Rating: 
Summary: info dumps, plot holes, characterization problems
Review: I bought this with high hopes, as I like reading sff by women. But it was hard to get through. There were entire scenes that were nothing but characters telling one another the complex history of the past thousand years, and there were huge plot holes (like why does Jo try to pick Ashe's pocket? He's practically invisible, so why would she choose him as a target? Why would she even see him? No one can hardly even see him, even the waiter overlooks him when he's taking everyone else's order at lunch), and there were times when things the characters did was totally out of character for them (for instance, why would Rhapsody playfully grab a stranger by the balls? And even worse, then get mortally insulted when he thinks she's a prostitute? It's silly.) And the book's feel kept going from horrific (how many dead children does one book really need?) to precious (can Rhapsody "adopt" some more "grandchildren"?) and back. I keep hearing from other people that the next two books are better, so I guess I'll try the next one, but I didn't love this book anywhere near as much as I wanted to.
Rating: 
Summary: Rhapsody
Review: This is a GREAT book. It starts out rather slowly but read the rest of the book and its second and third books [Prophecy & Destiny] it well worth your time.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad... not bad at all
Review: Wonderfully written, Elizabeth Hayden has transported you into a world rich in colour and imagination. I can truthfully say that I have walked joyfully through the city of Bethe Corbair, Navarne and Avanderre and trembled at the sight of the House of Rememberence and The Teeth. One wishes for the same 'rebirth'that the books characters have gone though:
Achmed with his relentless pursuits, impressive agility and ingenuity, hard attitude and dry almost cruel humour. And even though he is descibed as 'ugly', as one reads on one can picture him anything but.
Grunthor, the 7 ft Half Bolg monster, is hard driven and funny, he brings new meaning to the phrase 'as strong as an ox'.
And Rhapsody, an unlikely heroine with extrodinary talent and untapped ability.
Together these friends make the book worth the read. But, for there always is one, the book did tend to drag at certain points for eg. along 'the root' and even though Rhapsody's nature is to care for children with her life, she does tend to over-do (as Achmed rightly said). Nevertheless, I can't wait to tell you about Prophecy - book 2 of the Trilogy - that I couldn't put down!
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the sequels. Some of the things which bothered other reviewers were things I liked about the book. So Rhapsody was a bit too perfect--this is a fantasy, after all. In my fantasies, men's jaws would drop open when they looked at me, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Beware the Hype
Review: Anyone considering purchasing this book would do themselves a favor and read as many of the reviews here (both pro and con) as possible. Many people seemingly enjoyed the story so it proves all too well that one person's pleasure is another one's poison. For me, while the premise of the story is interesting there were too many problems that weighed it down. Also it is a romance novel thinly disguised as fantasy. If you do not like romance novels beware - it is unlikely you will like this book whatever else its virtues. Characterization - this was THE main thing that just kept interfering with my ability to enjoy the story. For example, Rhapsody, we are told at the beginning, is a woman of astounding beauty. She's of mixed species blood as are most of the other women in the book. Yet the author never explains why the heroine is so much more beautiful than any other female. And after her walk through the fire her beauty ascends to the level of a goddess. Scene after scene shows men becoming slack-jawed idiots and burning with lust at the mere sight of her. Women and children mob her like she's a movie star. The author tries to introduce some counterbalance by giving Rhapsody the two flaws of having a past briefly as a prostitute and of not being aware of her goddess-level beauty. Extreme beauty, if handled well, need not be a barrier to the reader believing the story. After all, Tolkien did something very similar when he wrote the tale of Beren and Luthien. Luthien was also of mixed blood but the weight of the past stories and culture made it totally believable when Tolkien wrote that Luthien was the most beautiful creature that has ever walked the earth. Not so with Rhapsody. Had it been handled differently those two flaws might have been enough to humanize an increasingly saccharine and hard-to-believe character. Unfortunately, the prostitution explanation was very brief and the only back flash of those days show her sleeping with a man she hated in order to prevent him from doing so with a child (the child being used as blackmail). So the very thing the author uses to try to humanize Rhapsody is undercut by showing her sacrificing herself to save a child from a horrible crime. This does not show a flaw. It added yet another aspect to the heroine that we are to secretly admire. There are similar problems with Achmed. In short, he just doesn't act like an assassin. For someone who is used to bloodshed and manipulating people he just doesn't come across as the cold-hearted killer the author wants him to be. Maybe if there had been scenes where he was actually BEING a cold-hearted assassin (instead of just telling us he is) it would be more believable. The above are only 2 of the problems I had with the book but there were many more. That is not to say there weren't good things about it either. Obviously there are or so many people wouldn't be writing 5 star reviews. My point is that there are enough problems with the book that there can be no guarantee into which category you will fall - fan or disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Captivating
Review: I absolutely loved this book. I've read it many many times and will continue to do so. The Prologue got me hooked on the story of Rhapsody and I had to follow her out of that. Seeing how she grew up from there on was worth it. The only reason I give 4 stars is because Hadyon can dwell on details a little too much. When you get to about 1/4 through the book it seems like that one part goes on till you are probably 1/2 way through the book. It gets boring after awhile. Later in the book when she starts involving the real plot of the series it picks up speed. Trust me, if you can get through that one part, you'll know what I'm talking about, it's totally worth reading the rest. There is suspense, intrigue, war, hate, love, and over all just that mystical magic involved with fantasy. Try it...you'll like it!
