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emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
4.0
I read this because it was recommended by a favorite author of mine (in an article). I'm not sure how much I liked it, but can't stop thinking about the story - which was very creepy and very interesting. I couldn't put down the book and I'm definitely going to search out and read the next one. Soon. So I guess that means I liked it.
I would recomend it for those who read fantasy or creepy stuff. Let me know when you read it so we can talk about it.
I would recomend it for those who read fantasy or creepy stuff. Let me know when you read it so we can talk about it.
skycrane's review against another edition
4.0
This novel is structured in a very interesting way. The first few chapters explain very clearly why all the strange events throughout the rest of the book are happening, so there's never any sense of mystery or intrigue in that regard. It'd be like if the Eye of the World started with the events of A New Spring,
Here's the background: long ago a god promised the people of Skala that the nation would prosper so long as it was ruled by a queen. Hundreds of years later, the queen at the time was quite insane, and so no one complained too much when her son overturned the line of succession to declare himself king. But things haven't been going great since then, with constant war and plague (apparently the gods don't like it when you refuse their gifts), so some wizards decide they need to get a queen back on the throne. However, the king has been assassinating every single one of his female relatives, except for his sister, who has no desire to rule. So they have to follow this sneaky plan that involves murdering one of her newborn twins to cast a spell disguising the girl as a boy, so she can grow up to adulthood in safety (these baby murderers are the good guys, by the way). So when the story jumps forwards a few years to focus on the childhood of Tobin, we know what he doesn't: "he" is actually a girl wearing the skin of her dead brother. Also, we know why his mother is a raving lunatic, why his father is so overprotective, and the true identity of the angry poltergeist in the house.
The mystery is explained before the main story even starts, so that's not the draw of the book. I guess I'd say the core of this story is Tobin's coming of age. Despite being the son of a wealthy and powerful noble and the king's sister, he is raised in a small rural keep far from any major town. His father is often away at war (being the king's most trusted general), his mother keeps completely to herself and seems unaware of his existence even when they're in the same room, and there's an angry spirit that seems to delight in tormenting him. Whenever I read or watch a haunted house story, I always look for the obvious metaphor: a haunted house is a broken family. This example definitely fits the trend. His mother is at turns completely neglectful, sweet and loving, and downright violent; his father is consistently caring, but overprotective, often absent, and internally riven with fear and guilt; and his only "friend" is a demon that wishes it could kill him. The forces causing all this are so far beyond Tobin's understanding that in his confusion he blames himself, as children in this situation tend to do. Eventually, things do get better, but you can always see the mark this period left on him.
This first book ends when Tobin turns 12, but before that his unstable life goes through many transitions. Some times are miserable, lonely, and terrifying, and some parts are so marked by unexpected happiness that they're heartwarming to read. His first interactions with children his age are clumsy and anxiety-inducing, and that makes the moments of acceptance all the more powerful. But through it all, you know that his entire life is a lie and everything he knows and loves will come crashing down around him whenever the gods decide, whether he's ready or not.
I think that feeling is exactly why the author told the story this way. She wanted us to read about his life not just with curiosity, but with trepidation, seeing the world from Tobin's point of view as a child but also knowing the secrets that lie beneath.
Side note: the overarching plot of this series is driven largely by prophecy, which I think is generally a bad thing. When characters are simply told what to do by an oracle, you end up with a very boring story. I think this series gets a pass though. The book starts with the wizard Iya and her apprentice visiting an oracle. Iya wants to see a queen back on the throne, and the oracle shows her that the king's sister will soon give birth to twins, and tells her what she must do to ensure that the female twin survives. But ultimately, she's the one who makes it happen. She decides that it's worth killing an infant to accomplish her goal. Throughout, you generally get the impression that the events are occurring not because of some prophecy, but because individual characters are making decisions, which is how it should be.
Spoiler
so we'd know from the start that the reason the Dark One was hunting Rand and co was because he was Dragon Reborn, instead of saving that reveal for the very end.Here's the background: long ago a god promised the people of Skala that the nation would prosper so long as it was ruled by a queen. Hundreds of years later, the queen at the time was quite insane, and so no one complained too much when her son overturned the line of succession to declare himself king. But things haven't been going great since then, with constant war and plague (apparently the gods don't like it when you refuse their gifts), so some wizards decide they need to get a queen back on the throne. However, the king has been assassinating every single one of his female relatives, except for his sister, who has no desire to rule. So they have to follow this sneaky plan that involves murdering one of her newborn twins to cast a spell disguising the girl as a boy, so she can grow up to adulthood in safety (these baby murderers are the good guys, by the way). So when the story jumps forwards a few years to focus on the childhood of Tobin, we know what he doesn't: "he" is actually a girl wearing the skin of her dead brother. Also, we know why his mother is a raving lunatic, why his father is so overprotective, and the true identity of the angry poltergeist in the house.
The mystery is explained before the main story even starts, so that's not the draw of the book. I guess I'd say the core of this story is Tobin's coming of age. Despite being the son of a wealthy and powerful noble and the king's sister, he is raised in a small rural keep far from any major town. His father is often away at war (being the king's most trusted general), his mother keeps completely to herself and seems unaware of his existence even when they're in the same room, and there's an angry spirit that seems to delight in tormenting him. Whenever I read or watch a haunted house story, I always look for the obvious metaphor: a haunted house is a broken family. This example definitely fits the trend. His mother is at turns completely neglectful, sweet and loving, and downright violent; his father is consistently caring, but overprotective, often absent, and internally riven with fear and guilt; and his only "friend" is a demon that wishes it could kill him. The forces causing all this are so far beyond Tobin's understanding that in his confusion he blames himself, as children in this situation tend to do. Eventually, things do get better, but you can always see the mark this period left on him.
This first book ends when Tobin turns 12, but before that his unstable life goes through many transitions. Some times are miserable, lonely, and terrifying, and some parts are so marked by unexpected happiness that they're heartwarming to read. His first interactions with children his age are clumsy and anxiety-inducing, and that makes the moments of acceptance all the more powerful. But through it all, you know that his entire life is a lie and everything he knows and loves will come crashing down around him whenever the gods decide, whether he's ready or not.
I think that feeling is exactly why the author told the story this way. She wanted us to read about his life not just with curiosity, but with trepidation, seeing the world from Tobin's point of view as a child but also knowing the secrets that lie beneath.
Side note: the overarching plot of this series is driven largely by prophecy, which I think is generally a bad thing. When characters are simply told what to do by an oracle, you end up with a very boring story. I think this series gets a pass though. The book starts with the wizard Iya and her apprentice visiting an oracle. Iya wants to see a queen back on the throne, and the oracle shows her that the king's sister will soon give birth to twins, and tells her what she must do to ensure that the female twin survives. But ultimately, she's the one who makes it happen. She decides that it's worth killing an infant to accomplish her goal. Throughout, you generally get the impression that the events are occurring not because of some prophecy, but because individual characters are making decisions, which is how it should be.
aliceboule's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely adored this book (and because of it I read the entire series before revieweing *bad Alice* ) so while this is under the Bone Doll's Twin book it goes for all of them.
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the whole girl becomes boy. But it worked. Lynn Flewelling made it work, and because she did, it was awesome.
Tobin/Tamir is quiet, serious, slightly odd with a tragic past. And though Ki helps Tobin laugh more, that past follows in the shape of Brother.
That Flewelling had the past become important, something to be worked through rather than forgotten, gave the characters life and colour.
Starting so young and giving the entire history of Tobin/Tamir let me see how the child grew into the destined Queen. I loved every moment of it.
*I can never find enough to say about books that I like* Take my word for it - this series is brilliant.
While the whole physical changing thing may take some time to get over, once you do, the characters, plot, world, will sweep you off your feet.
I want to read it again :3
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the whole girl becomes boy. But it worked. Lynn Flewelling made it work, and because she did, it was awesome.
Tobin/Tamir is quiet, serious, slightly odd with a tragic past. And though Ki helps Tobin laugh more, that past follows in the shape of Brother.
