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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
If you can forget all the Mormon stuff, this is a neat alternate universe. (My review of the Homecoming series will likely be eerily similar to this.)
This was neither too epic nor truly fantastical in its setting - it takes place in an alternate 19th-century America - but it incorporates magic with the traditional fantasy archetypes. Alvin Maker is the seventh son of a seventh son, which confers upon him indeterminate mystical powers. He has a wise old man named Taleswapper to guide him, an enemy that only he can defeat. What I like about the story is its focus on the balance of power between religion and natural forces, like family and hunger, and how they interact in the 1800s. I also liked the introduction of the characters, and how their abilities grow so organically out of the alternate American world. There's even a bit of interesting rewrite to some major players in American history - "Old Ben" Franklin makes a cameo.
I initially read this book many years ago. Now that I'm older, I find parts of the book a bit predictable (maybe because I've read it before?), and I can definitely see some of the Mormon influence on the book.
That being said, Orson is a wonderful storyteller, and I'm always sad when I have to put down a book he's written. He does a wonderful job of keeping the reader engaged from the first page to the last.
This series builds a world where people have magic knacks in communities, it's widely known and respected. It's an alternate history fiction, and a pretty good one.
That being said, Orson is a wonderful storyteller, and I'm always sad when I have to put down a book he's written. He does a wonderful job of keeping the reader engaged from the first page to the last.
This series builds a world where people have magic knacks in communities, it's widely known and respected. It's an alternate history fiction, and a pretty good one.
I picked up this book already a huge fan of Orson Scott Card, but unaware of anything this book was about apart from having heard that the Alvin Maker series was amazing. I'm actually glad I did not not know the book's premise, because if I had, I likely never would have read it. The basic plot of the book functions around an alternate history of early America, in which folk magic works and legends are a reality. Ben Franklin is even a character. None of these ideas appeal to me on paper.
With that said, I found this audiobook to be incredibly compelling. I didn't find it very cheesy at all, just very good, solid storytelling. I was also so amazed by how "American" it is; I don't know that I had ever read a fantasy novel before that was simultaneously very serious from a literary standpoint and yet so distinctly grounded in the vision of America and its rural locales. I was very impressed. Particular to the audio version, I felt that the readers did a great job, both holding my attention and helping me to truly hear the characters speaking.
I will definitely be continuing the series, albeit it at a slow pace.
With that said, I found this audiobook to be incredibly compelling. I didn't find it very cheesy at all, just very good, solid storytelling. I was also so amazed by how "American" it is; I don't know that I had ever read a fantasy novel before that was simultaneously very serious from a literary standpoint and yet so distinctly grounded in the vision of America and its rural locales. I was very impressed. Particular to the audio version, I felt that the readers did a great job, both holding my attention and helping me to truly hear the characters speaking.
I will definitely be continuing the series, albeit it at a slow pace.
This is a a western epic, with some fantasy thrown in. It takes place in the mid 1800's, starting with a family traveling west in a covered wagon, pregnant woman inside. They almost meet tragedy when they try to cross a river, and a floating tree almost sweeps away the wagon. The oldest son saves the wagon, but drowns. And immediately, after, Alvin Maker, the seventh son of a seventh son, is born on the river bank.
Legend says that this makes Alvin a special person. And that he is. He has the power to make materials bend to his will. He can carve granite with exquisite precision. He can make wood split in two. And he can even heal his body, and other's, from grievous wounds that would otherwise prove fatal.
Along with this special abilities though, come complications. The devil is after him, he ends up on the bad side of the local preacher, and because of his family's near tragedy, anything that's around him made up of water is out to get him. Which is pretty strange, since the human body is made up of 2/3 water. Oh well, on with the story.
Orson Scott Card has got quite an ability to mix a little magic into a good story without using so much magic that it outweighs the story. This book is a great beginning to the trilogy. And I read just yesterday that a movie is being made from this book. On to the next one, Red Prophet.
Legend says that this makes Alvin a special person. And that he is. He has the power to make materials bend to his will. He can carve granite with exquisite precision. He can make wood split in two. And he can even heal his body, and other's, from grievous wounds that would otherwise prove fatal.
Along with this special abilities though, come complications. The devil is after him, he ends up on the bad side of the local preacher, and because of his family's near tragedy, anything that's around him made up of water is out to get him. Which is pretty strange, since the human body is made up of 2/3 water. Oh well, on with the story.
Orson Scott Card has got quite an ability to mix a little magic into a good story without using so much magic that it outweighs the story. This book is a great beginning to the trilogy. And I read just yesterday that a movie is being made from this book. On to the next one, Red Prophet.
I have never read anything written by Mr. Card, so I figured I would start with this one, as it has a more fantasy/alternative history bent than his ususal hard sci-fi, which isn't my jam. I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would, especially when they were talking about the folklore/witchcraft.
The bits of alternate history were great, but too few, in my opinion. I may be biased, but I found it hilarious as to how the religious and supposedly upstanding citizens behaved. Taleswapper and Al Junior are well crafted characters. I would hope to read about them in subsequent books. An enjoyable read. I believe this is a series, so I may at some point seek out the next book.
The bits of alternate history were great, but too few, in my opinion. I may be biased, but I found it hilarious as to how the religious and supposedly upstanding citizens behaved. Taleswapper and Al Junior are well crafted characters. I would hope to read about them in subsequent books. An enjoyable read. I believe this is a series, so I may at some point seek out the next book.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
Not the most action-packed book, but I love the setting & it seems to do a good job of establishing the world for an ongoing series.