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Habitation Of The Blessed, The: A Dirge For Prester John Volume One (2010)

by Catherynne M. Valente(Favorite Author)

3.98 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1441870245 (ISBN13: 9781441870247)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Brilliance Audio

series

A Dirge for Prester John

review 1: As usual Valente does a good job of creating a bizarre and yet very real universe. This book continued in her trend of beautiful but visceral phrasing and she makes it come alive. The twisting of the story and the empty spaces were compelling and I finished feeling unsatisfied but in an okay way? I felt like some of the religious connections in this were a little stretched, unfortunately, but not impossible to follow. That could also be my religious background subconsciously being repelled, as well, though, so take it with a grain of salt. Overall, it was a good read and I'm sure I'll eventually get to the books that follow in the series.
review 2: A land where anything that’s planted will grow into a tree from books to beds to people makes for a fantastical ... moreplace to set a story, but Valente, once again, does it effortlessly. The prose is florid, as usual, but it’s the place and people that make this story so incredible, in the true meaning of the word. There are four stories within this book and each of them is enticing in its own right. The confessions of Hiob Von Luzern were entrancing for me. I’ve long thought that if I lived in the medieval period, ideally, I would have been a scribe. Hiob’s tale of ecstatically transcribing Prester John’s, Hagia’s, and Imtithal’s books was simultaneously homey and fascinating to me. Though the tales of Prester John and Imtithal start a little slow, good lord, do they build to something that will take your breath away, particularly if you have any interest in the medieval period, at all. Hagia’s story is compelling for the start. For any bibliophile, to be the keeper of a parchment orchard is to exist in heaven. If you used to dream of knights in shining armor or read of King Arthur then this is the tale for you. There are gryphons and all manner of fantastical beings, from scarlet lions to small beings who can wrap you in their ears to comfort you. less

Download links for: Habitation of the Blessed, The: A Dirge for Prester John Volume One

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