Rating: 
Summary: Bratty Roddy is this book's strength
Review: I love this book!! Finally a book where the man has to stay a virgin to gain the holy super magical power. Ha! I laugh in his face! Of course the virgin rule doesn't seem to include having sex with other men. ^_^ Anyway, the main character, Roddy, is a bit of a brat but I like him anyway. I certainly don't feel the deep hatred for him that most people feel. Actually, I think the most annoying thing about him is his straightness. He really needs to get over that....... Just kidding. ^_^ One of the best things about this book is how realistic the characters are. Roddy is certainly not your typical fantasy hero. The supporting cast are all very lifelike as well. The slash in this book is pretty tame and doesn't take up a huge chunk of the plot so non slash fans should still enjoy it. But for all you hard core slash fans the story is interesting enough you hardly even notice the lack of slash. I really love how the story focuses on the political more than the magical aspects of Roddy's quest to be king. Magic is all well and good, but a big problem in many fantasy books is that the plot is almost entirely made up of the various magical rules. I find that sort of thing dull but that is never a problem in this book. The book also moves at a good pace. I don't feel things are rushed or prolonged at all. The only thing that I really didn't like about this book is how abrupt the ending is. I really hope there's a sequel in the works. If not I might have to tie David Feintuch to his computer and make him write one............. kidding again. I think this is may favorite fantasy novel besides the Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling. Even if fantasy and slash aren't your favorite genres you should still pick up a copy of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't Feintuch mean 'soft towel' in German? Anyway....
Review: My praise of this book is unreserved and ecstatic. I was devastated to finish it and lingered woefully over the final paragraph. That sense of mourning - that I'd never read another book as good as this again - gripped me as I passed the halfway mark and is still with me. From an author who normally specialises in Science Fiction, this is a fantasy with more depth, scope and understanding than I have ever encountered before. The setting is mediaeval/feudal; the characters astonishing, the pace exhilarating and the dynamics resonant and sound. It's an unsqueamish, non-prudish, sexy, stolid fantasy about a boy's journey into manhood and a prince's quest for his crown. Growing up dangerously, in the perilous position of being next in line for the throne and the fabled magical powers the office bestows, a young, arrogant, self-important prince resents and detests the responsibilities of his position, while grasping for the crown and the powers it will confer. But before he can become king, he must outwit the opposition, in the shape of his evil uncle, and, on a subtler level, learn the magical secret of the Still and the true craft of kingship. His best and probably only friend, loyal despite unconscionable treatment by his prince, seeks to guide him in this - but the task is monumental. Likewise, his little brother seeks to support him with courage and devotion, but the prince cannot see beyond his paranoia of all with a claim to the throne and his big brotherly annoyance at the persistent hanger-on. Curiously, the story is written in the first person - the prince is the 'I' of the text: the opportunity for devastating ironies is immense, and fullly exploited with consummate skill by the author. Feintuch pulls no punches whatsoever; neither is he afraid of emotion, in all its violent and passionate extremes. I rejoiced with the triumphs and felt the tragedies of this work as body blows. I would gladly read The Still over and over again, but I'm on the quest for more Feintuch fantasy, and I won't rest until I've found some.
Rating:
Summary: You'll never stop reading it up to the last page.
Review: Certainly one of best coming-of-age novel you will read! You'll remember the story long after you read the book, and the characters even longer.. Set in the Medieval Age, The story brings you the not the imagined glamour, pageantry and chivalry usually associated on that times but the harsh and sometimes savage reality that people had to live during that age. The plot is superb but the characterization, brilliant! Rodrigo's spoiled and selfish character is far from the usual chivalric character of a prince destined to rule. Rustin's amorous love for Rodrigo that compells him to make immense sacrifices for the princ; although not the usual kind of love, still it does make one wish that there is also someone out there that will love him/her the way Rustin loves Rodrigo. All in all the fearless way the author cast its characters that made it all the more interesting and the superb storytelling that will compel the reader not to put down the book 'till the very last page makes the novel "The Still" certainly WORTH YOUR TIME READING!
Rating: 
Summary: Chill, people, the book is pretty darned good.
Review: Hey all, before hitting the sexuality issue, it seems that most people have overlooked a really interesting part of the book. Feintuch's concept of magic, while not entirely originally, is well thought out. Power has a price, both political power, and, in the case of 'The Still', magical power. While I did think that some of Roddy's character development is a little far fetched, it still works with the story. Roddy's development is fairly reasonable in the light of a bully and brat getting back what he has given, and I'll leave it at that. Now then, the sex issue. This book has nothing on "The Seer King" series (take out the sex there, and there's like 3 pages of plot); Piers Anthony has dealt with more contraversial sexual activities (especially pedophilia); "The Dragon's Daughter" deals with child abuse at all levels; yet all of these books get acclaim, and the sex things is ignored. I think that if the sex involved here was heterosexual, there wouldn't be so many complaints. So far as virginity goes, if Feintuch decides that in the lands of The Still, a loss of virginity can only be achieved through heterosexual intercourse, than that is what is required. The book isn't about sex or virginity, guys, it's about growing up, for better or for worse.
