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The Hidden Icon
Eiren knows your heart. But she doesn’t know her own.
A gentle storyteller who has always been able to sense the thoughts and feelings of others, Eiren discovers that the source of her power stems from an incredible darkness. To save her family and her land from further strife, she surrenders to her kingdom’s mortal enemy - unwittingly embracing that darkness and her own surprising capacity for fury and vengeance.
But the war’s end is only the beginning of Eiren’s troubles. Compelled to return with her captors to their lands in the north, she faces foes both mortal and immortal on the road and explores the depths of her powers at the risk of losing herself in them, or in the masked and enigmatic man whose secrets elude even Eiren’s talents.
To know the truth of why she was taken from her home, Eiren realizes she must become one of the monsters from her stories, whether she wants to or not.
A gentle storyteller who has always been able to sense the thoughts and feelings of others, Eiren discovers that the source of her power stems from an incredible darkness. To save her family and her land from further strife, she surrenders to her kingdom’s mortal enemy - unwittingly embracing that darkness and her own surprising capacity for fury and vengeance.
But the war’s end is only the beginning of Eiren’s troubles. Compelled to return with her captors to their lands in the north, she faces foes both mortal and immortal on the road and explores the depths of her powers at the risk of losing herself in them, or in the masked and enigmatic man whose secrets elude even Eiren’s talents.
To know the truth of why she was taken from her home, Eiren realizes she must become one of the monsters from her stories, whether she wants to or not.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2013
32 people are currently reading
1062 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Kuhlmann
7 books73 followersJillian spent her formative years feeding her overactive imagination with The X-Files and Star Trek: The Next Generation. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her family and a wicked costume collection.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 29, 2017
Netgalley Arc provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because this is a powerful, compelling story, enchanting you into forgetting about its flaws.
Jillian Kuhlmann is a seductive storyteller - like Scheherezada - and sometimes the book read more like a lyrical ballad than actual prose. The tales within the story also contain some raw, alluring magic, bearing a strong resemblance to those of the 1001 Nights and you feel like King Shahryar, always wanting more.
It is not an action-driven story, nothing much is happening, really. Rather, we are taken to a journey alongside Eiren, the MC, which is both physical and spiritual as she is struggling to come to terms with who she really is, who she is supposed to be and what her future/role would be as an icon - the human incarnation of the goddess of destruction.
At the beginning I felt strangely disconnected from the MC and other characters. It is all very well to be talking in riddles all the time and appear enigmatic to the ignorant heroine to pique her as well as the reader's interest, but it goes on almost too long and draws the attention to the holes in the narrative that is a bit disturbing.
Having said that, by the end some light is shed on motivation / history / mythology and all is done in an engaging manner. The story ends with a cliffhanger and I am glad I also have the next book to read on and hopefully find out more.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because this is a powerful, compelling story, enchanting you into forgetting about its flaws.
Jillian Kuhlmann is a seductive storyteller - like Scheherezada - and sometimes the book read more like a lyrical ballad than actual prose. The tales within the story also contain some raw, alluring magic, bearing a strong resemblance to those of the 1001 Nights and you feel like King Shahryar, always wanting more.
It is not an action-driven story, nothing much is happening, really. Rather, we are taken to a journey alongside Eiren, the MC, which is both physical and spiritual as she is struggling to come to terms with who she really is, who she is supposed to be and what her future/role would be as an icon - the human incarnation of the goddess of destruction.
At the beginning I felt strangely disconnected from the MC and other characters. It is all very well to be talking in riddles all the time and appear enigmatic to the ignorant heroine to pique her as well as the reader's interest, but it goes on almost too long and draws the attention to the holes in the narrative that is a bit disturbing.
Having said that, by the end some light is shed on motivation / history / mythology and all is done in an engaging manner. The story ends with a cliffhanger and I am glad I also have the next book to read on and hopefully find out more.
December 31, 2013
The traditional fantasy genre doesn't leave a lot of room for anything fresh, so I was pleasantly surprised when I read The Hidden Icon. Jillian Kuhlmann's debut novel starts with an ending as the royal family of Aleyn surrenders after years of war with an invading army from Ambar. The leader of the Ambarian forces makes one demand, that a young princess named Eiren accompany them back to Ambar. The demand mystifies Eiren as she ranks among the least important member of her family.
Jillian's novel wastes little time in making it clear just why Eiren is important. That revelation provides a nice twist in the book that keeps the reader eager to find out what the implications will be for both Eiren and the world.
The story provides a nice blend of epic fantasy, while standing out as something different. The Hidden Icon reminds me most of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin, which is one of my favorite fantasy novels in recent years. If you're looking for a quest-driven story, then this isn't the book for you. This book delivers a reality rich with its own mythology.
The most challenging and successful element in the story is Eiren's life as a storyteller. All too often, a storyteller as a character, and especially as the main character, can fall flat. The stories shared by these characters are often weak info dumps that fail to advance the plot; that is not the case with The Hidden Icon. Jillian does a great job folding in these stories, getting double and even triple duty out of them. The skill to make that work impressed the hell out of me.
The only element in the writing that confused me involved one of Eiren's captors, the masked guard Gannet. He ultimately provides a romantic interest for Eiren, and he's an interesting character in his own right. He comes with plenty of mysteries, not the least of which involves why he can never remove his mask. As the relationship shifts to more intimate encounters, I found it difficult to track just how far the relationship had gone. Twice within the book, I got the impression these two had "done the deed," but would then discover later in that scene or sometimes several chapters later that they hadn't done more than kiss.
Perhaps the best praise I can deliver to this book is that reading the first book has me wanting to read the next. The main reason I read this book was because it was released by the publisher of my book, and I wanted to see what the other books from Fable Press were like. This was the second book from my publisher that I've read, and I'm happy and relieved to find I'm in some excellent company.
Jillian's novel wastes little time in making it clear just why Eiren is important. That revelation provides a nice twist in the book that keeps the reader eager to find out what the implications will be for both Eiren and the world.
The story provides a nice blend of epic fantasy, while standing out as something different. The Hidden Icon reminds me most of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin, which is one of my favorite fantasy novels in recent years. If you're looking for a quest-driven story, then this isn't the book for you. This book delivers a reality rich with its own mythology.
The most challenging and successful element in the story is Eiren's life as a storyteller. All too often, a storyteller as a character, and especially as the main character, can fall flat. The stories shared by these characters are often weak info dumps that fail to advance the plot; that is not the case with The Hidden Icon. Jillian does a great job folding in these stories, getting double and even triple duty out of them. The skill to make that work impressed the hell out of me.
The only element in the writing that confused me involved one of Eiren's captors, the masked guard Gannet. He ultimately provides a romantic interest for Eiren, and he's an interesting character in his own right. He comes with plenty of mysteries, not the least of which involves why he can never remove his mask. As the relationship shifts to more intimate encounters, I found it difficult to track just how far the relationship had gone. Twice within the book, I got the impression these two had "done the deed," but would then discover later in that scene or sometimes several chapters later that they hadn't done more than kiss.
Perhaps the best praise I can deliver to this book is that reading the first book has me wanting to read the next. The main reason I read this book was because it was released by the publisher of my book, and I wanted to see what the other books from Fable Press were like. This was the second book from my publisher that I've read, and I'm happy and relieved to find I'm in some excellent company.
May 20, 2017
The basic idea for the story was excellent but, truthfully, I was really confused most of the time. I finished the book but I'm still wondering who exactly is Eiren. I don't know her any better than I did in the first few pages. She's a talented storyteller and she loves her family. Aside from that, I know nothing.
I didn't get the impression that anyone ever thought to wonder where her weird empathic gift came from. That's just weird. Although they were in exile for all of her life, so I supose they didn't have much opportunity to do research. But still...
Nothing much happens in the story at all! She is taken from her home after an invading army conquer their nation. Then the whole of the book is basically her being dragged around the land, not being told anything about why they want her, with a few assassination attemps thrown in (although no one even ATTEMPS to find out who's trying to kill her) and then being dropped in a palace and paraded about like a pet. Everybody watching and either anticipating or dreading her performance. Like listening to a parrot talk: incredibly annoying for some but also an unexpected delight.
I didn't get the impression that anyone ever thought to wonder where her weird empathic gift came from. That's just weird. Although they were in exile for all of her life, so I supose they didn't have much opportunity to do research. But still...
Nothing much happens in the story at all! She is taken from her home after an invading army conquer their nation. Then the whole of the book is basically her being dragged around the land, not being told anything about why they want her, with a few assassination attemps thrown in (although no one even ATTEMPS to find out who's trying to kill her) and then being dropped in a palace and paraded about like a pet. Everybody watching and either anticipating or dreading her performance. Like listening to a parrot talk: incredibly annoying for some but also an unexpected delight.
February 20, 2016
Interesting story - 3.5 stars
However about half way through I felt it was un necessarily obscure and mysterious .
What is Eiren/Theba's purpose?
Everyone seems to know her purpose except Eiren. In the end I felt irritated
Still, I'm intrigued and will read the sequel
However about half way through I felt it was un necessarily obscure and mysterious .
What is Eiren/Theba's purpose?
Everyone seems to know her purpose except Eiren. In the end I felt irritated
Still, I'm intrigued and will read the sequel
May 19, 2017
Jillian Kuhlmann is amazing! Well, her book is. This dark, dystopian world isn't my usual, but I seem to end up here more often lately. It's a scary place. And Ms. Kuhlmann makes you bleed in it. As Eiren tries to squeeze through the sentient cave, you feel the rocks tear the fabric of her clothes and you feel the blood drip down her skin. You feel her fear that she won't ever get out of that spot alive. That the cave will never let her go.
Watching her goddess' life opera explode with the attack of the assassins and as she flees for her life, you wonder with her how many of the icons are behind it. And who. And when she asks, "Did you know?", you hold your breath with her until he answers.
I loved this book! I didn't want it to end, I just wanted answers. For that you have to read book #2, The Dread Goddess. en...
Watching her goddess' life opera explode with the attack of the assassins and as she flees for her life, you wonder with her how many of the icons are behind it. And who. And when she asks, "Did you know?", you hold your breath with her until he answers.
I loved this book! I didn't want it to end, I just wanted answers. For that you have to read book #2, The Dread Goddess. en...
December 5, 2013
What an amazing book! The Hidden Icon follows the life and trials of Eiren, a young girl who discovers that she is the icon of Theba (a goddess that has forever been feared by all). After Eiren's kingdom is conquered, she must leave with her captors in order to save her family. She is then thrust into a whole new world and must fulfill her role as the icon of Theba.
This story was written in a beautiful and lyrical manner. The stories that Eiren tells are also wonderful and inventive. Kuhlmann has definitely mastered the art of writing. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
This story was written in a beautiful and lyrical manner. The stories that Eiren tells are also wonderful and inventive. Kuhlmann has definitely mastered the art of writing. I cannot wait to read more from this author!
October 15, 2013
In the Hidden Icon, we journey with Eiren as she explores not only the depths of herself, but the depths of other people. Kuhlmann thrusts readers into Eiren's world with little exposition, and what initially left me feeling rattled and uncertain grew to the understanding that the story is all the better for its quick start. As we are taken along with Eiren, so too are her own secrets and the secrets of those around her revealed. Like many coming-of-age tales, we not only experience Eiren's discomfort with herself, bu with our heroine's brash shove into a adulthood and into a whole new, unfamiliar world. It is an exciting, lyrical story that sticks with you long after you have read.
My favorite element of the The Hidden Icon is the stories Eiren tells on her journey, particularly the story of Massoud and the snail. The tales not only explore the depths of Kulhmann's talent for world building and story telling, but also tell us something about the characters.
I don't want to even attempt to describe much more. This book is special. It will make you soar.
My favorite element of the The Hidden Icon is the stories Eiren tells on her journey, particularly the story of Massoud and the snail. The tales not only explore the depths of Kulhmann's talent for world building and story telling, but also tell us something about the characters.
I don't want to even attempt to describe much more. This book is special. It will make you soar.
February 10, 2014
For most fantasy and sci-fi tales, it usually takes me a while to get really immersed into the world the author has created. But once I had gotten my bearings in Eiren's world, I was hooked. My favorite aspect of the story may be the mythology that the author has created. Through Eiren's tales and her experiences with the icons of gods and goddesses, we are given tantalizing glimpses of this larger mythology. I found myself longing for a companion book (similar in style/scope to D'Aulaire's Book of Green Myths) that maps out the origins and relationships among the gods and goddesses that are so central to this world.
Eiren is a refreshing young heroine, unburdened by many of the annoying tropes you often find in young adult novels. Similarly, the evolution of her relationship with the mysterious, masked Gannet was organic and captivating. It complemented, but never overtook, Eiren's own personal journey toward self-discovery.
Kuhlmann has created a cast of such complex and compelling characters that I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series!
Eiren is a refreshing young heroine, unburdened by many of the annoying tropes you often find in young adult novels. Similarly, the evolution of her relationship with the mysterious, masked Gannet was organic and captivating. It complemented, but never overtook, Eiren's own personal journey toward self-discovery.
Kuhlmann has created a cast of such complex and compelling characters that I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series!
November 10, 2013
I have known Jillian for a few years in an internet sort of capacity, and am familiar with (and love) her writing. The Hidden Icon did not disappoint at all, having drawn me in from the first. I had a feeling from the beginning that it would be a book that I would hope would never end while at the same time wanting to know what happens next.
Jillian has an amazing facility with words, and this story is breathtaking. By herself, Eiren is a sympathetic character, but her journey in this book adds a dimension of terror that was unexpected. This is not a horror book, don't worry. The terror is for Eiren herself, as the reader discovers with her who and what she is.
To be honest, I don't even know how to review this book without giving away too much of the plot or without sounding as if I'm trying to emulate a book critic. Just know that this book is good, and that you, too, will be waiting with bated breath for the sequel.
Jillian has an amazing facility with words, and this story is breathtaking. By herself, Eiren is a sympathetic character, but her journey in this book adds a dimension of terror that was unexpected. This is not a horror book, don't worry. The terror is for Eiren herself, as the reader discovers with her who and what she is.
To be honest, I don't even know how to review this book without giving away too much of the plot or without sounding as if I'm trying to emulate a book critic. Just know that this book is good, and that you, too, will be waiting with bated breath for the sequel.
March 22, 2014
I simply cant describe this book in simple sentences. Its not a story which one can read continuously but it slowly reels you in. Took me 7 days to complete it even though its only 320 pages. The language is beautiful and sometimes I had to read 2 to 3 times to understand/feel the emotion which the character wants to portray. Its as if the author thought to impinge upon us all the young girl's feelings,random thoughts, first love(thought very diff. love) and every thing which she lives and breathes. We feel what she feels, we feel the anger, we feel the confusion, we feel the abandonment. And all this leads to a tightly emotional stricken climax which leaves you longing for more of whats about to come next. Its like an unfinished masterpiece. Please write the sequel.
December 6, 2013
It closes itself well, but I really hope there's a sequel. Really really.
December 9, 2013
such poetic writing style! i loved it.
June 1, 2017
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book has a lot of really great reviews and so I anticipated, as with the majority, that this would be a resounding success. I should note, I do not think this was a terrible book in any way or form, in fact I would give it a solid 3 stars, maybe almost a 3.5 if it weren’t for a few things; which, may come down to preference and style of reader.
Positives: I enjoyed the prose and flow of the writing, most stories are straightforward and laden with dialogue but this left a lot to the imagination of the reader, it explored the main character in ways that many books do not, I appreciated that. I also enjoyed the premise of the story, an excellent idea and one that I would like to learn more about (yes I will be reading book 2!). I also enjoyed the relationships within the characters, there was an innocence that directly conflicted with the character of Theba; this felt well balanced.
Negatives: Although I enjoyed the writing, I did have a hard time following the story at times, it was convoluted and could have benefited from more direction within this story. I say this because, when I reflect on the story, I don’t feel that any of the opening questions have been answered (yes I understand that this is book 1, however to keep the reader engaged then some of the questions should be answered, there should be movement to keep the reader engaged). I found myself skimming the book at times due to the writing.
Overall, the book ended strongly and I am looking forward to reading the second to find out more about Theba, but there are some fundamental things in the book that keep me from giving it a four star rating.
This book has a lot of really great reviews and so I anticipated, as with the majority, that this would be a resounding success. I should note, I do not think this was a terrible book in any way or form, in fact I would give it a solid 3 stars, maybe almost a 3.5 if it weren’t for a few things; which, may come down to preference and style of reader.
Positives: I enjoyed the prose and flow of the writing, most stories are straightforward and laden with dialogue but this left a lot to the imagination of the reader, it explored the main character in ways that many books do not, I appreciated that. I also enjoyed the premise of the story, an excellent idea and one that I would like to learn more about (yes I will be reading book 2!). I also enjoyed the relationships within the characters, there was an innocence that directly conflicted with the character of Theba; this felt well balanced.
Negatives: Although I enjoyed the writing, I did have a hard time following the story at times, it was convoluted and could have benefited from more direction within this story. I say this because, when I reflect on the story, I don’t feel that any of the opening questions have been answered (yes I understand that this is book 1, however to keep the reader engaged then some of the questions should be answered, there should be movement to keep the reader engaged). I found myself skimming the book at times due to the writing.
Overall, the book ended strongly and I am looking forward to reading the second to find out more about Theba, but there are some fundamental things in the book that keep me from giving it a four star rating.
June 13, 2017
Holy wow. This book is incredible. I will start by saying I am a very harsh critic when it comes to fantasy. Most of the books my fantasy-loving family have tried to get me to read get big eye rolls from me. This book is very different.
Though the setting and the characters in this book often remind me of Tanith Lee, the story itself has more in common with ancient legends - older even than the Odyssey, back to the Akkadians or the Sumerians, maybe even older still. The story of Eiren, and the many stories she tells, bring all the wonder and thrill of finding an ancient tome, cracking it open, and finding yourself transported into another time and place.
