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Duainfey #2
Longeye
Hidden from the human-inhabited world by the inimical magical device known as the keleigh, the Vaitura has become a subtle battleground where the once all-powerful Elder Fey strive against each other and the upstart Queen to regain ascendancy. Of all the Elder Fey it is Altimere who is strongest in magical kest and Altimere who is most devious. Pitted against Zaldore and her group seeking to manipulate the convelescing Ranger known as Longeye to foil the Queen and rule the world, Altimere dares to utilize the untested powers of half-human, half-Fey Rebecca Beauvally, recognized by the elemental denizens of the Vaitura as The Gardener.
Now all plans must be rewritten: Becca breaks Altimere's capricious dominion with the dangerous herbal help of Duainfey, but, weakened by the effort, is held against her will in service to the Queen by Meripen's mysterious sea-lord cousin, Sian. Becca must escape the Queen's retainers to regain control of her own fate. With the magics of the Vaitura, and Altimere's retribution arrayed against her, she escapes with only her horse, a mad forest-living Brethren, and her freed magical servant Nancy at her side. Worse, the recovered legendary hero Longeye, long beloved of the Vaitura's forest folk and creatures, has re-armed at Sian's bidding, and knows most of all about Becca that she is both dangerous, and of the same folk who cruelly tortured him and slew his lover before his eyes.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2009
7 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Lee
166 books789 followersSharon Lee has been married to her first husband for more than half her lifetime; she is a friend to cats, a member of the National Carousel Association, and oversees the dubious investment schemes of an improbable number of stuffed animals.
Despite having been born in a year of the dragon, Sharon is an introvert. She lives in Maine because she likes it there. In fact, she likes it so much that she has written five novels set in Maine; contemporary fantasy trilogy Carousel Tides, Carousel Sun, Carousel Seas, and mysteries Barnburner and Gunshy.
With the aforementioned first husband, Steve Miller, Sharon has written twenty novels of science fiction and fantasy — many of them set in the Liaden Universe® — and numerous short stories. She has occasionally been an advertising copywriter, a reporter, photographer, book reviewer, and secretary. She was for three years Executive Director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., and was subsequently elected vice president and then president of that organization.
Despite having been born in a year of the dragon, Sharon is an introvert. She lives in Maine because she likes it there. In fact, she likes it so much that she has written five novels set in Maine; contemporary fantasy trilogy Carousel Tides, Carousel Sun, Carousel Seas, and mysteries Barnburner and Gunshy.
With the aforementioned first husband, Steve Miller, Sharon has written twenty novels of science fiction and fantasy — many of them set in the Liaden Universe® — and numerous short stories. She has occasionally been an advertising copywriter, a reporter, photographer, book reviewer, and secretary. She was for three years Executive Director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., and was subsequently elected vice president and then president of that organization.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 7, 2013
4.5/5; 5 stars; A
This review will apply to both Duainfey, book 1, and Longeye, book 2. I don't believe its accurate to view these two books as a duology but they are halves of the same whole. There is no point (IMO) in reading one if you don't also plan to read the other book.
Anyway, I found this duo of books to be captivating, disturbing, engrossing, and satisfying in the sense of traditional high fantasy. There are the Fey, there are humans, there are sentient trees and animals, there is an evil monster who was so vile he made my skin crawl, there is the triumph of good over evil and a positive, happy outcome.
I've read a lot of books by Lee and Miller and always find their style of writing appealing. However, they can be very subtle and they expect the reader to pay attention and figure out the story as it unfolds instead of just handing it to you. They also tend to end their books a bit abruptly for my taste but maybe I've become spoiled by the ubiquitous epilogue. It doesn't change the fact that these books are really well done. There IS some uncomfortable sexual content in book one. It isn't added to make the book romantic or erotic by any means, but to allow the reader to really understand how depraved and craven the evil monster is.
Since the Liaden Universe series has very little sexual content, and that little bit is mostly 'implied', it may come as a surprise (nasty or not) to some readers to find it here. Myself, I'm happy to see two of my favorite authors displaying yet another facet in their mighty talent.
This review will apply to both Duainfey, book 1, and Longeye, book 2. I don't believe its accurate to view these two books as a duology but they are halves of the same whole. There is no point (IMO) in reading one if you don't also plan to read the other book.
Anyway, I found this duo of books to be captivating, disturbing, engrossing, and satisfying in the sense of traditional high fantasy. There are the Fey, there are humans, there are sentient trees and animals, there is an evil monster who was so vile he made my skin crawl, there is the triumph of good over evil and a positive, happy outcome.
I've read a lot of books by Lee and Miller and always find their style of writing appealing. However, they can be very subtle and they expect the reader to pay attention and figure out the story as it unfolds instead of just handing it to you. They also tend to end their books a bit abruptly for my taste but maybe I've become spoiled by the ubiquitous epilogue. It doesn't change the fact that these books are really well done. There IS some uncomfortable sexual content in book one. It isn't added to make the book romantic or erotic by any means, but to allow the reader to really understand how depraved and craven the evil monster is.
Since the Liaden Universe series has very little sexual content, and that little bit is mostly 'implied', it may come as a surprise (nasty or not) to some readers to find it here. Myself, I'm happy to see two of my favorite authors displaying yet another facet in their mighty talent.
March 13, 2019
If you took the Laidens and put them in a fantasy setting, this is what you'd get. Perhaps not surprising, as they're both the creations of the same pair of authors, but there you are. Also not surprising is that I'm as fond of Becca and Meri as I am of the vast cast of the Laiden universe. It is both refreshing and disappointing that this series is only two volumes long. Short though it may have been, the journey was vastly entertaining and the ending well extremely well executed. However, as satisfying as the ending was, I, for one, would not be adverse to seeing the further adventures of Becca and Meri.
March 16, 2018
Disappointed. Looked for more substance.
October 16, 2018
The second book is much better than the first but I would stick to the lead and series I was interested in reading more from Lee and Miller.
June 25, 2009
Genre: High Fantasy involving the Fae
This was an engrossing read, but it felt like there was very little substance... The hero and heroine don't really decide to do anything about the problems of the world, they kind of accidentally end/recreate it... they don't even come to a full understanding of the problem - the reader does because the villain eventually figures it out (he's after all one of the individuals who created the problem - it just got a bit beyond him).
The heroine spends much of the book doing self-defeating things, which are totally in character with the abuse she took in the first book. Somehow the hero and heroine end up liking each other, but I'm not really sure how it happened; as the hero feels very anti-humans (for good reason) and the heroine is human, and in middle of the book he has a somewhat inexplicable about-face.
Plus, with all the build up in the first book, I had expected more of a role for the Queen and Sian... they barely act either. In fact, really it's only the villain who's an empowered actor... and that's kinda sad. Oh, and maybe the supernatural forces that push the leads around. But those aren’t particularly explained.
This was an engrossing read, but it felt like there was very little substance... The hero and heroine don't really decide to do anything about the problems of the world, they kind of accidentally end/recreate it... they don't even come to a full understanding of the problem - the reader does because the villain eventually figures it out (he's after all one of the individuals who created the problem - it just got a bit beyond him).
The heroine spends much of the book doing self-defeating things, which are totally in character with the abuse she took in the first book. Somehow the hero and heroine end up liking each other, but I'm not really sure how it happened; as the hero feels very anti-humans (for good reason) and the heroine is human, and in middle of the book he has a somewhat inexplicable about-face.
Plus, with all the build up in the first book, I had expected more of a role for the Queen and Sian... they barely act either. In fact, really it's only the villain who's an empowered actor... and that's kinda sad. Oh, and maybe the supernatural forces that push the leads around. But those aren’t particularly explained.
April 15, 2010
I don't know if this was actually worse than "Duainfey" or just suffered in comparison to other books I finished recently. The entire construct is so spun from fairy dust that I found it hard to care much about the characters, especially Rebecca Beauvelley. It was easier to care in the first book, when she was a woman stolen away from home and abused. In this book the things she does and the decisions she makes become more and more obscure. I believe this is also a fault in some of Lee and Miller's Liaden novels - when the characters are all about their otherworldly senses, and the explanations are glossed over with a few glib phrases.
May 30, 2012
The conclusion of the Duainfey duology finally brings Meripen and Rebecca together and answers many questions (i.e. what is Kest and why was Rebecca so "sought after" by Altimere) Thankfully it is free of the sexual subjugation of the first book. However the ending was just as bad as the first one. Things were done and boom it's over. Can't say I'd recommend this book or the first one to any one that likes to read what I do, which is a shame since I've always really enjoyed every other Sharon Lee and Steve Miller book.
April 4, 2009
Sequel to Duainfey. And very different in mood to the first one. This one is more mystery and real romance. There are enough flashbacks that it is not absolutely necessary to have read Duainfey for this story to make sense. This very enjoyable read manages to wrap up the story and answer your questions in fine fashion. As always Lee and Miller's writing sparkles and the characters are well-rounded.
May 12, 2009
Lee and Miller strike again! These guys know how to pace a story and create characters and totally leave you wanting more at the end. Longeye is a followup to Duainfey. Oddly, the longeye never really features in either book. Hmmm, makes one wonder.
My one main criticism of the book is that I would have liked to have seen some things more fully fleshed out. It could have used another fifty pages. And it certainly wasn't bloated.
My one main criticism of the book is that I would have liked to have seen some things more fully fleshed out. It could have used another fifty pages. And it certainly wasn't bloated.
July 12, 2015
Though I found this book very readable, and finished it in two or three days, I didn't find it to be a very satisfying read. Longeye is the second half of a dark fantasy duology that should have been a single, standalone book. The main characters never fully engaged me, and the romance had zero chemistry. Finally, the resolution was abrupt, and I didn't really understand exactly what happened in the end.
December 6, 2013
Even better than the first book of this two-parter. Becca, ill used in the first book, is now healing and learning more of the Fey world and the power which makes it seem magical to us. Who can resist the struggle to set our world and the world of the Fey to rights again and find love along the way? Excellent read.
March 16, 2011
I enjoyed most of this story. Like the previous book there is some more risque scenes, but I was somewhat confused at the end. There were bits of the story that didn't have a good explanation. I haven't decided if I liked the ending or not.
February 2, 2016
In this book Becca started to realize her power and learn to control her magic and her future. We get to see Meri Longeye more and our two heroes finally meet. I liked this book more than the first one. I'm glad I read it.
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November 26, 2008If you like books about elfs this is the second in a series about a young woman who is seduced by an elf to her reqret, and how she wins out in the end.
August 3, 2009
Not my favorite duo (Duainfey and Longeye) from Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. I much prefer their space operas -- the Liaden series. An interesting read though.
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January 9, 2010Amazon preorder
October 15, 2010
I sped right through this book and enjoyed it.
January 14, 2013
Please see my review of Duainfey.
April 14, 2016
She is much stronger in this book
June 14, 2016
I was looking for some light reading. What I ended up with was heavier on the graphic sexual exploitation and torture. Wasn't what I was expecting from Lee.
May 3, 2016
What a disappointment. At least there was a minimum amount of sadistic sex in this second part of the duology.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews