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The Zemnian #1
The Midnight Land I: The Flight
Honorable Mention, Fantasy, 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards!
As younger sister to the Empress of all of Zem’ and the only one possessing her foremothers’ gifts of clairvoyance, Slava is both one of the most powerful and powerless people in the Known World. Desperate to escape the intrigue and hostility of her sister’s kremlin, Slava takes off on an expedition to the Midnight Land, the uninhabited, unmapped tundra on the Northern edge of Zem’. But as she travels North, Slava discovers that it is more than just the world of women that covets her gifts, and that fate is pushing her to become a most unlikely hero…
Combining high fantasy with motifs from classical Russian literature, this is both a gripping coming-of-age tale and a subversive exploration of gender, empathy, and morality.
As younger sister to the Empress of all of Zem’ and the only one possessing her foremothers’ gifts of clairvoyance, Slava is both one of the most powerful and powerless people in the Known World. Desperate to escape the intrigue and hostility of her sister’s kremlin, Slava takes off on an expedition to the Midnight Land, the uninhabited, unmapped tundra on the Northern edge of Zem’. But as she travels North, Slava discovers that it is more than just the world of women that covets her gifts, and that fate is pushing her to become a most unlikely hero…
Combining high fantasy with motifs from classical Russian literature, this is both a gripping coming-of-age tale and a subversive exploration of gender, empathy, and morality.
444 pages, Paperback
Published March 16, 2018
284 people are currently reading
1014 people want to read
About the author
E.P. Clark
24 books116 followersI started making up stories before I could read or write. Most of them are, blessedly, forgotten. But eventually I started writing things down, and after a few decades I decided they were worth putting out into the world. "The Midnight Land" was inspired by some reading I was doing for a medieval Russian literature class I was taking in grad school. Now that it's out, I'm starting work on the next book in the series!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 26, 2017
As an author, it may seem somewhat ironic that I find it difficult writing reviews for other people's books...If the book is good, it's much easier. Type off a few things that I liked, give it a thumbs up, or a number of stars, and then move on. However, if a book, such as E.P. Clark's, Midnight Land, is fantastic, world-building, subtle and profound, this task becomes much more difficult. The struggle then becomes writing a review which actually LIVES UP to the book it's intended to recommend.
The complexity of the Midnight Land, also adds to this struggle. At it's heart, the book is not so much a feminist work as it is an infused matriarchal one. I would note that this infusion isn't something male readers should find any struggle with. This world is, after-all, a lived-in matriarchal world, with no preaching of female dominance, or bashing of male-centered ideals. (Not that I would have necessarily had a problem with that point of view, personally.) It is a rich world of backstabbing and political intrigue, down-trodden societies and bitter rulers.
The literary center of gravity, is a young woman, Krasnoslava Tsarinorvna, or Slava for short, who has a particular gift: the ability to sense the emotions in others. People have always looked to her with disdain or fear, and as such she's never found her place in the world (a fantastical setting in medival Russia) a particularly a pleasant one. Not to mention that her life in the kremlin was not open for much personal growth. So when a chance arrives to take a perilous trek to the uncharted Midnight Land, Slava jumps at the chance to leave her static existance with her people and her continually graying family.
Slava is unskilled and without much stamina on her new adventure, but thanks to the watchful eyes of her new friends, physically grows stronger and more able.
She also learns that her mystical powers, once thought a burden, might not such a weakness. After rescuing an elk from slaughter by one the members of the party, she quickly feels self-conscious and more of an odd outsider. However the next day, the party, after becoming lost in a dark forest in which the paths seemingly have been magically restructured to entrap them, is saved by the familiar animal.
Later Slava, thinking to be in a dream state, appears to join a fox in spirit form, and redirects the scout team away from danger.
In the end, the Midnight Land, was not such an obvious land of mystery and fantastical intrigue, however it does open up a world of spirituality into the narrative which becomes a frightening and possible new adversary for Slava. She soon finds there are entities within this spirit world who have a great interest in Slava's talent, and wish to even wrench it from her if necessary.
This is a story of human discovery, and spiritual growth. Slava has to face both on her journey to the Midnight Land and back again.
I am greatly looking forward to the second book in this saga, which appears to open up a grand story for the leader of the party, Olga Vasilisovna: The true ruler of another kremlin which has fallen into disarray in her absence.
BMB
The complexity of the Midnight Land, also adds to this struggle. At it's heart, the book is not so much a feminist work as it is an infused matriarchal one. I would note that this infusion isn't something male readers should find any struggle with. This world is, after-all, a lived-in matriarchal world, with no preaching of female dominance, or bashing of male-centered ideals. (Not that I would have necessarily had a problem with that point of view, personally.) It is a rich world of backstabbing and political intrigue, down-trodden societies and bitter rulers.
The literary center of gravity, is a young woman, Krasnoslava Tsarinorvna, or Slava for short, who has a particular gift: the ability to sense the emotions in others. People have always looked to her with disdain or fear, and as such she's never found her place in the world (a fantastical setting in medival Russia) a particularly a pleasant one. Not to mention that her life in the kremlin was not open for much personal growth. So when a chance arrives to take a perilous trek to the uncharted Midnight Land, Slava jumps at the chance to leave her static existance with her people and her continually graying family.
Slava is unskilled and without much stamina on her new adventure, but thanks to the watchful eyes of her new friends, physically grows stronger and more able.
She also learns that her mystical powers, once thought a burden, might not such a weakness. After rescuing an elk from slaughter by one the members of the party, she quickly feels self-conscious and more of an odd outsider. However the next day, the party, after becoming lost in a dark forest in which the paths seemingly have been magically restructured to entrap them, is saved by the familiar animal.
Later Slava, thinking to be in a dream state, appears to join a fox in spirit form, and redirects the scout team away from danger.
In the end, the Midnight Land, was not such an obvious land of mystery and fantastical intrigue, however it does open up a world of spirituality into the narrative which becomes a frightening and possible new adversary for Slava. She soon finds there are entities within this spirit world who have a great interest in Slava's talent, and wish to even wrench it from her if necessary.
This is a story of human discovery, and spiritual growth. Slava has to face both on her journey to the Midnight Land and back again.
I am greatly looking forward to the second book in this saga, which appears to open up a grand story for the leader of the party, Olga Vasilisovna: The true ruler of another kremlin which has fallen into disarray in her absence.
BMB
April 6, 2016
Such intrigue! In The Midnight Land: Part One: The Flight (The Zemnian Trilogy Book 1) E. P. Clark has written a fantastic story of a young woman’s emotional growth while wrestling with what is both gift and curse—an overwhelming sense of empathy for others. Her name is Slava. As a princess within a royal court of scheming, back-biting, duplicitous family members and courtiers, she endures debilitating ambivalence as a result of both hating those scheming for their self-serving nature and having compassion for their use of such strategy to survive within a dog-eat-dog world. Her growth truly begins when she leaves that world and is thrust among common folk within a beautiful, vast, and deadly wilderness full of mysteries, magical entities, and sorcerers. I will say no more but that I highly recommend this title, and that I’m off to begin the next volume in the Midnight Land series.
