Rating: Summary: Slow starter, but keep reading Review: ...but not her worst, either. I haven't read any of the other titles in this series, so I didn't know what to expect. MZB's output has varied wildly in quality from brilliant to disastrous, and I was ready for this to go either way. For me, this sat smack in the middle.I wasn't overwhelmed by the characters. Perhaps it is that our main character, Winter Musgrave, is part-amnesiac and terrified through the first third of the book, but it was very difficult to get comfortable with her. Once we have some idea what is happening to her it is easier to dig in. I think that MZB has an interesting premise with this one, and I think the "why" of the mystery is well thought out. However, (note: I am trying to avoid any spoilers, otherwise this might be more coherent) I think Winter's eventual visit to her family serves only to introduce characters for another novel and doesn't seem structurally significant, and the ending did not satisfy.
Rating: Summary: Not MZB's best... Review: ...but not her worst, either. I haven't read any of the other titles in this series, so I didn't know what to expect. MZB's output has varied wildly in quality from brilliant to disastrous, and I was ready for this to go either way. For me, this sat smack in the middle. I wasn't overwhelmed by the characters. Perhaps it is that our main character, Winter Musgrave, is part-amnesiac and terrified through the first third of the book, but it was very difficult to get comfortable with her. Once we have some idea what is happening to her it is easier to dig in. I think that MZB has an interesting premise with this one, and I think the "why" of the mystery is well thought out. However, (note: I am trying to avoid any spoilers, otherwise this might be more coherent) I think Winter's eventual visit to her family serves only to introduce characters for another novel and doesn't seem structurally significant, and the ending did not satisfy.
Rating: Summary: A flat, 2-D picture of pathetic characters. Just Say No! Review: Winter Musgrave is a very disturbed woman. In addition to Poltergeist-like phenomena, she seems to be the focus for a get-together of dead animals. Looking up her old college friends with whom she dabbled in various magical rites, Musgrave discovers that her ex-lover's idea of a phone call is to send an elemental bent on a killing spree. Ever since Marion Zimmer Bradley took to regurgitating myths, her writing has, in this reviewer's humble opinion, deteriorated to the point of being intolerable. Where are the intricately portrayed societies, such as the one she created under the Bloody Sun? Where are the protagonists who live and breathe, who were painted with bold strokes? All that "Witchlight" offers are pale cardboard figures, lacking lustre, acting out their pathetic lives in front of a shabby backdrop. The other matter that seems to have deteriorated rapidly over the past years is Zimmer Bradley's judgement. A novel revolving around touchy-feely New Age drivel? This horse has been beaten to death so long ago that it stinks.
Rating: Summary: spine-chilling, true to life tale of the unseen world... Review: although some of those reviewing this book did not seem to appreciate it,i feel this stems from a lack of understanding or interest in the occult...i found it brilliant...once again bradley portrays this modern day story of magick as it truly is, and i can appreciate it being a "witch" myself...winter musgrave is released from a mental hospital with a bad case of amnesia...she seems incapable of remembering even why she was admitted there...what she is aware of is that strange things are happening to her...small animals are found mutilated upon her doorstep, windows and doors have a way of being opened when she remembers locking them, and all manner of strange things happen when she becomes upset or angry...she has given up her wall street high-paying job to rent an old house called grey angels...the incidents are getting worse...instead of getting the peace of mind she seeks, she finds herself spiraling toward oblivion...is she doing the bad things and forgetting them or is she being stalked by something more horrible than her nightmares???...an act of desperation lands her at a college that has its own parapsychology team...can truth jourdemayne help winter fight off this evil???...challenging enough without having to convince winter of her sanity first...gradually throughout this exciting book winter is regaining her memory and realizing that she might would have preferred the lack of it to the truth...her revelations put her on a road trip across the country trying to figure out what happened to the missing piece of her life's puzzle...and the answers are so unpredictable that you will be gasping until the very end when you learn that love conquers all...thank you marion zimmer bradley!!!!!
Rating: Summary: Far fetched Review: Anyone that has Occult (hidden or secret) knowledge will see that Ms Bradley either knew very little Occult knowledge or was more interested in spinning a yarn.
It's quite possible to create a magickal child (Her term for thought form) as described in the book. The created Thought form is not capable of rational thought, and is also incapable of exceeding it's programming when it was created. A lot of Occultists create thought forms for guardians. Read the book for fun and pleasure but do not expect to gain real occult information because you won't If you have questions or comments; E-mail me. Two Bears. Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit)
Rating: Summary: Though some might disagree, this is an enjoyable book. Review: Contrary to the other reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Though it starts out kind of slow, once into the book it gets more and more interesting. Although it's kind of long, the time spent is worth it once you reach the end. This was my first experience with a Marion Zimmer Bradley book, and although I cannot say it won't be my last, I will always remember the author as one I enjoyed.
Rating: Summary: couldn't put it down Review: I am an MZB fan and was given this book as a gift. The cover (which we never judge by, right?) made me think it was geared for a teen audience but I found the story intriguing and was unwilling to put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. You know, "just one more chapter.." I think this book is definitely worth reading and am looking forward to "Ghostlight."
Rating: Summary: too long to keep the story interesting Review: I enjoyed this book but several times it seemed to me that the author was just rehashing the story line that had been set out from the beginning. I thought that it could have been more suspenseful and that the book needed more character development to help the reader really care what was happening to them. For a similarly styled book with a better mystery read Ghostlight!
Rating: Summary: An Avid Reader Review: I haven't hit the MZB "scene" yet, so I thought I'd give her a try with this book. I know she is a prolific writer, and I can only hope that her other works are better. This must have been written in a bad period in her life. The plot was compelling, and I had to finish the book to see what would happen. If this is the ultimate end of a book, then MZB and her publishers have succeeded. Unfortunately, this book is cliche-ridden, factually inaccurate and unbelievable. I do have a familiarity and a sensitivy to the occult and its issues, so this is not the reason for my low rating. My main problem was with the main character, Winter, who failed to evoke even a strand of empathy from me to the point at which I was pleased whenever anything bad happened to her. Citing an example from one of the many annoyances in the book, when Winter first meets the two parapsychologists who eventually aid her, she rants, raves, and yells at them, convincing them that she might be crazy. Many chapters later, one of the parapsychologists looks back and remembers the Winter from their first meeting as an "ice princess." I'd hardly describe a raving lunatic as someone who would be remembered as an "ice princess." This is just one example of many quirks and discrepancies that distracts the reader from the story. Why did I finish reading it? As I said earlier, the plot was interesting, and I had to find out what happened. The ending was not what I expected, which pleased me. However, making my way through the book was such an annoying and frustrating journey that on the very day I finished it, I put the book in a box with all the other stuff I'm putting together for a garage sale that I'm having next week.
Rating: Summary: An Avid Reader Review: I haven't hit the MZB "scene" yet, so I thought I'd give her a try with this book. I know she is a prolific writer, and I can only hope that her other works are better. This must have been written in a bad period in her life. The plot was compelling, and I had to finish the book to see what would happen. If this is the ultimate end of a book, then MZB and her publishers have succeeded. Unfortunately, this book is cliche-ridden, factually inaccurate and unbelievable. I do have a familiarity and a sensitivy to the occult and its issues, so this is not the reason for my low rating. My main problem was with the main character, Winter, who failed to evoke even a strand of empathy from me to the point at which I was pleased whenever anything bad happened to her. Citing an example from one of the many annoyances in the book, when Winter first meets the two parapsychologists who eventually aid her, she rants, raves, and yells at them, convincing them that she might be crazy. Many chapters later, one of the parapsychologists looks back and remembers the Winter from their first meeting as an "ice princess." I'd hardly describe a raving lunatic as someone who would be remembered as an "ice princess." This is just one example of many quirks and discrepancies that distracts the reader from the story. Why did I finish reading it? As I said earlier, the plot was interesting, and I had to find out what happened. The ending was not what I expected, which pleased me. However, making my way through the book was such an annoying and frustrating journey that on the very day I finished it, I put the book in a box with all the other stuff I'm putting together for a garage sale that I'm having next week.
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