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posies23's review against another edition
5.0
Why, oh why aren't these books better known?
Incredibly well written, compelling, complicated fantasy. Read it!
A worth sequel to GOD STALK, continuing the story of Jame as she seeks her identity and tries to stay alive. Multiple storylines converge towards the end, answering some questions and leaving still more for the sequels.
Incredibly well written, compelling, complicated fantasy. Read it!
A worth sequel to GOD STALK, continuing the story of Jame as she seeks her identity and tries to stay alive. Multiple storylines converge towards the end, answering some questions and leaving still more for the sequels.
shane_tiernan's review against another edition
3.0
I missed the city from the first book but loved the earth mother in this one. Unfortunately she was only a small part of the story. I like the setup and the culture building but there weren't enough cool original ideas. The writing was decent but sometimes a bit surreal and confusing.
b00kdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
assaphmehr's review against another edition
5.0
I've recently decided to re-read this excellent epic fantasy cycle, and review as I go.
What to Expect
A highly entertaining story, continuing from where God Stalk left off. Hodgell is now exposing more of the Kencyrath culture and world. We get more of the back stories and histories of the characters, as well as the expected political machinations culminating in an epic battle.
Structurally, the story alternates between Jame (the protagonist of God Stalk) and Tori (her twin). They are each only vaguely aware of each other, and lead different adventures from vastly differing perspectives -- all naturally culminating together at the grand finale.
What I liked
Hodgell's story-telling and world-building are top-notch, her story pacing is excellent, and she balances light and dark themes perfectly. I love the tantalising glimpses into Jame's past, and the building tension around her. Torisen, while he has his annoying blind spots, is also a very deep and engaging character. One can't help but feel immersed in the story, love the characters, be glued to plot, and wish to learn more.
What to be aware of
The story builds up on the previous volume. While referenced events are explained in short, it always helps to read in order. The latest installment of the series (book 8) was published last year -- 35 years on from the first volume. I believe the series is still not complete, though I expect GRRM fans will likely not mind this in the least. I certainly don't, as the stories make an excellent read, even if they leave you hungering for more.
Summary
A highly recommended series. This is epic fantasy done right, with perfect balance of light and dark, and excellent, slowly-building pacing. I'm off to re-read the rest of the series (and read those newer volumes for the first time). If you love fantasy, I strongly suggest you add it to your TBR pile.
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1518065419p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457914061s/29500700.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
A highly entertaining story, continuing from where God Stalk left off. Hodgell is now exposing more of the Kencyrath culture and world. We get more of the back stories and histories of the characters, as well as the expected political machinations culminating in an epic battle.
Structurally, the story alternates between Jame (the protagonist of God Stalk) and Tori (her twin). They are each only vaguely aware of each other, and lead different adventures from vastly differing perspectives -- all naturally culminating together at the grand finale.
What I liked
Hodgell's story-telling and world-building are top-notch, her story pacing is excellent, and she balances light and dark themes perfectly. I love the tantalising glimpses into Jame's past, and the building tension around her. Torisen, while he has his annoying blind spots, is also a very deep and engaging character. One can't help but feel immersed in the story, love the characters, be glued to plot, and wish to learn more.
What to be aware of
The story builds up on the previous volume. While referenced events are explained in short, it always helps to read in order. The latest installment of the series (book 8) was published last year -- 35 years on from the first volume. I believe the series is still not complete, though I expect GRRM fans will likely not mind this in the least. I certainly don't, as the stories make an excellent read, even if they leave you hungering for more.
Summary
A highly recommended series. This is epic fantasy done right, with perfect balance of light and dark, and excellent, slowly-building pacing. I'm off to re-read the rest of the series (and read those newer volumes for the first time). If you love fantasy, I strongly suggest you add it to your TBR pile.
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1518065419p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457914061s/29500700.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
collegecate's review against another edition
3.0
First read in 2007, re-read April 2014
A friend I loaned this to said he much preferred the first book to this one, and I agree but I still like this one. There's more detail than plot, but they're important details and we still get to see Jame in her "wild" persona before the constraints of her society take hold in later books (or try to).
I am reminded, as I was when I reread [b:The Blue Sword|407813|The Blue Sword (Damar, #2)|Robin McKinley|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1286927812s/407813.jpg|2321296] recently, how this book influenced my conception of the female hero. Granted, I was an adult when I first read these, but some of my ideas were still forming and I think the idea of a dancing warrior hero came from this book.
A friend I loaned this to said he much preferred the first book to this one, and I agree but I still like this one. There's more detail than plot, but they're important details and we still get to see Jame in her "wild" persona before the constraints of her society take hold in later books (or try to).
I am reminded, as I was when I reread [b:The Blue Sword|407813|The Blue Sword (Damar, #2)|Robin McKinley|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1286927812s/407813.jpg|2321296] recently, how this book influenced my conception of the female hero. Granted, I was an adult when I first read these, but some of my ideas were still forming and I think the idea of a dancing warrior hero came from this book.
abetterjulie's review against another edition
4.0
This is the sequel to one of my favorite books. I am glad it held up to the original! The ongoing mystery of the main character's past and future is what really makes this book compelling to me.
mlejoy's review against another edition
2.0
I gave this series a fair shot, but I just can't make myself be interested in the plot or care about the characters. I'm not interested in the gods or the magic system. I find this author to have a very confusing writing style...it's hard to tell who is speaking or who is performing actions. Also, I have a MAJOR reading pet peeve about books that have a plot that only consists of people traveling somewhere. It's boring...I'm looking at you GRRM.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen has ruined fantasy for me, because I cant help but compare everything to it...and this one comes up way short. I will not be finishing this series. Too many other books out there to waste any more time and money on something I dont really like.
The Malazan Book of the Fallen has ruined fantasy for me, because I cant help but compare everything to it...and this one comes up way short. I will not be finishing this series. Too many other books out there to waste any more time and money on something I dont really like.
kathodus's review against another edition
5.0
Unlike "God Stalk", the plot of "Dark of the Moon" moves along at a medium pace. I bounced off it at first because it was so different than "God Stalk", introducing new characters I didn't care about. I just wanted more stories about Jame, her cat, and her claws. Once I settled into it, though, it took off. Mysteries introduced in the first book are revealed (the same goes for mysteries introduced in the second book, now that I think about it), the reader learns more about the fascinating world of Rathihllien and the universe in which it lies, and, as I'm learning to expect from Hodgell, there are surprising moments of humor. Excellent book. I immediately bought the next two-volume compendium.
foomple's review
4.0
At the end of the second book, I still don't feel like I really know Jame (and maybe it's understandable, since she doesn't really know herself) and Tori makes me want to hit things, but HOLY WOW that world-building. The entire section when they were in the Anarchies had me *riveted*. I am undecided on whether to continue the series --on one hand, I don't care at all about watching Jame's brother or the rest of the Highborn try to use her as a sequestered pawn (or about keeping track of all the political alliances and machinations, for that matter). But on the other hand, I would *love* to learn more about the Builders, the sociology and theology of the world, and how current songs and myths are rooted in (gorgeously unexpected!) ancient history on Rathillien. This doesn't seem like the sort of series a reader can cherry-pick from, and I don't know whether the parts I like so much about it will continue to outweigh the bits I don't care for. I think if I had found this series when I was younger, I might have been in all the way.
abetterjulie's review
4.0
This is the sequel to one of my favorite books. I am glad it held up to the original! The ongoing mystery of the main character's past and future is what really makes this book compelling to me.