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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Murder
Okay so at face value, this book sounds like "Ew, um, Holly, I had no idea you were into that S&M thing. Have fun with that."
But this turned out to be one of the best books I've read in a good long time. And the two follow up novels are really good too, though not AS good.
Sometimes she gets overwrought, and the language can be almost too formal at times. Nonetheless, this is a riveting coming of age novel with loads of sexual tension, adventure, swashbuckling, sweeping vistas, a twist on Christianity that I found highly amusing, gypsy magic, and, yes, S&M sex. Yet, I never once found it titillating.
The two main characters are compelling and complex. The setting is familiar yet unique and strange. The action literally left me breathless sometimes.
I'm going to make Jon read this next, but only after I reread it first.
But this turned out to be one of the best books I've read in a good long time. And the two follow up novels are really good too, though not AS good.
Sometimes she gets overwrought, and the language can be almost too formal at times. Nonetheless, this is a riveting coming of age novel with loads of sexual tension, adventure, swashbuckling, sweeping vistas, a twist on Christianity that I found highly amusing, gypsy magic, and, yes, S&M sex. Yet, I never once found it titillating.
The two main characters are compelling and complex. The setting is familiar yet unique and strange. The action literally left me breathless sometimes.
I'm going to make Jon read this next, but only after I reread it first.
What a great book! I have read it before, years ago, so I was a little afraid of the suckfaerie. But it was GREAT! This book is a real classic and everybody should read it. It has everything: great characters, great world, great story. I went trhough so may emotions: fear, happiness, sadness, lust, love, hate. It lacked only one emotion and that was boredom. Can't say I missed that one though ;)
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this book when I was 15 or 16. It is by far one of my favorite books. I have read it several times over the years.
This was a reread for me as the vaginal fantasy group was reading it for May. But I have been wanting to revisit it as I remember loving it quite a lot.
Let me begin by saying that reading anything for a book club is very different. Other people point out things that never ever occur to me. In many ways I am a reader who glosses over parts I dont like and focuses on all the yummy goodness.
So when it was pointed out that the entire beginning of the book deals with young children and training for prostitution, it was rather difficult to ignore. And yes it made me uncomfortable.
In fact the entire beginning 50 pages are rather slow and uncomfortable. But once she is full grown and enters her world the book really picks up.
In the end I did still enjoy the book, yet certain things really sprang out that bugged me. The author uses the main character as a reason to not discuss certain topics. For example: she claims to not know anything about war tactics and thus completely avoids talking about many of the tactical discussions in the story.
Much of the first half of the book Phedre (the main character) is left out of plot and intrigue discussions.
Its clear that the author was creating suspense and mistery but its a shitty way to do it because it makes our heroine seem stupid and incompetent. Its especially odd and frustrating because the book is so darn long. In fact I think it would have benefited from a good editing.
While I appreciate that this is a very sensual race of people, sex is not the only solution to everything. Really.
Okay now that I have ranted and raved, I did enjoy the story and found the intrigue and world to be engaging.
I really think the book needed editing and the author needed to use less cop outs, but I grew to like Phedre and her strange world.
Let me begin by saying that reading anything for a book club is very different. Other people point out things that never ever occur to me. In many ways I am a reader who glosses over parts I dont like and focuses on all the yummy goodness.
So when it was pointed out that the entire beginning of the book deals with young children and training for prostitution, it was rather difficult to ignore. And yes it made me uncomfortable.
In fact the entire beginning 50 pages are rather slow and uncomfortable. But once she is full grown and enters her world the book really picks up.
In the end I did still enjoy the book, yet certain things really sprang out that bugged me. The author uses the main character as a reason to not discuss certain topics. For example: she claims to not know anything about war tactics and thus completely avoids talking about many of the tactical discussions in the story.
Much of the first half of the book Phedre (the main character) is left out of plot and intrigue discussions.
Its clear that the author was creating suspense and mistery but its a shitty way to do it because it makes our heroine seem stupid and incompetent. Its especially odd and frustrating because the book is so darn long. In fact I think it would have benefited from a good editing.
While I appreciate that this is a very sensual race of people, sex is not the only solution to everything. Really.
Okay now that I have ranted and raved, I did enjoy the story and found the intrigue and world to be engaging.
I really think the book needed editing and the author needed to use less cop outs, but I grew to like Phedre and her strange world.
Not quite for me. I didnt realize that this is more of an alternative history than a fantasy, and I find some of the racializing... not necessarily blatantly offensive, but flat, in a way. The Tsingano are clearly Roma, and even use some of their language, but the author leans heavily on tropes about the Roma.
I found things to like. The prose felt too embellished at first, but I grew to like and appreciate it. The devotional tone works well, and the Elua lore is interesting.
Mostly, I am finding it boring. Too many named characters and lots of political intrigue, but I'm barely following. Don't like any of the characters enough to keep going, and my hold on the ebook is set to expire soon.
I see why this is regarded as a classic and it's clearly a predecessor for others in the same sphere. Just not my style and little to grab me personally.
I found things to like. The prose felt too embellished at first, but I grew to like and appreciate it. The devotional tone works well, and the Elua lore is interesting.
Mostly, I am finding it boring. Too many named characters and lots of political intrigue, but I'm barely following. Don't like any of the characters enough to keep going, and my hold on the ebook is set to expire soon.
I see why this is regarded as a classic and it's clearly a predecessor for others in the same sphere. Just not my style and little to grab me personally.
DNF @ p. 13
I am not a fan of this writing style so I'm calling it quits.
I am not a fan of this writing style so I'm calling it quits.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No