alex0931's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
elusivity's review against another edition
4.0
Shaftal resides in a world free of patriarchy, where women can be hardened and brusque and men can be gentle and caretaking, and vice versa. Homosexuality is just as common as heterosexuality, merely a fact that exist in the world. In fact, among the named characters, homosexuality seems a more natural orientation.
Zanja na'Tarwein, a Fire blood, is Speaker for her tribe to the much bigger country Shaftal. The country falls, overtaken by Sainnites. Her entire tribe is slaughtered. She is captured and tortured. Karis the Earth witch saves her, but must send her to fight with the dwindling Shaftal forces fighting against the Sainnites.
A novel populated by vivid, breathing human beings, from major characters down to the extras populating the background of taverns. It's the magic of good writing, so that reading felt more akin to traveling to a foreign land, an experience filled with intriguing textures and depth, rather than being swept up in a plot-driven video game.
Zanja na'Tarwein, a Fire blood, is Speaker for her tribe to the much bigger country Shaftal. The country falls, overtaken by Sainnites. Her entire tribe is slaughtered. She is captured and tortured. Karis the Earth witch saves her, but must send her to fight with the dwindling Shaftal forces fighting against the Sainnites.
A novel populated by vivid, breathing human beings, from major characters down to the extras populating the background of taverns. It's the magic of good writing, so that reading felt more akin to traveling to a foreign land, an experience filled with intriguing textures and depth, rather than being swept up in a plot-driven video game.
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
5.0
After reading this utterly immersive fantasy, I'm not sure what else to do with myself. All other books seem pale and uninteresting in comparison. Fire Logic gets off to a slow start, but within the first quarter, becomes completely engrossing. It centres around Zanja, who lives in a small mountain settlement with a tribe that resists contact with outsiders. But they are on the borders of the country Shaftal, which is under attack by an occupying force, than Sainnites. The other central character is Keris, a magically powerful half-giant, who is a drug addict and lives in obscurity, hiding her considerable powers. Both characters are studied in depth, and immediately felt real to me. Marks is an excellent writers, making her points and evoking her characters subtly. Her descriptions of a war-torn, traumatised country could feel heavy-handed, but they don't. That being said, there are moments of true brutality and horror in this book, which can be hard to read.
I objected to one of Marks' decisions: one of her main characters is paralysed, and is healed by magic. This cure-narrative felt like a too-rapid dismissal of disabled lives. However, I enjoyed this book so intensely that I can overlook this shortcoming, particularly because Marks handles trauma and drug-addiction so well. I also love the way she writes about queer characters, and the queer relationships are understated and beautiful. Highly recommended.
I objected to one of Marks' decisions: one of her main characters is paralysed, and is healed by magic. This cure-narrative felt like a too-rapid dismissal of disabled lives. However, I enjoyed this book so intensely that I can overlook this shortcoming, particularly because Marks handles trauma and drug-addiction so well. I also love the way she writes about queer characters, and the queer relationships are understated and beautiful. Highly recommended.
senqin's review against another edition
5.0
Who is seen to speak to the enemy must be silenced. Who sympathizes with the enemy must lose their heart. Who dreams of peace must dream no more. Those who ravaged the land will be eliminated: without compromise, without mercy.
— MABIN’S Warfare
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is absolutely BRUTAL and BRILLIANT and BEAUTIFUL and can I just let these literal TEARS serve as my review because oh my godddd I can't believe that this was written nearly 20 years ago it was soooo ahead of its time. Fire Logic speaks to the cycles of oppression and violence that are doomed to repeat again and again, but it is also very much a story about healing after trauma and how you find the will to go on living when so much is taken away from you. Zanja has become one of my favorite protagonists and her story especially just destroyed me I love her so much thank you for tearing my heart to pieces Laurie Marks thank you
heretickal's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
5.0
briannadasilva's review against another edition
5.0
Okay. This is officially my favorite epic fantasy novel I've ever read.
My heart is sore - in the good way - after finishing it, and rather than try to write something structured and coherent, I present to you: A LIST* OF THINGS
(*actually multiple lists)
"❤️❤️❤️😊😊😊 Things"
- The main character is a lesbian woman of color. Liiiike, how rare is it to have LoTR-type stories with protagonists that are female, queer, and dark-skinned??
