Helpful Score: 9
After starting the book, I thought it was going to be a superficial book, not going very in depth with the characters and a moderately predictable plot. However, I ended up being pleasantly surprised. The summary on the book jacket starts you at the begining of the story, on a world where old enemies have found an uneasy truce and meet each year for the Allfair, held at the foot of a rock that each side holds as sacred ground for their god. Katla, a northern girl on her first trip to the Allfair, climbs the rock, which angers the southerners who hold that females are not permitted on the sacred ground. (The southerners treatment of their women is reminicent of some Arab countries who's women do not have a voice, and are hiden behind veils.) The story continues with many pivotal events happening at the Allfair, which comes to a bloody conclusion. I was enjoying this so much, I requested the second in the series half way through.
Helpful Score: 3
Katla Aransen has come to her first Allfair where many of the diverse peoples of Elda gather to trade and interact. Even the location of the Allfair, the Moonfell Plain, is a place out of legend--home to a sacred but contested mount. The Eyrans call it Sur's Castle, and believe that their god views both men and woman as equals and welcomes both onto his holy ground. But the Istrians call it Falla's Rock, and believe that for any female other than their goddess to set foot there is a capital offense.
Katlya, though still young, has come to the Allfair not merely to enjoy herself, but to ply her trade. She is the greatest blade-forger in all of Eyra, and she is also an accomplished rock cliber. Though she doesn't realize it, she has an inborn magical affinity with the natural elements of the earth--stone and metal--which imbue both her trade and her hobby with preternatural skill.
Proud to the point of arrogance, rebelliously willful and strong-minded, yet naive about the religious fanaticism of the Istrians, Katla secretly climbs the holy mount. Unfortunately, her 'sacrilege' is witnessed by Istrian elders, who swear to catch this blaspemous young woman and burn her to death.
That's the first problem . . . There are several more . . .
Katlya, though still young, has come to the Allfair not merely to enjoy herself, but to ply her trade. She is the greatest blade-forger in all of Eyra, and she is also an accomplished rock cliber. Though she doesn't realize it, she has an inborn magical affinity with the natural elements of the earth--stone and metal--which imbue both her trade and her hobby with preternatural skill.
Proud to the point of arrogance, rebelliously willful and strong-minded, yet naive about the religious fanaticism of the Istrians, Katla secretly climbs the holy mount. Unfortunately, her 'sacrilege' is witnessed by Istrian elders, who swear to catch this blaspemous young woman and burn her to death.
That's the first problem . . . There are several more . . .
Helpful Score: 1
Book One of the Fool's Gold series. Young Katla Aransen comes to her first Allfair to see how the people of Elda all come together once a year to trade and interact. Katla climbs a sacred rock and starts a riot. This act, combined with more mystical and more dangerous events could possibly start a war to end all wars...
This series has been one of my all-time favorite series of books. It is intense, amazingly well-written and has lovable, intelligent and interesting characters - as well as some very nasty and hateful characters as well.
This series has been one of my all-time favorite series of books. It is intense, amazingly well-written and has lovable, intelligent and interesting characters - as well as some very nasty and hateful characters as well.
