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writings_of_a_reader's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I enjoyed First Truth, but felt that Bailic was not nearly as sinister as he could have been, and I thought he was a bit slow not to have figured out who the keeper was. I did like the slow pace that the relationship between Alissa and Strell is developing at though.
lynseyisreading's review against another edition
DNF at about 40%. Might be the audio narrator but I’m just not enjoying it.
topdragon's review against another edition
4.0
Alissa, a young (20ish) woman has set out on a journey to a mythical “Hold” where she is to hone her magical abilities much like her father had done before her. The problem is that she thinks it a fool’s errand due to the ludicrous idea of magic existing at all, much less a mystical "Hold" where prior magicians had learned their skills. Strell, a wandering musician/storyteller from the plains meets her on the journey and together they make their way to where they believe the hold may be. Their journey is fraught with danger and their own prejudices against each other.
I’ve had this 4-book series on my shelf for quite some time and they likely would have languished there for much longer had I not discovered that the author’s name, Dawn Cook, is actually a pen name for the well-regarded [a:Kim Harrison|17054|Kim Harrison|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1435095735p2/17054.jpg], author of the best-selling “Hollows” series. I’m happy I took the plunge because this first book, while following a somewhat typical fantasy plot line, is still a worthy read and sets up the rest of the series in fine fashion. We know going in that these two main characters will grow past their differences and their bickering and a genuine friendship and probably a romance will blossom. But I thought all of that was handled very realistically, and wasn’t rushed along at all. My biggest negative is that while the ending provided a big reveal concerning the very nature of the world in which they live, I had seen it coming through most of the book…but even so, I didn’t feel any kind of major letdown. The world building is appropriately kept to a minimum but I would have preferred the magic system to be a little less nebulous. I’m still not sure how the various aspects of Alissa’s threads and tendrils and rivulets and globes of energy work but then again, at the end of book one, Alissa doesn’t either. Thus…three more books.
The cover of the paperback I read is from back in the early 2000's, when the book was first published. I see that today’s covers are definitely geared more toward the YA market. I suppose that is appropriate for the book I just read but it works as a traditional epic fantasy as well.
I’ve had this 4-book series on my shelf for quite some time and they likely would have languished there for much longer had I not discovered that the author’s name, Dawn Cook, is actually a pen name for the well-regarded [a:Kim Harrison|17054|Kim Harrison|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1435095735p2/17054.jpg], author of the best-selling “Hollows” series. I’m happy I took the plunge because this first book, while following a somewhat typical fantasy plot line, is still a worthy read and sets up the rest of the series in fine fashion. We know going in that these two main characters will grow past their differences and their bickering and a genuine friendship and probably a romance will blossom. But I thought all of that was handled very realistically, and wasn’t rushed along at all. My biggest negative is that while the ending provided a big reveal concerning the very nature of the world in which they live, I had seen it coming through most of the book…but even so, I didn’t feel any kind of major letdown. The world building is appropriately kept to a minimum but I would have preferred the magic system to be a little less nebulous. I’m still not sure how the various aspects of Alissa’s threads and tendrils and rivulets and globes of energy work but then again, at the end of book one, Alissa doesn’t either. Thus…three more books.
The cover of the paperback I read is from back in the early 2000's, when the book was first published. I see that today’s covers are definitely geared more toward the YA market. I suppose that is appropriate for the book I just read but it works as a traditional epic fantasy as well.
snoopydoo77's review against another edition
2.0
probably going to dnf this for now at 30% ... I just can't get into it
Not sure if it's the narrator or what.. I just can't get into the story and can't connect with the people. maybe at a later point I will enjoy it more. Or maybe as an ebook ☺️
Not sure if it's the narrator or what.. I just can't get into the story and can't connect with the people. maybe at a later point I will enjoy it more. Or maybe as an ebook ☺️
phoenix2's review against another edition
3.0
First Truth is the first book in the fantasy series 'Truth'.
The book has many interesting elements to follow, with the main heroes, along with the reader, slowly discovering the magic system, its potentials, their potentials, and the whole politics of the Hold and the keepers.
Overall, it is a nice enough fantasy book, with an enjoyable narration and some likable characters. Though, the pace goes a bit rough towards the ending, and the romance is more or less forced, it is a promising start.
