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147th out of 229 books
—
365 voters
The Cipher (Crosspointe Chronicles #1)
by
Diana Pharaoh Francis (Goodreads Author)
Distant member of the royal Rampling family, Lucy Trenton's ability to detect majick has embroiled her in a dangerous intrigue that threatens her very life. Her only hope lies in her most persistent suitor, ship captain Marten Thorpe, but Lucy isn't sure she can trust him...
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
November 6th 2007
by Roc
(first published 2007)
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Lucy Trenton's special gift is the ability to sense magick, a useful trick in the town of Crosspointe, where enchanted sylveth can surge in with the tides, transforming and destroying every creature it touches. Lucy is a good, law-abiding citizen with one flaw: she collects true ciphers, magically cursed objects created centuries ago by a magician named Errol Cipher. Lucy must fight a sylveth tide, fight a cipher which has bonded to her arm, and deal with a blackmailer who knows her secret. And...more
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I bought this book a few years ago, and vaguely remember being disappointed in it at the time. So when I found it again today I thought I'd give it a second chance...maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it before...
Alas, no, it is just a disappointing book. It looks as if I should like it. It has this cool setting with a city that feels sort of late-Georgian/early-Victorian, and magic (only, irritatingly, it's spelled "majick") that washes in on the tide, and a royal family that's all tied up in...more
Alas, no, it is just a disappointing book. It looks as if I should like it. It has this cool setting with a city that feels sort of late-Georgian/early-Victorian, and magic (only, irritatingly, it's spelled "majick") that washes in on the tide, and a royal family that's all tied up in...more
Lucy Trenton is a member of Crosspointe's Royal Family, but that doesn't mean she gets a free ride. They all have to work for a living. Lucy is a customs officer and a damn good one, but she has a secret; she can feel the presence of magic. Which is a bit unfortunate because Crosspointe runs on small magics made from the raw magic of the dangerous sylveth which infests the sea, contaminating and changing anything it touches into living monsters, infectious and dangerous. In the wrong place at th...more
In an odd phenomenon I've rarely witnessed, the writing in the beginning of the book was immature at best: badly set-up flashbacks contrived to tell a lot of backstory in one fell swoop, more body language than necessary, the lead character's focus on what appeared to be an important side character that had little to do with the actual plot. In fact, two of the side characters portrayed to be quite significant to Lucy have backstory told about them, but barely impact the plot, while an utterly n...more
What I liked:
Story begins interestingly, custom inspection, strange magic creatures and blackmail plot especially
Premise of book has potential, world has good renascence wipe , there is interesting magic and magical artifacts.
what I didn't like:
main characters were too gullible, which was used as plot device to make story's villains plot work, but still writer insist that main character are clever, even best on their field of work, which both need people who aren't easily cheated or lied.
Crossp...more
Story begins interestingly, custom inspection, strange magic creatures and blackmail plot especially
Premise of book has potential, world has good renascence wipe , there is interesting magic and magical artifacts.
what I didn't like:
main characters were too gullible, which was used as plot device to make story's villains plot work, but still writer insist that main character are clever, even best on their field of work, which both need people who aren't easily cheated or lied.
Crossp...more
"The Cipher," the first book in Francis's Crosspointe Chronicles, signals the beginning of another fantastic series by one of my favorite fantasy authors. The island of Crosspointe, and the world around it, is so unique and fresh; it stands apart from the traditional fantasy setting and magic systems.
Lucy Trenton has a unique talent - she can sense majick. Unfortunately, it's a dangerous talent and she has spent her whole life keeping her ability a secret. When she finds a true cipher and it at...more
Lucy Trenton has a unique talent - she can sense majick. Unfortunately, it's a dangerous talent and she has spent her whole life keeping her ability a secret. When she finds a true cipher and it at...more
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Good read but a bit slow in the beginning establishing characters. It did not pick until near the end when things started to get interesting. Lucy was ok and Martin at times I found myself not liking. But both character eventually became more 2 dimensional hopefully as the series continues they will become fully fleshed out. I really liked the book. The series promises to be interesting. Recommended read.
