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Tamír Triad #2
Hidden Warrior
The second volume of a thrilling fantasy adventure trilogy filled with necromancy and bone-chilling magic from the bestselling US author of the Nightrunner series.
The line of Skala's ruling queens was established in accordance with prophecy. But now King Erius reigns, and he is ruthless in his determination to rid of Skala of any threat to his grip on power.
As the only living child of Erius's dead sister, Prince Tobin is second in line to the throne. But he is not what he seems. To protect him from the paranoid assassinations ordered by his uncle, Tobin's identity was disguised shortly after birth. But now, with the onset of puberty, Tobin has discovered his true self – she is the rightful heir to the throne.
At court, Tobin and his loyal squire Ki form part of Crown Prince Korin's inner circle. Tobin is forced to live a lie, deceiving not only his potential enemies but also his closest friends. But soon the time will come when Skala will have need of her true Queen. And as plague ravages the land, ancient enemies threaten war and the wizards who have traditionally protected Skala are mercilessly persecuted, it seems that day may be drawing near. Tobin must be ready to reveal her true identity and serve her country, whatever the personal cost.
572 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
May 21, 2011
Um...Ms. Flewelling...may I call you Lynn...okay, Ms. Flewelling...if you ever see this review, I want you to know that this rating/review is a reflection of MY FAILURE and not yours. I don’t think this is a bad book and I don’t think there are serious flaws in its execution. I think the lack of happy units I gained from this read is because sometimes I suck as a reader and pick up the wrong book at the wrong time. What I am trying to say is that it's me....not you.
Let me explain.
For me (and maybe for a lot of us) my enjoyment (and subsequent rating) of a book can be significantly affected by external matters completely outside of the novel itself. By this I mean situations where our mood or environment makes us more or less disposed to one kind of book over another. Now there are some books *cough* Twilight *cough* Dead and Alive*cough* All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder, Volume 1 *cough* that I would hate even if I was reading them while getting the Deluxe Treatment at “Happy Endings” Message Parlor. By the same token, there are books I would love even if I was reading them in the middle of colonoscopy (e.g., The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Blade Itself).
Then there are books that can just hit you at the right or wrong time and make an impact on you for good or for bad. For example, the first time I ever read The Dying Earth by Jack Vance I thought it was just okay, but not great. Why? Because I read it too fast. I had just finished a rather “brain draining” read and thought I was picking up something light and breezy that I could fly through. WRONG again!! Anyone who has read Vance knows that his books are not light and his prose can convey more info in a short paragraph than lesser writers could do in a whole chapter.
Luckily, I eventually stopped reading it like a tool and allowed myself to be pulled into the story. The result: a massive man-crush on Jack Vance and The Dying Earth is now one of my all time favorite books. So, it happens.
Simalarly, if you have seen my review of The Old Man and the Sea, you know that the circumstances under which I read it were as perfect as they could be and I absolutely fell in love with the story. Now, it is true that everything I loved about Papa’s fish tale is really there in the text, but if I had not been receptive to it, my experience might have been much different.
So what I am
And maybe...there are times when you just need to take a break from a genre even if it happens to be one of your favorites. I think this may be where I am heading with traditional epic fantasy. I can think of no other explanation for my lack of interest in this book.
Hidden Warrior is very well-written (Lynn...I mean Ms. Flewelling writes excellent prose). The characters are well-drawn, three-dimensional and the author genuinely breathes life into them. The plot takes on some very important and interesting issues regarding gender and sexual identity as it revolves around a main character who was born a girl but was “magically” transformed into a boy in order to protect her/him. In addition, there is a complex, detailed history, healthy amounts of political intrigue and a well defined and interesting magic system.
Yet, for all of that...I COULDN’T EVEN BEGIN TO CARE ABOUT THE PLOT…...not even a little bit...50 pages into the story and I was screaming at myself for not reading something else. Plus, I am one of those morons who once I begin a book, I will finish it (no matter how much I might desperately want to). I also don't skim which only adds to my pain sometimes.
So I struggled through this which was both a disservice to me and to your book Ly..uh...Ms Flewelling. Both you and your book deserved a better effort from me.
Still, I have to be honest and say that I didn’t really like the story. Thus, I am forced to slap a two star rating on it as the best I can do at this time. I just wanted to explain my rationale because I think this MAY BE a much better story than my rating would suggest and is certainly superior to the other 2 star books on my shelves.
I am going to put this on me list of “to re-read” and hope to come back to this story at some time in the future when I might be more receptive to the story. For now, 2.0 stars and one more heart-felt apology to you, Ms. Flewelling...
October 1, 2015
[7/10]
Hear the Dream of Hyradin. 'And so came the Beautiful One, the Eater of Death, to strip the bones of the world. First clothed in Man's Flesh it came, crowned with a dread helm of darkness and none could stand against this One but Four.
First shall be the Guardian, a vessel of light in the darkness. Then the Shaft and the Vanguard, who shall fail and yet not fail if the Guide, the Unseen One, goes forth. And at the last shall again be the Guardian, whose portion is bitter, bitter as gall when they meet under the Pillar of the Sky'
The second book of the Tamir Triad is governed, like the first one, by the inflexible rules of Prophecy. All is Predestination and the insignificant humans are just ants moving down paths already chosen by Gods. In the first book, a child is killed and another is hidden in plain sight in an effort to ensure compliance with a generations old dictum than only a Queen of the Royal line can save the land of Skala from destruction. To make their Will known, these cruel gods are not adverse to bring the seven plagues (war, famine, pestilence, etc) on the heads of the unfortunate people of the kingdom, all for the crime of being led by a man. Admittedly, this King Erius and his 'Waffen SS' chief wizard Nyrin are guilty of numerous atrocities and deserve to be brought down, but I still feel the misfortunes visited on the innocent bystanders were a bit over the top.
All of this was already established in book one, which followed closely the childhood of Tobin, the child of prophecy. Readers familiar with the fantasy genre know that it is customary for the second book in a trilogy to raise the stakes of the conflict between good and evil and to evolve from a personal quest to a world shattering cataclysm. Flewelling makes no exception to this unwritten rule, and that is why she comes up with the new prophecy that I have used to open the review.
This Gnomic Utterance (copyright Diana Wynne Jones) encapsulates the best and the worst that the genre has to offer. It will probably sound like gibberish to the uninitiated, but to the fans it is like that sign on the old maps : "Here be Dragons!", promising adventure, and a journey into wonder and danger. Likewise for me, the Tamir trilogy showcases the best and the worst that the fantasy genre has to offer:
On the plus side, Lynn Flewelling is doing a great job at characterization, continuing the study of sexual identity and of different kinds of discrimination : against magic users, against women, against the poor. The attention to detail that makes the reader care about the fate of Tobin, of squire Kirothius, of wizards Arkoniel, Iya and Lhel, is also slowing down the pace of the novel to a crawl, at least in the first half of this second book, as Tobin is still in training as a warrior and companion to the King's son and heir. Luckily for the more impatient reader, the action really takes off in the second half, where the author demonstrates that she can write battle scenes with as much ability as her character studies.
Still on the plus side is the magic system and the use of necromancy, although in the later battles, this magic tends to become generic fireballs and thunderstrikes. I have hopes of improvement and of more revelations about the magic system in the third book, where I expect the neighboring Plenimaran kingdom to play a greater role.
On the minus side, with so much importance given to prophecy, the plot becomes predictable and the much too clear separation between the heroes and the villains feels simplistic to the modern reader more used to shades of grey characters. The internal conflict of Tobin / Tamir is very well done, but it doesn't quite make up for the typecasting of the rest of the crowd.
Recommended to readers who enjoyed "The Bone Doll's Twin" - indeed it doesn't make any sense to start in the middle of the series, and to those who like traditional fantasy with young underdogs fighting evil overlords. I'm heading now into the third and last of the trilogy, expecting major battles against impossible odds and a lot of fun along the way.
Hear the Dream of Hyradin. 'And so came the Beautiful One, the Eater of Death, to strip the bones of the world. First clothed in Man's Flesh it came, crowned with a dread helm of darkness and none could stand against this One but Four.
First shall be the Guardian, a vessel of light in the darkness. Then the Shaft and the Vanguard, who shall fail and yet not fail if the Guide, the Unseen One, goes forth. And at the last shall again be the Guardian, whose portion is bitter, bitter as gall when they meet under the Pillar of the Sky'
The second book of the Tamir Triad is governed, like the first one, by the inflexible rules of Prophecy. All is Predestination and the insignificant humans are just ants moving down paths already chosen by Gods. In the first book, a child is killed and another is hidden in plain sight in an effort to ensure compliance with a generations old dictum than only a Queen of the Royal line can save the land of Skala from destruction. To make their Will known, these cruel gods are not adverse to bring the seven plagues (war, famine, pestilence, etc) on the heads of the unfortunate people of the kingdom, all for the crime of being led by a man. Admittedly, this King Erius and his 'Waffen SS' chief wizard Nyrin are guilty of numerous atrocities and deserve to be brought down, but I still feel the misfortunes visited on the innocent bystanders were a bit over the top.
