Rating: 
Summary: An interesting read
Review: I had not read any other JV Jones books when I settled down to this title. I found that the pace of the story kept me involved and I finished the book within two days.The plot involves the use of illuminated manuscripts as a form of magic - something that I must admit I've never encountered elsewhere ! and had a darkly moody hero, a transplanted heroine and a whole collection of unpleasant bad guys.
Rating:
Summary: Fun book but with cliched characters.
Review: I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It kept me interested and going. It explored a new form of magic. I had as of yet to see drawing as an active form of magic. We have read books were drawing was used for binding or warding or gaurding, but to see it used to manipulate and controll in real time was refreshing. The story is your basic high fantasy with the cross world twist. (Someday I would love to read that cross over where the characters actually want to get back) Where a wall flower with a disability moves to a magical realm where she is powerful beautiful and everything else. Complete with her knight in shining armour or in this case black leather. As a result you know the ending and are not expecting any great earth shattering revalations about looking at our society. The story was good and i would recommend it to anyone. But it is predictable with basic fantasy characters and a very distinct sense of black and white. So kick back sip hot cocoa pet you cat and read this book. If you want to look at our world differently then find another writer who will paint interesting perspecitives.
Rating:
Summary: A Diverting If Overlong Fantasy Adventure
Review: Despite other reviews posted here, I didn't think this book was all that bad. It is certainly not overwhelming in its brilliancy, but it's not hideously bad either. Basically, this is a competent and average work of fantasy. I found the use of illuminations as a conduit for magic to be truly fascinating and a very clever idea. As for Tessa's hasty acceptance of her transition from her world to another, I actually appreciated this. Nothing bores me more than page after page of a transplanted character in such situations droning on about "This isn't happening to me" and "I can't believe this, I must be dreaming" etc. etc. Zzzzzzzzzzzz.... It is true, however, that this novel could have had a couple of hundred pages shaved off it in the course of editing , but over-all this work isn't half bad. An interesting and diverting read.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but...
Review: I liked the idea of linking our world with a fantasy world, and I think the book started out pretty good. But as I read on, it struck me that the heroes were almost immortal, considering how much damage they recieved. They could have beaten the 'harras' themselves, it seemed, and that annoyed me a little bit. The story is good, though, so the book falls just short of a four star rating.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment plus!
Review: After having read The Book of Words trilogy and A Cavern of Black Ice, I could not wait for the next installment, so I enthusiastically picked up The Barbed Coil, expecting the high level of wit and action as displayed in J.V Jones first trilogy and A Cavern of Black Ice, which was a masterpiece. However I was bitterly disappointed! The character of Tessa does not invoke intrigue or sympathy, and doesn't compare to previous brilliant J.V Jones characters such as Jack, Raif, Melliandra etc. Tessa's transition from her world to that of Bay'Zell is lethargically explained, with Tessa simply accepting this transition, without so much as a second glance back. The story meanders along providing the reader with little interest. However, I willed myself through the book, promising myself that it would get better! It didn't!
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book
Review: This is the first book of this Author which I have read and I must say her book was quite interesting. She showed us the ugly side of war and how it changes the lives of the people involved. The description of the war is quite vivid. The power of the art is also shown here with the use of pigments. This book is a great read.
Rating:
Summary: A very big disappointment
Review: I was really prepared to enjoy The Barbed Coil. I kept an open mind through the opening sequences which used the trite, overdone and lazy technique of transporting a character from the "real" world to one of the author's making, because I thought she might be able to carry off something unique with the paranoid obsessive-compulsive Tessa. Instead, Tessa, who is described as wearing a sweater on a hot day because she "felt too exposed with just a single layer..." adapts with astonishing ease to a world of filth, crime, magic and danger. That lack of consistency really bothered me. The method and reason for her transportation is only touched upon lightly and never really explored, either. The stock characters do their stock character things, nobody important gets killed off despite the *astonishing* amounts of damage they take, and the illuminations concept was interesting but rather tedious to read about. I really recommend reading the Book of Words series for a MUCH better example of this excellent author in full sway, with a mad king who isn't just randomly violent and then repentent, female characters with depth, and better motivations all around.
Rating: 
Summary: J.V. Jones - a name to remember
Review: I love this book. I just love it. I think J.V. Jones is one of the most talented fantasy writers today - if not the most talented. She writes with a carefully detailed language which makes her worlds and her caracters come alive. She is not afraid to make the evil really evil, a mistake that many fantasy writers do. You do feel that her protagonists are in a struggle that means life and death. She's also very good at writing about emotions, without being too "sweet". And one important detail - she doesn't leave any threads hanging. I can't tell you how much I loved this book, as well as her "Book of Words"-trilogy. J.V. Jones is a name to remember, and if you read her books - a name you will never forget.
Rating:
Summary: Still a great book, though not as fantastic as the others
Review: I read A LOT of fantasy/sci-fi. I throughly enjoyed the Book of Words series and the last book A Cavern of Black Ice. I would rate both of those a 5 star. The Barbed Coil is still a great book but not up to what the others were. I will read whatever this author puts out. Very enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing, Good Read!
Review: This is the first book I've ever read by J.V. Jones, and I plan to buy all her others. It was suggested by a good friend of mine, and I usually take her advice, I just wish I picked it up sooner. Usually I lose interest in characters, especially if the book is too detailed, but I loved each one of them, I never wanted to skip a certain character just to read one I prefered more. I suggest this book for the people who love adventure stories with light humor. I had a hard time putting this book down just to sleep. You'll connect easily with most of the character's personalities and love each one of them, besides the obvious "villian". J.V. Jones is an extraordinary storyteller. Her writing is so vivid which brings the book to life. I hopes she keeps on writing.
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