Rating: 
Summary: Wow. Make that double wow.
Review: I don't usually write reviews on books that I read. Not unless they are extremely good or so bad that I want my money back. I just finished reading Holly Lisle's Memory of Fire this afternoon and am still turning over the events of the story in my mind. Holly creates characters that seem as familiar, like you might actually run into them in your old neighborhood. Lauren Dane and her little boy reminded me of so many people that I once knew that I couldn't stop reading about them and was quickly [pulled] into their adventures and their plights. Another character that struck a chord with me is June Bug Tate and the secrets she keeps. This book has the same mastery of characterization reminiscent of some of Stephen King's earlier work. The plot is a real hold your breath, hurtling toward the finish line, hoping you don't crash into a wall thriller. The book is a little over 350 pages, an amount that usually takes me a few days to get through. I read this book in four hours. Not because it is simple, but because the plot and characterizations kept me so riveted to the book that I could NOT put it down. I think my house could have burned down around me and I'd be loathe to put this book down. The writing, in terms of sheer style, is amazing. Tightly woven images resonate with you long after you've passed the passage and are on to the next part of the story. In this book, Lisle manages to evoke rich, deep images without resorting to wordiness and the ten dollar word vocabulary that a lot of authors use to achieve the same effect. As I stated at the beginning of the review, I don't usually rave about books like this. I've never written a review for any of the books I bought because I never felt like any were worth the time to write, though most were good books overall. Lisle's book is a future classic and if this book isn't a huge seller for her, I'd be surprised. I only have one little bitty question. When is the next book coming?
Rating:
Summary: Read in 2 Days!!
Review: I read this book in two days, and that was only because I had to stop and do mundane things like sleep and go to work. I absolutely loved this book. Actually, I like all of Holly's work. It's totally unfair that I have to wait until next year to read the next one in the series, but you can bet that I'll be the first one in line to buy it when it does. Thanks for a great read, Holly. Keep 'em going, please!
Rating: 
Summary: More like a 4 1/2
Review: I really enjoyed the beginning of this new series by Holly Lisle - and I really envy her ability to come up with fresh new ideas for her fantasy worlds. The series starts out in the 'real' world, or in a world much like our own, but then moves into other dimensions where someone might suddenly have godlike powers, or alternately, become like a spirit, unable to affect reality. Then there are the Sentinels... would they hesitate to do anything that they feel is necessary to further their cause? There are a lot of reprecussions to magic use in this book, illustrating how the actions of even a single person, layered with intent, can have far reaching consequences. Well, I can't say more than that without giving away the story, but this is a definite keeper. I picked it up and didn't put it back down until I hit the back cover.
Rating:
Summary: More like a 4 1/2
Review: I really enjoyed the beginning of this new series by Holly Lisle - and I really envy her ability to come up with fresh new ideas for her fantasy worlds. The series starts out in the 'real' world, or in a world much like our own, but then moves into other dimensions where someone might suddenly have godlike powers, or alternately, become like a spirit, unable to affect reality. Then there are the Sentinels... would they hesitate to do anything that they feel is necessary to further their cause? There are a lot of reprecussions to magic use in this book, illustrating how the actions of even a single person, layered with intent, can have far reaching consequences. Well, I can't say more than that without giving away the story, but this is a definite keeper. I picked it up and didn't put it back down until I hit the back cover.
Rating:
Summary: Definately not a bedtime book.
Review: I started reading this book late one evening, and before I knew it dawn was breaking over the horizon. I can't remember the last time a book kept me up all night! Definately not a bedtime book. I particularly like the way the author has given the use of magic serious negative repercussions. No invincible super wizards here! My only complaint is that the next book in the series isn't out yet.
Rating:
Summary: Definately not a bedtime book.
Review: I started reading this book late one evening, and before I knew it dawn was breaking over the horizon. I can't remember the last time a book kept me up all night! Definately not a bedtime book. I particularly like the way the author has given the use of magic serious negative repercussions. No invincible super wizards here! My only complaint is that the next book in the series isn't out yet.
