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Rating: 
Summary: Finally! Tanya Huff's unique visions together!
Review: "Of Darkness, Light, and Fire" is a volume that, when I saw it in the bookstore, made me jump for joy. Tanya Huff is one of my favorite authors because of her unique visions of fantasy and realistic and sympathetic characters. "Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light" is a semi-contemporary (mid-'80s) fantasy set in Toronto, and it was the first Tanya Huff book I read. It explores the ideas of magic, bards, angels, and demons, while also presenting balanced views on mental retardation, homelessness, and homosexuality. Despite all this heavy baggage, it is also a lot of fun and suitable for multiple readings. "The Fire's Stone" has been out of print for a while, which is a shame. It has nothing story-wise in common with "GoD, CoL" but it is equally fun and well written. It is a more typical fantasy, set in a far away land, with a thief, a wizard, and a prince. One of my favorite parts of the book is how it deals with a three sided romantic/friendly relationship. Another is a somewhat grueling description of alcohol withdrawal and that character's ensuing fight against alcoholism. When one reads as many fantasy books as I do, and sees all of the characters swilling ale and wine left and right, it's nice to have a realistic depiction of the effects. Like "GoD, CoL," it is a well-balanced book, fun to read, sympathetic characters, and an exciting storyline. To sum up, if you like fantasy, and you especially appreciate realistic characterizations, try Tanya Huff out. In this volume, you get two great books for the price of one!
Rating: 
Summary: She can do better
Review: "Of Darkness, Light, and Fire" is a volume that, when I saw it in the bookstore, made me jump for joy. Tanya Huff is one of my favorite authors because of her unique visions of fantasy and realistic and sympathetic characters. "Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light" is a semi-contemporary (mid-'80s) fantasy set in Toronto, and it was the first Tanya Huff book I read. It explores the ideas of magic, bards, angels, and demons, while also presenting balanced views on mental retardation, homelessness, and homosexuality. Despite all this heavy baggage, it is also a lot of fun and suitable for multiple readings. "The Fire's Stone" has been out of print for a while, which is a shame. It has nothing story-wise in common with "GoD, CoL" but it is equally fun and well written. It is a more typical fantasy, set in a far away land, with a thief, a wizard, and a prince. One of my favorite parts of the book is how it deals with a three sided romantic/friendly relationship. Another is a somewhat grueling description of alcohol withdrawal and that character's ensuing fight against alcoholism. When one reads as many fantasy books as I do, and sees all of the characters swilling ale and wine left and right, it's nice to have a realistic depiction of the effects. Like "GoD, CoL," it is a well-balanced book, fun to read, sympathetic characters, and an exciting storyline. To sum up, if you like fantasy, and you especially appreciate realistic characterizations, try Tanya Huff out. In this volume, you get two great books for the price of one!
Rating:
Summary: Finally! Tanya Huff's unique visions together!
Review: "Of Darkness, Light, and Fire" is a volume that, when I saw it in the bookstore, made me jump for joy. Tanya Huff is one of my favorite authors because of her unique visions of fantasy and realistic and sympathetic characters. "Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light" is a semi-contemporary (mid-'80s) fantasy set in Toronto, and it was the first Tanya Huff book I read. It explores the ideas of magic, bards, angels, and demons, while also presenting balanced views on mental retardation, homelessness, and homosexuality. Despite all this heavy baggage, it is also a lot of fun and suitable for multiple readings. "The Fire's Stone" has been out of print for a while, which is a shame. It has nothing story-wise in common with "GoD, CoL" but it is equally fun and well written. It is a more typical fantasy, set in a far away land, with a thief, a wizard, and a prince. One of my favorite parts of the book is how it deals with a three sided romantic/friendly relationship. Another is a somewhat grueling description of alcohol withdrawal and that character's ensuing fight against alcoholism. When one reads as many fantasy books as I do, and sees all of the characters swilling ale and wine left and right, it's nice to have a realistic depiction of the effects. Like "GoD, CoL," it is a well-balanced book, fun to read, sympathetic characters, and an exciting storyline. To sum up, if you like fantasy, and you especially appreciate realistic characterizations, try Tanya Huff out. In this volume, you get two great books for the price of one!
Rating:
Summary: Explore the Nature of Love in Fantastic Worlds
Review: Of Darkness, Light & Fire by Tanya Huff Both of the full length novels were thoroughly enjoyable.
Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light is set in modern day Canada and features a bard, a witch, a wise woman, an agent of light and a flawed goddess out to save the world from darkness. In the Fire's Stone, which is set in a typical fantasy world, a thief a swordsman and a wizard set out to save a country from destruction and mayhem. While the two stories don't seem to have much in common they each feature an unconventional love story, which explores the nature of love.
They were both great stories, and once started, I couldn't put them down. It should be noted though that both stories are reprints from 1989 and 1990.
Rating:
Summary: Explore the Nature of Love in Fantastic Worlds
Review: Of Darkness, Light & Fire by Tanya Huff Both of the full length novels were thoroughly enjoyable.
Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light is set in modern day Canada and features a bard, a witch, a wise woman, an agent of light and a flawed goddess out to save the world from darkness. In the Fire's Stone, which is set in a typical fantasy world, a thief a swordsman and a wizard set out to save a country from destruction and mayhem. While the two stories don't seem to have much in common they each feature an unconventional love story, which explores the nature of love.
They were both great stories, and once started, I couldn't put them down. It should be noted though that both stories are reprints from 1989 and 1990.
Rating:
Summary: She can do better
Review: Tanya has written better books. The characters are one dimensional and the themes definitely politically correct. Vulgar language is thrown in with no apparent reason. The story is alright, but not well developed or complex. A simple read if you don't mind the language.
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