Pam Uphoff

How do I say this

First, this is book twenty. Two zero. Do not think you can start here and have any idea what the heck is going on.

Second...it's not a story. It has many of the elements of a story, but it also has a lot of holes. This is more backstory than story. Introducing characters and filling in their history.

There just isn't a strong plot tying it together. There is a theme - young men finding their calling - but it is very loose.

I love this world. I love the writing. But I cannot simply point at this book and say "You have to read this" so it's not 5-star, and without the full support of the books before it is almost unreadable, so it can't be 4.

I will be buying whatever the next book is as soon as it is released.… (more)

This is book 21 in the series, so definitely don't start here. You won't have a prayer of understanding what is going on.

...And that is my problem with the novella. Even though I ^have^ read all of the previous selections, I had to wrack my brain to figure out some of the references. If I had just finished a full re-read of the series it may have been better. I simply felt that there were a lot of holes - not plot holes, information holes. It's not accessible to a casual reader of the series.

It's as if the author forgot that the reader isn't quite as in tune with her world as she is.

Let me also say, I am buying the next book in the series anyway. I like the world and the writing. The hints at future plots were tantalizing.

I simply can't recommend this to anyone who is not a die-hard fan.… (more)

Let's be honest

I'm going to buy the next in this series. I really like the world.

But.

From a short story point of view, or even blended novel, this is not the best. I got confused a few times at who was doing what; there was at least one sequence where the exact same thing happened because it was viewed by two different people, but it was mere pages apart and the different viewpoint didn't change the words enough. The cast of characters is enormous. Add in the confusion that the magic brings...

But.

I ^really^ like the world. Cover-to-cover in a few hours when I should have been doing other more important things. And reading this makes me want to start the whole series over again. The writing is clear, the plot meanders along in a sensible fashion, and there are interesting things happening.

But.

I just can't give it four or five stars.

So, read it if you like the world. You won't be disappointed. If this is your first 'taste' of Wine, better to start nearer the beginning.… (more)