Emily May’s review of Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1) > Likes and Comments
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Very well-written and informative review as always, Emily :)
I'm usually not one for high fantasy, but I just might give this a try after the review. Is it the kind of first-in-a-series-book that is most enjoyable when you have the next book in hand, or is it self-contained enough to enjoy on its own?
(I realize that's a bit hard to answer, given the fact that the second book doesn't yet exist.)
I agree with you about the incest and which seems weirder (grown up apart or reared together). The former is more outlandish, but also more relatable. (Is that a word? Chrome has a red-squiggly-line under it.)
There are a few exceptions where I think the author has pulled the "grew up together but not related" off rather well (though it doesn't always examine the concept very closely). Sharon Shinn's Safe-Keeper books come to mind as an example - one of the books (I believe the first) employs it for the romantic angle.
I'm going to put this on my TBR list and see if it grabs me, despite its high fantasy setting. :)
I think it's definitely intended to be read as a full series. This installment is rounded off nicely but the overall story is far from resolved. But if you do decide to give it a go, I hope you love it :)
I figure if I put it in my "to read" list now, by the time I actually get to it, the next book will have come out. ;P
What I think might happen is that he'll save her from the king's wrath (the 1 who wants2 use her 4her powr) or something like that :P it's just a possible scenerio that went thru my head(:
i really liked this book too, but i agree with you about magnus's affections for his sister are gross, and unecessary, and sour the tale, but i also greatly dislike lucia, because i feel she's being used as a pawn and is blind to everything, which makes me very frustrated with her. however, i am eager to read the next book, and hopefully magnus and cleo will have some chemistry.
Does anyone know what the next book is gonna be called and when it's coming out? Just curious (:
What im really curious about is who's going to end up with whom?? It keeps me guessing! It's so good :D
I just wanted you to know that I can always find d your review on just about every book I'm about to read :)
Disgust in the face of incest is only natural for human beings. From an evolutionary, emotion-free, viewpoint, one wouldn't want to have children with one's siblings. It's the same thing with our tendency towards homophobia. All biology "wants" is more copies, something incest and homosexuality do not bring. However, if it is wrong to be homophobic, it should be the same for our views on incest. Now I'm not saying people should have children with siblings, because that can lead to many problems for the child, similar to how you shouldn't drink while pregnant. All I'm saying isms people should love who they want to love without us judging them.
Viviane wrote: "Disgust in the face of incest is only natural for human beings. From an evolutionary, emotion-free, viewpoint, one wouldn't want to have children with one's siblings. It's the same thing with our t..."
I actually wrote something similar in my review of Forbidden. My thoughts on the legalities of consensual incest remain mixed, but the fact remains that I find it unnecessary and deliberately sensational when it's used in a fantasy novel.
Well if it can happen, it can happen in fantasy
Yup, but I don't want to read about it.
I for one, was putting off reading this book for the very same reason. It just felt disgusting to me, but after this review, I might give it a try.
What's the deal with fantasy/sci-fi and incest? GRRM, Myst of Avalon, etc? In fact now that I'm thinking about it, I only come across incest in F/SF or the occasional psych thriller. Odd.
Also, in regard to incest, or pseudo-incest in this case, the fact that Magnus and Lucia aren't blood-related is irrelevant in the general incest debate. For anyone to say that these two aren't really brother and sister, simply because they aren't biologically related, is a severe insult to adopted children and adoptive parents everywhere [I'm neither adopted nor have I adopted, but I truly believe "family" is never defined by simple biology]! The fact of the matter remains, they may not be brother and sister by birth, but they are certainly brother and sister by BOND; they grew up believing they were siblings and that's really all there is to it in terms of that debate. The thing is this, Magnus may be attracted to Lucia because his biological makeup recognizes that they are not related ... in the sense that pheromones are very much at play here.
Magnus is responding physically/biologically, which makes him more susceptible [his body doesn't acknowledge her as his kin]. Lucia on the other hand, probably approaches it emotionally, which is why she might be the one to resist [she grew up with him and she SEES him as her brother].
I am not even halfway through the book, so it's pure speculation on my part where Lucia resisting is concerned, but I have a feeling that'd be the case!
That's my $0.02 anyway. Though I have to say: Since this IS fiction, and since it IS pseudo-incest, this tangent didn't bother me! Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely and completely against incest, without a doubt!! BUT, in this particular fictional instance, it wouldn't have bothered me :-P!! Though I AM glad they don't get together, or at least I REALLY hope they don't, because I don't like her for some reason and I believe he's destined for someone else :-)!!
That is all! HA!
I am sorry, but what about the writing? Not the plot...the writing..it's horrible 😅
I've noticed your reviews on many books (you read a lot!), and I've usually agreed with what you have to say. But this is an exception. It's funny to see such a prolific reader review this so glowingly. To each their own, I guess.
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David - proud Gleeman in Branwen's adventuring party
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Dec 23, 2012 08:15AM
Very well-written and informative review as always, Emily :)
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I'm usually not one for high fantasy, but I just might give this a try after the review. Is it the kind of first-in-a-series-book that is most enjoyable when you have the next book in hand, or is it self-contained enough to enjoy on its own?(I realize that's a bit hard to answer, given the fact that the second book doesn't yet exist.)
I agree with you about the incest and which seems weirder (grown up apart or reared together). The former is more outlandish, but also more relatable. (Is that a word? Chrome has a red-squiggly-line under it.)
There are a few exceptions where I think the author has pulled the "grew up together but not related" off rather well (though it doesn't always examine the concept very closely). Sharon Shinn's Safe-Keeper books come to mind as an example - one of the books (I believe the first) employs it for the romantic angle.
I'm going to put this on my TBR list and see if it grabs me, despite its high fantasy setting. :)
I think it's definitely intended to be read as a full series. This installment is rounded off nicely but the overall story is far from resolved. But if you do decide to give it a go, I hope you love it :)
I figure if I put it in my "to read" list now, by the time I actually get to it, the next book will have come out. ;P
What I think might happen is that he'll save her from the king's wrath (the 1 who wants2 use her 4her powr) or something like that :P it's just a possible scenerio that went thru my head(:
i really liked this book too, but i agree with you about magnus's affections for his sister are gross, and unecessary, and sour the tale, but i also greatly dislike lucia, because i feel she's being used as a pawn and is blind to everything, which makes me very frustrated with her. however, i am eager to read the next book, and hopefully magnus and cleo will have some chemistry.
Does anyone know what the next book is gonna be called and when it's coming out? Just curious (:
What im really curious about is who's going to end up with whom?? It keeps me guessing! It's so good :D
I just wanted you to know that I can always find d your review on just about every book I'm about to read :)
Disgust in the face of incest is only natural for human beings. From an evolutionary, emotion-free, viewpoint, one wouldn't want to have children with one's siblings. It's the same thing with our tendency towards homophobia. All biology "wants" is more copies, something incest and homosexuality do not bring. However, if it is wrong to be homophobic, it should be the same for our views on incest. Now I'm not saying people should have children with siblings, because that can lead to many problems for the child, similar to how you shouldn't drink while pregnant. All I'm saying isms people should love who they want to love without us judging them.
Viviane wrote: "Disgust in the face of incest is only natural for human beings. From an evolutionary, emotion-free, viewpoint, one wouldn't want to have children with one's siblings. It's the same thing with our t..."I actually wrote something similar in my review of Forbidden. My thoughts on the legalities of consensual incest remain mixed, but the fact remains that I find it unnecessary and deliberately sensational when it's used in a fantasy novel.
Well if it can happen, it can happen in fantasy
Yup, but I don't want to read about it.
I for one, was putting off reading this book for the very same reason. It just felt disgusting to me, but after this review, I might give it a try.
What's the deal with fantasy/sci-fi and incest? GRRM, Myst of Avalon, etc? In fact now that I'm thinking about it, I only come across incest in F/SF or the occasional psych thriller. Odd.
Also, in regard to incest, or pseudo-incest in this case, the fact that Magnus and Lucia aren't blood-related is irrelevant in the general incest debate. For anyone to say that these two aren't really brother and sister, simply because they aren't biologically related, is a severe insult to adopted children and adoptive parents everywhere [I'm neither adopted nor have I adopted, but I truly believe "family" is never defined by simple biology]! The fact of the matter remains, they may not be brother and sister by birth, but they are certainly brother and sister by BOND; they grew up believing they were siblings and that's really all there is to it in terms of that debate. The thing is this, Magnus may be attracted to Lucia because his biological makeup recognizes that they are not related ... in the sense that pheromones are very much at play here. Magnus is responding physically/biologically, which makes him more susceptible [his body doesn't acknowledge her as his kin]. Lucia on the other hand, probably approaches it emotionally, which is why she might be the one to resist [she grew up with him and she SEES him as her brother].
I am not even halfway through the book, so it's pure speculation on my part where Lucia resisting is concerned, but I have a feeling that'd be the case!
That's my $0.02 anyway. Though I have to say: Since this IS fiction, and since it IS pseudo-incest, this tangent didn't bother me! Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely and completely against incest, without a doubt!! BUT, in this particular fictional instance, it wouldn't have bothered me :-P!! Though I AM glad they don't get together, or at least I REALLY hope they don't, because I don't like her for some reason and I believe he's destined for someone else :-)!!
That is all! HA!
I am sorry, but what about the writing? Not the plot...the writing..it's horrible 😅
I've noticed your reviews on many books (you read a lot!), and I've usually agreed with what you have to say. But this is an exception. It's funny to see such a prolific reader review this so glowingly. To each their own, I guess.