Rating: 
Summary: It could have been so much better!
Review: It started out very good, but I think the best way to describe this book is a rough draft, a skeleton for a much better epic. I loved the actual plot, but everything was very obvious, naked almost, because there was nothing else EXCEPT the basic plot. Nothing on how the girls at Midnight Mother's lived, nothing on her friendships--only Dilara's, as a plot device, seems to be important--nothing on her life at college, nothing on her life at Seven Springs--not even a HINT of the fighting styles she used, what weapons they used, anything that wouldjust keep us interested! It was just a bare plot, bereft of anything that could truly make the plot twist. It was so obvious in fact that all of the major plot twists in the story, save one, are predictable.It's almost sad, too, because the plot is very good and would have been very interesting. This could have been an epic, such as The Light Bearer or Kushiel's Dart, but reduced to an almost childlike rough draft.
Rating: 
Summary: beautifully written novel
Review: No spoiling the story here! This novel is excellent. It is not only well written, it is also exciting and rich in its details. For the first half of the book, I was able to savor it slowly, absorbing information as it was given, and tantalized by the hints that all was not as it seemed (as the book is narrated by a future Lale who knows the true meaning of things). The second half of the book I read a breakneck speed as all the things that had been hinted at and suggested began to make sense, and the pace of events sped faster and faster. It was a great sweeping ending all the more so for the depth of the development that had preceded it. I would have liked a map, and at times was tempted to try and draw my own to keep the different countries/provinces straight, but otherwise an excellent book. This is a book that would be appropriate for an advanced younger teen reader or mid-teens and beyond, there is violence, scary monsters, and no explicit sexual scenes.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book!
Review: The Assassins of Tamurin is a fantasy novel about politics and love. More than twenty-four centuries ago, the "Durdana came in ships from a snowy land far across the sea and sailed far up the Pearl River until we found the place appointed for us ... There we built our first villages in what was to become ... our realm, Durdane." Thirteen centuries ago, the Founder established the chief city, Seyhan the Luminous. Then, a century ago, the Exiles came through Jugen Pass, fought for a warring Emperor, and then turned against him to conquer half of Durdana. The remainder is split into an imperial successor state, Bethiya, and ten Despotates. When the leader of the Exiles died, the conquered part of Durdana is divided into six Exile kingdoms. Bethiya is ruled by the Sun Lords. Several years previously, the two great bloodlines in Bethiya, the Danjians and the Tanyelis, fought at the Water Terrace of the Sun Lord's palace and killed off most of the males in both families. The Chancellor at that time, Halis Geray, persuaded the Council of Ministers to select someone from another bloodline as Sun Lord. Terem Rathai was choosen because he was from a distinguished military family which had dwindled to a very few; in order to reduce favoritism, one condition for receiving the throne was that all his relatives, except his mother, would be banned from Kurjain, the capital city. In this novel, Lale is an eleven year old orphaned girl living with foster parents in Riversong, a small village at the end of the road. One day, she is sent with the communal sewing needles to the Bee Goddess's priestess, but loses them crossing a creek. When she returns, she is almost killed by her foster parents and neighbors before the village priest can stop the beating. They sentence her to Negation -- i.e., everyone acts as if she does not exist -- but food and water is left out for her use. At first she enjoys the rest and freedom, but later she begins to feel lonely and disassociated from village life and realizes that she must leave or die. She announces her intentions and needs to the village and they just happen to leave a few supplies lying around for her to take. On the road to elsewhere, she briefly encounters Master Lim, who is a traveling bard, and renews their acquaintance, but he is killed by bandits. After they steal almost everything and leave, she lays out Master Lim and continues on her way. She soon meets a party of soldiers escorting a woman and three girls. The woman is Makina Seval, the Despotana of Tamurin, and she invites Lale to join her school for orphans in Chiran. There the Despotana adopts her, gives her the surname Navari, and assigns her a birthday, as she has done for each orphan in the school. Moreover, she assigns a tutor to teach her to read and then places her in classes. Part of her training has been the history of