Customer Reviews

Anvil of the Sun: Book One of the Cloak and Dagger (Cloak and Dagger, Bk 1)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was a great first novel. Groell has an amazingly rich storyline and her dertailed descriptions of Ashkharon just paint a vivid picture. The only real weaknesses in this book were the characters. Thibault seemed a little to worshipfull of Jenifleur. While The Hound and The Falcon seemed at times like a bunch of bumbling idiots instead of the highly trained and experienced assassins they were supposed to be. Other than that this book was neato. Hopefully those characterization flaws will be cleaned up in the next book. I know I'm looking forward to it.

This novel starts out somewhat slow, but the pace picks up as the plot develops. It is a tale of political intrigue and assassins on an alternate world in a medieval setting, with some amount of magic added in. The story skips back and forth between a large cast of characters including the main assassin, the double-dealing government minister who hires her, the leader of the rebels, a mage in the desert, other assassins and government ministers, the main assassin's niece and her friend, etc. The novel periodically skips back in time to bring one character or another up to date.

The assassin is hired to eliminate a decadent First Minister, but the job turns out to have complications. Double crosses are the rule of the day, and bodies start to accumulate. There are agents betraying agents, a bugged office, stolen secret papers, dungeons and torture, truth spells, etc., as the Assassins Guild tries to even accounts with the main villain. Sometimes people seem to trip over each other's feet. Don't assume that the assassin is unarmed because she is naked (big mistake), and if she is running loose it can be your worst nightmare.

I loved this book. It was refreshing, original and interesting. You feel like you can reach out and touch the characters, they are so realistic. You also want to get to know them and find out what happens to them. It is quite thought-provoking and poses some new and very good ideas, enough to keep me thinking about them after I put it down. For a first book, it's unbelievably good, even if it has a couple of slight flaws (which didn't detract from my enjoyment). And there are more books in the series, and they are even better. Definitely grab this one.

"Anvil of the Sun" is an exceptional book that stayed in my thoughts for weeks afterwards- enough so that I searched everywhere to see if there was a sequel out yet. With a gripping plot and interesting characters, this is a must-read. I couldn't put it down.

I love this book! It's so good I planned to read the next one. I'll be searching for it. Jen and Thib are great characters and the story line twists and turns with the best.

What a facinating contradiction this book is. The plot is amazing and original. Ms. Groell has used magecraft to simulate modern technology in a totally unique and refreshing way. And yet... her characterizations are quite weak and her dialogue is so inconsistent with her medieval fantasy setting that I found it jarring. Despite the flaws, which were serious, I think this is an excellent first effort.

I would give this book a pass had I to do it over again. The characters are more annoying than anything and so inconsistent its pathetic. Come on, the GREATEST assassin in the world (we are told over and over) is trapped that easily? Give me a break!! Also, the 20th century technology imported into the setting via "the mages": electricity, alarm systems, etc. as well as oil discovered in the desert is a very lame plot device and rather unoriginal if you ask me. All in all I was very disappointed.