Flesh and Fire (Vineart War #1)

Apr 01, 2010 Jeffrey rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fantasy fans of new and interesting worlds

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2009

Laura Gilman's latest fantasy novel in a huge departure from her urban fantasy novels. She pulls it off with panache because she brings to the table a completely unique system of magic involving vinters and wine. The spellwines themselves involve a lot of the same usual magic of weather, healing etc, but I thoroughly enjoyed this new magical system. Although the world is unique and system of magic are unique, the fantasy itself, in which a young apprentice, a quick learner, named Jerzy and his M...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Haralambi Markov rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Cover art and book blurb have hinted that this will be the beginning of yet another medieval fantasy series, which will explore yet again the coming of age theme. What can be so different from all the other books under the same lid? Oh, everything. From the magic system, which has cemented my conviction that fantasy knows no bounds, to the unorthodox handling of the coming of age trope this novel is as refined as any French vintage year. I couldn’t find a fault anywhere within this story and I u...more Cover art and book blurb have hinted that this will be the beginning of yet another medieval fantasy series, which will explore yet again the coming of age theme. What can be so different from all the other books under the same lid? Oh, everything. From the magic system, which has cemented my conviction that fantasy knows no bounds, to the unorthodox handling of the coming of age trope this novel is as refined as any French vintage year. I couldn’t find a fault anywhere within this story and I usually refrain from being too emotional about a book, but I can’t help myself with “Flesh and Fire”.

This idea could have flopped in so many aspects, if it was handled by an emerging author, so I am thankful for Gilman for pursuing it after being so successful with her urban fantasy series. With that out of the system, let’s look at the characters. For starters the cast is abundant and I can safely say that each human being that appears on the pages at any given time is a living, breathing person. This is rare. This is the magic. Even when nothing of interest happened the figures entertained me with their personalities.

And Gilman has brought to life intelligent and prone to get into verbal battles characters. Conversation, this back and forth connection between Master Malech and his student and formal slave Jerzy, is the primal tool for setting the rules of the world, the magic and the mythology. Malech is a strict, fair and generous teacher and Jerzy is a cautious, willing to learn and taking responsibility student, who wants to excel and prove his master right by picking him as a student. Then the reader is offered the color that is the secondary cast from the respect inducing housekeeper Detta, Jerzy’s fighting teacher Cai, the odd and eccentric Vineart Giordan, the honorable mistress Mahault, the sly mouthed trader Ao and many more.

The characters set in this exotic and yet familiar world embark on a journey, which starts as a relaxed stroll on a cobbled path amidst a garden and then winds, widens, hardens and crosses streets and roads until the reader finds that from a rather placid beginning his breath is stolen by the suspense at the near end. For the sake of experiencing this story I will not mention any concrete details, but I just enjoyed how the level of difficulty for these people went up by a notch with the transition from each part. In part one, “Slave” the reader is introduced to world and cast. Horizons are restricted solely to the Malech House. Part two, “Student” broadens the borders, shows what happens outside, continues supplying new information about the magic of this land. Rumors about bad omens are just a whisper. Part three “Spy”, has the reader know that something is wrong and Jerzy is wading into dangerous waters with unwritten rules with an ending, which is by no means a cliff hanger, but has made the reader physically crave the next installment.

There are a few books that truly sweep me off my feet. There are even fewer that re-spark the flame and makes me remember, why I want to be a writer. And there is tiny percentage that has truly changed my inner world completely. “Flesh and Fire” did this for me. It’s individual for everybody, but I highly doubt anybody not liking this novel.(less)

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Jun 25, 2012 Dale rated it 3 of 5 stars

The most tempting thing for a fantasy author to do is to create an abundance of different races; if they haven't already begun to write it using elves and dwarves already in mind. Flesh and Fire, the first in the Vineart War, is entirely comprised of humans, with nationality differentiating the backgrounds of the characters. It is not a bad departure, although that means treating it on the same standard as other high fantasy series -- my mistake in assumption, I tend to generalize books from cov...more The most tempting thing for a fantasy author to do is to create an abundance of different races; if they haven't already begun to write it using elves and dwarves already in mind. Flesh and Fire, the first in the Vineart War, is entirely comprised of humans, with nationality differentiating the backgrounds of the characters. It is not a bad departure, although that means treating it on the same standard as other high fantasy series -- my mistake in assumption, I tend to generalize books from cover arts, and the cover for the third book looked so cool and Final Fantasy like. The Vineart War is not like other high fantasies out there, which may be both good and bad.

What's most interesting to note about Flesh and Fire is its setting. Magic is imbued within grapes that are turned into wine. As a result vineyards are a large focus in the books and are of utmost important in this world. This is where we first meet the main character, Jerzy, who starts the book as a slave in a vineyard, and through the favoritism of luck, becomes an apprentice to a vineart, Master Malech. This is where Flesh and Fire shines; no pun intended the book does a great job of fleshing out its own world. It is smaller in scope compared to Middle Earth and Westeros, but it is believable.

Now the first problem with the book is that it seems intent on hammering the uniqueness of its world into you. There is a certain ritual that vinearts undergo in order to derive the mystical powers of the wine and grapes, and Jerzy, every time he is with chance at using the magic, goes in-depth at articulating the process. And it's fine that the world is not so grand, but it feels like Laura Anne Gilman spends an extensive time showing off her world, even though she does not have much to show for it. At near 400 pages (hardcover), a lot of it is spent on world building.

