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Hero #1
Resenting the Hero
In a realm beset by natural disasters, only the magical abilities of the bonded Pairs—Source and Shield—make the land habitable and keep the citizenry safe. The ties that bind them are far beyond the relationships between lovers or kin—and last their entire lives…Whether they like it or not.
Since she was a child, Dunleavy Mallorough has been nurturing her talents as a Shield, preparing for her day of bonding. Unfortunately, fate decrees Lee’s partner to be the legendary, handsome, and unbearably self-assured Lord Shintaro Karish. Sure, he cuts a fine figure with his aristocratic airs and undeniable courage. But Karish’s popularity and notoriety—in bed and out—make him the last Source Lee ever wanted to be stuck with.
The duo is assigned to High Scape, a city so besieged by disaster that seven bonded pairs are needed to combat it. But when an inexplicable force strikes down every other Source and Shield, Lee and Karish must put aside their differences in order to defeat something even more unnatural than their reluctant affections for each other…
Since she was a child, Dunleavy Mallorough has been nurturing her talents as a Shield, preparing for her day of bonding. Unfortunately, fate decrees Lee’s partner to be the legendary, handsome, and unbearably self-assured Lord Shintaro Karish. Sure, he cuts a fine figure with his aristocratic airs and undeniable courage. But Karish’s popularity and notoriety—in bed and out—make him the last Source Lee ever wanted to be stuck with.
The duo is assigned to High Scape, a city so besieged by disaster that seven bonded pairs are needed to combat it. But when an inexplicable force strikes down every other Source and Shield, Lee and Karish must put aside their differences in order to defeat something even more unnatural than their reluctant affections for each other…
285 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 28, 2006
47 people are currently reading
5808 people want to read
About the author
Moira J. Moore
11 books232 followersI started writing my first book when I was fourteen. I was sitting in class, bored out of my mind, and I started writing a story about a girl sitting in class, bored out of her mind. Except her class was in a school of wizardry. That story turned into a book. An awful book that I tried and failed to get published. I'm grateful the internet wasn't a thing back then, because I surely would have put it online and it would be out there forever.
Since then I've continued to write books and continued to put life experiences in them. My frustration with alpha male characters, the extreme weather I experienced while living in Japan, and contract law have all shown up in my fantasy novels.
The first six books in my Heroes series were published by ACE. ACE didn't want to finish the series, so I did, by self-publishing Heroes Reward. I fell so in love with the self-publishing experience that I have no inclination to seek a traditional publisher again.
My most recent book, The CEO Can Drop Dead, is a contemporary novel that portrays common romance tropes as the abusive behaviour that they are. I mean no disrespect to the romance genre as a whole, I don't believe it's any less worthy than any other genre, but the prevalence of abusive behaviour disturbs me, so I wrote a book about it. 25% of my royalties is donated to the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres.
Since then I've continued to write books and continued to put life experiences in them. My frustration with alpha male characters, the extreme weather I experienced while living in Japan, and contract law have all shown up in my fantasy novels.
The first six books in my Heroes series were published by ACE. ACE didn't want to finish the series, so I did, by self-publishing Heroes Reward. I fell so in love with the self-publishing experience that I have no inclination to seek a traditional publisher again.
My most recent book, The CEO Can Drop Dead, is a contemporary novel that portrays common romance tropes as the abusive behaviour that they are. I mean no disrespect to the romance genre as a whole, I don't believe it's any less worthy than any other genre, but the prevalence of abusive behaviour disturbs me, so I wrote a book about it. 25% of my royalties is donated to the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews
August 16, 2010
I think this book, the first in the series, really actually deserves 3 1/2 stars, but since it compelled me to read all five books in the series in a 3 day period, I believe the extra 1/2 star is an "obsessiveness bonus".
I picked this book up on a whim from an Amazon List (honestly, I find the best books that way! Thank you Amazon contributors!) It looked to be something I wouldn't necessarily love (a bit twee from the description) but I quickly fell in love with the characters and the world. Just great!
This is a light fantasy romp that is just so well done because of the two main characters, Lee and Taro. It has romance, but not enough to turn off the guys if they're into the tone of the book, and it's not a cookie cutter relationship, which is what I find so refreshing. It's just so sweetly done.
What really carries the series through is the POV of the main character, Lee. The books are written in first person from her point of view. In this first book I first thought it was too simply written, like a Young Adult novel. But as I progressed through the series, I realize it's because the author is being completely faithful to the first person view. Lee is naive, not experienced, and very stubborn, so even if me, the audience, knows something is going on, Lee doesn't necessarily do the sensible thing. She grows through the series, but is never terrible insightful, by definition of her character. I just have to admire the author for that.
Also the relationship between the two main characters is very interesting, they are both VERY flawed, so the story (and their relationship) goes through unpredictable and interesting, real twists. I really loved that there isn't some fairy tale happiness between them, and that is even more endearing.
Also, the books are quite funny at times, because Lee is snarky and amusing. Anyway, I would highly recommend the books, they are very very enjoyable light reads and get better as the series goes on.
I picked this book up on a whim from an Amazon List (honestly, I find the best books that way! Thank you Amazon contributors!) It looked to be something I wouldn't necessarily love (a bit twee from the description) but I quickly fell in love with the characters and the world. Just great!
This is a light fantasy romp that is just so well done because of the two main characters, Lee and Taro. It has romance, but not enough to turn off the guys if they're into the tone of the book, and it's not a cookie cutter relationship, which is what I find so refreshing. It's just so sweetly done.
What really carries the series through is the POV of the main character, Lee. The books are written in first person from her point of view. In this first book I first thought it was too simply written, like a Young Adult novel. But as I progressed through the series, I realize it's because the author is being completely faithful to the first person view. Lee is naive, not experienced, and very stubborn, so even if me, the audience, knows something is going on, Lee doesn't necessarily do the sensible thing. She grows through the series, but is never terrible insightful, by definition of her character. I just have to admire the author for that.
Also the relationship between the two main characters is very interesting, they are both VERY flawed, so the story (and their relationship) goes through unpredictable and interesting, real twists. I really loved that there isn't some fairy tale happiness between them, and that is even more endearing.
Also, the books are quite funny at times, because Lee is snarky and amusing. Anyway, I would highly recommend the books, they are very very enjoyable light reads and get better as the series goes on.
January 20, 2016
This lovely book was on my to be read pile for a long time. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. The idea is very unique and quite intriguing. However, it took me a little while to get into the book. Once I made it about forty pages in, I was settled into a groove and enjoying the ride.
Dunleavy is not happy about her bonded work partner. He's probably the second to last one she would have picked, and her last choice has a reputation for being a psychopath. Lord Shintaro Karish is just too showy and she wants a more low key partner. But the forces that bring a pair of partners together make the choice, not her. Although Dunleavy spends too much time trying to convince herself that she doesn't like Taro, the more time they spend together, the more she realizes that there is a good man beneath his facade.
The magic system, if you will, is pretty distinctive. I won't go into the backstory of why the Sources and Shields are able to work together to stop natural disasters, but it's different.
One thing that threw me was most of what they do is internal, so this isn't what I'd call an action-packed book. This would be a hard book to make a movie out of for that reason. The pace does pick up nicely as it goes along, and the climax is desirably dramatic.
"Resenting the Hero" is a good start to a series that I am quite sure I will enjoy reading. I did find Taro delicious, but I could see why Dunleavy was trying so hard to resist him even on a friendship level with him. Especially when everyone is in love with and admires Taro.
Dunleavy is the 1st person narrator, and she makes things feel very comfortable for the reader, even though at times, she is a bit of an unreliable narrator, because her vantage point isn't exactly clear on some things.
There's a clever little mystery in this book, with some nice red herrings. It's definitely a book worth checking out, so long as you don't mind it being a slow starter. That's why I took .75 points off.
Overall rating: 4.25/5.00 stars.
Dunleavy is not happy about her bonded work partner. He's probably the second to last one she would have picked, and her last choice has a reputation for being a psychopath. Lord Shintaro Karish is just too showy and she wants a more low key partner. But the forces that bring a pair of partners together make the choice, not her. Although Dunleavy spends too much time trying to convince herself that she doesn't like Taro, the more time they spend together, the more she realizes that there is a good man beneath his facade.
The magic system, if you will, is pretty distinctive. I won't go into the backstory of why the Sources and Shields are able to work together to stop natural disasters, but it's different.
One thing that threw me was most of what they do is internal, so this isn't what I'd call an action-packed book. This would be a hard book to make a movie out of for that reason. The pace does pick up nicely as it goes along, and the climax is desirably dramatic.
