Helpful Score: 3
This is a rather mediocre fantasy book. It is a High Fantasy setting, and has all the cliches that go along with it. A lowly boy who finds himself in possetion of magical powers, a kind hearted, beautiful young lady fleeing a bad marriage, a knight on a great quest, evil villains...basically anything you could think of. Well, except for talking animals. Hadn't run into any of those by the time I gave up.
Now, in and of itself, that doesn't make for a bad book. However, every character is completely two-dimensional. Many of them are quite stupid as well. There's no depth, there's nothing interesting about them, there's certainly nothing to make me feel connected to them. Even the bad guys don't register as interesting. The closest thing we came to interesting, fleshed out characters are the knight and the wise man that gave the knight his quest. But the wise man is only around for a few pages, and the knight isn't enough to carry the book by himself.
The author apparently had a hard time deciding if she were writing a young adult novel, or an adult novel. The tone of the writing feels like it's best suited for a young adult novel. However, in the first 175 pages there is one rape, two attempted rapes (one of a young 11 year old girl) and one rape that probably would have happened if I had just kept reading. Not to mention the torture scene. And then there's amazingly detailed description of one of the bad guys enjoying a treat of live oysters. Rather adult topics that felt completely out of place in this book.
Now, in and of itself, that doesn't make for a bad book. However, every character is completely two-dimensional. Many of them are quite stupid as well. There's no depth, there's nothing interesting about them, there's certainly nothing to make me feel connected to them. Even the bad guys don't register as interesting. The closest thing we came to interesting, fleshed out characters are the knight and the wise man that gave the knight his quest. But the wise man is only around for a few pages, and the knight isn't enough to carry the book by himself.
The author apparently had a hard time deciding if she were writing a young adult novel, or an adult novel. The tone of the writing feels like it's best suited for a young adult novel. However, in the first 175 pages there is one rape, two attempted rapes (one of a young 11 year old girl) and one rape that probably would have happened if I had just kept reading. Not to mention the torture scene. And then there's amazingly detailed description of one of the bad guys enjoying a treat of live oysters. Rather adult topics that felt completely out of place in this book.
KellyAnne O. (GreenGarnet) -
Helpful Score: 2
Jack and melli i found to be boring characters. . But i truly loved Baralis and Maybors feuding and all the chaos within those two! they were truly interesting.
I finished the book just to see what happened with those two! ahhaha i felt like Jack and Melli were under developed as characters, and often times boring.
all in all the book is not a bad read, its a different kind of fantasy, not as dark as her new series, or what i prefer but i would reccomend this book only to people that enjoy certain typed of fantasies, its really a book that you will either find boring or really love. But i suggest you reade it and see for yourself. . .A few of the characters alone are well worth the read.. .
I give the book 3 out of 5
I finished the book just to see what happened with those two! ahhaha i felt like Jack and Melli were under developed as characters, and often times boring.
all in all the book is not a bad read, its a different kind of fantasy, not as dark as her new series, or what i prefer but i would reccomend this book only to people that enjoy certain typed of fantasies, its really a book that you will either find boring or really love. But i suggest you reade it and see for yourself. . .A few of the characters alone are well worth the read.. .
I give the book 3 out of 5
Helpful Score: 1
For a debut, this is nice.Politics abound with plots everywhere.Nasty villian, clueless hero and very funny interludes from some drunk guards.lenghty pages, but easily read.first of a trilogy.
Helpful Score: 1
Book 1 of a trilogy. Good Fantasy, good enough to make me buy the other 2 books anyway.
Helpful Score: 1
The story seems good and the characters are interesting, but the writing was so amateurish, I couldn't finish reading it.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent series with all the ingredients - seldom cookie-cutter, but a little typical - boy with secret talent, love interest/romance, ancient, mysterious teacher to train boy's talent, boy defeats older, wiser, evil enemy. BUT even though it's a little patterned/stereotypical, this book is fun, interesting, and very well written. Jones works in enough creativity and newness to make it well worth reading.
Low Fantasy, first of a trilogy. Stong character development.
if you have not read any of J. V. jones this is one to read!
Entertaining but I wished for more magic from the main character. The main characters were interesting enough to keep me reading though. And I'm glad I did. Overall this trilogy turned out to be a pretty good read.
Jones page-turning tale of a baker's apprentice with unknown powers is page-turning, with interesting and unexpected character twists.
This was a very different fantasy. I really enjoyed it!! I highly recommend it.
Good story.
Without ruining it I will say the baker boy works himself into the hero role, but in a clumsy and accidental way.
The story ends in the middle though, with more things up in the air than resolved. It is as if the author was told, you have to start a new book at chapter 29.
I hope I can get the follow-on book and enjoy the complete story.
Without ruining it I will say the baker boy works himself into the hero role, but in a clumsy and accidental way.
The story ends in the middle though, with more things up in the air than resolved. It is as if the author was told, you have to start a new book at chapter 29.
I hope I can get the follow-on book and enjoy the complete story.
This is the first book in a trilogy. I loved this trilogy. There are knights, magic, good versus evil, war, fights, love, death, betrayals, sworn oaths, a little bit of everything and it all comes together in the end. The little pieces of information and all of the varied characters throughout the story end up being connected in one way or another. I've read this trilogy before and I'm sure to read it again.
An ancient prophecy, court intrigue, and a world war directed by magical means are the basis for this three-book series set in the world of the Four Kingdoms. It stars Jack, a young man of unknown parentage whose magical talents will be either his salvation or his bane; the highborn young woman Melliandra, determined to run away from her life of privilege rather than be married to a man she despises; the tragic knight Tawl, whose mission is doomed from the day he undertakes it; the evil Baralis, traitor to his King; and a cast of many more, all finely drawn. For countless years magic has fueled a conspiracy to capture the crown of the Four Kingdoms. Now, as the King lays dying, traitorous powers prepare a political marriage to secure the taking of the throne. But the highborn young Melliandra refuses to bethroth a sinister prince, and flees the castle with Jack, a kitchen apprentice terrified by his sudden power to work miracles. Stalked by the conniving sorcerer Baralis, Melli and Jack embark on a dark and wondrous journey--in which an ancient prophecy, The Book of Words, will bear frighteningly true.
Book was fun. The people act like real people might. The attempts to kill each other between the two baddies were very good.
Warner Books 1996 Edition - J.V. Jones debut book of : The Book of Words Trilogy
