Customer Reviews

Rangers at Roadsend

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

 

 

"Rangers at Roadsend," a murder mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie, has crossed many genres including speculative fiction, fantasy, romance, and adventure. The story is an incredible whodunit that has something for everyone. Jane Fletcher, winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award 2005 for "Walls at Westernfort," has created an intelligent and compelling story where the reader easily gets drawn into the fascinating world of Celaeno, becomes totally absorbed in the well-designed plot, and finds herself completely enamored with the multi-faceted characters.

Sergeant Chip Coppelli, of C Patrol, a Ranger at Fort Krowe, is the heroine in a land where women roam and rule the earth. A truly admirable character, Chip is a fearless leader who strives to keep the inhabitants of Celaeno safe from lawbreakers and wild beasts. When rumors abound about Chip's new recruit, Private Katryn Nagata, Chip will stop at nothing to discover the truth concerning these allegations. She intends to find out why Katryn, a militia sergeant of Woodside, was transferred to her squadron in Landfall as a private, especially since she is older than the average new recruit and proves to be an accomplished markswoman with a bow and arrow, indicative of a person of higher rank. It doesn't help that the attractive woman immediately captures Chip's attention and affection. Against the advice of her best friend, Sergeant Kim Ramon of B Patrol, Chip falls in love with Katryn despite the suspicions that surround her. Added to the mystery of Katryn's past actions, Chip has a few secrets of her own, further complicating the plot.

Besides the rich prose, a distinction that sets Fletcher above the norm, is the clever interweaving of clues -- the reader has fun trying to solve the murder of the unpopular, hated Sergeant Ellis. Fletcher takes special care so that the reader doesn't discover the killer too soon. Even with meticulously laid out clues, there are no plot holes to contradict the explanation of how the murder took place. All the bases are covered leaving no other person a viable candidate.

"Rangers at Roadsend" will captivate and delight readers of all tastes, even those who say they are not fond of speculative fiction, including fantasy. Fletcher writes an engaging and believable tale with humor, metaphors, and honesty. It's not just the story that is compelling, but the way the author writes it that grabs the reader's attention. Fletcher is able to convey volumes of emotion in a single sentence, for instance, p. 92, "Katryn's company was the most enjoyable torment she [Chip] had ever known." Her descriptions are vivid yet succinct as on p. 78, "As ever, the market was crowded. Sounds, smells and gaudy colors fought in a riot for the senses." Her humor is evident as on p. 79, "I'm trying to work out what `Chip' is short for." "It's not short for anything. It's a small fried piece of potato." Fletcher uses excellent metaphors throughout the text including how Chip feels about the romantic aspect of her life. The reader learns about Chip's track record with women when Katryn throws up in the gutter, and she thinks, "it was a pretty good summing-up of her love life in general" [p. 89].


A five-star novel, "Rangers at Roadsend" will have you riveted, all the while fantasizing about living in a society where women are the masters of the Universe...the rulers of the world. Jane Fletcher, an amazing talent, gifted storyteller, and extraordinary plot developer, is one of the best authors of contemporary fiction today - in all genres. "Rangers at Roadsend" will convince you of that.

With Jane Fletcher's mesmerizing stories, The Walls of Westernfort (winner of the 2005 Golden Crown Literary Awards- Sci-Fi/Fantasy) and Rangers at Roadsend, the first two books in her Celaeno Series, she has converted this reader into a sci fi lover. Each book takes us into a magical world fraught with danger and full of moral dilemmas.

Rangers at Roadsend is another absorbing tale of intrigue, murder and romance.

We are drawn into this story by the secrets of Sgt. Chip Coppelli and Private Katryn Nagata. Katryn is transferred to Chip's squadron under mysterious circumstances and together the two must track down rogue criminals. They learn that the crimes are part of a deeper conspiracy that involves the so-called good citizens of Landfall, Chip's former home where there are unpleasant memories for her. To succeed in this mission as Rangers, they must trust each other, but both have too many secrets. In the course of unraveling the conspiracy plot, Chip develops an emotional attachment to Katryn, but knows that as her superior, it must remain as unrequited love.

In Rangers at Roadsend, Fletcher skillfully cultivates a back story in the middle of their journey to expand on the past and secrets of Katryn. As Katryn's history is told through this back story, we discover a hero rather than a dishonest loathsome Ranger. We learn of Katryn's struggles and how valiantly she faced them against all odds and with no believers. When Fletcher seamlessly moves us back to the main plot, Chip becomes her champion, and a romantic subplot flows naturally from this. These two characters are expertly crafted into unlikely heroes that we, as the reader, must root for.

Fletcher not only gives us powerful characters, but she surprises us with an unexpected ending to the murder conspiracy plot, pushing the story in one direction only to have that direction reversed more than once. This is one thrill ride the reader will not want to get off.

In The Walls of Westernfort young Guard Natasha Ionadis accepts a dangerous undercover mission, knowing that its success may depend upon her dying. Natasha aka Jess and her two "mothers", Cal and Rohanna, must travel as spies to Westernfort to assassinate three leaders, Gina, Kimberly and Lynn, of a rebel heretic movement. Their movement must cease as it is evil and against all that Celaeno stands for. Along the journey to Westernfort and while living there, Natasha gets to know one of these "heretics", her guide Dani, to whom she is attracted. She begins to question everything she has learned and is left with some very difficult choices because someone will die no matter what she decides to do.

The ethical dilemma that Natasha must face is what makes The Walls of Westernfort so captivating. Every teaching she has learned until this journey is now in question. Natasha is discovering that when she gets to think for herself, there is not one right answer. These women are not evil because they do not possess the same beliefs as she does. By struggling with these questions, Natasha is even more confused because now her choices are not clear cut. On the one hand, she may be killing women that she does not believe are evil, and on the other hand she may be risking the lives of her comrades. Fletcher presents Natasha's inner turmoil so convincingly through her thoughts and interactions with the other characters that as a reader, I found it difficult to choose the right answer for Natasha.

This is a thought-provoking intelligent story that stays with the reader long after the last page is read.


(While Rangers at Roadsend was published in the United States after The Walls of Westernfort, it is not a sequel. The Celaeno Series is not a chronological series but does share the same characters.)

After being blown away by `The Walls of Westernfort,' I couldn't wait to pick up this book and be impressed all over again. I was most certainly not disappointed. Jane Fletcher is a phenomenal author. This is only my second read of her material, but I would highly recommend her to anyone.

The story opens with a new addition to Sergeant Chip Coppelli's Ranger unit. Private Katryn Nagata, a beautiful but mysterious Ranger, seems too old for her rank and Chip is determined to find out why. This is especially true when she realizes she is falling hard for the newcomer. Katryn is scared to let the truth of her past come to light, but she can't deny the truth - that she was accused of murdering her former Sergeant -- to Chip. Their trust instinctually runs very deep and Chip will stop at nothing to clear the name of the woman she loves.

This is a great mystery. The reader doesn't know who-done-it until the very last chapter. This is a great romance. Chip and Katryn swoon over each other, but are clueless until they are suddenly in a life and death situation. The reader actually gets a little frustrated (imagine yelling at the TV... `Just kiss the girl!') by this, but that's what makes the book really great.

Note -- My only complaint is that I don't really know what the series order is. As far as I can tell, the series order is - `The Walls of Westernfort' then `Rangers at Roadsend' then `The Temple at Landfall' then `Dynasty of Rogues' and finally `Shadow of the Knife.' The books open in the years 553, 533, 536, 561, and 519, respectively. [The first three listed were the first three published, in that order.] Additionally, very early, Fletcher wrote `The World Celaeno Chose,' but it isn't even mentioned as a book in the series. Except that the Amazon.com main heading says `Shadow' is Book 1 of the series (as it would seem to be based on the year in which it opens), these books are not numbered, nor are they chronological. That said, I have read the first three (in the order above) already and they all seem to be stand-alone stories. Each is enhanced by background information gained from each additional read, but they seem to be enjoyable when read in any order.

Bottom Line - Even if you think you might not like this kind of book, go grab a copy and give it a chance. Since finishing the first three in this series, I ordered Fletcher's Lyremouth Chronicles too. Great author, great read!

I highly recommend this book and this series, especially for any lesbian sci-fi/fantasy fans. However, what the book won't tell you (but the publisher's website does) is that this book is "The Wrong Trail Knife". It's been re-published and re-released under a different name. So, if you've already read that one, I recommend moving onto "The Walls at Westernfort". That one is new.

This book tells the story of a world of women where belief is law and herasy is punishable by death. The law enforcement/military on the planet are divided up between the Rangers, the Temple Guards and the Militia. The Rangers work in the wilds between towns, protecting the populace from robbers and wild animals. This book centers on a group of Rangers. It is love story, political/social commentary and, most important, a lot of fun and a very good read.

I highly suspect that the upcoming book "The Temple at Landfall" is in fact a re-packaged, re-named version of "The World Celano Chose".

Of all the Celaeno books I've read so far it's left the least positive impression.

I'm not sure whether it was the order I read it in, it's a pretty much direct prequel to Temple at Landfall, and having read that, I knew how it was going to end. That in itself is not necessarily a problem if it's filled with enough meat besides the obvious parts of the stories and here I just didn't feel there was. Heavy on romance, a murder mystery and information about the Ranger characters from Landfall, the only thing I felt added to my knowledge of Celaeno was the in depth look at life at the Rangers, and that was good and interesting.

Not a bad read by far, I just didn't connect with it as much as with the others.

The two main characters, Katryn and Chip, are immensely likable. So very human and yet exemplifying all the best qualities you would want in your self or your children. I would love to see these two as main characters in future novels.

The scene with Chip and her sister Prudence was really well done and very emotionally moving.

For all the dark elements this story felt joyous to me. I really liked Katryn, she had heart. She rolled with the punches, never feeling sorry for herself, she had pride in herself and I found that very appealing. Chip is just terrific, fair and honest - confident in her abilities and caring for those around her - always wanting to do the right thing and see the right thing done. The romance and the passion shared by Katryn and Chip is simply lovely.

The last chapter is the book was absolutely fascinating and causes me to reflect long after finishing the book. Don't spoil it for yourself by reading it first.

I would not have expected to find a terrific murder mystery in the middle of a speculative fiction story but the sleuthing was the equal of any mystery I have ever read.

I said in an earlier review of The Temple at Landfall that I mainly enjoy romances so this took me by surprise. It is the story that you become enthralled with. I liked it so much I devoured the other three books in the series in one week. It really doesn't matter which order you read the novels in (I read Temple at Landfall first).

Don't miss any of the books in the Celaeno World Series by Jane Fletcher

The Rangers at Roadsend
The Temple at Landfall
The Walls of Westernfort
Dynasty of Rogues

From the publisher's web site -
Sergeant Chip Coppelli escaped the manipulative plots of her powerful family by becoming a soldier. After 9 years in the elite Rangers, dealing with thugs and wild predators, she has learned to spot trouble coming--and that is exactly what she sees in the mystery surrounding her new recruit, Katryn Nagata. But even so, Chip was not expecting murder. (Previous limited release as The Wrong Trail Knife).

The other reviews have done justice to this wonderful book. However the overwhelmed feelings prompt me share my two cents about this book.

Despite that this story is set in an imaginary world, it itself can be counted as a mystery that can happen in any kind of situation during any period of time. The story is well-plotted and intriguing. It starts with the transfer of Katryn into 'Chip' Coppelli's patrol. While the readers learn about how Chip became a ranger, it also opens up many questions regarding Katryn's past, as Chip gradually draws into Katryn's mystery that is connected to a murder.

Even though the story doesn't emphasize on romance, the undercurrent of the feelings that Chip and Katry have for each other have kept up with reader's urge in reading as well. It is well-balanced with the main theme.

I am not into the speculative genre very much, so I was hesitated when picking up this book. When I started reading, I found I couldn't stop. I agree with the previous reviewer that this book is as good as, or even better than some of, the conventional fantasy/mystery/speculative fictions. I'm glad to find out this.