Customer Reviews

The Rainbow Abyss (Sun-Cross, Book 1)

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

 

 

I really liked this book and am eagerly awaiting a sequel... someday... please? The main character is intriguing, and I hope he learns to get over his feelings of inadequacy. I very much want to see how he applies what he learned to events in his home universe, where he is sorely needed!

It is a real shame that this is out of print.

This is another universe-changing story; the characters move from their own universe into another where the laws of magic are different. A reference indicates that this is the same "universe" as the Ingold books but is otherwise unrelated.

This book and its sequel were good reads. But it has been ten years! since she published the second book. Apparently she will never finish the story. So I can't recommend reading or buying either of the Sun Cross books.

Rainbow Abyss is a piece of fantasy fiction involving magic in an alternate universe. As always, Hambly's characters are interesting, the details of the universe are enchanting, and the book is very well-written. However, this book lacked the compelling plot of some of her other novels. The main characters are forced from their home and one meets his love interest, but there was no central issue pulling the novel to a close. I found that I had no trouble setting the book down at night; there was no driving compulsion to keep reading.

That said, it is certainly a pleasant read and the lack of pull makes it an excellent before-bed book.

I highly recommend reading this book so you can read the sequel, which kept me reading for hours. I looked forward to getting home at night so I could continue reading the sequel, which has all the plot twists, anxious moments, and compelling story lines that make a novel a compulsive read.

Sex: The main character does sleep with his love interest. It is not described in any detail, nor are any of the sexual encounters referenced.
Violence: Torture is referenced often. One of the main characters is described as having had his tongue cut out and eyes gouged out. At some point in the novel, the other main character comes very close to being tortured. Nothing is discussed in too much gory detail.
Cursing: No curse-words, but I believe that the book contains some unfavorable terms for sexually-promiscuous women.

Hambley has a way of making her world real to the fantasy reader who decides to pick this book up, despite her otherwise being a fan-fiction Sci-Fi author. She gladly tickles our senses by allowing our own world to become the alternative world -something that is not all too original, but serves its purpose and works gallantly in this piece. Her way of writing is one for people who don't mind the long sentenses and many commas. She handles this well, though, and as a reader you seldom find yourself trying to remember what the current description is referring to, as you may with some authors.

There is a sense of lust throughout the book, growing into love in some areas, but mainly staying that of the body -however this is not too explicit, and the book overall doesn't display any 'sensous' manners in presenting the story.

All Hambley doesn't seem too informed about is that magic hasn't disappeared in the 'other world'.