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One Rose Trilogy #1
The Compass Rose
The legends of the Godstruck were just that -- legends. Until, in an attempt to defend her people, Captain Kallista Varyl called on the One for aid and was granted abilities such as no one had seen in centuries. Now Kallista has been charged with a new destiny as one of the most powerful women in the land -- but her power is useless if it cannot be controlled. Mastering her "Godstruck" abilities is the first step. The next, learning that she cannot unlock the secrets of the Compass Rose and defeat her nation's enemy alone. And finally she must stop a demon-possessed king . . .
458 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
30 people are currently reading
1491 people want to read
About the author
Gail Dayton
25 books216 followersI've been a fan of fantasy, science fiction, fairy tales and other "books of wonder" since I was young enough, I still thought kissing was icky. Then I grew up and decided I liked a strong dose of romance in the mix.
I live on the Texas coast with my fella of 30-plus years, our youngest son (who should be graduating college this semester) and the granddog Dolly, a princess wussy pitbull mix who lets the cockapoo down the street beat her up.
I live on the Texas coast with my fella of 30-plus years, our youngest son (who should be graduating college this semester) and the granddog Dolly, a princess wussy pitbull mix who lets the cockapoo down the street beat her up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 4, 2008
Nice try, but de-evolves into magic orgies.
October 16, 2012
ORIGINAL READ: 10/10 (8 October 2005 - 10 October 2005)
[Copied across from Library Thing; 16 October 2012]
REREAD #1: 8/10 (finished 15 January 2010)
Originally published in 2005, The Compass Rose was one of the early books in Harlequin's Luna range. The idea was to publish fantasy novels with a light touch of romance and I rather enjoyed the early days of the line, including this one. Its sequel, The Barbed Rose, came out a year later and I enjoyed that one too. Unfortunately, at that point Luna dropped the trilogy. The final book, The Eternal Rose, wasn't published until late 2007 when Juno picked it up.
That means that I bought and devoured the first two, but had a longer than expected wait for the third. And for some reason I can not now remember (probably just that I didn't get around to it) I never read that third book. I always wanted to, but as more time went by and my memories of the first ones grew vaguer and vaguer (and reading paper books got harder and harder for me) it just became too big a job and I didn't finish the trilogy.
Recently, all three books were rereleased as ebooks. Hooray! I bought them on the spot (yet more books I have in paper and electronic versions) and decided to reread the first two before finally tackling the third.
So how was the reread?
I enjoyed discovering the world again. I remember the basics, but there was so much detail I had forgotten that it was almost like a new read.
Dayton's matriarchal society surprised me a few times as I'd forgotten how dominant it was. I found myself feeling outraged on behalf of the male characters, which interested me as they are treated no worse (and often better) that any woman in a standard patriarchal-focused fantasy. And I accept that because I'm so used to it. But this switch kept suprising me. And yet, I don't think Dayton did it at all for shock value, but because that was part of the tale she had to tell.
The main things I had remembered was the enemy Kallista was fighting and the Adaran social custom of binding several people (up to twelve) into a form of group marriage. That is a major part of the story, again not for shock value, but because a group of people find themselves bound together not really by choice but at the will of the Goddess. They then have to learn how to live together, how to care for each other and how to love each other.
There is a lot of focus on choice in this book. On how much choice individuals really have and what exactly it might mean. I found this a little ironic (in a good way) as all the main characters made a huge choice at the beginning to open themselves up to the will of the Goddess and then fought desperately to avoid that little choices that were demanded by that freely given big one.
The heroine, Kallista, is especially guilty of this. She basically says "Your will be done" early in the book and then stubbornly fights the consequences of that until right at the end of the book, when she realises what she's doing and opens herself up again. Kallista is an appealing character, which made this stubborness frustrating rather than annoying, but I did occasionally find myself wishing she'd just get over it and get on with things. All the same, her reasons are logical (at least to her) and it is something she needs to work through.
The other members of her bound family, or ilian, are four males and another woman, making for a total of six. They are all well drawn, although having so many main characters does require careful sharing of on-page time for each of the secondary five on Dayton's part. On the whole she does it well. I feel like I know all of Kallista's ilian and I certainly want things to work out for all of them.
The villian in this novel is, in many ways, rather small and easily defeated. The book is about the main six characters and how they learn to cope with their destiny and each other. The "baddies" will be showing up in more detail in the second book as I recall, and I have no idea about the last book as I know very little about it. This is clearly a "setup" book, with the main plot threads coming in its sequels. This is not a complaint, as it is instead a lovely character novel which also clearly establishes the plot conflict to come.
I am looking foward to reread The Barbed Rose and finally getting to The Eternal Rose.
[Copied across from Library Thing; 16 October 2012]
REREAD #1: 8/10 (finished 15 January 2010)
Originally published in 2005, The Compass Rose was one of the early books in Harlequin's Luna range. The idea was to publish fantasy novels with a light touch of romance and I rather enjoyed the early days of the line, including this one. Its sequel, The Barbed Rose, came out a year later and I enjoyed that one too. Unfortunately, at that point Luna dropped the trilogy. The final book, The Eternal Rose, wasn't published until late 2007 when Juno picked it up.
That means that I bought and devoured the first two, but had a longer than expected wait for the third. And for some reason I can not now remember (probably just that I didn't get around to it) I never read that third book. I always wanted to, but as more time went by and my memories of the first ones grew vaguer and vaguer (and reading paper books got harder and harder for me) it just became too big a job and I didn't finish the trilogy.
Recently, all three books were rereleased as ebooks. Hooray! I bought them on the spot (yet more books I have in paper and electronic versions) and decided to reread the first two before finally tackling the third.
