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reasonpassion's review
2.0
The concept here is definitely intriguing; several worlds each having their own Chosen who must band together to stop a galaxy-destroying horde. Each planet has it's own species and culture, giving the author the ability to create any fantasy world needed to extend the plot. However, this plot device essentially is nothing more than creating a world for the purposes of multiplying what is basically a set group of characters out of a D&D game. There's the warrior, the priest, the wizard, and over it all is the central world inhabited by amorphous beings who reside over the universe like deities. The personalities of each world create basic interactions which have the potential for great stories in themselves, but the complexity of the plot keeps getting swallowed by the simplicity of the dialogue and the inability to expend enough time to create full stories. That there are more books written is in-artfully a guarantee to explore things more but it could have been done better.
jennyreadsromance's review
1.0
I couldn't get into this book at all. I bought a copy of this book, autographed by the author when she was in town for a book signing because it was recommended to me. I think one of these days I will go back and try re-reading it because I really want to give it a chance.
bbraden's review
2.0
"The Mekans left much as they arrived, their shadows darkening the ruins of a once beautiful and vibrant planet. The noise of their engines, while still stirring up huge clouds of dust, no longer caused discomfort for the people.
There wasn’t anyone left to hear.
The Mekan Fleet threaten all life in the galaxy and only the Chosen can fight these metal monstrosities and save those that call this galaxy home. The Guardians travel to the home worlds of the Chosen, sent by the Masters of Gentra to guide and protect them. But the prophecy that speaks of the Mekan threat says nothing of sending the Guardians to the Chosen before the signs appear. The decision to send them early could doom all in the galaxy to death."
Fabbro has a good premise. The worlds were layered and grand- I got excited. Then the book continued and kept simply building the worlds and characters. Maybe this is the kind of series that you have to commit to reading all of the books to THEN go back and rate the first book? I don't know that I'll be able to make it through a book two...
There wasn’t anyone left to hear.
The Mekan Fleet threaten all life in the galaxy and only the Chosen can fight these metal monstrosities and save those that call this galaxy home. The Guardians travel to the home worlds of the Chosen, sent by the Masters of Gentra to guide and protect them. But the prophecy that speaks of the Mekan threat says nothing of sending the Guardians to the Chosen before the signs appear. The decision to send them early could doom all in the galaxy to death."
Fabbro has a good premise. The worlds were layered and grand- I got excited. Then the book continued and kept simply building the worlds and characters. Maybe this is the kind of series that you have to commit to reading all of the books to THEN go back and rate the first book? I don't know that I'll be able to make it through a book two...
toria's review
3.0
I was given this book as part of Library Things’ early reviewer scheme. But, as you can see, I’ve been honest in my review.
A threat is on the horizon and many worlds are in peril; their future lying in the hands of a group of chosen individuals, currently scattered amongst the various worlds. Unaware of their future, these individuals are being schooled, and protected, by a group of alien beings. These beings await the signs that will herald the opening of a series of portals.
This is a multi-world saga. One world resembles a high fantasy biosphere full of inns and busty maidens.. Terra is portrayed as a dystopia; a world that has returned to its early, non-technical roots. The third world has a futuristic feel; being set in a sterile space which is peopled by clones. The variety and diversity of the worlds enabled the writer to cross genres. In addition, it gives the work, superficially an adventure tale, another interesting dimension.
For a tale of this type, the characters are surprisingly well drawn. Although, you may feel that you’ve seen many of them before; the wise pipe smoking sage, the silly lovelorn teenager, the wise boy who is yet to find his power, the cynical warrior/priest who learns to love the world which he once despised, the evil queen, etc., etc.
In fact, that queen is my main cause of concern. Firstly, she seems to be a stereotypical character. In addition, her royal town, and its back story, trouble me . We are told that this group of women had thrown off the shackles of patriarchy and formed a Matriarchal society. The town is portrayed as a tyranny, having a lustful queen at its head. We have seen this before. Captain Kirk, or some other male Starfleet captain, lands on a planet and finds that it is headed by a woman. The world seems to be peopled by semi- clad women. It always turns into a tyranny. It always has to be saved by men. It’s a cliché and it’s slightly demeaning to half of the world’s inhabitants. This work sets up an interesting world and begins to ask the question- what would a female headed world look like? But, rather than giving us a nuanced picture, the writer returns to the tropes of bad science fiction.
This genre crossing book could have been an exciting, boundary crossing and thought-provoking work. But, the writer never pushes hard enough. The author asks interesting questions but answers them with stereotypes and tropes. But, saying that, if you want a good adventure story, and have a few empty hours, then this book is for you.
A threat is on the horizon and many worlds are in peril; their future lying in the hands of a group of chosen individuals, currently scattered amongst the various worlds. Unaware of their future, these individuals are being schooled, and protected, by a group of alien beings. These beings await the signs that will herald the opening of a series of portals.
This is a multi-world saga. One world resembles a high fantasy biosphere full of inns and busty maidens.. Terra is portrayed as a dystopia; a world that has returned to its early, non-technical roots. The third world has a futuristic feel; being set in a sterile space which is peopled by clones. The variety and diversity of the worlds enabled the writer to cross genres. In addition, it gives the work, superficially an adventure tale, another interesting dimension.
For a tale of this type, the characters are surprisingly well drawn. Although, you may feel that you’ve seen many of them before; the wise pipe smoking sage, the silly lovelorn teenager, the wise boy who is yet to find his power, the cynical warrior/priest who learns to love the world which he once despised, the evil queen, etc., etc.
In fact, that queen is my main cause of concern. Firstly, she seems to be a stereotypical character. In addition, her royal town, and its back story, trouble me . We are told that this group of women had thrown off the shackles of patriarchy and formed a Matriarchal society. The town is portrayed as a tyranny, having a lustful queen at its head. We have seen this before. Captain Kirk, or some other male Starfleet captain, lands on a planet and finds that it is headed by a woman. The world seems to be peopled by semi- clad women. It always turns into a tyranny. It always has to be saved by men. It’s a cliché and it’s slightly demeaning to half of the world’s inhabitants. This work sets up an interesting world and begins to ask the question- what would a female headed world look like? But, rather than giving us a nuanced picture, the writer returns to the tropes of bad science fiction.
This genre crossing book could have been an exciting, boundary crossing and thought-provoking work. But, the writer never pushes hard enough. The author asks interesting questions but answers them with stereotypes and tropes. But, saying that, if you want a good adventure story, and have a few empty hours, then this book is for you.
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