Customer Reviews (1)

Short story collection by feminist author
These are a collection of short stories from feminist author Elizabeth A. Lynn, author of numerous science fiction and fantasy novels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a Jewish family deals with hidden truths
Itis a shame this book is out-of-print, because it is a marvelous story.The author, Elizabeth Klein, tells the story of an extended secular Jewish family whose carefully structured world is shattered when the college-age son of one of the families runs away on Christmas Day.This causes everyone in the family to reexamine themselves and their lives, facing the difficult past and the more difficult future.Religion, God, and the lack thereof play an important part of the story, as do the meanings of words and silence.I heard the author read a selection of this book shortly after its publication, and the power of connections between family members who have chosen different paths has always remained with me.I highly recommend this title if you can find it! ... Read more

Product Description
Propelled by environmental, ethical and health reasons, today's teens are turning to vegetarianism in record numbers. This book offers them a comprehensive guide to everything from family pressures and social situations to recipes, resources, and famous veggies through history. Helpful, practical, and non-dogmatic, it's an ideal introduction for new vegetarians on how to cope in a carnivorous world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fancy quotes, little substance
I found this book a good introduction to the world of vegetarianism, but highly superficial.There are good quotes throughout the book from famous people who became vegetarian and some nice recipes in the back. Unfortunately, the book is more politically oriented with one-sided viewsof how delightful it is to be a vegetarian and different stand-up to ameat-eating society.The book fails to talk indepth about healthy issuesand concerns that the vegetarian/vegan should be aware of and focuses toomuch on accounts given by people not in the health or dietary fields.

A great book, especially if you're a young vegetarian.
This book should have been called "All you Ever Wanted to Know About Vegetarianism (But Were Afraid to Ask)". If you're a vegetarian trying to cope with well-meaning carnivores (e.g. "Are you getting enough protein, dear?"), this book will tell you what to do. After reading it, leave it in a conspicuous place so that a non-vegetarian can read it. Fears about dietary deficiencies will be allayed, and understanding will be gained as to why some people don't eat meat. It's written in a friendly, non-accusatory manner, so meat-eaters will be able to read it and learn without having a guilt trip laid on them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

One of the best romance books i've ever read!
I love this book. It was long, but I've read it in three days. Hayes was such a strong character. He's the kind of man I want. Leigh was great. Though sometimes, I just don't agree at what she did.Like trying to deny her feelings for Hayes. I never wanted it to end. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best Historical Romance I have EVER read!!!!!
I read this book may years ago.It was one of the first Historical Romance novels I ever read.It is also the best.I have read well over 3,000 different Historical Romance novels, and this is still my favorite ofall time.I am sure I must have read this book well over a dozen times. It still can make me cry.That is the sign of a truly wonderful book. Even though you already know how the story will end, it can still bring atear to you eye, and you are truly sorry to turn the last page of the book. That is how I feel everytime I have read this book!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
When a bride disappears and her handmaid is murdered hours before a marriage ceremony that is to heal the rift between the noble houses of de Torre and Bandini, Sigismondo and his sidekick, Benno, spring into action. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An excellent mystery
'Death of the Duchess' is the first novel by Elizabeth Eyre, which is the pen name of two London-based authors, Jill Staynes and Margaret Storey, who also write under the pseudonym of Susannah Stacey for another mystery series.

This novel is the first of a series, and it introduces the main detective character, Sigismondo, a shadowy, moral character of the early Renaissance in Italy. Sigismondo has an unknown background, high in mystery, travel, education, and experience. Equally at home among the street urchins and the courtiers, the politicos and the clerics, he seems to move with ease to find the information he's seeking, and acts with skill (both physical and intellectual) to avoid or, when avoidance doesn't work, escape problematic situations.

Sigismondo is joined by Benno, a character reminiscent of Sancho in Don Quixote. Benno provides support, a 'talking point' (much like Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes), and a bit of comic relief.

The story begins with a kidnapping. There is a long-standing feud between the di Torres family and the Bandini family, both noble families whose continuing feud threatens to destabilise the region. The handmaiden of the kidnapped daughter is discovered dead. As the story progresses, the duchess herself is discovered stabbed to death during a wedding feast, and accusations fly back and forth between di Torres and Bandini family members.

