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Tree of Life #1
Tree of Life
Wrath, vengeance, hatred, cannot breathe the same atmosphere as love. And so it was that love began to wither and withdraw... Among the ageless quietude of the elves, Deacon, a mortal, suffers the inescapable awareness of mortality. He lived in what many deemed perfection, but a dark uncertainty plagued him that there lay treachery in it all. When secrets of his mysterious heritage are revealed, the young mage is thrown into a revolt of confusion, and in an unwholesome vent of misery, travels a path of unforgivable deeds. One of the few left of his kind - a race whose magical energies are vigorously interwoven with their lifeforce - Deacon is drawn into a world that turns into an involution of evil and death. The fate that awaits him will have immeasurable consequences far beyond his control.
380 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2010
3 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Elita Daniels
7 books41 followersElita Daniels was born in the early 1980's in North Queensland, and was raised (and still lives) in the historical gold city of Charters Towers. She started writing at age twenty-five, writing late at night when the house was quiet.
She aspires to move with her husband to a nice sized property located in a cooler climate, get a couple of dogs, and see "Tree of Life" made into a movie.
She aspires to move with her husband to a nice sized property located in a cooler climate, get a couple of dogs, and see "Tree of Life" made into a movie.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 6, 2011
Rating: 1.9 out of 5
The older you get, the faster life moves. Yes, that’s a cliché, but most times clichés have their roots in aspects of the truth. Days and weeks fly by, and before you know it you’re looking at the past saying, “Maybe I should’ve stopped for a minute to appreciate the passage of time.” When I find myself thinking this, and the limited time I have to do what I need to do, I abhor the things around me that waste my time, things that steal from me precious moments with which I could have been doing something different.
Not the best way to start a review, right? I know. But this is the way I started to feel while forcing myself through The Tree of Life by Elita Daniels.
I received this book as a review copy from the author. When reading the sample, it pulled me in because of the impending sense of sorrow and doom presented during the first couple chapters. I happily accepted it, thinking this melancholy suggested an impending expansion and heightening of emotion over the course of the text.
It turns out I was right. Sort of.
This is the story of Deacon, a young man with severe daddy issues. His father was a great and dangerous necromancer who wanted to use his son and wife’s “Riven” blood (According to the tale, Rivens are a people whose connection to magic exists on a level almost like breathing air for everyday folks) to bring about…something. The particulars of his plan were never really explained, other than he wished to overthrow the governing body of magic that was in place at the time. A young Deacon is kidnapped, his mother injured, and then by the end of this opening sequence the father ultimately sacrifices himself (somehow, again not explained) to save his son, and then Deacon’s mother marries an elf, among whom they live until Deacon is older and his mother passes.
From there, we reach the main gist of the plot. Deacon grows up to be a cynical, detached, and miserable young man. He’s haunted by his father’s actions and abandonment, thrown into fits of anger because of the pain the man inflicted on his beloved mother. So after his mother’s death, when he learns his father is somehow still alive, Deacon sets out, against the will of the elves who’ve helped raise him, to learn divining spells, find out where his father now exists, and kill him. He rounds up his cousins, Derek and Cedrik, and embarks on his quest.
Along the way he becomes more and more grumpy, works on refining his magical abilities, meets up with a beautiful dark priestess named Magenta, falls in love with her, and does everything he can to close himself off from everyone who’s close to him. As far as his quest goes, by the end of this much-too-long book, he doesn’t get very far, at all.
And this is perhaps the most maddening thing about the book. It’s long, it’s slow, and absolutely nothing gets resolved. I understand that this is the first book of a proposed series, but there has to be at least some resolution, doesn’t there? But there isn’t any. By the time we reach the final page, Deacon is right where he is when we start up his storyline – alone, awkward, and full of hate. He doesn’t grow as a character at all. He’s completely unlikeable, a winy brat who can’t let go of the past even though he grew up in what amounts to paradise with the elves. Perhaps this is simply a problem with myself. Maybe others will get something out of it I didn’t. Maybe.
The text in this book is dense. Page after page goes by without anything really happening. At times it seems as if the author is simply in love with her ability to turn a phrase, and she packs the text with allegory and explanation, which makes it read even slower. Not only that, but strangely enough the more exciting parts of the book are rushed through, as if the action is an obstacle to be skipped over. Towards the beginning, as Deacon’s mother is being escorted by emissaries of magical law in search of her husband, the group is attacked by an army of the undead. I got excited, especially considering I was still really into the feel of the author’s style at that point, but then…nothing happens. All of a sudden the scene is over, and we’re back to inner angst and an eventual marriage between Deacon’s mother and the elf (who she’s really just met) that helped save her. Huh?
And that’s another problem. Even with the over-abundance of words used, there are so many things that are simply not explained. The most intriguing aspect of the plot – what was Deacon’s father trying to accomplish, who is he, what’s up with the treachery going on inside the walls of their society’s beaurocracy? – are quickly forgotten about. After 10% of the book, they’re never mentioned again and we’re back to Deacon’s brooding and self-hate.
Now, it’s not as if this book was all bad. There are some interesting themes presented, such as the questioning of what makes us human, the soul-encompassing pain and doubt of love, and the duty one feels to a family member, even if said family member doesn’t seem to deserve it. But these finer points become overshadowed by the endlessly droning words. As I said at the before, the beginning is beautifully written, but it never changes. The tone never changes. It’s like being stuck in the mud and not being able to pull yourself out. In a word, irritating.
And there are writing quirks that get in the way, as well. For one, the author is in love with the word “presently”. Presently, so-and-so does this. Presently, another character does this. Presently, a campfire burns. Okay, I get it. It’s happening now. Also, to further illustrate the author simply packing words upon words, there are many instances of redundancy in the text, long passages that are repetitious or contradictory. Here are a few examples:
Unconscious of anything outside each other, they gazed on one another with an intensity that excluded all else.
Or then we have:
Within the gloom, Deacon knew a quiet grove in which he spent long hours of solitude, finding these woods to be the only place sufficiently quiet for him to escape and become entirely absorbed in his study, without fear of interruption.
And then:
She held him there, and there he remained.
See what I mean? And these are the shorter examples.
Now, I’m not one to sit here and blast a book. I know that it takes a lot of dedication to write. But it took just as much effort for me to read it. It took me three weeks to finish this book, and by the final paragraph I couldn’t help but wonder why I stayed with it that long. Perhaps I’m just stubborn. At the end of the day, the reader is not indebted to the author’s effort. If the execution isn’t there, it just isn’t, no matter how much work was put into it.
Maybe I’m in the minority here. Maybe others will read this book and think it brilliant. I’m certainly not the be-all-end-all when it comes to this sort of thing. And the author does show a lot of potential. She has a definite grasp of emotional weight and can craft some intriguing characters. If she only refined it, used her words at a premium, then she’d have something I’d willingly dive into again.
Until then, I can’t justify devoting any more time to it than I already have.
Plot - 5
Characters - 6
Voice - 4
Execution - 2
Personal Enjoyment – 2
Overall – 19/50 (1.9/5)
The older you get, the faster life moves. Yes, that’s a cliché, but most times clichés have their roots in aspects of the truth. Days and weeks fly by, and before you know it you’re looking at the past saying, “Maybe I should’ve stopped for a minute to appreciate the passage of time.” When I find myself thinking this, and the limited time I have to do what I need to do, I abhor the things around me that waste my time, things that steal from me precious moments with which I could have been doing something different.
Not the best way to start a review, right? I know. But this is the way I started to feel while forcing myself through The Tree of Life by Elita Daniels.
I received this book as a review copy from the author. When reading the sample, it pulled me in because of the impending sense of sorrow and doom presented during the first couple chapters. I happily accepted it, thinking this melancholy suggested an impending expansion and heightening of emotion over the course of the text.
It turns out I was right. Sort of.
This is the story of Deacon, a young man with severe daddy issues. His father was a great and dangerous necromancer who wanted to use his son and wife’s “Riven” blood (According to the tale, Rivens are a people whose connection to magic exists on a level almost like breathing air for everyday folks) to bring about…something. The particulars of his plan were never really explained, other than he wished to overthrow the governing body of magic that was in place at the time. A young Deacon is kidnapped, his mother injured, and then by the end of this opening sequence the father ultimately sacrifices himself (somehow, again not explained) to save his son, and then Deacon’s mother marries an elf, among whom they live until Deacon is older and his mother passes.
From there, we reach the main gist of the plot. Deacon grows up to be a cynical, detached, and miserable young man. He’s haunted by his father’s actions and abandonment, thrown into fits of anger because of the pain the man inflicted on his beloved mother. So after his mother’s death, when he learns his father is somehow still alive, Deacon sets out, against the will of the elves who’ve helped raise him, to learn divining spells, find out where his father now exists, and kill him. He rounds up his cousins, Derek and Cedrik, and embarks on his quest.
Along the way he becomes more and more grumpy, works on refining his magical abilities, meets up with a beautiful dark priestess named Magenta, falls in love with her, and does everything he can to close himself off from everyone who’s close to him. As far as his quest goes, by the end of this much-too-long book, he doesn’t get very far, at all.
And this is perhaps the most maddening thing about the book. It’s long, it’s slow, and absolutely nothing gets resolved. I understand that this is the first book of a proposed series, but there has to be at least some resolution, doesn’t there? But there isn’t any. By the time we reach the final page, Deacon is right where he is when we start up his storyline – alone, awkward, and full of hate. He doesn’t grow as a character at all. He’s completely unlikeable, a winy brat who can’t let go of the past even though he grew up in what amounts to paradise with the elves. Perhaps this is simply a problem with myself. Maybe others will get something out of it I didn’t. Maybe.
The text in this book is dense. Page after page goes by without anything really happening. At times it seems as if the author is simply in love with her ability to turn a phrase, and she packs the text with allegory and explanation, which makes it read even slower. Not only that, but strangely enough the more exciting parts of the book are rushed through, as if the action is an obstacle to be skipped over. Towards the beginning, as Deacon’s mother is being escorted by emissaries of magical law in search of her husband, the group is attacked by an army of the undead. I got excited, especially considering I was still really into the feel of the author’s style at that point, but then…nothing happens. All of a sudden the scene is over, and we’re back to inner angst and an eventual marriage between Deacon’s mother and the elf (who she’s really just met) that helped save her. Huh?
And that’s another problem. Even with the over-abundance of words used, there are so many things that are simply not explained. The most intriguing aspect of the plot – what was Deacon’s father trying to accomplish, who is he, what’s up with the treachery going on inside the walls of their society’s beaurocracy? – are quickly forgotten about. After 10% of the book, they’re never mentioned again and we’re back to Deacon’s brooding and self-hate.
Now, it’s not as if this book was all bad. There are some interesting themes presented, such as the questioning of what makes us human, the soul-encompassing pain and doubt of love, and the duty one feels to a family member, even if said family member doesn’t seem to deserve it. But these finer points become overshadowed by the endlessly droning words. As I said at the before, the beginning is beautifully written, but it never changes. The tone never changes. It’s like being stuck in the mud and not being able to pull yourself out. In a word, irritating.
And there are writing quirks that get in the way, as well. For one, the author is in love with the word “presently”. Presently, so-and-so does this. Presently, another character does this. Presently, a campfire burns. Okay, I get it. It’s happening now. Also, to further illustrate the author simply packing words upon words, there are many instances of redundancy in the text, long passages that are repetitious or contradictory. Here are a few examples:
Unconscious of anything outside each other, they gazed on one another with an intensity that excluded all else.
Or then we have:
Within the gloom, Deacon knew a quiet grove in which he spent long hours of solitude, finding these woods to be the only place sufficiently quiet for him to escape and become entirely absorbed in his study, without fear of interruption.
And then:
She held him there, and there he remained.
See what I mean? And these are the shorter examples.
Now, I’m not one to sit here and blast a book. I know that it takes a lot of dedication to write. But it took just as much effort for me to read it. It took me three weeks to finish this book, and by the final paragraph I couldn’t help but wonder why I stayed with it that long. Perhaps I’m just stubborn. At the end of the day, the reader is not indebted to the author’s effort. If the execution isn’t there, it just isn’t, no matter how much work was put into it.
Maybe I’m in the minority here. Maybe others will read this book and think it brilliant. I’m certainly not the be-all-end-all when it comes to this sort of thing. And the author does show a lot of potential. She has a definite grasp of emotional weight and can craft some intriguing characters. If she only refined it, used her words at a premium, then she’d have something I’d willingly dive into again.
Until then, I can’t justify devoting any more time to it than I already have.
Plot - 5
Characters - 6
Voice - 4
Execution - 2
Personal Enjoyment – 2
Overall – 19/50 (1.9/5)
Read
December 20, 2010The Tree of Life is a epic fantasy novel that combines adventure, romance and magic.
There were many aspects of this novel that I found appealing. I thought the world building creative and original with its mix of mages, sorceres, elves and other creatures. I thought the imagery and description exquisite and the language stunningly lyrical.
With so much going for it, I find it frustratingly difficult to articulate why I lost interest. I began to struggle about half way through and I have to admit I ended up skimming through most of the last half. High Fantasy is something I rarely read, and though I hate to admit defeat, this book is simply not for me. I truly can't attribute my lack of interest to any obvious flaw in the novel, its simply a matter of personal preference.
There were many aspects of this novel that I found appealing. I thought the world building creative and original with its mix of mages, sorceres, elves and other creatures. I thought the imagery and description exquisite and the language stunningly lyrical.
With so much going for it, I find it frustratingly difficult to articulate why I lost interest. I began to struggle about half way through and I have to admit I ended up skimming through most of the last half. High Fantasy is something I rarely read, and though I hate to admit defeat, this book is simply not for me. I truly can't attribute my lack of interest to any obvious flaw in the novel, its simply a matter of personal preference.
November 26, 2010
This book took me so very long to read. The descriptions weighed the book down heavily and at times I felt as though I had to push them aside to locate the storyline. This was often difficult as the punctuation wasn't always correct; one sentence ran for six lines! I persevered however, and found myself asking a whole lot of questions...none of which have yet been answered.
One thing the author managed to do was make me feel an extremely strong emotion: hate! I really don't like using that word, but the protagonist of this story: Deacon made me so very angry. I wanted to grab him and shake his stupidity out of him. The term 'spoiled brat' comes to mind! You do find yourself looking for a reason to like him...some redeeming quality...a shred of humanity...Who on earth would tell the woman they love that their beauty fades before them???
I also at times found the characters lacking depth and I often questioned why they did the things they did. Of all the characters in the book, surprisingly, I found the most emotion and justifiable action in Fraomar; not a major character. The author has very skillfully portrayed this one particular character so well, that even though his actions are not kind, you find yourself sympathising with him. This surprised me greatly as I could never condone what he has done, but the author seems to have gone to so much trouble with him that I find myself wondering what his significance is...In this way the author has skilfully demonstrated how a perfectly good and decent person can seek retribution in such crafty ways as a result of being rejected by someone they love.
I also found myself often asking where is this going? When is something going to happen? It does tend to drag on a little in places and a lot of characters are introduced and discarded quickly which created some confusion. It was also frustrating that the protagonists' love interest was introduced so late in the book - I found myself looking for her...I mean everyone knows it takes a good woman to sort out a man!
Although there were times I had to put the book down due to adjective fatigue, I am intrigued as to how the second book will resolve all the issues that have been raised. How will Deacon redeem himself? - If it is even possible. What is it about the Elves that Deakin detests? Will we see more of Magenta? In spite of everything, I do want to know...I don't know if that is the skill of the author or my need for resolution.
Thanks,
Elly
One thing the author managed to do was make me feel an extremely strong emotion: hate! I really don't like using that word, but the protagonist of this story: Deacon made me so very angry. I wanted to grab him and shake his stupidity out of him. The term 'spoiled brat' comes to mind! You do find yourself looking for a reason to like him...some redeeming quality...a shred of humanity...Who on earth would tell the woman they love that their beauty fades before them???
I also at times found the characters lacking depth and I often questioned why they did the things they did. Of all the characters in the book, surprisingly, I found the most emotion and justifiable action in Fraomar; not a major character. The author has very skillfully portrayed this one particular character so well, that even though his actions are not kind, you find yourself sympathising with him. This surprised me greatly as I could never condone what he has done, but the author seems to have gone to so much trouble with him that I find myself wondering what his significance is...In this way the author has skilfully demonstrated how a perfectly good and decent person can seek retribution in such crafty ways as a result of being rejected by someone they love.
I also found myself often asking where is this going? When is something going to happen? It does tend to drag on a little in places and a lot of characters are introduced and discarded quickly which created some confusion. It was also frustrating that the protagonists' love interest was introduced so late in the book - I found myself looking for her...I mean everyone knows it takes a good woman to sort out a man!
Although there were times I had to put the book down due to adjective fatigue, I am intrigued as to how the second book will resolve all the issues that have been raised. How will Deacon redeem himself? - If it is even possible. What is it about the Elves that Deakin detests? Will we see more of Magenta? In spite of everything, I do want to know...I don't know if that is the skill of the author or my need for resolution.
Thanks,
Elly
March 10, 2011
Revenge... it incurs bitterness and motivation unlike any other emotion, settling deep into the soul like a festering pustule until the seeker is completely consumed.
This is Deacon--the protagonist in Elita Daniels' debut fantasy novel, Tree of Life Part One. Abducted and scarred by his cruel and power-hungry father as a child, Deacon's mother risked life and limb to save him from the cruel fate his father planned for him. The bond between mother and son becomes even stronger as they survive the terrifying ordeal, but when Deacon's mother falls in love with the elven man who helps her save her son, her frail, human mortality is only enhanced by the everlasting elven world they live in.
Both set free and ensnared by his mother's death, Deacon embarks on a quest to avenge her and punish his wicked father. Accompanied by his cousins, despite his pleas for solitude, Deacon, Cedrik and Derek find themselves caught up in a strange plot involving a beautiful young priestess-in-training named Magenta. Despite his unwillingness to let himself fall in love, Deacon is enamored with Magenta, and discovers that sharing his vengeance with her is both liberating and dangerous.
There is something about Deacon's inner turmoil that appeals to the soul. As a reader I found myself frustrated and enamored with his struggle to love and be loved. A struggle that continually leaves him feeling empty and enraged, this presents a powerful lesson about the dangers of self-loathing.
For a debut novel from a first-time author, Daniels captures the otherworldly essence often found in works by master storytellers like Tolkien. Tree of Life is both character and plot driven, urging readers to embrace the struggling enigma that is Deacon in hopes that he can be saved--more than anything from himself.
Overall, I give Tree of Life Part One 4 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to fantasy lovers who relish in conflicted characters on a quest to quell their vengeance and discover who they really are at heart. I'm anxiously awaiting the second installment, as Daniels split the novel at the perfect cliffhanger.
This is Deacon--the protagonist in Elita Daniels' debut fantasy novel, Tree of Life Part One. Abducted and scarred by his cruel and power-hungry father as a child, Deacon's mother risked life and limb to save him from the cruel fate his father planned for him. The bond between mother and son becomes even stronger as they survive the terrifying ordeal, but when Deacon's mother falls in love with the elven man who helps her save her son, her frail, human mortality is only enhanced by the everlasting elven world they live in.
Both set free and ensnared by his mother's death, Deacon embarks on a quest to avenge her and punish his wicked father. Accompanied by his cousins, despite his pleas for solitude, Deacon, Cedrik and Derek find themselves caught up in a strange plot involving a beautiful young priestess-in-training named Magenta. Despite his unwillingness to let himself fall in love, Deacon is enamored with Magenta, and discovers that sharing his vengeance with her is both liberating and dangerous.
There is something about Deacon's inner turmoil that appeals to the soul. As a reader I found myself frustrated and enamored with his struggle to love and be loved. A struggle that continually leaves him feeling empty and enraged, this presents a powerful lesson about the dangers of self-loathing.
For a debut novel from a first-time author, Daniels captures the otherworldly essence often found in works by master storytellers like Tolkien. Tree of Life is both character and plot driven, urging readers to embrace the struggling enigma that is Deacon in hopes that he can be saved--more than anything from himself.
Overall, I give Tree of Life Part One 4 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to fantasy lovers who relish in conflicted characters on a quest to quell their vengeance and discover who they really are at heart. I'm anxiously awaiting the second installment, as Daniels split the novel at the perfect cliffhanger.
September 10, 2010
Tree of life is a High Fantasy novel that in its descriptive, colourful prose sits amongst those works in the manner of Tolkien and Paolini. The book from the first page to the last is shrouded in darkness as Ms Daniels weaves a tale surrounding a protagonist that is thoroughly unlikeable though deep down inside, you look for a reason to find redemption within him. The writer skillfully skates a knifes edge with how she handles both the deepening plot and the development of her characters. I am very much looking forward to the direction the sequel takes, having no idea what to expect next.
July 6, 2024
I was interested in the story, but I only made it to chapter 6. Writing is choppy and a strange narrative that made me uncomfortable. Scenes aren't fluid. I know I don't quite have the words to explain. I just didn't love it. Characters were loosely introduced like a business meeting, and I wasn't able to connect with anyone. Then a weird jump to add something that wasn't mentioned in previous chapters, like it was needed to make the story move, so it was added later, but the story wasn't edited to add or foreshadow it earlier when it should have been. It was weird, it was uncomfortable, and i was uncomfortable. I had to DNF it. Story was interesting, telling of the story not so much.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
January 9, 2011
The story begins not with the main character of this tale, Deacon, but rather with the people and the betrayal that would guide the journey occupying the bulk of this book. Though initially a bit disappointed at the brevity of the first adventure, I was quickly placated by the realization that it was only the backdrop to a more involved production.
Daniels proves herself as one with a good understanding of human nature. Her characterizations are consistent, even with the transformations and maturation of personalities. Deacon himself displays aspects of the Byronic hero, a man whose inner darkness drives a self-destructive attitude towards those who surround him. We are slowly drawn into his inner turmoil, and while much of this is elicited through his scenes with Magenta, the interest gave purpose to the otherwise overly-romantic sections. With that being said, there were still moments when I wanted to knock him upside the head for being so slow to make up his mind.
Many of the names, as well as the fantasy realm itself, seem to draw heavily from Tolkein. The similarity of elven attributes was difficult to ignore, and while this facilitated the process of picturing an ethereal race, it took away from the mysticism of it all as my mind started drawing parallels between Tree of Life and Lord of the Rings. Fortunately, the creativity of the plot, as well as the well-paced storyline, maintained my interest in the reading at hand. Daniels displays a firm understanding of "show, not tell," as she introduces the reader to concepts and characters without giving excessive background information. We learn the details as we would in real life — through conversation, action, and events.
For the most part, the text flowed quite readily. The author's sense of rhythm and sentence structure is well-developed, and complex ideas are conveyed in lyrical prose without becoming cumbersome in their dense verbiage. Even so, there were some paragraphs where unintended redundancy marred the effect. If something is described as shocking, for example, then we need not to be told that the character was shocked. Appalled, or amazed, perhaps, but certainly not a word that was already used. Additionally, the overuse of variations of the word "caress" began to wear at me by the end of the book.
With its complex, carefully planned storyline; its believable characters; and the promise of intrigue yet to come, Tree of Life is a novel that propels the reader headfirst into hours of pleasant reading and goads him into swimming frantically towards the final destination: the last page. The ending left me itching for the next installment in this series, and I look forward to finding out the fate of characters that have become dear to me over the course of two days.
Daniels proves herself as one with a good understanding of human nature. Her characterizations are consistent, even with the transformations and maturation of personalities. Deacon himself displays aspects of the Byronic hero, a man whose inner darkness drives a self-destructive attitude towards those who surround him. We are slowly drawn into his inner turmoil, and while much of this is elicited through his scenes with Magenta, the interest gave purpose to the otherwise overly-romantic sections. With that being said, there were still moments when I wanted to knock him upside the head for being so slow to make up his mind.
Many of the names, as well as the fantasy realm itself, seem to draw heavily from Tolkein. The similarity of elven attributes was difficult to ignore, and while this facilitated the process of picturing an ethereal race, it took away from the mysticism of it all as my mind started drawing parallels between Tree of Life and Lord of the Rings. Fortunately, the creativity of the plot, as well as the well-paced storyline, maintained my interest in the reading at hand. Daniels displays a firm understanding of "show, not tell," as she introduces the reader to concepts and characters without giving excessive background information. We learn the details as we would in real life — through conversation, action, and events.
For the most part, the text flowed quite readily. The author's sense of rhythm and sentence structure is well-developed, and complex ideas are conveyed in lyrical prose without becoming cumbersome in their dense verbiage. Even so, there were some paragraphs where unintended redundancy marred the effect. If something is described as shocking, for example, then we need not to be told that the character was shocked. Appalled, or amazed, perhaps, but certainly not a word that was already used. Additionally, the overuse of variations of the word "caress" began to wear at me by the end of the book.
With its complex, carefully planned storyline; its believable characters; and the promise of intrigue yet to come, Tree of Life is a novel that propels the reader headfirst into hours of pleasant reading and goads him into swimming frantically towards the final destination: the last page. The ending left me itching for the next installment in this series, and I look forward to finding out the fate of characters that have become dear to me over the course of two days.
February 23, 2012
I couldn't read this book. I doubt I made it a hundred pages in before I set it aside.
The writing is technically okay (grammar and spelling were fine), but the style was almost unreadable. It's written in a very detached third-person narrative, and glosses over a lot of character interactions with summaries. Dialogue is almost non-existent, or is used as awkward exposition.
Perhaps most awkward, though, was the mood. The only emotions expressed in the part of the book I read were negative: fear, despair, worry, confusion, dread. One never-going-to-appear-again guardsman chuckled with dumb lust once. That was the emotional high point. Other than that, nobody in the book showed any hope, cheer, or even wry humor. I don't require books to be light and fluffy (in fact, monotonous levity is just as bad), but I do expect some emotional *texture*. Unrelenting doom-and-gloom isn't realistic or readable. Even Poe and Lovecraft inserted moments of hope and curiosity and beauty in their stories... or kept the stories short enough to survive the one-note mood.
Other than a vague concern about putting the main character on suicide watch, I had no reason to care about anyone in the book, because I never got to know them as *people*, and never shared any redeeming or humanizing moments with them.
The writing is technically okay (grammar and spelling were fine), but the style was almost unreadable. It's written in a very detached third-person narrative, and glosses over a lot of character interactions with summaries. Dialogue is almost non-existent, or is used as awkward exposition.
Perhaps most awkward, though, was the mood. The only emotions expressed in the part of the book I read were negative: fear, despair, worry, confusion, dread. One never-going-to-appear-again guardsman chuckled with dumb lust once. That was the emotional high point. Other than that, nobody in the book showed any hope, cheer, or even wry humor. I don't require books to be light and fluffy (in fact, monotonous levity is just as bad), but I do expect some emotional *texture*. Unrelenting doom-and-gloom isn't realistic or readable. Even Poe and Lovecraft inserted moments of hope and curiosity and beauty in their stories... or kept the stories short enough to survive the one-note mood.
Other than a vague concern about putting the main character on suicide watch, I had no reason to care about anyone in the book, because I never got to know them as *people*, and never shared any redeeming or humanizing moments with them.
March 9, 2011
I am so anxious to read this amazing looking book! It is on my top five books to read in 2011 list!
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Author Elita Faith Daniels was kind enough to offer me an e version of this book!
Which, by the way, is also the reason it took me so long to read it. I still have not made the full commit to switch from paper books to kindle books, so I usually forget when I have books on my kindle app!
That being said, this book was fairly well written and enjoyable. I like Daenara's character and her fierce love and desire to protect her son Deacon. However, I thought the beginning story felt rushed, and I couldn't understand why it seemed to just skip over parts. Once I realized it was an introduction to the main story, I was more ok with it, but it was just confusing at first.
All things considered it was pretty decent, even if it didn't live up to my expectations.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Author Elita Faith Daniels was kind enough to offer me an e version of this book!
Which, by the way, is also the reason it took me so long to read it. I still have not made the full commit to switch from paper books to kindle books, so I usually forget when I have books on my kindle app!
That being said, this book was fairly well written and enjoyable. I like Daenara's character and her fierce love and desire to protect her son Deacon. However, I thought the beginning story felt rushed, and I couldn't understand why it seemed to just skip over parts. Once I realized it was an introduction to the main story, I was more ok with it, but it was just confusing at first.
All things considered it was pretty decent, even if it didn't live up to my expectations.
September 16, 2011
I've had the book on my shelf for a while, took a me a little bit to get to it. I finally did read it, and though it was a decent story, it really wasn't my favorite genre. I prefer paranormal romance to fantasy. This was just a little out there for me.
February 24, 2013
I agree with a lot of the reviews- it seems wordy, drags on and has a dreary non-resolving sort of feel to it. Took me longer than I like to get through it. Not all bad but certainly not gripping or fascinating. Tantalizing beginning but nothing really comes of it.
September 27, 2014
a great first of a series, am loving the book and its great characters though i imagined that i would see more magic used especially when deacon and friends are under attack!! look forward to the 2nd book but am hoping for a bit more magical action!!
Read
December 18, 2015This book was pretty hard for me. This book shows struggles with a man's past and tries to make sense of his childhood, while also grappling with bigger existential issues. I liked this book because it was really really good. What I also liked is that it had a few poems.
Want to read
October 2, 2010Ah, a subject very close to my heart.
August 13, 2011
What a lush, dream swept tale. I loved Daniel's prose and rich detail and the dreamy fantasy she wove. I anxiously await Part 2!
March 2, 2012
interesting book
June 13, 2012
I gave up reading this one. I may go back to it, but I doubt it.
December 15, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, even though it is not something I would usually read !! Really looking forward to reading the next chapter :)
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