Rating: 
Summary: sorry... but It just lacks something...
Review: ...but I don't really know what...Well Jones' writes exellent, I won't argue that, and this book is also very well written, but even though it just lacks something. The barbed coil takes place in our world and a world very similar to ours, but which is more fantasy like, there is some cool rogue characters (which is my clear favorites!) and some great ideas, like magic, which is very strange and original. But it still lacks something, and I still doesn't know what... Sorry, but enjoy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Well-constructed Plot
Review: I picked this book up on a whim and was not disappointed. The plot was very tightly constructed and the main characters were fairly well developed. More importantly, the author made me care enough about her characters to want to read on. A few of the scenes were a bit too fantastic to be believed but not enough to ruin the fun. An enjoyable quick read.
Rating:
Summary: SciFi for the artist
Review: I picked up this book as another Fun read, and i wasn't disapointed. The depth that Jones goes into with the background of illumination and the relevance with the story line had me reading into the backgroung of illuminations to see fow accurate Jones was. This was a great book for the fantasy entheusiast with an intrest in medieval and celtic art.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best books I've ever read!
Review: I first read Jones' Book of Words Trilogy and truly enjoyed it. I then picked up The Barbed Coil expecting a good book. It surpassed all of my expectations! I literally could not put the book down! The characters were believable and NOT perfect like they are in so many other books. All I can say about this book is that it is WONDERFUL!!!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome, a golden find
Review: This book was incredible. Shame on all who didn't like it! Jones did an extraordinary job of keeping it action packed, but not over describing it. The characters came alive and made me feel their pain, joy, dissappointment and love. All you who gave it a three or lower are wrong. Lets see you try to write a novel even half as good. If you do, ill be there critisising it just like you did to this book. For all those who gave it good reviews, two thumbs up for you!!!!!!!!!! This was an awesome, golden find.
Rating:
Summary: hmmm I thought this book was quite good
Review: many of the reviews here seem to think that this books should have been shorter. I don't agree. Although the "action" is fairly widely spaced, the really interesting portions of this book are the ones dealing with Tessa and her abilities/magic as a scribe and illustrator. The reader discovers along with her just how far her talent can take her--and what she must sacrifice to succeed. The parallel storylines with the "villian" and his armies are also interesting--saving this book from a standard fantasy--girl saves world from flat, undeveloped villian. All in all, I felt that, although the story didn't throw up a battle a page, that the plot line itself was interesting enough to merit the 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: First time read for me
Review: I noticed that quite a few people thought this book should be shorter. Not me. I think J.V. Jones did an excellent job at devoloping the charactors and the places. I really enjoyed this book. Definitly not a run of the mill fantasy novel. I truely enjoyed the realness of these charactors. You had the chance to get to know them. I liked the story, very unique. I liked how each charactor, even the bad ones, learned to develop their strengths. All and all I think this was a great read. I had read this book in three days, not bad for it being a 700 page book.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Review: Having read about half of the reviews posted here, and several of them suggesting that this book be shortened, I have to disagree. If the same was suggested about any of the Wheel of Time books, I suppose I'd be flamed, abused etc. etc., ad infinitum. This book is a good read and I devoured it in three days. It has some very interesting concepts in it, and I think Julie Jones has done a very good job with the characters. Let's face it, Tessa and Ravis are the main POV characters and Camron/Izgard/Angeline AREN'T. How can we expect them to be as well developed as the main POV characters if that wasn't the authors OBVIOUS intent? Julie writes *believable* female characters who don't act like 12 year olds with PMS, sniffing and tugging endlessly at their braids, or are perfect goddess-like Amazons! My only adverse comments are that I would have liked to have seen Tessa say: "stuff wearing these bloody awful dresses, I'm wearing pants regardless!" and some gratuitous bonking! I look forward to a sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Concept - Terrible Development
Review: You can see from my title that I'm not overly impressed with this book. I found the concept of a person mysteriously being translated from the "real world" to J.V.Jones' fantasy world old -- it impressed me when Stephen R. Donaldson did it in the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant 23 years ago. It didn't impress me here. In this book Ms. Jones asks us to accept Tessa as our heroine. Does she (Tessa) show a noble character? No. Does she seem like she gives a darn about being caught up in the workings of this world she finds herself in? No -- but eventually as the plot mandates she does get with the program. Rather, I find her childish and stereotypically Hollywoodish in her character. At times I felt that I was reading about a catty-impish-pouting brat that Ms. Jones wanted me to embrace, to put my hopes in. No, I never bought the character. Ravis is a walking cliche. His history fails to support his personality. Cameron is also not sufficiently developed to justify the transition he undergoes throughout the novel. The Harras is interesting and the development of this type of creature is well done however. One good point Ms. Jones. The character we are to hate (I've forgotten his name -- a testament to the fact that this character was also very poorly developed) is unexplainable shallow, sadistic, and has mood swings that are mildly explained. Circumstances are amazingly & coincendentially provided for by the lackluster imagination of the author. Please don't put "just the right tool" in "just the right place" at "just the right time" especially if it is totally out of place in the world / location you place it just to justify a poorly planned world & plot. Ms. Jones repeatedly tries to develop a cheap harlequin type romance between Tessa and Ravis -- at times I nearly put the book in the trash during these chapters. Romance? I love it if written with talent. Ms. Jones lacks this talent (in this novel at least). So, bottom line: * The plot was poorly planned with numerous "coincendences" necessary to bring the novel to completion. Closure of the book should come as a logical manipulation of a believable world in the context of one living in that world. * The Characters were shallow and sterotypical. This is the worst of the taste this book left in my mouth. * The book as one other reviewer wrote is clearly far too long for the context contained therein. Perhaps 200-300 pages would be sufficient for what this book is. Will I read anything else that Ms. Jones has written? Not likely for at least 10 years. She needs to have time to develop her talent -- talent that clearly 'could' be developed if she has piers and editors that care enough about her to help her grow.
Rating:
Summary: This book is NOT too long!!!
Review: If this book was any shorter it wouldn't have the magic that captures the reader. All the characters in this book are increadibly real and unforgettable, any shorter would make them cardboard cut-outs. I doubt this story is traditional, perhaps traditional aspects still live in this story but it is twisted in many many ways, enough to keep you mystified and even surprised. But for all its twists everything flows and makes perfect sence in such a way that you can't imagine it in any other way. The villian in this story is unforgettable, unlike many of the card-board villians who don't make any sence, this villian's motives, aims and character is perfectly clear to the reader, not only that, he doesn't repeat what many villians before him has done and said. On the whole, you cannot find a better book.
| 