All of this was already established in book one, which followed closely the childhood of Tobin, the child of prophecy. Readers familiar with the fantasy genre know that it is customary for the second book in a trilogy to raise the stakes of the conflict between good and evil and to evolve from a personal quest to a world shattering cataclysm. Flewelling makes no exception to this unwritten rule, and that is why she comes up with the new prophecy that I have used to open the review.
This Gnomic Utterance (copyright Diana Wynne Jones) encapsulates the best and the worst that the genre has to offer. It will probably sound like gibberish to the uninitiated, but to the fans it is like that sign on the old maps : "Here be Dragons!", promising adventure, and a journey into wonder and danger. Likewise for me, the Tamir trilogy showcases the best and the worst that the fantasy genre has to offer:
On the plus side, Lynn Flewelling is doing a great job at characterization, continuing the study of sexual identity and of different kinds of discrimination : against magic users, against women, against the poor. The attention to detail that makes the reader care about the fate of Tobin, of squire Kirothius, of wizards Arkoniel, Iya and Lhel, is also slowing down the pace of the novel to a crawl, at least in the first half of this second book, as Tobin is still in training as a warrior and companion to the King's son and heir. Luckily for the more impatient reader, the action really takes off in the second half, where the author demonstrates that she can write battle scenes with as much ability as her character studies.
Still on the plus side is the magic system and the use of necromancy, although in the later battles, this magic tends to become generic fireballs and thunderstrikes. I have hopes of improvement and of more revelations about the magic system in the third book, where I expect the neighboring Plenimaran kingdom to play a greater role.
On the minus side, with so much importance given to prophecy, the plot becomes predictable and the much too clear separation between the heroes and the villains feels simplistic to the modern reader more used to shades of grey characters. The internal conflict of Tobin / Tamir is very well done, but it doesn't quite make up for the typecasting of the rest of the crowd.
Recommended to readers who enjoyed "The Bone Doll's Twin" - indeed it doesn't make any sense to start in the middle of the series, and to those who like traditional fantasy with young underdogs fighting evil overlords. I'm heading now into the third and last of the trilogy, expecting major battles against impossible odds and a lot of fun along the way.
May 17, 2024
*** 4.29 ***
Good story, fine storytelling, and a ton of skeevy characters which need to die!
Good story, fine storytelling, and a ton of skeevy characters which need to die!
April 23, 2023
This series is probably the only one were I havent given any book more than three stars and I still want to continue. The themes and discussions are just that interesting and there is certainly something to the story that makes me want to know where it will go.
While book two isn't necessarily better than book one, which for me just had more stand out scenes and moments, it feels more balanced. It has left behind the uneveness of how dark some moments and how childfriendly others felt. While I still enjoy the slow pace of the book, it made its ending feel incredibly rushed and I still think it could have gotten deeper into the characters, though I really like them. It is a thoroughly enjoyable and intruiging book, but it's not using its full potential and could also be more engaging at times.
While book two isn't necessarily better than book one, which for me just had more stand out scenes and moments, it feels more balanced. It has left behind the uneveness of how dark some moments and how childfriendly others felt. While I still enjoy the slow pace of the book, it made its ending feel incredibly rushed and I still think it could have gotten deeper into the characters, though I really like them. It is a thoroughly enjoyable and intruiging book, but it's not using its full potential and could also be more engaging at times.
Read
September 13, 2016Readers new to the fantasy genre might do best to begin with THE BONE DOLL’S TWIN before trying this book, though Flewelling works hard at layering in needed backstory. But the world she has built is complex, and the action non-stop, which might make it difficult for a young reader, or someone just trying fantasy for the first time, to assemble all the clues quickly enough to stay with the headlong pace.
In HIDDEN WARRIOR Tobin, the protagonist, wakes up after a harrowing experience in which he discovered that he is really a she, but prisoned in a boy’s body. But this boy’s body is the body Tobin is used to, has lived in for twelve years! There is hardly time to brood over it, as there are serious problems all around: his squire and best friend is severely wounded, maybe dying; his horrible guardian wants him back under control; his uncle, the king, who ordered the deaths of all warrior women and their babies, might be coming back from the wars. And weaving eerily in and out of real life is Brother, the demonic ghost of Tobin’s dead twin, who is gaining powers of his own.
