What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unfinished Song #1
Initiate
Dindi yearns to dance. But will her tribe allow it?Dancing is forbidden......except for those who pass the secret rites of Initiation.Because dancing creates magic. And magic is dangerous.But not as dangerous as the lithe and lethal Warrior-Dancer who saved her life.He’s the son of the Last Fae.He’s forbidden.He’s an exile.And War and Death radiate from him like the colors in his aura.Will she pass the Initiation?What if the price turns the man she loves into an enemy?* * *READERS RAVE ABOUT THE UNFINISHED SONG SERIES!“There is a wonderful harmony about this world, intriguing characters, and a great plot! I am a huge fan of fantasy novels and this one is the beginning of an epic tale.” - Star“This book is totally unique, and a great fantasy read. I have never read anything quite like this. The world-building is well thought out. The two main characters are resourceful and memorable… I really enjoyed this book, and cannot wait to read the rest of the series.” - Karyn-Anne Brown "Mad for Romance"“Wow. Holy smoking wow. This is one of the few books I've read that I can honestly say was totally, 100% original.” - Oktopus Ink“In the first book Unfinished Initiate, Tara Maya deftly introduces her characters. Dindi-the troubled misfit, Kavio-the exiled son of a great leader, Rthan-A war leader bent on revenge, Gwenika-the ill daughter of Zavaedi Brena, just to name a few… She also introduces us to Faearth. A wondrous world of faeries and magic. While reading her descriptions of the land, and its tribes, it reminded me of The People Books by W.Michael and Katheleen O'NealGear.” - AimeeKay“Don't let the girly fro-fro cover fool you. Behind the rich, detailed world-building lies the heart-beat of a epic fantasy tale that rises above the bounds of mythology and into a coming-of-age novel that will leave the reader yearning for more. The author clearly dips her plot and characters in several different mythologies, yet the book has a distinctive voice that tugs at your heartstrings.” - Anthony Pacheco "Tony"“I liked that Dindi, our heroine, is not only conscious of her differences but embraces them despite insurmountable criticism from her clan. She beats to the tune of her own drums and doesn't give up on her dreams no matter how others might view them.” - Soleil Noir "S. Noir"“The author creates an intriguing world of fractious tribes and complex societal rules that a young girl must learn to survive and navigate if she's ever to achieve her potential with magic.” - Alex Binkley“I absolutely loved it, could not put it down. The character development is deep, the descriptions of the environment make you feel like you are there. I am waiting for this series to go big--it deserves to.” - M. DeTuri“Maya's wit is quick and clever.” - Joshua G. VanDerWouden“Tara Maya has gifted us with a wonderful new world of epic fantasy.” - David“The magic here is subtle, a natural extension of the world, but lovely to behold. The fairies, Dindi's visions, the dance of the Tavaedi, and all the other magical elements are a nice counterpoint to the realities of a life amidst ancient tribes. As for the use of a civilization not far removed from the stone age, it's a nice change from the standard medieval-tinged fantasy upon which so many authors seem to dwell.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 25, 2010
227 people are currently reading
1974 people want to read
About the author
Tara Maya
138 books175 followersTara Maya has lived in Africa, Europe and Asia. She's pounded sorghum with mortar and pestle in a little clay village where the jungle meets the desert, meditated in a Buddhist monastery in the Himalayas and sailed the Volga river to a secret city that was once the heart of the Soviet space program. This first-hand experience, as well as research into the strange and piquant histories of lost civilizations, inspires her writing. Her terrible housekeeping, however, is entirely the fault of pixies.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
January 30, 2019
Never let anybody tell you not to dance
This book is a nice read. Dindi likes to dance with the fae. But soon she must stop and become an initiate. But if she fails, she won't be allowed to dance again. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline very much and look forward to continuing this series
This book is a nice read. Dindi likes to dance with the fae. But soon she must stop and become an initiate. But if she fails, she won't be allowed to dance again. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline very much and look forward to continuing this series
January 21, 2017
*I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Dindi dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, a warrior-dancer with magic powers. Only those who pass an Initiation test can join this group and now her turn has come.
For me, this was the worst book I've read this year. The plot, the characters, the writing, EVERYTHING was wrong with this book. I really hated this one.
Dindi is the most useless excuse for a girl that I've ever seen. She is supposed to be 14 but doesn't seem older than about two. She is stupid, useless, and has the common sense of a blade of grass. She spends all her time dancing with the fae and shirking her chores and this causes chaos everywhere she goes. She screws up the simple act of washing her face, screws up the Initiation kidnap for everyone and makes a mess of everything she says and does. I was hoping that somebody would just kill her as becoming a Happy Meal for her tribe would have given her a use at last! The second story arc following the clan exile is no more interesting.
The book is over-descriptive to excess. We get every detail of Dindi's chores, the village, the market place, Dindi's home, the Initiation, the trek etc and it was far too much for me. I don't need to know the colour and shape of everything. Yet the author did not feel the need to explain the important things. She gives names to things ie '..a kraal at the bottom of the hill held aurochsen and horses'...yet does not think to tell the reader what an aurochsen is! The info dumps are long and complicated with words you don't get given the meaning for which leads to a boring and confusing narrative. There were so many tribes and factions each with different names and traits that it leads to more confusion, especially when the story keeps jumping between them all the time. I was totally lost and could not keep track of who was who, and it got to the stage that I didn't actually care anymore.
It was with a great sense of relief that I decided to give up on this book halfway through and move on to something better.
Dindi dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, a warrior-dancer with magic powers. Only those who pass an Initiation test can join this group and now her turn has come.
For me, this was the worst book I've read this year. The plot, the characters, the writing, EVERYTHING was wrong with this book. I really hated this one.
Dindi is the most useless excuse for a girl that I've ever seen. She is supposed to be 14 but doesn't seem older than about two. She is stupid, useless, and has the common sense of a blade of grass. She spends all her time dancing with the fae and shirking her chores and this causes chaos everywhere she goes. She screws up the simple act of washing her face, screws up the Initiation kidnap for everyone and makes a mess of everything she says and does. I was hoping that somebody would just kill her as becoming a Happy Meal for her tribe would have given her a use at last! The second story arc following the clan exile is no more interesting.
The book is over-descriptive to excess. We get every detail of Dindi's chores, the village, the market place, Dindi's home, the Initiation, the trek etc and it was far too much for me. I don't need to know the colour and shape of everything. Yet the author did not feel the need to explain the important things. She gives names to things ie '..a kraal at the bottom of the hill held aurochsen and horses'...yet does not think to tell the reader what an aurochsen is! The info dumps are long and complicated with words you don't get given the meaning for which leads to a boring and confusing narrative. There were so many tribes and factions each with different names and traits that it leads to more confusion, especially when the story keeps jumping between them all the time. I was totally lost and could not keep track of who was who, and it got to the stage that I didn't actually care anymore.
It was with a great sense of relief that I decided to give up on this book halfway through and move on to something better.
November 23, 2012
Based on an obscure Polynesian myth, this is a fairy tale, but a fairytale like no other. A little reminiscent of Tolkien, with some of the slightly archaic and elaborate language of a legend’s narration, it also has the primeval quality of Clan of the Cave Bear. The characters are well-fleshed out with so many facets that there appear to be no truly good or bad ones. Everyone has his secret ( including the titular hero and heroine) and his goals and none tell anyone everything.
My only complaint is that I wished there had been a wee bit of an explanation as to setting, etc., before getting into the story. We’re immediately plunged into Dindi’s part of the tale with no set-up and then we’re off and running, just as Dindi is. Other than that, I thoroughly this story and look forward to finding the sequel, Taboo. I have a feeling the title says it all but it’s enough to whet my curiosity.
Well-written with fluid and descriptive passages, this story is one I’d recommend with the warning: Start reading it and you’ll wish to complete the series. It’s different and refreshing, and entertaining.
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
NOTE: Pdfs of novels are not g
My only complaint is that I wished there had been a wee bit of an explanation as to setting, etc., before getting into the story. We’re immediately plunged into Dindi’s part of the tale with no set-up and then we’re off and running, just as Dindi is. Other than that, I thoroughly this story and look forward to finding the sequel, Taboo. I have a feeling the title says it all but it’s enough to whet my curiosity.
Well-written with fluid and descriptive passages, this story is one I’d recommend with the warning: Start reading it and you’ll wish to complete the series. It’s different and refreshing, and entertaining.
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
NOTE: Pdfs of novels are not g
October 30, 2013
10/30/2013 Update: Free on Kindle now!
When I was first offered this book to review, I thought it sounded absolutely fascinating – not quite like anything I’d ever read before. I was definitely right.
The book starts out rather slow. There’s a lot of description of the place, the people, the setting. It was a little hard to get into at first, because I was having trouble following the story among all the descriptions.
But it wasn’t too far into it that the story really picked up. When Dindi is taken for her Initiation, and Kavio is kicked out of his tribe, everything starts to get interesting.
I could not put my Kindle down. The story flows beautifully, and naturally, from this point forward, and I was up late into the night finishing it.
Dindi is an great character. She dances in secret, she’s not supposed to before becoming a Tavaedi, with the fae and wants nothing more than to be able to continue to dance. She’s not entirely sure of herself, but she’s sweet and kind.
Kavio is something else entirely. He’s strong – physically, mentally and emotionally. He willingly takes his punishment as exile, when all he was doing was trying to save his tribe. He fights off those that would do more harm, saves young girls from drowning, and doesn’t expect anyone to give him any trust or belief. He sets out to make his own way – refusing to let that way be less than what he was, he strives for better.
I really loved both main characters, as well as being incredibly interested in a few of the secondary characters we got to know (Gwenika comes to mind immediately). The Corn Maiden – I sure hope we're going to learn more about her!!
The real prize here though, is the world. It’s an intricate, beautiful, harsh world. Ancient, ancient times – think Neolithic – with tribes that remind me of the Native American or African tribes of old. Magic and fae still populate the world, and if you have magic you are admitted to an entirely different class of the tribe. The customs and interactions between the tribes were fascinating. I could see the influence of a few different ethnicities and histories, and they were seamlessly woven together into a brand new whole. Honestly, it delighted me.
Tara Maya has given us a beautiful new fantasy world. The Unfinished Song: Initiate will pull you in, immerse you in the people and stark beauty of Faearth, and leave you wanting more when you’re done. I know I definitely can’t wait to start The Unfinished Song: Taboo to see what’s next for Dindi, Kavio and the rest.
Grade: B
P.S. There is a cliffhanger at the end, but the second through sixth books are out - this is going to be a 12 book series now!
When I was first offered this book to review, I thought it sounded absolutely fascinating – not quite like anything I’d ever read before. I was definitely right.
The book starts out rather slow. There’s a lot of description of the place, the people, the setting. It was a little hard to get into at first, because I was having trouble following the story among all the descriptions.
