I was just leafing through this prior to loaning it to a friend.
Humorous, with some truly great entries (see: "Beer") but not brilliant. Will be lovedI was just leafing through this prior to loaning it to a friend.
Humorous, with some truly great entries (see: "Beer") but not brilliant. Will be loved by serious Diana Wynne Jones fans; I'm just not more than mildly tickled by her humor and writing style. Worth my browsing for chuckles, though....more
While not quite as entrancing as Magic Under Glass, this sequel contains many of the same elements--wonderfully gifted and flawed characters, a world While not quite as entrancing as Magic Under Glass, this sequel contains many of the same elements--wonderfully gifted and flawed characters, a world of varying countries conjured in words with delightful details, and of course a fascinating plot. Nimira and Erris go through more adventures and setbacks, new characters are introduced, secrets are revealed in good time, and the story is wrapped up not with all loose ends tied up into a bow but satisfyingly unfinished.
Highly recommended for fans of Magic Under Glass....more
A beautiful, original fantasy story with appeal for teens and adults alike. This cover is, I think, too fluffy for the story, which is not heavy but hA beautiful, original fantasy story with appeal for teens and adults alike. This cover is, I think, too fluffy for the story, which is not heavy but has an intensity and more than hints of darkness in it.
The romantic elements have just the right touch of sensuality to not set off warning bells in cautious parents but be a delight to teen and adult readers. There's also peril, loneliness, a character transformation that seems a bit contrived but not much, and that much-desired element, a strong but humanly flawed female heroine.
And the sequel is already out!
For teen (and adult!) fantasy, romance and steampunk fans....more
I'm not reading every story, just the ones that grab me. Alaya Dawn Johnson's brilliant fantasy-suspense story "Shard of Glass," Delia Sherman's joyouI'm not reading every story, just the ones that grab me. Alaya Dawn Johnson's brilliant fantasy-suspense story "Shard of Glass," Delia Sherman's joyous story of magic in suburbia "Walpurgis Afternoon," and "Neils Bohr and the Sleeping Dane" (a unique spin on the 'escape from the Nazis' trope) are my favorites. I also enjoyed my first story by Connie Willis, which ends the book with a clever story about skeptics investigating a channeler.
A fine range of well-written stories with a variety of writing styles and fantasy subgenres (including more than a few horror tales) so that at least some stories are bound to please any fantasy fan...more
This book is one of marvels, creating a world nearly like our own a hundred-twenty years or so ago. There's a sinister contest, endearing and satisfyiThis book is one of marvels, creating a world nearly like our own a hundred-twenty years or so ago. There's a sinister contest, endearing and satisfyingly dislikeable characters as well as a couple you're never sure about, and lush but not overwrought description. The stories woven in this novel nearly makie it a five-star winner, but like the reviewer who so irritated Chandresh in the story, I find this story "nearly transcendent." There's just a few pedestrian passages, a few twists of plot, that make this not-quite genius. But oh it is so close, and Morganstern clearly has the potential to reach that genius, and more than enough to engage a lover of excellent fantasy....more
Clearly I need to explore the world of online science fiction and fantasy further. This collection had a delicious array of inventive speculative fictClearly I need to explore the world of online science fiction and fantasy further. This collection had a delicious array of inventive speculative fiction. "Air and Angels" painted a gorgeously realized early-20th-century culture, "Snatch Me Another" was chillingly realistic in its portrayal of human abuse of a new multiple-universe technology, "First Rites" was pure beauty amidst the grittiness of the near future, and...explore all these stories for yourself. The stories are more imaginative and less formulaic than in most collections, due no doubt to the comparatively low overhead of online publishing. ...more
I enjoyed this book more than the previous one; I think because I'm not as interested in adventure scenes as character development, personality/socialI enjoyed this book more than the previous one; I think because I'm not as interested in adventure scenes as character development, personality/social issues, and the intricacies of groundwork. A solid ending to a story in an appealing, beautifully detailed world....more
I put this book under both "fantasy" and "realistic fiction" because much of it is so much a slice-of-ordinary-life in the 1980s. Yes, it is dated--reI put this book under both "fantasy" and "realistic fiction" because much of it is so much a slice-of-ordinary-life in the 1980s. Yes, it is dated--references to AIDS as a death sentence, fashionable decorating colors, cars, and pay phones. But much of it is timeless: a woman's mid-life crisis, family life, what love means in a long-standing marriage, mother-daughter tensions (hoo boy, have we got that!!) and...right, it is a fantasy too.
Our heroine can "doppelganger" people--draw out a younger or different aspect of that person's self. One day she somehow does it to herself--and throws her life and those around her into turmoil of an original and fascinating kind. There's gender-bending, gay male characters, a confused spouse, magic mixed with the ordinary, and many twists and turns.
Ms. Springer's writing style is plain-spoken while making wise choices in wording with only occasional false notes. I'd recommend this readers hankering for something *different,* particularly people over 30 and people who like their fantasy set in a present reality, populated by small-time artists and gay cowboys rather than dragons and fairies....more
I heard this author on a panel at a SF convention, and later heard Julia Rios interview him on an Outer Alliance podcast, and I was intrigued by RocheI heard this author on a panel at a SF convention, and later heard Julia Rios interview him on an Outer Alliance podcast, and I was intrigued by Rochelle's version of fairies.
