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jennyoung75's review against another edition
3.0
So far I have disliked the first 2 chapters, loathed the next 4 and have been mildly intrigued by the rest. I almost stopped reading at one point in chapter 3 or 4. I used to only read the first 100 pages of a book before giving up on it but now that I am using my Kindle more and more it is hard to stop at a certain % completed rather than a tangible page number. Oh well, I am more than half way through it now, I might as well finish it.
Well, I didn't like the first half of the book but after that it certainly picked up and I thoroughly enjoyed the second half. There was romance and intrigue and surprisingly I am looking forward to reading the next one.
Well, I didn't like the first half of the book but after that it certainly picked up and I thoroughly enjoyed the second half. There was romance and intrigue and surprisingly I am looking forward to reading the next one.
hrjones's review against another edition
4.0
Passion Play is the first in a fantasy trilogy (but soon to be completed by a fourth story) set in a complex and imaginative pre-industrial secondary world whose linguistics has Slavic and Germanic resonances but which is not a direct analog for any specific historic culture. The most overt fantasy elements are supplied by magical practices and artifacts that can do anything from speed healing to granting functional immortality. As the story unfolds, the reader is introduced in passing to hints and references to a sweeping scope of history and politics, both internal and external: competing factions at court, shifting foreign alliances, threats from abroad and within. If all this sounds a bit nebulous and generic, the specifics of the setting are crisp, vibrant, and fractally detailed, though the overall shape of both the world and plot follow well established paths.
The story follows Therez, daughter of a well-to-do mercantile family whose dreams of a chance to travel to the capitol are cut short by an unexpected arranged marriage. As any proper heroine would, she runs away from home to escape the arrangements and seek her own destiny. After initial misadventures, she finds a refuge and home with Lord Kosenmark, who runs something of a shadow court in a desperate attempt to guide the king away from Bad Advisors and resulting disaster. This first volume of the set fulfils the role of extended training montage as Therez (now going by Ilse) gains the skills, knowledge, and confidence that presumably will serve her well later in the series. The story...let’s say “pauses” rather than “ends” with her embarking on a new position and adventure while Larger Forces set in motion the peril that presumably will fill up Book 2. This is very definitely a first book in a series and it shouldn’t be considered a spoiler to note that it doesn’t stand by itself as a complete story.
The setting includes a realistic diversity of characters and sexualities. There’s a strong focus on female characters, not only in the use of Ilse as viewpoint character. But about a quarter of the way through the book I was ready to throw it against a wall (except I was reading on my iPad, so not so much with the throwing) for the use of a particular trope that is a bit over-used in dislodging fantasy adventuresses from their initial starry-eyed view of the world.
Overall, I enjoyed the world-building and the characters. I approve of the way exposition is doled out sparingly and in-line with the action. This is a well-written and mature work, despite my personal distaste for the one aforementioned plot element, and the further books in the series are lined up in my to-read queue, though not perhaps at the top of the list currently.
The story follows Therez, daughter of a well-to-do mercantile family whose dreams of a chance to travel to the capitol are cut short by an unexpected arranged marriage. As any proper heroine would, she runs away from home to escape the arrangements and seek her own destiny. After initial misadventures, she finds a refuge and home with Lord Kosenmark, who runs something of a shadow court in a desperate attempt to guide the king away from Bad Advisors and resulting disaster. This first volume of the set fulfils the role of extended training montage as Therez (now going by Ilse) gains the skills, knowledge, and confidence that presumably will serve her well later in the series. The story...let’s say “pauses” rather than “ends” with her embarking on a new position and adventure while Larger Forces set in motion the peril that presumably will fill up Book 2. This is very definitely a first book in a series and it shouldn’t be considered a spoiler to note that it doesn’t stand by itself as a complete story.
The setting includes a realistic diversity of characters and sexualities. There’s a strong focus on female characters, not only in the use of Ilse as viewpoint character. But about a quarter of the way through the book I was ready to throw it against a wall (except I was reading on my iPad, so not so much with the throwing) for the use of a particular trope that is a bit over-used in dislodging fantasy adventuresses from their initial starry-eyed view of the world.
Spoiler
The particular trope provides a powerful motivation for Ilse’s situation and reactions, but that doesn’t erase the problematic nature of it in the larger genre picture. (OK, enough coyness, I’m talking about gang-rape.)Overall, I enjoyed the world-building and the characters. I approve of the way exposition is doled out sparingly and in-line with the action. This is a well-written and mature work, despite my personal distaste for the one aforementioned plot element, and the further books in the series are lined up in my to-read queue, though not perhaps at the top of the list currently.
hrjones's review
5.0
(reposted from a previous edition)
Passion Play is the first in a fantasy trilogy (but soon to be completed by a fourth story) set in a complex and imaginative pre-industrial secondary world whose linguistics has Slavic and Germanic resonances but which is not a direct analog for any specific historic culture. The most overt fantasy elements are supplied by magical practices and artifacts that can do anything from speed healing to granting functional immortality. As the story unfolds, the reader is introduced in passing to hints and references to a sweeping scope of history and politics, both internal and external: competing factions at court, shifting foreign alliances, threats from abroad and within. If all this sounds a bit nebulous and generic, the specifics of the setting are crisp, vibrant, and fractally detailed, though the overall shape of both the world and plot follow well established paths.
The story follows Therez, daughter of a well-to-do mercantile family whose dreams of a chance to travel to the capitol are cut short by an unexpected arranged marriage. As any proper heroine would, she runs away from home to escape the arrangements and seek her own destiny. After initial misadventures, she finds a refuge and home with Lord Kosenmark, who runs something of a shadow court in a desperate attempt to guide the king away from Bad Advisors and resulting disaster. This first volume of the set fulfils the role of extended training montage as Therez (now going by Ilse) gains the skills, knowledge, and confidence that presumably will serve her well later in the series. The story...let’s say “pauses” rather than “ends” with her embarking on a new position and adventure while Larger Forces set in motion the peril that presumably will fill up Book 2. This is very definitely a first book in a series and it shouldn’t be considered a spoiler to note that it doesn’t stand by itself as a complete story.
The setting includes a realistic diversity of characters and sexualities. There’s a strong focus on female characters, not only in the use of Ilse as viewpoint character. But about a quarter of the way through the book I was ready to throw it against a wall (except I was reading on my iPad, so not so much with the throwing) for the use of a particular trope that is a bit over-used in dislodging fantasy adventuresses from their initial starry-eyed view of the world. The particular trope provides a powerful motivation for Ilse’s situation and reactions, but that doesn’t erase the problematic nature of it in the larger genre picture. (OK, enough coyness, I’m talking about gang-rape.)
Overall, I enjoyed the world-building and the characters. I approve of the way exposition is doled out sparingly and in-line with the action. This is a well-written and mature work, despite my personal distaste for the one aforementioned plot element, and the further books in the series are lined up in my to-read queue, though not perhaps at the top of the list currently.
Passion Play is the first in a fantasy trilogy (but soon to be completed by a fourth story) set in a complex and imaginative pre-industrial secondary world whose linguistics has Slavic and Germanic resonances but which is not a direct analog for any specific historic culture. The most overt fantasy elements are supplied by magical practices and artifacts that can do anything from speed healing to granting functional immortality. As the story unfolds, the reader is introduced in passing to hints and references to a sweeping scope of history and politics, both internal and external: competing factions at court, shifting foreign alliances, threats from abroad and within. If all this sounds a bit nebulous and generic, the specifics of the setting are crisp, vibrant, and fractally detailed, though the overall shape of both the world and plot follow well established paths.
