chloe_s's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
wordnerdy's review against another edition
4.0
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2018/02/2018-book-31.html
This is a strong entry in the fantasy with court politics/other politics genre, anchored by the sibling relationship at its core. It starts with the son of a fisherman whose beloved father dies at sea, and then he finds out the man wasn’t his biological father when his mother brings him to court, where his father is a Baron—and where he meets his younger half sister, also a bastard, the daughter of the Empress' Witch. I guessed a fair amount of the political plot, but finding out if I was right was still an interesting and intense journey, and it didn’t go entirely as I expected. I also liked the world building here a lot (there is some interesting gender stuff) and found parts of this very funny and parts very moving. It looks like this is the start of a series and I am eager to read more. A/A-.
This is a strong entry in the fantasy with court politics/other politics genre, anchored by the sibling relationship at its core. It starts with the son of a fisherman whose beloved father dies at sea, and then he finds out the man wasn’t his biological father when his mother brings him to court, where his father is a Baron—and where he meets his younger half sister, also a bastard, the daughter of the Empress' Witch. I guessed a fair amount of the political plot, but finding out if I was right was still an interesting and intense journey, and it didn’t go entirely as I expected. I also liked the world building here a lot (there is some interesting gender stuff) and found parts of this very funny and parts very moving. It looks like this is the start of a series and I am eager to read more. A/A-.
seshathawk's review against another edition
4.0
I supported this book on Kickstarter because the descriptions I saw on such sites as the Book Smugglers made it sound exactly like something I'd want to read and support. I've never read Karen Healey before, but I LOVED this book.
The world building (something which is often lacking in books by/about/for children) was wonderful, just perfect. I love good world building! The book never dropped huge chunks of information, it just let us experience the world as the characters were.
The characters were also wonderful. I have spent many years lamenting that (once again, often in books by/about/for children or teenagers) so much focus is placed on the romantic relationships between the characters. Not just who is into who else, but is there a triangle element, what do the other characters think of this, etc. It is so hard to find books that are about families, a kid's relationship to their parent/s, friends, and so on!
Which is why I was so pleased with the story of Taver and Elaku, two bastard children of a baron, two young people who are related but meet for the first time as young teenagers. The story was, if anything, about their relationship and how it grows and changes. It let us see the hardships of their relationship, things one of them might have taken for granted, things one of them might never have thought about. It let us see the sometimes-painful class difference between them. But it also developed their relationship in a beautiful way, to the point where they can truly be considered family by the end of the book. Easily my favorite thing about the book; it never felt forced, it just felt lovely.
I enjoyed this book so much that when I reached the end, I immediately wanted to read more. I hope to see more from these authors in the future!
The world building (something which is often lacking in books by/about/for children) was wonderful, just perfect. I love good world building! The book never dropped huge chunks of information, it just let us experience the world as the characters were.
The characters were also wonderful. I have spent many years lamenting that (once again, often in books by/about/for children or teenagers) so much focus is placed on the romantic relationships between the characters. Not just who is into who else, but is there a triangle element, what do the other characters think of this, etc. It is so hard to find books that are about families, a kid's relationship to their parent/s, friends, and so on!
Which is why I was so pleased with the story of Taver and Elaku, two bastard children of a baron, two young people who are related but meet for the first time as young teenagers. The story was, if anything, about their relationship and how it grows and changes. It let us see the hardships of their relationship, things one of them might have taken for granted, things one of them might never have thought about. It let us see the sometimes-painful class difference between them. But it also developed their relationship in a beautiful way, to the point where they can truly be considered family by the end of the book. Easily my favorite thing about the book; it never felt forced, it just felt lovely.
I enjoyed this book so much that when I reached the end, I immediately wanted to read more. I hope to see more from these authors in the future!
jesshale's review
4.0
A very promising start to a new children's/young adult fantasy series - that being said, it's perfectly satisfying to read by itself, with a good conclusion and no cliff-hanger. (Is there anything more frustrating than getting towards the end of a book, realising there's not enough pages to wrap up the plot, and needing to wait for another book to be published to find out what happens? Not here! I'm pleasantly eager to spend more time in this world, but don't feel I've been duped by the authors in favour of forcing me to buy the eventual book two.)
The strength of this book lies in its characters. The first-person point-of-view alternates between Taver and his younger half-sister Elaku. Their voices are quickly established and distinct - they come from very different backgrounds and have very different assumptions about the Way the World Works, but it's really interesting to see how despite that there are similarities in their personalities, which helps the reader understand and believe how quickly they bond as siblings. The authors walk a fine line between having young characters who sound and behave like children, and react to things in the way a (clever, resourceful!) child or teenager might, and having young people believable central to a high-level political plot. I liked the fact that when either of them made a mistake they were able to reflect on it and make amends, and they did the best they could with the resources/knowledge they had.
