Rhaeva :

Rating:
Summary: Unusual take on fantasy - refreshing!
Review: I really enjoyed this novel, and it held my attention all the way to the end. It's unusual, inventive and entertaining - I spotted some plot developments a mile off, but that's part of the charm of fantasy. The descriptions of scenery and people are vivid and evocative, and the main character's quest is more than the usual dungeon crawl.

This is a fine start as a first novel, and I only have a few criticisms. I found some transitions between plot aspects jarring, and there is the odd moment where something, to me, doesn't fit in with the general mood of the novel.

I'm not normally into fantasy. But this novel attracted my attention because of its unusual take on some of the classic and predictable fantasy stereotypes - not only is the heroine a girl, but she is also not helpless, and not perfect, both of which I find refreshing.