kgbooklog

3-16-05
Rosemary Edghill, The Warslayer
Baen (2002) ISBN: 0-7434-3536-2
Score: 1.5

Glory McArdle, star of "The Incredibly True Adventures of Vixen the Slayer" (the 21st century successor to Buffy and Xena) gets sucked into a fantasyland that is in desparate need of a hero. Interesting premise, but it didn't grab me the way her Twelve Treasures series did, and some of the plot twists were awfully predictable. There is room for sequels, but no need for them; I personally wouldn't mind a prequel explaining how the Amazons got involved.

Rosemary Edghill, The Bowl of Night
Forge (1996) ISBN: 0-312-86768-9
Score: 2.5

Third (and probably last) Bast book. A rabid anti-pagan is ritualistically murdered at a pagan festival. The mystery part was a bit weak (the only person with a motive didn't have the means) and Bast spends most of the book deliberately not thinking about crucial things. I still really like her though, despite (or maybe because of) how distant and emotionless she appears. This book really drives home how alone she is, even when surrounded by her closest friends.


Hrm... in the last two books I read, the heroine was actively against having a romantic subplot (with good reasons), and the book I'm most likely to read next (Undead and Unappreciated) will probably continue the trend. Any suggestions to provide contrast? Thud! or Gate of Gods would be perfect except for having to wait 3/4 months for them to be published. What's the romance like in Stross's Family Trade?

Rosemary Edghill, Book of Moons
Forge (1995) ISBN: 0-312-86768-9
Score: 3

Second Bast book, this one dealing with stolen books and Mary, Queen of Scots. Even less evidence of magic than the first book, which I liked slightly better. Can be read first.

Rosemary Edghill, Speak Daggers to Her
Forge (1994) ISBN: 0-312-86768-9
Score: 3

First Bast book, amatuer detective mysteries set in the Wiccan community in New York City in the 1990's. Ambiguous as to whether it's fantasy or not (Bast believes in magic, but that's because it's part of her religion). Quote from the last page:
Did Miriam Seabrook die of black magic of just liver failure? Does the intent of the person who sincerely wanted her dead not matter just because his tools weren't good enough -- if they weren't?
And was I right -- never mind effective -- to do what I did?
You have your version of the truth and I have mine. I know what killed Miriam. And I know why ______ died.

Next Book: Camille Minichino, The Hydrogen Murder