Women are dying in Chicago. They are ruled as suicides, but Murphy suspects differently and brings in Dresden to have a look. When he finds a Bible verse written in such a way that only a wizard can find it, there's no doubt that the "suicides" are actually murders. As Harry digs deeper, his discoveries don't make the job any easier. An old enemy rears its head, the war between the White Council and the vampires hangs in the balance, and his half-brother becomes a suspect. He must unravel the mystery to protect those he cares about without tipping off an unknown informant in the Council or getting himself killed while also still keeping the fallen angel Lasciel at bay. It's just another day for Dresden....
Impression: I love the Dresden Files series and look forward to picking up the next book when it comes out, but White Night was a bit disappointing for me. It was still a fun read, I still enjoyed it and devoured it like the other books in the series, but it falls among my least favorite among the Dresden books. The writing felt off--less concise and polished than in previous books, and there were issues in the way the story was written that didn't sit well with me.
The plot was pretty simple, which has worked in previous books, but didn’t work so well in this one because I was able to figure out the bad guys before the main character did. Since I'm not the brightest with figuring these kinds of things out, the transparency bothered me; the fact that I had it figured out before Dresden bothered me even more. And there were, not so much holes in the plotting, but little bumps that puzzled me. For example, there's a point in the book where Dresden opens a doorway into the Nevernever and he herds a group of people through but never makes it through himself. It's never really clearly explained how these people got out of the Nevernever. As a reader of the series, I can pretty much figured out who helped out, but a new reader doesn't have that benefit of experience. Considering the amount of words that were extraneous in the novel, some of those words could have been cut to allow for a clear explanation of how people got out. (However, I will admit that it could have been slipped in and I missed it since I was reading quite late.)
On the upside, Dresden is as wonderful as ever and, even with the bloated feeling of the writing, the story does still pull you along. There's always a concern this far into a series (especially after the Anita Blake books) that the character changes will make the character unrecognizable, or the plotting will fall apart, and neither of those happen here. Dresden is recognizably Dresden, and the plot works despite the bumps. And I do love the interaction between Dresden and Lasciel--I was worried when she first showed up in his life, but now I'm sad to see her go (assuming she's really gone). And it's going to be interesting to see how the end events affect the Dresden world. So I'm not totally turned off by the book, just not nearly as impressed as I have been with previous books. I can still recommend it, just not for a first time Dresden Files reader--there's too much that requires someone who is familiar with the world setting.
Aaron has been having a nightmare of a civilization destroyed, but it is not until he turns 18 that he sees what destroys it: angels. Over the next few days, he begins to discover he has new gifts, some of them beyond the ability of any normal human being. At first he thinks he's going crazy, but then he meets two men who show him a different possibility. At first he refuses to believe, but eventually he must come to terms with what he is: Nephilim--both angel and human. If he doesn't, all that he loves could be destroyed as the Powers seek him out to kill him.
Impression: This book was on the other end of the book vs. TV/movie spectrum as Stardust--it made a better TV series than book. Oh, the basic story line was okay, but the writing itself was overly simplistic, even for young adult fiction, and generally poor. The TV miniseries even managed to give the characters more depth. As usually happens when a book is translated to movie, the miniseries made some minor changes in the story as well, and, in this case, those changes worked.
Really, y.a. writing doesn't have to be like this. Even older children's books don't have to be so poorly put together. Look at Harry Potter or A Wrinkle In Time. Okay, some would say that the former is poorly written, but I thoroughly enjoyed the HP books. I kept reading them--the author wrote them in a way that I wanted to keep reading them. And the movies have worked for me so far as well. Books and the movies made from them can work well together, this just isn't the case for The Fallen.
Because of my disappointment in the first book in this series, I won't be picking up the rest. The story is unfinished, and I don't care. The other books could get better, but I'm not interested in spending my money on them and finding out they don't. I want to own the miniseries, but couldn't care less about the books.
Since the plot of this particular book has been beaten to death, I'm not going to post a synopsis. I'll address a few things that have been said about the book, and give pretty much a general review. No guarantees there's no spoilers. With the emotions the ending of the HP series is bringing up, though, I'm glad I decided to close my comments too.
So, Deathly Hallows. I enjoyed it, and most of it made sense to me. There's been a lot going on about the deaths in this book--who died as well as how many died, the "naked scenes", and the epilogue.
Most of the deaths and how they were written in worked for me. For at least one character, death was inevitable. If it hadn't happened, I would have been disappointed because it would have revealed either a reluctance on the part of the author to do what she had been setting up for the character throughout the books. Or it would have revealed lack of a backbone as she succumbed to fan desires. However, some fans have romanticized his death to some degree, saying it showed courage, and I don't agree with that either. He saved no one. He did give Harry a gift, but I don't think it was courage that was a part of it, and I don't think it necessarily "redeemed" him the way so many think. He was always a complex character and his end only revealed that to a deeper degree.
As for the number of deaths and how they were portrayed, it was a war people. And Harry wasn't there for most of it. So, yea, a lot of "off stage" death made sense. As for who died, that characters we had come to know and love wouldn't make it through to the end made sense. See the first sentence of this paragraph. War doesn't favor only the people we don't know. Yes, I was upset at a few, and cried for one, but I also understood Rowling had to make choices that probably she didn't even like. She did what needed to be done to make the book work.
I don't understand the hub-bub about the "naked scenes". It's not like Rowling got pornographic or anything. Nothing was mentioned that I wouldn't let my children read. The big deal about it all makes no sense to me.
As for the epilogue, I think people have forgotten that these are books for older children or those on the younger end of the young adult group. You generally don't kill off heroes and keep them dead for these readers, and you almost always need some kind of "happily ever after" (or at least a happy for now) kind of ending. These are guidelines pretty much set for the genre, so I always expected Rowling to find a way to follow them even as the books got darker. This may be changing a little now days, with our kids growing up at younger ages, but it's not the norm to have books for this age range to end with the hero dead or not happy at least for the time being. I wasn't particularly fond of her last line either, but I understand WHY she did it (beyond the reasons she's mentioned in interviews) so I won't complain about it.
