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Quarters #1-2
The Quarters Novels: Volume I
The first two novels from the highly popular Quarters fantasy series, Sing the Four Quarters and Fifth Quarter, are now in one fantastic omnibus edition. From the princess who renounces her royal blood to become a bard able to sing elemental magic, to the twin assassins Bannon and Vree caught up in a magical trap they may not survive, these unforgettable characters make both novels thrilling adventure and the most intriguing kind of fantasy.
732 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 4, 2007
4 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Huff
151 books2,446 followersTanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood Ties.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 15, 2008
I first picked up this book because I noticed its cover was done by the same artist (or pretty darn close) as those of Mercedes Lackey's books. After reading the back, I decided to give this new author a try.
She is amazing, just like Mercedes Lackey. She has a different sort of magic - it is very elemental, and the wielders are Bards.
In the first book, you follow a young Bard as she deals with a forbidden pregnancy and the magic troubles associated it. There is plenty of intrigue along the way.
In the second book, you follow Vree and her brother Bannon, two assassins in one body. They are hunting down the man who stole Bannon's body so they can get his brother's body back, but they have no idea what is in store for them...
She is amazing, just like Mercedes Lackey. She has a different sort of magic - it is very elemental, and the wielders are Bards.
In the first book, you follow a young Bard as she deals with a forbidden pregnancy and the magic troubles associated it. There is plenty of intrigue along the way.
In the second book, you follow Vree and her brother Bannon, two assassins in one body. They are hunting down the man who stole Bannon's body so they can get his brother's body back, but they have no idea what is in store for them...
September 1, 2017
2 1/2, rounding down.
I enjoyed Sing the Four Quarters. Not so much Fifth Quarter.
I enjoyed Sing the Four Quarters. Not so much Fifth Quarter.
March 8, 2018
Book 1: Sing The Four Quarters - 3 stars
Book 2: Fifth Quarter - 2 stars
Book 2: Fifth Quarter - 2 stars
December 27, 2020
5* to Sing the Four Quarters. I haven't read Fifth Quarter yet because I actually have that as a separate novel, and want to read it from that volume simply because I can.
So, Huff, I might hate her sci-fi but I loved this. First published in 1994 but, tbh, it's still ahead of its time.
Personal favourite things that make it 5*:
- Excellent use of misinformation. Characters did things that hurt each other/made matters worse based on their prejudices and assumptions. These were never stupid or forced for the sake of creating a dilemma. These were perfectly planned and genuine to each character based on each individual circumstance at the time. This gave me anxiety in the best way possible.
- So many gay couples. And it's SO CAUSAL about it. I love it. I love it. You don't even realise you're in the same room as two married women until the other partner gets given a pronoun. Yes. Yes. I'm still eager for books where gay love is normal and doesn't need to be explained to me that it's normal. Just give me a fantasy world where the prejudices aren't like my real life. Give me one where we don't need to put people into neat, gay little boxes.
- BI PROTAGONIST. PERFECT. And perfect for exactly the same reasons as the one above.
- "You don't own your children." I love it for this line alone.
- The bard magic is never explained. Took me a while to wrap my head around it. But once I got it, super cool.
- I am someone who has a very dry sense of humour, so I really appreciated Huff's in this book. Some cracking lines that I didn't realise were a joke until I hastily reread a few sentences back. So good.
THINGS TO WARN:
- A lot of weird fantasy names. Maybe they're based on a real-world custom, but it was a bit off-putting to start with, especially with some names looking similar to each other.
- Heavy politics. Not a lot explained. You gotta concentrate hard for the first 20%, and then by that point you're integrated.
So, Huff, I might hate her sci-fi but I loved this. First published in 1994 but, tbh, it's still ahead of its time.
Personal favourite things that make it 5*:
- Excellent use of misinformation. Characters did things that hurt each other/made matters worse based on their prejudices and assumptions. These were never stupid or forced for the sake of creating a dilemma. These were perfectly planned and genuine to each character based on each individual circumstance at the time. This gave me anxiety in the best way possible.
- So many gay couples. And it's SO CAUSAL about it. I love it. I love it. You don't even realise you're in the same room as two married women until the other partner gets given a pronoun. Yes. Yes. I'm still eager for books where gay love is normal and doesn't need to be explained to me that it's normal. Just give me a fantasy world where the prejudices aren't like my real life. Give me one where we don't need to put people into neat, gay little boxes.
- BI PROTAGONIST. PERFECT. And perfect for exactly the same reasons as the one above.
- "You don't own your children." I love it for this line alone.
- The bard magic is never explained. Took me a while to wrap my head around it. But once I got it, super cool.
- I am someone who has a very dry sense of humour, so I really appreciated Huff's in this book. Some cracking lines that I didn't realise were a joke until I hastily reread a few sentences back. So good.
THINGS TO WARN:
- A lot of weird fantasy names. Maybe they're based on a real-world custom, but it was a bit off-putting to start with, especially with some names looking similar to each other.
- Heavy politics. Not a lot explained. You gotta concentrate hard for the first 20%, and then by that point you're integrated.
November 16, 2014
This book contains Sing the four quarters and Fifth quarter.
Sing the four quarters
I really liked this book about Annice, the princess who became a bard. I like the world, with the way society is organized (bards working for the king to spread and collect news, and to assist in criminal cases), and with the bardic magic, used to command the kigh (Air, Water, Earth, and Fire). I liked bardic life, going on walks, talking to all kinds of people and of course, singing. I liked the characters, who are flawed but likable.
What I liked a lot is how casually equal Huff's society regards men and women. She doesn't make a fuss about it, but a corporal can just as easily be a woman as a man. Two partners can just as easily be homosexual as heterosexual. There is even mention of one of the princes forming a political alliance through a relationship with another man. This I have never seen before. Even in fantasy societies where homosexuality is accepted, being gay for a prince would mean he can't be used for marriages of state, or he tragically marries a princess, and perhaps his boyfriend can come along. Not so in Sing the four quarters. It really doesn't matter whether you are a man of a woman or whether you like men or women. No mention is even made of it: this is just the way things are, an no discussion is necessary. Quite refreshing!
Fifth quarter
At first, I was a little disappointed that this is not about the same country or the same characters, but this faded soon. This story takes place in a neighboring country, it has a few bards and kigh. Its style was very similar to the first book, nice pace, interesting world, attractive story. I'm going to search for book 3 now!
Sing the four quarters
I really liked this book about Annice, the princess who became a bard. I like the world, with the way society is organized (bards working for the king to spread and collect news, and to assist in criminal cases), and with the bardic magic, used to command the kigh (Air, Water, Earth, and Fire). I liked bardic life, going on walks, talking to all kinds of people and of course, singing. I liked the characters, who are flawed but likable.
What I liked a lot is how casually equal Huff's society regards men and women. She doesn't make a fuss about it, but a corporal can just as easily be a woman as a man. Two partners can just as easily be homosexual as heterosexual. There is even mention of one of the princes forming a political alliance through a relationship with another man. This I have never seen before. Even in fantasy societies where homosexuality is accepted, being gay for a prince would mean he can't be used for marriages of state, or he tragically marries a princess, and perhaps his boyfriend can come along. Not so in Sing the four quarters. It really doesn't matter whether you are a man of a woman or whether you like men or women. No mention is even made of it: this is just the way things are, an no discussion is necessary. Quite refreshing!
Fifth quarter
At first, I was a little disappointed that this is not about the same country or the same characters, but this faded soon. This story takes place in a neighboring country, it has a few bards and kigh. Its style was very similar to the first book, nice pace, interesting world, attractive story. I'm going to search for book 3 now!
May 2, 2012
The first book - Sing the Four Quarters - is a pleasant, if rather slow starting, take on the "framed for a crime - clear my name" story in a fantasy setting. Certainly not Tanya Huff's best effort - 3 stars material on its own.
The second book Fifth Quarter is slightly more unusual in premise (hard to describe without spoilers) but suffers from the same problems of the first, namely it’s all a bit too sedate and "internal conflict" driven.
What I think I really miss here is any of the character driven humour that tends to shine in Tanya Huff's other work. I'm in no real hurry to get the remaining books in this world/series.
Low end of 3 stars.
The second book Fifth Quarter is slightly more unusual in premise (hard to describe without spoilers) but suffers from the same problems of the first, namely it’s all a bit too sedate and "internal conflict" driven.
What I think I really miss here is any of the character driven humour that tends to shine in Tanya Huff's other work. I'm in no real hurry to get the remaining books in this world/series.
Low end of 3 stars.
July 4, 2009
I've loved other books by Huff, so assumed this would be the same and bought all the books of the series at once. Never again! The premise was weak, the story dragged, and what interest these characters could have was trapped beneath all the impending doom. Of course I had to finish the series, since I can't leave something unfinished (and I already owned all the books). The only thing I can say is, if Huff had taken all the critical events in the series and condensed everything down to one book, it might have made an interesting story.
November 5, 2011
Two books in one thats a real dandy idea. I truly enjoyed Sing the Four Quarters although a bit corny at parts, it was a delightful read. I purchased this book simply because I wanted some fantasy with humor. Although, not as humorous as I expected, it did give some spikes of pleasure. I can say that I enjoyed Fifth Quarter, the second novel better then the first. It is interesting that they were both love stories but with twists (not the kind of love that I would say I'm comfortable with), yet Tanya Huff was able to write it in such a way that I was amused.
January 19, 2016
If you like Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar stuff, you will definitely like these books. In this area of her work, i.e. fantasy, Huff is virtually indistinguishable from Lackey in terms of style and subject matter. I kept expecting telepathic white horses to appear in the story.
I liked the first book a little better than the second. Annice was a fun character, stubborn and spunky.
I liked the first book a little better than the second. Annice was a fun character, stubborn and spunky.
May 25, 2010
I *really* liked the first book, Sing the Four Quarters, despite the main character being pregnant! It dealt more with the new world Huff had created, whereas the second (and third I think) book dealt more with individual characters. I want to see more of this world, though. Will keep reading the series.
January 15, 2012
I enjoyed both of these stories a lot. I find Huff's writing style/dialogue similar to her other books, which is sort of strange since this is a very different genre to either the modern fantasy of the Blood Books or the hard SF of the Valour series, but I enjoyed it just the same.
I am really looking forward to finishing each of these 3 series I have started :)
I am really looking forward to finishing each of these 3 series I have started :)
November 22, 2009
I enjoyed both novels included in this volume. I just wish the novels carried chracters throughout as I enjoyed each set of characters and wanted to learn more about them.
October 2, 2011
Finished the first 4 novel but didnt read the 5th one and probably never will. Just not really my thing, maybe a better young fiction read.
February 21, 2016
Gave up part way through the first story. About the only thing I remember now is the blind bard guy. He was a cool character concept.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews