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Isles of Glory #2
Gilfeather
The unassuming Sky Plains healer Gilfeather is drawn into the adventure of a lifetime, as he joins a warrior and a sorceress on a quest to overcome a ruthless dunmagicker whose lust for dark power places the entirety of the Glory Isles in danger.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
12 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Glenda Larke
26 books377 followersGlenda was born in Western Australia, the daughter of a farmer. She was educated at government state schools and the University of Western Australia, where she obtained a degree in history and a diploma in education. Married to a Malaysian scientist, she has grown-up children, and now lives in Malaysia, where she is actively involved in rainforest conservation.
Author of The Isles of Glory trilogy (The Aware, Gilfeather, The Tainted); The Mirage Makers trilogy (Heart of the Mirage, The Shadow of Tyr, Song of the Shiver Barrens) and, writing as Glenda Noramly, a stand-alone book Havenstar.
Author of The Isles of Glory trilogy (The Aware, Gilfeather, The Tainted); The Mirage Makers trilogy (Heart of the Mirage, The Shadow of Tyr, Song of the Shiver Barrens) and, writing as Glenda Noramly, a stand-alone book Havenstar.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 8, 2010
I admired Ms. Larke's ability to craft a good fantasy novel is her pervious book The Aware.Yet this addition to the series, chronicling the further adventures of Blaze Halfbreed, did not match my expectations despite my wanting to enjoy it.
The skill with which to first book was written was what drew me in initially. Many fantasy novels spend too much time detailing “this is how this land works and why” rather than telling readers “these things matter, because it causes this character to…”. Ms. Larke focused on the characters and constructed around them a world that would bring them into the conflict. In doing so, her book becomes a story rather than a novel. The writing was smooth, never troubled by tricky sentences or grammatical errors, yet it was not overly simple either.
I confess that is was for the appeal of the characters that I picked up this sequel. So many fantasy stories have a fantasy stereotype cropping up somewhere, but all of Ms. Larke’s were completely original. Refreshingly, all of the plot conflicts are a direct result of their personal choices in life: Blaze, a half-breed, choices to defy prejudice; Flame turns away from a royal life to embrace freedom, Tor tempers his inner ferocity with his faith in God…but this time the new character, Gilfeather, lacks the same spark. I felt that his utopian culture is too unrealistic, and that he himself never when under true development, merely, he was exposed to more outlandish situations. I also missed hearing the story told from Blaze’s point of view. The antagonist, a “ruthless dunmagicker” also shed some of his appeal on closer examination, and I much preferred him when he was a sinister presence as opposed to a person.
As for the plot…well, I’m not sure where Ms. Larke was taking me. Because I was hearing the story from Gilfeather’s perspective, I was shuffled from the main conflict and became an observer rather than an active part of the interesting parts, (i.e. what Blaze and co. were up to). The new islands seemed designed to prop up the plot rather than begin scenery, although I will salute their creativity.
Final Word: A disappointing sequel, but not a bad read. The originality and returning characters kept it afloat, and I’ll still pick up the concluding novel.
The skill with which to first book was written was what drew me in initially. Many fantasy novels spend too much time detailing “this is how this land works and why” rather than telling readers “these things matter, because it causes this character to…”. Ms. Larke focused on the characters and constructed around them a world that would bring them into the conflict. In doing so, her book becomes a story rather than a novel. The writing was smooth, never troubled by tricky sentences or grammatical errors, yet it was not overly simple either.
I confess that is was for the appeal of the characters that I picked up this sequel. So many fantasy stories have a fantasy stereotype cropping up somewhere, but all of Ms. Larke’s were completely original. Refreshingly, all of the plot conflicts are a direct result of their personal choices in life: Blaze, a half-breed, choices to defy prejudice; Flame turns away from a royal life to embrace freedom, Tor tempers his inner ferocity with his faith in God…but this time the new character, Gilfeather, lacks the same spark. I felt that his utopian culture is too unrealistic, and that he himself never when under true development, merely, he was exposed to more outlandish situations. I also missed hearing the story told from Blaze’s point of view. The antagonist, a “ruthless dunmagicker” also shed some of his appeal on closer examination, and I much preferred him when he was a sinister presence as opposed to a person.
As for the plot…well, I’m not sure where Ms. Larke was taking me. Because I was hearing the story from Gilfeather’s perspective, I was shuffled from the main conflict and became an observer rather than an active part of the interesting parts, (i.e. what Blaze and co. were up to). The new islands seemed designed to prop up the plot rather than begin scenery, although I will salute their creativity.
Final Word: A disappointing sequel, but not a bad read. The originality and returning characters kept it afloat, and I’ll still pick up the concluding novel.
did-not-finish
September 18, 2015I've been wanting to read this for 5 years, and when I finally got it - ew. It opens up with so much heavy-handed religious anti-preaching, I can't even. It's written in a way that I can just TELL that the good guys will be liberal and fun and happy and the pious are pinheaded freaks. I don't usually care what religious undertone a good story has, but ermagod this isn't a light aroma, this is sticking my head in a paint can. Go away, book. I need to open a window.