The story follows Therez, daughter of a well-to-do mercantile family whose dreams of a chance to travel to the capitol are cut short by an unexpected arranged marriage. As any proper heroine would, she runs away from home to escape the arrangements and seek her own destiny. After initial misadventures, she finds a refuge and home with Lord Kosenmark, who runs something of a shadow court in a desperate attempt to guide the king away from Bad Advisors and resulting disaster. This first volume of the set fulfils the role of extended training montage as Therez (now going by Ilse) gains the skills, knowledge, and confidence that presumably will serve her well later in the series. The story...let’s say “pauses” rather than “ends” with her embarking on a new position and adventure while Larger Forces set in motion the peril that presumably will fill up Book 2. This is very definitely a first book in a series and it shouldn’t be considered a spoiler to note that it doesn’t stand by itself as a complete story.
The setting includes a realistic diversity of characters and sexualities. There’s a strong focus on female characters, not only in the use of Ilse as viewpoint character. But about a quarter of the way through the book I was ready to throw it against a wall (except I was reading on my iPad, so not so much with the throwing) for the use of a particular trope that is a bit over-used in dislodging fantasy adventuresses from their initial starry-eyed view of the world. The particular trope provides a powerful motivation for Ilse’s situation and reactions, but that doesn’t erase the problematic nature of it in the larger genre picture. (OK, enough coyness, I’m talking about gang-rape.)
Overall, I enjoyed the world-building and the characters. I approve of the way exposition is doled out sparingly and in-line with the action. This is a well-written and mature work, despite my personal distaste for the one aforementioned plot element, and the further books in the series are lined up in my to-read queue, though not perhaps at the top of the list currently.
lilacwire's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book was compelling and well-written. Despite the overuse of the rape trope as a future-forger for women, Bernobich did a good job making her lead character's history affect her current choices. I'm really looking forward to reading more books in this series.
Also, fantasy story ABOUT a woman, BY a woman? Yes.
Also, fantasy story ABOUT a woman, BY a woman? Yes.
candicegilmer's review against another edition
2.0
From the cover art, I would have thought the main character, Ilse, would have been about 25-30. She behaved like someone older, yet she was only 16 through most of the book.
This really bothered me. From the book cover, I initially assumed I was getting a story about an older woman, learning to unlock her passions in life. I didn't feel that it showed the passion enough for me. I kept thinking as I was reading "When is she going to get passionate? When?" and it wasn't until the last 70 pages or so...
While I did finish this book, I wasn't terribly impressed. There was a lot going on in this story, almost too much, I thought, with the war, Raul, (don't get me started on his voice and condition), and the cast of characters. The huge manifest of characters were hard to keep straight
If anything, instead of a map, a character list in the front of the book would have been incredibly helpful.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but it just didn't work for me.
This really bothered me. From the book cover, I initially assumed I was getting a story about an older woman, learning to unlock her passions in life. I didn't feel that it showed the passion enough for me. I kept thinking as I was reading "When is she going to get passionate? When?" and it wasn't until the last 70 pages or so...
While I did finish this book, I wasn't terribly impressed. There was a lot going on in this story, almost too much, I thought, with the war, Raul, (don't get me started on his voice and condition), and the cast of characters. The huge manifest of characters were hard to keep straight
If anything, instead of a map, a character list in the front of the book would have been incredibly helpful.
I wanted to like this book, I really did, but it just didn't work for me.
kittarlin's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed the book - read a lot of it in one day. But not really sure I'll come back to visit these characters. Kinda feeling like if it's a long story, it should be a long book. I'll stick with 1000+ pages for a good story. But breaking long stories up is starting to feel a bit contrived and more like a marketing ploy to me.
But then, maybe I will read the sequel...
But then, maybe I will read the sequel...
easolinas's review against another edition
2.0
The setting of "Passion Play" was enough to get me to pick up Beth Bernobitch's debut novel -- a sort of medievalish Renaissanceish Italy-Spainy kind of world. But there was also a lot in it that nearly made me put it down, ranging from the cliches of the fantasy genre to the flimsy storyline (which has more than enough time to flesh itself out).
Therez Zhalina is the daughter of a rich but unhappy merchant family. Then she meets the much older man that her father has decided for her to marry, and freaks out because he's even nastier than her father. So, like any rebellious princess, she changes her name to Ilse and runs away. Big mistake: she finds out that there are things that are much, much worse in this world.
She eventually finds her way under the wing of Raul Kosenmark, a castrati brothel-owner, and discovers that Raul is far more important and dangerous than he appears. He's forming his own "shadow court," and Ilse soon becomes wrapped in this world of court intrigue, secrets and shadowy magic...
"Passion Play" is a textbook example of a book that has lots of awesome ideas -- reincarnation as fact rather than belief, a Mediterranean fantasy world, court intrigue, a feisty heroine seeking her place in the world. But somehow... it just never gels into the brilliant Sherwood-Smith-by-way-of-Robin-Mckinley book it tries to be.
Part of this is because Bernobich never fleshes out her world quite as much as she could. There were so many parts of it that could have been explained just a LITTLE more, like countries and people never seen by the readers, and court intrigue conducted by proxies. Bernobich has the skeleton of an elaborate, earthy-yet-elegant plot in this book, but she isn't able to quite enthrall us with the flesh.
I will say that she has a talent for writing -- she's got a clean, warmly ornate style, and she doesn't shy away from the nastier aspects of her world, or the effects of running away (Ilse being nastily -- but not graphically -- raped by the caravan men).
And Ilse is a character who... is sometimes good and sometimes bad. Sometimes she comes across as a naive young girl who must stumble her way past her own traumas and fears; at other times, she comes across as a twentysomething woman in a teenager's body, who sometimes gains skills she shouldn't rightfully have. Kosenmark is a much more intriguing character, especially when we learn of his past.
"Passion Play" is a collection of intriguing yet undeveloped details that never quite gel into a satisfying book. Maybe Bernobich will improve with time, but this debut definitely has some beginner's flaws.
Therez Zhalina is the daughter of a rich but unhappy merchant family. Then she meets the much older man that her father has decided for her to marry, and freaks out because he's even nastier than her father. So, like any rebellious princess, she changes her name to Ilse and runs away. Big mistake: she finds out that there are things that are much, much worse in this world.
She eventually finds her way under the wing of Raul Kosenmark, a castrati brothel-owner, and discovers that Raul is far more important and dangerous than he appears. He's forming his own "shadow court," and Ilse soon becomes wrapped in this world of court intrigue, secrets and shadowy magic...
"Passion Play" is a textbook example of a book that has lots of awesome ideas -- reincarnation as fact rather than belief, a Mediterranean fantasy world, court intrigue, a feisty heroine seeking her place in the world. But somehow... it just never gels into the brilliant Sherwood-Smith-by-way-of-Robin-Mckinley book it tries to be.
Part of this is because Bernobich never fleshes out her world quite as much as she could. There were so many parts of it that could have been explained just a LITTLE more, like countries and people never seen by the readers, and court intrigue conducted by proxies. Bernobich has the skeleton of an elaborate, earthy-yet-elegant plot in this book, but she isn't able to quite enthrall us with the flesh.
I will say that she has a talent for writing -- she's got a clean, warmly ornate style, and she doesn't shy away from the nastier aspects of her world, or the effects of running away (Ilse being nastily -- but not graphically -- raped by the caravan men).
And Ilse is a character who... is sometimes good and sometimes bad. Sometimes she comes across as a naive young girl who must stumble her way past her own traumas and fears; at other times, she comes across as a twentysomething woman in a teenager's body, who sometimes gains skills she shouldn't rightfully have. Kosenmark is a much more intriguing character, especially when we learn of his past.
"Passion Play" is a collection of intriguing yet undeveloped details that never quite gel into a satisfying book. Maybe Bernobich will improve with time, but this debut definitely has some beginner's flaws.
rosamune's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed it, but it was thin on plot. All set up for a series though, so I'm hopeful for the follow up.
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