Tag Archives: 4-stars

Review: Mercedes Lackey – Winds of Change

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Winds of Change
Mercedes Lackey

“The last Herald-Mage gave his life to protect his kingdom from destruction by dark sorceries. But now the protective barrier set so long ago over Valdemar is crumbling, and with the realm imperiled by the dark magic of Ancar of Hardorn, Princess Elspeth, Herald and heir to the throne, has gone on a desperate quest in search of a mentor who can teach her to wield her fledgling mage-powers and help her to defend her threatened kingdom.”

This novel details Elspeth’s learning of magic, and Skif’s finding of his cat girl. It’s quite slowly paced, but fills in a bunch of interesting details. Elspeth and Darkwind both mature in this novel. Elspeth is pretty awesome anyway, if I do say so myself, but it’s cute to see the romance happening.

This history covered in this novel is of the Vanyel and  Brightly Burning variety. Ah, my favourite! I can’t say I liked Firesong much, but I did respect him. His character is explored more in the Mage Storm books and again in the Owl Knight trilogy.

It’s interesting that this Ma’ar has been able to survive. You wonder whether Urtho might have done something similar. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you need to read the Gryphon series that details those points in time.

I left this novel before reviewing it. Oops. Naughty me. I’ve reread this novel less than most of the others in this series, and I have to say I probably have a reason for that – I just didn’t like it as much as others.

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Review: Mercedes Lackey – By the Sword

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By the Sword
Mercedes Lackey
Kerowyn’s Ride. Should say it all, right? Left the only able bodied person after an attack on her family, Kerowyn must avenge it. Little does she know that she’s going to be changed forever.

Kerowyn will attach herself to your heart as a strong female hero right from the word go. She’s convincing, consistent, everything I could want in one of Lackey’s characters.

There’s not much in the way of consistent secondary character, the focus is mainly on Kero. That being said, Daren creates a good counter for a little while in the first book. Then there’s the man Kero meets while she’s lost. All to the good!
The book being separated into various sections of years is great. It means no time is wasted on pointless stuff, and it makes the book more action packed. The only frustrating thing is that there could have been more about Valdemar.
I’ve been reading these completely out of order, so I’m getting a bit confused as to who should in the in stories or not. Elspeth appears in this one, but her level of maturity had me a bit wonky for a bit.

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Review: Mercedes Lackey – Elemental Masters 3 – Phoenix and Ashes

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Phoenix and Ashes
Mercedes Lackey

Eleanor had expected to go to Oxford, but instead she finds herself as a drudge working for her evil stepmother and step sisters. She’s lived for 2 years with no hope, but when she starts seeing things in fire, she wonders about the existence of magic.

Like others in the Elemental Masters series, this is based on a fairytale – Cinderella. You couldn’t want for a more evil step mother! It’s an interesting rendition of the tale, complete with ball, but differing about the shoes. It means that you know how the novel is going to end up, but that’s not always a bad thing.

This novel has some more of the theory behind elemental magic that is both boring and interesting to read at the same time. The teaching method in this one is by Tarot cards, which in themselves are interesting because they are used by modern day Pagans and so forth. It makes a nice change from the other novels in the series where the student is taught by a real teacher.

Phoenix and Ashes is set during, I believe, World War 2, with the Germans and many pointless deaths. It’s powerful stuff. There isn’t that much focus on the war itself though, mainly the interest is what it does to the survivors of war, and the changing of social strata as a consequence of this.

I really enjoyed rereading this novel, and even though I remembered most of the storyline really well, this was like being enfolded in a warm comforting blanket. Just the right amount of thought provoking imagery, and the right connection with the heroine.

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Review: Juliet Marillier – The Bridei Chronicles 2 – The Blade of Fortriu

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The Blade of Fortriu
Juliet Marillier
Ana, a princess of the Light Isles, is being sent to make a strategic marriage for her King Bridei. Little does she know that her party will be changed, and that the self she presents will need to be ripped apart before life can proceed.
Ana’s character development is particularly convincing, as is Faolin’s. Drunstan is a bit more of an unknown element, but I think it suits him. Faolan is enigmatic, and it’s nice to see that shell finally crack a bit, even if it’s painful for it to do so.
The action in this novel is almost too powerful to read. I was gripped from start to finish. I couldn’t bear for Ana to end up with the horrible Alvin oaf. Something I did have difficulty reconciling with what I knew of him was that he actually was waiting for the wedding night to take her. It seemed to me like they were in a little isolated pocket and that they could have gotten away with anything they pleased.
Once again, I let this book go by without reviewing it promptly, and I’ve forgotten a lot of the good things I wanted to say about it. It’s entirely worth your time to read it though.

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Review: Mercedes Lackey – Elemental Masters 1 – The Serpent’s Shadow

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The Serpent’s Shadow
Mercedes Lackey

Maya has made a jump around the world from India to England. Still she is pursued by an unnamed shadow that threatens everything that she has worked for. More mundane problems hunt her steps too, as a female doctor in early English society.

I love Maya. She’s a strong female protagonist who won’t say die. She always takes the hardest path (a bit like me really), but always triumphs. It’s difficult for her though, because she doesn’t have all the tools she needs. Peter can provide her with those, and more than you would expect.

As an introduction to the Elemental Masters series, I think this novel is not as good as some others. More theory could have been discussed, and less abstract things by the counsel. Additionally, it doesn’t quite fit in, because as far as I know, it doesn’t have any fairytale elements like the others.

The ending of the novel seems too abrupt for me. I would have liked a bit more detail about the cleaning up of the temple, and the weddings. The letters in the epilogue just don’t cut it for me, and they break with the continuity that held the rest of the novel together.

I don’t know enough about British history to say whether this novel is accurate in the portrayal of Britain’s influences on India, and the number of Hindu people in London, but it’s a nice introduction even if surely it’s not all correct.

I’ve been a bit negative about this novel, but really it’s enjoyable. There’s plenty of action, and Maya’s path is never straight and narrow. It might even be possible to call this novel a bit of a romance, as well as being a strict fantasy novel.

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Review: Juliet Marillier – The Bridei Chronicles 1 – The Dark Mirror

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The Dark Mirror
Juliet Marillier
Bridei is being raised for great things, but he doesn’t know enough about them yet. When he rescues the foundling Tuala, he doesn’t know how this will change the course of his destiny.
The romance in this novel is very strong, and poignant – Marillier really gets it right. Some things you don’t see coming, and others you do, but all of them blend together beautifully.
I stayed up past my bedtime reading this novel – it was great, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I don’t know why I waited so long to read it!
The perspectives allow enough insight into each character that you feel like you know the important ones really personally. It would have been nice to have a bit more knowledge about the old druid, but you can’t fit everything into a book of this length.
The ending almost doesn’t feel like an ending. Bridei’s recovery and the events after this proceed at a very rapid rate, and while I was reading them I felt like I had missed something.
I made the mistake of reading this novel, then quickly picking up the next in the series before reviewing it. Oops! So this review is much shorter than what this wonderful book deserves.

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Review: Mercedes Lackey – Elemental Masters 2 – The Gates of Sleep

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The Gates of Sleep
Mercedes Lackey

Marina has lived  most of her short years in a quiet village with her aunt and uncles. She is gifted with Elemental Magic, but has not yet come into her full powers. She doesn’t know why she hasn’t known her parents, or why she has a sinking feeling of foreboding about her aunt…

This is a retelling of the fairytale Sleeping Beauty. It is intelligently crafted, just as I would expect from an early Lackey novel. Although predictable in nature, it is the little things that make it a reread for me. I really like the character of Marina, and also the brief insights into Andrew Pike that we get through the changing narrative perspective  For the most part it is told from Marina’s perspective however.

I do have one little grump about this novel. Marina and Andrew get along well enough, but I feel like there isn’t enough contact between them for this to grow into something more. I would have also loved to have heard more about his treatments, and the care of the insane.

Don’t you just love the cover of this novel? I’m not sure it adequately captures Marina, but the skulls are a giveaway that things might not be all as they seem.

I don’t know what draws me to fairytale retellings. In this case, I had just watched the Disney film of Sleeping Beauty, and it sparked a desire in me to reread this novel.

