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yodamom's review
4.0
4.5
Gods, Sacrifice, love and adventure all blend together in this wonderful fantasy. it follows an amazing heroine as she struggles to make a sacrifice to save her people.She meets and grows to know many gods, people and hear their stories. There is a lot of myth/story sharing which I loved.
Liyanna, she never weekend her beliefs, she does not cower in fear she charges into action even when all seems hopeless. She walks with the Trickster god- Raven, a fascinating man/god to spend time with. She is strong, smart and loyal. She had me cheering, sifting and laughing, just a fantastic character.
There is a bit of a love triangle but it is not what you have read before. This is an intelligent book with intelligent characters. Duty. logic and loyalty are at work here. I think it is a true unselfish love I wish we would see more of in books.
I loved it, I will search out books from this author in the future.
Gods, Sacrifice, love and adventure all blend together in this wonderful fantasy. it follows an amazing heroine as she struggles to make a sacrifice to save her people.She meets and grows to know many gods, people and hear their stories. There is a lot of myth/story sharing which I loved.
Liyanna, she never weekend her beliefs, she does not cower in fear she charges into action even when all seems hopeless. She walks with the Trickster god- Raven, a fascinating man/god to spend time with. She is strong, smart and loyal. She had me cheering, sifting and laughing, just a fantastic character.
There is a bit of a love triangle but it is not what you have read before. This is an intelligent book with intelligent characters. Duty. logic and loyalty are at work here. I think it is a true unselfish love I wish we would see more of in books.
I loved it, I will search out books from this author in the future.
annashiv's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this. The main problem was the first half was quite slow. I wasn't sure it would pan out, but I did fly through the second half and thought it great. It isn't perfect, and the ending was maybe a little too abrupt without enough answers, but I was satisfied. Overall, an interesting world, good writing, interesting characters, and worth a read. I may check out other works from this author.
book_lydia_6's review
2.0
I really enjoyed reading this book. Liyana's character was very determined. She didn't like being side tracked. Her relationship with Korbyn could have been more developed in my opinion. She met him and they became companions. The transition to when they became friends was really good. But I think that the 'romance' between them wasn't all that great. It felt rushed.
Liyana's relationship with the Emperor was unnecessary. It was extremely rushed. She hardly new him and was kissing him.
Spoiler
When Bayla entered Liyana's body i was a little happy that Liyana got to keep control of her body. Korbyn still loved Bayla even though he was gaining feelings for Liyana.Liyana's relationship with the Emperor was unnecessary. It was extremely rushed. She hardly new him and was kissing him.
Spoiler
And then in the end when Liyana married the emperor was un-called for. She hardly knew him. Throughout the whole book they didn't really have time to form a relationship.crimsoncor's review
3.0
This was a nice stand-alone fantasy. Great world-building and some really fun buddy-comedy moments in the middle. Durst's penchant for mis-matched romances and brooding leads shines here.
stephxsu's review
3.0
I wanted this to be AMAZING. Because it’s Sarah Beth Durst. And there’s a stunning Asian model on the cover. But VESSEL didn’t blow me out of the water, though it was still a fine and unique fantasy geared more towards younger fantasy fans rather than jaded, crotchety SFF readers with high demands for world-building, plot, and characterization (a.k.a. me).
Right out of the gate, VESSEL stands a head above others of its ilk because of its protagonist, Liyana. With her slightly snarky sense of humor, especially when she’s with family, Liyana drew me to her immediately…which helped through the rougher periods of the book, when the features that often drag down a quest-based plot—new characters introduced much too quickly to fully capture readers’ support, a whiplash-inducing quick pace that makes it more difficult for readers like me to remain invested in the story—reared their heads.
As with one of her previous books, [b:Enchanted Ivy|7775757|Enchanted Ivy|Sarah Beth Durst|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1309972905s/7775757.jpg|10682445], in VESSEL, I sometimes found that I had difficulty keeping the thread of what was going on. Didn’t they just arrive in Place B, and why do they have to move on to Place C so quickly? Weren’t he and she fighting only a few pages ago? The constant barrage of questions going on in my head as I struggled to figure out which of the many minor characters introduced were truly significant, what romance to focus on, which interactions were actually important to the overall plot, really took me out of the story, so that at the end of this swashbuckling desert magic tale I closed the book with a little, “Huh.” It was a decent enough read for me, but several months on from when I read the book, I’m not sure how much of it stayed with me at all.
Right out of the gate, VESSEL stands a head above others of its ilk because of its protagonist, Liyana. With her slightly snarky sense of humor, especially when she’s with family, Liyana drew me to her immediately…which helped through the rougher periods of the book, when the features that often drag down a quest-based plot—new characters introduced much too quickly to fully capture readers’ support, a whiplash-inducing quick pace that makes it more difficult for readers like me to remain invested in the story—reared their heads.
As with one of her previous books, [b:Enchanted Ivy|7775757|Enchanted Ivy|Sarah Beth Durst|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1309972905s/7775757.jpg|10682445], in VESSEL, I sometimes found that I had difficulty keeping the thread of what was going on. Didn’t they just arrive in Place B, and why do they have to move on to Place C so quickly? Weren’t he and she fighting only a few pages ago? The constant barrage of questions going on in my head as I struggled to figure out which of the many minor characters introduced were truly significant, what romance to focus on, which interactions were actually important to the overall plot, really took me out of the story, so that at the end of this swashbuckling desert magic tale I closed the book with a little, “Huh.” It was a decent enough read for me, but several months on from when I read the book, I’m not sure how much of it stayed with me at all.
mollywetta's review
4.0
From the very beginning I was swept up in the desert sandstorm that is this book. I anticipated enjoying this book, but I fell in LOVE. The unique setting, the fantastic characters, the overarching themes of faith and perseverance…it hit all of my sweet spots as a reader.
People in YA lit talk a lot about kick ass heroines…there’s Katniss and Katsa, of course, and any novel that features a strong female lead is going to catch my attention, but I loved Liyana, and think more people should be talking about her!
Liyana has long ago accepted her fate, and dutifully trained for the ceremony in which the goddess of her tribe will take over her body and guide her people. Then, though she is pure of heart and dances perfectly, her god does not come. The elders decide that the goddess must have decided she was unworthy, and they abandon her in the desert.
But Liyana perseveres, surviving two days in the desert, alone, before a young man appears, bearing the same tattoos that mark her as a vessel (mind you, she’s already survived a cobra and sand wolves at this point—she’s kick ass, like I said). It’s Korbyn, the trickster god, who made it to his vessel even though the gods of several other tribes, including Liyana’s, have been kidnapped. Korbyn and Liyana set out on a quest to find the other empty vessels before their clans do worse than simply abandon them so they can save their gods, who are crucial to their survival in their harsh environment.
Liyana and Korbyn journey across the desert together, gathering other vessels, defeating horrendous beasts, swapping stories and fables, and teaching each other magic and dance.
They might even be falling in love, which does not bode well, as Liyana is the vessel for Korbyn’s beloved, the goddess Bayla of the Goat Clan.
The struggles of this band of vessels as they travelled through the dessert were riveting. Fennick of the Horse Clan, Pia of the Silk Clan, and Raan of the Scorpion Clan were all compelling characters. The mystery of who had captured the missing gods was intriguing and the magic and mythology of the Turtle People was unique. I love the characterization of the gods as fallible and susceptible to human emotions. They aren’t all powerful or all knowing, and they can make mistakes.
The world-building felt effortless, as if these were the kind of stories I had grown up with all my life, although I couldn’t trace the influences. It’s rare when the antagonist can be so sympathetic. I love it when an author respects readers enough to invite them to see that even those who seem evil often believe they have noble intentions.
This is a novel about challenging what one has always been told and making room for a new paradigm or world view. It’s about the nature of sacrifice and standing up for what one believes in. It’s about tradition and faith as much as about adaptation and instinct. I loved it because it explored a love that is beyond romantic and made room for many different kinds of love.
This is a perfect fit for fans of YA fantasy like Graceling which I reviewed here or Finnikin of the Rock, which I also loved—especially those interested in a desert setting.
People in YA lit talk a lot about kick ass heroines…there’s Katniss and Katsa, of course, and any novel that features a strong female lead is going to catch my attention, but I loved Liyana, and think more people should be talking about her!
Liyana has long ago accepted her fate, and dutifully trained for the ceremony in which the goddess of her tribe will take over her body and guide her people. Then, though she is pure of heart and dances perfectly, her god does not come. The elders decide that the goddess must have decided she was unworthy, and they abandon her in the desert.
But Liyana perseveres, surviving two days in the desert, alone, before a young man appears, bearing the same tattoos that mark her as a vessel (mind you, she’s already survived a cobra and sand wolves at this point—she’s kick ass, like I said). It’s Korbyn, the trickster god, who made it to his vessel even though the gods of several other tribes, including Liyana’s, have been kidnapped. Korbyn and Liyana set out on a quest to find the other empty vessels before their clans do worse than simply abandon them so they can save their gods, who are crucial to their survival in their harsh environment.
Liyana and Korbyn journey across the desert together, gathering other vessels, defeating horrendous beasts, swapping stories and fables, and teaching each other magic and dance.
They might even be falling in love, which does not bode well, as Liyana is the vessel for Korbyn’s beloved, the goddess Bayla of the Goat Clan.
The struggles of this band of vessels as they travelled through the dessert were riveting. Fennick of the Horse Clan, Pia of the Silk Clan, and Raan of the Scorpion Clan were all compelling characters. The mystery of who had captured the missing gods was intriguing and the magic and mythology of the Turtle People was unique. I love the characterization of the gods as fallible and susceptible to human emotions. They aren’t all powerful or all knowing, and they can make mistakes.
The world-building felt effortless, as if these were the kind of stories I had grown up with all my life, although I couldn’t trace the influences. It’s rare when the antagonist can be so sympathetic. I love it when an author respects readers enough to invite them to see that even those who seem evil often believe they have noble intentions.
This is a novel about challenging what one has always been told and making room for a new paradigm or world view. It’s about the nature of sacrifice and standing up for what one believes in. It’s about tradition and faith as much as about adaptation and instinct. I loved it because it explored a love that is beyond romantic and made room for many different kinds of love.
This is a perfect fit for fans of YA fantasy like Graceling which I reviewed here or Finnikin of the Rock, which I also loved—especially those interested in a desert setting.
squirrelsohno's review
5.0
The moment I saw the cover for VESSEL, I knew immediately that this book would be for me. It was that love at first sight that you hear so often about with dating, except in this case, it was love at first sight between woman and book. I featured this book on my blog several months ago based on sight and synopsis. So when I finally got this book in my hands, I had a moment of thought – “What if this book doesn’t live up to my very high expectations?”
Have you ever had that feeling? If you read a lot of books, I’m sure you have. It’s a feeling that sucks.
But VESSEL did not disappoint me. While it certainly had its faults, the story itself was remarkable, unique, and truly awe inspiring in its scope and creativity. If you are looking for high fantasy with a blend of social issues, diplomacy, action, and swoon-worthy romance, then VESSEL should be at the top of your MUST ACQUIRE NOW DARN IT list.
The heroine of VESSEL is Liyana, a member of the Goat Clan selected by destiny to be her clan’s Vessel, a future container for a Goddess who will heal her clan. She has lived her life according to tradition, but the moment she is shunted into a situation she was never prepared for, we begin to see one of those heroines that I love. She is smart, resourceful, and determined, even if at times her focus wavers and her decisions become clouded and weird. But I kind of wish that the story was more focused on Raan, the Vessel of the Scorpion Clan that has no desire to be a Vessel of any kind. Raan might be seen as annoying to some, but I have to admit, I love a bold, snarky character more than anything, and she injected that into the story for the brief time she was truly in it.
Durst’s prose is for the most part very good – it’s descriptive and lyrical without being too showy, a problem that has hit me hard in many YA novels that go for “poetic” without being poetry. The prose does not overshadow the strong plot or characters. This, for me at least, is a really good thing. Too many times I’ve been burned by a book too concerned with sounding pretty than having a plot that stands on its own.
Despite the fact that this story gets five stars from me, I did have a problem, but that problem is a huge spoiler that involves romantic entanglements and convenient plot wrap ups. Read the book and then get back to me and we can discuss what goes down in the last 100 pages. I will say this, though – I didn’t really like the way that Liyana’s life changed suddenly, even if she found the strength inside her to survive and lead the Clans. But when character relationships change, things are suddenly changed, people suddenly become different than they were before, it just makes it hard on the reader to believe that this shift could really be feasible.
Does that little nitpick take away from my enjoyment of VESSEL? No, because this story was otherwise complete and unique in so many ways. It had the high fantasy I was desperate for, plus the strong heroine I strive to read in every story. It was intricate, unique, and amazing in so many ways. And Korbyn was quite the swoon-worthy love, even if every time I saw his name, I quietly murmured, “Korben Dallas! Here he is, the one and only winner of…” Fifth Element reference. Ignore it if you haven’t seen it. But if you have seen The Fifth Element, remember this about Korben:
VERDICT: An intricate and unique tale of magic, inner strength, romance, and war, VESSEL is one of the best books I’ve read of 2012. If you’re in the market for unique and well plotted fantasy, or even if you’re not, buy this one today.
Have you ever had that feeling? If you read a lot of books, I’m sure you have. It’s a feeling that sucks.
But VESSEL did not disappoint me. While it certainly had its faults, the story itself was remarkable, unique, and truly awe inspiring in its scope and creativity. If you are looking for high fantasy with a blend of social issues, diplomacy, action, and swoon-worthy romance, then VESSEL should be at the top of your MUST ACQUIRE NOW DARN IT list.
The heroine of VESSEL is Liyana, a member of the Goat Clan selected by destiny to be her clan’s Vessel, a future container for a Goddess who will heal her clan. She has lived her life according to tradition, but the moment she is shunted into a situation she was never prepared for, we begin to see one of those heroines that I love. She is smart, resourceful, and determined, even if at times her focus wavers and her decisions become clouded and weird. But I kind of wish that the story was more focused on Raan, the Vessel of the Scorpion Clan that has no desire to be a Vessel of any kind. Raan might be seen as annoying to some, but I have to admit, I love a bold, snarky character more than anything, and she injected that into the story for the brief time she was truly in it.
Durst’s prose is for the most part very good – it’s descriptive and lyrical without being too showy, a problem that has hit me hard in many YA novels that go for “poetic” without being poetry. The prose does not overshadow the strong plot or characters. This, for me at least, is a really good thing. Too many times I’ve been burned by a book too concerned with sounding pretty than having a plot that stands on its own.
Despite the fact that this story gets five stars from me, I did have a problem, but that problem is a huge spoiler that involves romantic entanglements and convenient plot wrap ups. Read the book and then get back to me and we can discuss what goes down in the last 100 pages. I will say this, though – I didn’t really like the way that Liyana’s life changed suddenly, even if she found the strength inside her to survive and lead the Clans. But when character relationships change, things are suddenly changed, people suddenly become different than they were before, it just makes it hard on the reader to believe that this shift could really be feasible.
Does that little nitpick take away from my enjoyment of VESSEL? No, because this story was otherwise complete and unique in so many ways. It had the high fantasy I was desperate for, plus the strong heroine I strive to read in every story. It was intricate, unique, and amazing in so many ways. And Korbyn was quite the swoon-worthy love, even if every time I saw his name, I quietly murmured, “Korben Dallas! Here he is, the one and only winner of…” Fifth Element reference. Ignore it if you haven’t seen it. But if you have seen The Fifth Element, remember this about Korben:
VERDICT: An intricate and unique tale of magic, inner strength, romance, and war, VESSEL is one of the best books I’ve read of 2012. If you’re in the market for unique and well plotted fantasy, or even if you’re not, buy this one today.
alboyer6's review
5.0
This one kept me up until 1:30 reading it. Great characters and it is actually completely stand alone. It doesn't seem to be a first book in a never ending series!
librarian_of_valencia's review
4.0
This book was lyrical and transportive. The world it built and the mythos it created was convincing and drew the reader in, and the writing was just detailed enough. Characters were well-developed, and the relationships created were believable and meaningful.
The ending was not what I had expected, though it ended the story well, and the overall feel was like reading a well-written myth.
The ending was not what I had expected, though it ended the story well, and the overall feel was like reading a well-written myth.
ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
A unique and interesting YA Fantasy. It has such an intriguing premise and an interesting world. It’s just a shame about the ending. That’s what ruined the book for me. I didn’t think it was a satisfactory conclusion for the epic story that was told. I can’t think of an instance in another book in which a major problem presented at the beginning of the work, still goes unresolved at the story’s conclusion.
Overall, it’s a quick, solid read.
A unique and interesting YA Fantasy. It has such an intriguing premise and an interesting world. It’s just a shame about the ending. That’s what ruined the book for me. I didn’t think it was a satisfactory conclusion for the epic story that was told. I can’t think of an instance in another book in which a major problem presented at the beginning of the work, still goes unresolved at the story’s conclusion.
Overall, it’s a quick, solid read.