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Path Of The Sun (2010)

by Violette Malan(Favorite Author)

4.06 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0756406382 (ISBN13: 9780756406387)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

DAW Trade

series

Dhulyn and Parno

review 1: If you've read any of my other reviews, you'll know that I can be brutally honest, but I also tend to forgive a lot, and always focus on the positives. I've also never rated anything lower than 3 stars, even when I didn't like the book. With that in mind...This book was terribly written. I'm shocked to learn that it's the fourth in a series; if the author has written three other books, she should be better at it by now. I am also very disappointed in DAW for publishing something of so low quality. (I'm also baffled by the average 4-star ratings...)--Violette, if you come across this review, it's not my intention to tear your work apart, but I have to be honest. You have some amazing plot ideas and great characters, but the writing really needs improvement. I wish I could l... moreeave a better review; the premise really was excellent.--There were many things wrong with this book. First of all, it's a very slow start; the first 47 pages could have been summed up in 4 or 5 pages. All the information there was important, but it didn't need to be dragged out that long. I would be easier on a first novel for starting slow, but as a fourth book, things should be moving along more smoothly by now.Then, the author comes up with some good phrases, and repeats them ad nauseam. For example, one of the main characters has a scar at the side of her mouth, giving her kind of a snarl when she smiles. When this happens, the author describes it as "she smiled her wolf's smile." That's great, but every time she smiles, we hear, "she smiled her wolf's smile," "she smiled her wolf's smile," "she smiled her wolf's smile," It gets old very fast. We know what her smile looks like already, stop hitting us over the head with it.Another thing that really bugged me is that she uses the words "maze" and "labyrinth" interchangeably. They are NOT the same thing; in fact, the two have absolutely nothing in common. A maze is designed for people to get lost; a labyrinth is simply a pattern drawn on the ground for the purpose of meditation, or sometimes it may be outlined with small rocks (these don't even come up to your ankles, so it's impossible to get lost), plus, a labyrinth has only a single path; it does not branch out like a maze, so--once again--it's impossible to get lost. I've made this mistake myself when I was younger, and I don't expect your average Joe to know the difference, but if you're going to publish something, check your facts. And if the author didn't catch the mistake, the editor should have. Really, DAW, did you even read the book before signing off on it?However, the thing I hated most is that she feels it necessary to narrate what we're supposed to think. When there's dialogue, it very often goes like this: Character A says something, and then she immediately explains what he meant, even though it was clear in the first place. Or she feels the need to point out when something was meant sarcastically, even though it's perfectly obvious. She either doesn't trust her readers to get it, or she doesn't trust her own ability to convey her thoughts clearly. Either way, she's not ready to be published (even though she has been, multiple times).Finally, the ending was very disappointing. The two main characters have a time-sensitive mission, and need to go through a maze to complete this mission. They go through an archway which closes behind them. They are now trapped, and need to wait for someone to come rescue them. (First someone has to realize that they've been gone too long and may need help.) To be continued. What?? I struggled thought this book--despite all of the above--because it had such an interesting premise and I wanted to see how things turned out for the characters...but I am not going to touch any other books in the series, cliffhanger be damned.
review 2: I love Dhulyn and Parno. I love their relationship with each other, the way they deal with outsiders, and how they are two very different people even though they are bonded so well. I really appreciate the work that Ms Malan has done creating such memorable characters and also creating great plots that don't revolve around conflict all the time. There is never conflict between Dhulyn and Parno and yet the stories always move forward effortlessly. I think this is a sign of a strong writer. Every Dhulyn and Parno book is an excellent read and I have already recommended these books to friends. I impatiently await the next installment. less

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