Rating:  Summary: Riveting, compelling and addictive, my favorite of all books Review: Book one in trilogy, the best fantasy book ever written. P.C. Hodgell the author has shown us you can put it all into one book . She weaves magic with alluring twists of plot and heart stopping turns that sends the main chacter into a spiral of action and reaction. The chacters are strong and believable in a world of magic as well as mystery. Hodgell's wrttings are so vivid you feel as though you are actually there. This book I have read time and again over the years and never fail to feel enchanted every time I pick it up and read again. I don't put it down until I am done with it. Must have for fantasy collectors. Book 2 "Dark of the Moon" Book 3 "Seeker's Mask"
Rating:  Summary: Too Ridiculous Review: God Stalk is too ridiculous to be taken seriously. This is a pity, because Hodgell seems to be a fine writer, but the story is driven by a series of lame and unbelievable coincidences. I can stomach one or two dumb coincidences, but more than that and I get sick. This book would probably be great for a fifth grader.
Rating:  Summary: Too Ridiculous Review: God Stalk is too ridiculous to be taken seriously. This is a pity, because Hodgell seems to be a fine writer, but the story is driven by a series of lame and unbelievable coincidences. I can stomach one or two dumb coincidences, but more than that and I get sick. This book would probably be great for a fifth grader.
Rating:  Summary: The Best in Sword and Sorcery Review: I am surprised GOD STALK is out of print--but Hodgell's other great works are available, and it is only a matter of time, given its excellence, that GOD STALK will be back. I became totally engrossed in Hodgell's darkly colorful writing, her vivid characterizations, and found her wonderful heroine particularly appealing. This is among the best in the Sword and Sorcery genre, with plot complications that pull one in further and further--delighted to enter the labyrinth with Hodgell as guide. I love books that are fully-embodied worlds you hate to leave when you come to the last page. Bravo.
Rating:  Summary: The Best in Sword and Sorcery Review: I am surprised GOD STALK is out of print--but Hodgell's other great works are available, and it is only a matter of time, given its excellence, that GOD STALK will be back. I became totally engrossed in Hodgell's darkly colorful writing, her vivid characterizations, and found her wonderful heroine particularly appealing. This is among the best in the Sword and Sorcery genre, with plot complications that pull one in further and further--delighted to enter the labyrinth with Hodgell as guide. I love books that are fully-embodied worlds you hate to leave when you come to the last page. Bravo.
Rating:  Summary: Under-rated author deserves more press & a bigger publisher! Review: I bought the book club edition of this book on a whim years ago and can't believe that P.C. Hodgell (Patricia) isn't better known for her skillful writing (although brevity is not her forte) in a genre that often sees some of the worst writing possible. I've been searching for a copy of "Seeker's Mask", the third book in the series, on and off for years, having missed the limited production run when it first came out but am afraid I will have to wait until her current publisher re-runs it. Hodgell has not been terribly prolific (there have apparently been lots of obligations on her time in her personal life in the last few years); perhaps this is why a publisher has not been more eager to pick her up.Hodgell writes with descriptive flair, a dark mood, and with a sense of humor that will be appreciated by anyone with a taste for the ironic. Her labyrinthian plot-lines recall her studies in Victorian literature. Her heroine Jame's issues range from amnesia, that most venerable of plot-devices, to a serious tussle with the nature of honor. (The Kencyrath -- Jame's people -- are so honorable it often kills.) She is an able fighter who has maintained her honor without being a comic-strip superhero. Hodgell is a wonderful world builder -- her city of Tai-Tastigon is as fully realized as any society and city in the genre. I have noted that the second book, "Dark of the Moon", and, judging from the reviews I've found, "Seeker's Mask," are definitely continuations of the story begun in "God Stalk" rather than stories that may stand alone, so I would not recommend that readers begin with the second or third in the series. Most of the characters are not as fully fleshed out in the second book and I understand that this is more so in the third book. There are also some short stories that are connected with the stories of the Kencyrath and Jamethiel Priest's-Bane published in various anthologies and in limited runs by her smaller publishers -- some of them are available in out-of-print specialty stores. Anyone working in the publishing industry reading this, I plead with you: please please please try to contract this series!
Rating:  Summary: Under-rated author deserves more press & a bigger publisher! Review: I bought the book club edition of this book on a whim years ago and can't believe that P.C. Hodgell (Patricia) isn't better known for her skillful writing (although brevity is not her forte) in a genre that often sees some of the worst writing possible. I've been searching for a copy of "Seeker's Mask", the third book in the series, on and off for years, having missed the limited production run when it first came out but am afraid I will have to wait until her current publisher re-runs it. Hodgell has not been terribly prolific (there have apparently been lots of obligations on her time in her personal life in the last few years); perhaps this is why a publisher has not been more eager to pick her up. Hodgell writes with descriptive flair, a dark mood, and with a sense of humor that will be appreciated by anyone with a taste for the ironic. Her labyrinthian plot-lines recall her studies in Victorian literature. Her heroine Jame's issues range from amnesia, that most venerable of plot-devices, to a serious tussle with the nature of honor. (The Kencyrath -- Jame's people -- are so honorable it often kills.) She is an able fighter who has maintained her honor without being a comic-strip superhero. Hodgell is a wonderful world builder -- her city of Tai-Tastigon is as fully realized as any society and city in the genre. I have noted that the second book, "Dark of the Moon", and, judging from the reviews I've found, "Seeker's Mask," are definitely continuations of the story begun in "God Stalk" rather than stories that may stand alone, so I would not recommend that readers begin with the second or third in the series. Most of the characters are not as fully fleshed out in the second book and I understand that this is more so in the third book. There are also some short stories that are connected with the stories of the Kencyrath and Jamethiel Priest's-Bane published in various anthologies and in limited runs by her smaller publishers -- some of them are available in out-of-print specialty stores. Anyone working in the publishing industry reading this, I plead with you: please please please try to contract this series!
Rating:  Summary: A step above average - but only a step Review: I don't have really strong feelings either way on God Stalk, not that it's bad. Three and a half stars is a more fitting rating, but it's not quite four star material. It was entertaining enough to keep me turning pages, but I was thinking about the next book in the "to read" pile while flying through. The world is richly textured - with the religions, politics and subterfuges being both well done and central to a meandering plot. I have a fondness for fantasy cities and Tai-Tastigon is a real winner. The harrowing beginning, with protagonist Jame running for her life, also hooked me. This is a step above typical fantasy, moderately darker in content (many of the characters are thieves) and has some legitimately funny bits as well. However, it was not quite the mind blowing experience a friend sold to me. It reminds me a little of the Liavek series but better, if that helps.
Rating:  Summary: goldstalk Review: I HAVE READ & RE-READ THIS BOOK AND THE SECOND IN THIS AUTHORS SERIES SET ON KENCYR I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A THIRD IN THE SERIES, BUT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY INFO IF THIS IS TRUE. I WAS FASCINATED BY THE PLOT LINE AND SINCERELY WISH THIS AUTHOR WAS MORE PROLIFIC! I DON'T LIKE BEING LEFT WAITING FOR THE CONCLUSION TO A SAGA; I ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT HAPPENED TO JAMETHIEL
Rating:  Summary: goldstalk Review: I HAVE READ & RE-READ THIS BOOK AND THE SECOND IN THIS AUTHORS SERIES SET ON KENCYR I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A THIRD IN THE SERIES, BUT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY INFO IF THIS IS TRUE. I WAS FASCINATED BY THE PLOT LINE AND SINCERELY WISH THIS AUTHOR WAS MORE PROLIFIC! I DON'T LIKE BEING LEFT WAITING FOR THE CONCLUSION TO A SAGA; I ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT HAPPENED TO JAMETHIEL
|