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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
JSyv: college student, an avid fantasy reader, June 30, 2008
I read fantasy books all the time, almost exclusively. I absolutely LOVED this book, and as other avid readers know, good books ARE hard to find. The Four Forges is refreshing! The story seems a bit complicated at first but once you get into the book it is hard to put down. The author creates wonderful and interesting characters. Some you love and some you hate. The plot is full of twists and turns and there isn't a dull moment. The author builds up each character but it's done in a way that keeps you reading. I felt like she didn't waste any words (like so many other authors do). To sum it up the book follows the lives of Sevryn (an orphaned elf who grows into a deadly fighter), Nutmeg and her family (a lovable bunch of "Dwellers"), Rivergrace (a shy elf with a mysterious past and mysterious powers), Daravan (a shadowy elf who has his own agenda), Quendius (the villain with powerfully deadly demon weapons), and the Queen of the Vaelinars (the elfs)...and that's only a few of the interesting characters. While reading this book you can also look forward to deadly assassins, rowdy brawls, an ominous Dark Ferryman, and lots of laughs. Conclusion: I LOVED The Four Forges by Jenna Rhodes, great book, great characters! I look forward to more books from this author!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Flawed Execution, August 22, 2009
The Four Forges presents an unusual take on the Elves (Vaelinars) and Hobbits (Dwellers) and Orcs (Bolgers) of Tolkien's classic. The back-story is original and interesting, and the Elves are much darker than in Tolkien's vision. The story revolves around two main characters, Sevryn and Rivergrace. Both of their personal histories are obscured. War is brewing, and the various elvish factions and other races are jostling for position. There are many strange characters including an ominous boatman, an immortal assassin, an ambitious weapons maker, a spy, and a warrior queen. There are the makings for a good story in the mix, but it never escapes from the writer's pen.
The story is very choppy, with abrupt and confusing transitions, and important characters that just appear without back-story or explanation. The pace of the book is slow even with the all the factions and characters running around doing mysterious things. The characters do not act in ways that are consistent with their history. For example, the feared assassin never manages to kill any important character, even though he does make a number of attempts. There is a spy in one of the groups, and the other members are oblivious to his presence, even after having been warned. You the reader, on the other hand, can count up the likely suspects on one finger. The transitions between story lines are bizarre. In one case there is a fight that takes place in one afternoon. That thread is interspersed with another story line that takes place over a week. These transitions needlessly add to the confusion of the reader.
The final action sequence in the book left me surprised and unsatisfied. Where did that come from? The book is too long, and it badly needs an editor to help tighten up the narrative, improve the flow of the book and introduce enough foreshadowing to help the reader make sense of the story.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A pleasant surprise, July 18, 2007
I picked this book up, on a whim, at the bookstore. I didn't expect much but, once I started, I could not put it down. The plot is interesting, even during the slow parts. The book has it all: solid characters, humor, action, intrigue, sorrow, greed, lust, and love. I can't wait for the next book to come out.
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