The writing is sometimes awkward or pedestrian, but other times it swept me along. Point of view ("POV") changes frequently--usually several times per chapter. The POV person is listed in boldface at the head of each section, which helps avoid confusion, but I think fewer POV switches would have been better.
What really got to me in this story are the children. I found the four main child characters' personalities more developed than most of the adults', and they were more appealing also. That and the fairy aspects of the story, particularly the fairy-world, were my favorite bits and kept me reading the story.
I also appreciated Rochelle's detailed and respectful handling of various religions including Catholicism, and both 'white/good' and 'black/evil' Witchcraft.
I'm going to try the next book in the series to find out what happens, and because I think and hope the author's writing gifts will grow....more
Charming story of a young Regency-era woman who has a gift for using glamour (creating illusions using magic) but is considered too plain to be an attCharming story of a young Regency-era woman who has a gift for using glamour (creating illusions using magic) but is considered too plain to be an attractive marriage prospect.
Homage to Jane Austen without quite being slavishly so. The author's created a magic system that is intriguing, works well, and is beautifully integrated into the Regency England culture.
Writing style hits a few false notes but is generally appealing and flows well. The plot is appropriately paced and includes some unpredictable twists, and characters are less stereotypical than they may seem at first.
A fine first novel and an enjoyable title. ...more
I finally got back to this title, and am I glad I did! The plot took a little while to pick up, but then was pretty much off and running with all sortI finally got back to this title, and am I glad I did! The plot took a little while to pick up, but then was pretty much off and running with all sorts of intrigues and clues and red herrings. I figured out one large piece of the mystery almost immediately, but other than that I had a delightfully confused time trying to work out how all the other pieces fit in.
The character development was wonderful, especially in the later half of the book. We learn much more about Lord Akeldama, Lyall (one of my personal favorites) and others. Also, Alexia and Conall's romance continues to be realistically rocky and deliciously passionate in a loving way, especially considering Alexia's "condition." Which, incidentally, was handled with realism, quintessentially Alexian inner monologue (no end of amusing).
And then there's the hats, Lord A's delightful drones, the turbulent life of a werewolf pack in transition, Madame LeFoux, confused ghosts, and a web of clues, interpersonal connections, and other delightfulness.
I stayed up late to finish the book, reading the last one-third or so in a single sitting.
I'm eager to begin the final volume, though sad that it marks the end of this particular series....more
Beautiful, unique fairy-tale-like story of a goblin who hates himself because of his ugly face, but reaches out anonymously to help a grieving family.Beautiful, unique fairy-tale-like story of a goblin who hates himself because of his ugly face, but reaches out anonymously to help a grieving family. Leo and Diane Dillon's illustrations are marvelously drawn and colored as always, and fit the fairy-tale style. A lovely story to read to mature preschoolers and young elementary-school kids, with several subtly expressed messages....more
Charming fairy-tale-like story. Illustrations are oddly pretty. Good for "make pretend" fans. About right as a read-to for ages 4-6 or for 7-8 year olCharming fairy-tale-like story. Illustrations are oddly pretty. Good for "make pretend" fans. About right as a read-to for ages 4-6 or for 7-8 year olds to read on their own....more
I simply had to include this one even though I've only browsed it because it has every bit of little-girl appeal possible: Fairies! Music! A princess fI simply had to include this one even though I've only browsed it because it has every bit of little-girl appeal possible: Fairies! Music! A princess from another planet! Poofy dresses! The little girls are earnest, good-hearted and have the hugest eyes since Astro Boy.
Uber-junior-shojo manga with an extra dose of everything in the genre. I'd give it more of a read but I'm afraid I would go into sugar shock and need a massive infusion of Fullmetal Alchemist. ...more
I browsed the first few chapters only, but this looks like a well-written, interesting story. The main character is a girl who is actually a fairy. DoI browsed the first few chapters only, but this looks like a well-written, interesting story. The main character is a girl who is actually a fairy. Doesn't seem to be sexist, and the apparent touch of romance seems less important than the girl's gifts and adventures. Good fantasy-adventure for middle-school girls....more
I've fallen for this series. I'd already become a fan of Tomo Maeda after reading her first US-published manga, Beyond My Touch (adorable, humorous miI've fallen for this series. I'd already become a fan of Tomo Maeda after reading her first US-published manga, Beyond My Touch (adorable, humorous mild yaoi stories).
This one is primarily a supernatural story that takes place in a in a mythical (Eastern European?) country. The main characters (pictured on the cover are) a white-haired young priest (Fr. Shikimi) who battles "resurrected"--that is, recently-dead people who come back to terrorize the living, and Taki, a late-teen boy who comes to work off a debt his deceased father owed Fr. Shikimi.
Shikimi-sensei (as he's called in the manga) is lazy (except for reading and for exorcising resurrected) and keeps the grumbling yet efficient Taki working, setting up one of the many humorous bits. Little by little, Taki learns to battle resurrected and learns the many secrets behind Shikimi-sensei's life and the other people (plus an adorable puppy) who enter the picture.
The overall story is sweet and funny on one hand, intriguing and suspenseful also, and has only the smallest boys' love elements.
Artwork is clean and appealing in Maeda's unique style....more
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