But wait, are there are not other elements to the book? Yes, but they are scant. The political trouble is introduced late, the plot is slow to build, and there is only one battle scene. It is not necessary for a high fantasy series to devote so much to these other aspects of the story, but Flesh and Fire is lacking too much in variance. The first novel in the Vineart War is a great example of how high fantasy can make due without elves, dwarves, mages, neck breaking pacing, and a great adventure, but not in balancing other integral parts of the story.

The characters though do compensate on the over-bearance of world building. They are finely written and Laura Anne Gilman knows how to carve out a personality in just a matter of pages. If there is one thing that is clear it is that Flesh and Fire is a highly polished book, but for such a long book (relative to other novels, compared to its high fantasy contemporary mammoths it's a mere novella) it spends too much time on trying to extract out of its small, yet brilliant universe. (less)

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May 15, 2012 Jim added it

Flesh and Fire is the Nebula-nominated first book in Laura Anne Gilman’s Vineart War Trilogy. Gilman dedicates the book to her agent Jennifer Jackson, “whose casual suggestion ‘write me a food- or wine-based fantasy’ … triggered the idea that became these books.”

The idea of wine-based magic is very much the heart of this book, and it’s a nifty idea indeed. Even for someone like me, who doesn’t drink alcohol.

Our protagonist is a boy named Jerzy, a slave to the Vineart Malech, who senses Jerzy’s g...more Flesh and Fire is the Nebula-nominated first book in Laura Anne Gilman’s Vineart War Trilogy. Gilman dedicates the book to her agent Jennifer Jackson, “whose casual suggestion ‘write me a food- or wine-based fantasy’ … triggered the idea that became these books.”

The idea of wine-based magic is very much the heart of this book, and it’s a nifty idea indeed. Even for someone like me, who doesn’t drink alcohol.

Our protagonist is a boy named Jerzy, a slave to the Vineart Malech, who senses Jerzy’s gifts and pulls him out of the fields to be trained in the ways of magic. Slowly, Jerzy learns the history of magic, the powers inherent in different vines and grapes, and the process for turning those grapes into spellwines. The tale of the apprentice wizard is a familiar one, but the worldbuilding and detail of the Vin Lands brings a freshness to Jerzy’s story.

As Jerzy’s training progresses, we learn about an external threat, a coming danger that threatens Vinearts and perhaps all of the Vin Lands. Jerzy and his master must protect themselves against attacks both human and magical, while trying to seek out the source of this growing danger.

Gilman makes some interesting choices with this book. Slavery is used deliberately, as it is believed to be the only way to bring out a potential Vineart’s talents. Like the grape, the young vineart grows strongest under stress. That aspect of the story and worldbuilding is unpleasant, but I trust Gilman is going somewhere with it in future books.

Jerzy’s life as a slave has definitely impacted him. He was sexually abused in the distant past, and that has left its scars. Once again, I’m not sure where she’s going with that part of his character, but it’s a thread I expect to come back in future books.

I enjoyed watching Gilman explore the rules and limitations of her vine-based magic, the possibilities and the implications.

If I had a complaint, it would be that at times the exploration of the idea seemed to push plot into the background, and I tend to be a plot-oriented reader. This is very much the introductory book of the trilogy. But as I enjoyed the idea and the world, that’s not a major complaint.

The ending also reflects the book’s “Part One” status. It’s not a cliffhanger, per se, but this is definitely just the start of the larger story.(less)

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the "Vineart War Trilogy" by Laura Anne Gilman. I received this book as an Advanced Reading Copy through the Amazon Vine program. I have never read anything from Gilman before, although I have wanted to read her Retrievers series. I have mixed feelings about this book. Gilman created a couple great characters, a very unique and interesting magic system, and a complex world. Unfortunately the plot lags and the book doesn't resolve any story as much as just set things up....more This is the first book in the "Vineart War Trilogy" by Laura Anne Gilman. I received this book as an Advanced Reading Copy through the Amazon Vine program. I have never read anything from Gilman before, although I have wanted to read her Retrievers series. I have mixed feelings about this book. Gilman created a couple great characters, a very unique and interesting magic system, and a complex world. Unfortunately the plot lags and the book doesn't resolve any story as much as just set things up.

Jerzy is a slave who ends up becoming an Apprentice to the Master Vineart Malech. Malech has noticed strange happenings in the different Vinearts properties, but can't get too involved because of the Vinearts vow to stay out of power struggles. In an attempt to get deeper insight into the problems surrounding him Malech apprentices Jerzy to another Vineart, something completely against tradition. Jerzy is supposed to discover how deeply the trouble has spread.

There were some really good things about this book. I loved the unique magic system; using Wine as a magic source is interesting. Gilman has created a world with a deep history and a complex interaction between Vinearts and political figures. The main characters of Malech and Jerzy are fairly well done; although they are not completely engaging, they are interesting characters with depth. The other characters in the book are given minimal page space and are not developed all that well. Although given how some of the characters come together at the end of the book, I think that the next book could be very engaging and Jerzy's travel companions could end up being wonderful characters to read about. I also enjoyed Gilman's writing style; she does a good job describing things in a way that creates great imagery without getting overly wordy.