September 10, 2017
4.5/5 stars. Slava has a power that makes her the "mirror that reflects reality" and she is one of the most genuine characters ever to take center stage in a fantasy novel. The Flight begins with a trial and ends with a curse, and in between Slava, third in line for the throne of 'Zem, undergoes travails that transform her from a sad, insecure princess with no place in the world to a powerful leader at the center of the world. It's an enormously satisfying transformation.
I loved many things about this novel, but first and foremost was the emotional wallop. It's been a long time since I've cried so much while reading. Clark slowly builds Slava's confidence through a series of interactions with her empire's subjects, in which her strong sense of empathy--something her sister (the empress of 'Zem) sees as a great weakness--permits her to make connections with people and turn them toward wiser or more productive paths in their lives. Her empathic powers eventually manifest as a magical ability to form psychic connections with animals and tree spirits called leshiye, and her impulse toward mercy rather than vengeance becomes central to the plot and the evolution of her character from someone who believes herself weak to a woman of power.
Traditional notions of weakness and strength are turned upside down throughout the book in many ways, but one of the most striking (and entertaining) is the flipped gender relationships. In 'Zem, women have primacy in every way, from legal status to cultural notions of the "superior" sex. Men are still physically larger and stronger in 'Zem, but their physical strength is used as a rationale for their inferiority. Men are believed to be brutes incapable of rational thought, whereas women are considered naturally more intelligent and capable than men. Every old fashioned notion of women's inferiority appears in The Midnight Land flipped around: in sexuality, women are "natural takers" and therefore it is acceptable for women to have multiple lovers, while men's virtue must be protected. In marriage, men go to live with their wives' families and are subject to abuse by their fathers in law, "for their own good." In government and business, men are considered fit to be only guards or warriors, and when the death of a wife or mother leaves a man in a leadership position, he must contend with cultural bias that undermines his ability to effectively manage his affairs. These gender relationships have little to do with the plot, but were a brilliantly done and highly entertaining part of the world-building.
The world itself is based on/inspired by Russian geography and myths. The names could be a mouthful, but the descriptions of the landscape as Slava travels through forest and tundra to the far north in mid-winter, are spectacular. Mythological beings such as the leshiye play a big part in the plot, and I enjoyed this taste of a new (to me) mythology.
Two negatives forced me to knock off half a star. First, the novel could have benefitted from some pruning. The plot takes a while to get going, and many scenes run on too long with looping, redundant exposition of Slava's thoughts. I suspect some of the redundancy is deliberate as Slava slowly finds her confidence, but it sometimes became tiresome and could have been trimmed. Second, the book ends very abruptly, and to finish the story the reader must read part two, The Gift. The Flight is very long (and so is The Gift), so I can understand why Clark chose to split the narrative in half, but for me the end would have been more satisfying if it had come after one of the (very well done) climactic scenes a bit earlier in the novel.
I loved many things about this novel, but first and foremost was the emotional wallop. It's been a long time since I've cried so much while reading. Clark slowly builds Slava's confidence through a series of interactions with her empire's subjects, in which her strong sense of empathy--something her sister (the empress of 'Zem) sees as a great weakness--permits her to make connections with people and turn them toward wiser or more productive paths in their lives. Her empathic powers eventually manifest as a magical ability to form psychic connections with animals and tree spirits called leshiye, and her impulse toward mercy rather than vengeance becomes central to the plot and the evolution of her character from someone who believes herself weak to a woman of power.
Traditional notions of weakness and strength are turned upside down throughout the book in many ways, but one of the most striking (and entertaining) is the flipped gender relationships. In 'Zem, women have primacy in every way, from legal status to cultural notions of the "superior" sex. Men are still physically larger and stronger in 'Zem, but their physical strength is used as a rationale for their inferiority. Men are believed to be brutes incapable of rational thought, whereas women are considered naturally more intelligent and capable than men. Every old fashioned notion of women's inferiority appears in The Midnight Land flipped around: in sexuality, women are "natural takers" and therefore it is acceptable for women to have multiple lovers, while men's virtue must be protected. In marriage, men go to live with their wives' families and are subject to abuse by their fathers in law, "for their own good." In government and business, men are considered fit to be only guards or warriors, and when the death of a wife or mother leaves a man in a leadership position, he must contend with cultural bias that undermines his ability to effectively manage his affairs. These gender relationships have little to do with the plot, but were a brilliantly done and highly entertaining part of the world-building.
The world itself is based on/inspired by Russian geography and myths. The names could be a mouthful, but the descriptions of the landscape as Slava travels through forest and tundra to the far north in mid-winter, are spectacular. Mythological beings such as the leshiye play a big part in the plot, and I enjoyed this taste of a new (to me) mythology.
Two negatives forced me to knock off half a star. First, the novel could have benefitted from some pruning. The plot takes a while to get going, and many scenes run on too long with looping, redundant exposition of Slava's thoughts. I suspect some of the redundancy is deliberate as Slava slowly finds her confidence, but it sometimes became tiresome and could have been trimmed. Second, the book ends very abruptly, and to finish the story the reader must read part two, The Gift. The Flight is very long (and so is The Gift), so I can understand why Clark chose to split the narrative in half, but for me the end would have been more satisfying if it had come after one of the (very well done) climactic scenes a bit earlier in the novel.
Want to read
September 19, 2018A.M. Justice wrote a fabulous review, and it is because of her opinions of the book that I knew about it in the first place. Thank you, friend. :)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 4, 2016
The setting was enticing—a Russian landscape with snow and ice, tundras and steppes, and forest so thick one cannot see the stars. Make no mistake, this book has a heavy Slavic influence, with a healthy dosage of names ending in “ov” and “ova” or the like.
The story, though, was cumbersome. The aim was modest… to survive a long trek by dogsled from one ruling capital to another and to avoid ambushes by malevolent spirits and bandits. As a story grounded in fantasy, it wasn’t much to entice a reader. It was very heavy on character development rather than thrills. This book reminded us many times that the main heroine, Slava, has a gift as a seer, and that she is widely known for the quality of mercy. I think the opening chapter, when she advises a ruling monarch to spare the life of a criminal, established her forgiveness and sweet nature.
There was a lot of flowery description and observations that the author felt she needed as a build-up as gradual as that of a pot on low heat before it gets to boil, to the point where there were several paragraphs with more than ten sentences and moreover, several such paragraphs to continue a point in the story.
There were some terrific moments in the book when Slava talks telepathically to forest animals or to the spirits. However, the wordy nature of the entire story meant that I had to work harder than I wanted, as reader, to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. It should be the author’s job before the reader gets to read the book. At the end of the book, the author points out she is intent upon writing a seven-volume series of Slava’s story. I would have preferred a stand-alone story, with a goal and conclusion that thrills me. Then, the author is free to develop a new story continuing with the same settings and main characters, but the first book is where the reader starts and should be spellbinding on its own. Or maybe there was a very exciting premise in book two (which I do not know about) which then should have been combined into a much shorter book one.
There was some political intrigue, but again, I had to wade through mountains of repeated themes (Slava’s opinions of herself and others, her extra sensory gifts, trekking through the trail, Slava’s concerns about what to do next) before I could be excited by the political developments. Having dozens of names in the book, with some used only for one chapter or a few chapters, made it a little hard to keep track of the cast of characters, especially since when many of them are heard of but not seen.
