Rating: 
Summary: Too long winded to be any good
Review: This book has received quite a few good reviews, and I can understand why - It is a very good story after all - BUT the sad thing is it is wrapped up in waaaay too many meaningless and drawn-out descriptions of absolutely everything. Is there a chair in a room? Ten to one it'll be described in excrutiating detail. This makes the story drag at the most important part - the beginning. The only reason I slogged through the rest and found a good story was because I always finish books I buy. Not everyone does that, and most will be put off by the exceptionally boring start, and how over-described it is.
Rating: 
Summary: Struck dumb with wonderment
Review: I must say that it is hard to put into words the wonderment I felt whilst reading the Ill-made Mute. It certainly doesn't show that Dart-Thornton is making her first outing into the novel-writing world. The book is spell-binding from start to finish and is a vibrant and fresh entry for the fantasy genre. The weaving of old-style myth, particularly the wightish legends is masterfully done, and adds a richness of magic which leaves the spell-and-lighting-flash-style, which much of the fantasy area has fallen into, in the dust.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent fantasy
Review: This will be one of my favorite books. It's one I began to reread parts of immediately on finishing it.
It features an appealing hero overcoming great odds. There are a number of well-developed minor characters that have much more interest than is common in fantasy novels. The ending is a triumph in itself, but leaves some major questions about the character and her enemies to be answered, hopefully in the next volume, and some interesting aspects of this society to be filled out. The device of starting with a character void of all self-knowledge, memory and information about society allows us to learn about a whole world as we go.
The numerous Celtic folkloric elements add atmosphere and fantasy, and support the comparison with Tolkien among others.
Rating:
Summary: A spellbinding book by a brilliant new author
Review: This is a truly magical book. It grips from the very first page, and the author conjures up an incredible fantasy world that both enchants and terrifies. The journey of the ill-made mute of the title can be seen as an allegory for the journey that we must all make in order to discover our true identity, and the ending is extraordinarily poignant. Although the first of a trilogy, this book stands well on its own and I can't wait for the sequel. An outstanding book and a stunning debut.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Classics.
Review: I have to agree with the rave reviews I've read in the Washington Post and the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.
This book is destined to be one of the classics.
Yes, it starts slowly, but don't let that put you off. After all, The Fellowship of the Ring starts slowly. And like The Lord of the Rings, this book had me entranced. What I want from fantasy is to be taken to another world. This book did it for me. In a most amazing way.
Rating:
Summary: The best in a long time
Review: As a lover of fantasy I have to say that this book is by far and away the absolute best I have read in a very long time.The language is beautiful, the characterisations superbe, the introduction of long established folklore within the storyline absolutely sublime!!! I have to say I liked it! Yes, the writing style comes as a slight shock to the system after reading so many "run-of-the-mill" offerings recently, but you will soon adjust and love the sheer joy and exuberence of the language used. When is book 2 available - I need to know what is to happen next!!!! Nothing has grabbed me and carried me as completely as this book has done. Bravo!
Rating: 
Summary: Very impressive
Review: All the hype comparing this book to Tolkien was sadly misleading. This author does a wonderful job of weaving her own world of fantasy, but maintains the tension that is normally ascribed to Robert Ludlum. The first 50 pages were admittedly hard going - that's why the 4/5, not 5/5. By the end I was suitably impressed enough to be waiting impatiently for the next instalment. If you want Hobbits, you should go somewhere else. If want swashbuckling adventure with depth of characters that you genuinely have feelings for, this is a very good read indeed.
Rating:
Summary: This is the best.
Review: Oh my god i cant believe how cool this is. it's about beauty its about pain and loneliness its about love and rejection and magic beasties and more. but its more than that its a world i want to explore. its BRILLIANT
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: After I read the Ill-Made Mute I visited the author's website. A lot of people have signed the guest book, saying great things about the book and I agree with all of them. I couldn't put it down, and I'm desperate to know what happens next. The scenery, the descriptions, the emotions and the characters were all so vivid. I bet some of the characters were based on real people, they were so "3 dimensional". This is one of the best books I have read since I can't remember when. Hanging out for the next one!
Rating:
Summary: Not 4 Dummies.
Review: A lot of reviews in the media have been praising this book so I thought I'd get it and see what it was all about. Usually when you have high expectations of a book you get disappointed, but not with this one. It was all I had expected and more. Totally different, totally cool. I can see that this style of storytelling might not suit everyone but it sure suits me. I think people with a small vocabulary might have a struggle with it. Or maybe not, I don't know. Personally, I liked the rich use of words. If you're looking for a dumbed-down fantasy with all the usual clichés, don't read the Ill-Made Mute. If you want something really special and very enjoyable read it.
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