This review is based on my latest re-read, but this is a book I've read several times before (though not in a few years) and Hambly is one of my most favorite authors. So salt accordingly.In my younger days, I mainly clustered tightly around a small ring of trusted authors, devouring new books as they came out (not nearly fast enough) and re-reading old, beloved books in the between-time. For whatever reason, these days, I've spread my reach much further and try legions more new (to me) authors than I ever have in the past...but I'm still the same picky reader I've always been, and so I read a lot more books by 'other' authors, I don't enjoy the majority of them. Re-reading Hambly is like a long, hot, relaxing bath after an interminable, stressful day. I love her characters, the slow, methodical but rich way she constructs her plots, the functional yet descriptively beautiful prose. As with the previous volume, I'm not totally sanguine about how Hambly posits an Asian pastiche culture but populates it with pretty much all Caucasian (presenting) MCs, but it doesn't bother me enough to interfere with my enjoyment.I was surprised at how unfinished the story felt on this most recent reading, though. Not because Hambly doesn't bring the interior mysteries of the story to a full and satisfying close--she does--but because the larger story arcs: the change in the nature of magic, the drought in the lakelands, the monsters and creatures no longer restrained by dying or dead spells, the issue of the teyn, are still so open-ended and unresolved. I don't need a story to wrap every plot line in a neat bow, but I can't help but think that Hambly had a lot more to say about this world and perhaps didn't get the chance to, because of the state of the publishing world. I guess I can only hope that Hambly is motivated to write about them some day in her Further Adventures on her website.
I thought it a bit unsatisfying. I wasn't really thrilled with this series to begin with, it seems mediocre for her. It is a great concept though, I give her kudos for that.
What do You think about Circle Of The Moon (2006)?
Dieser Band spielt 6 Monate nach Band 1.Was passiert, wenn in einer patriarchalen Welt, in welcher Männer Frauen nach Blumen benennen und ihnen neue Namen geben, wie es ihnen passt oder sie einfach verkaufen, wenn in dieser Welt der männlichen Macht und der männlichen Magier, diese Magier plötzlich ihre Fähigkeiten verlieren?!Und als wenn das nicht genug wäre, nun entwickeln die ehemals machtlosen Frauen und Wesen, die über Generationen versklavt wurden magische Fähigkeiten und müssen sich überlegen, wie sie mit dieser neuen Macht umgehen.Zu all diesen Umwältzungen kommt noch, dass eine unbekannte Rabenschwester Reashaldis im Traum kontaktiert und die Stadt von Traumschatten bedroht wird, welche die Menschen in den Wahnsinn treiben.Zu allem Übel soll der König sich dann auch noch einmal den tödlichen Prüfung der Inthronisation stellen (und seine Untertanen wetten darauf, dass er es nicht schaff.Barbara Hamblys Stil ist sehr elegant und der Übersetzer ist wirklich gut.
—sabisteb
The sequel to Sisters of the Raven is very similar and concerns the same characters as the first. Whole villages are abruptly killing themselves, and Oryn, Summerchild and Raeshaldis try to determine why. A strange green mist, broken glass and otherwordly voices are their only clues. Meanwhile, King Oryn has to somehow survive a series of ordeals in order to remain king—but the spells that formerly made the crocodiles turn aside and poison harmless are no longer working. It’s an exciting book, but again, I wish Hambly had winnowed it down a bit.
—Wealhtheow
