dark_reader's review against another edition
1.0
On the upside, I learned some new words: settle (a type of bench), cortege (a traveling procession), nuncheon (snack time!), chaffer (to haggle).
On the downside, BOOOOOORRRRRRRIIINNNGGG.
Overly descriptive, repetitive, poorly paced. I have read so many descriptions of settles now, many of them apparently luminous, that I wish I could voluntary expunge from my memory engrams. For every plot laid, every multi-layered magical protection plan, every action sequence, you can be sure that it will be re-explained in detail again within two chapters, when either the main character recounts it to an ally, or the enemies deduce it in full.
This book also contains the first instance of 'Elfsplaining' that I have ever encountered. See, one elf explains to another elf that elves don't sleep like humans do, but instead they have conscious rest periods. I think the other elf probably already knew that? This is but one egregious example of sloppy exposition in this over-long novel.
The premise of the story is that the human world is overlaid with the realm of elves and other magical or mythical beings, and passage between the two is possible but elves don't want humans to discover their realm lest they come in with their cold iron and destroy it. There are twin elves (boy and girl) who each have four names, and they also are half-siblings to another pair of twins who also have four names each, for a total of sixteen names across four siblings, and they all were privy to the same vision of the future that showed a red-haired child of England's King Henry VIII whose fate will either produce peace and harmony across the realm, or will invite the Spanish Inquisition, which would in turn ruin the elves' realm, but maybe only the good elves' realm and not the bad elves' realm, so the good elves send one of the good elves to protect the red-haired child. Except, that red-haired child is not the one who determines the fate of the realm, instead that is a different red-haired child, but the first red-haired child is important to the second red-haired child's fate because ??? and I don't care anymore because the whole book was really boring.
It appears to be historically accurate for events of 16th-century England (seriously, just watch The Tudors on Netflix), down to fine political detail, likely managed by the co-author [a:Roberta Gellis|8687|Roberta Gellis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1304792877p2/8687.jpg] who reportedly is good with that kind of thing. But, because it is historically accurate, the reader knows how events will turn out, just surprise! elves were secretly involved. But they didn't change anything, so they were meaningless.
Interesting tidbit about the physical book edition that I read (from my local library); it announces prominently on the front cover, "Free CD Inside" in a red star, livening up what is one of the dullest fantasy covers I have ever seen. The back cover elaborates, "Inside you will find a CD ROM that contains over 40 full-length novels, with no encryptions of other schemes to make you feel dumb and incompetent. You can just click on a title and read it or print it out... But be very wary. The publisher did not provide this out of the goodness of his heart, if he even has a heart. He figures you will start reading many of the genuinely first-rate novels provided herein, and discover that you really don't want to continue reading on a computer screen. So what will you do? ...he thinks that it is likely that you will notice it the next time you see it in a bookstore - and that you will Buy the book! Could there be a more dastardly and nefarious scheme for increasing profits? Just remember: you have been warned." (Emphases are original). Yeah, that whole e-book thing didn't really pan out, did it? I checked out the CD ROM, and it contains the books as promised, in formats suitable for reading on a web browser or your Palm OS device.... I think one of the file formats will work with a Kindle device or app, but I don't care to try it. The majority of the books are also by Mercedes Lackey and co-authors, many of them are sequels (presumably hoping you will buy the earlier books) all published by Baen Books and not a one of them looking worth reading to me.
I have never read anything by Mercedes Lackey before, and clearly this was not the place to start. I would be willing to try something by her again, maybe in a few months to a year or more once I get the taste of this book out of my mouth, so if you have a recommendation for where to start with Lackey, let me know in the comments. I will likely give her first Valdemar book a try because of a friend's glowing review.
On the downside, BOOOOOORRRRRRRIIINNNGGG.