Sigismondo, not one to take anything presented at face value, searches neighbouring villages, monastic centres, and noble houses to search for the truth behind the kidnapping (which seems odd, given the state of preparedness of the house, which seemed set up to be ripe for a kidnapping) and the murder of the duchess, a bold act to take place in the midst of a crowded house during a banquet by a member of the Bandini clan who was bound to be recognised and caught.

During the course of his investigation, in which Sigismondo shows himself witty, skillful, a master of disguise and of discerning subtrefuge and double-dealing, he discovers cracks in the supposedly loyal internal family structures, which serves to heighten the mystery and intrigue. Is the kidnapper also a murderer? To what end was the daughter really kidnapped? Was the marriage between the duke and duchess of Rocca as faithful and happy as had been publicly presented?

In the end, Sigismondo puts together a strange alliance of enemies who had been set against each other to uphold an unlikely ruler and thus solve the mystery, which impacts on the larger ambitions of foreign princes--but, I get ahead of myself here. I mustn't give everything away.

One of the things that makes Eyre's story so appealling is the attention to detail, both in physical description and in political and psychological motivation. Great care has been taken to thoroughly immerse the reader in Renaissance Italy, and Eyre's research has been very good to discover details of menu, house operation, church and monastic life, city life, and minor family political nuances. (The book is dedicated to Niccolo Machiavelli, of fond memory.)

Complete with a down-to-the-wire, suspenseful conclusion, this is a great story, and a perfect introduction of characters who continue in other alliterative mysteries such as 'Poison for the Prince' and 'Curtains for the Cardinal'.

'Buon Giorno' to a Good Read!
Historical mysterieshave seemed to appear with a leap and a bound over the past several years, due to the amazing fascination that readers have with this genre. And Elizabeth Eyre's contribution in 1991 with "Death ofthe Duchess" is a welcomed--and respected--inclusion. The first ofthe series, "Duchess" introduces us to Sigismondo, an independent solver ofcrimes.Set during the Italian Renaissance, the book quickly captivatesthe reader as the daring Sigismondo is commissioned to find out where anabducted daughter of a local aristocrat.The daughter is from one of theleading families of duchy (a di Torre) and it is suspected she is thevictim of a plot by the other leading family, the Bandini, due to anages-old hatred.Earlier, the daughter, Lady Cosima, had been betrothed toyoung Leandro Bandini, as per the Duke's command so that the feud could beended once and for all.

Not that it is so easy, however, for theDuke's own wife is found murdered in her chamber.Young Leandro is foundunconscious in her chamber and it appears that he is guilty of the crime. Thus, the plot unravels at an alarming rate from this point on.Theauthors introduces us to all kinds of people, and red herrings and otherpoints of confusion abound.It is left up to Sigismondo to solve themystery and to restore peace once more to the duchy.

A man of mysteryhimself, the muscular (and handsome) Sigismondo is also quite intelligent,witty, and capable of taking care of himself in the martial arts (a true'Renaissance Man').He early on picks up Benno, a slow-witted ragamuffin,as his assistant and servant.Benno proves to be more than his appearanceallows, however.The two, and Benno's dog Biondello, will appear in thenext Eyre novels.

This book, while taking on some very recognizabletraits from another Renaissance mystery of "two houses divided," is adelight to read, no matter how familiar the plot.The author (actually apseudonym of Jill Staynes and Margaret Storey) seems well versed in theperiod and there is no problem of verisimilitude!

The storyline movesquickly and the characters are convincing.There is enough action,romance, and, yes, even murder to propel the book to its exciting finish,naturally with a surprise or two in its conclusion.It's worth one's time! ... Read more

Product Description
Twenty-four new erotic tales to keep readers up all night, from the author of Naughty Bedtime Stories.

With Naughty Bedtime Stories, Joan Elizabeth Lloyd offered sexy tales to keep fans reading-and doing other things-long into the night. Now she presents 24 all-new sizzling stories to make bedtime a lot more interesting.

Explore something daring...
A conservative suburban housewife is stripped of more than her inhibitions on a hot summer night, outdoors, for all the neighbors to see.

Something sensual...
A wanting woman, a warm shower, a bar of soap- and some alone time that's going to change the way she feels about herself.

Something wild...
A kinky husband has only one question when his teasing wife decides to charge him for it. How much to go as far as I want?

Something out of this world...
She's a beauty-built and programmed for pleasure as the perfect sex doll. So lifelike. So insatiable. But a word of warning: she's not to be toyed with. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Don't waste your money!
Horrible.I bought this book out of a dollar bin and it's not even worth a dollar.The writing is so bad that it distracts you from what little content lies beneath.