"Resenting the Hero" is a good start to a series that I am quite sure I will enjoy reading. I did find Taro delicious, but I could see why Dunleavy was trying so hard to resist him even on a friendship level with him. Especially when everyone is in love with and admires Taro.
Dunleavy is the 1st person narrator, and she makes things feel very comfortable for the reader, even though at times, she is a bit of an unreliable narrator, because her vantage point isn't exactly clear on some things.
There's a clever little mystery in this book, with some nice red herrings. It's definitely a book worth checking out, so long as you don't mind it being a slow starter. That's why I took .75 points off.
Overall rating: 4.25/5.00 stars.
October 21, 2020
This book is done an active disservice by its cover. Even the cover copy is, at best, misleading. Dunleavy (sometimes Lee for short), the heroine, is a Shield and trained to service in a partnership that is inherently unequal. This much is true. But she is never subservient and the tone of the novel isn't nearly as light or farcical as the cover would have you believe.
Further, while Lee is unquestionably naïve and this book is largely about her growth and maturity and overcoming her (understandable) ignorance, she never feels weak or helpless. And while Karish is noble to the bone, he never abuses his exceptional abilities or considers himself above his company. Indeed, from the start of their partnership, he is ever the generous and considerate person Dunleavy refuses to believe he could possibly be.
I have two reservations in recommending this book, however, as much as I liked it and one is a spoiler, though not much of one. First, the attitude towards sex in the book is deeply inconsistent. I don't mean just that everyone seems inherently bisexual. I mean that sex seems to be an open expectation of even casual interest at the same time that the heroine's own sexual activity is completely absent. Throughout the novel, Lee's relationship with Aiden is a close one and based on obvious physical attraction. Yet we never get the sense that they are actually sexually active. Indeed, the one over-nighter depicted, Lee sleeps on the couch. There is no reason for that abstinance and it was kind of weird, really.
Reservations aside, I deeply enjoyed the book. Possibly because I identified rather strongly with Karish while never losing sympathy for Lee. The characters were strong, even when flawed, and the world is interesting. I'm definitely interested in further titles in the series.
Further, while Lee is unquestionably naïve and this book is largely about her growth and maturity and overcoming her (understandable) ignorance, she never feels weak or helpless. And while Karish is noble to the bone, he never abuses his exceptional abilities or considers himself above his company. Indeed, from the start of their partnership, he is ever the generous and considerate person Dunleavy refuses to believe he could possibly be.
I have two reservations in recommending this book, however, as much as I liked it and one is a spoiler, though not much of one. First, the attitude towards sex in the book is deeply inconsistent. I don't mean just that everyone seems inherently bisexual. I mean that sex seems to be an open expectation of even casual interest at the same time that the heroine's own sexual activity is completely absent. Throughout the novel, Lee's relationship with Aiden is a close one and based on obvious physical attraction. Yet we never get the sense that they are actually sexually active. Indeed, the one over-nighter depicted, Lee sleeps on the couch. There is no reason for that abstinance and it was kind of weird, really.
Reservations aside, I deeply enjoyed the book. Possibly because I identified rather strongly with Karish while never losing sympathy for Lee. The characters were strong, even when flawed, and the world is interesting. I'm definitely interested in further titles in the series.
April 8, 2008
I first read about this series on Ann Aguirre's blog. She recommended it so highly and, given how much I enjoyed Grimspace, I immediately picked up a copy of the first book. By the time I cracked it open, I'd been sufficiently warned not to be deterred by the ridiculous cover and anemic title. It's difficult to get past the outside, they said, but persevere you must. The cover is truly cringe-worthy. But the contents are not. The story has its laughable parts. But they're meant to be funny. So that's all right.
Lee (short for Dunleavy) Mallorough has trained her entire life to be a Shield. Shields work together with their Source counterparts. Sources have an uncanny ability to detect natural disasters and avert them. Unfortunately, channeling that much power is guaranteed to kill a Source, unless he or she is bonded to a Shield, whose job it is to protect the Source's mind for the duration of the channeling. A few times a year, unbound Sources and Shields are brought together for The Choosing. Tradition has it that the first time a proper pair sets eyes on each other, the bonding occurs and they both just know. And to make The Choosing even more nerve wracking, the pairing is a lifelong bond. When one dies, so does the other. So, yeah. No pressure.
Suffice it to say Lee is less than thrilled when she looks up into the eyes of Taro (short for Shintaro) Karish, the infamous golden boy of the Source-and-Shield world, and just knows. The unlikely and, on Lee's part, completely unwilling pair are immediately assigned duty in High Scape--the most hazardous city in their world. Shortly after they arrive, a series of inexplicably powerful disasters strike the city, cutting down all but the newest Pair. Lee and Taro are left alone to protect the city and discover the force at the root of the disasters. Moira J. Moore has set up a rather unique fantasy world and two interesting, complex characters whose strengths and insecurities drive the story. I liked Lee and Taro and the fact that things didn't feel rushed. This is the first in a series and there is plenty of room for development and exploration, inside and out.
Lee (short for Dunleavy) Mallorough has trained her entire life to be a Shield. Shields work together with their Source counterparts. Sources have an uncanny ability to detect natural disasters and avert them. Unfortunately, channeling that much power is guaranteed to kill a Source, unless he or she is bonded to a Shield, whose job it is to protect the Source's mind for the duration of the channeling. A few times a year, unbound Sources and Shields are brought together for The Choosing. Tradition has it that the first time a proper pair sets eyes on each other, the bonding occurs and they both just know. And to make The Choosing even more nerve wracking, the pairing is a lifelong bond. When one dies, so does the other. So, yeah. No pressure.
Suffice it to say Lee is less than thrilled when she looks up into the eyes of Taro (short for Shintaro) Karish, the infamous golden boy of the Source-and-Shield world, and just knows. The unlikely and, on Lee's part, completely unwilling pair are immediately assigned duty in High Scape--the most hazardous city in their world. Shortly after they arrive, a series of inexplicably powerful disasters strike the city, cutting down all but the newest Pair. Lee and Taro are left alone to protect the city and discover the force at the root of the disasters. Moira J. Moore has set up a rather unique fantasy world and two interesting, complex characters whose strengths and insecurities drive the story. I liked Lee and Taro and the fact that things didn't feel rushed. This is the first in a series and there is plenty of room for development and exploration, inside and out.
December 28, 2009
Lee is absolutely ordinary. Well, except for the fact that she is a Shield (someone born with the unique ability to keep a Sword from dying when he or she channels the forces that cause natural disasters on Lee’s world). And the fact that Lee is particularly sensitive to music (not in a good way). And that she left her family before the age of ten to be prepared for the day, which happens to be today, that she will be bonded with a Sword.
A bond to someone she has never met. And a bond that will last for the rest of her life. Lee asks only two things. First, that the Sword not be an insane, frightening criminal. And second, that he not be Shintaro Karish, the hottest, most popular, ridiculously sought after Sword in this year’s match.
She manages to escape the former.
Moira Moore’s Hero Series is what I think of as fantasy fluff. Lightning fast reads with plenty of humor, romance, and a unique twist that is pure fun.
A bond to someone she has never met. And a bond that will last for the rest of her life. Lee asks only two things. First, that the Sword not be an insane, frightening criminal. And second, that he not be Shintaro Karish, the hottest, most popular, ridiculously sought after Sword in this year’s match.
She manages to escape the former.
Moira Moore’s Hero Series is what I think of as fantasy fluff. Lightning fast reads with plenty of humor, romance, and a unique twist that is pure fun.
November 28, 2022
Let me start by saying that I actually like this cover, I know some reviewers despise it, but I don't. I will admit that it lead me to believe this story would be a bit of a romantic farce and actually, there isn't any romance and minimal comedy, but that can be put down to me judging it by its cover (again) rather than the synopsis being misleading. I'd also expected to really dislike Dunleavy because a lot of reviews mention that she's extremely judgemental. While she is judgemental, it wasn't overbearing for me. She was bit dull and really needs to loosen up, but the world building and storyline made up for a lot of that.
My fingers are crossed that there will be some romance in the next book and that it won't take away from the interesting world and abilities created in this book.
My fingers are crossed that there will be some romance in the next book and that it won't take away from the interesting world and abilities created in this book.
December 1, 2013
This is the first in the Source & Shield series of books (the Hero Strikes Back, Heroes Adrift, Heroes at Risk, Heroes Return, Heroes Reward). I read them all, one after another so I'm afraid they all blur together in my head but I certainly enjoyed them. The main character is a tough practical Shield with some odd ideas about how the world works and her own feeling on the matter. Much to her disgust, she is bonded to an outrageous overly-emotional Source. Together they form one of the few magical defenses against their world's unexpected and fierce storms. The hook is the dynamic combative relationship between the two main characters, and it's a good hook.
October 6, 2015
http://bookslifewine.com/r-resenting-...
Tamika,
I really enjoyed this one! It's not a Romance but rather it's a Fantasy book with a romantic (ironic) cover. I had a lot of fun reading this one...though I'm not quite sure it's your taste. How much straight Fantasy do you read now?
Tamika,
I really enjoyed this one! It's not a Romance but rather it's a Fantasy book with a romantic (ironic) cover. I had a lot of fun reading this one...though I'm not quite sure it's your taste. How much straight Fantasy do you read now?
April 9, 2008
Okay I am half way through this book and couldn't put my finger on what i disliked about it until I came across this review which hits it on the head:
"I don't understand Dunleavy's continued resentment and dislike of Karish. Throughout most of the book, although there is a lot of evidence that Karish is a good, responsible Source despite his partying ways, she continually sees him as irresponsible and overbearing. Dunleavy herself came across as a stuffy stick-in-the-mud. Maybe the author meant for her to be that way (after all, the essence of good fantasy is watching your characters grow and mature). Despite having cause to be a bit naive in the ways of the world, Dunleavy just doesn't seem to be a good judge of character at all. Her self-righteous attitude also started getting on my nerves. I simply couldn't connect with this character." That right this is the gist of it. I can't for the love of GOD connect with Lee
SHE IS DRIVING ME INSANE.
Alas I will continue to attempt to read through this one but it might be the last in the series if Lee doesn't get off her high horse.
****SPOILERS****
Well needless to say she never did get off that high horse to the point i skimed the rest of the book. It had great potential wonderful world-building, fantastic ideas, and creative thought. The story would have been perfect if not for Lee. I don't think I will continue with the series I just can't stand her. Other than that the prose was tight, the characters had their moments the plot was good. (The whole villian thing was ehe?) But then again I skipped most of it. So take it with a grain of salt I have heard nothing but good things about this story but it is one I just didn't care for.
"I don't understand Dunleavy's continued resentment and dislike of Karish. Throughout most of the book, although there is a lot of evidence that Karish is a good, responsible Source despite his partying ways, she continually sees him as irresponsible and overbearing. Dunleavy herself came across as a stuffy stick-in-the-mud. Maybe the author meant for her to be that way (after all, the essence of good fantasy is watching your characters grow and mature). Despite having cause to be a bit naive in the ways of the world, Dunleavy just doesn't seem to be a good judge of character at all. Her self-righteous attitude also started getting on my nerves. I simply couldn't connect with this character." That right this is the gist of it. I can't for the love of GOD connect with Lee
SHE IS DRIVING ME INSANE.
Alas I will continue to attempt to read through this one but it might be the last in the series if Lee doesn't get off her high horse.
****SPOILERS****
Well needless to say she never did get off that high horse to the point i skimed the rest of the book. It had great potential wonderful world-building, fantastic ideas, and creative thought. The story would have been perfect if not for Lee. I don't think I will continue with the series I just can't stand her. Other than that the prose was tight, the characters had their moments the plot was good. (The whole villian thing was ehe?) But then again I skipped most of it. So take it with a grain of salt I have heard nothing but good things about this story but it is one I just didn't care for.
July 9, 2011
Okay. So it turns out, I actually liked this quite a bit. I was worried at first, because I thought Lee was pretty judgmental and unfair (particularly about Taro). But she won me over.
Let's talk about how. I think the author used POV to wonderful effect here. Lee definitely doesn't always say the right things. But she's thinking them - we see that, with her internal dialogue. She's also witty, funny, and at times gut-bustingly hilarious. Definitely sarcastic. But the reason she didn't read as bitchy, to me anyway, was because she pointed that criticism at herself more than anyone else in the book. She called herself an idiot, for example, more times than everyone else put together. She's very self-effacing. I would go so far as to say that she doesn't think highly enough of herself.
And sure, in the beginning, she made mistakes with Taro. To some degree, that is justifiable - as his professor told him, that's the reputation that Taro has chosen to embrace, and so it is unfair to expect that he wouldn't be judged by it. But Lee's opinion of him changes as she gets to know him, through working together. You can see the shift vividly in her internal dialogue. Her relationship with him still struggles, because though she is thinking the right things, she doesn't know how to say them. I can forgive her that - given that from the age of 4 onwards, she was taught to control all emotions, be a calm, blank slate, she is pretty emotionally stunted. I see her coming around, though, and at the end, I think she and Karish have begun to form an understanding of each other (because yeah, he makes bad assumptions about her too... ). I think altogether, it plays out pretty beautifully.
In terms of the overall story, I really enjoyed it. The world-building was fabulous, and I liked the system of magic. Also, I agree with the disgruntled Shields to a fair degree - they really do get a raw deal. No credit for anything, but they share the blame when they are bonded to douchebags. I agree that system needs to change. I obviously don't, however, agree with their methods. ;)
I am really looking forward to reading onward, and I will probably jump straight on book 2.
Let's talk about how. I think the author used POV to wonderful effect here. Lee definitely doesn't always say the right things. But she's thinking them - we see that, with her internal dialogue. She's also witty, funny, and at times gut-bustingly hilarious. Definitely sarcastic. But the reason she didn't read as bitchy, to me anyway, was because she pointed that criticism at herself more than anyone else in the book. She called herself an idiot, for example, more times than everyone else put together. She's very self-effacing. I would go so far as to say that she doesn't think highly enough of herself.
And sure, in the beginning, she made mistakes with Taro. To some degree, that is justifiable - as his professor told him, that's the reputation that Taro has chosen to embrace, and so it is unfair to expect that he wouldn't be judged by it. But Lee's opinion of him changes as she gets to know him, through working together. You can see the shift vividly in her internal dialogue. Her relationship with him still struggles, because though she is thinking the right things, she doesn't know how to say them. I can forgive her that - given that from the age of 4 onwards, she was taught to control all emotions, be a calm, blank slate, she is pretty emotionally stunted. I see her coming around, though, and at the end, I think she and Karish have begun to form an understanding of each other (because yeah, he makes bad assumptions about her too... ). I think altogether, it plays out pretty beautifully.
In terms of the overall story, I really enjoyed it. The world-building was fabulous, and I liked the system of magic. Also, I agree with the disgruntled Shields to a fair degree - they really do get a raw deal. No credit for anything, but they share the blame when they are bonded to douchebags. I agree that system needs to change. I obviously don't, however, agree with their methods. ;)
I am really looking forward to reading onward, and I will probably jump straight on book 2.
May 3, 2016
What the hell did I just read? This is one of those "so bad it's good" books.
I wanted to DNF it a lot because Lee is like, super inept. This is a pretty good example of her:
She has great intentions, but she is totally clueless in the execution of anything other than her actual Shield magic stuff. She pulled through in the end, but lordy did she stumble a lot on the way. It was embarrassing. She's a total newb, so it's forgivable in the first book. But I'll be very disappointed if she hasn't improved in the next book.
I dislike first person POVs because I never know who to trust because you just KNOW somebody has to be a traitor. I liked Taro, but his character is so obviously tainted by a biased POV. I wouldn't mind a change in POV every once in a while. But the mystery was pretty good and I think it was smart to go super slow on any romance with all the wackiness happening. I'll give the second book a shot.
I wanted to DNF it a lot because Lee is like, super inept. This is a pretty good example of her:
I studied some maps of Middle Reach and the surrounding areas, just because I thought I should. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but studying maps seemed like the thing to do before heading off on a journey.
She has great intentions, but she is totally clueless in the execution of anything other than her actual Shield magic stuff. She pulled through in the end, but lordy did she stumble a lot on the way. It was embarrassing. She's a total newb, so it's forgivable in the first book. But I'll be very disappointed if she hasn't improved in the next book.
I dislike first person POVs because I never know who to trust because you just KNOW somebody has to be a traitor. I liked Taro, but his character is so obviously tainted by a biased POV. I wouldn't mind a change in POV every once in a while. But the mystery was pretty good and I think it was smart to go super slow on any romance with all the wackiness happening. I'll give the second book a shot.
January 8, 2010
Haven't finished it yet, but just had to comment on a few things. The writing style is starting to bother me; there's a lot of summation of events that could have been told in a more narrative style. The dialogue has been snappy and humorous all along, but a lot of it seems unnecessary, especially when important plot points are glossed over.
I found the entire bench dancing sequence really hard to picture - the description left me imagining the dancers hopping from one foot to the other back and forth between two benches while two other people deliberately try to injure them - not very dance-like, and a stupid activity to perform. Also, Aiden's injury seemed farfetched - a shattered knee?? Maybe I'm being overly critical.
HOWEVER, now that I've got that bitching behind me, I have found it entertaining and the characters are interesting. I like the frank, humorous dialogue.
I considered not finishing this at one point in the story, but I'm glad I stuck it out. The development of the plot got more interesting and brought out a bunch of interesting psychological and moral aspects to the Source/Shield bonding. Those elements made it worth reading.
The speech patterns and thought patterns of the characters are much like modern American people transported to a medieval fantasy setting. This can be refreshing, or it can come across as uninspired. There were a couple of big plot points that seemed to just be ignored by the characters (i.e. why isn't the Triple S interrogating everyone concerned about the abnormal "Rush" attacks?).
I found the entire bench dancing sequence really hard to picture - the description left me imagining the dancers hopping from one foot to the other back and forth between two benches while two other people deliberately try to injure them - not very dance-like, and a stupid activity to perform. Also, Aiden's injury seemed farfetched - a shattered knee?? Maybe I'm being overly critical.
HOWEVER, now that I've got that bitching behind me, I have found it entertaining and the characters are interesting. I like the frank, humorous dialogue.
I considered not finishing this at one point in the story, but I'm glad I stuck it out. The development of the plot got more interesting and brought out a bunch of interesting psychological and moral aspects to the Source/Shield bonding. Those elements made it worth reading.
The speech patterns and thought patterns of the characters are much like modern American people transported to a medieval fantasy setting. This can be refreshing, or it can come across as uninspired. There were a couple of big plot points that seemed to just be ignored by the characters (i.e. why isn't the Triple S interrogating everyone concerned about the abnormal "Rush" attacks?).
May 1, 2015
RTC!
September 16, 2020
2.5 stars. It was really good in the beginning but then halfway through it got really slow with the mystery. I enjoyed the world building and the interactions between Dunleavy and Karish and even though at times Dunelavy was a bit too immature for my taste I liked seeing her grow a bit throughout the book. Resenting the Hero had so much potential left unfulfilled and I wish the author had a bit more action in the book.
March 22, 2009
I waited forever to read this book finally found it in the library and grabbed it immediately.
It was completely worth it. Two unlikely people learning to live, work and like each other (think Pride and Prejudice if only Darcy and Lizzie were permanently stuck together on the day of the ball and couldn't separate because it would result in either death or uselessness. I don't think they would get along so well either). Underlying that, Source Taro - reputation: playboy, hero and adventurer- is taken and his Shield, Lee - reputation: steady, strong, very very good at her job and does not want adventure- has to find him.
You realize the inherent problems with the system that is set up to govern those with Source and Shield talents and you find a lovely despotic place where Taro might be. Lee has to overcome her sheltered life and fight her own lack of control (which doesn't happen often but she is susceptible to music...you'll love that little weakness) in order to save them.
It was completely worth it. Two unlikely people learning to live, work and like each other (think Pride and Prejudice if only Darcy and Lizzie were permanently stuck together on the day of the ball and couldn't separate because it would result in either death or uselessness. I don't think they would get along so well either). Underlying that, Source Taro - reputation: playboy, hero and adventurer- is taken and his Shield, Lee - reputation: steady, strong, very very good at her job and does not want adventure- has to find him.
You realize the inherent problems with the system that is set up to govern those with Source and Shield talents and you find a lovely despotic place where Taro might be. Lee has to overcome her sheltered life and fight her own lack of control (which doesn't happen often but she is susceptible to music...you'll love that little weakness) in order to save them.
March 1, 2019
Wow. this read is a real gem. I am not a great fan of reads falling in the "young adult" bracket, but the growth of the MC throughout this book is worth the read. Oh, and did I mention the "Hero" mentioned in the title? The relationship between these 2 characters is a joy to watch develop.
Not 5-star just because of some niggling repetitiveness that bugged me. Oh, and PLEASE ignore the cover. Overall, a very satisfactory read. Looking forward to more, 'cause it's a series! =)
Not 5-star just because of some niggling repetitiveness that bugged me. Oh, and PLEASE ignore the cover. Overall, a very satisfactory read. Looking forward to more, 'cause it's a series! =)
September 9, 2022
I really liked the idea behind this story but I definitely didn't like the main female protagonist nor the apparent intention in how the series will be written, so I'll stay here with this one.
It has been enough fun to read comments by other readers on the installments after this one!
It has been enough fun to read comments by other readers on the installments after this one!
April 27, 2017
I forgot I even read this.
July 17, 2013
(Ignore the cringe-worthy title and cover - this book is amazing!)
This book does such a great job of creating a fantasy world. In this world, there are Sources and Shields. A Source, typically popular with a crowd and the receiver of much glory, can stop natural disasters, such as tidal waves. However, to do so is a great trial upon their minds and bodies and could ultimately cause their deaths. This is where the Shields come in. When a Source opens their mind to stop these natural disasters, a Shield can reach out to them, calm their minds so that the Source can survive the event unharmed.
The Shields and Sources are both trained in their own academies. Sources are typically spoiled and are more prominent in the public eye, while Shields have a reputation for being extremely stoic. When their training is complete, Shields and Sources are lined up and put in front of each other to see if any will become a “Pair”. A Pair is bonded for life, sworn to protect each other and complete assignments together. Even if one dies then other will also die.
It's a lot to take in a first but I soon found myself in complete understanding of this world and didn't have to double-check anything. The story starts with the main character and narrator, Dunleavy “Lee” Mallorough being paired with beautiful, legendary and apparently spoiled and charming and flighty Lord Sintaro Karish. He was not Lee's first choice. She wanted someone quiet and dependable. She likes being in the background and is immediately bitter that she is paired with such a legend. She presumes him to be arrogant, flirty and undependable – and she is stuck with him for the rest of her life.
A lot of intriguing thoughts came up in this book. Politics in this world played a large role, with one group of people constantly questioning the motives of the Triple S – the rulers of the Sources and Shields. Shields apparently have it pretty rough in this world, some being treated like servants from their arrogant Sources and being punished when their Pair is in the wrong. The main character, Lee, is suddenly questioning what she has been taught her whole life at the academy and she can't help but feel that her Source isn't as bad as she originally presumed him to be.
I loved the characters in this book, I really did. Lee was strong, calm and collected, but with moments of real emotions that allowed the reader to see that she wasn't just a stoic robot. I loved how sensible she was though. I really liked her. I also loved Karish (Taro? I'm not sure what to call him at the moment!) I loved his development. He was introduced with this arrogant reputation but the reader quickly saw that this wasn't the case. He was actually steady and kind, though sometimes an overemotional character. I loved him! And I loved their relationship and can't wait to see it further develop in the next books.
So the plot was interesting. The characters were amazing. The action was fun to read. The shades-of-gray morals were interesting to think about. The whole book was extremely addictive.
I REALLY enjoyed this one! I'm ordering the second book now.
This book does such a great job of creating a fantasy world. In this world, there are Sources and Shields. A Source, typically popular with a crowd and the receiver of much glory, can stop natural disasters, such as tidal waves. However, to do so is a great trial upon their minds and bodies and could ultimately cause their deaths. This is where the Shields come in. When a Source opens their mind to stop these natural disasters, a Shield can reach out to them, calm their minds so that the Source can survive the event unharmed.
The Shields and Sources are both trained in their own academies. Sources are typically spoiled and are more prominent in the public eye, while Shields have a reputation for being extremely stoic. When their training is complete, Shields and Sources are lined up and put in front of each other to see if any will become a “Pair”. A Pair is bonded for life, sworn to protect each other and complete assignments together. Even if one dies then other will also die.
It's a lot to take in a first but I soon found myself in complete understanding of this world and didn't have to double-check anything. The story starts with the main character and narrator, Dunleavy “Lee” Mallorough being paired with beautiful, legendary and apparently spoiled and charming and flighty Lord Sintaro Karish. He was not Lee's first choice. She wanted someone quiet and dependable. She likes being in the background and is immediately bitter that she is paired with such a legend. She presumes him to be arrogant, flirty and undependable – and she is stuck with him for the rest of her life.
A lot of intriguing thoughts came up in this book. Politics in this world played a large role, with one group of people constantly questioning the motives of the Triple S – the rulers of the Sources and Shields. Shields apparently have it pretty rough in this world, some being treated like servants from their arrogant Sources and being punished when their Pair is in the wrong. The main character, Lee, is suddenly questioning what she has been taught her whole life at the academy and she can't help but feel that her Source isn't as bad as she originally presumed him to be.
I loved the characters in this book, I really did. Lee was strong, calm and collected, but with moments of real emotions that allowed the reader to see that she wasn't just a stoic robot. I loved how sensible she was though. I really liked her. I also loved Karish (Taro? I'm not sure what to call him at the moment!) I loved his development. He was introduced with this arrogant reputation but the reader quickly saw that this wasn't the case. He was actually steady and kind, though sometimes an overemotional character. I loved him! And I loved their relationship and can't wait to see it further develop in the next books.
So the plot was interesting. The characters were amazing. The action was fun to read. The shades-of-gray morals were interesting to think about. The whole book was extremely addictive.
I REALLY enjoyed this one! I'm ordering the second book now.
November 14, 2010
I can't remember how I first saw this book and added it to my to-read pile but I'm glad I did. There were parts of the story that were a bit complex to imagine but once I let go and went with the flow, it was all good and I enjoyed it very much.
The world is under threat of many random natural disasters and certain people are able to prevent these. They work in pairs, Souces and Shields; while a Source has the ability to detect and avert the disasters by channeling their powers through themselves, a Shield is the one who, well, shields them from the aftereffects of absorbing that mcuh power that otherwise would most definitely kill them. And this 'bonding' between pairs is for life, if one dies, so does the other. Depressing yet? Add to that the possiblity that you're paired with someone you despise, and then you've got yourself hell on earth.
Which is close to what Dunleavy -Lee- feels. She's bonded to the sweetheart of all Sources and Shields, Shintaro Karish -Taro-, the boy whose charms has made everyone fall in love with him while all Lee wants is to stay on the sidelines and do her job as a Shield without any spotlight or action. Needless to say her wish does not come true.
I gotta admit, at the beginning I was afraid of not liking Lee, she was strong but she also was self-centered and had the potential to be a cocky and annoying heroine. Thankfully while I stuck to the story, she became more likeable. I still thought she sometimes had too many questions that weren't necessary and/or too smart. I do look forward to her character development though, in the future books.
Now, Taro, our hero, is another story. I liked him from the start. Through the point of view of Lee, he's described as the charming, handsome sweetheart with talent but not much wits or conscience to go with it. But as we read on, we see that he's in fact more than what Lee believes. He's a Source and usually Sources steal the show. While most of them might've acted the way that was expected of them, Taro immediately made it clear that he's different. He has a heart and, as opposed to common belief, a conscience as well. He really was charming and pretty funny, and overall, an adorable guy who made me come to the point where I wanted to smack Lee for being so hard on him.
Like I said earlier, I did find some parts of the story a bit hard to imagine and follow, but it was generally very enjoyable. I gotta say it actually got much better towards the end where the real action and mystery took place. The beginning was a little bit about introducing us to the story and the world.
I'd recommend this to those who like fantasy, and I sure look forward to how our hero and heroine will work on their relationship as well as averting all kinds of disasters, natural and annatural.
The world is under threat of many random natural disasters and certain people are able to prevent these. They work in pairs, Souces and Shields; while a Source has the ability to detect and avert the disasters by channeling their powers through themselves, a Shield is the one who, well, shields them from the aftereffects of absorbing that mcuh power that otherwise would most definitely kill them. And this 'bonding' between pairs is for life, if one dies, so does the other. Depressing yet? Add to that the possiblity that you're paired with someone you despise, and then you've got yourself hell on earth.
Which is close to what Dunleavy -Lee- feels. She's bonded to the sweetheart of all Sources and Shields, Shintaro Karish -Taro-, the boy whose charms has made everyone fall in love with him while all Lee wants is to stay on the sidelines and do her job as a Shield without any spotlight or action. Needless to say her wish does not come true.
I gotta admit, at the beginning I was afraid of not liking Lee, she was strong but she also was self-centered and had the potential to be a cocky and annoying heroine. Thankfully while I stuck to the story, she became more likeable. I still thought she sometimes had too many questions that weren't necessary and/or too smart. I do look forward to her character development though, in the future books.
Now, Taro, our hero, is another story. I liked him from the start. Through the point of view of Lee, he's described as the charming, handsome sweetheart with talent but not much wits or conscience to go with it. But as we read on, we see that he's in fact more than what Lee believes. He's a Source and usually Sources steal the show. While most of them might've acted the way that was expected of them, Taro immediately made it clear that he's different. He has a heart and, as opposed to common belief, a conscience as well. He really was charming and pretty funny, and overall, an adorable guy who made me come to the point where I wanted to smack Lee for being so hard on him.
Like I said earlier, I did find some parts of the story a bit hard to imagine and follow, but it was generally very enjoyable. I gotta say it actually got much better towards the end where the real action and mystery took place. The beginning was a little bit about introducing us to the story and the world.
I'd recommend this to those who like fantasy, and I sure look forward to how our hero and heroine will work on their relationship as well as averting all kinds of disasters, natural and annatural.
April 12, 2017
Normally, I know how I feel about a book. It's usually one of strong dislike, enthusiastic love or a resigned feeling that it could have gone somewhat better.
Resenting the Hero gets the dubious honor of being the first book to induce complete apathy in me.
I think, in part, it was thanks to the emotional indifference of the protagonist, who simply doesn't empathize with anyone or anything. Dunleavy (that names make me think of bread, dunno why) is a character that is so stoic and detached from anything that doesn't have to do with her, that she gives the impression of a well-programmed AI. I mean, her practical personality was refreshing, but what kind of person can't understand that crippling fear exists and trauma can make it difficult to act?
An example of what her opinion on a fanatical religious cult:
And why every last one of them hadn’t been rounded up, I couldn’t fathom.
...The fact that a handful of them had managed to get hold of a prince about eightieth in line to the throne and stake him before the Imperial Guards caught them should have been all the excuse anyone needed. Instead, they’d executed the ringleaders and let the others free to wander about and be abused by the general population. It had been claimed that only the ringleaders had been actually involved in the murder, and therefore only they could be executed, but I found that hard to believe.
Why is it hard to believe that some ordinary folks might be misguided? And what exactly is she proposing here? That a whole group of people indirectly involved should be put to death? Does that make political or practical sense?
This, and a general scarcity of feelings about anything on Dunleavy's part kind of put me off. I get that one of her character flaws is being too focused, but every time she did actually experience a so called feeling, it just seemed tacked on to make her human.
Also equally confusing is her attitude to the titular hero. She essentially ignores Taro most of the time, and then, when he isn't there all of a sudden, she wonders if she loves/lusts for him? What? She genuinely doesn't care for him in a romantic sense, then she suddenly does, and it's forgotten again conveniently at the end of the book.
As for everything else, it's all similarly hampered by something. The world-building was interesting, but I couldn't visualize the landscape because there was no detail. Shintaro was interesting, but missing most of the time. The plot was sorta obvious and had no action at all for the first half.
Altogether, I decided I didn't care whether anyone lived or died, 'cause Dunleavy sure as hell didn't either.
Resenting the Hero gets the dubious honor of being the first book to induce complete apathy in me.
I think, in part, it was thanks to the emotional indifference of the protagonist, who simply doesn't empathize with anyone or anything. Dunleavy (that names make me think of bread, dunno why) is a character that is so stoic and detached from anything that doesn't have to do with her, that she gives the impression of a well-programmed AI. I mean, her practical personality was refreshing, but what kind of person can't understand that crippling fear exists and trauma can make it difficult to act?
An example of what her opinion on a fanatical religious cult:
And why every last one of them hadn’t been rounded up, I couldn’t fathom.
...The fact that a handful of them had managed to get hold of a prince about eightieth in line to the throne and stake him before the Imperial Guards caught them should have been all the excuse anyone needed. Instead, they’d executed the ringleaders and let the others free to wander about and be abused by the general population. It had been claimed that only the ringleaders had been actually involved in the murder, and therefore only they could be executed, but I found that hard to believe.
Why is it hard to believe that some ordinary folks might be misguided? And what exactly is she proposing here? That a whole group of people indirectly involved should be put to death? Does that make political or practical sense?
This, and a general scarcity of feelings about anything on Dunleavy's part kind of put me off. I get that one of her character flaws is being too focused, but every time she did actually experience a so called feeling, it just seemed tacked on to make her human.
Also equally confusing is her attitude to the titular hero. She essentially ignores Taro most of the time, and then, when he isn't there all of a sudden, she wonders if she loves/lusts for him? What? She genuinely doesn't care for him in a romantic sense, then she suddenly does, and it's forgotten again conveniently at the end of the book.
As for everything else, it's all similarly hampered by something. The world-building was interesting, but I couldn't visualize the landscape because there was no detail. Shintaro was interesting, but missing most of the time. The plot was sorta obvious and had no action at all for the first half.
Altogether, I decided I didn't care whether anyone lived or died, 'cause Dunleavy sure as hell didn't either.
March 21, 2010
Essentially a pretty trashy novel, but I was in the mood for a typical romance novel and this was a fast read for late evenings when I just needed something to get my mind off things. (I should have been warned by the trashy cover - but went for "Never judge a book by its cover." - also, it was an ebook.) The writing was so-so - not glaringly bad, but surely nowhere near as good as it could have been. The premise is your typical romantic setting - Sources, who channel natural disasters to avert them, bond with Shields, who - yeah, you get it - Shield them from the effects of the channeling. The heroine, Dunleavy, fresh from the Shield-accademy, bonds with Shintaro Karish, who she deems flashy, inappropriate and annoying, a womanizer everybody loves, and whom she loves to hate.
Just... there's seriously nothing wrong with that guy. He's like... the nicest guy on the planet and he treats her well and with respect. One of the main problems is that you just can't fathom why Dunleavy resents Karish. Bascially, it's a character flaw - she doesn't like him solely based on what kind of rumors she has heard about him.
The story involves a pretty contrived plot dealing with abduction (Karish's), a crazy, scheming Source who has terrible ideas of freeing Shields from bonding with Sources (there are undertones of abuse in most Source/Shield relationships described - the bonding isn't sexual, just a kind of soul bonding), Dunleavy unenthusiastically looking for Karish (seriously, she dawdles around for ages before she finds him) and lots of confusion on my part (why did she go to Middle Reach at all? why do they have to leave the weak Sources in their earth cave in the end? and so on and so on).
The best parts of the book are definitely the interactions between Dunleavy and Karish - I would have enjoyed more of their witty banter and their obvious chemistry. Overall, Karish was pretty one-dimensional, though, and I didn't especially like Dunleavy, which makes it unlikely, that I'll read the rest of the series.
2 stars instead of just 1, because after all, I finished the book.
Just... there's seriously nothing wrong with that guy. He's like... the nicest guy on the planet and he treats her well and with respect. One of the main problems is that you just can't fathom why Dunleavy resents Karish. Bascially, it's a character flaw - she doesn't like him solely based on what kind of rumors she has heard about him.
The story involves a pretty contrived plot dealing with abduction (Karish's), a crazy, scheming Source who has terrible ideas of freeing Shields from bonding with Sources (there are undertones of abuse in most Source/Shield relationships described - the bonding isn't sexual, just a kind of soul bonding), Dunleavy unenthusiastically looking for Karish (seriously, she dawdles around for ages before she finds him) and lots of confusion on my part (why did she go to Middle Reach at all? why do they have to leave the weak Sources in their earth cave in the end? and so on and so on).
The best parts of the book are definitely the interactions between Dunleavy and Karish - I would have enjoyed more of their witty banter and their obvious chemistry. Overall, Karish was pretty one-dimensional, though, and I didn't especially like Dunleavy, which makes it unlikely, that I'll read the rest of the series.
2 stars instead of just 1, because after all, I finished the book.
March 15, 2016
All Dunleavy Mallorough ever wanted was a quiet, not overly exciting life. As a Shield, she will become one half of a bonded pair of people with special gifts that allow them to protect their world and its inhabitants from the frequent natural disasters that plague it. Her Matching ceremony offers several promising candidates for just the life Lee has in mind - steady, uneventful and pleasantly free of attention and heroics. Of course, fate has a different idea, and she ends up bonding with none other than Lord Shintaro Karish, most (in-)famous Source of them all whose legendary reputation precedes him and throng of devoted fans follows him wherever he goes. Unfortunately for Lee, once a bond is made it can't be broken, and she will literally be stuck with her notorious partner for the rest of her life. When Sources and Shields start dying at their first assigned post, however, the two must overcome their differences before whatever strange and unnatural force struck down the other bonded Pairs in High Scape destroys the entire city.
The beginning is one huge info dump laying out everything you need to know about Sources, Shields and their history. I felt this could have been handled a bit better, introducing the relevant background info gradually rather than all in one lecture, but it's forgivable for a debut novel. Once I got through that part, the story quickly sucked me in. An enjoyable, fun fantasy read with characters that grew on me more and more throughout the book much as they were growing on each other - looking forward to following them on their next adventure.
The beginning is one huge info dump laying out everything you need to know about Sources, Shields and their history. I felt this could have been handled a bit better, introducing the relevant background info gradually rather than all in one lecture, but it's forgivable for a debut novel. Once I got through that part, the story quickly sucked me in. An enjoyable, fun fantasy read with characters that grew on me more and more throughout the book much as they were growing on each other - looking forward to following them on their next adventure.
May 1, 2014
While I fell head-over-heels for the world-building in this novel, not to mention the subtle weaving of politics between Source and Shield, I was less impressed by Lee's naivety; her refusal to alter her opinions of others, despite overwhelming evidence. Resenting the Hero is full of entertaining banter between Lee and Taro, but the fact that it takes them the entire course of this novel to simply like one another, looking past reputations and pre-conceived notions, grated on me. I found the constant push-pull between them to be ever-so-slightly exhausting after awhile. Nevertheless, a promising start a new fantasy series and I will--certainly--be picking up its sequel.
June 18, 2017
This book didn't fulfil either attempts at being a fantasy or a romance. I don't mind if it focuses on one or the other, but to miss the mark on both makes a boring book.
The world building was really poor; the magic badly/not explained. The two main characters could have been interesting but their interactions with one another were too limited - the clash between their personalities was never really addressed so the tension/romance element was badly handled. And the plot...yawn.
Disappointing.
The world building was really poor; the magic badly/not explained. The two main characters could have been interesting but their interactions with one another were too limited - the clash between their personalities was never really addressed so the tension/romance element was badly handled. And the plot...yawn.
Disappointing.
November 10, 2017
i've always been a sucker of hate-to-love tropes and boy, did our heroine truly resented our hero. sometimes, i think a bit too much. but i loved dunleavy, she's so rough around the edges - judgmental and has too many selfish thoughts - but still has a good heart underneath all that. she's strong-minded, independent and she's really funny! i loved how this book subtly (or not so subtly) takes a jab at "heroes" or guys who are supposed to be knights in shining armors. i thought it was fucking brilliant and hilarious. but i do have to admit that i'm one those who are swooning in line over karish. he's one hot stallion no could blame me.
April 4, 2013
I was looking for something fluffy and easy to read that wasn't terrible, and I was intrigued by Resenting the Hero since it was on both a Kirkus review list, "Top 10 Fantasy Novels by Female Authors," and the Goodreads list for "Wonderful books with Awful Covers." (In my opinion, the title is awful as well...) Clearly, the cover for this book is awful, combining the worst of cheesy fantasy covers with the suggestion of romance, but at least the guy on the cover isn't shirtless with an oily chest. Also, if this awful cover was designed to snare people wanting to read fantasy romance fare, those readers would be disappointed since the two main characters don't end up together, and I personally hope that that don't in future volumes, though I wouldn't be surprised if they did. Although I wouldn't necessarily call the book "wonderful," I was pleasantly surprised.
The world and magic system are different enough to be refreshing, although I would've liked it better if both had been developed in more detail. I suppose that the setting might become more fleshed out in the following (six!) volumes, but I got the feeling that main reason that the world and magic weren't further developed was because they weren't particularly fleshed out in the author's mind. However, the idea of a partnered Source (who prevents natural disasters by channeling away the elemental energy) and Shield (who protects the Source's body and mind from being destroyed while channeling) provides opportunities to explore partnerships/roles in general, personality traits valued by society, learning to form one's own opinions, and even a little bit of politics.
Sources and Shields are ideally identified as young children and then taken to the Triple S Academy where they are isolated from the outside world and trained until adulthood. When their training is finished, Sources and Shields are ideally bonded and then sent out into the world to prevent the planet's otherwise devastating natural disasters. Whether by nature, academy training, or both, Sources tend to be, or are at least stereotyped as, extroverted, charismatic, take-charge people who have a tendency towards hedonism while Shields seem to be introverted, reserved and responsible. In Resenting the Hero, it becomes evident that both society and the academy are doing both Sources and Shields a disservice by pigeon-holing them in such a way, both by treating like Sources powerful but temperamental and petulant children that much be baby-sat by their Sources, and undervaluing Shields by allowing them to be treated, or at least perceived, as less-valued servants for their Sources.
In the novel, there are also suggestions that Triple S may not be as benevolent as it seems for various reasons: the requirement that potential Sources and Shields are taken at such a young age from their family and isolated so that the only teachings, home and friends that they know belong to Triple S; the teaching and reinforcement of Source-Shield roles; the punishment of both members of a Source-Shield pair even if only one partner made an error; the potential that Triple S cultivates Source-Shield bonds which may prove incompatible; and the idea that Triple S may be a fascist state-within-a-state (akin to Babylon 5's Psi Corps) that holds too much power (since without it, natural disasters would destroy any settlements on the planet and lead to uncountable loss of life) that leeches off the public (Triple S and any Source or Shield needs are completely free, funded by taxes).
I like the fact that Moore alluded to all of these things, but didn't necessarily make it black and white. While there were some characters who fit the stereotypes for Sources and Shields, including the main characters many times, they didn't always. Furthermore, although the "villain" of the story was insane and attempted to change Triple S for all the wrong reasons and was ultimately defeated, the propoganda he fed to the mob about Triple S and the changes that he would supposedly make weren't without the possibility of truth.
I suppose that if I pick up the next book or books I'll find out if these themes were further explored and if the partnership between the two main characters remains entertainingly sarcastic (similar to Korean drama flirting rather than typical American romantic comedies) and platonic.
The world and magic system are different enough to be refreshing, although I would've liked it better if both had been developed in more detail. I suppose that the setting might become more fleshed out in the following (six!) volumes, but I got the feeling that main reason that the world and magic weren't further developed was because they weren't particularly fleshed out in the author's mind. However, the idea of a partnered Source (who prevents natural disasters by channeling away the elemental energy) and Shield (who protects the Source's body and mind from being destroyed while channeling) provides opportunities to explore partnerships/roles in general, personality traits valued by society, learning to form one's own opinions, and even a little bit of politics.
Sources and Shields are ideally identified as young children and then taken to the Triple S Academy where they are isolated from the outside world and trained until adulthood. When their training is finished, Sources and Shields are ideally bonded and then sent out into the world to prevent the planet's otherwise devastating natural disasters. Whether by nature, academy training, or both, Sources tend to be, or are at least stereotyped as, extroverted, charismatic, take-charge people who have a tendency towards hedonism while Shields seem to be introverted, reserved and responsible. In Resenting the Hero, it becomes evident that both society and the academy are doing both Sources and Shields a disservice by pigeon-holing them in such a way, both by treating like Sources powerful but temperamental and petulant children that much be baby-sat by their Sources, and undervaluing Shields by allowing them to be treated, or at least perceived, as less-valued servants for their Sources.
In the novel, there are also suggestions that Triple S may not be as benevolent as it seems for various reasons: the requirement that potential Sources and Shields are taken at such a young age from their family and isolated so that the only teachings, home and friends that they know belong to Triple S; the teaching and reinforcement of Source-Shield roles; the punishment of both members of a Source-Shield pair even if only one partner made an error; the potential that Triple S cultivates Source-Shield bonds which may prove incompatible; and the idea that Triple S may be a fascist state-within-a-state (akin to Babylon 5's Psi Corps) that holds too much power (since without it, natural disasters would destroy any settlements on the planet and lead to uncountable loss of life) that leeches off the public (Triple S and any Source or Shield needs are completely free, funded by taxes).
I like the fact that Moore alluded to all of these things, but didn't necessarily make it black and white. While there were some characters who fit the stereotypes for Sources and Shields, including the main characters many times, they didn't always. Furthermore, although the "villain" of the story was insane and attempted to change Triple S for all the wrong reasons and was ultimately defeated, the propoganda he fed to the mob about Triple S and the changes that he would supposedly make weren't without the possibility of truth.
I suppose that if I pick up the next book or books I'll find out if these themes were further explored and if the partnership between the two main characters remains entertainingly sarcastic (similar to Korean drama flirting rather than typical American romantic comedies) and platonic.
February 20, 2011
UPDATE: David informs me that my review is lean on real info about the book, for example . . . "Why would I want to read it?" So, here's a bone for those of you who like more of a teaser. (Don't worry, no spoilers.)
In this world of extremes, the population is constantly threatened by violent atmospheric events (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis). A few gifted people "Sources" are able to channel their mental resources to dispel these events, but left undefended, they die in the process without protection from a "Shield"--another gifted person capable of reaching into the Source to regulate heartrate, shield the mind, and whatever else is necessary to help the Source survive channeling.
The story begins as novice Shield (and smart girl) Dunleavy Mallorough is waiting for her pairing ceremony--where Sources and Shields are brought together for the first time to see who, if any, will "bond." Bonding is instantaneous, spontaneous and permanent. Source and Shield will be connected for life and when one dies, so does the other.
Lee (Dunleavy)has read up on the Source candidates and is appalled when she bonds with overly beautiful Source Shintaro Karish, widely known for his pretty face, excessive philandering, and general debaucheries. But, he's a mighty fine Source: the only one who can sense an event before it arrives, which gets them immediately stationed in the largest and most difficult, weather-torn city on the planet--High Scape. So begins a rocky friendship.
If this channeling and bonding business sounds weird, it's only because I'm not Moira Moore. It's all very convincing, and our new heroes are flung into an impossible setting where more experienced pairs have failed.
For all it's adventure, the story is also very sociological. The pairing situation creates some unusual dynamics, and injustices surface like they do in any culture. It's a very real world.
One more thing: I am VINDICATED in my LOW opinion of the title and cover, by this hilarious review at Angieville. (I'm not just being picky.)
Now, as we were . . .
_________________________________
I just read this fun book.
But first,
As long as I'm complaining, it's a poor title as well. I imagine Ms Moore had some fine words for her publisher.
BUT, don't let all that dissuade you. This is a great story. I read about the series on my favorite YA book blog: http://angieville.blogspot.com. Interest piqued, I got it from the library, thought I'd read a few pages before sleep--ha!
I read deep into the night until the book hit my face and finished it the next night. It's a very compelling story, and her writing style is quick and immediate. She covers all the background you need in just a few pages and the story is off and running.
I started to write a long description of the setting and characters, but I realized part of the fun is discovering this unusual world and this pair of characters. For setting, think 18th century Europe or maybe more like 19th century America (roughly!) but on a different planet. That's all I'll say.
I was a little disturbed by too many allusions to sexual forays, even homosexual flirtations--not my fare for YA--but we never see anything overt or explicit. And that ends in the first half.
Still, she's an excellent storyteller. I couldn't put it down. Very interesting social constructs drive this unusual culture. It made me think about our own world.
I've vowed not to start the next book until my work is done for the week. I can see from other reviews that they're all productivity killers.
Enjoy!
In this world of extremes, the population is constantly threatened by violent atmospheric events (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis). A few gifted people "Sources" are able to channel their mental resources to dispel these events, but left undefended, they die in the process without protection from a "Shield"--another gifted person capable of reaching into the Source to regulate heartrate, shield the mind, and whatever else is necessary to help the Source survive channeling.
The story begins as novice Shield (and smart girl) Dunleavy Mallorough is waiting for her pairing ceremony--where Sources and Shields are brought together for the first time to see who, if any, will "bond." Bonding is instantaneous, spontaneous and permanent. Source and Shield will be connected for life and when one dies, so does the other.
Lee (Dunleavy)has read up on the Source candidates and is appalled when she bonds with overly beautiful Source Shintaro Karish, widely known for his pretty face, excessive philandering, and general debaucheries. But, he's a mighty fine Source: the only one who can sense an event before it arrives, which gets them immediately stationed in the largest and most difficult, weather-torn city on the planet--High Scape. So begins a rocky friendship.
If this channeling and bonding business sounds weird, it's only because I'm not Moira Moore. It's all very convincing, and our new heroes are flung into an impossible setting where more experienced pairs have failed.
For all it's adventure, the story is also very sociological. The pairing situation creates some unusual dynamics, and injustices surface like they do in any culture. It's a very real world.
One more thing: I am VINDICATED in my LOW opinion of the title and cover, by this hilarious review at Angieville. (I'm not just being picky.)
Now, as we were . . .
_________________________________
I just read this fun book.
But first,
NOTE: This is the all-time WORST cover I've ever seen, mostly based on its total irrelevance: nowhere in the story does anyone polish a man's boots. The characters look like idiots, and that bubble cloud makes it look like some kind of Sweet Valley tween drivel--very misleading. This is not a romance. It's also not for young YA (sorry, Lizzy). It's got some heavy themes, though nothing graphic.
As long as I'm complaining, it's a poor title as well. I imagine Ms Moore had some fine words for her publisher.
BUT, don't let all that dissuade you. This is a great story. I read about the series on my favorite YA book blog: http://angieville.blogspot.com. Interest piqued, I got it from the library, thought I'd read a few pages before sleep--ha!
I read deep into the night until the book hit my face and finished it the next night. It's a very compelling story, and her writing style is quick and immediate. She covers all the background you need in just a few pages and the story is off and running.
I started to write a long description of the setting and characters, but I realized part of the fun is discovering this unusual world and this pair of characters. For setting, think 18th century Europe or maybe more like 19th century America (roughly!) but on a different planet. That's all I'll say.
I was a little disturbed by too many allusions to sexual forays, even homosexual flirtations--not my fare for YA--but we never see anything overt or explicit. And that ends in the first half.
Still, she's an excellent storyteller. I couldn't put it down. Very interesting social constructs drive this unusual culture. It made me think about our own world.
I've vowed not to start the next book until my work is done for the week. I can see from other reviews that they're all productivity killers.
Enjoy!
July 31, 2022
I forget why I shelved this way back in the before-times of 2017 but I am glad I did. This was a fantasy novel with a surprisingly light tone and humour which I generally liked. It felt like an urban fantasy in its focus on a female lead and the wry humour that pervades the writing, but it’s set in a completely secondary world with a pretty interesting magic system. The Source and Shield system almost feel like physic powers so this was an unexpected sci-fi / fantasy blend which I am interested to see be flushed out in the later book.
The book serves as an introduction to the lead characters and the world so the lore is not too deep here. We join the leads when they are basically graduating - so it skips the magic school setting which would have made the series a little too much like high school for my tastes, given the humour. However, it is still early in the couple’s journey that I can see us following along as they mature individually (and maybe even start a romance).
The romantic elements in the story were actually quite well handled. But yes, there will be a romance focus in the series so for people who don't like to see grown adults enter into a romance - they should probably avoid this.
I was expecting the book to be on like Soulless - part of the other series I am in the middle of - but while being light, this has a different sensibility. The author made an inspired choice to tell the entire story through Dunleavy, our heroine’s, perspective (and I am saying this even though I am generally allergic to first person POVs. The author keeps the plot narrowly focused and to the reader Lee comes across as a bit naïve and clueless. And man she is stiff!
This made me like Lee quite a bit and generally smile at her shenanigans. Yes, the plot is a bit slight and I wonder how long this naivety in the character can continue (will Lee ever get a clue - especially with respect to the H). But I am excited to find out.
The only quibble I will have is that the book isn’t as funny as I would have liked. The tone settles into a bit of pleasant humour but there wasn’t much I actually laughed at. That could be intentional but it is not exactly to my taste - I prefer a little more quip and bite to the humour.
As I mentioned, the plot itself was quite simple and largely obvious. I would like to see this expand a little. A solid 4 star - though I am still dithering if this should be 4.5 as I had a pretty great time reading.
I may come back and up this if book 2 continues to be solid. It’ll make me feel better than the sum of the parts work in the series.
The book serves as an introduction to the lead characters and the world so the lore is not too deep here. We join the leads when they are basically graduating - so it skips the magic school setting which would have made the series a little too much like high school for my tastes, given the humour. However, it is still early in the couple’s journey that I can see us following along as they mature individually (and maybe even start a romance).
The romantic elements in the story were actually quite well handled. But yes, there will be a romance focus in the series so for people who don't like to see grown adults enter into a romance - they should probably avoid this.
I was expecting the book to be on like Soulless - part of the other series I am in the middle of - but while being light, this has a different sensibility. The author made an inspired choice to tell the entire story through Dunleavy, our heroine’s, perspective (and I am saying this even though I am generally allergic to first person POVs. The author keeps the plot narrowly focused and to the reader Lee comes across as a bit naïve and clueless. And man she is stiff!
This made me like Lee quite a bit and generally smile at her shenanigans. Yes, the plot is a bit slight and I wonder how long this naivety in the character can continue (will Lee ever get a clue - especially with respect to the H). But I am excited to find out.
The only quibble I will have is that the book isn’t as funny as I would have liked. The tone settles into a bit of pleasant humour but there wasn’t much I actually laughed at. That could be intentional but it is not exactly to my taste - I prefer a little more quip and bite to the humour.
As I mentioned, the plot itself was quite simple and largely obvious. I would like to see this expand a little. A solid 4 star - though I am still dithering if this should be 4.5 as I had a pretty great time reading.
I may come back and up this if book 2 continues to be solid. It’ll make me feel better than the sum of the parts work in the series.
May 7, 2013
3.5 stars. Overall a pleasant and fun story to read. Don't let the cover scare you away, even though it's probably one of the worst I've ever seen in the fantasy genre, as far as published novels go.
I liked the concept of Source & Shield, the role they must fulfil in order to protect people from catastrophes. There are good sides as well as bad ones to such pairings: they're respected, they get lodgings and food for free, they're needed and know they help the world function in a better way... But some pairs have a dysfunctional relationship at best; if one makes a mistake, both get punished; and if one dies, the other dies too. An interesting aspect of the book was how it questioned the fundamentals behind the Source & Shield Service, gradually bringing the main character (and us readers) to realise how flawed it might me, at least on some points. Indeed, both Sources and Shields are recruited when very young, cut from their families, taught from that moment onwards to perform their respective roles—and are therefore injected with certain beliefs from the start. No need to develop more to see where this might be going.
Besides, while a little too theatrical to my taste, the villain actually made good sense when raising such points. Means and final goal? Bad. Rhetoric used to convince people? Not so bad itself, and hinting at many truths.
I was less thrilled about Lee, the narrator. I guess I expected something a little different. The blurb at the back of the book makes Karish appear as an unreliable character, full of heroics and prone to stunts and wild antics—and this is what Lee believes about him, and why she's so annoyed as being Paired with him. The problem for me is that we don't really get to see that, except for a couple of dialogues and parties that aren't even so wild; most of the time, Karish actually behaves in quite reasonable ways (the less reasonable ones being the people fawning all over him). This in turn makes Lee seem very narrow-minded, voluntarily blinding herself, entrenched in her own ways, and refusing to give him a chance, ever. The whole relationship would have looked better if in the beginning, we had indeed been shown Karish behaving like an irresponsible young hero always seeking adventure and danger; or like a womanizer, with a different girl coming out of his room every odd morning. This would have make Lee's predicament more believable to me.
Also, the world around the characters needed a little more building; but there are five other books in the series, if I'm not mistaken, so I hope such things will get developed in the next ones (which I'll probably read, since I did enjoy the first).
I liked the concept of Source & Shield, the role they must fulfil in order to protect people from catastrophes. There are good sides as well as bad ones to such pairings: they're respected, they get lodgings and food for free, they're needed and know they help the world function in a better way... But some pairs have a dysfunctional relationship at best; if one makes a mistake, both get punished; and if one dies, the other dies too. An interesting aspect of the book was how it questioned the fundamentals behind the Source & Shield Service, gradually bringing the main character (and us readers) to realise how flawed it might me, at least on some points. Indeed, both Sources and Shields are recruited when very young, cut from their families, taught from that moment onwards to perform their respective roles—and are therefore injected with certain beliefs from the start. No need to develop more to see where this might be going.
Besides, while a little too theatrical to my taste, the villain actually made good sense when raising such points. Means and final goal? Bad. Rhetoric used to convince people? Not so bad itself, and hinting at many truths.
I was less thrilled about Lee, the narrator. I guess I expected something a little different. The blurb at the back of the book makes Karish appear as an unreliable character, full of heroics and prone to stunts and wild antics—and this is what Lee believes about him, and why she's so annoyed as being Paired with him. The problem for me is that we don't really get to see that, except for a couple of dialogues and parties that aren't even so wild; most of the time, Karish actually behaves in quite reasonable ways (the less reasonable ones being the people fawning all over him). This in turn makes Lee seem very narrow-minded, voluntarily blinding herself, entrenched in her own ways, and refusing to give him a chance, ever. The whole relationship would have looked better if in the beginning, we had indeed been shown Karish behaving like an irresponsible young hero always seeking adventure and danger; or like a womanizer, with a different girl coming out of his room every odd morning. This would have make Lee's predicament more believable to me.
Also, the world around the characters needed a little more building; but there are five other books in the series, if I'm not mistaken, so I hope such things will get developed in the next ones (which I'll probably read, since I did enjoy the first).
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