Scan barcode
buffyb's review against another edition
5.0
So, I read a lot of book blogs and lists like 'The Top 800 Fantasy Books You Must Read Before You Die' and I've gotta say that I've never seen anything by Pamela Freeman on any of those lists. I'd never even heard of her before. I found The Castings Trilogy by a happy accident at the library one day. They had all 3!!! (When does that ever happen?) So I thought I'd give the first one a try and see how it went. I loved these books so much! And I'm sitting here thinking WHY HAVEN'T I EVER HEARD OF THESE UNTIL NOW?? Seriously. I mean, I don't really keep up with what's new but these have been around for a few years now. I would have thought that I would have seen something about them knocking around on the internet.
Anyway, I read a fair amount of books so sometimes I find myself getting genre fatigue. One can only read so many fantasy/sci-fi/dystopi/zombie books until they start to get very samey. I think that this is one of the reasons that these books really spoke to me. The stories take place in a fantasy world but it's different to the kind with orcs, elves and wizards that we all like so much. There's still mystical stuff going on but it feels much different. There's a realness that feels like it could have happened in our world in the past. These books were also very character-focused which appeals to me greatly. I love getting into the minds of the people in stories. To travel with them and learn their motivations. I couldn't wait to finish the last one yet I felt sad when I finally closed the book. That's great storytelling.
If you like fantasy and are looking for something a bit different, you should definitely give these books a try. Oh, and if someone could make them into a film as well, that'd be great.
Anyway, I read a fair amount of books so sometimes I find myself getting genre fatigue. One can only read so many fantasy/sci-fi/dystopi/zombie books until they start to get very samey. I think that this is one of the reasons that these books really spoke to me. The stories take place in a fantasy world but it's different to the kind with orcs, elves and wizards that we all like so much. There's still mystical stuff going on but it feels much different. There's a realness that feels like it could have happened in our world in the past. These books were also very character-focused which appeals to me greatly. I love getting into the minds of the people in stories. To travel with them and learn their motivations. I couldn't wait to finish the last one yet I felt sad when I finally closed the book. That's great storytelling.
If you like fantasy and are looking for something a bit different, you should definitely give these books a try. Oh, and if someone could make them into a film as well, that'd be great.
cereuslyrico's review against another edition
5.0
It's been a while but I remember LOVING this series. Subverts some expectations, the main character is a minority woman who is liberated. It's great. Plus horse.
gavreads's review against another edition
I told you last month that you’d see a review of Full Circle sooner rather than later. And here it is.
The thing about good endings is that all that you’ve read up to now becomes clear. This is one of those endings. Not only does bring about the stand-off between Acton’s people with the ghosts of the Travellers raised by the stone-caster Saker. But also twists the battle and shows the events in a new light.
In fact one of the main themes of The Castings Trilogy is to show that what see in people isn’t always the whole story. And in the case of the Domains the whole basis of their society is based on a lie as revealed in Deep Water.
With the ghost of Acton raised the gods have told Bramble to take him to Sanctuary and along the way he spreads the message of his return. But that is only a minor part of the resolution of this story. It comes mostly in decisions of other characters we’ve been following like Leof, Sorn and Martine and their timings make sure decisions they are surprising I found myself giving a little cheer in some cases.
Other themes here are blood and memory and it’s a refrain that’s echoed every time Saker raises his army. It fuels them with hate. The worrying niggle has always been how do you resolve a story with ghosts that can’t be killed? And as Bramble and crew point out if you kill Saker someone else will just take his place.
This is especially true when Thegan, the main warlord of the tale, decides to use the Travellers as hostages to protect his town against the ghosts and others follow his lead. There is a good use of conflicting ideologies as those towns that work in harmony with the Travellers get different response from the ghosts than Thegan does.
Going back to the resolution Freeman gives another bigger picture above and beyond Acton’s people and the Travellers and shows why the gods are so interested in the outcome of these events and the importance that the conflict ends in the write way.
Without that context the trilogy could have ended differently but less successfully. Freeman makes you question things as she’s done all along by filling out the lives of those minor incidental characters like the woman that will regret her beauty for ever more.
It’s not a happy ending in some sense but it is right and the different threads have been tied off though frayed and loose in some cases. I’d happily read it again from the beginning with fresh eyes to see all the clever twists and hints Freeman laid along the way.
The thing about good endings is that all that you’ve read up to now becomes clear. This is one of those endings. Not only does bring about the stand-off between Acton’s people with the ghosts of the Travellers raised by the stone-caster Saker. But also twists the battle and shows the events in a new light.
In fact one of the main themes of The Castings Trilogy is to show that what see in people isn’t always the whole story. And in the case of the Domains the whole basis of their society is based on a lie as revealed in Deep Water.
With the ghost of Acton raised the gods have told Bramble to take him to Sanctuary and along the way he spreads the message of his return. But that is only a minor part of the resolution of this story. It comes mostly in decisions of other characters we’ve been following like Leof, Sorn and Martine and their timings make sure decisions they are surprising I found myself giving a little cheer in some cases.
Other themes here are blood and memory and it’s a refrain that’s echoed every time Saker raises his army. It fuels them with hate. The worrying niggle has always been how do you resolve a story with ghosts that can’t be killed? And as Bramble and crew point out if you kill Saker someone else will just take his place.
This is especially true when Thegan, the main warlord of the tale, decides to use the Travellers as hostages to protect his town against the ghosts and others follow his lead. There is a good use of conflicting ideologies as those towns that work in harmony with the Travellers get different response from the ghosts than Thegan does.
Going back to the resolution Freeman gives another bigger picture above and beyond Acton’s people and the Travellers and shows why the gods are so interested in the outcome of these events and the importance that the conflict ends in the write way.
Without that context the trilogy could have ended differently but less successfully. Freeman makes you question things as she’s done all along by filling out the lives of those minor incidental characters like the woman that will regret her beauty for ever more.
It’s not a happy ending in some sense but it is right and the different threads have been tied off though frayed and loose in some cases. I’d happily read it again from the beginning with fresh eyes to see all the clever twists and hints Freeman laid along the way.
thedearest's review against another edition
2.0
I absolutely hated the ending and the pacing issues got worse. I like the characters, I like the idea of the ending I just didn't at all like how it was executed.
aprilsarah's review against another edition
4.0
This whole trilogy was a wonderful story to get lost in. You truly are transported to another time and place.
This final book was a well though out completion of this story arc. The journey that all the characters went on and grew from was beautify constructed and told.
This final book was a well though out completion of this story arc. The journey that all the characters went on and grew from was beautify constructed and told.
megan_lynch's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series so much. Might do a review... we'll see.
mittenbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
The ending of this novel was one of the best endings to any singular book or series I've ever come across. Every character reached his or her story arc brilliantly.
More...