Auralia's Colors: The Red Strand (The Auralia Thread #1)

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Auralia's Colors: The Red Strand (The Auralia Thread #1)

by Jeffrey Overstreet (Goodreads Author)

3.59 · rating details · 518 ratings · 118 reviews

When thieves find an abandoned child lying in a monster’s footprint, they have no idea that their wilderness discovery will change the course of history.

Cloaked in mystery, Auralia grows up among criminals outside the walls of House Abascar, where vicious beastmen lurk in shadow. There, she discovers an unsettling–and forbidden–talent for crafting colors that enchant all...more

Paperback, 336 pages

Published May 20th 2008 by WaterBrook Press (first published September 4th 2007)

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Aug 27, 2010

karen rated it

Shelves: it-is-for-class

when i learned i would have to read christian fiction for this readers' advisory class, i thought, "booo" expecting it would be preachy and didactic and like my old CCD classes where we were talked down to and bored the whole time. but when i looked at the list of christy award winners/nominees, i realized i already owned this one (yayyy) because b/n just classifies it as general sci-fi/fantasy and i had no idea it was christian and i bought it because i liked the cover (here is where ...morewhen i learned i would have to read christian fiction for this readers' advisory class, i thought, "booo" expecting it would be preachy and didactic and like my old CCD classes where we were talked down to and bored the whole time. but when i looked at the list of christy award winners/nominees, i realized i already owned this one (yayyy) because b/n just classifies it as general sci-fi/fantasy and i had no idea it was christian and i bought it because i liked the cover (here is where i am glad david is on sabbatical so i don't have to hear a litany of Why I Am Wrong. but this shade of blue... she soothes me.)so but i didn't know it was christian. and after reading it, i am still unsure. have i strayed too far from my flock to recognize christian values and themes?? i am genuinely puzzled. this just strikes me more as basic fantasy that a y/a audience would be perfectly comfortable reading, but i don't feel particularly christianized after reading it.

in fact, it seems to have a decidedly un-christian message. a quick breakdown:

so the people in this realm are asked to make sacrifices for the good and the glory of their king (but really more the materialistic queen, naturally). they are denied color, and must donate all they have that is colorful and beautiful to the castle. they are told that after a certain period of time, all will be restored to them... and more. why is this so?? doesn't matter, don't ask questions - the specifics don't matter. but so far so good, right??this seems fairly biblical. and after a period of toil and deprivation the reward will come in the form of color and joy and freedom and all will have been worth it.. but so one little girl (our heroine) manages to thwart this by finding all these colors in nature and making a cloak that is so beautiful and magical and wowing them all and making everyone doubt their subservience to rules that seem, and indeed are, arbitrary. so by being a wild flaunter she wins and gets to be the one everyone loves. is this what god is up to these days??from what i remember, rules were not meant to be questioned, it is called "faith",right?, and trust and obedience are kind of big deals in the gentile worldview.

someone set me straight on this. {jen fisher, light of my life, does a very good job of this in her comments on the thread}

this is exactly what happened when i read lewis' till we have faces, which i love like candy. i never understood why it was shelved in the christian inspiration section at b/n - this is a retelling of the psyche/cupid myth (or eros, depending on where you're calling from) but it at least offers up a recognizable christian theme: do not disobey. if your god/husband says "don't look at me, i'm hideous" and you do, and he catches you, there will be consequences. so, exactly the opposite of auralia.

there is one line that struck a religious chord: "if you allow abascar freedom, some people will choose what they shouldn't... but take away that freedom and no one has the opportunity to choose what they should". so fine - yes - free will and all. but still - the impetus that led to this thought was still auralia's revolt. anyone read paradise lost? revolution is supposed to lead to banishment, not freedom and praise.

all "where's the christianity" aside, this book is probably fine, but it is most decidedly not for me. i don't read fantasy precisely for the things that are all over this book. too many "names" for creatures, people, lands... i just get lost in the unfamiliar. the prose seems overwrought and the story underwrought. for me, it's like the guy you try to avoid at work who means well, but if you get sucked into a conversation with them, you just let your mind wander a little until he has spent himself. kind, but dull. (less)

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Apr 23, 2008

Scott rated it

Shelves: post-college

I actually bought this book on accident. I ordered a signed copy of Through a Screen Darkly, Jeffrey's reflections on films and movie-going (very highly recommended!), and he accidentally sent me a signed copy of Auralia's Colors. He graciously allowed me to keep his original shipment, AND sent me my original order. I told him to consider it a review copy.