So how was the reread?
I enjoyed discovering the world again. I remember the basics, but there was so much detail I had forgotten that it was almost like a new read.
Dayton's matriarchal society surprised me a few times as I'd forgotten how dominant it was. I found myself feeling outraged on behalf of the male characters, which interested me as they are treated no worse (and often better) that any woman in a standard patriarchal-focused fantasy. And I accept that because I'm so used to it. But this switch kept suprising me. And yet, I don't think Dayton did it at all for shock value, but because that was part of the tale she had to tell.
The main things I had remembered was the enemy Kallista was fighting and the Adaran social custom of binding several people (up to twelve) into a form of group marriage. That is a major part of the story, again not for shock value, but because a group of people find themselves bound together not really by choice but at the will of the Goddess. They then have to learn how to live together, how to care for each other and how to love each other.
There is a lot of focus on choice in this book. On how much choice individuals really have and what exactly it might mean. I found this a little ironic (in a good way) as all the main characters made a huge choice at the beginning to open themselves up to the will of the Goddess and then fought desperately to avoid that little choices that were demanded by that freely given big one.
The heroine, Kallista, is especially guilty of this. She basically says "Your will be done" early in the book and then stubbornly fights the consequences of that until right at the end of the book, when she realises what she's doing and opens herself up again. Kallista is an appealing character, which made this stubborness frustrating rather than annoying, but I did occasionally find myself wishing she'd just get over it and get on with things. All the same, her reasons are logical (at least to her) and it is something she needs to work through.
The other members of her bound family, or ilian, are four males and another woman, making for a total of six. They are all well drawn, although having so many main characters does require careful sharing of on-page time for each of the secondary five on Dayton's part. On the whole she does it well. I feel like I know all of Kallista's ilian and I certainly want things to work out for all of them.
The villian in this novel is, in many ways, rather small and easily defeated. The book is about the main six characters and how they learn to cope with their destiny and each other. The "baddies" will be showing up in more detail in the second book as I recall, and I have no idea about the last book as I know very little about it. This is clearly a "setup" book, with the main plot threads coming in its sequels. This is not a complaint, as it is instead a lovely character novel which also clearly establishes the plot conflict to come.
I am looking foward to reread The Barbed Rose and finally getting to The Eternal Rose.
August 11, 2007
This book started out wonderfully. the first two characters to be introduced were interesting and complex, the world was well-put together, The author threw in an interesting supernatural twist....and then it flopped. It was as though she simply couldn't get from point a to point b and keep things intersting. It became WAY too much about sex and WAY too much about Kalista. She was already egotistical and the story in the book just encouraged her. Everything revolved around Kalista. Blich.
This author has promising world-building skills but needs to work on her motivations, make her plots more complicated and keep her sex drive out of her books. Glad I read this one at the library.
This author has promising world-building skills but needs to work on her motivations, make her plots more complicated and keep her sex drive out of her books. Glad I read this one at the library.
July 1, 2011
Ahh! At last I found the kind of smut I've been looking for in a book. Very much in the fantasy/alternate universe genre. Romantic without being unduly insulting to the reader's intelligence. Plenty of sex (the language is more romantic than graphic) and an adventure at it's core.
AND as an added bonus - it contains NO vampires!! (Hooray!)
The book features polyamory, multiple-marriage, group sex, and some very very mild elements of same-gender sex and bondage. I should say that if you're looking for gay erotica or bdsm, you probably won't like this book. We're talking hints here people - not full on pony-boys on parade.
I really enjoyed this book - it was pure fantasy, easy on the brain, titillating, good story, good characterizations, tawdry, but not smutty enough to make a person feel guilty for reading it. If you like fantasy and are looking for a good sexy beach read - I highly recommend giving it a try.
AND as an added bonus - it contains NO vampires!! (Hooray!)
The book features polyamory, multiple-marriage, group sex, and some very very mild elements of same-gender sex and bondage. I should say that if you're looking for gay erotica or bdsm, you probably won't like this book. We're talking hints here people - not full on pony-boys on parade.
I really enjoyed this book - it was pure fantasy, easy on the brain, titillating, good story, good characterizations, tawdry, but not smutty enough to make a person feel guilty for reading it. If you like fantasy and are looking for a good sexy beach read - I highly recommend giving it a try.
November 8, 2012
Have you ever read a book that immediately wrapped you up in its magic and refused to let you go? That's what happened to me with Gail Dayton's THE COMPASS ROSE, the first in the One Rose Trilogy. From amazing characterizations to a world unlike any you've read about before, this book takes you straight into the heart of the story and makes you a part of the action, the mystery, the romance, and the unimaginable magic that is the nation of Adara.
Kallista Varyl is a Captain in the Adaran army, a woman intent on saving her city from the invading warriors of their neighboring kingdom, Tibre. The army of Tibre, unlike that of Adara, relies on man-made instruments such as guns and cannons to win its battles, instead of the magic that Kallista and her people use. Now, though, outnumbered over ten to one, magic doesn't seem to be enough-until Kallista, in desperation, calls upon a power that was thought to be only legend, and changes the course of history.
Kallista, beyond being a warrior, is also a naitan, a magic wielder. Some have even called her a witch. But her normal magic powers aren't enough to out-battle and out-smart the hordes of the Tibre army, and so she calls upon the One Goddess, something that her kingdom's myths and legends are made of. Only it wasn't a legend, as after calling upon the powers that be, the entire Tibre army is struck dead where they stand-all, that is, except for Stone, a warrior who stirs within Kallista feelings she's never before experienced.