Boring - not enough of the good stuff, and the rest is just dull
The definition of "bawdy" is indecent, lewd or obscene... the stories in this book do not qualify as any of those.I was hopeful that this book would spice up our evenings , but quickly realized that I would get more spice from watching late night television than reading this book.The stories were dull, the romance and erotic scenes were lack luster, and it didn't hold my attention in the slightest.I found myself yawning about halfway through each story... and actually forced myself to read all of them just in case I might miss some jewel - which I didn't.There are much better erotic stories compilations out there - I would highly recommend you look elsewhere for the that which qualifies as "bawdy". ... Read more

Product Description
Infuriated when the stuffy young Earl of Wynwood rudely snubs her at a high-society ball, the indignant Sophia Edgerton decides to give him a lesson in manners, with romantic results. Reissue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

I love this author!
Another good book by Mansfield.It's a fun story and worth the read.

One of Ms. Mansfield's best.
I highly recommend this one.Our intrepid heroine contrives to be the "shatterbrained hysteric" that the hero thinks she is.

familarity breeds contentment, in this case . . .
First of all, thank you to Berkley/Jove for continuing to release the wonderful, older books by Elizabeth Mansfield, as well as bringing out the occasional new one.This book dates to May, 1980 in its original version, but it is still a delight to read. The authors tell-tale skill with witty dialogue is present in abundance in this tale of a spirited young woman and the quiet young man she encounters. Each encounter is more hilarious than the last, as Sophie Edgerton creates disturbances without even trying. Of course, when she does try-sparks fly all over the place.

Unable to live with her father and step-mother, Sophie has come to live with her widowed grandmother, Lady Alicia, in London. But Sophie's escapades begin to wear thin when she enthusiastically greets a gentleman at a ball. Truly, she thought she was greeting her cousin Bertie, who has just returned from several years away. Unfortunately, she guessed wrong, and the unsuspecting gentleman who received the hugs was the retiring Earl of Wynwood, Marcus Harvey.

As is usually the case, after this first meeting, subsequent ones also tend toward disaster, leaving Sophie determined to take a repairing lease to the country, even if it has to be at her own home. But then Lady Alicia shows the girl an invitation she's just received. It's for a two-week house party, from Lady Alicia's dearest friend. Not until later does Sophie discover that the dearest friend is also the Mama of Marcus.

Unsettled by the growing attraction Sophie feels towards Marcus, she still also has the inclination for mischief, especially when Marcus announces his engagement to the eminently suitable Miss Iris Bethune.Unable to appreciate the impending marriage, Sophie runs away to her father's house, and the religious step-mother.

Rescued by Marcus, who neglects to tell her that his betrothal has been called off by Iris, Sophie is distant and cold to him, causing more misunderstandings. Eventually, however, all things turnabout, and the resulting Regency Match is more satisfying than most.Great fun!

A Regency Match
He's a very proper and somewhat stiff gentleman while she is impulsive, emotional, and prone to become involved in catastophes of one sort or another.They meet when Sophia throws her arms aruond Marcus at a ball,thinking he is the cousin she has not seen for many years.Their secondmeeting is just as embarrassing for him and leaves Marcus sure in his mindthat she is nothing more then a shatterbrained hysteric.And when shehappens to over hear his comments, her indignation for his slurs on hercharacter prompt her to concoct a plan to teach him a lesson when she andher grandmother, along with a handful of other guests, are invited to hisestate by his mother.

It is to be a celebration as her son is soon to bemarried to a docile miss he considers just the sort of woman a man shouldmarry.Definately, not like the disastrous Miss Sophia.As evidenced byher catching fire to his property and causing him(quite inadvertantly)bodily injury.But feelings soon change and the sparks fly.

Theresulting story is a witty, humorous, and quite entertaining romp into theworld of Regency England.The two protaganist are true to theircharacters.The plot moved the story continually forward making one eagerto see what was going to happen next.

I thoroughly enjoyed her book andhave read it three times already.It has never failed to make me laughdespite the familiarity.I recommend it to anyone. ... Read more

Product Description
Fiery Nell Belden is exiled to a "haunted" Cornish estate, where she encounters a spirit far more appealing than most mortal men...

