Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow, June 5, 2005
"Where Lies Beauty" by Sheri L. McGathy
Tanner and her brother, Conn, are Seekers. Seekers bring back things from the Old World, which once held pure magic. For over one hundred times their normal fee, they agree to take a man named Faylon and his deformed slave, Manny, on a quest for a lost magical city. The city is called Sha-da-nay, The City Of Light, and thought only to be a myth. The city is fabled to be full of gold and pure magic. But to reach the city they must pass several dangers. Once there, only a single tear, freely given, will reveal the truth.
"Mourn A Moonreft Sky" by Shannah Biondine
Parxis is no longer a slave. Slavery had been abolished five years before. Due to living mostly underground she has pure white eyes and is sensitive to sunlight. However, she has the ability to track dragons and wyverns across the sky. This is why Zavend, a scholar, asks for her help. Someone has stolen the Umbra Amulet. The wizard who wore it around his neck for eons has been slain, the amulet taken. Without this amulet, there would be "floods or drought, famine, seasons that do not molt" because it controls the very weather and planet alignment. If Praxis helps Zavend on his quest, she would be gifted with her own wyvern.
"The Well Of Forever" by Jeanine Berry
Caireya is a Seeress and has the scrying ability. Her sister is Eronne with the gift of healing. They are slaves to Lord Demor. Demor defies the laws and travels to Maricor, a lost city. Maricor is where the Cataclysm took place centuries ago, leaving the world in ruins. Using Caireya's magic, Demor plans to locate the wand of the legendary mage-king Lohar di Kaya. If he succeeds, the world will see another cataclysm!
"The Treasure Of Arvalis" by Jeanne Allen
The city of Ignatia worships Solone, Goddess of Earth and Sky, a loving and merciful deity. Eirena is the temple priestess. She receives Solone's messages for her people. For two months Solone did not speak. Eirena fears that her people has ignored the goddess, thus the goddess has turned her back on them. Then marauders attack the city. Their cruel gods promised gold and treasures within Solone's temple. But Ignatia is a city of knowledge. The only treasure are the scrolls within the temple library. Valgard, the leader of the warriors, claims Eirena as his own. If there is no gold, then his realm will have the people of Ignatia as slaves. However, Solone has other plans.
***** Four brilliant novellas that will tantalize your imagination to no end. Magic and romance combine to make this a book you won't soon forget. *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Daring Respites from the Everyday, April 5, 2006
reviews by Sherryl King-Wilds for fantasynovelreview.com
Review of "Where Lies Beauty" a novella by Sheri L. McGathy
Sha-da-nay has been spellbound in the shadowy touch of the Hagath, the once-great city's memory a phantom shrouded in ghosts who haunt twilight.
Seekers and siblings, Tanner and Con are hired by a wealthy stranger, Faylon, to find the lost city of the elves. Faylon seems to be a real brute in his callous treatment of his slave Manny, much to Tanner's disdain. Although Manny appears grotesque, his heart seems good and kind. Tanner becomes attached to the little slave, defending him when need be.
In their quest for Sha-da-nay, the travelers attract the attention of the slaver Adar, the very man who caused Tanner and Con a bitter past.
Tanner must find it within herself to love without restraint regardless of her past. If she can do this, Sha-da-nay the elf City of Light might be rescued from the Hagath's spell, and Adar the slaver might be stopped for good.
All is not as it seems in Where Lies Beauty. The title of the novella itself asks a question of the heart and soul, a question thats answer laces throughout the book in lyrical metaphor. Where lies beauty? In Tanner's heart? In her bleeding soul? In Manny's tortured aspect? This novella's conclusion relays many pleasant surprises as well as the answer to the title's question, providing the true romantic the perfect ending.
I believe in Ms. McGathy's interview, part of the November 2005 spotlight, she stated that several persons have suggested she make a novel of Where Lies Beauty. I add my voice to those. I want more!
Review of "Mourn a Moonreft Sky" a novella by Shannah Biondine
The wizard Thrixsall's murder and the theft of the Umbra Amulet has everyone in a dither. Without the amulet the shifting of the moons and sun are defunct.
Some mad wyvern rider has apparently killed the old wizard and made off with the amulet. Thus, Zavend Priest (wyvern tamer) has agreed to take a vacation from his work to investigate the murder and theft. Praxis, a female of the badger race of humans, has been hired to help because she can "track dragons and wyverns across the sky."
Upon arrival at the murder scene, mixed stories of Thrixall's fate greet Zavend and Praxis. Praxis tracks the wyverns used in the murder. She and Zavend find twisted answers at the end of the trail.
This story starts with a bang, a gang bang. Readership for this kind of story should definitely have its roots in freedom of expression, as Praxis portrays a very nasty girl, indeed. I swear I heard phantom porno music playing in the background as I cracked the first pages of this novella. ;)
Depending on which camp you are in--sex in the story, no sex in the story, or sex in the story where it applies--this novella might be to your liking. I, myself, remain wide-eyed, dazed and somewhat grossed out but grinning at the surreal orgy that begins "Mourn a Moonreft Sky."
Wyverns, griffons, wyvern taming--all such cool topics, all present in this novella. In my opinion (and this is just my opinion or squeamishness), Praxis' sexual tinkerings--whether implicit or explicit--are nasty enough that they overshadow the story a bit too much. These tinkerings were, nevertheless, incorporated as part of Praxis' character rather than apart from it. So pick your camp!
And now that I have stated all the above, curiosity leads me to wonder how the characters in "Mourn a Moonreft Sky" might develop if the story were expanded into a longer work. Cheers to Ms. Biondine. She has some serious nads to have pulled this story off!
Review of "The Well of Forever" a novella by Jeanine Berry
Lohar the mage disappeared 500 years ago. Following his disappearance, a cataclysm destroyed the city of Maricor.
Under orders from her master Demor, the slave woman Caireya must use her scrying powers to find Lohar's wand and other objects of power in Maricor. The master uses Caireya's sister, Eronne, as leverage against Caireya, for Eronne has blossomed into a very desirable woman.
The wand in the wrong hands, however, could cause another cataclysm. Caireya must prevent the next cataclysm and solve the mystery of Lohar's disappearance while protecting her sister.
"The Well of Forever" is a wonderful story with touching characters, high drama and just the right touch of mystery to intrigue.
Review of "The Treasure of Arvalis" a novella by Jeanne Allen
The Arvalians are coming! The Arvalians are coming! They are here!
Priestess Eirena lives on the island of Ignatia. The Arvalians led by Valgard, overtake the island temple in search of gold, treasures, etc., but they find no riches. Valgard, instead, finds Eirena.
Valgard becomes her protector against his men and his successor Jayr, one mean man. Jayr attempts to overthrow Valgard several times, threatening the Ignatians with a higher brand of cruelty than they have already experienced from the Arvalian invaders and threatening Eirena with death. "The Treasure of Arvalis" concludes with a fiery ending.
Love smolders and kindles in this story--a slow burn with a sweet, smoky essence. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Treasure of Arvalis." A fantasy romance nicely done on the theme of captor and captive.
Twilight Crossings II very nicely knits together on the theme of twilight. This anthology also serves as an adventurous sampling of what the minds of these four imaginative authors offer readers--daring respites from the everyday.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bridge into Fantasy World, November 16, 2004
Part adventure, part romance, part journey into an exotic fantasy world, "Where Lies Beauty" is an intriguing tale with a moral deeper than anything "Beauty and the Beast" ever glimpsed--and a great heroine. A Seeker named Tanner, a female Indiana Jones, takes a her brother and Falon, her employer, deep into a dark land to find a treasure. Along the way they encounter some unusual people and wonderous things and experiences, including a strange bridge that appears at will. Readers will love this story and the expected and unexpected ending. TWILIGHT CROSSINGS II was a great read. Fantasy readers, don't miss this one.
Linda Madl
author
"Trespassing Time"
THE JOURNEY HOME and
and SILK AND SECRETS
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