Now she's conquered the rival Tibre warriors, but she's left with even more questions than answers. With a mysterious mark on her neck and the brooding Stone, Kallista faces her elders-only to find out that she's been Godstruck, an occurrence that hasn't happened in her nation for over a thousand years. With power beyond belief, Kallista must learn to control the magic that has made her the fulfillment of a prophecy, for she is now the one destined to save her people from the Tibre, and their demon-possessed king.
As if defeating the evil king and harnessing her powers weren't enough, the ruler of Adara decrees that all six Godstruck players, not limited to Kallista and Stone, marry and form an instant magical family. They're then ordered to infiltrate the kingdom of Tibre to overthrow its king, and everything that such a coup entails.
Gail Dayton has created a magical world unlike anything I've ever experienced. The strange sense of family that abounds in Adara becomes understandable as the story unfolds. The bond that Kallista and Stone share goes beyond mere passion and intertwines with their combined magic. The secondary characters in this book are so real that without them, the book wouldn't be the same. I can honestly say that I'm eagerly anticipating the continuation of this story with the release of THE BARBED ROSE.
Kallista Varyl is a Captain in the Adaran army, a woman intent on saving her city from the invading warriors of their neighboring kingdom, Tibre. The army of Tibre, unlike that of Adara, relies on man-made instruments such as guns and cannons to win its battles, instead of the magic that Kallista and her people use. Now, though, outnumbered over ten to one, magic doesn't seem to be enough-until Kallista, in desperation, calls upon a power that was thought to be only legend, and changes the course of history.
Kallista, beyond being a warrior, is also a naitan, a magic wielder. Some have even called her a witch. But her normal magic powers aren't enough to out-battle and out-smart the hordes of the Tibre army, and so she calls upon the One Goddess, something that her kingdom's myths and legends are made of. Only it wasn't a legend, as after calling upon the powers that be, the entire Tibre army is struck dead where they stand-all, that is, except for Stone, a warrior who stirs within Kallista feelings she's never before experienced.
Now she's conquered the rival Tibre warriors, but she's left with even more questions than answers. With a mysterious mark on her neck and the brooding Stone, Kallista faces her elders-only to find out that she's been Godstruck, an occurrence that hasn't happened in her nation for over a thousand years. With power beyond belief, Kallista must learn to control the magic that has made her the fulfillment of a prophecy, for she is now the one destined to save her people from the Tibre, and their demon-possessed king.
As if defeating the evil king and harnessing her powers weren't enough, the ruler of Adara decrees that all six Godstruck players, not limited to Kallista and Stone, marry and form an instant magical family. They're then ordered to infiltrate the kingdom of Tibre to overthrow its king, and everything that such a coup entails.
Gail Dayton has created a magical world unlike anything I've ever experienced. The strange sense of family that abounds in Adara becomes understandable as the story unfolds. The bond that Kallista and Stone share goes beyond mere passion and intertwines with their combined magic. The secondary characters in this book are so real that without them, the book wouldn't be the same. I can honestly say that I'm eagerly anticipating the continuation of this story with the release of THE BARBED ROSE.
January 28, 2018
First read: October 2011
So I only had vague memories of reading this book and I'm so glad I went back and re-read it. I'm seven years wiser (lol) and am reading the story with different eyes. I paid more attention to the relationship dynamics and I have to say I enjoyed this story more the second time around. I plan on reading the rest of the trilogy soon - I want to see how things progress and what further threat is out there.
Action wise - I loved the magic and the bonding and how chosen ones are 'marked.'
So I only had vague memories of reading this book and I'm so glad I went back and re-read it. I'm seven years wiser (lol) and am reading the story with different eyes. I paid more attention to the relationship dynamics and I have to say I enjoyed this story more the second time around. I plan on reading the rest of the trilogy soon - I want to see how things progress and what further threat is out there.
Action wise - I loved the magic and the bonding and how chosen ones are 'marked.'
August 11, 2008
Liked the book overall, but the writing just wasn't very tight in places. She had a really good opportunity to explore the concept of ilian, and just didn't - she opted for titillation over world-building. I'm not sure she really know where she wanted to take the book. I read the two follow-ups and was a bit disappointed; she had a fantastic idea but the story just got away from her. It would have benefited by being twice as long and twice as detailed. Oh well.
January 9, 2025
This is one of my comfort reads and has been for years. I love the world and the magic Dayton built so much. I love the characters and the relationships that are always twisting and changing throughout the whole trilogy.
April 2, 2015
I was enthralled with this book from the first chapter, and read through it in barely two days. The characters, the world-building, and the relationships they build were riveting.
Kallista is a practitioner of magic which she uses to defend her mainly matriarchal kingdom as part of the army.
When defending against an invading army she calls upon a divine power to aid her and becomes Godstruck, chosen for a greater purpose. From there we have wandering ghosts, a matriarchal society, a power most think is evil, her conflicting relationships with her illian, a family unit made up of many people, and a group called the barbed rose who seem to want her dead.
The story does contain relationships that involve more than one person, but done in such a way that it's believable and adds to the story. The matriarchal society that rules is fascinating, but I did feel for the men who were kept in lower power. This society is such a contrast to the Tibran caste system that puts women right at the bottom as good only for children and relief for men, it was a point that her Tibran comrades found difficult to grasp, but they seemed to prefer.
I will be reading the two remaining books in the trilogy, and couldn't recommend it more for someone who wants a strong female protagonist, and is fond of unusual love stories.
Kallista is a practitioner of magic which she uses to defend her mainly matriarchal kingdom as part of the army.