Durdana, taught by the Despotana, with emphasis on the death of the Despotana's child at the Water Terrace. She explains to the girls that the wicked Chancellor encouraged the evil Tanyelis to butcher her husband's family and her child, the future Sun Lord. She also points out that the current Sun Lord is a usurper. She encourages them to hate the Chancellor and the current Sun Lord, but ensures that they will never to tell anyone else how she and they feel. Six years later, Lale completes her schooling and, even though exempted as a girl, takes the Universal Examination, on which she does very well. After the school completion ceremony, the Despotana gives each girl a choice of careers, but Lale has to choose between apprenticing with the Tradition Tutoress or serving the Moon Lady at Three Springs. Moreover, she cannot remain with her best friend, Dilara, if she studies to replace the Tradition Tutoress. Both resignly choose Three Springs, but find out after they arrive that it is really a school for spies and assassins. After years of training at Three Springs, Lale is sent to Master Luasin's acting school in Istana. Months later, Lale travels as an apprentice with the Elder Company to Kurjain, where she has been ordered to gain the attention of the Sun Lord. She closely resembles his newly dead wife, so she makes the resemblance a matter of general gossip. Terem sends for her after hearing reports of her appearance. They spend a hour or two every few days just discussing a wide range of topics and gradually they fall in love. Eventually she becomes his Inamorata, less than a wife and more that a mistress. In their discussions, Terem describes his plans to restore the former lands and unity of the old Empire. With her training in political affairs, she realizes that he may be the only one who can accomplish this and, without such unity, Durdana is doomed to either fade away or fall to the Exile kingdoms. Her love for her homeland is conflicting with her love for the Despotana. Then she discovers who her family had been. This novel strongly resembles a classical Chinese tale of the Time of Troubles and the invasion of the nomad hordes, but it also reflects the landscapes and urban scenes of Renaissance Venice and the Netherlands. It is a tale of exotic places, with strange sounding names. It is a romance that doesn't dwell upon love, yet the various loves in Lale's life -- Durdana itself, the Despotana, and Terem -- produce her turmoil of conflicting emotions. The story flows well, with most plot twists hinted well ahead of time. Even the actions of Nilang, the Despotana's sorceress, are consistent throughout the tale. The story is also filled with descriptions of sights and smells, so that the reader can easily imagine the surroundings. It is apparent that the authors are not rank amateurs at writing fantasy. I certainly hope that they continue writing in this field. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys tales of foreign climes, desperate adventures, and divided loyalties.
Rating:
Summary: Far Away Places With Strange Sounding Names
Review: The Assassins of Tamurin is a fantasy novel about politics and love. More than twenty-four centuries ago, the "Durdana came in ships from a snowy land far across the sea and sailed far up the Pearl River until we found the place appointed for us ... There we built our first villages in what was to become ... our realm, Durdane." Thirteen centuries ago, the Founder established the chief city, Seyhan the Luminous. Then, a century ago, the Exiles came through Jugen Pass, fought for a warring Emperor, and then turned against him to conquer half of Durdana. The remainder is split into an imperial successor state, Bethiya, and ten Despotates. When the leader of the Exiles died, the conquered part of Durdana is divided into six Exile kingdoms. Bethiya is ruled by the Sun Lords. Several years previously, the two great bloodlines in Bethiya, the Danjians and the Tanyelis, fought at the Water Terrace of the Sun Lord's palace and killed off most of the males in both families. The Chancellor at that time, Halis Geray, persuaded the Council of Ministers to select someone from another bloodline as Sun Lord. Terem Rathai was choosen because he was from a distinguished military family which had dwindled to a very few; in order to reduce favoritism, one condition for receiving the throne was that all his relatives, except his mother, would be banned from Kurjain, the capital city. In this novel, Lale is an eleven year old orphaned girl living with foster parents in Riversong, a small village at the end of the road. One day, she is sent with the communal sewing needles to the Bee Goddess's priestess, but loses them crossing a creek. When she returns, she is almost killed by her foster parents and neighbors before the village priest can stop the beating. They sentence her to Negation -- i.e., everyone acts as if she does not exist -- but food and water is left out for her use. At first she enjoys the rest and freedom, but later she begins to feel lonely and disassociated from village life and realizes that she must leave or die. She announces her intentions and needs to the village and they just happen to leave a few supplies lying around for her to take. On the road to elsewhere, she briefly encounters Master Lim, who is a traveling bard, and renews their acquaintance, but he is killed by bandits. After they steal almost everything and leave, she lays out Master Lim and continues on her way. She soon meets a party of soldiers escorting a woman and three girls. The woman is Makina Seval, the Despotana of Tamurin, and she invites Lale to join her school for orphans in Chiran. There the Despotana adopts her, gives her the surname Navari, and assigns her a birthday, as she has done for each orphan in the school. Moreover, she assigns a tutor to teach her to read and then places her in classes. Part of her training has been the history of Durdana, taught by the Despotana, with emphasis on the death of the Despotana's child at the Water Terrace. She explains to the girls that the wicked Chancellor encouraged the evil Tanyelis to butcher her husband's family and her child, the future Sun Lord. She also points out that the current Sun Lord is a usurper. She encourages them to hate the Chancellor and the current Sun Lord, but ensures that they will never to tell anyone else how she and they feel. Six years later, Lale completes her schooling and, even though exempted as a girl, takes the Universal Examination, on which she does very well. After the school completion ceremony, the Despotana gives each girl a choice of careers, but Lale has to choose between apprenticing with the Tradition Tutoress or serving the Moon Lady at Three Springs. Moreover, she cannot remain with her best friend, Dilara, if she studies to replace the Tradition Tutoress. Both resignly choose Three Springs, but find out after they arrive that it is really a school for spies and assassins. After years of training at Three Springs, Lale is sent to Master Luasin's acting school in Istana. Months later, Lale travels as an apprentice with the Elder Company to Kurjain, where she has been ordered to gain the attention of the Sun Lord. She closely resembles his newly dead wife, so she makes the resemblance a matter of general gossip. Terem sends for her after hearing reports of her appearance. They spend a hour or two every few days just discussing a wide range of topics and gradually they fall in love. Eventually she becomes his Inamorata, less than a wife and more that a mistress. In their discussions, Terem describes his plans to restore the former lands and unity of the old Empire. With her training in political affairs, she realizes that he may be the only one who can accomplish this and, without such unity, Durdana is doomed to either fade away or fall to the Exile kingdoms. Her love for her homeland is conflicting with her love for the Despotana. Then she discovers who her family had been. This novel strongly resembles a classical Chinese tale of the Time of Troubles and the invasion of the nomad hordes, but it also reflects the landscapes and urban scenes of Renaissance Venice and the Netherlands. It is a tale of exotic places, with strange sounding names. It is a romance that doesn't dwell upon love, yet the various loves in Lale's life -- Durdana itself, the Despotana, and Terem -- produce her turmoil of conflicting emotions. The story flows well, with most plot twists hinted well ahead of time. Even the actions of Nilang, the Despotana's sorceress, are consistent throughout the tale. The story is also filled with descriptions of sights and smells, so that the reader can easily imagine the surroundings. It is apparent that the authors are not rank amateurs at writing fantasy. I certainly hope that they continue writing in this field. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys tales of foreign climes, desperate adventures, and divided loyalties.
Rating: 
Summary: A very enjoyable read, but......
Review: The heroine in this book is caught in a plot and vise like grip of destiny (albeit planned by human hands) that rivals any of the Greek and Shakespearian characters. The author laid the ground work and created an atmosphere of impending doom with skill and leads the reader along with the heroine relentlessly into an abyss from where there seemed to be no scape. Unfortunately, at least in this reader's opinion, that's the point where this story and the Greek tragedies parted ways.
I'm sure the way this particular plot was concluded will satisfy most readers, because in many sense, it was what is expected to happen. Yet I can't help thinking that if the author had concluded the story in the path and spirit of the classic tragedies, this perhaps could have been a great book, instead of just a good one. Having said that, I would like to emphasize that I still enjoyed the book immensely.
