What an interesting review! I came over from Bookish cause I thought for a moment I'd actually read this book - but hadn't. I think it will be an interesting read, putting it on my wishlist now :)
I saw this at Context -- I don't know if they were doing an advance run there, or if it had already come out -- and was put off by the present tense. =/ It was advertised back-to-back with Matt Cook's Blood Magic -- I read the sample of that one and immediately went to the dealer room to buy it. Terrific book, especially for a first novel. I really wanted to like Amberlight, and from what you've described it sounds a lot more interesting than I'd even thought (and I thought it was interesting from the beginning), but something about the voice didn't click with me. I get you on it being difficult to identify exactly what's off in cases like this. But she seems to be doing very well with the book critic-wise, which is good for her and Juno.
I'm so glad to hear your praise of BLOOD MAGIC, because I keep seeing it in stores but the premise never grabbed me. So cool. I'll pick it up next time I'm out. I've got quite a few JUNO titles on my private wishlist, and I'm hoping to read more stuff.
About the present tense, yeah. And you KNOW how much I love present tense. For it to irk me says something. But I'm glad I stuck with the book. Cool stuff. :)
Blood Magic might be the best book I read last year, and certainly the freshest take on the kind of thing it does. I understand completely about the premise not grabbing you -- I wouldn't have picked it up if I hadn't just experimentally read the sample while in the hotel. But it's really excellent. Curious what you'll think of it when you read it, so I'll watch out here for the review. :)
It's going to be hard for me to choose an exact line up, but next time I buy new books I'm definitely ordering this. I love exploring different fantasy societies, and this one is practically screaming for me.
I haven't read much matriarchal fantasy, so I'm even more interested in this. Present tense prose or not. I'll report back with my thoughts once I've read it!
You know, I think I would actually be very interested in reading this as well. I'm interested in the different cultures and traditions of different places, which is also why I like to travel a lot. Books however, are better than travelling because not only does it cost less, you actually get to travel to places that are not even on Earth.
However, I digress (sorry about that). I meant to say that I would definitely be reading this book the next time I see it in any of my local book stores. I'm a bit broke now, but I'll buy it when I see it. Thanks for the review!
What a great review! You said exactly what I would have said, but much better. I very nearly didn't make it through the first 10 pages because of the struggle with the grammatical structure. My sister didn't make it through. I think that first paragraph, dripping with adjectives and incomplete sentences, may put off many readers! I did persevere, though, and like you found the story to be both intriguing and interesting. Unexpected. Difficult in spots. Original in plot. I wouldn't call it feminist per se--just the role reversal you noted but not about changing the role so much. I didn't get the buzz from it as I did after finishing Sheri Tepper's _Gibbon's Decline and Fall_, for example--after that one it took 2 days before I stopped snapping at my husband! And I think you would like Brust a lot. Start with _Jhereg_ rather than _Dzur_, though.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who had a problem with the style. I wonder if the sequel will be written in the same way. Probably will be, but I hope it's a smoother read.
People keep recommending Brust to me, and I don't trust them. Every time I look at Brust's covers, like DZUR, it looks like "man-fantasy". What's so special about his books? Why should they catch my interest? And since you're the first people to recommend a book other than DZUR, why should I read that one instead? :)
Hi, Shara. I forgot to mention in my first post that I found your review via LibraryThing--I'd just gotten a box of books back from my sister and was changing the tags on them to reflect that they were back home. Because of my ambivalent feelings toward _Amberlight_, I looked for reviews and that led to your full review on LiveJournal. I actually created an account there just so I could respond! But that means I haven't read anything else you have written or know your tastes at all outside of your comments in that review
( ... )
So I take it JHEREG is the first in the series? I might give him a shot one day, but I don't know when. I've got a ton of stuff to read, including my first ever Emma Bull book (TERRITORY), so it might take a while. :) Thanks for the recommendation though. :)
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Thanks!
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When you get around to reading it, let me know. I'd love to hear your thoughts! :)
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About the present tense, yeah. And you KNOW how much I love present tense. For it to irk me says something. But I'm glad I stuck with the book. Cool stuff. :)
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I haven't read much matriarchal fantasy, so I'm even more interested in this. Present tense prose or not. I'll report back with my thoughts once I've read it!
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However, I digress (sorry about that). I meant to say that I would definitely be reading this book the next time I see it in any of my local book stores. I'm a bit broke now, but I'll buy it when I see it. Thanks for the review!
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People keep recommending Brust to me, and I don't trust them. Every time I look at Brust's covers, like DZUR, it looks like "man-fantasy". What's so special about his books? Why should they catch my interest? And since you're the first people to recommend a book other than DZUR, why should I read that one instead? :)
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So I take it JHEREG is the first in the series? I might give him a shot one day, but I don't know when. I've got a ton of stuff to read, including my first ever Emma Bull book (TERRITORY), so it might take a while. :) Thanks for the recommendation though. :)
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