Review, The Last Rune series.
Title: The Last Rune (series name)
Author: Mark Anthony
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Bantam Spectra and Earthlight
Rating: PG-13 (or older really)
Links: Author's official Site.
Your Rating: ☆☆☆/5
URL or LJ-cut:
How could I go past a book with this as a prologue title?
BROTHER CY'S APOCALYPTIC
TRAVELLING SALVATION SHOW
I'm a big fan of fantasy books even though the 'fantastic' elements, the 'unreal' reality of some books tends to really get up my nose. Although it feels very inspired by other fantasy series like LOTR and the like, the details of the 'other' medieval, more magical world (Eldh) come across in a way that you can 'see' this world existing as much as the dusty town one of the characters comes from in 'our' world. I'm sure I've read somewhere that the writer has studied archaeology or history. His knowledge of the era he's setting his books in shows. This other world isn't idealised or sanitised, the people there can't understand concepts that the more modern characters can and vice versa. It isn't presented as a place of escape from this world or technology, there are issues in both worlds, problems and bad guys in both that reflect each one.
The first few chapters and the main two characters are from 'our' world. As a reader we are aware that something is going on, the language the writer uses and the introduction to the weird goings on are not a jolt to us and connect the two realities for us in a way that the characters aren't just picked up and plonked into this Mysterious World. If this had turned into one of those Fish Out Of Water stories, it would have been put down immediately. A childhood of Disney versions of that story have put me off.
I can't even remember when I got the first book of this series (Beyond the Pale), I think it must have been well before I ever heard the term Mary Sue because I never quite figured out what was so annoying about the main character Grace until the second book. She started out quite all right as a character and by the time she turned into a Sue I'd already been hooked by the book so it was far to late. That is one of my only complaints of this series so far (only just started 5th book Gates of Winter) so it can't be that big of a problem for the books.
One of the big reasons I like this series so much is the treatment of the characters, they feel more important than the plot being driven behind them. There are a lot of characters that I would didn't disappear from the plot, but I do have two books to go. They may turn up again. The sexuality of a few characters could have become a soapy disaster for the books but it avoids being preachy or any overt melodrama. Personally I appreciate the change from wall to wall hetro characters. It is explored by certain characters, more than simply a detail about their personalities.
Each character has their backstory, which is alluded to even if it's never mentioned or necessary for the plot. The small characters who have plot turning significance aren't turning said plot 'just because' but due to their own view of the situation, I like the sense of width it gives the book. The traditional Group O'Travelers personalities, even though they are a group who travel together, are not in their usual positions. The Old Wizard, dies before we even know who he is, removing much of The Aprentice/Frodo storyline that would make this too predictable and a bit derivative. The Warriors, Princesses, Gods and Evil Minions are all there too, they haven't annoyed me by being 2D or there simply for the sake of the plot.
I'd love to have a discussion with anyone who's read the book, I Discuss better than I Review. =D
Author: Mark Anthony
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Bantam Spectra and Earthlight
Rating: PG-13 (or older really)
Links: Author's official Site.
Your Rating: ☆☆☆/5
URL or LJ-cut:
How could I go past a book with this as a prologue title?
BROTHER CY'S APOCALYPTIC
TRAVELLING SALVATION SHOW
I'm a big fan of fantasy books even though the 'fantastic' elements, the 'unreal' reality of some books tends to really get up my nose. Although it feels very inspired by other fantasy series like LOTR and the like, the details of the 'other' medieval, more magical world (Eldh) come across in a way that you can 'see' this world existing as much as the dusty town one of the characters comes from in 'our' world. I'm sure I've read somewhere that the writer has studied archaeology or history. His knowledge of the era he's setting his books in shows. This other world isn't idealised or sanitised, the people there can't understand concepts that the more modern characters can and vice versa. It isn't presented as a place of escape from this world or technology, there are issues in both worlds, problems and bad guys in both that reflect each one.
The first few chapters and the main two characters are from 'our' world. As a reader we are aware that something is going on, the language the writer uses and the introduction to the weird goings on are not a jolt to us and connect the two realities for us in a way that the characters aren't just picked up and plonked into this Mysterious World. If this had turned into one of those Fish Out Of Water stories, it would have been put down immediately. A childhood of Disney versions of that story have put me off.
I can't even remember when I got the first book of this series (Beyond the Pale), I think it must have been well before I ever heard the term Mary Sue because I never quite figured out what was so annoying about the main character Grace until the second book. She started out quite all right as a character and by the time she turned into a Sue I'd already been hooked by the book so it was far to late. That is one of my only complaints of this series so far (only just started 5th book Gates of Winter) so it can't be that big of a problem for the books.
One of the big reasons I like this series so much is the treatment of the characters, they feel more important than the plot being driven behind them. There are a lot of characters that I would didn't disappear from the plot, but I do have two books to go. They may turn up again. The sexuality of a few characters could have become a soapy disaster for the books but it avoids being preachy or any overt melodrama. Personally I appreciate the change from wall to wall hetro characters. It is explored by certain characters, more than simply a detail about their personalities.
Each character has their backstory, which is alluded to even if it's never mentioned or necessary for the plot. The small characters who have plot turning significance aren't turning said plot 'just because' but due to their own view of the situation, I like the sense of width it gives the book. The traditional Group O'Travelers personalities, even though they are a group who travel together, are not in their usual positions. The Old Wizard, dies before we even know who he is, removing much of The Aprentice/Frodo storyline that would make this too predictable and a bit derivative. The Warriors, Princesses, Gods and Evil Minions are all there too, they haven't annoyed me by being 2D or there simply for the sake of the plot.
I'd love to have a discussion with anyone who's read the book, I Discuss better than I Review. =D