Reviews

The Element of Fire, by Martha Wells

Only show reviews with written explanations

wizardowl's review

3.0

Being used to how incredible Martha Wells' more recent work is, this one (published some 25 years ago) was a bit of a disappointment. The plot was meandering and didn't hold my interest very well. I also didn't particularly connect with either of the main characters (the side characters were much more intriguing to me for the most part), and I just wasn't that invested in the outcome of their story.

As a fan of all four other Ile Rien books, it was nice to see a different period in the country's history and understand more of the references in Death of the Necromancer. Aside from that, though, I found the book pretty forgettable.

mousie_books's review

Go to review page

3.0

I started reading this at the main NYPL branch in Bryant Park because I hadn't realized that branch does not circulate books and sunk cost fallacy. Then I saw it was $3 on Amazon...

I believe this is Martha Wells's first novel.

Pretty good, but it took me a little while to get into. Typical fantasy / political intrigue / conspiracy. The characters are far less quirky than the author's later work, but Kade has some of the outsider awkwardness. I liked the ending.

This is a (distant) prequel to the other Ile-Rien books. Unfortunately, I don't think there's any more on Kade or Queen Ravenna. I found them both very interesting characters.

Oh! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbain_Grandier was a real person. "Urbain Grandier (born in 1590 in Bouère – died on 18 August 1634 in Loudun) was a French Catholic priest who was burned at the stake after being convicted of witchcraft, following the events of the so-called "Loudun Possessions". Most modern commentators have concluded that Grandier was the victim of a politically motivated persecution led by the powerful Cardinal Richelieu."

Spoiler

Urbain Grandier is a sorcerer bent on revenge against Bisra, his homeland, who tortured him and sentenced him to die for his (at the time, benevolent) magic. He bargains with the Unseelie to destroy Lodun in Ile-Rien and maybe offer up Knockma(?) -- Kade's home -- in return for the power to shapeshift. Using the ability to impersonate others, he infiltrates the court and promises Denzil, the King's cousin and closest friend, the Ile-Rien throne. The end goal of which is to set the kingdom on a path to destroy Bisra.

The captain of the Dowager Queen Ravenna's guard, Thomas Boniface, teams up with Kade, the King's magically powerful, elder, but illegitimate half-fay sister, to uncover the conspiracy and save the kingdom. They fall in love/lust. In the end, when all is revealed, King Roland remains too weak to execute his friend, so Thomas challenges Denzil to a duel. He wins, and quits to run off with Kade, 'cause fuck the king's noise.

majkia's review

Go to review page

4.0

Martha Wells debut novel, the first in the Ile-Rein series.

I found it a bit slow to get started but once I felt comfortable in the world and the pace picked up I enjoyed it tremendously.

Lots of court intrigue, a young King who has no idea what he's doing, his mother the real brains behind the throne. When the country is attaced by Fairy, the fact that the king's half sister, a half fey herself, shows up and muddles the picture of just who is up to what, and who to trust.

chloefrizzle's review

Go to review page

3.0

A good flintlock fantasy. There's never enough at stake for it to become great.

waclements7's review

Go to review page

5.0

Really good début from Wells. The story of fast paced, with interesting characters and world-building. Ile-Rien is an intriguing place.

therapybard2021's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I found some things in the books interesting, such as Kade in the beginning and certain aspects of the plot. Even so, Thomas is a very boring character and I struggled to get into the story. I don't think I'll be moving on to the sequel.