My main problem with this book is the pacing and the plot. Much of the beginning of the book is spent with Jerzy learning Vineart crafts. This is interesting for a while, but gets drawn out too long. There are little hints of bad things going on around Jerzy but he is always removed from them. The point of view switches frequently between Jerzy and Malech; this never really got confusing but it was odd to have viewpoints switched mid-chapter. The story doesn't actually get interesting until the last third of the book where Jerzy goes to apprentice with a different Vineart.

I think it is fairly common for the first book in a fantasy trilogy to be mostly about training the hero, getting the world and magic system set up, etc. The problem in this case is that I am guessing that most of Gilman's Retriever series fans are more interested in the pace of an urban fantasy where everything is quickly set up and things actually happen. That is not the case in this book, things are very deliberately approached to the point that I didn't have a real sense of urgency for the story until I was almost to the end of the book. The book also doesn't wrap anything up, because there is no plot to wrap up.

My recommendation would be to wait until the second book is released and see how that one does You will probably want to read them one after the other anyway since this book just starts the story. Overall it is an interesting fantasy world, with decent characters, if the plot picks up in the second book this could be a very good series. Based on this book alone, it is just okay.(less)

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Dec 23, 2010 Libby rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is a terrific example of a solidly competent writer spinning an unusual and imaginative idea into a gripping narrative. I sat down to dip into chapter one and was caught like a bug in a pitcher plant. The central concept is a novel twist in the old earth magic paradigm. The magic arises from the vines, the grapes and the skills of the vintners, called Vinearts. A wine may be used for magical healing, weather control, making fire and other practical and helpful uses. Different varietals...more

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Feb 19, 2010 Ziaria rated it 3 of 5 stars

The story tells of a master teaching his apprentice the fine art of Vineart, magic that comes with the use of wine. Then subtle disturbing instances begin to happen across the land far enough apart that most don't even realize what is happening. A battle brewing between good and something so sinister that no one really knows what they are in store for. Such a unique world of magic and wines. I'm not a wine drinker but I will never look at a bottle of wine the same again.

I enjoyed this book, but...more

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Oct 25, 2009 Jaime Huff rated it 3 of 5 stars

The premise and idea was interesting. Spellbound wine in a world in which there seems to be three major groups: Vinearts (who control the wine, the spells, and answer to no one), the Princes (who think the Vinearts and the Washers should answer to them but understand the command) and The Washers (who seem to be priestly beings ensuring moral behaviors and that the Sin Washer's commands are upheld). Very creative, a fantasy about magical wine. I love it! As a person who loves wine.... I was game!...more

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Sep 13, 2009 K. Bird rated it 4 of 5 stars

**I read an ARC of this book**

Gilman says in her afterword (or foreword, I can't remember) that she wrote this book after an off-hand comment by her agent about writing her a food-based fantasy.

So she did. About wine. About wine that is magic.

And so this first book in the series (and it's oh so obvious that it's a first book in a series, basically it just sets up characters, the world, and the magic system and the first taste of the big bad) goes in depth about viniculture and magic.

Despite how...more **I read an ARC of this book**

Gilman says in her afterword (or foreword, I can't remember) that she wrote this book after an off-hand comment by her agent about writing her a food-based fantasy.

So she did. About wine. About wine that is magic.

And so this first book in the series (and it's oh so obvious that it's a first book in a series, basically it just sets up characters, the world, and the magic system and the first taste of the big bad) goes in depth about viniculture and magic.

Despite how little high fantasy pleases me these days, I wasn't bored or skimming descriptive passages in this book as I thought I would be. This surprised me. I'm still trying to figure out why. I've read the first two books of her Retrievers series and found them only so-so. But this series, hmmmm...it was fascinating.

I'm not sure if it was the grape/wine stuff? Or maybe the whole symbolism of "stressing the vines makes good grapes" juxtaposed with the "stressing the boy makes a good man" concept?

Basically the story is about Jerzy, a field slave in the house of Malech, a Vineart (magic wielder who crafts spell-wines). He is plucked from the fields one day to become an apprentice to Malech himself. As Malech's vineyards are attacked and the world around him begins to show signs that something evil is afoot, Jerzy is sent on a spying mission.

But really the story is about Jerzy learning to be grow grapes and make spells out of the wine.

I think I got it, finally. It's the characters. I liked Malech. I liked Jerzy, and I liked the people he finds on his spying mission.

I think the whole religion of the sin-washer was a bit ho hum, but the characters themselves really hooked me. Jerzy isn't your run-of-the-mill special boy chosen to do great deeds. He makes mistakes that matter. He is so very scarred by his time as a slave, and he is very sincere.

So I think my reaction to this book is based on how judging the series potential as a whole rather than just the writing in this one book. I sense great things from these characters, I want to find out what is going to happen to them.(less)

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Jan 26, 2010 Sherwood Smith added it

Jerzy is a slave, working in the vineyard of his master, Malech. He senses the magic inherent in the grapes, and awaits death after the master smites a ten year old boy for an error, but instead, he is brought to the house to be trained as a possible Vineart--master of wine magic.

