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blodeuedd's review
2.0
This is the start to a new fantasy series set in a world the author knows well. He has written other books that take place 3000 year after this one and now he has gone back to look at the history of the elves. Or what I felt it to be, the massacre and destruction of them.
The elves have one big enemy, themselves. They are made up from different threads, let's just say races, and those will now start to fight between themselves and they especially go after the leaders. Their world is breaking apart. Oh those stupid elves, the whole point behind all of this is for some to get power and they use humans to do it. But we all know you can't trust humans. The elves should have known better. The whole book turns into one horrific slaughter. It is the the big bad Empire/Colonists/you name it who turns on the natives for their resources and slave labour and the elves have nothing to put up against the magic the humans wield. Just as other "explorers" had firepower.
But do not think all is lost. No the elves have one group of fighters who can take on anyone, they are just so few. And then there is Takar who is crazy and lives alone in the forest and 90% of the elves hate him after he left the elves on their home world to die. But he had to save the new world. I understand.
The thing that bothered me was that I had a hard time getting into this book. It felt confusing since everything happened so fast, it is truly action fantasy. Also the names, I had no idea who was a boy or a girl and it took quite some time to get it all in. Maybe in the end there was too much happening for me. I usually say I am not that into character driven novels but here I would have wanted more.
But even with those troubles I still got really fascinated because I want to know what will happen to this poor elven nation. I just want to go there and kick out those humans. I also wondered what happens in those later books since that would leave me clues of the state of the elves in this world.
Conclusion:
It left me with a funny feeling. The book was not for me but still I crave more. The author was just that good. I really do want to know what happens next. He has a good voice and imagination, I will give him that.
Rating:
ok
The elves have one big enemy, themselves. They are made up from different threads, let's just say races, and those will now start to fight between themselves and they especially go after the leaders. Their world is breaking apart. Oh those stupid elves, the whole point behind all of this is for some to get power and they use humans to do it. But we all know you can't trust humans. The elves should have known better. The whole book turns into one horrific slaughter. It is the the big bad Empire/Colonists/you name it who turns on the natives for their resources and slave labour and the elves have nothing to put up against the magic the humans wield. Just as other "explorers" had firepower.
But do not think all is lost. No the elves have one group of fighters who can take on anyone, they are just so few. And then there is Takar who is crazy and lives alone in the forest and 90% of the elves hate him after he left the elves on their home world to die. But he had to save the new world. I understand.
The thing that bothered me was that I had a hard time getting into this book. It felt confusing since everything happened so fast, it is truly action fantasy. Also the names, I had no idea who was a boy or a girl and it took quite some time to get it all in. Maybe in the end there was too much happening for me. I usually say I am not that into character driven novels but here I would have wanted more.
But even with those troubles I still got really fascinated because I want to know what will happen to this poor elven nation. I just want to go there and kick out those humans. I also wondered what happens in those later books since that would leave me clues of the state of the elves in this world.
Conclusion:
It left me with a funny feeling. The book was not for me but still I crave more. The author was just that good. I really do want to know what happens next. He has a good voice and imagination, I will give him that.
Rating:
ok
yetanotherpersonwhoisalive's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
markyon's review against another edition
3.0
After the somewhat climatic ending of James’s mercenary group, The Raven, in Ravensoul, we now return to the beginning. James latest book starts from a time pre-Raven, though focusing on one of the much-loved (and long living) groups – the Elves.
Set about three thousand years before the arrival of Barclay’s The Raven, here we have the tale focused on the Elves and their previous history.
For the uninitiated, the mere mention of the word ‘elves’ may bring up thoughts and images of Tolkien’s Legolas and a calm peaceful, thoughtful people. However, I won’t deceive people here. Frankly, James’ guerrilla group Elves, the TaiGethren, would have Legolas and his band of merry men and women for breakfast. Underneath the initial seemingly passive culture there are vicious, savage and downright nasty characters. And they are angry.
For the tale here is mainly one of division and betrayal. The world of the Elves here is one of strict hierarchical order, known as threads. We start in a time of decline. Battling the demon Garonin at a portal between the Elvish world and Balaia resulted in the Elves survival, but also at a major loss, the death of 100 000 elves. Few remain, and the Elvish people are struggling to survive, many have been traumatised by loss and the fighting. The Ynissul, the eldest of the Elves, are in charge, but their command is fragile. The thousand years of peace are threatened by internal rivalry and division between the caste classes.
As if this situation wasn’t complicated enough, the book here tells of the Elves first dealings with humans – a relationship that is rather tempestuous. When humans betray the Elves and take over Calaius, the Ynissul’s response is to set about on killing them all.
Enter then our hero Takaar, a disgraced elf and a the leader of a select group from the Garonin battle, who has been blamed for their losses and yet who may be the means of the Elves’redemption. Exiled and denounced as a traitor, he lives on in disgrace. However, when given the support of a junior elf leader named Auum (whom older readers may recognise from the Raven novels) Takaar finds himself with two challenges: to reunite the Elves and lead them against the humans.
