Customer Reviews

In Legend Born

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After reading this epic novel of magic, revolution romance and heartbreaking betrayal I almost wanted to be transported to the land of Sileria and pick up a sword for the cause of freedom.Resnick makes a passionate case for the the land of Sileria and their fight for independence from the brutal empire of Valada.She creates memorable but flawed heroes and heroines willing to face death for freedom of the country and gives us stirring scenes of battles, romance,magic and stunning treachery!One of the best first novel I've ever read that reminds me of Kay's epic novel Tigana.

Usually when I see a book that a lot of people like, I hestitate to buy it- on the reason that most best sellers are predictable stuff concocted to keep your average brainless reader interested.

This one was fantastic. I can say that with my hand on my heart, swearing to god. The characters were intersting, and well-rounded. They act like real people. These aren't some nice bodies concocted to serve a goal that everyone believes in though they don't know why. They all have their own reasons for everything.

This book's romance isn't the soggy stuff of the Last Dragon Lord. People don't love each other with all their hearts because they're of the same blood. They don't exactly love with all their hearts, anyway. Everything about this book is realistic.

This isn't a light read,but after you read it you'll be satisfied. The theme is cliched, but the plot is not. Suspense will grab you and keep you on the edge of your seat.

When I picked up this book, I was in the middle of a month-long training rotation (I'm in the Army), and I just needed something to read. Little did I know what I was getting into!
This book engulfed me from the start. I found myself alternately yelling at the characters, "Don't do that, you'll regret it, its wrong!", exhorting them, "That's it, thats what you need to do!", or simply cheering with them through their triumphs.
It is not just her excellent portrayal of all her main characters that grabs me about this book. Nor is it only her obvious thoroughness in creating a world with a complexity rivalling that of Tolkien or Asimov. Nor is it the fact that the book successfully and skillfully took me through, not one, but two gripping climaxes. No, on their own, these elements would not catch me up. I have been reading all my life, especially in the fantasy genre, and frankly, I just don't get into books the way I used to. What grabbed me and literally pulled me into her world was the fact that Laura Resnick quite literally took all the basic elements of a great fantasy series and wove them into HER FIRST BOOK! Everything that a discriminating reader of fantasy could possibly want is contained in this book--action scenes galore, high magic, a well-thought world, incredibly adept political intrigue, and a good smattering of nitty-gritty details--high fantasy in all its glory.
As well, her perspective on both her heroes and her villains is completely in keeping with my own ideas--the heroes always strive to do what is right, while the villains always do their utmost to stamp out the heroes and continue their own despotic reign. Even the characters painted in shades of grey--allied with good, but using questionable and downright wrong methods to gain their idea of "the best thing", are portrayed perfectly.
I finished this book in less then a full day's time (I usually read these books slower, simply because I can't get into them), and found myself waiting for the sequel promised at the end with baited breath. Kudoes to Laura Resnick and here's to her sequel!

I am very impatiently waiting for the sequel (have been for a year now). Even though it's been awhile since I last read this book, I still remember it clearly due to the vivid writing style, and the colorful and realistic characters. Just recalling it makes me impatient for In Fire Forged, and starts me wondering about the fates of the main characters all over again. The heroes have their weaknesses and yet the story does not get bogged down with heros' problems, self-recriminations and so on. The pacing keeps the excitement going and the whole 'cause' is believable and worthy. The only reason why a star is missing in this review is because one development in the story I found unneccessary and off-putting. This development, however, does not ruin the book. So read and enjoy!

Laura Resnick has one terrific future ahead of her in fantasy. The writing, world-building, and characterization are all very strong, but what I particularly liked was the way ILB touched on very primal issues of freedom, and the cost of freedom. Underneath the magic and waterlords and the other elements that make fantasy novels fun is a story of truly epic scope. Can't wait for the next book to come out!

This book got me hooked on the very first page. It is worth your book time to read it. It has a mixture of romance (who will get who), survival, and total comitment. This book will totally blow your socks off. Read it and you won't regret it. The characters stay human in this wonderful book. They have flaws, feelings, addittude, hopes, wants, and goals. Each character is it's own and you will have not just one favorite character, but you will fall in love with all of them. I'm 14 years old and female and I read alot and this is one book you must pick up and read!

I'm soooo glad I got this book. To think I almost miss this book is apalling! It has twists that takes you by surprise and just grabs you with pair of iron strong hands. You won't be able to put it down. I would have stayed up a whole night if I didn't have practice the next day. You MUST read this. I assure you that you will LOVE this one.

This book contains a fascinating combination of both politics and fantasy. In the island of Sileria, the conquered Silerians hoped for a sovereign nation where they could live freely. As a result of one man, the islanders rose up in protest against the Valdanis. Guardians, assasins, commoners, and waterlords together fought off the overwhelming Valdanis. But at the same time, betrayals within the Silerians occur. This book is very interesting and easy to read, but the negative thing I can say about this book is the lack of suspenseful events.

I stayed up all night reading this book - once I started I couldn't put it down! Some of it is predictable, but that is to be expected. Most of it isn't predictable, and some is downright unpredictable. Good character development. Unfortunately, women (in general) are portrayed as only meant to be breeders. But there are a couple of good strong female characters. What I wish is that the book had a glossary so you could keep track of what all the foreign words meant.

When he fled Sileria nine years before, Tansen had been a young man. Now he is a trained warrior. But he lacks a cause, something worth fighting for. Only when he finds the rebel Josarian does he see a chance to achieve his destiny. Josarian has a cause--freedom for Sileria after a thousand years of occupation. It's a goal that Tansen couldn't even have conceived on his own, but once he's been shown the goal, he is an expert on following through. As long as Josarian keeps the faith and doesn't do anything stupid like throwing himself into a volcano to prove that he is, in fact, the prophesied warrior.

Author Laura Resnick builds a wonderful, complex, and sophisticated world of magic, culture, and betrayal. Water Lords rule through fear and assassination as well as powerful magic. Guardians preserve fire magics despite centuries of oppression. A pre-human race huddles in the sewers and caves beneath the capitol city, fearful that whatever humans win, they will lose. Feuds tear at this ancient island, keeping the people from uniting against their oppressive occupiers. Even within the rebellion, factions squabble over goals, methods, and the ultimate winner.

Tansen is a fine character, tormented by the decisions that led him to fear Sileria in the first place (betraying an earlier rebellion and murdering the man who had become his father). The Elelar, who would do anything to free her people, is another carefully crafted and three-dimensional figure.

But it's the world-building rather than the characters that make IN LEGEND BORN most interesting. Readers who enjoy complex magic systems, sophisticated societies, and complex moral issues will find a lot to enjoy in this novel.