FILLED WITH IMMENSE characters, this thrilling medieval fantasy filled with moral complexity and vision announces the arrival of a special new writ...
read full description
reviews
Mar 09, 2011
Sukie
rated it: 
It took me quite a while to set on a rating for this book- I did enjoy it (EVENTUALLY- this was my third attempt to read it) but it had huge flaws.
For at least 3/4's of the book I had no idea what direction it was going in...it took a lot of wading for something to happen. And then, when the plot did get going, I ended up disappointed. While there were positive elements to this slow burning plot- I genuinely felt the strangeness of the supernatural, and was desperate to know what was going More...
For at least 3/4's of the book I had no idea what direction it was going in...it took a lot of wading for something to happen. And then, when the plot did get going, I ended up disappointed. While there were positive elements to this slow burning plot- I genuinely felt the strangeness of the supernatural, and was desperate to know what was going More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 30, 2012
Perry
rated it: 
Very well written yet strangely listless fantasy story about a young princess noble woman embroiled in the ambitions of a kingdom of suitors, where witchcraft may offer an advantage to whomever dabbles in it, but always at the expense of a tragic price that must be paid to an ancient, shadowy prince.
Phaedra is the teenage heroine, determined to marry for love over alliance to the frustration of her devoted father; waiting for the man from her dream with the cup of ink black water, beholden More...
Phaedra is the teenage heroine, determined to marry for love over alliance to the frustration of her devoted father; waiting for the man from her dream with the cup of ink black water, beholden More...
Dec 11, 2010
ivana
rated it:
I enjoyed Dickinson's writing in this: I thought it was quite clear (except where the plot was concerned,) descriptive and flowing. But I hated most of the rest of it.
The aforementioned plot was confusing and frustrating - at many times I was led into questioning my intelligence, and whether I had been hit on the head before reading?
And I absolutely loathed the way Dickinson used Phaedra, the main character. I found her to be a shadow of a human, that never laughed nor cried, a More...
The aforementioned plot was confusing and frustrating - at many times I was led into questioning my intelligence, and whether I had been hit on the head before reading?
And I absolutely loathed the way Dickinson used Phaedra, the main character. I found her to be a shadow of a human, that never laughed nor cried, a More...
Mar 23, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
It's a bit like reading Faust, but without the intellectual satisfaction or bragging rights.
The characters were very flat. Very little action. Not so much a good read here. I'm absolutely aghast, actually, by how little intensity is in the writing. Sometimes, I found myself reading paragraphs twice and asking, is anything really happening here? And those were the good bits.
Also, I guess it's easier to borrow nomenclature than to create, but with so many other fantasy elem More...
The characters were very flat. Very little action. Not so much a good read here. I'm absolutely aghast, actually, by how little intensity is in the writing. Sometimes, I found myself reading paragraphs twice and asking, is anything really happening here? And those were the good bits.
Also, I guess it's easier to borrow nomenclature than to create, but with so many other fantasy elem More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 27, 2011
Christina
rated it:
(I will cover both this book and its sequel in this review)
I read this in high school, I believe, more than once. Whether that was because I deemed it worthy of re-reading, or simply because I needed another attempt to fully appreciate the work, I'm not sure. I can't even say whether or not I enjoyed it. Perhaps I will give it another go.
All I remember is bleakness. The setting of the story was bleak, the story itself bleak - they were so in love, and in the end they hated each oth More...
I read this in high school, I believe, more than once. Whether that was because I deemed it worthy of re-reading, or simply because I needed another attempt to fully appreciate the work, I'm not sure. I can't even say whether or not I enjoyed it. Perhaps I will give it another go.
All I remember is bleakness. The setting of the story was bleak, the story itself bleak - they were so in love, and in the end they hated each oth More...
Mar 26, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
I couldn't decide whether to give this book two stars or three. In the end, I decided two. This was a good book with wonderful descriptive elements, but the characters were awful. Phaedra is really nothing more than a spoiled brat. She refuses to marry so she won't have to leave her father or her home and then suddenly marries the man who has been stalking her dreams, which isolates her more than if she had married someone else. This book also lacked action or anything of interest. All Phaedra s
More...
