9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Am I just dead inside?, November 30, 2007
This review is from: Mistress of the Runes (Paperback)
For some reason I just couldn't get into this book to the point that I put it down after a couple of chapters. Therefore, don't take my review necessarily as the authority on this book. I believe that there are enchanting moments in it, that it probably has a whimsical tone and pleasant characters, but to me it had the initial feeling of a bunch of random scenes thrown up on the wall to see which might stick. Where was it going? What was it trying to say about anything? Don't buy Icelandic horses?
I just couldn't get past this lack of a strong beginning, where a book needs to hook you with its plot and characters. It just seemed contrived and random to me. For instance a scene in the antique store early on: I could believe the characters being there, but the emphasis on this old woman who randomly appears, the contrived nature of her rubber band breaking and her hair flowing out all over...I can swallow mysticism, but this just seemed cliched, and also didn't fit the overall tone of the book to that point. Perhaps that's it, scene to scene there just wasn't any consistency, something that perhaps could have been created with a bit more internal dialogue on the parts of the characters, something that makes the Of Drag Kings books of Susan Smith so strong despite circumstances that on the surface should seem more far-fetched than anything I read in the opening pages of this book, yet was somehow unable to swallow the "magic" of here.
It started very abruptly. I don't think the word choices flowed properly. The characters would bust out these random descriptions and comments, for instance all about horses when they otherwise have no internal dialogue or hint that they are contemplating horses in their day-to-day lives. Thus, it just seemed poorly constructed. I just had a nagging feeling that there was a rhythm to the writing that I just wasn't getting traction on, so I'm pleased that there are other people who this did speak to.
I was intrigued by the set-up in a closeted, high-powered Dallas society, but sadly this is not really elaborated on, nor are the details of Brice's job available (as another example) to give us context for her life. The characters would keep making statements as if we should know what they were talking about, but due to a lack of development they just ended up sounding like non-sequitors...it was like not having the visual (movie, TV which apparently is the experience of the authors) back-up the authors needed to work more to establish an atmosphere, and they didn't. Several chapters in I still didn't have a grasp on what either main character would do in any given situation, and that's just an awful place to put the reader in, particularly if the reader is supposed to be building relationships with these characters. Also, the book seemed to jump from theme to theme with an alarming lack of transitory phrasing.
I guess I've gone on long enough. Like I said there were some good ideas with the high-pressure corporate world, combined with the intense TV world, then tension of remaining closeted, immediate attraction between the protagonists, cute horses. The execution just lacked something for me.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tremendously fun read!, May 26, 2008
This review is from: Mistress of the Runes (Paperback)
Set mostly in Dallas, TX, this is a totally enjoyable novel. My favorite parts were following 44 year old 'Corporate Warrior' Brice Chandler's Hollywood career - they were lol scathingly funny. The romance between Brice and Liz was very sweet. Brice and Liz are terrific characters, modern and mature yet like most people act a bit silly at times. The breakup with Clare was awesome ("just taking my stuff for a ride" - lol).
The humor is fabulous (Elgin - lol).
This is the first Andrews & Austin novel I have read and I am looking forward to their other titles -
Richfield & Rivers Mystery Series:
Combust the Sun
Stellium in Scorpio
Venus Besieged
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spellbinding, October 5, 2007
This review is from: Mistress of the Runes (Paperback)
After having read Andrews & Austin's 2 previous books, I think this is their best one. It hold your attention with a spellbinding atmosphere. You never know what to expect on the next page. I look forward to obtaining their future books.
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