Rating: 
Summary: This is a fantastic story!
Review: I thought this book was excellent. The characters are well-developed and the story grabs you from page one. If you don't like fantasy romances, this book is not for you. But is you love stories of magic, romance and suspense, this book is a must-read.
Rating: 
Summary: Engrossing tale, but choppy
Review: I very much enjoyed this fantasy tale, of two sets of young lovers forced together by custom and the needs of their country. This is a well created world of Aronsdale, actually a small kingdom set within a wider world of which we are only given small glimpses glimpses. Charm Headwind was plucked from a happy life because of her magical mage abilities. Muller Dawnwind was forced into his role as heir to his uncle King Doran after the death of his son and grandson. Accordingly they are meant to wed for the sake of Aronsdale. However, a new possible female mage is found in the person of Iris and then the plot thickens and deepens with the discovery by her of Jarid the true heir to the throne. The kingdom is then threatened by the more powerful neighbouring kingdom of Harsdown and an evil dark mage.
The love stories are well to the fore and are presented with a sensitive touch. All four lovers are sympathetic and each has a different set of personal demons to grapple with and overcome.
The story kept me reading, it had suspense and well drawn secondary characters in suppport. I will look forward to another tale set in this world - there are several vague loose ends thats appear to be set to be picked up to that end.
However, there were frequent jarring phrasings and words that ought to have been ironed out by the editorial process. The villain was also set up in an interesting way, but at the end the entire premise collapsed most unconvincingly. Indeed the final scenes regarding the fate of Harsdown were irritating, especially after so much that was good.
Rating: 
Summary: I thought it was good ...
Review: I'm a big fan of Catherine Asaro's Skolian Empire series and am trying to read some of her other works. I agree that Charmed Sphere lacked the depth that the Skolia books have, but I still found this book to be an enjoyable read. Sphere had Asaro's usual mix of romance and action, something I really like about her books. The idea of shape mages is certainly new to me and kind of intriguing. I liked the main leads, Chime and Muller, and did not find them to be as flat as some people seem to have. I found myself wanting things work out for them. This book is a bit light, but I certainly wouldn't call it fluffy. This book is good for both adults and young readers. Buy this book if you want a light enjoyable read with a little bit of romance, a little bit of action and little bit of magic.
Rating:
Summary: A nice, fluffy read
Review: I'm a big fan of Mercedes Lackey and bought the Charmed Destinies collection because she was 1 of the 3 different authors. Since Catherine Asaro was one of the others, I also bought The Charmed Sphere. After reading the short story in the anthology (Moonglow), I started reading TCS. The first half of TCS is pretty much the same story as Moonglow, but told from other characters' points of view. Moonglow is basically Iris and Jarid's tale, while TCS focuses more on Chime and Muller. If I had started reading TCS without reading Moonglow first, I would have found the character development to be lacking. My recommendation is to read Moonglow prior to reading TCS if you don't mind going though the same story twice. It will give more depth to TCS without being too boring since you see things from different points of view in both stories. Overall, I liked the book, it's a nice story that doesn't require you to think too hard. If you want a light read with fun characters, this is a good choice.
Rating: 
Summary: Shakily built
Review: The book summary sounds interesting, but is not 100% accurate. The idea is there, yet the development and explanations in the book were lacking.None of the characters felt real to me. In addition to this, one of them underwent an abrupt personality change for no reason at all. I could have accepted reading about her progression to her new behavior, but the jump was too sudden and thus totally unbelievable. There was nothing interesting about the characters, and it becomes apparent as the book goes on. Everyone is too busy angsting about their powers, duties, romances, what have you, to show any personality. Was there a romance in the book, or a love-at-first-sight situation? It sure didn't feel like a romance, and so I'm inclined to think it is the latter. The plot and crisis in the book would have been fine, because misfits out to save their world is interesting. But, as I said before, the misfits don't have any personality. The world is fine, typical, as is the plot. I've read a lot of books like this. The difference between this one and the ones I liked is that I would have liked the story a lot more if there was just something interesting about this book.
Rating:
Summary: Good in theory...
Review: The entire premise of the new Luna line appeals to me. I adore Fantasy with romance that's not the main focus. Sadly this book (just like The Fairy Godmother that launched the line) has no spark. It's banal. The threat is no real threat. The characters are far too good to be true. Muller, please. He's gorgeous and conceited, but he was waiting until marriage. Chime is his "sweet dulcet angel". Oh barf! Is this what women want? Good grief! Or what about the new king who was blind and deaf and mute for 14 years. The "struggles" he has are not realistic at all. The plot doesn't even start moving until the last third of the book, and even then it's mundane. The bad guys are moronic. This book is an insult to women and feminism. Catherine Asaro seems to be addicted to the theme of the "Big strong virtuous men and the tinsy little women who worship the ground they piss on"
Rating: 
Summary: Original ideas, third-rate writing.
Review: The premise of the story seemed so charming. Chime is a young woman with high magical potential; her gift distinguishes her and garners her a betrothal to Prince Muller (umm, the names of the characters are quaint). Asaro then tries to shake up the plot a little by introducing a rival for Chime: Iris is another young woman with far great abilities. As everyone knows, tempers fly when a competitor starts to crowd the home turf. Unfortunately, Asaro lets slip this opportunity to enliven the tale. This is one of several instances in which Asaro demonstrates plenty of original ideas, but seems to lack the skill to actually pull off a 300+ page novel.
In terms of characterization, the cast with the exception of perhaps Prince Muller, are flat characters. Not even the supposedly sociopathetic villain manages to retain my interest. The psychology of the characters are underdeveloped, so that I couldn't connect with any of the characters.
The dialogue was fairly atrocious. Jane Austen--or even Georgette Heyer--Asaro is not. A typical exchange can be found on page 45:
"Stop that, you scoundrel."
"Come back." He tried to pull her close again.
"Rogue."
"Hey!"
What rescues the novel from the trashbin is Asaro's creative ideas on magic. As the four-paragraph author's biography tells us, Asaro is a highly trained quantum physicist. I think her scientific background served to her advantage: instead of the usual magic fare of casting spells, etc., Asaro's mages practice a whole range of interesting shape-changing magic. I say again that the novel contains some cool ideas, but the writing is simply insufficient to turn cool ideas into cool reading.
Rating:
Summary: 2 stars for effort
Review: The story and characters were lacking. I'm a big fan of fantasy with some romance thrown in but even this was pushing things for me. Everything was just to perfect. The characters flaws were lacking and might as well have not exsisted. Chime had her moments but for the most part I found her to be annoying. It was a decent read and kept me interested since I was hoping something might actually happen, but alas no such luck.
Rating:
Summary: not bad
Review: This book was all together not bad at all. At some parts I absolutely loved the book, then a few pages later I was thoroughly annoyed. This was also true for the characters. At the beginning I loved Chime and Muller and hated Iris. After reading I loved Jared and later Iris, Chime and Muller seemed silly. Well after this sickening roller coaster ride came the end. Which I beleive was amazing. The battle was interesting and by that time Chime and Muller seemed less shallow. I always likedbooks with strong female roles and this book does not disappoint...well shall I say the end doesn't disappoint. Either way it was worth it.
I would recomend this book to anyone. Once you get past the GIANT name of the author and the oh so tiny title on the cover the book is pretty good.
Rating:
Summary: REcommended esp for younger readers
Review: This fantasy tale with magical spheres of light and power , a wicked warlord, a twisted mage, an enchanted prince and two mystical women is lyrical and filled with interesting locations, acts of heroism and strength of heart and courage.
LUNA is the new Fantasy label from Harlequin. Their books are targeted at women. I read the original Charmed Destinies anthology that the Mage Worlds premiered in and really enjoyed it.
I think that this line is particularly good reading for younger audiences- the general themes presented in a fresh tone make great self-esteem building reading for young girls. There is nothing too heavy in the sexuality in this book- totally ok for girls in junior high and a nice companion to reading Tolkein.
|
