Rating: 
Summary: it was too cutesy
Review: the book did not appeal to me personally but maybe it was justme... the characters were too in depth and too detailed... the plotlline too long...
Rating: 
Summary: Probably should get 4.5 stars, but it's closer to 5 than 4.
Review: The first few times I tried to read this book, I had a hard time getting started. The problems: The author switches to a new character for each of the first 8 or so chapters. The typsetting is very poor, with tightly crunched words on one line and spaced out words on the next - most people won't notice this consciously, but it makes the book more difficult to read. The preachiness level is higher than I like, also. But! Ignore all those faults (and most of the reviews here) and just enjoy the book. The plotting and the characters are superb. Each of the first few chapters reads like a short story and a character sketch, and the book is like a spiderweb of interconnected parallel stories that collide in extremely satisfying ways. The book might have been more fun if written solely from Benji's point of view, but you would have missed so much interesting plot that it's hard to nitpick. It reminds me of (but is not quite as good as) Nina Kiriki Hoffman's The Thread that Binds the Bones. Also similar to some parts of the story, and also superior in my opinion, is Laruell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series. The summary: This book had evocative characters that I expect will stay with me for a long time, and a plot and structure that I was skeptical of at first, but which I cannot now stop praising. It works. The best book by an author I had previously not known that I've read in a while.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent mystery- full of intrigue and surprises
Review: The mystery kept me on my toes the whole way through. Plenty of twists and turns. I enjoyed the style of writing. Hartman introduces his characters and then gradually shows their relation to each other. Instead of being tedious, this method smartly strings the reader along and keeps the mystery alive. I was very impressed with the research that went into this book. Some poor editing is the only major fault I found in this book.
Rating:
Summary: A real romp!
Review: There isn't much I can say to add to what's already been said -- this is a wonderfully zany book! I hope Mr. Hartmann comes out with another real soon! His characters are still living in my house, they were that real! I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who's up for some fast paced, fun reading! Thanks for a great read!
Rating:
Summary: A Marrage Made in Heaven
Review: This book is amazing! It chgallenges you on every level. Whatever your social preconceptions may be, they will be tested. Whatever your literary preconceptions are, they will be changed.A note of caution: Read the chapter headings. They tell you who the speaker is at the time. Without them, you'll be lost. With that in mind, venture forth and enjoy this engrossing read. I did and I want MORE!
Rating:
Summary: As intriguing as it's title
Review: This book is equally at home in SF, mystery, sociology, gay-lesbian studies, or Wiccan studies. An intriguing novel set in the future, a variety of individuals from various cultural backgrounds find their lives intertwined as a mystery unfolds. A masterpiece of first-person narrative (at least 5 different voices), this book turned out to be as good as the description promised. I hope Keith Hartman writes again -- he is the most promising new author I have read in quite some time.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting characters in a fast paced whodunit.
Review: This is a real page turner. The characters are very detailed, and you can really care about them. Keith Hartman uses many points of view, and it works wonderfully. I enjoyed this book very much.
Rating:
Summary: Funny, suspenseful, original, and a hell of a good read
Review: This is quite frankly one of the best first novels I've ever read. Even the best writers are usually a little tentative and linear in their first efforts. This one reads as if written by a grizzled veteran. Hartman deftly weaves together multiple story lines with multiple characters and then finally brings them together for the stunning climax. One of the most astonishing aspects of this is not only that he managed to maintain complete control, but that he managed to draw his characters so clearly and completely that I was never once confused in following the complicated plot or the shifts in point of view. This novel combines all the best of quite a few genres; there are elements of science fiction, fantasy, suspense/thriller, all wrapped up with a non-intrusive social commentary, and a great deal of wit, ranging from the wry to the thigh-slapping. Buy this book! You won't regret it. (But be prepared to stay up all night compulsively turning pages!)
Rating: 
Summary: This is a wonderful novel by an exciting new writer.
Review: This novel breaks some prime rules drummed into beginning writers--limit the number of characters, limit the number of viewpoint characters--but Keith Hartman has taken a complex structure with a myriad of characters and a different viewpoint in every chapter and miraculously made it work. Chapter headings help the reader keep the well-drawn characters and their situations straight as the multiple story lines weave together into an engrossing novel with a logical and satisfying ending. Particularly fascinating is how Hartman successfully mixes high tech and magic. I look forward to seeing more of Hartman's work.
Rating:
Summary: Can't wait for the sequel!
Review: This was one of my favorite books of last year. It has an amazing number of viewpoints yet somehow all the pieces fit together beautifully. Keith Hartman creates a fascinating near-future world and peoples it with wonderfully diverse characters from the gay male detective, to Wiccans, to a rebellious Baptist teen who unknowingly could cause riots, death and destruction on a large scale. The story is suspenseful, humorous, and in the end makes you think hard about where our society is now and where it may be heading. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel!
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