There have been some complaints about plot holes. I didn't see them. There have been lots of complaints about who ended up with who, which I find to be silly. This was Rowling's book to write, not anyone else's, and I think reading any book with expectations of your desires to be fulfilled will always lead to disappointment. I read without any expectations, and I think she did a great job of tying things up. She followed a single plot through the whole series while giving each book it's own story as well. I enjoyed the story, though there were places where the writing itself needed a little work. But that's been true of all her books, and she still has managed to draw me into the world of Harry every time.
Morenia has fallen, its king has been driven to a distant land, and its people subjected to a religious regime. With the king are his trusted friends and advisors, the men and women who have supported Hal since the day he took the throne, including Rani Glasswright. The small company hides in neighboring Sarmonia, seeking allies in their struggle to return the rightful king to Morenia, but discover the Sarmonian king tied by politics and the mysterious Fellowship of Jair -- the same group that orchestrated Hal's fall from power, the death of a valued advisor's child, Rani's failure to pass her glasswright master test, and now seeks to destroy them all.
Rani continues to try to help her king, despite more losses and a tangle of misunderstanding. But Rani's efforts to help her king end when she is kidnapped by the Fellowship and returned to Morenia to stand trial for her betrayal of the order. Hal manages to get support from Sarmonia after showing their king how the Fellowship has infiltrated Sarmonia's government, and returns to Morenia to regain his throne while fighting his own mental demons. Using a clever engineer and a plan that will leave him with little but his own life should it fail, Hal challenges the well defended capital city with a force too small to have much chance of success. Little does he or anyone else know that Rani is already in the city and that she will be the one to turn the tide.
Impression: I enjoyed this one, probably more than the last two. There was more complexity as more players became involved and the politics became a bit more intricate. Character's were tested, not only in new ways, but with old challenges that had new twists. The ending was unexpected, but you could see how the author got to it not only in the current book, but through the series. The ending was satisfying, with all the loose ends tied up.
I find it interesting that the series was fairly complete without this last novel, while Master still adds to the series and finalizes what few threads were left in the last book. At the same time, this book could easily be read on its own, without the previous books in the series, and be almost as much enjoyed since events are clearly explained without being dumped into the novel. I think the earlier books were good starters for Klasky, but these last 2 in the series have shown her growth as an author. I recommend The Glasswrights' Master to any reader of fantasy, even if they haven't read the earlier books in the series.
When the Glasswrights were finally freed from the dungeons Morenia, they fled, some scattering but most finding their way to Brianta to rebuild their guild. Now they've called Rani Trader to take the test that will prove she's worthy of the title Journeyman that she's taken for herself, and perhaps become a Master at last. Eager to take her place in the guild, and to bring it back to Morenia is she can, Rani eagerly accompanies Princess Berylina on her pilgrimage to Brianta.
But there is more than a Glasswright's Test planned for Rani. The mysterious Fellowship, to whom Rani has pledged herself, still craves to control the Morenian throne, and their test will be one more trying to Rani than that of the Glasswrights. Rani finds herself in a tangle of promises and sworn loyalties that conflict, risking her relationship, the lives of her friends, and her standing in the Guild itself.
Impression: For the last couple of books, Klasky has been creating conflicting loyalties for Rani, and in The Glasswright's Test they finally come together. The book is a very natural sequel to the previous books, and a an easy, enjoyable read. It's always nice to see an author take the next logical step with her characters and take into account the issues they've managed to surround themselves with in previous novels. I also enjoyed seeing a very different culture, one that honors the same Gods as Morenia but in a "more pious" way. The way Klasky had religion permeate the Brianta culture was fascinating. There were some minor issues I had, but they weren't anything that got in the way of enjoying the book, and they may even add something to the next book in the series.
I recommend The Glasswright's Test to anyone who has read the previous books. The series has proved to be an entertaining read for me, and I'm sure younger readers who are into fantasy will enjoy it even more.
When a local horror film convention is attacked by phobophages, creatures who feed on fear, Harry must help defeat the creature and discover who is responsible for their appearance. Unfortunately, his search for clues cleads him to his best friend's daughter or her boyfriend. When she is taken into the Nevernever and Harry follows to save her, with her mother, his brother, and Murphy at his side, he also discovers that the fairy Queens are manipulating the situation and that the White Council itself is at risk. By the time he's done, he's saved more than one life, but his standing with the Council is even more precarious, he's aware that there is an unknown traitor on the Council itself, and there's at least one new player on the scene whose identity is unknown.
Impression: Butcher wastes no time getting right into it in Proven Guilty. Dresden is knee-deep in the kimshe before the phobophages show up, and their attacks on the convention only dig him in deeper. The story kept me engaged though -- often past my bedtime. There's some real nice character advancement in here, in their relationships as well as for the individual characters. It was really nice to see Charity finally make some kind of peace with Harry, and seeing Michael at the end, however briefly, was very cool. Butcher nicely ties up the current story, but leaves some intriguing loose ends for a future novel or two. The enemies Harry must stand against aren't necessarily more powerful than in previous books, so there's no continuation of this building of Harry's power we've seen in previous books, but neither are they easily defeated. I think perhaps the only "problem" I had was that I knew who was bringing the phages long before Harry did -- it was just too obvious. Still it didn't ruin the readability and enjoyment of the book. Probably not one of my favorites in the series, but pretty close.
Corleu, a young Wayfolk man, is trapped into a search for the heart of the Cygnet by one of the legendary powers of his world in order to free his love from being eternally trapped. He finds help from the sorceress Nyx, daughter of the ruling family of Ro House, though he is not allowed to tell her what he seeks, and the two of them release the powers of legend. But another daughter of Ro House is destined to protect the Cygnet, even from her own. Each riddle surrounding the Cygnet is answered with yet another riddle that only another legend can answer until Corleu, followed by a power hungry sorceress, and legendary powers that have come to life, finally reaches the hiding place of the Cygnet itself where discovers his past and frees his future.