- IT HAS A F/F ROMANCE THAT I SHIPPED SO HARD AND I DON'T SHIP SHIPS OFTEN AND IT MADE ME FEEL SO MANY THINGS
- Adventure! Battles! Characters that actually get seriously hurt quite a lot!
- Karis 😭 Who ever thought it was possible for me to feel such strong, aching compassion for someone who doesn't even exist?
- The world is entirely egalitarian and it's so pure and I didn't realize I much I wanted this. For people who think fantasy always has to be patriarchal... ugh! Read this for an example of egalitarian societies done right!
- Can we please just have a moment of silence for how MOST OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS ARE QUEER, and it's no big deal, and they never have to label themselves. They just are.
"Just 😊 Things"
- The world building didn't blow me away, but I liked it.
- It wasn't Medieval fantasy, but set in a slightly more advanced setting with swords and pistols. 'Twas refreshing.
- Main character was a tough, nuanced, well-rounded female warrior. The love interest tugged my heart and just made me care so much about her, ahh. None of the other characters really struck me, but I did enjoy all of them.
- I'm a sucker for themes of survival and friendship and rescues and doing-the-right-thing and ethical dilemmas etc. etc.
"☹️ Things"
- While I was fully entertained throughout the story, and never felt it had a dry or dull moment, the plot did seem to meander a little.
- It was such a diverse, intersectional story AND YET WHAT IS THE ABOMINATION THAT IS THIS COVER. WHO WHITE-WASHED ZANJA. SHE IS DARK-SKINNED AND DARK-HAIRED. WHY. WHY. *howls at the moon* *screams at white supremacy* I will never ever be okay with this.
Issue with cover design aside - which was also not the author's fault I'm sure - I loved this. And I will not soon forget it. ❤️
My heart is sore - in the good way - after finishing it, and rather than try to write something structured and coherent, I present to you: A LIST* OF THINGS
(*actually multiple lists)
"❤️❤️❤️😊😊😊 Things"
- The main character is a lesbian woman of color. Liiiike, how rare is it to have LoTR-type stories with protagonists that are female, queer, and dark-skinned??
- IT HAS A F/F ROMANCE THAT I SHIPPED SO HARD AND I DON'T SHIP SHIPS OFTEN AND IT MADE ME FEEL SO MANY THINGS
- Adventure! Battles! Characters that actually get seriously hurt quite a lot!
- Karis 😭 Who ever thought it was possible for me to feel such strong, aching compassion for someone who doesn't even exist?
- The world is entirely egalitarian and it's so pure and I didn't realize I much I wanted this. For people who think fantasy always has to be patriarchal... ugh! Read this for an example of egalitarian societies done right!
- Can we please just have a moment of silence for how MOST OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS ARE QUEER, and it's no big deal, and they never have to label themselves. They just are.
"Just 😊 Things"
- The world building didn't blow me away, but I liked it.
- It wasn't Medieval fantasy, but set in a slightly more advanced setting with swords and pistols. 'Twas refreshing.
- Main character was a tough, nuanced, well-rounded female warrior. The love interest tugged my heart and just made me care so much about her, ahh. None of the other characters really struck me, but I did enjoy all of them.
- I'm a sucker for themes of survival and friendship and rescues and doing-the-right-thing and ethical dilemmas etc. etc.
"☹️ Things"
- While I was fully entertained throughout the story, and never felt it had a dry or dull moment, the plot did seem to meander a little.
- It was such a diverse, intersectional story AND YET WHAT IS THE ABOMINATION THAT IS THIS COVER. WHO WHITE-WASHED ZANJA. SHE IS DARK-SKINNED AND DARK-HAIRED. WHY. WHY. *howls at the moon* *screams at white supremacy* I will never ever be okay with this.
Issue with cover design aside - which was also not the author's fault I'm sure - I loved this. And I will not soon forget it. ❤️
mariocomputer's review against another edition
4.0
It took a while for me to get into this one, especially because there is a lot of warfare which isn't really my thing, but by the time Zanja has stuck around with the South Hill company for a while, it grew on me. The relationships are my favourite part. The way elemental powers work is also interesting because it is very different from other approaches to the elements that I've seen. I'm going to read the next book, Earth Logic, for sure.
emilyplun's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jjjreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, War, Violence, Xenophobia, Child death, Death, Confinement, Drug use, Mental illness, Slavery, Animal death, Abandonment, Colonisation, Ableism, Body shaming, Grief, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault