http://wanderingcoyote.blogspot.com/2... ( )

This is one of my all time favorite series. I love the relationships and politics through out the whole story.

I wish she would do more - The Blending the first year etc... ( )

(Alistair) I thought it was time for some fun light fantasy, so I picked up this series, and indeed was not disappointed. In the universe of this series (The Blending, followed by The Blending Enthroned), most people have some slight degree of magical talent in one of the five elemental areas - the traditional Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. So far, this all sounds pretty standard, which indeed it is, but in this universe high-level talents in each of these areas can combine their abilities in a Blending. Most importantly, the government routinely drafts any potentially high-level talents and puts them through a series of challenges to produce such a Blending, which is then enthroned and rules for 25 years...

...because the Four, ancient tyrants that were defeated by the first Blending, keep sending challenges that the ruling Blending has to defeat, on about that cycle, of course. And eventually, they will return, and a prophecy indicates that a special Blending will defeat them when they do.

Of course, in this, the first book of the series, that's all a long way in the future. What makes this book a fun read is less the world, the magical system - although she does a much better job of integrating the magic into society than most - or the big picture so much as the characters, who are well-drawn within fantasy-world-archetype parameters, and all of whom have problems of their own - which, when it turns out that the people running the draft-and-challenge system appear to be remarkably corrupt, makes them ideal to be put in the position to play the fall guys. This book only brings the characters together, introduces them, and takes us up to the beginning of the actual competitions, which are to appear in the next book, Competitions, one presumes.

That being said, it's something of a slow starter, and while I can appreciate the necessity and for that matter stylistic choice to show very similar challenges being faced by each of the five characters and met in subtly different ways, each of their own Aspect, it does get somewhat repetitive.

That in turn being said, it's a light, fast read, and was certainly at least as entertaining as I demand from light fantasy. I'll be picking up the next one - actually already, as this was my trip-book, and on returning home in the evening didn't feel all that much like choosing from my Very Big Shelf of To Be Read, so we'll see how Competitions is before too long...
( http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/ce... ) ( )

An interesting story about some very powerful elemental magicians in a world where everyone has some connection to one of the five elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. While the magicians fight to advance in this competition to be part of the leadership of this world people die while failing to control the powerful forces of their element. Meanwhile five of these challengers find themselves becoming closer and forming bonds, but will the bonds survive the stress of the compeition and will they all survive? There are also echoes of some plots within plots.

An amusing read, nothing spectacular but it engaged my attention enough for me to want to read more. ( )

Don't judge these books by the cover (the Blending series); the covers (at least the 1st edition American paperback covers) are actually the best part. Very pretty! I'd suggest just browsing the covers and spending precious reading time on something better. ( )