In short, I would suggest purging a lot of Slava’s inner thoughts (except when vital to the plot), the dialogue about what to do next on the trek (some is necessary but not on an everyday basis), and some of Slava’s encounters with animals that suggest a way out and save the group (there were a bit too many after a while). Observations that aren’t important, such as the scenery or about Slava’s minor developments, should be reduced to a short sentence or two sentences, rather than three pages of lengthy paragraphs. I think half the words could be eliminated without detracting from the story. And perhaps a more arresting rationale for making the trek in the first place, with reader’s anticipation of how dangerous and important the end result is.
The story, though, was cumbersome. The aim was modest… to survive a long trek by dogsled from one ruling capital to another and to avoid ambushes by malevolent spirits and bandits. As a story grounded in fantasy, it wasn’t much to entice a reader. It was very heavy on character development rather than thrills. This book reminded us many times that the main heroine, Slava, has a gift as a seer, and that she is widely known for the quality of mercy. I think the opening chapter, when she advises a ruling monarch to spare the life of a criminal, established her forgiveness and sweet nature.
There was a lot of flowery description and observations that the author felt she needed as a build-up as gradual as that of a pot on low heat before it gets to boil, to the point where there were several paragraphs with more than ten sentences and moreover, several such paragraphs to continue a point in the story.
There were some terrific moments in the book when Slava talks telepathically to forest animals or to the spirits. However, the wordy nature of the entire story meant that I had to work harder than I wanted, as reader, to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. It should be the author’s job before the reader gets to read the book. At the end of the book, the author points out she is intent upon writing a seven-volume series of Slava’s story. I would have preferred a stand-alone story, with a goal and conclusion that thrills me. Then, the author is free to develop a new story continuing with the same settings and main characters, but the first book is where the reader starts and should be spellbinding on its own. Or maybe there was a very exciting premise in book two (which I do not know about) which then should have been combined into a much shorter book one.
There was some political intrigue, but again, I had to wade through mountains of repeated themes (Slava’s opinions of herself and others, her extra sensory gifts, trekking through the trail, Slava’s concerns about what to do next) before I could be excited by the political developments. Having dozens of names in the book, with some used only for one chapter or a few chapters, made it a little hard to keep track of the cast of characters, especially since when many of them are heard of but not seen.
In short, I would suggest purging a lot of Slava’s inner thoughts (except when vital to the plot), the dialogue about what to do next on the trek (some is necessary but not on an everyday basis), and some of Slava’s encounters with animals that suggest a way out and save the group (there were a bit too many after a while). Observations that aren’t important, such as the scenery or about Slava’s minor developments, should be reduced to a short sentence or two sentences, rather than three pages of lengthy paragraphs. I think half the words could be eliminated without detracting from the story. And perhaps a more arresting rationale for making the trek in the first place, with reader’s anticipation of how dangerous and important the end result is.
March 25, 2021
2 star
Parts of this I did enjoy a good bit, but two key things pulled the writing down. The biggest negative was the cliffhanger "ending." Basically it cuts off when the story is getting more interesting. The other negative is that the main character gets rather repetitive and annoying at times and sometimes the style of the writing with her distances me more from the story.
Parts of this I did enjoy a good bit, but two key things pulled the writing down. The biggest negative was the cliffhanger "ending." Basically it cuts off when the story is getting more interesting. The other negative is that the main character gets rather repetitive and annoying at times and sometimes the style of the writing with her distances me more from the story.
December 17, 2017
There are some things you might wish to know before buying this book:
1. This book ends and flows straight into Part Two, so if you're enjoying this book, buy Part II before you finish so you won't have to wait.
2. You really should consider calling your local hotel and finding out when their cheap rates are—usually a week-end—and book yourself a room with room service. That way, you won't be home to be interrupted by starving kids, dogs, or spouse. And you won't feel guilty, either. After all, you deserve to pamper yourself. Settle back, put your feet up, forget the house—it will be waiting when you go home, prepare for a great and fun journey.
If you enjoy adult fairy tales, with lots of depth, you're in for a real treat. If you liked Katherine Arden's books (The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower), you will love these books. Based (I think) on Russian fairytales, Clark takes us on an adventure like none I've been on before.
Zemnia is a country ruled by women, and Slava is the younger (half-)sister to Vladya, the Tsarina. She is, literally, the second heir-in-waiting behind her niece and serves little to no useful purpose. The chance for adventure, away from her kremlin, arises and Slava takes it. It is a coming of age book, but not like the normal sort I've read.
The adventure takes her to the northern edges of the Zemnian empire, she must travel through dark forests filled with woodland sprites, magical animals, and fear to be overcome. Once above the sun line, Slava and her party are on the tundra, in darkness and the bitter winter cold.
She loses her soft edges, learns about her 'gift' and that others desire both it and her. At least until they come face-to-face with it.
This book also gives us a sneaky peek at gender role reversal, and how we think about those of the opposite gender.
A well-crafted book, filled with characters I'd love to have over for dinner. Or go adventuring with.
1. This book ends and flows straight into Part Two, so if you're enjoying this book, buy Part II before you finish so you won't have to wait.
2. You really should consider calling your local hotel and finding out when their cheap rates are—usually a week-end—and book yourself a room with room service. That way, you won't be home to be interrupted by starving kids, dogs, or spouse. And you won't feel guilty, either. After all, you deserve to pamper yourself. Settle back, put your feet up, forget the house—it will be waiting when you go home, prepare for a great and fun journey.
If you enjoy adult fairy tales, with lots of depth, you're in for a real treat. If you liked Katherine Arden's books (The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower), you will love these books. Based (I think) on Russian fairytales, Clark takes us on an adventure like none I've been on before.
Zemnia is a country ruled by women, and Slava is the younger (half-)sister to Vladya, the Tsarina. She is, literally, the second heir-in-waiting behind her niece and serves little to no useful purpose. The chance for adventure, away from her kremlin, arises and Slava takes it. It is a coming of age book, but not like the normal sort I've read.
The adventure takes her to the northern edges of the Zemnian empire, she must travel through dark forests filled with woodland sprites, magical animals, and fear to be overcome. Once above the sun line, Slava and her party are on the tundra, in darkness and the bitter winter cold.
She loses her soft edges, learns about her 'gift' and that others desire both it and her. At least until they come face-to-face with it.
This book also gives us a sneaky peek at gender role reversal, and how we think about those of the opposite gender.
A well-crafted book, filled with characters I'd love to have over for dinner. Or go adventuring with.
June 7, 2016
This is a very original and refreshing piece of work. If pushed, I would declare it as somewhere between Tolstoy, Tolkien and CS Lewis. Make of that what you will! I don't think this is something I would naturally gravitate towards, but I'm glad I have read it. It's good.
To set the scene, what we have is a fantasy world which very closely resembles Russia. I'm going to say it is medieval Russia from the environment, but that's really rather irrelevant - it absolutely tastes, smells, and sounds Cyrillic. This is somewhat of a deviation from many fantasy books I have read (including mine!) which focus on Western or Far Eastern societal regimes. Hence this is a very refreshing read.
