Musings on the Written Word

Friday, March 31, 2006

Arrow's Fall

Book 4/12

Arrow's Fall by Mercedes Lackey

The final book in the triology - and probably the most enjoyable, for me. The "instruction" voice present in the first two books evaporated into an actual plot that drew me in - rather than lecturing me on the world/Heralds. This felt more like the other books I've read involving the Heralds of Valdemar, and I was actually able to get into the book, instead of feeling blocked from getting to know the characters by all of the worldbuilding information. There were actual characters, rather than people providing demonstrations of training and what-not. This was the first time I really felt that I was able to get into the heads of Talia, Kris, and Dirk.

My one complaint with this book was the lifebond between Talia and Dirk: while in other books, the bond is described lovingly and immediate and obvious, Talia and Dirk danced around like a couple of high schoolers and behaved like children. There was a lot of potential for WHY they behaved that way, but it was only surface-skimmed, and I felt it lacking. I was more annoyed with them than saddended by the complications. I also didn't like the obvious evil of Ancar, nor how quickly he descended. It would have been nice to have SOME kind of information on why he was the way he was, rather than just painting him as pure evil. I approved of leaving the question of Ancar open (I believe there are other books that come after this one - timeline-wise?), but I just didn't feel there was any justification for his existance, short of being a villain (and I need more than that - I need motivation). Oh, yes, and one extreme annoyance: why was there a prologue? It summarized the first two books (useless) and introduced information that really wasn't the slightest bit germaine to the plot. It felt tacked on for length, and I despised it.

It was another early work, and it's nice to be able to compare her current work to see how she grew and progressed as an author. I'm glad I was able to read the other books first, though, because, otherwise, I probably wouldn't have ever picked any other Valdemar books up. At the same time, as I said before, it's nice to have the background information.

Next up (and likely to be finished shortly) is John Ringo's Princess of Wands - which is about as far from Valedmar as one can get. *-*

Posted by Andria :: 10:37 AM :: 0 comments

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Black Dagger Brotherhood series

Read the two books currently released in JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

This is a series with vampires and the soulless who hunt them. The world is interesting and different and definitely a must check out for those into paranormal romances.

Dark Lover is the first and was a bit hard for me to get into at first whether it was because I instantly wanted a romance and the first few chapters were more about setting development and sort of laid out the Brotherhood's history or just when we got to the actual romance it had a ring of sameness made exotic only because of the traditions and rites of the brotherhood..I'm not sure.

It was an enjoyable read and I'm glad I didn't give up with those first few chapters. If I hadn't had the second one waiting in the wings, I might have.

Lover Eternal now this....this book more than makes up for any sluggishness of the first one. It's an awesome example of how to set up a conflict that looks unsurpassable and keeps a reader in suspense until the very end. The hero and heroine both seem more fleshed out, more conflicted internally and externally than the couple in the first one.

And, it made me cry toward the end which is an automatic plus in my book because for that to happen I have to love and care for the characters deeply.

I'm eagerly awaiting for the third one to be released later this year now.

Posted by Amme :: 3:47 PM :: 0 comments

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Arrow's Flight

Book 3/12

Arrow's Flight by Mercedes Lackey

It is very obvious that this was an early project for Ms. Lackey, because this book lacked the depth of plot she writes now - which is a little on the irritating side. I'm really not sure an entire book was needed to devote to what, essentially, amounts to teenage angst. I really liked Talia in Arrows of the Queen, but all she did in this book was whine and wallow in self-pity and despair. It felt like a complete reversal to the character she had established previously. What could have been condensed into a few chapters was drawn out until I really kind of hoped Talia would have a mental breakdown - just to create a pause in the drama. This really felt like a soap opera or young adult book - not the standard I've come to expect from the Herald books.

It was interesting to have the Heralds' circuits described (something that has not appeared in the other books), and it works well as the continuation of an introduction to Heralds. I had actually forgotten the internee process, as the other books almost always end with the new Herald finishing training (or not even getting that far). I did enjoy exploring the depth of Talia's Gift more, and the descriptions of how Empathy can go awry. I think that pairing Talia and Kris was a brilliant move, because they continually reflected one another and generated conflict that broke through the "poor me" segments. I'm actually looking forward to the next book and seeing what will come of the Talia/Dirk relationship.

It is definitely nice to have the base for the entire series, and to gain the background information I've been missing, but, at the same time, it's difficult to have it "after the fact." I'd almost recommend that anyone new to the Heralds of Valedmar read these three books first, before attempting to go back to the beginning...except that then the timeline would be off. Sort of a catch 22. *-*

I started the final book of the trilogy this morning, and I'm hoping to finish it before the end of the month. I've been getting more reading time in the mornings than before, so I might actually be able to up my goal. *-* We'll see.

Posted by Andria :: 8:24 AM :: 0 comments