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Ordinary
It’s not easy being magic-less in a magical world…fortunately not all jobs require the ability to enchant.
Amy is carving a name for herself as a world class snoop. Want dirt on the governor’s daughter? Amy’s got it covered. Information on the Duke’s enemies? Fees apply. Facts on the magic thieves known as the Underground? Well, no. You’ll have to hire a hero for that.
Unfortunately, by the time Bernard, an Invoker from the inner-city and also her brother, comes knocking on her door the heroes have all been murdered. Bernard needs Amy to figure out why the assassin's are killing off some of the city's most important people. Not the easiest task for someone with no fighting skills and no magical powers to defend herself with. Amy turns the job down.
At least she does until the Underground start threatening Amy's own friends. As the body count rises, Amy has no choice but to try and stop them once and for all. The more she investigates, the more she suspects it may not be just the Underground responsible. Amy must figure out the truth before its too late, but the truth might be enough to destroy her.
Amy is carving a name for herself as a world class snoop. Want dirt on the governor’s daughter? Amy’s got it covered. Information on the Duke’s enemies? Fees apply. Facts on the magic thieves known as the Underground? Well, no. You’ll have to hire a hero for that.
Unfortunately, by the time Bernard, an Invoker from the inner-city and also her brother, comes knocking on her door the heroes have all been murdered. Bernard needs Amy to figure out why the assassin's are killing off some of the city's most important people. Not the easiest task for someone with no fighting skills and no magical powers to defend herself with. Amy turns the job down.
At least she does until the Underground start threatening Amy's own friends. As the body count rises, Amy has no choice but to try and stop them once and for all. The more she investigates, the more she suspects it may not be just the Underground responsible. Amy must figure out the truth before its too late, but the truth might be enough to destroy her.
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First published April 9, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 1, 2011
A Good Book Alert Review (http://www.goodbookalert.blogspot.com/)
Ordinary
Author: A.M. Kuska
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Ordinary is a briskly-paced YA fantasy adventure centered around a likable protagonist.
Summary:
In Kaluna, the rare few born without magic are second-class citizens. Amy, a girl without magic, has made a name for herself as a spy and informant. When her brother, a mage serving the Duke of Kaluna, seeks her out to investigate a threat against the Duke, the ordinary girl is forced into challenging a not-so-ordinary conspiracy.
Review:
As the story begins, we're immediately introduced to the heroine, Amy, desperately trying different techniques to manage some sort of magic. No one wants to be different than those around them, after all, especially when that difference means you're condemned to a life of poverty. The opening scene, besides providing good character building and instantly defining the nature of the book's world, was a nice microcosm of the book itself. Throughout the story, Amy struggles against a world stacked against her with determination (and the occasional bit of still-dogged resignation).
With a strong focus on Amy, the story would be unbearable if she wasn't engaging or likable. Fortunately, with her cleverness and determination, she ends up being both. Despite her handicap of a non-magical nature, the character's skills and personality, as presented, validate her as a plausible heroine without erasing the dramatic tension that comes from her limitations. Perhaps most important, Amy is a fun character. She's plucky without being annoying.
The secondary characters are, for the most part, interesting as well. There were perhaps a bit too many stuffed into a relatively short novel, so some of the antagonists are not as well-developed as they could have been. Some of this is an artifact of the brisk pacing of the novel. Although this had the benefit of keeping the story from dragging, it also meant a lot of different characters came and went rather quickly.
Ordinary had smooth integration of world-building into the narrative. The author gives us the information we need, when we need it and resists the often plot dragging tendency in many fantasy works to spend a lot of time dwelling on the magic system. That being said, the story still contains a decent amount of depth and nuance in its presented magical abilities. The abilities presented are, at times, not the most unique ever seen in a fantasy story, but the setting still had a distinctive flavor.
Although there were a couple of plot points that were a bit telegraphed, overall, the story provided a number of surprises and twists. The swift pacing of the book, although it kept the dramatic tension up, weakened the impact of some of these plot turns. A couple of times I was surprised that the narrative did not linger a bit more at some of the major revelations.
Like any good story centered around a spy, there are many questions raised concerning of morals, ethics, and loyalties.They are used to effectively explore Amy as a character and provide reader investment in her choices.
