Winterbirth (Godless World)
by Brian Ruckley
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Book Summary Information
Author: Brian RuckleyEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-05-01
ISBN: 0316068063
Number of pages: 688
Publisher: Orbit
Book Reviews of Winterbirth (Godless World)
Book Review: Defeat and retreat... and lot's of snow
Summary: 3 Stars
Winterbirth is a bare-bones fantasy story, one where gore and violence are the main selling points. The story is centered around two races fighting for the same piece of real estate. The Black Road, exiled to the north, are struggling to regain their ancestral homeland. But the people who kicked them out once before (the True Bloods) are fully willing to do so again. The Black Road have allies (elf-like people called the Kyrinin, led by a mage called Aeglyss), but that alliance seems fragile and unable to withstand much pressure, while the True Bloods, despite their appearance of mono-ethnicity, are divided among several "haigs", some of whom don't want to get involved in the war at all. The heroes of the story (Orisian, Anyara, Taim, all True Bloods) are caught in the middle and trying to cope the best they can, even though they spend more time running and getting their asses kicked then fighting back. As one can imagine, it's pretty much a mess, and its in this gray zone that Ruckley thrives.
As some reviewers already noted, the best part about The Godless World is the "World". Ruckley is very good at description (mountains, trees, streams) and the way he writes battle scenes makes you feel you're right in there hacking and slashing. But his characters, while easy to relate to, prove harder to care about. It all comes down to the incidental way they're treated, i.e. less important then the World around them. The True Bloods in particular are almost pathetic, dying in the hundreds while Orisian, the bloodheir (prince), runs FROM rather then to battle. While I think it's novel that he's not cutting his enemies down like cardboard, the overall theme of defeat and retreat takes its toll on the reader. Events sweep them up or pass them by, leaving them helpless. Really, given the incompetence of the True Bloods, I got the impression that if the Black Road falls they're going to do it to themselves. Also, a lot of the minor characters (like Rothe and Yvane) get the short end of the characterization stick. When they're not actually doing something it's hard to tell them apart.
Taking many cues from George R.R. Martin, Winterbirth is an original and moderately enjoyable fantasy debut. I give the writing an A, the plot a B and the characters a C, and hope the next book will be better.
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