That Flewelling had the past become important, something to be worked through rather than forgotten, gave the characters life and colour.
Starting so young and giving the entire history of Tobin/Tamir let me see how the child grew into the destined Queen. I loved every moment of it.
*I can never find enough to say about books that I like* Take my word for it - this series is brilliant.
While the whole physical changing thing may take some time to get over, once you do, the characters, plot, world, will sweep you off your feet.
I want to read it again :3
embereye's review against another edition
3.0
Elements of classic fantasy with a strong central character, this will probably be enjoyable to most who enjoy Robin McKinley and Tamora Pierce. There is a bit more of a frank adult tone to it, in which sex and sexuality is explored a bit, but with some taste.
billymac1962's review against another edition
3.0
Once George R. R. Martin completes his Song of Ice and Fire series, I will definitely start reading it again. I decided to check out his website to see how he was coming along, and he has a list there of recommended reading for his fans who are pestering him to finish the next novel. This was one of them.
This novel is part of a trilogy and that is really too bad, because it has such a great premise for a story that it would have been great to see it done as one big novel. As it stands now, here I have finished the first novel, which did not feel like a novel. It feels like the first 1/3 of a slow-moving novel, and I'm thinking, geez, this is going to be a 1500 page story? Sure this novel got off to a great start, but after 500 pages, am I that enthralled with the story and characters to hang in for another thousand pages?
Nope.
This whole trilogy thing really is an overused vehicle to tell a story. Unless it is on such a grand epic scale, sure. As far as I am concerned, if the first novel of a trilogy is lacking in anything, such as strong characters and a story you just can't get out of your head, that's it, it's lost me.
Now, I'm not trying to pick on Ms. Flewelling (as if my opinion is worth anything), because this is a pretty good story. And if you check Amazon she and this series so far is vastly popular, so I think this series will survive my criticism. But as you can tell by my track record, the number of stories I have been willing to invest over a thousand pages of reading time into, you can count on one hand. And they were pretty darn special. So, take this review for what it's worth, because I'm willing to bet
that the majority of visitors here will take this series on for the long haul.
This novel is part of a trilogy and that is really too bad, because it has such a great premise for a story that it would have been great to see it done as one big novel. As it stands now, here I have finished the first novel, which did not feel like a novel. It feels like the first 1/3 of a slow-moving novel, and I'm thinking, geez, this is going to be a 1500 page story? Sure this novel got off to a great start, but after 500 pages, am I that enthralled with the story and characters to hang in for another thousand pages?
Nope.
This whole trilogy thing really is an overused vehicle to tell a story. Unless it is on such a grand epic scale, sure. As far as I am concerned, if the first novel of a trilogy is lacking in anything, such as strong characters and a story you just can't get out of your head, that's it, it's lost me.
Now, I'm not trying to pick on Ms. Flewelling (as if my opinion is worth anything), because this is a pretty good story. And if you check Amazon she and this series so far is vastly popular, so I think this series will survive my criticism. But as you can tell by my track record, the number of stories I have been willing to invest over a thousand pages of reading time into, you can count on one hand. And they were pretty darn special. So, take this review for what it's worth, because I'm willing to bet
that the majority of visitors here will take this series on for the long haul.
ianmitchell's review against another edition
4.0
This series is a sort of prequel to the author's Night Runners series - I personally enjoyed this series more. The setting is fairly generic for the most part, and the story seems a bit stereotypical on the surface (true heir to the throne being raised in hiding), but Flewelling adds enough twists to make this book stand out. The beginning might be a bit disturbing for some readers (it involves an infanticide committed by the "good guys") - like many modern fantasy books the lines between good and evil are not clear-cut. The real strength is the characters, which are more fully developed than those in most fantasies.
premium_huhn's review against another edition
4.0
Aufgrund einer Prophezeiung, derzufolge nur unter der Herrschaft einer Königin Skala erblühen wird, lässt der König alle weiblichen Verwandten, die auch nur vage einen Anspruch auf den Thron haben könnten, umbringen, um so die Nachfolge des eigenes Sohnes zu sichern. Doch von der Tochter seiner Schwester ahnt er nichts - denn ihr wurde mittels dunkler Magie die Gestalt ihres toten Zwillingsbruders verliehen. So wächst der junge Tobin abseits der hohen Gesellschaft auf der Burg seines Vater auf, wo die Geister der Vergangenheit spuken.
