Inda

Indian-based fantasy with intrigue and war thrown in. A nice, complex little tale.

Tough at first, but stick with it! (4 stars)

I read "Crown Duel / Court Duel" a few years ago and absolutely loved it. I immediately picked up a few others by Sherwood Smith. It wasn't until recently, however, that I actually began to read "Inda." Once I did, I couldn't put it down. The beginning is a little tough to get into. There is a lot of detail, whether it is names, places, or strange vocabulary, packed into the first few chapters.

I absolutely recommend reading "Crown Duel/Court Duel" first because it is an easier read which puts you into the universe all of Smith's stories take place in... but it isn't absolutely necessary because it isn't part of this series (like I said, just in the same universe). But honestly almost gave up on this one with all the names. I blundered through and eventually I began to get into it.

Overall I really liked it, and as soon as I put it down I ordered the next three. I'm hoping now that I know who everybody is that it won't be so difficult to get into the next one!

1 "Inda"
2 "The Fox"
3 "The King's Shield"
4 "Treason's Shore" ( )

Sherwood Smith certainly knows how to deliver a well-done tale that all lovers of pirates, fantasy, or intrigue ought to be snatching up. THE FOX lives up to its predecessor in this grand sequel of pirates, governing, courts and princes.

In INDA we were introduced to the world of a little boy striving to survive military training, and later on, life on the high seas. By the time THE FOX rolls around Inda has already established a foothold in seafaring - he's now the commander of ships that bear a dangerous resemblance to the pirates they fight.

Smith has the marvelous ability to create fully-believable characters that clash not necessarily through their ideals or views of "good" and "evil" but through circumstance, ambition, and motives. A definite plus is the amazing world she sets these characters in: there is SO much to know about this world that you're always left feeling that what you've been getting are only tidbits. It leaves you craving more.

Behind all this excitement are characters with lives full of romance and painful memories and hidden plans. It's heartwrenching to watch Inda deal with his exile. I also find the character of Fox fascinating, and all the blossoming relationships in the novel intriguing. Most of all, it's satisfying to see Inda outwit his opponents, employing military strategy and his own innate ability to earn the loyalty of others.

I've been a fan of Sherwood Smith's work for years and years, and she never, ever disappoints. She is just a great author. Her storylines are exciting, her writing intelligent and fraught with a delicious amount of intrigue... I especially love THE FOX and have no doubt the final installment will be just as good. I can't wait! ( )

I'm a bit sad I couldn't give Inda a better rating. First, it took me forever to read. That is not normal for me and indicates that something is wrong. It is a characteristic of the main problem of the book. I simply don't care about whats going on. I think this stems for the book being written more like a history or a biography relating specific events to the reader rather than a cohesive story. I don't feel like I was going along on a journey with the character rather I was just kind of told some stuff that happened to them. Inda is a good character, which is why this is particularly disappointing. The book really seemed like it just needed a good edit and a focus. What story is it trying to tell? That being said I enjoyed many of the small section in the book. It was almost like reading a short story collection where there are some sections I love and some I could live without and really don't seem relevant. ( )