Hmmm. For a more character based fantasy series I can't say the characters in the first volume resonated with me or caught my interest. The shaping of the Griffins as a magical species has potential, which we'll have to see if it unfold more over time.The larger more epic conflicts of the novel took a while to develop and seemed to resolve a bit too neatly toward the end for my taste and the smaller more personal ones seem to be just unfolding.Well, I did buy it as a trilogy and there's enough potential that I'll continue of to the second volume to see what I think... I had high hopes for this novel, having loved two out of three of Neumeier’s young adult novels (The City In the Lake and The Floating Islands). The City In the Lake in particular had a rich, lovely prose reminiscent of Robin McKinley, and I found that to be the case with Lord of the Changing Winds as well. Kes is a quiet, thoughtful girl who feels out of place in her world until the griffin mage comes and awakens the magic of fire inside her. The only problem then is that she’s not entirely of her own world anymore.Neumeier really does a great job of world-building and characterization. Kes was easy to relate to, and her change from human to something-other-than-human is gradual. Her struggle to relate to the griffins, whose emotions and logic are so different from humans, pulls the reader in. Kes’ awe of the griffins and her description of their cold dignity creates that same awe and wonder for the reader, even as she struggles to reconcile her loyalty to her human family and the people of Feierabiand and her new ties to the creatures of fire. I especially liked the cold mage vs fire mage aversion in the novel. The two elements oppose each other in nature, and so the two types of mages are naturally averse to one another as well.The other characters supported the main storyline well, and I especially enjoyed the deep friendship between Iaor, the king of Feierabiand, and Bertaud, his adviser and friend. Bertaud becomes a sort-of go between for the griffins and the king, which creates its own troubles along the way.All in all, it was a solid book. I enjoyed Kes’ perspective and everything about the griffins was extremely well plotted. Neumeier writes with a rich, readable prose that supports the “otherness” of her fantasy world and it is definitely a novel I will be adding to my collection. 3.5 stars!
What do You think about Herr Der Winde (2011)?
Original ideas,not strong enough characters, didn't hold my attention
—raven16
The griffins were interesting but everything else not so much.
—bobbyjoe42220
