Rating: 
Summary: Good, if you don't mind jerks as heroes
Review: I got annoyed with this book the first time I tried to read it, and didn't finish it. Mostly I was irritated with the three main characters, all of whom are less than sympathetic. Cornelia is childish and weepy and naive--though she does have the excuse of being fifteen, and of constantly having to make major life decisions even though the people around her are manipulating and deceiving her. Brutus doesn't have the excuse of being a teenager--he's a brute and a wife-beater and a rapist and a cad, and it never seems to occur to him that perhaps Cornelia would act out less if he either treated her with respect or let her go. Genvissa is a one-dimensional stock femme fatale. Between the three of them, they manage to all treat each other like dirt and make me want to throw things at them.
Yet I found myself, months later, still drawn to the story. So I read it again. This time, I finished the book, enthralled with the story of the Minotaur and his evil designs, and of these three flawed and very human people trying to oppose him and getting tangled up in their personal agendas along the way. What's more, Cornelia develops and grows as a character during the course of the book. Genvissa doesn't change much, and Brutus actually becomes *more* of a jerk, but the series continues into the characters' later incarnations, and perhaps the characters will grow in their future lives.
For now, though, consider me sucked in anyway. It is with anticipation that I've just begun reading the second book, Gods' Concubine.
Rating:
Summary: NEVER WRITTEN A REVIEW BEFORE
Review: I HAD TO WRITE IN DEFENSE OF THIS BOOK. AS A FIRST IN A SERIES, IT SETS THE STAGE VERY NICELY, LOTS OF QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED, CHARACTERS TO DEVELOP AND A GAME TO FINISH. SHE IS SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE FUTURE BOOKS. THIS BOOK IS LIKE SEEING THEM IN THE INFANT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT. I ENJOYED IT. AND WILL BUY THE OTHERS AS THEY ARE RELEASED
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting premise undermined by annoying characters.
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I liked it enough to finish it and to probably read the next volume in the trilogy. On the other hand, there were times that I couldn't wait to be done with it and move on to something better. I'll not summarize the plot here, except to say that "Hades' Daughter" is a historical fantasy built around the relationship of three antagonistic major characters and one villain. The three antagonists also form a romantic triangle, of sorts. The heroine has a love/hate relationship with the hero, who is in love with the third. There are enough hints given by Douglass that the hero and heroine really should be together, but one or the other always manages to say or do the wrong thing and make the other mad. At times, reading the book was like watching a soap opera where you want to figuratively bash the lead characters over the head because they're making so many dumb mistakes. Frankly, I didn't find any of the three major characters particularly likeable. Brutus, the hero, is best described by his name--brutal. He conquers the heroine's father's kingdom, forces her into marriage and rapes her, and then obsesses about another woman. Why Cornelia, the heroine, would ever care about him is beyond me, but she does. Genvissa, her rival, is manipulative and power-hungary. There were other minor characters that were more likable, but for me, the unpleasantness of the main characters destroyed much of the book's pleasure. That's a shame, because in many ways I like the way Douglass writes. She has the ability write long, involving stories with interesting motifs. The idea of magical mazes underlying cities is an intriguing one, for example, and Douglass can move a narrative along with good descriptions. I also liked the idea of the same characters interacting again and again in different lives. In the end, I'll probably read the next volume, but I'll wait for the paperback.
Rating: 
Summary: Hades' Daughter
Review: I have never read Sara Douglass, but this was the BEST book that I have read in a long time. After reading Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan, it was a awesome to finally read an epic that showed how REAL people act. The storyline flowed, and I enjoyed the mixed perspectives. Cornelia's point of view really added to the story. I finished the book two days ago, and I cannot stop thinking about it. Douglass's writing style really allowed me to connect with Cornelia, and the mistakes and misunderstandings that occur are true to life. I have never read a book that explains the ways of men and women as well as this book does. I really feel for Cornelia and Brutus, and I wish that other readers would give this book a chance. There are violent scenes, but the emotions of the characters and the era in which the story is set make them believable. I look forward to reading her other series, and I hope the next book in this series comes out soon. Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Really quite good
Review: I have read two trilogies (The Axis Trilogy and the Wayfarer Redemption - ordered from Australia) from Sara Douglass and thoroughly enjoyed them. I was a bit nervous about this one because of the subject matter and the reviews I read here. Personally, I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable book. I was so intrigued by the subject matter that I found myself wanting to learn more about prehistoric England and find out what was history and what as fiction - more on that in a sec. I will admit that some of the reviewers are correct in their assessment that none of the characters seem to be the "good guys". As Douglass has said that the Game itself is the main character in the series - it has it's own agenda and plans - this was obviously intentional and, personally, I enjoyed this aspect of the story. I felt that the characters had *much* more depth because they were all flawed (some seriously) and sometimes made horrible decisions. As to the link between this story and actual history, after reading this book, I read the "The History of the Kings of Britain" by Geoffrey of Monmouth written in the 12th century. Much of the "history" included in the book comes directly from this. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone. I'll warn you that I had to get about 150 pages into the book before it really took off but the last 250 pages simply flew by.
Rating:
Summary: Great blend of mythology and fantasy
Review: I loved this book for its wonderful storytelling and use of Greek mythology. The book begins with a retelling of the myth of the death of the Minotaur in Crete, and the betrayal of Ariadne by Theseus. Hell hath no fury as that of a scorned woman, and this book takes that to extremes. You see how hatred twists and warps a woman's soul, and those of her progeny.
Yet there are two sides to every story, and this book tells both. The struggle between good and evil isn't as clearcut here, as each side believes they are doing what is best for the country. (sound familiar to today?)
I really enjoyed this book, although my favorite of this author is still "Starman".
Rating:
Summary: good easy read
Review: I really enjoyed this book and read it twice. I especially like the fact that the characters are reborn again in different times ( leading up to the next book in the series). I also felt the idea of using a Labyrinth as tool of magic was fresh and orginal!
Rating:
Summary: Not as satisfying as the Axis series
Review: I so enjoyed the Axis books that I expected more of this one. The main characters were all rather shallow & predictable, not what I expected from the previous novels by Douglass. It seemed as though the slow start turned into a hurry to tie everything up in the last chapter. I don't plan on purchasing the sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: Not so good.
Review: If you've read The Wayfarer Redemption, you're likely going to feel a sense of déjà vu. There's the strong, magical man, and the woman with a destiny calling, and there's the legacy of an ancient empire to restore to grandeur. Hey, it might have worked a second time, if the characters weren't so odious. While I eventually felt some small sympathy for Cornelia, who at least shows some positive changes in her personality, the other characters might have gotten swallowed up into Tartarus, and nobody would have much cared. Perhaps in future novels of the series, the male protagonist won't be a jerk, through and through.
Rating:
Summary: "Des" Troy Game
Review: Luckily, I listened to this book while I exercised rather than read it and found that Douglass's straightforward uncomplicated literary style directly complimented the mindless activity I strove to accomplish. This is not to say that I thought the book uninteresting or boring in any way. On the contrary, the storyline moves along, albeit the pre-historical plotline jars pathetically with the author's modern jargon leaving the reader no choice but to roll one's eyes upward in utter amazement at the blatant inconsistency.
In a nutshell, the plot revolves around a somewhat undefined 'game' at which a labyrinth plays an integral part in protecting the city in which it is located. With the anger of a spurned woman, Ariadne of Crete beseiges her half-man half-bull brother Asterion to teach her the dark ways that will help her destroy the power of the labyrinth after Theseus throws her over for her younger sister. Of course, as mistress of the labyrinth, she leaves a backdoor for herself and her female progeny--a way in which to recreate the game in a future time and reclaim her power. Approximately 100 years later, Ariadne's heir Genvesa is all but ready, however she needs a King man to help her dance the mystical powers of the game back into being and forever trap Asterion in the center of the maze. Trojan Brutus, adept at the game, is her man and through a series of ploys and adventures, Genvesa lures him from Greece to the misty land of Albion--the southern portion of the British Isles. One crucial problem arises to snag Genvesa's plans when Brutus impulsively takes Cornelia, the daughter of a conquered king, as his wife and drags her along on his quest for the promised land of New Troy. In Albion, Genvesa has all but destroyed the old god and goddess that ruled the island. When the Albion mother goddess, Mag, Genvesa's chief foe, hides within Cornelia, Genvesa's plans to reconstruct the game are almost permanently foiled.
As you can imagine, this tale is long and fraught with the machinations of all characters who seek either self-preservation or the heady power of pure domination. Douglass cleverly combines many myths to support her premise and to bring alive the baser natures of her creations. However trite, there is sex, gore and raw emotion galore, so much so that I found myself wincing with disgust at many of the too descriptive passages enlightening the reader to scenes of birth, death and utter savagery. The characters seem to be intentionally crafted as archetypes like the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece rather than real fleshed out personas. Brutus lives only for the power of kingship and possession of Genvesa. Cornelia, raped and torn from her family and country, somehow improbably forgets her grief and yearns for love from her brutal husband. Genvesa connives with a hallowe'en witch's malevolence while the rest of the cast are simply not finely drawn enough to not be categorized as either good or evil. All characters are either blighted with trite dialogue or overly long-winded emotional explosions.
Bottom line: While the story will keep your attention, none of the characters are subtle enough to capture your emotions; they are stylized shadows which at times fail to elicit much response other than a shrug and a turn of the page. The literary style fails to recreate a feel for ancient times, rather it attributes modern day sensibilities to otherwise primordial savages. I don't know if I will read the second volume of this trilogy unless I could again listen to it while I engaged in something physically challenging.
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