Die Buchreihe, deren erster Band dieser ist, spielt in derselben Welt wie die Reihe um Seregil und Alec, ist aber, soweit ich es beurteilen kann, auch unabhängig davon lesbar. Und es lohnt sich - Lynn Flewelling kann einfach schreiben und insbesondere kann sie lebhafte und facettenreiche Charaktere. Die verschiedenen Figuren und ihre jeweiligen Beweggründe, Wünsche, Hoffnungen, Ängste sind der Fokus dieses Romans, der die Grundlagen für die Ereignisse in den beiden Folgebänden legen dürfte. Der Einschätzung einer anderen Rezensentin hier, dass "nichts passiere", kann ich nicht folgen - es passiert sehr viel, aber eben vor allem auf Ebene der Charakterentwicklung und -verknüpfung. Der recht große Cast und ihre jeweiligen Beziehungen zueinander will eben auch erst einmal eingeführt sein. Und das tut Flewelling ganz meisterhaft - ich hatte keine Probleme, mir zu merken, wer wer ist und welche Ziele er/sie verfolgt.
Ich finds ebenso lesenswert wie die anderen Bücher, die ich bislang von der Autorin las.
Die Buchreihe, deren erster Band dieser ist, spielt in derselben Welt wie die Reihe um Seregil und Alec, ist aber, soweit ich es beurteilen kann, auch unabhängig davon lesbar. Und es lohnt sich - Lynn Flewelling kann einfach schreiben und insbesondere kann sie lebhafte und facettenreiche Charaktere. Die verschiedenen Figuren und ihre jeweiligen Beweggründe, Wünsche, Hoffnungen, Ängste sind der Fokus dieses Romans, der die Grundlagen für die Ereignisse in den beiden Folgebänden legen dürfte. Der Einschätzung einer anderen Rezensentin hier, dass "nichts passiere", kann ich nicht folgen - es passiert sehr viel, aber eben vor allem auf Ebene der Charakterentwicklung und -verknüpfung. Der recht große Cast und ihre jeweiligen Beziehungen zueinander will eben auch erst einmal eingeführt sein. Und das tut Flewelling ganz meisterhaft - ich hatte keine Probleme, mir zu merken, wer wer ist und welche Ziele er/sie verfolgt.
Ich finds ebenso lesenswert wie die anderen Bücher, die ich bislang von der Autorin las.
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
4.0
Summer-reading book review #19: "The Bone Doll's Twin" by Lynn Flewelling.... The first book in a dark fantasy trilogy. I liked this, but didn't love it the way I did the author's Nightrunner series. The central idea is compelling and distinctive, and there are likable characters that I cared about it. Yet parts of this felt overly drawn-out to me, plus the section set at court felt overly familiar from other stories. My favorite aspect was the friendship between Ki and Tobin.
7/2/2016: I have just finished re-reading "The Bone Doll's Twin." The book is divided into three parts, and I found Part One the least compelling. As on my first reading, I very much liked the friendship between Ki and Tobin. This time around, I also particularly liked the character of Tharin. A fine book. I'm looking forward to re-reading "The Hidden Warrior" and then allowing myself to read "The Oracle's Queen" for the first time. (I have been saving up "The Oracle's Queen" as it is the only book by Lynn Flewelling that I haven't yet read.)
7/2/2016: I have just finished re-reading "The Bone Doll's Twin." The book is divided into three parts, and I found Part One the least compelling. As on my first reading, I very much liked the friendship between Ki and Tobin. This time around, I also particularly liked the character of Tharin. A fine book. I'm looking forward to re-reading "The Hidden Warrior" and then allowing myself to read "The Oracle's Queen" for the first time. (I have been saving up "The Oracle's Queen" as it is the only book by Lynn Flewelling that I haven't yet read.)
swarmofbees's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
griffdog's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25