But it wasn’t too far into it that the story really picked up. When Dindi is taken for her Initiation, and Kavio is kicked out of his tribe, everything starts to get interesting.
I could not put my Kindle down. The story flows beautifully, and naturally, from this point forward, and I was up late into the night finishing it.
Dindi is an great character. She dances in secret, she’s not supposed to before becoming a Tavaedi, with the fae and wants nothing more than to be able to continue to dance. She’s not entirely sure of herself, but she’s sweet and kind.
Kavio is something else entirely. He’s strong – physically, mentally and emotionally. He willingly takes his punishment as exile, when all he was doing was trying to save his tribe. He fights off those that would do more harm, saves young girls from drowning, and doesn’t expect anyone to give him any trust or belief. He sets out to make his own way – refusing to let that way be less than what he was, he strives for better.
I really loved both main characters, as well as being incredibly interested in a few of the secondary characters we got to know (Gwenika comes to mind immediately). The Corn Maiden – I sure hope we're going to learn more about her!!
The real prize here though, is the world. It’s an intricate, beautiful, harsh world. Ancient, ancient times – think Neolithic – with tribes that remind me of the Native American or African tribes of old. Magic and fae still populate the world, and if you have magic you are admitted to an entirely different class of the tribe. The customs and interactions between the tribes were fascinating. I could see the influence of a few different ethnicities and histories, and they were seamlessly woven together into a brand new whole. Honestly, it delighted me.
Tara Maya has given us a beautiful new fantasy world. The Unfinished Song: Initiate will pull you in, immerse you in the people and stark beauty of Faearth, and leave you wanting more when you’re done. I know I definitely can’t wait to start The Unfinished Song: Taboo to see what’s next for Dindi, Kavio and the rest.
Grade: B
P.S. There is a cliffhanger at the end, but the second through sixth books are out - this is going to be a 12 book series now!
January 7, 2014
I won't recap the premise of the story since it's available at the top, so I'll jump right into my review.
The things I liked about this novel were the length, the character development, the writing, and the sequence of events and how they're pulled off. The world building was done alright, but there were a few areas that needed improvement. Some things got confusing at times when I forgot who a character was or wondered who it might be when they hadn't been introduced properly. That was a flaw of this book.
The biggest reason I didn't like this novel is how it ended. I think a series of books can easily be stand-alone novels that build on the world the author introduced in the first novel. This book isn't like that. It ends abruptly in the middle of telling the story, and I strongly disliked that. The author is essentially forcing you to buy the next novel because they cut you off before it reached the climax (seriously, this story has NO climax). It was very unsatisfying, and as a result, I won't read anymore of this author's work.
The things I liked about this novel were the length, the character development, the writing, and the sequence of events and how they're pulled off. The world building was done alright, but there were a few areas that needed improvement. Some things got confusing at times when I forgot who a character was or wondered who it might be when they hadn't been introduced properly. That was a flaw of this book.
The biggest reason I didn't like this novel is how it ended. I think a series of books can easily be stand-alone novels that build on the world the author introduced in the first novel. This book isn't like that. It ends abruptly in the middle of telling the story, and I strongly disliked that. The author is essentially forcing you to buy the next novel because they cut you off before it reached the climax (seriously, this story has NO climax). It was very unsatisfying, and as a result, I won't read anymore of this author's work.
June 19, 2014
I feel my rating needs an explanation, so bear with me while I give a brief synopsis before I go on to give my reasons for only giving this book one star.
The story follows a number of characters, and eventually all of the various stories bring the characters into Dindi's life. She is a youth from a very rudimentary village--as in, the people live in huts made of dirt and their lives are focused on survival. Dindi dreams of becoming a Tavaedi (a magic-user whose powers are invokes through dance), and she will get the opportunity to try for a position in the secret society during her initiation into adulthood. However, Dindi's world is one of strife, and the journey to the place of initiation is more dangerous than she could have imagined.
First let me focus on what I liked about the book. The author is quite a talented writer, and she paints a world that is immediately engaging. The dialogue is natural and convincing, and there are bountiful details that make the world seem more real. The author has given thought to what the people would eat, what they would wear, what tasks would be necessary each day, etc. I love such practical details. It makes a story more rich for me. And even though Dindi (and the other characters involved in this story) belonged to a world vastly different from my own, I could still relate to what they were feeling and how they handled various situations. I remembered being fourteen years old (as Dindi is) and feeling like a misfit, wanting to be so much more. The author made that connection with me as a reader, and I really cared what happened to each of the characters. I would have loved to see where the story took them.
However, I will not read future books in this series, nor will I read this one again.
The world in which this story takes place is a dark one. That is understandable. After all, there has to be some sort of conflict, otherwise there would be no story. Unfortunately, the author was quite detailed in the forms of darkness found in this story. It describes several instances of rape, cannibalism, infanticide, torture, and battle (not just fighting, but descriptions of the blood and gore). Not to mention a brief scene that contained some nudity (mild, I suppose, compared to some other books, but still there), and some abrasive language. There were several times I almost stopped reading because of how sickened I felt inside. In my opinion, this book should not be classified as YA fantasy. I would not want the teenagers of my family reading this kind of content.
Now, I understand that these are (unfortunately) very real situations. I don't mean to act like things such as rape and murder do not happen. That being said, I want to read books that leave me feeling better for having read them. This book did not do that for me. The author has slated the series to be 12 books long, and she has said that it has a happy ending. Personally, I do not wish to trudge through figurative mud in order to arrive at a destination that could have been reached by other means.
I acknowledge that I have rather conservative standards, and I know that the things that bothered me may not bother others. Still, I felt it important to write a review so that those who share my conservative standards are aware of what this book entails.
On a purely technical note, I didn't care for how often the story jumped characters. It was more than halfway through the book before any of the separate stories came together. It gave it a slightly disjointed feel, which I didn't like. As I read I assumed that eventually all of the different people would be relevant to the main story (Dindi's), but it took a while for that to happen. There was also one instance where modern slang was thrown into the dialogue (which is a pet peeve of mine), but it only happened the once.
These are relatively minor things, though. My main reason for the poor rating is the content. If you are not bothered by such things, then you may like this book. If you are more sensitive (as I am), then I would advise against reading it.
The story follows a number of characters, and eventually all of the various stories bring the characters into Dindi's life. She is a youth from a very rudimentary village--as in, the people live in huts made of dirt and their lives are focused on survival. Dindi dreams of becoming a Tavaedi (a magic-user whose powers are invokes through dance), and she will get the opportunity to try for a position in the secret society during her initiation into adulthood. However, Dindi's world is one of strife, and the journey to the place of initiation is more dangerous than she could have imagined.
First let me focus on what I liked about the book. The author is quite a talented writer, and she paints a world that is immediately engaging. The dialogue is natural and convincing, and there are bountiful details that make the world seem more real. The author has given thought to what the people would eat, what they would wear, what tasks would be necessary each day, etc. I love such practical details. It makes a story more rich for me. And even though Dindi (and the other characters involved in this story) belonged to a world vastly different from my own, I could still relate to what they were feeling and how they handled various situations. I remembered being fourteen years old (as Dindi is) and feeling like a misfit, wanting to be so much more. The author made that connection with me as a reader, and I really cared what happened to each of the characters. I would have loved to see where the story took them.
However, I will not read future books in this series, nor will I read this one again.
The world in which this story takes place is a dark one. That is understandable. After all, there has to be some sort of conflict, otherwise there would be no story. Unfortunately, the author was quite detailed in the forms of darkness found in this story. It describes several instances of rape, cannibalism, infanticide, torture, and battle (not just fighting, but descriptions of the blood and gore). Not to mention a brief scene that contained some nudity (mild, I suppose, compared to some other books, but still there), and some abrasive language. There were several times I almost stopped reading because of how sickened I felt inside. In my opinion, this book should not be classified as YA fantasy. I would not want the teenagers of my family reading this kind of content.
Now, I understand that these are (unfortunately) very real situations. I don't mean to act like things such as rape and murder do not happen. That being said, I want to read books that leave me feeling better for having read them. This book did not do that for me. The author has slated the series to be 12 books long, and she has said that it has a happy ending. Personally, I do not wish to trudge through figurative mud in order to arrive at a destination that could have been reached by other means.
I acknowledge that I have rather conservative standards, and I know that the things that bothered me may not bother others. Still, I felt it important to write a review so that those who share my conservative standards are aware of what this book entails.
On a purely technical note, I didn't care for how often the story jumped characters. It was more than halfway through the book before any of the separate stories came together. It gave it a slightly disjointed feel, which I didn't like. As I read I assumed that eventually all of the different people would be relevant to the main story (Dindi's), but it took a while for that to happen. There was also one instance where modern slang was thrown into the dialogue (which is a pet peeve of mine), but it only happened the once.
These are relatively minor things, though. My main reason for the poor rating is the content. If you are not bothered by such things, then you may like this book. If you are more sensitive (as I am), then I would advise against reading it.
May 26, 2013
My initial impressions of the novel are a bit underwhelming. I found it a bit laborious to read, which was unexpected with a quite short 180 or so page book. There were too many changed in POV for my tastes. This chopping and changing increased the confusion I felt during most of the story. I couldn’t really connect with the characters, once you start being familiar with one, it changes to another, and yet another after that. If it was limited to two or three, it would have been much better overall I think.
I felt like I was missing information throughout, and the best way I can describe the feeling is opening a 500 page book on page 250, and starting reading the story from there. I constantly felt like something was missing, that I skipped a book in the series something. One big thing I struggled with, and that was the setting of the novel. I couldn’t figure out where the tribes were in the books world in relation to our world. Everything was described so well, yet it lacked grounding for lack of a better term. Now, a fantasy world created purely for the book can be quite obvious – it’s created especially for the characters and woven throughout the story – but the references popping up throughout kept me thinking this was occurring on our planet, but quite a while ago.
This was going on in my mind while reading the novel: At first, I’m picturing a desert, with a big river running nearby – ok got it! We are in North Africa, maybe Egypt. Near the Nile possibly? Nice, I love Egyptian mythology! Then shortly after, we are in forests… eating rotten fish flesh… with deer roaming through... and snow. Ok, scratch the Egypt thing, I know where we are! We are in Scandinavia – Vikings! Woohoo! Bring it on! Then I remember the dancing part of the story, and I’m trying to picture big blond Vikings mingling with fairies dancing in rings… Confusion has set in! Then the introduction of tropical references, and I thought wait, wait, wait! We have to be in Hawaii. Could fit I guess!? Then the seven month trek began… and I really can’t see it taking seven months to walk from coast to coast on any of the Hawaiian Islands. This then lead me to think Native American, and at this stage I was so confused I wasn’t really enjoying the story as I should have been.
It was only after the novel ended that I understood, and I feel a bit let down, because if the information was somehow incorporated into the novel, I would have finished thinking it was brilliant. In the author’s note, so much information was given! The novel is set toward the end of the Stone Age, and that the entire world is one continent, before the earth’s plate tectonics separated us into the continents we know today. This really appealed to me considering I was destined to become a Geologist but changed my mind at the last minute! Everything clicked once I read that, but unfortunately it came too late and my impression was made up on the book at this stage.
In summary, reading the book itself I was left disappointed. I felt it was disjointed with too many character POV changes. But the authors note has helped changed my mind and see what I felt was missing. If that information was spun into a prologue at the start of the book, maybe with a Creation of the earth slant to it, I think I would have really loved this book. Oh well.
May 23, 2011
Rating: 4.5/5
The start of the book was a little confusing for me. So many unfamiliar terminologies were mentioned at the first few pages. It took me about fifteen minutes of reading before getting a grip on the story. But once I got a better grasp, the reading became more fluid, although there were still a lot more unknown characters and tribes that were mentioned after that.
Anyway, I was really surprised by this book. This is told in third person, but there are some parts that are told in second. I love the second person POVs! It has that hypnotic quality to it that's so mesmerizing despite how morbid that part of the story is. There are hell lots of characters here and other terms that could be easily forgotten, so if you're planning to read this, I suggest that you take down notes for good measure.
Kavio and Puddlepaws are my favorite characters. I was eagerly anticipating for Kavio moments. He is a strong, intimidating character and he makes me giddy! Puddlepaws is a cute, adorable kitty owned by Dindi. There is less than little romance between Kavio and Dindi. And I must say that this is what really disappointed me in this book. I was waiting and waiting for them to meet. And when they finally met, I all but swooned! Nothing romantic happened between them. They didn't fall in love at first sight. But you just cannot deny that there are sparks! Sparks! This also has an evil cliffhanger and an even more evil teaser of the sequel. Definitely recommended to all fantasy lovers. :)
Disclosure: This e-book was received from the author (via Amazon) for free in exchange for an honest review.
Original post here.
The start of the book was a little confusing for me. So many unfamiliar terminologies were mentioned at the first few pages. It took me about fifteen minutes of reading before getting a grip on the story. But once I got a better grasp, the reading became more fluid, although there were still a lot more unknown characters and tribes that were mentioned after that.
Anyway, I was really surprised by this book. This is told in third person, but there are some parts that are told in second. I love the second person POVs! It has that hypnotic quality to it that's so mesmerizing despite how morbid that part of the story is. There are hell lots of characters here and other terms that could be easily forgotten, so if you're planning to read this, I suggest that you take down notes for good measure.
Kavio and Puddlepaws are my favorite characters. I was eagerly anticipating for Kavio moments. He is a strong, intimidating character and he makes me giddy! Puddlepaws is a cute, adorable kitty owned by Dindi. There is less than little romance between Kavio and Dindi. And I must say that this is what really disappointed me in this book. I was waiting and waiting for them to meet. And when they finally met, I all but swooned! Nothing romantic happened between them. They didn't fall in love at first sight. But you just cannot deny that there are sparks! Sparks! This also has an evil cliffhanger and an even more evil teaser of the sequel. Definitely recommended to all fantasy lovers. :)
Disclosure: This e-book was received from the author (via Amazon) for free in exchange for an honest review.
Original post here.
August 25, 2017
3.0-3.3 stars
**Free on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Unfinished-...
This is definitely not the kind of book I usually read – even for a PNR, it’s different.I felt like I was watching some kind of mystical TV show or something, because the world building was spot-on. I can’t even begin to express how impressed I was with the details of this Faeworld. So, if I had to purely base my rating on the world-building aspect, I’d rate it a 5/5. It was flawless, and unique.
However, it got a bit confusing for me to keep up with the 4+ shifts in character POVs – even though it was all written in third person narrative. I would’ve preferred if the story focused on only 2-3 of the main characters in first person POV, rather than the current format. Also, usually I’m not a stickler for editing, but it was noticeable & distracting enough for me to mention it.
I guess I ultimately expected a very clichéd, young-adult, paranormal romance, between Dindi & Kavio; I was COMPLETELY wrong. There was nothing clichéd about the plot, the world building felt totally unique, and the romance barely even kick-started (it was painfully slow).
So for all of those reasons combined, I was both pleased and disappointed in this first book. I personally don’t think any of my book friends would be interested in something like this, though. It’s not mainstream enough (as silly as it sounds), and the romance is barely noticeable. On top of that, I was confused, because it was hard following all these different characters... However, I might still pick up the sequel, just to follow up & see where this thing goes...
**Free on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Unfinished-...
This is definitely not the kind of book I usually read – even for a PNR, it’s different.I felt like I was watching some kind of mystical TV show or something, because the world building was spot-on. I can’t even begin to express how impressed I was with the details of this Faeworld. So, if I had to purely base my rating on the world-building aspect, I’d rate it a 5/5. It was flawless, and unique.
However, it got a bit confusing for me to keep up with the 4+ shifts in character POVs – even though it was all written in third person narrative. I would’ve preferred if the story focused on only 2-3 of the main characters in first person POV, rather than the current format. Also, usually I’m not a stickler for editing, but it was noticeable & distracting enough for me to mention it.
I guess I ultimately expected a very clichéd, young-adult, paranormal romance, between Dindi & Kavio; I was COMPLETELY wrong. There was nothing clichéd about the plot, the world building felt totally unique, and the romance barely even kick-started (it was painfully slow).
So for all of those reasons combined, I was both pleased and disappointed in this first book. I personally don’t think any of my book friends would be interested in something like this, though. It’s not mainstream enough (as silly as it sounds), and the romance is barely noticeable. On top of that, I was confused, because it was hard following all these different characters... However, I might still pick up the sequel, just to follow up & see where this thing goes...
March 25, 2014
2.5 Dancing Stars
One of those I liked it, didn't love it.
Dindi is a young girl with the simple dream of dancing. The problem is, if she does not pass the test she must stop dancing forever.
Kavio has an interesting past that we only get little tiny glimpses of. His dad is driven by politics, his mom has a big secret and someone wanted him out of the picture so he could take over his dad's position (heir). Now he is an exile, no name, no home and a war to stop.
Oh and they meet each other for a sec. and kinda get tingly. I have to uber respect, no insta-love here.
There are unique magical elements to this story that you don't see often. The fae are elementals that are only seen by those with enough connection to magic to see them. The dancing is their ritual work, their spell casting, it is only practiced by those with a connection to the fae after they past the initiation test.
There is so much going on in this book. Tribes and clans and factions oh my. I stumbled over the complex names (Dindi being the only name I think I could pronounce correctly). I was starting to get the hang of it, even the strange jump back in time that I didn't realize happened until much later, when it all ended abruptly with a huge cliff hanger....
I shouldn't be surprised because that is what this collection is for, to get you into the series with a teaser.
I don't think I will complete this series but I will say the author is building an interesting world, it just takes a bit of stumbling around in order to get your bearings.
April 18, 2012
I was able to get a Kindle copy of this book for free through Amazon. I'm so happy that I picked it up!
The world the author spins is an old and harsh one filled with magic, faeries, struggle, and war. I really loved the idea of weaving magic with a dance. And though people live and die, Maya mentions these things the descriptions are not horribly graphic or off putting. Some times the implied is just enough to make one squirm and feel for a character. I appreciated the changed track from over-description syndrome.
The chapters are nicely broken up and titled with which character we're following as the tale unfolds for our protagonists. And since there are new characters being added in here and there, these are much appreciated cues otherwise, I imagine one would have very easily gotten lost without them.
It took me a chapter or two to really get into the story, and I am very glad that I stuck to it. The book picked up fast and once the momentum of the novel got going the pacing was an entertaining one! I enjoyed the main female character Dindi very much. She's sort of an odd ball, but in an absolutely likable and relate-able way. I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for her.
The only negative I got from this book was the very sudden drop off at the end. It sort of felt like it was chopped awkwardly. Left me wanting at least a segue into the ending.
Although it did make me want to get the next novel right away. Sneakily genius!
The world the author spins is an old and harsh one filled with magic, faeries, struggle, and war. I really loved the idea of weaving magic with a dance. And though people live and die, Maya mentions these things the descriptions are not horribly graphic or off putting. Some times the implied is just enough to make one squirm and feel for a character. I appreciated the changed track from over-description syndrome.
The chapters are nicely broken up and titled with which character we're following as the tale unfolds for our protagonists. And since there are new characters being added in here and there, these are much appreciated cues otherwise, I imagine one would have very easily gotten lost without them.
It took me a chapter or two to really get into the story, and I am very glad that I stuck to it. The book picked up fast and once the momentum of the novel got going the pacing was an entertaining one! I enjoyed the main female character Dindi very much. She's sort of an odd ball, but in an absolutely likable and relate-able way. I can't wait to see what the next book has in store for her.
The only negative I got from this book was the very sudden drop off at the end. It sort of felt like it was chopped awkwardly. Left me wanting at least a segue into the ending.
Although it did make me want to get the next novel right away. Sneakily genius!
November 6, 2011
When I finished this book, I was mad and disappointed. I was going to give it three stars and not move on to book two. But after reading the authors note at the end, I have changed my mind. I bumped it up a star and will move onto book two when my anger stops simmering.
The Initiate was a kindle freebie that a grabbed because I needed a book to read and the cover looked cool. I think I was going to an appointment or something and needed a book ASAP. I'm glad I grabbed it, though, because the writing is so unique and the world within the book was clear and flourishing, if that makes sense. No? ..... I can't think of the right adjective, but it's like the movie Avatar where the world was... flourishing, you know?
Anyway, I liked the book and the main character. The only hiccup was that I couldn't keep track of the people. The names were too foreign for me. Plus, I was reading another book at the same time and going back and forth made things hard. But I love the idea of magical dancing and children being tested and exiled sons and warriors attacking. It all tied together nicely.
The Initiate was a kindle freebie that a grabbed because I needed a book to read and the cover looked cool. I think I was going to an appointment or something and needed a book ASAP. I'm glad I grabbed it, though, because the writing is so unique and the world within the book was clear and flourishing, if that makes sense. No? ..... I can't think of the right adjective, but it's like the movie Avatar where the world was... flourishing, you know?
Anyway, I liked the book and the main character. The only hiccup was that I couldn't keep track of the people. The names were too foreign for me. Plus, I was reading another book at the same time and going back and forth made things hard. But I love the idea of magical dancing and children being tested and exiled sons and warriors attacking. It all tied together nicely.
December 22, 2012
I seem to be one of the only reviewers who isn't a fan of the cover art. However, I am a fan of the story, even though it didn't start out that way.
There were quite a few "main" characters, and it seems (upon reading other reviews) that I wasn't the only reader having problems distinguishing between them. If there are that many similar complaints about a story, it's a problem that needs to be addressed.
