Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing page-turner
Review: In my review of Fiona Patton's latest book, The Golden Sword, I concentrated on the religious aspect of her uniquely offbeat universe. In this review of the first book, while I still intend to touch on religion, I'll also look at the other important theme of Patton's work, which is gender politics.To put it bluntly ' the real Medieval period was male-centric. So was the Christianity that in large part defined it, and, so too, are the fantasy novels that draw on both. Soldiers, knights, priests, rulers, and villains tend to be male, nearly without exception. Tolkien, where all this began, has almost no female characters, let alone strong ones. I remember how surprised I was as a child to find Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown featuring, of all things, a female dragon slayer. So it's remarkably refreshing to find a historical fantasy series with strong characters of both sexes, religions that aren't patriarchal, and a society that treats bisexuality (NOT homosexuality, an important distinction!) as shockingly ordinary. In fact, there are definite, if subtle, feminine influences on this otherwise European culture. I'll just point out two here: Because the founder of the protagonist religion, the Triarchy, was female, male Triarchs go clean-shaven to honor her. In the Middle Ages, a beard was a clear indication of one's manhood (in terms both of age and gender). That's why 'to pluck one's beard' was a mortal insult. But being a man in this universe is little different than being a woman. Either can inherit, lead, fight, or wear the clerical cloth. The noble families of Branion, a (very) thinly disguised Britain, are all named for women (DeKathrine, DeSandra, etc.). In fact, it's intimated in later books that they are named for the mothers of their founders. That suggests in turn that the surname of the religion's and royal family's semi-divine founder, DeMarian, is not a coincidence, if you get my drift. You're wondering, of course, what the he[ck] all this has to do with the plot. Well, oddly enough, given the above rants, the protagonist of The Stone Prince, Demnor DeMarian, is male. However, despite being the heir to both a throne and a religion, he's in a homosexual relationship. Given that he must sometime produce an heir himself, this is not a good idea; hence the conflict. Demnor is the descendant of a semi-divine family, trained to become a god incarnate. His problem is that he's also twenty-four, in love, and trapped in an abusive relationship with his mother. Christ never had to deal with this. (That's where the religious discussion and satire come in.) Demnor's mother, the Aristok Melesandra, is a dangerous woman who takes full and calculated advantage of her power. She favors Demnor's sister Quindara, who has a similarly fiery personality. Demnor, unfortunately for him, doesn't. He's quiet, but asks too many questions, which gets him in trouble to the point that it's sometimes a mystery why Melesandra doesn't outright kill him. The main plot lies in a decidedly unconventional love triangle: Demnor is in love with his male Companion, Kelahnus, a highly paid courtesan ... bodyguard. Kelahnus loves him back, though he's expected by his guild to treat the relationship as a business transaction and an opportunity to spy on the royal family (you learn many secrets between the sheets, which is why the Companions' Guild is one of the most powerful organizations in the country). But Melesandra, who disapproves of the relationship despite having several Companions herself, pressures Demnor to marry Isolde DeKathrine, a member of the country's most influential noble family, and despite his resistance to the idea, Demnor starts to fall in love with her too. The real conflict here is that, even though the sovereign has religious and secular duties (which include marrying both for political reasons and to carry on the line), does that mean he can't have human feelings? The theme isn't just personal, but religious as well. Priests are people too, aren't they? The discussion of whether Christ was divine or human has been an issue among Christians for thousands of years; Patton's characters are a very deliberate blend of both. Interlinked with all of this is Heathland, a (also very) thinly disguised Scotland, whose inhabitants' preferred pastime is armed rebellion against Branion's authority. So there's also a lot of fighting, but unlike in 'standard' fantasy, the magic that comes along with it is divinely inspired. Branion's religion, the Triarchy, is essentially Anglicanism mixed with Celtic pagan traditions; Heathland follows Essusiatism, a Catholic analogue complete with a Pontiff who lives in Tiberia (groan). A climactic battle near the end of the book settles not only the religious/international conflict but also Demnor's internal conflict between doing his duty as a ruler and a religious icon, and being human, with human emotions and urges, at the same time. Lastly I should mention this series' rich sense of language. Patton's names manage to evoke similarity without seeming like overt copies. While it's obvious, for example, where Branion, Gwyneth and Heathland draw their cultures (and if you can't tell, there's a nice map at the front of the book), it's obvious that they have their own unique ideals that still mesh nicely into this fictional universe. Personal names are borrowed from the Greco-Roman or Celtic traditions, but there's also an internal consistency (Quindara, for example, takes after her grandfather Quinton). The Holy Triarchy is a foil for the Holy Trinity, and the country itself is named for the founder, Braniana DeMarian. My favorite, however, and a name that returns to the theme of this review, is the monarch's title of Aristok (presumably derived from 'aristocracy'). It's the one title that isn't gender-specific.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantascynating stuff!