I also really liked the relationships between Taver and Elaku and the adults in their life. Reading this book as an adult I felt that I could read between the lines a lot in the adults' reactions to things (especially the somewhat messy interpersonal stuff going on with half-siblings and how they got there...) Their parents are supportive and loving, and it was lovely to see how they all embraced the new sibling in their child's life. I would quite happily read a short-story focusing on the parents, especially the Baron Tuvari or Taver's mother. I also really want to read more about how Taver and his father develop a relationship.
Another character I grew attached to was Riciardo.
As mentioned above, the story ends in a satisfying place - we're hopeful about the future Taver and Elaku have and the scope of the skills they have to develop. I have to admit I'd been worried that when Taver and Elaku ended up with separate paths about 2/3 of the way through the book would end with them in different places and book two would be them with completely different plots but nope! Good conclusion. I was happy.
The main issue I have with the book is the pacing. I found it difficult in places to feel how much time had passed, both in the larger scale (Taver and Elaku obviously spend a lot of time together and grow very close, but I can't point to more than mention of spring and summer festivals to get a sense of this) and in the smaller scale (how long was Taver?) It was a little bit told-not-shown.
Another question I had was - WHY is the book called the Empress of Timbra? Not only was I unsure what the empire was - going by the map in the book the islands that make up Timbra are fairly small compared to the other countries nearby, let alone what I would consider an "empire" as opposed to a "kingdom", but she's a fairly minor character, certainly not central to the plot. I can't think of that many times that Taver and Elaku interacted with her directly, let alone to make her name the title of the book - or, I assume, have her eyes feature prominently on the cover. This is obviously a pretty minor issue in an overall good book, it just bugs me!
Finally, I'm hoping for a bit more explanation about how magic works. The authors have clearly deeply thought through this part of their worldbuilding (as evidenced by the "essays" attached to the appendices of the book), and it includes some pretty nifty gender politics. I'm not clear on how the "logic chains" are meant to work - it's explained a bit in the appendicies but I wished it was covered more in the text of the book.
Overall I enjoyed this book - it was hard to put it down and I kept coming back to it to read a few more pages. Even if I felt that the pacing had some issues in relating passage-of-time, it certainly didn't have any problems in carrying me through the book, from introducing the characters through to the climax and wrapping everything up. I'm glad I supported the kickstarter and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next!
The strength of this book lies in its characters. The first-person point-of-view alternates between Taver and his younger half-sister Elaku. Their voices are quickly established and distinct - they come from very different backgrounds and have very different assumptions about the Way the World Works, but it's really interesting to see how despite that there are similarities in their personalities, which helps the reader understand and believe how quickly they bond as siblings. The authors walk a fine line between having young characters who sound and behave like children, and react to things in the way a (clever, resourceful!) child or teenager might, and having young people believable central to a high-level political plot. I liked the fact that when either of them made a mistake they were able to reflect on it and make amends, and they did the best they could with the resources/knowledge they had.
I also really liked the relationships between Taver and Elaku and the adults in their life. Reading this book as an adult I felt that I could read between the lines a lot in the adults' reactions to things (especially the somewhat messy interpersonal stuff going on with half-siblings and how they got there...) Their parents are supportive and loving, and it was lovely to see how they all embraced the new sibling in their child's life. I would quite happily read a short-story focusing on the parents, especially the Baron Tuvari or Taver's mother. I also really want to read more about how Taver and his father develop a relationship.
Another character I grew attached to was Riciardo.
Spoiler
By the point dastardly Riciardo had made it back to the castle and Taver's mother with Elaku I'd actually started to hope that this series might include a redemption story for him. I was charmed by his fatalistic sense of humour and the reminders that he's only nineteen - he's YOUNG, he's avoiding getting sucked into making lifelong oaths he doesn't want, and he's not thinking through all the consequences of his actions. I'm hopeful we get to see him again!Spoiler
As mentioned above, the story ends in a satisfying place - we're hopeful about the future Taver and Elaku have and the scope of the skills they have to develop. I have to admit I'd been worried that when Taver and Elaku ended up with separate paths about 2/3 of the way through the book would end with them in different places and book two would be them with completely different plots but nope! Good conclusion. I was happy.
