The Griffin Mage: Book One
By: Rachel Neumeier
Publisher: Orbit Books
Publish Date: May 2010
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Paperback, 367 pages
Series: First book of The Griffin Mage Series
Recommendation: If you would like to read a straight forward fantasy style read, with magic, and the amazing creatures of griffins.
Book Synopsis:
Little ever happens in the quiet villages of peaceful Feierabiand. For Kes, the course of her life seems set: she'll grow up to be an herb-woman and healer, never quite fitting in but always more or less accepted. And she's content with that path - or she thinks she is. Until the day the griffins come down from the mountains, bringing with them the fiery wind of their desert and a desperate need for a healer. But what the griffins need is a healer who is not quite human...or a healer who can be made into something not quite human.
First Sentence:
The griffins came to Feierabiand with the early summer warmth, riding the wind out of the heights down to the tender green pastures of the foothills.
My Review and Summary:
Kes is a quiet shy (almost backwards) young girl who lives with her sister Tesme on their horse breeding farm, along with Jos the quiet man who has been with them for six years helping around the farm. Kes is up in the woods collecting herbs for her stock when she spys the Griffins flying in the distance, and is distracted by their beauty. After Kes returns home, she goes into the small village with her sister to celebrate the birth of magnificant horse of Tesme's. While there a man comes looking for Kes, asking for her help. Kes realizes something different about this man, that he must have a connection to the griffins by what she sees and feels. Kes willingly goes with this man and learns she can heal griffins, without her herbs.
The countries have divided themselves by the people and their abilities. The setup of these abilities, or different magics, is started in this book as you learn a little about all of them and more of a few special ones. The abilities are categorized as; Makers, Legists, and Animal Affinity. These abilities are separated between three countries. Makers, build things and are the best at their craft - to make the strongest and best walls, bridges, roads and such. Legists, are amazing with words - making contracts that can not be broke or even with poetry. Animal Affinity, have a connection with a specific type of animal and will possess control over it. The Animal Affinity is the ability Kes's country folk possess, for example Tesme has an affinity for horses and Kes has accepted that she will not have an affinity and is talented with her herbs. But Kes is about to learn a wonderous secret of herself...
Then there are Mages present as well; earth, cool, and fire. And they all have a strange affect on each other.
I have not read many books of griffins. So, I couldn't wait to get this book for just that reason. There are no mysterious turns to the story, this story is a solid fantasy style read.
I enjoyed reading the beauty drawn through words of the griffins and learning of them as the story went on. In the first 100 pages I only felt for Bertaud and of his friendship with the King. I wanted to connect with Kes and the griffins, yet they seemed... standoffish. But, somewhere between 125 and 200 pages something happened, and I feel for Kes and the griffins and started to understand more of their personalities. I think part of the connection I didn't feel was because I didn't trust the Griffin Mage. I didn't like him in the first half of the story, but I came to understand him in the second half, and even start to like him in the end. I think the author wants you to not trust Kairaithin along with finding it harder to connect with him and the griffins. I started to realize it may be part of their nature since they are creatures of fire. But in the end I accepted them for who they are and liked them.
The only thing about the read I had a hard time with were the names of the griffins. It was hard for me to keep them separate at first as the names were rather long and similar to each other, example: Eskainiane Escaile Sehaikiu. What did help was the author did usually give a description of the griffin by color with the names to help differentiate them, and after giving them nicknames I started to do well with them.
After reading this book, I am curious to see where the rest of the trilogy goes. In the end of the story I felt I started to understand what makes all the characters work and would like to read the next book to see where they all go and what falls upon them.
I will be posting a contest tomorrow for the second book I have. So, stay tuned and stop back around.
This review qualifies for the Speculative Fiction Challenge @ Book Chick City.
I received a copy of this book from the author for review, after stressing my desire to read it. Thank you.