Tobin eventually has to go back to a capital city that is increasingly beset by extreme famine and plagues, as predicted by the practitioners of Skala’s oldest religion. Despite the Harriers, who are busily extirpating wizards (who are being blamed for Skala’s problems), the old magics are not only being preserved, but the mages are making discoveries that they are determined to use to come back, and put a queen back on the throne, as Skala is supposed to be ruled.
Tobin remembers every once in a while that that queen is he--a fact that is a real smack in the spirit, because he loves his cousin who is heir to the throne, and discovers he loves the king, when he finally does return, though sometimes the king’s moods are difficult.
What happens as Tobin and his friends pass from young teens to young men and women, and seasoned warriors, comprises the remainder of the book. They must train and discover sex; Tobin discovers history and philosophy and his own past; the wizards who protect and menace him work at their own goals. There are no Evil Emperors or one dimensional henchminions. All the people surrounding Tobin are fascinating and quite unpredictable characters.
Above all, Flewelling handles the gender questions with such skill that the reader really feels Tobin’s ambivalence.
There is a strong climax and enough resolution to satisfy the reader, while leaving enough threads dangling to entice the reader to the concluding volume.
September 29, 2012
Hidden Warrior
OR
Obvious Warrior, Hidden Vagina
I had trouble putting this book down. I knew how this book had to end, generally. I knew that going into this series. But knowing a general ending didn't stop me from wanting to see how it got there, to see how the characters react to every event, struggle through them, avoid getting into more trouble.
This is drama. This is what it does. Damn is it good when it's done well.
I like the delicate brush Flewelling uses to paint the gender issues in this one. There's more of it present in this novel, as Tobin is aware of the gender discrepancy. But its not over done, because he chooses to ignore the issue. But he can't escape it, running into it head long as everyone is growing up, coming into puberty, and the gender becomes the crux of so many interactions. There too are moments of longing for Tobin, which are followed by shame and fear. Yet, for all this, its handled delicately. The politics dominate the characters' thoughts, though the conspiracy dominates the books plot. The ending was satisfying, while still leaving a number of issues unraveled to be tackled later.
OR
Obvious Warrior, Hidden Vagina
I had trouble putting this book down. I knew how this book had to end, generally. I knew that going into this series. But knowing a general ending didn't stop me from wanting to see how it got there, to see how the characters react to every event, struggle through them, avoid getting into more trouble.
This is drama. This is what it does. Damn is it good when it's done well.
I like the delicate brush Flewelling uses to paint the gender issues in this one. There's more of it present in this novel, as Tobin is aware of the gender discrepancy. But its not over done, because he chooses to ignore the issue. But he can't escape it, running into it head long as everyone is growing up, coming into puberty, and the gender becomes the crux of so many interactions. There too are moments of longing for Tobin, which are followed by shame and fear. Yet, for all this, its handled delicately. The politics dominate the characters' thoughts, though the conspiracy dominates the books plot. The ending was satisfying, while still leaving a number of issues unraveled to be tackled later.
February 22, 2008
A worthy sequel to The Bone Doll's Twin. I didn't find it QUITE as wrenching and creepy as the first book, possibly because much of the mystery surrounding Tobin's and Brother's origins has been cleared up (and Tobin knows who and what he is, now). But this is an excellent middle book, and I am going to go insane if Flewelling doesn't get writing!
January 12, 2013
3.5 Originally posted at FanLit.
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Hidden Warrior is the second installment in Lynn Flewelling’s TAMIR TRIAD about Tobin, the rightful heir to the throne of Skala who is being magically hidden as a girl until it’s time for her to challenge the king. As this book begins, Tobin has just discovered the horrifying truth about himself, but he must still stay hidden until it’s time for the big reveal. He’s now living at the castle as a Companion to the prince. He’s nervous about the future because he genuinely likes his cousin, the presumed heir, and he is treated well by his uncle, though he occasionally sees glimpses of the king’s unpredictable bad temper and sees how he mistreats the wizards and others who speak against him or mention the prophecy about a hidden queen.
As Tobin nears puberty, he still thinks of himself as a boy, but his gender identity confusion begins to increase. He is noticeably smaller than the other boys, lacks facial hair, enjoys making jewelry, and has no interest in girls. Even though he excels at fighting and battle tactics, he’s also sensitive and squeamish about the king’s harsh punishment of “traitors.” Worst of all, he’s falling in love with his squire, Ki, who has no idea that Tobin is really a girl. Though the gender identity issue is the big theme in the TAMIR TRIAD, it’s handled gently, without any sort of preachiness.
Tobin has plenty of other things to worry about, too, such as Brother, who is becoming less controllable, the malicious man who acts as his guardian, and the scheming duke who is steward over his lands. There are other plots he doesn’t even know about yet, but that will surely affect him in the future. Meanwhile, the country begins to suffer from plague and there are murmurs about the prophesied queen who will set things right. The king and the prince show their cruel sides more often as their popularity wanes, and Tobin’s magical allies have had to go into hiding.
Flewelling’s story continues to entertain me, mostly because her world and characters are so well developed and I’ve come to sincerely care about Tobin’s plight. The simple plot isn’t quite hefty enough to carry three books, so this installment’s pace lags at times, sometimes feeling a little like the infamous “middle book.” There’s also a lot of angst that doesn’t quite feel gratuitous, but does fill a lot of page space. In general, though, I feel very forgiving about the pace because I like the story, though I think it helps that I read Hidden Warrior while leisurely working on a jigsaw puzzle during the couple of lazy days after Christmas.
Just like the previous book, The Bone Doll’s Twin, this one ends on an exciting cliffhanger. You’ll definitely want to have the third book, The Oracle’s Queen, ready to go. I’ve been listening to Victor Bevine narrate the audio version, which is very good.
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Hidden Warrior is the second installment in Lynn Flewelling’s TAMIR TRIAD about Tobin, the rightful heir to the throne of Skala who is being magically hidden as a girl until it’s time for her to challenge the king. As this book begins, Tobin has just discovered the horrifying truth about himself, but he must still stay hidden until it’s time for the big reveal. He’s now living at the castle as a Companion to the prince. He’s nervous about the future because he genuinely likes his cousin, the presumed heir, and he is treated well by his uncle, though he occasionally sees glimpses of the king’s unpredictable bad temper and sees how he mistreats the wizards and others who speak against him or mention the prophecy about a hidden queen.
As Tobin nears puberty, he still thinks of himself as a boy, but his gender identity confusion begins to increase. He is noticeably smaller than the other boys, lacks facial hair, enjoys making jewelry, and has no interest in girls. Even though he excels at fighting and battle tactics, he’s also sensitive and squeamish about the king’s harsh punishment of “traitors.” Worst of all, he’s falling in love with his squire, Ki, who has no idea that Tobin is really a girl. Though the gender identity issue is the big theme in the TAMIR TRIAD, it’s handled gently, without any sort of preachiness.
Tobin has plenty of other things to worry about, too, such as Brother, who is becoming less controllable, the malicious man who acts as his guardian, and the scheming duke who is steward over his lands. There are other plots he doesn’t even know about yet, but that will surely affect him in the future. Meanwhile, the country begins to suffer from plague and there are murmurs about the prophesied queen who will set things right. The king and the prince show their cruel sides more often as their popularity wanes, and Tobin’s magical allies have had to go into hiding.
Flewelling’s story continues to entertain me, mostly because her world and characters are so well developed and I’ve come to sincerely care about Tobin’s plight. The simple plot isn’t quite hefty enough to carry three books, so this installment’s pace lags at times, sometimes feeling a little like the infamous “middle book.” There’s also a lot of angst that doesn’t quite feel gratuitous, but does fill a lot of page space. In general, though, I feel very forgiving about the pace because I like the story, though I think it helps that I read Hidden Warrior while leisurely working on a jigsaw puzzle during the couple of lazy days after Christmas.
Just like the previous book, The Bone Doll’s Twin, this one ends on an exciting cliffhanger. You’ll definitely want to have the third book, The Oracle’s Queen, ready to go. I’ve been listening to Victor Bevine narrate the audio version, which is very good.
July 5, 2016
This review contains no spoilers if you have already read the first installment The Bone Doll's Twin. If you haven't read that and don't want it's plot spoiled, then what are you even doing reading this sequel review? Go away.
This story has a gay side-character, and the main character is gender-queer...ish (maybe that's the wrong word). But don't get excited.
Hidden Warrior is mainly concerned with how Prince Tobin deals with recently learned knowledge that he was born a girl, and was made to appear as a boy for protection. I think it's a really cool idea which had the potential to explore gender and identity.. but it fell short of my expectations.
The reason basically is this. Tobin has been written in such a way as to eventually be a cis-gendered, straight female in the end. Tobin's gender identity has nothing to do with him, and is treated as an absolute, external phenomenon. For example, it is quite clear that Tobin initially identifies as male because he has been raised as such, but his birth gender is presented in the book as his valid gender. He doesn't have a say in how he will eventually identify - as male, female, or somewhere in between. He will just return to being female, end of story (literally).
I got a bit excited when Tobin develops a crush on his male squire Ki and in his non-interest in girls and thought it had the potential to explore a bit about his own gender and sexuality preferences. But it didn't. And then I realised it was all a means to an end - so when Tobin becomes female, it is all nice and heterosexual and non-queer.
Also, the author treats gender as being innately linked to what's between your legs.
I really liked The Bone Doll's Twin because of all the spookiness in the story and the big plot twist at the end, and Hidden Warrior only needed small changes to make it much better. And it would've made a big difference.
This story has a gay side-character, and the main character is gender-queer...ish (maybe that's the wrong word). But don't get excited.
Hidden Warrior is mainly concerned with how Prince Tobin deals with recently learned knowledge that he was born a girl, and was made to appear as a boy for protection. I think it's a really cool idea which had the potential to explore gender and identity.. but it fell short of my expectations.
The reason basically is this. Tobin has been written in such a way as to eventually be a cis-gendered, straight female in the end. Tobin's gender identity has nothing to do with him, and is treated as an absolute, external phenomenon. For example, it is quite clear that Tobin initially identifies as male because he has been raised as such, but his birth gender is presented in the book as his valid gender. He doesn't have a say in how he will eventually identify - as male, female, or somewhere in between. He will just return to being female, end of story (literally).
I got a bit excited when Tobin develops a crush on his male squire Ki and in his non-interest in girls and thought it had the potential to explore a bit about his own gender and sexuality preferences. But it didn't. And then I realised it was all a means to an end - so when Tobin becomes female, it is all nice and heterosexual and non-queer.
Also, the author treats gender as being innately linked to what's between your legs.
I really liked The Bone Doll's Twin because of all the spookiness in the story and the big plot twist at the end, and Hidden Warrior only needed small changes to make it much better. And it would've made a big difference.
May 5, 2018
Starts off a bit slow, and I was worried the book might suffer from Second in the series syndrome. But it picks up and is quite a good read. We are left hanging as to what comes next though.
August 16, 2020
Druhý díl začíná přímo tam, kde ten první skončil, takže je rozhodně lepší pokud u sebe máte všechni knížky, abyste mohli pokračovat ve čtení. Tobin zjistil kým skutečně je a od toho se odvíjí druhá kniha. Je tu více magie, intrik, bitev, napětí a stále tu byly scény, které byly poměrně nechutné . Máme tu i párkrát pohled Niryna, který nám trochu podkrývá své plány.
Čtení rychle utíkalo, Ki a Tobin jsou stále moji oblíbenci a prostě se už nemůžu dočkat až si přečtu závěrečný díl!
Čtení rychle utíkalo, Ki a Tobin jsou stále moji oblíbenci a prostě se už nemůžu dočkat až si přečtu závěrečný díl!
October 21, 2018
I thought this was a duology. Apparently not. ON TO BOOK THREE!!! Wooo!
June 11, 2021
This book is... compelling. Compelling enough that even though it is clearly a middle book, and doesn't really have a strong plot arc in and of itself, I still devoured it. Compelling enough that before I'd even finished it I went and requested the third book on interlibrary loan.
And yet.
I think if I'd read this series closer to when they actually came out, in the early 2000s, the handling of Tamir/Tobin's gender would have been eye-opening. Reading it in 2021, as a queer adult with friends all across a wide spectrum of gender identities, it just feels incomplete.
This is a rich premise when it comes to examining gender, and yet it's weirdly a nonissue. Tobin - which is the name I'm going to use for this review because it's how the character is referred to through most of the book - has a few scattered moments of contemplating what it would be like to be a woman, how things would be different, but by and large is more worried about the idea of claiming the throne. When the actual transformation occurs, the third-person limited narration uses he/him to refer to Tobin right up until their breasts are revealed:
(Emphasis mine)
Later, there's a brief period in Tobin's POV which continues to use he/him pronouns, before switching over when Tobin sees their reflection.
And it's just... not really commented on much beyond that. Body is made equivalent to gender; Tobin doesn't really seem attached to an identity either way. It feels more like a story about an agender character than anything else, which doesn't really fit with the importance of Skala's line of queens, and the lack of examination doesn't help. The whole idea of gender and identity is at once central to the story and completely understated. It's jarring.
I continue to be interested to see how Tobin adapts to being Tamir, and I will be reading the last book, but I'll also probably still be daydreaming about a version of this series written and published in the (somewhat) more gender-diverse society of 2021.
And yet.
I think if I'd read this series closer to when they actually came out, in the early 2000s, the handling of Tamir/Tobin's gender would have been eye-opening. Reading it in 2021, as a queer adult with friends all across a wide spectrum of gender identities, it just feels incomplete.
This is a rich premise when it comes to examining gender, and yet it's weirdly a nonissue. Tobin - which is the name I'm going to use for this review because it's how the character is referred to through most of the book - has a few scattered moments of contemplating what it would be like to be a woman, how things would be different, but by and large is more worried about the idea of claiming the throne. When the actual transformation occurs, the third-person limited narration uses he/him to refer to Tobin right up until their breasts are revealed:
The old skin that had covered his chest was pulled tight, bulging like-
Like a maiden's bodice.
Shivering, Tobin stripped the old husk away and stared down at her small breasts.
(Emphasis mine)
Later, there's a brief period in Tobin's POV which continues to use he/him pronouns, before switching over when Tobin sees their reflection.
And it's just... not really commented on much beyond that. Body is made equivalent to gender; Tobin doesn't really seem attached to an identity either way. It feels more like a story about an agender character than anything else, which doesn't really fit with the importance of Skala's line of queens, and the lack of examination doesn't help. The whole idea of gender and identity is at once central to the story and completely understated. It's jarring.
I continue to be interested to see how Tobin adapts to being Tamir, and I will be reading the last book, but I'll also probably still be daydreaming about a version of this series written and published in the (somewhat) more gender-diverse society of 2021.
April 17, 2012
The second novel in The Tamir Triad trilogy loses none of the charm of the first. In fact, it makes an already intriguing world downright amazing. I loved how the characters are developed and the faint stirrings of romance between the two main characters promises that the conclusion to the trilogy will pack a punch in more than one way.
So the pace continued in its languid manner and I'm not gonna lie, I did for a minute or two wish they could just hurry up and get the reveal over with. However, at the end of the novel I was glad that Flewelling took the time she did because it has more momentum when it happens the way it did. I was surprised by how Korin's character was developed and I thought that Flewelling's careful attention to the grey in a person's character was well done. The novel is populated by such wonderful characters that I wouldn't mind reading all their individual stories. There's Lutha and Nikides, Una, Ahra - it is actually an awesome compliment from me (ahem ahem) that I remember the names of the characters in the book because usually I don't even remember the name of the main character.
And this book won my love by having cats being mini characters. I am a cat person (future cat lady? ha) and Flewelling's portrayal of the felines was entertaining. Of course, on the other side of it, Niryn became slimier than ever. What is he doing with that Nalia? Okay, I'll stop pretending this is a review because honestly, I just want to talk about the book. I thought that Tobin going naked in front of all those people took balls he didn't have. I understood why it had to be done and I don't even have to any trouble with it. I just thought it interesting.
Oh also, I hope Flewelling keeps Tobin/Tamir as ordinary as possible and not, you know, on a pedestal. That would interfere with the original dynamic too much and I don't know...I kinda like it the way it is right now. I am not looking forward to see what that wizard has up his sleeve but I am looking forward to seeing how Ki copes with a female best friend.
So the pace continued in its languid manner and I'm not gonna lie, I did for a minute or two wish they could just hurry up and get the reveal over with. However, at the end of the novel I was glad that Flewelling took the time she did because it has more momentum when it happens the way it did. I was surprised by how Korin's character was developed and I thought that Flewelling's careful attention to the grey in a person's character was well done. The novel is populated by such wonderful characters that I wouldn't mind reading all their individual stories. There's Lutha and Nikides, Una, Ahra - it is actually an awesome compliment from me (ahem ahem) that I remember the names of the characters in the book because usually I don't even remember the name of the main character.
And this book won my love by having cats being mini characters. I am a cat person (future cat lady? ha) and Flewelling's portrayal of the felines was entertaining. Of course, on the other side of it, Niryn became slimier than ever. What is he doing with that Nalia? Okay, I'll stop pretending this is a review because honestly, I just want to talk about the book. I thought that Tobin going naked in front of all those people took balls he didn't have. I understood why it had to be done and I don't even have to any trouble with it. I just thought it interesting.
Oh also, I hope Flewelling keeps Tobin/Tamir as ordinary as possible and not, you know, on a pedestal. That would interfere with the original dynamic too much and I don't know...I kinda like it the way it is right now. I am not looking forward to see what that wizard has up his sleeve but I am looking forward to seeing how Ki copes with a female best friend.