"Deliciously different Regency romances."-Affaire de Coeur ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

I liked it very much
How a spiritful girl achieves to laugh out blue devils from a fine young lord who lost a leg in the Peninsular war

Enjoyable read
I really like Mansfield's books.I loved the characters in this book with "Harry's" wooden leg and his shame about it and "Artie's" head strong manner. It was a different approach than a lot of regencies.I would definately recommend reading this book.

Don't be misled by the title--there's much more to the story
I bought this book after reading a couple of Elisabeth Mansfield books.I was kind of "turned off" by the title at first, thinking this was going to be some sort of sappy ghost story.It turned out to be more light-hearted than some Mansfield stories, in that there was a lot of humor--I particularly loved the funny dialogues between the heroine and the "phantom."But, it was also serious in the way it addressed the issue of how having a physical disability can affect the way a person views themselves and how others view them.This was a funny, sweet, and touching book.I loved it and it will definitely be on my "keeper" shelf.By the way, if you are looking for a "sensual read," don't look here.This book is so "clean" you could let anyone you know borrow it without blushing, yet there is no doubt about the potent physical attraction between the main characters. To top it all off, the hero and heroine not only love each other, but they have fun personalities and appreciate each others sense of humor.Great feisty heroine and tender hero!Highly recommended!

Hooked!
This was the first book of Elizabeth Mansfield's I read. As a self-proclaimed Georgette Heyer snob, I thought no one could write as vividly about the Regency period as she could.I was wrong, and I'm glad!Elizabeth Mansfield has a truth about her characters - so much truth, youwant to invite them to tea! I read and re-read all of her books becauseit's like visiting old friends!

wow!!!
this is one of my favorite books of all time ...the emotions are so real and its nice to see a book where the guy is so sweet ....a great read ... ... Read more

Product Description
Now in trade-from the New York Times bestsellingauthor of Range of Motion.

"Not a novel about a womanleaving home, but...a human being finding her way back."-ChicagoTribune

"Turning 50 seems to turn women crazy. When Nanhits this mark, she hits the road, leaving behind her home andhusband. Driving west from Boston, she consults only her ownpleasure. And while this sounds easy, it is often arduous for Nan, whocan hardly remember what her own pleasure is...[The Pull of theMoon] is upbeat from beginning to end."-Boston SundayGlobe

"Measured, delicate, and impossible to walk awayfrom."-Entertainment Weekly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (120)

Interesting
If you are anywhere near 50 years of age, and a woman, you will find this book interesting.It really hits home on many subjects.It seems as though this may have been a bit autobiographical.Fast read.

Forward from Fifty
The Pull of the Moon is a coming-of-age novel for a fifty-year old woman, Nan.

The main character in the story (actually the only active character) is Nan. She narrates her story using two points of view--her entries in a new journal and her letters to her husband Martin. As a writer and a journal keeper myself, I found this not only an interesting way to approach the narration; I also wanted to see if it worked. It did.

Here's the premise: Nan ran away from home.

"Beside me I have a turquoise journal, tooled leather, held closed by a thin black strap wrapped around a silver button. I bought it the day before I left. Normally, that kind of thing would not appeal to me. But it seemed I had to have it. I opened it, looked at the unlined pages, closed it back up and bought it. It was far too expensive, forty dollars, but it seemed to me to be capable of giving me something I'd pay more for. I thought, I'm going to buy this journal and then I'm going to run away. And that's what I did."

This was the heart of her first letter to Martin; she wrote to him every night of her journey. She had the idea he might "hear" her better if he had to concentrate on reading her words, so she didn't phone him at all. It wasn't that he ignored her exactly, but he perhaps, after so many years, had a way of tuning her out.

She had never before kept a journal, but found it suited her as well as her letters to Martin--oh, not that she wrote the same things in the journal and the letters. Oh, never that! To her journal, she writes: "I bought this black pen for you. I feel shy saying this, as though we are friends too new to exchange anything without it being important." She wrote feelings, memories, stories, epiphanies, and recorded conversations. She later remarked to her journal "you're the place I can just let things spill out."

She had no agenda, no map for her trip. To say she was out to find herself seems trite, but in truth, she was doing just that. She was disenchanted with her life, scared of growing old and of losing even more of herself, and tired of doing things for no reason other than "We flowered in the sixties, but the spirit of the fifties was deep in us." The former hippies were living a life of worn tradition and boredom, as had their parents before them.

