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calypte's review against another edition
1.0
This book has one of the worst openings of any I've ever read. Every single thing the most basic writing advice would tell you to avoid is here: lengthy fantasy descriptions of places with silly names, written in a stilted, oh-so-fake, 'stylised' tone, giving you history for things you have yet to have any reason to care about. Paragraphs half a page long. Zero action.
Then - eventually! - we get to our main characters being born. Triplet princesses, each with different hair colours (!), each with such one-dimensional personalities it's painful. Eventually they get sent out on individual - but part of the whole, natch - quests, trying to save their kingdom from the evil invaders.
I struggled, really struggled, to get past the awful opening, only to fall into very bland, very cliched, fantasy fare. From about halfway through it's just 'meh', rather than awful, but that's not enough to make it even vaguely worth the bleeding eyeballs of the opening chapter.
Then - eventually! - we get to our main characters being born. Triplet princesses, each with different hair colours (!), each with such one-dimensional personalities it's painful. Eventually they get sent out on individual - but part of the whole, natch - quests, trying to save their kingdom from the evil invaders.
I struggled, really struggled, to get past the awful opening, only to fall into very bland, very cliched, fantasy fare. From about halfway through it's just 'meh', rather than awful, but that's not enough to make it even vaguely worth the bleeding eyeballs of the opening chapter.
silvernfire's review against another edition
2.0
Okay, I tried. I did try to enjoy this book. But the first word to pop into my head when trying to read it was "overwrought" and I had to force my way through it, which isn't good. I'm surprised that three authors with so much experience produced a book that was so flat and predictable.
bowienerd_82's review against another edition
3.0
A collaberative effort between Norton, Bradley, and May, and you may think "Where could this go wrong", but it may be a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. A decent read, but sort of a let down with the cast of star writers.
Also, each writer than wrote a separate sequel. The only one worth reading is Andre Norton's- Golden Trillium.
Also, each writer than wrote a separate sequel. The only one worth reading is Andre Norton's- Golden Trillium.
biblioholicbeth's review against another edition
2.0
I grew up reading Marion Zimmer Bradley and Andre Norton. In fact, I would go so far as to say that those two authors are the biggest factor in my continual love for the Fantasy genre. So it was with great excitement that I started reading 'Black Trillium'. While I finished the book less excited than when I began it, I did still enjoy it.
The story itself was interesting, and I loved the idea of the three sisters with their own *and* combined destinies. However, it felt like the book was too long, like it actually could have been more of a novella than a full novel. The characters, on the other hand, rarely ever really felt fully fleshed out.
Overall, I'm glad I read the book, but it didn't leave me with a sense of being touched by the story.
The story itself was interesting, and I loved the idea of the three sisters with their own *and* combined destinies. However, it felt like the book was too long, like it actually could have been more of a novella than a full novel. The characters, on the other hand, rarely ever really felt fully fleshed out.
Overall, I'm glad I read the book, but it didn't leave me with a sense of being touched by the story.
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
4.0
Book 1 in the Saga of the Trillium (a collaboration between Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andre Norton, and Julian May).
Three princesses find themselves on the run after an evil sorcerer murders the rest of the royal family in his quest to take over their kingdom. Each princess has unique strengths and weaknesses and each must learn an important lesson before they can come back together to defeat the evil sorceror, Orogastus.
The eldest, Haramis, loves books and learning, but her quest for power may be her downfall. The middle sister, Kadiya, is a fearless warrior who fears her own weakness. The youngest sister, Anigel, is a girly-girl who, though skilled at forming relationships, does not trust her own strength.
Maybe not great literature, but an entertaining tale nonetheless.
Three princesses find themselves on the run after an evil sorcerer murders the rest of the royal family in his quest to take over their kingdom. Each princess has unique strengths and weaknesses and each must learn an important lesson before they can come back together to defeat the evil sorceror, Orogastus.
The eldest, Haramis, loves books and learning, but her quest for power may be her downfall. The middle sister, Kadiya, is a fearless warrior who fears her own weakness. The youngest sister, Anigel, is a girly-girl who, though skilled at forming relationships, does not trust her own strength.
Maybe not great literature, but an entertaining tale nonetheless.
jovvijo's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this story!
There was adventure and danger and three sisters (of whom you know you'll pick a favourite), and each has a quest that tests her metal and her worth as a person and as a princess!
Personally I liked the three different writers as each brought an unusual flavour to the mix.
I will admit the Big Bad Battle at the end felt a little flat, but I wasn't such a fan of him anyway so I can look past it.
It's a fun little book and recommended more for readers who like lite fantasy and satisfying, if not wholly original, stories!
There was adventure and danger and three sisters (of whom you know you'll pick a favourite), and each has a quest that tests her metal and her worth as a person and as a princess!
Personally I liked the three different writers as each brought an unusual flavour to the mix.
I will admit the Big Bad Battle at the end felt a little flat, but I wasn't such a fan of him anyway so I can look past it.
It's a fun little book and recommended more for readers who like lite fantasy and satisfying, if not wholly original, stories!
rosenectur's review against another edition
3.0
I made a mistake and read the last book in this trilogy first. This first book is written by 3 authors one of which is MZB. It's a pretty run of the mill fantasy novel, (crossing over coming of age with "the journey") but it's well done. Which is probably why I went out looking for the second one right after I finished it.
jedilibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite books. I first read it during a particularly bad winter in high school. I’ve read it often since then.
alice453y4's review
3.0
Oh man, I read this so long ago. Loved it, but I'd have to reread it to judge it again.
biblioholicbeth's review
2.0
I grew up reading Marion Zimmer Bradley and Andre Norton. In fact, I would go so far as to say that those two authors are the biggest factor in my continual love for the Fantasy genre. So it was with great excitement that I started reading 'Black Trillium'. While I finished the book less excited than when I began it, I did still enjoy it.
The story itself was interesting, and I loved the idea of the three sisters with their own *and* combined destinies. However, it felt like the book was too long, like it actually could have been more of a novella than a full novel. The characters, on the other hand, rarely ever really felt fully fleshed out.
Overall, I'm glad I read the book, but it didn't leave me with a sense of being touched by the story.
The story itself was interesting, and I loved the idea of the three sisters with their own *and* combined destinies. However, it felt like the book was too long, like it actually could have been more of a novella than a full novel. The characters, on the other hand, rarely ever really felt fully fleshed out.
Overall, I'm glad I read the book, but it didn't leave me with a sense of being touched by the story.