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Liked It “As an amateur writer there are a few things I really appreciate about a book. One being description that makes me think I can actually taste, feel, hear, and see what is being written about, and the other being three-dimensional characters which flaws and strong emotions that while I may not...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “This is a “straight” fantasy novel. The hero is in trouble, wounded and about to be abandoned in the freezing rain by his traveling companion, who is also stealing everything of value the hero possesses. But they're near a monastery, so surely someone will be by to look after him. And sure...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“As an amateur writer there are a few things I really appreciate about a book. One being description that makes me think I can actually taste, feel, hear, and see what is being written about, and the other being three-dimensional characters which flaws and strong emotions that while I may not identify with, I can sympathize for, hate, love, or be uncomforted by.
Mina wrote this review Friday, May 23 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Carol Berg delivers both, and for me that would be more than enough to keep me reading the book. If it's not enough for you, don't worry, the book has plenty of action, intrigue and curious moments to keep the reader hooked until the end, bleak as it may be.”
“A young struggling sorcerer (think a less slapstick Rincewind from Discworld) on the run from an oppressive family finds himself in a Name of the Rose style monastery in a War of the Roses style world very similar to Jacqueline Carey's Terre d'Ange. While it sometimes relies too heavily on "right place at the the right time" happy accidents, the characters make this book worth reading.”
krimon wrote this review Wednesday, July 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I'm just over 100 pages into this 500 page book, and I can't decide whether I love it or hate it, but it has me hooked for now. My biggest issue is the author hints at people and things but doesn't explain them until pages or chapters later, so I'm obsessed with wanting to know more but also frustrated that I have to keep flipping back to check if the name that sounds vaguely familiar is someone that'd been mentioned in passing or if anything important had been said that I missed since it was pointed out so nonchalantly. Like I said, not sure if I love it or hate it, so I'm holding out judgment until I finish. ”
Laura G wrote this review Tuesday, April 22 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This is a “straight” fantasy novel. The hero is in trouble, wounded and about to be abandoned in the freezing rain by his traveling companion, who is also stealing everything of value the hero possesses. But they're near a monastery, so surely someone will be by to look after him. And sure enough, the monks do show up. The hero, being a fellow who appreciates food, decides to sign up with the monks, since they not only healed him, but they've fed him, and seem to have plenty. At least until it becomes more convenient to move on. Seems he has good reason for keeping on the move, though what exactly that reason is is hidden for a while. Lots of hints are dropped, however. The monks are involved in mysterious doings, involving the competition for the local throne, and there seems to be much more to Valen than there first appears—and perhaps much less at the same time. This is a good story that adds complications slowly. It does follow Berg's pattern for piling more and more and more misery on her heroes until you want to yell “enough already”--especially which this story ends on a rather bleak note. Hopefully, the bleakness will lighten in the next story—this appears to be a “duology” rather than a trilogy, at least. Intriguing premise, sympathetic characters. I liked it, despite the ending.”
Gail Dayton wrote this review Saturday, July 28 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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