But this is not an off-hand attempt at creating originality. No indeed; our author has an excellent understanding of Russia, and incorporates many aspects into her world - so it tastes entirely authentic. One particular aspect that stood out for me was the naming conventions; everyone has a range of names / titles, and it is a complex set of rules that governs what names are used when (which is why the author lays out the details at outset in an Epigraph!) For me, I found this a bit overwhelming and found myself trying gloss over the frequent use of names in dialogue, but that doesn't mean it was wrong. In fact, this adds authenticity which is appreciated, but ultimately I had to read it in a way I was comfortable with. It doesn't mean I can't appreciate the excellent concept behind the prose.
So - we have a medieval Russian landscape before us; but definitely not Russia. What happens then? Without giving anything (too much at least) away, the story follows a Princess (daughter of the Empress no less) as she surprisingly jumps at the chance of a long and arduous trek to the "Midnight Land" (where the sun never rises; the Arctic Circle on the Earth we know and love). Slava, the princess, has certain abilities that she struggles with in her daily life, and this trek initially offers her a means of escape; though it ultimately also allows her to see her gifts in a new (more favourable?) light. So it is really about Slava's journey 1) to the Midnight Land; and 2) to understand herself. Beyond that there is not too much in terms of weighty story to deal with, though the experience of travelling through Zem' is intriguing in itself. That being said, we end the book with a dose of political gunpowder, suggesting that the wider story will escalate in forthcoming books, but I would say that this only truly reveals itself in the closing stages (though you do start getting whiffs a bit earlier on).
So - with the scene set, what is to like about this book? Apart from the refreshing perspective of course.
One of the key features of the society we look upon is that it is absolutely female dominated; and this is a really interesting perspective. Man is considered to be a bit like a domesticated animal, which is amusing, but the way it is all worked out fits nicely and makes sense. And this permits absorption into this alternative world.
And other aspects are also very well written. One of the key concepts of the journey is that they head to the Midnight Land in winter - hence the concepts of morning and evening are blown away. And this is handled very well, rightly confusing the characters and posing notable problems. Great attention to detail.
And my third plus point is that it is very well written. The author is a bit of a dab hand in poetry and short stories by all accounts, so this is of little surprise, but the text does have a slightly flowery feel to it - which absolutely fits the story. I may suggest that in places there are just a few too many words, and that some sentences are too long and winding, but the prose is definitely closer to the mark than away from it.
On the flip side, were there any aspects that I would change? Well, yes - I think there are. My first suggestion would be that, in my view, this book is probably just a bit too long. It's not a "slog" by any means, but I just have the feeling that it's perhaps heavier than it needed to be given the events that occur.
So what's the cause of this? I don't think this is actually a consequence of stalled action at any point - the story moves at a constant pace; it is just perhaps a bit slow. I think the length is therefore actually a function of the narrative and the stylistic aspects of prose, and in particular:
Our key character, Slava, has a tendency to reinforce facts that can be relatively easily ascertained from the events in the book. It is nice to hear her view, but maybe she expresses it in the narrative too frequently;
She also has a tendency (this is more prevalent earlier on and may actually be a character trait that the author is trying to highlight before the journey - in which case I stand corrected!) to drift into streams of consciousness which are a bit awkward. They are definitely less common later on, but they are lodged in my recollection and hence I have made this point;
And perhaps the literary edge to the prose tends to lengthen statements beyond their necessary length, which drags the text that little bit too far.
The only other aspect I might challenge on is the arc itself. It feels like this is Slava's "revelation" (if you will), and though she is a really nice character, I might like to get a bit more immersed in the deeper political intrigue. Of course, this isn't actually feasible because the story follows Slava and she is isolated for near enough the entire novel, but that won't stop me expressing the view! And this isn't saying that there aren't wider aspects in the book - they just don't seem to be knitted to some grand scheme that threatens the balance. This is all about Slava.
That being said, it (the gunpowder at the end) does mean that I am more inclined to read on, so what do I know. And the author has kindly gifted the second volume too, so I have no excuse!
Oh, and another aspect that is really interesting is the magical interpretation - a very important consideration in fantasy. The author has done this well and has worked within clear boundaries whilst also expanding the magical scope seamlessly. Excellent.
So all in all a good read. And in case this is relevant to you, I found that this book was enjoyed alongside the following soundtrack:
Ulrich Schnauss & Jonas Munk
I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. And in fact, I was also gifted the second book in the series, which I've made a note to read some time soon!
http://www.jhockley.com/epic-fantasy/...
To set the scene, what we have is a fantasy world which very closely resembles Russia. I'm going to say it is medieval Russia from the environment, but that's really rather irrelevant - it absolutely tastes, smells, and sounds Cyrillic. This is somewhat of a deviation from many fantasy books I have read (including mine!) which focus on Western or Far Eastern societal regimes. Hence this is a very refreshing read.
But this is not an off-hand attempt at creating originality. No indeed; our author has an excellent understanding of Russia, and incorporates many aspects into her world - so it tastes entirely authentic. One particular aspect that stood out for me was the naming conventions; everyone has a range of names / titles, and it is a complex set of rules that governs what names are used when (which is why the author lays out the details at outset in an Epigraph!) For me, I found this a bit overwhelming and found myself trying gloss over the frequent use of names in dialogue, but that doesn't mean it was wrong. In fact, this adds authenticity which is appreciated, but ultimately I had to read it in a way I was comfortable with. It doesn't mean I can't appreciate the excellent concept behind the prose.
So - we have a medieval Russian landscape before us; but definitely not Russia. What happens then? Without giving anything (too much at least) away, the story follows a Princess (daughter of the Empress no less) as she surprisingly jumps at the chance of a long and arduous trek to the "Midnight Land" (where the sun never rises; the Arctic Circle on the Earth we know and love). Slava, the princess, has certain abilities that she struggles with in her daily life, and this trek initially offers her a means of escape; though it ultimately also allows her to see her gifts in a new (more favourable?) light. So it is really about Slava's journey 1) to the Midnight Land; and 2) to understand herself. Beyond that there is not too much in terms of weighty story to deal with, though the experience of travelling through Zem' is intriguing in itself. That being said, we end the book with a dose of political gunpowder, suggesting that the wider story will escalate in forthcoming books, but I would say that this only truly reveals itself in the closing stages (though you do start getting whiffs a bit earlier on).
So - with the scene set, what is to like about this book? Apart from the refreshing perspective of course.
One of the key features of the society we look upon is that it is absolutely female dominated; and this is a really interesting perspective. Man is considered to be a bit like a domesticated animal, which is amusing, but the way it is all worked out fits nicely and makes sense. And this permits absorption into this alternative world.
And other aspects are also very well written. One of the key concepts of the journey is that they head to the Midnight Land in winter - hence the concepts of morning and evening are blown away. And this is handled very well, rightly confusing the characters and posing notable problems. Great attention to detail.
And my third plus point is that it is very well written. The author is a bit of a dab hand in poetry and short stories by all accounts, so this is of little surprise, but the text does have a slightly flowery feel to it - which absolutely fits the story. I may suggest that in places there are just a few too many words, and that some sentences are too long and winding, but the prose is definitely closer to the mark than away from it.
On the flip side, were there any aspects that I would change? Well, yes - I think there are. My first suggestion would be that, in my view, this book is probably just a bit too long. It's not a "slog" by any means, but I just have the feeling that it's perhaps heavier than it needed to be given the events that occur.
