Rating: 
Summary: Promising start to an ultimately poor series
Review: THE ILL-MADE MUTE has some very striking and novel features, and though I thought the writing amauteurish (especially by being dreadfully overdescriptive as other readers have noted), I did develop hopes for the BITTERBYNDE series being worthy of the praise and attention accorded it. Unfortunately this imperfect first volume is easily the best installment in this trilogy. There were many elements in this novel which drew me in, particularly the concept of sildron and the society it powered, haunted by the spectre of deserted cities and the shang wind. This could have been the foundation for a very strong series, but the promise of this society was not fully developed, as for most of the series the author dwells instead on 'seelie and unseelie wights' plucked raw from European folklore. Dart-Thorton extracts characters and scenarios from legend (as well as Anglo-Celtic racial characteristics, languages and names) wholesale and drops them unchanged into her own sildron-world with scarcely a thought for the frequent incongruency. Julian May's SAGA OF PLIOCENE EXILE drew extensively on the same material (e.g. the Nuckelavee), yet May's polished and detailed exposition of the alien bi-morphic Tanu/Firvulag race, battling across prehistoric Europe, imprinting their forms and legends into human subconscious certainly puts Dart-Thornton's series in the shade. The potential offered by the enigma of a ghastly main character who never speaks was also unfortunately wasted. It's a shame the engaging mute Imrhien got a voice and good looks, because dialogue is one of Dart-Thorton's weakest points as an author and all empathy developed for the mute was dispelled by the inane chatter and actions of Rohane in LADY OF THE SORROWS. Imrhien is plainly modelled on Mary Brown's THE UNLIKELY ONES yet Brown's deft touch for character development is never equalled by Dart-Thornton. Unable to draw out the significance of the themes offered by such an unlikely heroine, Dart-Thornton was also unable to sustain the core character of Imrhien across numerous incarnations and name changes as Brown managed in PLAYING THE JACK. The shang wind interestingly seems inspired by the last page of Brown's excellent low fantasy novel. Further examples of such wholesale lifting of material (especially from LOTR) abound and are not worth going into. This series never comes up for air after the second half of LADY OF THE SORROWS, and the trite and unsatisfying conclusion to the trilogy well and truly sinks it. Readers would do better to look at Dart-Thorton's sources and read them themselves.
Rating: 
Summary: While a good series....
Review: Cecilia Dart-Thornton's "The Bitterbynde" trilogy is one of imense passion. It draws the reader in and keeps them interested until the very end. However, the ending of the thrid book, "The Battle of Evernight" is somewhat dissapointing as it does not tell you what exactly happens. You are left with no real idea if Ashalind is ever reunited with her true love Angavar-Thorn. It does have the quality of making the reader think that perhaps there will be a sequel to the book telling of what happens to Ashalind.
Overall, the trilogy is definatly one of the better ones to read and can be compared in quality to the series of Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, Traci Harding, Ian Irving or even the master himself, Tolkien.
Rating: 
Summary: fantasy addicts' heroin
Review: For one who reads books with the belief that Prof. Tolkien cannot be bettered; I discovered Mrs Dart-Thornton. For not since the age of 12 have I been so completely enveloped in a story. And blessedly she's an Aussie! P.S. thanks for the echidna.
Rating: 
Summary: awful writing
Review: I couldn't even finish this book. The writing is so pretentious and made my skin want to crawl. yuck, yuck, yuck.
Rating:
Summary: Great story but its oh so slow...