When defending against an invading army she calls upon a divine power to aid her and becomes Godstruck, chosen for a greater purpose. From there we have wandering ghosts, a matriarchal society, a power most think is evil, her conflicting relationships with her illian, a family unit made up of many people, and a group called the barbed rose who seem to want her dead.
The story does contain relationships that involve more than one person, but done in such a way that it's believable and adds to the story. The matriarchal society that rules is fascinating, but I did feel for the men who were kept in lower power. This society is such a contrast to the Tibran caste system that puts women right at the bottom as good only for children and relief for men, it was a point that her Tibran comrades found difficult to grasp, but they seemed to prefer.
I will be reading the two remaining books in the trilogy, and couldn't recommend it more for someone who wants a strong female protagonist, and is fond of unusual love stories.
May 20, 2009
An interesting introduction to the complex society that governs the country of Adara which has a military system that includes women in positions of power and wielders of magic called naitans along with their respective bodyguards challenged by other countries such as Tibre which disdains magic use in favor of mechanical and scientific methods and consider women to be incapable of holding positions of authority. Various denizens of each country discover that they have to shed their preconceived notions and accept the fate that a mysterious omniscient power has conferred upon them while they try to rid the world of the demons that incite violence and chaos. An intriguing tale that keeps adding new players to the mix while only revealing parts of the quest that begins with the naitan Kallista Varyl developing fantastical powers and follows her while she becomes a pied piper to various different inhabitants of her world.
March 12, 2011
I'd almost forgotten about this book until I saw it again while scanning a romance shelf. I kind of wish it were forgotten still.
While it's been a few years, I still remember a lot of what I felt about this book. It started well; the drama of the war, the conflict of Kalista's emerging powers, and the friction between her and her companions were all interesting and compelling...
...and then it all just fell apart.
The plot was lost in the wake of Kalista's numerous romantic interests. The world became a stereotypical high fantasy landscape. After nearly five hundred pages, the climax took less than ten.
The only reason I read it through was because I was 16 and there were copious orgy scenes. And even with the hormonal compulsion, I was still thoroughly disappointed.
While it's been a few years, I still remember a lot of what I felt about this book. It started well; the drama of the war, the conflict of Kalista's emerging powers, and the friction between her and her companions were all interesting and compelling...
...and then it all just fell apart.
The plot was lost in the wake of Kalista's numerous romantic interests. The world became a stereotypical high fantasy landscape. After nearly five hundred pages, the climax took less than ten.
The only reason I read it through was because I was 16 and there were copious orgy scenes. And even with the hormonal compulsion, I was still thoroughly disappointed.
May 31, 2011
Read the first few chapters and loved the world she was building, until it took an unexpected twist into orgies and just plain ridiculousness. Uhm, no thank you.
January 19, 2022
I'm a feminist, not a misandrist, but it was a little cathartic reading a book set in a matriarchy ngl. Also greatly enjoy a society where polyamory is the norm. Yes, there are magic orgies, so what? There's also a lot of love, a lot of learning how to be considerate of other cultures, of triggers and boundaries being respected, of unlearning your own prejudice, and lot of parent/family stuff later in the series. Archaic to consider a series bad just because it includes sex -- it's a part of life, and plenty of the sex is used for character development anyway. Also, who tf doesn't like a magic orgy now and then.
June 18, 2025
The Compass Rose is an intriguing story about a place where magic links people creating a "family" where the person everyone is linked to is empowered by their bonds enabling the "family" to be more and do more than if they had remained as individuals.
July 30, 2018
Fantasy with silly romance aspects and some hilarious moments. But it's nice to see the harem be populated by men for once.
July 21, 2019
A very good story that keeps you wanting to read more and not put it down! Well worth the trouble of finding the book and reading it.
September 24, 2019
I liked how unique this story was. I did feel that some bits were a bit rushed and I wasn’t overly impressed with the characters. I also thought the ending was way too easy.
October 18, 2024
Top comment is right. 5 stars.
Actually though, this is such a fun series full of silly little conversations, whole-hearted relationships, and just enough magic and plot to tie it all together.
Actually though, this is such a fun series full of silly little conversations, whole-hearted relationships, and just enough magic and plot to tie it all together.
October 26, 2025
Consistent story centered around a magically bound grouping opposing an invasive force.
February 2, 2012
If you like your fantasies hot with eroticism and tingling with mysterious magic, then you’ll want to delve into Gail Dayton’s fantasy debut.
The author of two previous romance titles, Dayton has penned the start of a fantasy trilogy replete with clashing societies, powerful magic, frightful enemies, and spooky dreams. And did I mention sex? Yes, lots and lots of sex. And talking about sex. And thinking about sex. But we’ve already established this is a romantic fantasy, right? So none of us can be too abashed or surprised at the naked bodies or the formations they take.
The Compass Rose takes us into the heart of Captain Kallista, a military mage—known in her land as a naitan. It is a land where one in five women are born with magical powers as are one in ten men. This imbalance has made the society a matriarchal one where men have had to fight for the same recognition and respect afforded their female citizens. They are fighting against warriors from a caste-driven land where women are mere property—property owned by whatever man makes demands of them.
Amidst a battle where the medieval matriarchy is faced with the sudden onslaught of gunpowder technology, Kallista calls upon the One God and is struck with a magic that hasn’t been seen for centuries. The magic obliterates the enemy and leaves her charged with forces she does not understand.
The priests send her to the capital so that the ruler can try to discover what her powers mean. She is not the only one touched by the God, though, and others are drawn to her to supply her with the magic she needs to defeat the demons that threaten the land.
