Longeye (The Fey Duology) [Hardcover]

Sharon Lee (Author), Steve Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 2009 | Series: The Fey Duology

Hidden from the human-inhabited world by the inimical magical device known as the keleigh, the Vaitura has become a subtle battleground where the once all-powerful Elder Fey strive against each other and the upstart Queen to regain ascendancy. Of all the Elder Fey it is Altimere who is strongest in magical kest and Altimere who is most devious. Pitted against Zaldore and her group seeking to manipulate the convelescing Ranger known as Longeye to foil the Queen and rule the world, Altimere dares to utilize the untested powers of half-human, half-Fey Rebecca Beauvally, recognized by the elemental denizens of the Vaitura as The Gardener.

            Now all plans must be rewritten: Becca breaks Altimere's capricious dominion with the dangerous herbal help of Duainfey, but, weakened by the effort, is held against her will in service to the Queen by Meripen's mysterious sea-lord cousin, Sian. Becca must escape the Queen's retainers to regain control of her own fate. With the magics of the Vaitura, and Altimere's retribution arrayed against her, she escapes with only her horse, a mad forest-living Brethren, and her freed magical servant Nancy at her side. Worse, the recovered legendary hero Longeye, long beloved of the Vaitura's forest folk and creatures, has re-armed at Sian's bidding, and knows most of all about Becca that she is both dangerous, and of the same folk who cruelly tortured him and slew his lover before his eyes.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sharon Lee and Steve Miller live in the rolling hills of Central Maine with two insistent muses in the form of cats and a large cast of characters. The husband-and-wife team's collaborative work in science fiction and fantasy include twelve novels and numerous short stories in their award-winning Liaden Universe®. In addition to their collaborative work, Steve has seen short stories, nonfiction, and reviews published under his name, while Sharon has seen published short stories, newspaper pieces, and two mystery novels. 

 

Steve was the founding curator of the University of Maryland's Kuhn Library Science Fiction Research Collection and a former Nebula juror. For five years, Sharon served the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, consecutively as Executive Director, Vice President and President. Sharon's interests include music, seashores and pine cones. Steve also enjoys music, plays tournament chess, and collects cat whiskers.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Baen; 1 edition (April 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416591532
• ISBN-13: 978-1416591535
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,053,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying conclusion, April 3, 2009

By 

OtterB (MD USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Longeye (The Fey Duology) (Hardcover)

I'm a long-time fan of Lee and Miller. I greatly enjoy their Liaden novels but was also glad to see them branch out and try something new. That said, I found Duainfey darker in tone that I care for. Longeye balances that out to some extent. The plot was engaging. Some things I saw coming, and enjoyed anticipating; others I didn't, and enjoyed being surprised by.

For me, the character of the Ranger Meripen Vangleuf carried the duology. There's certainly trauma in his past and angst in his present, but he keeps putting one foot in front of the other, striving to figure out the right thing to do and then to do it. Becca I found more ... annoying. She swings from too trusting, to too downtrodden, to too paranoid. It's not a failure in the writing, exactly. She's a plausible character, with understandable reactions and flaws consistent with her experience. I just didn't like her for a good part of Duainfey and the first chunk of Longeye. She did finally come to growth that made her more appealing toward the end, but I wouldn't have stuck with her for a book and a half if it hadn't been for the alternation with Meri's point of view.

And, of course, the trees. I would have stuck around just for the conversations with the trees. And I was willing to give Becca the benefit of the doubt before I came to like her, because the trees liked her.

Read Duainfey first, because I don't think this one makes sense without it, but I'd recommend you have Longeye ready as a chaser.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent storytelling, March 30, 2009

By 

P. M. Reuss (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Longeye (The Fey Duology) (Hardcover)

As with all books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Longeye is a polished gem of storytelling. This is second book of a duology (following Duainfey) and is a a continuation of the fantasy started in the first volume.

Many readers will like Longeye better than Duainfey -- it's a bit lighter in tone. But what draws me to Lee and Miller's work is their ability to draw the reader into the story. This one continues that fine tradition, providing great characterizations, engaging dialogue, and growth of the characters.

I will not provide spoilers, but urge anyone with an appreciation of well-told fantasy to buy this book. Lee and Miller fans will recognize this as a must read.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Failure of Nerve?, April 28, 2009

By 

Lesley K (Arkansas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Longeye (The Fey Duology) (Hardcover)

It's odd that I liked DUAINFEY so much more than I expected, and yet I finished LONGEYE feeling let down.

Things I liked:

* Meri, very much. There is no question that he is the emotional center of this book, much as Becca was for the first.

* The progressive descent of Altimere into madness was subtly and chillingly portrayed.

* The subtle characterizations, always a Lee / Miller trademark. No "mwa-ha-hah!" villains here -- even the most despicable characters had good justifications for their choices. And I could always understand and empathize with the heroes, in both their virtues and their flaws.

* The heartbreakingly beautiful depiction of the Woods and the Sea -- especially Vanglewood -- reminding me again how well these authors portray the alien as truly Other, yet wonderful and worthwhile.

* The nod to longstanding Lee / Miller fans with Cats! Rugs! Libraries! Yays!

So why only three stars?

I'm sure that the authors are too professional and canny to dwell on their reviews, but I cannot help but wonder if the negative response to DUAINFEY stung more than it should. At any rate, it seemed like there was a failure to fully explore the implications of the first book, and allow the horrific abuse and harm to play out as they should. Instead, I feel like everything was wrapped up too tidily and neatly at the end.

----'WARE SPOILERS ----

* What happened to all the political intrigue at the Elven Court? We are told that the Constant was deeply divided, that many resented the Queen, yet we had hardly a hint of that in the final debate. Just a few lords (not even named, just numbered!) held out for a few rounds, and we are told that was because they were weakened by Altimere's depredations, not genuinely philosophically opposed to the Queen. And does anybody have any idea what happened to Zadore and Benidik?

*Altimere's ultimate fate -- yes, it was logical and well foreshadowed, but honestly, how many times have we seen Evil Overlords destroyed by trying to steal more power than they can absorb?

* Meri and Becca's relationship. I'm sorry, I just couldn't see it. I would have loved to see them develop mutual respect, even forge a fragile friendship, but this just felt forced too me. They both managed to overcome such well-earned horror and fear, heal from the deep scars of abuse and failure so fast? Becca, especially, was deeply damaged from repeated rapes -- literal, emotional, and spiritual. Her paranoia and self-loathing rang absolutely true. I am supposed to believe that one good tumble and that's all over with? (And, okay, with all the pages of unpleasant sexual shenanigans in the first book, and once we get to happy fun consensual sex, all I get is one highly euphemized paragraph?) I know that things are supposed "heal faster" in the Vaitura, but honestly, this was almost insulting.

*The destruction of the keleigh and the Brave New World. Excuse me, but can anybody tell me what happened here? I think I sneezed, and missed it.

--- END SPOILERS ----

So, yes, three stars. I was impressed with DUAINFEY, and with the authors for daring into new, and unsettling and unpalatable territory. I didn't enjoy it, exactly, but I was willing to follow the authors there and see what they had to say.

But in LONGEYE, I feel like they took a few steps across the border, decided "Here Be Dragons", and scurried back into safe and comfortable feel-good tropes.