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kaitlinmmcc's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is a beautifully written book that doesn’t pull you in right away but has held up on many re-reads. The series only gets richer and more beautiful with the following 3 books. World is very queer and gender egalitarian without ever feeling preachy.
megatsunami's review against another edition
4.0
A little slow to start (too many characters/ cultures/ situations introduced in the first 50 pages), but became gripping and hard to put down! Really enjoyed the quality of the writing and the ideas presented through the characters. As a side note, the seamless integration of characters' varying sexual orientations was refreshing.
serinde4books's review against another edition
2.0
I got this book as an advanced reader copy from LibraryThing. I won this in December of 2018, and I admit it got lost in the shuffle of life.
When I looked this book up on GoodReads I was confused because it showed that it was published in 2002, yet my copy said Advanced Reader Copy January 2019. And when you google it, it says it is being published in June 2019...very confusing.
I had a hard time with this book. I felt like the writing was masterful, Marks has created a complex and beautiful world. But, I also felt like I was coming into the middle of a story. She creates this world but then doesn’t adequately explain it to us the reader. The first few chapters I felt very lost, I wanted to understand the social structure of the characters but there just was not enough information and I wasn’t sure how things fit together.
There is a lot of comments on other reviews about how great the protagonist is a powerful woman of color. The fact that she is a woman of character was immaterial to me, what I liked about her was she was put in a position for her tribe that laid an unimaginable amount of responsibility on her shoulders at a young age. Zanja did the beat she could to help her tribe, she faces horrific loss and still she never gave up. She had her doubts about her abilities as anyone would, but she never shirked her duty to her people despite the cost to herself. Zanja is a beautifully written character that is relatable to all of us.
For additional reviews please see my blog at www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot.com
When I looked this book up on GoodReads I was confused because it showed that it was published in 2002, yet my copy said Advanced Reader Copy January 2019. And when you google it, it says it is being published in June 2019...very confusing.
I had a hard time with this book. I felt like the writing was masterful, Marks has created a complex and beautiful world. But, I also felt like I was coming into the middle of a story. She creates this world but then doesn’t adequately explain it to us the reader. The first few chapters I felt very lost, I wanted to understand the social structure of the characters but there just was not enough information and I wasn’t sure how things fit together.
There is a lot of comments on other reviews about how great the protagonist is a powerful woman of color. The fact that she is a woman of character was immaterial to me, what I liked about her was she was put in a position for her tribe that laid an unimaginable amount of responsibility on her shoulders at a young age. Zanja did the beat she could to help her tribe, she faces horrific loss and still she never gave up. She had her doubts about her abilities as anyone would, but she never shirked her duty to her people despite the cost to herself. Zanja is a beautifully written character that is relatable to all of us.
For additional reviews please see my blog at www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot.com
charlotekerstenauthor's review against another edition
And thus r/fantasy bingo 2023 is done!!!!!!!
I enjoyed this while reading but its flaws stand out quite a bit. RTC
I enjoyed this while reading but its flaws stand out quite a bit. RTC
readerpants's review against another edition
4.0
Hmm, took me a bit to get into it -- I found it a little earnestly preachy in a "the moral of this story is..." way, and I have many questions about the worldbuilding -- but once I did I was absorbed! Checked out the second one from the library right away before I forgot the details in the first. Bumped up a half star for the found family and queernormative world. Definitely in the Delia Sherman / Ellen Kushner style of progressive white lady fantasy, felt like it came from the late 90s/early 00s in an enjoyable way.
grid's review against another edition
5.0
This was fascinating and beautiful. Hard to put down at times, and often as action packed as they come. At other times it was downright philosophical, although the philosophy never overstayed its welcome.
The magic was interesting, if never explained to my liking.
I will definitely read more in the series!
The magic was interesting, if never explained to my liking.
I will definitely read more in the series!
alex0931's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
elusivity's review against another edition
4.0
Shaftal resides in a world free of patriarchy, where women can be hardened and brusque and men can be gentle and caretaking, and vice versa. Homosexuality is just as common as heterosexuality, merely a fact that exist in the world. In fact, among the named characters, homosexuality seems a more natural orientation.
Zanja na'Tarwein, a Fire blood, is Speaker for her tribe to the much bigger country Shaftal. The country falls, overtaken by Sainnites. Her entire tribe is slaughtered. She is captured and tortured. Karis the Earth witch saves her, but must send her to fight with the dwindling Shaftal forces fighting against the Sainnites.
A novel populated by vivid, breathing human beings, from major characters down to the extras populating the background of taverns. It's the magic of good writing, so that reading felt more akin to traveling to a foreign land, an experience filled with intriguing textures and depth, rather than being swept up in a plot-driven video game.
Zanja na'Tarwein, a Fire blood, is Speaker for her tribe to the much bigger country Shaftal. The country falls, overtaken by Sainnites. Her entire tribe is slaughtered. She is captured and tortured. Karis the Earth witch saves her, but must send her to fight with the dwindling Shaftal forces fighting against the Sainnites.
A novel populated by vivid, breathing human beings, from major characters down to the extras populating the background of taverns. It's the magic of good writing, so that reading felt more akin to traveling to a foreign land, an experience filled with intriguing textures and depth, rather than being swept up in a plot-driven video game.