Nan talked to women she encountered along her journey and found that they felt much the same way--that they were missing some important element in their lives, but mostly they were too tired or too bogged down in circumstances to do anything about it. From each woman, she learned more about herself, and her letters and journal entries reflect her growth of self-confidence and self-knowledge. She began to sense what it was that she needed from herself and her marriage; and she conveys this to Martin by way of her letters. Nan is portrayed as emotional but not weak and needy, although at times, she saw herself that way; her strength was manifest in her decision to search for her own truth. She never laid the blame for her quandary at Martin's door, and she made sure he knew that. This was her rite of discovery.

This is an honest look at a woman "of a certain age," obviously written by someone who has deep understanding and experience. Berg will have the reader laughing and crying over the same event, so keen is her empathy. It's plain she's been there or somewhere close--from the first chin hair to the anger that the hair stylist just doesn't get it. Nan's soliloquy is sure to touch the heart and sensibilities of any woman who has reached the age of fifty.

by Susan Ideus
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

BORING!
I love Elizabeth Berg's book, but stopped reading this one halfway through.I just couldn't get into it at all.I was amazed that this woman left her husband to go on a journey by herself.Just up and left him when there was nothing wrong with their marriage so to speak.I could understand wanting to get away and all that, but then you take a vacation for a week or so!There was not much of a plot and I found it so boring.It took everything in me to pick it up to continue reading it and then I finally just gave up.Life it too short for boring books.

I loved it!
I have read a lot of reviews of this book, but honestly self-indulgence aside I thought this was lovely to read. I loved her prose, and her way of illustrating in my mind what she was writing by use of her language throughout the book. I loved this story no matter how unbelievable it was to some critics, and there are people in this world who live their life for their children and husband and lose track of themselves. Brilliant, and my first but not last Berg.

Entering the World of Elizabeth Berg
I love Elizabeth Berg.....I have taken this wonderful book, The Pull of the Moon....into my sun-room to enjoy....with glances every so often out into my garden. I can hear the birds singing and the sound of whind chimes dancing in the wind...and I am at peace..but, then the day gets even better.....as I begin her book...I am taken on a trip along with her and so, so many times I will read a paragraph, her words and think to myself...Oh my, I have felt just like that.. or...ahhh, I have always wanted to do that, go there, see them, say that... so, with joy and a sense of adventure..I travel along with Nan. seeing places I have never been, meeting new people along the way...writing in my journal...and sending letters back to Martin and sometimes Ruthie..

Life is Sweet....Elizabeth Berg makes it even Sweeter! I am just in the middle of the book, so, please excuse me...my sunroom is calling................... ... Read more

Product Description
Despite their estrangement, Captain Alec Tyrrell and his wife, Priss, find themselves falling in love once again, when they undertake a daring masquerade. Reissue." ... Read more

Product Description
"A marvelous blend of fantasy...and realism in the characters and the social interactions."--Marion Zimmer Bradley

Elizabeth A. Lynn won the World Fantasy Award for Watchtower, volume one in a breathtaking trilogy that would establish her as one of speculative fiction's most exciting voices. Now, Ace brings this classic back to fans and first-time readers alike--in a beautifully repackaged trade edition.

Tornor Keep is the legendary tower that guards the winter end of a summer land. But when Tornor is overrun by raiders, a young prince is the tower's last hope in an enchanting story of a time far removed from ours and of a land alive with warriors, lovers, war, and honor.

* Winner of the World Fantasy Award
* Beautifully repackaged in its first trade edition ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Good writing, poor ending
The book begins very strong -- it's a skilled entrance into action and immediate and dramatic character-building.I liked the style of writing throughout.Without spoiling the book, there is no climax.The best climax point would be in the action in the last few pages of the book -- by the time I got there, I thought there would be a big plot twist and the second book to pick up where it left off, but the ending was rushed, anti-climatic, and completed the novel like sweeping the dust under the rug.The second book picks up generations later with mostly unrelated people -- and they use that as a selling point for the series (that each novel stands alone).Ouch!Thankfully, the author's skill at ending a book with the same engagement that she starts it shows itself in the 2nd book.I'm now reading the third.I was so gripped by the characters in the first book and longed to see more bravery in the completion of the second book -- I was not disappointed I must have wept through the last 50 pages of the 2nd book. I was very disappointed that the 2nd book had little to nothing to do with the first one, all the characters you were in love with were long dead, and there wasn't even really mention of how things turned out for them.

