Silver's Edge

Rating:
Summary: To be continued...
Review: I loved this book. It's an eyes-glued-to-the-page story of politics and war between three realms in a world not unlike Dark Ages Britain or Ireland. The silver caul that once held the Sidhe, the goblins, and the humans in their own little worlds is missing; now the three races are thrown back together for reasons unknown, and chaos ensues. The story focuses around several young women struggling to survive in this chaotic situation. I loved it--it's rare that a book about political intrigue really does surprise me and pull the rug out from under my feet. You don't know who to trust. A character can be presented as very sympathetic and then turn out to be otherwise--and vice versa. Few authors can really fool the reader like that. Anne Kelleher can.

I just wish I'd known this was a series! Yeah, I know everything has to be a trilogy these days, but I didn't know Silver's Edge wasn't a standalone! I stayed up late into the night to finish this, only to be greeted with those three fateful words--"To Be Continued"! I want the second book NOW!

Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: Once again, Anne has written a tale that has me completely absorbed. I dove into it, and travelled with the characters, I was THERE. I appreciate the thought Anne puts into her characters, how she develops them, and how they interact with each other and their environments. Yes, of course I have my favorites, and folk I don't like so much -- and that's part of what makes the book so spell-binding. What will happen next? Such is the power of Anne's writing. She keeps the reader involved. The writing shows that Anne has done much research into mythology, particularly Celtic. Again, I hold in high regard an author who researches prior to writing. Anne's characters are not stereotypical fluttery feminine nor ever so masculine, either. Her women are women of substance, capable of thought, and some tend toward outspoken. The men - some are strong, some are not, some are better thinkers; each person is an individual. Each character is capable of good and "bad" behaviors, and all are able to make mistakes. The characters in Silver's Edge are not perfect, and this is what makes them so approachable by the reader.
The plot was developed quite well, and organized so as to not be confusing, despite the fact that the story takes place in different dimensions/worlds. This is a mark of an excellent author. I enjoyed the flow, the twists, and the entire storyline. The book concludes logically, not abruptly; yet we know there will be more in the future.
I am eager for the next book, but in the meantime will read this one again!

Rating:
Summary: An amazing accomplishment in writing and storytelling
Review: This is my first foray outside of Lord of the Rings into Fantasy, yet it was more than well worth it. The complex story is flawlessly woven by a writer whose time has clearly come for mainstream recognition. Whether it is bringing characters to life or the wonderful turn of a phrase, Kelleher's narrative is so strong, so complete, so lively and the writing so very polished that this book should make a push onto the bestseller lists for a long stay. Silver's Edge is also a great example for aspiring writers who wonder about the proper way to diagram a plot and develop characters. This book is not a thin tasty morsel, rather it is a satisfying epic, an out-of-this-world achievement in fantasy with an unforgettable cast of characters and a prose worthy of any awards within this genre.