Customer Reviews

Seeds of Fire

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's almost always true that second books or trilogies are never as good as the first or third, but Laura Adams has broken that rule -- along with a bunch of others in writing this "lesbian" fantasy story.

Where are the weakly-developed characters, the vanilla plots, the good and true goddess loving women who overcome everything by the power of love? Or who solve all their problems by being wizards of technology and science? Not in this book!

The Tunnel of Light Triology features women who are strongly developed, deeply flawed, plagued by their darker impulses and not at all sure that love will help them overcome an evil that has hunted them for 1500 years. As they live out the patterns of pursuers and pursued, of lovers and enemies and seekers and finders, they lose memories of their past knowledge and awareness of where their moral lines must be drawn to survive.

This is a great series with a full range of human emotion -- not just what lesbians are "supposed" to feel. These women can hate each other, and hurt each other, and love each other -- sometimes in ways so erotic that this easily qualifies as romance.

If you like fantasy, lesbian, gay, straight or otherwise, you will like this triology and this middle book. Laura Adams (an alter ego of Karin Kallmaker) must be doing something right -- unlike book 1, this middle book has been nominated for a Lammy Award. Like the rest of her readers, I am on the edge of my seat for book 3.

I thought this was a wonderful book -- this is a truly magnificent trilogy!

But, I'm mostly writing my remarks because I noted another person posted a "review" before the book was actually out. Since the person claims it was recommended, that means a lot of folks are apparently reading books before they are actually published -- something I don't believe is possible to such an extent.

If you're even reading this note, get the book! It's great -- you'll love it! After all, there's a reason Karin Kallmaker is known as "The Undisputed Mistress of Lesbian Romance!"

I don't know what book the reader from Wilmington, De., was reading, but it doesn't sound like the same book that I read! Seeds of Fire is a fast moving, engrossing story that goes places I would never have expected to be taken. It's peopled with three dimensional characters -- intelligent women with wit and heart -- who must deal with their own weaknesses as well as injustices fate and villains have dealt them. Like her other stories, Seeds of Fire plays with magical elements in thoughtful, interesting, and often touching ways. I've read all the books that Karin Kallmaker has written under the Adams pen name and think they are some of the best lesbian fantasy stories around! Adams creates worlds just slightly different from our "ordinary every day" and in addition to entertaining, she often prompts me to think about things like the nature of time, the soul, good and evil, reincarnation and the power of the love. I can't wait for the third book in the Tunnel of Light trilogy!

Seeds of Fire, the second entry of Laura Adams' magical Tunnel of Light fantasy trilogy is an enchanting gift to her readers. Opening just days after the ending of Sleight of Hand (the first book in the trilogy), Seeds further braids themes of reincarnation, loss, betrayal, and redemption through a circle of contemporary women -- Ursula, Autumn, Kelly, Taylor, Elizabeth -- who find themselves sharing dreams of earlier lives together. Intelligent and intense, these women possess strengths and skills they do not fully understand as they struggle to repair a tragedy that echoes through the ages. Sleight of Hand deals with the origin for the legend of St. Ursula and the 11,000 virgins (circa 450 C.E.) and though Adams provides a great deal of background in Seeds, readers will do better to read the books in order. (Besides it's more fun!) In this second novel, readers witness the gathering of Ursula's circle in the early 12th century. The bard Hilea has made a place for herself as the Abbess Hildegard von Bingen (a remarkable, real life woman and an inspiration for the series) in Cologne. Hildegard has written a liturgy for the legend of "St Ursula and the 11,000 virgins" to "call" the other women back together.

Believing they have lost Ursula to the Darkness, the contemporary Taylor, Liz, and Kelly are devastated. Taylor takes desperate measures to try to determine how their Lammas circle went wrong. In many ways Seeds is Taylor's story, revealing her early training in the Old Religion, and that even in her childhood she was "certain of her right to meddle." (p 92) Taylor must confront that hubris. She seeks answers to her failings, faces the Circle of All Circles, and finds herself again. Meanwhile Kelly, feeling betrayed and hurt, turns to other sources for comfort, a power that will further Kelly down a dangerous path. Adams' examination of Kelly's corruption by Darkness in the past and the present, is insightful, thoughtful, and forthright.

Unknown to the women of Taylor's circle, the mysterious "magician and warrior" Autumn rescued Ursula from the Darkness that has haunted them for over 1500 years. Ursula survived the magical transportation at the cost of her memory, adding confusion to their plight. When Autumn begins to dream of Hildegard's time, she finds that she has gone to great lengths to attempt to save Ursula in the past. Autumn knows that the danger of the Darkness is still waiting for them, and she is determined to protect Ursula this time. In addition to the mystical complications these characters face, old-fashioned poor communication plays a role in their dilemma. Even Autumn's dog, Scylla seems aware of this. When Autumn considers telling Ursula about her dreams, and the dog thumps her tail hard on the floor as though saying, "Yes, tell her, you fool." (p 101)

As is often the case with middle aspects of trilogies, Seeds is a darker story than Sleight. Adams' characters complicate their entanglements via miscommunication, assumptions, doubts, and secrets. Despite the ominously growing power of the darkness, Seeds is a pleasure to read. The historical segments are well researched and authentically recreated. The story is engrossing with interesting, rich characterization. Adams provides balance to the darkness with her quiet, ironic humor, and the potential for perfect love and perfect trust to triumph. One of the finest writers of "lesbian fiction" today, Kallmaker via her Adams pen name blurs genre lines. The woman writes wonderful, lively, lush fantasy stories. That they feature lesbian characters is added fun for her readers. Her writing entices us to enter a world not far from our own; yet it's a place where magic can and must be mastered. Adams weaves together powerful imagery and themes, including leitmotifs such as the reappearing Norns -- the three wise women or "Fates" in Norse mythology who represent "Became, Becoming, and Shall Be." Indeed, Seeds of Fire appears to encompass the "Becoming" aspect of the Tunnel of Light trilogy. This reader eagerly awaits what Shall Be in the upcoming final novel, "The Forge of Virgins."

What happens when you've moved heaven and earth, reached past time and space to reunite with the woman you love and she doesn't know you? That's only the beginning of "Seeds of Fire." In the sequel to "Sleight of Hand," Laura Adams (Kallmaker) doesn't find easy answers. Instead, she creates more questions. The same cast of characters come back to life, but she expands the depth and breath of their involvement within the story and with each other.

"Seeds of Fire" is a fantasy based upon the ancient legend of St. Ursula. In the early days of Christianity in the British Isles, St. Ursula was revered because she chose martyrdom over marriage to a pagan king. Adams speculates about the reasons for Ursula's fate other than her devotion to the "White Christ." What truly provoked her escape, execution and exile into chaos? This is a tale of jealousy, music, magic and love that spans two millennia.

"Seeds of Fire" expands on the characters developed in "Sleight of Hand." We get to know them better. As often happens in real life, we may think we know someone well enough to extend trust, only to be rebuked by his or her own agenda. Such is the case with Seeds. It's the classic tale between good and evil, but Adams still manages to surprise us.

Can someone read this book without having read the first? Yes, this book stands on its own, but it's highly recommended that you read the first of the trilogy. It simply adds to the suspense and angst if you have the background that "Sleight of Hand" provides. This story was meant to be a series. Having read the second of the trilogy only makes me yearn for the third. Besides, if you're into a good read, finding another good read makes it that much more satisfying.

Either way, you're in for something special.

It has become apparent to me that Karin Kallmaker is possibly the greatest American writer alive today. Put aside the ever-present need to slap a sexual orientation qualifier in there -- it is unnecessary and limiting. Kallmaker has moved into a starfield inhabited by the great tale tellers.

For example, throughout this story Kallmaker is using phrasing structures reminiscent of Gertrude Stein. A descriptive phrase is repeated several times in a paragraph to emphasize a message, while at the same time Kallmaker twists the phrase to a new meaning with each placement. Kallmaker is not stealing Stein's technique, for it is definitely altered, morphed into Kallmaker's own skillful means of bringing revelation to the reader. In another example of great craft, Kallamker constructs a flow of unusual adjectives and rich but economical description. She uses sentences like brushstrokes in a Japanese waterpainting, rendering suggestion steadily until she leaves in one's brain snapshot-like scenes dripping with medieval history and emotional nuance. This is brilliant use of language to tell a tale. The woman is creating stuff that is stunningly above what anyone else is producing right now. Anyone on the Lambda Literay Award Panel paying attention?...P>In this book, a middle story, Kallmaker has extended her scope and her technique to a new level. A skilled craftswoman and bard has evolved into an artist. She is doing more in this book than telling a story about friends, power and magic; she is holding up a mirror and reflecting back to us ourselves. She is playing a harp so sweetly and compellingly, that we are charmed into listening as she tells us how ugly we can be.

This complex, multi-leveled plot deftly succeeds in raising the curtain on the unappealing human acts we all engage in and hide: the non-stop jockeying for advantage, the subtle pressing of our own self-serving agendas on others, the wronging of friends while we lie to ourselves and anyone who will listen that we are only serving the common good. This is a relentless and graceful study of the casual worst of the human soul.

For me, there were parts of this story that were hard to face, for interlaced in the storyline, I recognized glimpses of my own darkness, my own treachery and glib shabbiness, my own fear of what may come. And yet I was fascinated. During the course of the past few days, everywhere I went, I had the book tucked in a coat pocket or under my arm. I was slipping it out and reading whenever I had to stop and wait for anything for more than a minute during the course of my day. This is a gem of a read, a gift to all voracious readers from a splendidly gifted imagination.

Perhaps this book is also the dark before the glorious light -- created for contrast against the bright promise of what book three, The Forge of Virgins, might be in this intriguing trilogy. Treat yourself to an encounter with masterful writing: read this series.

I just happened to be there when the bookstore was unpacking the box with this book. I'd been waiting for it for a really long time! So of course I was up all night.

It was just wonderful, at times it took my breath away. All the threads from Sleight of Hand are picked up, a few more are added and now I can't wait until book 3!

This weekend I'm going to reread Sleight of Hand, and then read this again to savor. And start guessing -- how does she get Liz out of the circle, and how can they find Hilea...so many questions!

As good as book 1, and I can't wait for book 3!

I warn you not to buy this book becuase the story has yet to be completed. Very frustrating.
I actually bought the first book back in the middle of 2001. I couldn't wait for the next book. I loved it. Finally the 2nd book comes out in 2002 and I loved that one too. The problem is that it leaves you hanging. Where is the 3rd and final book in the trilogy? I wrote the author a few years back and she said it was coming.
I say you should wait for book 3 to come out and then buy them all.

...Karin Kallmaker's Laura Adams persona is simply amazing. She's not afraid to get into the darkest areas of the human psyche, asking questions about where the fine line is between being true to yourself and abusing personal power.

This long, engrossing--and sometimes incredibly erotic--tale kept me guessing all night. I thought I had some ideas about where the story would go after the incredible ending of Sleight of Hand, but there was surprise after surprise!...Middle books of trilogies are sometimes weak, a holding period between the start up and the ending. Not this one. It starts with a quick catch up, introduces two new points of view, several more mysteries, new questions, very few answers...Even the nme of Book 3 (The Forge of Virgins) has me on the edge of my seat.

My highest recommendation! And advice: Reread Sleight of Hand before you embark on Seeds of Fire ...Brava Karin! Brava Bella Books!

A strong warning to would-be readers: begin with the first book
of the sequence: Sleight of Hand.

This wonderful book continues the story of a dozen women,
who are introduced as we go along, and prove to be pivotal
along the way. Two of the most identifiable characters are
the richly portrayed Ursula, and the mischievous and lusty
Hilea, who are respectively reincarnations of St Ursula, and
Abbess Hildegard of Bingen. [If you like Hildegard, this is
probably a trilogy you shouldn't miss.]

The idea of a set of present-day individuals re-treading paths
they have tread in the past is not new. However, Karin
Kallmaker raises the device to attain new heights of poetic
power. The constant theme of the story is the tension between
the conflicting desires of the women, and their transforming
love for each other, and the focus of their existence, Ursula,
which is sometimes a battle, but at othertimes in blissful alignment.

The mythic tone of the narrative comes from the fact that the
women remember their numerous previous encounters only
imperfectly. They sometimes seek someone or something they
only know vaguely, from dreams. So their discovery of each
other is alway new, and ever more poignant. And sometimes they
proceed on a path despite painful intuitions about its futility.

In places, though, the author is juggling up to three
time layers at once, with the action in each affecting the
outcomes in the others, and we lose sight of the cause-and-
effect factor, the motivation, the triggers. Should Kelly
pull, or push? Why? Why should A shoot at B? (Was I too
sleepy when I read that page? ;) In once sense, their
motivations leak between the layers. On the other hand, some
of them are more aware of the other layers than others, making
it nearly impossible for the reader to make sense of the action
except that it was horribly and tragically necessary.

In spite of its minor weaknesses, I can honestly say I enjoyed
the two books very much, and I pulled out my Canticles of
Ecstasy (since I do not have 11,000 virgins) and wallowed in the
wonderful feeling of exaltation both the book and the music
Of Hildegard Von Bingen evoke.

There is a scene in book one, when the women are together, that
sets a mood of great innocent delight. It is like the kiss of
an angel, and I keep reading in the hope that such bliss will
be found again, perhaps in the final book of the trilogy!

Arch