Glenraven

Rating:
Summary: Extremely disappointing.
Review: ...What they got were Sophie, a woman who stopped living when her daughter died, and Jayjay, a woman who just left her third husband. The Machnan had poured all of their magic into creating an artifact that would call to someone who would be able to free them from Aidris Akalan, the evil Watchmistress who ate the magic of other people to stay eternally youthful and immortal. The artifact took the unlikely guise of a guidebook in a bookstore. When Jayjay picked it up, she thought it would be the perfect place to get away/hide until she could face the fact that she would be getting divorced for the third time by the time she was thirty-five years old. Sophie unexpectedly found herself wanting to go along too. But when they arrive at Glenraven, nothing is at it seems. Can they trust their tour guide or is he setting a trap so he can rob them? In trying to evade their "pursuers" they walk right into their enemies and stumble across a hidden revolution among the Alfkindir, the long-lived race that Aidris Akalan comes from. Matthiall is the leader of the revolution, but he is betrayed by one of the warrags, a wolf/dog hybrid that is unlike anything Jayjay and Sophie have seen before. As they flee Aidris' palace with Matthiall, they run into the other monsters, including the Watchers, the demons that Aidris Akalan has called forth out of the Rift to keep her immortal. When the ancient race of the Aregen get involved, things become even more complicated...

This is not really deep fantasy, but it is a very good light fantasy. The characters are well-drawn and the reader can empathize with them as they struggle to accomplish something that they didn't even know that they were supposed to accomplish. None of the creatures/people in the book are what they seem and this makes for some interesting plot twists as unexpected events are always happening. The idea of a Glenraven was quite fun as it is portrayed as another small European country that has gone overlooked for hundreds of years. Everything is still in a medieval setting and they are very insulated. This is just a fun, quick read that has a nice, happy ending. A great break from some of the heavier fantasy that is out there right now.

Rating:
Summary: The People of Glenraven Desperately Needed Some Heroes...
Review: ...What they got were Sophie, a woman who stopped living when her daughter died, and Jayjay, a woman who just left her third husband. The Machnan had poured all of their magic into creating an artifact that would call to someone who would be able to free them from Aidris Akalan, the evil Watchmistress who ate the magic of other people to stay eternally youthful and immortal. The artifact took the unlikely guise of a guidebook in a bookstore. When Jayjay picked it up, she thought it would be the perfect place to get away/hide until she could face the fact that she would be getting divorced for the third time by the time she was thirty-five years old. Sophie unexpectedly found herself wanting to go along too. But when they arrive at Glenraven, nothing is at it seems. Can they trust their tour guide or is he setting a trap so he can rob them? In trying to evade their "pursuers" they walk right into their enemies and stumble across a hidden revolution among the Alfkindir, the long-lived race that Aidris Akalan comes from. Matthiall is the leader of the revolution, but he is betrayed by one of the warrags, a wolf/dog hybrid that is unlike anything Jayjay and Sophie have seen before. As they flee Aidris' palace with Matthiall, they run into the other monsters, including the Watchers, the demons that Aidris Akalan has called forth out of the Rift to keep her immortal. When the ancient race of the Aregen get involved, things become even more complicated...

This is not really deep fantasy, but it is a very good light fantasy. The characters are well-drawn and the reader can empathize with them as they struggle to accomplish something that they didn't even know that they were supposed to accomplish. None of the creatures/people in the book are what they seem and this makes for some interesting plot twists as unexpected events are always happening. The idea of a Glenraven was quite fun as it is portrayed as another small European country that has gone overlooked for hundreds of years. Everything is still in a medieval setting and they are very insulated. This is just a fun, quick read that has a nice, happy ending. A great break from some of the heavier fantasy that is out there right now.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, to say the least
Review: A very good book, this is one of Ms. Bradley's best. She creates a world that I would love to visit....

Rating:
Summary: A fun jaunt for fantasy lovers
Review: Anyone who loves fantasy will love this novel. The characters are fresh and vivd, and Jay was a great example of a modern day woman with emotional scars. Her interacticon with her friend Sophie was very believable, not wish-washy un-flinching loyalty and love like in so many other novels. But best of all were the fanciful character. The Machan, the Kin, and the Machan are all wonderful characters and attest to the fantastic merrit of both Bradley and Lisle. Wonderful Novel. A must read.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely disappointing.
Review: Goes into detail on the torture death of children while their mother watches, when no detail was needed. Gruesome, disgusting, not at all like other books by Bradley. Get this only if you enjoy creep-out violence for its own sake.

Rating:
Summary: You have to read this book!
Review: I am not usually a fan of science fiction, but when I read the jacket of this book, I admit I was intrigued. When I started reading this book, I found myself enthralled and I couldn't put it down! All I can say now is ---Where's the sequel!?!?!

Rating:
Summary: I finished Glenraven.....WOW
Review: I finished Glenraven.....WOW....I couldn't start another book right away because it was still running through my mind. I recomend it to all. I'm waiting very impatiently for the next one

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: I have made a point of reading everything that MZB has written--even the OLD, out of print stuff--and while I have occasionally been disappointed with her works, I have never been so let down as by Glenraven. The Characters were some of the shallowest I have ever encountered, and the plot was banal-to say the least. I was also rather put off by the graphic and seemingly gratuotous nature of some of the violence--not usual for MZB. It seemed that the authors were trying to make up for a multitude of plot flaws by overwhelming the reader with adjectives. If this is the planned jump-off for a series, I would recommend leaving Glenraven forever locked within it bland, if magical, borders.

Rating:
Summary: pretty (...)good
Review: i love marion zimmer bradly and really enjoy her writing style and glenraven was no exception. while this book may not be for hard core fantasy fanatics this is really a very entertainable book with witty, charming characters that often had me laughing and thinking "that's just what i'd say."

jayjay is a woman watching her third marriage fall apart when she finds a fodor's guide to glenraven, supposedly a small country in europe, and decides that's just the place for her much needed get away. her friend sophie who is still reeling from her daughter's death asks to come along. but glenraven is no small, obscure country in europe, it's another world that's dying because its thousand year old watchmistress is sucking the land dry. these unlikely heroes are like your best friend from high school and you find yourself smiling often throughout this work.

it's not a fantasy epic but instead a light hearted read that's just pretty damn good and begs to be read. there is a sequel which i am currently on which follows the same pattern of witty characters. i would definetly advise anyone to give this book a try for something alittle light and fun.

Rating:
Summary: OK, but not great
Review: I thought this book was only average, especially for MZB, who's written much better stuff. I think it would have worked better as a series of 3 books or so - I didn't think enough time went into developing the characters, especially Matthiall, because things were moving so fast. But all in all it was quite enjoyable reading.