The book has many interesting elements to follow, with the main heroes, along with the reader, slowly discovering the magic system, its potentials, their potentials, and the whole politics of the Hold and the keepers.
Overall, it is a nice enough fantasy book, with an enjoyable narration and some likable characters. Though, the pace goes a bit rough towards the ending, and the romance is more or less forced, it is a promising start.
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
I am a big fan of Kim Harrison, she is one of my top 5 authors. I had to try her Dawn Cook books, I found it very enjoyable. It is an easy to read, fantasy. The two main characters are from opposite sides of the track in this world. Alissa is stubborn, powerful with latent magic and naive. Strell is humorous, musical and stubborn. Both distrust each other, and think less of the other because of where they are from. They are forced to combine their journeys after events tear their families apart.There is some repetition I found grating on my nerves at times, but the story moves quickly. The relationship that grows is believable and follows a natural course for the time period.
I enjoyed the story, I could believe in the characters and their relationships, the world created and it's magic was new and exciting. I have already ordered the next book in the series.
I enjoyed the story, I could believe in the characters and their relationships, the world created and it's magic was new and exciting. I have already ordered the next book in the series.
katyanaish's review against another edition
3.0
***3.5***
There was a lot that I liked about this book. But I have to say that I disliked the ending greatly.
I disliked how much Alissa was ... utterly disregarded. A tangent to the entire back quarter of the book. And I don't understand, given how much weight honor and one's word seems to hold here -
I truly don't understand why The ending as a whole feels like nonsense to me. It is unbelievable, and really damaged the book as a whole. I was left staring at my Kindle in dismayed surprise, because I had enjoyed everything else so much.
Super disappointed. I'll read onward, hoping that... I don't know, the disjointed feel of the ending is just an artificial end to this book, and the next book rapidly makes sense of the ridiculously nonsensical situation we were left with here.
There was a lot that I liked about this book. But I have to say that I disliked the ending greatly.
I disliked how much Alissa was ... utterly disregarded. A tangent to the entire back quarter of the book. And I don't understand, given how much weight honor and one's word seems to hold here -
Spoiler
so much so that the two people who positively loathe each other step to the side and make a deal at the end... a deal that we don't even get to hear, which is a pretty damn huge cop out for the finale of a book - how is it that the entire "deal" isn't negated by the fact that 1) the book in no way belonged to Strell, so he couldn't have traded it, and 2) Bailic didn't even help her, so he did nothing for his end.I truly don't understand why
Spoiler
Useless didn't just splatter him at the end, as soon as he had stepped away from Alissa. She was safe, she had the book, and Bailic had no ACTUAL claim to the book. Nor does the book itself recognize his claim.Super disappointed. I'll read onward, hoping that... I don't know, the disjointed feel of the ending is just an artificial end to this book, and the next book rapidly makes sense of the ridiculously nonsensical situation we were left with here.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
2.0
It started fairly good with a young girl going on a journey and meeting a young man. But then it started to draaaaaaag. First, Alissa was TSTL. Whatever, go and get yourself killed then idiot. Strell on the other hand...well ok I liked him.
What went wrong? When they arrived the book got boring and I stopped caring. And honestly I do not have much more to say than that. It got boring, end of story.
This is light fantasy, and then I mean light. And there is NO worldbuilding. People live by the sea, in hills or plains and blah blah. And..AND? Ok there is magic, nothing explained there either. I know it's light fantasy but come on, I need a world.
But as I did not DNF (I did skim though), I will still rate it ok. It had promise, it just needed a LOT of work.
What went wrong? When they arrived the book got boring and I stopped caring. And honestly I do not have much more to say than that. It got boring, end of story.
This is light fantasy, and then I mean light. And there is NO worldbuilding. People live by the sea, in hills or plains and blah blah. And..AND? Ok there is magic, nothing explained there either. I know it's light fantasy but come on, I need a world.
But as I did not DNF (I did skim though), I will still rate it ok. It had promise, it just needed a LOT of work.
aiuola's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
msbotticelli's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book! I thought it was a great fantasy, and I was very upset when I got to the last page of Lost Truth.