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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
And finished the second. I haven't read the third so this rereadathon is on to refresh details in my mind. Enjoying this series quite a bit.
Just when I thought the lovers would be together forever (why did I ever think that would happen in the second book of the trilogy???), NOPE! For some reason I was strongly emotionally involved throughout this book. I was so sad, but couldn't stop.
The first thing I did after finishing this book was look for the author on twitter to demand an apology for publishing this book. This was so far from her other novels in quality that I have opted to read summaries for the third novel in this trilogy instead of actually reading it. I hope Carey's returns to the Imriel level, or better yet to Phedre's level with her next novel.
I have been a devote fan of this series since book one and not a single book did Ms. Carey disappoint me, the trend still holds. These books are epic fantasy meets sensuality and you will feel every touch, kiss, and caress as if it were your own. This book reminds me so much of the (I think third) book in the series and it freaked me out for Moirin, this book is beyond nerve-wracking for a reader but soo worth the read.
I love the different levels of emotion you get to see in this story. You get to feel many different kinds of love, that just Moirin feels alone. I think Ms. Carey did an excellent job on this book and I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.
I love the different levels of emotion you get to see in this story. You get to feel many different kinds of love, that just Moirin feels alone. I think Ms. Carey did an excellent job on this book and I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.
Found this book more annoying than the previous one, but it picked up halfway through.
I’ve never read a more beautiful, terrifying story.
If you know me, you know that a basically Pagan Celtic protagonist driven by her soul’s passion to form meaningful connections with people is…well, me. Reading characters that so closely mirror ourselves can be an interesting exercise. You learn a lot about yourself.
In reading this book—which is now my #2 favorite book of all time (second only to The Amber Spyglass—I learned so much about myself through the emotions that the story woke in me.
Moirin has an untouched innocence. She can be naive at times, sure, but I’m speaking more of the purity of someone born from Nature, unspoiled by civilization. Her heart has no bounds, and her travels lead her to make meaningful connections again and again and again. It’s lovely.
This volume in the trilogy takes us to the northern fields above Ch’in, and then west to Vralia, where a religion parallel to reality’s Christianity is on the rise. Then we travel all the way south to Bhodistan, which represents India.
The events in Vralia hit home for me. There’s a particular brand of horror out there for everyone—one thing that you are soul-deep afraid of, more than anything else. This portion of the book plucked that chord for me. I won’t give away the exact circumstances, but what Moirin faces there was so terrifying to me that I seriously considered putting down the book despite the gorgeous writing quality and how much I love the characters. I’ll say only that my religion is sacred to me, and I had to question whether I would possess the same strength as Moirin, or whether I would break under those circumstances. It’s a valuable thing, coming up against your true limits and finding out what’s on the other side. I did it with my pregnancy. I hope I would come out whole on the other side of what Moirin goes through in this section.
Then, offered almost as a balm for the terror-filled ache caused by the preceding events, Moirin’s time in Bhodistan is so moving and beautiful that I cried happy tears. She meets wonderful characters, and Carey proves yet again how strong and resilient her characters can be.
Ideally we would live in a world where strong, complex female characters were flooding the market. Since that isn’t quite the case, I’ll say that Carey’s fiction is a welcome respite from the harsh realities of a world where the political landscape makes you feel less than lucky to have been born a woman. Carey’s heroines are everything a young girl would want to aspire to, and her heroes are representations of truly equal men who aren’t threatened by powerful women, but seek to support them. The pairings in these novels are beautiful, and each partner seeks to complement the other. True equality, as it is meant to be lived.
This trilogy touches my heart and soul. Every bit of it resonates with me. I would recommend it most highly to anyone who wants to get to know me better, and aside from that any fans of Carey’s writing will love these. Fans of speculative fiction flavored with mythology and alternate history would enjoy these immensely, and anyone looking for female role models should definitely read them.
If you know me, you know that a basically Pagan Celtic protagonist driven by her soul’s passion to form meaningful connections with people is…well, me. Reading characters that so closely mirror ourselves can be an interesting exercise. You learn a lot about yourself.
In reading this book—which is now my #2 favorite book of all time (second only to The Amber Spyglass—I learned so much about myself through the emotions that the story woke in me.
Moirin has an untouched innocence. She can be naive at times, sure, but I’m speaking more of the purity of someone born from Nature, unspoiled by civilization. Her heart has no bounds, and her travels lead her to make meaningful connections again and again and again. It’s lovely.
This volume in the trilogy takes us to the northern fields above Ch’in, and then west to Vralia, where a religion parallel to reality’s Christianity is on the rise. Then we travel all the way south to Bhodistan, which represents India.
The events in Vralia hit home for me. There’s a particular brand of horror out there for everyone—one thing that you are soul-deep afraid of, more than anything else. This portion of the book plucked that chord for me. I won’t give away the exact circumstances, but what Moirin faces there was so terrifying to me that I seriously considered putting down the book despite the gorgeous writing quality and how much I love the characters. I’ll say only that my religion is sacred to me, and I had to question whether I would possess the same strength as Moirin, or whether I would break under those circumstances. It’s a valuable thing, coming up against your true limits and finding out what’s on the other side. I did it with my pregnancy. I hope I would come out whole on the other side of what Moirin goes through in this section.
Then, offered almost as a balm for the terror-filled ache caused by the preceding events, Moirin’s time in Bhodistan is so moving and beautiful that I cried happy tears. She meets wonderful characters, and Carey proves yet again how strong and resilient her characters can be.
Ideally we would live in a world where strong, complex female characters were flooding the market. Since that isn’t quite the case, I’ll say that Carey’s fiction is a welcome respite from the harsh realities of a world where the political landscape makes you feel less than lucky to have been born a woman. Carey’s heroines are everything a young girl would want to aspire to, and her heroes are representations of truly equal men who aren’t threatened by powerful women, but seek to support them. The pairings in these novels are beautiful, and each partner seeks to complement the other. True equality, as it is meant to be lived.
This trilogy touches my heart and soul. Every bit of it resonates with me. I would recommend it most highly to anyone who wants to get to know me better, and aside from that any fans of Carey’s writing will love these. Fans of speculative fiction flavored with mythology and alternate history would enjoy these immensely, and anyone looking for female role models should definitely read them.
There are many great things about this novel. Brilliant scenery. Engaging stories. Beautiful relationships.
There are also things that just straight out made me frustrated.
Bao finally became tolerable, towards the end.
With the later third being set in an alternative India, it took a while for it to give me the enjoyment I find from the area.
I love exploring more of the world, however... I feel stories repeating themselves. A misused harem caused by black magic, echoes of Drujan hiding under the surface.
Cold weather travels through dangerous weather and vicious terrain... And a dangerous desert traverse in a caravan of camels.
Yes, it's hard to have unique stories, but just the words and imagery is also easily repeated.
But most of all, the depiction of Vralia bothers me. Carey has always given time to explore and examine different religious counterparts from around the world. But I think the religious fervor that occurred in Vralia was extremest. Not just what happened, but the reasoning behind it. And the improbability that Moirin had so personally been targeted and delivered using the exact magic necessary. For all that Moirin has been drawn around the world by the will of her gods, it was pure accidentally that she was caught and betrayed by a Tatar on the word of a foreign priest who just happens to know of her and demand her.... Gossip has always been a big part of the world of Terre D'Ange. But it's gotten out of hand.
There are also things that just straight out made me frustrated.
Bao finally became tolerable, towards the end.
With the later third being set in an alternative India, it took a while for it to give me the enjoyment I find from the area.
I love exploring more of the world, however... I feel stories repeating themselves. A misused harem caused by black magic, echoes of Drujan hiding under the surface.
Cold weather travels through dangerous weather and vicious terrain... And a dangerous desert traverse in a caravan of camels.
Yes, it's hard to have unique stories, but just the words and imagery is also easily repeated.
But most of all, the depiction of Vralia bothers me. Carey has always given time to explore and examine different religious counterparts from around the world. But I think the religious fervor that occurred in Vralia was extremest. Not just what happened, but the reasoning behind it. And the improbability that Moirin had so personally been targeted and delivered using the exact magic necessary. For all that Moirin has been drawn around the world by the will of her gods, it was pure accidentally that she was caught and betrayed by a Tatar on the word of a foreign priest who just happens to know of her and demand her.... Gossip has always been a big part of the world of Terre D'Ange. But it's gotten out of hand.
It had me hooked because I was so enthralled in the descriptions and Moirinn`s journey. She was honestly a more rounded character than Phedre and was easier to like. I also am living in Asia at the moment and the descriptions really made the book come alive for me. I cannot wait to read the next book.
3.5* Kept me entertained. Looking forward to reading the third installment.