Dayton draws upon many traditional elements of fantasy to create her tale. She establishes a world in which magic replaces much of technology and then threatens its citizens with those who shun magic. There are visions and prophecies, mysterious helpers, strict social codes, and strong religious themes. Relationships are polyamorous, with a wedded family containing multiple men and women all of whom are bound to each other and arrange sexual relationships in whatever way they prefer.
Like all Luna books, The Compass Rose also has a strong woman as the central character. Kallista is extremely well-drawn and grows in both wisdom and understanding throughout the book. She’s all the more interesting because she has her flaws and must face those flaws before they are able to block her from her goal.
Dayton’s biggest strength is her characterizations. All of the book’s characters are interesting and come with their unique set of motivations and needs. Torchay the bodyguard has hid his love for years. Stone is experiencing culture shock while his humor carries him through an abruptly changing life. Others are recovering from a history of abuse and submission while another allows his religious inspiration to submit where he might have ruled. Each character has distinct personalities and speech, something many writers struggle with when their cast is so large.
Dayton’s strengths in characterization is somewhat offset by her pacing. While the dialogue and internal conflicts are well-written and interesting to read, nearly all of the book is spent on preparing for an ultimately anti-climactic task that merits only a few pages. She eliminates any suspense about whether the protagonists will be able to accomplish their goal as there are too few pages left for the reader to doubt. Then again, the enemy was nothing but a force of evil—and forces don’t necessarily make for scintillating dialog.
Ultimately, the clash between good and evil wasn’t what this book was all about. The book was about Kallista, the family she forms, and the bonds that grow between them. It was a book that explores interdependence and our need for one another.
The book would be disappointing if it were meant to be a stand-alone book. Dayton introduces many intricate plotlines that then get left behind with barely a visit. The reader is assuaged only by the knowledge that there are two more books in which they can be revisited and further explored.
Luna calls itself “the new face of fantasy” and continues to produce highly readable and entertaining books that make fantasy novels appealing to adult women. The Compass Rose, a book which shares a title with a 1995 Ursula K LeGuin offering, can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its Luna peers. It may not be their best book, but it is a worthy one and is sure to delight the fan base it is building after only a year of existence.
The author of two previous romance titles, Dayton has penned the start of a fantasy trilogy replete with clashing societies, powerful magic, frightful enemies, and spooky dreams. And did I mention sex? Yes, lots and lots of sex. And talking about sex. And thinking about sex. But we’ve already established this is a romantic fantasy, right? So none of us can be too abashed or surprised at the naked bodies or the formations they take.
The Compass Rose takes us into the heart of Captain Kallista, a military mage—known in her land as a naitan. It is a land where one in five women are born with magical powers as are one in ten men. This imbalance has made the society a matriarchal one where men have had to fight for the same recognition and respect afforded their female citizens. They are fighting against warriors from a caste-driven land where women are mere property—property owned by whatever man makes demands of them.
Amidst a battle where the medieval matriarchy is faced with the sudden onslaught of gunpowder technology, Kallista calls upon the One God and is struck with a magic that hasn’t been seen for centuries. The magic obliterates the enemy and leaves her charged with forces she does not understand.
The priests send her to the capital so that the ruler can try to discover what her powers mean. She is not the only one touched by the God, though, and others are drawn to her to supply her with the magic she needs to defeat the demons that threaten the land.
Dayton draws upon many traditional elements of fantasy to create her tale. She establishes a world in which magic replaces much of technology and then threatens its citizens with those who shun magic. There are visions and prophecies, mysterious helpers, strict social codes, and strong religious themes. Relationships are polyamorous, with a wedded family containing multiple men and women all of whom are bound to each other and arrange sexual relationships in whatever way they prefer.
Like all Luna books, The Compass Rose also has a strong woman as the central character. Kallista is extremely well-drawn and grows in both wisdom and understanding throughout the book. She’s all the more interesting because she has her flaws and must face those flaws before they are able to block her from her goal.
Dayton’s biggest strength is her characterizations. All of the book’s characters are interesting and come with their unique set of motivations and needs. Torchay the bodyguard has hid his love for years. Stone is experiencing culture shock while his humor carries him through an abruptly changing life. Others are recovering from a history of abuse and submission while another allows his religious inspiration to submit where he might have ruled. Each character has distinct personalities and speech, something many writers struggle with when their cast is so large.
Dayton’s strengths in characterization is somewhat offset by her pacing. While the dialogue and internal conflicts are well-written and interesting to read, nearly all of the book is spent on preparing for an ultimately anti-climactic task that merits only a few pages. She eliminates any suspense about whether the protagonists will be able to accomplish their goal as there are too few pages left for the reader to doubt. Then again, the enemy was nothing but a force of evil—and forces don’t necessarily make for scintillating dialog.
Ultimately, the clash between good and evil wasn’t what this book was all about. The book was about Kallista, the family she forms, and the bonds that grow between them. It was a book that explores interdependence and our need for one another.
The book would be disappointing if it were meant to be a stand-alone book. Dayton introduces many intricate plotlines that then get left behind with barely a visit. The reader is assuaged only by the knowledge that there are two more books in which they can be revisited and further explored.
Luna calls itself “the new face of fantasy” and continues to produce highly readable and entertaining books that make fantasy novels appealing to adult women. The Compass Rose, a book which shares a title with a 1995 Ursula K LeGuin offering, can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its Luna peers. It may not be their best book, but it is a worthy one and is sure to delight the fan base it is building after only a year of existence.
July 8, 2010
This novel was first published by Luna, a Harlequin imprint marketed toward fantasy readers that drew from both romance and fantasy writers. I generally felt most of their books were too romance aisle and not strong fantasies. The Compass Rose is actually one of the exceptions in that respect among the Luna books that I liked with some creative world-building.
I thought the world Dayton created was intriguing: Adara, a matriarchal society, practices group marriage requiring at least four members. This society is magic-based--there's North, South, West and East magic. The protagonist, Kallista, is a naitan, a magical practitioner of North magic and captain in their army who can call down lightening. When it looks like she might lose a battle she calls on the Goddess--and finds herself able to destroy the invading army--but there's a catch. She's now "god marked" and tied to others so marked she must marry and with whom she can tap magic to defeat the forces arrayed against her nation: her bodyguard, with whom she's been partnered a long time, two prisoners of war, a female refugee and a foreign merchant.
I'm generally not a fan actually of fiction involving polyamory--or forced marriage, and in a sense the "god mark" acts as such a device. I prefer stories that develop intimacy between just two, not only because multiples aren't appealing to me and to my mind just two in real life terms hard enough, but in fictional terms more than two major characters can become unwieldy and there's little chance to develop six.
I think I liked this work involving polyamory more than most for several reasons. Unlike say LK Hamilton's Anita Blake series, I didn't feel this was some piled-on harem--each character had their own conflicts and brought something into the mix--the inclusion of foreign characters, even ones from an enemy nation, meant Kallista and the others really had to work to form themselves into a family. Together with the matriarchal culture and the magical system I thought this brought an interesting dimension to the plot. In that regard this brought to mind Marion Zimmer Bradley's Forbidden Tower with its clash of personalities and cultures within a group of people who must find a way to mesh together magically and sexually in order to survive and flourish.
I also thought this novel was on the whole well-written. It's a complex plot and world and Dayton builds it well--gradually letting you in on its ins and outs through the story itself instead of wads of infodump. I think the novel's biggest fault is that I think its conflicts both internal to the group and in terms of the menace they face was resolved far too easily.
The novel was a good, entertaining read--a solid work of fantasy even if not a favorite or one that has me rushing to read the next book in the trilogy.
I thought the world Dayton created was intriguing: Adara, a matriarchal society, practices group marriage requiring at least four members. This society is magic-based--there's North, South, West and East magic. The protagonist, Kallista, is a naitan, a magical practitioner of North magic and captain in their army who can call down lightening. When it looks like she might lose a battle she calls on the Goddess--and finds herself able to destroy the invading army--but there's a catch. She's now "god marked" and tied to others so marked she must marry and with whom she can tap magic to defeat the forces arrayed against her nation: her bodyguard, with whom she's been partnered a long time, two prisoners of war, a female refugee and a foreign merchant.
I'm generally not a fan actually of fiction involving polyamory--or forced marriage, and in a sense the "god mark" acts as such a device. I prefer stories that develop intimacy between just two, not only because multiples aren't appealing to me and to my mind just two in real life terms hard enough, but in fictional terms more than two major characters can become unwieldy and there's little chance to develop six.
I think I liked this work involving polyamory more than most for several reasons. Unlike say LK Hamilton's Anita Blake series, I didn't feel this was some piled-on harem--each character had their own conflicts and brought something into the mix--the inclusion of foreign characters, even ones from an enemy nation, meant Kallista and the others really had to work to form themselves into a family. Together with the matriarchal culture and the magical system I thought this brought an interesting dimension to the plot. In that regard this brought to mind Marion Zimmer Bradley's Forbidden Tower with its clash of personalities and cultures within a group of people who must find a way to mesh together magically and sexually in order to survive and flourish.
I also thought this novel was on the whole well-written. It's a complex plot and world and Dayton builds it well--gradually letting you in on its ins and outs through the story itself instead of wads of infodump. I think the novel's biggest fault is that I think its conflicts both internal to the group and in terms of the menace they face was resolved far too easily.
The novel was a good, entertaining read--a solid work of fantasy even if not a favorite or one that has me rushing to read the next book in the trilogy.
March 11, 2013
high 2s.
INSUFFICIENT WORLD BUILDING: an interesting world, but superficially so. the author's lack of detail made this feel like a promising cartoon sketch rather than a rich, vibrant, layered, i don't know, oil painting, let's say. for example, i got the feeling that she didn't KNOW what her protagonists did day in and day out and what it would have meant to survive in the world she was trying to fashion. certain things were too vague or too deus ex machina-y for comfort. for example, before a huge international cross-country trip, one character is put in charge of "supplies." supplies. and then a massively wealthy side character shows up and assures them that all of their "supplies" are taken care of. and then the whole trip is pretty much reduced to a few paragraphs so we could cut to the action.
the low level of imaginative world-building detail, then, made it very hard for me to fully emotionally commit to this world or its characters and necessarily made any threat feel weak.
CHARACTERIZATIONS: further, while some of the characters were interesting, others seemed really lazily tacked on, without much motivation or value, and yet the author made their lackluster presence ESSENTIAL to the plot construct.
PLOT: certain plot elements were introduced with great fanfare and then skimmed over thereafter.
all in all, an insufficiently worked story.
UPDATE: oh! and i totally forgot about this. but, IMPLAUSIBILITY ALERT. one character is thrust into a foreign land where she does not speak the language, yet the author has her understanding 80 percent of what's going on around her, including idiom, and tentatively constructing complete sentences within DAYS. dude. author. unless your ragamuffin had some SERIOUS mensa skeelz, she would NOT be able to do this. see what i mean, people? weak.
INSUFFICIENT WORLD BUILDING: an interesting world, but superficially so. the author's lack of detail made this feel like a promising cartoon sketch rather than a rich, vibrant, layered, i don't know, oil painting, let's say. for example, i got the feeling that she didn't KNOW what her protagonists did day in and day out and what it would have meant to survive in the world she was trying to fashion. certain things were too vague or too deus ex machina-y for comfort. for example, before a huge international cross-country trip, one character is put in charge of "supplies." supplies. and then a massively wealthy side character shows up and assures them that all of their "supplies" are taken care of. and then the whole trip is pretty much reduced to a few paragraphs so we could cut to the action.
the low level of imaginative world-building detail, then, made it very hard for me to fully emotionally commit to this world or its characters and necessarily made any threat feel weak.
CHARACTERIZATIONS: further, while some of the characters were interesting, others seemed really lazily tacked on, without much motivation or value, and yet the author made their lackluster presence ESSENTIAL to the plot construct.
PLOT: certain plot elements were introduced with great fanfare and then skimmed over thereafter.
all in all, an insufficiently worked story.
UPDATE: oh! and i totally forgot about this. but, IMPLAUSIBILITY ALERT. one character is thrust into a foreign land where she does not speak the language, yet the author has her understanding 80 percent of what's going on around her, including idiom, and tentatively constructing complete sentences within DAYS. dude. author. unless your ragamuffin had some SERIOUS mensa skeelz, she would NOT be able to do this. see what i mean, people? weak.
December 30, 2012
I didn't really read this book. I started to but when I got to the part where the heroine sleeps with Stone and then goes directly to bed with another man, I lost interest. I went through it at random...
from what I understand she take men as sex slaves and creates her own little harem. One guy is in love with her (even though she can't admit she is too), another in really hot and slightly insane, the third has blind faith in her and basically worships at her altar and the last one has no self esteem. Of course there is also the poor girl who was raped that she doesn't seem to care about much. Speaking of, it was strange how she changed from hating all men to some sort of seductress when she got a it of magic.
Of course there is a lot more to the story: something about a Goddess and a demon possessing a king or something like that. Wasn't very interesting because I hated the heroine. she basically made Fox a cripple because she didn't want anyone to discover her pregnancy.
The synopsis is deceiving. I thought she would become possessed (or at least stuck)with an annoying - but nonetheless VERY hot - God. There would be prejudice and fear from the People because she is so powerful, but the God would give her a duty. They would fight adversity (in the form of warrior, demons, thieves, killers, assassins, weird primitive desert tribes etc.)and try not to "succumb to temptation" or something. But it would be in vain because they would fall in love "but will their love make them stronger... or destroy them". I know this all sounds very cliché but there is reason they BECAME clichés in the first place, you know. It's because people like me love them.
I do NOT recommend this book.(But if anyone could find me a book like I just described I would be very appreciative)
from what I understand she take men as sex slaves and creates her own little harem. One guy is in love with her (even though she can't admit she is too), another in really hot and slightly insane, the third has blind faith in her and basically worships at her altar and the last one has no self esteem. Of course there is also the poor girl who was raped that she doesn't seem to care about much. Speaking of, it was strange how she changed from hating all men to some sort of seductress when she got a it of magic.
Of course there is a lot more to the story: something about a Goddess and a demon possessing a king or something like that. Wasn't very interesting because I hated the heroine. she basically made Fox a cripple because she didn't want anyone to discover her pregnancy.
The synopsis is deceiving. I thought she would become possessed (or at least stuck)with an annoying - but nonetheless VERY hot - God. There would be prejudice and fear from the People because she is so powerful, but the God would give her a duty. They would fight adversity (in the form of warrior, demons, thieves, killers, assassins, weird primitive desert tribes etc.)and try not to "succumb to temptation" or something. But it would be in vain because they would fall in love "but will their love make them stronger... or destroy them". I know this all sounds very cliché but there is reason they BECAME clichés in the first place, you know. It's because people like me love them.
I do NOT recommend this book.(But if anyone could find me a book like I just described I would be very appreciative)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2010
This is a story about a magician/sorceress who, in the midst of battle, finds herself given extraordinary ability. The last person to have received this gift happened over 1000 years previously, long ago enough that all that is known about her is discounted as myth.
Kallista finds other God-chosen people to help her in her quest, and finds out what is happening to her and what she is supposed to do.
I really liked the characters, and I felt that the world was pretty well constructed. I really enjoyed most of what this book represented. It told a pretty great story, and it is refreshing to see a strong matriarchal society.
But...
From what I understand, Gail Dayton is primarily a romance author and it does show. Her characters are pretty much obsessed with sex. And the marital norm in this society seems to involve groups. Kallista needs several people to be able to use her magic effectively, and a certain... closeness... is needed for the ... trust... to develop in the group. In her defense, she doesn't get as explicit as I've seen, but its still fairly adult in content.
I think that this book could have benefited with a little more development in some of the characters and conflict. All in all, it was a pretty lighthearted and quick read. It felt like a YA novel in this respect, but the adult content definitely keeps it out of that particular category as far as I'm concerned.
Story/character wise I'd give this book 4 stars, but because of some weaknesses I felt the book has, and because I did feel that some of the sex felt extraneous and unimportant for the story, I'm giving it 3 stars.
Kallista finds other God-chosen people to help her in her quest, and finds out what is happening to her and what she is supposed to do.
I really liked the characters, and I felt that the world was pretty well constructed. I really enjoyed most of what this book represented. It told a pretty great story, and it is refreshing to see a strong matriarchal society.
But...
From what I understand, Gail Dayton is primarily a romance author and it does show. Her characters are pretty much obsessed with sex. And the marital norm in this society seems to involve groups. Kallista needs several people to be able to use her magic effectively, and a certain... closeness... is needed for the ... trust... to develop in the group. In her defense, she doesn't get as explicit as I've seen, but its still fairly adult in content.
I think that this book could have benefited with a little more development in some of the characters and conflict. All in all, it was a pretty lighthearted and quick read. It felt like a YA novel in this respect, but the adult content definitely keeps it out of that particular category as far as I'm concerned.
Story/character wise I'd give this book 4 stars, but because of some weaknesses I felt the book has, and because I did feel that some of the sex felt extraneous and unimportant for the story, I'm giving it 3 stars.
November 19, 2016
I picked this book up years ago at a library book sale and never read it until now, so I went in with nothing more than the blurb on the back and expecting a fairly generic and straight-forward fantasy novel.
That's not exactly what I got. There are some very cool things here as far as world building goes. Matriarchal society? Awesome. Polyamory? Unexpected, but certainly appreciated. A magical system that is not exactly the same as every other fantasy world? Cool.
However, I think it falls short on execution. The plot is thin at best, and though I appreciate it exploring the developing relationship between the characters I wanted more from it. We have a band of heroes traveling on the great journey to defeat a demon pretending to be a god and they spend more time fretting over if and when they are going to have sex than anything else. There are also a few romance tropes in it that drive me insane, particularly the "instantly pregnant after having sex" and the "previously barren but now magically not" because god forbid a woman in a romance novel not be able to bear children.
All in all, I'd give it around a 2.5. I know it is the first in a trilogy, but I doubt I would pick up the next book.
That's not exactly what I got. There are some very cool things here as far as world building goes. Matriarchal society? Awesome. Polyamory? Unexpected, but certainly appreciated. A magical system that is not exactly the same as every other fantasy world? Cool.
However, I think it falls short on execution. The plot is thin at best, and though I appreciate it exploring the developing relationship between the characters I wanted more from it. We have a band of heroes traveling on the great journey to defeat a demon pretending to be a god and they spend more time fretting over if and when they are going to have sex than anything else. There are also a few romance tropes in it that drive me insane, particularly the "instantly pregnant after having sex" and the "previously barren but now magically not" because god forbid a woman in a romance novel not be able to bear children.
All in all, I'd give it around a 2.5. I know it is the first in a trilogy, but I doubt I would pick up the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2013
When I picked up this book, I expected my stereo-typical fantasy-genre romance. What I got was a pile of love yarn disguised as a book.
In the beginning the plot is clear cut and to the point, but eventually unravels for the sake of erotica. There were many times throughout the book that I had no clear understanding as to what I was reading and others where I couldn't remember why the characters were in their current setting.
However, in terms of setting, I think Dayton gave an interesting version of a society where polygamy is the norm. Unfortunately, that too falls apart as the main character just ends up having a lot of sex with a lot of random men and, in the end, fantastically becomes pregnant with who-knows-who's baby.
Confusing, and interesting, this book might be for you.
In the beginning the plot is clear cut and to the point, but eventually unravels for the sake of erotica. There were many times throughout the book that I had no clear understanding as to what I was reading and others where I couldn't remember why the characters were in their current setting.
However, in terms of setting, I think Dayton gave an interesting version of a society where polygamy is the norm. Unfortunately, that too falls apart as the main character just ends up having a lot of sex with a lot of random men and, in the end, fantastically becomes pregnant with who-knows-who's baby.
Confusing, and interesting, this book might be for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2015
I loved this story. It's certainly received a mixed bag of reviews, but overall I think the writing flows well and takes the readers into an interesting world where the usual stereotypes are reduced somewhat. I enjoyed a world where women weren't just pretty love interests or strong characters looking for love... I gave this four stars because I didn't want to put it down. I didn't give it five because there were still some stereotypes I was a little disappointed with - the main character may be a strong female but she still needs her strong male and is then surrounded by more men with only one other female added to the mix. The second female is not "whole" until she is paired with a male. I was expecting a little more. Other than that though I loved it, would recommend it, and will be reading the rest of the trilogy as soon as I can obtain it.
March 14, 2012
Nice book. I loved the beginning. Had it stayed between Kallista and Torchay (or something like that) I think it would have been a five star. I didn't mind the addition of the other characters, but they got a little lost in the story. They didn't get the fleshing out that the first two did. I liked the concept of the Ilian. I disagree with the comments of the book being an erotica. It was not sexually explicit IMO. I think this idea stems from the Ilian. I just didn't see it. Anyway, it seemed a bit rushed at the end. I agree a few adjustments could have made the book a bit better, but it was still a nice, entertaining read, and enough so that I plan to continue on to book 2.
And for the love of all that is good, get a better cover! This by far was my biggest gripe!
And for the love of all that is good, get a better cover! This by far was my biggest gripe!
July 26, 2022
I have read this book and the rest of the series several times over the years- and I have yet to tire of it. It has magic, it has suspense, it has thrilling love stories.....the story flows so effortlessly it competely sucks you in. I also really love the way the world is set up in this book, with a faith based matriarchal society and marriages made up of anywhere from 4 to 12 people (ilian), which in my opinion adds a very unique flavor to the story.
Kallista could be any one of us- someone who just wants to go about her normal life but is pulled /called to something much, much greater.
A wonderful, wonderful read.
Kallista could be any one of us- someone who just wants to go about her normal life but is pulled /called to something much, much greater.
A wonderful, wonderful read.
October 6, 2012
Just reread. For all those into 50 shades... This is infinitely better. It has much better writing, a better plot and if it is a touch Mormon in the wedding beliefs, well, it makes it a bit interesting, right? I'm not sure about the excess of..hmm.. adult content. If I had bought this copy in a store it should have been covered in a brown cover, but then I'm a bit prudish. I had to repurchase because I loaned my copy to my Aunt and never got it back. But that's okay it was worth buying twice!
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