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songwind's review against another edition
5.0
A fantasy whose conflicts are political and social rather than physical.
Long Price takes place in a non-specifically Asian themed environment that feels real and rich without being a copy of any historical Earth society.
The story focuses around the andat - ideas given form, volition and power my magi known as poets. The Khaniate cities are the only ones that know the art of binding andat, giving them tremendous military and economic power.
The conflicts in the story are between an andat and his poet. Between a failed poet trainee and the world. Between a foreign trading house and the powerful monopoly the andat has enabled. And between people trying to do what's right in a cold world.
It's difficult to describe this book adequately without giving the story away. I found it enthralling, and Abraham's use of language was excellent.
Long Price takes place in a non-specifically Asian themed environment that feels real and rich without being a copy of any historical Earth society.
The story focuses around the andat - ideas given form, volition and power my magi known as poets. The Khaniate cities are the only ones that know the art of binding andat, giving them tremendous military and economic power.
The conflicts in the story are between an andat and his poet. Between a failed poet trainee and the world. Between a foreign trading house and the powerful monopoly the andat has enabled. And between people trying to do what's right in a cold world.
It's difficult to describe this book adequately without giving the story away. I found it enthralling, and Abraham's use of language was excellent.
fairywren's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
brerfrog's review against another edition
4.0
Good start to a series. Gives you just enough world background to whet your appetite for the next book. Looking forward to reading the rest of them.
eli_mageofpages's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
lib_britannia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ianmitchell's review against another edition
4.0
This novel, the first in a quartet, is set in a land with a bit of an oriental feel, where powerful magical beings called andat are controlled by men called poets. Each andat is unique and based on an idea formed by the poet. The novel follows an apprentice poet, a former instructor of his who basically dropped out of poet school, and a woman they both love, as well as a senior employee in a foreign trade house. These individuals all get caught up in a complex plot involving the local andat.
There is very little action in this book, so fans of heroic fantasy may not enjoy it. Instead, this book is very character driven. The characters are all very well developed compared to most fantasy novels. The writing is also very good - the author really made the world come alive for me. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and suspect fans of Guy Gavriel Kay will enjoy this book. Unfortunately I've heard the North American publisher is not releasing the final novel in mass market paperback - meaning either picking up the hard cover, an e-book, or an import, unless they change their mind or another publisher picks it up.
There is very little action in this book, so fans of heroic fantasy may not enjoy it. Instead, this book is very character driven. The characters are all very well developed compared to most fantasy novels. The writing is also very good - the author really made the world come alive for me. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and suspect fans of Guy Gavriel Kay will enjoy this book. Unfortunately I've heard the North American publisher is not releasing the final novel in mass market paperback - meaning either picking up the hard cover, an e-book, or an import, unless they change their mind or another publisher picks it up.
osteven's review against another edition
4.0
demosthenes34nz's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
4.0
I plan to write brief reviews of the books that I read this summer, of which "A Shadow in Summer" is the first.... I found it an original, engrossing, well-written, atmospheric fantasy, at times rising to excellence. The concept of the andat was entirely fresh (to me). Of the four point-of-view characters, Otah was my clear favorite. I look forward to reading more of this quartet in the future.
sonice's review against another edition
5.0
5.0 stars. You know what this felt like? The first season of a really good tv show. The writing was incredible. Rarely do you see an author do such a good job of writing characters as flawed and nuanced as this. I was frustrated by them frequently, but they were all just so believable. The book has almost no action to speak of, yet is incredibly immersive and demands your attention all the same. The ending feels just like good a season finale.
And, just like good tv, it's best consumed by bingeing; I'll be starting Season 2 (Betrayal in Winter) later today.
Edit: Or, you know what? I think I'll space these out to one per month. I guess theres a large time just between each book, and that feels better consumed with a little break between each one.
And, just like good tv, it's best consumed by bingeing; I'll be starting Season 2 (Betrayal in Winter) later today.
Edit: Or, you know what? I think I'll space these out to one per month. I guess theres a large time just between each book, and that feels better consumed with a little break between each one.