Rating: 
Summary: Good concept, Hollywood ending
Review: (...)
Good idea for a story, and for the most part well done, but Jones lacks maturity in her need to tie up all of the loose ends into a neat little package. Every character that was met along the way got a mention in the last chapter and without fail: the good guys were rewarded and the bad guys were punished. The treatment of the banker was especially strange, as it did absolutely nothing for the plot, and only served reassure everyone that every bad person always gets it in the end. Honestly, it's almost as if Jones finished the book, read it to an eight year old child, and then rewrote the last chapters to make sure all of the child's questions were answered.
4 stars for the first 90% of the book/1 star for the ending
Rating: 
Summary: sorry... but It just lacks something...
Review: ...but I don't really know what...Well Jones' writes exellent, I won't argue that, and this book is also very well written, but even though it just lacks something. The barbed coil takes place in our world and a world very similar to ours, but which is more fantasy like, there is some cool rogue characters (which is my clear favorites!) and some great ideas, like magic, which is very strange and original. But it still lacks something, and I still doesn't know what... Sorry, but enjoy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting turn on an old concept
Review: As some rather disparaging commentors have remarked, the idea of a modern person being transplanted into a fantasy world is not new. However, the introduction of the ephemeral Barbed Coil and ring IS. Jones does back up her interpretations of many different worlds, and if there are a few coincidences, well, it's called the WILLING SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF. (My only complaint on this level would be the lightning fast courtship of Cameron at the end. It was a little TOO quick for my taste.) But what else are fantasy novels for? I have never yet come upon another novel which uses so novel (no pun intended) a concept as illuminations which harbor their own magic. Not only does Jones bring something new to the field, but she actually backs it up with historical and practical fact. A round of applause is in order, and I can hardly wait for "Fortress of Gray Ice."
Rating:
Summary: This Work Never Rises Above The Ordinary.
Review: Despite the author's obvious serious intent here, I found myself struggling to finish this work. It never caught my imagination, let alone my full attention, and I found myself rather wearied by a storyline that never really stood out, characters that to a large degree seemed typecast and standard, and an ending where everyone pairs up and lives happily ever after. Despite moments of originality in the use of magic and illumination, as well as successful characterizations, such as the Emiths, overall the story becomes quickly stale, and the characters rather shallow. The relationship between Angeline - supposedly a queen - and her "no-good" dog Snowy is just too precious, the reunion of Ravis and Malray unconvincing and contrived, the tormented figure of King Izgard familiar and rote, and the relationship of Ravis and Tessa lacking all passion. Further, the author's reliance on the outworn device of shifting her main character between parallel worlds was off-putting right from the start. Despite Jones' dedicated effort at writing, this work lacks any real life. I am baffled by those who are laudatory: This work never rises above the ordinary.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, it WAS wonderful
Review: I couldn't put it down. This was one of my favorites! It was delightfully descriptive, I could tell exactly what was happening. It has great vocabulary too. This is definatly a book I would recommend to big-time readers (or anyone who likes action/adventure mixed a little bit with mysteries). I am definatly going to read this again, and I would suggest other people do the same!
Rating: 
Summary: A uniquely new way of looking at magic
Review: I grew to respect J.V. Jones in her Book of Words series. She is truly skilled in making an adventure feel very real. The Barbed Coil puts an interesting new spin on magic. It is almost refreshing to have a different method to fantasy books. Instead of the usual pattern -- bad thing happens, group forms, journey ensues -- Jones gives us something entirely new. There is a journey, but the problem has to be solved through ink and paper rather than battles and conventional ideas of magic. So why did I give it four stars?? I spent well over half of the story trying to decipher just what the story was. Plus, there is a huge rush at the end to tye up loose ends that is almost completely unsuccessful. I was left unfulfilled at the end, after hundreds of pages of fighting that should have killed all of the characters anyway. This would have made a five star rating if Jones had managed to find her story a bit faster. I think it took her half the book to decide where she was going with her ideas.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting read
Review: I had not read any other JV Jones books when I settled down to this title. I found that the pace of the story kept me involved and I finished the book within two days. The plot involves the use of illuminated manuscripts as a form of magic - something that I must admit I've never encountered elsewhere ! and had a darkly moody hero, a transplanted heroine and a whole collection of unpleasant bad guys.
Rating:
Summary: First time read for me
Review: I noticed that quite a few people thought this book should be shorter. Not me. I think J.V. Jones did an excellent job at devoloping the charactors and the places. I really enjoyed this book. Definitly not a run of the mill fantasy novel. I truely enjoyed the realness of these charactors. You had the chance to get to know them. I liked the story, very unique. I liked how each charactor, even the bad ones, learned to develop their strengths. All and all I think this was a great read. I had read this book in three days, not bad for it being a 700 page book.
Rating:
Summary: On my Keeper Shelf, and Dog-Eared from use!
Review: I've read 'The Barbed Coil' at least thrice - and I've even been magnanimous enough to loan it to all and sundry (well, those interested in fantasy, in any case!!!). In summary, it's brilliant! JV Jones's writing style is evocative, clear and detailed. Very quickly you find yourself immersed in the lives and events of the characters, and of the world that they're living in.
I have to say that Tess adjusted supremely well to her displacement from Earth, though, but while her lack of angst and relocation anxiety might be a problem for some, it didn't actually bother me all that much. Also, the fight scenes in the book have made me look at battle-scenes from a very different perspective... JV Jones has done her research very well, and the employment of strategy, battle tactics, and sheer descriptive clarity can make one almost smell the carnage. The Illumination - well, I've learned more about parchment-making and pigment-mixing than might be employed in my day-to-day existence, but hey, if I ever need a change of career, I think I'd be able to do scripts quite well (provided that actually DRAWING anything is not a basic requirement!). Actually, even though I was so involved in all aspects of the book, the description of the requirements for the illuminations and the magic surrounding the use thereof gripped me the most. I could not put 'The Barbed Coil' down, and spent an entire day reading it the first time, so I would heartily recommend it. Don't approach it with preconceived notions of fantasy and what defines it - read it with an open mind and an open heart, and you will seriously gain great pleasure from it!!
Rating:
Summary: An Interesting book
Review: Now this book isnt perfect, but has a lot of uniqueness and colour to it that makes it deserve 5 stars... the characters and action is good...it has a great deal of emotion and detail... BUT for traditionally fantasy readers beware that it is atypical from the usual ....so read this if you are open minded.
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