Rating:
Summary: taut, exciting, and well written epic fantasy
Review: The Riversong villagers assign the lowest lowlife eleven-year old urchin Lale to deliver the golden needles to the princess because no one else is available. The child loses her package while crossing the dangerous Hatch Creek ford. Already considered worthless, the villagers drive the lass away. After a harrowing trek, Lale finds refuge with the "Midnight Mother", Makina, the ruler of Tamurin. Makina sends her latest "daughter" to the School of Serene Repose. Six years later, Lale attends the School of Three Rivers for ninja training. A few years later, Makina believes Lale is ready to begin her plan of vengeance on the neighboring ruler Terem Rathai. Lale enters Terem's land Bethiya as an actress. Terem notices her and Lale is quickly becomes his mistress. Lale finds Terem is an enlightened kind monarch and begins to fall in love with him. However, if she changes loyalty, she dies a nasty death by sorcery while as a war fought on two fronts (mundane and magic) is imminent. THE ASSASSINS OF TAMURIN is a taut, exciting, and well written epic fantasy that works on several levels because the countries seem so authentic as if magic existed in Ancient Asia. This occurs because the characters whether they are peasant villagers or evil or benign monarchs provide a realistic social environment for the plot, especially the fantasy elements to perch. The first person account by Lale that later becomes a dialogue with Terem enables the audience to understand the key characters. Though the ending seems to rapidly short, this novel towers over much of what the genre offers. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Not what it could be
Review: This could have been a really good book, but it just dos not make it. The book is narrated by, Lale a foundling girl. She starts out telling how she left the village in witch she grew up in and how "Mother" adopts her, taking her to a school for orphaned girls. Some of the problem with this book is that there is not that much on any of the others characters, making them kind of flat and lifeless. Lale herself is rather a good character, with a great deal of devotion. She is also able to see reality. The plot was not vary elaborate, but it had some interesting twists to it. If you like fantasy and what to read a fairly interesting book, I would recommend it. It will never be one of my favorites though.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging and Enthralling!
Review: This is not your typical fantasy book. There are no elves or dragons, lost heirs to a throne, or magical artifacts. Here is a thrilling tale about a spy who journeys deep into enemy territory and discovers that the world may not be as she first believed. As a reader you are pulled along on her adventure, sharing in her covert discoveries, hard-won triumphs, and puzzling revelations. You thrill along with her at the fear of discovery, and speculate as she does on her dawning new awakening. The author has her character speak in a first person narrative which very effectively draws the reader in and makes you feel like you are sharing in the secrets and discoveries that she imparts as the tale unfolds. There is a certain amount of foreshadowing and implied doom which builds suspense and makes this book a real page-turner. Lale is a likeable, believable character - blunt, brave, and sometimes arrogant, but never once does she come across as stereotypical or contrived like some "strong" heroines can. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and consider it a definite keeper on my bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging and Enthralling!
Review: This is not your typical fantasy book. There are no elves or dragons, lost heirs to a throne, or magical artifacts. Here is a thrilling tale about a spy who journeys deep into enemy territory and discovers that the world may not be as she first believed. As a reader you are pulled along on her adventure, sharing in her covert discoveries, hard-won triumphs, and puzzling revelations. You thrill along with her at the fear of discovery, and speculate as she does on her dawning new awakening. The author has her character speak in a first person narrative which very effectively draws the reader in and makes you feel like you are sharing in the secrets and discoveries that she imparts as the tale unfolds. There is a certain amount of foreshadowing and implied doom which builds suspense and makes this book a real page-turner. Lale is a likeable, believable character - blunt, brave, and sometimes arrogant, but never once does she come across as stereotypical or contrived like some "strong" heroines can. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and consider it a definite keeper on my bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: Put the book back on the shelf
Review: When the autho ir using an alias to publish a book, that's usually a bad sign.
The main plot point of a hidden assassin/sly school for young girls could have been made much more interesting, or even more campy. But it's just dull, there's no challenges or struggles at the school, it's just the first 100 pages of backstory.
This book is little more than a travelogue, alwys events are happening yet there's very little reflection or introspection by the characters. Things just happen. Pages are given to boring history details, and political plotting.
I skipped 200 pages of this book just to the ending and didn't miss a beat. Especially since the main character mentions what's going on every four or five pgaes.
I'm glad I'm done with it.
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