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noranne's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one. It wasn't a particularly original story, I suppose, but it was pleasant to read and felt like a nice cozy little tale. I also really liked that the MC was an older widow with 2 children who was realistically juggling the demands of the world and looking after her kids (who were also super annoying, again, realistically). The romance storyline was refreshing in its simplicity and acknowledgement of the relationships change as we get older.
celjla212's review against another edition
3.0
Kayl is living s simple life in her community, running an inn and caring for her two children. Until one day she gets an enigmatic guest, who tells Kayl that she needs her help. Kayl is forced to revisit a painful past she was sure she had left behind 15 years ago.
As Kayl learns the truth about why the woman is there, she must decide whether she wants to bring her children along on a dangerous expedition, the same she took so long ago. But if she does undertake this journey, perhaps she will be able to unravel the events that truly happened on that first fateful journey.
It took me a little while to get into and finish this book. Let me first say that the author has done a fantastic job creating the fantasy world of Lyra. It is alive with creative characters, rich folklore, and a magical atmosphere. I really enjoyed getting to know all the aspects of Lyra.
Kayl is likable enough as a main character. I liked that she was such a great and attentive mother. I also liked the fact that she was actually a powerful warrior in her past, and even after the passage of many years she was able to fall back into that position without much trouble.
The reason I gave this book 3 stars is that I felt it took way too long for any significant events to happen. I enjoy a good "journey" book, but the journey is always much better when obstacles come up along the way. There was much talking in this book, but not a lot of action. Everything happened within the last 10 percent of the book.
I did like the ending, but it just took such a long and roundabout way to get there. I would be interested in someday reading the rest of the Lyra books, because as I said, I really did enjoy the world the story was set in. Perhaps the other book have a bit more action.
As Kayl learns the truth about why the woman is there, she must decide whether she wants to bring her children along on a dangerous expedition, the same she took so long ago. But if she does undertake this journey, perhaps she will be able to unravel the events that truly happened on that first fateful journey.
It took me a little while to get into and finish this book. Let me first say that the author has done a fantastic job creating the fantasy world of Lyra. It is alive with creative characters, rich folklore, and a magical atmosphere. I really enjoyed getting to know all the aspects of Lyra.
Kayl is likable enough as a main character. I liked that she was such a great and attentive mother. I also liked the fact that she was actually a powerful warrior in her past, and even after the passage of many years she was able to fall back into that position without much trouble.
The reason I gave this book 3 stars is that I felt it took way too long for any significant events to happen. I enjoy a good "journey" book, but the journey is always much better when obstacles come up along the way. There was much talking in this book, but not a lot of action. Everything happened within the last 10 percent of the book.
I did like the ending, but it just took such a long and roundabout way to get there. I would be interested in someday reading the rest of the Lyra books, because as I said, I really did enjoy the world the story was set in. Perhaps the other book have a bit more action.
kivt's review
3.0
Kayl's relationship with her kids was pretty well handled and pretty entertaining. The structure of the book was awkward, though. I appreciated the info in the worldbuilding interludes, but that should have been communicated through the story rather than outside of it.
shinjinim's review
3.0
Caught in Crystal tells the story of Kayl, an inn keeper struggling to maintain her inn and raise to two children. Things seem normal until the arrival of Corrana, a member of the Sisterhood of Stars (a coven of witches). It turns out that Kayl was a member of the sisterhood too, but she left her position as one of the best fighters and strategists of the coven after a mission went horribly wrong. But now, the Sisterhood needs her to return to the Twisted Tower, bringing Kayl’s past crashing down around her.
The first half of the book traces Kayl’s journey back to Kith Alunel – the dangers on the road, flashbacks into the past, and her struggle to regain her fighting form and keep her children out of harm. Though interesting, it makes for very slow reading, because nothing really happens during this time. However, Patricia Wrede’s charecterization is quite good, making you plough through the pages because you want to know how things turn out for Kayl and her children.
It’s in the second half of the novel that things start to pick up. Kayl realizes that she has no option but to return to the Twisted Tower, and that no matter how hard she tries, her children will be involved in the mission. As they journey towards the Tower, we get a glimpse into the shadowy events of the first mission and the secrets and motivations driving the members of the circle. There’s magic and action, secrets unfolding, and the center of it all, the Twisted Tower and the sinister sorcery inside it.
Overall, then, the story is interesting and the charectors are likable. The plot, however, plods along in some places and zips through in others, making the pacing a bit uneven. The other bone I have to pick is with the setting – some places, like Kith Alunel are described well, but I couldn’t quite get a feel of the place she set this fantasy story in. This could be, in part, because Caught in Crystal is a series – its the fourth book in Patricia Wrede’s Lyra series. I wouldn’t call it a deal breaker, because even though I haven’t read any of the other books, I had no problem following the events in this one, which makes it perfect as a stand alone read.
The first half of the book traces Kayl’s journey back to Kith Alunel – the dangers on the road, flashbacks into the past, and her struggle to regain her fighting form and keep her children out of harm. Though interesting, it makes for very slow reading, because nothing really happens during this time. However, Patricia Wrede’s charecterization is quite good, making you plough through the pages because you want to know how things turn out for Kayl and her children.
It’s in the second half of the novel that things start to pick up. Kayl realizes that she has no option but to return to the Twisted Tower, and that no matter how hard she tries, her children will be involved in the mission. As they journey towards the Tower, we get a glimpse into the shadowy events of the first mission and the secrets and motivations driving the members of the circle. There’s magic and action, secrets unfolding, and the center of it all, the Twisted Tower and the sinister sorcery inside it.
Overall, then, the story is interesting and the charectors are likable. The plot, however, plods along in some places and zips through in others, making the pacing a bit uneven. The other bone I have to pick is with the setting – some places, like Kith Alunel are described well, but I couldn’t quite get a feel of the place she set this fantasy story in. This could be, in part, because Caught in Crystal is a series – its the fourth book in Patricia Wrede’s Lyra series. I wouldn’t call it a deal breaker, because even though I haven’t read any of the other books, I had no problem following the events in this one, which makes it perfect as a stand alone read.
sassyporcupine's review
4.0
This was my favorite of the set. Actually had a complete adventure in it.
sassyporcupine's review against another edition
4.0
This was my favorite of the set. Actually had a complete adventure in it.
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
4.0
While the Lyra books do constitute a series, as I understand it and as I remember it they are also each standalone novels. Put together, they relate the long history of Lyra; taken separately, each is perfectly readable each unto itself.
I've always been a huge fan of Patricia C. Wrede, and I like this book, a lot. But I don't love it as much as I expected. From small things - like Kayl, on watch over her camp at night, sitting and staring into the fire while she tries to order her thoughts, thereby destroying her night vision completely. It specifically says she is watching the flames - so anyone could have come up behind her and knifed her in the back, or made as much noise as they wanted approaching because, no longer able to see in the dark at all, she would have been slow to react. It was just a tiny scene - but so much is made of the fact that she is a highly trained elite warrior that this tiny scene left a huge impact.
One aspect of the story that bugs me a little is one for which it is, itself, not really to blame; it's more the mass of fiction in general, not just this writer's and not just fantasy. It is the everybody-loves-Raymond syndrome, in which there is one character who the opposite gender wants and the same gender wants to be. Kayl was very happily married to (), who is dead as this story begins. It very quickly becomes clear that her neighbor and friend, (J), loves her and would be very happy to fill the role of second husband. Then (K)'s old comrade (G) comes back into her life, and it quickly becomes obvious to the reader if not to Kayl that he loves her. It's useful for the plot, of course, for the attachments to be formed, or G's at least; it might have been more realistic and believable had J simply been a solid friend and neighbor (perhaps with a hopeful eye toward bedding her). My complaint is that this seems to be the situation in a too-large number of books I've read lately.
It would be interesting to have a little more information on Kayl's past as an innkeeper with her husband. He was a Varnan, and because of past wars Varnans are generally viewed with the sort of automatic hatred as Germans and Japanese in the 40's. It might slow down the story, but without it I can't help wondering how they coped; setting up shop in a small town/village, even without much of an accent, I would expect to be significantly difficult.
I kept finding myself annoyed by small things – such as a mention that someone who had been wounded spent four days in bed. The reason this annoyed me was that there were no beds; the group was living rough in a campsite, so what he actually did was probably spend four days kept immobile in a nest of blankets and other people's cloaks on a pallet they'd cobbled together, on the ground.
It is, overall, a well-told story, with likeable and believable characters. I think this is far from her best work, but still enjoyable.
I've always been a huge fan of Patricia C. Wrede, and I like this book, a lot. But I don't love it as much as I expected. From small things - like Kayl, on watch over her camp at night, sitting and staring into the fire while she tries to order her thoughts, thereby destroying her night vision completely. It specifically says she is watching the flames - so anyone could have come up behind her and knifed her in the back, or made as much noise as they wanted approaching because, no longer able to see in the dark at all, she would have been slow to react. It was just a tiny scene - but so much is made of the fact that she is a highly trained elite warrior that this tiny scene left a huge impact.
One aspect of the story that bugs me a little is one for which it is, itself, not really to blame; it's more the mass of fiction in general, not just this writer's and not just fantasy. It is the everybody-loves-Raymond syndrome, in which there is one character who the opposite gender wants and the same gender wants to be. Kayl was very happily married to (), who is dead as this story begins. It very quickly becomes clear that her neighbor and friend, (J), loves her and would be very happy to fill the role of second husband. Then (K)'s old comrade (G) comes back into her life, and it quickly becomes obvious to the reader if not to Kayl that he loves her. It's useful for the plot, of course, for the attachments to be formed, or G's at least; it might have been more realistic and believable had J simply been a solid friend and neighbor (perhaps with a hopeful eye toward bedding her). My complaint is that this seems to be the situation in a too-large number of books I've read lately.
It would be interesting to have a little more information on Kayl's past as an innkeeper with her husband. He was a Varnan, and because of past wars Varnans are generally viewed with the sort of automatic hatred as Germans and Japanese in the 40's. It might slow down the story, but without it I can't help wondering how they coped; setting up shop in a small town/village, even without much of an accent, I would expect to be significantly difficult.
I kept finding myself annoyed by small things – such as a mention that someone who had been wounded spent four days in bed. The reason this annoyed me was that there were no beds; the group was living rough in a campsite, so what he actually did was probably spend four days kept immobile in a nest of blankets and other people's cloaks on a pallet they'd cobbled together, on the ground.
It is, overall, a well-told story, with likeable and believable characters. I think this is far from her best work, but still enjoyable.
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up - because it's Patricia C. Wrede.
While the Lyra books do constitute a series, as I understand it and as I remember it they are also each standalone novels. Put together, they relate the long history of Lyra; taken separately, they are perfectly readable each unto itself.
I've always been a huge fan of Patricia C. Wrede, and I liked this book, a lot. But I didn't love it as much as I expected. There was nothing huge, but a handful of small things - like Kayl, on watch over her camp at night, sitting and staring into the fire while she tries to order her thoughts, thereby destroying her night vision completely. It specifically says she is watching the flames - so anyone could have come up behind her and knifed her in the back, or made as much noise as they wanted approaching because, no longer able to see in the dark at all, she would have been slow to react. It was just a tiny scene - but so much is made of the fact that she is a highly trained elite warrior that this tiny scene left a huge impact.
Another small thing that irritated: a mention that someone who had been wounded spent four days in bed. The reason this annoyed me was that there were no beds then and there; the group was living rough in a campsite, so what he actually did was probably spend four days kept immobile in a nest of blankets and other people's cloaks on a pallet they'd cobbled together, on the ground.
One aspect of the story that bugs me a little is one for which it is, itself, not really to blame; it's more the mass of fiction in general, not just this writer's and not just fantasy. It is a touch of the Mary Sues, in which there is one character who the opposite gender wants and the same gender wants to be. Kayl was very happily married to Kevran, who is some years dead as this story begins. It very quickly becomes clear that her neighbor and friend, Jirod, quietly loves her and would be very happy to fill the role of second husband. Then Kevran's old comrade Glyndon comes back into her life, and it quickly becomes obvious to the reader if not to Kayl that he loves her. It's useful for the plot, of course, for the attachments to be formed, or Glyndon's at least; it might have been more realistic and believable had Jirod simply been a solid friend and neighbor (perhaps with a hopeful eye toward bedding her). My complaint is that this seems to be the situation in a too-large number of books I've read lately – a symptom, maybe, of a sort of sharp focus in which the main female character of the story is just about the only female character (in this case the only available adult human female).
It would be interesting to have a little more information on Kayl's past as an innkeeper with her husband. Kevran was a Varnan, and because of past wars Varnans are generally viewed with the sort of automatic hatred as Germans and Japanese were in the 40's. It might have slowed down the story, but without it I can't help wondering how they managed; setting up shop in the small village of Copeham, even without much of an accent, I would expect to be significant.
Actually, that leads to another point: this might have benefited by being told in two books, or one book told in two discrete parts, rather than being set in the later timeline covering past events in extensive flashbacks. Characters' deaths would have had more impact if they were unexpected, rather than remembered; it seemed as though there was a tremendous amount going on in that earlier journey, from Kayl's introduction to the love(s) of her life to the beginning of the end of the Sisterhood's power, that begged for better exposition.
