Spirit Gate: Book One of Crossroads 
asked by iread on November 12, 2006 6:25 PM
World Fantasy and Nebula Award finalist Kate Elliott breaks new ground in a brilliantly original new fantasy set in a unique world of fabled cities, mysterious gods, and terrible dangers. From the first page readers will be swept up in the story of Mai and Captain Anji, as they become unwitting players in a conflict that began many years earlier, and which will shake the foundations of their land.
For hundreds of years the Guardians have ruled the world of the Hundred, but these powerful gods no longer exert their will on the world. Only the reeves, who patrol on enormous eagles, still represent the Guardians' power. And the reeves are losing their authority; for there is a dark shadow across the land that not even the reeves can stop.
A group of fanatics has risen to devour villages, towns, and cities in their drive to annihilate all who oppose them. No one knows who leads them; they seem inhumanly cruel and powerful. Mai and Anji, riding with a company of dedicated warriors and a single reeve who may hold a key to stopping the deadly advance of the devouring horde, must try, or the world will be lost to the carnage. But a young woman sworn to the Goddess may prove more important than them all . . . if they are not too late.
A haunting tale of people swept up by the chaos of war, this is superlative fantasy adventure, rich in texture, filled with color and excitement, masterfully crafted by a brilliantly gifted storyteller.
For hundreds of years the Guardians have ruled the world of the Hundred, but these powerful gods no longer exert their will on the world. Only the reeves, who patrol on enormous eagles, still represent the Guardians' power. And the reeves are losing their authority; for there is a dark shadow across the land that not even the reeves can stop.
A group of fanatics has risen to devour villages, towns, and cities in their drive to annihilate all who oppose them. No one knows who leads them; they seem inhumanly cruel and powerful. Mai and Anji, riding with a company of dedicated warriors and a single reeve who may hold a key to stopping the deadly advance of the devouring horde, must try, or the world will be lost to the carnage. But a young woman sworn to the Goddess may prove more important than them all . . . if they are not too late.
A haunting tale of people swept up by the chaos of war, this is superlative fantasy adventure, rich in texture, filled with color and excitement, masterfully crafted by a brilliantly gifted storyteller.
Reviews
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Sometimes, if you're willing to invest the time and money in an author, hoping for something good, you're eventually satisfied. This was my experience with Kate Elliott. I thought her Jaran books were pretty decent - nothing spectacular, but good enough to get me to purchase King's Dragon, the first book in her Crown of Stars series.
...And that's where I started to lose faith. That was a Jordan-esque behemoth of a series that would've worked ten times better as a trilogy or even just a duology.
I never would've bought Spirit Gate, after having suffered through book one and part of book two of Crown of Stars. So it is fortunate that it (Spirit Gate) was given to me as a gift, or I never could have gotten to enjoy it. Even though it promises to be the start of another 7-book series (oh my god, AGAIN??), this one is so much more entertaining. The setting is a nice blend of the familiar and the strange, without being so far-out just for the sake of being far-out. The characters are nicely done, just sympathetic enough to have me rooting for them (especially poor Joss), and at the same time they are not portrayed as super-men and -women. There is also much left unsaid about the main characters, enough to keep me in suspense, but not so much that I felt cheated when I finished this first book.
The Eagles are a very nice touch; it's been a while since I've seen the trope of fantastic-animals-as-steeds handled this well. Especially imaginative is the hang-glider-like rig used to 'steer' them. Cool visuals.
So... even though I have invest yet more time, money, and energy into ANOTHER multi-part publishing/marketing frenzy, at least this time I can do it with a clearer conscience. And thank god, Elliott writes much faster than George Martin. :D
...And that's where I started to lose faith. That was a Jordan-esque behemoth of a series that would've worked ten times better as a trilogy or even just a duology.
I never would've bought Spirit Gate, after having suffered through book one and part of book two of Crown of Stars. So it is fortunate that it (Spirit Gate) was given to me as a gift, or I never could have gotten to enjoy it. Even though it promises to be the start of another 7-book series (oh my god, AGAIN??), this one is so much more entertaining. The setting is a nice blend of the familiar and the strange, without being so far-out just for the sake of being far-out. The characters are nicely done, just sympathetic enough to have me rooting for them (especially poor Joss), and at the same time they are not portrayed as super-men and -women. There is also much left unsaid about the main characters, enough to keep me in suspense, but not so much that I felt cheated when I finished this first book.
The Eagles are a very nice touch; it's been a while since I've seen the trope of fantastic-animals-as-steeds handled this well. Especially imaginative is the hang-glider-like rig used to 'steer' them. Cool visuals.
So... even though I have invest yet more time, money, and energy into ANOTHER multi-part publishing/marketing frenzy, at least this time I can do it with a clearer conscience. And thank god, Elliott writes much faster than George Martin. :D
reviewed by bigben on November 18, 2006 3:36 PM
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I'm surprised to be the first reviewer, but I'm happy to start things off on a high note. Five unequivocal stars. This is a great book, beautifully written. I loved its length, its richness, its world-building, its characters. I can't think of anything I needed more of, or wished there was less of, and that's pretty much the best thing I can say about an epic fantasy these days.
reviewed by mags on November 27, 2006 1:37 AM