its_tara's review against another edition
4.0
Review:
For me, this book was average. It was typical epic fantasy, which I normally love, the magic system was fairly unique, which I enjoyed. However, the story was a little too slowly paced for me, and I really only felt like I connected with what was going on at the very end.
The idea of the magic system in this is that those who are gifted can hear music – the songs of the earth – and can control them and use their power at will. These songs originate from other worlds, separated from the human world by a veil. I liked the idea behind this – I’ve read about a lot of different magic systems, and the idea intrigued me. This was one of the things about the book I enjoyed.
However, I was scared the book was going to focus too much on religion. The church in this holds witch trials over anyone displaying the gift, and only a forgotten order miles away actually teaches magic. Unfortunately for Gair, the main character, he was brought up by the church, and when he begins to use his gifts, he’s quickly tried and exiled.
Luckily he finds a friend in seemingly worldly traveler Alderan, and gets taken to train his gifts, and learn their extent. Unfortunately, this aspect of the book was predictable for me, as was the fact that all with Gair was not as it seemed.
I liked the love interest in the book – especially because Aysha isn’t typical of “leading ladies”. The love was endearing, but not overplayed, and I appreciated that.
Overall, there were good aspects of this book, but certain things, such as the pacing, let it down for me. There were also some things that were mentioned a lot that actually didn’t seem that important to the end of the story, however, this is probably due to the fact that this is the first in the series, and the details will be important later. I think this is definitely one for people who really do enjoy their fantasy – and whilst it’s a good read, I didn’t enjoy it as much as some others I’ve read.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Originality: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
My Enjoyment: 3.5/5
For me, this book was average. It was typical epic fantasy, which I normally love, the magic system was fairly unique, which I enjoyed. However, the story was a little too slowly paced for me, and I really only felt like I connected with what was going on at the very end.
The idea of the magic system in this is that those who are gifted can hear music – the songs of the earth – and can control them and use their power at will. These songs originate from other worlds, separated from the human world by a veil. I liked the idea behind this – I’ve read about a lot of different magic systems, and the idea intrigued me. This was one of the things about the book I enjoyed.
However, I was scared the book was going to focus too much on religion. The church in this holds witch trials over anyone displaying the gift, and only a forgotten order miles away actually teaches magic. Unfortunately for Gair, the main character, he was brought up by the church, and when he begins to use his gifts, he’s quickly tried and exiled.
Luckily he finds a friend in seemingly worldly traveler Alderan, and gets taken to train his gifts, and learn their extent. Unfortunately, this aspect of the book was predictable for me, as was the fact that all with Gair was not as it seemed.
I liked the love interest in the book – especially because Aysha isn’t typical of “leading ladies”. The love was endearing, but not overplayed, and I appreciated that.
Overall, there were good aspects of this book, but certain things, such as the pacing, let it down for me. There were also some things that were mentioned a lot that actually didn’t seem that important to the end of the story, however, this is probably due to the fact that this is the first in the series, and the details will be important later. I think this is definitely one for people who really do enjoy their fantasy – and whilst it’s a good read, I didn’t enjoy it as much as some others I’ve read.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Originality: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
My Enjoyment: 3.5/5
faehistory's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
atlantic_reader_wannabe's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully written and amazing story, full of imagination and beauty, Songs of the Earth is a story worth reading! I could hardly put it down and I look forward to getting the next book(s) in the series!
gabyk_lib's review against another edition
3.0
This is a perfectly reasonable read. Neatly written with a good style. Readable. But there is nothing fresh here. It could be any of its kind. I think I stop here.
leontiy's review against another edition
5.0
An effortless debut, filled with good honest classic fantasy tropes, a memorable cast, and easy originality, Songs of the Earth was an absolute pleasure to read. Slated for release in March 2012, Trinity Moon, book two of The Wild Hunt couldn’t come soon enough.
It’s safe to say, Elspeth Cooper is a star in the making, and with a debut like this, I can only wonder as to the sheer talent she’ll exhibit if given a few more years in the game.
Absolutely enthralling.
Full review: http://leocristea.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/songs-of-the-earth-the-wild-hunt-1-by-elspeth-cooper/
It’s safe to say, Elspeth Cooper is a star in the making, and with a debut like this, I can only wonder as to the sheer talent she’ll exhibit if given a few more years in the game.
Absolutely enthralling.
Full review: http://leocristea.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/songs-of-the-earth-the-wild-hunt-1-by-elspeth-cooper/
tannik03's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
I really enjoyed this, though I know it's been bashed. My theory for that is how religious the author has decided to make the text - folks are unable to separate the religion from the fantasy, and it affects their reading. But I enjoyed every page of this! It's definitely a debut novel, but it was a way for the author to grow, and I'm excited to see later books remove the slight beginner's follies that are generally unavoidable.
themoonkestrel's review
3.0
So, I'm having issues with this book. I liked it a lot, but it could have been better and there are so many things unexplained. And somehow you get action, then this LONG part were you forget about how some minor characters were called, and bam! suddenly they appear agai, and you get fast-packed (much too fast) action that you barely can understand, and then bam! again, to the end without any clear explanation to anything!
I did enjoy the writing, and the idea and world are lovely, but I do wish things were more clear, and less left in the dark.
