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mellymith's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Rape
nekokat's review against another edition
3.0
Far more of a cookie-cutter fantasy novel than its predecessor, Wyrd notwithstanding. Kept my interest, mostly, though the politics and history got a bit convoluted, and I missed the feeling of inevitability from the first novel. Demoted a star for equating homosexuality with evil/unclean magic.
peregrineace's review against another edition
4.0
A very solid "comfort fantasy"... some overuse of tropes but likeable characters, solid worldbuilding, nice hints of things to come. There's nothing revolutionary here (and I wouldn't expect it from a book almost three decades old) but it's a good story and the reincarnation meta-plot is still an interesting conceit. I suspect that once the first four books are read, you could have a great discussion about Campbellian characters and the repercussions of small acts. It's also worth mentioning that Kerr's representation of feudal life seems credible and could provoke some discussion about "historical accuracy" in secondary world fantasy.
I read that Kerr has reworked the original story both for continuity and issues with how homosexuality was represented. I've never read the original but the reworked version doesn't have any major issues that I can see, although there's probably some room for discussion about whyonly Bad Guys are homosexual and why they're always ashamed of themselves . While the overall story is relatively simple, it is graphic in places, particularly scenes with the dark dweomer. This is definitely a mature audience book for scenes of severe abuse (child and sexual abuse, including rape ).
Overall, this story holds up well at nearly 3 decades old and I'll be moving on to [b:The Bristling Wood|10048323|The Bristling Wood|Katharine Kerr|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410755188s/10048323.jpg|1924582] fairly soon.
I read that Kerr has reworked the original story both for continuity and issues with how homosexuality was represented. I've never read the original but the reworked version doesn't have any major issues that I can see, although there's probably some room for discussion about why
Overall, this story holds up well at nearly 3 decades old and I'll be moving on to [b:The Bristling Wood|10048323|The Bristling Wood|Katharine Kerr|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410755188s/10048323.jpg|1924582] fairly soon.
lylah's review against another edition
3.0
Holy homophobia, batman!
Okay, so... I enjoyed this book. The flashbacks were very interesting and I loved seeing Gweniver, warrior of the goddess, and the fact that Kerr knew the flashbacks weren't enough to keep reader interest in the reincarnation plot. I liked seeing the Maelwadd founding and the construction of the world of Deverry.
The villains were atrociously horrible, which they were supposed to be. One of them is gay, but only seems to get sexual pleasure from raping men. Everyone was repulsed by him and the idea of homosexuality and one character literally wanted to die to avoid the shame of finding out he was gay. Um, what? Was that really necessary? I can't excuse this with "it was because of the times" because that was only in the '80s, and I can't excuse it as merely a Deverrian worldview because the villainization of homosexuality is universal by all of the characters. This could've been progressive or neutral but instead it was Very Bad. Shame on you, Katharine Kerr.
With those flaws pointed out, this is a "definitive edition" which has been redone since its original publication. I wonder what the changes were and I hope the homophobic thing wasn't worse before.
This fantasy is slightly above average, but the world is immersive and I'm interested in seeing where the dark dweomer plot is going. I wouldn't call it high quality but I like the premise a lot.
Okay, so... I enjoyed this book. The flashbacks were very interesting and I loved seeing Gweniver, warrior of the goddess, and the fact that Kerr knew the flashbacks weren't enough to keep reader interest in the reincarnation plot. I liked seeing the Maelwadd founding and the construction of the world of Deverry.
The villains were atrociously horrible, which they were supposed to be. One of them is gay, but only seems to get sexual pleasure from raping men. Everyone was repulsed by him and the idea of homosexuality and one character literally wanted to die to avoid the shame of finding out he was gay. Um, what? Was that really necessary? I can't excuse this with "it was because of the times" because that was only in the '80s, and I can't excuse it as merely a Deverrian worldview because the villainization of homosexuality is universal by all of the characters. This could've been progressive or neutral but instead it was Very Bad. Shame on you, Katharine Kerr.
