I like Tanya Huff's writing. She's funny, matter-of-fact, imaginative, with great casts of characters. Sort of like a Diana Wynne Jones for adults! I enjoyed this first Gale book very much. The family dynamics, short and sweet relationship, and the heroine's growth as a character were great. All the side characters were fun too. It's rare to actually enjoy following multiple threads and points of view. However, the romance was quite light. It's fun and central to the story, but it is definitely not a big part of the book. The reader is also a few step behind the characters throughout the story. This is both fun, and annoying. Often vague statementa have a wealth of meaning, that I didn't quite get the full implications of. For example, the thought that "Second circle makes connections" is revelatory to the main character, but I still am a bit fuzzy on what exactly is the "second circle" and what these "connections" are. "Gale girls", "aunties"; and "the ritual" have deep meaning to the characters, that you don't see the full implications of until the end of the story. We get hints, and you can put the picture together, but it's a slow, partial reveal. Like many of the characters in the book, the reader is also outside the witchy Gale family and a bit clueless to it's mysterious ways. Thankfully, there is a non-Gale in the book who needs the complexity of Gale family life explained to him, otherwise we'd be very in the dark. This is the lst book in a series about a magic emporium, left by a dead (?) grandmother to Allie Gale. She moves to Calgary to take over the emporium, meets strange people, including fey, and helps save the city from a fiery death by dragon. The heroine is a typical Tanya Huff female- strong, confident, loving. Some readers have remarked about the sex in the book- sex seems to be a tool for defusing tension, as well as bonding, and casual sex including with multiple partners (even committed partners) is acceptable to the Gales. even encouraged. So it's a bit weird. Even though I consider Huff's novels to be somewhat innocent or gentle, compared to some UF- not too bloodthirsty. Still, overall a quick enjoyable read.
What do You think about L'emporio Degli Incanti (2010)?
Kind of weird, disturbing, pretty good book...Just go easy with the book, pay attention to it, that's the most important thing.It's my first book with the author, so maybe i wasn't expecting some sort of "feelings/ways" for the plot to go.I really liked it, i just had to read it twice to understand it. Once you read the chapter again you would say: "OOHHH, ok, thats what she meant, ok." Magic from playing a guitar? awesome!!!Dragon who turned out to be a hottie? Sweet, A life ruled by aunties? sophocating.The system of magic is super complex and they don't explain it pretty well, but the book without expectations and a lot patience, you might like it.
—saipavan4
I'd probably be more into this book if there wasn't so much cousin-cousin incest, and near brother-sister incest.The whole keeping it in the family thing is kind of gross, and from what I understand unnecessary as it doesn't seem to dilute the Gale family powers.It was a slow and confusing start, but started to pick up after the first chapter. Somewhat predictable, and at times boring. I wouldn't really recommend this book to anyone.
—joe
This was a good book. I just couldn't completely relate to the characters.
—Fai
