A Dark Horn Blowing

Rating:
Summary: Everyone should read this book!!!!
Review: 'A Dark Horn Blowing' is the kind of book that is impossible to put down. The characters are described in such detail that I can relate to them, and understand how they feel, even though I have never been in their position. The main reason that I enjoyed this book is because it showed how each character was feeling about the same (or almost the same) situation. I knew exactly what the setting looked like from the author's explainations. I love the descriptions of Ornhest, the horse. I adore all the characters, Owen, Eelie, Eben, and especially Nora. She shows strength and loyalty. Owen is brave and Eelie is sure of himself. Eben wishes only for the best. I wish that there were a dozen books like this one!

Rating:
Summary: A Great Find
Review: After reading the other reviews of this is book and the book itself this I have concluded: I myself throughly enjoyed this wonderfully written book. I found the changing point of views shows the story in many different and always interesting ways. Ipcar weaves a web of fantasy and enchantment. The many worlds in this book open the doors left closed in many other fantasy books. Your mind is twisted in many ways as you live the life of the characters. I think this book fits the taste of teenagers and not so much the adults. language that Ipcar uses fasinates the younger readers but may be dull for others allthough I do suggest trying it. Others may dissagree but I enjoyed every page I read of this book.

Rating:
Summary: Rather disappointing
Review: I first read this book when I was a teenager, nearly two decades ago. The plot is a melding of folksongs and ballads: A young wife is stolen to be nursemaid to the child of the evil king of elfland, leaving behind a beloved husband and newborn baby. Nora hates her situation but she pities the elf-queen and her weak child and gives him all the love she yearns to give her lost baby. This selflessness is rewarded when her foster child learns human love in spite of his father. This love will save both of them from the elf-king's cruelty. Unfortunately for most readers the language *is* lyrical, owing more in its rhythms and word-choices to old ballads than to modern prose. The characters are archetypes rather than individuals: A Dark Horn Blowing is driven by setting, mood and plot rather than by an in-depth exploration of character. Fans of the mythopoeic, however, will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: An unusual book
Review: I first read this book when I was a teenager, nearly two decades ago. The plot is a melding of folksongs and ballads: A young wife is stolen to be nursemaid to the child of the evil king of elfland, leaving behind a beloved husband and newborn baby. Nora hates her situation but she pities the elf-queen and her weak child and gives him all the love she yearns to give her lost baby. This selflessness is rewarded when her foster child learns human love in spite of his father. This love will save both of them from the elf-king's cruelty. Unfortunately for most readers the language *is* lyrical, owing more in its rhythms and word-choices to old ballads than to modern prose. The characters are archetypes rather than individuals: A Dark Horn Blowing is driven by setting, mood and plot rather than by an in-depth exploration of character. Fans of the mythopoeic, however, will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Decent book, lousy ending
Review: I wanted so much to give _A Dark Horn Blowing_ at least three stars! It's based on a ballad, "The Fairy Queen's Nurse", and I always love books based on ballads, in general. Plus, the story was pretty decent most of the way; although the writing could get a little choppy and weirdly paced (Oops, three years just passed, and barely a sentence is given to it). I found it hard to get truly interested in any of the narrators, since they just seem to be Generically Nice People without many quirks or anything. The most three-dimensional character was the villainess Bab Magga. But all in all, it was going okay.

Then the ending approached. As the book progressed toward a climax, almost nothing seemed to work right for me as a reader. Eelie did a memory regression to figure out why he couldn't walk; his solution was so simple and obvious that he shouldn't have needed to meditate to get it. And then suddenly he knows this, and he can walk. All in about 2 pages. Also, and more importantly, a big and moving reunion scene between Nora, Owen, and Eben was being set up throughout the novel. Then, when it finally happens, whose POV are we reading it from? Eelie's, and he's watching from a distance. No emotional release. Argh. Then there is a long digression at the end that just seems to be Eelie going for a joyride. It's like someone told the author, "I need you to tack ten more pages onto the end."

_A Dark Hown Blowing_ could have been so good, but wasn't.

Rating:
Summary: Decent book, lousy ending
Review: I wanted so much to give _A Dark Horn Blowing_ at least three stars! It's based on a ballad, "The Fairy Queen's Nurse", and I always love books based on ballads, in general. Plus, the story was pretty decent most of the way; although the writing could get a little choppy and weirdly paced (Oops, three years just passed, and barely a sentence is given to it). I found it hard to get truly interested in any of the narrators, since they just seem to be Generically Nice People without many quirks or anything. The most three-dimensional character was the villainess Bab Magga. But all in all, it was going okay.

Then the ending approached. As the book progressed toward a climax, almost nothing seemed to work right for me as a reader. Eelie did a memory regression to figure out why he couldn't walk; his solution was so simple and obvious that he shouldn't have needed to meditate to get it. And then suddenly he knows this, and he can walk. All in about 2 pages. Also, and more importantly, a big and moving reunion scene between Nora, Owen, and Eben was being set up throughout the novel. Then, when it finally happens, whose POV are we reading it from? Eelie's, and he's watching from a distance. No emotional release. Argh. Then there is a long digression at the end that just seems to be Eelie going for a joyride. It's like someone told the author, "I need you to tack ten more pages onto the end."

_A Dark Hown Blowing_ could have been so good, but wasn't.

Rating:
Summary: wow! this is a true fantasy!
Review: when i first read this book i only put it down when my eyes couldn't stay open because i was so tired. but as soon as i woke up i had the book in hand again. i don't know why it did not get good reveiws, i think it is extremly well done. if you want a fantasy with good, evil, love, hate, strange creatures, and a compelling plot, this is the book to read.