Daughter of Witches

Rating:
Summary: Typical Sword & Sorcery
Review: A fan of Wrede's "Enchanted Forest Chronicals" and alternate reality Regencies, I recently snatched up at my local used bookstore several of Wrede's earlier works.

Upon reading them, I can only suppose that these standard sword and sorcery novels were written as the result of a need to gain a toehold on the market. If that was their purpose, then I applaud them. But as pieces of literature, they are dull, undeveloped, cliche, and inconclusive.

The usual S&S elements are evident in "Daughter of Witches": a tyrannical monotheistic church which actually worships a demonic power (*long-suffering sigh insert here*), a girl with untapped magical abilities, a mercenary - both male and female, a mage (female), a streetrat-thief (boy), and several conveniently expendable temple guards under the control of a lustful, manipulative, tyrannical meglomaniacal highpriest (male - *insert second long-suffering sigh*).

Ranira's plight is not compelling, mainly because her final decision - to develop her latent magical talent - is painfully obvious from the first. Their flight from the city, while tense at times (the river bit worked fairly well), counteracts the semi-interesting world-building conflict Wrede had begun within the city by removing the threat of a return to the city with every pageturn.

In short, "Daughter of Witches" from the title to the last sentence, is predictable.

Those who first discovered Wrede with her later novels would be well-served not to invest in her earlier S&S fare, but keep an eye out for upcoming novels from this otherwise excellent author.

Rating:
Summary: Typical Sword & Sorcery
Review: A fan of Wrede's "Enchanted Forest Chronicals" and alternate reality Regencies, I recently snatched up at my local used bookstore several of Wrede's earlier works.

Upon reading them, I can only suppose that these standard sword and sorcery novels were written as the result of a need to gain a toehold on the market. If that was their purpose, then I applaud them. But as pieces of literature, they are dull, undeveloped, cliche, and inconclusive.

The usual S&S elements are evident in "Daughter of Witches": a tyrannical monotheistic church which actually worships a demonic power (*long-suffering sigh insert here*), a girl with untapped magical abilities, a mercenary - both male and female, a mage (female), a streetrat-thief (boy), and several conveniently expendable temple guards under the control of a lustful, manipulative, tyrannical meglomaniacal highpriest (male - *insert second long-suffering sigh*).

Ranira's plight is not compelling, mainly because her final decision - to develop her latent magical talent - is painfully obvious from the first. Their flight from the city, while tense at times (the river bit worked fairly well), counteracts the semi-interesting world-building conflict Wrede had begun within the city by removing the threat of a return to the city with every pageturn.

In short, "Daughter of Witches" from the title to the last sentence, is predictable.

Those who first discovered Wrede with her later novels would be well-served not to invest in her earlier S&S fare, but keep an eye out for upcoming novels from this otherwise excellent author.

Rating:
Summary: Daughter of Witches
Review: In most fantasy novels one reads, magic is an accepted form of making things happen. But not in this novel. Here, to do magic is to be a witch. To be a witch is to burn at the stake. Wrede's story follows a young girl, whose parents were burned as witches and herself sold to pay for their debts. And then she meets strangers who come to the inn where she works, strangers who are more than they seem, and who force her to confront what she really is. I have never read a book on magic in which magic was illegal before this. Patricia C Wrede's rendition of this storyline is breathtaking, forcing me to read the entire novel in one sitting or die of anticipation. The characters are likeable and rounded out, with orgins recognisable from previous Lyra novels. I highly recomend this and all other Patricia C Wrede novels for all ages of readers. (note: book can be found in the compiliation Shadows over Lyra as well)

Rating:
Summary: The Most Origional Take on Magic I've ever read
Review: In most fantasy novels one reads, magic is an accepted form of making things happen. But not in this novel. Here, to do magic is to be a witch. To be a witch is to burn at the stake. Wrede's story follows a young girl, whose parents were burned as witches and herself sold to pay for their debts. And then she meets strangers who come to the inn where she works, strangers who are more than they seem, and who force her to confront what she really is. I have never read a book on magic in which magic was illegal before this. Patricia C Wrede's rendition of this storyline is breathtaking, forcing me to read the entire novel in one sitting or die of anticipation. The characters are likeable and rounded out, with orgins recognisable from previous Lyra novels. I highly recomend this and all other Patricia C Wrede novels for all ages of readers. (note: book can be found in the compiliation Shadows over Lyra as well)

Rating:
Summary: Excellently written, very imaginative.
Review: Tells the story of a bonds woman, who's parents have been burnt for being witches, she of course, doesn't believe that! The story progresses until she finds out that she is a witch after all, with the help of some folk from outside of the empire. Expertly written, keeps the reader hocked until the end. I should know,I've read it three times already!

Rating:
Summary: The Best Fantasy I've Ever Read!!
Review: The book is set in a city where something just isn't right. There is something that reeks of bad magic calling to good witch named Mist. This brings her and her two friends upon a young girl whose parents have been burned as witches. Mist helps the young woman come to terms with her fear of magic and accept that she is really a daughter of witches, and a witch herself. <|:o)

Rating:
Summary: Daughter of Witches
Review: The characters are archtypical, The poor slave girl with hidden powers, the mean master, the street urchin, the gentle mage, the female mercenary dressed as a boy who is "partners with a male mercenary. Finally there is the Evil lustful priest that manages to find the slave girl coincidentally at every turn. There is a lot of sitting around whining and bickering and the mage won't or can't use her powers half of the time. Then suddenlly she will, or is able to use her powers. I would say the book is juvenile but I am not going to suggest it to my children.

Rating:
Summary: Daughter of Witches
Review: The characters are archtypical, The poor slave girl with hidden powers, the mean master, the street urchin, the gentle mage, the female mercenary dressed as a boy who is "partners with a male mercenary. Finally there is the Evil lustful priest that manages to find the slave girl coincidentally at every turn. There is a lot of sitting around whining and bickering and the mage won't or can't use her powers half of the time. Then suddenlly she will, or is able to use her powers. I would say the book is juvenile but I am not going to suggest it to my children.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT
Review: This book was fantastic, Wrede's vivid imagination is shown in this wonderful book!

Rating:
Summary: It was GREAT!
Review: This book was great! It was so descriptive and the characters were awesome! Ranira was very stubborn about her having magic, and I can see why! I mean, with her parents in that tragedy. But, nonetheless, magic is still cool and I wish I had it. There should be a sequal to this. One that is as rivating and amazing as the rest. Wrede, you rock!