Review: It all hinges on whether you accepts this world's dominating bisexuality - or rather, the lack of sexual discrimination in social careers and private preferences alike: lords, commanders, knights of arbitrary sex, men being jealous of other men and women alike, women eager to give birth so they can return to the battlefield. Then it becomes a fascinating experience and testing of ones own prejudices, specially with the many elaborate side characters. The centerpiece is the romantic love between Prince Demnor and his male Courtisane Kelahnus, and if Kelahnus is faithful in his love but not so much in his sexlife, as others have complained here, Demnor does not seem to mind, and I find it not so astonishing for a world in which marriage has just been legal for a hundred years. - Stripping the novel of this nice socio-sexual fantasy leaves a quite straightforward plot with very decent battle scenes. The retrospectives are inserted a little clumsily into the main storyline, but for a first novel that is alright and rather falls back on the publisher. The same holds for the often unnecessarily lengthy, plot-impeding prose and the language which is sometimes shallow. Still, a five-pointer.
Rating:
Summary: An instant favorite!!
Review: Love on first sight! I can't possibly do this book justice, it won a place on my top shelf along with all my other timless favorites (Margaret Weis, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Mickey Zucher Reichert, Melanie Rawn, Michelle West, Mercedes Lackey, Robin Hobb...). Her creation fascinated me in every way (I was expecially intrigued by her commendable social order-- specifically the female Princes!!) This was the first Patton book I read and although I've since tracked down her others, in my opinion this is far and away the best of the lot!! Highest recommendations from this satisfied fan!!
Rating:
Summary: That Which Makes Fantasy Great! (Or, In Defense of Kelahnus)
Review: Of all the fantasy books that I've read, The Stone Prince lies securely within the top 10. Deviating from almost every fantasy cliché, Fiona Patton has created a unique, incredible world that is a joy to escape to. Prince Demnor and his Companion/beloved Kelahnus live in a rich world of intertwined, sometimes backstabbing families, where men and women stand as equals. There are no ladies, princesses, duchesses or queens here. Males and females both are referred to with what we consider masculine titles. Both Demnor and his younger sister Quindara are referred to as "Prince," and Demnor's betrothed, a woman named Isolde, is referred to as Lord Isolde, Earl of Essendale. The ruler of Branion, whether male or female, is the Aristok. How refreshing, to see a world where men and women are given the same opportunities and judged by what they accomplish, not their sex! Characters are rich and elaborate, with both strengths and weaknesses focused on (and even exploited). Some readers have complained that Kelahnus "fails as a Companion," but please remember: he's only human! His key into the School of Companions was his beauty, after all, so it's no surprise that he's a bit vain. As for sleeping around, it's amazing what one can learn between the sheets, even from a simple stable boy. The fact that he can be defeated is not a mark of his worth as a Companion. Companions graduate from different classes, and just because he was at the top of his class does not mean that he's better than those at the top of other classes. Besides, his strong points are spying and the arts of pleasure, to which His Most Regal and Sacred Majesty, Demnor the Fifth, Aristok of Branion, Kormandeaux and Aquilliard, Gaspellier, Poitienne, Roland, Hereditary Earl of the Danelind Islands of Columba, Gracious Sovereign of the Triarchy, Most High Patron of the Knights of the Sword, Vessel of the Living Flame, will gladly testify! (Or, as Kelahnus calls him, Your Most Passionate Highness.) As for the titles... Well, that's their way. Personally, I don't mind them, and I love how Fiona Patton includes the names of all the different countries and clans, not just a few main regions. If you can't keep up with them, then perhaps you should read something a little simpler that doesn't require as much thought or intelligence. The sexual nature of Patton's writing is brilliant as well. Homosexuality and bisexuality are neither embraced nor condemned in the Branion series. Rather, they are simply accepted as a way of life, not raised above heterosexuality or considered improper. Most nobles have their own Companion, a person of the same sex who acts as an assassin, a spy, a bodyguard, and attends to their master's physical needs as well. Demnor and Kelahnus, his companion, just happen to be very deeply in love. And, while Demnor likes his wife, Lord Isolde, it's more as a friend and a fellow noble than as a wife and mother. They bear children together and enjoy each other's company, but Demnor's heart belongs to Kelahnus, and it's the Companion who warms the Aristok's bed at night. That's simply they way things are, and no one bats an eyelash or speaks out against it. If only our world could be so accepting! The nature of the Companion gender choice is most likely a simple one. It's impossible to get pregnant with someone of the same sex, so there is no need to worry about starting scandal if a child pops up where it shouldn't. Patton's writing is rich in detail as well. Rather than glossing over important points, she elaborates upon them, making characters (even minor ones) all the richer and more enjoyable. Some may call Patton's writing dense, but for those with the intelligence to understand language that is quite a bit above the standard fantasy drivel and sap, The Stone Prince is the first key to a beautiful, bloody, and wholly satisfying adventure.