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Review: Michael Thomas Ford – Suicide Notes

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Suicide Notes
Michael Thomas Ford
Jeff has been committed to a psychiatric ward because he tried to kill himself. People keep asking him why he did it, but he’s not telling. Indeed, he’s not even sure why he did it.
I loved the metaphor of truth being like a blue radioactive ball filled with poison. It was a really vivid image that stayed with me.
The author had the knack of drawing the reader in, and then not letting them go. Each of the little particles Jeff lets out in the journalistic type narrative grabs you, and then you think you know what is going on, and then you don’t.
This novel made me laugh out loud more than once – not something you’d be expecting from a novel with a title like this one.The touches of humour made what could have been a depressing book into something that, while not exactly easy or enjoyable reading, I would consider good mature teenage reading.
It’s a touching novel, but I couldn’t have said it was anything particularly special – until I hit the real reason why Jeff tried to kill himself. Yay! That turning point in the novel made the novel into something I was excited about reading the rest of, and finding out how Jeff was going to cope with life outside the ward again.
The queer tones of ‘Suicide Notes’ made it resonate well with me, even if some of the time I felt that the situation couldn’t possibly have been portrayed accurately. It wasn’t a comfortable read at all, and I’d give it a little bit of a trigger warning if anything.

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Review: Peter V. Brett – The Daylight War

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The Daylight War
Peter V. Brett
Arlen Bales is no Deliverer. Well, not according to him anyway, since everyone else seems to think so. Jardir on the other hand believes he is – but doesn’t seem to be making many steps in the right direction. Told from their women’s perspectives for the most part, this novel is an interesting and involved read that isn’t too daunting for the beginning fantasy reader.
 I was glad of the prologue, and felt that it set up Inevera’s parts of the novel nicely. The storyweaving was strangely compelling, and really drew me into the novel. I also really enjoyed the initial parts told from Renna’s perspective, and the learning that Arlen imparted to her. I felt that there could have been more of this learning, and that it would have grounded new readers a little better in the world.
I haven’t read the first and second books in this series, and wonder whether I would have felt more compulsion in the plot if I had. As it was, it wasn’t clear for quite some time what the aim of Arlen and Jardir was, what they were fighting against. The first two books are on my to-read list now for sure, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next books in the series.
From the perspectives of the two women, Renna and Inevera, I couldn’t decide who I liked more. Renna felt more honest, but Inevera was really crafty and interesting in her own way. Throw in Leesha Paper, and the three women tear things apart! I wouldn’t have said the novel was about the men at all – it is the women who have power. Of the two main men though, I definitely preferred Arlen over Jardir. Jardir was just so… calculating and snooty. Arlen seems much more down to earth and likeable, even if he does sometimes have some weird moments.
I was particularly glad of the role of music in this novel. Rojer and his friends are able to craft demon stopping music, which I found fascinating. The uses of demon bone, and the Greatwards were unique to the world building as well. I did wonder why more people didn’t think to eat demon flesh though, if it would grant such great powers. Particularly to that huge dog!
There were so many minor plots to keep my interest which was great. The major plot of the Waning Moon and the coming major war against the demons was so slow that it was a good thing there were lots of other things to concentrate on.
Don’t be put off by the size of this novel. It’s really quite an accessible novel, and as I’ve said, the changing perspectives are crucial for keeping your interest in the novel going.
I received this novel as part of The Book Depository’s new affiliate reviewing program. I’m really chuffed I was chosen to participate, and I hope to see new books out soon for me to love and review.

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Review: Leslie Marmon Silko – Ceremony

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Ceremony
Leslie Marmon Silko
Tayo has survived his beginnings as an outcast of both white and Native American society, only to be sent off to fight a war that he can’t hope to survive intact. As his childhood, war memories and ceremonial present  come to the fore, Tayo must make a journey to bring the rain back to the land.

This is one of the novels I was assigned for American Literature. It’s filled with figurative language (images & symbols) and a really heart rending story. The beginning is quite confusing and the time changes irritating, but eventually you get used to Silko’s style.
I found it to be a really rich spiritual journey, one that is so nicely articulated and accessible  even for me, a white Australian! I felt quite moved after I had finished reading it, and immediately had to write down some of my impressions for my essay writing.

One of the main things I took away from this novel is that we must all be responsible for our own actions. That’s what Tayo must come to terms with (and does, with Harley’s death) in order to deal with Rocky’s death (which Tayo feels responsible for.

I only wish I felt the same sort of connection to the land and the family that Tayo does. I probably wouldn’t reread this novel, but it certainly gave me some things to think about once I had finished reading it. Even if you’re a bit nary of American Literature, if you need to choose something to read you should choose this one over Tender is the Night or Daisy Miller (both of which I also read for this unit).

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