Reviews

The Gift by Alison Croggon

mirable's review against another edition

5.0

for professional review

mothgender's review against another edition

2.0

It felt like nothing happened in this book for the longest time. And then when things started happening I wasn't really invested in any of the characters.

etheral1's review against another edition

Poetically written in the spirit of Tolkien, very beautiful, powerful, and overall left me with an achieved, hopeful feeling that I can't say many books leave me with. It was a very interesting, and beautiful read with fully fleshed out characters and environments and senses that made me FEEL as though I were walking and traveling with the characters across the world. I look forward to picking up the sequel, as books like these are hard to find.

nedhayes's review against another edition

2.0

Derivative. Also, boring. But it's feminist in focus, so I gave a star or two for effort.

xkou's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

tarralmurphy's review against another edition

5.0

This book really does follow in Tolkien’s footsteps, and in my opinion even does better than his writing. The landscapes and buildings are definitely evocative of Middle-Earth, including the post-high fantasy vibe. Magic is more prevalent, with a slightly harder-but-still-soft magic system. Women actually talk and are three dimensional. Overall, I adored this book. 6/5 would recommend

susiblueberry's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

ivyloaf's review against another edition

3.0

Overall--good book if you need a break from heavier reading. In the beginning it is any fantasy novel--much traveling by superpowered horses, a wise best friend/mentor,caravans being sacked by brooding, black-robed men. Near the end it becomes its own book--and that is where it ends. I wasn't sufficiently interested in the characters to go on, but I can see the universe finally claiming its own in the next book. All-in-all: a great intro do fantasy if anything. An enjoyable, if slightly cliched read if nothing else.

cakefrog's review against another edition

3.0

Начиналось все очень хорошо. Отличные отзывы и описание сюжета вдохновили меня. Очень красивая карта в начале книги и дух Толкина на страницах.
Но чем глубже я продвигался, тем меньше оставалось от моего энтузиазма. Это не провальная книга, но явно не для меня пирожок.
* Автор часто пишет недомолвками и не раскрывает всех деталей, подробностей. Сначала это покупает - читателю не все разжёвывают. Подождем и узнаем больше. Однако и к середине книги у меня было все еще очень смутное представление, что за дар это у главной героини и в чем строго говоря смысл квеста. Казалось, автор намеренно пускает пыль в глаза, боясь очертить главные идеи... У меня от такого подхода пропал интерес к чтению. Как здесь уже писали, первая книга как затянутый пролог. Продолжение я читать не стану.

bekahbea86's review against another edition

3.0

This book was preatty good. A lost of it remeinded me of [b:the Lord of the Rings|34|The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, Part 1)|J.R.R. Tolkien|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156043001s/34.jpg|3204327]. I'm hoping that once I get into the sencond book it will feel more original. But it's still a good read.