There is so much adventure and discovery with each turning page. The relationships between the characters, the way they grow throughout the series, makes them feel very very real, as if I'm reading the biographies of members of my own family. Eiren's voice unfolds the story so vividly and plainly, like a diary found in some long-lost tomb, warning us of our human limits and the threatening wrath of some sleeping gods.
This is book one of three. It leaves you so thrilled and excited for volume two, you should probably buy them both together. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Though the setting and the characters in this book often remind me of Tanith Lee, the story itself has more in common with ancient legends - older even than the Odyssey, back to the Akkadians or the Sumerians, maybe even older still. The story of Eiren, and the many stories she tells, bring all the wonder and thrill of finding an ancient tome, cracking it open, and finding yourself transported into another time and place.
There is so much adventure and discovery with each turning page. The relationships between the characters, the way they grow throughout the series, makes them feel very very real, as if I'm reading the biographies of members of my own family. Eiren's voice unfolds the story so vividly and plainly, like a diary found in some long-lost tomb, warning us of our human limits and the threatening wrath of some sleeping gods.
This is book one of three. It leaves you so thrilled and excited for volume two, you should probably buy them both together. Don't say I didn't warn you.
August 13, 2017
I found The Hidden Icon to be a fine and an engaging read. It took me a bit longer to get through it than I expected (which is not a bad thing). I had been forewarned by a friend that it was not a straightforward narrative, written in the way using the first person point of view where you had to carefully piece together details of what was happening based on the main character's observations, which at times could be very difficult given her state during the book, which in turn gave the book an almost dream like feel at times. This is not a book to read if you like a more open, straightforward narrative.
I enjoyed the author's voice and the rhythm of her narrative, and with the first person style, I did find the story very immersive. I loved her stories within, I found them very interesting. I found the pacing to be very even and steady, although when I got to the last fifty pages I wondered where the story was going or how it was going to climax. It was a nice change to not have figured out the book before it ended and I felt the climax satisfying, leaving the almost obligatory hook for the next book.
I am looking forward to reading the next book (which I won off of a contest from Goodreads) to see where the author will take us next in this saga.
I enjoyed the author's voice and the rhythm of her narrative, and with the first person style, I did find the story very immersive. I loved her stories within, I found them very interesting. I found the pacing to be very even and steady, although when I got to the last fifty pages I wondered where the story was going or how it was going to climax. It was a nice change to not have figured out the book before it ended and I felt the climax satisfying, leaving the almost obligatory hook for the next book.
I am looking forward to reading the next book (which I won off of a contest from Goodreads) to see where the author will take us next in this saga.
May 9, 2017
*This book was provided through NetGalley.*
I truly believe that this is one of the best books I've read this year. Which makes it impossible to review, because FEELINGS.
This book was filled to the brim with emotional stories that took my breath away. Each mini story inside had a reason for the way things were, and the grandness of the scale was impressive. I love the way the author writes.
I am pleased that I got this through NetGalley, as now I know I really have to go out and buy a copy. It's a unique fantasy story that is not to be missed.
Five stars!
I truly believe that this is one of the best books I've read this year. Which makes it impossible to review, because FEELINGS.
This book was filled to the brim with emotional stories that took my breath away. Each mini story inside had a reason for the way things were, and the grandness of the scale was impressive. I love the way the author writes.
I am pleased that I got this through NetGalley, as now I know I really have to go out and buy a copy. It's a unique fantasy story that is not to be missed.
Five stars!
October 20, 2018
This book is amazing. The writing was incredible. The story kept me going until I finished the last page at 3 in the morning. Could not put it down. I definitely recommend this book for anybody who likes fantasy mixed with ancient Gods and Goddesses.
June 2, 2017
I liked the take on the heroine becoming like the stories she grew up telling. It's a different twist than what's originally done. Not sure I like that she starts to have feelings for one of her captors when they were using her to save their kingdom at the cost of her own. I was a little confused on her sense of justice when she tried to rationalize her killings with them trying to kill her first.
June 9, 2017
A great first novel
Richly developed characters and an interesting plot. My only critique is that I had trouble visualizing the world? Looking forward to The Dread Goddess.
Richly developed characters and an interesting plot. My only critique is that I had trouble visualizing the world? Looking forward to The Dread Goddess.
August 9, 2017
First time reading Jillian Kuhlmann. I was pleasantly pleased with how she wrote the book. It kept me riveted to each chapter. Looking forward to reading the next book.
September 19, 2017
Very very interesting & most enjoyable. Full of interesting information & knowledge. A definite choice for reading again in the future. I loved this book.
January 17, 2018
Unexpected, highly lyrical and descriptive while creating a memorable character in Eiren. Interesting take on mythology and the use of power, with unexpected turns and twists.
April 18, 2015
Read this review and others at The Silver Petticoat Review:The Hidden Icon
The only complaint I can possibly make about this novel is that it ended. I am dearly dearly hoping there is a sequel, so the story can go on. This novel is comprised of many complex levels. You have the coming of age story of Eiren as she is separated from her family and gradually learns the great depth of her powers. You also have a touching star-crossed love story, between Eiren and Gannet, another character with powers similar to Eiren’s. Then, you have the idea of the story and storytelling itself. I will start by exploring the touching coming of age narrative.
Eiren is brutally torn away from her land of Aleyn by the conquering armies of Ambar, forced to leave her family and take up a new life with her captors. As the story progressed and the group travels ever closer to Ambar, we see a slow blossoming of Eiren and her understanding of herself and what it means to be an adult. She learns of her own considerable strengths, and the need to sometimes use caution with them. While we don’t all have magical powers as Eiren does, we do each discover our own inner power: it’s strengths, it’s weaknesses, and the danger of letting it get out of control. Someone may have a truly clever wit, but it is not always right to simply let whatever we are thinking fly out of our mouths. As we discover such things growing up, so too does Eiren discover her own gifts and powers. Jillian Kuhlman leads us deftly and with a subtle grace through her journey of gaining greater understanding of her inner self.
In conjunction with struggling with the weight of her growing powers, we also see her blossom into a woman with growing feelings towards a man. At first she does not even know what to call her feelings towards Gannet. She does not recognize that this is how a woman can grow to feel towards a man. Eiren fights against these feelings and their foreignness. But as she grows to know herself better, she begins to understand just what her feelings towards Gannet are. She eventually realizes her love for him and admits these feelings to herself as well as to Gannet. In this way, I look upon her coming of age as a blossoming of the self, a slow unfurling and revealing of what is truly in her heart, and what makes her the intriguing character that she is. The love story in this novel unfurls beautifully, keeping tension where it is needed, and giving a little slack and indulgence as well. It is a very slow building relationship, which I think makes it all the more enticing because you are kept on your feet waiting with breathless anticipation for all the small signs that reveal the two characters’ affection for each other.
The last aspect I would like to mention about this novel is the close attention and homage it pays to storytelling. Eiren herself is a storyteller and tells many stories throughout the novel. I found myself equally engaged in these shorter oral stories as I was in the overall plot. When Eiren would tell a story, I would find myself getting just as caught up in the details and plot of that tale. When they ended I would have to wait a moment and come back to reality, realizing that I was also reading a larger novel. The art of storytelling was truly showcased here, and it makes the novel stand out among its peers. I was able to lose myself countless times in this wonderful tale, and in the wonderful tales within this tale. I think the ability to not only draw your reader into the main plot, but to then draw them into short tales within the plot shows the mark a truly gifted writer.
Overall Impression
I can’t say enough good things about this novel. If you like reading at all, I would suggest you go out right now and buy this book. This book has everything you could want in it: superb storytelling, gripping action, sweeping adventure, heartfelt romance, and intriguing mystery, just to name a few aspects. It is well worth the price.
Adaptation Recommendation
I think this novel would transmit well onto the big screen. I especially think it would make an interesting movie because of all the side tales in it. It would be something unique that hasn’t been done often (I can only think of one TV movie about Scheherazade that did something similar). Some of the more internal parts may be prove to be a challenge, but this story is so good I believe it would push past such minor barriers. I would definitely pay to see this in the theaters.
The only complaint I can possibly make about this novel is that it ended. I am dearly dearly hoping there is a sequel, so the story can go on. This novel is comprised of many complex levels. You have the coming of age story of Eiren as she is separated from her family and gradually learns the great depth of her powers. You also have a touching star-crossed love story, between Eiren and Gannet, another character with powers similar to Eiren’s. Then, you have the idea of the story and storytelling itself. I will start by exploring the touching coming of age narrative.
Eiren is brutally torn away from her land of Aleyn by the conquering armies of Ambar, forced to leave her family and take up a new life with her captors. As the story progressed and the group travels ever closer to Ambar, we see a slow blossoming of Eiren and her understanding of herself and what it means to be an adult. She learns of her own considerable strengths, and the need to sometimes use caution with them. While we don’t all have magical powers as Eiren does, we do each discover our own inner power: it’s strengths, it’s weaknesses, and the danger of letting it get out of control. Someone may have a truly clever wit, but it is not always right to simply let whatever we are thinking fly out of our mouths. As we discover such things growing up, so too does Eiren discover her own gifts and powers. Jillian Kuhlman leads us deftly and with a subtle grace through her journey of gaining greater understanding of her inner self.
In conjunction with struggling with the weight of her growing powers, we also see her blossom into a woman with growing feelings towards a man. At first she does not even know what to call her feelings towards Gannet. She does not recognize that this is how a woman can grow to feel towards a man. Eiren fights against these feelings and their foreignness. But as she grows to know herself better, she begins to understand just what her feelings towards Gannet are. She eventually realizes her love for him and admits these feelings to herself as well as to Gannet. In this way, I look upon her coming of age as a blossoming of the self, a slow unfurling and revealing of what is truly in her heart, and what makes her the intriguing character that she is. The love story in this novel unfurls beautifully, keeping tension where it is needed, and giving a little slack and indulgence as well. It is a very slow building relationship, which I think makes it all the more enticing because you are kept on your feet waiting with breathless anticipation for all the small signs that reveal the two characters’ affection for each other.
The last aspect I would like to mention about this novel is the close attention and homage it pays to storytelling. Eiren herself is a storyteller and tells many stories throughout the novel. I found myself equally engaged in these shorter oral stories as I was in the overall plot. When Eiren would tell a story, I would find myself getting just as caught up in the details and plot of that tale. When they ended I would have to wait a moment and come back to reality, realizing that I was also reading a larger novel. The art of storytelling was truly showcased here, and it makes the novel stand out among its peers. I was able to lose myself countless times in this wonderful tale, and in the wonderful tales within this tale. I think the ability to not only draw your reader into the main plot, but to then draw them into short tales within the plot shows the mark a truly gifted writer.
Overall Impression
I can’t say enough good things about this novel. If you like reading at all, I would suggest you go out right now and buy this book. This book has everything you could want in it: superb storytelling, gripping action, sweeping adventure, heartfelt romance, and intriguing mystery, just to name a few aspects. It is well worth the price.
Adaptation Recommendation
I think this novel would transmit well onto the big screen. I especially think it would make an interesting movie because of all the side tales in it. It would be something unique that hasn’t been done often (I can only think of one TV movie about Scheherazade that did something similar). Some of the more internal parts may be prove to be a challenge, but this story is so good I believe it would push past such minor barriers. I would definitely pay to see this in the theaters.
June 14, 2020
(I received this book from Diversion Books in exchange for an honest review.)
The Hidden Icon was an interesting diversion from its genre. So many fantasy books have 500+ pages with long-winded explanations to build the world, which results in excruciatingly slow-moving plots. The Hidden Icon is almost so short it's hard to believe it's fantasy, and because of its size, Kuhlmann had to pack a lot of information in while still forming the characters and their world. There was a 0% chance of boredom for me because of this. The language the book was written in was what helped really stretch things out and pack information in, but it also became tough to get through at times.
The dialect in The Hidden Icon felt very archaic and foreign, which was fantastic for setting a mood, but really made it difficult for me to get into the moment at times. During action-packed scenes, I found myself stumbling on the language and getting frustrated at how needlessly complicated it was. For a general mood, though, it did a great job of transporting me into this world and it made the characters fit well into it.
The characters themselves were also consistently fantastic. Because of Eiren's abilities, I immediately got a good read on basically every character (besides the amazing Gannett), so everyone felt very distinct and real. No one felt inherently good or evil; they were just people, which was again SO REFRESHING. Eiren's interactions with the one person she had trouble reading (Gannett) were also more interesting because it was unusual for her and left me feeling conflicted with feelings. I never really knew what was coming from him, and he always seemed to knew what was going to happen to Eiren. He was also a great connection to the religion, which was a very real and interesting part of their society. As we found out more about him, we also learned more about the gods and goddesses and their powers. Eiren status as a story-teller also helped create a more complete idea of their histories. When Gannett opened up to Eiren, they combined their stories which showed their amazing chemistry. The seemingly thousands of questions surrounding Gannett made him so much more interesting and I'm looking forward to the next book to see where his and Eiren's relationship goes (friends? lovers?? enemies???). The other characters also felt real; like people you would really meet in your life, but transported into an exotic fantasy world.
Something I didn't particularly LOVE about The Hidden Icon was also the same problem that I found in The Young Elites: the main character wasn't evil enough yet. As Eiren struggled more and more with the awakening Theba in her, the conflict was clearly there and she did some super evil things (which was a joy to read), but occasionally her conflict and decisions were more told than shown. At the end of a few chapters, Eiren makes some big claims and then the subsequent writing didn't really reflect it. The ending fixed this, though. It was insane. I read this book months ago and I'm still thinking about it.
