Covenants

Rating:
Summary: Covenants
Review: I'm surprised to see this new novel does not have dozens of reviews. Freeman does a wonderful job of characterization. As stated before in previous reviews, each character is well rounded and interesting (evil, as well as the good guys). It was hard for me to pick up this book in the first place since the front cover was a turn off for me. It reminded me of Planet of the Apes; only with mountain lions. I am so not into Planet of the Apes, but now that I've finished it I regret not reading it sooner.

The story is about a young soldier (like a foot soldier) named Rabbit (human) who while out lost with his troop meets up with Laurel (the human form mountain lion-a magical being). After making a convenant with Laurel to save his troop, Laurel returns with the troop to speak with the commander to ask for protection to visit the king with a serious problem from his land.

The conflicts:
1. Humans hate, fear, and in some cases--don't believe in magical beings. Therefore it is dangerous for Laurel to be out on his own.
2. Possible war is on the horizon. Since Laurel want's to speak to the king about the murder of several other magical beings (including sprites, unicorns, dragons, and other Faena like himself.)
3. Several people are trying to take over the kingdom
4. Humans are turning. You'll have to read to find out into what.

The action is fast paced and the 548 page book is very difficult to put down. Happy reading!

Rating:
Summary: AMAZING polish for a FIRST novel.
Review: If I had any Idea how good this was it would have been read as soon as I got my hands on it. I like to try novels from first time authors, and ROC is wise enough to publish them in paperback so you can afford to try books by their new authors. So when I saw this on the shelves I picked it up and put it onto my pile of first time writers to be read when I had finished off some books by favorite authors. And there it sat until last weekend.

Once I started I was drawn into the charaters, the world the author has created and the story she has spun and pulled along until I had finished the book. All these parts were so polished that it is still hard to believe that ( as far as I know) this is a first novel. One of the real strengths is that the central character - Rabbit - is surrounded by such interesting/strong characters that it is more as if the story revolves around him than that he is the "hero".

So if you are looking for a Fantasy read, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. And know that when the next Borderlands novel comes out ( we are promised the author is working on that), that it will be going straight to the top of my "To Read List".

Rating:
Summary: This book was not what I expected...
Review: It is so much more, which is wonderful!

From start to finish it was like watching a flower bloom. I uncovered layer upon layer of new details and plot turns and knowledge about the characters involved in this wonderful tale. I laughed AND I cried AND I was SURPRISED by plot turns (this does not happen often). The world is rich, the characters tangible and the story beautiful and satisfying. For a 'first book' this is remarkable and I am very much looking forward to Lorna Freeman's next journey into the Borderlands. Waiting, ready to POUNCE! I would so love to be translated. (You'll have to read it to know what I mean by THAT ;)

Rating:
Summary: delightful and enthralling fantasy
Review: Once the magicals (sprites, dragons, fairies, etc.) lived in Iversterre until the humans pushed them into the Borderlands. When the humans encroached upon the Border and committed crimes against its inhabitants, the magicals soundly defeated them in a war. The peace treaty was signed and the magicals receded into legend until a Faena, a sentient mountain cat, makes contact with the horse soldier Rabbit, lost with his troops in the mountains. Rabbit enters into a covenant with the Faena.

The Faena Laurel desires a meeting with the Iversterre King in the hopes of avoiding another war between the Borderlands and the humans. Smugglers and slaves are kidnapping or killing the magicals and smuggling their remains into Iversterre. The Faena chose Rabbit to play a role in the upcoming events because he has lived in the Borderlands for much of his life and is related to the king. Once it is discovered that all of Laurel's claims are true, the king, when not putting down a coup or dealing with evil sorcerers, comes to terms with the Faena. They return to the Borderlands hoping to forge a permanent peace, but first must deal with treachery from within their own ranks.

In addition to all his other roles, Rabbit is a mage who has just come into his powers and he uses them to stop the king's enemies and to battle with a sorcerer who is determined to see his mission fail. Readers will adore this fascinating hero who just wants to be an ordinary foot soldier but is thrust by fate into being the savior of two realms. COVENANTS is a delightful and enthralling fantasy written by an author who excels at world building.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Fast-Paced & Deep
Review: Rabbit doesn't seem the sort to have great adventures--and in fact, he doesn't really want them. He doesn't want to be a mage of amazing strength, or related to the king of Iversterre, or even noticed at all. But when he tries to blend into the Iversterre army, the Border where he grew up comes back to haunt him--literally. The spirits of Borderfolk murdered by "poachers" from Iversterre choose Rabbit to avenge them, and events beyond his control make him the Borderlands ambassador to Iversterre -- and the target of assassins.

This story is fast-paced fantasy adventure liberally sprinkled with humor. It's also a subtle examination of fear and racism, the backlash of conquering a country. When Rabbit confronts conspiracies and counter-conspiracies, he must decide who he can trust, and where his own loyalty lies.

Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: This is the best fantasy novel I've read in years: interesting, unpredictable, fast paced & enjoyable. "Covenants" is written from a single point of view -- I abhor books that try to compensate for a weak plot by switching viewpoints. I would have been happy to pay hardcover prices for this book.


Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!!!
Review: This is, without a doubt, one of the best fantasy novels I've read in quite some time. The action and suspense are once it starts almost nonstop and makes the book almost impossible to put down. And reading how a young man named ,Rabbit, may be the most powerful mage in an entire kingdom will be highly entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This novel kept me up till 6 AM in the morning (granted I am a colledge studen, but still it was a good book). If you enjoy the more fey types of magic with a well thought out world I recommend this novel to you. I personaly cant wait till the next novel in the series.

Rating:
Summary: awesome! simply awesome!
Review: This was an amazing fantasy novel. I just loved it. slow in parts but a wonderful moving story, a little jarring because of some of the modern jargon and modern games mentioned in the novel that for me kind of took me out of her realm of fantasy, but not too badly, it was still very believeable. It was a marvelous read. I wish the sequel was already written and here on the book shelves. No worries about a premature ending on this baby, it is totally finished story but it still leaves me craving more more more. Book two, get here soon!

Rating:
Summary: I can't believe I let this sit on my shelf for so long!
Review: Wow. I loved this book. I stayed up till 2 a.m. to finish it, and then I picked it up again the next day to reread bits of it. I expect that this will be a book that I reread often, and discover more bits that I missed the previous times. I went to the bookstore the following day and said to everybody, "Have you read this? It's great!"

The protagonist is not too smart, not too stupid, and "not too naive". Great secondary characters that I wanted to know more about. Villains who look like good guys, good guys who are flawed, and extremely interesting non-humans.

I don't normally enjoy books that are written in the first person, but like the Amelia Peabody mysteries by Elizabeth Peters, the character reveals himself in a way that third person narration would not, and that makes it even more enjoyable.

The author leaves some subtle, (and some not-so-subtle) loose ends, without leaving you dangling on a horrendous cliff-hanger. I _really_ want to read the next one though. If you like the works of Patrica Bray or Wen Spencer, you will probably like this book.