Overly descriptive, repetitive, poorly paced. I have read so many descriptions of settles now, many of them apparently luminous, that I wish I could voluntary expunge from my memory engrams. For every plot laid, every multi-layered magical protection plan, every action sequence, you can be sure that it will be re-explained in detail again within two chapters, when either the main character recounts it to an ally, or the enemies deduce it in full.
This book also contains the first instance of 'Elfsplaining' that I have ever encountered. See, one elf explains to another elf that elves don't sleep like humans do, but instead they have conscious rest periods. I think the other elf probably already knew that? This is but one egregious example of sloppy exposition in this over-long novel.
The premise of the story is that the human world is overlaid with the realm of elves and other magical or mythical beings, and passage between the two is possible but elves don't want humans to discover their realm lest they come in with their cold iron and destroy it. There are twin elves (boy and girl) who each have four names, and they also are half-siblings to another pair of twins who also have four names each, for a total of sixteen names across four siblings, and they all were privy to the same vision of the future that showed a red-haired child of England's King Henry VIII whose fate will either produce peace and harmony across the realm, or will invite the Spanish Inquisition, which would in turn ruin the elves' realm, but maybe only the good elves' realm and not the bad elves' realm, so the good elves send one of the good elves to protect the red-haired child. Except, that red-haired child is not the one who determines the fate of the realm, instead that is a different red-haired child, but the first red-haired child is important to the second red-haired child's fate because ??? and I don't care anymore because the whole book was really boring.
It appears to be historically accurate for events of 16th-century England (seriously, just watch The Tudors on Netflix), down to fine political detail, likely managed by the co-author [a:Roberta Gellis|8687|Roberta Gellis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1304792877p2/8687.jpg] who reportedly is good with that kind of thing. But, because it is historically accurate, the reader knows how events will turn out, just surprise! elves were secretly involved. But they didn't change anything, so they were meaningless.
Interesting tidbit about the physical book edition that I read (from my local library); it announces prominently on the front cover, "Free CD Inside" in a red star, livening up what is one of the dullest fantasy covers I have ever seen. The back cover elaborates, "Inside you will find a CD ROM that contains over 40 full-length novels, with no encryptions of other schemes to make you feel dumb and incompetent. You can just click on a title and read it or print it out... But be very wary. The publisher did not provide this out of the goodness of his heart, if he even has a heart. He figures you will start reading many of the genuinely first-rate novels provided herein, and discover that you really don't want to continue reading on a computer screen. So what will you do? ...he thinks that it is likely that you will notice it the next time you see it in a bookstore - and that you will Buy the book! Could there be a more dastardly and nefarious scheme for increasing profits? Just remember: you have been warned." (Emphases are original). Yeah, that whole e-book thing didn't really pan out, did it? I checked out the CD ROM, and it contains the books as promised, in formats suitable for reading on a web browser or your Palm OS device.... I think one of the file formats will work with a Kindle device or app, but I don't care to try it. The majority of the books are also by Mercedes Lackey and co-authors, many of them are sequels (presumably hoping you will buy the earlier books) all published by Baen Books and not a one of them looking worth reading to me.
I have never read anything by Mercedes Lackey before, and clearly this was not the place to start. I would be willing to try something by her again, maybe in a few months to a year or more once I get the taste of this book out of my mouth, so if you have a recommendation for where to start with Lackey, let me know in the comments. I will likely give her first Valdemar book a try because of a friend's glowing review.
karingforbooks's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
For the first in a series it Does its job: set the scene. As someone who knows the historical context, I didn’t need all that and think it slowed the story. I did like it a learning how the Sidhe integrated themselves into the court of Henry viii though. Overall it’s a good book and I enjoyed it, but I didn’t need all the historical details (which is on me because most people don’t know that level of detail about the period)
celebrin's review
I tried. I really did.
I kept going. But I couldn't suspend disbelief enough and the characters all seemed to run together.
Sorry Misty.
I kept going. But I couldn't suspend disbelief enough and the characters all seemed to run together.
Sorry Misty.
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