So what's the cause of this? I don't think this is actually a consequence of stalled action at any point - the story moves at a constant pace; it is just perhaps a bit slow. I think the length is therefore actually a function of the narrative and the stylistic aspects of prose, and in particular:
Our key character, Slava, has a tendency to reinforce facts that can be relatively easily ascertained from the events in the book. It is nice to hear her view, but maybe she expresses it in the narrative too frequently;
She also has a tendency (this is more prevalent earlier on and may actually be a character trait that the author is trying to highlight before the journey - in which case I stand corrected!) to drift into streams of consciousness which are a bit awkward. They are definitely less common later on, but they are lodged in my recollection and hence I have made this point;
And perhaps the literary edge to the prose tends to lengthen statements beyond their necessary length, which drags the text that little bit too far.
The only other aspect I might challenge on is the arc itself. It feels like this is Slava's "revelation" (if you will), and though she is a really nice character, I might like to get a bit more immersed in the deeper political intrigue. Of course, this isn't actually feasible because the story follows Slava and she is isolated for near enough the entire novel, but that won't stop me expressing the view! And this isn't saying that there aren't wider aspects in the book - they just don't seem to be knitted to some grand scheme that threatens the balance. This is all about Slava.
That being said, it (the gunpowder at the end) does mean that I am more inclined to read on, so what do I know. And the author has kindly gifted the second volume too, so I have no excuse!
Oh, and another aspect that is really interesting is the magical interpretation - a very important consideration in fantasy. The author has done this well and has worked within clear boundaries whilst also expanding the magical scope seamlessly. Excellent.
So all in all a good read. And in case this is relevant to you, I found that this book was enjoyed alongside the following soundtrack:
Ulrich Schnauss & Jonas Munk
I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. And in fact, I was also gifted the second book in the series, which I've made a note to read some time soon!
http://www.jhockley.com/epic-fantasy/...
May 10, 2020
Majestic World-building! Highly recommend this first book in the Zemnian series! You are immediately immersed in the unfamiliar and complex world of Zem’, with several layers of social rules and tensions. A young royal lady, Slava, is second in line to her Tsarina half-sister. Slava is aimless, yet filled with disdain for the shady and treacherous ones that insinuate themselves into palace life. A spark is lit within when she seeks to join a caravan that intends to travel beyond the established borders of the Zemnian Empire. When Slava is granted leave to embark, she begins a magical journey that engages her strengths and stretches in unforeseen ways. This girl-woman will engage, perplex, disappoint, and redeem herself as she begins to understand her own heart and destiny. Slava encounters new teachers, allies, foes, and a bit of romance. As a reader, you’ll be thankful that this is a series! Enjoy…but don’t start this book too late at night or you’ll be up until the wee hours before reluctantly setting it aside….
May 25, 2021
I was absolutely blown away by this book! I almost set it aside when I began reading, but I'm so glad I didn't. The beginning setting was unpleasantly full of casual brutality and thus very difficult for me to read, but seeing this is necessary for fully understanding this world, the protagonist, and her development.
I loved how the world is grounded in Russian culture and folklore, and I wish I knew more about them so I could recognize more of the author's own worldbuilding and appreciate it better.
I am so glad I stumbled across this gem in a BookFunnel promotion, and I am now impatient to devour the entire series!
I loved how the world is grounded in Russian culture and folklore, and I wish I knew more about them so I could recognize more of the author's own worldbuilding and appreciate it better.
I am so glad I stumbled across this gem in a BookFunnel promotion, and I am now impatient to devour the entire series!
May 23, 2021
Particularly poignant for those who are exceedingly empathetic & puts into words our common issues grappling with our guilt & society that in actions, does not value empathy.
Anyone who's experienced scolding, chastisement, and punishment for being "over sensitive" can get some good insight.
Also interesting social interactions in a strict hierarchy. Just so happens to be female lead!
Digging the role reversal.
Felt like I would be highlighting too many passages LOL.
Anyone who's experienced scolding, chastisement, and punishment for being "over sensitive" can get some good insight.
Also interesting social interactions in a strict hierarchy. Just so happens to be female lead!
Digging the role reversal.
Felt like I would be highlighting too many passages LOL.
June 24, 2018
Amazing read
Could not put this book down. I loved the mix of fairy tales and court intrigue, and I love the depth of the characters and their personal growth. It does have a cliffhanger ending, so be prepared to want the next book in the series.
Could not put this book down. I loved the mix of fairy tales and court intrigue, and I love the depth of the characters and their personal growth. It does have a cliffhanger ending, so be prepared to want the next book in the series.
February 18, 2021
Intrigue and Sorcery
Loved the intrigue of this story and the idea of magic, you can feel the cold of Russia and I like the fact that the men were portrayed as fools, and not very bright and that women are the strong ones in this story.
Loved the intrigue of this story and the idea of magic, you can feel the cold of Russia and I like the fact that the men were portrayed as fools, and not very bright and that women are the strong ones in this story.
December 29, 2020
Starts slow
Starts slow but improves. Unique story of a young woman with unusual magical gifts learning to use them Nicely nuanced in the world of old russia
Starts slow but improves. Unique story of a young woman with unusual magical gifts learning to use them Nicely nuanced in the world of old russia
January 13, 2021
I didn't love reading this book but some people like this book. It is not favourite book in this year....
March 23, 2021
Nice references to Russian literature.
September 24, 2022
There was so much background crammed into the first chapter that it was heavy going and I wasn't interested enough to continue.
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April 13, 2024
So boring, I started skipping lines in chapter two, and couldn't even finish that.
August 26, 2016
E P Clark’s book opens in the city of Krasnogarda in the fantasy land of Zem, a country resembling Russia at an unspecified period of time. The main character, Slava, sister of the Empress, is attending the trial of an alleged child-murderer. We are introduced to a collection of thoroughly disagreeable characters who all behave with seemingly inexplicable nastiness to Slava. This first impression is reinforced later when Slava attends a royal feast where she allows herself to be insulted and belittled by an assembly of scheming, manipulative women and shallow, ‘surly’ men, members of an artificial, matriarchal society where men are weak, inferior objects of little worth.
It’s a pretty off-putting beginning which initially made me wonder if there was one character in the book I was going to be able to empathise with. But the author’s dismal picture is deliberate, designed to give the reader an idea of the odds faced by her friendless heroine due to her double-edged gift. It is the starting point in a story recounting Slava’s escape from the stifling, poisonous confines of court life and her journey to The Midnight Land, the unmapped region at the edges of the known world, a journey in which she herself will change, will come to understand the unusual gifts she possesses, will find out who she really is, and the mission destiny has chosen for her.
There is much that is impressive about this novel. The quality of the writing is erudite: rich vocabulary, lush description and perfectly-constructed sentences mirror the flowing rhythm of the story as Slava sets out on her adventures with her new companions. We travel through an immense country with vast swathes of uninhabited forest leading to the endless night of the frozen tundra. The ambiance is beautifully rendered; ghostly echoes of the soundtrack from ‘Dr Zhivago’ may well drift through the reader’s mind as the group speeds along on horseback, on skis, in dogsleds, stopping each night at waystations to snatch a minimum of food and rest before setting out again the following day. ‘Dr Zhivago’ morphs into ‘Lord of the Rings’ as the magical creatures that inhabit the forest make their appearance, trees with faces, animals with the power of speech, bent on testing and challenging our heroine.
But the journey is long, and after the group decides to head back, retracing their steps across tundra and forest, I found my attention wandering. The same endless landscapes, the same daily routines. Slava’s internal monologues, too, and the conversations and confessions in her interactions with different characters, grow lengthier, more cerebral, too over-involved. In spite of the encounters with spirits and sorcerers and bandits I would have liked more action and variety in the second half of the book.
But this is a personal preference. E P Clark’s conception of her heroine’s story, the minute details of her development and self-discovery, are doubtless intentional. Fans of epic fantasies involving the coming of age of a young central character will find much to enthral them in this first part of the Zemnian Trilogy and will be eager to find out what happens next.
I received a free digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.
It’s a pretty off-putting beginning which initially made me wonder if there was one character in the book I was going to be able to empathise with. But the author’s dismal picture is deliberate, designed to give the reader an idea of the odds faced by her friendless heroine due to her double-edged gift. It is the starting point in a story recounting Slava’s escape from the stifling, poisonous confines of court life and her journey to The Midnight Land, the unmapped region at the edges of the known world, a journey in which she herself will change, will come to understand the unusual gifts she possesses, will find out who she really is, and the mission destiny has chosen for her.
There is much that is impressive about this novel. The quality of the writing is erudite: rich vocabulary, lush description and perfectly-constructed sentences mirror the flowing rhythm of the story as Slava sets out on her adventures with her new companions. We travel through an immense country with vast swathes of uninhabited forest leading to the endless night of the frozen tundra. The ambiance is beautifully rendered; ghostly echoes of the soundtrack from ‘Dr Zhivago’ may well drift through the reader’s mind as the group speeds along on horseback, on skis, in dogsleds, stopping each night at waystations to snatch a minimum of food and rest before setting out again the following day. ‘Dr Zhivago’ morphs into ‘Lord of the Rings’ as the magical creatures that inhabit the forest make their appearance, trees with faces, animals with the power of speech, bent on testing and challenging our heroine.
But the journey is long, and after the group decides to head back, retracing their steps across tundra and forest, I found my attention wandering. The same endless landscapes, the same daily routines. Slava’s internal monologues, too, and the conversations and confessions in her interactions with different characters, grow lengthier, more cerebral, too over-involved. In spite of the encounters with spirits and sorcerers and bandits I would have liked more action and variety in the second half of the book.
But this is a personal preference. E P Clark’s conception of her heroine’s story, the minute details of her development and self-discovery, are doubtless intentional. Fans of epic fantasies involving the coming of age of a young central character will find much to enthral them in this first part of the Zemnian Trilogy and will be eager to find out what happens next.
I received a free digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.
March 13, 2018
Establishing a world of matriarchal rule and magic, E.P. Clark's The Midnight Land Part One: The Flight follows a young Tsarinorvna's first expedition beyond her kremlin and into the uncharted North.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Endowed with a unique ability to mirror the emotions of those around her, Slava is able to empathize with the people her sister, the Empress, rules, which can cause some tension during sentencings as she deeply feels the anguish of those her sister condemns. Eager to leave her kremlin and life controlled by her sister, Slava joins the adventuress Olga on her expedition to venture and map the uncharted lands in the far North, the Midnight Land, becoming stronger and more able along their travels. The further from her home that she travels, the more Slava's abilities seem to be increasing, along with the danger they pose to her and her traveling companions.
Having already read a later story within this series, the fantasty world presented was familiar but the establishment and development of the world was well-done, taking time to introduce many elements to be revisited throughout the series. Though this may be repeating myself from my review of The Breathing Sea: Burning, the narrative utilizes Russian tales to provide the story an element of reality and familiarity while building the world of Zem' and the various magical and legal rules that govern it. Though there are many characters to keep track of, and the Russian tradition of characters having several names they're referred to as, each of the primary characters in Slava's immediate circle demonstrate at least some dynamic growth along with Slava's self-discovery and growth.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Endowed with a unique ability to mirror the emotions of those around her, Slava is able to empathize with the people her sister, the Empress, rules, which can cause some tension during sentencings as she deeply feels the anguish of those her sister condemns. Eager to leave her kremlin and life controlled by her sister, Slava joins the adventuress Olga on her expedition to venture and map the uncharted lands in the far North, the Midnight Land, becoming stronger and more able along their travels. The further from her home that she travels, the more Slava's abilities seem to be increasing, along with the danger they pose to her and her traveling companions.
Having already read a later story within this series, the fantasty world presented was familiar but the establishment and development of the world was well-done, taking time to introduce many elements to be revisited throughout the series. Though this may be repeating myself from my review of The Breathing Sea: Burning, the narrative utilizes Russian tales to provide the story an element of reality and familiarity while building the world of Zem' and the various magical and legal rules that govern it. Though there are many characters to keep track of, and the Russian tradition of characters having several names they're referred to as, each of the primary characters in Slava's immediate circle demonstrate at least some dynamic growth along with Slava's self-discovery and growth.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2017
This first book in a new Science Fiction series is interesting. It has lots of fantasy if that is your interest.
September 25, 2016
The Midnight Land is set in Russia or a place very much like it, but not in a modern setting. It follows Slava, a young woman whose gifts make her both sought out and shunned by those around her. Sick of her lot in life, she jumps at the opportunity to get away for a while, even if it means traveling beyond the edges of the mapped northern border of Zem’ in the dead of winter.
What I most liked about this story was how Slava becomes aware of her own faults and begins to overcome them. This was an intriguing journey because she starts off seeing only the faults in others and grows through various stages of self-awareness. That she becomes stronger and almost heroic by the end made it all the better, especially as it is never too easy for her to do so.
I also like how it starts off like any sort of mundane journey. Even though there seems to be a paranormal edge to Slava’s gift, even she writes it off as just paying attention. All that lulled me into thinking this was all it would be, but when you hit the halfway mark, it becomes impossible to ignore the influence of things not of this world, though Slava, in particular, is slow to accept it.
As for things I found tough, well, the names of people and places are huge and peppered with various suffixes and permutations that seem to change the meaning of or relationship between them. There are clues and explanations woven into the book, but I also found it helpful to have been following a TV show where many of the characters speak in Russian, which helped with the pronunciation of some of the trickier words. It also helped me recognize that characters referring to each other by their full first and last names was correct, and the use of shorter names seemed to come with familiarity or an invitation to do so.
Another thing of note is the length. This is a very long book, which took me about a week to read, and I’m someone who sometimes reads four novels in that amount of time. I neither liked nor disliked this, but it was long, and decoding the Russian and keeping track of the characters made it a bit more challenging for me.
Finally, at the end of the book, it seems one journey comes to a conclusion and another just might be starting, but I wasn’t sure because it simply stopped. The book is a pretty good read in itself, but I’m not sure where the overall series is going.
Overall, I really liked this book. Folks who enjoy stories where fantasy and real life merge or where the folklore of real cultures is brought to life may enjoy this story.
I picked this book up while it was on a free promotion.
What I most liked about this story was how Slava becomes aware of her own faults and begins to overcome them. This was an intriguing journey because she starts off seeing only the faults in others and grows through various stages of self-awareness. That she becomes stronger and almost heroic by the end made it all the better, especially as it is never too easy for her to do so.
I also like how it starts off like any sort of mundane journey. Even though there seems to be a paranormal edge to Slava’s gift, even she writes it off as just paying attention. All that lulled me into thinking this was all it would be, but when you hit the halfway mark, it becomes impossible to ignore the influence of things not of this world, though Slava, in particular, is slow to accept it.
As for things I found tough, well, the names of people and places are huge and peppered with various suffixes and permutations that seem to change the meaning of or relationship between them. There are clues and explanations woven into the book, but I also found it helpful to have been following a TV show where many of the characters speak in Russian, which helped with the pronunciation of some of the trickier words. It also helped me recognize that characters referring to each other by their full first and last names was correct, and the use of shorter names seemed to come with familiarity or an invitation to do so.
Another thing of note is the length. This is a very long book, which took me about a week to read, and I’m someone who sometimes reads four novels in that amount of time. I neither liked nor disliked this, but it was long, and decoding the Russian and keeping track of the characters made it a bit more challenging for me.
Finally, at the end of the book, it seems one journey comes to a conclusion and another just might be starting, but I wasn’t sure because it simply stopped. The book is a pretty good read in itself, but I’m not sure where the overall series is going.
Overall, I really liked this book. Folks who enjoy stories where fantasy and real life merge or where the folklore of real cultures is brought to life may enjoy this story.
I picked this book up while it was on a free promotion.
February 13, 2016
First, I would like to say, I absolutely loved the story-line in this book. I would completely rate it 5 stars. It was a very intriguing story about a girl with the power of empathy and how she learns to deal with other's emotions and how they influence her own. Along the way there are also talking animals, an adventurous journey, and self discovery - lots of self discovery. It makes you wonder at the line between right and wrong, and the perception of each. It's great.
There were only a few things I didn't like about the story, and although they were minor, they were cumbersome enough for me to give the book four stars and not five, like I would have were I simply rating the story-line as I said previously. First, the names are all Russian-like names and very hard to pronounce, not to mention, very long. They are also very similar, which makes it really easy to get confused if you are not very careful about which character the author is talking about. There is actually a sort of guide at the beginning of the book to show you how to say some of the names, etc., and I ended up going back to refer to it many times throughout. I really didn't like that. It was like I had to pause the story long enough to go find out how to pronounce something, so eventually I gave it up and started assigning them all nicknames so I could simply continue reading. I actually nicknamed one of the B. Coleslaw...
Finally, there is a large amount of description in the book, which is awesome in a lot of it, but simply dragged in others. I know as an author myself how hard it is to immerse a reader in a fantasy world without making it boring through endless description. The main character, Slava, I felt was over-described in quite a few places, but in different ways that were saying essentially the same thing.
Overall, I will say I highly recommend the book for fantasy readers. It's a great book, and honestly, I sometimes have the attention span of a fruit fly, so for others out there who enjoy more description and fleshed out tales, this is a fantastic story. Even with my short attention span and lack of interest in never-ending descriptors, I still enjoyed it, and that's saying a lot!
There were only a few things I didn't like about the story, and although they were minor, they were cumbersome enough for me to give the book four stars and not five, like I would have were I simply rating the story-line as I said previously. First, the names are all Russian-like names and very hard to pronounce, not to mention, very long. They are also very similar, which makes it really easy to get confused if you are not very careful about which character the author is talking about. There is actually a sort of guide at the beginning of the book to show you how to say some of the names, etc., and I ended up going back to refer to it many times throughout. I really didn't like that. It was like I had to pause the story long enough to go find out how to pronounce something, so eventually I gave it up and started assigning them all nicknames so I could simply continue reading. I actually nicknamed one of the B. Coleslaw...
Finally, there is a large amount of description in the book, which is awesome in a lot of it, but simply dragged in others. I know as an author myself how hard it is to immerse a reader in a fantasy world without making it boring through endless description. The main character, Slava, I felt was over-described in quite a few places, but in different ways that were saying essentially the same thing.
Overall, I will say I highly recommend the book for fantasy readers. It's a great book, and honestly, I sometimes have the attention span of a fruit fly, so for others out there who enjoy more description and fleshed out tales, this is a fantastic story. Even with my short attention span and lack of interest in never-ending descriptors, I still enjoyed it, and that's saying a lot!
July 18, 2016
The midnight land is a story based in Slavic mythology, which I found most interesting. The interaction with mythological creatures was the strongest part of the writing. The main character Slava is the only character who is fully developed with good and bad aspects to her personality and behavior. The author imagined a society where men were the ‘weaker sex’ and this aspect was really overplayed and it was quite demeaning as there were no strong male characters. In addition, only Slava develops and changes through the book. The other characters are lead to see that they are the architects of their own unhappiness, but are unable to change. It would be unrealistic for all characters to change, but a few characters changing would add some dimension to the book. The pace of the book was inconsistent with a major portion of the book spent in characters retelling the sad stories of their lives that brought them to their current state. The use of a few exemplar characters would have illustrated the theme without belaboring the point. Though it was important to the book to understand that Slava had great insight into the rationale for other’s behaviors and demonstrate her compassion, the descriptions got very long and repetitive. Editing these portions would allow for the story to be told in one book. Right now it is two books which do not stand alone and really only have enough plot to support one book. The use of language skillfully evoked a Slavic feel, but the names could have been modified from Russian styles of multiple very similar sounding names. I got lost and finally didn’t worry about remember who was who in the great multitude of characters. The setting was beautiful and I felt the snow fall even in the middle of the summer. I enjoyed this story, but rather felt that I was reading a pre-edited copy of the book.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2016
The Midnight Land by EP Clark is a long, slow paced book. It follows the physical and emotional journey of Slava in a Russian inspired setting which is beautifully rendered by the author.
In summary, I found the premise intriguing, and enjoyed the interactions with various magical animals, especially the unique leshaya. However, I found it difficult to connect with the heroine and her journey. The story doesn't really go anywhere, and the plot is bogged down with repetitive description and introspection.
There is a huge cast of characters, many with similarly difficult sounding names. I found it a distraction from the story, as I frequently had to read a sentence or paragraph twice to make sure I had interpreted the correct character. Slava herself is well-developed and is a reasonably likeable heroine, however she is quite passive most of the time.
The pace of the story is slow. Too slow for my liking. And the book is too long for the slight plot.
The language is almost literary, but is also quite repetitive. Both in actual words and phrases used, as well as in description of everything, especially Slava's introspection. The narrative voice is consistent. The dialogue matches description and introspection in its almost literal feel. It reads like a book that was written a century or two ago.
The settings in the book are beautifully described and are quite unique. I had no trouble imagining the scenes as we travelled from the big city Kremlin to desolate tundra.
The Midnight Land is certainly a distinctive book in the sea of fast paced, action filled coming-of-age fiction that we are more used to reading. It’s enjoyable enough to read once you settle into the slow pace and language.
In summary, I found the premise intriguing, and enjoyed the interactions with various magical animals, especially the unique leshaya. However, I found it difficult to connect with the heroine and her journey. The story doesn't really go anywhere, and the plot is bogged down with repetitive description and introspection.
There is a huge cast of characters, many with similarly difficult sounding names. I found it a distraction from the story, as I frequently had to read a sentence or paragraph twice to make sure I had interpreted the correct character. Slava herself is well-developed and is a reasonably likeable heroine, however she is quite passive most of the time.
The pace of the story is slow. Too slow for my liking. And the book is too long for the slight plot.
The language is almost literary, but is also quite repetitive. Both in actual words and phrases used, as well as in description of everything, especially Slava's introspection. The narrative voice is consistent. The dialogue matches description and introspection in its almost literal feel. It reads like a book that was written a century or two ago.
The settings in the book are beautifully described and are quite unique. I had no trouble imagining the scenes as we travelled from the big city Kremlin to desolate tundra.
The Midnight Land is certainly a distinctive book in the sea of fast paced, action filled coming-of-age fiction that we are more used to reading. It’s enjoyable enough to read once you settle into the slow pace and language.
February 26, 2016
I truly adored this first part of the Zemnian Trilogy (and can't wait for the rest of the story). Fantasy has always been my genre of choice, and this was a valuable and engrossing addition to the field. Clark does an excellent job of balancing her descriptive and detail oriented writing style with a perfectly paced plot, keeping the reader invested in the tale.
The story takes place in the land of Zem, a matriarchal Slavic empire, and is told from the point of view of the Tsarina's younger sister, Slava. It follows Slava as she leaves the capitol city to accompany an expedition to the far northern regions of the land. As the trek progresses, Slava finds herself entangled in fantastical forces, to which she is intricately tied. The story is fresh and unique, while also paying tribute to many traditional Slavic folklore/fairy tale tropes (something I really enjoyed about the book). Additionally, while the Zemnian society is entirely matriarchal (as I mentioned), it is very closely modeled after early Slavic dynastic periods and I really relished in Clark's inverse depiction of traditional monarchical society.
Ultimately, I found The Midnight Land Part I to be extremely satisfying and engaging, and I can not wait to finish the trilogy.
The story takes place in the land of Zem, a matriarchal Slavic empire, and is told from the point of view of the Tsarina's younger sister, Slava. It follows Slava as she leaves the capitol city to accompany an expedition to the far northern regions of the land. As the trek progresses, Slava finds herself entangled in fantastical forces, to which she is intricately tied. The story is fresh and unique, while also paying tribute to many traditional Slavic folklore/fairy tale tropes (something I really enjoyed about the book). Additionally, while the Zemnian society is entirely matriarchal (as I mentioned), it is very closely modeled after early Slavic dynastic periods and I really relished in Clark's inverse depiction of traditional monarchical society.
Ultimately, I found The Midnight Land Part I to be extremely satisfying and engaging, and I can not wait to finish the trilogy.
July 21, 2016
E.P. Clark has created an interesting and detailed world with "The Midnight Land." Upon first glance, one might pass this book by because the cover doesn't come close to doing justice to the story or its characters. That would be a mistake, though, because Clark's world reads like the best kind of historical, regency fantasy.
In a sea of characters, there is only one of true importance--Slava. Fortunately, she is a likable character because most of the other characters are absolutely horrible. In fact, I've never read a book with so many morally corrupt and unlikable characters, particularly women. E.P. writes a riveting scene early in the novel about a serial killer and child abductor trial. That trial and the reaction of all those in the room, including Slava's older sister who, for all intents and purposes, is queen of the region, depicted the emotional and psychological sickness of many people in Zem.
This is an intelligently written book, if not a lengthy one with long narratives not balanced out with dialogue and action. Slava is a good character and I would like to know what happens to her in the books to follow.
In a sea of characters, there is only one of true importance--Slava. Fortunately, she is a likable character because most of the other characters are absolutely horrible. In fact, I've never read a book with so many morally corrupt and unlikable characters, particularly women. E.P. writes a riveting scene early in the novel about a serial killer and child abductor trial. That trial and the reaction of all those in the room, including Slava's older sister who, for all intents and purposes, is queen of the region, depicted the emotional and psychological sickness of many people in Zem.
This is an intelligently written book, if not a lengthy one with long narratives not balanced out with dialogue and action. Slava is a good character and I would like to know what happens to her in the books to follow.
May 21, 2016
This was such a fun book!! It's very intriguing and definitely unique! A girl who is empathic learns how to deal with feeling every other person's emotions. Oh my favorite part- the animals!!! Loved this!! And she finds herself along the way.
The characters are well written and the writing is well done. But I seriously struggled with names. Lol and I'm Cajun so I was trying to pronounce names, but don't let that misguide you. I just gave everyone nick names I could remember lol! But there's a guide for the names so I used that a lot. But sometimes it was a little distracting. There's some great detail as well so the world building was great. But that sometimes was a little repetitive as well. But I won't lie- I loved this as a fantasy read. Great new world with a lovely main character and my heart went out to her some of those times when things "felt" so much! I look forward to more!! 4.5 PAWS!!
The characters are well written and the writing is well done. But I seriously struggled with names. Lol and I'm Cajun so I was trying to pronounce names, but don't let that misguide you. I just gave everyone nick names I could remember lol! But there's a guide for the names so I used that a lot. But sometimes it was a little distracting. There's some great detail as well so the world building was great. But that sometimes was a little repetitive as well. But I won't lie- I loved this as a fantasy read. Great new world with a lovely main character and my heart went out to her some of those times when things "felt" so much! I look forward to more!! 4.5 PAWS!!
August 4, 2016
A winter read.
Slava, next in line to the throne, languishes beneath the shadow of her sister, the Empress of Zem. Unseen and unheard, she sees and hears more than anyone else. More than she can bear. When she is unexpectedly asked to join an expedition to the unmapped regions of the north, she leaves the walls of the Kremlin, free for the first time.
This book has the feel of a long lost work by a long lost Russian master, and reads like history or legend more than fantasy. The decidedly unromantic matriarchal society seems oddly anti-feminist, and the general view of humanity is rather bleak, eliciting interesting questions, if not answers.
The story slogs along slowly, determined, brooding through a harsh, cold and desolate landscape, a refreshing change from the fast paced junk fare in fashion. It takes some time getting into, and nothing much seems to happen until the promise it will in the next volume, yet is thoroughly engaging, and more than skin deep.
Slava, next in line to the throne, languishes beneath the shadow of her sister, the Empress of Zem. Unseen and unheard, she sees and hears more than anyone else. More than she can bear. When she is unexpectedly asked to join an expedition to the unmapped regions of the north, she leaves the walls of the Kremlin, free for the first time.
This book has the feel of a long lost work by a long lost Russian master, and reads like history or legend more than fantasy. The decidedly unromantic matriarchal society seems oddly anti-feminist, and the general view of humanity is rather bleak, eliciting interesting questions, if not answers.
The story slogs along slowly, determined, brooding through a harsh, cold and desolate landscape, a refreshing change from the fast paced junk fare in fashion. It takes some time getting into, and nothing much seems to happen until the promise it will in the next volume, yet is thoroughly engaging, and more than skin deep.
June 3, 2016
I wasn't sure when I first started reading this book how I was going to feel about it. While the author had given a pronunciation guide, I found the names a bit off putting at first. However, I will say soon after starting I found myself drawn in, and finished the book all in one sitting. We had well written characters, both minor and major. A believable magic system, something that is sometimes very lacking in a fantasy novel, and fantastic location descriptions that flow in and out of the dialogue. I wholeheartedly recommend the read, it's well worth your time.
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