Admit it, when reading fantasy books (or any books for that matter), character names are just too important to be left out. On the first few chapters when we are introduced to the main character/s and authors are still trying make you feel at home inside the made-up world s/he has created, we always wanted to have that extra feel of seeing and feeling the ‘cold winds in winter’, ‘the warm breeze in midsummer night’s eve’. Or see the fallen leaves of autumn and smell the flowers bloom in spring. We imagine this as a companion of our favorite character. And we want to remember him/her as Ben or Aria or Sam or Tyrion. Something easy to read and remember.When however names are made complicated like Faolein or Sindérian or Éireamhóine or Baillébachlein, readability of the book and the ability of the characters to be remembered drops to Zero. No matter the world-building or the plot, you just can’t be lost in the book if you struggle every time the name pops out of the page. Yes, pronunciation guides can be helpful but why would you want to endure the lengthy and difficult names in a book? And why can’t authors name their characters with Rose or Anna or Grace, and of course my favorites Tuesday or Wednesday? WHY Baillébachlein and Éireamhóine?One might think I am giving this a one star because of this teeny-weenie complain about names. Alas NO, for despite the really-difficult-to-pronounce-names in this book the prose is SUPERB! And who cannot love this blurb at the back cover:In a world devastated by the cataclysmic war between wizards and mages, the Empress Ouriána seized the throne, proclaiming herself the Divine Incarnation of the Devouring Moon. Appointing twelve priests to perform her rites, she rules with a tight rein of dark sorcery. The priests, once men, became twisted with magic, making them monstrous—mutated. Wherever they ride they bring destruction, and one kingdom after another falls, enslaved into darkness.Yet signs and portents appear, puzzling the seers, and a tale begins to grow. A rumor of a young girl, talented and hidden, who is destined to end Ouriána's tyrannous reign . . . if she survives long enough to do so. And a brave band of wizards and heroes ride out in search of the hidden princess, pursued by the fury of the dark goddess herself.Yep, we’ve seen, read and heard it all! But it just never seizes to amaze the imagination with Light hopelessly fighting against Darkness. And maybe GRRMartin was right when he said: “We read fantasy to find the colors again, I think. To taste strong spices and hear the songs the sirens sang. There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever.”I personally continue to dream. This gets me going at times. But in my dream, people are named with really- easy-to-pronounce-and-remember-names! :)
The author's vivid, descriptive style gave me high hopes for this, but my enthusiasm faded when it took so long for things to really get rolling.The story was buried in barely distinguishable names and places. And while the quest takes some exciting turns, the characters were oddly dry considering how much time we spent watching them circle their internal dilemmas.Thanks to some strange combination of a broad overall focus and a tendency to delve into unnecessary detail, things eventually taper off without bringing any of the book's scattered plots together. That type of ending is a major pet peeve, which makes skipping the sequel an easier decision than it otherwise might have been.
Do You like book The Hidden Stars (2004)?
An archetypal fantasy story, complete with impossible-to-pronounce names and even more confusing world geography. We have the forces of good battling evil in an almost hopeless scenario where it seems at every turn evil will triumph. The story and plot seem almost Tolkenesque; with a group of travelers sojourning through hostile lands, chased by dark agents of a supreme evil in search of a hidden weapon... In spite of a story we've seen before, Howard manages to put her own spin on it. If you're bored reading the usual erotica filled fantasy novels of the age, pick this one up.
—Michael A. Chabolla
Not a bad read, you can tell the author spent a lot of time developing and intricate layout of the land and history of the characters prior to writing the book. It would have helped if they included the map with the book instead of needing to search the web for it. Wasn't much for the ending, it was a mad rush to get to the end and didn't make a lot of sense. I am looking for book two and am in hopes of some progress on reuniting the lost princess with the "good guys" and battling the evil queen/sorceress.
—Tim
Right firstly, me being me, I did not like some of the names in this story. The author draws heavily on celtic names and my mind goes blank when I try to rponounce them. But this is just a little thing, and it is not all of the names, a couple of them are really superb.More seriously the story itself is a typical fantasy set up, with a dark force beginning to move against the world and the desperate main characters oing their best to save the world. Of course this a pattern that a lot of books follow and as in all cases it is the way the story is told that makes the difference. In this instance the evil force is well advanced, already in a position of power and it is the rest of the unconquered world that are doing their best to overthrow the rule of someone who has become so powerful that she is almost a goddess walking the world. When a child is born that might just be the saviour of the world it becomes a race against time, as the evil forces try and destroy her, while the good try to save, culminating in a dramatic and incredibly well written showdown on a mountaintop. And all this is in the opening few chapters.The Hidden Stars introduces and paints a picture of a rich fantasy world, with some compelling and interesting characters, not to mention an excellent story that draws the reader in and keeps them reading. Parts of the writing amost feel as though it is being delivered in a conversational tone, making it feel more intimate. There is not, as is often the case overlong novel, instead it is the right mix of history, magic and conflict, that tells its story wonderfully, giving a world that feels well developed and drawn perfectly giving the right amount of background and depth to mak it feel real without dragging it down.An excellent, enjoyable read that definately leaves you wanting more. A sequel that will be read.
—T.I.M. James
