Vessel

Sep 15, 2012 Mitch rated it 3 of 5 stars

Creatively, Vessel hits all the right notes. Combining an intriguing premise - a girl’s raised to be a vessel for her goddess but is instead abandoned by her deity and her tribe - with a vividly stark desert landscape and plenty of moral questions, Sarah Beth Durst has certainly written one of the most highly original books I’ve ever read. Yet at the same time, the somewhat lacking characters and shallow plot really torpedoed what could’ve been a great book for me.

My problem with the characters...more Creatively, Vessel hits all the right notes. Combining an intriguing premise - a girl’s raised to be a vessel for her goddess but is instead abandoned by her deity and her tribe - with a vividly stark desert landscape and plenty of moral questions, Sarah Beth Durst has certainly written one of the most highly original books I’ve ever read. Yet at the same time, the somewhat lacking characters and shallow plot really torpedoed what could’ve been a great book for me.

My problem with the characters can pretty much be summed up in three words, engaging, empathy, and development. Liyana has a great story, almost her whole life, she’s been raised as a vessel, not expected to do anything except give her life so her goddess can take her body and use it to provide for her tribe, but she never engaged me. She’s described as a practical character with a wry sense of humor, but those moments are few and far between. In the meantime, she shows her practical side with some pretty mean feats of desert survival after she’s left to her own devices, but, as a practical person, she just does exactly what’s necessary to live. Sure, she fights against the forces of the desert, snakes and sand wolves, heat and thirst, but I never got a sense of the desperate struggle for survival that would’ve drawn me to her story because she’s so darn practical she has everything calmly taken care of almost as soon as the danger passes.

Her personal story too, it could’ve been deep and meaningful, but it never goes anywhere. How can anyone live knowing that her entire purpose in life is to die, that her entire tribe depends on her to die, just so her goddess can live? That should’ve been the central question in Vessel, but instead Liyana’s quest to find her goddess sucks so much air out of the story that her own personal feelings about her role remains one of resigned acceptance. Maybe it’s her practical character again, but I couldn’t empathize with her, never got a sense that even a small part of her wanted to live. The entire book turns on the morality of gods taking vessels, and yet the driving character, rather than weighing her life and her tribe’s survival, is just ok with the whole thing? And, as the story progresses, as Liyana’s confronted with differing points of view, as situations put her in the position to judge the gods themselves, she never has second thoughts? That lack of development was just hugely disappointing for me.

Actually, a lot of other things are glossed over too. The first half of the book is just Liyana and Korbyn going from tribe to tribe recruiting vessels to rescue their gods, but, like Liyana, none of the other vessels feel like fully a formed character. Sure, Fennik’s tough and dedicated to his god; Pia’s blind, an excellent singer, and even more dedicated to her goddess; while Raan’s the rebel with the drinking problem who doesn’t want to be a vessel, wants to live, but not only does the story feel really repetitive, going from one tribe to the next, Korbyn giving the same our gods have been kidnapped and we need your vessel to join us speech to the mistrusting chief of each tribe every time, Fennik, Pia, and Raan never gave me the impression there was any more to their characters than their dedication (or sacrilege, in Raan’s case) to their gods. Rather, they’re all a single motivation each and free of second thoughts. Only Korbyn really kept me reading, not only because I’m a huge fan of mischievous but generally well meaning trickster gods, but because of his complicated relationship with Liyana and her goddess Bayla, because he made the backstory of the gods and the world generally interesting with the myths and stories, and because he’s the only character, god or mortal, to really address the morality of taking vessels, balancing the good of the vessel with the good of the tribe.

I thought the story would improve once the vessels gather and head off to save the gods, but for me, Vessel’s second half is even more underwhelming than its first. Durst writes some pretty amazing scenes of the desert, that’s something she gets right, but the villain of the story, the Crescent Empire, just failed to impress me. Rather than being the rich, magnificent, or even militarily powerful realm like all the characters swear it is, it came across to me as some vague, amorphous political unit. Leaving the desert was like a night and day moment because the setting immediately went from interesting to a blank canvas. And the leader of this Empire, the Emperor, while I understood his motivations completely, his reasons for doing what he did, like many things about Vessel, was just shallow and leads into one of the most convenient relationships I’ve ever read. The entire time, I didn’t feel like the conflict with the Empire had the same tight focus or level of detail as the journey through the desert.

Despite its unique premise, Vessel is a decidedly average fantasy for me. Nothing about the characters made me particularly invested in their stories, and what enthusiasm I had for the fairly imaginative desert scenes dropped off as the book leaves that interesting world behind.(less)

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Sep 15, 2012 Katy rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars - I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I really liked the story because it was unique and thought provoking. On the other hand, I felt the story progression kind of dragged, and I really didn't connect with any of the characters - with the exception of Raan - until the last part of the book.

I was really impressed with the world Durst has created. The concept of training your whole life to be worthy as a vessel and sacrificing your life for the gods is beyond intriguin...more

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Mar 18, 2013 TheBookSmugglers rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-of-2012, notable-reads-of-2012, hidden-gems, romantic-fantasy

Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers

REVIEW

Ana's Take:

Thousands of years ago, the people of the turtle made the desert their home and divided into several clans. It was a difficult way of life and many people died in the harsh desert. Those souls of the first dead wandered around our world until they found the Dreaming, where they remained.

But the souls could not rest in peace in the Dreaming when they could see how their people suffered in the desert. And so it has come to pass that the...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Nafiza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, high-fantasy

I was surprised that this novel wasn’t more aggressively marketed because it has all the elements necessary for a blockbuster in the book world. I have been waiting for this novel for ages and it did not disappoint. Liyana is an extremely likable protagonist and following her journey is exhilarating and thrilling at times. The mythical world created by Durst is also fascinating with its different ecosystems, tribes, arts and religion. The desert is almost a character in its own right and I belie...more I was surprised that this novel wasn’t more aggressively marketed because it has all the elements necessary for a blockbuster in the book world. I have been waiting for this novel for ages and it did not disappoint. Liyana is an extremely likable protagonist and following her journey is exhilarating and thrilling at times. The mythical world created by Durst is also fascinating with its different ecosystems, tribes, arts and religion. The desert is almost a character in its own right and I believe Durst is able to accurately portray the harsh conditions in which people survive in the desert.

The supporting characters are also well hewed with their own personalities and idiosyncrasies. All the vessels are unique but perhaps I most felt for the vessel-whose-name-I-can’t-remember and her struggle to live even when her soul is in danger of being consumed by the “God” living in her. The mythology is also very well constructed with things being logical and fantastical (see, it’s possible!). What I found really fascinating was the concept of ritual soul death that led to the emptying of the body (thus vessel) into which the God will pour themselves. Korbyn, the trickster God, is the only one of the Gods who manages to correctly fill his vessel but I don’t think the reader is able to forget at any time that the soul and body are different. Korbyn is intriguing – as Gods are wont to be – and though he is much easier to understand than N. K. Jemisin’s Gods, he is still fey and fickle.

His fascination with Liyana and her reciprocating his feelings has the air of a forbidden romance especially when you consider that Liyana is the vessel for Korbyn’s true love. Then you throw in a young Emperor trying to do his best in the circumstances for the people he rules, a nefarious wizard, magic and burgeoning feelings where there should be none. Yes, it is a rollercoaster journey. I loved the ending. I thought it was sufficiently postmodern and tuned in to contemporary expectations instead of traditional. The only thing that detracted from the novel for me was that a very important character, the prince, could have been developed much more than he was. His interactions with several key characters needed more building and depth. That is just a personal thought and other readers may be quite satisfied by the way that relationship is built. All in all, I heartily recommend this fantasy. It’s very entertaining in all the good ways.(less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Eden rated it 5 of 5 stars

This novel was everything wonderful about fantasy in one go. Let's start with the worldbuilding, because holy wow is it stellar. The desert and its clans clearly have history. The myths the people have for their beginnings read like a genuine creation story, while the novel's actual premise and the magic involved are worked intricately into the lifestyle of the people. So the vessel concept is unique, yes, but it isn't just a hook; it has substance. It has meaning. And oh, there is a delicious t...more This novel was everything wonderful about fantasy in one go. Let's start with the worldbuilding, because holy wow is it stellar. The desert and its clans clearly have history. The myths the people have for their beginnings read like a genuine creation story, while the novel's actual premise and the magic involved are worked intricately into the lifestyle of the people. So the vessel concept is unique, yes, but it isn't just a hook; it has substance. It has meaning. And oh, there is a delicious twist concerning the vessels' lives, the deities who overtake them, and magic.

Liyana, we're told, is practical, and she is -- wonderfully so. Her pragmatism gives her an innate strength that makes her courageous and savvy, an excellent combination for the political dealings that pick up during the story. As a foil, Korbyn excels; he's good-natured on the surface, almost light-hearted, but with a level head and a rough yet protective side. With them together, there are moments of head-spinning emotion and instances of excellent humour.

The other characters, from the assorted vessels and clan members to the Crescent Empire personages, all fulfill their role with well-fleshed personalities; the growing relationship between Liyana and the Emperor stand out in particular. And the dynamics between the vessels are at their best in this quote:

As she got closer, Raan shouted a string of obscenities at them. Pia gasped with each one. Fennick looked disgusted.
"Impressive vocabulary," Korbyn said. "I feel as though I should take notes."
"I think she's making them up," Liyanna siad. "Half of them are not anatomically possible."
"And the rest is... ill-advised," Pia said.
(p. 189)

The deities themselves are, surprisingly, also developed, and the relationship involving Liyana, Bayla (Liyana's clan's god) and Korbyn shifts constantly, believably, as does the relationship between the Crescent Empire and the desert clans. The villain is sufficiently evil with his dramatic ambition, but it's crux of these two key relationships that makes the ending so heartbreaking. Such an epic journey across the desert, with such a finale... I'm not going to lie. When I finished Vessel, I wanted to cry.

*Review originally published on Pass the Chiclets.(less)

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Apr 05, 2013 Misty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-ya, sci_fi-fantasy, excited-for, cover-appeal, own, review-copy-accepted, folklore-myth-fable-fairy-tall-tale, read-in-2012

Okay, so what had happened was, I wrote a very glowing review of this last year after I read it, and apparently somewhere along the line, it got deleted. Couldn't tell you when, as it was around the holidays that it would have gone up (and who can focus on anything except yummy turkey dinners (mmm, gravy!*), ugly holiday sweaters and family dramz around the holidays?); all I know is that I went to link to it for something a few weeks ago and noticed it was no more. =/
[*But seriously, though? I a...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Veronica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, fantasy, ya

I came across this title on i09 and decided to check it out from the library. What a refreshing read in teen fiction! It appears to be a stand-alone, for one thing, it’s based in non-Western mythos, and the characters are POC! (I just used exclamation points, twice! That’s how excited I am.) I was just bitching about the lack of all of this in epic fantasy on Kate Elliot’s livejournal page. While I don’t think Durst’s book qualifies as epic fantasy, it does breathe some much needed new life into...more I came across this title on i09 and decided to check it out from the library. What a refreshing read in teen fiction! It appears to be a stand-alone, for one thing, it’s based in non-Western mythos, and the characters are POC! (I just used exclamation points, twice! That’s how excited I am.) I was just bitching about the lack of all of this in epic fantasy on Kate Elliot’s livejournal page. While I don’t think Durst’s book qualifies as epic fantasy, it does breathe some much needed new life into teen fantasy (while the cover does show a girl in a corset, which doesn’t seem too logical for a member of a desert tribe, at least it’s not a girl in a prom dress).

Vessel tells the story of Liyanna, a young woman who has been divinely chosen to be the vessel for her tribe’s goddess, Bayla. When Bayla doesn’t fill her vessel, Liyanna is cast out and left on her own, until (of course) a handsome dude walks in from a dust storm. Korbyn is the vessel for the trickster god and he has come on a mission to find all of the vessels whose gods did not come to them. Thus begins the main action and quest of the novel. Each tribe presents a new challenge, and each unfulfilled vessel a new voice to the cast. Unfortunately, one of the last is one of the best, and we don’t get to hear her for very long. After collecting all five of the vessels, the group sets out to hunt down the missing gods and goddesses. Eventually, a Host-like (I think, if I understand the premise of that book right (no, I have NOT read it)) love triangle develops and the resolution of that is also the resolution of the novel.

The freshness of the novel and its mythology (which was coherent, cognent, and compelling) may have overshadowed some of its defects while reading it. Chief among these are the rapid pace of the plot and the character development. The latter was adequate, but it could have been much better and in turn made this a much deeper novel than it was. Durst’s writing was good, even lovely at times, and her depictions of the desert put me in mind of Nnendi Okorafor (if you haven’t read her yet, WTFN?). While Durst aspired to that level of story-telling, she fell short, mainly because she seemed to focus more on plot than on her characters. This is odd, since her plot is to collect characters, essentially.

On the whole, I really enjoyed Vessel and would highly recommend it if you’re a bit tired of the normal teen fantasy fare.(less)

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Jan 25, 2013 Hillary Hunt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fem-fantasy

There's a lot to like here; nice character arc for MC, unique and vivid world building, and an exciting ending.

That said, the character development was pretty shallow, imo. Particularly the secondary characters (Pia, Raan, Kennik) who felt like simple place holders with no investment made to them beyond a few attributes. I started out really loving Korbyn. It was interesting to see a trickster God in the position of being the only deity left to save the day, but I felt the author could've played...more

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May 14, 2013 Pauline rated it 5 of 5 stars

Human sacrifice has a long and inglorious presence in fantasy and science fiction. It's been easy shorthand for an evil, repressive society. It's been a peril from which the hero can save the damsel in distress. Like the Rite of the First Night, the presence of human sacrifice in a plot often sets off my cliché alarm.

But Sarah Beth Durst takes a more daring approach with a plot centered around a type of human sacrifice. In a time of cataclysmic drought, her heroine is determined to sacrifice her...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Rich in Color rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: epic-heroic-fantasy, fantasy

I thoroughly enjoyed Vessel, and that was largely due to the world building and Liyana. Durst did an excellent job of creating a desert-dwelling culture, and the book was sprinkled with fun details about the tents, clothing, animals, critters, and food. (I will admit that the food wasn’t always fun, but I suppose eating snakes is a better alternative to starving.) This attention to detail—from the embroidery on Liyana’s dress to the preparations our heroes take for incoming sandstorms—grounds th...more I thoroughly enjoyed Vessel, and that was largely due to the world building and Liyana. Durst did an excellent job of creating a desert-dwelling culture, and the book was sprinkled with fun details about the tents, clothing, animals, critters, and food. (I will admit that the food wasn’t always fun, but I suppose eating snakes is a better alternative to starving.) This attention to detail—from the embroidery on Liyana’s dress to the preparations our heroes take for incoming sandstorms—grounds the world and makes it feel lived in. This is especially helpful since there’s a bunch of mystical stuff going on. In addition to Korbyn, the tribes have magicians of their own, and this world is one filled with wolves made of sand, dragons made of not-actually-glass, monstrous silkworms, and the Dreaming (afterlife/world of gods). Some of these mystical elements and their impact on the plot are more fuzzy/arbitrary than I’d like, but I could accept them.

Liyana and Korbyn, and even the Emperor to some extent, make the world even richer through the sharing of fairytale-esque stories (which, since this is a fantasy book, are not entirely made up). Many of the stories are about the desert gods, but some are about the empire’s gods or even mortals. Some of them were pure indulgence; others revealed characters, world building, or history; and yet others were used by the characters to teach or debate within the book. I loved these stories.

Durst spends a lot of time on the nature of the vessels and their sacrifice, and these moments are particularly poignant. Some vessels are fanatically devoted to their god and their tribe; others are terrified and don’t want to die. Liyana falls along “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” line—she’s not thrilled to die, but she knows that her tribe needs her goddess, Beyla, in order to survive the Great Drought. It’s particularly wrenching when Liyana says goodbye to her family or whenever she thinks about the extra time she’s been given only because her goddess has disappeared.

I have one major complaint about the book, and that would be the last moment romantic rival—and it’s not even really a rivalry as Durst avoids any competition/jealousy between the boys. Much of the book is devoted to the kind-of-sort-of-not-vocalized romance between Liyana and Korbyn. (Things are complicated—Korbyn is Beyla’s lover, but a mutual attraction between him and Liyana grows over the course of the book.) I was taken by surprise when a certain character expressed interest in Liyana, though that plotline won me over by the end due to a combination of 1) already enjoying that character and 2) the sheer practicality of it all.

Recommendation: Get it soon. Liyana, Korbyn, and the other main characters are an enjoyable and complicated ensemble, and the world they inhabit is as magical as it is dangerous. I loved the world, and the story was a solid quest with fun characters, lots of peril, a not-too-angsty romance, and occasional armies.(less)

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Apr 28, 2013 Miz Lizzie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals, asian, death, families, fantasy, friendship, goddess, magic, mythology, reincarnation, romance, siblings, spirituality, storytelling, tricksters, shamanism, young-adult, dreams

Liyana has been chosen as a vessel for her goddess Bayla, protectress of the Goat Clan. Once every hundred years a vessel is chosen for the deity to inhabit the vessel after a ceremony invokes her. This means that Liyana must die in order to make room for the goddess. Liyana is prepared and willing to do this. Her desert clan is desperate for the goddess' help in this time of great drought. But when the ceremony is performed, Bayla doesn't come. Abandoned by her clan, Liyana expects to die in th...more Liyana has been chosen as a vessel for her goddess Bayla, protectress of the Goat Clan. Once every hundred years a vessel is chosen for the deity to inhabit the vessel after a ceremony invokes her. This means that Liyana must die in order to make room for the goddess. Liyana is prepared and willing to do this. Her desert clan is desperate for the goddess' help in this time of great drought. But when the ceremony is performed, Bayla doesn't come. Abandoned by her clan, Liyana expects to die in the desert until she discovers a supply pack left for her by her family and Korbyn, the trickster god occupying the vessel of the Raven Clan. The gods of the desert clans have been captured by false vessels. With Liyana's help, Korbyn is determined to gather the other true vessels and release the captured gods. The fact that Korbyn is a trickster not known for telling the truth makes the task all the more challenging.

I loved that this book draws its inspiration from Asian and shamanic culture and that this is reflected on the cover with a gorgeous picture of Liyana dancing to summon her goddess. Though never named as such since it is a fantasy rather than a historical novel, the desert tribes are clearly inspired by the nomadic desert cultures of Asia and the Empire by imperialistic China. In keeping with a shamanistic culture, the oral stories and myths play an integral part in the storyline and are beautifully and seamlessly woven into the text just as they would be in the daily life of the people. Though there is some romance in the book, I really appreciated that it is not the driving force of the story. Indeed, Liyana's love for her family, especially her younger brother, her clan, the desert, and her goddess are ultimately more important and influence her romantic choices. After so many disappointments with YA series that start out strong in the first book but falter in subsequent books (whether due to a storyline being pulled too thin or the pressure to publish a sequel too quickly), I also loved that this is story is complete in one volume.

I had a few rather trivial qualms. The author has a fondness for the rather anachronistic phrase "zero time" that jolted me out of the story not once but several times as it seemed far too modern a phrase for the story. Cacti were also referred to as having leaves and were handled with bare hands as if the needles and spikes were extremely minor inconveniences that could be easily avoided when gathering and carrying them. As a desert dweller myself, this clear unfamiliarity with cacti on the author's part bounced me out of the story again. To give the author credit, the story is clearly a fantasy that takes place in another world even if it is inspired by certain Asian cultures. However, using the word "cactus," which does refer to a very specific type of plant with very specific characteristics (including no "leaves") and very specific harvesting techniques to avoid the stickers (especially the near-invisible ones that can get under your skin) does create a dissonance for any reader who lives in the desert and is intimately familiar with "cactus." In another place a character suddenly showed up in a scene when we'd previously been no indication that she was present. It wasn't a very important moment but it did make me flip back several pages to see if I'd missed something.

On the whole, however, I really enjoyed this highly original young adult fantasy. It's unlikely to have the fanatic popularity of more formulaic teen fantasies but for those that enjoy a strong heroine (but not in the kick-ass sense) in a fantasy that has a grounded anthropologic and folkloric base, this is a worthy read.

Book Pairings: One book that came to mind as I read, though published for a younger crowd, is When Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin for the way the folk stories intertwine with the story. For teens, Malinda Lo's fantasies, especially Huntress for the Asian-influenced mythology; Penny Blubaugh's books, especially Serendipity Market for storytelling intertwining with the story; Karen Healy's Guardian of the Dead for New Zealand mythology in a modern-day fantasy -- all original off-the-beaten-path fantasies.(less)

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Apr 26, 2013 Kim Aippersbach rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

3.5 stars. I agree with most of the other reviewers: wonderful setting, intriguing premise, some great characters, though some are one-dimensional, resolution was okay but it could have used more development to make me really believe it.

Loved Korbyn. Loved the scenes where Liyana was being particularly courageous. Thought the gods were really amusing. Oh, and the writing is really good.

I had a few problems with the plot, which other reviewers have mentioned, but what really bugged me about the e...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Cecelia rated it 3 of 5 stars

How many books have you read with a desert setting? I’ve read more than I thought – I kept recalling more titles, more stories, all disparate but with the common thread of a background in a dry and parched land. My latest read conjured memories of Robin McKinley’s Daria, Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, the 1990 Newbery Honor book Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind, Leon Uris’ The Haj and James Michener’s The Source. Of course, it is not really like any of those books. But it turns out that if y...more How many books have you read with a desert setting? I’ve read more than I thought – I kept recalling more titles, more stories, all disparate but with the common thread of a background in a dry and parched land. My latest read conjured memories of Robin McKinley’s Daria, Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, the 1990 Newbery Honor book Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind, Leon Uris’ The Haj and James Michener’s The Source. Of course, it is not really like any of those books. But it turns out that if you combine a desert, fantasy, mythology, and a uniquely beautiful cover, I’m hooked. I certainly couldn’t turn down Sarah Beth Durst’s Vessel.

Ever since her Dreamwalk, Liyana has known her fate: she’ll serve as a vessel for the goddess of her nomadic desert clan. She learned the dances, she has the ritual tattoos, and today is the day to give up life to serve Bayla and her people. Liyana’s world is shattered when she performs the ritual but the goddess doesn’t come. Abandoned by her clan to face the desert alone, she joins forces with Korbyn, who claims he is the manifestation of the Crow god. Korbyn brings news that the gods are disappearing from the desert, and unless Liyana and he can discover why, the desert people are doomed.

The mythology, storytelling and traditional folklore in Vessel were its high points. Durst created a unique world with a fractured history and thousands of years of backstory. This lent the novel an epic air, all while Liyana and her companions were facing immediate challenges to their survival, among them gathering enough water and avoiding the desert’s other dangers.

Vessel’s opening scene is one of the finest I’ve read in a YA title in a long while. It features Liyana’s last day before fulfilling her fate and becoming her clan’s willing sacrifice to their deity. She says goodbye to each member of her clan, bottling emotion, keeping her thoughts in check, and savoring the last of the world she believes she’ll see. Unfortunately, Durst’s pacing through the rest of the book is a bit uneven. The basis of the plot movement is a cross-desert journey, and at times emotion or action flag (or even seem misplaced).

Another weakness (which we might put down to personal preference) was the inclusion of a second viewpoint. The story, while it hit a rough patch or two, was still fairly focused to that time, and I felt that the additional voice threw it sideways a couple of steps. My final grumble was due to a resolution that was just a little faster than I wanted. (again, personal preference).

While I cannot claim that my reading experience was perfect, Vessel and Liyana surprised and impressed me in many ways. The mythology and interplay of god/human relations was fascinating, the setting distinctive, and the description of Liyana’s emotion and character clear and direct.

Recommended for: fans of Kristin Cashore’s Graceling and Alexandra Bracken’s Brightly Woven, and anyone with an interest in unusual mythology and setting combined with young adult fantasy.(less)

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Mar 31, 2013 BAYA Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Liyana is destined to be the Vessel for her goddess Bayla. When the goddess fails to appear, her people abandon her so as not to offend the goddess. After saving herself from both a sandstorm and supernatural creatures she teams up with Korbyn, the trickster god, in order to find the other vessels that were not claimed by their deities. Along the way Liyana falls in love but must sacrifice herself to save her people. This story is a wonderfully rich landscape filled with interesting personalitie...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Ferdy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Spoilers

-This was sort of a decent read. The premise and worldbuilding were great… they're the only reasons why I rated it 3 stars. The characters however were a huge let down. The heroine was really boring and so were the majority of the side characters.

-I liked the whole setting of the desert — it was described in a simple yet powerful way. I expected the writing to come across as overly flowery and lyrical but thankfully, that wasn't the case.
I absolutely loved the fables and tales that wer...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Kimsandara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-liked-it, love-triangle, ya-books, fantasy-books, headstrong-heroines

*A solid 3,5 stars*

First off,I want to say that I find the cover particularly beautiful.Even if for me the book had a more middle-east kind of vibes than full-blown asian,I still find it incredible.

Now onto the real review:

I am deeply impressed by Sarah Beth Durst's world building.It has been a while since the last time a book made me feel part of it's world.I could almost feel the heat while reading.I especially loved the embedded stories and the ceremonies.Sarah Beth Durst has taken great care...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

3.5 stars. Vessel is the very best of young adult high fantasy - it's a thrilling and creative adventure with wonderful worldbuilding and a protagonist that is intelligent, sensible and extremely likeable. Actually, even the fact that this is young adult high fantasy, rather than paranormal or supernatural, wins brownie points; I can't remember the last time I'd read a good fantasy novel that didn't try to involve fae, vampires, werewolves and the like. Had the romance portion not left me ultima...more 3.5 stars. Vessel is the very best of young adult high fantasy - it's a thrilling and creative adventure with wonderful worldbuilding and a protagonist that is intelligent, sensible and extremely likeable. Actually, even the fact that this is young adult high fantasy, rather than paranormal or supernatural, wins brownie points; I can't remember the last time I'd read a good fantasy novel that didn't try to involve fae, vampires, werewolves and the like. Had the romance portion not left me ultimately disappointed (particularly since it is such a key part of the story), I would be inclined to rate this book even higher.

I love that Vessel departs from the Eurocentric setting that is the norm for young adult fantasy novels and takes us to a rich and vivid desert world where multiple clans fight to survive. Sarah Beth Durst has an incredible talent for transporting the reader to the desert and showing us both its beauty and dangers. Even more impressive is the fascinating mythology and magic that seems to be just another part of the desert people - the magic system is intricate, but is so well-grounded in the story that it feels almost... logical.

Our protagonist, Liyana, is really one-of-a-kind as far as recent young adult fantasy novels are concerned. She is beautiful, as vessels are supposed to be, but more importantly she is a survivor. She is intelligent, resourceful and so, so practical. It's frankly awesome how she takes things in stride, and I loved her development arc throughout the book as she learns that despite her love for her goddess, Bayla, and her clan, she loves life and her freedom enough to fight for both at the same time rather than forced to become an empty vessel.

Considering how important it is as a catalyst for Liyana's discovery of herself (as cliche as that sounds, it's fairly apt here), it's really a shame that the romance ended in such a disappointing manner. And I don't mean that I was unhappy at who ended up with whom, but the fact that it was "resolved" in such a slipshod manner. (view spoiler)[It is Liyana's growing love for Korbyn, and his for her, that drives her increasingly to question whether she really wants to give up her life for Bayla. It's an interesting conundrum, considering that Korbyn is the lover of Bayla, but he clearly begins to see and value Liyana for who she is rather than as Bayla's vessel.

That conflict is ripe for discussion, particularly when Korbyn appears to value Liyana's life even more than the comfort of Bayla - but then it is so disappointingly, illogically DROPPED. It just fizzles out. One moment Liyana is trying to come to terms with this problem, and the next she had begun to turn towards Emperor Jarlath. I liked Jarlath and actually thought to myself that the obvious understanding between him and Liyana is interesting enough that I would not be distressed if they ended up together, but what I wanted before that possibility was reasonable development that would convince me that Liyana has moved on; that she isn't just doing so to save her clan. Despite the fact that Jarlath and Liyana clearly formed a bond over their meetings, they were nevertheless quite few, particularly in comparison to Liyana and Korbyn, who had had more than half a book to form their attachment. I simply had a hard time believing that Liyana could so quickly redirect her love to Jarlath.

With Korbyn, it was emphasized that he did realize that he loved Liyana and his final decision was actually made so she could live. What frustrates me is that he readily admitted this to Bayla, but also said that he loved Bayla as well... which is basically two-timing? WTF. I really can't fathom how it is possible. Worse, for a while it appeared that Bayla was leaning towards Sendar again due to her disappointment with Korbyn, and her proclamation that she forgave and cared for him during the battle between the emperor's forces and the desert people was rather suggestive. In the end, what we got was a love polygon that was entirely unresolved - everyone loved at least one other person (except for Pia and Fennick, it seems), and all was happy. I confess myself baffled. (hide spoiler)]

It's really a shame that the romance could not have been more satisfactorily resolved, because it is so key to the development and ultimate happiness of Liyana. When a book ends with a tinge of disappointment, it really does colour one's perception. Despite this, Vessel remains a stellar example of young adult high fantasy with a world that inspires the imagination. I hope more authors consider expanding outwards from European-inspired settings and characters; Sarah Beth Durst proves with Vessel that it is perfectly possible and can have outstanding results.(less)

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Jan 12, 2013 Isabel rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone

3 1/2 stars -

I liked this book a lot. The idea was definitely very creative and I really enjoyed that part!

The characters however, were a big flaw- I didn't feel connected to Fennik, Pia, Korbyn, or Liyana that much (and honestly I didn't really take notice when (view spoiler).) However, what happened to Raan made me cry a bit, and I don't cry over books very often. I wished the author had taken more time to 'fill in' the charac...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

What an exciting adventure! I couldn't put it down. This high fantasy story has a sort of ordinary girl who has to save her world. Liyana is an ordinary desert girl except that she has been chosen to sacrifice her life so that her body can be a vessel for the god who watches over her people. She is resigned to her fate and accepts it because of the love she feels for her people. But after completing the ceremony, her god does not come. She is cast out by her clan because they believe that she wa...more What an exciting adventure! I couldn't put it down. This high fantasy story has a sort of ordinary girl who has to save her world. Liyana is an ordinary desert girl except that she has been chosen to sacrifice her life so that her body can be a vessel for the god who watches over her people. She is resigned to her fate and accepts it because of the love she feels for her people. But after completing the ceremony, her god does not come. She is cast out by her clan because they believe that she was not a worthy vessel. But her family does leave her supplies to help her survive in the harsh desert. Her younger brother even leaves the knife made from the scale of a sky serpent which is her family's great treasure.

Liyana doesn't know what to do or if she will even be able to survive alone in a desert filled with sandstorms and the sand wolves who inhabit them when out of the storm comes a young man. The young man is Korbyn who is the trickster god and who is inhabiting a vessel. He tells her that someone has kidnapped five of the gods including hers and that he needs her help to free them. Because of her sincere devotion to her god Bayla and her fascination with Korbyn she agrees. The two of them travel together to find the other vessels of the kidnapped gods. Along the way they share stories and become friends. Korbyn is the lover of her god Bayla and Liyana feels guilty for having feelings for him - feelings that Korbyn might be returning.

They trace the problem to the Emperor of the Crescent Empire or, at least, to a magician in his court. The empire is dealing with the same drought that is plaguing the desert dwellers and his solution is to conquer them and find a way into the forbidden mountain to reach a lake he has seen in his dreams. The Emperor is not a bad man. He is trying to do what is best for his people. He doesn't see any other hope for them.

It is up to Liyana who is massively unusual in that she didn't die when her god was freed from captivity. They are sharing her body and must find a way to work together for the best good of all of the people. Liyana becomes the leader of a coalition of gods that she had to go to the Dreaming to find as they battle the wrong-headed magician, the sky serpents who are guarding the magical lake, and try to prevent the desert dwellers and the Emperor's army from destroying each other.

This story has magic and epic battles but it also has very personal moments of love and friendship. It was an excellent story that I look forward to sharing with my students.(less)

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Nov 18, 2012 AnQi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, books-in-review, fantasy, recommended-young-adult-fiction, romance-romance-romance, young-adult

Okay, okay, I have to admit: this book was okay-ish. Not bad okay-ish. But okay okay-ish. Here's why:

Sarah Beth Durst's idea intrigued me from the start. Hot gods? Vessels? Desert? Count me in! Flipping through the first few pages, I knew this was a book I would like. And, though I didn't immensely love it, Durst mostly delivered. The action was good, writing superb, the characters relatable, and the romance was, you know, bearable. But elements were missing. The plot began as this amazing idea...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Teri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, library

Sarah Beth Durst wraps readers into a whole new world with her latest release of Vessel, a story of love and gods in a time of great drought. What would happen if you forfeit your life for the survival of your family, of your tribe? What then would happen when your gods or goddesses did not come and fill your body releasing your soul as they replenished the harsh desert landscape into on that the tribes can live off of. In a time of great drought and despair the latest vessels have been prepari...more
Sarah Beth Durst wraps readers into a whole new world with her latest release of Vessel, a story of love and gods in a time of great drought. What would happen if you forfeit your life for the survival of your family, of your tribe? What then would happen when your gods or goddesses did not come and fill your body releasing your soul as they replenished the harsh desert landscape into on that the tribes can live off of. In a time of great drought and despair the latest vessels have been preparing to give their bodies to their gods to reclaim and ancient pact with the desert people, when the gods walk among men then their magic can permeate the desert and make it hospitable for the tribes to survive. With too many years in a dry spell and people struggling to survive and many deaths upon them, the vessels dance to bring in the magic of the Dreaming, the place where their gods live when they are not walking among men, and give the gift of their life to extend those of their people. This dance may not have a happy ending as the vessels soon find that the gods are not extending themselves into their bodies, but that their gods and goddesses and all of the magic of the desert people has been stolen and will there be enough time to rescue these trapped deities and save their desert or will more people perish from the drought.