The world building was fantastic. You can taste the heat and sweat and dust when people travel. You can picture the lush greenery surrounding their simple, dun-colored huts.
The plot (though I could have killed the author with that ending) was slow moving at first, but pacing toward the end was much faster as the characters came together and action moved swiftly. I'll be reading the next book - hopefully the wrinkles in this book will have smoothed out by the next.
There were quite a few "main" characters, and it seems (upon reading other reviews) that I wasn't the only reader having problems distinguishing between them. If there are that many similar complaints about a story, it's a problem that needs to be addressed.
The world building was fantastic. You can taste the heat and sweat and dust when people travel. You can picture the lush greenery surrounding their simple, dun-colored huts.
The plot (though I could have killed the author with that ending) was slow moving at first, but pacing toward the end was much faster as the characters came together and action moved swiftly. I'll be reading the next book - hopefully the wrinkles in this book will have smoothed out by the next.
December 24, 2013
This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks to Netgalley and Indie Inked for giving me this book and the rest of Faery Worlds to review.
Dindi is a young woman who dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, but cannot do anything right and prefers spending her time dancing with fairies. Kavio is a power Warrior-dancer who is exiled from his home for a crime he did not commit. I just could not get on with Initiate as I did not care much about what happened to the characters, and the plot was a bit confusing. If you enjoy fantasy books with fairies in, I would recommend Winter Queen by Amber Argyle.
Thanks to Netgalley and Indie Inked for giving me this book and the rest of Faery Worlds to review.
Dindi is a young woman who dreams of becoming a Tavaedi, but cannot do anything right and prefers spending her time dancing with fairies. Kavio is a power Warrior-dancer who is exiled from his home for a crime he did not commit. I just could not get on with Initiate as I did not care much about what happened to the characters, and the plot was a bit confusing. If you enjoy fantasy books with fairies in, I would recommend Winter Queen by Amber Argyle.
October 6, 2018
What this is: A serial romance reminiscent of prehistory/pre-Columbian fantasy but forging its own world.
Warnings: The world is surprisingly brutal, especially for the light hearted synopsis. Fitting for the setting expect constant battles for survival, tribal warfare and the like. Sexual assualt and rape are mentioned and important to a character's backstory. I didn't mind it as it felt in tune with the setting and wasn't a cheap shock but your mileage may vary. Also, this is an incomplete serial as of the time I post this. If you don't like the idea of sudden endings and waiting for more books, this may not be for you.
Usually I do a Pro and Cons list but I skimmed some of the negative reviews and noticed a trend. I feel like there may have been some confusion over the marketing and many people expected a very different book (not their fault if you look at the cover, synopsis, etc). To be honest, I myself was expecting something much more light hearted and bubbly than what I got. I was pleasantly surprised, but others were understandably disappointed.
The Dindi chapters are generally light-hearted minus one part. These parts feel very young and could even be mistaken as middle school reading. However the other perspectives feel much older and more mature. There are politics, war, death and as mentioned above serious depictions of rape and how a character copes/moves on from that. Although I enjoyed this book, it was a bit of a whiplash even to me. I could see this turning off some other readers.
This book is a bit old school in its prose. It feels as if Lois McMaster Bujold had been asked to write prehistory fantasy but as a serial for the YA crowd. I like Bujold's work, but people more into the trendy, popy YA will probably cringe at this story. People more familiar with older fantasy will feel at home. This has slow, methodical world building that is interesting if you appreciate unique mythos and incredibly realistic, mature depictions of humans. It also doesn't hold your hand so if you are not paying attention, you might get lost.
The love interests don't meet until later in the story. A lot of traditional romance fans will probably hate this. But I liked that we know how these characters function on their own. They feel more relatable and developed than characters in stories that skip straight to the romance. It made the small romantic moments have more impact to me than they usually do. Most of the time I'm underwhelmed with minor flirtations and kissing in YA, but its cute here because of all the development and time to attach to these characters.
The biggest "problem" with this book as it looks like YA with a fantasy paint coat, but it is thoroughly fantasy with a YA bent. If this interests you, the first book is free so I recommend giving it a go.
Blog: https://paperbookteacat.wordpress.com/
Warnings: The world is surprisingly brutal, especially for the light hearted synopsis. Fitting for the setting expect constant battles for survival, tribal warfare and the like. Sexual assualt and rape are mentioned and important to a character's backstory. I didn't mind it as it felt in tune with the setting and wasn't a cheap shock but your mileage may vary. Also, this is an incomplete serial as of the time I post this. If you don't like the idea of sudden endings and waiting for more books, this may not be for you.
Usually I do a Pro and Cons list but I skimmed some of the negative reviews and noticed a trend. I feel like there may have been some confusion over the marketing and many people expected a very different book (not their fault if you look at the cover, synopsis, etc). To be honest, I myself was expecting something much more light hearted and bubbly than what I got. I was pleasantly surprised, but others were understandably disappointed.
The Dindi chapters are generally light-hearted minus one part. These parts feel very young and could even be mistaken as middle school reading. However the other perspectives feel much older and more mature. There are politics, war, death and as mentioned above serious depictions of rape and how a character copes/moves on from that. Although I enjoyed this book, it was a bit of a whiplash even to me. I could see this turning off some other readers.
This book is a bit old school in its prose. It feels as if Lois McMaster Bujold had been asked to write prehistory fantasy but as a serial for the YA crowd. I like Bujold's work, but people more into the trendy, popy YA will probably cringe at this story. People more familiar with older fantasy will feel at home. This has slow, methodical world building that is interesting if you appreciate unique mythos and incredibly realistic, mature depictions of humans. It also doesn't hold your hand so if you are not paying attention, you might get lost.
The love interests don't meet until later in the story. A lot of traditional romance fans will probably hate this. But I liked that we know how these characters function on their own. They feel more relatable and developed than characters in stories that skip straight to the romance. It made the small romantic moments have more impact to me than they usually do. Most of the time I'm underwhelmed with minor flirtations and kissing in YA, but its cute here because of all the development and time to attach to these characters.
The biggest "problem" with this book as it looks like YA with a fantasy paint coat, but it is thoroughly fantasy with a YA bent. If this interests you, the first book is free so I recommend giving it a go.
Blog: https://paperbookteacat.wordpress.com/
January 14, 2012
The author kindly sent me a review copy.
Dindi is on the verge of womanhood but has not yet taken the Initiation to adulthood. All she wants to do is dance, but in this world dancing is the way to do magic and only those who are good enough to be accepted to the mysterious Tavaedi clan are allowed to dance. As long as anyone can remember, nobody in Dindi’s small tribe, the Lost Swan, has become a Tavaedi so her mother, aunts, and cousins are all urging her to become a wife and a mother. But Dindi is determined to succeed and so she steals moments to practice with her faery friends whom only she can see.
Kavio is a trained Tavaedi dancer and “everyone” knows that he broke his tribe’s laws. He’s on trial and expects to die. Instead he’s exiled which is a greater shame to the young man. He leaves his family and sets out to the world where people will either shun him or want to kill him.
Rthan is a warrior of the Water Blue tribe. His wife and daughter were killed on a raid and he tried to get even. Somehow, Kavio prevented the deluge Rthan had conjured with his water spell. Now, Rthan is more eager than ever to get even with the younger man. Also, Rthan can see a shimmering being who has taken the form of his eight year old daughter. The being urges him to take revenge.
Zavaedi Brena is the Healer for the Yellow Bear tribe and she’s also a widow with two daughters who are approaching the age of Initiation. Brena wants desperately for them to pass the test and become Zavaedis like herself so that they can lead the life they want to and not be dependent on husbands. So, she teaches them the dances even if it will cost Brena her life if they are caught. Her elder one Gwena seems to learn quickly but the youngest Gwenika claims to be sick often.
Faearth isn’t a familiar fantasy medieval world; it’s equivalent to Stone Age with a mythical feel. The people don’t have horses even though they’ve heard that other tribes might have them. They don’t even have dogs. They have obsidian knives instead of steel weapons. The society seem to be somewhat patriarchal with clear gender roles. Men are warriors and hunters, and women are mothers who cook, clean, and gather food. Dindi’s oldest male cousin claims that he is her keeper because she doesn’t have a brother. However, otherwise the women characters seem to be independent.
Dindi's a bit different from the usual fantasy heroines. She's lonely and her cousins bully her. She's also often clumsy and her faery friends get her into trouble. But she’s also determined and brave. At the start of the story, she gets a pet kitten Puddlepaws. Her mother also loved to dance but she fell in love with her husband before her Initiation and apparently deliberately chose to stay an ordinary woman and stopped dancing. Later in the book, Dindi experiences visions. Although I’m not a fan of visions as a plot device, the POV character in the vision was very interesting to me.
On the other hand, Kavio is pretty standard young man; stubborn, proud, and full of himself. He’s also a very powerful Tavaedi. He’s the son of his tribe’s War Chief and destined to follow him as the next chief. Apparently, a rival for the position had him exiled. Some of the people from his tribe, the Rainbow Labyrinth, would like Kavio to lead them in a revolt. However, Kavio doesn’t want to do that.
Rthan is pretty tormented soul on a quest for vengeance. It’s interesting to note that this is usual for fantasy main characters but here he’s cast more into the role of the antagonist.
Brena is a competent woman (and I enjoy reading about them). Near the end of the book we learn that her marriage wasn’t a happy one and so it’s natural that she would want to save her daughters from similar fates. She also deals with the fae although not as much as Dindi.
The magic is pretty complex. It’s done with dancing and each dancer is attuned to a specific color which represents a certain aspect, healing or rain, for example. However, the dancers also perform (pseudo)historical plays and so preserve history in an illiterate society. They wear colorful masks and costumes during the dancing. Only members of Tavaedi and Zavaedi secret societies can practice magic and dancing. The Tavaedi and Zavaedi have their own villages and seem to be able to marry only each other.
Only dances, and magic, which are known are allowed. It’s forbidden to invent new ones and that is why Kavio was exiled.
Faearth has a plethora of faery races: pixies, naiads, nymphs, sprites… But only people who have magic can see them. Dindi seems to be the only one in her village to see them. They seem to be pretty mischievous and instead of helping Dindi, they get her often in trouble. For example, when Dindi had to make soap and gather blueberries, the faeries offered to help. The result was blueberry soap…
The plot is quite fast paced and the points-of-view shift quickly. The writer doesn’t explain much and this was welcome to me, at least, since I’ve read several book in a row where the writers insist on explaining everything and preferably several times. However, it challenges the reader to be alert for clues about the world and the society. Also, a couple of scenes are written in the second person when describing the Initiation rituals. That might irritate some people.
The plot centers around the Initiation and book ends in a cliffhanger. The book is marketed as romance but there isn’t one. Several men and women did meet so its possible that a romance or romances will occur later.
I have only a couple of small quibbles about the setting. For a Stone Age culture, the families were very small. Dindi seems to be an only child even though both of her parents are alive! Brena has only two kids but her excuse is that she’s a widow. At the age of 18, Kavio surely should have been already married with kids. Also, there were no dogs. Dogs are among the first animals that humans domesticated simply because they are very useful in hunting, guarding, simply keeping company, and even being able to pull travois. But these are really minor things.
Dindi is on the verge of womanhood but has not yet taken the Initiation to adulthood. All she wants to do is dance, but in this world dancing is the way to do magic and only those who are good enough to be accepted to the mysterious Tavaedi clan are allowed to dance. As long as anyone can remember, nobody in Dindi’s small tribe, the Lost Swan, has become a Tavaedi so her mother, aunts, and cousins are all urging her to become a wife and a mother. But Dindi is determined to succeed and so she steals moments to practice with her faery friends whom only she can see.
Kavio is a trained Tavaedi dancer and “everyone” knows that he broke his tribe’s laws. He’s on trial and expects to die. Instead he’s exiled which is a greater shame to the young man. He leaves his family and sets out to the world where people will either shun him or want to kill him.
Rthan is a warrior of the Water Blue tribe. His wife and daughter were killed on a raid and he tried to get even. Somehow, Kavio prevented the deluge Rthan had conjured with his water spell. Now, Rthan is more eager than ever to get even with the younger man. Also, Rthan can see a shimmering being who has taken the form of his eight year old daughter. The being urges him to take revenge.
Zavaedi Brena is the Healer for the Yellow Bear tribe and she’s also a widow with two daughters who are approaching the age of Initiation. Brena wants desperately for them to pass the test and become Zavaedis like herself so that they can lead the life they want to and not be dependent on husbands. So, she teaches them the dances even if it will cost Brena her life if they are caught. Her elder one Gwena seems to learn quickly but the youngest Gwenika claims to be sick often.
Faearth isn’t a familiar fantasy medieval world; it’s equivalent to Stone Age with a mythical feel. The people don’t have horses even though they’ve heard that other tribes might have them. They don’t even have dogs. They have obsidian knives instead of steel weapons. The society seem to be somewhat patriarchal with clear gender roles. Men are warriors and hunters, and women are mothers who cook, clean, and gather food. Dindi’s oldest male cousin claims that he is her keeper because she doesn’t have a brother. However, otherwise the women characters seem to be independent.
Dindi's a bit different from the usual fantasy heroines. She's lonely and her cousins bully her. She's also often clumsy and her faery friends get her into trouble. But she’s also determined and brave. At the start of the story, she gets a pet kitten Puddlepaws. Her mother also loved to dance but she fell in love with her husband before her Initiation and apparently deliberately chose to stay an ordinary woman and stopped dancing. Later in the book, Dindi experiences visions. Although I’m not a fan of visions as a plot device, the POV character in the vision was very interesting to me.
On the other hand, Kavio is pretty standard young man; stubborn, proud, and full of himself. He’s also a very powerful Tavaedi. He’s the son of his tribe’s War Chief and destined to follow him as the next chief. Apparently, a rival for the position had him exiled. Some of the people from his tribe, the Rainbow Labyrinth, would like Kavio to lead them in a revolt. However, Kavio doesn’t want to do that.
Rthan is pretty tormented soul on a quest for vengeance. It’s interesting to note that this is usual for fantasy main characters but here he’s cast more into the role of the antagonist.
Brena is a competent woman (and I enjoy reading about them). Near the end of the book we learn that her marriage wasn’t a happy one and so it’s natural that she would want to save her daughters from similar fates. She also deals with the fae although not as much as Dindi.
The magic is pretty complex. It’s done with dancing and each dancer is attuned to a specific color which represents a certain aspect, healing or rain, for example. However, the dancers also perform (pseudo)historical plays and so preserve history in an illiterate society. They wear colorful masks and costumes during the dancing. Only members of Tavaedi and Zavaedi secret societies can practice magic and dancing. The Tavaedi and Zavaedi have their own villages and seem to be able to marry only each other.
Only dances, and magic, which are known are allowed. It’s forbidden to invent new ones and that is why Kavio was exiled.
Faearth has a plethora of faery races: pixies, naiads, nymphs, sprites… But only people who have magic can see them. Dindi seems to be the only one in her village to see them. They seem to be pretty mischievous and instead of helping Dindi, they get her often in trouble. For example, when Dindi had to make soap and gather blueberries, the faeries offered to help. The result was blueberry soap…
The plot is quite fast paced and the points-of-view shift quickly. The writer doesn’t explain much and this was welcome to me, at least, since I’ve read several book in a row where the writers insist on explaining everything and preferably several times. However, it challenges the reader to be alert for clues about the world and the society. Also, a couple of scenes are written in the second person when describing the Initiation rituals. That might irritate some people.
The plot centers around the Initiation and book ends in a cliffhanger. The book is marketed as romance but there isn’t one. Several men and women did meet so its possible that a romance or romances will occur later.
I have only a couple of small quibbles about the setting. For a Stone Age culture, the families were very small. Dindi seems to be an only child even though both of her parents are alive! Brena has only two kids but her excuse is that she’s a widow. At the age of 18, Kavio surely should have been already married with kids. Also, there were no dogs. Dogs are among the first animals that humans domesticated simply because they are very useful in hunting, guarding, simply keeping company, and even being able to pull travois. But these are really minor things.
didnt-finish
July 22, 2021Holy description, Batman! What’s odd about it, though, is that it’s combined with extremely plain writing about actual events. Entire fights are reduced to single paragraphs, for instance. Memorably, one fight is a single sentence. It makes it easy to miss things.
No terminology is explained, which makes it much harder to keep track of the political situation than it should be.
I’m fairly certain that this is only available in ebook form, which…checks out. It needed several more rounds of editing before publication. There are numerous small errors everywhere, both gramatical and content-based, and the pacing is terrible. It’s poorly written, and that takes a story that has potential and makes it not worth reading, even with less than 200 pages.
Between that and the sexual assault and whatnot on every other page, DNF at four out of nine chapters.
No terminology is explained, which makes it much harder to keep track of the political situation than it should be.
I’m fairly certain that this is only available in ebook form, which…checks out. It needed several more rounds of editing before publication. There are numerous small errors everywhere, both gramatical and content-based, and the pacing is terrible. It’s poorly written, and that takes a story that has potential and makes it not worth reading, even with less than 200 pages.
Between that and the sexual assault and whatnot on every other page, DNF at four out of nine chapters.
August 7, 2017
I did not expect that
I like music. I like to sing and a book called "The Unfinished Song" of course attracts me. However, I did not so expect a world so exotic and rich that I could not lay it down and read it in two days.
You get slowly drawn into this world of secret societies, fairies and pure heartless survival when main character Dindi tries to avoid great aunt Sullana in the market square.
And then you go with her on a journey of initiation that ends entirely not as expected.
But that's life I suspect. If you like a good old fairy tale combined with epic fantasy then you are right with this book and series.
I like music. I like to sing and a book called "The Unfinished Song" of course attracts me. However, I did not so expect a world so exotic and rich that I could not lay it down and read it in two days.
You get slowly drawn into this world of secret societies, fairies and pure heartless survival when main character Dindi tries to avoid great aunt Sullana in the market square.
And then you go with her on a journey of initiation that ends entirely not as expected.
But that's life I suspect. If you like a good old fairy tale combined with epic fantasy then you are right with this book and series.
April 17, 2019
So many different customs all blended together to make a very unique world. Fae, North American Indian, Northern Europe, even Pacific Islander myths and legends are used to establish the creeds and traditions of Faearth. Very interesting but slow in some places. Honest about the abuse of others but also recognized the loyalty of each to their clan. Left with a pretty important cliffhanger though, so not as impressive as it could have been. Disappointing ending, especially after so many struggles.
March 19, 2019
Best author I've ever read. I can't get enough and I can't put it down. Kavio and Dindi are such a beautiful love story. Each character and faery is so well developed they seem to be alive. As each is introduced its like meeting a new friend. Can't wait for her next book.
November 20, 2017
This one was well written with some interesting character development. It took me several trys to finish it and I just don't care enough to pay for the next chapter.
December 1, 2021
interesting first book. could've been longer and had more details. the first in a series so hopefully it fleshes out more later. interesting magic concept
March 2, 2022
Enjoyable reading
A will written Sci-Fi novel. Enjoy reading 2019
A will written Sci-Fi novel. Enjoy reading 2019
February 25, 2011
Summary:
Dindi is a 14 year old tribe girl who dreams of someday becoming a magical Tavaedi dancer. The odds are stacked against her. No one from her clan has ever achieved this great honor. Her grandmother died trying. In order to be chosen to train as a Tavaedi dancer an initiate must be able to perform a "tama" or special ancient dance, involving both light and magic, correctly.
Kavio is a young Tavaedi dancer who has been exiled from his tribe for a crime he didn't commit. He is a very powerful dancer with strong enchanting magic. He knows the secrets to becoming a Tavaedi dancer, but he's forbidden to be around other tribes and destined for a life of solitude.
Dindi's chances of being selected to participate in the initiation ceremony are slim. "My life is a colossal joke that's funny to everyone but me." But what she does possess is sheer determination and a love for dance. Plus, she has a family secret. Dindi knows the words to an Unfinished Song, a song which when complete, is rumored to hold the key to dancing the tama correctly. One night, it finally happens, Dindi is kidnapped and her initiation journey begins. Despite the obstacles placed in front of her, Dindi is driven to succeed. Will this and her secret be enough to make her dream materialize or will she still end up needing something more?
Ramblings:
Tara Maya's The Unfinished Song: Initiate is the first book in a new "fairy-tale" saga, a retelling of a little known Polynesian myth which morphed to include a conglomerate of many other fairy tales, too. Its the beginning of a long Epic fantasy "parceled out in delicious snack sized bites.." which Tara plans to release a book every two months until the series is complete. The second book, The Unfinished Song: Taboo is slated for March 2011. Book three is titled The Unfinished Song: Sacrifice. Believe it or not Tara has TWELVE books planned for this Epic Fantasy Series!! How exciting!
These stories are set in primordial times, in a land called Faearth, where Fae still openly roam the earth along side humans, but not all humans can "see" them. "The technology and social structure of Faearth is neolithic or 'new stone age", with doses of powerful magic tossed in to mix things up. The Unfinished Song: Initiate is a short read, only 188 pages. Its detailed, action packed with a fast pace. Written in descriptive, third person, new characters are continuously introduced in individual chapters, switching back and forth between different characters within each chapter too. This strategy sometimes makes it difficult to keep track of everyone and everything happening. In the e-book version, the only warning an "in chapter" character change was about to take place was a series of "###", which was strange.
The character development was in the present, but many characters have a detailed past which effects what is going on with them in the story right now. It is hard to pick just one or two characters to discuss when the story contains so many which are pertinent to the storyline. However, most of the main child characters, Dindi, Gwenika and Kavio have a strong moral foundation behave gallantly, accept others despite their background, social status or upbringing and have big hearts. These character traits are valuable to pass on to young adult readers through heroines and heroes in the story. Unfortunately, the adults are the ones who seem to be more evil and undermining. The Unfinished Song: Initiate was an enjoyable read, where the author is taking time to develop a unique fantasy setting, but still managing to keep a fast pace. The book is truly captivating. The only disappointing part was the lack of any sense of closer at the end, it came to a screeching halt leaving the reader crying for more! Lucky for us the author will be releasing new books every couple of months.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to fantasy and epic saga lovers. The reading level is 8th grade and above, with some sensitive topics present such as descriptive violence and PG sexual references. This book series has a unique take breaking down the long Epic Fantasy tale into shorter more manageable books. If you aren't a fan of cliffhangers don't read this book until the author has released more books in this series. Overall, I rate this book a 3.5 rings out of 5 mainly deducting rings for the disappointing ending, where nothing really gets wrapped up.
Dindi is a 14 year old tribe girl who dreams of someday becoming a magical Tavaedi dancer. The odds are stacked against her. No one from her clan has ever achieved this great honor. Her grandmother died trying. In order to be chosen to train as a Tavaedi dancer an initiate must be able to perform a "tama" or special ancient dance, involving both light and magic, correctly.
Kavio is a young Tavaedi dancer who has been exiled from his tribe for a crime he didn't commit. He is a very powerful dancer with strong enchanting magic. He knows the secrets to becoming a Tavaedi dancer, but he's forbidden to be around other tribes and destined for a life of solitude.
Dindi's chances of being selected to participate in the initiation ceremony are slim. "My life is a colossal joke that's funny to everyone but me." But what she does possess is sheer determination and a love for dance. Plus, she has a family secret. Dindi knows the words to an Unfinished Song, a song which when complete, is rumored to hold the key to dancing the tama correctly. One night, it finally happens, Dindi is kidnapped and her initiation journey begins. Despite the obstacles placed in front of her, Dindi is driven to succeed. Will this and her secret be enough to make her dream materialize or will she still end up needing something more?
Ramblings:
Tara Maya's The Unfinished Song: Initiate is the first book in a new "fairy-tale" saga, a retelling of a little known Polynesian myth which morphed to include a conglomerate of many other fairy tales, too. Its the beginning of a long Epic fantasy "parceled out in delicious snack sized bites.." which Tara plans to release a book every two months until the series is complete. The second book, The Unfinished Song: Taboo is slated for March 2011. Book three is titled The Unfinished Song: Sacrifice. Believe it or not Tara has TWELVE books planned for this Epic Fantasy Series!! How exciting!
These stories are set in primordial times, in a land called Faearth, where Fae still openly roam the earth along side humans, but not all humans can "see" them. "The technology and social structure of Faearth is neolithic or 'new stone age", with doses of powerful magic tossed in to mix things up. The Unfinished Song: Initiate is a short read, only 188 pages. Its detailed, action packed with a fast pace. Written in descriptive, third person, new characters are continuously introduced in individual chapters, switching back and forth between different characters within each chapter too. This strategy sometimes makes it difficult to keep track of everyone and everything happening. In the e-book version, the only warning an "in chapter" character change was about to take place was a series of "###", which was strange.
The character development was in the present, but many characters have a detailed past which effects what is going on with them in the story right now. It is hard to pick just one or two characters to discuss when the story contains so many which are pertinent to the storyline. However, most of the main child characters, Dindi, Gwenika and Kavio have a strong moral foundation behave gallantly, accept others despite their background, social status or upbringing and have big hearts. These character traits are valuable to pass on to young adult readers through heroines and heroes in the story. Unfortunately, the adults are the ones who seem to be more evil and undermining. The Unfinished Song: Initiate was an enjoyable read, where the author is taking time to develop a unique fantasy setting, but still managing to keep a fast pace. The book is truly captivating. The only disappointing part was the lack of any sense of closer at the end, it came to a screeching halt leaving the reader crying for more! Lucky for us the author will be releasing new books every couple of months.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to fantasy and epic saga lovers. The reading level is 8th grade and above, with some sensitive topics present such as descriptive violence and PG sexual references. This book series has a unique take breaking down the long Epic Fantasy tale into shorter more manageable books. If you aren't a fan of cliffhangers don't read this book until the author has released more books in this series. Overall, I rate this book a 3.5 rings out of 5 mainly deducting rings for the disappointing ending, where nothing really gets wrapped up.
February 14, 2012
I had no idea what to expect going into reading this novel, except I knew it wasn't finished, I mean I knew there were other stories. Four so far. But the name -The Unfinished Song kind of gives it away for anyone that takes a look at the title. You should be able to deduce that the story will not be ending with this novel. I'm glad! I was incredibly and pleasantly surprised by how sucked into this novel I got. It's got fairies in it, but they're kind of on the periphery for now. I think they'll be a bigger part of the story further down the line. Initiate is made up of seven serials that flow together very nicely. I asked the author why there were individual stories and then this book and she said she didn't want people to have to wait. The serials are like chapters in the book. Right now, The Unfinished Song: Initiate is FREE so you might want to catch that deal while you can. Personally, I have all four books and I'm glad I do because Maya knows how to write!
The story has a lot of different characters, but it isn't hard to keep up. Their stories are separate and you know they are from separate tribes and areas. Dindi is a young girl who can see fairies, a rarity among humans. Her dream is to become a Tavaedi a secret warrior dancer who can heal, or make it rain or change the course of a river depending on the strength of the magic inside the dancer. The Tavaedi dance a history of her people who killed the beautiful fairy race, the Aelfae and were victorious. But I honestly couldn't tell if it was a dance of victory or just history. It didn't seem celebratory. In any case, Dindi is one of only many characters who get chosen to be an initiate this year. With each character we hear the story from their point of view. I don't remember reading a novel from so many different points of view, but in this novel, it works very well.
The time isn't stated, but it's fairly primitive. Spears, flint arrows and pottery bowls are used. Gold is prized and there are tribal feuds and wars. There are also a lot of politics and that's where the "hero" Kavio gets caught. Accused in his own father's court of a crime he didn't commit, something we don't know, he is exiled and forced out of his home. He saves Dindi's life and they are drawn to each other, but it isn't insta love. They go days without seeing each other and he isn't considered worthy of her because he is exiled. He has no clan, no tribe. But, that might change. And she might help Kavio make the biggest decision of his life.
There are some truly heinous villains in this novel, too. Villains posing as friends. And it's sickening to think what they want to do, but I guess such was war back then. I still have high hopes that Kavio can save the day. There is so much action in this book! If you like action, this one is full of it. It's not really character driven. There are too many characters, so I guess I'd say it's plot driven because the whole plot is to become an initiate and make it to the destination where they will decide who they are to become. But a lot more than that happens.
I'm really excited to read the next three books in this series! I have to say this is different than anything I've ever been asked to read before. The time is past the cave man era, but still it's fairly primitive. There are mentions of a lot of different types of fae, some good, some bad. And I'm just really enjoying the magic and the war and the really tough decision Kavio is going to have to make. Oh and Dindi has visions of the Corn Maiden, a woman named Vessia of unmatched beauty who doesn't understand anything in this world, whenever she touches the totem she was given. It's an ugly dried up husk of a doll that all the girls laughed at when they saw it.
Another mystery to figure out!
This is not for the younger YA reader. There are some scenes in it of harsh treatment of women as you can imagine happened in more primitive times during war. And there are some scenes about sex that younger readers shouldn't read. Nothing explicit, but told in a way that you wouldn't want them to read. Sixteen and up crowd.
Well, I'm off to read the next book!! Thanks Tara Maya for finally writing something different and interesting!
The story has a lot of different characters, but it isn't hard to keep up. Their stories are separate and you know they are from separate tribes and areas. Dindi is a young girl who can see fairies, a rarity among humans. Her dream is to become a Tavaedi a secret warrior dancer who can heal, or make it rain or change the course of a river depending on the strength of the magic inside the dancer. The Tavaedi dance a history of her people who killed the beautiful fairy race, the Aelfae and were victorious. But I honestly couldn't tell if it was a dance of victory or just history. It didn't seem celebratory. In any case, Dindi is one of only many characters who get chosen to be an initiate this year. With each character we hear the story from their point of view. I don't remember reading a novel from so many different points of view, but in this novel, it works very well.
The time isn't stated, but it's fairly primitive. Spears, flint arrows and pottery bowls are used. Gold is prized and there are tribal feuds and wars. There are also a lot of politics and that's where the "hero" Kavio gets caught. Accused in his own father's court of a crime he didn't commit, something we don't know, he is exiled and forced out of his home. He saves Dindi's life and they are drawn to each other, but it isn't insta love. They go days without seeing each other and he isn't considered worthy of her because he is exiled. He has no clan, no tribe. But, that might change. And she might help Kavio make the biggest decision of his life.
There are some truly heinous villains in this novel, too. Villains posing as friends. And it's sickening to think what they want to do, but I guess such was war back then. I still have high hopes that Kavio can save the day. There is so much action in this book! If you like action, this one is full of it. It's not really character driven. There are too many characters, so I guess I'd say it's plot driven because the whole plot is to become an initiate and make it to the destination where they will decide who they are to become. But a lot more than that happens.
I'm really excited to read the next three books in this series! I have to say this is different than anything I've ever been asked to read before. The time is past the cave man era, but still it's fairly primitive. There are mentions of a lot of different types of fae, some good, some bad. And I'm just really enjoying the magic and the war and the really tough decision Kavio is going to have to make. Oh and Dindi has visions of the Corn Maiden, a woman named Vessia of unmatched beauty who doesn't understand anything in this world, whenever she touches the totem she was given. It's an ugly dried up husk of a doll that all the girls laughed at when they saw it.
Another mystery to figure out!
This is not for the younger YA reader. There are some scenes in it of harsh treatment of women as you can imagine happened in more primitive times during war. And there are some scenes about sex that younger readers shouldn't read. Nothing explicit, but told in a way that you wouldn't want them to read. Sixteen and up crowd.
Well, I'm off to read the next book!! Thanks Tara Maya for finally writing something different and interesting!
December 6, 2013
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
Prepare yourself to be immersed into a new world that is both vaguely familiar and wildly different at the same time. Tara Maya has managed to create an entire new earth, Faearth, populated with humans, of a sort, and the largest variety of fae and supernatural beings that I’ve encountered in any YA book. The development of the society and culture in which the humans live is masterful and helps in giving a clue as to the mindset of the characters throughout the tale. Only complaint I could muster is that I wish Tara had included a Glossary to help with all the strange new words in this imaginary world.
