Very few of Pierce's
books have first-person protagonists; in fact, i'm pretty sure that the
only others are the "Beka Cooper" books - Terrier, Bloodhound and Mastiff.
And i just didn't like Evvy.
(I like Beka, OTOH, so it's not her handling of first-person narrative
per se that i have problems with...)
I didn't like her when Briar found her on the street and had to make
sure she got magical training ... and i don't like her now when the's
travelling with Rosethorn.
Her "voice" (speaking of the characterisation, not the audiobook
version, which, like all audiobooks, i avoided) just set my figurative
teeth on edge, liek chalk on a blackboard, and her attitude didn't help
any, either.
But, if you like Pierce in general and the "Circle of Magic" books in
particular, you ought try this one - maybe you'll like Evvy (or at
least not be annoyed by her).
And, setting aside an annoying protagonist, there's a lot to like in
this one, starting with Evvy's friend (whose name i have, i'm ashamed
to say, forgotten), who is, apparently, a mountain - or at least, the
elemental spirit of one.
And, of course, Rosethorn can be counted on for the occasional acerb
and apropos comment at the appropriate (read, most annoying for someone
who needs annoying) moment... |
