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!