Comments on: REVIEW: Cipher by Diana Pharaoh Francis

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 02:07:07 +0000

Oh I absolutely love Diana Wynne Jones. I would also recommend Dark Lord of Derkholm. Kind of a tongue in cheek fantasy book.

I think I have a trilogy by DPF on my TBR pile (the Path one is it good?). Will have to dig it out later. Currently trying to get through the WOT series-just now finishing #6. I tend to alternate a romance with WOT.

By: Jackie L.

Jackie L. — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 01:27:41 +0000

If you want to dip into SF/F–my second obsession–try some old Ursula K. Leguin. Lovely prose, great world building, a bit of romance. The Dispossessed, Left Hand of Darkness (some sexual ambiguity–don’t know if that’s a squick for you). She has a great YA triology that’s on like the 5th book I think, the Earthsea saga books.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:54:35 +0000

I hope that those who do read it will come back and report their opinions. I might give the previous series a try but not right away.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 21:20:23 +0000

I’ll admit to being a fan of her previous series, and it seems that this book is more fantasy than romance. Seeing as I’m a fan of both genres, I’ll try to put on my fantasy-colored-glasses while reading this; maybe that will make the viewing better. ;)

By: Has

Has — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:27:05 +0000

Lately I have been on a fantasy kick and I was going to pick this up but I changed my mind- I don’t think I will now but I am glad I bought Lisa Shearin Magic Lost, Trouble Found instead. A very fun book :)

By: Shina Laris

Shina Laris — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:21:01 +0000

This book is in my TBR pile, so I’ll certainly try to see if the experience is any different, since I’m an avid reader of fantasy.

By: Shannon C.

Shannon C. — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 17:17:38 +0000

Re: Lower-class dialects: Yeah, that’s a pretty common fantasy trope. Mercedes Lackey tends to use some variation on faux-Scottish a lot in her writing.

I’m also curious to see if the book would work better for me as a more experienced fantasy reader, although from your review my initial thought is, ‘Probably not.’

By: Ann Bruce

Ann Bruce — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:25:49 +0000

As for the mismash of cultures in Crosspointe, it sounds like the island was a penal colony at one point–but for all countries and not just any specific one.

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:06:23 +0000

A good fantasy doesn’t use shortcuts. And it will only make a mismash of characters and cultures if there’s a purpose for it. The fact that you couldn’t find one tells me that this was not a good fantasy.

By: Ember

Ember — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 15:02:29 +0000

I’ve got this on my TBR as well. Hope it clicks better for me!

By: Estara

Estara — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 13:51:12 +0000

re: fantasy by Diana Pharaoh Francis – maybe you would have enjoyed her previous trilogy more. As a long time romance and fantasy reader I’m just now reading the third book and while it’s darker (and more realistic feeling) than lots of epic fantasy (where the heroes may get tortured but never die or have to face an everlasting personal handicap in their life after they have beaten the doom of the world) I loved the characters and especially the reluctant heroine.

But why I actually comment: Yes, there is a fantasy to English guidebook and it’s a lot of fun – the Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones, recommended to learn all the fantasy tropes and cliches.

By: Jia

Jia — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 10:48:56 +0000

I have this one in my TBR pile. I’ll bump it up and see how it works for a reader with more experience in the fantasy genre.