Review: The Dragon Reborn

The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**Contains spoilers on the previous books!

The Dragon Reborn takes a slightly different approach by stepping back from Rand, only really showing his perspective at the end. Most of what we discover about him is through the eyes of other characters. This provides a distance between the naive and confused farm-boy Rand who has so far been swept along by events, and the harder one who has learned something of using the Power and manipulating people that we begin to know in the next book.

The parts of this book that I enjoyed the most are the stories of Mat and Perrin. Each of them becomes more defined, and their overall importance begins to emerge as their lives are tossed about by being ta'veren. Mat is that roguish sort that loves to gamble, gets into trouble, and ultimately has a good heart and ends up doing the right thing in spite of himself. Love Mat.

Perrin is solid, down-to-earth, dependable, and yet has that dangerous unpredictability to him as well, when he lets the wolf out. Love Perrin.

A third major focus of the book is at the White Tower with Egwene and Nynaeve. I enjoy the intricate dangers of the White Tower, with political intrigue and the Black Ajah making everyone jump at shadows. I also enjoy any scenes involving ter'angreal and the rediscovery of old magic. Some people find this part of the story slow because there's not much action, but I really do like fantasy that builds in a lot of intrigue as well as action. I even like both Elayne and Egwene - but what I don't enjoy is Nynaeve.

Nynaeve single-handedly brings my rating of this book down to a 4. She gets a little better later in the series (as far as I remember), but in this book particularly she is so bullheaded, arrogant, and self-satisfied (with no reason to be), I can hardly stand her. She is always angry, or trying to be so she can channel. She is always tugging on her braid and bristling with indignation. For someone who is supposed to be a Wisdom, she has none yet that I can tell, but she has a big enough head about being Wisdom back in a tiny village to think she's better than a whole tower of Aes Sedai. She doesn't believe she has anything real she can learn from anyone else, except for actual use of the power, and her only motivation at this point is revenge. Because everything is Moiraine's fault. Everything. She needs a good dose of humility, and I don't blame Egwene for wanting to stand up to her. Frankly, I don't understand what Lan sees in her.

So, this is a solid installment in the series - the story is still building, the web is growing more intricate, Mat and Perrin are getting more interesting, but this one only gets 4 stars because I spent a third of the book wanting to smack Nynaeve!



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Review: A Clockwork Fairytale

A Clockwork Fairytale by Helen Scott Taylor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This is an interesting fairytale about a girl brought up as a boy thief, with spies and monks, and a plot to take over the throne. There's a mix of steampunkish gadgets and a sort of magic involving the spark inside of things that can be brought out and manipulated.

There is plenty here to entertain, and the romance is sweet, although it jumps up rather than building slowly. I do feel that it could have used some more polishing in some places, and I have a couple unanswered questions (maybe there will be a sequel?), but all-in-all it was a quick, fascinating read. I wouldn't mind reading a follow-up story.



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Review: The Great Hunt

The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



It's so hard to write a good review of this book. There's so much going on, and this is already much more complex than the first in the series. It is no longer a 'flight' narrative, and so there is not as much to compare to the Lord of the Rings anymore. It really takes off in its own direction from this point onward.

The main focus in the first book was the danger of being chased by myrddraal, trollocs, and darkfriends. Now the wider world is opening up, and there are new dangers and challenges. Enemies are introduced - the Forsaken, the Seanchan - and old dangers persist with the White Cloaks, Padan Fain, and of course more myrddraal and trollocs. We meet new Aes Sedai - the Amyrlin herself, Verin, Liandrin - and Egwene and Nynaeve begin their training in the White Tower. There is plenty of world-building, with more glimpses of what has been lost from the Age of Legends, travel in new lands and cities, and political intrigue building both in the White Tower and in Cairhien. On top of it all, ta'veren takes effect and all hell breaks loose!

It's really impossible to do this justice in a review, but I felt I had to try. I can't put into words how I love these books, and what an adventure they are. This is one of my favorites of the series, and it was just as exciting this time as the previous times I've read it. I was trying to skim so that I can get to the books I've not read yet, but it kept sucking me back in. I finally surrendered and just settled in for the long haul.


2/3/2013:

This is still one of the best books I've read. Still gripping, fantastic. Great stuff.



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Review: And Only to Deceive

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



And Only To Deceive is the first of a cozy historical mystery series set in the Victorian era. Our amateur sleuth is Lady Emily, a widow who is guilt-ridden because she didn't love her husband - or even really know him. As she sets out attempting to find a way to mourn him properly, she realizes both the freedoms and dangers of widowhood, and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Along with a budding interest in Greek antiquities and art, she also discovers that her husband's death was not as simple as it appeared. Not knowing who to trust but dizzy with freedom, she stumbles headlong into danger.

This is the kind of mystery I can really get into. It's not just all about the mystery and putting together the clues. But it's not just a historical romance, either. It's about the time period, the social scene, the friendships, the romance, and the mystery all at once. There's the focus on antiquities and museums and art, and on Emily discovering that she enjoys scholarship on her own, as well as other scandalous male activities like drinking port. There's the setting, which is in Paris more than London, and a nice change from the usual. There are Emily's adventures while exploring her new-found freedom in society, finding new friends in a less restrictive atmosphere, insisting on doing things that are traditionally reserved only for men, and getting into trouble because of it.

I can't love it as much as The Lady Julia Grey series simply because there's no impetuous Brisbane with a touch of the paranormal to spice up the story. This one seems very ordinary and within the bounds of upper society to me - at least in comparison. Still, I recommend this to those who like their mysteries diluted with drama and a dab of romance.




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Review: The Eye of the World

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



It's really difficult for me to write an unbiased review of this because there's a fair bit of nostalgia involved for me. I began reading The Wheel of Time in 1995, and it was the first fantasy series that I really fell in love with. It captured my heart and held my imagination for a long, long time. I re-read the series over the years as new books were released up until Robert Jordan died - it was too heartbreaking that he wasn't able to finish it himself and I've waited until the series is finished (and the mourning period is over) to read it again.

Even on my 7th time through this 800 page tome (I know, I'm crazy), it had the power to grab me again. There is so much action, so much danger, and I love the feel it has of a world and history much larger than what we are introduced to here (even though we already get a lot!). Even knowing exactly where it was going, I still wasn't bored.

This has everything you could possibly want in a classic, epic fantasy: humble beginnings; reluctant self-discovery; prophecies; creepy, dark, evil enemies of various types; good guys with unknown motivations; a unique magic system; swords and fighting men (and women); memories and relics of old things; cities; remote places; survival on the run; a vast world with many glimpses of what is to come... I could go on and on. This, to me, is Fantasy at its best. There's not just a country or two, a city or two. There are several countries, cultures, peoples, and races that are each vividly described so that it feels like an entire world. You can get completely absorbed in it if you want to. It is so well-developed as the books progress that I almost believe I've been there. I love the feeling of being in this world, and 14 books gives me that long to soak it in.

Another thing I've always enjoyed about The Wheel of Time is that it has both male and female lead characters, and really great supporting ones as well. The female characters can be annoyingly bossy at times, but they are also often sympathetic (depending on whose point of view you're reading at the time). The women are strong, just as strong as the men, and I especially love following Egwene's story in the future out of those we meet in the first volume. I love the variety of characters, and I can never decide whose point of view I like best.

Many people are afraid to start the series because it's so long. I can see how that would be intimidating, and I'm glad I started when there were only 6 books. I believe it ended up so long mainly because the story has more than the usual one or two protagonists. 5 main characters are introduced in this book, as well as a few minor ones. With that many characters, and more to come, 14 books is what it took to play out all their paths in sufficient depth (although I will agree that some of the later books could have been less detailed). I really don't mind the length, though. I love this world. I love to have plenty of time to live in it. I don't claim that it's perfect, but I do believe it's worth some effort. Now that my memory is stirring, I can't wait to relive the rest of it again.