Fascinating world full of magic: sylveth, ciphers and the Pale. Excellent plot, especially the last 100 pages. Lucy's trouble got bigger and deeper... and deeper. My only problem was the Marten POV chapters... Although he redeemed himself by the end, his downfall in the middle was painful to read.
I loved the story line, it was a bit choppy but it made the story more exciting. The only things i didn't like was how it didn't really explain the italisized words and the author also used the same phrases over and over on the same page. But other than that it was undoubitably award worthy..
The best way to describe this author is a Tamora Pierce for adults. Quite possibly the most exciting new author I've come across in a long time. The plot is complex, the world complete, and the characters believable, what more could you ask for?
Sort of a historical sci fi fantasy. The world is somewhat based on the period of clipper ships with the twist of majick springing from sea borne sylveth. The plot is based on high treason, betrayal and redemption.
A wonderful start and has incredible world-building but I felt the ending was a little rushed. It had a satisfying ending, but nothing that really drew my attention after I set the book down.
Perfectly adequate plot, a bit too romancy for my tastes, but otherwise fine. Characters were fairly well rounded, and the primary villian was interesting, but ultimatley did not excite.
Quite interesting world-building, with a fast-moving, complex plot. Some of the pieces don't quite seem to fit just perfectly, but it's a compelling read and a fine new series.
DNF - I couldn't get through this and don't feel like giving it a second try. I'm not sure if I'm just a bad fit as a reader, or if there's something wrong with the book.
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Interesting world building - intriguing characters. Now I find myself itching to get my hands on the next in the series.
It would have been four stars but the author made the mistake that sex is the same as romance.
Suffers from the "Magic fixes everything" ending.
Jan 08, 2010
Lynn Calvin
added it
Fantasy,non-traditional female occupation
Tried to get into this book and couldn't do it. Can't put my finger on why. Don't know if I'll retry at some point.
enjoyable read, strong main character.
Tried it because Patricia Briggs recommended it. The male lead is unlikeable. He's a compulsive gambler, liar and cheat.
Nov 11, 2007
Jane
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
readers who like Dawn Cook.
Shelves:
fantasy
Good worldbuilding. Main character is a member of the royal family of her country but because the family has been in litigation for years she works as a custom inspector for incoming ships. Her special ability is to be able to detect magick on others. When a cipher (physical object with a spell included) attaches itself to her, her life changes, and not for the good. Soon she's accused of treason and fighting for her freedom. First in a trilogy.
First off, the plot of the book is very different from how the back of the book makes it sound.
Second, while the first couple chapters were full of action, it sort of slows down after that. I put it down at one point and just couldn't find any interest to put it back down again. The plot and the characters just didn't keep my attention. Oh well.
Second, while the first couple chapters were full of action, it sort of slows down after that. I put it down at one point and just couldn't find any interest to put it back down again. The plot and the characters just didn't keep my attention. Oh well.
The Cipher is the kind of fantasy I like: spies, magic, betrayal, intrigue, hope... all the good stuff that makes you want to read. I'm looking forward to getting the second book in the series.
I wasn't too thrilled with how this one ended but because it kept me interested through 95% of it, I'm letting that go.
I wasn't too thrilled with how this one ended but because it kept me interested through 95% of it, I'm letting that go.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I picked it up because I really enjoyed her first books ("Path" series) and when I read the back, I thought, well, I'll try it...Well, it was worth the read! I hope she hurries up with more of this series! This is really good fantasy without elves or goblins, etc.
I thought the world was interesting, and the magic system unique. Lucy was an interesting and complete character.
However, I did feel that it ended very quickly.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and am now moving on the next one.
However, I did feel that it ended very quickly.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and am now moving on the next one.
This book came HIGHLY recommended...so I'm excited to read it.
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I was raised on a cattle ranch in Northern California (outside a town called Lincoln which is now part of an enormous sprawl). I taught myself to ride a horse at the age of six, as no one had the time to teach me—they were all busy learning how to irrigate, how to cajole an angry bull into another field, how to pull a calf… Afraid of heights, and absolutely sure I was going to die, I managed to sc...more
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“There were some days that deserved to be drowned at birth and everyone sent back to bed with a hot brandy, a box of chocolates and a warm, energetic companion. Today was without question one of those days.”
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