Nightseer

Rating:
Summary: Where is the first book?
Review: Here was a book that was published because of Ms. Hamilton's success with the Vampire Hunter series.

There are huge gaps in this book - which lead me to believe that there should have been a prior book. I gave it two stars (instead of one) because it does have potential, but I found the plot confusing and the characters too numerous.

I hope she goes for a rewrite OR comes up with a "prequel."

Rating:
Summary: Exciting yet confusing
Review: Laurell Hamilton created much excitment in her novel, Nightseer. She has much originality yet doesnt spend much time explaing the key aspects of the novel. There were some parts that while reading it and trying to understand it was thrilling but as i look back i wont remember any of it because they author didnt explain. The ending was also a little weak. A little more detail was needed in this book

Rating:
Summary: THE KILLING DANCE
Review: I came across this book when i was looking around and i got it, i am not into reading books that much but i have to admit that this book was very good. I'am saying this because as you go through the book you can't help but picture what is happen in you head. The killing Dance is also one of those books that it is so good a read that you would'nt want to put it down. When i had finshed this book the first thing i did was go out and got the other seven books in the anita blake, vampire hunter novels. The book also kept you on your toes as what would happen next. I read evey page and when it was finished i wanted to no if all laurell k. hamilton, anita blake, vampire hunter novels where that good.

Rating:
Summary: Magic
Review: This book once again shows L.Hamilton's skill with engaging the reader's imagination. I thought it read well, but would much rather see the author devote more time to the Anita Blake series. It's a good read, and if I hadn't read the A. Blake series first, would crave more of this. I will say, if another book follows this one, I will read it.

Rating:
Summary: Foreshadowing of much better things to come...
Review: Nightseer was clearly Laurell K. Hamilton's first book. Though there are elements of the style she would develop over the years, the book isn't well paced or narrated. Far too much is simply told to the reader, with no way to see the tale unfold; this is especially true of the backstory. The book reads like the second in a series. This is a style that Hamilton develops with later books, notably A Kiss of Shadows. But where she succeeds with Kiss, allowing Merry Gentry's past to unfold slowly through memories, flashbacks, and character-voiced tales, in Nightseer too many events are simply mentioned quickly, with little or no way to guage their importance to the plot, or characterizations. Exactly what is 'The Pit'? How did Harque manage to get Keleios into the pit? Was it the domain of the black Witch alone? We know that somehow, in the pit, Keleios aquired her Demonmark, but not how, or why.

Hamilton's central moral dilemma was already present in this early novel, that of the taint evil leaves on anyone who deals in it, even if it is simply in battle. As Anita Blake would later say, 'When you hunt the monsters, you eventually become one'.

Another convention that Hamilton uses brilliantly in the Anita Blake series that was present, to a lesser degree here, is the attraction/revulsion relationship between the protagonist and the romantic opposit. This is the part of Nightseer that works the best. But it fails in some ways because though the reader is told Lothor is evil, his character, though at times lacking in scruples, also behaves nobly and honorably. In order to believe in Lothor's inherent evilness, the reader needs to see the character behaving in an evil manner.

The ending, though clearly a set-up for a yet unwritten sequel, leaves the reader desperately wanting. Too many loose ends were left simply forgotten. Much time is spent in developing early relationships between Keleios and other characters, who are ultimately left hanging in quite desperate situations. Though leaving antagonists free to harrass the hero again, or foreshadowing new crisis to come are effective ways to set up a second book, these other plot devices should not have been left dangling.

Yet for Hamilton fans, it is ultimately a very interesting read. Her ability to create believable, exciting worlds, though in it's infancy here, was already notable in Nightseer. The reader is left wanting another book, not only to tie up loose plot ends, but to delve more into the World of Nightseer knowing so much was left untold.

It is also intriguing reading an early effort by someone who was to become a very dynamic, exciting author.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable!
Review: No, unfortunately Ms. Hamilton said she will not be writing a sequel, although she proposed one after writing "Nightseer" and it was refused. Now she says working on two series is enough for her.

Nightseer is a wonderfully fantastical book, her take on elves and the land of fantasy is similar to the ever-popular "Kiss of Shadows," but the plot is quite original and action-packed. Extremely. This book moves very quickly, and a good portion of it is filled up by action scene after action scene, sprinkled with bits of magic, sorcery, and demons.

Personally, I'm fond of the characters overall, although I wish there were fewer battles and more interaction between the characters. Lothar is my favorite guy... reminds me a bit of Frost from "Kiss of Shadows," and there are other similarities as well. If you enjoyed that book, I think you'll find this one equally exciting, only more battle scenes.

Rating:
Summary: Quite Good
Review: _Nightseer_ is an adventurous and sorcerous fantasy featuring Keleios, a young magic practitioner with interesting gifts. Her interaction with Lothor, a rather anti-heroic and frustratingly attractive character, is a somewhat light-hearted mix of romance and antagonism. The plot moves swiftly, with great supporting characters(of numerous different species).

Rating:
Summary: One action sequence after another
Review: I really enjoyed the book. It really doesn't slow down, you go from one action sequence to another. I was online looking for the sequel - to much is left hanging in the air at the end. I haven't found one yet (and this book was published in '92.

It is a good book, but if you can't stand to be left hanging it might not be for you.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting "otherworld" fantasy
Review: LKH's first novel is arguably better than some of her later books. Unlike the Anita Blake and Meredith Gentry series, Nightseer is set in a "high fantasy" world of magic. Keleios is studying at a magic-wielder's university (no, it's nothing like Hogwarts) where she has to deal with her black-magic practitioner roommate, unwanted proposals, her own dark magical ability, and the terrible prophesy that she just dreamed...

Unfortunately this book was never picked up for a series, although the author left plenty of possible character development/loose ends (presumeably for that reason) so it leaves you wanting more. Overall, a very satifying read.

Rating:
Summary: ........................Ineresting book!.......ha!
Review: Really, though...this was a good book. It is paced quickly and confusing. Thats what makes it more interesting. No, its NOT like the Anita Blake series (which I may as well have strung up to an I.V. in my arm)..heh..but its not suppossed to be. Hamilton has already announced a sequel at long last. Hurrah. Good healthy sadistic fun? Give it a chance.