Impression: While not one of my favorite McKillip reads, I found The Sorceress and the Cygnet enjoyable -- not fantastic enjoyable, but okay enjoyable. The title and the book don't actually quite fit together, though Nyx is a big part of the story, she is not the important part of the story. However, I also understand why it the title is what it is, I just feel it misleads the prospective reader. In any case, the story itself in interesting, though the style lacks the lyrical quality I have appreciated in a number of her past books. I'm honestly not sure why I didn’t feel more drawn into the book than I was -- it's not a bad read, just an okay one. The world is intriguing and the writing solid. The weak link, I think, was the characters. Corleu does have a compelling reason for his actions which are the foundation for the plot, but I didn't feel there was as much depth to these characters as there could have been. The one exception was Meguet. It really seemed as if the story should be about her, but not in the round about way it happened. The ties of discovery that seemed to link Corleu and Meguet were not as strongly written as they could have been.
So, an okay read, but not a particularly impressive one. It falls short of McKillip's usual care in her writing. I can see it being more interesting to pre-y.a. readers, actually. When I finish the next book, I may just pass it along to my 12 year old and see if she likes it. ;)
Brenden Vetch is a gardener, a gardener chosen by the ancient wizard Od to go to her school. Little does he realize that his presence, and that of an illusionist by the name of Tyramin will stir up the fears of a king who controls the use of magic in the kingdom of Numis. Little does the king know that his own daughter practices forbidden magic, magic she was born with, and magic she must reveal before she can marry his most trusted adviser. When an illusion goes awry, Brenden flees in fear, and the king's daughter disappears, the king and Valoren, his adviser, fear the worst and seek to capture those who would endanger the kingdom. What they find at the end of this search is something neither man expected.
Impression: While the usual rich language seems toned down here, McKillip hasn't lost her ability to enchant a reader. She draws you into the kingdom of Numis and the lives of the characters there, and skillfully keeps the reader guessing as to what's truly going on until the end. It's a skill I've seen in all her books, where nothing is quite what it seems but all the threads are there, leading to an ending that is neither predictable nor surprising. You can't see it coming, but can see where it came from. With Od Magic, I actually did guess some of the truths of hidden identities, but it wasn't disappointing to do so because there's always another mystery to unravel.
I enjoyed how there was a feel of a mystery to it, a mystery in the story, a mystery in the characters. And I loved the theme of seeing beyond the boundaries of what's in front of us, being willing to explore the wild and unknown. As with many of McKillip's novels, there's so much depth here that the story will need to be read again and again to appreciate all the layers within it. It is a beautiful novel that I highly recommend.
When Mavra, the leader of the Black Court vampires, makes a deal with Harry that he cannot refuse, he discovers that Murphy may not be the only one in trouble if he doesn't succeed in finding a book that more than one person who's into the dead wants. The search for the Word of Kemmler becomes a race for power between Harry and Kemmler's remaining apprentices while the Red Court battles it out with the White Council. At the same time, Harry must deal with a fallen angel, demons, and more undead than he ever thought he'd meet in the space of three days.
Impression: The Dresden Files tends to be a little inconsistent in the writing (although they are all good), but Dead Beat definitely falls in as one of the best in the series -- better than Storm Front, maybe even better than Grave Peril. I think my only concern about the novels at this point is that all this wanting Harry won't pay off later in the series It's been shown time and time again he's not the best mage in town -- both in raw power and control there are definitely bigger fish in the magical pond, and yet he seems to have more than a few who want him on their side in some formal capacity. As more offers come out of the woodwork, you really have to wonder why. The guys who want him dead make sense, now Butcher needs to make the guys who want to give him a job make sense too. Of course, this is a concern only those who have read the whole series. For anyone reading just Dead Beat, there are other issues.
Dead Beat definitely needs to be read only after reading previous books in the series, or the events will seem too fantastical, too overdone. For those who have read the previous books in the series, however, the novel fits right in where it should. There is one lapse at the end -- something Harry said he would do that he didn't, and I wonder if that was deliberate or if Butcher will need to deal with/fix it later. Regardless, this was a fun, can't put it down read for me.
One of the stronger books in the Dresden Files, I didn't find any "holes" and wasn't distracted by anything being too obvious or too obscure. Butcher manages to keep making Harry's life more and more complicated without losing who Harry is (which is one of my major complaints about the Anita Blake books -- her life gets more complicated, but rather than using those complications to reveal Anita's character, the author has Anita do an about face and practically become a different character; it was disappointing and eventually, combined with the steady decline in the quality of writing, made me stop reading the books), and I definitely look forward to seeing how these additional complications work out. And I got to admit, I loved Sue. The writing from book to book may be inconsistent at times, but the Dresden Files is still a rare series that keeps improving with each additional book. Dead Beat definitely at the top of my recommendation list, both as part of the Dresden Files and as a dark fantasy book in general.
Btw, I did read the 2 books between Summer Knight and Dead Beat. I have no idea why I didn't review them -- probably busy because of work and all that. My plan is to reread them and do the missing reviews. They'll be out of order, but they'll be done. ;)
When the Shroud of Turin goes missing, a Red Court vampire challenges Dresden to a duel, and Harry's ex-girlfriend, Susan, comes back to town, Harry's already less than simple life reaches a whole new level of complication. Harry's hired to find the Shroud and discovers it's the key to a demonic plan, and his only clue is a headless, plague-ridden corpse. And Harry isn't the only one hunting for the Shroud. It's not long before he's dodging bullets, matching wits with the local crime boss, Marcone, and barely surviving encounters with a special kind of fallen angel known as the Denaraians. Even three Knights of the Cross might not be enough to get Harry through this one alive.
Impression: Almost from the first page, there's no rest for the wicked -- or for Harry, for that matter. Death Masks is engaging from the first word, with plot twists and a breathless, nonstop pace -- which actually works well. The reader is pulled in and kept in the story from start to finish. More than once, the reader is placed on the edge wondering if Dresden will survive the current encounter. The changes in Susan are fascinating, but go well with Butcher's take on vampires. While Death Masks isn't my favorite novel in the series, it's definitely up there.
Megan, an artist who draws seascapes, and Jonah, a shop owner, are a couple with a quiet life until Adam, a mysterious maker of jewelry enters their lives. As Megan is drawn to him, so Jonah is drawn to Adam's sister, a singer with an unearthly voice. The two are beckoned away from their home and life to the sea, neither realizing the cost of their actions until it's nearly too late. When Megan realizes the truth, she risks everything to bring Jonah back.
Impression: As always, McKillip's writing is beautiful, deep, and multi-layered, needing more than one read to catch all the nuances. However, her "message" of conservation and environmentalism was quite a bit more heavy handed than in her other works, particularly at the end when it became too obviously the point of the whole tale. While I don't mind authors having such messages or themes in their writing, I think they need to be handled with more care than it was in Something Rich and Strange. The characters were also well drawn until near the end when Jonah, completely enthralled by Adam's sister's song, suddenly does an about face. There seemed to be no real motivation to it other than seeing Megan, who he has seen before when under the song's spell. That he was in the presence of the singer and she wanted him should have made that desire in him stronger, so that merely having Megan present wouldn't be enough to bring him back to her.
Up until the ending, however, I truly enjoyed the book. I wouldn't classify it as one of my favorites, even if the ending had worked, but it was in McKillip's typical beautiful and evocative style. She uses language masterfully, expertly weaving in words that make the setting ever present. And this alone makes it worth a read for me as a writer, since her style is something I wish to develop in my own voice.
Ranita Glasswright is taken hostage by King Hal's traitor brother and dragged across the ocean to his mother's kingdom, now ruled by his uncle. King Sin Hazar has plans for war, plans that include gathering the children of Amanth into his "Little Army." Ranita, along with her Touched friend, Mair, attempt escape, hoping to tell their king of Sin Hazar's plan, only to be captured when Rani must heal an injury she received during the attempt. Meanwhile, King Hal must watch his back as he fights his council and attempts to save Rani and Mair.
Impression: It took a little time for this book to really capture my interest for some reason. The writing wasn't much different than the previous novel in the series, but I just couldn’t seem to get caught up in the story. The opening was okay, but the middle seemed to drag for me. Unfortunately, the ending wasn't a good payoff for muddling through the middle either -- it gets good and intense, then is over in a flash. In fact, the resolution was too easy. I did enjoy the writing itself, but the story needed something more. So, for me, not a bad book, per se, but not the best, and not as good as the first in the series. Hopefully the third in the series will be better.
When Rani tries to save the crown prince and he ends up dead instead, her entire life is thrown into turmoil. Her guild is disbanded, its buildings razed, its lands salted, and the guild members imprisoned. Her family is arrested and killed as traitors. Forced to find her way alone through the streets, she tries to discover the truth of what happened and who is really responsible for the prince's death. To save herself and her king, she transforms herself, changing caste as she needs, until she makes it into the king's household and into the heart of the betrayal that awaits him.
Impression: I really enjoyed this book. Rani is young, but the author still gets even the adult reader caught up in her life and circumstances, and does so without losing that inexperienced child quality that Rani should have. I always find it fascinating when an author can keep me intrigued even when it seems the books is more appropriate to a younger aged reader because of the age of the main character. Klasky even manages to keep that whininess youngsters can get when things aren't working out for them without making it annoying to me as a reader. The culture she's created is rich and diverse, and well defined without the author resorting to long, drawn out explanations (which has annoyed me in other books). The twists and turns in the story kept me interested, and the writing was smooth and vivid. I wouldn’t say the book was deep, but it's a quick, enjoyable read, and sometimes that's all I need. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Dresden has been spending every moment searching for a cure for his girlfriend's near vampirism, letting everything else fall by the wayside. Then it rains frogs and the White Council comes to town. Dresden's on trial and the only way to save himself is to settle a dispute between two Fairy Queens. When their disagreement goes global, time becomes pressing and a lot more is at stake than the Council and his girlfriend's taste for blood.
Impression:Summer Knight slips back a little, more at the level of Fool Moon than Grave Peril. The war with the vampires begun at the end of Peril is almost completely ignored. Its affects are mentioned, but it only minutely complicates the plot despite the fact that the vampires want Dresden very, very dead. The Fairy Queens, whose motives are supposed to be beyond human understanding, are portrayed as very human. The mystery at the heart of their dispute is well done, and the writing itself is very solid, but certain events at the end of the book puzzled me. There's no sense of depth as there was in Peril and none of the characters really stood out for me. Which is not to say it's not an enjoyable read, it is, but Butcher has slipped back into fluff entertainment rather than something that engages the mind more fully.
The ghosts of Chicago are on the loose and it's up to Harry to find out why. With the help of his friend, Michael, who carries one of the swords of God, Harry tries to discover the meaning for the tempest in the spirit world while trying to protect and save those he cares about. Unfortunately, Harry is just a bit slow in coming to the right conclusions, even slower in finding a way to deal with it, and his solution may land him in even more hot water with both the bad and the good guys!
Impression: I actually enjoyed this one a bit more than the previous Dresden Files books. There was a bit more depth to me, and the character movement was very well done - changes were made, but they were made within the character instead of turning the character around 180 degrees the way at least one series has done in my recent reading past. And I really enjoyed Michael, although the similarities to a certain archangel were a bit heavy handed. I did come to the conclusions about who was responsible for the problems with the ghosts before Harry did, but that didn't make the ending - which was rather spectacular - any less satisfying as the author did make sure to have a few surprises left for his readers.
I like that the Dresden books seem to be getting less "fluffy," and that they are turning into deeper, more complex books. The plots are more developed and the characters are interesting. This whole series could have easily remained light, throw-away reading entertainment, and I'm very glad to see that Butcher has opted not to go that route. Instead, he's aiming for some thought provoking reading that entertains, but definitely isn't light or throw-away.
Things haven't been going so well for Harry Dresden. Business is next to dead and he doesn't even have his usual bread and butter work as a consultant for the cops since irritating the captain with a previous case. But the murder case that gets dropped in his lap isn't the one to wish for: one or more werewolves are on a killing spree. Desperation brings the police knocking on his door asking for help, miring Harry in a tangled web of death and deceit. Just when Harry thinks he's found the killer, more werewolves crawl out of the cement works. Soon Harry isn't just worried about innocents getting killed, but for those he cares about and himself.
