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Summary: The author posts some review excerpts
Review: "Should be read by anyone interested in High Fantasy or mythologically based fantasy. Should be on the shelf with Kushner's and Jones's treatments of the Rhymer's story, as well as such Celtic/Christian conflicts as Bradley's The Mists of Avalon.
--C.W. Sullivan III, for The Science Fiction Research Association Review
"The best historical fantasy I've ever read."
--Poppy Z. Brite, author of Lost Souls, Drawing Blood and Exquisite Corpse.
"Open this book at your peril; it will sweep you into Elfland. An insight-laden shipful of magic, where terrible and dangerous myths walk beneath the sunless Elfin skies. The power flows, strong and undiluted." --Erin Lale, for Berserkrgangr
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Summary: Not just great entertainment, but lessons for the soul!
Review: Colorful, engaging, imaginative, enlightening, spiritual and earthy. Revel in a fantasy world of elves and gods, demons and fairies. Learn about the myths and mysteries of ancient cultures. This book offers the reader a host of multi-dimensional delights. It's great!
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Summary: A wonderful retelling of Thomas the Rhymer
Review: Forrest does a wonderful job of retelling a tried and true story without just repeating what's been done before or (sometimes worse) adding story elements of her own that spoil the spirit of the original tale. In this version, Tomas is a Norse bard (or skald) travelling to Britain as a reluctant part of a viking raiding party. This begins the delightful blending of mythologies that makes the story so unique. Not only does he travel to Elfland to meet the Faery Queen (and receive her "gift" of only being able to tell the truth), he also travels to the fabled Asgard, world of the gods of the Norse pantheon--most notably Loki, who is portrayed with a malice and madness that are faithful to the archetype of the trickster.Tomas is a real and believable hero, as well as a real and believable person, and the denizens of Faery are eerie and otherwordly. Altogether, an excellent first novel. I look forward to reading the sequel.
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Summary: This book is thought-provoking and entertaining.
Review: I am transported to another time...another plane...other worlds. I long to 'be' there, and yet, find that in a way, I AM "there" by joining Thomas in his incredible journey. I was stirred to new levels of personal growth by the advice of Mother Aud. The Rhymer and The Ravens is more than just another 'fantasy novel'. It is deeply inspiring and gives one much to ponder about belief systems. At the same time, if you are not much into deep thought, it is also very entertaining as well. I could not put it down - staying up until 2:30 am to finish it. Thank you Jodie, for your wonderful gift to us!
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Summary: A timeless story of great surprises: Life, love & adventure!
Review: I would not have even listed "historical fantasy" as a genre I enjoyed before reading this book. But once I began reading "The Rhymer and the Ravens", it went everywhere with me. Any chance I got, I hoped to get a page or two in, even if it was while waiting for the light to change! This rich story of a hero, Tomas the Rhymer, on a difficult quest while searching for the meaning of life, love, and service to others is full of finely drawn charcters. I found myself truly caring for and "knowing" characters such as the wise old woman Aud, the beautiful Elf queen Moira, the magical Pooka Aubrey, and the story's hero. This book has been loved by each person to whom I have given it as a gift, several of whom had seen the TV special "Merlin" and found themselves wanting more such adventure. Each has had the same reaction: "I can't put it down!" The only reason I could stand to finish it at all was because I knew there was a sequel!
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Summary: A timeless story of great surprises: Life, love & adventure!
Review: I would not have even listed "historical fantasy" as a genre I enjoyed before reading this book. But once I began reading "The Rhymer and the Ravens", it went everywhere with me. Any chance I got, I hoped to get a page or two in, even if it was while waiting for the light to change! This rich story of a hero, Tomas the Rhymer, on a difficult quest while searching for the meaning of life, love, and service to others is full of finely drawn charcters. I found myself truly caring for and "knowing" characters such as the wise old woman Aud, the beautiful Elf queen Moira, the magical Pooka Aubrey, and the story's hero. This book has been loved by each person to whom I have given it as a gift, several of whom had seen the TV special "Merlin" and found themselves wanting more such adventure. Each has had the same reaction: "I can't put it down!" The only reason I could stand to finish it at all was because I knew there was a sequel!
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Summary: Great Mythology, But a Storie that drags on.
Review: If you like Norse Mythology and if you enjoy reading historical fiction pick this book up and don't put it down. The elves in the book were wonderfully well developed as well as Tomas the Rymer, and even the other characters. For these reasons I continued to read one of the slowest and most boring stories ever!!!! Again, if you like wonderfully developed charicters and historically acurate and depictate peoples and mytholoagy the go for it, but for a 50+ chapter book, even small chapters, the story drags and could be sumed up in about half the chapters.
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Summary: Thought and Memory
Review: Jodie Forrest's historical fantasy 'The Rhymer and the Ravens' is a story every bit as rich and unpredictable as the real world. Tomas the Rhymer is half-Welsh, half-Norse-a man with no true home or people. When Tomas accepts the gift of prophecy from a mysterious woman, he discovers that his new ability is twined with the curse of honesty. Tomas cannot lie. He soon finds himself trapped in a world of competing gods, none of whom he can adequately serve. To reclaim his fate from those who would manipulate him, Tomas is forced to join the god of deception. As twisted machinations unfold about Tomas, the worlds of gods and humans are irrevocably changed.
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Summary: Wonderfully entertaining
Review: The characters are so well defined you'd think you knew them. The blend of pure fantasy with historical accuracy kept my nose buried in the book for hours on end. I can't wait to complete the trilogy.
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Summary: This book is magic. Read it.
Review: This is a FANTASTIC book. I don't even like fantasy books, and I LOVED this book. It transported me into another time/space/reality that touches deep truths rarely spoken of in our "normal reality." It feels to me that the writing of this book was inspired by a higher purpose than perhaps even the author consciously intended. I HIGHLY recommend this book. L. Martin
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