So here's my review. I really liked it. There's been a lot of comment on the poetry of his language, with some loving it and some ...moreI actually bought this book on accident. I ordered a signed copy of Through a Screen Darkly, Jeffrey's reflections on films and movie-going (very highly recommended!), and he accidentally sent me a signed copy of Auralia's Colors. He graciously allowed me to keep his original shipment, AND sent me my original order. I told him to consider it a review copy.

So here's my review. I really liked it. There's been a lot of comment on the poetry of his language, with some loving it and some finding it somewhat overwritten. Put me in the former category. As I started reading the book I wanted to read it out loud because I enjoyed so much the way the words felt in my mind that I wanted to feel them on my tongue as well. There's a very strong chance that I'll add this book to my repertoire of read-alouds for my 8th grade class. The story itself is, to me, quite poignant. It reminded is somewhat of Guy Gaverial Kay's Tigana in the sense of loss that seems to penetrate the kingdom of Abascar, though to me the characters, especially the title protagonist, were quite a bit less conventional in Auralia's Colors.

Jeff's experience as a film critic has served him well, I think, in writing this book. The story is very VERY preoccupied with ideas and sentiments of art and beauty, fed I think by Jeff's love of movies and the way he's grown to appreciate what they do (again, explored wonderfully in Through a Screen Darkly. He really taps into some wonderful truths of God's gifts of art and creativity and beauty, which I think heightens the loss pervading this realm where beauty is verboten.

The one complaint I would have about the book is one that I often make about books with "intense" action sequences, and that is that I often get caught up in the action and read it too fast and end up missing details of what is going on. I do, however, think that this is more a problem with my reading habits and technique than a problem with the writing, as this is not at all the first time for me to experience this.

As you can see, I recommend this book highly to fantasy fans, but with the caveat that it is not "action packed." The book is quite a bit more contemplative and moves forward at leisure. This might frustrate readers looking for rapid plot advancement, but if you can relax and just enjoy the beauty on display you won't be disappointed. Definitely looking forward to book 2.
(less)

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Mar 25, 2011

Tiffany rated it

Shelves: my-wish-list

Brilliantly different! From the moment I picked up this enchanting fantasy I was sucked in to the beautifully woven thread of "Auralia’s Colors."

WOW, amazing, can I say that again….AMAZING! I had never heard of this little treasure of a series or author until I won on First Reads, “The Ale Boy’s Feast,“ the fourth book to this series. So I immediately went to my local library to check out the first three so I could catch up before I read the fourth, and I was surprised at ...more

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Jun 01, 2008

Cheryl rated it

She was discovered covered in mud on the banks of the Thronscalle River, a mere child not more than "two seasons", according to Krawg, a Gatherer. He and his partner, one-eyed Warney, discovered the mysterious child while investigating the ruckus produced by a flock of crows. Their unexpected find puts them in a bind. They are Gatherers, outcasts from House Abascar, forced to live outside the protective walls of kingdom until their criminal sentences have been repaid and grace is grant...moreShe was discovered covered in mud on the banks of the Thronscalle River, a mere child not more than "two seasons", according to Krawg, a Gatherer. He and his partner, one-eyed Warney, discovered the mysterious child while investigating the ruckus produced by a flock of crows. Their unexpected find puts them in a bind. They are Gatherers, outcasts from House Abascar, forced to live outside the protective walls of kingdom until their criminal sentences have been repaid and grace is granted to them by King Cal-marcus.
If the two known as the "One-Eyed Bandit" and the "Midnight Swindler" turn her over to a duty officer, they'll be accused of kidnapping, with punishment in the dungeons to follow. But if they leave her where she is, which they have ascertained is within a large footprint, one of the toes to be exact, then a duty officer will ride over top of her and "stomp her into the ground". So the two old thieves do the only thing that is left. They take the baby back to the Gatherers' village and hide her. That one small act is like a pebble thrown into a pond. As the ripples emanate outward, they will grow in strength, changing the Gatherers, House Abascar and reaching into the Expanse.

"River Girl" is the first moniker bestowed upon the orphan by the Gatherers. But a typical Gatherer child she is not. As she grows, she spends more and more of her time away from the village, exploring the Expanse and learning its secrets. She balks at her guardians' expectations she'll follow the traditions of House Abascar, especially the Rites of Passage. A free spirit, she can't fathom life within the kingdom's grim walls. But there is more to the river child, now called Auralia. She has a talent unknown to the Gatherers, or to any in Abascar. Her nimble fingers weave vibrant colors into whatever she touches, bringing joy and hope into the drab lives of her fellow villagers. An act that defies the laws of House Abascar.

Only the king is allowed to possess color. Years ago, Queen Jarlamine issued a proclamation declaring all colors the property of the palace. Citizens sacrificing the most during Abascar's "Winter" would be greatly rewarded at the time of its "Spring." But before the "spring", the Queen had vanished, leaving House Abascar and its lands trapped in perpetual "winter." Now word of the mysterious girl and her talent has spread. Will the king be able to maintain his rule over the people as Auralia's colors begin to awaken the memories of promises made, but never fulfilled?

Auralia's Colors is the strong, well-crafted debut novel by Jeffrey Overstreet. This is a story about loss and of hope, of the conflict that ensues when self-preservation and self-interest collide with self-sacrifice. Mr. Overstreet's talent shines on these pages. His poetic way with words brings his characters alive on the pages, within a world vivid enough the reader forgets its fiction. This book has earned a place on my keeper shelf, with enough space reserved for the rest of the series.

first posted at infuzemag.com (less)

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Oct 14, 2008

Seth Hahne rated it

First, a haiku review!

Despite invention,
Telegraph in stereo.
Good meat cooked too long.
___________

I had only heard good things about Jeffrey Overstreet's fantasy novel, Auralia's Colors. Which is, I'll state up front, not the best way to approach a text unbiased. I picked the book up expecting greatness and found only good-ness. I delved in hoping for something that would transcend its genre and discovered a novel mired in its genre.

Not tha...moreFirst, a haiku review!

Despite invention,
Telegraph in stereo.
Good meat cooked too long.
___________

I had only heard good things about Jeffrey Overstreet's fantasy novel, Auralia's Colors. Which is, I'll state up front, not the best way to approach a text unbiased. I picked the book up expecting greatness and found only good-ness. I delved in hoping for something that would transcend its genre and discovered a novel mired in its genre.

Not that it's all bad. And neither is it at all bad. Auralia's Colors does make generous use of what for lack of a better term can be called faults.

First the bad.

The novel, like most of its kind, labours heavily under the burden of its forefathers. The stereotyped tropes of the genre are a cruel taskmaster under whose fell thumb Auralia and her colours never threaten to emerge. The themes are tired and overworn and I felt like I was reading any number of the fantasy books I grew up with as a kid. Many of the characters are mere caricatures and you know from the first page of their introduction exactly who they will turn out to be (I had hoped while reading that he would be turning these stereotypes on the reader, playing with and then dashing expectations, but alas...). The prose is overheated, wrought over and again in the forge of Overstreet's imagination. (I read the first couple pages to The Monk while she prepared herself a lunch and her response: "Hm, I think he's trying to hard.")

Randall Munroe (of XKCD) recently posited a helpful rule of thumb regarding these types of novels.

Auralia and her colours do suffer on this point—though not as much as they might. While Overstreet is not quite as imaginative world-builder as Phillip Pullman and doesn't have the master's grasp on the language as does Tolkien, he does tell a well-paced story. This is something at which Pullman, for all his imagination, utterly fails. Overstreet's characters who are less like the cardboard standees that populated the Suncoast Videos of yesteryear are engaging enough and I really did want to find out what would happen in the end. The climax to this first book was satisfying enough that I went to the library to see if they had the first sequel Cyndere's Midnight, but they didn't. And I'm not quite sold enough to actually purchase it.

As far as Fantasy goes, I'd put Overstreet far below Tolkien (but who isn't when it comes to fantasy), a bit below Feist and Rowling, far above Pullman (though my butt is also far above Pullman), and probably on a par with McCaffrey and nearly on a level with Lewis (though in fair disclosure, I'm not the biggest fan of Lewis). Of course, this is his first novel and some authors have been known to hone their craft as they go. (less)

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Dec 14, 2007

Tina rated it

Recommends it for: Fans of Tolkien, Harry Potter, Willow, and Chronicles of Narnia

Jeffrey Overstreet, author of the non-fiction book Through a Screen Darkly makes an incredible fiction debut with Auralia’s Colors.

Perhaps it is his knowledge as a movie critic that allows Overstreet to create such a magical and imaginative world. In the tradition of J.R.R. Tolkien, readers will be swept up in a vast landscape filled with people and magical creatures that surprise and entertain.

Auralia’s Colors is filled with convincing heroes and is one of those stories...more

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Nov 29, 2007

Pioden rated it

Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: fantasy-i-p, fiction-i-p

A new author for me, but the premise and the first chapter were good, so...
Update after reading - VERY enjoyable! I am looking forward to the next installments in the Auralia Thread. This was the Red Strand, evidently the next one is the Blue Strand. Overstreet has created a fantastic fantasy, with a heroine feisty, strong and real, who plows on as she sees fit, regardless of who tries to stop her, and how she's disillusioned. The imagery and usage of colors, so integral to the book, ...more

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Jul 03, 2008

Rachel N rated it

Recommends it for: anyone with faith enough to dream

Recommended to Rachel N by: Jennifer Staab

Shelves: fantasy, own-it

Rich in poetic language and character development, this work of modern day fantasy is a treasure. I find it difficult to put into words just how this book made me feel... for one, I wanted to turn right back to page 1 and read it again, because I know that I did not grasp all that the book has to offer. More than a classic story of good versus evil, Auralia's Colors is about pursuing your dreams (regardless of the consequences); it's about profound loyalty in relationships; it's about faith - in...more

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May 24, 2011

Judah rated it

Shelves: general-fantasy, nook, young-adult, didnt-finish

50 pages in: We'll see. At first, the simplistic style of writing was a bit of a turnoff (people are comparing him to Tolkien? Really??) but I did find my attention being picked up somewhat quickly. I'm also a bit leery of this "Christian Book" thing...no proselytizing thusfar, and hopefully it stays that way. I don't mind books written by Christian authors, but I don't want to be preached to.

150(ish) pages in, I gave up on it. The "simplistic" style I menti...more

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Nov 03, 2007

Jenn rated it

Slightly overwritten, but erring on the side of poetry can be refreshing in this genre. I'm chalking it up to editor error and looking forward to the next installment. Another thing I'm seeing more of in (post)modern fiction is the breakdown of hero and villain - characters take sides, but the author takes great pains to let everyone know the antagonist's weaknesses and/or well-motivated reasons for their hurtful behavior. On some levels that's great - very humanizing, true to life - but fant...more

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Dec 19, 2008

Jill Williamson rated it

Two Gatherer thieves find an abandoned child lying in a massive footprint near the river. They take the girl back to the village where she grows up wild and mysterious amongst the Gatherers, those unworthy of living inside the walls of House Abascar. The girl, Auralia, has a unique gift, the ability to weave breathtaking colors from the world around her. When Queen Jaralaine issues a proclamation that sends all of House Abascar into a colorless season of winter, Auralia’s gift becomes illegal.
...more

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Nov 22, 2008

Debbie rated it

Shelves: fantasy, ya

I wanted to like it. My main problem with the book is the first 77 pages. First, we jump all over in time with numerous flashbacks. Second, the point-of-view is constantly sliding from one person to the next in a very distracting way, but also rarely going very deeply into any one person's head. There is very little dialogue and what little action occurs is often repetitious: we're told in a distant viewpoint what happens, then we jump back and replay the scene with dialogue and various point-o...more

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Dec 30, 2010

Karissa Eckert rated it

I was excited to read this book based on the reviews I had read. It is written in a lush and poetic style; which I usually love. However somehow this book managed to make the characters and setting somehow seem stiff and unreal despite the delicate prose of the book.

Aurelia was found as a toddler by a river. She is raised by the Gatherers, people who have been thrown out of the walls of the city for various crimes. Many years ago the Queen forbade colors; all color belongs only to the ...moreI was excited to read this book based on the reviews I had read. It is written in a lush and poetic style; which I usually love. However somehow this book managed to make the characters and setting somehow seem stiff and unreal despite the delicate prose of the book.

Aurelia was found as a toddler by a river. She is raised by the Gatherers, people who have been thrown out of the walls of the city for various crimes. Many years ago the Queen forbade colors; all color belongs only to the upper class. Unfortunately for Aurelia she excels in finding color in everything and the palace wants her for the their own. Will Aurelia succeed in giving the commonfolk back their colors?

As I said the writing is beautifully done. The story unfortunately did not grab me. The writer constantly switches viewpoint between tons of different characters and I found that very distracting. It was hard to get involved or really care about any of the characters. The writing style, despite its beauty, did little to bring the scenes in the book alive for me. I also found the story in general to be a very dull read, it moved forward at a very deliberate pace. I had a lot of trouble getting through this book.

The imagine my shock (not knowing Overstreet is a Christian writer) when the whole story drops any pretense of creativity and becomes just another retelling of the story of Christ. The parallels between the story of Christ and Aurelia were painfully transparent and the ending of the book had my eyeballs rolling as the characters and story were pushed aside to pull everything together into a perfect retelling of the classic religious story.

In summary, the story starts out beautifully written but the writing and characters are dry, the plot creeps along and is a bit schizophrenic because of the multitude of viewpoints it is told from. I had a lot of trouble getting through this book. Then when the whole pretense of a creative story was dropped to re-deliver a story of Christ that has been delivered a million times before it just added to my ire. I won't be reading anymore of Overstreet's books; they are just too boring and preachy for me. (less)

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Aug 02, 2010

Kermit's BFF rated it

ARG! I just finished a very long review when the computer refreshed and lost it all.
My general point is that the book was terrible. The plot was confusing, hard to get into or understand. The writing was waaay to wordy. I skipped whole paragraphs and occasionally pages. The characters were lame, dull, and equally hard to figure.
I would not have finished it if it weren't for one character. Prince Cal-Raven actually had some potential. A great deal in fact. I wanted to know what woul...more

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May 18, 2010

Phyllis Wheeler rated it

Shelves: christian-fiction, fantasy-sci-fi

Auralia’s Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet
Published 2007 by Waterbrook Press, 333 pages.
Genre: Christian Fantasy, suitable for teens and adults

Auralia’s Colors is a multi-layered story, the beginning of a longer story arc called The Auralia Thread. Auralia, an orphan of mysterious origin, comes to live with the outcasts outside the kingdom of House Abascar. As the story unfolds, Auralia’s unusual powers become apparent; she has powers of healing related to amazing uses of colors...more

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Apr 23, 2010

Mirany rated it

I really tried to like this book, the plot seemed hopeful, but the moment I opened it up and actually read the first paragraph I knew I was in trouble. I've seen some people draw comparisons to Tolkien, and to be fair, I really didn't like reading Tolkien either. The lyrical quality of the writing, while beautiful at parts was mostly frustrating. It was hard to understand what was going on past all of the tangled sentences. It was discouraging to read and not get any sense of action, the char...more

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Jan 09, 2008

Esther rated it

Recommends it for: artists

Shelves: 2007

This book is a wonderful book that my friend Jen introduced me to. I have bought about 5 additiona copies to give to friends, especially those who are artists in any way. Its a beautiful story and I am waiting for the sequel to be released.

Ps- if you like this book, then turn it outwards whenever you see it on a shelf in a bookstore... many times I have had to spend a couple of minutes making room for the world to be able to catch a glimpse of this book.

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Feb 25, 2010

Kmont rated it

This is going to be a fast one - I'll have a full review on my blog soon.

Bottom line: I liked it.

What I liked was the way the author shows us the story. Beautiful, ethereal prose, making even a tired-sounding scene like a selfish queen's need to own everything she sees, seem beautiful and deeper than at first thought. The worldbuilding was easily scooped into the territory of beautiful as well, thanks to that same prose. It's a very stark world, thanks in part to the quee...more

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Jan 06, 2009

Hallie rated it

Shelves: fantasy

Finished this just after the fireworks on New Year's Eve had ended and the dogs were finally calm again...

I'd have gone for three and a half stars rather than three, if that were an option. I liked the writing a lot - though it never struck me as quite as beautiful as Patricia McKillip's - liked the story and setting a lot, and the characters were fine, if sometimes a bit distant. Especially Auralia, though the ale boy (still with no known name - good on for you for refusing to tel...more

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Sep 17, 2011

Michele rated it

Yet again,a book I desperately wanted to like but didn't (sorry, Jeff!). The premise sounded intriguing: the king of Abascar, a kind of city-state, decrees that all things of color and beauty be "donated" to the castle and everyone will from then on wear only shades of grey and brown ("Abascar's Winter"). At some indeterminate point in the future, he promises that all will be returned to the people and Abascar will be brighter and more beautiful than ever ("Abascar's S...moreYet again,a book I desperately wanted to like but didn't (sorry, Jeff!). The premise sounded intriguing: the king of Abascar, a kind of city-state, decrees that all things of color and beauty be "donated" to the castle and everyone will from then on wear only shades of grey and brown ("Abascar's Winter"). At some indeterminate point in the future, he promises that all will be returned to the people and Abascar will be brighter and more beautiful than ever ("Abascar's Spring"). But one young woman, a mysterious foundling raised by the Gatherers (men and women exiled for petty crimes; they live outside Abascar's walls and hope to be readmitted at the annual Testing), knows how to draw colors from nature and create beautiful things for her friends. Auralia's colors eventually spark (literally) changes in the city.

OK, so far so good. But the author leaves massive holes EVERYWHERE. Explanations, if given at all, are so thin as to be transparent. Why would the people agree to this nonsense? What's his motivation in the decree (come to that, what are ANY of the characters' motivations)? Why isn't there a thriving black market in colorful stuff from the other cities? Who are these Beastmen and why haven't they been stamped out long ago by the other cities? Why was Jaralaine so unhappy and why on earth is she being held prisoner by them??? What the hell is wrong with the King all these years? Why is the annual event called the Testing when nobody is tested? Why was Scharr ben Fray exiled? Why does Stricia completely lose it when she finds out she doesn't get to be Princess? What are these Northchildren and are they real or imaginary? WTF is this Keeper that everyone dreams about and why does he, or it, even matter? Then there is the very bizarre denouement of the story which a) is way too melodramatic, b) makes no sense whatsoever, and c) has nothing to do with Auralia or her colors! (It's all down to jealousy and the fact that alcohol is flammable.)

Worst of all, the central pivot of the story -- the fact that Auralia's colors have some kind of magical power -- is only ever mentioned in passing!! She has no idea that they do (in fact she says they don't). The first time it's mentioned is third hand, when one of the Gatherers says that so-and-so's breathing was better when he wore a yellow scarf that Auralia made for him. Why didn't so-and-so himself mention it? Or better yet, why didn't we see this happen?

Everything that happens in the story has this same third-hand feel to it, as if the most fascinating bits are happening off screen and we only get glimpses of them or hear about them later. The author invents weirdly-named animals and plants for no apparent reason (vawns? why not just have them ride horses like normal people??). The characters are paper cut-outs, one-dimensional and cliche: the mad king, the noble prince, the stalwart and loyal soldier, the mysterious foundling, the exiled wise counselor. The fact that the most interesting and complex character in the whole book is the guy who tortures people in the dungeon, who appears for a total of about 5 pages, should tell you how limp and pale the rest of them are.

I ended up just skimming the last hundred pages. I won't be reading the others.(less)

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Oct 22, 2007

Alissa rated it

I really don't do fantasy - Narnia is about it, and mostly because Lewis's snark amuses me - but this is good stuff. The writing is good, the story is significant without being overtly allegorical, and it ends really well. If you love fantasy, this is a must-read (and it's being followed by three more). And even if you don't, it's worth a shot.

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Jul 24, 2011

Kiersten added it

Very intriguing. Overstreet has a lot of fairly original concepts and an almost poetic writer's voice that I found alluring. He paints a vivid, engrossing world strewn with very realistic and absorbing characters. My favorite was the ale boy (just the fact that the author, subtly, never reveals his name was actually a pretty strong appeal, for me. It added depth to a fairly unremarkable character - something else I noticed Overstreet is rather good at). The story drew me in completely; it ...more

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May 03, 2011

Lauren Boyer rated it

Fairly enjoyable and sort of a page turner. The first night I opened it up I read over half the novel in about two hours..maybe three as I did alot of pausing and thinking. It's a good story and I will probably read the rest of the series... the time line though... it feels..I don't know how to say it...Jumpy? Not a story about action...or high romance... or...blah... I can read into alot of the philosophy Mr. Overstreet was going for.. but it felt like he wanted the reader to be somewhat detach...more

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Sep 18, 2010

Jonah rated it

Auralia’s Colors is a fantasy novel that has a dubious reputation because of the authors’ religion. Many fear that Colors is just a way to preach Christianity to the masses. It doesn’t help when Jeffrey Overstreet himself mentions CS Lewis and the Narnia series. Thankfully you will be hard pressed to find anything that resembles the evangelical religion in Auralia’s Colors.

It’s just an artsy kind of fantasy novel.

The story revolves around a teenager who was found abandone...moreAuralia’s Colors is a fantasy novel that has a dubious reputation because of the authors’ religion. Many fear that Colors is just a way to preach Christianity to the masses. It doesn’t help when Jeffrey Overstreet himself mentions CS Lewis and the Narnia series. Thankfully you will be hard pressed to find anything that resembles the evangelical religion in Auralia’s Colors.

It’s just an artsy kind of fantasy novel.

The story revolves around a teenager who was found abandoned in a river as an infant. Auralia is surrounded by a culture devoid of all colour and art. The king of Abascar duped the people into handing over all their colourful belongings so that the castle would outshine others in the Expanse. Everyone wears drab uniforms and owns utilitarian posessions. Everything of real value or beauty is shoved under the castle. Even childhood dreams are discouraged in Abascar.

Instead of jails and prisons criminals are left outside the city walls farming and gathering for real citizens. They are also at the mercy of beastmen and wild animals.

Sentimentalism and fatalism runs high in Auralia’s Colors. There is yearning for beauty that expresses itself in poetry throughout. Overstreet is clearly trying to create a longing for the childlike state of mind where everything is new and colorful. He contrasts this with the harshness and faithlessness of adulthood. The abandoned infant, Auralia, is the reminder for everyone.

You will be enthralled the first half of the novel as Overstreet introduces you to the Expanse – a land of four kingdoms bound together by a common past. It was wonderful to learn about how each House got to be the way they are. However the interest fades when the book just becomes an apocalyptic bore.

Why yearn for beauty, long after childhood, have a character to represent that, and then destroy everything around it? Truly depressing and fatalistic.

Rating (Gouge My Eyes Out, Below Average, Average, Above Average, More Please)

Average

Liked: Backstory to The Expanse and the House of Abascar, unique fantasy world

Disliked: Fatalism, determinism, and apocalypse

(less)

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May 11, 2011

PaperbackGoddess rated it

For my full review visit www.paperbackgoddess.blogspot.com

Auralia's Colors is an inventive story, unlike anything I had ever read before. It creates a vivid picture of a great land, called the Expanse, and of the different types of people who inhabit this land. The descriptions are very detailed, to the point where a creative mind could envision themselves walking along the banks of the River Throanscall or wandering amongst the Gatherers' huts.

The number of named charact...more

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Apr 25, 2011

Ranting Dragon rated it

Shelves: caleigh

http://www.rantingdragon.com/auralias-co...

Auralia’s Colors is Jeffrey Overstreet’s first installment in The Auralia Thread, a Christian-inspired fantasy series. Found by two worn-out criminals in the woods when she was just a baby, Auralia soon grows into a beautiful, otherworldly young woman who has the magical power to weave gorgeous cloths out of only the forest’s bounty. She charms her poor community with gifts and good nature, and she enjoys a special connection to the wilde...more

like 1 like

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Dec 21, 2011

Jenna St Hilaire rated it

This, impressively enough, is original fantasy.

Granted, the beastmen basically resemble Jordan’s Trollocs, and I doubt Jordan originated the concept (they’re not that unlike Tolkien’s Orcs, after all.) And I seem to recall a moment or two when Narnia came to mind, though those instances were perhaps nothing more than a slight resemblance of names. But overall, the story didn’t seem much like anything else I’ve read.

Fantasy fiction comes in a lot of voices, many of which—a...moreThis, impressively enough, is original fantasy.

Granted, the beastmen basically resemble Jordan’s Trollocs, and I doubt Jordan originated the concept (they’re not that unlike Tolkien’s Orcs, after all.) And I seem to recall a moment or two when Narnia came to mind, though those instances were perhaps nothing more than a slight resemblance of names. But overall, the story didn’t seem much like anything else I’ve read.

Fantasy fiction comes in a lot of voices, many of which—at first glance, at least—are rather dry to the touch. Which is perhaps my biggest problem with the genre. I’m not attracted by letter-scramble names, medieval weaponry and blazing action; I want a tangible, emotive sense of place and character. If anything, I’d say Overstreet’s poetic prose did this too well. A sentence like “The child became twigs and burnt autumn leaves, thin and fisty fingers clutching acorns and seeds as though they were stolen jewels” contains lovely imagery, but the metaphorical structure annoys me. That’s just me. O ye of great love for poetry, you’ll probably adore it.

Despite my distaste for metaphoric sentences, however, I did appreciate the colorful, sensory use of language. I felt and knew the world; I knew and loved Auralia, Cal-raven, Scharr ben Fray, and the ale-boy.

The story never took an expected turn that I can remember, which was another surprise. There was a fair bit of head-hopping, and I didn’t necessarily know who would turn out good and who, not so much. Even the one plot point I was very confident in wasn't bothered with until the epilogue.

Like most first installments in fantasy series, the ending was anything but. I spent half an hour or better Googling, reading reviews of the next few books, trying to figure out if a certain very important character returned in the sequels. Weirdly enough, the answer proved hard to find. Eventually someone answered it in the affirmative, which is good, because I had no intention of reading any further if not.(less)

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Nov 19, 2007

Jennifer rated it

Shelves: fantasy

I always like learning that there will be "more" of a good story. This one will be one I find myself waiting for.

like 1 like

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Apr 07, 2011

Matthew Roddy rated it

It's good to get back into fiction, and Overstreet made it easy. I had a few pages left as I walked off the bus today. The sun in the sky, I sat down at the bus stop bench and finished the first in this marvelous series. The world of the Expanse is wild and magical, and the characters earthy. If you've ever been a fan of the outdoors, wondered at it's endless detail, Overstreet will draw you back out of your safehouse and into adventure. Heads up, his language can get a bit tricky (I certainly ...more

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Jan 18, 2008

Taochou rated it

Recommends it for: bedtime story

It's a painting, much like Perfume and Stardust combined together.

like 1 like

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About Jeffrey Overstreet

My name is Jeffrey Overstreet.

I grew up in Portland, Oregon, and attended Portland Christian Schools from K-12. My father was a teacher there during that time, and my mother has worked as a teacher too... so I grew up in a world of educators.

My younger brother Jason is some kind of singer/songwriter/composer genius. He has a singing group called Rescue— www.myspace.com/rescuemusic ...more

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Books by Jeffrey Overstreet

Cyndere's Midnight: The Blue Strand (The Auralia Thread #2)

Raven's Ladder: A Novel (The Auralia Thread, #3)

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title link	preview: Auralia's Colors: The Red Strand
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Auralia's Colors: The Red Strand (The Auralia Thread #1)

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