January 18, 2016
I am really enjoying this series. I don't know why no one on my friends list here has read it or even marked it as "to read" - maybe this is just an unknown author? This series (so far) is reminiscent of the first Farseer trilogy. Both series start out with boys growing up in a royal household, training for their "destiny", and they both have important/powerful adult protectors. Both stories have a good plot, and great characters. The friendship between Tobin and Ki reminds me of the Fitz and Fool friendship.
March 15, 2011
This is my kind of blend.. Fantasy, drama, action and a great prose closing some of the plot threads before the end is even near.
Did I mention this trilogy deserved to be in between Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey's in your shelves?
Did I mention this trilogy deserved to be in between Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey's in your shelves?
June 3, 2015
I recently re-read this novel with hopes to have a chance to give it a better review this time.
(More to come tomorrow!!)
(More to come tomorrow!!)
May 16, 2020
This book was interesting. It was extremely weird and gross but also good at the same time! It was faster paced than the first book so I liked it better, and the story definitely progressed in good ways. I like most of the characters and enjoy the way this book was written. I am looking forward to reading the next one.
July 4, 2018
9/10
So many intertwining plot lines in a very well-told story.
So many intertwining plot lines in a very well-told story.
September 24, 2024
3.5
Nice, slow coming of age novel, but it does lose its spooky vibe from the first book
Nice, slow coming of age novel, but it does lose its spooky vibe from the first book
February 17, 2014
I thought this whole series was brilliant. I've never been what anyone would call a fast reader, but this book was so riveting that I read it (550 pages) in 8 days. That is somewhat of a record for me! Recommend wholeheartedly to any who love epic fantasy. This one has plenty of swords and sorcery but with many unique twists. Just traditional enough to hit the spot, but not so traditional that you feel you've read it all before. Also has a uniquely "spooky" sensibility that will appeal to those who are interested in supernatural phenomenon (ghosts, hauntings, etc.). I really can't say enough about Lynn Flewelling's writing and character development. She had me on the edge of my seat!
May 8, 2014
The second book is definitely slower than the first, as with most trilogies. The story line is still fast and dramatic, but it lacked the chilling allure that made the first book so exhilarating. The ending is satisfactory even with the little cliff hanger the author throws in in the last chapter. As I proceed to the last book, I wonder what else is there to talk about.
January 31, 2021
madre bendita del cielo santísimo
April 28, 2019
I can't decide between a 3 or a 4 star for this one. Yes, I definitely liked it but did I really, really like it? I'm not so sure.... so I guess it has to be a 3.5 star (which of course we can't show - sigh).
It's a good, solid fantasy, fulfilling the sword and sorcery criteria; the main characters are convincing and likeable enough but it just feels as though a tiny 'something' is missing... it seems to lack a bit of umph!
However, I'm interested enough to finish the trilogy and I would recommend these books to lovers of the genre.
It's a good, solid fantasy, fulfilling the sword and sorcery criteria; the main characters are convincing and likeable enough but it just feels as though a tiny 'something' is missing... it seems to lack a bit of umph!
However, I'm interested enough to finish the trilogy and I would recommend these books to lovers of the genre.
April 19, 2020
Diving back into the story, the characters feel already like family.
I adore the prose and the characters in this unique and classic setting.
It is a slow moving book and a great change of pace compared to most modern actionpacked, twisty and rollercoasting novels. Maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much. Another reason might be that the writing reminds me of Robin Hobb, which is a great compliment and gets me all nostalgic.
I think there was more happening in book 1 overall, but in book 2 the characters grew even more on me.
I'm looking forward to what the finale has in store for me.
I adore the prose and the characters in this unique and classic setting.
It is a slow moving book and a great change of pace compared to most modern actionpacked, twisty and rollercoasting novels. Maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much. Another reason might be that the writing reminds me of Robin Hobb, which is a great compliment and gets me all nostalgic.
I think there was more happening in book 1 overall, but in book 2 the characters grew even more on me.
I'm looking forward to what the finale has in store for me.
July 31, 2018
This was surprisingly good for a second-in-the-series novel, lots of action and intrigue that kept going until the big reveal at the end.
Looking forward to #3!
Looking forward to #3!
January 4, 2023
i should really try to slow down and savor these
February 10, 2024
Absolute chef's kiss.
May 20, 2025
I am once again left with many mixed feelings. I love the premise but it feels that there is often just too much of the day to day that when something big finally happens to move the plot forward, it loses some of the excitement. that being said I am invested enough in the story that I shall be reading the final installment.
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