What do you think?
Rate this book
Canticle
Athena Falcon, a novice to the order of women warriors known as Travellers, is sent on a mission to obtain relics of great importance to the survival of the land of Jaenrye. Can the adventure prove to her the existence of heroes?
Athena Falcon doesn't believe in heroes or adventures -- at least, not the sort told in old hymns and epics. Those stories served enough to get her Traveller sisters interested in joining the order and learning the skills to deploy on errands for the good of their country, but life didn't work that way. Most of the errands they were sent on were simple tasks, like diplomatic envoy visits to neighboring countries or the occasional rescue of a missing child. True adventure stories, and the need for true heroes, were nothing more than myth.
Athena is sent on her first solo mission with a Canticle -- a ceremony held at Traveller's Rest. She is dispatched to Amhersam, a port town in the south lands, to meet a ship from across the ocean and procure important relics for safekeeping at the Rest. In the process, she meets a magic-man, a monster, and a mysterious child, and she's called upon to become the hero her country needs, when it needs her most.
Athena Falcon doesn't believe in heroes or adventures -- at least, not the sort told in old hymns and epics. Those stories served enough to get her Traveller sisters interested in joining the order and learning the skills to deploy on errands for the good of their country, but life didn't work that way. Most of the errands they were sent on were simple tasks, like diplomatic envoy visits to neighboring countries or the occasional rescue of a missing child. True adventure stories, and the need for true heroes, were nothing more than myth.
Athena is sent on her first solo mission with a Canticle -- a ceremony held at Traveller's Rest. She is dispatched to Amhersam, a port town in the south lands, to meet a ship from across the ocean and procure important relics for safekeeping at the Rest. In the process, she meets a magic-man, a monster, and a mysterious child, and she's called upon to become the hero her country needs, when it needs her most.
- GenresFantasy
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2011
About the author
M.J. Heiser
5 books58 followersMJ Heiser (aka Mary Johnson Heiser) was born in the Philippines to an American Navy man and a Filipino woman, who realized quickly that her clumsiness was incompatible with her native land and relocated her to the United States. She learned to read at the age of three, started doodling stories at the age of eight, obtained her first typewriter at the age of 12, and finished her first book at the age of 13.
"When I write, I'm liberated. I'm not trapped by my gender, skin color, age, weight, or marital status. The only thing before me is the act of creation; it's all I am, and it's my only purpose."
When she's not busy being so liberated, she's probably writing, editing for the Literary Underground, working, walking her dogs, planning trips with her loving husband, or trying not to trip over something.
"When I write, I'm liberated. I'm not trapped by my gender, skin color, age, weight, or marital status. The only thing before me is the act of creation; it's all I am, and it's my only purpose."
When she's not busy being so liberated, she's probably writing, editing for the Literary Underground, working, walking her dogs, planning trips with her loving husband, or trying not to trip over something.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 5, 2011
I really liked the first book of the series, Corona, so I was really excited to read the next installment. I was a little bit concerned when I started reading and realized that most of the characters that I loved in the first novel were absent; I shouldn’t have been worried because I loved the book.
Like with the previous installment the action starts almost immediately and draws you in. There were a few scenes that I found to be a little gruesome, but they were few and far between. The character of Athena wasn’t my favorite to begin with, but as her character grew and evolved thoughout the novel and everything that she had to go through, I she was my favorite by the end.
The characters are engaging and mysterious. I thought that I had several things figured out, but my assumptions were very wrong. One of the things that I did like that stay the same was the very moving ending.
One of the recurring themes that I noticed in the series is that there’s always at least one character that doesn’t believe in the legends/myths of the Creator; I love how the story always unfolds to the point where legends slowly become reality.
The novel is a scant 211 pages, but don’t let the short length fool you. Although it is a quick read, it’s action packed and will have you fighting the urge not to skip ahead to find out what happens sooner. The chapters are short and the story flows smoothly making it a breeze to get through in a couple sittings. I was never bored reading this book.
I don’t know how this story will end, but I will definitely be reading the next installment.
Like with the previous installment the action starts almost immediately and draws you in. There were a few scenes that I found to be a little gruesome, but they were few and far between. The character of Athena wasn’t my favorite to begin with, but as her character grew and evolved thoughout the novel and everything that she had to go through, I she was my favorite by the end.
The characters are engaging and mysterious. I thought that I had several things figured out, but my assumptions were very wrong. One of the things that I did like that stay the same was the very moving ending.
One of the recurring themes that I noticed in the series is that there’s always at least one character that doesn’t believe in the legends/myths of the Creator; I love how the story always unfolds to the point where legends slowly become reality.
The novel is a scant 211 pages, but don’t let the short length fool you. Although it is a quick read, it’s action packed and will have you fighting the urge not to skip ahead to find out what happens sooner. The chapters are short and the story flows smoothly making it a breeze to get through in a couple sittings. I was never bored reading this book.
I don’t know how this story will end, but I will definitely be reading the next installment.
July 6, 2011
MJ Heiser's, Canticle wasn't at all what I was expecting. It caught me off guard.
I like when books catch me off guard.
While undoubtably a sequel, it also works as a standalone. The story focuses on the character of Athena Falcon, a Traveler sent on a mission to obtain relics of great importance to the land of Jaenrye. Heiser lets the characters, exist, play, and expand upon the already expansive world she created in, Corona. Their adventures are their own, yet they are undeniably connected. Most importantly, they feel real. I understand why they're feeling what they're feeling and why they make the choices they ultimately make. The pacing is both solid and unexpected. The story went in directions I wasn't really expecting and those directions left me with a smile on my face.
What impresses me most about MJ Heiser is her prose.
The woman can write a sentence and she writes the absolute hell out of these!
The spaces between the periods are dripping with beauty, and heartache, and comedy, and pain, and occasionally a bit of unexpected grossness that made me smile for reasons I can't fully explain.
If you enjoyed Canticle, you'll love Corona. There's no way you can't. If you haven't read Corona, you should.
Seriously, get on it.
Right now.
I'm not kidding.
Don't make me stop this car and come back there.
I like when books catch me off guard.
While undoubtably a sequel, it also works as a standalone. The story focuses on the character of Athena Falcon, a Traveler sent on a mission to obtain relics of great importance to the land of Jaenrye. Heiser lets the characters, exist, play, and expand upon the already expansive world she created in, Corona. Their adventures are their own, yet they are undeniably connected. Most importantly, they feel real. I understand why they're feeling what they're feeling and why they make the choices they ultimately make. The pacing is both solid and unexpected. The story went in directions I wasn't really expecting and those directions left me with a smile on my face.
What impresses me most about MJ Heiser is her prose.
The woman can write a sentence and she writes the absolute hell out of these!
The spaces between the periods are dripping with beauty, and heartache, and comedy, and pain, and occasionally a bit of unexpected grossness that made me smile for reasons I can't fully explain.
If you enjoyed Canticle, you'll love Corona. There's no way you can't. If you haven't read Corona, you should.
Seriously, get on it.
Right now.
I'm not kidding.
Don't make me stop this car and come back there.
December 8, 2011
I am ever amazed by my dear friend's growing talent. I saw the entire epic in my head...and I cried in several parts..and was on the edge of my seat for others and couldn't read it fast enough..but now, now I am anxiously awaiting the next installment.
I was a fan before, in the first book. And even before that. But I'm a fan for life...
I was a fan before, in the first book. And even before that. But I'm a fan for life...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews