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69th out of 92 books
—
195 voters
A Magic of Twilight (The Nessantico Cycle #1)
by
S.L. Farrell
First in a new fantasy series from the author of the "Cloudmages" trilogy. An intricate tale of murder and magic, deception and betrayal, Machiavellian politics, star-crossed lovers, and a world on the brink of devastating war.... Over the decades and slow centuries, the city of Nessantico spread its influence in all directions, subsuming and converting the majority of oth...more
Hardcover, 624 pages
Published
February 5th 2008
by DAW Hardcover
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A Magic of Twilight by S L Farrell
Book 1 of the Nessantico Cycle
Published by DAW Books
Published February 2008
ISBN: 9780756404666
624 pages
You know, there’s an essay to be written somewhere about the influence of history on Fantasy writers. Its influence is often rather clear. The usual template is the medieval model, with the societal trimmings and hierarchy throughout many Fantasy classics. Examples are too numerous to count.
For many, however, it is the influence of the Roman society that predom...more
Book 1 of the Nessantico Cycle
Published by DAW Books
Published February 2008
ISBN: 9780756404666
624 pages
You know, there’s an essay to be written somewhere about the influence of history on Fantasy writers. Its influence is often rather clear. The usual template is the medieval model, with the societal trimmings and hierarchy throughout many Fantasy classics. Examples are too numerous to count.
For many, however, it is the influence of the Roman society that predom...more
A Magic Of Twilight (not to be confused with sparkly vampires) is the first book in S. L. Farrell's Nessantico Cycle. I suppose that the series' name should have been the first clue of what I was in for. The second should have been that the cover quote was from George R. R. Martin.
The book opens with what is no doubt intended to be an enticing insight into the world of Nessantico, but the plethora of pseudo-Italian for names, terms, everything had me frustrated before the end of the first page....more
The book opens with what is no doubt intended to be an enticing insight into the world of Nessantico, but the plethora of pseudo-Italian for names, terms, everything had me frustrated before the end of the first page....more
Não lembro ao certo onde li pela primeira vez sobre O Trono do Sol... Mas lembro que o que mais me chamou a atenção foi a arte da capa. Linda! Impossível não se interessar. Lendo a sinopse, eu já tinha uma certeza: eu queria aquele livro.
Porém, havia uma declaração de George Martin, que me deixou com uma pulga atrás da orelha. Mesmo me prometendo não criar expectativas muito altas para a nova série, denominada Ciclo Nessântico, tinha muito medo de me decepcionar. Afinal, a Leya fez de tudo para...more
Porém, havia uma declaração de George Martin, que me deixou com uma pulga atrás da orelha. Mesmo me prometendo não criar expectativas muito altas para a nova série, denominada Ciclo Nessântico, tinha muito medo de me decepcionar. Afinal, a Leya fez de tudo para...more
A really engaging, really clever fantasy novel.
I enjoyed it because its world is more Renaissance-Europe-y than "The Fay and the Elven Folk cavorted by the Dingly Dell."
It's really about faith, power, and politics, but there's magic, too. One thing I really enjoyed was the way the book was told in relatively short chapters from multiple viewpoints. This helped the first third of the book, which was, in typical fantasy fashion, kind of heavy on the exposition, flow quickly, and really made the...more
I enjoyed it because its world is more Renaissance-Europe-y than "The Fay and the Elven Folk cavorted by the Dingly Dell."
It's really about faith, power, and politics, but there's magic, too. One thing I really enjoyed was the way the book was told in relatively short chapters from multiple viewpoints. This helped the first third of the book, which was, in typical fantasy fashion, kind of heavy on the exposition, flow quickly, and really made the...more
This book has me torn.
The writing is very, very good. As far as writing syle, imagination, tying things together, S.L. Farrell has lived up to the Cloudmages trilogy (which I loved, btw). The world he has created is a very imaginative and well-done society, part fantasy and part renaissance. However, this is definitely a different type of book.
It's true that there is a LOT of new terminology in this book that can get confusing, but once I got into the book, I didn't have too much trouble keeping...more
The writing is very, very good. As far as writing syle, imagination, tying things together, S.L. Farrell has lived up to the Cloudmages trilogy (which I loved, btw). The world he has created is a very imaginative and well-done society, part fantasy and part renaissance. However, this is definitely a different type of book.
It's true that there is a LOT of new terminology in this book that can get confusing, but once I got into the book, I didn't have too much trouble keeping...more
I have one phrase for this book: Fantasy Word Salad. I’m sure there’s a more traditional term for the phenomenon, as it’s ridiculously common in fantasy, but if there is, it’s slipped my mind. All you need to know is that this is one of those books that has new words for almost everything and it is completely overwhelming. In addition to all the relevant titles and locations one needs to absorb, the naming conventions of the nobility (all their names start with cu’, ca’, or ci’) made it so I was...more
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I'm not really sure how to rate this book. It was wonderfully written and that's mainly what kept me going. It was easy to read and it just seemed to flow beautifully. I’ve never read anything by Farrell before so everything was very new and fresh for me and I really did enjoy the book.
But. . .
(and isn’t that always the case?)
I truly enjoyed reading about Ana. She was probably my favorite character in the book and her and Karl really worked well together. I wish that her story had been explored...more
But. . .
(and isn’t that always the case?)
I truly enjoyed reading about Ana. She was probably my favorite character in the book and her and Karl really worked well together. I wish that her story had been explored...more
Described to me as "S. L. Farrel's A Magic of Twilight trilogy does deal with the conflict between people who think their power comes from the gods and people who can use this same power and are atheists; I haven't finished it, but I think the atheists are in the right (as the acknowledgments credits Richard Dawkins with some of the ideas explored in the book). It's interesting stuff that I would put in the 'castle opera' subgenre, where it's conflict between nations that's political and pragmat...more
The city of Nessantico may rule over a vast empire, but all is not well there. The wise and beloved empress is old and losing her grip on the city while her son and other courtiers scheme for power. A religious minority is being oppressed and serving as one of several causes of conflict within The Church. At the edge of Nessantico's holdings, a powerful vassal prepares his own bid for power in collusion with forces within the capital. In the midst of all of this, a young girl from a downtrodden...more
Well, well, well ... this book started out nicely, and then got lost somewhere on the way to being good.
Farrell builds a complicated Renaissance society, complete with religion, magic and politics.
The descriptions of the physical surroundings fall short somehow (or maybe I just expected more after I saw the cover).
There is a vast cast, and while some of the characters do have their own voice, others fall flat. This caused an odd feeling for me, as I kept thinking how much better it would have...more
Farrell builds a complicated Renaissance society, complete with religion, magic and politics.
The descriptions of the physical surroundings fall short somehow (or maybe I just expected more after I saw the cover).
There is a vast cast, and while some of the characters do have their own voice, others fall flat. This caused an odd feeling for me, as I kept thinking how much better it would have...more
More like two and a half stars for me. There were some fairly interesting characters in the story, but the plot was just okay. In fact, I seem to recall the characters very well, but I don't quite remember the plot except in a very general way. The Queen of Nessantico has held on to the longest reign of peace in history through a lifetime of deft politics and ruthlessness. Her power is on the wane, however. That, combined with barely controlled surges in religious violence provide an opening for...more
A Magic of Twilight by S L Farrell
Book 1 of the Nessantico Cycle
Published by DAW Books
Published February 2008
ISBN: 9780756404666
624 pages
You know, there’s an essay to be written somewhere about the influence of history on Fantasy writers. Its influence is often rather clear. The usual template is the medieval model, with the societal trimmings and hierarchy throughout many Fantasy classics. Examples are too numerous to count.
For many, however, it is the influence of the Roman society that predom...more
Book 1 of the Nessantico Cycle
Published by DAW Books
Published February 2008
ISBN: 9780756404666
624 pages
You know, there’s an essay to be written somewhere about the influence of history on Fantasy writers. Its influence is often rather clear. The usual template is the medieval model, with the societal trimmings and hierarchy throughout many Fantasy classics. Examples are too numerous to count.
For many, however, it is the influence of the Roman society that predom...more
1 like · like · see review
The first in a new series called the Nessantico Cycle, this fantasy melds religion and magic in imaginative and thought-provoking ways. Lots of parallels to various issues, times, and places in our history, the most obvious being the role of Catholicism. There is enough here to hold most readers' interest, but more careful (and subtle) character development would have enhanced my enjoyment of the intricate plot.
The "Cloudmages" wasn't bad at all, but I really liked this trilogy. Normally, I hate any mention of religions, real or invented, but this was somehow different. For a start, the different religions were tied to a different use of magic, but the same magic used in a different way. Secondly, there is an atheist or agnostic group that uses the magic in yet a third way. Thirdly, I found the characters quite absorbing.
O livro é excelente.
A divisão dos capítulos em sessões principais da estória foi muito bem feita.
Com linguagem simples a estória é envolvente e prende muito a atenção.
O único ponto é que apesar do autor criar um dicionário próprio, com um sistema social próprio e suas castas, a leitura fica levemente complexa, mas com certeza vale muito a pena. Não é a toa que o autor das Cronicas do Gelo e do Fogo recomenda este livro.
Já estou na espera para comprar o segundo livro.
A divisão dos capítulos em sessões principais da estória foi muito bem feita.
Com linguagem simples a estória é envolvente e prende muito a atenção.
O único ponto é que apesar do autor criar um dicionário próprio, com um sistema social próprio e suas castas, a leitura fica levemente complexa, mas com certeza vale muito a pena. Não é a toa que o autor das Cronicas do Gelo e do Fogo recomenda este livro.
Já estou na espera para comprar o segundo livro.
It took me a while to finally make myself keep reading because of the layout of the book and the large array of odd names to have to remember just to get a grip on the beginning of the story but I am glad I finally forced myself to do it and eventually even enjoyed it enough to look for the next in the series
Completely amazing.
Characters, places, background history, everything was beautifully constructed. Action and story always walked together, never letting things get too boring or slow.
I still have many unanswered questions, but it's just the first book of the trilogy, so I will wait for the next book.
I am sure it will be great.
Characters, places, background history, everything was beautifully constructed. Action and story always walked together, never letting things get too boring or slow.
I still have many unanswered questions, but it's just the first book of the trilogy, so I will wait for the next book.
I am sure it will be great.
This book definitely suffered from Overly Intricate Naming Syndrome :( I was into it, but there were just too many names and titles and phrases that were too different for me to be comfortable with. The POV switches were way too fast for my comfort, as well.
Excellent start to an epic trilogy about faith, magic, power set in an intriguing Italian like decadent city Nessantico that rules an empire on the point of collapse.
The book takes a while to get into, but there is a detailed glossary that helps ease the transition into the familiar and yet strange world of Nessantico, and then it follows a fairly conventional fantasy plot, though with no side that can be said it's "right".
The pages turn by themselves and the book flows very smoothly, so it's...more
The book takes a while to get into, but there is a detailed glossary that helps ease the transition into the familiar and yet strange world of Nessantico, and then it follows a fairly conventional fantasy plot, though with no side that can be said it's "right".
The pages turn by themselves and the book flows very smoothly, so it's...more
I found this book in a used book store and enjoyed it very much. An excellent fantasy series, this book being the first in the series.
It's allright I suppose but i could not get really interested. Definitely no George Martin, will not read the sequels.
It's a fun easy read and I look forward to reading the next couple. Is it the most original mind blowing thing out there? Not really.
So far so good. Traditional fantasy, which is the ultimate escapist literature for me. My only gripe is the awkward naming system for just about everthing gets confusing enough at times that I am thinking about making a list.
Frankly, this was the longest novel I've read in a long time. I didn't mind the hopping perspectives as much, as I just didn't care much for the characters, and found precious little redeeming in any of them, including Ana...
However, the story is there, and I would likely s...more
Frankly, this was the longest novel I've read in a long time. I didn't mind the hopping perspectives as much, as I just didn't care much for the characters, and found precious little redeeming in any of them, including Ana...
However, the story is there, and I would likely s...more
Once again a little difficult to read when first starting...but I'm again hooked!
This looks to be a promising series although not as good as the Cloudmages.
There is quite a bit of political aspects to the story which at times made the story move slowly for me but it definitely ties into the main characters storyline.
There is quite a bit of political aspects to the story which at times made the story move slowly for me but it definitely ties into the main characters storyline.
it was like homework! I was so confused!
Just lost interest about halfway through.
I'm usually wary of new series, especially when they're not yet complete, but I gave this one a try and I'm glad I did. After some initial getting used to the world and the language, I found this story and these characters compelling. I liked the way it was told through the different characters, giving all sides of the story. I'm looking forward to the next installment!
I almost didnt finish this book. I hate books that are filled with names of people and places which are very difficult to pronounce (eg: O'Teni cu'Seranta or Numetodo ci'Vliomani)
I am glad that I pushed through though because I did enjoy the story and was delighted to find it's a series. I am looking forward to reading more of this storyline.
I am glad that I pushed through though because I did enjoy the story and was delighted to find it's a series. I am looking forward to reading more of this storyline.
Too many of the main characters were not fleshed out enough. The love story was laughable. No one swears. Some interesting themes in the intersection of magic, religion and politics. Matriarchal system was a nice touch and well done.
I would recommend these to anyone that needs to fill the next few years for the next George R.R. Martin book.
I would recommend these to anyone that needs to fill the next few years for the next George R.R. Martin book.
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S.L. Farrell also writes as Stephen Leigh and Matthew Farrell.
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