The main issue I have with the book is the pacing. I found it difficult in places to feel how much time had passed, both in the larger scale (Taver and Elaku obviously spend a lot of time together and grow very close, but I can't point to more than mention of spring and summer festivals to get a sense of this) and in the smaller scale (how long was Taver
Spoiler
on the pirate ship, to grow to trust Jal so muchAnother question I had was - WHY is the book called the Empress of Timbra? Not only was I unsure what the empire was - going by the map in the book the islands that make up Timbra are fairly small compared to the other countries nearby, let alone what I would consider an "empire" as opposed to a "kingdom", but she's a fairly minor character, certainly not central to the plot. I can't think of that many times that Taver and Elaku interacted with her directly, let alone to make her name the title of the book - or, I assume, have her eyes feature prominently on the cover. This is obviously a pretty minor issue in an overall good book, it just bugs me!
Finally, I'm hoping for a bit more explanation about how magic works. The authors have clearly deeply thought through this part of their worldbuilding (as evidenced by the "essays" attached to the appendices of the book), and it includes some pretty nifty gender politics. I'm not clear on how the "logic chains" are meant to work - it's explained a bit in the appendicies but I wished it was covered more in the text of the book.
Overall I enjoyed this book - it was hard to put it down and I kept coming back to it to read a few more pages. Even if I felt that the pacing had some issues in relating passage-of-time, it certainly didn't have any problems in carrying me through the book, from introducing the characters through to the climax and wrapping everything up. I'm glad I supported the kickstarter and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next!
pers's review
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book - it's a terrific adventure story told from the Points of View of half-siblings Elaku and Tevar. I love the world of Timbra that the authors have created, and all the many interesting, properly 3D people they filled it with.
And please, 'sir', can I have some more...
And please, 'sir', can I have some more...
crowcawing's review
4.0
I am not a fan of young adult fiction in general, and I would not have read this book if the gracious authors Karen Healey and Robyn Fleming hadn't answered questions I had about their writing process, as co-authors, on Twitter. I felt that reading their book and leaving an honest review would be good repayment for their kindness. But I am not good at leaving book reviews, so here is what I'll say:
I enjoyed the story. I particularly liked that I was viewing very adult events through the limited perspectives and biases of children. I thought the characters were accurately childlike without being obnoxious, even the teenager Taver, and the adult characters themselves had depth and variety that were portrayed well - again, through the eyes of protagonists. The pacing was excellent, too, and I liked the twist at the very end. Of course, it ends well for everyone we, as readers, come to care about; I expect nothing less from a young adult novel. It's not my cup of tea, but it's satisfactory.
A solid 4/5.
I enjoyed the story. I particularly liked that I was viewing very adult events through the limited perspectives and biases of children. I thought the characters were accurately childlike without being obnoxious, even the teenager Taver, and the adult characters themselves had depth and variety that were portrayed well - again, through the eyes of protagonists. The pacing was excellent, too, and I liked the twist at the very end. Of course, it ends well for everyone we, as readers, come to care about; I expect nothing less from a young adult novel. It's not my cup of tea, but it's satisfactory.
A solid 4/5.
siavahda's review
5.0
This was utterly wonderful. Will write a proper review when it's not so close to midnight!
Actual Review
I can see why Healey and Fleming chose to self-publish The Empress of Timbra - or rather, I can see why a traditional publisher might have hesitated to pick it up, because EoT defies convention and refuses to fit neatly into any box. The ages of the two PoV characters - fourteen and eleven, respectively - might cause some would-be-readers to dub it a children's book, or a Young Adult one. And they wouldn't be entirely wrong - I would happily hand this to my thirteen-year-old sister, or my eleven-year-old one. But it's one of those very special books that can appeal to anyone of any age - my twenty-five-year-old self couldn't put it down and practically inhaled this tome of a novel, and instantly went to ask for more when I was finished with it.
Other reviewers have covered the skeleton of the plot, so I don't feel the need to go over it here, but what made the biggest impression on me was the niceness of this book. And before you wince, let me explain: that's not an insult, and I don't mean to say that it's bland or that nothing exciting/bad happens. There's plenty of adventure and action, and some beautifully intricate plotlines all woven together, with red herrings and unexpected revelations, twists and secrets galore. But when my best friend asked for a book that felt 'nice', this was what I handed her, and she loved it too.