Impression: I liked this one better than Storm Front. the plot was deeper and more convoluted, the characters were more complex with a few unique and intriguing folks thrown in. My one complaint is when the murders are solved, there hadn't been much of anything to point to the killers except the most tenuous thread. While a surprise ending can be a good thing, a reader should be able to look back and see the little clues initially missed and how the author revealed the smallest of fragments to reveal the culprits. That can't be done with Fool Moon, at least not for me.
Despite this, I would still recommend Fool Moon as a fun read. The story keeps moving, digging Harry in deeper and deeper as it progresses, and the ending, while aggravating in the feeling that it comes out of nowhere, is still satisfying in all other ways. It's complex enough to keep a reader's attention, not an overly difficult read, and entertaining. This makes it great filler for between the deeper novels that require a little more from readers . . . or to read while preparing for testing since it's easy to read and won't interfere with any thought processes that need to be directed elsewhere.
A transcriptor caught in a book written in an unknown language of thorns. A queen not ready to rule and with unnoticed, unknown mage talent. A magician whose uncle draws him unwilling into his uprising against his lawful ruler. Two legendary figures of the past who conquered their world. These four strands weave together in two intertwined stories where past, present, and future collide to determine the fate of the empire of the Twelve Crowns and two people long separated by time.
Impression: While not as well written as previous books, Alphabet of Thorn is an intriguing story, a story that shows how past and present combine and can make or unmake a moment in time. How the two stories intertwine is both expected and unexpected, and her writing still draws you along and even leaves you breathless in places. But there's more awkwardness in this novel than in the previous books. The opening itself stumbles, though the writing does pick up in quality and smoothness as the story goes along, and the plot is a bit slower to make sense of the fragments. The story is still worth reading, and quite enjoyable, and the ending is one, just like the rest of the book, both expected and unexpected, and a very satisfying ending indeed.
Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a mage. A real one who uses real magic in the real world in modern times. He's also a private detective. On the same day he's asked by the police to help with a double murder and by a woman to help find her missing husband, both of which sound more simple than they really turn out to be. By the end of the day, the local mob boss has warned him off the police case. By the weekend, he's neck deep in trouble that tangles both cases and could easily get him killed, if not by the murderer or the mob boss, then by the White Council - the wizard council whose job it is to make sure all mages obey the laws of magic.
Impression:Storm Front isn't overly engrossing and not very complicated, but it is a fun read. The opening didn't draw me in that well, so it was easy to set the book aside. However, as the story built up to its climax, it became much harder to put down. I ended up reading the last half of the book in one night. Harry is an interesting character, the world the story is written is well drawn even with the changes made. However, the "mystery" was a little too easy to figure out (although I admit I didn't have it till closer to the end - I still had it before Harry) and I felt the author's use of coincidence wasn't well explained - it was just to pat. Fortunately, I like the character enough and the story was a fun enough read despite its problems that I will more than likely pick up the remainder of the series. Not a highly recommended read, but one that I would suggest to anyone looking for something not too deep and fun.
A prince is cursed by a witch until he repays her for her white hen he killed, a princess is sent to marry the prince so her kingdom will not be overtaken by his father, a wizard is sent to protect the princess, and a beautiful firebird binds them all. These threads intertwine in a story about accepting what life brings and love. Ronan, the prince, grieves for his dead wife and child, earns the curse from the witch on his way home from war. Arriving at his father's castle, his father informs him that a new wife is on her way and that he will marry her. Later he follows a beautiful firebird and loses himself in a world where his father's palace and wishes no longer exist.
Sidonie, his bride to be, travels from her country to Ronan's father's palace, a sacrifice on the alter of politics, and to a marriage that she does not want and knows will be a loveless one. With her is Gyre, a wizard sent in the stead of another who has been weakened in a battle of wills and magic. When they meet with Ronan, who still follows the firebird, the future intended for them all is both changed and made the same. Gyre tries to gain the princess and Ronan's inheritance for himself, and Sidonie tries to save Ronan from the witch's curse, and all three end in the same place but with far different purposes than what they started out with.
Impression:In the Forests of Serre was an interesting novel, though I wouldn’t call it one of my favorites of McKillip's. The language used is less poetic, although she still uses some very clever and beautiful imagery, and the story itself is interesting enough. It just didn't hold my interest as well as most of the novels of hers that I had read before. As always in her books, nothing is what it appears to be and everything intertwines in unusual ways, but, in a rare thing for her, the ending is almost predictable. While I can't say I would not recommend this book, there are other novels of hers that I would definitely recommend more - Ombria in Shadow, The Tower At Stony Wood, The Changeling Sea, and The Book of Atrix Wolfe.
Magdalen was born on Darkover to Terran parents, which makes her the perfect agent for the Terran Empire until her ex-husband and partner is captured by a bandit because of his similar appearance to a Darkover Comyn. She chooses to disguise herself as a Renunciate, one of the Free Amazons who have broken from the traditional roles given to women on Darkover, in an effort to mount a rescue mission. She meets with a band of real Renunciates, among them Jaelle n'ha Mellora, a woman raised in the dry towns until she was 12 years old, saved from a life in chains by the Free amazons who came to save her own mother from the man who had kidnapped her. After Megdalen is revealed as the fraud she is, she is forced to take the Amazon oath for real and the two join up to save the man who ends up being important to the both of them.
Impression: I have yet to read a Marion Zimmer Bradley novel I don't like, and the Darkover novels are among my favorites (second only to the novel, The Mists of Avalon, which will always be my favorite of hers). I always love stories with strong, female protagonists, and The Shattered Chain is no different. In addition to overcoming the obstacles of nature and the laws of a world ruled by men, Magda must also learn the rules that define the lives of the Renunciates, discovering in the process that perhaps she was meant to be a Free Amazon. Breaking from what she was to becoming what she sees to be her real heart is no easy task, but one that has its own joys. One of the things I like about Bradley's work is her ability to use minimal description and still managing to make it so you can see the story and be drawn into it. Her writing is spare, perhaps not as spare as most short stories require, but there is little extra to it, a gift and a talent that I think a lot of us writers could learn from. In its own way it's no less beautiful than McKillip's writing.
