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naturalistnatalie's review
4.0
Ultimately a good story, evidenced by the fact my mind kept turning back to the story when I wasn't reading it. However, I was very disappointed with the start of the book. It was expecting a direct sequel to Sing the Four Quarters, and this is not that kind of book. In fact, it's not until the fourth chapter, when the Bard is introduced, that I even could tell the books were set in the same universe. There are a few oblique references to events of the first book, but this is really a standalone book.
Like the first book in the series, Vree, our main character is bisexual. In this case, it's mainly because she doesn't want to get pregnant, but also because she's mostly attracted to her brother. While the sexual tension was believable, it was a little squicky since Bannon is her brother. Once Gyhard inhabited Bannon's body, it got even more complicated. There was still the physical attraction to the body, but is it OK since it is a different soul inhabiting the body? Even the mannerisms and how he held himself were different. I'm not surprised it was the sister who made space in her head and body for her beloved brother. If their roles were switched, there's no way Bannon would have done the same for Vree.
On a technical note, I'm always interested in how the author manages to describe the characters in a story. Huff had a great excuse to describe Bannon. When Gyhard jumped to his new body, it was a sudden thing and he didn't quite know what he was getting into. Therefore, after the fact, he had to examine himself so he could take stock of his new body and it was easy to describe himself to the reader as well.
Like the first book in the series, Vree, our main character is bisexual. In this case, it's mainly because she doesn't want to get pregnant, but also because she's mostly attracted to her brother. While the sexual tension was believable, it was a little squicky since Bannon is her brother. Once Gyhard inhabited Bannon's body, it got even more complicated. There was still the physical attraction to the body, but is it OK since it is a different soul inhabiting the body? Even the mannerisms and how he held himself were different. I'm not surprised it was the sister who made space in her head and body for her beloved brother. If their roles were switched, there's no way Bannon would have done the same for Vree.
On a technical note, I'm always interested in how the author manages to describe the characters in a story. Huff had a great excuse to describe Bannon. When Gyhard jumped to his new body, it was a sudden thing and he didn't quite know what he was getting into. Therefore, after the fact, he had to examine himself so he could take stock of his new body and it was easy to describe himself to the reader as well.
aisforawkward's review against another edition
Body swapping/Snatching. Incest. Narcissistic assholes.. Oh AND ZOMBIES. I don't even.
After the first book, this one was so out there I don't even know what to think. It takes place off in another kingdom with different characters so there is no real overlap, just shared background character and details..
The incest overtones were spelled out right from the very beginning, and were so so creepy, even though they were also so very fascinating later in the book. The heroine/primary protagonist is obsessed with her younger (completely narcissistic) brother in seriously unhealthy ways (not that there is a healthy way.. but..) He also is obsessed with himself, so they at least have this in common.
The two are assassins who work together as a team, and are unbeatable yada yada. On a mission she comes across their target dying. Only it is her brother, trapped inside the target who body swapped and ran off in her brother's body. So her brother jumps in to her, and for the rest of the book her head is really crowded and twice as messed up (and I quickly wished she would just evict him and move on with her life. Seriously. She is better off with the body snatcher and that is saying something). Then there is the body snatcher who eventually falls in love (really twisted) with her, and she sort of with him, making for a bizarre sort of love triangle. Though there is also the sex interest she has with the other woman a bard near the end, so love square? Anyway.
The zombies in turn are created by a really old (110+ years I think) madman who is a former lover of the body snatcher, who creates said zombies to keep himself company. Because what better way to stave off loneliness than reanimated yet still decomposing corpses?
Anyway this was like her other books I have read so far this week, very enthralling, and very nuanced. In this case it was also so very completely messed up I have no idea what to do with it or how to rate it.
After the first book, this one was so out there I don't even know what to think. It takes place off in another kingdom with different characters so there is no real overlap, just shared background character and details..
The incest overtones were spelled out right from the very beginning, and were so so creepy, even though they were also so very fascinating later in the book. The heroine/primary protagonist is obsessed with her younger (completely narcissistic) brother in seriously unhealthy ways (not that there is a healthy way.. but..) He also is obsessed with himself, so they at least have this in common.
The two are assassins who work together as a team, and are unbeatable yada yada. On a mission she comes across their target dying. Only it is her brother, trapped inside the target who body swapped and ran off in her brother's body. So her brother jumps in to her, and for the rest of the book her head is really crowded and twice as messed up (and I quickly wished she would just evict him and move on with her life. Seriously. She is better off with the body snatcher and that is saying something). Then there is the body snatcher who eventually falls in love (really twisted) with her, and she sort of with him, making for a bizarre sort of love triangle. Though there is also the sex interest she has with the other woman a bard near the end, so love square? Anyway.
The zombies in turn are created by a really old (110+ years I think) madman who is a former lover of the body snatcher, who creates said zombies to keep himself company. Because what better way to stave off loneliness than reanimated yet still decomposing corpses?
Anyway this was like her other books I have read so far this week, very enthralling, and very nuanced. In this case it was also so very completely messed up I have no idea what to do with it or how to rate it.
awamiba's review against another edition
Fifth Quarter (Daw Book Collectors) by Tanya Huff (1995)
megandawn's review against another edition
2.0
A really cool premise but damn it got repetitive. The second half of this book is pretty much the characters having the exact same conversation over and over. And over.
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