Because there's something about EoT - something that brings to mind In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (another favourite of mine); something about the way it's written that leaves you warm and glowing even when you're holding your breath or biting your nails. I picked this up at a time when my life was extremely hectic and I was unable to focus on any book at all, my brain too restless and every story too heavy for me too handle - and EoT was exactly what I needed. It's not simplistic in the least - anything but - but something about the writing style makes it easy to read even as the story is just the right amount of complicated. It's addictive, and genuinely un-put-down-able, but it also felt like taking a break from my life in a way I clearly can't put into words. To call it escapism makes it sound light and fun, and it is great fun - but it's not a fluff-read; there's rights of succession and culture clashes and issues of privilege and stereotyping, the attempted usurpation of the throne and gender politics that are all the more interesting for being focused on magic. One of our main characters, Elaku, is clearly autistic (which, as someone recently diagnosed with Asperger's, is something I really appreciate seeing); our other main character, Taver, has to reconcile the revelation of who his biological father is with the love he still has for the man who raised him. There's truly fantastic worldbuilding (all the better for being worked into the narrative flawlessly, without ever need for the dreaded info-dump), a fascinating magic system, pirates who are only too happy to marry two people of the same gender together, and politics both on a small-scale, personal level and on the much larger stage of potential civil war. And the religion! I can't wait for the next book in this series for so many reasons, but I'm dying to see more of the religion and the ways the gods interact with humans.
And also to find out more about this 'cataclysm' in the past that dictates the kind of magic women are allowed to do...
Look, this is an absolutely flawless read, okay, and the only thing you should be asking is where you can buy it - and when the next instalment is coming!
Actual Review
I can see why Healey and Fleming chose to self-publish The Empress of Timbra - or rather, I can see why a traditional publisher might have hesitated to pick it up, because EoT defies convention and refuses to fit neatly into any box. The ages of the two PoV characters - fourteen and eleven, respectively - might cause some would-be-readers to dub it a children's book, or a Young Adult one. And they wouldn't be entirely wrong - I would happily hand this to my thirteen-year-old sister, or my eleven-year-old one. But it's one of those very special books that can appeal to anyone of any age - my twenty-five-year-old self couldn't put it down and practically inhaled this tome of a novel, and instantly went to ask for more when I was finished with it.
Other reviewers have covered the skeleton of the plot, so I don't feel the need to go over it here, but what made the biggest impression on me was the niceness of this book. And before you wince, let me explain: that's not an insult, and I don't mean to say that it's bland or that nothing exciting/bad happens. There's plenty of adventure and action, and some beautifully intricate plotlines all woven together, with red herrings and unexpected revelations, twists and secrets galore. But when my best friend asked for a book that felt 'nice', this was what I handed her, and she loved it too.
Because there's something about EoT - something that brings to mind In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (another favourite of mine); something about the way it's written that leaves you warm and glowing even when you're holding your breath or biting your nails. I picked this up at a time when my life was extremely hectic and I was unable to focus on any book at all, my brain too restless and every story too heavy for me too handle - and EoT was exactly what I needed. It's not simplistic in the least - anything but - but something about the writing style makes it easy to read even as the story is just the right amount of complicated. It's addictive, and genuinely un-put-down-able, but it also felt like taking a break from my life in a way I clearly can't put into words. To call it escapism makes it sound light and fun, and it is great fun - but it's not a fluff-read; there's rights of succession and culture clashes and issues of privilege and stereotyping, the attempted usurpation of the throne and gender politics that are all the more interesting for being focused on magic. One of our main characters, Elaku, is clearly autistic (which, as someone recently diagnosed with Asperger's, is something I really appreciate seeing); our other main character, Taver, has to reconcile the revelation of who his biological father is with the love he still has for the man who raised him. There's truly fantastic worldbuilding (all the better for being worked into the narrative flawlessly, without ever need for the dreaded info-dump), a fascinating magic system, pirates who are only too happy to marry two people of the same gender together, and politics both on a small-scale, personal level and on the much larger stage of potential civil war. And the religion! I can't wait for the next book in this series for so many reasons, but I'm dying to see more of the religion and the ways the gods interact with humans.
And also to find out more about this 'cataclysm' in the past that dictates the kind of magic women are allowed to do...
Look, this is an absolutely flawless read, okay, and the only thing you should be asking is where you can buy it - and when the next instalment is coming!
menshevixen's review
5.0
A wonderfully fresh, unique high-fantasy offering. I especially enjoyed the blending of families, with equal weight given to Elaku and Taver's perspectives on their parents and newfound siblings. The world of Timbra feels lived-in and embodied, with vivid details of gods and offerings, landscapes and animals, and attitudes toward everything from the art of smithcraft to same-sex pirate marriages. On a particular note of personal enjoyment--one of my favorite fiction conceits is the inclusion of in-world scholarship to frame or adorn a story (see: Dune, the Tir Tanagiri books by Jo Walton), and so I really loved the appendices at the back of the book which explored Timbra's religion, power structures, and history.
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