Rating:
Summary: Strange Magic
Review: Memory of Fire is nothing short of a masterful saga. For those who love cross-dimensional fantasy, Lisle's work can be wonderfully satisfying and does successfully allow one to experience a thorough suspension of disbelief. Since I do live in the heart of one of the story's settings, I read with interest the many references to the Laurinburg, Gibson, and Rockingham areas of south central North Carolina. Having met the author's parents while they resided in Laurinburg, I began reading Holly Lisle as a way to scratch a curiosity itch. I found a tremendous treasure within the works of Holly Lisle. And, like fine wine, this particular author seems to greatly improve with age. Memory of Fire is the story of two women: Lauren Dane and Molly McColl. Both become enmeshed within the tangled web first spun by parents that neither woman really knew. Part of that webbing includes another world; one on which humans can create and produce magic. Unfortunately, each spell carries a sinister equation: for every spell cast there is an equal and opposing effect on Earth. Each woman learns that old Spiderman axiom-with great power comes great responsibility. Quite frankly, to reveal more would be criminal, for the book's charm lies within its plot's twists and turns. As Lisle breathes life into wonderful characters and plot, Memory of Fire becomes a procrastinator's worst nightmare-it simply is NOT a book to be put down until every page is turned. Fortunately, Memory of Fire is the first installment of a larger work called The World Gates; there will be more to come. Books that I plan to read repeatedly are usually bought in the hardback format; however, Memory of Fire is available only in paperback. I find that to be the book's only major flaw.
Rating:
Summary: The Secret Masters Fumble One
Review: Memory of Fire is the first novel in the World Gates series. The Sentinels are a secret organization who monitor and, to some extent, control traffic between universes. They have been around a long time and have infiltrated the power structure. They have some ability to use magic. They are the Conspiracy that people have dreamed and ranted about. The Sentinel's circle in Cat Creek, North Carolina, is having problems. First a blip shows on the instruments and later gates start dropping and have to be reset. The last incident was met with a full scale excursion into Oria, but no clues were found ... publicly. The circle starts monitoring all their gates for more events and tries to triangulate from the available data. The first event was Molly McColl being kidnapped and taken through a World Gate to Oria. There she is welcomed as the Vodi, a being who is powerful in magic. However, she is being kept in a copper covered room that grounds her magic. Seolar, Master of Copper House, has arranged for her kidnapping in order to protect his people from the ravages of other magic users and Molly eventually begins to like him more than a little. The second event was Lauren Hotchkiss Dane opening the old Hotchkiss gate. Lauren has returned to Cat Creek after the death of her husband, Brian. She discovered that her family home was on the market and used the SGLI payment to buy it and now she has brought her son Jake to the old home place to live. Someone has covered the large wall mirror in the living room with black paint and she spends an afternoon scaping it clear. When she looks in the mirror, she sees a hint of green and it somehow attracts her. Later, after Jake is in bed, she discovers that she can put her hand through the mirror without ill effects. She waits until Jake awakes and then goes through the mirror to Oria. Eric MacAvery is the town sheriff as well as a Sentinel and is in the center of the whole mess. He knows that Molly has disappeared, but not how or why. He is a childhood friend of Lauren, but she keeps her secrets from him ... for a while. He knows that someone in his circle is a traitor, but not who or why. On top of all this, someone or something has caused a level five rebound breakthrough, which could cause 3 billion deaths worldwide. This novel adds new life to an old SF plot, creating a hierarchial multiverse where energy flows down and spirituality flows up and introduces a threat which will destoy the inhabitants of all the universes if something is not done soon. Lauren's parents, who were long ago expelled from the Sentinels, have hidden notes describing some forbidden experiments that may be the only hope for the survival of the people in countless universes. This novel is full of plot twists and turns, but focuses mostly on the interpersonal relationships. One cannot help liking Molly, Lauren, Jake, Eric, and even, reluctantly, Seolar. Recommended for Lisle fans and anyone who enjoys a new approach to the secret masters of the universe plot.
Rating:
Summary: The Secret Masters Fumble One
Review: Memory of Fire is the first novel in the World Gates series. The Sentinels are a secret organization who monitor and, to some extent, control traffic between universes. They have been around a long time and have infiltrated the power structure. They have some ability to use magic. They are the Conspiracy that people have dreamed and ranted about. The Sentinel's circle in Cat Creek, North Carolina, is having problems. First a blip shows on the instruments and later gates start dropping and have to be reset. The last incident was met with a full scale excursion into Oria, but no clues were found ... publicly. The circle starts monitoring all their gates for more events and tries to triangulate from the available data. The first event was Molly McColl being kidnapped and taken through a World Gate to Oria. There she is welcomed as the Vodi, a being who is powerful in magic. However, she is being kept in a copper covered room that grounds her magic. Seolar, Master of Copper House, has arranged for her kidnapping in order to protect his people from the ravages of other magic users and Molly eventually begins to like him more than a little. The second event was Lauren Hotchkiss Dane opening the old Hotchkiss gate. Lauren has returned to Cat Creek after the death of her husband, Brian. She discovered that her family home was on the market and used the SGLI payment to buy it and now she has brought her son Jake to the old home place to live. Someone has covered the large wall mirror in the living room with black paint and she spends an afternoon scaping it clear. When she looks in the mirror, she sees a hint of green and it somehow attracts her. Later, after Jake is in bed, she discovers that she can put her hand through the mirror without ill effects. She waits until Jake awakes and then goes through the mirror to Oria. Eric MacAvery is the town sheriff as well as a Sentinel and is in the center of the whole mess. He knows that Molly has disappeared, but not how or why. He is a childhood friend of Lauren, but she keeps her secrets from him ... for a while. He knows that someone in his circle is a traitor, but not who or why. On top of all this, someone or something has caused a level five rebound breakthrough, which could cause 3 billion deaths worldwide. This novel adds new life to an old SF plot, creating a hierarchial multiverse where energy flows down and spirituality flows up and introduces a threat which will destoy the inhabitants of all the universes if something is not done soon. Lauren's parents, who were long ago expelled from the Sentinels, have hidden notes describing some forbidden experiments that may be the only hope for the survival of the people in countless universes. This novel is full of plot twists and turns, but focuses mostly on the interpersonal relationships. One cannot help liking Molly, Lauren, Jake, Eric, and even, reluctantly, Seolar. Recommended for Lisle fans and anyone who enjoys a new approach to the secret masters of the universe plot.
Rating:
Summary: Read in 2 Days!!
Review: Molly McColl is kidnapped by strange creatures and dragged off to the world of Oria to save them. She doesn't just meekly go along - but soon discovers that in this new world her healing talent, that has always caused her great pain on Earth, is now effortless. Isn't helping people who greatly need her help, with a talent that is working better than it ever has, the right thing to do? Lauren Dane discovers that a large mirror in the family house she's just reclaimed is a gateway to another world, and she's haunted by the voice of her deceased husband. Suddenly she has recovered bits of memories from her childhood, that had been hidden with her own permission. She realizes that the home town she's returned to is a stranger place than anyone would guess, and soon learns that her parents had been murdered years ago. Surely she should figure out what her parents had been planning and be prepared to deal with whoever murdered them. Sheriff Eric MacAvory is wondering whether Molly's disappearance is part of his mundane job or has anything to do with the terrible calamity that the Sentinels see coming up for the Earth. If they can't fix the magical backlash, the level 5 rebound breakthrough is predicted to kill three billion people worldwide; the news already shows people dying of a mysterious `flu'. But soon treachery is going to force the Sheriff/Sentinel to think about doing things outside the rules of either of his jobs. What are the ties between Molly and Lauren? Can the sheriff and Molly work together, with each suspicious of the other? Who is the traitor among the magical guardians of Earth, and what is the actual cause of the magical feedback that is killing thousands? With such a mix of conflicting `right things', not to mention the creatures just out for what they can get, will there ever be a long-term balance, or will the Earth end up as lifeless as the next world? This last question will have to be answered in a future book in this series. I look forward to it!
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