Liyana has been a good vessel, she has learned all of her dance and she has kept her body conditioned and well to make way for her goddess to take over her. What Liyana soon finds is no goddess and her tribe has abandoned her in the desert just as her goddess has abandoned her. All hope is not lost even as the harsh desert tries to consume her, but as Liyana is struggling with her current situation she finds herself under the gaze of a boy holding the life of the desert and the magic of a secret pool that sustains their very way of life right in front of her. Korbyn is god inhabiting his vessel from the Raven Tribe and as he finds his way to Liyana a quest is unfolding to rescue all of the vessel children of the desert and save their gods and goddesses before the tribes and a new enemy kill them all also. In a race against time Korbyn and Liyana become united in their plight to rescue their people even as they face a whole set of challenges that are constantly trying their strength and perseverance. What Liyana is soon discovering is love can be the fiercest drive of all to save the ones she loves, even when it may come at the cost of her own life, and those she has become close to.

Vessel is a poignant tale wrapped in love and duty that carries a bittersweet romance through the harshest elements carrying readers along smoothly like the footsteps in a dance. With a rich cast of characters and a vibrant plot this book will captivate readers into a whole new dynamic adventure and world building. The desert is less forgiving than its people, but the survival of humanity here comes at the heavy cost of sacrifice. Be prepared to get wrapped up in the plight of one girl trying desperately to save her people while also trying to save herself.
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Oct 22, 2012 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Angie by: Melody

Shelves: fantasy, teen-fiction, website

Liyana is the vessel of her tribe. She has prepared her entire life to receive the goddess Bayla and die. On the night of the goddesses arrival she prepares herself, she says goodbye to her family and she dances for Bayla. But Bayla never comes. She has forsaken Liyana and her tribe. The tribe leaves Liyana in the desert. She believes she will die and is willing. Then Korbyn walks out of the desert. He is the trickster god and has successfully inhabited his vessel. He tells Liyana that several o...more Liyana is the vessel of her tribe. She has prepared her entire life to receive the goddess Bayla and die. On the night of the goddesses arrival she prepares herself, she says goodbye to her family and she dances for Bayla. But Bayla never comes. She has forsaken Liyana and her tribe. The tribe leaves Liyana in the desert. She believes she will die and is willing. Then Korbyn walks out of the desert. He is the trickster god and has successfully inhabited his vessel. He tells Liyana that several of the gods have been kidnapped, including Bayla. They must find the empty vessels and rescue the gods. Liyana and Korbyn travel the desert in search of the other clans and their vessels. Along the way they pick up Fennick of the Horse clan, Pia of the Silk clan and Raan of the Scorpion clan. Together they must find their gods and bring them back to the desert. For the desert clans are suffering from a Great Drought and only the gods can restore life to the desert.

I loved this book. I devoured it in one sitting. I loved the desert setting and the clans/tribes who inhabit it. I really enjoyed that they were all different and you could see the difference in the vessels. Fennick is gruff but has a good heart, Pia is the princess of her tribe, seems spoiled but is really the purest soul, Raan fights against her fate and her goddess. But my favorite characters were definitely Liyana and Korbyn. I love how their relationship develops and how they must also deal with Bayla. She is the goddess who will inhabit Liyana but also Korbyn's love. As their relationship deepens it just gets more complicated. I really enjoyed Liyana's journey through this book. She starts out as a willing sacrifice for her goddess and her clan and as the journey progresses she starts to question her faith and purpose; she develop talents and skills of her own. She becomes so strong at the end that you are rooting for her to remain instead of Bayla.

I think my only issue with this book, and it is a minor one, is the Crescent Empire. I didn't feel like the emperor was as fleshed out or his motives as clear. I was actually kind of surprised at the relationship between the emperor and Liyana. I didn't see it and wasn't sure how it developed. But all of that doesn't take away from the magnificence of this book. It is a wonderful fantasy adventure novel. (less)

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Oct 12, 2012 Sarai rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-romance, young-adult-fiction, supernatural, fantasy

The idea for this book seemed original to me. The characters were intriguing, and it definitely kept me wanting to turn the pages!

Book Description
Release Date: September 11, 2012
In a desert world of sandstorms and sand-wolves, a teen girl must defy the gods to save her tribe in this mystical, atmospheric tale from the author of Drink, Slay, Love.

Liyana has trained her entire life to be the vessel of a goddess. The goddess will inhabit Liyana’s body and use magic to bring rain to the desert. But...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Vessel is a good example of an almost book for me. It almost almost made me love it, but, not quite. I did enjoy it, for the most part. There were chapters that were quite satisfying, that gave me hope. But then there were places I felt a disconnect, and ultimately I didn't end up loving it as much as I had originally hoped. I definitely went into this one with high expectations. I thought it had the potential to be wow-worthy. And I think for some readers, it works well, really well. I am sure...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Paradoxical rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-list, books-otherwise

This author can be very hit or miss with me, but in Vessel she scored a definite hit.

For all that the world is a harsh one, the author writes a lyrical book of the desert and people's struggle for survival. Liyana is a vessel, chosen by her goddess. She's strong and practical, willing to die for her goddess to inhabit her because she sees no other way. Unfortunately, her goddess does not come to her and she's abandoned by her clan, only to be given purpose when Korbyn, a god who managed to desce...more This author can be very hit or miss with me, but in Vessel she scored a definite hit.

For all that the world is a harsh one, the author writes a lyrical book of the desert and people's struggle for survival. Liyana is a vessel, chosen by her goddess. She's strong and practical, willing to die for her goddess to inhabit her because she sees no other way. Unfortunately, her goddess does not come to her and she's abandoned by her clan, only to be given purpose when Korbyn, a god who managed to descend into his vessel, joins her. He tells her that they must find other vessels like herself, whose gods did not inhabit them, and free the gods who have been trapped by some unknown foe.

It's a beautifully written book. The prose was lovely and understated. The characters all had their little nuances, though some were more complex than others. The pacing is a little slow, but the book is equally as much about the desert and its folklore as it is about the plot and characters of the story. It actually reminds me a bit of McKinley's Damar series.

The relationships between the characters are fairly complex. Korbyn, a god, is struggling to free his fellow gods. Liyana is willing to go along with him and his plan, but increasingly struggles with her role in the end, culminating in (view spoiler). She knows that she is going to die in the end, but she keeps on moving forward because she believes that her life isn't as valuable as all of the others in her clan combined. The other vessels were varied in how they view their death if they should succeed in their tasks.

What I didn't like about this book is basically the romance of it. It fit, and yet I feel like there's so much more that could have been said to make it flow with the story better. The struggles of Liyana's feelings and Korbyn's is understated to the plot (as it should be), but the ending is... well. Interesting, I suppose, and feels a bit incomplete besides.

Overall, I enjoyed it. It was lovely. I might not have completely connected with the characters, but a good story was told. It was a little slow, but I think it fit the tone of the book. The ending was a little odd, but it did mix well with the rest of the book. 4 stars.(less)

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Jan 28, 2013 Daniela rated it 3 of 5 stars

My feelings for Vessel are completely neutral. I don't know if I love it more than I hate it, or I hate it more than I love it. Yes, I'm in awe of how beautifully Sarah Beth Durst can build a world out of sand and folktales. Her world of gods, clans, empires, sky serpents, and endless miles of scorching sand is more than impressive. It's the adventure of the year! But, there were other qualities that I failed to like. Some of the characters didn't really leave all that much of an impression. The...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, high-fantasy

What a unique fantasy world! This book is similar to Shadow and Bone in that it's high fantasy but doesn't present a world similar to medieval Europe - instead, Liyana's world is a desert, and her people are desert nomads. This is important to the story: they are desert people, they will always be desert people, there is no other way for them. That's what prompts Liyana to sacrifice herself: her tribe must continue their lives the way they have always continued.
The main theme of this book revolv...more What a unique fantasy world! This book is similar to Shadow and Bone in that it's high fantasy but doesn't present a world similar to medieval Europe - instead, Liyana's world is a desert, and her people are desert nomads. This is important to the story: they are desert people, they will always be desert people, there is no other way for them. That's what prompts Liyana to sacrifice herself: her tribe must continue their lives the way they have always continued.
The main theme of this book revolves around this sacrifice and sense of duty; it isn't about romance much at all, though it would seem to be, judging from the description. I loved the approach each vessel took to their duty. Liyana had a mindset of "I'm doing this to save my tribe" and was willing to do anything to carry out her mission of allowing Bayla (her goddess) to possess her. Pia and Raan, the other two female vessels, had different ideas about their duties. Pia thought that everything had to be perfect and adhere to rituals and customs; Raan didn't want to be a vessel at all, and tried to run off multiple times. It made me think about willing and unwilling sacrifices, and how much a person can or will do for their family and friends.
The romance was not as interesting nor as thought-provoking. In fact, it felt in places that the romance elements had been added simply to be romance, not as essential parts of the story. A few scenes got it right, but altogether I was glad this novel didn't focus on the romance. I also disliked parts of the ending (specifically the way the romance aspects worked out), which is why I gave this book four stars instead of five.
My favorite thing about this book was the setting; as mentioned above, it's not your usual thinly-disguised medieval Europe (not that I'm hating on medieval Europe; I love medieval Europe and its fantasy incarnations alike). It's not based off of the society I live in, and therefore seemed really foreign, making every last detail important as I tried to construct a mental map of the society Liyana and the other characters lived in. And since this is not a medieval Europe counterpart, the characters are not white, which is refreshing. Reading about white people gets really really boring after awhile, and it's nice to see some diversity.
I'd definitely recommend this book to you if you're in the mood for a thought-provoking read with a rich setting. Not very much romance, but a lot of magic.
This review was also posted on my blog.(less)

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May 09, 2013 Amanda Allen rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was utterly fantastic. Man, oh man. There are so many things I liked about it.

One) It didn't feel familiar in my head. I read a lot, so whenever a book feels new it's so, so exciting.

Two) It totally went down an interesting path. The idea of being a human sacrifice from the sacrifice side was amazing. Ever since I went to Chichen Itza and Tulum where we had a local guide who spoke of sacrifice from the non-Judeo-Christian perspective I've thought about what it might have been like fo...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Daniela807 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013

Let's just dive into this, shall we?

The beginning of the novel leaves you wondering "where is this going?" and takes you on a ride of humanity, the idea of "the many over the few" and the right of the individual, all coming together in an explosive end. The very, very end is predictable, but I was determined not to put the book down so I could make it without missing a breath.

I can see how this book leaves room for critisim, and rightly so. There are moments that drag and had me stop to wrap my...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Cherylann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fav-authors, ya

I love Sarah Beth Durst. Okay, I've said. I think she's the cat's meow. I want to be her BFF (sorry to my real BFF whom I love). I will disclose this now so that you know my biases before I write this review.

I think Vessel is the best book that Durst has written to date. (Of course I've said that with the last three books she came out with so I'm not that reliable, but this time I think I'm right.) The book grabbed me from the first sentence. Vessel is the tale of desert people. People who need...more

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