... Restrictions placed on a Fellih-faithful woman were not as stringent, as long as she did not commit adultery or tempt the menfolk with her behavior or dress. Jastriá had once explained that anomaly to me. It stemmed not from a more liberal attitude to women, but from a rather nasty aspect of the religion: women were not considered worth troubling oneself about. The Fellih-Master was contemptuous of women and the Holy Book was full of tales of their empty-headed, superficial femininity that was capable of neither piety nor scholarship. A woman, it seemed, went to paradise only if her husband accumulated sufficient merit in his own life to take her along with him. Rich women, therefore, often married more than one spouse in the hope that one of them would prove man enough to get her to heaven.
January 20, 2012
The second book in the Isles of Glory Trilogy continues Blaze Halfbreed and Flame Windrider's dangerous quest to rid the Isles of the evil dunmaster Morthred.
Picking up where we left off in The Aware, Larke introduces us to a new character, Kelwyn Gilfeather, whose remarkable gifts in sensing both Sylv and Dun magic make him as impervious to both as one of the Aware folk.
In this book, Larke reveals more of the Isles unique and treacherous beauty, while the sharp prose and witty dialogue creates a steady pace that moves this unique story along without a hitch. This is a great series and quite different to your run-of-the-mill quest Fantasy.
Picking up where we left off in The Aware, Larke introduces us to a new character, Kelwyn Gilfeather, whose remarkable gifts in sensing both Sylv and Dun magic make him as impervious to both as one of the Aware folk.
In this book, Larke reveals more of the Isles unique and treacherous beauty, while the sharp prose and witty dialogue creates a steady pace that moves this unique story along without a hitch. This is a great series and quite different to your run-of-the-mill quest Fantasy.
November 23, 2025
A wonderful book that fully invokes what it is to be a human and suffer the consequences of death.
February 6, 2019
Completely love Gilfeather (the person).
Writing style changed somewhat since I read Book 1. Some of it I liked (the tale from another’s perspective) other things annoyed me (hinting at future events; if only I’d known them maybe something or other could have been avoided/saved/stopped/changed).
Writing style changed somewhat since I read Book 1. Some of it I liked (the tale from another’s perspective) other things annoyed me (hinting at future events; if only I’d known them maybe something or other could have been avoided/saved/stopped/changed).
June 7, 2017
Will be writing a review once I collect my thoughts and get my first final exam done!
March 11, 2019
Nota Geral: 3.6/5
Escrita: 3.5
Cenário: 4
Originalidade: 3.5
Personagens: 3.5
Suspense: 4
Humor: 3
Romance: 2.5
Capa: 5
Aditivo: 3.5
Previsível: 3
Escrita: 3.5
Cenário: 4
Originalidade: 3.5
Personagens: 3.5
Suspense: 4
Humor: 3
Romance: 2.5
Capa: 5
Aditivo: 3.5
Previsível: 3
March 3, 2017
I found Gilfeather much harder to get into than The Aware. Larke’s trilogy isn’t about Blaze, although she’s present for all of it so far, but rather about the Isles of Glory and their seemingly t00-fantastic-too-be-real past, so I understand why she used different narrators for each installment (Ruarth in the next book). Still, I found Gilfeather himself rather dull. He doesn’t believe in magic and Blaze and Flame don’t spend too much time trying to wear him down about this, since they know they’re right.
“There had to be a rational explanation. The world was a truly wonderous place-I knew that just from living on the Sky Plains-but it was the mystique of Creation that made it that way, not spells. To explain the wondrous, it was just a matter of finding the logic behind all the small miracles that made up our lives.
“Still, it was a long time before I fell asleep.” – pg 130
After a while, Larke brings back Blaze as an alternate point-of-view, which was helpful in moving the story along and keeping it interesting. Blaze is just inherently a more interesting character than Gilfeather. As they travel, Flame’s dunmagic infection becomes worse and worse, and her personality swings dramatically from the Flame we got to know in The Aware, to a darker, more tainted dunmagicker. Gilfeather believes dunmagick is a disease, and hopes to cure it through his medical knowledge and research. Blaze and Ruarth know better, and their love and worry for Flame keep them going through all the obstacles, even when Flame isn’t particularly loveable anymore.
I was very surprised by the ending, which I will of course not spoil for you. While part of the ending was expected, Larke was very clever and ruthless in bringing it about. Larke’s writing is part of why I really have enjoyed this series so far. She’s writing fantasy books where magic and weapons are common, and she’s not afraid to hurt her characters, even people that you really like, because that’s what would happen in a world that was really like this. Your favorite people do not always escape unscathed just because you like them. People get maimed, or killed, or heartbroken, or just simply vanish.
Overall, it was an excellent sequel. I’m excited to read the final installment, The Tainted. I wish this series had been available on Kindle but I was able to get them from Amazon sellers fairly easily.
“There had to be a rational explanation. The world was a truly wonderous place-I knew that just from living on the Sky Plains-but it was the mystique of Creation that made it that way, not spells. To explain the wondrous, it was just a matter of finding the logic behind all the small miracles that made up our lives.
