8/10 A traditional fantasy, with magicians, witches, and lords, both good and evil (or misguided by self-delusions, guilt, and inadequacies), a touch8/10 A traditional fantasy, with magicians, witches, and lords, both good and evil (or misguided by self-delusions, guilt, and inadequacies), a touch of romance, and dragons! The first in a trilogy, prequel to the original Dragon Nimbus series, this story has a fairly satisfying conclusion and some major unresolved plot lines leading into the next book....more
9/10 Darker than the first book in the Nightrunner series, but still retains an overall air of optimism and hope, largely because of the compassion and9/10 Darker than the first book in the Nightrunner series, but still retains an overall air of optimism and hope, largely because of the compassion and caring of the Skalan characters. The fulfillment of prophecy was exciting, frightening, and sad, and the main characters were certainly scarred physically and emotionally by their experiences.
With the rather surprising wrap-up of a major part of the overarching plot from the first book and this one, I wonder where the rest of the series will take Seregil and Alec and which characters may pop up in the upcoming books....more
7/10 The Loneliest Magician is somewhat predictable but there are enough surprises along the way to keep things interesting, and it has a bit of a7/10 The Loneliest Magician is somewhat predictable but there are enough surprises along the way to keep things interesting, and it has a bit of a rushed ending. It was meant to wrap up the first arc in the series, but Radford later wrote a 4th book that picks up right after this one....more
10/10 The Price of Spring exceeded my already high expectations. Good intentions with unintended or unimagined consequences, and all the prices paid—10/10 The Price of Spring exceeded my already high expectations. Good intentions with unintended or unimagined consequences, and all the prices paid—for old hurts, for words said and unsaid, for betrayals, for misunderstandings and misplaced affection, and for love. Always the price of love.
This book (and series) is peopled with characters who are wonderfully imperfect. They inspire love, fear, despair, disgust, wonder, respect, frustration, and satisfaction. They face heartbreaking choices and unbearable decisions. And they persevere. There were a number of relationships that drove the story, but the heart of it always seemed to come back to Otah and Maati. Love, trust, jealousy, betrayal—all played out between them and in their world.
A completely satisfying conclusion to an excellent series!...more
This novella tells of the origins of the persecution of the Witted in the Six Duchies. It is the saga of Caution, theInsight into the Witted Ones
This novella tells of the origins of the persecution of the Witted in the Six Duchies. It is the saga of Caution, the Willful Princess, and her son, Charger, the Piebald Prince, as told by Felicity, a trusted and trustworthy servant in the Buckkeep household. 4 stars rather than 5 because I didn’t care for the “I am just the scribe relating the facts” style of the story, although I understand why it was framed that way....more
Exceptional! Politics and war, power and love, and layers of loyalties and motivations. Such complex characters, and how they have changed over theExceptional! Politics and war, power and love, and layers of loyalties and motivations. Such complex characters, and how they have changed over the years. Heart-breaking decisions and consequences. I don’t know how the author will conclude this series, but I can’t imagine the final book being better than this one. ...more
In some ways, this book is a swashbuckling adventure story of spies and wizards, complete with multiple disguises, narrow escapes, and a hint ofIn some ways, this book is a swashbuckling adventure story of spies and wizards, complete with multiple disguises, narrow escapes, and a hint of romance. We have the mentor and apprentice, royalty and commoners, and plots within plots. But as the first book in a series, it becomes obvious there is a deeper, more serious story to be told, with this book just the first installment. ...more
7/10 A few too many overused fantasy elements, but still, there was enough originality to salvage this story. Overused elements: the untried and not7/10 A few too many overused fantasy elements, but still, there was enough originality to salvage this story. Overused elements: the untried and not very promising magician, the power-hungry evil lord, the elderly bound-by-tradition mentor, the feckless prince More original elements: 2 systems of magic, the loving and empathetic threesome (Darville, Brevelan, and Jaylor), the role of vegetarianism, the strange cat There are still a lot of unexplained elements, including the whole political system, the backstory of the magical border, the role of the Stargods and Simurgh, and the cat! Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more in this series. ...more
A clever concept for a book that never gets carried away by its cleverness.
Although the reader never learns the names of the members of the Council ofA clever concept for a book that never gets carried away by its cleverness.
Although the reader never learns the names of the members of the Council of Twelve, other than the newest addition, the Warrior, one comes to know them as both the archetypes represented by their masks and the people behind the masks. The author’s prose is spare but effective and he achieves a fine balance between portraying the specific Council roles and the individual playing, or rather living, each role. By having different POVs for each chapter, the reader sees the action and the changes from the various perspectives of the Council members. The Warrior is truly a catalyst for the Council and for the city-state of Valtierra.
How much are we bound by our roles? And how much is our understanding limited by our expectations of others based on their roles? Can we change? Can we be open to the changes that others make? Thoughts to ponder long after I closed this book....more
I found the first half of this book difficult to read—too many awkwardly placed adjectives and adverbs for the sentences to flow smoothly. Either7/10
I found the first half of this book difficult to read—too many awkwardly placed adjectives and adverbs for the sentences to flow smoothly. Either I became accustomed to the author’s style or the writing changed just enough in the second half for me to really get into the story. And the story itself was a wonderful mix of familiar fantasy elements and unique additions and plot twists....more
8/10 I didn’t quite know what to make of this book. It is both science fiction and fantasy. It is a coming of age story and an apocalyptic end of the8/10 I didn’t quite know what to make of this book. It is both science fiction and fantasy. It is a coming of age story and an apocalyptic end of the world story. It is a cheesy love story and a humorous memoir-type story. It is thought-provoking, romantic, horrifying, funny, touching, pessimistic and yet, ultimately, optimistic.
I think the contradictions, while making it interesting, also made it somewhat uneven and therefore, hard to read and digest....more
8/10 Political intrigue dominates this second book in the Long Price Quartet, which takes place 10-15 years after the events in book 1, A Shadow in8/10 Political intrigue dominates this second book in the Long Price Quartet, which takes place 10-15 years after the events in book 1, A Shadow in Summer. Author Daniel Abraham continues to explore the cost of loyalty, of love, of trust, of power, and the toll it takes on the characters as they bear that price....more
6/10 Yes, I know this is another instance where a longer book was split in two for publishing purposes, but even as the first half of a longer book,6/10 Yes, I know this is another instance where a longer book was split in two for publishing purposes, but even as the first half of a longer book, there was too much nothing and not enough something. The nothing? Explanations (more detailed than needed) of what had happened in previous books and rather plodding stage-setting of action to come, which mostly didn’t (and that’s the “not enough something”—not enough action, not enough real drama, not enough new plot developments).
While all of Hobb’s Rain Wild books have multiple plot threads and narrative points of view, this one seemed choppier than the others. I am going to assume that the final book in this arc of the Realm of the Elderlings will weave the threads together satisfactorily, I also fervently hope Hobb can get me to care about these characters again, because this book rather distanced me from them....more
An uneven mix of quotes, poetry, and stories relating to Merlin of Arthurian lore. A few of the entries were excellent, aShort stories about Merlin
An uneven mix of quotes, poetry, and stories relating to Merlin of Arthurian lore. A few of the entries were excellent, a few rather odd, and the rest were interesting but not particularly unique....more
9/10 So good. It felt believable and historically accurate, as much as possible. The characters are compelling and heartbreaking. While I am anxious to9/10 So good. It felt believable and historically accurate, as much as possible. The characters are compelling and heartbreaking. While I am anxious to read the rest of the series, I think it may be difficult. This book was, but satisfying as well. ...more
This novella tells the story of Aqib, fourth-cousin to the royal family and son of the Master of Beasts in Olorum, and his forbidden love affair withThis novella tells the story of Aqib, fourth-cousin to the royal family and son of the Master of Beasts in Olorum, and his forbidden love affair with Lucrio, a visiting soldier from Daluça (for whom such a relationship is not forbidden) and its aftermath. The tale is related in scenes that jump back and forth in time, making the plot a bit hard to follow, with a twist out of the blue at the end.
Perhaps because of the length of the novella (about 100 pages), I never felt like I had a handle on the world, the cultures, the politics, or the “gods”. There just seemed to be too much unexplained, too much that the reader just had to accept without grasping the whole picture.
And yet, perhaps the point of this novella was simply to tell Aqib’s story—he is the heart of the book—and in that, I think the author mostly succeeded....more
9/10 A well-researched historical fiction with some fantasy elements, Dreaming the Eagle is the first of four books which tell the story of the9/10 A well-researched historical fiction with some fantasy elements, Dreaming the Eagle is the first of four books which tell the story of the woman-warrior Boudica. This installment focuses mostly on Breaca (Boudica) and her brother Bán—as children and youths, with their external and internal battles, and their tragedies and triumphs. The first half of the book seemed slow, but it provided a solid foundation for the rest....more
An epic battle between light and dark, not the dark of evil but of oblivion and despair. A love story as odd and magical as it is inevitable, andAn epic battle between light and dark, not the dark of evil but of oblivion and despair. A love story as odd and magical as it is inevitable, and another that has a magic and rightness all its own. A tale of trust and redemption. A truly wonderful book....more
7/10 I finished this book and I feel like I missed an important chapter or scene somewhere along the way. I know I didn’t, but I still think there were7/10 I finished this book and I feel like I missed an important chapter or scene somewhere along the way. I know I didn’t, but I still think there were unspoken truths or unexplained facts that kept me from fully understanding or appreciating this story. Maybe the remaining books in the series will resolve this feeling that the puzzle is still a bit jumbled and the pieces don’t quite fit.
The author created an interesting world populated by fascinating characters, as well as a unique take on magic—the binding of abstract thoughts into creatures by poets who then command their ability to act in the world. While there are young adults struggling into maturity, there are also major characters who are middle-aged, with body aches and unlovely faces, a realistic and welcome change from so many popular fantasies....more
I really enjoyed this installment in Tarr’s Avaryan series. The story never dragged, and while the romance (or anti-romance) was somewhat predictable,I really enjoyed this installment in Tarr’s Avaryan series. The story never dragged, and while the romance (or anti-romance) was somewhat predictable, it was still entertaining and consistent with the overall series. I would like to know more about the Worldgates and how they work. The author’s comparison (and equivalence) of religion/miracles and magery/magic to be thought-provoking and a bit deeper than one might initially think....more
9/10 Power, love, hate, duty... author Judith Tarr weaves these universal themes into a story both beguiling and cruel, bittersweet for the characters9/10 Power, love, hate, duty... author Judith Tarr weaves these universal themes into a story both beguiling and cruel, bittersweet for the characters and the reader alike....more
9/10 Nope, didn’t see those plot twists or that ending coming... Excellent story, and I wonder if author Judith Tarr originally meant to end the Avaryan9/10 Nope, didn’t see those plot twists or that ending coming... Excellent story, and I wonder if author Judith Tarr originally meant to end the Avaryan saga here. The next book was published 5 years later......more
Judith Tarr’s prose is a delight, but this particular installment in the Avaryan series is a rather trite romance at its heart, with a fickle-minded,Judith Tarr’s prose is a delight, but this particular installment in the Avaryan series is a rather trite romance at its heart, with a fickle-minded, headstrong princess alternately loving, hating, and trying to choose between two emperors-to-be. Too many pages assigned to the waffling thoughts of Elian and not enough to the political machinations of a few of the princes of the Hundred Realms and the sorcery of the Exile. Still, a good story overall and an important piece in the Avaryan series....more
8/10 Rivalry and loyalty are the themes of this book—rivalry between gods and between princes, loyalty to god and to princes as well. What makes a8/10 Rivalry and loyalty are the themes of this book—rivalry between gods and between princes, loyalty to god and to princes as well. What makes a friend, a lover, a traitor, a soldier? When does courage become foolhardiness, and when does fear become betrayal? A well-told tale, the first in the Avaryan Chronicles....more
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