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Summary: This book is worth any trouble it takes to buy and read!
Review: THE ILL-MADE MUTE is worthy of something long and eloquent, but I fear I'll have to leave you with only a few modest observations. Firstly, the author's world is deftly wrought. It's atmosphere is so powerful that it permeates every page of her book, and I think that is why so many people are comparing it with Tolkien's work. Her characters are truly of their world, and just as skillfully constructed. Dart-Thornton sidesteps the over-used conventions and cliches of fantasy to bring something refreshingly new to the genre-- while tipping her cap to the myths, legends, and folklore that inspired her. Don't pass this one by!
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Summary: Absolutely magical!
Review: This absolutely original and wonderful fantasy novel tells the tale a lost youth who is suffering from amnesia, hideously disfigured by poison, and stuck mute. The poor creature is found half-dead in the wight-haunted forest by an aged crone, who serves in one of the great towers that house the flying horses and serve as docks for the flying windships. It becomes a low servent, ill-treated and ridiculed for its hideous face. When a noble who collects and mistreats "..." servants take an unhealthy interest, it stows away on one of the windships and thus the adventures begin! It encounters pirate attacks, treasure maps, finds and loses friends, encounters countless tricksy wights, learns sign language, and falls in love with handsome ranger, all as it searches desperately for its past and a cure for its cursed muteness and disfigurement. Beautifully written and loaded with adventure!
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Summary: A refreashing change of pace
Review: I work at a bookstore, so I get the chance to discover authors and books that I normally wouldn't notice. I have never been more thankful for this than when I found this book. The beautiful writing appealed to the poet in me, at the same time completely engrossing me in a new and intriguing world. I highly recommend this book and am impatiently waiting for the sequal!
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Summary: I'm barely 50 pages in and I'm telling you....
Review: BUY THIS! Don't you wonder sometimes what happens to folks who give a book five stars, so you buy it, and you start it, and you think, well, okay, I'll keep going. But it's no use, it's just not worth the time. Sometimes I have to wonder what folks are thinking. But this one, now here you go. This is what those five stars are all about. This book is very different, full of wonderful imagery and beautiful language. And oh what a creature fix! I'm not even half-way through it and here I am writing to you. Please get this, it will rescue you and take you on a wondrous journey....
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Summary: My top read this century.
Review: I came across this book and thought I'd try it, not really knowing what to expect. What a surprise - truly intelligent fantasy, complete with a thousand believable details and spectacular imagery. I'm now reading it for the second time in case I missed anything. I think it will turn out to be a classic.
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Summary: Delectable feast for a jaded palate
Review: At last, a fantasy writer who can write! If, like me, you've been purchasing interesting looking fantasies over the years only to discover the same shabby stuff, full of implausible dialogue, unconvincing characters and incompetent writing, then I urge you to try Cecilia Dart-Thornton's "The Illmade Mute". I found it a totally compelling read - I needed to turn the pages, yet at the same time wanted to dawdle along and enjoy the rich and beautiful writing. Ms Dart-Thornton obviously delights in words and their history, and the thoroughness of her research into traditional folk tales and a multitude of other subjects makes the reader's journey within the wondrous world of Erith convincing and deeply satisfying. Can't wait for the next Bitterbynde books!
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Summary: HALLELUJA
Review: Halleluja! At last some really intelligent fantasy. I'm sick of reading fantasy set in 'medieval' worlds where all the characters use modern language. In the Ill-Made Mute the way the characters speak takes you straight to another place and time. Cecilia Dart-Thornton must have done a lot of research into folklore, costume, history, sailing ships and every other subject she has woven into this epic. (It doesn't hurt that one of the male characters is hot enough to die for, either.) So read it. It's great. :)
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Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Here are my thoughts on this book. Its different. Its kind of like a romantic poem. The words are really beautiful and its full of strange creatures. The creatures are not like the usual elves and dwarfs. There are all kinds. Its very descriptive so it seems real. I think anyone would enjoy reading it. I hope there is more to come soon.
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Summary: Romantic, full of action, delightful!
Review: The mysterious world of this first fantasy by Cecilia Dart-Thornton drew me in completely! She creates a unique world but one we feel we know very well by the end of the story. THE ILL-MADE MUTE is full of surprises. I couldn't read fast enough! So many fantasy novels seem silly and superficial to me, but the story of this mute creature was spell-binding. I highly recommend this. You won't be disappointed! I hope to see many more novels by this accomplished author!
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Summary: I love this story
Review: I found it a bit hard to get into the story at first but I did, and then I really loved it. I have not read anything like it before. I did not know what to expect. It was fresh, not like most fantasy these days. Except, I can see what the reviewer means who said it was like Tolkien. It is, but I can't explain how. The only bad part is, I have to wait for the next book in the series to come out, before I can find out what happens next! I hope it comes out soon. I definitely want to read it.
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