Rating: 
Summary: A millenary king who's still a boy
Review: I quite like this book. It is not extraordinarily good, but in comparison to many fantasy books I've lately been reading, it definitely is not bad at all.I agree with some of the reviewers who think Jessex is somewhat improbable because he seems much older than he really is and above all more mature than his lover and king, Kirith Kirin.
In truth I must say it is all Kirith Kirin's fault, who is not much of a character: he is a bit too insignificant and colourless to be realistic if you consider that he is the immortal and millenary king who is ruling Athryn since thousands of years.
Even the love affair between them is quite odd since you have the absurd sensation that it is Jessex who always takes all the initiative, which is at best unlikely if you think that he is fifteen years old --and virgin--, whereas his partner is much more experienced (I suppose he has been having some sex along thousands of years!). The magic is quite interesting and much better built than in Goodkind's or Marston's or Constantine's books (or even Flewelling's -who stands among my favorite authors-), the magic towers are a good and well developed idea. I liked it.
It is worthy of the expense and of your time.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written and superbly executed, if a bit overlong
Review: I want to start by saying that I've read just about everything Jim Grimsley has thus far written, so when I learned he was writing a strictly "genrefied" fantasy book, I was a bit curious (not to say skeptical). Like Grimsley (in his authorial comments above), I grew up reading Sci-Fi/Fantasy but more or less abandoned it for more "classic" (read: literary) fiction. This isn't to say I am denigrating genre fiction, as Jim has proved to me (via Kirith Kirin) that you can go home again. Kirith Kirin is vintage Grimsley with a twist, and I hear echoes of his other works coursing through this novel. It's ostensibly the coming-of-age story of Jessex, a 14-year-old farmboy who is prophetically called to become the saviour of the mystical world of Aeryn Along the way, Jessex discovers he is especially adept at magic, of which he is taught by three ancient "sisters" known as the Diamysaar. He also discovers that he loves, and is loved in return by, the soon to be prophetically-decreed king, the eponymous Kirith Kirin. Typical of the genre, there are inevitable conflicts involving battling magicians, armies of quasi-humans (called Verm) engaging the forces of Kirith Kirin, and the like. Through it all, Grimsley's prose shines beautifully. There is as much imagistic influence from Dream Boy and Comfort and Joy (particularly the emphasis in Kirith Kirin on singing) as there is from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Samuel Delaney. Having said this, there are of course caveats. Kirith Kirin is quite long (472 pages, plus glossaries and appendices) and sometimes tedious. The echt pedophiliac relationship between Jessex and Kirith Kirin (of which David Tedhams, in his June 2000 Lambda Book Report review, voiced concern) is utterly superfluous. Ironically Grimsley, perhaps showing his own Southern propriety, even apologizes (through Jessex) for "too much information" after their first erotic encounter. This isn't Grimsley's first foray into sci-fi/fantasy (his short story in Nicola Griffith's anthology Bending the Landscape and his play Math and Aftermath are the most obvious predecessors) but it certainly is his longest and, perhaps, most ambitious. I'm a great fan of Jim's writing and would eagerly recommend any of his books, including Kirith Kirin. I would also be interested to see if he continues in this genre. Well done, Jim!
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written and superbly executed, if a bit overlong
Review: I want to start by saying that I've read just about everything Jim Grimsley has thus far written, so when I learned he was writing a strictly "genrefied" fantasy book, I was a bit curious (not to say skeptical). Like Grimsley (in his authorial comments above), I grew up reading Sci-Fi/Fantasy but more or less abandoned it for more "classic" (read: literary) fiction. This isn't to say I am denigrating genre fiction, as Jim has proved to me (via Kirith Kirin) that you can go home again. Kirith Kirin is vintage Grimsley with a twist, and I hear echoes of his other works coursing through this novel. It's ostensibly the coming-of-age story of Jessex, a 14-year-old farmboy who is prophetically called to become the saviour of the mystical world of Aeryn Along the way, Jessex discovers he is especially adept at magic, of which he is taught by three ancient "sisters" known as the Diamysaar. He also discovers that he loves, and is loved in return by, the soon to be prophetically-decreed king, the eponymous Kirith Kirin. Typical of the genre, there are inevitable conflicts involving battling magicians, armies of quasi-humans (called Verm) engaging the forces of Kirith Kirin, and the like. Through it all, Grimsley's prose shines beautifully. There is as much imagistic influence from Dream Boy and Comfort and Joy (particularly the emphasis in Kirith Kirin on singing) as there is from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Samuel Delaney. Having said this, there are of course caveats. Kirith Kirin is quite long (472 pages, plus glossaries and appendices) and sometimes tedious. The echt pedophiliac relationship between Jessex and Kirith Kirin (of which David Tedhams, in his June 2000 Lambda Book Report review, voiced concern) is utterly superfluous. Ironically Grimsley, perhaps showing his own Southern propriety, even apologizes (through Jessex) for "too much information" after their first erotic encounter. This isn't Grimsley's first foray into sci-fi/fantasy (his short story in Nicola Griffith's anthology Bending the Landscape and his play Math and Aftermath are the most obvious predecessors) but it certainly is his longest and, perhaps, most ambitious. I'm a great fan of Jim's writing and would eagerly recommend any of his books, including Kirith Kirin. I would also be interested to see if he continues in this genre. Well done, Jim!