With those flaws pointed out, this is a "definitive edition" which has been redone since its original publication. I wonder what the changes were and I hope the homophobic thing wasn't worse before.
This fantasy is slightly above average, but the world is immersive and I'm interested in seeing where the dark dweomer plot is going. I wouldn't call it high quality but I like the premise a lot.
adrienner's review against another edition
4.0
I think it took a couple of weeks to read, just due to time constraints. I did enjoy it. When the past came up, I was a little irritated because I wanted to find out what would happen in the current. That story was entertaining on its own, and I see how it shapes Jill in the current. Although, it seemed like at the end of the past story, the author got tired of it as well, and it wrapped up in a warped way.
Interesting links are made between the previous book and this. I wonder, with Dannyn's child, did we see a direct line ancestor of Cullyn?
Interesting links are made between the previous book and this. I wonder, with Dannyn's child, did we see a direct line ancestor of Cullyn?
suzjustsuz's review
2.0
It was interminable for about 85% of the book. I am not amused with the timeline jumping to show the reincarnations of the characters. The last 10 to 15% of the book made significant head way in opening up the long arc and the world, but for me it was too little too late.
I may return to this series at some point just to see if it improves in subsequent books. It's much loved by a lot of people. But I'm not very motivated for it right now.
***********
How can there not be any audiobooks of this on Goodreads?
I may return to this series at some point just to see if it improves in subsequent books. It's much loved by a lot of people. But I'm not very motivated for it right now.
***********
How can there not be any audiobooks of this on Goodreads?
adrienner's review
4.0
I think it took a couple of weeks to read, just due to time constraints. I did enjoy it. When the past came up, I was a little irritated because I wanted to find out what would happen in the current. That story was entertaining on its own, and I see how it shapes Jill in the current. Although, it seemed like at the end of the past story, the author got tired of it as well, and it wrapped up in a warped way.
Interesting links are made between the previous book and this. I wonder, with Dannyn's child, did we see a direct line ancestor of Cullyn?
Interesting links are made between the previous book and this. I wonder, with Dannyn's child, did we see a direct line ancestor of Cullyn?
evakristin's review
4.0
The las time I read this series was twenty years ago, when I was in my early teens. I remember the evil wizard’s ritual making an impression on me, I did not remember the blatant homophobia. I’m happy to say that both I and the times have changed, and I see from other reviews here on Goodreads that a revised edition has been published. I hope that means that Kerr has also changed her views on homosexuals.
Except from this, I find Deverry to still be a really good series! I enjoy seeing how both characters and the world they live in get fleshed out in this second book, and I like that we get to follow both our old friends, and to know new and interesting ones. I was especially looking forward to reading about Gweniver, as I remember liking this story a lot the first time I read it. Turns out aging has changed my perspective somewhat, and this time around I find myself agreeing more with Nevyn. My 13 years old self would be appalled!
One thing though; I wonder if Kerr had ever tried mead when she wrote this. Because it’s super sweet, and usually you’d just sip a little glass of it after dinner as a dessert and here her characters are quaffing it down like thin American beer, and for breakfast! I guarantee the sweetness would make them nauseous before the alcohol set in!
Except from this, I find Deverry to still be a really good series! I enjoy seeing how both characters and the world they live in get fleshed out in this second book, and I like that we get to follow both our old friends, and to know new and interesting ones. I was especially looking forward to reading about Gweniver, as I remember liking this story a lot the first time I read it. Turns out aging has changed my perspective somewhat, and this time around I find myself agreeing more with Nevyn. My 13 years old self would be appalled!
One thing though; I wonder if Kerr had ever tried mead when she wrote this. Because it’s super sweet, and usually you’d just sip a little glass of it after dinner as a dessert and here her characters are quaffing it down like thin American beer, and for breakfast! I guarantee the sweetness would make them nauseous before the alcohol set in!
bearsister's review
I'm enjoying this series, but it took a sharp left turn into the weird once it started involving sex and rape. Just not what I expected from an otherwise pretty straight laced DND-type magic setting.