Rating:
Summary: That Which Makes Fantasy Great! (Or, In Defense of Kelahnus)
Review: Of all the fantasy books that I've read, The Stone Prince lies securely within the top 10. Deviating from almost every fantasy cliché, Fiona Patton has created a unique, incredible world that is a joy to escape to. Prince Demnor and his Companion/beloved Kelahnus live in a rich world of intertwined, sometimes backstabbing families, where men and women stand as equals. There are no ladies, princesses, duchesses or queens here. Males and females both are referred to with what we consider masculine titles. Both Demnor and his younger sister Quindara are referred to as "Prince," and Demnor's betrothed, a woman named Isolde, is referred to as Lord Isolde, Earl of Essendale. The ruler of Branion, whether male or female, is the Aristok. How refreshing, to see a world where men and women are given the same opportunities and judged by what they accomplish, not their sex! Characters are rich and elaborate, with both strengths and weaknesses focused on (and even exploited). Some readers have complained that Kelahnus "fails as a Companion," but please remember: he's only human! His key into the School of Companions was his beauty, after all, so it's no surprise that he's a bit vain. As for sleeping around, it's amazing what one can learn between the sheets, even from a simple stable boy. The fact that he can be defeated is not a mark of his worth as a Companion. Companions graduate from different classes, and just because he was at the top of his class does not mean that he's better than those at the top of other classes. Besides, his strong points are spying and the arts of pleasure, to which His Most Regal and Sacred Majesty, Demnor the Fifth, Aristok of Branion, Kormandeaux and Aquilliard, Gaspellier, Poitienne, Roland, Hereditary Earl of the Danelind Islands of Columba, Gracious Sovereign of the Triarchy, Most High Patron of the Knights of the Sword, Vessel of the Living Flame, will gladly testify! (Or, as Kelahnus calls him, Your Most Passionate Highness.) As for the titles... Well, that's their way. Personally, I don't mind them, and I love how Fiona Patton includes the names of all the different countries and clans, not just a few main regions. If you can't keep up with them, then perhaps you should read something a little simpler that doesn't require as much thought or intelligence. The sexual nature of Patton's writing is brilliant as well. Homosexuality and bisexuality are neither embraced nor condemned in the Branion series. Rather, they are simply accepted as a way of life, not raised above heterosexuality or considered improper. Most nobles have their own Companion, a person of the same sex who acts as an assassin, a spy, a bodyguard, and attends to their master's physical needs as well. Demnor and Kelahnus, his companion, just happen to be very deeply in love. And, while Demnor likes his wife, Lord Isolde, it's more as a friend and a fellow noble than as a wife and mother. They bear children together and enjoy each other's company, but Demnor's heart belongs to Kelahnus, and it's the Companion who warms the Aristok's bed at night. That's simply they way things are, and no one bats an eyelash or speaks out against it. If only our world could be so accepting! The nature of the Companion gender choice is most likely a simple one. It's impossible to get pregnant with someone of the same sex, so there is no need to worry about starting scandal if a child pops up where it shouldn't. Patton's writing is rich in detail as well. Rather than glossing over important points, she elaborates upon them, making characters (even minor ones) all the richer and more enjoyable. Some may call Patton's writing dense, but for those with the intelligence to understand language that is quite a bit above the standard fantasy drivel and sap, The Stone Prince is the first key to a beautiful, bloody, and wholly satisfying adventure.