Sybel was born and raised on Eld Mountain, her only contact with other humans her father. Her playmates were creatures from myth, her learning from the magic given to her father which he passed on down to her. She had no desire to mingle with men until a knight came to her door with a baby boy, a child of a king, to be protected and nurtured. She raised him until one day the knight returned and destiny called her son away, and the plots of the men who lived in the valley kingdoms called her from her mountain. In trying to protect those she loves, she discovers her own humanity, both the good and the bad, and finds the path to wisdom.
Impression: While I enjoyed Beasts, it's not one of my favorites from McKillip. The story is unique, the characters strong, but it was told in a way plainer than the books I count among my favorites. She still has a wonderful story telling style, and pulls you into the story with the action, setting, and characters, it was just less poetic. But even at her least poetic, Patricia McKillip has a way with words that's wonderful.
During the wedding celebration of his king, Cyan Dag, a loyal knight who sees what others do not see, is told that the new queen is a lie created of sorcery by the being who masquerades as her. To save his king, the knight goes on a journey to free the true queen from her tower prison. Along the way he reaches two other towers, makes a deal with a dragon for his enemy's life, saves the life of a selkie, and befriends and helps others as any honorable knight would. While he seeks the queen, the son of a land held as part of the kingdom he serves, seeks a dragon and its gold to find freedom for his people. On his journey towards war, Thayne Ysse finds the man who saved his younger brother from death and learns that not all men who would seem enemies actually are so.
Impression: I loved this books almost as much as Ombria in Shadow. Told in the same poetic style, it's a fairy tale for adults with the same convoluted plotting that marked Ombria. Unlike Ombria, however, McKillip gives an explanation for the ending, which I thought was a nice touch, though the book would have been just as intriguing without it, I think. what's nice about it is that the explanation makes sense and doesn't intrude upon the story. It comes about very naturally. As always the setting is strong. The characters, while following something of an archetype, are still unique in both how they present the archetype and in their own voices in the novel. Another truly enjoyable novel by one of the best authors of fantasy.
The second in the omnibus edition of the Riddle-Master trilogy, Heir of Sea and Fire changes focus and follows three women: Raederle, Morgon's promised fiancé, Tristan, his sister, and Lyra, a guardswoman to the Morgol. Word reaches Raederle that Morgon has died, and the land rule that makes him the ruler of Hed - the sense that ties rulers to the land they govern - has passed to his brother. She goes to inform her brother of Morgon's death and crosses paths with the Morgol, discovering that the day that Morgon died is the day the shapechangers were freed from their shape prisons. Choosing to go in search of the truth, to Morgon's death and the shape changers and why the High One would let Hos own harper betray a ruler, Raederle begins a journey to Erlenstar Mountain, home of the High One. She is joined by Lyra and Tristan on a journey that never reaches the mountain itself, but reveals to her who she is, her ancestry, and the power than both give her.
Impression: While still less poetic than Ombria In shadow, I definitely liked Heir of Sea and Fire better than the first book in the trilogy. I don't know, maybe I have a thing for strong female characters. The plotting is a little more predictable, but the world and the characters are far better revealed. Her writing is stronger as well, and the story is a bit more complex, so you can see the beginning of the incredible author she becomes in her later work. It's as if this early trilogy, written in a more traditional way for the genre, were her "learning novels," used to explore her voice and strength as an author. You can definitely see hints of the author she becomes in them.
Yes, I missed a month, but I read 3 books in February, so I'm okay. ;) It's a busy time for me at the moment, so I'm actually surprised I've gotten much reading in at all! Anyway, on the review . . . .
Morgon is a Riddle-Master and prince of Hed, a small, island country that few pay much attention to . . . until now. Born with three stars on his forehead, Morgon finds himself in the center of destiny when he goes to claim a wife won by a riddle. The ship goes down and he is set on the path of destiny, a path he would rather ignore so he can go home and just be a prince of Hed. His journey brings him to a harp made for him 700 years earlier, also marked with three stars, a sword with three stars, and, eventually, to the home of the mysterious High One who rules over all.
Impression: One of the earliest novels by Patricia McKillip, it lacks the poetic, language rich style of Ombria In Shadow and some of her other books, although a foreshadowing of it can be seen throughout the novel. What is apparent is McKillip's gift for the unusual, for events that are unexpected and yet you can see how you got there when you look back. While not among my favorites of her books, the story was still enjoyable and well worth reading. She's a strong author, with distinct characters and beautiful settings, but this particular book is obviously an earlier one for her and does not show the complexity or full power of her writing as seen in later novels.
Atrus returns to the D'Ni ruins to rebuild, but first he searches the ages to find survivors willing to return. Scouring the ruins he locates the books his father didn't manage to destroy. From these come D'Ni who are willing to leave the lives they've built in other ages to come and rebuild their once great city. Then they find a secret chamber and a new library with more books than they ever imagined. Through one of these they find Terahnee, a beautiful place with a dark secret beneath, and a place which Atrus and and the D'Ni will prove to be both the destruction and salvation of. In Terahnee, Atrus sees the fulfillment of his father's desires, a fulfillment thousands of years old. This horror is only surpassed by the realization that the illness sweeping through Terahnee has been brought by him and his own people, that a microorganism common among his people is the cause of the deaths of thousands of people. In the end he helps the survivors bring about a new order to their world, then leaves, closing again the great library and the link between the two worlds.
Impression: While I still liked The Book of Ti'Ana better, I think this comes as a close second in the trilogy. It was a bit harder of a read in the sense that early in the book I knew something wasn't right, but the tension of that knowing wasn't high enough to keep me motivated to read. Once the dark secret of Terahnee was revealed and the sickness started to sweep through the nation, the story became more intense and kept my attention better. In another turn of bittersweet, Atrus helps set the survivors on the path to build a new society without the slavery of the past, and then chooses to leave them to become what they will become.
