Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.comThis is actually my second read-through of this novel. Why I chose to reread one of the most long-winded fantasies out there is beyond me, but at the time it perfectly suited my mood, so no regrets. You see, back in December (yes, it has taken me that long to get around to writing this review… embarrassing) I had signed up for so many NetGalley and Edelweiss ARCs that my life pretty much revolved around “obligation” reading. I finally got fed up and picked up this 700 page behemoth and completely indulge myself in it for two whole weeks. A reading vacation, if you will. It’s not totally as random as it sounds, as I had just finished a reread of the first book for a book club about a year earlier, so I had intended on continuing anyway.[Jump forward a few months: Haydon is once again writing, and the release of her 7th "Symphony of Ages" book, The Merchant Emperor, (which I've been waiting for for eight years) was finally released. So it turns out my reread couldn't have come at a better time.]My impressions of the book this time around are mostly positive ones, reminding me why I’d enjoyed it so much. Knowing what was going to happen obviously took away a little bit of that build up and excitement I felt the first time around, but it also freed up my attention to focus on other things. Ahem:On one hand, I noted the excellent world building (specifically with the creation of the many nonhuman races), appreciated how thorough and rounded the plot was, and could clearly see how integrated dragons were into the story (because to me it wasn’t always that obvious). I also more than ever appreciate the excellent characters and how each of their stories culminate into a satisfying story arc.On the other hand, I also noticed how incredibly long-winded and repetitive the writing was. I don’t remember that bothering me the first time around, but I definitely think Haydon could have shaved off a couple hundred pages of reminiscing and still had all of the things that made the story great. I don’t actually consider it a boring book, by any means – there was some really good bits of awesomeness thrown into the monotony that made reading through the rambling all worthwhile. I’m just saying I found several places where Haydon could have just cut to the chase. Furthermore, there were several instances where she would ramble on and on for dozens of pages about things that were secondary to the plot and only to skim over details of something within the immediate story. It was designed to have a more dramatic effect, but I think those moments might have been wasted opportunities to make the book more active rather than passive.I also was a tad surprised at how confrontational and, shall I say it, downright bitchy the main character acted on occasion. I definitely don’t remember it being that prominent the first time around, but I’m thinking the overall arc of the story was so interesting I was mostly focused on that. In any case, once you get past the part where the characters are bristling at every little thing (say, the first half of the book), they mellow out a little bit and you’re really able to dive into the compelling parts of the story. As you can see, I’ve a bit of love/hate with this book… but am leaning more on the love side. Yes, it has some flaws, but it also has moments of brilliance to balance them out. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading it, but will probably stop my reread and jump right into the newest book next (I waited eight years, I definitely don’t want to wait any longer). If you are wondering whether or not this series is a good match for you, I’d say if you don’t mind slow fantasy reads, this book has brilliant world building, plot design, characters, and momentum, it just may take wading through a lot of words to find them.
Because Achmed has found a dragon-claw dagger in the depths of the castle, Rhapsody goes with Ashe to return it before the dragon decides to come back for it first. Achmed and Grunthor strongly disagree, but Rhapsody will have her own way in this. As she and Ashe travel, the mystery around him deepens. Who is he? Why does he always remain behind a mask? And what of the F'dor, the demon bent on consuming the world in the unholy fire of destruction?Though clearly a sequel, in a nice touch the book beings with layers of dreams that present the backstory of the first book through the principal characters. This frames the story with enough background to barrel right ahead where the first book left off, with Ashe and Rhapsody charging into the wilderness to find a dragon. The relationship between the two of them is one of the main highlights of the book. It adds an uncomfortable layer to her relationship with Achmed and Grunthor, who see Ashe as a potential assassin at worst and competition for Rhapsody at best. And as Ashe and Rhapsody are both not prone to revealing much about themselves, the various misunderstandings that ensue range from hilarious to deadly. Their true relationship to each other, revealed at the end of the first book, is still a mystery even to them, which adds a nice tease as they both prefer to talk around their first love rather than about it.Achmed and Grunthor, despite getting much less page time, are as hilarious as ever. Achmed in particular is full of zingers as he spars verbally with Rhapsody. His role as king doesn't get much play; the kingdom has settled, for the most part, and now it's down to the dirty business of actually ruling, in between bouts of further exploration or assassinations.The action in this book tended to be sparse and intense, and mostly towards the end. For the most part, the tension lies in the politics and the relationships, both of which are good places for the series to be since Haydon writes characters so well. It also leaves off in a better place than last book: the mission is clear, but the method uncertain. The only thing they know for sure is that they're going to have to move soon.Overall this is a great followup to Rhapsody. The prose feels tighter without quite so many detailed descriptions of Rhapsody's beauty, the witticisms are dead on, and the various bits of myth and history again make the book so much richer for their inclusion. Although the detailed introduction would allow this book to be read alone, I would pick up the first book first just to get all the action directly. I rate this book Highly Recommended.
What do You think about Prophecy: Child Of Earth (2001)?
Elizabeth Haydon LOVES the word bellwether. A lot of the things I wrote in my review for the first book come into play here as well, so I won't repeat myself.Child of Earth is a great sequel to Child of Blood. Rhapsody goes on a fact-finding mission, and things begin to make sense. Call me romantic, but I actually like Ashe. A bit of their stubbornness with each other goes a long way, however, and I found myself wanting to slap both of them. I did love being kept in suspense as to how the story at the beginning of the series and these two characters would flesh out. It is also fun trying to solve the mystery of who the F'dor might be. Haydon does a great job of introducing the suspects, and keeping the reader's mind intent on figuring it out.I hate to say it, but I was glad when Jo was finally dead. No more moody brat to hear about. I'm still not exactly sure what purpose the "Sleeping Child" had, nor why if the F'dor got hold of her it would wreak havoc. Oh well...On to the conclusion!
—Joshua
I am summarizing the books as I read them because I can never get through all five books straight:In Prophecy, the book begins with Meridon continuing to mess with the time editor. Rhapsody has decided to leave with Ashe to see Elysions, the dragon. She travels with him, and she accuses him of having his heart cut out. Ashe reacts badly, decides that it was a coincidence. He allows her to see him before she goes into the dragon's cave.The dragon and she spend some time together, and she is told
—Manami
"c2000. Protagonist is Rhapsody a singer of note and Achmed, an assasin - and Ashe - the love interest. ""Do you like copper, Pretty? It is really nothing more than the spent blood of dragons of my kind, just as the vein of gold that formed your locket once ran in the veins of a golden dragon. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires--nothing more than the clotted life's blood of ancient dragons of various sub-races, various colors. It is what we leave behind in the hope that Time will maintain our memory, but it never does. Instead, it serves only to adorn the breasts of women and the empty heads of kings."" "
—Ruth
