A review by rankkaapina
The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Diana L. Paxson

3.0

Well, what did I think... It took me forever to read this book, even though I generally liked it. At last I think I know why: for a character centric book, this doesn't really go into characters heads. I mean the plot gave so much to work with, but in the end the characters were just kind of distant. I loved the beginning, when we really saw Eilan and even Gaius and why they did what they did, but then it just kind of became a history book. Yes: a history book of these characters, but still (I guess there is a reason I prefer autobiographies).

I think the ending sort of saved a lot, but still there was so much that she could've done with Eilan and Gaius, And not to mention the secondary characters, like Dieda and Cynric, Senara, and Caillean. And Julia, of course. In the end it was all about plot, but then this kind of book is not really plot driven either. I just wish Eilan's experience as a High Priestess would've been explored a bit more from her point of view. In the end I didn't really care about anyone, maybe Eilan and Gaius, since at least in the beginning you got to see them a bit better, but also the whole friendship turned to resentment between Dieda and Eilan: so much potential totally wasted.

In the end I'm not sad I read it and I would say it was more than ok and I did like it, but it was kind of tough to finish.