Scan barcode
mjporterauthor's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful return to Deverry
In only a few words, Deverry and its rich cast of characters, are once more brought to life.
A wonderful new addition.
Nothing else ever quite matches up to these novels. Bring on the next book.
In only a few words, Deverry and its rich cast of characters, are once more brought to life.
A wonderful new addition.
Nothing else ever quite matches up to these novels. Bring on the next book.
skycrane's review against another edition
5.0
This new trilogy starts off with a book focused much more on legal wrangling and courtly intrigue than magic and battle. It's quite good! I like the shift from a High Medieval-type society to one more at home in the Early Modern era.
shanzehimran's review against another edition
2.0
** MIGHT HAVE SPOILERS**
I have not read any of the previous Deverry books before. I had to DNF this book because it stopped becoming engaging to me around 3/4ths of the way through. I enjoyed the world-building thoroughly in the beginning but I think the use of a patriarchal society diluted the actions of Alyssa and Dovina because it seemed like all they had to do to attract attention was be well-spoken, which honestly was more of an iffy theme than anything. It meant the characters seemed to fall short in personality and development, and Cavan being in love with Alyssa because he thought she was "not like other girls" despite that there was an entire university full of women scholars made me feel like it just undermined education for women in general.
Cavan is the type of love interest I would have enjoyed, because I like the roguish kinds, but his attitude towards Alyssa and the themes of purity put me off. It is understandable as it is supposed to be a historical depiction of fantasy, but the theme of a patriarchal, highly "purity culture" society seemed less fun to read when fantasy can easily be a depiction of societal problems that aren't real. Additionally, there was no real conclusion to the patriarchal problem. It almost just continued to exist, because the real problem being solved was that of economical reform, and undermined the need for there to be a patriarchy in the first place.
Also, for absolutely no reason, Cavan admits that people of dark skin color makes him uncomfortable? I don't even think I saw any resolution to that. Out of no where, the person we are supposed to be rooting for has a problem with *skin color* that has nothing to do with the book whatsoever, and has no solution where we see him change. We see him admit that he needs to be better because it was the very people who were helping him, but it was the most unnecessary detail to include. In fact, it was around this part, or a little after, that I DNF-ed this.
I was far more invested in Dovina's story because she seemed far more clever, and I liked her romance story way more as well.
It was an okay book, entertaining for the most part, but more problematic in areas that I care to admit. Alyssa was bland and a Mary Sue, and Dovina was my favorite character.
I have not read any of the previous Deverry books before. I had to DNF this book because it stopped becoming engaging to me around 3/4ths of the way through. I enjoyed the world-building thoroughly in the beginning but I think the use of a patriarchal society diluted the actions of Alyssa and Dovina because it seemed like all they had to do to attract attention was be well-spoken, which honestly was more of an iffy theme than anything. It meant the characters seemed to fall short in personality and development, and Cavan being in love with Alyssa because he thought she was "not like other girls" despite that there was an entire university full of women scholars made me feel like it just undermined education for women in general.
Cavan is the type of love interest I would have enjoyed, because I like the roguish kinds, but his attitude towards Alyssa and the themes of purity put me off. It is understandable as it is supposed to be a historical depiction of fantasy, but the theme of a patriarchal, highly "purity culture" society seemed less fun to read when fantasy can easily be a depiction of societal problems that aren't real. Additionally, there was no real conclusion to the patriarchal problem. It almost just continued to exist, because the real problem being solved was that of economical reform, and undermined the need for there to be a patriarchy in the first place.
Also, for absolutely no reason, Cavan admits that people of dark skin color makes him uncomfortable? I don't even think I saw any resolution to that. Out of no where, the person we are supposed to be rooting for has a problem with *skin color* that has nothing to do with the book whatsoever, and has no solution where we see him change. We see him admit that he needs to be better because it was the very people who were helping him, but it was the most unnecessary detail to include. In fact, it was around this part, or a little after, that I DNF-ed this.
