Customer Reviews

Emerald House Rising

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Actually, all of those things (original, delightful, and complete) have been said by other reviewers, but they're the three qualities I admired the most. This book is lighthearted without being cutesy and saccharine as so many fantasies are, and yet it has some very serious, thoughtful issues and real characterization (magic, for example, is based on a system that's kind of like reading Virginia Woolf's theories about how certain qualities are rigidly set by society as masculine and feminine and how they have to interact to form complete individuals or artists) I don't agree that the writing of this book is like Patricia Wrede's, or Barbara Hambly's, or Anne McCaffrey's, or like the writing of anyone else in particular (well, okay, maybe Martha Wells at her best). Kerr shows a wonderful blend of wisdom, emotional maturity, and craftsmanship that I think deserves to stand on its own. I'm looking forward to buying and reading Wild Swans.

Jena Gemcutter thinks she knows what she wants out of life--to marry Bram Tailor, to become a master gemcutter, to make her father happy. Then she meets a stranger with a ring only she can see, and strange things start happening. She learns she can do magic. She has strange visions and dizzy spells. She discovers she feels trapped in her life. And suddenly only someone who can use magic--someone like Jena--can save the entire Diadem from treachery.

Kerr's detailed world provides a strong backbone for this exciting fantasy. The kingdom is ruled by the Diamond, whose council (the Diadem) is made up of six other noble houses. Every year, the Diadem house which holds Heirship for the Diamond rotates. This year it is Ruby, but next year it will be Topaz. I've never seen a government system like this in all the fantasy novels I've read, and I found it to be a refreshingly different system.

Jena and Kestrienne are easily the most engaging characters in this book. Jena is the viewpoint character, and it's exciting to watch her discover who she really is and what she really wants. Kestrienne becomes Jena's mentor, as a noble lady who is also an adept. Lord Morgon is an interesting character, though he really doesn't get the development he deserves. Lady Vianne is another exceptional character, a woman of poise, character, and personality.

Kerr gives lavish attention to descriptions, but at times the narrative skips days or weeks at a time -- this gave me slight pause, but all-in-all, I found the book to be entirely satisfactory. I only wish there were a sequel!

A story of government intrigue follows a young woman as she proceeds to save the kingdom and discover herself at the same time. Kerr creates a stuning new world as the background for this lovely book. This is a must read! You will hear more about this author!

The thing that attracted me most about the book was that it was compared to Patricia Wrede's writing. I have read Wrede since third grade (Dealing With Dragons) and enjoyed that and the other books I've read by her immensly. This book did not disappoint me. I am reading it as much as all my favorite books. This is a wonderful book that all ages can enjoy!

I absolutely LOVED this book. It is a perfect fantasy. All it lacks is a dragon or two to round it off, but I, not being the brillant author that Peg Kerr is, can't find a place to put them. You have wizards, magicains, tradesmen, Lords, Ladies, the wonderful mystery, suprizing detail, the art of the jeweler (I am a metalsmith, myself), and Magic in all of its facets. I look forward to more books like this one.Thank you for your time.

I picked up this book at a college book store about 5 years ago. What amazed me was the unique way Ms. Kerr looks at magic, and to be honest, government. A government whose noble houses are named for precious gemstones, completely against magic, yet gemstones link magic together. The "whodunit" element is there, as Jena, the protagonist, has to overcome a very patriarchal, magic-condemning society to rescue her partner.

I was caught up in the vivid descriptions of the characters, and the settings positively shine. You can almost see the small room Jena lives in for a time, or the vivid colors of the Diadem (ruling body).. truly a must have book.

If you thought that you knew everything about magicians, wizards, or magic gemstones -- think again. In this tantalizing first novel by Peg Kerr, you will enjoy fantasy at its best will all of the magic, intrigue, and character complexity worthy of any reader's perusal. This one will be following quickly in the footsteps of McCaffrey and Eddings. Don't wait to find out. You will NOT be disappointed

This is one of the best novels that I have read in a very long time. Peg Kerr is simply amazing at developing convincing and relatable characters. All of the characters are diverse but enthralling from the quirky wizard Arikan to the noble Lady Rhuddlan. My favorite aspect of this book is that it keeps you enchanted in every chapter. The scenes change enough to make the novel interesting while being carefully crafted to your imagination. The plot is also multi-faceted: it's a mystery, suspense, fantasy, adventure, humor, and love story all in one! I highly recommend this book to any reader looking for something memorable.

Emerald House Rising is a new book by a brand new author. The book was very enjoyable. Though Kerr is obviously a first-time novelist, she does a wonderful job of entertaining. Her world is complex and intriguing. I look forward to her next novel, especially if it is in the same universe

Emerald House Rising is a single volume fantasy which takes on a very reasonable approach to both politics and magic. The story is told by Jena Gemcutter, the daughter of Collas Gemcutter (people in this world take their profession as their last name.) All Jena has ever wanted is to become a journeyman Gemcutter in the gem cutting guild and marry her beloved Bram Tailor and make her father happy. She's kind of milksop in fact, she seems to have no wants or needs of her own.

But one day a nobleman shows up with a pretty boring stone he wants cut into a ring. Jena is mesmerized by the ring on his own hand, which her father cannot see and quickly realizes her life was not meant to be as small as it is becoming. So, somehow magically, she transports herself and Lord Morgan (the guy with the ring) to his home. Then he gets snatched away.

While magically looking for Morgan, Jena learns that she a wizard, a magician with a partner to who she is bound (though not romantically.) But someone has stolen Morgan away. And this someone must be looking to change who is the next diamond, or supreme leader.

The leadership in Jena's world rotates- the head of each great house has a turn as the heir to the diamond throne for one year at a time. Morgan's beloved Lady Ruby is next up to be Diamond and the Diamond is dying fast.

Magic in this book is all about seeing possibilities and manipulating them. This is a fabulous way to describe it-but it was over described in the book. It would have been nice to have gotten to figure some things out for myself.

Still, an entertaining and balanced read. 3.5 stars.