Rating: 
Summary: Great worldbuilding.
Review: "King's Peace", Jo Walton's first novel, is well planned and well written. Its an obviously fictional world that's large and intricate and put together with considerable foresight and thoughtfulness. Some reviewers have gone so far as to complain that "King's Peace" is just another rehash of the King Arthur stories. It isn't. Not even close. There are similarities, some of them strong, but it's only enough to flavor the story, not enough to make it in any way seem trite, unoriginal, or lazy.
Rating: 
Summary: Well worth picking up
Review: 'Another Arthurian retelling? You're kidding, right? What on earth can be left to be said?' Apparantly, quite a lot. A gritty, realistic retelling of what it would have been like for one of the grunts in Urdo's campaign to unite Britain against its common foes. This is what Whyte is trying to do (and failing, IMO). Sulien's sometimes limited pov controls what we find out about the events that unfold, and colours the story. Focusing on a non-major character as well as the subtle differences between our world and the one this story takes place in (shades of Kay's _Fionavar Tapestry_ here) remove the certainty of outcome and instill real suspense into one of the most often retold stories in history. The character of Sulien is one that provokes strong sympathy and identification - you get drawn into her life and emotions extremely vividly, although the author does not fall into the trap of clothing twentieth-century characters and viewpoints in 6th century garb. An impressive debut, and I look forward to _The King's Name_ (October, 2001) with real anticipation.
Rating: 
Summary: Starts well, quickly declines to a muddy slog
Review: A frustrating book because there were a couple of points in the story that were really written well but these points were largely exceptions. This book begins with fast-paced, vivid action and brilliant detail but soon becomes a slog through mud. After the first 10 pages or so the plot is moved along mostly through characters telling each other what has been happening or otherwise expressing opinions matter-of-factly about the kingdom, the king, and who he should marry. This makes for bone-dry reading. Also, startling events come and go casually. For example, the main character finds the high queen at her abode, the high queen tries to kill her with magic thoughts, but the character is saved by a god, and she proceeds to steal the queen's horse and flee. This occurs in a couple of pages and we hear nothing about the repercussions or meaning of this bizarre exchange for 50+ pages. This may have been explained later (I didn't make it past page 125) but I would think the character would at least comment sooner with something along the lines of "Boy, that was close, hope she is not coming after me to kill me!". Similarly, combat scenes are few and those are barren of detail. A calvary charge might "break" a line of men and then the men "re-close" the line. The battle is over in a page and then page after page is spent with characters' hypothesizing about the political machinery of the kingdom. Author unfortunately relies upon what appears to be the current stock fantasy novel manner of describing interpersonal interactions. Characters have cartoonish mannerisms such as always inclining their heads to each other, raising an eyebrow or two when they have a question, and they shudder and shiver whenever they think of something bad. I can imagine these things happening...but all the time? So what's a better read and similar? Try Bernard Cornwell's Arthurian series, or Parke Godwin's Fire Lord and Beloved Exile, or Mary Gentle's "Ash" books.
Rating:
Summary: Not Good
Review: I did not particularly like this book. In fact it is the only book that i have ever put down. First of all I like romance in boks that I read and the fact that there wasn't any romance disappointed me. I could have gotten over that if there was some kind of friendly relationship, friends, family, somebody that she was close to (besides Garrah). It seemed to me that everybody that she became friends with died and when she did have a firendly relationship with somebody, Ms. Walton did not go into enough detail for me to care what actually happened to that character. I think that my main motivation for not wanting to conyimue reading this book was that i didn't care what happened, whicyh is very bad when reading any knid of book. In short I did not think that this book was worth reading, and I'm sorry if I gave away any of the story to those who are deciding whether to buy this book or not. I hope that I was helpful.
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling! To Say the Least.
