Customer Reviews

The Quickening

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

 

 

Amazon recommended this book because I rated both William Gibson and Mercedes Lackey books highly. This has some of the same subject matter but lacks the beautiful prose and compelling stories of those authors.The back cover blurb was appealing but the novel does not hold up. This reads less like a novel than like detailed notes or an outline for a novel. The author describes the story elements and characters in great detail but does not actually tell a coherent story. It is choppy with too many people and too much stuff to be fitted into 270 pages. The Quickening is a semi random collection of characters and plot points,with some preaching about the despoiling of the environment and a few nasty violent bits tossed in. Almost everyone but the Ravens(birds) is abused, deceitful, evil or passive beyond belief. Most of the characters show very little emotion or interconnection. They often behave in ways that are out of touch even for fantasy. When a good friend has a child kidnapped by the villains minions would anyone human or Sidhe be back at the house having a party? Would anyone tell the victims mother to "calm down we'd know if he were dead"? There are occasional parts that briefly come to life. The author tells about the events and people but never really draws you into the story.The Author did tie up some seemingly unconnected bits at the end but it was too little too late.

De Angeles combines Celtic folklore with a little Haitian and a smidgeon of Japanese to create a story with depth and fascination. Sure she has too many characters and too much plot going to develop any of them to their full potential, but it makes a great quick read. I'd love to see a movie.

As a fan of Ly de Angeles non fictional work I was delighted to learn of her new book, The Quickening. I couldn't have been more disappointed.

I found the plot of this book to be almost incoherent with mini stories loosely tied together in what amounted to tedious chaos. The ill developed characters were equally overly heroic or overly villainous, all sporting chips on their shoulders the size of Texas. It is clear that Ly de Angeles was attempting to bring the Sidhe, the Tuatha de Danann into every day life for us, and that is commendable, but all she achieved was to make them look common and washed out. The magic was lost.

Ly de Angeles is capable of far more. Some of her work is visionary & extraordinary but this is not one of them.

The Quickening is no ordinary story and those who are after a quick feel-good read may well be left confused and jaded. The Quickening is a journey inward, a holding up of the mirror, and a connection with the Gods in a modern setting. The lessons and statements are deeply woven into the storyline. Enjoyment and understanding will be greatly increased by having first read "When I See The Wild God", which introduces many of the characters and the concepts therein.

May I suggest that when you embark upon this read, that you cast aside the concept of reading for entertainment, and embrace the concept of looking into the depths of a sacred well.

A highly recommended read for witches, seekers and pagans.

This book is far the best I have read for a long time. This book is a tale savoured and not to be gulped down in one mouthful without thought or if your are lucky discussion. It is to be read as a modern "myth" (in the truest sense of the word) rather than a simple yarn to wile away the hours. The journey these travellers are on takes us beyond ourselves and into the other realms.
The travellers take those lost or in search of their higher selves and weaves them into their true being. The ravens awaken ones knowing that not all is what it appears. And helps us to remember, what we may have long forgotten.
As an aside, as this child is the Son of the Deithe and a small God himself what is there truly to fear?
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to all in search of the spiritual and the ability to open themselves up to the Worlds that are. This books gifts me with purpose and will always stay with me