I give this book 3 stars because it's worth 5 stars until the last chapter, which is worth only 1.That last chapter should have been the last 30-50 pages of the book.

Unimpressive
This starts out ok, but doesn't fufill the promise of the first few chapters. The flow of the narrative is so uneven that there are several places where it almost seems as if the publisher accidently left out several paragraphs.Read McKillip, Kerr, LeGuin, or McKinley if you want to read good fantasy by a female author.Especially read Monette if you're interested in fantasy with gay/lesbian themes.

Stilted and Choppy
While this book is certainly a far cry from 'traditional' when compared to most fantasy novels, the stilted and extremely choppy writing style, along with the rambling plot left me clueless as to how it could have possibly won the World Fantasy Award. There are far better books out there.

A little below the line
First of all, an important note before I begin (since this tends to be the biggest suspicion directed at a male reviewer grading a female author's book): I'm not a fantasy chauvinist. I rank Robin Hobb and Patricia McKillip among my favorite fantasy authors. With this disclaimer behind me, on to the review.

I'll start with the positive side. Lynn knows how to write. That's certain. Her action development is quite proper, her characters are pretty believable too. Major warning however: in Lynn's novels from the Tornor series, every character, be it male or female, is involved in a pretty explicit homosexual affair. I tend to find this a bit exaggerated at best, but since humankind has had cultures which exhibited this behavior too (ancient Greece), I'm not putting this as a con of her stories, just a warning.

The real downsides are much more important. The major one is... lack of action. This shows mostly in this part of the trilogy. The word "trilogy" is actually not really warranted here, since you'd tend to think about a trilogy as three _connected_ novels - if it were so here, I guess my mark would be at least one star higher, since this novel does quite good for a starter-of-three. The only problem is that... it isn't. There isn't really too much happenning here, the book is short and the action is virtually characters travelling from one location to another. Maybe there are fans of "descriptive fantasy", but I'm not one of them. I either need to have a good plot or a decent problem to think over when I read a book, this one has neither.

Actually, if you want a "soft" transformation from some slow-paced, non-fantasy literature to fantasy, you might want to ignore the above and just read this, it might be a good choice for you. Otherwise, if you want something more subtle than hack'n'slash, I'd recommend Robin Hobb. If you want good quality hack'n'slash, go for Salvatore. If you just want plain epic fantasy, go for Brooks. Lynn is not the way to go here.

Rich, Quiet Beginning of Trilogy
The first book of one of my favorite trilogies, it ranks with LeGuin's "Earthsea" works.I like my fantasy subtle, not full of
stock "beings", and set in interesting cultures, and this fills
those requirements entirely.If you're looking for action and
adventure, rather than exploration, look elsewhere.I only wish
Ms. Lynn had fulfilled the early promise of this work, rather than
publishing sporadically and parsimoniously.I especially like the
way that the society described in the trilogy evolves during the course of the three books. ... Read more

Product Description
The epic adventure that began with Watchtower continues in the second breathtaking book in Elizabeth A. Lynn's Chronicles of Tornor--a series that has won unprecedented acclaim:

"Astonishing."-- Theodore Sturgeon

"Unusual, powerful and beautiful."-- John Varley

"A book of depth and vigor and surprises."-- Robert Silverberg

"A marvelous blend of fantasy and realism."-- Marion Zimmer Bradley ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Lightweight Fantasy for Non-fantasy Readers
I picked up Elizabeth A. Lynn's "The Watchtower" because, as it notes on the cover, it won the World Fantasy Award.To be frank, by the end of the book I wondered who her competition had been.But once I start a series, it's difficult for me to stop so I picked up this book, second in The Chronicles of Tornor series.First of all, this book takes place long after the first book so aside from some characters who share a common name and vague references to prior events in the first book, they are barely related.

And unlike many of the five star reviewers, I did not read this book as a teen in the '80s so I have no fond memories to temper my opinion.

I rate this book poor for several reasons.First, Lynn has a disconcerting habit of writing short, choppy sentences.Some reviewers have called her prose "lyrical".I couldn't disagree more.Robin McKinley writes lyrically.Sheri S. Tepper writes lyrically.Lynn, IMHO, does not. To give you an example of one of her paragraphs laid out line-by-line:

"The air was moist and chill.
There were dewdrops on Kerris' blanket.
He shook it awkwardly and folded it into a shapeless lump
He put on shirt, breeches, boots.
He wrestled his tunic over his head.
The wool was damp and it stank.
He ran his hand through his hair; it came away moist.
His arms prickled with cold-bumps."