Vinearts are plucked from slaves, as the vinearts believe that the stresses of the slave life bring out the talent, as stresses bring out the best in the harvest. Jerzy learns, as the world begins to show signs of serio...more

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Oct 25, 2009 Gaby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Flesh and Fire (The Vineart War, #1)
"Vinearts did not appear full-blown from the earth, after all. It was an ironic gift from Sin Washer: generations of trial and error had proven that only the deprivations of slavery, the removal of all family ties and comforts, pushed a man to the point where magic would surface. Even now, he could not coddle the boy, or risk ruining him. The skills were inherent and easily proven by the first test, but the refining of them required a combination of elements....more Flesh and Fire (The Vineart War, #1)
"Vinearts did not appear full-blown from the earth, after all. It was an ironic gift from Sin Washer: generations of trial and error had proven that only the deprivations of slavery, the removal of all family ties and comforts, pushed a man to the point where magic would surface. Even now, he could not coddle the boy, or risk ruining him. The skills were inherent and easily proven by the first test, but the refining of them required a combination of elements. . . Like the grapes themselves, a Vineart must be stressed to produce the finest results, grown in poor soils and subjected to the elements in order to shine."
-Flesh and Fire: Book One of the Vineart War by Laura Anne Gilman

Review:
In their early history, magic in the Vin Lands flowed through the prince-mages who alone had the power to craft spellwines. But inevitably corruption and greed led to an abuse of power by the prince-mages and it took the intervention of a demi-god to "break the Vine" and thus destroy the prince-mages' hold on power. The system that evolved 1,400 years later established a clear separation of power between those that craft the spells from wines and wield the power of magic (the "Vinearts") and the nobility and royalty that hold political power.

The split is deeply established. The Vinearts are entrenched in their customs and traditions in the selection, training and development of apprentice Vinearts and in the creation of the spellwines which serve as repositories of magic. It is universally understood that while stress and deprivation produce the magic and the Vineart, too much stress can ruin the man and his skills.

The Vine Lands are hit with mysterious disappearances, magical monsters, and sudden plagues which seem to be the work of a dangerous new force. Only Master Vineart Malech seems aware of this new threat and he has only one weapon to use against it: the young slave Jerzy. Jerzy shows unusual promise and an uncanny sense of the Vinearts' craft which Master Malech must develop and strengthen. Malech is forced to cram the training that would span years in months and trust in Jerzy's skill and judgment if they are to save the Vine Lands.

Review:
In Flesh and Fire, Laura Anne Gilman has created a rich, complex fantasy world and a satifying and enjoyable read. I was hooked from the start - with the mysterious attack on Vineart Sionio and the first descriptions of the young slave boy Jerzy.

Jerzy's voice is painfully honest and I quickly found myself emotionally invested in his growth and his success. As Jerzy grows into his role as apprentice to Vineart Malech, the tension in the story heightens. Plot twists and action move Flesh and Fire forward at a good pace. The only disappointment that I have is that I've finished the book and must wait for the next installment to learn how Jerzy and his new friends will rise to the challenge. I loved Flesh and Fire and recommend it highly to those who enjoy fantasy novels. This one is a winner!
Publisher: Pocket (October 13, 2009), 384 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.(less)

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Oct 26, 2009 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, blog-tour, magic, fantasy

In the Vin Lands, only Vinearts make wine. They grow the grapes, press them and create both vin ordinaire and spellwines, wines that heal, change weather, make fire, and so on. However, something evil is happening in the lands; out of season illnesses are destroying vines, giant sea monsters are killing sailors, and at least one Vineart has disappeared. Who or what is causing this? One Vineart, Malech, and his student/slave, Jerzy, are determined to find out.

The world Gilman has created is fasci...more

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Jul 21, 2009 Schnaucl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Schnaucl by: galley slave program

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, galley-slave, july, owned, read_2009, series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Gilman has created an original and interesting method for magic to be created and used. Magic is created (grown?)in grapes, which are then harvested by slaves. Next, the grapes are mashed together to form mustus. Finally, they are turned into magic wine called spellwine, or ordinary wine called vin ordinaire, depending on the magic content of the mustus. The spellwine is then sold to people in power (though Vinearts also retain a fair amount) who can use the wine by sipping it and using a three...more Gilman has created an original and interesting method for magic to be created and used. Magic is created (grown?)in grapes, which are then harvested by slaves. Next, the grapes are mashed together to form mustus. Finally, they are turned into magic wine called spellwine, or ordinary wine called vin ordinaire, depending on the magic content of the mustus. The spellwine is then sold to people in power (though Vinearts also retain a fair amount) who can use the wine by sipping it and using a three part invocation. Vinearts can do more powerful things with spellwine, particularly if the wine is from their orchards and/or if they have crafted it. Like wine in the real world, the wine that is produced by the Vinearts varies according to the conditions under which the grapes were grown. Therefore, one region makes healing wines, another deals with making magic wind for sailors, etc. Only Vinearts have the magic necessary to make spellwine, but they have extremely limited ability to do much of anything magical (besides create spellwine)without the aide of spellwine.

The book begins with a little prehistory. Originally, rulers of men both created and used the spellwine and the spellwine could do any kind of magic, it was not limited by the growing conditions. The princes forced those they ruled to do nothing but grow and harvest the grapes for the wine, which meant that other work, such as growing food to eat, went undone and many starved. A god, Sinwasher, was born, and he told the princes on numerous occasions to stop abusing their power. When they ignored him, he changed the grapes so that princes could no longer cultivate the grapes themselves, and spellwine was no longer capable of producing all kinds of magic, instead, it was limited by the conditions under which the grapes were grown. The only people who could create spellwine were the Vinearts, and while they are allowed to sell spellwine to rulers, they are forbidden from influencing politics directly. Due to religious custom, most Vinearts are extremely solitary. They don't interact much with the world at large or even other Vinearts.

The story begins with a young slave. The reader has a few chapters to have the horrors of slavery impressed upon her, and then it is revealed that the slave has the sensitivity to magic to make him into a Vineart, at which point he recalls his given name (Jerzy) and begins his training, which allows the reader to learn with Jerzy the subtleties of how magic works in the world Gilman has created. Learning magic with Jerzy is interesting and well done.

I have a problem with the slavery angle, however. The Sinwasher took the power away from the rulers because they were oppressing their people and making them into slaves...but then the Vinearts have slaves basically doing the same thing. Is it supposed to be okay because it's a smaller part of the population or because the slaves are generally foreign? No one seems to see the inconsistency in that.

Apparently, all Vinearts (all men, of course) started as slaves because like the grapes they have to be tempered by stressful conditions. It's a stretch, but I can go with it. The problem is that it's not revealed until a few chapters after the reader has the cruelties of the Master and Overseer drilled into her so I found myself very distracted and frustrated by the existence of slavery. The slaves are clearly not viewed as human beings and are referred to as "it."

Another problem with the portrayal of slavery is that it's inconsistent. Near the beginning a child spills a vat of mustus (thus allowing Jerzy to reveal his sensitivity to the magic in the wine) and the child is immediately killed for the waste. But not long after there's an accident which kills a couple of slaves and Master Malech talks about how he can't afford to replace the slaves. It seems to me that if a Vineart can't afford to replace slaves, he can't afford to kill them off as punishment. I get that an example needs to be set, but permanently eliminating a worker while short staffed doesn't make any sense.

A good portion of the book is taken up with Jerzy learning to be civilized (learning to read, bathe, do math, fight, etc) as well as learning how to be a Vineart.

Naturally, there's also some great evil threatening the world. Master Malech seems to be one of the few people who has picked up on it and he begins tracking unusual occurrences. Many of the vineyards are attacked either with abnormally large creatures, or with diseases out of season. He radically increases the pace of Jerzy's training, which Jerzy can handle since he's a prodigy.

The action really picks up in the last quarter or so of the book when Malech decides to send Jerzy to apprentice for a short time under a different Vineart. It's not technically against their religion, but it's certainly against tradition and attracts the attention of the religious authorities. The purpose of the apprenticeship is both the obvious, to learn about other wines and techniques, and the hidden, to listen for rumors of unusual occurrences.

While apprenticing under Vineart Giordan, Jerzy meets Ao, a tradesmen about his own age. From Ao he learns how to listen without appearing to be eavesdropping. Unfortunately, this section also became frustrating because it's very obvious to the reader that what Jerzy should be picking up on is the sudden change in the maiar's (ruler) behavior. I understand he's supposed to have lived a sheltered life, but several people make comments about the change in behavior and how unusual he's acting so even if he is somewhat naive I would think that both he and Ao would figure out that's important. There's no excuse for the much more sophisticated Ao not picking up on that.

A further concern, at least for me, is that the magic of the vineyards apparently kills the libido. This ensures that the Vineart isn't distracted by a wife and family and can focus only on wine production. I like to have some thread of romance in my fantasy. It doesn't have to be the focus, and, in fact, I prefer it not to be (if I want that I'd read paranormal romance or romance books) but I do want something and with no libido it doesn't look like it's going to happen with Jerzy, although there is a girl who eventually gets caught up with Jerzy and Ao.

The pacing for the first 2/3 of the book is pretty slow and more than once I thought that it would make a great short story but I'm not convinced it will make a good series. However, the take on magic is pretty creative, and the pacing did pick up at the last part of the book so I may give the second book a try.
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Dec 03, 2009 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2009

Laura Anne Gilman's fantasy novel "Flesh and Fire" may not reinvent the fantasy wheel, but at least it has an interesting magical system in place.

The magical system of this world is built around grape and wines, with various vineyards producing grapes and wines that have various magical powers and uses. It's a fascinating concept and when the story delves into the system that Gilman is setting up and how people are chosen and trained in the ways of the magical system, the book really works.

Where...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Todd rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, science-fiction, for-review

I’ve always been a fan of science fiction and fantasy, and there are certain themes that are typically prevalent in the storyline of a good fantasy . I thought I had seen all of them, but that was before I read Flesh and Fire, the first novel in the Vineart War series by Laura Anne Gilman. This particular novel centers around wine. Not just any wine, but magical wine!

Once, in the Vin Lands there were men of great influence known as prince-mages. They were given almost unlimited power in the way...more I’ve always been a fan of science fiction and fantasy, and there are certain themes that are typically prevalent in the storyline of a good fantasy . I thought I had seen all of them, but that was before I read Flesh and Fire, the first novel in the Vineart War series by Laura Anne Gilman. This particular novel centers around wine. Not just any wine, but magical wine!

Once, in the Vin Lands there were men of great influence known as prince-mages. They were given almost unlimited power in the way of spellwines, which they used to further their own interests and battle each other for land and wealth. Seeking to restore the balance of power in mortals, a demigod known as Sin Washer came down to earth to break the bonds between prince-mages and the wines, replacing them with secondary wines that were less potent, but still powerful nonetheless. Many years later, these wines are closely guarded and kept by the Vinearts, whose job it is to use the magic within the wines and within themselves to use the wines for good. Master Vineart Malech has been tending grapes and crafting spellwines for years, honing his craft and bettering the lives of those within his lands. However, something mysterious and evil is brewing in the Vin Lands. Although the ways of the Vinearts typically keep them from interfering with the lives of those around them and keeping to their own vineyards, Master Malech senses that something is amiss and works silently to combat it. A young slave in his vineyard named Jerzy seems to have the inherent qualities of a Vineart, but Master Malech will need more than an ordinary Vineart to combat this rising threat. Not only this, but Jerzy must learn the ways of the craft in less time than ever before. Will Jerzy be able to learn this complex craft and help his master in time? Will Malech discover the source of the disturbance that has shaken the confidence of his fellow Vinearts and instilled fear in the land?

I think the greatest part about this book is that it’s part of a trilogy! Gilman has created an awesome world of mystery and tradition that pulled me in from the beginning. I can’t wait to read the next two books! But anyway, on to the amazing parts of this novel. The fact that she took the time to create such a detailed plot that took Jerzy from lowly slave (who even had lost his identity so much so that he had trouble remembering his name!) to a Vineart wise beyond his years is testament to her passion for writing. It’s a coming of age story, a story of magical history, and a story of an epic battle in the making. Master Malech crafts Jerzy as a woodworker takes a rough block of wood and turns it into a masterpiece. The potential that he sees in Jerzy pays off as he uses him as an extension of himself in the far lands away from his own in order to gather information and gain allies in the coming battle. As the reader I became invested in Jerzy’s story, and I rooted for him the entire time. He is an extremely likeable character, and made the story that much more enjoyable. If the other two books that Gilman has written are anything like Flesh and Fire, I’m sure to be in for a treat!

Todd (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-Nn (less)

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Feb 11, 2011 Phaedra rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nook, 2011

Overall I enjoyed the book, enough to give the next one in the series a shot and hope that it is more interesting throughout. The sections with Jerzy and when they deal with spellwine were interesting and held my attention, but all the other threads in the story were a bit lack-luster. For the most part, when the narrative leaves Jerzy to follow other characters I found myself getting bored until something drastic would happen. Just as that part would become interesting the story would go back t...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Meg rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Leah

Shelves: fantastical

I wasn't sure what to expect from such a clear departure from Gilman's usual genre, but Gilman handles the switch from Whedon-esque urban fantasy to a more traditional old-timey kingdom setting with remarkable aplomb. In this series, magic is not electric current, as it is with her others, but instead takes the form of wine, made from grapes that mages carefully cultivate over the course of decades. It's a gripping image, and she puts it to good use in the story of an apprentice to a quiet, isol...more

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Mar 04, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, fantasy, young-adult

The first in a forthcoming fantasy series titled "The Vineart War." I am sometimes slow to warm up to fantasy, but I found this book intriguing. Set in a land reminsecent of sunny Quatrocento Italy, magical power lies in the making of wine--some of which is embued with powerful spells. Master vinters are highly sought after by politicians and princes for the their abilities to create these extraordinary wines. Alas, the balance of powers in the land--and in the wine--is going terribly wrong. The...more

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Dec 03, 2009 Loren rated it 3 of 5 stars

What a strange book. I had a hard time getting into it at first, since it basically starts over three times. I preferred the second character to the one who ended up being the hero of the book. My feeling overall is that Gilman isn't good at making characters interesting or likeable, but she is brilliant at world-building. I was thoroughly fascinated by the magical system she's created. The way she conveys her knowledge of wine and viticulture was completely absorbing.

So I have a dilemma. This b...more

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Apr 05, 2010 Nadine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-and-sci-fi

The plot superficially centers around magic spells (which are linked with wine), and it's set in an imaginary world, so it is superficially a "fantasy" novel. But I found the fantasy aspect to not be central to the plot at all - this could just as easily take place in the "real" world. The main plot is a young boy's coming of age, discovering a vast plot of political intrigue, and finding companions for his quest to discover the truth.

This book was very very slow, and while it was well-written...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Cv Rick rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

There were more cliches in the first 50 pages than I could stand. Victim, slave, magic, potions, mystery, UFL (ubiquitous fantasy land). The whole time I was just begging her to get to the damned story already because the world building was so unnecessary. She could've just started the book with the following statement, "We enter a world I ripped off from the last 30 fantasy writers with multibook series and although my magic system is different, it's so little different that you might as well j...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: magic

(Re-posted from http://theturnedbrain.blogspot.com.au)

I firmly believe that nothing, nothing is more important in a book than the protagonist. A well written hero can carry the weakest of plots, elevate the plainest of supporting cast and make an otherwise average book into something special. Laura Anne Gilman’s ‘Flesh and Fire’ proves all to well that the reverse is definitely not true.

The concept of Flesh and Fire is really cool, and handled originally. A few select men, called Vinearts, can...more (Re-posted from http://theturnedbrain.blogspot.com.au)

I firmly believe that nothing, nothing is more important in a book than the protagonist. A well written hero can carry the weakest of plots, elevate the plainest of supporting cast and make an otherwise average book into something special. Laura Anne Gilman’s ‘Flesh and Fire’ proves all to well that the reverse is definitely not true.

The concept of Flesh and Fire is really cool, and handled originally. A few select men, called Vinearts, can coax magic from grapes and craft potent spell wines. Once they used their exclusive magic to gain power, but now there are strict laws that stop Vinearts from being able to hold positions of power or influence.

Jerzy, a young slave, is found to have the abilities of vineart, and so is risen from his position to become an apprentice to the Vineart Master Malach.

There’s a lot to potentially like about this book. I’m not a fan of non-fiction, but having said that I really like it when a book teaches me things. When an author has clearly researched the topic of the book extensively and the knowledge just shines through. So it is with Flesh and Fire and wine making. I’m not saying that upon finishing the book you could go out and craft your own vintage, but I found the various minutiae of wine making that the book explores to be really interesting.

If only the protagonist, Jerzy, had been at least half as interesting. But sadly, he is not. There’s nothing to him. I mean, this kid has been a slave all of his life, until one day he gets yanked from the fields and becomes an apprentice to the man who owns him. A situation fraught with potential angst and conflict one would think. Jerzy never feels any kind of resentment towards Master Malach. His time as a slave was brutal and hard, and yet he never attempts to help his fellow slaves or even really thinks about them as being more as slaves. The explanation given for this is that the harshness of slavery is needed to make the abilities of a Vineart develop. Which I get, and should have made for some really fascinating dynamics between the once slave Vineart masters and the one slave apprentices. But it barely gets touched upon, and a large source of potential tension just goes to waste.

(And why are all the Vinearts men? The idea of a female Vineart is never broached, not even an offhand comment to explain why there are none. The silence on the matter bugged me more than a half ass excuse explaining it would have.)

I guess in a lot of ways Jerzy never stops being a placid slave. He does what he’s told and and he rarely moves the plot himself. The other characters act and react, think and plot and make decisions, Jerzy just lets the currents they create move him about. There’s only one scene I can think of where Jerzy uses his initiative and impacts the plot. That’s pretty unacceptable for a main character, in my opinion.

The secondary characters are much better done than Jerzy. The young trader Ao was a breath of fresh air, and I found his trader outlook to be really interesting. I also liked Mauhalt, a nobleman’s daughter who looks like she’s going to get a kick ass character arc normally reserved more male characters. (Which just bring me back to the question of female Vinearts, and the lack thereof).

Jerzy’s passivity might have been easier to take if not for the fact that this book feels like it’s all setup. Things don’t really get rolling until literally the last fifty pages or so, whereupon the book ends on a cliffhanger. I suspect the second book will be much better than the first. If nothing else the plot appears to have actually started, and in the final pages of the book I developed some slight hope that Jerzy was about to actually take charge.

Normally I wouldn’t even give the next book a try based on the serious flaws in this one, but Laura Anne Gilman is clearly a very capable writer and the series does have potential. If she turns Jerzy’s character around then his actions in the first boom will become the first part of an impressive character arc, and the ridiculously slow build of the plot would be forgivable. It still kinda sucks that you have to slog through a vaguely boring first volume to get to the good stuff.(less)

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Jun 11, 2011 Emil Söderman rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, female-author

Okay, I must confess, I only gave it this high a review because of the off-the-wall concept.

It's your standard 1st. volume epic fantasy tale, involving a protagonist, his magical training, darkness gathering, and a whole lot of grapes.

What?

Yeah, magic in this world is based on winemaking. (with various rules laboriously explained) the story this creates isn't anything new (thus far anyway) but the magic system is interesting and fun, like the fact that a particular spell might only be cast using...more

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Feb 26, 2010 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I was a bit skeptical at first - who has ever heard of a fantasy book set around wine? (I am willing to acknowledge the magical properties of alcohol as quickly as anyone, but still....).

My skepticism quickly went away. Gilman weaves a fascinating world, one where the earthly problems of agriculture mixes with the dangers, mysticism, and thrill of magic. Mixing in different elements - a slave society, mixed with a noble class, adds complexity and social tensions to the story as well.

It is a gr...more

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Feb 26, 2011 Ally Marie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club, series

I read 90 pages of the book and decided not to finish reading it for the monthly book club read. I found the pacing of the story to be very slow and I personally never felt pulled into the plot. The only character I was interested in was Jerzy and I quickly became bored with how slowly he was progressing with his training. The writing was too descriptive and repetitive regarding daily tasks which I found to be distracting. I have heard that the story has more action in the second half of the boo...more

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Jan 04, 2010 Annmarie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Pretty good fantasy set in a non-technological world where viticulture & viniculture produces magic. A special few can sense & work with the vines & wine to bring out & adapt their magic. Good story, good world building, fairly fast moving straightforward story, good characterization. Centers around a teenage boy who is a slave on a vineyard who develops the magical ability and is then taken in by the vintner to be schooled in the magic. Looks like he will need to save the world,...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Chev E rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: didn-t-bother

Flesh and Fire is an incredibly slow read and as you may be able to tell from my label, I didn't bother to finish it. The fantasy world which it takes place in is one of the most unique I have encountered in my many travels through imaginary universes, but it is also a fantasy universe which I would be happy to call home. Magic in this world is performed through wine, and the wines are made by the Vinearts, men who own and run vineyards and turn what would be ordinary wine into spellwine. Lately...more Flesh and Fire is an incredibly slow read and as you may be able to tell from my label, I didn't bother to finish it. The fantasy world which it takes place in is one of the most unique I have encountered in my many travels through imaginary universes, but it is also a fantasy universe which I would be happy to call home. Magic in this world is performed through wine, and the wines are made by the Vinearts, men who own and run vineyards and turn what would be ordinary wine into spellwine. Lately there have been some attacks on vineyards, assaulting the grapes and their owners, and it is during this tumultuous time that one Vineart, Master Malech, finds his protege in a young slave named Jerzy. Most of the story is told from the point of view of Jerzy or Master Malech, but there are several chapters dedicated to the goings-on of a usually peaceful island whose name I have forgotten. I would love to tell you more about what happens but I gave up after two hundred pages and that is all that happened.

The concept of magic in wine is a good one, and one rarely, if ever, touched upon. I enjoyed reading about a new form of magic that I had never read about before, but what bugged me was how little the author said about how the magic actually works. There was a lot of flowery language about Jerzy and Malech feeling the magic in the grapes and getting it to do what they want, but it was too vague for me to actually understand.

There is one quality that can be found in many adult fantasy books that I cannot stand, and that is disconnectedness from emotion. I first noticed this while reading Game of Thrones-how cold all the people seemed (no references to weather intended) to one another, but most of all to me, the reader. I was totally detached as I read it, and the lack of innuendo when referring to things too horrid for me to think about made me feel cold and cruel. Flesh and Fire gave me that same feeling, in a lesser extent, but the same feeling nonetheless. That, and my dread and lack of excitement in picking up the book led to my ultimate decision to move on to bigger (well, not really bigger because this one was kind of huge) and better books.(less)

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Jul 20, 2012 SilverRaindrops rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, sorting-first-in-series, reviewstatus-reviewed, rating-5stars-fantasy, favourites-read-2012

"Flesh and Fire" by Laura Anne Gilman tells the story of a young slave who is training to be a Vineart - using wine to create magic.

The magic system is completely unique, and very consistent throughout. The process of making wine from vine is well researched, abbreviations well explained, and the main character tastes a lot of wines, so that everyone enjoying wine should enjoy this as well, no matter what else is happening. I live in a wine region, and have been to a lot of others, and all the...more

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Dec 31, 2010 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

First let me preface this with a warning to my friends. There is NO romance in this book, this is the first of 3 however so there may be some later. This was a book of magic unlike any traditional book I have read. It is about Vinehearts (the magicians). The magic comes from the grapes, and in turn from the wine and the dirt itself. Because of pride, jealousy and power struggles their gods sent a son to become their sin-washer, in their arrogance the Vinehearts killed the sin-washer and so it ca...more

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Jan 15, 2010 Julie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Jerzy is a slave. He has never known anything but slavery in the Master Vineart's fields, toiling away at the grape vines that create the magical wine that is so coveted by the powerful and all of the Vinearts.

Jerzy's life is uneventful until one fateful day when he happens to get a face full of the grape mash and feels something magical in the wine. Knowing death is certain now that he, a lowly slave, has tasted the magical brew, the Master summons Jerzy to the main house. But instead of walkin...more Jerzy is a slave. He has never known anything but slavery in the Master Vineart's fields, toiling away at the grape vines that create the magical wine that is so coveted by the powerful and all of the Vinearts.

Jerzy's life is uneventful until one fateful day when he happens to get a face full of the grape mash and feels something magical in the wine. Knowing death is certain now that he, a lowly slave, has tasted the magical brew, the Master summons Jerzy to the main house. But instead of walking to his execution, the master gives Jerzy a test and takes him on as his apprentice. Jerzy has the gift to craft and use spellwines.

While Jerzy is receiving his training, strange things are happening all over the realm. Cities are disappearing, strange monsters are causing death and destruction, and diseases threaten to kill off many of the spell vines. The Master is confused and worried by these changes of events, and therefore hastens Jerzy's training. Even though Jerzy is talented, is he ready to up his training...when he's just begun?

Flesh and Fire was interesting to say the least. I was intrigued by the idea of creating a fantasy world revolving around wine, one of my favorite things ever!

I was really into Flesh and Fire and enjoyed Laura Anne Gilman's characters, who I felt had a lot of depth and a quality about them that made me want to keep reading. Jerzy in particular had innocence to him where everything was new and different. It was interesting to read about small and seemingly insignificant things through Jerzy's eyes.

However, there was something about the general plot line that lacked excitement. Laura Anne Gilman revs her story engine with something exciting like a battle with a sea monster, but then almost immediately switches gears and bogs down what was once a promising plot with political mumbo jumbo, and speculation. It became tedious.

I was almost through the entire book when I became very ill over the holidays and put it down for a week or so. After improving, I realized that I just couldn't bring myself to pick up the book again, so sadly, I never did reach the end.

Laura Anne Gilman had a great concept for a good series, but it just fell flat because of her roller coaster of a plot line. Sometimes exciting, sometimes not. I became more frustrated than enthralled, and ended up just not caring in the end. Pity. I had a lot of hope for Flesh and Fire. (less)

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Flesh and Fire (Vineart War #1)

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