On another side note, reading this and the other books of the trilogy give a new light to the Myst games. I've begun to play again (having never managed to complete one yet), and suddenly understand quite a bit I didn?t before. Game play is still as difficult, but the experience is very different.
This is the story of Aitrus and Anna, inexplicably intertwined with the downfall of the D'Ni, the wondrous race of Writers who link to living Ages in their Books. Anna, a human, has lived in the desert with her father, an explorer of the rocks, until he dies. She plans to retire to the nearby city, but becomes sidetracked by a cave she and her father found before his death. Following the underground caverns and tunnels, she discovers the D'Ni. It takes time, but she is eventually accepted by most, she marries Aitrus and participates in his work. They have a son, Gehn. Yet, even as they build a life together, another sets in motion the events that will bring this great society to an end. Aitrus's best friend is framed and brought into the conspiracy, not knowing the twisted plans of those he joins with until too late. In the end, all that is left is Anna and her half-breed son, their survival the last act of the husband she has loved.
Impression: I have to admit, I enjoyed this Myst book far more than The Book of Atrus (no misspelling there, promise - the father's and grandson's names are separated only by a single 'i'). The story comes historically before The Book of Atrus but was actually written after it, while the third (which I've just started, appears to be historically after both books and was the last to be written. Regardless, this book was quite a bit more complex than the first, with more characters and a more involved story. Love, prejudice, hatred, bitterness, the need for revenge, and so much more is interwoven to create a story about a people who, though great in their accomplishments, are just as fallible and human as the humans many of them look down upon as inferior. Yet, even with the complexity of the story, it was easy to read, easy to follow, and I could see how the events came to be, as shocking as they are in many ways. Unlike many stories, the ending is bittersweet, sad even as Anna finds a way to survive with and for her son - the son who eventually turns on her in The Book of Atrus. It was nice to see that there was once something redeemable in the character of Gehn, and the events of this book shed a sad light on those of The Book of Atrus.
Atrus has been raised by his grandmother, Anna, since birth. His life is irrevocably changed when his father comes to claim him after 14 years and take shim to the now desolate city of his ancestors to teach him to be a Writer, one of the D'Ni people who created ages by writing in special books that link to the reality they create. But as he grows older and sees how his father treats the inhabitants of these worlds and his lack of are when creating his ages, Atrus determines that both his father's methods and purposes are wrong, setting him against his father. In the process of ending his father's misuse of the D'Ni Writing gift, he comes into his own and meets his wife, Catherine.
Impression: This is an intriguing look into the background of the Myst games. The characters are fairly well developed, although Gehn comes off as a little too dimensional with few, if any, redeeming qualities. While the ending is fairly predictable, the story itself is entertaining with a few twists of its own, the book is a nice, easy read. I got through it in a few days. I wouldn?t rank it as one of my favorites, but it's still a good read.
Rois is a wld thing, a daughter of a farmer who loves the woods. One day she sees a man appear out of no where. Corbet returns to his father's manor, left by his father when he supposedly killed his own father and was cursed (though none can seem to remember exactly what the curse was), to restore it an live. Rois is fascinated by the man who appears to have no past, her sister Laurel falls in love with him. Then he disappears and a dead man is found in his home. Rois must unravel the mysery of his disappearance to save her sister.
Impression: While all of McKillip's books have places that can be hard to follow, they seem to be more dreams told as stories and far less concrete than most, Winter Rose was the most difficult to follow of them all. I still enjoyed her word play, her descriptions, but I found the story a very difficult read, and, in many ways, I'm still not quite sure what happened in much of it. The writing is all McKillip, but I think I'm going to have to read it again to understand it. This one went just a little too deep for me, I guess.
A friend told me she read this particular book when she had a fever over 100. Man, that must have been pretty surreal!
Peri is a simple fisherman's daughter who has lost both mother and father to the sea--her father in the physical sense and her mother in an emotional sense. Left to her own devices, she learns simple magic that brings together the sea, 2 princelings, a young magician and Peri herself, and changes them all.
Impression: I enjoyed this one as much as Ombria in Shadow. McKillip uses the same rich language and takes the ambiguity of the ending of Ombia and spreads it through the whole book in Changeling. While Ombria's ending leaves you questioning what has happened, however, the story in Changeling is clearly told as it uncovers the mysteries of the past and their effect on the present. It's definitely another book I will need to read again to catch all the nuances of the story and the story telling.
Atrix Wolfe, the greatest known mage in the world, released his magic 20 years ago and the world, both real and fey, is still paying for that one terrible night when he ignored the rules that guide mages and their power. A queen has lost her consort and daughter, an evil has been released, and a princeling mage has a book once hidden. Past and present, the real and the magical, and all these elements come together as the characters try to save and find the balance once again in their world.
Impression: I still think Ombria in Shadow is the best I've read from McKillip, but this would have to be my second favorite so far. Unlike Song of the Basilisk, the writing is closer to the richness and depth of Ombria and the same layered writing that I originally fell in love with. I do have to say I liked the ending of this one better than Ombria's though: the Ombria ending requires that you reread it to figure out what happened, maybe even make a judgment without being sure; this one was clear, concise, and very touching.
I like how McKillip ties the past and present together in her novels, and presents a view of the magic and real that is both separate and inclussive. Those elements are more clearly presented in Atrix Wolfe than the other novels I've read. It looks like the depth of language was not something she developed over time though. Atrix Wolfe was published before Song but Ombria was published after. I wonder why she changed for Song? Anyway, I still prefer the richer language. :)
Rook remembers fire. Saved by an uncle and sent to the bards of Luly, he avoids remembering the past. When the past will not leave him alone, he sojourns in the hinterlands and finds a new magic in music that is actually very old. He returns to Luly to find the past has not forgotten him, and finally turns to the land of his birth to remember and to avenge those lost in the fire of his childhood, becoming a true bard and restoring his heritage as he does so.
