Rating: 
Summary: Living up to my expectations!
Review: I have one major complaint about this book, and that is that I didn't have a chance to read it sooner!The strengths of Lynn Flewelling's writing are in her unique characterizations, unusual systems of magic and her unflinching pursuit of story. The Bone Doll's Twin left me amazed with the growth in her story telling abilities. That is not to say that I was dissatisfied with any of her earlier books, only that she continues to hone her skills as a writer. This sequel to Bone Doll, Hidden Warrior, plunges us immediately back into her world and her tale. I was very pleased with how quickly I re-entered that world, with no need to look back at the earlier book to refresh my memory as to who someone was or what their motivation was; her characters and plot had remained that strong within my memory. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes their fantasy with a streak of dark magic and ambition to it, and who doesn't quail at where that ambition can lead even the 'good' characters. It is also a good read for readers who want things to actually happen in the middle book of a trilogy, rather than for characters to simply mark time. In too many fantasy books these days, the minor characters seem to be created for the convenience of the lead character, with no motivations or lives of their own. This is certainly not the case in Hidden Warrior. Because the lesser characters have their own concerns and lives, and because their aspirations are not always in tune with the main character, the plot is not predictable nor staid.
Also, to put it in the vernacular, Flewelling retains the ability, first demonstrated in the Bone Doll's Twin, to plain old creep me out. This book was enough to take my mild phobia of dollies and raise it to an all new high. At the same time, she forced me to feel great sympathy for Brother and the injustice of his shadow existence. That's quite a feat.
Don't start with this book; you owe yourself the enjoyment of the full reading experience of starting with The Bone Doll's Twin and gradually being drawn into this world. Hidden Warrior simply pulls the mesh tighter around you. As a fellow writer of fantasy, my time for reading for pleasure has become all too limited of late. There are few writers who make me drop what I'm working on to pick up their new book. Lynn Flewelling is one of them. Megan Lindholm (Robin Hobb)
Rating:
Summary: Very good.
Review: I have to admit that, while I had a hard time getting into The Bone Doll's Twin, I continued with the series and have quite enjoyed this second volume. The world is more fleshed out and the characters well developed. The book is well detailed and the events written in a way that allows readers to follow certain complex aspects of the series without becoming confused. I must remind fellow readers that the Tamir series is *not* the Nightrunner series and that while there are certain characters who are mentioned in the NR books which come into play in the Tamir Trilogy, the books themselves should not be compared to the NR series. The new series is beautifully written and deserves a reader's full attention, not to be compared with the Seregil/Alec series. Enjoy the books for themselves. They make an interesting historical back drop to the events in the NR series, but are great in their own right, as well.
Rating: 
Summary: better then nightrunner series.
Review: I just finished this book and have to say I found it very enjoyable. If you are new to this series, let me suggest that you start with the first book in the series, Bone Doll's Twin. This story does not stand alone at all. That said, as a follow up to the first book, this is an excellent middle book. Like many middles, this book has a few areas where there story stalls but over all it moves well and further develops the character of tobin and sets the stage for the fullfillment of the prophesy that requires a woman to rule Skala. One of the interesting things in this book is how Tobin's character becomes more feminine as the story progresses. As a reader, I know Tobin is a female, but that fact stays far in the back of my mind, so convincingly does the author write Tobin as a male. Then at some point in the book, I noticed Tobin "sounding" more feminine and at that point, I could not overlook the fact that she was a girl. This transition in character voice and tone makes Tobin's revelation as a female near the latter part of the book somewhat anti climatic. But that could be because the characters in the book also took the change much better then expected. They were almost non-chalant about it.
I expected a bit more from this then I got but otherwise, I really enjoyed this book and needless to say I really look forward to the last book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: amazing sequel
Review: I loved The Bone Doll's Twin, and I loved Hidden Warrior. Hidden Warrior is not quite as dark or macabre as BDT, but that takes nothing away from the amazing story and wonderful storytelling. Tobin's continuing struggle with his identity and his fate is as gripping as ever! I would also remind readers that this trilogy is not the same as the Nightrunner series, and in my opinion, this trilogy is much deeper and more amazing. The enemies in BDT/HW are real people who are motivated by power, not priests of evil gods who are so evil that they could only be found in fantasy novels.
Rating: 
Summary: I wanted to like this trilogy
Review: I loved the Nightrunner books by Flewelling and I wanted to like this new trilogy as well but after reading Bone Doll's Twin and Hidden Warrior I've got to come to the conclusion that you just can't like all of an author's work. While Flewelling still brings her signature style and storytelling ability to these books, compared to the Nightrunner characters I find the characters in the Tamir trilogy unoriginal and stereotypical. The plot seems to be loosing it's center and rambling and it just doesn't hold my attention the way the Nightrunner books did. I really hope that Flewelling will finish up this trilogy and go back to the characters she drew me into her world with in the first place. Somebody let me know when the Nightrunners are back.
Rating: 
Summary: Need to read as part of the trilogy, but otherwise...
Review: I was dying to get this book for over a year expecting it to blow my mind more than The Bone Doll's Twin. Unfortunately in style and substenance it a lot less than The Bone Doll's Twin, the story line seems disjointed. It seems as if Flewelling couldn't get the story to go, so she changed the nature of her supporting characters in order to fit a set story line which in ways diminished both them and the plot. If you've read The Bone Doll's Twin then you have to read this because the story itself is fascinating. I just hope that the third book will live up to the hopes of the trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: Thankyou Robin Hobb
Review: I was looking for a book to read, and picked this one up, with a Robin Hobb recommendation on the front cover. Being a fan of Robin Hobb, I thought, "Why not", and bought the book. (Yes I know it's silly to read the second book of a series but I couldn't find "The Bone Doll's Twin" in the bookstore.)
Anyway, I started reading and didn't stop till I finished it a day later. Extremely engaging, giving new vitality into the 'girl disguised as a boy' routine. King Erius and Korin are not shown as evil, 2D characters, but are as equally charismatic as the book's protagonists.
An excellent book, with an original, well-thought out world, reminiscent of Grecian culture...Thoroughly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Thankyou Robin Hobb
Review: I was looking for a book to read, and picked this one up, with a Robin Hobb recommendation on the front cover. Being a fan of Robin Hobb, I thought, "Why not", and bought the book. (Yes I know it's silly to read the second book of a series but I couldn't find "The Bone Doll's Twin" in the bookstore.)
Anyway, I started reading and didn't stop till I finished it a day later. Extremely engaging, giving new vitality into the 'girl disguised as a boy' routine. King Erius and Korin are not shown as evil, 2D characters, but are as equally charismatic as the book's protagonists.
An excellent book, with an original, well-thought out world, reminiscent of Grecian culture...Thoroughly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Fantasitic
Review: I went back and read Bone Doll's Twin just a couple of days before this book came out and I was glad I did over a year you can forget a lot. For me this book flowed following in the footsteps of the first one. I loved watching the relationships between characters continue to develop leaving you with just a taste of what will come in the next book and background on how situations in luck in the shadows series came to be. I would have liked more of Arengil though but maybe we'll see more of him in the third book.
Rating:
Summary: Moving and beautiful, feast for fans of fantasy
Review: Many think that fantasy can't be literature, but this fascinating sequel to the excellent 'The Bone Doll's Twin' proves that it can. I was actually moved to tears several times in this book, as when Tamir examines the belongings of her dead parents. Or when the stunning revelation is made to her dearest friend, and he cannot bear the sight. Dark, moody, and just gorgeous in every way, I am desperate for the final volume. Lynn Flewelling is a standout author in a field crowded with mediocrity.
| 