I did enjoy the writing, and the idea and world are lovely, but I do wish things were more clear, and less left in the dark.
cyber_spines's review against another edition
5.0
READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE: http://alekcristea.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/songs-of-the-earth-elspeth-cooper-the-wild-hunt-1/
Songs of the Earth by Elspeth Cooper was a book I was looking very forward to reading, especially after the brilliant review my brother had given it. I picked it up a little while ago, and although it took me a while to read it (life has a knack for getting in the way sometimes!), the book never once lost its magic.
The world of Songs of the Earth is easily identifiable as medieval Europe, with its knights and the Church acting as head of state. Magic is as outlawed here as it was then and the Church teaches ‘thou shalt not suffer a witch to live’. Unfortunately for Gair, he hears the Song, the source of magic in the world, and as such is arrested and questioned at length until the day of his trial with only one likely outcome: his death.
His survival surprises no one more than him, when instead he is banished from the city, a brand on his hand, and threats of death on his heel if he doesn’t leave soon enough or dares to ever return. But he doesn’t need to leave alone, finding help in a man named Alderran who offers to take him to where he lives, far from the Church’s capital. Gair, at a loss of what to do, accepts and follows Alderran on his journey home as he starts to learn more about the Song and how he may draw on it.
[...]
Cooper’s writing is one of the great strengths of the book and she doesn’t show any of the clumsiness that could be expected from a first time writer. The writing is simply magical, capable of whisking the reader away into the book and never quite releasing its grasp until the very last word has been read. No matter how long a gap I had in between reading session, just a sentence was enough for the magic of Cooper’s writing to draw me back into the book.
The story itself is like a gentle setting of the scene before the storm: we follow Gair in his daily life, grow to love those he loves, care for what he cherishes, and miss all the signs of the darkness to come in the same way that he does, only to be hit all the harder by it in the end.
[...]
I don’t think I have the words to convey just how much I loved this book: saying that it is a magical book doesn’t seem to do it fully justice. Cooper mixes ‘slice-of-life’ with the intrigues of a greater plot with a fearsome enemy so well that we don’t even realise what is happening until it is too late and we are faced with the inevitable. The ending of the book particularly demonstrates how well Cooper has crafted her characters and her world. We care about what happens: we’re not just reading words on the page, we are there witnessing the events through Gair’s eyes, feeling his pain and his hopes.
I will unashamedly admit that I cried at the end. They were the most genuine tears I have ever cried when reading a book and, even now, when I think about the ending, I still get very emotional.
Songs of the Earth is an amazing book, and I eagerly await the sequel. It has been a long time since a book has made me care so damned much and I certainly hope that Trinity Moon will live up to the first book in that aspect!
Songs of the Earth by Elspeth Cooper was a book I was looking very forward to reading, especially after the brilliant review my brother had given it. I picked it up a little while ago, and although it took me a while to read it (life has a knack for getting in the way sometimes!), the book never once lost its magic.
The world of Songs of the Earth is easily identifiable as medieval Europe, with its knights and the Church acting as head of state. Magic is as outlawed here as it was then and the Church teaches ‘thou shalt not suffer a witch to live’. Unfortunately for Gair, he hears the Song, the source of magic in the world, and as such is arrested and questioned at length until the day of his trial with only one likely outcome: his death.
His survival surprises no one more than him, when instead he is banished from the city, a brand on his hand, and threats of death on his heel if he doesn’t leave soon enough or dares to ever return. But he doesn’t need to leave alone, finding help in a man named Alderran who offers to take him to where he lives, far from the Church’s capital. Gair, at a loss of what to do, accepts and follows Alderran on his journey home as he starts to learn more about the Song and how he may draw on it.
[...]
Cooper’s writing is one of the great strengths of the book and she doesn’t show any of the clumsiness that could be expected from a first time writer. The writing is simply magical, capable of whisking the reader away into the book and never quite releasing its grasp until the very last word has been read. No matter how long a gap I had in between reading session, just a sentence was enough for the magic of Cooper’s writing to draw me back into the book.
The story itself is like a gentle setting of the scene before the storm: we follow Gair in his daily life, grow to love those he loves, care for what he cherishes, and miss all the signs of the darkness to come in the same way that he does, only to be hit all the harder by it in the end.
[...]
I don’t think I have the words to convey just how much I loved this book: saying that it is a magical book doesn’t seem to do it fully justice. Cooper mixes ‘slice-of-life’ with the intrigues of a greater plot with a fearsome enemy so well that we don’t even realise what is happening until it is too late and we are faced with the inevitable. The ending of the book particularly demonstrates how well Cooper has crafted her characters and her world. We care about what happens: we’re not just reading words on the page, we are there witnessing the events through Gair’s eyes, feeling his pain and his hopes.
I will unashamedly admit that I cried at the end. They were the most genuine tears I have ever cried when reading a book and, even now, when I think about the ending, I still get very emotional.
Songs of the Earth is an amazing book, and I eagerly await the sequel. It has been a long time since a book has made me care so damned much and I certainly hope that Trinity Moon will live up to the first book in that aspect!
loaros's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Songs of the Earth isn't particularly bad, it's just bland. The relationships seem superficial, the dialogue never holds much tension, and the writing is pretty, but often superfluous.