christinaochshttp://booklikes.com/photo/crop/50/50/upload/avatar/f/6/f68b5d531006330e718da0f778fc07c3.pngchristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.com2024-03-28T23:31:07+00:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/rssreview: Demon's Daughter2015-07-30T00:00:00+01:002015-07-30T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228806/demon-s-daughterchristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.comreview: The Pale Horseman2015-06-22T00:00:00+01:002015-06-22T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228803/the-pale-horsemanchristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.comreview: Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell, #1)2015-05-02T00:00:00+01:002015-05-02T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228791/wolf-hall-thomas-cromwell-1christinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.comreview: Forever Amber (Rediscovered Classics)2015-02-15T00:00:00+00:002015-02-15T00:00:00+00:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228790/forever-amber-rediscovered-classicschristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.comreview: The Mirror Empire2014-09-28T00:00:00+01:002014-09-28T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228792/the-mirror-empirechristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.com But with something like ten POV characters (and here I thought I was overdoing with 4-6), the book is still a pretty wild ride. In fact, trying to create a coherent review is a bit of a challenge. I don't even know how to begin to describe the world and the plot. Suffice it to say, Hurley has created something pretty original here, and I feel like a few years down the line, people will point to this book as a possible game-changer in the genre.
The world itself is multi-dimensional, which isn't new, but Hurley gives it a unique twist which makes it more confusing, but also more intriguing with almost unlimited possibilities for future books, which are hopefully coming soon. She's also created some pretty unusual societies, turning gender roles and constructs on their heads. No stereotypical fantasy bimbos here. Some of the differences are a bit unnerving- men as chattel in Zezili's world- and some are confusing- five genders in another, and a gender-morphing pov character. It's not just the societies that are different; the worlds themselves are full of strange vegetation, creatures, planets and magic. There's a lot to absorb.
This is some seriously dark stuff. The world here is threatened and brutal- even the supposed pacifists aren't very. Maybe it was just the asthma meds, but I felt I had to strain my brain a bit to get through this. I was tempted several times to draw diagrams and take notes. With constantly alternating points of view, it takes a while to figure out what is going on where, and I kept having to remind myself of who belonged in which version of which world. I shudder at the thought of writing something this complicated and the piles of notes it must have taken.
That's part of my problem these days. Now that I'm writing my own book, I do a lot of my reading through a writer's lens. In some ways, it makes it harder for me to enjoy books that have marked flaws, but on the other hand, I can appreciate complex and well-written stuff, which this book definitely is.
My only quibble is that the sheer volume of important characters made it difficult to relate to just about any of them. Though well-drawn, a great many lacked depth and I felt a bit frustrated because so many remained enigmatic. At first I thought it was because there were so many, but it doesn't have to be that way- thinking of George R.R. Martin's numerous and always well-drawn characters. Still, since this is the beginning of a trilogy, I have a lot of hope that we'll get to know these characters a lot better in future books.
If you like your sci-fi/fantasy heavy, dark and complicated, I strongly recommend ths!
]]>
review: The Thirty Year's War: Europe's Tragedy2014-09-03T00:00:00+01:002014-09-03T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228804/the-thirty-year-s-war-europe-s-tragedychristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.comreview: The Hallowed Hunt2014-09-03T00:00:00+01:002014-09-03T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228793/the-hallowed-huntchristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.comreview: Paladin of Souls2014-08-25T00:00:00+01:002014-08-25T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228794/paladin-of-soulschristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.com Ista is a very enjoyable character- Bujold seems to specialize in these damaged, middle-aged protagonists and does them very well. There's a bit more romance int his one, but it goes delightfully unconventionally, and is resolved in a satisfying and plausible way. The climax is especially exciting.
There's a bit too much sword and sorcery-style action for my taste, but that's just me. I like my magic minimal or non-existent, and there is quite a bit in this world. Aside from that, my main quibble would be that Ista figures out how to use her gifts a little too quickly to be believed. Considering the lugubrious pace in general, you'd think she'd get more time to come to terms with what she's learned and figure out how to use it. As it is, she goes from nothing to advanced in what seems like seconds.
]]>
review: The Curse of Chalion2014-08-17T00:00:00+01:002014-08-17T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228795/the-curse-of-chalionchristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.comreview: Wildfire (Firethorn, #2)2014-08-05T00:00:00+01:002014-08-05T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228807/wildfire-firethorn-2christinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.com All the same, the new society is drawn just as completely as the first one was- maybe even more so- it was just that Firethorn's place in it was strange and ambiguous. That being said, it was still a really gorgeous book and I can't wait for the third one. It's been five years since Wildfire came out, so hopefully we'll see the next one soon.