I was far more invested in Dovina's story because she seemed far more clever, and I liked her romance story way more as well.
Spoiler
The general plot about how reform was difficult because it was tradition and tradition doesn't change, and then most of the book being them just searching for one manuscript to prove that tradition, actually, was different was more of a basic plot than what I think I expected, but it was not too bad.It was an okay book, entertaining for the most part, but more problematic in areas that I care to admit. Alyssa was bland and a Mary Sue, and Dovina was my favorite character.
druv's review against another edition
4.0
Time-skip sequels (though really, this is an all-new series) in fantasy are very interesting to me, especially when the author has thought through the implications of technological, political, and economic development. Luckily, from the earlier books in the Deverry Cycle, Katharine Kerr has spent a lot of time thinking about Deverrian society changes over time (the earlier series, after all, took place across 600 or so years). For new readers, the past will provide a rich history, with the new characters being quite complete in themselves and not needing the details of the earlier books to inform them. For old fans, we can take great joy in the references to events we read from the perspective of the participants.
Deverrian society is changing, with the middle class expanding and book-learnin' starting to become more important. The story focuses mostly on a group of noble and middle-class women who start setting some reforms into action, while the old rivalries of noblemen and royalty still endanger the common-born who are in their way. I am very curious as to how this series will progress, and very happy to reacquaint myself with the world of Deverry.
Deverrian society is changing, with the middle class expanding and book-learnin' starting to become more important. The story focuses mostly on a group of noble and middle-class women who start setting some reforms into action, while the old rivalries of noblemen and royalty still endanger the common-born who are in their way. I am very curious as to how this series will progress, and very happy to reacquaint myself with the world of Deverry.
amotisse's review against another edition
4.0
Strong, intelligent female heroines fighting for justice.
blodeuedd's review
3.0
I listened to this and I do confess that I do not know how to spell anything! So I will just not mention places or names for everyone cos yikes. I mean I did read the previous series and did I know how to pronounce things back then. It's like Welsh mixed with something else.
Anyway, you do not have to have read the previous series (15 books!) to get this. That series takes place 300 (and more) years before this. Now the world is closing in on the renaissance and it is such a different world than the previous world.
Alyssa is attending, well let's call it university, and she is studying the law. But law is not really something that is big there. Money can buy justice. At one place a lord is taking his son home to his own court and yeah, I doubt the ruling there would be fair. Alyssa is with a group that wants the commoners to have voices too. And not just the rich and powerful.
She meets Cavan, a silver dagger (Kerr certainly has a thing for those) and they set on a journey for justice. On her side she has a fellow scholar and Lady. But Lords (Gwerbet?) never give up power that easily.
There are elves, Westfolk, magic called Dweomer, even if people do not believe in it anymore. Politics, a bit of romance and just that lovely feeling of being somewhere you used to love.
I enjoyed it and the narration was great. I did not have to wonder about spelling something in my head, lol. I also really like Ruth's narration, she is spot on for this tale. Her voice just fits!
But yes I kept wondering if those I had loved before had been reincarnated in some small roles or not. Awww good times.
Anyway, you do not have to have read the previous series (15 books!) to get this. That series takes place 300 (and more) years before this. Now the world is closing in on the renaissance and it is such a different world than the previous world.
Alyssa is attending, well let's call it university, and she is studying the law. But law is not really something that is big there. Money can buy justice. At one place a lord is taking his son home to his own court and yeah, I doubt the ruling there would be fair. Alyssa is with a group that wants the commoners to have voices too. And not just the rich and powerful.
She meets Cavan, a silver dagger (Kerr certainly has a thing for those) and they set on a journey for justice. On her side she has a fellow scholar and Lady. But Lords (Gwerbet?) never give up power that easily.
There are elves, Westfolk, magic called Dweomer, even if people do not believe in it anymore. Politics, a bit of romance and just that lovely feeling of being somewhere you used to love.
I enjoyed it and the narration was great. I did not have to wonder about spelling something in my head, lol. I also really like Ruth's narration, she is spot on for this tale. Her voice just fits!
But yes I kept wondering if those I had loved before had been reincarnated in some small roles or not. Awww good times.
phoebe_m's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really struggled to get into this book but I persisted and eventually began to enjoy it. I think this was mainly due to the writing style which didn’t particularly grab me at first. The plot was interesting and I liked the politics and world. I wasn’t extremely attached to the main characters and found them a bit flat. Overall an enjoyable read.
catamongstthepages's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
isabellarobinson7's review against another edition
1.5
Rating: 1.5 stars
The only thing amazing about this book (other than its cover) was how many clichés the author could squeeze into 500 pages. That's a little harsh, but let me explain. First we have a female MC who is plain-but-beautiful, not-like-other-girls, and only-a-commoner who knows nothing about the outside world, but don't worry because it's in a cute way (so precious! Must be protected!). Naturally we then have a bad-boy-brooding-but-secretly-a-softie love interest (staring into middle distance; has The Smoulder™) that corrupts our pure, innocent, naive MC. Through sheer coincidence, (and absolutely not because the plot needs them to) these two unlikely allies end up together on Fantasy Quest variant 7 (not to be confused with variant 6, they are very different). On this perilous quest (where the characters' lives are most definitely in danger) our duo find themselves in some frosty mountains, and lo and behold! our heroine gets cold. But fear not! Our brave and dashing man (who is drop dead gorgeous but conveniently single) comes to the rescue! Mustering up all his courage (of which he has much) he gallantly swoops in and warms her in his embrace! But our kind, sensitive man fears violating the lady's good, pious nature, and he pulls back. No! we scream. We have been rooting for this couple since the first chapter they met! (which also happened to be the first time they kissed, but it's not insta love because... uh... it just isn't). But we needn't worry our ship will not sail, because our fair maiden has already been corrupted to the core by this immoral man, so what is one scandalous night upon every other unscrupulous thing she had done with his guidance? *swoons*
Ok, but in all seriousness, Sword of Fire wasn't that bad. I wrote this while I was pushing myself through the last 100 pages and I got a tinsy bit carried away. I am just not the right audience for this. Why is it that whenever I try to diversify my authors (usually by trying to read more fantasy books by women), I always end up with duds?
The only thing amazing about this book (other than its cover) was how many clichés the author could squeeze into 500 pages. That's a little harsh, but let me explain. First we have a female MC who is plain-but-beautiful, not-like-other-girls, and only-a-commoner who knows nothing about the outside world, but don't worry because it's in a cute way (so precious! Must be protected!). Naturally we then have a bad-boy-brooding-but-secretly-a-softie love interest (staring into middle distance; has The Smoulder™) that corrupts our pure, innocent, naive MC. Through sheer coincidence, (and absolutely not because the plot needs them to) these two unlikely allies end up together on Fantasy Quest variant 7 (not to be confused with variant 6, they are very different). On this perilous quest (where the characters' lives are most definitely in danger) our duo find themselves in some frosty mountains, and lo and behold! our heroine gets cold. But fear not! Our brave and dashing man (who is drop dead gorgeous but conveniently single) comes to the rescue! Mustering up all his courage (of which he has much) he gallantly swoops in and warms her in his embrace! But our kind, sensitive man fears violating the lady's good, pious nature, and he pulls back. No! we scream. We have been rooting for this couple since the first chapter they met! (which also happened to be the first time they kissed, but it's not insta love because... uh... it just isn't). But we needn't worry our ship will not sail, because our fair maiden has already been corrupted to the core by this immoral man, so what is one scandalous night upon every other unscrupulous thing she had done with his guidance? *swoons*
Ok, but in all seriousness, Sword of Fire wasn't that bad. I wrote this while I was pushing myself through the last 100 pages and I got a tinsy bit carried away. I am just not the right audience for this. Why is it that whenever I try to diversify my authors (usually by trying to read more fantasy books by women), I always end up with duds?