Comments on: REVIEW: Airs and Graces by Toby Bishop http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/ Romance, Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal, Young Adult, Book reviews, industry news, and commentary from a reader's point of view Sun, 27 May 2012 11:43:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: BlueRose http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-185232 BlueRose Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:47:35 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-185232 I just read this book today, funnily enough. The bit about the pregnancy wasnt very clear in this book, but here is the gist of it - the bond is for life - if the horse dies the human may or may not survive it, but if the human dies, the horse will go mad and need to be put down - pregnancy interferes with the bond, and the horse begins to go mad It clearly suffered from middlebookitis re the two different themes, which is a shame but I liked it and am looking forward to reading the 3rd one if my library ever gets it in. FYI I rather like the concept that the bond between horse and woman is permanent and lasting and to each other. Too many books end up with marriage and compromise and other things, I like the concept that these women can make a life long choice and be honoured for such, not pitied. I just read this book today, funnily enough. The bit about the pregnancy wasnt very clear in this book, but here is the gist of it

- the bond is for life – if the horse dies the human may or may not survive it, but if the human dies, the horse will go mad and need to be put down

- pregnancy interferes with the bond, and the horse begins to go mad

It clearly suffered from middlebookitis re the two different themes, which is a shame but I liked it and am looking forward to reading the 3rd one if my library ever gets it in.

FYI I rather like the concept that the bond between horse and woman is permanent and lasting and to each other. Too many books end up with marriage and compromise and other things, I like the concept that these women can make a life long choice and be honoured for such, not pitied.

]]> By: Adriane http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-166046 Adriane Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:22:15 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-166046 I loved the first book and couldn't wait for the second. She's very creative with her themes, and while I do wish as well that some of the people had a more gray area for depth I feel that William's twisted view of the world has a lot more gray to it than people think. Animal companion books always get to me, too. One of my favorites was the "Unlikely Ones" by Mary Brown. I highly recommend it. The fact the girls can't marry and have children does make me sad though. Perhaps the third book will have Lark discover a way past that. If not, I will still love the books. Now I can't wait for the 3rd! Adriane I loved the first book and couldn’t wait for the second. She’s very creative with her themes, and while I do wish as well that some of the people had a more gray area for depth I feel that William’s twisted view of the world has a lot more gray to it than people think.

Animal companion books always get to me, too. One of my favorites was the “Unlikely Ones” by Mary Brown. I highly recommend it.

The fact the girls can’t marry and have children does make me sad though. Perhaps the third book will have Lark discover a way past that. If not, I will still love the books. Now I can’t wait for the 3rd!

Adriane

]]> By: Shannon C. http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116884 Shannon C. Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:06:35 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116884 This sounds interesting. I sort of like the idea of the girl-power theme of the horses only bonding with women, and I suspect I'd like this book. I've also noticed the lack of moral ambiguity you mentioned. In fact, I blogged about that a couple of years ago, though I'm too lazy to look up the link. :P Anyway, I have always wondered what keeps truly nasty--or at least petty, selfish people--from having an uberspecial animal friend of their very own. This sounds interesting. I sort of like the idea of the girl-power theme of the horses only bonding with women, and I suspect I’d like this book.

I’ve also noticed the lack of moral ambiguity you mentioned. In fact, I blogged about that a couple of years ago, though I’m too lazy to look up the link. :P Anyway, I have always wondered what keeps truly nasty–or at least petty, selfish people–from having an uberspecial animal friend of their very own.

]]> By: Jia http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116584 Jia Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:46:59 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116584 Nicole: Thanks for the tip! I see she writes a fair bit of feminist themes in her books, as well as utilizes settings that differ from the usual faux medieval. That definitely piques my interest more since those are things I prefer in my SF/F. Nicole: Thanks for the tip! I see she writes a fair bit of feminist themes in her books, as well as utilizes settings that differ from the usual faux medieval. That definitely piques my interest more since those are things I prefer in my SF/F.

]]> By: Nicole http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116493 Nicole Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:27:04 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116493 It's been awhile, but The Terrorists of Irustan is the one I remember as being good. Completely missed the Louise Marley tag. :-) It’s been awhile, but The Terrorists of Irustan is the one I remember as being good.

Completely missed the Louise Marley tag. :-)

]]> By: Jia http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116492 Jia Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:24:35 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116492 Nicole: I did, actually! That's why I made sure to tag this post under Louise Marley as well. Unfortunately, I haven't read any of her novels under that name but now I'm curious and plan to look those up too. Nicole: I did, actually! That’s why I made sure to tag this post under Louise Marley as well. Unfortunately, I haven’t read any of her novels under that name but now I’m curious and plan to look those up too.

]]> By: Nicole http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116488 Nicole Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:18:18 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116488 Oh, I read and liked the first book in this series. I'd forgotten that the second was coming out. Will have to get it. Also, did you know this is Louise Marley? I read one of her books and really enjoyed it. Oh, I read and liked the first book in this series. I’d forgotten that the second was coming out. Will have to get it.

Also, did you know this is Louise Marley? I read one of her books and really enjoyed it.

]]> By: Amanda http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116344 Amanda Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:28:08 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116344 Jane, the names were really confusing. I really wish the authors had skipped the whole name-change-after-bonding thing, because it just made it worse. I'm glad I read it in one sitting, because if I'd put it down and come back to it I'm sure I would have been completely lost. Even with all that, I'm glad I read it. I'm not sure if I'd say it was enjoyable, but it was thought-provoking and interesting. Jane, the names were really confusing. I really wish the authors had skipped the whole name-change-after-bonding thing, because it just made it worse. I’m glad I read it in one sitting, because if I’d put it down and come back to it I’m sure I would have been completely lost. Even with all that, I’m glad I read it. I’m not sure if I’d say it was enjoyable, but it was thought-provoking and interesting.

]]> By: Jia http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116327 Jia Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:19:14 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116327 Amanda: I haven't read Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette's collaboration yet, but I have heard a lot about how it subverts the various animal companion fantasy tropes and conventions. It's on my list of books to get, if I ever manage to make a dent in my to-be-reviewed shelf. Amanda: I haven’t read Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette’s collaboration yet, but I have heard a lot about how it subverts the various animal companion fantasy tropes and conventions. It’s on my list of books to get, if I ever manage to make a dent in my to-be-reviewed shelf.

]]> By: Jane http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116313 Jane Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:37:35 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116313 Amanda - I tried to read that book but was confounded by the characters' names - all those dogs, their pups, the people. Oy. Amanda – I tried to read that book but was confounded by the characters’ names – all those dogs, their pups, the people. Oy.

]]> By: Amanda http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116300 Amanda Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:35:22 +0000 http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/01/02/review-airs-and-graces-by-toby-bishop/#comment-116300 Have you read Elizabeth Bear & Sarah Monette's A Companion to Wolves? You'll never be able to read animal companion fantasies the same way again. It is definitely *not* romance! Have you read Elizabeth Bear & Sarah Monette’s A Companion to Wolves? You’ll never be able to read animal companion fantasies the same way again. It is definitely *not* romance!

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