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Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
- Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
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Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Arcadia > November 30th, 2004, 09:06 PM
Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
The Kiesha’ra: Volume Two
Review by Arcadia
Snakecharm is the sequel to Hawksong. Snakecharm is told from the point of view of Zane, the leader of the Serpiente, who shapeshift into snakes. Zane is the mate of Danica, the leader of the Avians, who shift into birds.
Zane and Danica have joined their lines, but their people still need to learn to accept each other after many years of warfare. Danica is expecting a baby. How the baby will be raised is a concern for both groups. The Serpiente worry at the cold upbringing that the child would receive with the Avians. The Avians feel that the child would not be raised suitably with the Serpiente. Also, although the Serpiente and Avians are similar enough to bear children, there is still the problem with the mixed blood. Would the Serpiente or Avians be willing to be led by a ruler who is not completely of their own blood?
A falcon then arrives and claims that one of her people is hiding in the lands of the Serpiente or Avians. The falcons possess great power and are ruthless about using it. They also have contempt for the union among the people that Zane and Danica are trying to achieve.
What havoc will the falcons cause as they demand a return of their fugitive? Are the plans of Zane and Danica to maintain peace between their people doomed?
Snakecharm is a weaker book than Hawksong. There seems to be a great deal of preparation but a lack of strong plot. The tension built up about the falcons does not satisfy. The solution to the succession of rule seems tacked on at the end. The characters are only mildly interesting. I had trouble keeping up with the people and the terms used. However, Snakecharm is worth reading as a sequel since the novel does advance the story of the Serpiente and the Avians.
The book is recommended for ages 12 and up. -
Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Crys > December 1st, 2004, 03:33 PM
Hello Arcadia. Thanks for the review. I've read some of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' books, and find them quite good, and usually one better than the last one in terms of language and writing ability. I enjoyed Hawksong, despite some not very favourable reviews, and it is an improvement over the last few books. I've noticed that her level of sexual (or sensual) content increases with each book (probably due to her increasing age); is this the case in Snakecharm? :confused:
Crys -
Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Arcadia > December 1st, 2004, 05:53 PM
Hello! You are welcome.
I liked Hawksong, too. In Snakecharm I was glad to see what happened next in the story of Serpiente and Avian, but the story and references were complex and the plot not satisfying. Of course this is just MHO, as always.
As far as sexual or sensual content, there was very little in Snakecharm.
If you liked Hawksong, I'd recommend reading Snakecharm. If you do read it, I hope you'll let me know what you thought of it.
Cady -
Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Crys > December 2nd, 2004, 01:34 AM
LOL. I would definitely try to find the book, but honestly it would probably be some time before it's imported into my little island. :teary:
Crys -
Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Crys > January 24th, 2005, 12:03 AM
I've finally gotten my eager fingers on Snakecharm yesterday, and I quite enjoyed the book. It's been a long way since the first book Ms Atwater-Rhodes wrote; and there's a very obvious improvement of both themes and subject matter and writing. Before, there were so really obvious affinity with Anne Rice and Laurell K Hamilton, but with Hawksong (and Snakecharm), I see that she has broken out of that mould.
Things I enjoy:
Fresh subject, fresh theme, a good world with some history and world building. Even the language and names are fun. I personally enjoy the descriptions, and that the author is able to bring me into that world. And I love the way her grasp of language improves with each book! :clap:
Things I don't enjoy as much:
There is, unfortunately, no climax in the book. No buildup, hence no climax, hence no anticlimax, hence no sense of high peaks and low valleys. The book is like a chronicles of facts, albeit very well written. But it lacks a little story factor, the way the plot moves. So it develops to a bit of a monotone.
I also see Zane as a weaker narrator than Danica. ie the author has a weaker grasp of Zane than Danica. With Hawksong, Danica comes across as an interesting, compassionate character, and Zane as a fascinating creature that does seems to catch the imagination. Unfortunately, now that Zane is the narrator, it somehows lose that compelling X factor and become a not as interesting hero. And Danica has less than nothing to do in the book. She's not particularly compelling either. Although I must admit, I like the portrayal of Rei.
Romance is weak. But it is still an improvement compared to the earlier novels. The other pair besides Zane and Danica just doesn't have the X factor either.
All that said, I did enjoy the book. I like the ending, which at least gives a sense of finale. I like how she puts the little poem/verse/whatever at the end. In my opinion, it's a good read. :bounce:
Crys -
Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Arcadia > January 24th, 2005, 12:20 AM
Thank you for the comments, Crys! I am glad that you had a chance to read the book, since I was interested in hearing your thoughts. I think that you have pinned down one thing that bothered me about the book- that Zane is a weaker narrator. Since the Serpiente are more open with their emotions, I would have thought the opposite would be true, if the author were really trying to write as the character. What do you think about this theory?
I also agree that there was no build up and no climax. Monotone is an appropriate description.
I have only read three of Atwater-Rhodes's books. I'd say that Hawksong was my favorite. It made me interested in reading what would happen next. I would still read a sequel to Snakecharm, but I would hope that there would be the plot development and excitement that I feel was missing from Hawksong. I like the world that has been created and the characters. -
Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Crys > January 24th, 2005, 10:56 AM
Quote:I think that you have pinned down one thing that bothered me about the book- that Zane is a weaker narrator. Since the Serpiente are more open with their emotions, I would have thought the opposite would be true, if the author were really trying to write as the character. What do you think about this theory?
Hmm... I never thought of it this way. I think the reason the author has trouble with Zane as the narrator is because she doesn't have much experience in writing from the point of view of a male, and a very unique male at that. The result of it is a Zane who's stripped of all that make him compelling, part of which is his mysterious-ness.
I think my own favourite is Midnight Predator. I prefer her when she writes in the point of view of a female; I think that's when she does a better job. I'm actually quite looking forward to her works. Besides the fact that she's exactly the same age as me (actually a few days younger, if I remember correctly), I also think that her novels improve with each passing year. More mature... Snakecharm could have been done with more depth, but compared to her previous works, and taking into account the fact that she's really quite a good writer, I think I would look forward to a sequel too.
Crys