Nov 03, 2009
Marcia
rated it: 
A dark, intense medieval story of good and evil. John Dickinson has developed a powerful plot with characters that draw in the reader to such a degree that my heart actually hurt for them. Dickinson leaves clues along the way as the reader is absorbed into the events. Who is the real evil? Who is good? The story kept me guessing nearly to the end and what an ending. Although dark stories are so depressing, I had a hard time putting this one down. Since my emotions were so involved in this
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 04, 2010
Monica
rated it:
Having frequently seen this book (and its sequel) in the bargain bin, I've had low expectations. It was surprisingly an interesting read, able to hold a pervading ominous atmosphere for something I was expecting as a typically light children's book read. There was enough mystery and intrigues to keep the page turning and the reader wondering what conspiracies could be going on. Phaedra was presented as an effective perspective from whom the story had unravelled. I also appreciated the langua
More...
Feb 01, 2009
Lacey
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 03, 2009
Hallie
rated it:
Read this when it first came out, and was very impressed. But tried to read the sequel and realised I'd forgotten too much. Currently listening to the audiobook from Audible.
1 May update - put this aside for other audiobooks for a while there, but went back to it after finishing The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. It's not a book that very much benefits from listening rather than reading, I'm finding, as the slower pace leaves you for what feels like a long time with More...
1 May update - put this aside for other audiobooks for a while there, but went back to it after finishing The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. It's not a book that very much benefits from listening rather than reading, I'm finding, as the slower pace leaves you for what feels like a long time with More...
Dec 09, 2011
Michael
rated it:
The setting had so much potential—political intrigue in a feudal society with mysterious, unknown magical forces tipping the balance. But, the book fell flat from the beginning. Almost everything that happens in this story happens in the background. The foreground is occupied by the main character, who lives her entire life all but alone in a personal bubble. I might feel sorry for her if only she were more likable; but, she's selfish and stuck up. At one point she quite literally is annoye
More...
Jul 12, 2010
Melanie
rated it: 
I listened to this book, and I almost always love the books I listen to, but this one did nothing for me. I thought it had good promise, but nothing ever happened. I waited and waited and then the book was over and I never felt emotionally involved. I just didn't care what happened to anyone. I also felt like there were some promising threads that never developed. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Unless maybe someone who loved Pillar of the Earth, but probably not.
Apr 14, 2010
Tim
rated it:
I frankly found it baffling to decide what Dickinson was trying to accomplish with this book. While it has been some years since I read it, making a more exact review difficult, I can say that I found it unpleasant, bleak, and rather dull.
Oh, it was written entertainingly enough, and the man did his research on the mythologies and period involved, but the characters were such a depressing mixture of gloomy and boring that I found myself hardly caring what happened in the end.
Oh, it was written entertainingly enough, and the man did his research on the mythologies and period involved, but the characters were such a depressing mixture of gloomy and boring that I found myself hardly caring what happened in the end.
Apr 24, 2010
Alex
rated it:
When Phaedra's father tells her that she must choose a suitor, she rebels until she quite literally comes upon the man of her dreams. Ulfin, a lord from across the lake, possess certain magical abilities that he offers to share with Phaedra. However what neither Ulfin nor Phaedra know is that the cost of the magics could be their lives.
Good character development, well written, a bit slow but it builds nicely to an exciting peak.
Good character development, well written, a bit slow but it builds nicely to an exciting peak.
Oct 16, 2009
Melanie
rated it:
The introduction to this book was a bit dragging in the first few chapters. There were parts which I sensed had nothing to do with the plot. But later on, everything began to piece together and fall into place. The characters are unpredictable and daring, making the book an exciting adventure. It is a gripping tale of bitter romance, betrayal and the choices a young woman makes to save her family and the last line of the royal princes.
Sep 13, 2011
Christa - Ron Paul 2012
rated it:
I didn't really like this book. The main charter is too self centered. The author is trying to get the main charter to come across as "put upon" and nothing she does is her fault and if she just had better people in her life she would have been fine. Everything that happens to her is because she refuses to listen to people smarter than her and then whines the whole book about how it isn't her fault! Very irritating.
Apr 02, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
Phaedra is the daughter of the Warden of Trant, and her hand in marriage is sought by the highest in the land. But Phaedra only loves the mysterious man she has met in her dreams. When she finds she will be wed against her will, the mysterious Ulfin, lord of the March, comes out of her dreams to rescue her. She betrays her land to be with Ulfin, but now war rages and things are not as they seem. Who can Phaedra trust?
Feb 05, 2012
Lila
rated it:
Talk about a bore. Sorry, this book really was not my cup of tea. I thought I would give the main character some time to develop, but she never did. She remained a weak-willed wishy-washy woman whom I was rolling my eyes at the turn of the page.
Sometimes it's good to start reading a book with low-expectations, as I do with most books; but, when those expectations are met - wow.
Sometimes it's good to start reading a book with low-expectations, as I do with most books; but, when those expectations are met - wow.
Mar 21, 2011
Kelli
rated it:
I like the tone this book is trying to be...but epic it isn't. The writing isn't even great. The descriptions might be the one thing I found fun to read in this story.
However, I didn't finish it, I couldn't find any foundation to a plot other than this girl and her father travel to the city where the king is, and some person starts talking to her in her mind. For no reason, apparently. Or if there is one, I didn't catch it.
However, I didn't finish it, I couldn't find any foundation to a plot other than this girl and her father travel to the city where the king is, and some person starts talking to her in her mind. For no reason, apparently. Or if there is one, I didn't catch it.
Jul 21, 2009
Miriam
rated it:
The world-building and plot complexity of this story were excellent. Unfortunately, it was pretty much spoiled from a readerly point of view by having the protagonist (the only character whose point of view we see) be a boring and self-centered girl who does her best to not notice what's going on around her and doesn't care about all the political turmoil and loss of life she causes, and mostly wanders around the castle moping about how her husband is away. The readers gets just enough sense of
More...
Jul 09, 2009
Sheralyn
rated it:
Another inappropriately labeled teen book. It started out well, but went deep very quickly and a couple of paragraphs went too far. On top of this it ended badly for my taste. Some of the story was backed by historical fact though the story is for another world. Thank heaven I only wasted a couple hours of my time and not more.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 18, 2010
Gale
rated it: 
This is a book with a secret inside, and a winning prose style, and a great lead character. I found this in London years ago and spent an evening reading it while looking out of our hotel room towards Westminster Abbey, engrossed in the story. I can say no more at the risk of spoilers except to say: Read this book.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 17, 2010
Margaret
rated it:
Phaedra, the beautiful daughter of the Warden of Trant, knows that she must marry, but none of her suitors can live up to the mysterious man she has met for years in her dreams. When she chooses to elope with him, she finds that he is a sorcerer and the son of a feared noble family, and their marriage sets off an explosive chain of events, which continues on into the sequel, The Widow and the King.
I found the two books slow to start, but very absorbing. The style is terse and elegan More...
I found the two books slow to start, but very absorbing. The style is terse and elegan More...
Aug 09, 2010
I remember starting this book a few years back and finding it very dull. The cover looked cool, and I am usually a good judge at picking books I will like. Now that I'm older though, I'd like to go back and try re-reading.
Mar 29, 2010
Iris
rated it:
Holy crap! I had no idea when i read the book that it was writtein in the 1800's. Oh well, it is pretty good fantasy fiction for that time. Kudos to the writer, i must say it reads like modern fiction.
Jun 07, 2011
Arielle Rae
rated it:
Type if text: Novel
It was an interesting book but its hard to actually like, enjoy and get in the story.
I dont recommend this book t people who dos not have plenty of patience.
It was an interesting book but its hard to actually like, enjoy and get in the story.
I dont recommend this book t people who dos not have plenty of patience.
Nov 27, 2010
Ashley
rated it:
An extremely captivating book that I fell in love with about halfway through. If you get bored in the first half of this book (it starts out slow) I beg you to push through. It turns out amazing!!!
Aug 27, 2010
Shayna
rated it:
I read this book about 7 years ago now and all I remember was that the beginning was rather romantic and the rest of the book was ominous fore-shadowing. The change in genre was really wierd.
Dec 25, 2009
Lindsey
rated it:
I don't think I can pinpoint a reason, but I didn't like the story.
Favorite quote: She took it--with atingling in her chest because she had been given what she dared not touch on the boat.
Favorite quote: She took it--with atingling in her chest because she had been given what she dared not touch on the boat.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 05, 2009
Hanna
rated it:
Surprisingly interesting. I tend to judge a book by its cover and the first few paragraphs and I wasn't too sure what to think about this one but what the hey, now I'm on the sequel.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
