Rating: Summary: A wonderfully magical, pathos-ridden book Review: August Hunt made me feel the wonder and horror of what a "real" fantasy world could be like. I rarely experience this level of joy and anxiety when reading. And there is a poetic sensibility one does not usually encounter. Was Mr. Hunt a poet in a previous life? I whole-heartedly recommend this book.
Rating: Summary: A wonderfully magical, pathos-ridden book Review: August Hunt made me feel the wonder and horror of what a "real" fantasy world could be like. I rarely experience this level of joy and anxiety when reading. And there is a poetic sensibility one does not usually encounter. Was Mr. Hunt a poet in a previous life? I whole-heartedly recommend this book.
Rating: Summary: The Goddess Proclaims... Review: Doomstone is a book that I am not only going to want to read three or four times, butmaybe even study. Sure, no one wants to study a fiction novel. I mean, fiction is meant as escapism, right? And there is more than enough escapism in Hunt's yarn. I am, however, sensing deeper currents, shaded meanings, symbols within symbols. Hunt is a first-class fantasy novelist. And he is also something of the philosopher. If you like substance with your fluff, this one is, well, divine!
Rating: Summary: Move over Gandalf Review: Has anyone noticed that despite its greatness, a lot of the characters in Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring are really shallowly depicted? Well, if you want a wizard whose worth his salt (and some gold thrown in), check out Ashroud in August Hunt's fine novel, Doomstone. Are we going to see more of him, Mr. Hunt? Or is he going to make a disappearing act and leave us hanging? 5 HUGE stars.
Rating: Summary: Move over Gandalf Review: Has anyone noticed that despite its greatness, a lot of the characters in Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring are really shallowly depicted? Well, if you want a wizard whose worth his salt (and some gold thrown in), check out Ashroud in August Hunt's fine novel, Doomstone. Are we going to see more of him, Mr. Hunt? Or is he going to make a disappearing act and leave us hanging? 5 HUGE stars.
Rating: Summary: "Where's the beef?" Review: I have been reading fantasy fiction probably longer than most of the reviewers here have been alive. Either they have never read good fantasy before or they do not know what good writing is. To give this story five stars is ridiculous. The writer has provided no character development, no continuity, and frankly the story is just plain boring.
Rating: Summary: Really great book! Review: I'd never heard of this author before, which is a shame, because he's excellent! I can only think of a handfull of books I've read over the last several years that managed to convincingly create a richly textured imaginary world. Someone needs to let people know about August Hunt and I hope that his novel does well enough so that he is encouraged to write a second one. If there are any "best fantasy" lists out there, Mr. Hunt should be put near the top.
Rating: Summary: Taneypa rules! Review: If you are tired of either limp fantasy heroines or ones that are simply too militaristic or "anti-male", try on Taneypa for size. I propose we name a rock band after her! She's mean, profound, of otherworldly beauty, and carries an attitude that can kill or enslave a man's heart. She is a "sweet-singer", which means that she can sing spells that effect other people and Nature as well. But she can also sing songs of "two meanings". These seem to convey one meaning, but in fact cause the opposite to happen. The entire book is punctuated (between chapters, chapter sections and other divisions)with her poems or songs. In my opinion, the author's portrayal of Taneypa lends a whole new dimension to the "elf woman" type found in modern literature.
Rating: Summary: Taneypa rules! Review: If you are tired of either limp fantasy heroines or ones that are simply too militaristic or "anti-male", try on Taneypa for size. I propose we name a rock band after her! She's mean, profound, of otherworldly beauty, and carries an attitude that can kill or enslave a man's heart. She is a "sweet-singer", which means that she can sing spells that effect other people and Nature as well. But she can also sing songs of "two meanings". These seem to convey one meaning, but in fact cause the opposite to happen. The entire book is punctuated (between chapters, chapter sections and other divisions)with her poems or songs. In my opinion, the author's portrayal of Taneypa lends a whole new dimension to the "elf woman" type found in modern literature.
Rating: Summary: The poetry of good and evil Review: Is this guy Hunt a poet? He must've been, before he became a wonderful fantasy writer. There are passages so beautiful they took my breath away. Really! And then he has these sections between chapters, etc., that evoke such wonder I could only marvel. Will be show me more of these lands and peoples he has fashioned. Oh, I hope so! Some readers might find this book too dark, but Hunt has lightened it up enough so that we don't become too gloomy. [I must confess that my favorite character was the irthmog. He added a nice comic touch without sinking to the level of juvenile comic relief.] Spread with word about this writer. He deserves to be known. I don't want him to go away, but be here to entertain us for years to come.
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