Review: Dragon Haven (Rain Wild Chronicles, #2)

Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this second novel in the Rain Wild Chronicles. Everything that was set up in the first book comes to a head in Dragon Haven - everything relating to the expedition, anyway. The focus completely narrows to the journey up the river, and for a while we are isolated from the rest of the world and concerns outside of the group. Meanwhile, the small company is starting to show signs of stress and conflict, and nature is doing all it can to prevent their survival.

The travel and survival aspect makes this move much more compared to the previous book, even though it's still heavily about characters more than action. People are changing, views are shifting and being challenged, and some are seeing things more clearly, less naively. I totally enjoyed the experience, and was satisfied with the way each conflict was escalated and resolved. I stayed up way too late a couple of nights reading, and was excited to continue to the next book (which I found out did not continue the momentum, but that's a different review).

I would still say this series is not for Fantasy fans who prefer fast-moving action, or who have not already read and loved Hobb's previous works. But I am enjoying being in this world, soaking in the atmosphere, and experiencing a journey into the unknown with a small group of outcasts who are expected to fail, and with dragons who are slowly discovering how to become what they were meant to be.

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Review: Dragon Keeper (Rain Wild Chronicles, #1)

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I can see why some people were not excited with Dragon Keeper. It's really the first half of a 900 page book, and it moves very slowly without reaching any goals other than the start of a journey. Unlike the Liveship books, it's not a seafaring Fantasy adventure, but more of a long introduction to a new host of characters. The characters are where the book excels. Hobb has the ability to make you feel a whole range of emotions for them, including hatred for some.

I am amazed at how quickly I loathed one particular character, and became afraid of what he would do to others in the future. I hope so badly for vengeance against him at some point even though I fear what damage he will do before that can happen. None of the other characters are perfect, and all conflict with each other in some way, but they each evoke sympathy on some level because they make sense as fully developed people (or dragons). This creates a wonderful tension between characters who are not black and white, and I really want to see how they learn and grow and change through the next books.

I would recommend this for Robin Hobb fans who have already read the Liveship Trilogy and loved the Bingtown / Rain Wilds storyline. I found at first that I missed the Liveship storyline, but now I'm getting used to the pure Rain Wilds focus. Beyond that, this is really only for those faithful Hobb fans with enough patience to let the story build very, very slowly, who don't mind character-building and setup for 450 pages, and who are prepared to move directly on to the second book. The two should basically be viewed as one long book. I personally have enjoyed it so far, but am definitely looking forward to things picking up now.

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Review: Midnight on Julia Street

Midnight on Julia Street by Ciji Ware

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



This is another of those books that I probably wouldn't have picked up if it hadn't been on sale - and had a lovely cover, which doesn't match the book at all. (I know I'm not supposed to judge books by their covers, but sometimes they do catch my eye and the synopsis sounds good!) But at 475 pages, I think this might be the longest contemporary romance novel I've read, and I just don't like them that much.

I know, it was also about historical preservation in New Orleans, and there were flashbacks to a previous time period - something that either works or it doesn't. Unfortunately the time-slip aspect was choppy, and it took forever for the earlier timeline to capture my interest.

On top of that, the modern reporter storyline felt exactly like a romance novel even though it was also heavily invested in a battle over some historic buildings. Sometimes I'll read this kind of romance for a change of pace, but I expect them to be quick - especially if they're in contemporary settings. This one dragged on until the last hundred pages, when I did finally get more interested in the whole preservation showdown. It just took too long to get there.



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Review (Updated): Crown Duel & Court Duel

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(Updated Review Jan 11, 2014)

This was a lighter tale of political intrigue and danger, with a little bit of magic, and a good dash of romance.

This edition is actually two books in one. Crown Duel, the first book, focuses on a rebellion against the king, with several people going after the crown. This book, I would maybe rate 3 stars, even though it was "just ok." I must have been in the right mood to read it at the time. It is full of adventure and calamity, as the heroine, Mel, escapes from one dangerous situation to another. I honestly found the nonstop being-on-the-run kind of tiring, but was interested enough to read on.

I also found that Mel was quick to hate and slow to forgive, especially once she found out what was happening and should have been able to adjust to her new understanding of the situation. I feel like her stubbornness was mistaken for strength.

I was glad when the second book, Court Duel, ended up being more a Comedy of Manners, with political maneuvering and intrigue at court and a frustrated romance. I enjoyed this much more because I do enjoy the twists and betrayals of political intrigue, but mainly because I loved the poor hero. I guess I'm a sucker for a guy who can stay so in love when he is constantly scorned. I really felt for him. The bonus chapters at the end are written from his point of view, and they were a wonderful treat because I liked him so much more than Mel.

So this was by no means perfect, but I was still glued to the pages, trying to find out how the totally annoying and stubbornly prejudiced girl was going to learn the truth and finally be transformed. Mel's refusal to examine her own reactions or to re-evaluate her opinions when she realized she was ignorant or wrong was frustrating. She certainly had plenty of room to grow, but since she did get there in the end, I could forgive her for her blindness.

I give the second book 4 stars, even though it's maybe not as strong a book as others I've rated highly. Sometimes I really do just like the romance and so can ignore everything else.

