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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous Writing and Fascinating Characters and Story..., October 30, 2008
This review is from: Cyndere's Midnight: A Novel (The Auralia Thread) (Paperback)
With "Auralia's Colors," Overstreet introduced an expansive and vast world with lush language and a huge cast of characters that were juggled nicely for a premiere novel. In "Cyndere's Midnight," Overstreet's great writing has only gotten better, with a larger cast of characters that are handled more effectively than in the previous book, a deeper delving into the world of Abascar, and a pretty fast moving storyline with plenty of classic bloody fantasy action. There's romance, lust, betrayal, magic, evil, and a powerful sense of good. It's an engaging read from start to finish.
There's several different plotlines that make up the story of the book - the central one being a well-rendered classic beauty and the beast tale, of a beastman named Jordam who awakens from the beastmen's eternal ravenous walking slumber, thanks to Auralia's Colors, and meets Cyndere, the heiress who is determined to bring back the Cent Regus house from the deep dark pit into which "The Essence" flung them.
The novel also follows a storyline from the perspective of The Four Brothers (beastmen)- Mordafey, Jorn, Goreth, and Jordam, who want to make a deal with the Cent Regus monsters so they can take over House Abascar and steal all their treasures. Often in fantasy novels, when the writer chooses to write from the perspective of the "bad guys," it's done cheaply, where the author merely imprints human characteristics directly onto a beast. But Overstreet shows more attention to detail than this; the way the beastmen speak and the way they act, and their very attitude, are much more than simply the opposite of humans - they're their own twisted and scarred race.
There's of course several other small characters spatted through the lot, the more prominent of them being Captain Ryllion, a soldier at Tillianpurth who is willing to do anything to kill the beastmen once and for all; Emerienne, one of Cyndere's handmaidens and her closest friend; and Pretor Xa, a Seer from Bel Amica with mysterious intentions and a creepily confident always-there grin. And this just scratches the surface. With "Cyndere's Midnight," Overstreet has overcome the problem that the first book encountered, where the language took over the characters and detached the reader from the story slightly.
Now, the characters and the language dance together, one rarely overtaking the other, usually balancing out perfectly. When the story is written from the perspective of Jordam, the sentences are written with earthy, lushy, violent tones, appropriate to a beastman, but when we get the perspective of Cyndere, the language is appropriate to that of royalty - Cal-Raven's perspective usually has a strong tone of pride in House Abascar and a sincere desire to do what's right - all these different perspectives balance out in a story that takes the reader all around the Great Expanse, and though it's not unpredictable or ridiculously inventive, it is an extremely well crafted tale that fascinates and enchants and fulfills the promise that "Auralia's Colors" gave.
Overstreet also threads in dozens of different themes throughout the book, from the obvious beauty and the beast theme to others like finding your calling, the power and danger of human reason and pride, the need to trust in something greater than yourself, and the important task of the stronger needing to help the weak, regardless of personal danger or loss. It undergirds the whole story with strong morality that will cause readers to become thoroughly involved in the large and seemingless endless Expanse. The morality also firmly entrenches "Cyndere's Midnight" in a world that has some very clear rules and some very clear mysteries that readers will want to learn more about as soon as the book is closed, though unfortunately we've got to wait a couple more years till "Cal-Raven's Ladder" comes out. All right, Mr. Overstreet, we're waiting.....
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good edition, but not quite at the Auralia level., December 14, 2008
This review is from: Cyndere's Midnight: A Novel (The Auralia Thread) (Paperback)
This was a well-crafted novel, with great storylines and characters. Jeffrey writes exquisite scenery with beautiful imagery, that comes to life off the page. I particularly enjoyed the Beastman storyline, as we follow Jordam's struggle between righteousness and the familiar. There seemed to be intriguing parallels between this novel and the current issues of the 21st century, as Jeffrey paints a dilemma between assisting the Beastmen to change and grow, verses eradicating them or using them as war machines. The best of fantasy helps us reconsider our own reality, and Cyndere's Midnight certainly does that.
I would certainly rate this book higher if for one point: it follows Auralia's Colors. Auralia's Colors was just that good, and Cyndere's Midnight is a good book, but not on the level of the first. I was trying to wrack my brain to understand why, and I think it's because of this: there are just too many threads to follow in Cyndere's Midnight. There are too many main characters, and we don't know who to emotionally invest ourselves in, or who to root for- at least not until the last couple chapters. In Auralia's Colors, it was clear that Auralia was the character. In Cyndere's Midnight, The strongest and most intriguing thread is certainly that of Jordam, but he's not the title character, and frankly Cyndere's story is rather uninteresting. She, the Ale Boy, Captain Ryllion, Emerienne, and Cal-Raven all have their own storylines, but they feel only hinted at, and at the same time demanding at times our full attention. The book would be stronger for having a focus on only Cyndere or only Jordam, with supporting characters.
I recommend this book, to both fans of Auralia's Colors and those who have never read Overstreet before. But I recommend more Auralia's Colors, and, I believe, the next book in Overstreet's series.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fresh New Fantasy Voice, September 16, 2008
This review is from: Cyndere's Midnight: A Novel (The Auralia Thread) (Paperback)
House Abascar lies in ruins while Auralia's colors live on. The Beastmen of Cent Regus now roam the land looking to take down any Abascar survivors. In House Bel Amica, Cyndere, heiress to the throne, mourns after hearing the news that her husband was murdered by Beastmen while looking for Abascar survivors. Longing for change and a chance to grieve, Cyndere flees to her childhood retreat. After she arrives Cyndere has a chance encounter with a Beastman named Jordam. She soon realizes that Jordam is different from the other Cent Regus monsters. It seems that he has been changed after being exposed to the beauty of Auralia's colors. Cyndere now has hope that her husband's dream of helping the Beastmen can now become a reality.
As Cyndere and Jordam grow closer, a sinister plan comes to light threatening to destroy the remaining members of House Abascar. Thwarted by their loyalty to their own Houses, Cyndere and Jordam must work together to save these innocent lives who have already suffered so much.
Jeffrey Overstreet continues to awe and inspire with this second strand of the Auralia Thread. This is fantasy writing at the highest level and every line drips with moving prose and breathtaking description. Overstreet possesses the rare talent that allows him to methodically pace his narrative, all the while keeping the reader hanging on every word. It is impossible to fly through this story and at no time will you want to.
Cyndere's Midnight is a beautiful tale laced with themes of love, honor, and justice. Jordam's character is a wonder to behold as he struggles against his dark nature in the fight to embrace all that is right and true. Cyndere's unyielding compassion for her rightful enemy will leave your heart soaring long after the last line.
As we journey further into this series, more revelations are brought to light that give the story an added dose of excitement. However, the larger mysteries still linger with promises of revelation in the final two installments. Overstreet also treats us to some intriguing new characters as well as bringing back the favorites from the first book. Yes, even the beloved ale boy is back!
If you are looking for a fresh new fantasy voice, then look no further. Jeffrey Overstreet will take you on a wondrous journey unlike anything you have ever experienced.
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