The Initiate Brother Book One

Rating:
Summary: Absorbing
Review: A well-researched and smoothly flowing read that will surround you with an almost palpable universe. With its Gatherer of Clouds sequel, some of the most enjoyable and satisfying reading you can discover.

Rating:
Summary: Absorbing
Review: A well-researched and smoothly flowing read that will surround you with an almost palpable universe. With its Gatherer of Clouds sequel, some of the most enjoyable and satisfying reading you can discover.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting because it is NOT historical fantasy...
Review: Asian readers and those familiar with the cultures and histories of China and Japan might think this book is patronizing, even insulting, as it does not seem to get either culture right. The names of the characters sound either Japanese or Chinese; the elements adopted from both cultures seem random and clumsy, and the name of the imperial dynasty has a Japanese pronunciation despite the obviously Chinese historical setting. However, somewhere around page 100 I turned off the "I live here, and that's not right" attitude of criticism and started reading the story as pure fantasy. After that, it was easy to enjoy the intricate plot, characters that I found to be fascinating and a setting that is more original than many in fantasy today exactly because it ignores the European influences that pervade the genre. "The Initiate Brother" is a great read. Now that Russel has created his unique and intricate world, I hope he stays with it, producing stories in different ages and locations. He does not need to borrow from Asian history anymore, but can let Wa take on a life of its own.

Rating:
Summary: Candy Book
Review: Can't put it down. An interesting read that
will keep you up at night. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent use of historical setting
Review: Contrary to a previous reviewer, I believe that Sean Russell is an expert at giving characters dimension. At no point in the book are you truly convinced you know exactly who is good or bad, especially if you read both books in the series, even if there are a few obviously good or bad characters. Also, he is able to weave several storylines together in a way that makes one wonder which story is more important. His treatment of the historical setting is marvelous -- I think the synopsis sells him short, for he never really introduces magic; instead, he relies on historical beliefs to base his 'mystical powers' on, staying close enough to history to be recognizable but adding his own flair to keep it interesting. His characters are also an excellent mixture of medieval Chinese and modern, almost American, people. Definitely pick this book up, along with Gatherer of Clouds.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent use of historical setting
Review: Contrary to a previous reviewer, I believe that Sean Russell is an expert at giving characters dimension. At no point in the book are you truly convinced you know exactly who is good or bad, especially if you read both books in the series, even if there are a few obviously good or bad characters. Also, he is able to weave several storylines together in a way that makes one wonder which story is more important. His treatment of the historical setting is marvelous -- I think the synopsis sells him short, for he never really introduces magic; instead, he relies on historical beliefs to base his 'mystical powers' on, staying close enough to history to be recognizable but adding his own flair to keep it interesting. His characters are also an excellent mixture of medieval Chinese and modern, almost American, people. Definitely pick this book up, along with Gatherer of Clouds.

Rating:
Summary: Brain candy!
Review: Easily one of the best culturally based fantasy novels that has ever been written. The "Shogun" of modern fantasy. Superb.

Rating:
Summary: Hooray for Sean Russell!
Review: Humane, beautiful, humorous, poetic, genteel; scattered with lines and passages that inspire reverie ... I have such a grasshopper mind that I rarely finish even short books anymore, but for me this novel was worth the time, and I am looking forward to the continuation in "Gatherer of Clouds" ... I am glad to see that Mr. Russell is getting hardcover deals now, and I wish him every success, as he became one of my favorite writers while I was only partway through this novel

Rating:
Summary: DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!!!
Review: I am a big fan of Sean Russell but do not buy this book! Why? It's simple. The sequel,"The Gatherer of Clouds" is no longer in print.And if you wish to buy it used you will have to pay a lot for a damaged book plus shipping and handling.Just thought I would warn you(the book itself is pretty good).

Rating:
Summary: Vivid and Irresistible
Review: I had no problem with the use of "Asian-like" elements in this story. It was a distinct flavor throughout the story, but the empire of Wa is its own place. At the start I was a bit discouraged by the focus on the court intrigues and soap-opera elements of the story, but these elements, combined with the extraordinarily vivid imagery and consistently mounting tension, proved to be irresistible for me. As I have heard others say, my only real complaint is that I finished the book long after the bookstores have all closed and I absolutely MUST get to the sequel "Gatherer of Clouds" as soon as possible! A wonderful tale of adventure and drama!