Helpful Score: 2
Oddly, I quite enjoyed this novel. I say 'oddly' because it contains some key elements that I tend to dislike. For instance, it's essentially a romance, which I don't read. Set in some imaginary world's Middle Ages, a low-born girl with an independent streak falls for a high-born bad boy. The treatment of women ranges from chauvinistic to misogynistic, and the protagonist's attraction to her lover could be incomprehensible -- even downright disturbing -- if taken out of its medieval context. (Though given the popularity of 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' perhaps I'm wrong about that.)
Also, there is little definitive fantasy. There are frequent references to the story's own, original mythology, but the reader really can decide for him/herself whether invocations and sacrifices actually were effective or whether events are attributed to gods only because of the characters' worldview. Equally ambiguous are the narrator's dreams and out-of-body experiences -- or are they prophetic visions and paranormal activity? Is Firethorn merely a talented herbalist with a vivid imagination or a budding witch with a good heart? This is not to suggest that the author intended these questions as themes; the focus of the story is on the relationship and the protagonist's subsequent tribulations. I simply expected more conventional, unequivocal fantasy.
There is also what some might consider excessive detail. It might take several pages for the protagonist to find a needed herb, for example, and along the way we will meet every tree, shrub and rock she comes across. Occasionally I found this tiresome, but overall, Micklem's writing and research were so strong as to silence my would-be complaints. The believable and intriguing narrator really draws you in to her world. I found the book hard to put down, and I am likely to read the sequel.
Also, there is little definitive fantasy. There are frequent references to the story's own, original mythology, but the reader really can decide for him/herself whether invocations and sacrifices actually were effective or whether events are attributed to gods only because of the characters' worldview. Equally ambiguous are the narrator's dreams and out-of-body experiences -- or are they prophetic visions and paranormal activity? Is Firethorn merely a talented herbalist with a vivid imagination or a budding witch with a good heart? This is not to suggest that the author intended these questions as themes; the focus of the story is on the relationship and the protagonist's subsequent tribulations. I simply expected more conventional, unequivocal fantasy.
There is also what some might consider excessive detail. It might take several pages for the protagonist to find a needed herb, for example, and along the way we will meet every tree, shrub and rock she comes across. Occasionally I found this tiresome, but overall, Micklem's writing and research were so strong as to silence my would-be complaints. The believable and intriguing narrator really draws you in to her world. I found the book hard to put down, and I am likely to read the sequel.
Firethorn is a strong, independent young woman, living in a place and time when women were expected to be timid natured and submissive. Driven by her passions and curiousities, Firethorn experiences many adventures and an incredible love that she cannot deny. A great read!