Review: I don't write reviews often, but I just had to review The King's Peace because it's an especially wonderful book. The story captivated me and the characters seemed so real. Being a slow reader, it took me a while to read this book, but I'm glad because I got to enjoy it that much longer. One thing I have to mention. While reading this book about a peace-seeking people struggling for peace, I couldn't help but think of our own country ...and how we're now fighting for peace.... As Sulien quotes King Urdo on page 150, "...we need strong walls and strong hearts both...." Don't wait to read this fascinating book! Hit the 1-Click button and in a few days you can experience this extraordinary novel written by a very gifted author.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Surprise
Review: I had heard a number of good things about this book. People who "don't read fantasy" were said to like it. Then I saw it in the store and thought, gee, another brass-armored chick book. Well, it's not just another brass-armored chick book. It's wonderful! (And the chick in armor on the cover is wearing something that might pass for usable armor, too.) The reader must remember that the tale doesn't pretend to be straight history--it's fantasy. Even so, the fantasy world is well-researched and well-constructed and the story won't let go. I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing Debut That Remains Stillborn
Review: I had looked forward to this book since I first heard about it in May. The buzz prior to publication was that this was something special, born out by some of the comments contained on the dustjacket: "'The King's Peace' is the novel that the 'Mists of Avalon' should have been (Debra Doyle)," and "Head and shoulders and sword-arm above most fantasy (Ken Macleod)." In response to the first statement, all I can wonder is why Debra Doyle, a fantasy writer, should have wanted a work like this as substitution, as it lacks both the magic and vibrancy of the earlier work, nor comes close to other renderings of the Arthurian legend, such as T.H. White's "The Once and Future King," or Nikolai Tolstoy's "The Coming of the King." As far as Ken Macleod's recommendation, I am left to wonder what fantasy he's been reading, as well as question what I have to look forward to when I begin to read his acclaimed science fiction series, which I just purchased based upon similar praise. I can only hope he writes better than Ms. Walton. This book reads in many ways as a chronicle, not unlike some of the works written in the 11th thru 14th century to recount the events of the period and those preceding. This is perhaps intentional on the part of the author, but if so, severely limits her prose to an episodic unfolding of events that remains for the most part rather lifeless and stiff. There are very few dramatic moments here, and a great amount of exposition. The majority of the characters remain flat, and the choice of first person point of view does little to expand upon our knowledge and understanding of many of the secondary characters. Loosely based upon the legends surrounding Arthur, the author takes great pains to recreate the possible society of the period, the evolving role of the nascent Church, the conflicts between an older culture and an emerging society based upon law and tolerance, as well as the remnants left by the earlier conquest of Rome, here referred to as the Vincans. I must assume that it is these elements that Ms. Dobyns refers to admiringly in her comments. However, even here the author falters in her presentation, attributing part of the Arthurian-styled king's success to the development and military discipline of the ala, and their use of the massed charge with spears (read lances couched). There is no evidence for this practice during the time the legendary Arthur may have lived; indeed it did not become a factor, as John France has so convincingly argued in "Western Warfare in the Age of the Crusades," until at the earliest the First Crusade, and was not a common practice until the 14th century, almost a thousand years after the first mention of any figure upon which the Arthurian legend may be based. Normally, within the context of fantasy, I would not make historical accuracy an argument. But as the author has gone to great lengths to purportedly recreate the historical age of Arthur, and as this characteristic is debatably the only element that sets the novel apart from other contemporary renditions of Arthurian legend, her inaccuracy here undermines the work's only arguable strength. Aside from the rather plodding account of events that organizes and defines the tone of this work, the style of writing itself is inelegant and at times awkward composed and unclear. The publisher, Tor, has done the author a disservice, as there is little evidence of copy editing, which would have done much to clarify the structure of the sentences, as well as perhaps added some concision. And, just as the story begins to show signs of dramatic action and secondary character development, as in the case of Conal, the book awkwardly and abruptly concludes, the alacrity of its ending demanding that resolution will have to await successive volumes. I, for one, will not be in any rush to read the next book. Despite the effort to recapture the period of 6th century England, this book does not have enough strengths in storytelling, characterization, or writing skill to recommend it. There is far too much exposition and accounting of events for the creation of dramatic tension, and I was never able to become fully engaged with the story. This is a shame, as the premise has so much potential, and other authors continue to mine the Arthurian legend successfully. The author has a ways to go before she can make any similar claim.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing and Empowering to Women
Review: I happen to adore strong women warrior tales and this book is one that truly satisfies with Sulien ap Gwien as a tough as nails, trustworthy as sunlight and unquestioningly loyal soldier in the king's army. The story reflects a P.O.V. that has been lost in other testosterone laden yarns of Arthurian mythology where women are polarized into dimwitted servants or charwomen, fragile little darlings, perfumed ladies of the night, tavern girls as rape bait or as witches. Sulien is none of the above. I don't agree with the negative reviews that this tale is unoriginal and boring. It is neither. It is, in fact, quite empowering to women and, refreshingly, not a rerun of the psuedomythology of Arthurian Britian that permeates too many other books that claim "scholarly credentials". Does anyone truly "know" whether Arthur really lived, that Merlin, Camelot, etc. were in fact a reality rather than a compilation of many kings, many wars or merely a figment of the overheated mind of a bard whose livelihood depended upon such masterful tales? Gossip always improves especially when fuled by copious amounts of mead and ale. The story matters and Jo Walton does an excellent job creating a believable reality with all the rawness of those allegedly barbaric times. We don't really know, we weren't there, so why not relax, be entertained with a well written novel. Who cares if it is "historically accurate" or not. The characters remain in the memory, the vicarious thrills for women readers is quite a lot of fun to relive "as if" in one's imagination and, in the end,isn't that all that counts in engaging fiction? I liked the book a lot and look forward to the sequel.
Rating:
Summary: You want this book
Review: I have been saying "You want this book" to everyone I know who might possibly be able to come close to it, and I do mean it. A world almost but not quite ours, a sense of magic that underlies that world and is as real within it as its air and its gods, a story spanning the great events of its world without seeming grandiose, real, present characters whose dialogue is a delight to read, occasionally out loud to anyone who will stay still long enough to hear out those sentences. Not only a captivating story, with real people to it, but one with depths of meaning that echo off things I knew, things I almost remember, and leaving me with places where I know that if I knew a little more about this myth, that branch of philosophy, or the other nuance of history, whole new nuances would Unfold to me like a revelation from the gods. You want this book. Even if you didn't know you wanted this book, you want it.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointed in indiana
Review: I have never reviewed a book before but this one I couldn't pass up. This was not only the worst fantasy I've ever read it's the worst book period. I couldn't get to know any of the characters and the story line kept jumping from one thought to another. I've read some of the other reviews and peaple either loved it or hated it. I love fantasy and have read it for 30 years. I don't know if I will ever read Jo Walton again...
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