Barb Hendee

This series just gets better and better! To think, when reading the first book of The Noble Dead Saga I surmised that I had found a somewhat light-hearted adventure, with an unusual premise and full of interesting characters. But never once did I consider that such a convoluted, well-crafted weave of a tale would emerge from the pages of the following books, offering a unique, engrossing, and noteworthy, on-going chronicle.

Rebel Fay, the fifth book, now spills this dark fantasy into the show more realm of high fantasy when the company, under the blind, obsessive drive of Leesil to free his mother, gain access to the Elven Territories. The intrigue continues; as the four are rescued from their precarious journey over the snow-filled mountains and led into these lands by an unknown ally, three questions plague Chap: Aoishenis-Ahâre - Most Aged Father – and his persistence in waging war against humans; the Anmaglâhk and their role in creating Leesil to kill an unknown enemy; and his abandonment by his kin, the Fay. This book takes a side-path from the previous books in that the reader is now immersed in the world of the elves, and the machinations and politics of these are brought to the fore. Almost as an afterthought, with little concern for consequences, Magiere and Wynn are pulled into a land where humans are not tolerated, and used as a ploy to control Leesil, in a game being played between the leader of the Anmaglâhk assassin caste, Most Aged Father, and subversives of his clan. Throughout this Chap continues to seek the answers to his questions, protect his companions and adhere to his original plan.

And answers are forthcoming. Chap, with the help of the ‘touched’ guardians of the forest, the majay-hì and the crystal-eyed deer, determines his kins' silent schemes and their betrayal. Magiere is unable to control her dhampir nature and, once revealed, is brought to trial under the laws of the Elven Land, only to find kinship in the strangest of places. Leesil, intent on saving Magiere and gaining his mother's freedom, is manipulated into confronting his origins and thus finds his true name and purpose of being. And Wynn, whilst aiding her companions immeasurably, is a continuous and considerable nuisance - for an intelligent sage, in my opinion, she often displays an enormous lack of sense – but is invaluable as a conduit for her companions; and through her lessons, the reader also learns.

There are no ‘Noble Dead’ confrontations in this book; though Welstiel and Chane plod ominously along, aside, throughout the story. The book is more about revelations: the long-forgotten histories are now reappearing; the role Chap is now preparing to play; and the devastating basis for both Magiere’s and Leesil’s conception is becoming distressingly apparent. Again, the story is full of fascinating, vibrant characters in a scheme rich with a truly original design.

This rich design will be quite lost in the making if you read these books out of sequence, as each follows strictly from before; an investment in the whole series, in due order, is strongly advocated and highly recommended. This is a series, to my mind, well worth such an endeavour.
And those long black ominous coils – they never go away! I hope this orb is worth it; the suspense is killing me!

(Jul 19, 2008) show less

:rubs hands together:

Guys. GUYS. Look. Preamble these books are not connected beyond that lady and her looking Glass (and the vague European/french fantasy-esque environment).

I have my CLEAR favorite (Book 2: A Choice of Crowns) and my clear UNFAVORITE (Book 3: A Girl of Winter White), as well as the one I enjoyed but not quite as much (Book 1: Through a Dark Glass).

A CHOICE OF SECRETS KNOCKS THEM OUT.

We have Nicole, a happy, carefree not quite 18 year old who is puzzled by her older show more sister's forthcoming marriage but largely unconcerned. To her way of thinking her beautiful awesome older sister is a catch and Christophe - family friend and neighbor - is the best. Heck Nicole is even content with the notion she'll likely never marry and care for her parents in their old age while being a spinster aunt to her nieces and nephews. As she puts it "[she is] a daughter of White Deer Lodge" and everything that entails.

When I say this girl is happy with her life and future I quite mean it.

Unfortunately drama must occur and it comes in the form of an indiscreet affair her sister is embroiled in that has the potential to screw everyone's lives up.

Nicole's first choice is to tell her older brother Erik who is besties with Christophe but would certainly do the right thing to solve this issue. That goes as well as you'd expect when you ask a warrior to be subtle.

While the ending works out potentially the best (in terms of how it effects everyone's lives), it does leave Nicole feeling less content with her future life.

Choice 2 is to remain silent. Again this goes as well as you can expect since her sister's lover is a cad, scoundrel and downright cruel. It's okay for a hot second.

In the end a lot turns out better then it could have, mostly because Nicole (once again) puts in a lot of effort to give everyone a better ending.

Choice 3 is Nicole tells the family. Which...does not go as well as one could want. Oh at first it's mostly okay. Like Nicole knows there's not great stuff in the future but that's a LATER issue and one she's pretty certain no one will listen to her about anyhow (she's not wrong). Its also, like in Books 1-3, where she chooses LOVE for herself (though not at first, I'll get into that).

The ending is the best for Nicole since she has a life that she truly enjoys and feels fulfilled by.

Much like Olivia's choices in CROWNS this came down to two things: how much pain could Nicole tolerate for herself versus other people. Truthfully all three endings would give Nicole a measure of fulfillment in life, but it would also cause people she cares about to suffer.

For Nicole there are two people she is constantly, through all three Choices, trying to protect. Chloe, her beloved elder sister who's only real fault is she fell for an unscrupulous cad and Christophe, who she only begins to see in a new light after his desperate confession (one can make the argument she obviously cared for him a great deal more since she catered to his preferences in food and clothing but I digress).

In the 2nd Choice she says to Christophe again and again "She is my SISTER" in regards to why she (more or less) takes Chloe's side. Which I think is the important part here, especially in regards to her chosen path at the end. Nicole is the younger sister, but she is clever, determined and observant. Chloe is skilled at being a Noble Lady, but when push comes to shove she let's her fears overwhelm her innate talents at taking control of a situation. Nicole by contrast is constantly thinking thinking thinking of ways to save everyone or at the least cause the least amount of pain.

I found her choice interesting. I felt for sure she'd go a slightly harder path, but I can understand the compromises she made. They are very in line with her character and the person we see in all three choices.

For Nicole - who in every path did her best to save her sister, save her family and bring Christophe a measure of peace - she has to learn that no one is "one side" or perfect. Not her brother, not Chloe, not Christophe. People are hella complicated.

I feel with her choice she understood that. You have to take the good with the bad - understanding each day comes with it's own sacrifices.

SO WHAT IS BOOK 5 ABOUT? show less

The Dead Seekers is the first book in a new series and that is something that I'm bloody happy about since I really loved this book! And, now I will try to write a review about a book I love which I hate to do since I just want to say read it, it's brilliant. But, I will try to be a bit versatile than that.

The book starts off with Tris Vishal being born. But, he never breaths and the midwife has to tell his poor parents that the baby is stillborn. Then, the midwife notices that he starts to show more breathe when she carries him away, but there is something strange about him that will mark him as different from others. He has the ability to send spirits back to where they come from. But, he also risks the lives of everyone who is close to him. Mari Kaleja learns this the hard way as a child when her whole family is slaughtered by spirits. Now she first for revenge, and it's The Dead Man she is after. But, when she finally finds Tris must she be certain that he is the right one. But, traveling with him may not be the best idea. She watches him, and he is not as she had expected. Could this really be the man she has been chasing all these years?

I found myself really enjoying this book, both the setting and the characters. Trish whose gifts are a burden for him and Mari who has spent years looking for revenge. I'm usually not much for romance in books, but one can't really say it's any romance in this book since it's more two lonely people getting to know each other (with a hint of romance). And, that's probably one of the reasons I love the book so much. There is no lusting or instalove.

As for the story itself. I loved getting to know more about Tris power, and Mari's own secret is interesting and very handy. It was also great reading about how their relationship developed from an uneasy alliance to more of a worry about each other, although Mari still wanted to kill him. But, she is a bit conflicted. The last part of the story is the best when they have to figure out who is killing soldiers. Is it a spirit or a revengeful man/woman?

I loved the ending of the book. It's the kind that put a smile on my face and I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! show less

This is a fantasy about a man, basically a ghost hunter who can drive murderous spirits out of his realm and give them true death. People call him the Dead’s Man. They fear him, avoid him, till they need him, then he comes and wrangles the dead. He hunts the dead but Mari, hunts him and plans on murdering him for, well she has good reason.. There is a small doubt that drives her to be sure before she he is the one. She decides to travel with him and gather her proof just to make sure.
There show more is a lot of deaths, nasty vengeful ghosts, someone dark and pure evil, and no sex, no romance. Yes, you heard right, none. They stick with the program and concern themselves with the deaths, ghosts and the other thing about to kill them instead of desire. I almost got down and kissed the ground in thanks. Yes, I do hope there is a little something in the future.
There was another big thing for me to be thankful for. The main female character didn’t gasp a hundred times. This overused emotional burst of breath has been a trend lately that makes me, gasp. Ha ! Mari, is strong, even after her life was mangled and tossed, she is above gasping. Thank you again. I really should kiss the ground now. She is focused, a bit hyper focused at times but she deserves to be a little wacko here. Oh and she has one really cool talent. Read the story, you see.
I really enjoyed unique twist on the ghost hunter story. Tris, is a fascinating characters that has a lot more to do and I need to know more about his other half. Gasp, his other half ? Read the story, you’ll get no more here. show less