A solid 4/5. I'm so excited for the rest of the series!
The Hidden Icon was an interesting diversion from its genre. So many fantasy books have 500+ pages with long-winded explanations to build the world, which results in excruciatingly slow-moving plots. The Hidden Icon is almost so short it's hard to believe it's fantasy, and because of its size, Kuhlmann had to pack a lot of information in while still forming the characters and their world. There was a 0% chance of boredom for me because of this. The language the book was written in was what helped really stretch things out and pack information in, but it also became tough to get through at times.
The dialect in The Hidden Icon felt very archaic and foreign, which was fantastic for setting a mood, but really made it difficult for me to get into the moment at times. During action-packed scenes, I found myself stumbling on the language and getting frustrated at how needlessly complicated it was. For a general mood, though, it did a great job of transporting me into this world and it made the characters fit well into it.
The characters themselves were also consistently fantastic. Because of Eiren's abilities, I immediately got a good read on basically every character (besides the amazing Gannett), so everyone felt very distinct and real. No one felt inherently good or evil; they were just people, which was again SO REFRESHING. Eiren's interactions with the one person she had trouble reading (Gannett) were also more interesting because it was unusual for her and left me feeling conflicted with feelings. I never really knew what was coming from him, and he always seemed to knew what was going to happen to Eiren. He was also a great connection to the religion, which was a very real and interesting part of their society. As we found out more about him, we also learned more about the gods and goddesses and their powers. Eiren status as a story-teller also helped create a more complete idea of their histories. When Gannett opened up to Eiren, they combined their stories which showed their amazing chemistry. The seemingly thousands of questions surrounding Gannett made him so much more interesting and I'm looking forward to the next book to see where his and Eiren's relationship goes (friends? lovers?? enemies???). The other characters also felt real; like people you would really meet in your life, but transported into an exotic fantasy world.
Something I didn't particularly LOVE about The Hidden Icon was also the same problem that I found in The Young Elites: the main character wasn't evil enough yet. As Eiren struggled more and more with the awakening Theba in her, the conflict was clearly there and she did some super evil things (which was a joy to read), but occasionally her conflict and decisions were more told than shown. At the end of a few chapters, Eiren makes some big claims and then the subsequent writing didn't really reflect it. The ending fixed this, though. It was insane. I read this book months ago and I'm still thinking about it.
A solid 4/5. I'm so excited for the rest of the series!
August 11, 2016
The Hidden Icon is a wonderfully written book that delves into another world. The world building is lyrical as well as providing the reader with the mythology and history of the setting. There is also an element of storytelling within the novel - stories within the story that provides so much world building without having to beat the reader over the head with it. While the mystery of Eiren is being laid out and revealed, it's done in such a way that the reader isn't frustrated or feeling 'teased' - we're learning along with Eiren. The descriptions of landscape and the charactes are very evocative - settling the reader in to a different time and place. The book definitely has a vibe and a cadence that 'match' with the setting and characters.
From here on, review may contain spoilers
Eiren's struggle with the discovery of being an icon is well described and dealt with. Is she still herself? Had she ever really been? Eiren's journey of discovery is very well articulated and felt. The reader follows along with Eiren's struggle - learning as she does what her place may be in this strange new world she has been brought into. I'm very interested as to what happens to Eiren next!
From here on, review may contain spoilers
Eiren's struggle with the discovery of being an icon is well described and dealt with. Is she still herself? Had she ever really been? Eiren's journey of discovery is very well articulated and felt. The reader follows along with Eiren's struggle - learning as she does what her place may be in this strange new world she has been brought into. I'm very interested as to what happens to Eiren next!
October 9, 2014
This book has an interesting premise and very lyrical flowing writing style that you don't see often. I enjoyed it and especially all of Eiren's stories/myths.
The book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, though, so I really hope the author will continue this series! I'd love to follow the rest of Eiren's story as she discovers herself .
The book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, though, so I really hope the author will continue this series! I'd love to follow the rest of Eiren's story as she discovers herself .
January 6, 2014
This book is written beautifully, and I felt Eiren's emotions very strongly. I am so so so curious as to what happens next!
December 27, 2014
Anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!
October 15, 2014
Longer review to come!
December 4, 2016
A great story.
New ideas brought to life. Interesting characters. Plot twists. Loved this and can't wait for the next book! Hope it comes soon!
New ideas brought to life. Interesting characters. Plot twists. Loved this and can't wait for the next book! Hope it comes soon!
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