While the hero, Kavio, and the heroine, Dindi, are the main focus of the story, they are joined by so many sub-characters, felt like I needed a playbook with a line-up so I could keep up with them. Tara has my utmost admiration to have created such a diverse cast of players. What is even more amazing is that none of them seem superfluous. Each sub-character has a specific purpose, even if it’s not apparent at the time you are first introduced to them in the book. Since there is a total of 12 books in the series I’m going to go out on limb here and guess that some of them are going to play a much larger role in future novels.
I’m torn in my feelings about Dindi. She appears to be a typical young girl, playing with kittens, dancing with the faeries (OK, dancing with the faeries, not so typical on our earth), and hiding from her aunt because she hasn’t completed her chores. Dindi has a burning desire to become a Tavaedi (a Tavaedi is a powerful warrior-dancer). Dindi is so fixated on becoming a Tavaedi she constantly loses focus on everything but practicing her dancing, which causes one bumbling mistake after another. Basically, Dindi makes herself look like the village idiot and the brunt of constant teasing. Here is the part that bothers me; early on we catch glimpses of the potential Dindi has. She can see and interact with the fae, which isn’t all that common, she has visions, and she has dance moves none of the other soon to be Initiates can begin to emulate. Why doesn’t she tell anyone in her family these things and why doesn’t anyone else notice there is something special about her? All right, it’s probably the culture she was raised in, but I’m alternately mad at everyone for their treatment of Dindi and frustrated with Dindi for not having a more forceful personality. The point is, I HAVE FEELINGS. Not all books suck us in to the point where we are emotionally invested with the characters of the book.
Kavio is a favorite of mine. He’s the only son of the leader of the Rainbow Labyrinth. Kavio is also “the most powerful warrior-dancer in Faearth”. Knowing that, it’s easy to understand why he is targeted by a deceitful, power-hungry aunt and her son. A son she hopes to maneuver into becoming the next leader of the tribe. Aunt Nasty (Kavio’s name for her), manages to have Kavio exiled from the tribe. When Kavio leaves he doesn’t slink away in shame. Hey, he doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of, so it’s nice to see he has a strong personality. Kavio has the personal determination to face his exile with courage and honor. It’s because of his exile that he is able to accomplish some very heroic deeds and learn some deeper truths.
Kavio and Dindi do have an encounter but it’s apparent that the true story of the two of them as a team will be more fully developed in the later books. There is a delicious niggling of foreboding that an old curse will have consequences that will affect all of Faearth. Truly did enjoy THE UNFINISHED SONG – BOOK 1: INITIATE. Be aware it does end on a major cliffhanger. Definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Definitely would recommend to anyone 16+.
Prepare yourself to be immersed into a new world that is both vaguely familiar and wildly different at the same time. Tara Maya has managed to create an entire new earth, Faearth, populated with humans, of a sort, and the largest variety of fae and supernatural beings that I’ve encountered in any YA book. The development of the society and culture in which the humans live is masterful and helps in giving a clue as to the mindset of the characters throughout the tale. Only complaint I could muster is that I wish Tara had included a Glossary to help with all the strange new words in this imaginary world.
While the hero, Kavio, and the heroine, Dindi, are the main focus of the story, they are joined by so many sub-characters, felt like I needed a playbook with a line-up so I could keep up with them. Tara has my utmost admiration to have created such a diverse cast of players. What is even more amazing is that none of them seem superfluous. Each sub-character has a specific purpose, even if it’s not apparent at the time you are first introduced to them in the book. Since there is a total of 12 books in the series I’m going to go out on limb here and guess that some of them are going to play a much larger role in future novels.
I’m torn in my feelings about Dindi. She appears to be a typical young girl, playing with kittens, dancing with the faeries (OK, dancing with the faeries, not so typical on our earth), and hiding from her aunt because she hasn’t completed her chores. Dindi has a burning desire to become a Tavaedi (a Tavaedi is a powerful warrior-dancer). Dindi is so fixated on becoming a Tavaedi she constantly loses focus on everything but practicing her dancing, which causes one bumbling mistake after another. Basically, Dindi makes herself look like the village idiot and the brunt of constant teasing. Here is the part that bothers me; early on we catch glimpses of the potential Dindi has. She can see and interact with the fae, which isn’t all that common, she has visions, and she has dance moves none of the other soon to be Initiates can begin to emulate. Why doesn’t she tell anyone in her family these things and why doesn’t anyone else notice there is something special about her? All right, it’s probably the culture she was raised in, but I’m alternately mad at everyone for their treatment of Dindi and frustrated with Dindi for not having a more forceful personality. The point is, I HAVE FEELINGS. Not all books suck us in to the point where we are emotionally invested with the characters of the book.
Kavio is a favorite of mine. He’s the only son of the leader of the Rainbow Labyrinth. Kavio is also “the most powerful warrior-dancer in Faearth”. Knowing that, it’s easy to understand why he is targeted by a deceitful, power-hungry aunt and her son. A son she hopes to maneuver into becoming the next leader of the tribe. Aunt Nasty (Kavio’s name for her), manages to have Kavio exiled from the tribe. When Kavio leaves he doesn’t slink away in shame. Hey, he doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of, so it’s nice to see he has a strong personality. Kavio has the personal determination to face his exile with courage and honor. It’s because of his exile that he is able to accomplish some very heroic deeds and learn some deeper truths.
Kavio and Dindi do have an encounter but it’s apparent that the true story of the two of them as a team will be more fully developed in the later books. There is a delicious niggling of foreboding that an old curse will have consequences that will affect all of Faearth. Truly did enjoy THE UNFINISHED SONG – BOOK 1: INITIATE. Be aware it does end on a major cliffhanger. Definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Definitely would recommend to anyone 16+.
March 18, 2011
Wow. Holy smoking wow. This is one of the few books I've read that I can honestly say was totally, 100% original. I've never, and I mean have NEVER come across anything like it. Initiate, the first installment in Tara Maya's The Unfinished Song series, is set in the neolithic-like fantasy world of Faearth. Maya has done a fantastic job seamlessly blending tribal cultures, traditions, and fairy tales from across the world to bring the reader a completely unique experience. However, as unique as it is, it was insanely easy to slip into the story because I was familiar with the bits and pieces of our world that Maya took to create hers. It's always nice to be able to recognize where inspiration comes from, and the result creates a sort of "home away from home" feeling in fiction. That's not to say that I feel at home running around with spears and stuff, but the fantasy was grounded enough in reality that it was easy to imagine.
As I said before, the setting of this novel is a sort of neolithic stone-age kind of world. Seven tribes roam the land, living at odds among faeiries, elves, brownies and the like even though not all humans can "see" them. Though there were many characters that played an important role in the story, my favorite was Dindi, a young girl from the Lost Swan Tribe anxious to pass Initiation and become a Taevaedi, a member of a secret society of revered magical dancers whose powers can make it rain or even heal injuries. Though I felt like she acted a little young for a girl of fourteen, I still found her an extremely enjoyable character to watch develop throughout the story--especially since Initiate has a sort of fairy tale-like quality to it. She was one of those characters who always tried to do right but then ended up doing wrong (mostly because her actions were sabotaged by pixies). You can't help but want her to succeed. Her story parallels Kavio's, a young warrior and powerful Taevaedi exiled from his tribe for a crime that he didn't commit. He too, was likable--the strong, brave, and compassionate type we always love to see in fantasy novels. Though the two come from different worlds (Kavio is basically royalty where he comes from, and Dindi is an awkward outcast) what I found most compelling about the two of them together was that they share a strong heart. Yes, this is the part where you say "Awww," 'cause really, even though Kavio and Dindi only interact for a short period of time, you don't need a book description to tell you that their destinies are intertwined.
The book was a short read and felt even shorter than the 185 pages it actually was since the plot moved at a fast pace and was the perfect balance of background information and action. I felt like I really knew the world and all of it's characters (even the minor ones) by the time I reached the end, and was upset when the ending actually showed up. The cliffhanger is a bad one--like the kind that shows up at the end of your favorite show and makes you wish that it next week so you could get on with the next episode. Thankfully, I heard that the second book comes out this month, which means that for those of you interested in picking it up, you won't have to wait long to see what happens next. This is one that I highly recommend to all you epic fantasy lovers out there. Even though the writing isn't as academic as an epic like Tolkien's (and really, thank god), it's just as rich and detailed with deep characters in a world that's easy to care about since it's so similar to our own. Pick it up if you're looking for something totally different!
For the full review, please visit my blog:
http://oktopusink.blogspot.com/2011/0...
As I said before, the setting of this novel is a sort of neolithic stone-age kind of world. Seven tribes roam the land, living at odds among faeiries, elves, brownies and the like even though not all humans can "see" them. Though there were many characters that played an important role in the story, my favorite was Dindi, a young girl from the Lost Swan Tribe anxious to pass Initiation and become a Taevaedi, a member of a secret society of revered magical dancers whose powers can make it rain or even heal injuries. Though I felt like she acted a little young for a girl of fourteen, I still found her an extremely enjoyable character to watch develop throughout the story--especially since Initiate has a sort of fairy tale-like quality to it. She was one of those characters who always tried to do right but then ended up doing wrong (mostly because her actions were sabotaged by pixies). You can't help but want her to succeed. Her story parallels Kavio's, a young warrior and powerful Taevaedi exiled from his tribe for a crime that he didn't commit. He too, was likable--the strong, brave, and compassionate type we always love to see in fantasy novels. Though the two come from different worlds (Kavio is basically royalty where he comes from, and Dindi is an awkward outcast) what I found most compelling about the two of them together was that they share a strong heart. Yes, this is the part where you say "Awww," 'cause really, even though Kavio and Dindi only interact for a short period of time, you don't need a book description to tell you that their destinies are intertwined.
The book was a short read and felt even shorter than the 185 pages it actually was since the plot moved at a fast pace and was the perfect balance of background information and action. I felt like I really knew the world and all of it's characters (even the minor ones) by the time I reached the end, and was upset when the ending actually showed up. The cliffhanger is a bad one--like the kind that shows up at the end of your favorite show and makes you wish that it next week so you could get on with the next episode. Thankfully, I heard that the second book comes out this month, which means that for those of you interested in picking it up, you won't have to wait long to see what happens next. This is one that I highly recommend to all you epic fantasy lovers out there. Even though the writing isn't as academic as an epic like Tolkien's (and really, thank god), it's just as rich and detailed with deep characters in a world that's easy to care about since it's so similar to our own. Pick it up if you're looking for something totally different!
For the full review, please visit my blog:
http://oktopusink.blogspot.com/2011/0...
July 12, 2011
***Big time spoiler alert!*** If you are going to buy the first book, just save yourself a little time and buy the second one at the same time! The first book pretty much ends directly in the middle of the story!!!!***End spoiler alert***(kinda)
K, now that I've got that out of my system...on with the review.
In the first book Unfinished Song: Initiate, Tara Maya deftly introduces her characters. Dindi-the troubled misfit, Kavio-the exiled son of a great leader, Rthan-A war leader bent on revenge, Gwenika-the ill daughter of Zavaedi Brena, just to name a few. (I'll try not to spoil EVERYTHING) She also introduces us to Faearth. A wondrous world of faeries and magic. While reading her descriptions of the land, and it's tribes, it reminded me of The People Books by W.Michael and Katheleen O'NealGear. (this is definitely a compliment, since their books are among my favorites) In the second book, Unfinished Song: Taboo, she continues the story she began in Initiate, weaving her characters and their stories together into an amazing tale.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. To be honest I expected something slightly different. Maybe more romance, less story? Not really sure but what I got was definitely better then what I thought I was going to. Don't get me wrong, there is a romance beginning between Dindi and Kavio, in fact they are not the only ones who begin to fall in love. But the story isn't only about them, but also about their world. How it is changing, and how they themselves are helping to change it.
The story doesn't end with Taboo. There is a third book in the series, called Sacrifice, that I am looking forward to getting and reading hopefully soon.(It says at the end of the first book that it is due out in June of 2011, but I can't seem to find it anywhere yet, So if anybody knows where I could get a copy please feel free to let me know!).
While the story is not over in Taboo it doesn't seem to cut off as drastically as it did at the end of Initiate, so I wasn't as agitated when it ended as I was when I flicked to the next page in Initiate and instead of more story found nothing. Almost threw my reader overboard. I know this doesn't sound positive, but trust me for the book to draw me in that much is definitely saying something. The book is beautifully descriptive, even in the violence, Maya doesn't cringe from verbally illustrating that either. The story was great, and I was really able to connect and actually care about the characters. Dindi is stuck in a world that doesn't understand her. She isn't allowed to dance because it is taboo for non-Tavaedi, but given the chance she can dance better than most. She can also see the faeries and the chromas (magic) of the Tavaedi. So it's not like she is trying to do something wrong. But no one, not even Kovia who is trying not to fall in love with her, believes that she can see them.
Rthan is driven by his vengeance and by a blue faerie that takes the form of his dead daughter, but he finds himself falling in love with Zavaedi Brena, whos clansmen killed his child and wife. By the end of the book I was wondering if the Aelfae (upper faeries) were really gone, and if they were using the dancers and their magic to exact a revenge for the massacre of their people centuries before. I guess I will have to wait for the third installment to answer some of my questions.
.
If you're looking for great summer read with more to it than your average romance definitely check this one out. (or should I say two?) It's worth it getting both books at once, Unfinished Song is a great series.
February 1, 2011
The Unfinished Song: Initate is the first installment of a new series by Tara Maya set in the fantasy world Faearth. There are only seven tribes of people in existence, and faeries, pixies, brownies, and the like still roam the earth. It is set in a stone age era, more civilized than cave dwellers. This novel is primarily the story of Dindi, a young girl living in the Lost Swan tribe, anxious to pass Initiation and become a Taevaedi, a member of a secret society of revered magical dancers. It drew me in slowly at the beginning, but most fantasy novels do, as the new worlds and societies are built within the framework of the story. The world that the author created in Faearth was extremely creative and unique. Elements from many different cultures, legends, myths, and fairy tales were woven throughout the story. There were Slavic rusalkies and tribal rituals reminiscent of Native American culture, as well as some plot points that reminded me of some of the Hawaiian and Polynesian folk lore I learned when I lived in Hawaii. Even the physical environment had things brought together that would never have been found on our version of Earth. This made the texture of Faearth, its inhabitants and the story very intriguing.
I found the book to be well-written, with lots of descriptive phrasing that made me feel as if I were standing in the midst of the story. The weaving of myths and legends and tales from so many cultures could have left the reading a little muddy, but this wasn't a problem at all. There were twists and turns throughout the book, including intermittent travels back in time. That threw me at first and confused me, but I later realized it was because I had accidentally missed a couple of paragraphs when continuing to read after a short break! The action was fast-paced and kept me wanting more!
Dindi was my favorite character in the story. She was both relatable and lovable with all of her issues. She was underappreciated as a person, and didn't give herself enough credit for her abilities. The way she was treated by the other members of her own tribe, as well as those she met on her path to Initiation, made me hurt for her. And any time I feel strongly for a fictional character is a sign that I am reading a great book. I also liked her friend Gwenika whose self-sabatage and her lack of self-esteem made her as relatable as Dindi. Kavio, the exiled warrior, embodied all the traits of a good fantasy novel hero: strong, honorable, and compassionate.
The cover art was stunning, created by the author herself. That alone would have drawn me to the novel!!
POSSIBLE ITTY BITTY SPOILER: --->The conclusion was definately a cliffhanger, leaving you with questions and wanting more. Without saying too much, I was left wanting to cry for Dindi, cheering for Gwenika, wanting to know what happened to Gwenika's sister, and wanting to know more about Kavio. But it was the perfect lead-in for the next book in the series, so I can't complain about those questions! It ended just as it should have. <--- END OF POSSIBLE ITTY BITTY SPOLER
I gave it a 4.5 stars!
I found the book to be well-written, with lots of descriptive phrasing that made me feel as if I were standing in the midst of the story. The weaving of myths and legends and tales from so many cultures could have left the reading a little muddy, but this wasn't a problem at all. There were twists and turns throughout the book, including intermittent travels back in time. That threw me at first and confused me, but I later realized it was because I had accidentally missed a couple of paragraphs when continuing to read after a short break! The action was fast-paced and kept me wanting more!
Dindi was my favorite character in the story. She was both relatable and lovable with all of her issues. She was underappreciated as a person, and didn't give herself enough credit for her abilities. The way she was treated by the other members of her own tribe, as well as those she met on her path to Initiation, made me hurt for her. And any time I feel strongly for a fictional character is a sign that I am reading a great book. I also liked her friend Gwenika whose self-sabatage and her lack of self-esteem made her as relatable as Dindi. Kavio, the exiled warrior, embodied all the traits of a good fantasy novel hero: strong, honorable, and compassionate.
The cover art was stunning, created by the author herself. That alone would have drawn me to the novel!!
POSSIBLE ITTY BITTY SPOILER: --->The conclusion was definately a cliffhanger, leaving you with questions and wanting more. Without saying too much, I was left wanting to cry for Dindi, cheering for Gwenika, wanting to know what happened to Gwenika's sister, and wanting to know more about Kavio. But it was the perfect lead-in for the next book in the series, so I can't complain about those questions! It ended just as it should have. <--- END OF POSSIBLE ITTY BITTY SPOLER
I gave it a 4.5 stars!
March 6, 2011
As the beginning of a series set in the fantasy world of Faearth this book is complex and full of the initial world building that comes at the beginning of every new series... There is a major difference in that the tales interwoven together mesh fairly seamlessly and without being awkward or confusing... Dindi is the main character, a young girl of 14 who wishes and hopes and dreams of becoming a Tavaedi Dancer which is a high honor and one very few achieve.... She is thought to be odd and no one of her acquaintance understands or appreciates, her including her own family! Dindi waits and hopes for a Dancers Initiation ceremony and yet at the same time fears failure and disgrace at the end of it!
Kavio the hero of the piece is an outcast, an exiled warrior who is also not understood and who actually was in danger of being put to death because of political intrigue! Kavio is himself a Tavaedi Dancer , a warrior, also a very honorable and compelling character who rescues Dindi from drowning then becomes fascinated with the young woman who in his mind is exquisite and very talented as he had seen her dance when she was unaware that he was watching!
The Fairy Tale quality of the book is a joy, all the interwoven cultures work to make a very cohesive whole and every fact and description that is used in the story brings it to life in a way that makes it a very easy read and also a very interesting one along the way... All the dance scenes, the mystical flashbacks and even the political agendas of the different factions in the book are just part of the background of the story and allow the reader to focus on Dindi and Kavio as they go through their individual trials...
The story is such a wonderful mix of different cultures, different legends and myths that make it fresh and new and at the same time familiar and comforting to read. Even though the author ends this part of the tale on a cliffhanger the knowledge of more to come is comforting and gives the reader time to process all the emotions and thoughts that this book provokes!
As a long time lover of Fantasy and Fairy Tales sitting down with a copy of The Unfinished Song-Initiate was like sitting down to enjoy a rich piece of chocolate cake, satisfying and filling in an emotional way that went beyond the need for food and drink! The author has created a story that is richly detailed, fantastically characterized and paced perfectly to allow the reader time to enjoy each aspect of what is happening without feeling rushed or overwhelmed... For me this book was more than just a pleasure to read, it was a "feast for the senses" as the world around me ceased to exist and the world inhabited by the Tavaedi and the Zavaedi , who are the central characters in this first part of the story, kept my attention from start to finish...
I hope to get a chance to read the next part of the story which picks up in book two Taboo and see what happens to the Initiates and Dindi and Kavio especially!
Kavio the hero of the piece is an outcast, an exiled warrior who is also not understood and who actually was in danger of being put to death because of political intrigue! Kavio is himself a Tavaedi Dancer , a warrior, also a very honorable and compelling character who rescues Dindi from drowning then becomes fascinated with the young woman who in his mind is exquisite and very talented as he had seen her dance when she was unaware that he was watching!
The Fairy Tale quality of the book is a joy, all the interwoven cultures work to make a very cohesive whole and every fact and description that is used in the story brings it to life in a way that makes it a very easy read and also a very interesting one along the way... All the dance scenes, the mystical flashbacks and even the political agendas of the different factions in the book are just part of the background of the story and allow the reader to focus on Dindi and Kavio as they go through their individual trials...
The story is such a wonderful mix of different cultures, different legends and myths that make it fresh and new and at the same time familiar and comforting to read. Even though the author ends this part of the tale on a cliffhanger the knowledge of more to come is comforting and gives the reader time to process all the emotions and thoughts that this book provokes!
As a long time lover of Fantasy and Fairy Tales sitting down with a copy of The Unfinished Song-Initiate was like sitting down to enjoy a rich piece of chocolate cake, satisfying and filling in an emotional way that went beyond the need for food and drink! The author has created a story that is richly detailed, fantastically characterized and paced perfectly to allow the reader time to enjoy each aspect of what is happening without feeling rushed or overwhelmed... For me this book was more than just a pleasure to read, it was a "feast for the senses" as the world around me ceased to exist and the world inhabited by the Tavaedi and the Zavaedi , who are the central characters in this first part of the story, kept my attention from start to finish...
I hope to get a chance to read the next part of the story which picks up in book two Taboo and see what happens to the Initiates and Dindi and Kavio especially!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews