mass market paperback, 384 pages
English language
Published April 24, 2007 by Eos.
My goodness, I needed this. An utterly lovely read.
I nearly gave it four stars, I did after all devour it in just four days, but from the very start it felt a bit too simple and easy. Yes there are problems and issues and dangers and ... and it's all very well written, but what I think would have been the biggest issues are ignored or barely touched upon. I'm not going to harp on about it though. The world building seems to be excellent and the story is good, so if you're looking for simple and easy romance in a unique fantasy setting then go right ahead.
not trope-free, mind you, but it's completely it's own thing.
Very different than a lot of her work, but wonderful just the same. I love the fact that these characters are pretty much regular people (well, mostly.) Their relationship is believable, and sweet, and the world is curious and interesting. The details of the relationship and the things they do is really great. It moves slowly, but it is engaging. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
What put me off of Bujold's Chalion fantasy series was gods pushing the humans around like pawns. This fantasy series is free of such things. It does suffer a bit from people doing stupid things, but that's fair enough. When Bujold was in Portland recently, she said that while the Sharing Knife series was four volumes, volumes 1 & 2 really were structured as one book, and 3 & 4 are as another. I read these back to back, and while I could have stopped where #1 ended, I certainly didn't want to. I think #2 would be difficult to read on its own.[return][return]She's created an interesting agrarian world, which apparently is the result of a fall -- long ago -- from a technological peak. The population is divided between farmers and the Lakewalkers. The Lakewalkers have some psychic powers, and lead a nomadic life protecting the world (and farmers) …
What put me off of Bujold's Chalion fantasy series was gods pushing the humans around like pawns. This fantasy series is free of such things. It does suffer a bit from people doing stupid things, but that's fair enough. When Bujold was in Portland recently, she said that while the Sharing Knife series was four volumes, volumes 1 & 2 really were structured as one book, and 3 & 4 are as another. I read these back to back, and while I could have stopped where #1 ended, I certainly didn't want to. I think #2 would be difficult to read on its own.[return][return]She's created an interesting agrarian world, which apparently is the result of a fall -- long ago -- from a technological peak. The population is divided between farmers and the Lakewalkers. The Lakewalkers have some psychic powers, and lead a nomadic life protecting the world (and farmers) from nasty blights that pop up unpredictably. It's a bit Strider and the Rangers protecting the Shire, but with more tension and sex. Entertaining, but doesn't make me swoon the way the Vorkosigan saga does.
I just love the worlds and characters that Lois creates, and this is no exception: Dag and Fawn are simply adorable and you just get so engrossed in their story that you feel like you are there side by side with them, sharing their troubles and joys. Can't wait to read volume two!