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Review: Madman's Dance (Time Rovers, #3)

Madman's Dance by Jana Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I read the first book of the Time Rovers Trilogy, I thought it was going to be a typical historical romance with a mystery and a time travel twist, but still largely a Victorian era romance. I was pleased when it turned out to be stronger on the mystery than the romance, and then a bit mystified when the romance wasn't furthered much in the second book - but happy that there was much more to the story than that. Now in this third book, it totally takes off in a direction I didn't anticipate. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it, but it grew on me and I feel much more satisfied having finished the story the way it is than if it had conformed to the formula that I expected.

The part I didn't really like is Jacynda's state of mind for the first couple hundred pages. She is basically out of the game and I was impatient for her to get back to her usual, feisty self - and back to 1888. Her time healing in 2057 does serve a purpose, though, and brings that time period much more into play. Even though I definitely preferred the Victorian storyline, it helps with that huge tangled cross-time mystery that built up in the second book.

So back in 1888, the timeline is completely falling apart, and with Jacynda gone it falls to Alistair to try to prove Keats' innocence and get to the bottom of the various intrigues. The trial scenes are totally gripping, and the ongoing mystery kept me involved for 450 pages.

Unfortunately, it means that there are now two distinct storylines, and if you were looking forward to the trio being closer again you're likely to be disappointed. But in case you're wondering, romance does finally come into it in this book, just not in the way I expected. I love it when authors defy my expectations.

This is definitely the conclusion to the current mystery, but I don't feel like it's the end of Jacynda's story. I really hope there will be more of her adventures in time someday.

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Review: The White Queen

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Why did I buy this book? Why, why, why? If I had only borrowed it, I would have abandoned it ages ago. But I hate wasting money on books so I've been forcing myself to get through it. Now at 61% I'm not sure it's worth it just because I own the thing.

This book is so boring. It's basically a listing of the back-and-forth struggles for the throne from the point of view of a woman who considers only her power and the power of her family. She is not a first-hand witness of most of the actual action, so it all happens in the distance and we just get told the results as they affect her and her family's claims to royalty. There is no emotional attachment to the events or the main character.

I stuck it out through a few changes in fortune, and when the next one commenced I just couldn't face more of the same. I hate not finishing books, but enough is enough.

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Review: Fool Moon

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I enjoyed Fool Moon much more than the first book in the series, probably because I knew I'd have to be in the mood to read something full of constant catastrophes before I picked it up. I think you have to be prepared not to breathe much when reading a Dresden book. Once again it's nonstop action, and Harry always seems to be a step behind. I can't believe he's still alive at the end with all the injuries he accrues, let alone able to fight (or have an intimate moment mixed in with everything!).

I was annoyed with him at the beginning because of his 'chivalric' attitude towards Murphy, which he is bullheadedly proud of even when it causes huge problems. No sooner does he promise Murphy that he will tell her everything and not try to protect her than he ignores his promise twice without even thinking twice about it. And he's surprised when she stops trusting him. Where's the chivalry in breaking a promise like that?

What made me feel better about it as he's repeatedly bashed around over the next couple of days is that he's actually starting to realize what an idiot he can be. His moments of self-reflection helped me to relate to him better. I think there might be hope for him.





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Touch of Power - Maria V. Snyder

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I always enjoy Maria V. Snyder's fantasies. They are lighter Fantasy fare, aimed more at a female audience with the romantic elements, and with the lack of long battle scenes (thank goodness!), although there's still plenty of conflict and violence on a different scale. I can always rely on getting a good adventure with plenty of danger, magic and intrigue. This start to the Healer Trilogy was not a disappointment. It's full of adventure and magic, friendship and betrayal, and has a romance that emerges slowly and is not the focus of the plot.

Set in a world devastated by a plague, all the healer mages have been killed except for Avry, and she is on the run. Much of the book is spent traveling in the forest, hiding out in caves, and learning outdoors and fighting skills (things that never seem to fail to attract me). Mages with forest magic, elemental magic, magic of life and death, and giant, man-eating lilies fill the landscape, while the surviving rulers fight over control of what's left. Along her travels, Avry discovers what's been going on in the realms while she's been in hiding and attempts to find out what her new role should be.

Not everyone wants to kill Avry for the bounty on healers. Others want to use her healing skills for their own purposes, and she must sort out the truth and decide her own loyalties. It is difficult to trust anyone, let alone find friendship or love in such dire times when everyone has lost something. Somehow, Avry finds these things in spite of betrayals, manipulation, ignorance, and fear. It's a fun journey and a solid start to the trilogy.

Review: The Amaranth Enchantment

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



The Amaranth Enchantment is a fairytale style fantasy. It has some of the familiar features of a fairytale, but is not simply a rewriting of a traditional tale. The heroine is a formerly wealthy orphan now basically a slave to her uncle's wife. There's also a godmother type figure and a prince, a royal curse - and even a mysterious goat. But these familiar elements are entwined in a new way to make a completely original tale.

I liked it. There was some interesting stuff in there. But unfortunately the romance was a case of insta-love. In a fairytale, how the romance is done is important. If the two characters fall in love at first sight, what is left to tell? It becomes an unexplained, magical event - which might be true of the old tales, but there's a whole novel here to do it more justice.



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