Friday, February 15, 2008

Once Upon an Autumn Eve

Book 3/25

Dennis L. McKiernan's Once Upon an Autumn Eve

The third book in the Faery collection, Once Upon an Autumn Eve continued with an introduction in the first chapter which felt, unfortunately, like the identical opening to Once Upon a Summer Day. I suppose Mr. McKiernan was attempting to allow the books to stand alone, but the remainder of the tales in each require the reader to have journeyed with Camille and Borel and Liaze, previously. The repetition of the description of the twilight bounds and Faery itself was a trying beginning, particularly compared to the dramatic opening of Camille's tale in Once Upon a Winter's Night. Once again, as well, it is the actual Princess of the Autumnwood the story centers around, not an outsider entering Faery (yes, there is a special place in my heart for Camille, and her tale will always be my favorite *-*).

Liaze is a much earthier woman than Camille or even Chelle; she seems to defy the expectation of a virginal Princess, with her past daliances with men. While it fits nicely with her demense, I was a little taken aback at this blatant disregard for the rules of fairy tales. To then cast Luc as the pure swain felt very off-key and out of kilter (particularly regarding Camille's admission when asked how she would have felt had Alain not been "experienced"). It did dim my view of Liaze quite a bit, where I normally would have cheered for such a reversal as the Princess rescuing her love from a curse. I also think it made Luc appear, well, lacking. Even as Liaze journeyed back along his paths, he appeared more weak and timid than the brave knight errant he was cast as. I can understand the reasons Mr. McKiernan may have had, but I think they did more damage to the story than help.

Mr. McKiernan also departed from his own rules, in this particular tale, which shocked me: the Fates did not always demand a service be rendered by Liaze before giving her their redes. Before this book, there was always a service to be done, no matter how simple a task it was; the Fates themselves answered it with rules they were bound by: a service, a riddle answered, and no straight answers given. I was really surprised when Liaze was freed of such strictures. Again, it took something away from the world Mr. McKiernan has created.

The tales and mythos along Liaze's journey were, as always, a delight, particularly the howling castle. The notion of a home forced to repeat every sound within is a writer's dream. The Hunt was a chilling addition, as well, and it went far to providing an insight into Liaze's character. It was nice to have a return to the thoughts and wonders and questions of the main character, which Borel lacked in Once Upon a Summer Day. Perhaps Mr. McKiernan simply writes better female characters than male? *-* Also, Nightshade as an intelligent, though silent, companion was a nice return to Camille's plight. Having a quiet creature to speak to and "listen" to places more magic into the tale, without becoming too fantastical by granting an animal speech.

While events were hinted at in Once Upon a Summer Day, it was nice to return to the tale of Orbane. The true tale is Liaze's search for Luc, but it brought back the warning the Fates had given to Camille, demanding her aid when requested for "the one who would pollute the River of Time." As much as the twilight borders, legends, and magic, it ties the entire series of books together, adding new hints and new information throughout each journey. It also gave more insight into Valeray, who had little to do with the previous stories, despite the role he played in the sealing of Orbane.

The book was enjoyable, and it was nice to see Mr. McKiernan returning to a fairy tale that doesn't appear in the mainstream. I've read "The Glass Mountain" and the tale, alone, is very confusing; Mr. McKiernan leant it the stability and explanation that I think it needed. As usual, his ability to write in this fantastic realm is awe-inspiring; the only true downside is knowing that the end of the series is looming - as if the stories of Faery could ever really end.
Posted by Andria :: 2:18 PM :: 0 comments

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---------------oOo--------------- Once Upon a Summer Day

Book 2/25

Dennis L. McKiernan's Once Upon a Summer Day

I read Mr. McKiernan's Once Upon a Winter's Night several years ago, and I fell in love with Faery and the Forests of Seasons. Mr. McKiernan truly has the Bardic Gift, and his ability to weave tales from every region into a single, coherent story (a world, even), is something I am in awe of. While I don't entirely agree with his assessment that romances are meant to be flavored in French, he captures the passion and tragedy of the fairy tale romances perfectly.

Once Upon a Summer Day takes place shortly after its predecessor, when the family of Valeray and Saissa are still within the Summerwood. In a change from Once Upon a Winter's Night, the story is told from Borel's perspective, rather than a mortal's. That, alone, took away some of the marvel of the worlds of Faery, simply because they were new to Borel, but not surprising. Whereas Camille was continually delighted by everything she saw, Borel simply accepted the changing realms as a part of Faery. The wonder was left to the microworld of Buzzer, and her abilities to navigate a world she had not been born into.

While Flic was amusing, his conversation, again, took away some of the magic that Scruff had brought in the first book. It seemed, almost, like the same story, save the companion could now speak clearly. Unfortunately, the insight into Borel was sorely lacking. Camille was full of thought, imagination, questions, and wonder, which covers the pages of the book. Borel, on the other hand, simply seemed to be hollow, with very little to contribute via the mind. His manipulations of Chelle's dreams gave a partial view into his thoughts and life, but not enough that I felt I understood him. Perhaps part of it was due to the fact that his, Wolves - so much a part of him - were kept from the majority of the story; he was an incomplete character on a quest.

The loss of time while playing eches against the King Under the Hill seemed unfair - to the readers. While it was true to lore, it seemed as if that was done simply to hasten the story along to the discovery of the manor. Camille lost days and nights rapidly along the River of Time, but there was an explanation to the loss, and her troubled heart was given its due. Borel was agitated and upset, but he seemed to simply brush it aside and continue on. A further story could have been slid into the quest, as was done with the Pooka and the cursed knights.

The book was a clever retelling of "Sleeping Beauty," though not as new and original as I had hoped. While Mr. McKiernan certainly expanded the tale, weaving back in the sex and violence stripped from the original tale, the basics remained the same: the vines, the spinning wheel, a dramatic length of time spent in sleep (though not the hundred years so popular in the original story, thankfully). The connection in dreams was an interesting twist, but the consequences of those manipulated dreams seemed to simply remain hanging. Why was the Eagle introduced, and then completely forgotten? The impression I had - as with the Wolves - was that the Eagle would have some part to play in the story, but he was simply an anecdote.

The book was still beautifully written, and Mr. McKiernan is an author who believes in winding his tales down from the climax, detailing the return to the Winterwood and Alain and Camille's wedding. He provides a sense of closure to the story, and he satisfies the reader that there is something between rescue and blissful love. I just wish he had delved more into Borel's character; I knew more of Chelle than he, and her place in the story was fairly minor.

Still, Mr. McKiernan's Faery books are always enchanting, and he constantly introduces new mythologies and lore into Faery, making it remain the vast and unchartable realm that it is meant to be.

Posted by Andria :: 1:58 PM :: 0 comments

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---------------oOo--------------- The Fire Rose

Book 1/25

Mercedes Lackey's The Fire Rose

This review is a good month late in the posting, but at least it's finally being finished. *-* Nothing like the guilt of picking up another book in a collection to make one rush to do the first review.

This is the first of Ms. Lackey's Elemental Masters books (though Amazon and Barnes and Noble both list another - The Serpent's Shadow - as being first), and the first of that collection that I've read. I had skimmed the Elemental books, of course, but I was usually working on another set, and so they went back on the shelf. Due to my other current readings, though, the chance to dip into some reworked fairy tales was hard to resist.

The Fire Rose is the only Masters book (thus far) that takes place in the United States, dating to just before the San Francisco earthquake/fire in the early 1900s. Ms. Lackey's command of history was an absolute delight. Even if I had no earthly idea what she was referring to regarding clothing and furniture, the picture that was painted felt true to history. Rosalind, herself, is a true Lackey heroine, in that she has attempted to reach beyond the bounds set for her, engaging in a college education and literature that would have scandalized the stuffiest matron of the era. Her plight coincided with a financial/occupational rift of my own, and Ms. Lackey captured, perfectly, the state of mind and thoughts of someone in Rosalind's situation. It was a far more elegant "confinement" than is seen in the original "Beauty and the Beast."

Jason departs only slightly from the original fairy tale, in that his monstrous transformation was at his own hands, but he still has the same fierce barbarism that is attributed to the original creature; the same division between man and beast. However, Ms. Lackey gives his perspective on his own changes, providing an insight into the Beast that isn't found in the fairy tales. And, while I will always cherish Disney's transformed servants, the salamanders were a treat; they were given an intelligence and personality not usually accredited to familiars in other elemental pieces I've read. At the same time, it was nice to see a blending of Chinese elemenatlism with the Western world - and dragons being the source of the earthquake is the best description I've yet seen. Ms. Lackey transformed disasters in our own history into something beyond our control, yet not as difficult to understand/accept as the true cause of the Chicago fire or San Francisco's destruction.

The ending felt a little abrupt, to me, moving from a high action climax to an idyllic scene; there was no solid explanation given to the transitional period. As to Rosalind's reaction to Jason, I felt it a little difficult to accept her position as easily as she did - though perhaps that was due to my being influenced by the cover image, rather than the actual descriptions in the book (though I thought the two matched quite well). Unfortunately, I've found that Ms. Lackey's reinventions of fairy tales and such usually do wind to a short stop, with only a cursory look at the result of her characters' lives. While you expect a happy ending, it feels that it's granted without really being deserved - even when you know the trials the characters have gone through. Considering how well she detailed Rosalind's mind, it felt like a cheat to be robbed of that final process from employee to partner.

Overall, though, the book has me hooked on the Elemental Masters. Her history and the development of the elements and their habits is a treat to read.

Posted by Andria :: 1:38 PM :: 0 comments

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