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Heart Of Briar (2013)

by Laura Anne Gilman(Favorite Author)

3.54 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0373803559 (ISBN13: 9780373803552)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Harlequin Luna

series

The Portals

review 1: Having read teasers for this on the author's website, I was keen to read this, as it's a Tam Lin story and that's a theme I love. I was fortunate enough to be sent an ARC, and the book did not disappoint. This is Tam Lin territory -- stolen lover, determined female hero and otherworldly creatures, but Laura Anne Gilman has found a fresh approach to the story. There are touches here remininiscent of her Cosa Nostradamus books (one of my favourite series): non-human creatures -- the unseelie-like supernaturals (kelpies, trolls, lupin) -- who are both more complicated and more alien than they seem. But her twist on the faerie world -- the preternaturals -- is the real standout. The preters are genuinely strange: glamorous, yes, but with the cold allure of a tiger shark; frigh... moretening, changeable and unguessable. All this and a fast-paced exciting story which takes characters and readers to places they do not expect. Wonderful.
review 2: Heart of Briar is an engaging, fantasy read that works to turn a number of fantasy tropes and legends on their heads. There are elements from traditional tales like Tam Lin to ideas that would be more at home in a modern paranormal romance, mixed together and subverted. I really enjoyed those sections of the novel, and look forward to reading more about them in following volumes. I must say the only part of the book I had trouble with was the main characters themselves. I often felt that there was little motivation as to why they were doing certain things - rescuing or assisting someone - the reader was told why, but not shown why. Other than that, an enjoyable read. I look forward to this series! less

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