Rating: 
Summary: Duller than a Stone
Review: Okay, so I'll keep this review short and to the point. This book is hopelessly dull and uninspiring. I was willing to give it some time to develop, but when nothing significant had occurred by the time I'd read 200 pages I gave up. The characters were bland, unimaginative and hard to distinguish one from another. There was a surprising number of typos and grammatical errors -- not the sort of thing one would expect in a mass market novel published by DAW. The author's tendency to shift point of view without notifying the reader was tremendously distracting and irritating. Likewise, the author's habit of listing off a paragraph's worth of titles for almost every character was exceptionally tedious. Finally, the homosexual relationship between Prince Demnor and Kelahnus was not nearly as provocative and radical as some other reviewers here have suggested. In fact, Kelahnus (an interesting name for a homosexual male) was every bit as feminine and womanly as any starry-eyed princess found in mainstream hetero-fantasy. The only thing that marked the character as male was his (vaguely) male-sounding name and the author's use of the masculine pronoun. Not really a groundbreaking description of a homosexual relationship. I sense that the author was less interested in exploring human relationships than she was in making some sort of trite and tired political statement about sex roles. Avoid this one. Pick up something by J. V. Jones, Kate Elliot, or George R. R. Martin instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantasy Fiction or a Politcally correct Romance novel?
Review: Personally I gave this book 100 pages to pick up, but instead I just got tired of the romance between the male lead character and his male friend. I have read books in the past that had gay characters and that is fine, however this book is centered around the relationship and is quite boring.
Rating:
Summary: An engaging read
Review: Pretty much what the other guy said. Although I would've liked to know a little more about the history in this fantasy world, the society that Patton creates, as well as her characters, engage the reader with their richness. When I got done with this book I wished there were another, and I am looking forward to visting these pages again.
Rating:
Summary: Good Fastpaced Stirring
Review: Read the other one
Rating:
Summary: Good enough to go back to
Review: The country of Branion is a medieval-England style place, which has been at war with a Scotland-like country to the north for decades. The Aristok of Branion is ruler, warlord, and head of the national faith all rolled into one, which makes for a fairly intimidating figure. The current Aristok, Melisandra, is no exception, and she intimidates everyone around her, including her son the crown prince. The main plot has to do with the traditional conflict between the two countries and their respective faiths. To get an idea of this, think of the historical England vs. Scotland conflicts, and the clash between Catholic and Anglican faiths. Even though it's more or less ripped off of history, it makes for an interesting story, and it lends even the opponent characters an engaging warmth. But to prove that it isn't just Britain, the religions get a special touch: in this world, magic comes from the leader of the faith, who actually has the power to manifest as the god's avatar. In the case of Branion's ruling family, it's hereditary, and each of the family possesses a small amount of that ability. In the one who ascends the throne, it reaches its full potential. Melisandra, like her predecessors, is known as The Living Flame, and is worshipped by her people as their god on earth. Now, between this and the frequent wearing of plaid, I felt a charming familiarity with the world these people live in, and it was made more fun by the novel take on magic. But the real meat of the story lay with the characters. The author really seems to have taken her time constructing each character. Even though most of them have their standard issues and hang-ups, not a single one of them comes across as a stock character or a stereotype. A major driving force of this story is the rotten family life of the royal family. Sure, they're powerful, they're sacred, they're adored by all, but Melisandra is a rotten mother who cares more about battle and ruling than about her own kids. This scores points with the populace, but not with the princes and princesses. The crown prince is a twenty-something with self-confidence issues and hang-ups about expressing himself, and his little sister is a spoiled brat because she's the only child her mother ever paid attention to. Even though this sounds like a stereotypical layout, these characters are all done well enough that you feel like they're a family with problems, instead of a story device. In the meantime, the other major batch of characters comes from a guild of bodyguards/bedmates called Companions. These guys and gals are trained to protect and entertain the lords of the land, but never to give their loyalty to anyone except their Guild. However, this rule is broken in more than one instance, in a subplot that turns out to be the main story. Again, every character who comes from this group has his or her own special personality and views on the world, which is fairly impressive considering how much alike they're trained to be. What I liked best about this book was that the author made no distinction between men and women when it came to character development and plot. Everyone takes their turn, and they all get special attention. In fact, I think it's the best job I've ever seen of an author writing men and women well. Yeah, they see the world differently, but not as differently as you think. I've checked out some of this author's other books in this series, and I can't say that I like them as well as this one. She seems to have taken the most time with this story and these characters, and it really shows. Also, if you're looking for loads of magic getting tossed around, then you'll have to wait patiently. There's a spectacular fight at the end of this fairly long book, but most of the time magic is more of an accepted presence in the background than anything visible. Anyway, it's worth the wait.
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