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Summary: Finally- something truly spectacular!
Review: Well, at last! Finally someone has written something truly original and, absolutely astounding. The majority of the time when I try to buy fantasy, I give up after reading the blurb- there are too many 'fantasy by numbers' LotR ripp-offs out there that really have nothing original to say. The Ill-Made Mute, was like a long draught of a refreshing drink on a hot day. THis book will, disappoint no one, spark or rekindle a love of fantasy, truly amaze, astound and enthrall everyone. This is world-building at its *most* original, fantastical and amazing. I think it will become a classic. Be ahead of the crowd, and *read* *this* *book*
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Summary: Tolkien? Nah.
Review: First of all, I'd like to voice dissention with the critical comparisons to Tolkien. There's very little comparison between the two, other than the overall fantastic genre they both inhabit.That said, I will agree that The Ill-Made Mute does a very good job of suspending disbelief (as does Tolkien, of course). I've read plenty of fantasy in my time, and this novel inhabits a comfortable ground between seriousness and recognition of its fantastic roots. It manages to present the reader with a concrete world without seeming over-dramatic or presumptuous. The characters are believable, in that they are dynamic or static, round or flat as need be. The plot moves along at a fair clip without becoming frenetic or regressing to a snail's pace. All told, this tale is masterfully balanced. It is also masterfully researched. The world of Erith is rife with real (taken from real-world) folklore -- for fans of fairy stories and their pseudo-mythology, this book is a must! If you're not one for cliff hangers, I'll only say that the end of this novel is ultimately satisfying. I wanted to read more upon finishing it, but only through my interest in the futures of the characters in the book and NOT because of any plot fault. I think Dart-Thornton has done an admirable job of stepping into the commercial fantasy field without bending to the commercial fantasy scheme. There is a genuine air of originality about this work, and that is something that is very hard to find in a genre full of copy artists.
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Summary: errrrrrrr !!!!! i'm so irritated w/cliffhanger books
Review: with all the praises on the back cover, i expected a lot from this book and author...needless to say that the hype didn't live up to my expectations. first, i agree with the person who said it was pretty dull and only the last 40 odd pages were good. i like descriptions and all, but there is a point to too much description that it takes away from the story. i felt completely frustrated while i read this, i kept getting up and finding other things to do..the story almost felt like there was no plot, no movement to the whole thing, the author was just trying to show her skill at finding descriptive words for scenes that she needed to vent. second, the truly good books have no need to leave off on a cliffhanger. if it's a good plot and writting style, ppl will buy the next book in the series. all a cliffhanger does is leave a sour taste in my mouth and thoughts of, "is this a mercenary act on the author's part?" yes, i wanted to know what happens next beacuse (as said previously) the last fourth or fifth of the book got to moving and became more interesting. although i'm pretty sure i'll not buy it in april 2002. third, it's ironic to me that i find out more about the book and the desire to want to read on from the summary on the cover flaps...whereas the story itself left something wanting. thumbs up to that writter, what a salesperson. on a good note, i did like the plot (what was there in the ending), i just wish there were more of it. nuff said
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Summary: Worthy of all the high praise
Review: Sometimes when a book gets a lot of very good reviews, your expectations get so high that you are disappointed when you finally get to read it. This was not the case when I read The Ill-Made Mute. It exceeded my expectations. I have read a lot of fantasy and never have I come across a writer who can create a whole nother world with so much detail, as well as a complicated plot, believeable characters and a style that blew me away. It's kind of hard to review a book when it's the first of three, and you know the story is far from complete. I get the feeling there are a lot of questions raised in this book which the author has deliberately left unanswered until the next two, so I don't want to make any assumptions about the plot. I can only say, I'm hanging out for the sequels. I've had a long thirst for a real Tolkien-style story and this book slaked it.
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Summary: review title
Review: "The Ill-Made Mute" is among the better fantasy books being published today. It combines the truth about discrimination in an exciting adventure of love and tragedy. Of the many books I have read, it has been woven supirior to most. This epic thriller is one any fantasy finatic cannot afford to miss.
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Summary: Get it from the library
Review: I have to take exception to the mostly glowing praise this book is garnering. After reading the book and comparing my impressions with the reviews I even wondered if we had read the same book! My biggest complaints are, in no particular order : The story is slow. Like another reviewer I skimmed over whole pages in an effort to get to something interesting. The author's sentences while descriptive, tended to run on and her use of unusual words, while commendable, felt forced and pretentious. The backstory was non-existent and her world-building had intriguing possibilities but was marred by an an attempt to integrate "historical" Celtic source material on wights. You would think that Imrhien's encounters with various magical creatures would be interesting, but when the way to "defeat" them consisted of not being scared, it got old. Fast. Hmm. What else? I was baffled by Thorn's apparent interest in Imrhien, and not because she was horrifying to look at and he naturally wouldn't be interested in her. If, however, her looks didn't intrigue him the next obvious choice would be her personality, yet she spent most of her inital interactions with him casting her eyes down and not doing a lot in action to make him think that she especially capable or intriguing. Imrhien even in the book felt uneasy with Thorn because he seemed contemptuous of the weak (see the trow dance) so why would her situation warrent a different attitude in him? Oh wait, it's DESTINY... Lastly, I was disappointed that it took almost the entire book to get to an exciting point in the story. The last 40 pages were the best as Imrhien meets up with Thorn and gets closer to her goal of seeing the carlin. What I couldn't understand is why the author so abruptly wraped up this major plot point. One minute she is apprehensively wondering if her face can at best be made less hideous (because it was supposedly so damaged that only Maeve One-Eye had even a prayer of being able to help her) and then wham! her face not only is fixed - she's beautiful! Why couldn't she just have been average? The ending wrapped up a little too neatly and tritely for my taste. My advice? If you want to read it, get free from the library.
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Summary: A great reworking of historical tales into a modern classic
Review: In this book, the author takes the world of classic folk tales and brings it to life through the adventures of a young, disfigured child. While I enjoyed this novel, there were points where the dialog was slow, particurally in the beginning. However, this was a masterful novel full of innovative characters and interesting plot twists. I reccomend you read this book, but wait for the paperback version. This is also a great book for children. I would give it 3 1/2 stars if I could.
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Summary: I've recommended this book to all my friends.
Review: It's engrossing. It's different. It's the Tolkien of the 21st Century. It's unputdownable. It's brilliant. I have recommended it to all my friends. Even if you don't usually read fantasy you SHOULD read this. It's more than the usual fantasy. It's a literary classic.
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Summary: The first part was a struggle, but the rest was worth it!
Review: Okay, I really struggled thru the first couple chapters of this book. I couldn't understand why this character remained unidentified & unnamed for such a long while. Also the language & descriptions of this fantasy world gave me trouble. I found myself skimming over whole paragraphs that tried to explain the communications network with the use of Windship & Relay towers boring & the language baffling. Was the author using our own archaic language that only a student would understand or was she wholly inventing words & descriptions? But I kept on reading, hoping that it would get better. And it did. Once the lead character, the female now named Imhrein, escapes from her amnesiated drudgery as a scullery boy to try to retain her voice, her memory & her past, the story finally starts to move somewhere. The rest of the book captivated me with the people, places, legends & landscapes described on her journeys. I honestly loved the rest of the book so much, I actually read it again immediately (still skimming over the earliest parts)! Overall, this is a good book. Tho one that you know won't truly be finished in one volume, but it certainly makes one think of what possible knowledge the Dainnan Thorn knows of Imhrein's past & what possible connection they may have, with the series name being Bitterbynde. This term is identified as a promise of marriage made for two people who may or may not be pleased with the outcome of their binding.
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Summary: Simply Amazing
Review: I have just finished reading "The Ill-Made Mute" and I can't wait to read the next one....it will be an agonising wait indeed. If you have not read this book, do so. Brilliant imagery and an engaging plot. A fascinating story. The best book I've read in long time.
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