Impression: This story was very different than Ombria in tone and style and I'm very curious to see if the next book I'm about to read is different from them both. McKillip just might be one of those versatile authors who changes with every new story, or her writing became more rich the longer she wrote. Regardless, Basilisk was an enjoyable read, though not as dense and layered as Ombria (which remains my favorite so far). As with Ombria she has an ending that surprises, though in this case it's not as strong since she doesn't foreshadow it at all earlier in the novel (if she does, I missed it). The story is still a good one and, in this case, leaves us with the question: who really did defeat the basilisk?
The ruler of Ombria has died and his great-aunt, Domina Pearl wastes no time in taking over as his young son's regent. Lydea, his mistress, must find a way to protect the poor prince, Kyel, even though she's been kicked out of the palace with only the clothes on her back. With the help of Mag, a mysterious girl who serves a sorceress known as Faey, and the bastard son of the ruler's younger sister, Ducan, Lydea unravels the mystery of the shadow Ombria and reaches out from her lowly position as an innkeeper's daughter to protect not only the prince, but Ombria itself.
Impression: Wow. Just . . . wow. McKillip is the author I want to be (in my own voice, of course, and probably a bit more actual description, but still the author I want to be) with thick, rich sentences full of texture; depth of character and setting; and a tale that is deep and bautiful.
The story itself is an unexpected, imaginative, engaging tale. Unexpected and imaginative in that it's a unique world and the events that happen fit perfectly within this tale but are not events I've encountered elsewhere. She took some very famililar basic elements and turned them into something never seen before. Her ending, even more unexpected than the rest of the story, leaves you wondering what really happened, but doesn't leave you disatisfied. It's just an incredible story incredibly written.
This book must be reread because there's no way to get it all in one sitting. It's one of those books, the ones that are so layered that rereading it again and again reveals something new every time. It is well worth the price of even a hardbound or quality paperback, editions I do not buy too often because of the price. I've already ordered more of her novels, including an oop recommended by the friend who introduced me to McKillip. And I'm really looking forward to reading them. A lot.
The first omnibus edition of 4, each containing 2 of the Cheysuli series, Shapechanger's Song has the first 2 books originally printed separately as Shapechagers and The Song of Homana.
In Shapechangers, the main character is Alix, the daughter of a princess and a Cheysuli - shapeshifter - warrior, is kidnapped by on of her then unknown (by her) Cheysuli relatives and finds herself caught up in an ancient Cheysuli prophecy. Meanwhile her childhood friend, the prince of Homana is torn between rescuing her and a war between Homana and the sorcerers of Ihlini.
The Song of Homana takes place several years later with the crown prince of Homana, Carillon, returning from exile, ready to retake his throne from the usurping Ihlini. With a Cheysuli warrior at his side, he returns to a land oppressed and still unready to accept the Cheysuli people to raise an army of both the Homanan and Cheysuli peoples.
Impression:Shapechangers was definitely my favorite of the two. Not that Song was bad, it wasn't. But is was definitely a slower read for me. First there was the switch in characters, from Alic to Carillon, which was not only a character shift but also a shift in gender since Alic is female and Carillon is male. The second jolt is in pov: Shapechangers was written in third person and Song was written in first. I think if I had the 2 or 3 years that usually pass between books, the transition wouldn't have been such a bump for me.
That being said, I picked up all 4 omnibuses of this series because 1) I liked Roberson's Del and Tiger series, and 2) I'd been wanting these books for some time. She does not disappoint thus so far (I've just started book 3). The characters are well developed and change over time in believable ways; the setting is rich, unique, and consistent; and, despite the passage of years between books (book 3 finds one of the children as the main character and near grown), she writes in such a way that you can see the flow from one book to another. I can definitely see myself reading these again one day.
Harry's back with an attitude. Yes, Harry's hit the teens, those emotional, hormonal, self-centered years that all parent just love, and all his resentments are starting to boil over. His return to Hogwarts for his 5th year is almost derailed, and when he gets to the school he finds his previous encounter with Voldemort now turned into something from his supposedly derranged mind, Dumbledore distant, he's unable to confide in Sirius for his godfather's safety, a new professor with an agenda designed to bring Hogwarts firmly in the Ministry of Magic's hands, and, of course, all his usual problems with Snape, Malfoy, plus the extra pressures of passing his OWLS.
Impressions:Order is darker and more adult than any of the previous Harry Potter stories, and even has a death at the end, but it is still an enjoyable read. One oif the things I've enjoyed about the Harry Potter books is the consistency. Even though Rowling works in fantasy and magic, it's not an anything goes world. And the books are easy reads that still draw a readeer in at any age--even the books that written more for children are engaging for adults. I'm not sure the books are worth the madness that goes on when they're released for the first time, but they are so enjoyable that it is easy to see why they manage to get readers in every age-group.
The newest thing in the publishing industry now days is to name writers the "new JK Rowling." For the record, I don't want to be the new JK Rowling. As much as I would love to write a book that crossed age boundaries like the Potter books some day, I would rather be the author that everyone else is named after. So, who wants to be "the new domynoe?" ;)
This is the story of the Herald with the thieves past, Skif. An orphan in the care of his uncle, who treats him as nothing more than a servant, Skif escapes into the city and meets up with a small band of thieves. He becomes quite the pickpocket and cat burglar until Chosen. Then his adventures really begin.
Impressions: I think I actually enjoyed this Valdemar novel even more than Brightly Burning. Skif is a wonderful scoundrel and getting the peek into his past is a much enjoyed journey. As always, I enjoyed Lackey's writing.
The story of Lavan Firestorm, a Herald Firestarter, a merchant's son who was originally enrolled in the same school that trains the Heralds by his parents. Bullied near daily by the older students, it isn't until he releases his gift in self-defense that anyone is aware he even has a gift. He becomes chosen and trained to be a Herald, it is only during a conflict with Karse that everyone learns how truly devastating his gift can be.
Impressions: Personally I love Lackey's Valdemar books, even though they are more aimed at a y.a. audience, and Brightly Burning is no exception. It's nice to see her filling out some of the back history and charcater histories now days. I even cried at the end of this one. Course, my husband would just say I'm a sucker. ;)
