First book, but you can't tell it!!!
588888
Wow is all I can say. I know this lady personally and for her first book to be this good is amazing. The descriptions, the characters she just pulled me into the story so that in one reading I had to finish the book. Yep, ended up with a headache but it was well worth it. Now to get her butt moving for the next one. I hate waiting. :) Way to  go lady!!!!
4609728
PSST.  Ahem!  Now that I have your attention. This is a great book to read.  I actually received this book for Christmas.  I finished it the Thursday after New Years!  A teriffic book by a great first time author.  Dont just let this fantastic best seller run away! Run to oyur computer next time and buy this book...  See for yourself!
4186407
I was really looking forward to reading this book, and a generous friend sent a copy to me, so I immediately sat down to read it.
In the beginning of the book, the author states that she basically compiled all of her poems, journal entries, and other attempts of a somewhat fictional book, and put them together to create this book, explaining what she thought needed explaining, and leaving what she felt didn't need explanation to stand on it's own. Once I read that, I was worried that it would have a disjointed flow to it, making it hard to read and/or follow.
I'm glad I was wrong.
Somehow Nancy managed to make these differences work well together. I never found myself wondering how something connects to something else. There were a few parts of the book that were separated, where she'd mention it at the front part of the book, then bring it up at the end, and while it seems that she should have put them all together, you realize if she had done that, it would have made the story very disjointed and confusing.
I received the first edition of the book, so it was missing a "pivotal piece of the book" according to Mrs. Bevilaqua. She posted the chapter on her blog, and printed a second edition including the chapter in it. The chapter, as it turns out, doesn't hurt the story being left out, but it does explain the meaning of the title, and I can understand why she was "mortified" when she realized the first printing was without it. I don't want to spoil it for those who've not read the chapter, but if you have the first edition, you need to read it. Unfortunately I am unable to post the link in my review, but I put it in a comment to this review. I hope I'm not breaking any rules by putting it on here, because if you have the first edition of the book, you MUST read it! It took my breath away, to read it. 9 little words that make the whole situation explode in your mind.
This story is one of love, and life, lived unspoken, but knowing no bounds. You understand, how at the beginning of the story, Nancy's reluctant to voice her love for David. At the end of the book, you realize, she didn't have to.
I strongly recommend you read this book, for the story, the education, and maybe most of all, so David's story will live on.
Thank you, Nancy for sharing his story with me. It was an incredible journey, and I wish I had known him, though I feel like I did! <3
4156547
Excellent first book, looking forward to reading the second in the series.
1452901
This is a first book.  It has a lot of problems that many of the other reviewers addressed.  However, I liked it, and read it to the end. Mostly because I thought the story was fun and suspenseful.  Mark needs to tighten up his writing, and to limit his story lines.  Much of the background material probably should have been in a "real " first novel .That said, I will read nr two because I think Mr Nolan's writing has a lot of promise. I enjoyed the humor, but I think being a friend of the President in the first book was a lot too much
140051
Wow! there is a lot of chatter about this book! I think it is interesting that there is such a vast difference of opinions! Personally, I'm very impressed that a first-time novelist was able to capture my imagination and intrigue right from the start, and keep me guessing as the story line progressed....(and, I might add, left me hanging over a cliff at the end of the book!!) Yes, there are editing issues, but those can easily be corrected in future printings. I am looking forward to continue the stretch of my imagination as I encoutner whatever happens next in this frantic search to save the planets. I'm also very curious to see what happens when the Book of Immortality is finally opened. I say congratulations to the author for this, his first amazing work of fiction. If you are looking for an intense, imaginative book, full of twists and turns that befall these genuine characters, you will be very well rewarded. I, for one, am looking forward to book #2 and the rest of the series!
1760491
I saw something on the internet about this story and I really thought I'd like it more.

It has some good things going for it. The villains were very interesting characters, and a couple of the heroes were too, and the world did have its intrigue. Also, I have to say, Lebbon really knows how to keep the reader guessing. In fact, it was good enough to keep me reading till the end.

On the other hand, I felt kind of lost, or maybe ripped-off. I'm a huge fan of fantasy books and I admit, I do lean more toward heroic fantasy but I can get into something like this too. (I thought Stephen King's Dark Tower was great after all.)

I read fantasy for the same reason that I believe most everyone reads fantasy for, escapism, and I just couldn't loose myself in this story.

Is there a some new school of writing out there that says leave it all up to reader to imagine all the characters, creatures, devices, etc.. for themselves? Because so many new writers seem to be have this train of thought. Lebbon would describe one character's appearance in detail and tell you almost null about another. I spent the whole book trying to put together puzzle pieces of what some of the terrible monsters look like and I couldn't even begin get a concept of the derelict machines. They are part living, part stone, part mechanical, part magic? I felt like I missed a few pages somewhere. Could we even get a couple words telling us what a disc-sword is? On the other hand, we know what the slums of Noreela City smells like?!?!?!

I thought a writer's creation is like their baby. Doesn't a proud parent describe in detail what their baby is like?

And what's up with the cuss-words and terms from the modern real world? Some dirty-sex, cursing, and violence doesn't make an "adult fantasy". If you're looking for so-called "adult fantasy", give George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire a read.

However, Dusk did manage to get 3 stars from me. The character development was superb and I would've quit the book if it wasn't for the parts with edge-of-your-seat action.
3050793
only through the first book, but i can't put it down!
2204198
First of 12 books ( I found out after getting started) with enough hints of what's to come that I will invest the time in the second book!  Have to see how it goes after that...first book was definitely written to set up the character development!
360741
Good book!! Still don't know how to funckin read tho!!
3927182
This book surprised me. When I first started reading it, I didn't like it. I usually read straightforward books, either mysteries, biographies or business books. I didn't quite know what to make of this book. But as I got further into it, I started enjoying it more.

