Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Superb Original - A Definite Keeper, May 16, 2002
Set in a dark, early industrial world where magic is common, WINTER'S ORPHANS follows the life of Mina Cole, slave, factory worker and, unbeknownst to herself, a woman of tremendous fae powers. A series of disastrous events trigger these powers, and Mina is forced to search for a mentor before the Court discovers and kills her.Her mentor is Duncan, an older man, a cripple. He lives hidden in an abandoned theatre, training rogue 'unseelie fae' - those exiled because of their fae heritages. But Mina isn't the only one with a dark secret. Duncan has one, too. Their ignorance of each other's almost gets them killed, and their world, destroyed. Corvidae develops the relationship between the two, not only as student and teacher, but as lovers, with some of the most intense and moving scenes I've ever read. When the two are on the same page, the paper is fairly electric. WINTER'S ORPHANS is a fabulous fantasy novel with a strong romantic plot. But it's truly Mina's story, in many ways, her quest. A definite keeper and well deserving of the awards it's won.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best fantasy books I've read!, May 7, 2002
Mina Cole thought she was just another indentured factory slave. But in rare moments of rage or terror she could feel something snap inside her and incredible things happened. Mina had been an orphan for years and the only person in the world who cared about her was Abby, her best friend. Both worked long hours in a factory for small wages in hopes of someday paying off their Contracts of Indenture, a place to sleep, and perhaps one meal a day. But it all changed during a moment of fear. The iron indentured collar Mina wore could no mute the waves of magic Mina released and the Hounds were sent out to hunt her. Duncan RiDahn used to be a nobleman. Now he was but a crippled old man in a wheelchair who begged for money, squatted in an abandoned theater, and was Mina's only hope of survival. Duncan felt the shock wave of Mina's power and knew the evil Queen Rhiannon would send out the Hounds. He and one of his students, Bryan, rescued her and began to teach her. The Fae (faery) were usually human-like, but came in two different types. The Seelie could control fire and air, heat and light. The Unseelie could control earth and water, cold and night. Mina was half human, half unseelie. Duncan taught her how to use her powers to hide from the royal family and survive. The royal family was seelie and thought they had either killed at the unseelie or turned them into Knights and Hounds. With Mina's presence felt, the hunt was on for her and all the unseelie faelings feared being found. But Duncan knew more about Mina than he told. Mina was not only unseelie, she was a dyana! Her magic was more powerful than any other. If Mina ever willed it so, she could control the minds of all the unseelie faelings for her use, and she could create dark things to kill! She was dangerous to everyone! But Duncan's love for Mina refused to let him kill her, no matter what! ***** It gets no better than this! Like all good books, this one started out in the middle of excitement to hook me quickly. The author created characters that I could easily sympathize with and care for. I got so deeply involved in the story that I was startled whenever reality intruded upon my reading! That shows amazing writing talent! This book is destined to win awards, Readers! This one goes on my "Keeper Shelf" to be reread many times. Keep your eye on author Elaine Corvidae! Highly recommended! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Neat Steam-Punkish Fantasy, July 20, 2003
Some fantasy novels are medieval in setting; some are urban fantasies where strange creatures slip around in modern sewers. Some take place on strange planets and some in alternate realities. But one, Winter's Orphans, occurs in an industrial Londonesque setting, with belching factories and cobblestone streets, with a polluted river flowing through the middle of the city and a great discrepancy between the rich and the poor.
The main character is Mina, an indentured factory worker, whose faeling (mixed breed human/fae) powers reveal themselves during times of great stress. Mina's uncontrolled magic is so great that the Seelie Court (the bad guys), which dominates the fae world and the human as well through a devious twist, comes to know of her existence. Lucky for Mina so does Duncan RiDahn, a crippled faeling who has devoted his life to teaching other Unseelie faelings (the good guys) how to use their powers hiding from the bad guys.
The setting is one of the best things going for this novel. I do not think I have ever encountered a fantasy novel set against an urban Victorian backdrop, although I cannot claim to have read every book in the world. It was a refreshing change from more typical fantasy stories, not that I mind the typical when it's done well. The world was not Earth from what I could tell; if it was, it was not the Earth we know and inhabit.
The plot of the novel isn't as unique as the setting but still works: extremely powerful magic user who didn't know she had any power realizes she does, hides out from the bad guys for a while, learns to control her power with the help of a rag-tag band of good guys, then uses her power in a face-off against the bad guys, though not without peril and danger along the way. Powerful magic user toys with the dark side because power is corrupting, although as Spiderman might say, "With great power comes great responsibility."
The novel is a quick read, perhaps too quick, which is my primary complaint. Because of the innovative setting, I wanted more worldbuilding, more fleshing out of the surrounding area and the culture which spawned Mina, Duncan and the humans they live among. Unlike in some Tolkien inspired fantasy novels, Corvidae does not resort to the shorthand of "elf" or "hobbit" or "human city" to transport readers into her imagination. There are many intriguing details, like the creepy, flesh-eating horse living in the dirty river or the mysterious father figure who appears to both help and hinder Mina.
But it is a compliment that I did indeed want more. I wanted the book to proceed at a slower pace so that my reading experience lasted longer and I could explore Corvidae's atypical world more fully. Additionally, the characters in the novel were different from your typical romantic fantasy, both flawed and capable of greatness. I mean, our heroine is a vindictive, damaged grouch and our hero is a passive occupant of a wheelchair. Their relationship is believable despite their differences, and I definitely prized that aspect of the story.
Winter's Orphans is a gritty, unusual fantasy novel with characters who go well with their surroundings. Despite my feeling that the book was a bit underdeveloped, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more books by Ms. Corvidae to see how she steers around what one might consider standard.
ETA: I think this has been re-released from Mundania Press. Track it down, it's worth it!
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