Rating:
Summary: A very strong story that pulls no punches.
Review: I have alway's enjoyed David Feintuch's works, and I think 'The Still' is the finest example of his writing. Mr. Feintuch's storys have always been character driven, and allow his readers an unusually deep understanding of his main characters. In this case we are introduced to Rodrigo, a boy so selfish he cannot understand why someone would be upset because he cannot remember their name. After all, they're only a servent and should know their place. He gradually learns that he is rude and spoiled, and that he must change in order to keep the few friends he has, let alone regain his kingdom. The world Rodrigo inhabits is very dark, full of betrayal, murder, and dark magic. But it is only lighly sketched in to allow the focus to follow Rodrigo as he matures. An important facit of the world is that each kingdom has some unique magic that only the ruler can control (the common folk have no magic). Roddy's gift is the Still, and we have no idea what it's powers are until Roddy discovers them, which happens rather late in the book. It is important to note that to use the Still Roddy must be crowned King, remain True, and remain a virgin. It's that last point that will be a problem for some readers. While not himself gay (a point that he makes several times), Roddy can only find release with himself or another man. And although he finally finds comfort with his best friend, he is very attracted to the daughter of one of his allies. How do I feel about it? To be honest, I did not like the homosexual undertones. But they were handled in such a way as to make Roddy a more complex charactor. And none of Mr. Feintuch's other books had this theme. Overall, I truely enjoyed 'The Still'. But I also saw a lot of myself in Roddy, and I often stopped reading to think about what just happened, and how I would have handled the situation. This book went beyond entertainment and taught me a little about myself. And I would gladly recommend it to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Do you really need 250 pages to establish the spoiled brat?
Review: The general outline of the story has some promise: CAllow young prince striving to grow into his crown. Unfortunately Feintuch goes to such excruciating lengths to establish Prince Roddy's starting point that the reading is a chore rather than a joy. Despite being 16, Roddy acts like a spoiled, obnoxious, and often cruelly violent 6 year old. At his best, he is utterly thoughtless of anyone but himself. As I said, this could make for an interesting story of personal growth, but Feintuch spends 250 pages with example after example of his hideous behavior. At last it dawns on him that maybe he should reform. Feintuch then spends another 150 pages continuing his hateful behavior, with only brief interludes of maturity.
Does anyone actually enjoy reading in that much detail about someone you can only want to slap silly? If you've got the book, do yourself a favor and just skip to page 400 and read the last 180 pages. In the book's defense, if Fentuch had compressed the first 400 pages into about 10 and spent the rest of the book telling about a character we could care about, this would have been worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth 0 Stars! Possibly the worst fantasy book ever written!
Review: Although I read it years ago, I still shudder every time I see this book at a store. I weep to think that I wasted quality hours of my life on this crap - please don't make the same mistake.
Rating:
Summary: One of those books that just gets to you...
Review: The Still is the coming of age story of Roddy, the future king of Caledon and wielder of the Still - a magical power. After having his uncle take regency, Roddy is forced to undergo a quest that will start him on his trek to maturity. Having had no discipline his entire life, he's a petulant child who often displays tantrums like those of a two year old. Only after enduring churlish situations, pain, love, loyalty, and betraying quite a few people is Roddy actually able to take a few steps towards being a decent man. I had never read anything like fantasy before The Still. I had read Feintuch's other books (the Seafort saga) and immensely enjoyed them so I gave this a shot. Boy am I glad I did! It wasn't easy though... although it's an awesome book, I detested Roddy so much that by halfway through the book I had the intense urge to throw the book against the wall. Feintuch is one of those rare authors who can make you hate a character so much that you want to throw the book against the wall in frustration. At the same time, I absolutely loved Roddy's loyal friend Rustin. The book was well-written, and it's incredibly enjoyable. A definite page-turner! I'm reading the Seafort saga again, but I plan to re-read The Still and The King as soon as I'm through.
Rating:
Summary: molding the prince into a king
Review: This was a great novel. It not only considered the mind of a pampered teenage boy learning to take on responsibility, but also expressed the difficulty of being a nation's leader--and those whom had to deal with him while he was growing. There are many interesting characters that come through and the reader comes to care about, even though you're getting the story through the prince's, Roddy's, eyes, and he's not always too fond of them. The Still is set in a medieval era where noble blood is truly distinguished by the magical gifts inherited by the leaders, but there is a catch: their magic is directly connected to the land. The more one has power over it, the stronger the power. Unfortunately, when the queen dies (gender does not determine who rules), Roddy's still young, their kingdom is under attack, Roddy's uncle wants to unseat him, and the nobles are wavering in their support for him. Roddy needs the votes of 4 of the 7 council members to crown him king--because his magic will not come in power unless his is king--in name, with the crown, and the implements of the Still, his gift of communication with the past kings and queens which will allow him to deal with the threats to his throne and country. The sequel The King, is even better. Feintuch has set the story and the reader is in for an emotional ride in that book.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting!!
Review: Definately one of the best books I have ever read. You MUST read this. Worth every second of it.
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