“Still, it was a long time before I fell asleep.” – pg 130
After a while, Larke brings back Blaze as an alternate point-of-view, which was helpful in moving the story along and keeping it interesting. Blaze is just inherently a more interesting character than Gilfeather. As they travel, Flame’s dunmagic infection becomes worse and worse, and her personality swings dramatically from the Flame we got to know in The Aware, to a darker, more tainted dunmagicker. Gilfeather believes dunmagick is a disease, and hopes to cure it through his medical knowledge and research. Blaze and Ruarth know better, and their love and worry for Flame keep them going through all the obstacles, even when Flame isn’t particularly loveable anymore.
I was very surprised by the ending, which I will of course not spoil for you. While part of the ending was expected, Larke was very clever and ruthless in bringing it about. Larke’s writing is part of why I really have enjoyed this series so far. She’s writing fantasy books where magic and weapons are common, and she’s not afraid to hurt her characters, even people that you really like, because that’s what would happen in a world that was really like this. Your favorite people do not always escape unscathed just because you like them. People get maimed, or killed, or heartbroken, or just simply vanish.
Overall, it was an excellent sequel. I’m excited to read the final installment, The Tainted. I wish this series had been available on Kindle but I was able to get them from Amazon sellers fairly easily.
February 23, 2017
All three, then four, of our main characters are complicated and more than a little annoying at times, but I like them.
Gilfeather especially, who in trying to do the right things, finds that his actions have terrible consequences.
I wish I could get ahold of the 3rd book in the series.
Gilfeather especially, who in trying to do the right things, finds that his actions have terrible consequences.
I wish I could get ahold of the 3rd book in the series.
February 12, 2011
A solid sequel to the first book. I didn't feel it quite lived up to the same standard, but that could easily emanate from the usual problem when reading an author's second book - you don't benefit from the nascency of the style and the setting.
More specifically, some of the things I liked in the first book were not so greatly emphasised in this one (i.e. the politics), and the narration of Kelwyn - though he was a likeable character and his story is interesting - created a sense of detachment from the main story arc at times, which I found rather bizarre.
Still, the seeds have been planted for what will hopefully be a spectacular end to the trilogy, and with any luck my remaining questions will be answered!
More specifically, some of the things I liked in the first book were not so greatly emphasised in this one (i.e. the politics), and the narration of Kelwyn - though he was a likeable character and his story is interesting - created a sense of detachment from the main story arc at times, which I found rather bizarre.
Still, the seeds have been planted for what will hopefully be a spectacular end to the trilogy, and with any luck my remaining questions will be answered!
February 15, 2016
I enjoyed this book more than the first one which is weird because not a great deal happens in this book. But that isn't to say it isn't exciting.
I love Gilfeather as a character and of course Blaze is as badass as ever. I also love the new edition of Dek.
What I love about these books is that there is so much darkness in amidst the intrigue and yet the author is still able to keep it light-hearted.
I cannot wait to read the final book to see what happens.
A must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy. Especially if they like a healthy dose of politics thrown in as well.
I love Gilfeather as a character and of course Blaze is as badass as ever. I also love the new edition of Dek.
What I love about these books is that there is so much darkness in amidst the intrigue and yet the author is still able to keep it light-hearted.
I cannot wait to read the final book to see what happens.
A must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy. Especially if they like a healthy dose of politics thrown in as well.
December 1, 2009
The middle book of the Isles of Glory trilogy is quite compelling. Larke does a nice job of illuminating Kelwyn Gilfeather, a new character who is the nephew of a physician we met in the first book. Gilfeather grew up in an isolated part of the world (and the culture has some Scottish trappings, which amused me) in a tight knit community that has its own strengths and idiosyncrasies.
Larke tells a good story and this is no exception.
Larke tells a good story and this is no exception.
October 8, 2013
Wow! Did not see all that coming. :) Can't wait to see how it ends!
I am still enjoying the narrative of story telling, though it gives away who doesn't die in the end. This is a tiny bit disappointing for the excitement of the story, but nice since you become connected to the characters . I guess it is to be expected being written as an ethnography! Onward to book 3!
I am still enjoying the narrative of story telling, though it gives away who doesn't die in the end. This is a tiny bit disappointing for the excitement of the story, but nice since you become connected to the characters . I guess it is to be expected being written as an ethnography! Onward to book 3!
January 27, 2016
Solid sequel to The Aware. I enjoyed Gilfeather's narration, once I finally figure out who he is in relation to the Gilfeather in the first book. The constant cryptic foreshadowing is killing me, though!
July 10, 2008
The second book in the Isles of Glory trilogy this continues the battle between good sylv magic and bad dun magic. But is any of it really good? An interesting read.
March 21, 2014
3.5 was a little slow to start, but sure did finish in a flourish :)
July 16, 2013
I would give it a five but I have to leave somewhere to go :)
April 10, 2014
I am enjoying this series so much! Great characters and a gripping, highly original story. Glenda Larke has just joined my list of favourite authors.
September 4, 2014
fantastic book. so glad I stumbled upon this author at the supernova.
January 4, 2016
I gave it 5 because I just love this woman's books. They're stressful, wonderful stories.
February 26, 2008
Again, unusual. Enjoyed it.
October 14, 2012
Gave up! When would it end?
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews