alissa beginnt immer rastloser zu werden und an den unmöglichsten Orten einzuschlafen, ahnt ihre Mutter bereits, dass die Zeit gekommen ist, ihre Tochter fortzuschicken. Doch Alissa versteht die Welt nicht mehr als ihre Mutter sie beinahe kommentarlos kurz vor Wintereinbruch aus dem eigenen Haus im Hochland wirft.
Einer Wahl beraubt, macht Alissa sich zusammen mit ihrem zahmen Buntfalken “Kralle” auf den Weg zur geheimnisvolle Feste von der ihr Vater vor seinem Verschwinden immer Geschichten erzählt hat. Geschichten an die sie nie geglaubt hat.
Auf dem langen und beschwerlichen Weg zur Feste trifft sie auf Strell, einen Tiefländer, der sie aus einer sehr misslichen Lage befreit. Nach vielen Diskussionen, Streitereien und ungewöhnlichen Ereignissen entscheidet sich Strell Alissa zur Feste zu begleiten.
Dort angekommen treffen sie auf den einzigen noch lebenden Bewohner der Feste, Bailic. Wo sind Alissa und Strell da nur hineingeraten? Wer, zur Asche, ist Nutzlos und was hat es mit dem Buch der ersten Wahrheit auf sich, von dem sich Alissa so stark angezogen fühlt?

Meine Meinung
Vorweg lässt sich sagen, dass diejenigen, die auf der Suche nach einem schlachtenreichen Epos sind, hier vergeblich suchen werden. “Die erste Wahrheit” ist der Auftakt zu einer magisch wundervollen Saga, die mehr Wert auf Charakterbildung als auf epische Schlachten legt. Das zumindest im ersten Teil der Tetralogie.
Das gesamte Buch kommt mit gerade einmal vier wiederkehrenden Charakteren zurecht, Kralle miteingeschlossen, bei denen sich Dawn Cook viel Zeit lässt, sie ausführlich zu zeichnen.
Mit Witz, Ironie und einem flüssigen Schreibstil lässt sie uns in die Welt von Alissa und Strell abtauchen. Die einzelnen Charakterzüge, selbst die von Kralle, die Abscheu zwischen Tiefländern und Hochländern und den Unterschied zwischen “Gemeinen” (nicht magisch Begabte) und Bewahrern/Meistern (magisch Begabte) arbeitet sie mit einer großen Hingabe und Begeisterung heraus. Manchmal auch ein wenig zu viel, so dass es einige Passagen gibt, die sich ein wenig in die Länge ziehen.
Dawn Cooks Schreibstil lies mich problemlos in die fantastische Welt der Rakus eintauchen, so dass ich keine Schwierigkeiten mit den zu ausführlich beschriebenen Passagen hatte.
Ich mag es bei einem Buch sehr gerne, die Charaktere kennenzulernen. So kann ich mich besser in sie und ihre Welt hineinversetzen.

Fazit
Ein für mich gelungener Einstieg in eine fantastische Saga, dem die ein oder andere zusätzliche Portion Spannung und Schnelligkeit nicht geschadet hätte, aber auch ohne diese viel Lesevergnügen bereitet.
Ich bin auf jeden Fall auf die folgenden drei Bücher gespannt und freue mich schon jetzt auf das Lesen dieser.(less)

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Aug 04, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Alissa doesn't believe in magic. Even though her father has filled her head with stories of the Hold and Keepers, she was convinced that they were only stories. But when Alissa's mother throws her out of the home to find her destiny, Alissa finds that stories can be real. As Alissa journeys through the foothills and plains, she meets up with Strell, who helps her find the truth.

I was so disappointed in this series. As a big fan of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series, I thought her debut YA fanta...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Madame X rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Like a number of other recent reviewers, I recently found out that Kim Harrison and Dawn Cook are one and the same, and decided I'd take a gander at this early fantasy series of hers. No, it's not the Hollows - it's not as expansive, as complex, or as exciting as the Hollows books are. To be frank, it's not great. But it's not bad, either, and it's kind of fascinating to see the germ of Kim Harrison's talent here - in flashes, to be sure.

First Truth is a small book, and it's even smaller than i...more Like a number of other recent reviewers, I recently found out that Kim Harrison and Dawn Cook are one and the same, and decided I'd take a gander at this early fantasy series of hers. No, it's not the Hollows - it's not as expansive, as complex, or as exciting as the Hollows books are. To be frank, it's not great. But it's not bad, either, and it's kind of fascinating to see the germ of Kim Harrison's talent here - in flashes, to be sure.

First Truth is a small book, and it's even smaller than it could have been. The setting is pretty localized - there's the desert plains, the foothills farmers, the coast, and the mountains in between. Each of these areas has a distinct culture, and they're locked in a state of mutual animosity. The book mostly follows its two main characters, Alyssa and Strell, as they attempt a dangerous mountain crossing in the autumn, when the weather can prove deadly. Thrown together by necessity, they're soon trapped in The Hold - a massive mountain fortress, inhabited by one evil maniac and one imprisoned ally - by the season's first snows.

So here's the deal: Alyssa can sense the presence of a magical book. The evil maniac, Bailic, wants the book so he can use it for the usual evil maniac purpose, i.e. he wants to try to take over the world, but he can't sense it. He's pretty sure either Alyssa or Strell could sense the book, but he needs to figure out which one. Alyssa and Strell are powerless against Bailic, but trapped in a magically sealed dungeon of The Hold is Useless, a powerful creature who, if freed, could murder Bailic in the blink of an eye.

So you've got three people who are *supposedly* really highly motivated to accomplish something. Alyssa is driven by a magical compulsion to find the book...except that mostly she cooks and sews and doesn't go looking. Bailic is all fired up about forcing his guests to find the book, and but he appears to be both stupid and lazy - he thinks of one lame plot every couple of weeks, always ridiculously easy to foil, and in between he just wanders around acting creepy. Useless is pretty darn motivated to escape his prison, and his behavior is the oddest of all. He's got two mobile allies in The Hold, and he can actually communicate with them telepathically, but instead of enlisting their help, or making use of Alyssa's powerful magical gifts...he tells them to go away, seals Alyssa's magic against her own use, rendering her extra defenseless against Bailic, and announces his desire to just...wait around in prison until Bailic dies.

So they all arrive at the hold and basically loaf around doing nothing for months. And then, when they finally decide to take some action, it's so ridiculously simple to achieve the goals they've been putting off that I was kind of angry. If any of the above characters had put even a tiny amount of effort into achieving their goals a little earlier, the book would have been about 1/4 as long as it turned out to be.

So, to sum up, I actually quite liked this book at the start - but during the months of dawdling around in The Hold it totally lost me. Still, it was kind of fun to see baby Kim Harrison in action.(less)

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Apr 30, 2011 Jill Furedy rated it 3 of 5 stars

First off, I was really annoyed with the cover of this book...I am buying the original covers. Every time Alissa complained that her short straight hair was getting longer or Strell commented on it, I'd growl at the cover. And I hate that they made Talon glow, as that started me thinking...well something about Talon is magical. And I would have preferred they not give me that nudge.
As for the story, Alissa is fine...but not someone I really connected with for some reason. Some books I walk awa...more

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Oct 26, 2010 Malin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-books

Alissa has never been accepted by the people around her parents' foothills farm, as her mother is from the plains, and her father from the foothills. There is fierce rivalry and much prejudice between the tradesmen of the plains and the farmers of the foothills and intermarriage between the peoples is frowned upon, and the offspring of such unions are treated as outcasts.

Alissa's father has been missing since she was five, and now, at nearly twenty, her mother is sending her away, claiming she n...more Alissa has never been accepted by the people around her parents' foothills farm, as her mother is from the plains, and her father from the foothills. There is fierce rivalry and much prejudice between the tradesmen of the plains and the farmers of the foothills and intermarriage between the peoples is frowned upon, and the offspring of such unions are treated as outcasts.

Alissa's father has been missing since she was five, and now, at nearly twenty, her mother is sending her away, claiming she needs to find the mystical Hold and learning to use her latent magical powers. Alissa doesn't believe in magic, and is crushed, but has no choice but to set off. She has to make her way through the mountains before the first snows fall, and see if the mythical Masters and Keepers of the Hold can shed some light on her father's disappearance and her own supposed heritage. Accompanying her is Talon, her tiny kestrel, who guards her fiercely despite her diminutive size and warns her of dangers.

Having fallen into a ravine looking for water, Alissa is saved by Strell, a wandering minstrel who has is trying to make his way to the coast. Strell is from the plains, and has been travelling for years, collecting stories and music. He discovers that his entire family has been wiped out in a flood five years earlier, and no longer has any true home or connection. At first, he is suspicious of the clearly half-blood foothills girl, and he and Alissa get off to a bad start. As they are going the same way, however, they decide to travel together and quickly become friends.

Alissa is unaware that the Hold is nearly empty, with only one crazy former Keeper having sent all the Masters on a pointless quest far away, and killed the other Keepers. Only one Master is left, trapped in the dungeons. Bailic, the ex-Keeper is an old friend of Alissa's father, and wants a legendary magic book, First Truth, which was given to Alissa's dad by his teacher. Bailic has dreams of world domination, and quickly realizes that one of the two strangers that show up to the Hold can help him find the book he needs to achieve his goal. But he is unable to figure out whether it's Alissa or Strell who have the latent magical abilities. Alissa and Strell need to try to find the book before Bailic gets to it, and stay safe during the winter, hoping Bailic doesn't kill them too.

I had read both of Dawn Cook's Princess books (The Decoy Princess, Princess at Sea) before I discovered that the author is also Kim Harrison, an author whose paranormal fantasy series I've been reading and loving for years. As far as I can tell, she started writing traditional, vaguely romantic fantasy and did OK, but never became particularly successful. Then she created her paranormal series under the pen name Kim Harrison, and became a several times bestselling author. Ace has recently republished her Truth books pointing out that the authors are one and the same, but the new covers are absolutely awful, and I'm glad I was able to get the classic covers.

The first book (in a series of four) is mostly setup, and the friendship between Alissa and Strell is slowly developing into something more romantic, but anyone wanting a passionate love story, should possibly pick something else. Nor is this a very epic fantasy story, but a nicely paced little adventure tale. I'm looking forward to reading the next three.(less)

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Apr 15, 2013 Elaine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-version

I wasn't sure what to make of this book after reading all the Hollow's series and this book is so different. The writing style seems different and it was all just not what I've come to expect from Kim Harrison regardless if she was writing under a different name.

The story was rather complex and at times explained too much but it all seemed to flow and didn't really lose track or get boring, The information written was always relevent to the story at the time it took place. However I did find the...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: has-read

Honestly I wanted to read this book because it was written by Kim Harrison aka Dawn Cook. I have enjoyed her writing style so much that I wanted to give it a whirl.

Let me start off by saying, it's a good fluff book. A time filler when you have ran out of things to read. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination. The SL is some what original, there is Kim's basic way of writing sexual tension (even tho there isn't even a profession of love in the book, let alone a...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Guillaume Jay rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Alissa est chassée par sa mère pour marcher sur les traces de son père et rejoindre la Forteresse pour devenir une magicienne.
En chemin, elle rencontre Strell, jeune troubadour, qui l'accompagne jusqu'à sa destination.
Bon, le coup du "on s'aime, mais on le dit pas et on le comprend pas", je l'ai vu exprimé de façon bien pire (je veux dire, j'ai lu la Belgariade, et j'ai tenu 6 volumes de Wheel of Time, j'ai donc acquis une certaine résistance). Mais après, je n'ai pas accroché : pas au style, pa...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Raye rated it 5 of 5 stars

This series kept me inthralled.I don't wish to give anything away but I liked the fact the in certain aspects I could guess s what would happen next then she would blind side me later in the book.I'm also a fan when it comes to good verses evil and the good doesn't always win. ( not that I'm saying the good guys don't triumph) but it's a lot like life u can lose battle but win the war.that is seen through out the series. The good guys r human thus they can be over powered or forced by the bad gu...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Scarlet rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book was very predictable and convenient which is the kind of books I usually hate,but for some reason I enjoyed it more than I thought I would..the characters are quite believable, and I liked Strell a lot , I liked the way the book dealt with the racism issue especially how it made the characters more realistic, I was actually going to give 4 stars but thought it unfair for books that are much better that I gave 4...anyway I do not recommend the book for anyone who wants strong...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Stefanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: medieval-times-magic

Excellent start to a series. It definitely had a similar feel to Tamora Pierce's many awesome quartets. Which is actually very refreshing at least for me as I like a good series/trilogy/quartet etc. that has books that could also stand alone. First Truth was an awesome story that gave a clear ending, but by no means was thoroughly complete with all subplots tied up neatly at the end. Dawn Cook/Kim Harrison left just enough open ended that the story would continue in the next book and so on if on...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I had completely forgotten about this book until I found it buried in one of my bookshelves gathering dust.

This book was written by Dawn Cook, otherwise known as Kim Harrison. Honestly, I adore it and I think it's almost superior to her Hallows books, which were by far my favorites until I stumbled upon this series. Within the last few years i'd almost given up on finding favorites in fantasy and was leaning far more towards the preternatural genre, but this has reminded of how much I love high...more

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Nov 20, 2009 CJ - Secret Charm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romance, shifters

Pretty good first book in the series the only bad thing is that it ends in such a way that you HAVE to read the second book immediately. Luckily for me I bought it.

Characters are good, a little childish at first but then begin to grow into themselves and their roles slowly. Alissa - who doesn't believe in magic but clearly has a latent power - and Strell - a musician who doesn't believe in magic until he meets her - are the two main characters.

They travel together and become friends...until one...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Like many others, I grabbed this book because I enjoy Kim Harrison's Hollows series. I knew there would be differences; that's a big reason why an author writes under different names. The tone is different, and gone is the rampant sex from the Hollows, but otherwise it's the high quality writing that I've come to expect.

Where Cook/Harrison excels is in her characters and their relationships with each other, and that does not change just because the cover has a different name. The world is detail...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Als ich das erste Buch gesehen hab fand ich das cover schon recht ansprechend und die beschreibung hat mich doch zum kauf ermutigt.
Ich finde es wurde alles sehr schön beschrieben ich kahm mir sehr hineinversetzt vor, finde auch das man es eigentlich nicht zur seite legen kann ich will immer weiterlesen egal wo man ist :D
Es steckt eine sehr schöne große geschichte dahinter, hat zwar auch eine große liebesgeschichte aber auch einen feind den es auszuhalten und zu überwinden gibt. Desweiteren eine...more

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Feb 14, 2011 Yodamom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio

I am a big fan of Kim Harrison, she is one of my top 5 authors. I had to try her Dawn Cook books, I found it very enjoyable. It is an easy to read, fantasy. The two main characters are from opposite sides of the track in this world. Alissa is stubborn, powerful with latent magic and naive. Strell is humorous, musical and stubborn. Both distrust each other, and think less of the other because of where they are from. They are forced to combine their journeys after events tear their families apart...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Clicque added it · review of another edition

Alissa ne croyait pas � la magie. Son p�re lui parlait d'une Forteresse l�gendaire, o� des Gardiens apprenaient la magie aupr�s de Ma�tres �nigmatiques... mais ce n'�taient que des histoires, rien de plus. Pourtant, maintenant que son p�re est mort, sa m�re est convaincue qu'Alissa a h�rit� de ses dons magiques, et qu'elle doit se rendre dans le seul lieu o� ses talents se r�v�leront : la myst�rieuse Forteresse ! Mais le voyage ne sera pas solitaire, car Alissa rencontre un musicien ambulant qui...more

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May 28, 2010 Sabrina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Von dem Buch ,,Die erste Wahrheit" habe ich mir mehr erhofft.
Aber fangen wir erst einmal von vorne an.

Das Buch lässt sich sehr gut lesen. Ich hatte überhaupt keine Schwierigkeiten mit dem Verständnis der erzählten Geschichte.
Die Umgebung konnte ich mir sehr gut vorstellen, auch die Atmosphäre in dem Buch griff quasi über mich.

Zu Anfang treffen wir auf drei Charaktere. Alissa, Strell und der Buntfalke Kralle. Zwischen Alissa und Strell solle sich eine Art Romantik und Liebe entwickeln. Aha.
H...more

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Mar 08, 2008 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this authors style of writing. Very detailed, but keeps your interest. She doesn't describe the room to the smallest detail, however she will describe it while the characters walk around it/touch it/sense it. I read every word on every page.

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Nov 26, 2007 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: adults

Shelves: fantasy

This is a clean, interesting fantasy for adults. I liked the heroine and the strong men in this story. The story continues in three other books which are also good.

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Sep 28, 2010 Lightreads rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

What Kim Harrison wrote before she was Kim Harrison: generic quest fantasy with cardboard worldbuilding and a paint-by-numbers romance. I was looking for something fluffy an stupid and I thought this might do it. Unfortunately, it was a bit fluffier and way stupider than anticipated.

The whole thing was not helped by Marguerite Gavin’s audio narration. She has this way of delivering dialogue with oversold! Quivering! Emotion! That did this book in particular no favors. I mean, a straight-faced sc...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-and-epic-fantasy

pretty good and not stereotypical fantasy; ordinary girl did find out she had special powers, but at least her adventures were not all about saving the world; the romance actually developed as characters lived and survived together for a long time; I really liked the unique world with masters/rakus manipulating human populations and people with varying degrees of magic based on genetics. My main dislike was that main character was a plot puppet - I can't stand when the main character is being a...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Jill Swanson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, sci-fi, adult-fiction

I love, love, loved this book!
I found this at random while browsing the shelves in B&N.
It quickly became one I could not put down. I had to order the other three and did so before I even finished this one.

I am fascinated by the way magic is used and taught in this book.
They explain it with such detail.
It is clear a lot of thought went in to every spec of this magical society.
Not only did it have magic, but it was also the beginnings of a love story. However, the relationship between Strell...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Alyssa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book back in 2004 and then recently had a hankering to read it again. Interestingly, I had to ask my friends in California (whom I had previously borrowed it from) to graciously mail it out to me so I could enjoy it. I also read two subsequent books in the series and (to my relief) finally discovered that there is a last book that finishes the series. Although I tend to stay away from the bizarre temptation of fantasy fiction, I found myself genuinely enjoying the authentic character...more

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Feb 18, 2010 Sonya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, 2010

A few thoughts about this book:

The book ended abruptly – not a problem given the next book in the series is available.

The reader was told a lot of time was passing – but it didn’t “feel” like a lot of time was passing.

Detailed descriptions of domestic chores were too frequent and didn’t add anything to the story in my opinion.

Author spent a lot of time showing us the main characters falling in love – which was cute, but it did not advance the plot. I think the story suffered from the time spent...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Sarah Searle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm a pretty big fan of slow-starting romantic fantasies (Sevenwaters series, for example), but the first half or two-thirds of the book started to bore me just a little. Not enough to make me stop reading, however, and the ending was a real page-turner. Overall, though it certainly has its faults, it got me sucked right into the series and now there's no looking back (be warned, this book isn't standalone –– the ending is a cliffhanger of sorts).

Also, the whole "bare feet are scandalous" thing...more

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Feb 21, 2011 Estara marked it as dnf · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, read-in-2011

I gave it 123 pages, but I just don't like the voice. Strell and Alissa are too juvenile for me - I would have thought the way they grew up would have made them more mature.

You know, what I actually wanted to read was the story of Rema and Meson, Alissa's mom and dad, who we met in flashbacks and in person.

I liked what I saw of the worldbuilding and the customs, but with me characters keep me reading. These don't, at the moment anyway.

As Janicu said in her review here:
though Alissa and Strell se...more

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/111022.First_Truth?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1293182676l/111022.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/111022.First_Truth?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]First Truth by Dawn Cook[/url]

First Truth (Truth #1)

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