Rating: 
Summary: A fantasy novel that I hope does justice to the genre
Review: I've read fantasy and science fiction all my life and have always wanted to publish in this genre. For a long time I've been working on a fantasy novel about a world called Aeryn where science has never developed for one reason or another, but where magic is quite powerful. Kirith Kirin is my attempt to do justice to a genre that has given me some of the greatest moments of reading pleasure in my life. I'm attempting to tell the story of a boy who is called out of his own life on a farm in the north of this world to enter a legendary forest and learn magic, in order to help the man named Kirith Kirin to maintain the balance of order. His enemy in this effort is a very powerful, very old wizard named Drudaen. Since I have also published mainstream fiction I would warn readers of my other novels that this book is straight-up genre writing for people who are fans of fantasy.
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome Read! A Must for Fantasy fans!
Review: If you enjoy escaping into a world where you can be a witness to adventure, intrigue, romance, acceptance and a bit of magic then this outstanding novel is for you. You arfe able to withdraw from the real world and enter into Grimsley's and Beekman's world. You will be able to become one of the characters of the book, eat with them, ride with them, care about them. I couldn't put it down! Everything was tastefully done, I'd love to read a sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: Magic well described, but storytelling suffers
Review: It was a struggle to finish this book. It has positive features; the system of magic is well-conceived and well-described, and Grimsley has obviously put a lot of thought and effort into creating a history for his world. But this book simply doesn't make you stay up all night to finish it, the way the best novels do, although it does pick up a bit in the final third. I agree with the reviewer below who said that Jessex is perfect and therefore uninteresting. Also, I found the central relationship between Jessex and Kirith Kirin to be uninvolving, mostly because Kirith Kirin is devoid of personality. All we know about him is that he's a leader and that he's in love with Jessex, and we learn nothing more about him through 456 pages. Grimsley didn't make me believe that Kirith Kirin was thousands of years old, nor did he make me believe Jessex was 15. They could both just as easily have been in their 30s, judging by the dialogue between them. This is an interesting novel if you're looking for something different, but don't expect the readability of George R.R. Martin, Tad Williams or Robin Hobb.
Rating:
Summary: Enter the World of the Twice-Named...
Review: Jessex is a normal boy who grew up as all little boys do, but he soon was called upon to enter the service of the exiled king. There he fulfilled prophecy after prophecy and was trained to be a wizard or Thaanarc. When his training is complete, he is immediately thrust into battle against an evil wizard who has ruled the kingdom for far too many lifetimes. At his side are the king, Kirith Kirin, and the other twice-named. The twice-named can be killed, but if they are not killed in battle, poisoned, etc., then they live forever. This is the story of their battle to regain the kingdom of Arthyn for Kirith Kirin. Jim Grimsley does a superb job on crafting a completely different world. He creates a richly textured land complete with details as to how magic works, how different races came to be and how the land is ruled. The details really make this world come alive and helps the reader understand all of the subtle ramifications that come from one small act. This book is written as a type of personal history that Jessex wrote long after all of this happened and, as such, is written in third person instead of the more active first person. This is a bit disorienting at first, but the reader soon adjusts and is captivated all the same. Take a chance on this novel - you will come to love the world and the characters. Hopefully Jim Grimsley will be inspired to write more fantasy novels that seem as real as this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A unique fantasy
Review: Jim Grimsley is without a doubt my favorite contemporary author, and as a fan of gay fiction, and of fantasy, I was excited to hear that he had combined the two and produced "Kirith Kirin". While the book has many elements of a great fantasy, I didn't completely buy the romance and passion between the two main characters. For another author I would have applauded, but after reading Grimsley books like "Dream Boy" and "Winter Birds", I was expecting the same flesh and blood perfection in these characters, but it wasn't there. Perhaps the genre was a challenge because it seems Grimsley's greatest strength lies in his contemporary voice. Grimsley's depiction of magic and lore is meticulous and consistent, but unlike the grand-daddy of all fantasy epics "Lord of the Rings", this book drags at times, as we wait for a new revelation or battle. I wonder if the book would have been more enjoyable had a bit more been edited to make it a swifter read. All in all, still a good read for Grimsley fans, and I applaud any writer who refuses to be boxed into a particular genre.
Rating:
Summary: Nice fantasy but plodding
Review: Kirith Krirn
Jim Grimsley
This is a fantasy story concerning a young boy who will become the next Wizard of the northern kingdoms. The Prince to be King will fall in love with him and they will have adventures. The plot moves slowly with attention to many details that are not obviously connected to the story line. Unlike Robert Jordan, however, Grimsley does not overdo the language and culture. Much there is here to link to history and culture. Also there aren't monsters and a brace of enemies. There is one Drugaen Keefax with whom Jessex struggles. One apparent thing missing with Drugaen is why he turned to shadow. Also why did Queen Arthryn allow him to bring shadow into the southern kingdom?
Rating:
Summary: A ponderous Tolkien epigon
Review: Let's face it: contriving an entire fantasy world like Tolkien and Leiber and Storm Constantine did whit Middle Earth,Nehwon and the Wraeththtu world isn't easy. Jim Grimsley results in
doing so are uneven. Great athmosphere, some beautiful evocative scenes (like Jessex in the abandoned city), but on too many places the reader feels like he's swimming in molasses.The general background isn't very clear,and one has to go to the appendix to see which is which.And the premise itself of the story isn't much plausible,on my opinion,even for a fantasy world. But what really annoyed me were the absurdly unsightly uneuphonious names the author chose for places and things: Shenesoeniis, Chalianthrothe, Gnemorra, Curaeth Curaesyn, to name some. Their quoyness (see Douglas Adams' Meaning of Liff) is another, if marginal, flaw of the book. O Elbereth Gilthoniel!
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