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Review: The Curse of Chalion

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The Curse of Chalion is the story of a noble, broken man who has just managed to escape from slavery. Once a soldier and a lord, Cazaril is now almost to the end of his rope, destitute, friendless, and betrayed. The first part of the book is the story of how he rebuilds his life, and how his sense of honor brings him to continue giving his life and loyalty to Chalion even when he feels he has nothing left to give.

It's a slow start - I didn't see what the point of it all was for quite a while. Cazaril is a noble sort of hero with some middle-aged wisdom to give in the role of mentor and adviser, and he is also humble. He really doesn't have any flaws, and I liked him for it - it's kind of refreshing these days. But aside from him getting sucked back into politics, it doesn't feel like it's going anywhere.

There's a lot of groundwork-laying until about 180 pages in when something significant finally happens. From that point on, it doesn't slow down at all. It turns out to be really great fantasy with plenty of political intrigue, action, and interesting magic. Suddenly I was completely in its grip! The ending is completely satisfying, bringing together pieces that I didn't even know were part of the puzzle.

The reason I can only give this 4 stars is that there are some gruesome parts that turned me off. Gruesome more in the lingering medical condition sense than the fleeting battle blood-and-guts sense (which I'm fine with). I'm kind of squeamish on the medical stuff though, and I really couldn't get past it, even though the rest of the story was fantastic. The slow start is something I can deal with because it pays off in the second half of the book - but give me too many medical details and I'm just not happy. That's me, though.

This is the first book in a trilogy, but it really feels complete to me as it is. I don't feel any lingering questions forcing me to pick up the next book. It can totally stand alone if you're not in the mood for a series. From what I've read, the next book moves to one of the minor characters, so it's almost more of a companion novel. I do intend to read on.



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Review: The Singing

The Singing by Alison Croggon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(This review may contain spoilers.)

After a significant detour in The Crow, The Singing returns to Maerad, and the story then switches back and forth between Hem and Maerad as they search for each other. I enjoyed the return to Innail, the battle with the Landrost, and the warmer friendship between Maerad and Cadvan. Hem's portions were interesting as well - Saliman, the traveling show, the moving army of the Dark. There is plenty of magic and plenty of danger.

I enjoyed it, but the first two are still my favorites. I can't quite put my finger on why. Mainly, I think my hopes and expectations were too high, but it may also have been the effect of switching back and forth between the two characters, where the previous books were always focused on one.

One of the things hampering my 5-star level enjoyment was that the closer we got to the end, the more remote Maerad became to everyone around her. This is just when I felt like she should be getting closer to others and coming to greater understanding of herself, her magic, and the world around her - as she did in the Riddle, but now it should be in a broader sense than before.

Instead, she is no longer capable of thought, so overwhelmed by magic that she can't even open her eyes. She struggles with herself and her visions a lot more than interacting with Cadvan. He just looks at her with concern a lot, and she isn't even aware he's there. The end of the book mostly just happens to her as magic takes control, and Cadvan sits by.

Then it's over and goes straight into the epilogue, which means a distancing from the characters and the story. The epilogue wraps up a lot, but not in the immediate way that the rest of the story is told, and I wasn't ready for that yet.

I will admit that as I read this, I was getting impatient to find out if Maerad and Cadvan were going to have any romance or not. It was exactly what was needed to round the story out (in my fondest hopes). But Croggon stays focused on the quest all the way to the epilogue. Then she finally lets a teeny, tiny little bit of romance in, but it feels distant from the real story instead of part of it. I was disappointed that it didn't get a little more direct attention earlier in the book. The way that Croggon evokes emotion at the fall of a city or the loss of a friend, for example, could have been used more effectively to portray the depth of emotion in love as well. I wanted just a little bit more.

So I suppose my main complaint, other than wishing for romance throughout, is that the story was over too soon - which is not a bad complaint to have. I loved it that much that I wanted it to continue on past the conflict and into peace and happiness. I needed more time to extricate myself from this world without feeling totally lost afterwards. So the epilogue came too soon, and I had the feeling of being distanced from the characters as I watched them carry on into life without me. I am so sad that it's over!



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