]]>
review: Firethorn2014-08-02T00:00:00+01:002014-08-02T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228796/firethornchristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.com Upon returning to civilization, Firethorn meets Sire Galan, a young knight on his way to war. They become lovers and he takes her along with him as his personal camp follower. Even under his protection, it's a tough life for Firethorn. The society of her world is extremely stratified, and as one of the "mudfolk," she is the lowest of the low. Her relationship with Galan is fraught with conflict, and just when she thinks she might feel safe with him, he does something incredibly foolish that places both their lives in jeopardy. Even though they're not yet at war, Firethorn finds herself fighting for her life as well as her integrity.
Though MIcklem's writing is gorgeous- I am so jealous!- this is a gritty, harsh world, and the reader isn't spared anymore than Firethorn is. Mudfolk are treated like, well, mud by the aristocracy, and the status of women is even worse. Even the romance is far from satisfying, if you're looking for love that is pure and true.
Personally, I loved it. Fantasy frequently doesn't concern itself with the underclasses at all, and it also has a tendency to romanticize medieval-type societies. Women especially are frequently given status and opportunities that are frankly, extremely unrealistic. I realize that's part of why it's fantasy, but I'm one of those readers who likes my fantasy to seem real. I understand why not many writers attempt this approach, because it can be a bit hard to read, and is probably even harder to write. I'm just now realizing how difficult it is for me to hurt characters that I love, and hurting ones that have little to no control over their own destinies is that much worse.
Micklem never shies away from this, though, and Firethorn's lot never improves throughout all of her tribulations. There's no discernible reward for her suffering except for survival. We like seeing protagonists who triumph and prevail, and it's a bit hard to swallow the endless slog of hardship and violence, with no end in sight. That being said, this isn't depressing, although some reviewers disagree. In addition, there is an immensely thrilling battle scene toward the end told in a stunningly unique way and which made me very, very happy in it's level of attention to detail of medieval combat methods. And overall, the details are great. The world is fully realized, with a fascinating and complex religion, and there are many well-drawn and enjoyable secondary characters.
The book ends with Sire Galan going off to war and leaving Firethorn behind. She's not going to stand for that, though, and in the second book, Wildfire, she crosses the sea to join him. Struck by lightning during a storm during the crossing, Firethorn survives only somewhat worse for the wear physically, but with her speech completely garbled. Now everyone is sure she's been touched by the gods. The garbled speech makes for somewhat tedious reading, although she improves gradually.
]]>
review: The Language of Power2014-08-02T00:00:00+01:002014-08-02T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228797/the-language-of-powerchristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.comreview: The Lost Steersman2014-07-23T00:00:00+01:002014-07-23T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228798/the-lost-steersmanchristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.com
The third book finds Rowan and Bel parting ways temporarily, although Rowan finds a satisfying new sidekick in the form of Steffie, a young man who at first seems slow, but turns out to have a brain well-suited to Steerswoman (and the occasional man) type of inquiry. Rowan is trying to find out what has happened to a Steersman who left the order and was kidnapped by mysterious creatures the humans refer to only as Demons.
This takes her into the middle of a truly alien culture and what she learns there doesn't get her much farther along on her quest, although it's extremely interesting. The build-up to the climax of this book was alternately hair-raising and boring, but led to a really strange and thought-provoking twist.
]]>
review: The Steerswoman2014-07-12T00:00:00+01:002014-07-12T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228800/the-steerswomanchristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.com Rowan is a steerswoman, a guild of navigators and seekers of knowledge:
If you ask, she must answer. A steerswoman's knowledge is shared with any who request it; no steerswoman may refuse a question, and no steerswoman may answer with anything but the truth.
And if she asks, you must answer. It is the other side of tradition's contract -- and if you refuse the question, or lie, no steerswoman will ever again answer even your most casual question.
And so, the steerswomen — always seeking, always investigating — have gathered more and more knowledge about the world they traveled, and they share that knowledge freely.
I saw that blurb and realized I had to read this book.
In her travels, Rowan discovers what appears to be a harmless, yet curious item, and her questions about it quickly lead to danger, not just for her, but for her whole order. She finds an interesting way to continue her quest in secret- hard to do when you are obligated to tell the truth- and finds a few friends to help her. Bel is a warrior from The Outskirts, a barren, savage land that surrounds the Inner Lands which is home to a kind of medieval civilization. Willam is a teenage boy who has discovered "magic," and is hoping to become a wizard's apprentice.
Unlike the Steerswomen, wizards do not share their knowledge, and are the source of much trouble in the Inner Lands. Their magic is easily recognized by us, but inexplicable to Rowan and her contemporaries.
These books are carefully written and well-thought-out. Rowan's lines of inquiry are fun to observe. There's no real scientific method; many problems are posed as either/or scenarios, with Rowan carefully and logically working her way to sometimes startling conclusions.
In the first book, the world itself is far less interesting than the characters. Rowan and Bel are particularly well-drawn and sympathetic in completely unique ways.
]]>
review: The Outskirter's Secret2014-07-12T00:00:00+01:002014-07-12T00:00:00+01:00http://christinaochs.booklikes.com/post/1228799/the-outskirter-s-secretchristinaochshttp://christinaochs.booklikes.com