It is a well-told story, with likeable and believable characters. I like Kayl and the life she's carved out for herself, and the way her story is told. I like Bryn and the Wyrd, and want more about them. Glyndon's combination of brashness and I like the relationship between Kayl and her past, and with the Sisterhood; I like that they're a bit bad-ass, and very few are the warm and motherly types that are the go-to archetype for female mages (especially Coranna – I like that she's an unapologetic bitca). I even like Mark and Dara, Kayl's children – they read as genuine children without crossing the line into "annoying and should be deleted", if perhaps a bit too here-and-now in their language; they sometimes sound like they're about to ask for a Coke and ten bucks to go to the movies. (I believe it was Mark who referred to Coranna as "weird", which felt very 20th-21st century and also clashed with the race Wyrd.) There are plenty of nits to be picked - I think this is far from Ms. Wrede's best work, but still very enjoyable.
While the Lyra books do constitute a series, as I understand it and as I remember it they are also each standalone novels. Put together, they relate the long history of Lyra; taken separately, they are perfectly readable each unto itself.
I've always been a huge fan of Patricia C. Wrede, and I liked this book, a lot. But I didn't love it as much as I expected. There was nothing huge, but a handful of small things - like Kayl, on watch over her camp at night, sitting and staring into the fire while she tries to order her thoughts, thereby destroying her night vision completely. It specifically says she is watching the flames - so anyone could have come up behind her and knifed her in the back, or made as much noise as they wanted approaching because, no longer able to see in the dark at all, she would have been slow to react. It was just a tiny scene - but so much is made of the fact that she is a highly trained elite warrior that this tiny scene left a huge impact.
Another small thing that irritated: a mention that someone who had been wounded spent four days in bed. The reason this annoyed me was that there were no beds then and there; the group was living rough in a campsite, so what he actually did was probably spend four days kept immobile in a nest of blankets and other people's cloaks on a pallet they'd cobbled together, on the ground.
One aspect of the story that bugs me a little is one for which it is, itself, not really to blame; it's more the mass of fiction in general, not just this writer's and not just fantasy. It is a touch of the Mary Sues, in which there is one character who the opposite gender wants and the same gender wants to be. Kayl was very happily married to Kevran, who is some years dead as this story begins. It very quickly becomes clear that her neighbor and friend, Jirod, quietly loves her and would be very happy to fill the role of second husband. Then Kevran's old comrade Glyndon comes back into her life, and it quickly becomes obvious to the reader if not to Kayl that he loves her. It's useful for the plot, of course, for the attachments to be formed, or Glyndon's at least; it might have been more realistic and believable had Jirod simply been a solid friend and neighbor (perhaps with a hopeful eye toward bedding her). My complaint is that this seems to be the situation in a too-large number of books I've read lately – a symptom, maybe, of a sort of sharp focus in which the main female character of the story is just about the only female character (in this case the only available adult human female).
It would be interesting to have a little more information on Kayl's past as an innkeeper with her husband. Kevran was a Varnan, and because of past wars Varnans are generally viewed with the sort of automatic hatred as Germans and Japanese were in the 40's. It might have slowed down the story, but without it I can't help wondering how they managed; setting up shop in the small village of Copeham, even without much of an accent, I would expect to be significant.
Actually, that leads to another point: this might have benefited by being told in two books, or one book told in two discrete parts, rather than being set in the later timeline covering past events in extensive flashbacks. Characters' deaths would have had more impact if they were unexpected, rather than remembered; it seemed as though there was a tremendous amount going on in that earlier journey, from Kayl's introduction to the love(s) of her life to the beginning of the end of the Sisterhood's power, that begged for better exposition.
It is a well-told story, with likeable and believable characters. I like Kayl and the life she's carved out for herself, and the way her story is told. I like Bryn and the Wyrd, and want more about them. Glyndon's combination of brashness and I like the relationship between Kayl and her past, and with the Sisterhood; I like that they're a bit bad-ass, and very few are the warm and motherly types that are the go-to archetype for female mages (especially Coranna – I like that she's an unapologetic bitca). I even like Mark and Dara, Kayl's children – they read as genuine children without crossing the line into "annoying and should be deleted", if perhaps a bit too here-and-now in their language; they sometimes sound like they're about to ask for a Coke and ten bucks to go to the movies. (I believe it was Mark who referred to Coranna as "weird", which felt very 20th-21st century and also clashed with the race Wyrd.) There are plenty of nits to be picked - I think this is far from Ms. Wrede's best work, but still very enjoyable.
ruggerford's review against another edition
5.0
Love the main character being a solo mum who has to look after her kids as well as adventure!