Rating:
Summary: fantasy for romance readers
Review: This book is a sort of experiment when several characters and concepts which belong more to the realm of romance novels are introduced into fantasy-like world. Among the things thus transferred there are too many stereotypes for my liking and not even a shade of humor to make them beleivable. The strongest example is Rhapsody herself, who is too full of sachharine to inspire any kind of compassion. While there are several creative ideas in the world design (I liked the tree concept), the totally volumeless characters kill the awe quite effectively. Also the "film-editing" approach felt artificial to no end. The bottom line is - if you hate romance novels, you'll hate this too.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good.
Review: I actually thought that this was an excellent beginning to a great trilogy. After I read a book, I read other people's reviews (the bad ones if liked the book, the good ones if I didn't) and I have to say that the negative reviews have many excellent points at first. 1. Rhapsody was too perfect. except for a bit of whining here and there. Upon closer examination though, there were a few flaws. She really wasn't unaware, but unable to face certain aspects of reality. It's both a strength and a weakness in her. In many ways she was like a child who wanted to be someone she wasn't (which could be seen as modesty and humbleness or a blindness to reality). Many of the future books deal with her realization that "life is what it is." 2. Characters were stereotypical. There were some stereotypes, especially to Grunthor, but I challenge anyone to find a single book without a stereotype. He was a big hulking ugly loving protector. His character was still lovable in my opinion. 3. Enough with immortal people. The reason why they were immortal, while explained, was still a little hard for me to grasp, but the actual immortality in my opinion, was handled well. I think that the author realistically guessed what many people's reactions would be if they woke one day and were suddenly immortal. I could go on, but I wanted to focus a little on what was good. if the storyline was borrowed, I don't know who from. I thought it was very creative. She was also very descriptive. I also liked her technique within the trilogy. There was the overall goal of the characters and there was the goal of that particular series (as well as subgoals, etc. etc.) Some authors may as well have written one giant book, some the only connection that there is a series is that the auhor says so and a few, like Haydon, resolve the book goal, while still moving slowly towards resolving the main goal. I don't know if I'm explaining this well, but it's like there is some resolution within the book while still letting you know that that particular story isn't over. For example, Meridion is finally explained in the very last pages of the last book and shocked me. Yet at the end of the first book, Achmed had consolidated his kingdom, they figured out the "demon" (I'm trying not to give anything away here) and Rhapsody was realizing what she was going to need to come to peace. On the other hand, we know that there is a greater danger still lurking, that there is unresolved business (and history) between Ashe and Rhapsody, and Rhapsody and the stage for the next book is set. All in all, I thought this was an excellent book and while I can see where people wouldn't like, I would also suggest that you look closer at flaws in the book (like the perfectionism) and make sure they really were flaws. I agreed at first, but came to see it as something more. I hoep that didn't sound too pompous and arrogant because we all like different things anyways :>
Rating:
Summary: It's alive!... sometimes
Review: I first read this book a few years ago. I still remember enough scenes from it to make me smile fondly. At the same time, it's not all completely wonderful. The description is at times intense (especially the description of fight scenes), and the relationships among the characters interesting and for the most part well-articulated. Rhapsody was a strong character without being the 'warrior woman' cliché too many fantasy heroines turn into. And the passage underground still sticks out, as does the prologue. At the same time, the idea of an evil race plotting to take over the world is so old and over-used in fantasy it's hard to breathe new life into it. And demons are especially over-used. At times, the presence of the demons in this story reminded me of a lurching Frankenstein monster, destroying the author's otherwise careful work. It became harder and harder to give Rhapsody's opponents any credence as the story went on, especially because their motives seemed so inhuman. Why destroy the world? To destroy the world! It seems to be its own reason. As well, Rhapsody's 'cosmetics by fire' became steadily more annoying (as did the other characters' reactions to her beauty). Even people celebrated for their good looks don't have other people falling all over themselves around them. And Rhapsody's refusal to believe she was beautiful spiraled steadily from modesty and naivete into ignorance and what seemed like stupidity, which did nothing to build my sympathy towards her. A good read, interesting if you like a different heroine and if you can stomach demons... but I wish I hadn't bought it in hardcover.
Rating:
Summary: Epic, unique, and wonderful!!
Review: This was a big book =P I don't just mean in pages, there was just a lot in it! Despite that size, it moves right along, and gives you all that one needs for a great book. I definitely would recommend this to someone ready to start another trilogy(series?).
| 
