Customer Reviews

Fire Logic

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I struggled with the first hundred or so pages of this book, adrift in the world Marks was creating and unsure how to orient myself to the characters. Yes, I could see who the 'main' characters were going to be--but I just couldn't work out where Marks was going with them.

I kept reading.

By the time I set the book down, Marks's world and vision had utterly seduced me. Looking back--what had seemed to be a "confused" start was neither a problem nor a weakness. *Fire Logic* is about a land at war--and war *is* confusing and chaotic (particularly a war fought without the benefits of modern communication technology). Until the moment enemies can manuver into a position in which they can engage each other, it *should* be hard to see the form that will come together. Marks recognizes this and incorporates it into a plot strength for her book.

I don't want to be too clever here--the book is a fun read, the characters are engaging, the choices that they face are moving. It's the kind of book that can be read very fast, just for the enjoyment of it, without elaborate philosophical analysis.

However, the deeper levels are there, which for me as a reader is highly rewarding.

*Fire Logic* reads like a great battle is fought and won--much marshalling of troops and gathering of courage, followed by a great push and achievement.

Fire Logic is a masterful novel that works as both a riveting adventure and an in-depth look at character and the relationships between people. The tight plotting kept me turning pages late into the night. Marks brings a depth of understanding to her characters that enables them to come alive on the page. There are no wooden, two-dimensional characters in this book, and for me realistic characterization is a must. The system of magic used in Fire Logic is also well thought out and has a gritty realism that I loved. Since I read Dancing Jack, I've been in love with Laurie Marks' work and have eagerly waited for another book. I wasn't disappointed! Silver, writer and magazine editor

I had the distinct impression that the author first wrote the book, then went back and flipped a coin to determine the gender of each of the characters; rewriting the gender-specific pronouns as needed.

Reading the novels caught me offguard numerous times and made me realize just how much I think in stereotypes. An example is when a group is struggling along in a harsh winter and come to a small farm. They are met by the farmer who lets them sleep in the barn. It is casually revealed that the farmer is female. I had to erase and rewrite the pictures in my head!

Within the books, gender does not determine strength of body or character, nor does it determine roles in society. Very refreshing.

Similarly, some characters have dark skin, some light. Neither gender nor skin color is of any significance whatsoever to the characters in the novel. Yes, there is some reference to sexuality in the books. However, it is never either salacious or explicit. Some is casual and friendly, some is committed. Nothing much is made of it in either instance. Sexual contact is presented as an extension of friendship with never a hint of exploitation, dominance, or control entering into it. Yes, a lot of the sex is between same-gender persons, but so what?

Another dominant theme is that of "family." In the books a family is a committed group of friends who share purpose and share parenting of any children in the group. All women are Mother, all men are Father.

A good read with careful plotting and very well developed characters.

Just re-read Laurie J. Mark's "Fire Logic" and finally read her sequel "Earth Logic." I've read "Fire Logic" at least twice before and it's never really hit me before that barring more humor she writes worlds like Tanya Huff! Her people are bi- and when I say that now a days I'm not JUST talking about their sexual preferences but equality between the sexes! A background character described as a "farmer" or "soldier" or "merchant" will be a female half the time! THAT is equality. Women aren't strange, hidden away creatures only there to be the love interest to a male character as written in soo many fantasy or sci-fi books- they are people in their own right! And wheather these equal men or women chose to love a husband or wife- it is not looked down upon or cause for hatred! In these well written worlds the only thing a woman can do that a man can't is have a baby and the only thing a man can do that a woman can't is have an erection.
I feel strangely like I've been overlooking Laurie Marks and my eyes have been opened up!
Her story and characters are of coarse exciting and detailed. Zanja, the cool tormented main character who must find her way in a world that is suddenly without purpose. Karis, the talented but degraded woman that must overcome so much to truly realize her own power. Medric, the seer raised an enemy that comes to realize through his visions there is a better way. Emil, the scholar forced to be a soldier.. And all following their own elemental "logic" and precog-like powers to lead them together.
It's really a great story and I wonder if there will be more in this world, a 3rd book perhaps? Though they are pretty settled at the end of 2!

Many fantasy books have good ideas but are poorly written. Others are well-written but bring nothing new to the table. THIS book has characters that are fresh and interesting, scenes that are emotionally strong without being overwrought, and the story kept me reading straight through.

What I liked best: Compelling characters that seemed real and unique to me, antagonists who had real reasons (in their own minds) for doing bad things, and several sweet twists in the plot that kept me reading.

Aspects I wish were better: Not enough description in some spots so that I didn't feel I was fully SEEING the world of the book. Also, violence that got a bit repetitive. I mean, torture loses its impact if a character gets hurt and healed repeatedly . . .

All in all, though this was a great book, and I will be reading all Ms. Marks previous books and her future ones as well. Well worth buying in hardcover, as this is one you will loan out to friends. :-) Mine is already loaned out.

For the first 100 or so pages I was having a lot of trouble getting into the story because it seemed a bit detached, like the author was describing it all from a distance and wasn't really involved in the story. But soon I started to enjoy it and was finally able to get lost in the story.

The big thing you should know, and other reviewers have noted this as well, is there are a lot of homosexual relationships in this book. I mean practically everyone is gay, and it's very casual and accepted. There are never any "hateful" comments by any bigoted characters. This is just the way it is there. But there don't seem to be many heterosexual families, and as another reviewer said, you have to wonder where the kids come from. For most of the book the sexual relationships aren't really an issue, but near the end they become a major focus.

Overall, I could have done without the weird gender relationships, but the story was interesting enough that I will read the next book in the series.

The G'deon who ruled Shaftal died, without an heir. Thus Shaftal had been thrown into turmoil and the Sainnites began invading. The Shaftali created a guerrilla army to withstand the Sainnites, but slowly they began to lose.

Emil was a Paladin and of fire blood. Zanja was the Speaker for people, also of fire blood. Norina was a Truthken and an air elemental. Karis was a giant, worked as a metalsmith, and an earth witch. These four souls would be called upon by Fate to determine the course of their people.

**** The story followed Zanja as she and the others dealt with war, torture, honor, politics, betrayal, lots of courage, and a bit of friendship. There were parts that left me breathless. Often reality intruded upon my reading and I found myself eager to return to this magical world as quickly as possible. Author Laurie J. Marks proves her talent for creating realistic characters and awesome plots! Recommended! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

The land of Shaftal was ruled by an earth witch, but with his death and no apparent heir, it was an easy target for the invading Sainnites. Those remaining Shaftali paladins have grouped together as a guerrilla army to do what they can against the mighty Sainnites. Zanja is the last survivor of a peaceful tribe eradicated by the Sainnites, and her fire witch powers give her glimpses into the future. Emil is a paladin and also a fire witch, but his powers make him more of an excellent judge of character, although working in tandem with Zanja brings luck. Karis is an earth witch whose powers are stifled by her drug addiction, but she can't help but be drawn inexplicably to Zanja. The two women find events moving beyond their understanding and between them, they might just be able to save Shaftal, if they can save themselves first. Peppered with political intrigue, powerful magic, and personal struggles, "Fire Logic" wants to be a potent story, but it just doesn't make it. The first eighty or so pages flit through fifteen years of story, and this disconnected feeling never disappears. The love stories (between Zanja and Karis, between Emil and a young man who's a Sainnite) are told to us, more than shown, so we never fall in love with the characters as they fall in love with each other. The complex characters and the fascinating magic-laden world kept me reading and interested, and for that the book is recommendable, but overall it lacks.

Generations of people in Shaftal lived together in a balance of the elements Earth, Air, Water and Fire. Then the ruling earth witch dies without choosing a successor. Now Shaftal's ruling house lies scattered and destroyed by the invading Sainnite, as former refugees arm themselves and take over. A once peaceful land becomes a war zone complete with gristly acts of war and ghastly consequences.

The people of fire also attempt to defend against the invading Sainnites, but a surprise attack decimates their town. Despite their retaliatory guerilla warfare, the remaining people of fire die picking off invaders, leaving only one survivor. Cast into a dungeon and left to die, Zanja lies paralyzed until a raven and a healer arrive. Unfortunately, although Karis is a gifted healer she is also addicting "smoke". Now Zanja and Karis must combine efforts with Emil, a Shaftali Paladine, to overcome evil forces intent upon destruction.

Author Laurie J. Marks pens an enthralling fantasy novel FIRE LOGIC. More than just an epic, FIRE LOGIC presents extraordinary characterizations that portray a world of magic, violence, wonder and awe. Marks keeps the story crisp and intense, building mood and weaving from it an eerie tale of magic used and misused, culminating in vigorous battles both military and magical. Highly recommended.

It is a great thing when a book makes you see the world from a new angle. Fire Logic did this to me. I am an avid reader of fantasy novels and I have always enjoyed the strong female characters in a lot of the new fantasy. This novel showed me that those characters can be taken up several notches. As I started to read I had to keep reminding myself that the burly blacksmith was a woman. It took this novel to really knock me upside the head and realize that women are still denied a lot of traditionally male character roles in fantasy.

I think it is great how nontraditional relationships are really highlighted, but I do somewhat agree with other reviewers who felt that it was a bit too much. Writing a queer oriented fantasy is great but if you do not include any meaningful hetero relationships, the work is just as biased as the damsel in distress novels of the past.

All that aside, the novel is exceedingly original and kept me interested to the end. While not up to the standards of some of the greats like George RR Martin, it is above average for the genre and gets an extra star for originality. I just started the next novel, hopefully it will keep up the pace.