Review: Basic Plot - A disfigured mute travels to a distant place in search for a cure. The story starts with the mute waking up with no memory, knowing nothing (as the reader), and as the mute learns about the land and its surroundings, so does the reader. Settings - The story takes place in a land where flying ships are used to carry cargo between cities, and the forests are filled with unseelie (fairy) creatures, most of which are evil and dangerous. Characters - Surprisingly good, you can't help but being taken by the plight of the disfigured but kind-hearted mute. Another great character is Thorn, the ranger / elite knight which is "the man above the rest". Style of writing - Richly descriptive, which paints the world exactly how the author wants the reader to see it, right down to the leaves and insects level. Archaic words and terms are used throughout the book and the style of writing is a bit "poetic-like". Comments - Firstly, this book is NOT for everyone. If you like descriptive and poetry-like style of writing, then you would love this book. Otherwise (like me) you would find this book slow and at times can be tedious to read due to its over description of everything and its use of archaic words. At one point of the book I even started skipping a paragraph or two when it comes to the long descriptions and still wont loose anything. Despite this, the main attraction of the book is its storyline and its characters. The ending of the book, even though "simple", is simply amazing because you'll be surprised that you find yourself reeling with emotions for the main character. Once started, this is a book that I simply have to read till the end, but once finished, I'm unlikely to read it again because frankly the long winded descriptions turns me off. I give this book 2.5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Fairy Lore As Far As The Eye Can See
Review: Dart-Thornton brings a great deal of old literature and fairy knowledge to bear in this book, which makes it of particular interest to scholars of such tales. Her characters' constant recitals of fairy stories (which frequently involve the characters themselves) make the book a treat for people with previous access to such information but also serve to slow the story down considerably. Her list of protections against wights and fairy magic is accurate and these various methods are cleverly used by the characters; she expertly substitutes the influence of wizards for that of priests (religion is curiously absent in the book). This serves to tie the book deeply to old folklore, as does her grammar, which resembles the old tales (They ran through the woods and he carrying a great log all the while . . .) Important characters are kept to a bare minimum, allowing a great deal of character development (particularly in the title figure) along the way. The book is a satisfying read (although it does take some time to warm up) and is well plotted. Again, those interested in fairy lore can use this book as an introduction or as a book to enjoy from that particular angle. (A note about the second book - a bit less time is spent on folklore and the language of the characters seems to have undergone a very sudden shift to Elizabethan grammar. Still, it remains worth reading. Whether the third book is any good - except as a conclusion to the series - is unclear; I have not read it as yet.)
Rating:
Summary: Such A Great Start....
Review: I wish that I had decided to write reviews before reading the entire trilogy, because I think that my overall view of the trilogy is less than what this book deserves. This book was very good. It did get a little rambling at times... for instance, if the character walked into a room and there was a shelf in it, I found myself nodding along the never ending list of everything on that shelf... but I got over that thinking it was because it was the first book, detail was very important (which was disproved, her second book was not as bad, but the third was painfully worse). I loved the world that Cecilia Dart-Thornton created, using bits and pieces of folklore, and the characters were well developed as well. When I finished this book I was anxious to get on to the next book, I wanted to see what happened next... read my review of book 2 to hear more...
Rating:
Summary: Convoluted
Review: This book was highly recommended to me, and perhaps that is part of the reason I was disappointed. The world-building is interesting, but because of the convoluted style, I couldn't really enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Good book, but....
Review: Well I have just finished reading the ill-made mute and I have to say that this book is a nice change from the norm of fantasy these days. I expecially like the various small folk lore stories that other characters tell during the book. But it does have it's down points, the first being a very slow start, this does not bother me as I'm a very patient reader but others may feel differently. The second being that it's all very good and well to tell us what a person is wearing (add's to the atmosphere) but when we start reading about every little detail down to the material the clothes are made out of and what colour underware there waring, I start to get a little annoyed. But other then that, the book was one of the better I've read in my time. A little patience is all you need to enjoy this fine book.
Rating:
Summary: A Well-Made Book!
Review: This book would have to be one of the best books I have ever read! I couldn't put it down, and all my friends are now reading, and loving it! It is the story of a nameless mute, the lowest of the low, who escapes from servanthood, only to find it is a girl! It is a story of self-discovery, love and friendship, all in a beautifully woven story, whose plot twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. I recommend it to anyone who remotely likes fantasy (although some of my friends who have never read fantasy in their lives loved it) or anyone who loves a great book. The second one in the series is wonderful too, and I am just about to get reading on the 3rd book. Happy reading!
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