Chernevog

Rating:
Summary: This is by far the best series I've read by her.
Review: Chernevog, Rusalka, and Yvengie are the greatest books. I enjoyed the atmosphere. An old-time russian fairy-tale. This series pulled together bits of all folklore I know, and even taught me some things I wasn't aware of. The characters are likeable, even the truely evil ones. You can imagine where they are coming from and why it is they are acting like they are. Perhaps it is a bit predictable, but it's a fairy-tale.

Rating:
Summary: This is by far the best series I've read by her.
Review: Chernevog, Rusalka, and Yvengie are the greatest books. I enjoyed the atmosphere. An old-time russian fairy-tale. This series pulled together bits of all folklore I know, and even taught me some things I wasn't aware of. The characters are likeable, even the truely evil ones. You can imagine where they are coming from and why it is they are acting like they are. Perhaps it is a bit predictable, but it's a fairy-tale.

Rating:
Summary: Tried too hard to be something else.
Review: Cherryh is one of my favorite authors, but this book disappointed me. As a folk tale, or combination of many folk tales, it was interesting, and the exotic, tsarist Russian location was very appealing. I liked the way the author brought together many magical beasts and beings, most of which would be unknown to a Western reader. However, the characters spend too much time arguing, worrying, and talking at each other about their anxieties, and they never really get around to interacting. The theme seemed to be something to do with "be careful what you wish for" but the lesson was lost in the confusion. The bad guys weren't so much evil as conflicted characters, and even they spent a lot of time justifying their actions and feelings to the others. In short, there was just too much talk! Most folk tales have good and evil and the line between them is broad and obvious; but in this book, everyone seemed to be on the same side. It made the story plodding and not much fun to read. I'm not sure whether Cherryh was trying to write a different kind of fairy tale, or had some other target in mind, but she didn't make it work.

Rating:
Summary: Tried too hard to be something else.
Review: Cherryh is one of my favorite authors, but this book disappointed me. As a folk tale, or combination of many folk tales, it was interesting, and the exotic, tsarist Russian location was very appealing. I liked the way the author brought together many magical beasts and beings, most of which would be unknown to a Western reader. However, the characters spend too much time arguing, worrying, and talking at each other about their anxieties, and they never really get around to interacting. The theme seemed to be something to do with "be careful what you wish for" but the lesson was lost in the confusion. The bad guys weren't so much evil as conflicted characters, and even they spent a lot of time justifying their actions and feelings to the others. In short, there was just too much talk! Most folk tales have good and evil and the line between them is broad and obvious; but in this book, everyone seemed to be on the same side. It made the story plodding and not much fun to read. I'm not sure whether Cherryh was trying to write a different kind of fairy tale, or had some other target in mind, but she didn't make it work.

Rating:
Summary: A good read
Review: Cherryh sets the book in old Russia and explores the old admonition, "Be careful what you wish for. You may get it." The characters spend much time worrying over unintended consequences of disturbing nature and run afoul of situations and villains as a result. Their indecision is often painful to them and readers alike. The characters are well developed and the story interesting. My only regret is that I can read faster than she writes.

Rating:
Summary: A good read
Review: Cherryh sets the book in old Russia and explores the old admonition, "Be careful what you wish for. You may get it." The characters spend much time worrying over unintended consequences of disturbing nature and run afoul of situations and villains as a result. Their indecision is often painful to them and readers alike. The characters are well developed and the story interesting. My only regret is that I can read faster than she writes.

Rating:
Summary: not her best work
Review: I had read tripoint, and so bought this book since I had liked the other one. I found chernevog to be virtually unreadable. Perhaps that is why it is out of print, even though she is a popular author. It was boring, and really didnt make much sense. Once in a while it seemes she had a potential plot, or the seeming villian might get interesting, but the she ababndons even that. Skip this one, try tripoint, or stuff in that world.