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Summary: What a BOOK!!
Review: If there is any justice in the world, Carol Berg will become one of the great names in fantasy. I've been having trouble recently finding books that grabbed me but this one.. whew..It arrived the day before my birthday, and people had to practically use violence to draw my attention to the fact they had come bearing gifts. I read. And read. At times I cried. And then, when I'd finished I started it again, and STILL managed to cry. Read it. It's a must - do whatever you can to get your hands on a copy. At present I'm counting the minutes til its sequel arrives in the UK on September 6th, and trying to work out who in America would be kind enough to send me the third in the series when THAT comes out. Carol Berg is a genius. I wish her all the fame her writing truly deserves.
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Summary: Too good to put down!
Review: As a rule, I tend to stay away from books written in first person, but I hadn't noticed that part when I added it to my collection. And I'm sure glad I didn't notice because this book was wonderfully written, the characters were wonderfully developed, and I had a problem putting it down for later. I just may have to read this book again, just to see if there's anything I missed.
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Summary: Don't Start This One at Night!
Review: This book was a revelation. Lent to me by a friend - who wants it back - I started it at 10 p.m. on a worknight and couldn't stop reading it. It sucked me into the story so much that I put it down desperately needing a sequel. That doesn't happen very often. The main character pulls on you until you feel that he is a friend. This is the flip side of slavery and servitude. Wonderfully depicted. If this is a first novel [and it is the first I have read of Carol Berg] it is an amazing one! READ THIS BOOK!
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Summary: Awesome!
Review: I just finished this book, and I want to read it again! I've never felt that way before. I agree with liyet that the relationship between the two main characters is interesting. It's what held me in and made me like it so much, I had to see what happened next with them. Great book, and I hear that it's only her first! Can't wait for the next.
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Summary: Almost perfect.
Review: "Transformation" introduced me to the fantasy genre. This was a very good book, and if I could I'd give it four-and-a-half stars. The characters were real to me, and I liked the first-person narrative. Characterization and the interaction between characters are what draw me into a book, and I thought the relationship between Seyonne and Aleksander was very well done. And I absolutely LOVED the ending. The only thing that irked me was the whole deal with the wings. I believe one reviewer referred to Seyonne's sprouting of wings as 'corny.' I can't say I disagree. I think he could've kicked butt just fine on his own two feet. It just seemed like some add-on to me, but that's just my opinion, I guess. All in all, though, it was a great book, I don't want to discourage anyone on the lookout for an entertaining story. The author has written a sequel, "Revelation," due out in August. Keep your eyes open. I've added it to my list already!
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Summary: Wonderful fantasy
Review: This book was initially received skeptically by my book club, most of whom never read fantasy. After reading it, though, at least two members said that they would have to START reading fantasy, because they didn't know what they'd been missing. Carol's characters are strong and clear, very human, and the story keeps you engrossed. Although both of the main characters are male, there are also strong female characters. The only thing I would warn readers about, is that the first page drags a little, so do read more than the first few pages before you expect to be caught up in this multi-layered tale. I found myself teary at several points in the book, giving credence to the book's plot twists and characterization. You care about these characters and feel like you know them (or wish you did) by the end of the book. We had the good fortune to have the author at our book club the night we discussed this book, and everyone was thrilled to find that the author was as warm and likeable as the story was absorbing.
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Summary: hokey cover, awesome world
Review: there are very few worlds i like visiting as much as i do my own little world, but Carol Berg has created such an elegant and vivid dimension, you really should stop by at least once. when i read a book, the main things that draw me are the characters and the cultures. this book has developed both beautifully. all of the characters, even many of the bit players, are three dimensional. from Seyonne, a slave who used to be a sorcerer, to an albino frythe boy who works in the slave house, all of the characters have a sense of individual purpose as they move through the story. i won't tell you their stories here, you'll have to meet them yourself. the cultures are also well illustrated. while she never dwells too long on the culture or the scenery as many authors will, Carol Burg manages to paint a brilliant picture of all the different aspects of a very complex society. cultures are expressed through table manners, dress, mannerisms, and religion. it's very subtle and you don't realize how well she's drawn you into her world until you put down the book and realize that you're no longer wearing light cotton robes and wandering barefoot through a stone hallway. the story moves quickly and drags you with it no matter how late it is. if you have to be somewhere early in the morning, don't pick it up the day before. you won't be sleeping. if you like books about sorcery, demons, or just a really well written, exciting book, you have to pick this one up. i promise you, there are no lame cliches, no shallow loyalties, no awkward attempts to explain the plot, and no perfect people. what more could a story offer?
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Summary: Pretty good, but....
Review: I really liked the book, found the characters engaging (especially Aleksander's change from a complete jerk to a good but not wishy-washy guy at the end) The only thing that made me dislike the book was the romantic setup. There is very little interaction between Aleksander and Lydia, though you get the impression that they are fond of each other in a twisted sort of way. For Seyonne and Ysanne there is even less, and I felt that it was hastily thrown together at the end. All and all, I think the chemistry between Aleksander and Seyonne would have been far more intresting and I am disappointed that Carol Berg basically dropped that in the last few pages for a 'straighter' ending.
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Summary: Awesome!
Review: I have a library of books, of which I have read maybe one-third. But this one, I finished. Very highly recommended. Good work. Recommending (and very similar to) THE STILL by David Feintuch.
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Summary: Engrossing, Magical, Accessible - One of my All-Time Top 5
Review: Not really being a fantasy / sci-fi reader, Carol Berg's Transformation blew me away. Her characterization and growth of the 2 main characters and their relationship is among the best I have ever read. Supporting characters (Lady Lydia esp.) are also wonderfully three dimensional. Add to this an intricate but not overly complex plot with lots of unexpected twists and turns and you've got a real winner. My only regrets are that it ended and that the genre may restrict her audience. The author deserves to be sitting at or near the top of the NY Times Bestseller list.
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