The Element of Fire

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: After reading "The Element of Fire", I am ready to declare that Martha Wells is probably the best author of the entertaining 'Swords and Sorcery' type of fantasy alive today. Although this was her first novel, it was the third one of her books that I've read. All of them have been well-written with excellent imagination. So why are her books so much fun to read?

Lots of action. Even though her novels are relatively short, they each contain several large-scale action scenes and plenty of individual sword fights. Wells has clearly studied medieval weaponry and warfare closely enough to know what she's talking about. Her fight scenes are very realistic and easy to visualize.

Surprises. "The Element of Fire" has lots of courtly intrigue and unpredictable plot developments. There's back stabbing, double agents, triple agents, plots, counterplots, and mysterious deaths of major characters right when you least expect it.

Tough characters. Looking for pathetic little reluctant heroes who have to whine for hundreds of pages before they can do anything? Look elsewhere. Wells provides truly hardcore, brave, and loyal characters who aren't afraid to fight and die for what they believe in. I particularly enjoy how Wells gives them humorous dialogue, such as when characters taunt each other before a fight.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: After reading "The Element of Fire", I am ready to declare that Martha Wells is probably the best author of the entertaining 'Swords and Sorcery' type of fantasy alive today. Although this was her first novel, it was the third one of her books that I've read. All of them have been well-written with excellent imagination. So why are her books so much fun to read?

Lots of action. Even though her novels are relatively short, they each contain several large-scale action scenes and plenty of individual sword fights. Wells has clearly studied medieval weaponry and warfare closely enough to know what she's talking about. Her fight scenes are very realistic and easy to visualize.

Surprises. "The Element of Fire" has lots of courtly intrigue and unpredictable plot developments. There's back stabbing, double agents, triple agents, plots, counterplots, and mysterious deaths of major characters right when you least expect it.

Tough characters. Looking for pathetic little reluctant heroes who have to whine for hundreds of pages before they can do anything? Look elsewhere. Wells provides truly hardcore, brave, and loyal characters who aren't afraid to fight and die for what they believe in. I particularly enjoy how Wells gives them humorous dialogue, such as when characters taunt each other before a fight.

Rating:
Summary: Astounding!!
Review: Finally, a orginal fantasy that combines excellent story, great characters, and a wonderful world that isnt over done. Great book. Books like this should get more attention.. Espically compared to the likes of authors who are over glorified.. Eg Goodkind. Read this book..

Rating:
Summary: Amazing.
Review: Finally, a orginal fantasy that combines excellent story, great characters, and a wonderful world that isnt over done. Great book. Books like this should get more attention.. Espically compared to the likes of authors who are over glorified.. Eg Goodkind. Read this book..

Rating:
Summary: Action and magic packed adventure
Review: I have nearly finished rereading this book, after having read it once about 5 years ago. I had remembered it as being pretty good, but nothing to write home about. Impressive is the word that I would use now. Martha Wells must have a wide knowledge of both Arthurian legend and traditional Celtic mythology because she combines them skilfully in an unusual and interesting way in this book. What I liked most about it was that though it is a traditional Arthurian style fantasy (king, fay half-sister, unfaithful queen, etc.) Wells made it into her own story with the addition of Thomas Boniface, sardonic Queen's Guard, and his romance with Kade Carrion, the fay half-sister. Why not 5 stars? Mainly because I didn't like very many of the characters--they were all very well drawn, but only a few were sympathetic. If you don't like cliches, don't read this book, but if you can appreciate new, humorous, intelligent reinterpretations of cliches, read on!

Rating:
Summary: Thrilling, Swashbucking, Arthurian Fun
Review: I have nearly finished rereading this book, after having read it once about 5 years ago. I had remembered it as being pretty good, but nothing to write home about. Impressive is the word that I would use now. Martha Wells must have a wide knowledge of both Arthurian legend and traditional Celtic mythology because she combines them skilfully in an unusual and interesting way in this book. What I liked most about it was that though it is a traditional Arthurian style fantasy (king, fay half-sister, unfaithful queen, etc.) Wells made it into her own story with the addition of Thomas Boniface, sardonic Queen's Guard, and his romance with Kade Carrion, the fay half-sister. Why not 5 stars? Mainly because I didn't like very many of the characters--they were all very well drawn, but only a few were sympathetic. If you don't like cliches, don't read this book, but if you can appreciate new, humorous, intelligent reinterpretations of cliches, read on!

Rating:
Summary: Action and magic packed adventure
Review: This is an amazing magical book. I loved it so much that I had to to stay up until 3am, just so I could finish this book.

I cannot believe it is no longer in print.

Rating:
Summary: It was hard to put down
Review: Very well written. Some part were hard to follow, but maybe it was because I was reading so fast. I really enjoyed it. Kade was my favorite character.

Rating:
Summary: It was hard to put down
Review: Very well written. Some part were hard to follow, but maybe it was because I was reading so fast. I really enjoyed it. Kade was my favorite character.

Rating:
Summary: Astounding!!
Review: Wonderful, devious, swashbuckling fun! The characters were fantastic and interseting, the world alive and the story kept moving. A beautiful example of what a fantasy tale ought to be, and full of wit and twists and politics and magic and a suitable dash of swordplay. I cannot gush about this novel enough.