Overall, Ordinary was a fun read centered around a likable protagonist with the interesting limitation of being a normal girl in an extraordinary world.
4 Stars
Ordinary
Author: A.M. Kuska
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Ordinary is a briskly-paced YA fantasy adventure centered around a likable protagonist.
Summary:
In Kaluna, the rare few born without magic are second-class citizens. Amy, a girl without magic, has made a name for herself as a spy and informant. When her brother, a mage serving the Duke of Kaluna, seeks her out to investigate a threat against the Duke, the ordinary girl is forced into challenging a not-so-ordinary conspiracy.
Review:
As the story begins, we're immediately introduced to the heroine, Amy, desperately trying different techniques to manage some sort of magic. No one wants to be different than those around them, after all, especially when that difference means you're condemned to a life of poverty. The opening scene, besides providing good character building and instantly defining the nature of the book's world, was a nice microcosm of the book itself. Throughout the story, Amy struggles against a world stacked against her with determination (and the occasional bit of still-dogged resignation).
With a strong focus on Amy, the story would be unbearable if she wasn't engaging or likable. Fortunately, with her cleverness and determination, she ends up being both. Despite her handicap of a non-magical nature, the character's skills and personality, as presented, validate her as a plausible heroine without erasing the dramatic tension that comes from her limitations. Perhaps most important, Amy is a fun character. She's plucky without being annoying.
The secondary characters are, for the most part, interesting as well. There were perhaps a bit too many stuffed into a relatively short novel, so some of the antagonists are not as well-developed as they could have been. Some of this is an artifact of the brisk pacing of the novel. Although this had the benefit of keeping the story from dragging, it also meant a lot of different characters came and went rather quickly.
Ordinary had smooth integration of world-building into the narrative. The author gives us the information we need, when we need it and resists the often plot dragging tendency in many fantasy works to spend a lot of time dwelling on the magic system. That being said, the story still contains a decent amount of depth and nuance in its presented magical abilities. The abilities presented are, at times, not the most unique ever seen in a fantasy story, but the setting still had a distinctive flavor.
Although there were a couple of plot points that were a bit telegraphed, overall, the story provided a number of surprises and twists. The swift pacing of the book, although it kept the dramatic tension up, weakened the impact of some of these plot turns. A couple of times I was surprised that the narrative did not linger a bit more at some of the major revelations.
Like any good story centered around a spy, there are many questions raised concerning of morals, ethics, and loyalties.They are used to effectively explore Amy as a character and provide reader investment in her choices.
Overall, Ordinary was a fun read centered around a likable protagonist with the interesting limitation of being a normal girl in an extraordinary world.
4 Stars
June 30, 2011
I'm inches away from the end, so I'll just add it as read.
Ordinary isn't ordinary at all. Amy, a rotgutter (non-mage) is drawn into a battle between mage groups. Her own brother is part of the underground opposed to the Duke's rule.
As the story progresses, she discovers a lot of stuff she never realized since she has always been an outsider without magic. Her father has disowned her for her failings.
She earns her keep by being an "informer" for hire to anybody who'd like information on just about everything and anybody non-Mage.
It's an interesting premise. A nicely built magical world. Shapeshifers, specific talents for the magical, a medieval atmosphere. What's not to like.
My complaints that keep this book at 3 stars:
- It's a bit too short to truly develop relationships and to clarify the reasons for the rebellion.
- Too many typos toward the end of the work. It's like a line editor ran out of time.
Other than that, it's a good read.
Ordinary isn't ordinary at all. Amy, a rotgutter (non-mage) is drawn into a battle between mage groups. Her own brother is part of the underground opposed to the Duke's rule.
As the story progresses, she discovers a lot of stuff she never realized since she has always been an outsider without magic. Her father has disowned her for her failings.
She earns her keep by being an "informer" for hire to anybody who'd like information on just about everything and anybody non-Mage.
It's an interesting premise. A nicely built magical world. Shapeshifers, specific talents for the magical, a medieval atmosphere. What's not to like.
My complaints that keep this book at 3 stars:
- It's a bit too short to truly develop relationships and to clarify the reasons for the rebellion.
- Too many typos toward the end of the work. It's like a line editor ran out of time.
Other than that, it's a good read.
April 17, 2011
Well, it's my book so I probably shouldn't review it. I'm just a little prejudiced. ^^
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews