Rating: 
Summary: Unbelievably boring.
Review: This has to be one of the worst books I've ever read. The blurb on the back cover made it sound exciting, with a fortune teller showing the main character that she had a vital part to play in the future of the world. First of all, the fortune teller didn't come into the picture until almost 100 pages into the book. Then, the fortune she read was so vague and confusing, I couldn't even tell what was meant by it. Finally, not only was the blurb on the back of the book in no way relevant to the story, but neither was the title. Nowhere in the entire book can the main character be considered heroic. She never actually DOES anything. She just allows herself to be swept along by events. Throughout the story, nothing she does is important in terms of affecting anything in terms of "the world". Not only that, but she is just an annoying character. She is always whining about her plight, yet she never even tries to better it. She is a very static character throughout the story. Not once does she stand up for herself.I think what I liked even less about the book is the fact that there was no semblance of a plot. For 450 pages, the author goes on an on with, as far as I could tell, no ultimate goal in mind. Due to this, there is no climax or resolution, unless you consider a resolution to be, "they rode of into the sunset and lived happily ever after". If this book is any indication of Tanith Lee's writing style, I will never pick up another one of her books again.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent book in an interesting world
Review: This is not a tale of a world changing sword-slinger or magic-wielder. It is an well told story of a girl turning woman in a difficult time. She misses several early opportunities to seize control of her life, but then how many people do you know who are actually in control of thier lives? Especially while still teenagers. Most people just drift along. Our heroine isn't Joan of Arc, but she does endure many trials and tribulations (some of which would drive many to suicide or severe depresion); and learns from them. And she is important to world events and is in the front row for more. Eventually, she aquires enough information and strength of personality to proceed along the path she wants and to recognize and live with the consequences of that choice. And unlike Joan, she waits until she has a chance to survive her choice.
Rating:
Summary: Lacking
Review: While the wording and description are impressive, the story itself is without plot, and meanders too much. I was also dissapointed with Aradia, as she never used her place within the events described to do anything of any importance, getting carried along like so much exces baggage. If you need something to send you to sleep, this would be my recomendation.
Rating: 
Summary: One of my most compelling reads!
Review: You either "get" Tanith Lee or you don't--it's that simple. If you're looking for an action-packed, sword-weilding, Conanesque adventure (not that there's anything wrong with that--I like my Conanesques just fine), this is the wrong book. If you're looking for a compelling, sweeping epic with grand vistas, politics, intrigue, and beautiful writing, this is the right book. This book, set in almost-19th century Russia, has stayed with me for 7 years, and I must say that it's one of the best fantasies I've ever read despite--or maybe even because of--its different focus and scope. There are few books out there that I really wish that I have written. This is one of them.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable and Complicated
Review: _A Heroine of the World_ follows a young girl from the sack of her home city into an uncertain and violent world. Although naturally passive, she's forced by circumstance into becoming a woman who is able to act on her own behalf. Unique in the fantasy genre in that it refuses to compromise and fall into cliches. Politics are murky and there's no clear good or evil. True love doesn't always run smoothly. The heroine isn't exceptionally anything except real. One of Lee's best. (And even her worst is pretty darn impressive.)
| 
