…that every author loves.

Every now and then you get a review from someone who really “gets” what you, the writer, are trying to say.
Here is one such, from Ryan Frye at Civilian Reader blog.

Below is Ryan’s summary, but you can read the whole review here.


Overall, The Lascar’s Dagger is a great read. The pacing is
great, with plenty of action and swagger. While I thoroughly enjoyed
every aspect of this book, Larke left plenty of hints that there’s
greater depth to the characters, the world and the story to be found in
later volumes. If you are looking for a new epic fantasy series that
will engage, entertain (and maybe even enthrall you) in equal measures,
then Larke’s your author and The Forsaken Lands is your series.

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Another review up for The Last Stormlord, from Katherine Keller
You can read it here, at Sequential Tart.

Here’s the final paragraph:

For all that it’s all about water and the control of water in an arid land, The Last Stormlord is no thinly veiled homage to Dune. It’s a unique and multi-layered story that melds plot, politics, and some pretty intense action into a seamless whole. And, as a person who grew up in eastern California and knows well the history of the (vicious and brutal) fight for control of water there, I loved every page of this story.

Water, and control of water is power indeed.

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This one from ASIF (Australian Speculative Fiction in Focus), and the review is written by Tehani Wessely. You can read the whole thing here.

It starts with the words: Stormlord Rising is possibly the best Book Two of a series I have ever read.

And ends:

Written so fluidly that the intertwining plot threads weave seamlessly together as the pages progress, Stormlord Rising is a page turner of classic magnitude. The action leaps off the page, supported by characters so well-drawn you fall in love with them, but in the hands of an author not afraid to kill off her darlings, which is a heart-pounding combination!

I read this book in the bath, in bed, feeding the baby and in the wee hours. I simply could not put it down. While it’s a huge book, it was so well put together that the pages flew by and I can only hope there’s not too long to wait for Book Three!

And there was a new online review today:

“The ‘poor child destined for greater things’ scenario may well inspire a weary groan from the veteran fantasy reader, but Glenda Larke’s The Last Stormlord proves there’s life in the old idea yet. Not only does she spoil us with two impressive protagonists (brothel maid Terelle and Gibber boy Shale) instead of one, but the struggle towards their destiny takes place in a world as harsh and uncompromising as any of Steven Erikson’s severe settings.”
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“One of the novel’s real strengths is its well-developed, intimate protagonists. Shale’s transformation into Jasper Bloodstone is particularly enjoyable and Terelle’s journey of self-discovery rarely loses momentum. High Lord Nealrith, Taquar, Davim and Russet work well as the supporting ensemble, framing the protagonists and adding extra layers to the youngsters’ complicated journey into adulthood.”

You can read the whole thing at Total Sci-fi Online.

And now I am off to Devon to meet my agent, first time in 5 years…
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This is a new experience for me. First of all that there are reviews galore, and secondly that they are so uniformly brilliant. Sooner or later someone is going to kick my butt, surely…?
Never mind, I am having a ball enjoying the fact that other people enjoy my books. Wallowing in it, in fact. Like eating Belgian chocolate cake with real cream…without feeling queasy.
But do apologise to you, my blog readers. I am sure you are getting sick of the diet, but I can’t stop! I adore reviews! Never mind, if you don’t want to read yet another extract from yet another review, skip to the pictures instead. Taken when we were birding in Brisbane. The bird is Australia’s approximation to a wild turkey, actually a Brush-Turkey and a mound builder. You are quite likely to see them in carparks and town parks…
This is extract from the Rob Will Review and the review is by Thomas Scofield:

Galaxy Bookshop in Sydney, Australia, puts out an excellent newsletter every month for sff readers, called Nexus. Great way to find out what’s new in Oz.

Each month they have a Fave Rave. And this month, Issue 259 Nexus December 2009, their new Fave Rave is The Last Stormlord.

I just love the last paragraph!!
Especially cheering is that Mark from Galaxy was one of my beta readers (even though I have never met him!) There were parts of the book he was not happy with; I took his crit of those important sections to heart because I think he was spot on.

Was he happy with the result? Well, you decide. I know that I owe him one, and I don’t mean because of the review, but rather because he helped to make the book what it is.

Here’s the first and last paragraph of his review (you can read the full thing here):

It’s rare that a fantasy novel sets itself up in a world so obviously influenced by the idea of climate change. Usually such issues are left for science fiction. Yet in her latest blockbuster, Larke sets herself firmly in territory that few fantasy novels have dared to tread. Rather than traipsing through a ‘medieval’ past, she reveals a bold, original world that could possibly be our future, albeit one without technology.
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The common link in Larke’s novels is her ability to craft worlds that are vibrant and vivid, immersing us in a world that has depth and substance in a way that few writers can match without bogging down in ‘info dump’. This story is no different and I think is her best work to date. That she can also tell a sweeping saga that runs the gauntlet of human experience, immersing us – quite disturbingly at times – in that white water rapid of joy and despair, unmistakeably marks her as one of Australia’s best speculative fiction writers and one you should not miss. – Mark

Not sure whether it is quite kosher to post a whole review on the net when I am (obviously) not the author of the review. Anyway: above is the heading of the book review section of the newspaper, so that was really, really great to see for a start!!

The newspaper was The West Australian, Saturday 31st October – the main morning daily in my home town of Perth, which gave me a nice fuzzy feeling.

Ian Nichols, the reviewer is a very talented and polished writer himself, so a good review from him means a lot personally to me.

And here’s some more of the review. It begins:

In her previous novels Larke has demonstrated an enviable skill. With this novel she moves into the realm of sheer virtuosity.

The middle section of the review is a brief look at the story, and then it goes on to say:

The plot is engrossing and the characters fascinating. In bookshops where bland fantasies line the shelves, Larke stands out from the crowd.

Yep, I’m happy.

Just came across a review of The Last Stormlord which looks at it more from a “can we learn anything from it” perspective.

True, the waterless background was there because I think it is a real possibility for the future, especially in parts of Australia, Africa and America, but basically I just wanted to write an unputdownable (is there such a word?) tale. So I am glad the reviewer ended the review with “a most enjoyable read”!

The blog site is called ReadPlus, a superb resource for Australian teachers and librarians. I wouldn’t advise anyone taking a look at the review if they intended to read the book for their own pleasure, as it is aimed at giving teachers an idea of the book’s suitability for kids – and more or less gives away a lot of the plot.

If you are a teacher/librarian, though, go read the review and see if you think it is something your kids would like to read.

Apart from saying what it is about, the reviewer (Mark Knight) says:

(Ages 12+) Glenda Larke has done what should have been more than obvious to many: she’s created a world where water is the most valued commodity. It is controlled and regulated by the state and not just water but the rain and where it falls.
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The use of water as the ultimate resource is timely. There are already alarm bells ringing in Australia about water supply and like many in the Scarpen Quarter, who control the rain, complacency seems to take precedence over action. Glenda Larke has drawn her characters well, there is enough depth of emotion in them all to be believably human and enough insight into their various roles to see the reason behind their differing view points. A most enjoyable (600+ page) read.

The bit that really tickled me was this, right at the end:
I hope she (the author) doesn’t run out of steam in what I presume will be a trilogy.

So do I, Mark, so do I. Lol…
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One of the really nerve-wracking things as publication day approaches is waiting for the first professional review.

Well, I just got it. I can’t publish it here yet, as the review still isn’t officially published – comes out in the September issue of Bookseller and Publisher.

But it is fabulous.

Whew.

I am soooooooooooooo relieved.

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