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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.
eviebookish's review against another edition
5.0
***Originally posted to: Bookish Book Blog |YA&Adult Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Guest Posts, Giveaways and News!
Exquisite. A near perfect blend of fantasy, action, adventure and magic. Finely imagined and beautifully told, Songs of The Earth by Elspeth Cooper is one greatly enjoyable and entirely captivating debut fantasy novel. I had a wonderful time reading it. Thanks to Cooper's excellent and engaging storytelling, it didn't take long for me to become totally immersed in the plot. All the characters were carefully depicted, with a mixture of qualities and flaws that really made them jump off the page. The settings were vivid and painted with an exceptional care for details. I could almost feel the cold wind on my skin and hear the glorious song of power and magic. And it felt amazing. And it made me crave more. Mesmerizing - that would be the word. But also adventurous, at times scary and disquieting, thematically poignant, moving, even slightly philosophical. Beautiful. It was, in every sense of the word, an epic story and an exciting beginning to a promising new series.
Suffer ye not the life of a witch and shun ye all works of evil lest they imperil thy soul.
Gair can hear the Song. Which basically means he is a witch. He can touch the songs of the earth and weave magic. Unfortunately, the world he's been born into is a cold and unforgiving one, where practicing magic equals besmirching the sanctity of the Suvaeon Order and is punishable by death. And no one cares about Gair's loyalty to the Lady and his many years of service to the Church. All that matters is that he has performed acts of witchcraft for which he must be punished. Burned. While Gair is doing his best to stay alive, the magic inside him is breaking free and he has to do something with it, has to learn how to embrace it and get it under control, otherwise he'll burst. His only hope lies in the Guardians of the Veil, a secret and well-hidden society that holds the knowledge of the Song. In order to learn how to master his gift, he has to find them, and he has to do it quick. And that's only just the beginning of the many dangers and adventures he'll have to face.
This was, hands down, one of the most wonderful fantasy books I have read in the past few years. I wasn't even 50 pages into this book before it downed on me that I am beginning something truly extraordinary. And the feeling stayed with me all the way to the end, leaving me impressed, amazed, slightly dazed and ultimately satisfied. Cooper's writing style is nothing short of spellbinding. It draws you in, holds your attention, gets you emotionally involved in the characters' story and leaves you breathless. And begging for more. There's no denying the fact that this lady have nailed her debut in a way that you really don't see very often. For that, and for the way she she brought all her characters to life and made me care about them, I am giving her a well-deserved standing ovation.
I'm not even sure what I loved more about this book - the way the story was driven by the beautifully fleshed out, convincing characters, or the way the events smoothly unfolded, allowing me to take pleasure in exploring all the intricacies of the plot. Or maybe it was the whole new concept of magic that won me over, or perhaps the chilling witch hunts and inquisition. Or maybe I'm just a total sucker for thrilling adventures and epic quests, sprinkled with danger and occasional humor. Whatever it was, it was good.
Gair's journey to self-discovery and self-acceptance was also very interesting to read about. His whole life he's been taught that magic is a sin. Every prayer he has learned was meant to steer him away from it. But when he heard the music, he couldn't resist opening his heart to it, it felt too good, too euphoric not to give in. And he struggled with that a lot. When we meet him, he's still not entirely sure whether he's a sinner, well-deserving of the punishment he's about to receive, or just an innocent victim with a gift. He has to face the cruelty of the world around him, all the while battling demons of his own. Trying to find his place in the world. And it was absolutely fascinating to be able to accompany him on this journey and see him transform from a scared, confused man with not much hope for the future, into a strong, confident, powerful character, ready to take on whatever new challenges are thrown his way.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Songs of The Earth and I hope you realized by now that this is a title that simply must be on your shelf. I can't wait for the next installment!
Exquisite. A near perfect blend of fantasy, action, adventure and magic. Finely imagined and beautifully told, Songs of The Earth by Elspeth Cooper is one greatly enjoyable and entirely captivating debut fantasy novel. I had a wonderful time reading it. Thanks to Cooper's excellent and engaging storytelling, it didn't take long for me to become totally immersed in the plot. All the characters were carefully depicted, with a mixture of qualities and flaws that really made them jump off the page. The settings were vivid and painted with an exceptional care for details. I could almost feel the cold wind on my skin and hear the glorious song of power and magic. And it felt amazing. And it made me crave more. Mesmerizing - that would be the word. But also adventurous, at times scary and disquieting, thematically poignant, moving, even slightly philosophical. Beautiful. It was, in every sense of the word, an epic story and an exciting beginning to a promising new series.
Suffer ye not the life of a witch and shun ye all works of evil lest they imperil thy soul.
Gair can hear the Song. Which basically means he is a witch. He can touch the songs of the earth and weave magic. Unfortunately, the world he's been born into is a cold and unforgiving one, where practicing magic equals besmirching the sanctity of the Suvaeon Order and is punishable by death. And no one cares about Gair's loyalty to the Lady and his many years of service to the Church. All that matters is that he has performed acts of witchcraft for which he must be punished. Burned. While Gair is doing his best to stay alive, the magic inside him is breaking free and he has to do something with it, has to learn how to embrace it and get it under control, otherwise he'll burst. His only hope lies in the Guardians of the Veil, a secret and well-hidden society that holds the knowledge of the Song. In order to learn how to master his gift, he has to find them, and he has to do it quick. And that's only just the beginning of the many dangers and adventures he'll have to face.
This was, hands down, one of the most wonderful fantasy books I have read in the past few years. I wasn't even 50 pages into this book before it downed on me that I am beginning something truly extraordinary. And the feeling stayed with me all the way to the end, leaving me impressed, amazed, slightly dazed and ultimately satisfied. Cooper's writing style is nothing short of spellbinding. It draws you in, holds your attention, gets you emotionally involved in the characters' story and leaves you breathless. And begging for more. There's no denying the fact that this lady have nailed her debut in a way that you really don't see very often. For that, and for the way she she brought all her characters to life and made me care about them, I am giving her a well-deserved standing ovation.
I'm not even sure what I loved more about this book - the way the story was driven by the beautifully fleshed out, convincing characters, or the way the events smoothly unfolded, allowing me to take pleasure in exploring all the intricacies of the plot. Or maybe it was the whole new concept of magic that won me over, or perhaps the chilling witch hunts and inquisition. Or maybe I'm just a total sucker for thrilling adventures and epic quests, sprinkled with danger and occasional humor. Whatever it was, it was good.
Gair's journey to self-discovery and self-acceptance was also very interesting to read about. His whole life he's been taught that magic is a sin. Every prayer he has learned was meant to steer him away from it. But when he heard the music, he couldn't resist opening his heart to it, it felt too good, too euphoric not to give in. And he struggled with that a lot. When we meet him, he's still not entirely sure whether he's a sinner, well-deserving of the punishment he's about to receive, or just an innocent victim with a gift. He has to face the cruelty of the world around him, all the while battling demons of his own. Trying to find his place in the world. And it was absolutely fascinating to be able to accompany him on this journey and see him transform from a scared, confused man with not much hope for the future, into a strong, confident, powerful character, ready to take on whatever new challenges are thrown his way.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Songs of The Earth and I hope you realized by now that this is a title that simply must be on your shelf. I can't wait for the next installment!
rauthr's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25