Helpful Score: 4
This is the first book in the "Vineart War Trilogy" by Laura Anne Gilman. I received this book as an Advanced Reading Copy through the Amazon Vine program. I have never read anything from Gilman before, although I have wanted to read her Retrievers series. I have mixed feelings about this book. Gilman created a couple great characters, a very unique and interesting magic system, and a complex world. Unfortunately the plot lags and the book doesn't resolve any story as much as just set things up.
Jerzy is a slave who ends up becoming an Apprentice to the Master Vineart Malech. Malech has noticed strange happenings in the different Vinearts properties, but can't get too involved because of the Vinearts vow to stay out of power struggles. In an attempt to get deeper insight into the problems surrounding him Malech apprentices Jerzy to another Vineart, something completely against tradition. Jerzy is supposed to discover how deeply the trouble has spread.
There were some really good things about this book. I loved the unique magic system; using Wine as a magic source is interesting. Gilman has created a world with a deep history and a complex interaction between Vinearts and political figures. The main characters of Malech and Jerzy are fairly well done; although they are not completely engaging, they are interesting characters with depth. The other characters in the book are given minimal page space and are not developed all that well. Although given how some of the characters come together at the end of the book, I think that the next book could be very engaging and Jerzy's travel companions could end up being wonderful characters to read about. I also enjoyed Gilman's writing style; she does a good job describing things in a way that creates great imagery without getting overly wordy.
My main problem with this book is the pacing and the plot. Much of the beginning of the book is spent with Jerzy learning Vineart crafts. This is interesting for a while, but gets drawn out too long. There are little hints of bad things going on around Jerzy but he is always removed from them. The point of view switches frequently between Jerzy and Malech; this never really got confusing but it was odd to have viewpoints switched mid-chapter. The story doesn't actually get interesting until the last third of the book where Jerzy goes to apprentice with a different Vineart.
I think it is fairly common for the first book in a fantasy trilogy to be mostly about training the hero, getting the world and magic system set up, etc. The problem in this case is that I am guessing that most of Gilman's Retriever series fans are more interested in the pace of an urban fantasy where everything is quickly set up and things actually happen. That is not the case in this book, things are very deliberately approached to the point that I didn't have a real sense of urgency for the story until I was almost to the end of the book. The book also doesn't wrap anything up, because there is no plot to wrap up.
My recommendation would be to wait until the second book is released and see how that one does You will probably want to read them one after the other anyway since this book just starts the story. Overall it is an interesting fantasy world, with decent characters, if the plot picks up in the second book this could be a very good series. Based on this book alone, it is just okay.
Jerzy is a slave who ends up becoming an Apprentice to the Master Vineart Malech. Malech has noticed strange happenings in the different Vinearts properties, but can't get too involved because of the Vinearts vow to stay out of power struggles. In an attempt to get deeper insight into the problems surrounding him Malech apprentices Jerzy to another Vineart, something completely against tradition. Jerzy is supposed to discover how deeply the trouble has spread.
There were some really good things about this book. I loved the unique magic system; using Wine as a magic source is interesting. Gilman has created a world with a deep history and a complex interaction between Vinearts and political figures. The main characters of Malech and Jerzy are fairly well done; although they are not completely engaging, they are interesting characters with depth. The other characters in the book are given minimal page space and are not developed all that well. Although given how some of the characters come together at the end of the book, I think that the next book could be very engaging and Jerzy's travel companions could end up being wonderful characters to read about. I also enjoyed Gilman's writing style; she does a good job describing things in a way that creates great imagery without getting overly wordy.
My main problem with this book is the pacing and the plot. Much of the beginning of the book is spent with Jerzy learning Vineart crafts. This is interesting for a while, but gets drawn out too long. There are little hints of bad things going on around Jerzy but he is always removed from them. The point of view switches frequently between Jerzy and Malech; this never really got confusing but it was odd to have viewpoints switched mid-chapter. The story doesn't actually get interesting until the last third of the book where Jerzy goes to apprentice with a different Vineart.
I think it is fairly common for the first book in a fantasy trilogy to be mostly about training the hero, getting the world and magic system set up, etc. The problem in this case is that I am guessing that most of Gilman's Retriever series fans are more interested in the pace of an urban fantasy where everything is quickly set up and things actually happen. That is not the case in this book, things are very deliberately approached to the point that I didn't have a real sense of urgency for the story until I was almost to the end of the book. The book also doesn't wrap anything up, because there is no plot to wrap up.
My recommendation would be to wait until the second book is released and see how that one does You will probably want to read them one after the other anyway since this book just starts the story. Overall it is an interesting fantasy world, with decent characters, if the plot picks up in the second book this could be a very good series. Based on this book alone, it is just okay.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the first book in a trilogy. A young slave, Jerzy, reveals he has special magical abilities and is pulled from his life as a slave to study with the Master, a maker of magical spellwines. The author has done a nice job here -- the setting is unique yet believable, and the primary characters are intelligent and likeable. There is plenty of interesting detail without drowning the reader in it. Very highly recommended for fans of fantasy literature.
This was the February 2011 pick in my online book club The Reading Cove. Jerzy goes from being a slave to a Vineart's apprentice. The plotting was painfully slow, with day-by-day insignificant details, and so heavy-handed on decorative and clothing descriptions that the plot barely moved in 372 pages.
I was mildly interested in Jerzy's journey to become a Master Vineart and figure out what danger was attacking the land, but the snail's pace ruined it. I have zero interest in continuing the series.
I was mildly interested in Jerzy's journey to become a Master Vineart and figure out what danger was attacking the land, but the snail's pace ruined it. I have zero interest in continuing the series.
It took me a while to get into it, but then I was SUCKED in, LOL! Can't wait for the sequels!
No map. How can you create an alternate world without a map?!?
Very good.I love the author.Cannot wait for next book out....
A slow starter with slavery at the heart of the story. I don't condone slavery of any sort so I found it hard to get into. However, it is a great book and well worth the read.
Magic is misused by greedy kings and war after war is fought until the people beg the Gods to help. The God Zatim smites them all and decrees that magic users must come from slavery and hardship so they appreciate the gift they have been given. All magic is practiced through wine - take a sip of spellwine and perform magic. The vintars (who are all previous slaves) are mages who infuse the grapes they grow with spells during the processing stage. To keep any one Vintar from getting to powerful, each vineyard produces different spellwines - healwines, windwine, firewine, etc. There has been peace for many many years but suddenly each vineyard is being magically attacked.
The story revolves around Master Malech (the Vintar) and Jerzy (his slave who has magic) and the growing of grapes and making of wine. Master Malech realizes that something bad is happening and starts investigating. He finally sends Jerzy to a friend on the coast to learn his magic and to listen to gossip and see if he can identify the culprit of the attacks. The story of Malech and Jerzy is very interesting until it gets to this point where it drags. I found the characters at this new location, boring and vindictive. Though the ones in the beginning of the book are very likable and giving. But this portion is necessary to the storyline as Jerzy makes friends who help him escape when he is framed for illegal magic use.
I can't really see where this series is going but it's interesting and very different from others I've read. Not sure what the next book is or when it will be published but I will be waiting to read it.
Magic is misused by greedy kings and war after war is fought until the people beg the Gods to help. The God Zatim smites them all and decrees that magic users must come from slavery and hardship so they appreciate the gift they have been given. All magic is practiced through wine - take a sip of spellwine and perform magic. The vintars (who are all previous slaves) are mages who infuse the grapes they grow with spells during the processing stage. To keep any one Vintar from getting to powerful, each vineyard produces different spellwines - healwines, windwine, firewine, etc. There has been peace for many many years but suddenly each vineyard is being magically attacked.
The story revolves around Master Malech (the Vintar) and Jerzy (his slave who has magic) and the growing of grapes and making of wine. Master Malech realizes that something bad is happening and starts investigating. He finally sends Jerzy to a friend on the coast to learn his magic and to listen to gossip and see if he can identify the culprit of the attacks. The story of Malech and Jerzy is very interesting until it gets to this point where it drags. I found the characters at this new location, boring and vindictive. Though the ones in the beginning of the book are very likable and giving. But this portion is necessary to the storyline as Jerzy makes friends who help him escape when he is framed for illegal magic use.
I can't really see where this series is going but it's interesting and very different from others I've read. Not sure what the next book is or when it will be published but I will be waiting to read it.