If this were poetry, it would be fine but as narrative, it's annoying particularly as it's more the norm than the exception throughout the book.I will say that this book stretches sentences better than The Watchtower, which was nigh excruciating to read.Second, the World of Arun is neither complex or densely populated so if you're used to Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, etc. the world-building here is going to sorely disappoint.Lynn includes a map in The Watchtower which is unnecessary since it takes the characters at most 8 days on horseback to get to a new destination. Third, the entire perspective in this book is a singular viewpoint, that of Kerris.I'm fine with singular viewpoints in first-person narrative but if you're going to write in third-person then throw in a few chapters written from the viewpoint of other characters otherwise character development/perception seems stunted.Fourth, part of the plotline of this book involves an incestuous relationship between two brothers.While homosexual characters are "been-there-done-that" in sci-fi/fantasy, incest is not.And I'm sorry but it is shudder-inducing to imagine two people who are direct blood relations having sex (whether its father-daughter, mother-son, or in this case, two siblings). Not my cup of tea.

I gave Lynn 1-and-a-half stars because her concepts, if more deftly written, are intriguing.But for all the reasons above, I would strongly urge potential purchasers to pick up the first book from their local library (if it's available) or at a used bookstore.If you can't stomach Lynn's writing style in The Watchtower, you won't like this book.And if incest makes you shake your head no, then don't bother.These first two books are going back as donations to my local used bookstore.I'm hoping, desperately, that the third book in the series manages to fulfill the potential of the first book but I'm not holding my breath.

Enjoyable re-read
I first read this in about 1982, and though people complain about the writing, it fits perfectly with other fantasy fiction of the late 1970's.Granted, I didn't know anything about homosexuality at the age of 21 or so, but it gave me a gentle introduction into alternate lifestyles that still influences me. (and no, I'm not.)

Good reading, but anyone who stocks it should shelve it in the adult section... not in fantasy.

Passable, but still not it.
Generally, this part is better than part one (which is sort of unusual, as sequels generally get worse). I'm assuming you, the Reader, already have an opinion on part one (after all, who reads middle parts of a trilogy?), so I'll break this review into two parts, for those who liked and once who didn't.

If you liked part one, you will probably like part two too. There's a bit more action and slightly more adventure, but the general idea remains the same - you have one major character on his road to completeness. One can even say all the Tornor novels are some sort of 'initiation stories', and I'm not even talking about the explicit homosexual content involved.

If you disliked part one, you are probably not going to like part two, for the same reasons as stated above. The books generally share the same main idea and the same structure, but if you were on the "like/dislike" edge, you might find the more lively plotline to tip the favor to Lynn's side. Hence three stars and not two, which I have to part one.

Am I missing something?
I guess I must be! This book is horrible! Maybe I expected too much but as I am reading this book I want it to end. I am usually not the type to voice my opinion on most books. I am compelled to on this title! This will be my last purchase of this authors works. The story line and characters are confusing,the writing is poor and if I have to read one more "a fox barked" I will be compelled to throw myself from the second floor window! Thnks for letting me vent and now onto another hopefully better book.

Beautiful Fantasy
The middle and best book of one of my favorite trilogies, it's exactly what I want: no stock characters or swashbuckling, but lots of interesting, different, people.I did find the beginning disconcerting (unlike some other readers, I'm NOT good with incest
involving children), but the action was instigated by the child,
and was not portrayed as abusive.The fragility of the people, the
village, and the world seems very real to me.The originality of
these books is great, and they seem to me to be beautifully written.I only with Ms. Lynn would write MORE! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great New Felony and Mayhem Mystery
This detective novel is written by one of the few American authors of the Golden Age -- Elizabeth Daly.I am very glad to see it in a fine paperback edition. It is indeed worth buying!

Entertaining golden age mystery
Daly's amateur detective Henry Gamadge is hired by a once-great, now not-so-much, New York family to save them from what they think is a plot to divest them of their inheritance.

As always, Daly's writing is easy to follow, and this plot is very interesting, with a hint of something unnatural going on behind the scenes (not quite supernatural, but vaguely so.) The book also introduces us and Henry to his future bride, Clara.

The Murders in Volume 2 by Elizabeth Daly
The book was in good condition and the story was excellent.
Thank you. ... Read more