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Avg. Rating: 4
Improvement, but still slightly superficial.
The Lark and the Wren left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. It was a *good* book, but truely lacked in several elements. It's sequel, the Robin and the Kestrel seems to have picked up some of the pieces to produce an interesting novel. The main characters are developed nicely, and for the first time, I didn't find myself groaning at the idiocy of either of the leads. The 'enemies' though, made me wince a little because of their resemblance to cardboard cutouts. While we do hear a little about the antagonists past, it's hardly enough to satisfy a curious reader. A small annoyance for me, was also the 'fade to black' scenes. It's wonderful that the leads have such an intimate relationship, but it doesn't need to be mentioned every night if the author won't follow up with a scene. Finally, this book does seem to bash a modern religion a little, but most shouldn't take offense, because it also provides some sympathetic characters from identical beliefs. All in all, Mercedes Lackey is a wonderful writer, and while I feel a bit generous about giving this book four stars, her unique style helps ease the decision a little.
A continuing saga of the Free Bards
This is a tale of free bards, gypsies, non-humans, evil priests, and magic. It is book two of the series, and both continues characters from the previous book and introduces new characters that reappear in later books. The series should be read in order. The book begins with Free Bard Kestrel (a.k.a. Jonny Brede) and his wife, the gypsy Robin (a.k.a. Gwyna), traveling from Birnam in a gypsy wagon. The first half of the book takes them through a series of adventures that lead them to Gradford. The second half deals with events in Gradford, including the attempt of an evil priest to take over the city as a dictator (one can recognize the usual historical process of scapegoats, strong-arm police, a charismatic leader, etc.). It describes the strategies used by the general population to survive during such a reign, and has an eventual confrontation between good and evil. Overall, it is an entertaining book that holds your interest.
Who picks the cover artist!
I liked this book very much. It is light reading, and although some of the characters lack depth, it's still a good story. What I'm wondering, though, is who selects the cover artist, and does the author have no say in it? The picture on the front of this book couldn't be more inappropriate to the content of the story if the artist had deliberately set out with that in mind!**POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT Robin and Kestrel are investigating a plot by an evil priest who, among other things, has imposed very harsh rules on the inhabitants of the town, including modest dress for women. Robin must attempt to be inconspicuous as she pretends to be a respectable trader's wife instead of a gypsy. Yet the front cover has her dressed in some kind of jacket thing that opens to the waist with no apparent form of fastening, and the swell of her breasts visible. Very modest, to be sure. Meanwhile Kestrel is dressed like some kind of court jester. Do these artists even read the books they are illustrating? I have the same complaint with the art on the cover of the Eagle and the Nightingales. Nightingale is described as a tall, slim and elegant woman with very long black hair. The picture shows a dumpy woman with mid-length brown hair. If I were the author, I wouldn't be too thrilled!
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