As you might expect from James, the tale is presented with speed and with precision – no bloated account, this one – and there’s enough conspiratorial double dealing to keep the reader happy. And as previous readers might expect, James’ action scenes, of which there are many, are also very well done, fast moving and vivid. Elves are not afraid to use their nails and teeth when needed in combat!
It’s not always easy filling in the dots, especially when you are dealing with environments that many know and love already. There are many other novels that have failed to do so. Nevertheless this one is a greatly exciting romp, with surprises and reveals along the way that will keep those pages turning.
Although fans of James’ earlier books will not be disappointed, you don’t need to have read the later novels to enjoy this one. In fact, this one’s a great starter, as well as an appetizer for things to come. If you want to sample James’ writing, and haven’t before, this is a pretty good place to start.
The next book in the series, Rise of the TaiGethren, is due August 2011.
Mark Yon, September 2010.
Set about three thousand years before the arrival of Barclay’s The Raven, here we have the tale focused on the Elves and their previous history.
For the uninitiated, the mere mention of the word ‘elves’ may bring up thoughts and images of Tolkien’s Legolas and a calm peaceful, thoughtful people. However, I won’t deceive people here. Frankly, James’ guerrilla group Elves, the TaiGethren, would have Legolas and his band of merry men and women for breakfast. Underneath the initial seemingly passive culture there are vicious, savage and downright nasty characters. And they are angry.
For the tale here is mainly one of division and betrayal. The world of the Elves here is one of strict hierarchical order, known as threads. We start in a time of decline. Battling the demon Garonin at a portal between the Elvish world and Balaia resulted in the Elves survival, but also at a major loss, the death of 100 000 elves. Few remain, and the Elvish people are struggling to survive, many have been traumatised by loss and the fighting. The Ynissul, the eldest of the Elves, are in charge, but their command is fragile. The thousand years of peace are threatened by internal rivalry and division between the caste classes.
As if this situation wasn’t complicated enough, the book here tells of the Elves first dealings with humans – a relationship that is rather tempestuous. When humans betray the Elves and take over Calaius, the Ynissul’s response is to set about on killing them all.
Enter then our hero Takaar, a disgraced elf and a the leader of a select group from the Garonin battle, who has been blamed for their losses and yet who may be the means of the Elves’redemption. Exiled and denounced as a traitor, he lives on in disgrace. However, when given the support of a junior elf leader named Auum (whom older readers may recognise from the Raven novels) Takaar finds himself with two challenges: to reunite the Elves and lead them against the humans.
As you might expect from James, the tale is presented with speed and with precision – no bloated account, this one – and there’s enough conspiratorial double dealing to keep the reader happy. And as previous readers might expect, James’ action scenes, of which there are many, are also very well done, fast moving and vivid. Elves are not afraid to use their nails and teeth when needed in combat!
It’s not always easy filling in the dots, especially when you are dealing with environments that many know and love already. There are many other novels that have failed to do so. Nevertheless this one is a greatly exciting romp, with surprises and reveals along the way that will keep those pages turning.
Although fans of James’ earlier books will not be disappointed, you don’t need to have read the later novels to enjoy this one. In fact, this one’s a great starter, as well as an appetizer for things to come. If you want to sample James’ writing, and haven’t before, this is a pretty good place to start.
The next book in the series, Rise of the TaiGethren, is due August 2011.
Mark Yon, September 2010.
nemeia's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but it was very slow going for me and it continually felt like a sequel. I didn't get enough information about Takaar and his history, nor with the history of the elves. The threads were confusing and were not given enough information to separate them... but I did enjoy this book!
manda2512's review
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Definitely not a light read. It was difficult to get into at the beginning, as the characters aren't really introduced and it also doesn't really explain the world which it's set in. So I found it confusing, but once I'd got a sense of the main characters/world it got easier to read and more enjoyable throughout. In particular the last big fight scene was very gripping and well written. I almost stopped this book near the beginning as didn't feel connected with characters but I'm glad I pushed on and now am very eager to read the next book in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War
mallorn's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Gore, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, and Confinement
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Grief, Racism, and Violence
chocoholicwriter's review
3.0
by the end I really enjoyed this book but the wealth of elven words that aren't really explained and the amount of history is challenging to get into. so many references didn't make sense until more than halfway through...
there's also a lot of characters and POV changes while they are well done, it's confusing sometimes.
a map, glossary and maybe a character list would do wonders.
overall a great story set in a rich and wonderful world and some fantastic fighting scenes and descriptions.
there's also a lot of characters and POV changes while they are well done, it's confusing sometimes.
a map, glossary and maybe a character list would do wonders.
overall a great story set in a rich and wonderful world and some fantastic fighting scenes and descriptions.
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
3.0
Well, I didn't hate it. But I didn't get a feeling of other or time from the elves, I also didn't really get to know any of the characters and care if they lived or died, except Takaar and he wasn't on stage often enough to engage me.
Humans come to Elf-land to help Elves who want to restore caste (thread) system, humans take advantage a la Diarmud McMurrough and the Normans in Ireland.
Humans come to Elf-land to help Elves who want to restore caste (thread) system, humans take advantage a la Diarmud McMurrough and the Normans in Ireland.
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