Customer Reviews

The Gratitude of Kings

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

 

 

Being a huge MZB fan and a lover of her "Mists of Avalon" series, I bought this lovely little book simply because it was Marion Zimmer Bradley.

If you are looking for a complex, substantial novel, this book may not be for you. It is after all, a short story, revisiting Lythande the sorcerer/magician, and not a huge novel in and of itself.

This novel is a really fun read, because it gives the reader a glimpse of Marion Zimmer Bradley's world, but does so with a bit of humor. "Gratitude of Kings" is full of symbolism, and I feel that the book's message is very clear.

This is simply a delightful, "not too deep" novel, and for those unaccustomed to MZB's work, a quick look at her ability to make fantasy completely believable, and another of her fine offerings which focus around the power of women, whatever form that power may take!

I am delighted to have the opportunity to read yet another story of Lythande the magician. Previously I've read stories in magazines or anthologies and was quite surprised to see one long enough to rate its own book. I was first attracted to the book by the wonderful dragon on the cover and by the author's name. What a wonderful surprise to find it was a story about an old friend. Those who are looking for a meaty story may be disappointed, this is not heavy-duty "literature", but for plain old reading enjoyment I find Bradley's Lythande stories to be just right and her latest episode is an enjoyable romp through a most unusual wedding.

Here, Marion Zimmer Bradley is giving us another story of her female wizard Lythande, who first appeared in the first of the "Thieves'World" anthologies in 1979. Since then she has written a couple of short stories about the adventures of Lythande who is maskarading as a man. Nobody must know that she is female, because otherwise she would lose all her powers and die. In this novella Lythande is asked to be the King's champion at the wedding games, but she knows that there is something terribly wrong with this wedding and she has to find out what before it is to late. This is a strong story with wonderful characters and a colourful setting. Be sure not to miss this small, but very readable novella.

...is my impression of this fairy tale like story. The female magician is conjuring her way in the usual charming wit and manners through one of her many old friend's (in no way surprising after a few centuries of lifetime) wedding ceremony in a medieval setting. With a cheerful smile on my face, I finished reading the little book with the pretty cover (hardcover, therefore its price). Just too short. I'd recomend it as a gift to casual readers or as a children's book for second grade. Isn't there someone you've always wanted to turn onto MZB?

I picked this up on a clearance table at B&N a few years ago, and I've pulled it off the shelf at least once every year since then to read it again. I haven't read any of the author's other works, and indeed I find Tolkien closer to my worldview than this brief tast of Ms Bradley's sub-creation. However, I greatly enjoy this little field trip into a well-detailed fantasy world. She explains just enough for someone who doesn't know all the background of her work to follow along, and makes it all seem so natural. (And the plot's pretty good, too!) If you find it at a yard sale or thrift shop, pick it up to enjoy on a rainy Saturday morning. 4.5/5

While the story about Lythande was fairly interesting, I found myself asking at the end, "So, what was the point?" The book reads more like a short story. While somewhat entertaining, it just didn't seem to have enough plot to it to warrant making a whole book from it. I can understand printing it as a selection in an anthology, but not in this format. I have thoroughly enjoyed Bradley's wonderful Darkover series but this just falls short of the quality I expect of her. I believe this book is simply a way to make money off Bradley's name.

This should have been published with another story or two (there are some uncollected Lythande stories, maybe the administrators of her estate should look into a complete Lythande collection, including the Thieve's World stories). It's just a novelette - really a long short story.
As a story of Lythande, it is thin and lacks the complexity of the other stories. It was good to see Beeauty and Tashgan again. I'm glad to add it to my collection of MZB.