Rating: Summary: Read it, even if you don't like fantasy. Review: I read this book because it came highly recommended to me. I don't usually like or read fantasy, but this was wonderful! it had a strong heroine and I wasn't bogged down by too much detail of lands we would leave behind in the next chapter (my least favorite thing about fantasy books) I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!
Rating: Summary: This looks like a promising beginning for a series Review: I really enjoy the stong female characters that this author creates. This book shows the author's development into a full-fledged polished writer, and I look forward to her next book with anticipation. I hope she continues "When Demons Walk" with a sequel, as I am rather fond of the characters!
Rating: Summary: A lot of imagination went into the writing of this book Review: I thought that this was an interesting and imaginative story. I really have enjoyed all of her books. I have watched her grow as a writer. The way she writes catches your attention and holds it. I like the combination of mystery, fantisy, and history.
Rating: Summary: Enjoyable read with a strong engaging female protagonist. Review: I'm always looking for books with a strong female character. I found this book to have a strong engaging female protagonist. The author did a great job of the fight scenes without being overly violent. I look forward to reading other books by this author.in fact I wish there were more of hers to be found.
Rating: Summary: Absolutely Enchanting Review: I've read this book several times, and am entralled. The characters are extremely well-rounded, and their ability to infuse a nearly hopeless situation with both comedic reparte and a budding romance is delightful. The plot is basically a light-weight mystery, but is carried off with panache. The resoltion is spectacular and logically devolved. The writing is fluid without being flowery, and the world is richly woven. Unlike many fantasy novels, magic and mundane forces are well balanced, and the magic is constrained to follow some (fairly simplistic) rules. The culture and events are believable, detailed and provide an excellent and engrossing backdrop. In summary, this is a great tale wonderfully told. Kudos to the author.
Rating: Summary: As good as her Steal the Dragon book Review: If you liked Steal the Dragon, you'll be sure to like this book. It has some similarities, but hey I don't mind. I don't really think there are that many original ideas left and I like her writing.It is about a mage who lives in hiding in her conquered land. She is hire by one of conquerors, who is a pretty decent guy. She is to solve the mystery of who is murdering all those people, her mentor included. It is a very satisfying read and I would recommend it to everyone who likes fantasy with just a pinch(not too much for those who don't like it) of romance.
Rating: Summary: Original.. Inventive Fantasy Review: In a market where the trend is towards bloated novels with little to tell one from the other.. When Demons Walk and Steal the Dragon are a breath of fresh air.... Clever Characters... HATEable.. villans (who arn't just pushovers with a fatal flaw) politics... honor.. passion...faith. Read don't walk and get her books while you can.. her first is no longer avaible due to an industry more interested in money then art... but don't wait :)
Rating: Summary: Refreshing Take on a Well Worn Theme Review: In this book Patricia Briggs takes a old clunker of a romance theme-- the fake relationship-- and turns it into an engaging fantasy story with only one sour note. Fake relationships litter the landscape in romance novels. It's a favorite way to get two individuals into proximity without too much work. Usually the reason for the masquerade is quickly forgotten and the snogging begins. However, Patricia Briggs uses this device instead to worm her engaging thief/mage into the Court and the company of the Reeve. Bad things are happening at the Court and the Reeeve needs someone with Mage talent to help him ferret out the source of the trouble. Sham, who has her own agenda based on her past, agrees to masquerade as the Reeve's mistress in order to be brought inside the Court. During the masquerade she has to deal with the Reeve's mother, his best friends widow and assorted mysterious happenings. The one sour note I mentions above happens late in the story and if the reader doesn't see it coming then the reader is asleep at the wheel. It does get the heroine where the author needs her to be but it definitely could have been better handled. However, after that misstep the book picks up and wends its way to a satisfying climax. A happy combination of romance, politics and magery.
Rating: Summary: Readers of Fantasy will find this tale Distasteful Review: Not only was the cover the opposite of eye candy, but the writing was pitiful. The plot had a good theme, but the writing style was really dull...the type that makes you tired and lazy. In the end, I didn't care a fig what was going to happen to the characters, the plodding and problems were too many and created a yearning for the book to hurry up and finish. This is a book the average reader will have fun teasing and laughing at.
Rating: Summary: Light but amusing read to pass away the hours Review: Orphaned during the conquest of Southwood by the Cybellians former mage-apprentice Shamara turns to thievery to make a living and get back at the invaders. As her former teacher is killed by a shapeshifting demon however, the best way to find his killer seems to be to cooperate with the cybellian conquerers. So begins a murder mystery with a touch of magic...... All of this is of course found in dozens of similar books. What makes this one different is the engaging personality and sense of humor of the characters. The magic systems is interesting and well thought out, and the tone and tempo of the book are light and fast. No extravagant world-building and tons of pages filled with descriptions but no superficial characters either. All in all a very pleasant read and hard to put down untill you reach the end of the book, so don't start on it late in the evening unless you don't have to get up early the next morning. The book is not as far as I can tell part of a series, though I havent't been able to find the author's other book: Steel the dragon. I for one am happy to see that a new book, titled `The Hob's bargain' will appear in march 2001. If you liked this book, you might also enjoy the `Fanuilh' books by Daniel Hood, the mood is slightly different but they also combine a touch of fantasy with a detective type story for a light and enjoyable read.
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