What I enjoyed about this book:

**It kept me guessing. Aside from the first story, Space, which I didn't care for, I couldn't stop reading the other three stories to find out what happened.

**It made me think. Since the book is not straightforward and is more of a philosophical book, I had to pause and figure out what Gregory was saying and what he really meant.

**Each story created a different feeling. Chapter 2: Four Rooms seemed to be about mental confusion and what is reality. Chapter 3: The Principle of Luidgi seemed to be about how people can manipulate one another. Chapter 4: Guest seemed to be about dreams and love lost. Other readers may have different interpretations, but that's the beauty of this book.

What I didn't care for in this book:

**I didn't like the first story, Space. It's probably because I didn't really understand it. But, I also didn't like the graphic s** scene descriptions. Call me a prude, but I don't think that descriptions like this add anything to a story.

If you are looking for something different to read and a book that makes you think, than you might enjoy this book.
2736735
New writer published, great for first timer!
4923077
A book within a book, until the end I had no idea where it was going, and then like light being switched on, finally , of course, it all made sense!  I would have reacted in the same way that the main character did. If you don't want to stay glued to a story, don't get this book!
3694956
Mixed feelings on this first book; but would like to read another to see the characters again and see if the author improves
314363
Wow! This book caught me unawares, surprised me in a good way. As soon as I finished it, I went out and bought the rest of the series. I seriously hope someone in TV/film reads this first book!
3156410
For the first 20 pages or so, I struggled.  Everything after that is a blur.  The memories of events that occurred are stacked in my head in a way that no other information is stored.  I know of events, but I don't know who was involved, or in what sequence they happened.  I can only come to the conclusion that this was intended, however much I hate attempting to understand author's intentions, only because usually the intention is obvious.  Not so here.
When I first decided to read Gravity's Rainbow, I did it to prove to myself that I'm a genius.  I felt this way up until about half way through, when my own genius was boring me.  I began to feel an itch for more entertainment, and the book just wasn't hearing my plea.  At this point, I also realized that I'm not a genius because I was half way through and I hadn't a clue what the book was about.  I continued reading because I've never not finished a book in my life, once started.  I suppose I marveled at the idea of the 'beauty of incomprehension'.  But this idea soon got old.  There are very compelling scenes in this book, yet they lack something that links them all together.  Each chapter could just be it's own short story.
Also, this was only my first reading, and I know that to honestly crit any piece of literature, one must re-read multiple times, however I must make due simply because I probably won't re-read this for another ten years or so.  I didn't give this book five stars because, even though it's probably the most unique experience I've ever had reading a book, it was just too convoluted.  I didn't give it one star because the literature is beautiful and I understood a lot of the esoteric references to electronics and science, myself being an engineer, and he does create an interesting blend of art and science.
It's one of those books you should read for the experience, not to be entertained.
4279317
I am a big fan of Patricia C. Wrede, and picked up this book at the library with great excitement, assuming it was a new book by her. I got about a quarter of the way through it with increasing anxiety, thinking she'd lost her touch, and then at last did my research and realized this is in fact her first book, originally published more than thirty years ago.

Let me repeat: THIS IS AN OLD BOOK. This explained more or less everything, and it was with great relief that I settled in to read the rest of it and  look for clues that would tell me this author was soon to write Dealing with Dragons and Sorcery and Cecilia. The book was mainly interesting to me as a way to study the early career of an excellent writer.

That said, it's almost pointless to go over the details of why I don't find this book a great one, but in case you're looking for a quest fantasy and planning to read this as such, let me give a few quick notes:

1) Dialogue: stilted, exposition-heavy despite her comment in the introduction about removing a lot of exposition. Her characters don't appear to believe in contractions in their speech, which leaves their dialogue coming across as either having weird emphases, or sounding like Sesame Street's Grover.

2) Characterization: pretty much only the female lead gets any serious characterization. Lots of interesting characters are set up, but none of them are really treated in detail, despite the point-of-view hopping into their heads on a regular basis. Two characters are presented as friends but don't have a chance to show it much if at all. Very bland.

3)  Romance: there is a romance, but because only one character is really given characterization, it's also very bland. It is also telegraphed WAY too hard, to the point that I was rolling my eyes almost every time it came up, despite my liking both participants. However, when the two finally come together, it is done with a panache that is thoroughly reminiscent of Wrede's more recent writing. That and the scenes with the female lead's mother are probably my two favorite parts of the book!

4) Description: usually I object to excessive description, but we could really have used more here, especially where the people are concerned. Maybe I missed something, but it came as a shock to me toward the end of the book when Maurin is suddenly and repeatedly described as tall, large, stocky, etc. I had visualized him in an entirely different manner earlier.

5) Consistency: weak. This was particularly brought home to me when Maurin is injured pretty seriously and then healed by dint of some magic herbs. For the next two days of traveling, as far as we can tell he's riding along with all the others, leading his horse over dangerous and slippery terrain, doing all sorts of normal things, with no one complaining, and then in the evenings he's suddenly forbidden to look for firewood, or go out in the rain, since he's still recovering. Note that he then, without anyone making a peep of protest, helps lift a DEAD HORSE off an ENEMY SOLDIER. There are three choices: he was recovered, he was partially recovered, or he was still in danger. There needs to be a decision made. If he's well enough to help pick up a dead horse, he probably won't die from getting rained on. And then, also with Maurin, he's a trader. He's in town presumably on business. And yet he rides off on all of these adventures without a backward glance. What's happened to his wares? Did he hire an agent? Is he just accepting massive losses on them?

6) Plot: nothing special. Standard quest-fantasy with non-human beings who are completely secret except that now they present themselves to the humans with no qualms or hesitations.

This book is of historical interest, but not really literary interest.