A Heroine of the World

You either "get" Tanith Lee or you don't--it's that simple.If you're looking for an action-packed, sword-weilding, Conanesque adventure (not that there's anything wrong with that--I like my Conanesques just fine), this is the wrong book.If you're looking for a compelling, sweeping epic with grand vistas, politics, intrigue, and beautiful writing, this is the right book.This book, set in almost-19th century Russia, has stayed with me for 7 years, and I must say that it's one of the best fantasies I've ever read despite--or maybe even because of--its different focus and scope.There are few books out there that I really wish that I have written. This is one of them.

A Heroine of The World is one of the most brilliantly composed books that I have ever read. From the first pages, you begin to feel as though the main-character, Ara's, experiences are your own. Never in my life have I felt so compassionately for a character. Through Lee's carefully selected words, you not only can understand the character's joy, and sadness, but also feel as though you yourself are going through the same experiences. I wasn't even going to take the time to write this review, but when I saw that someone had written that this wasn't a quality piece of literature, I just wanted to set the record straight.

_A Heroine of the World_ follows a young girl from the sack of her home city into an uncertain and violent world. Although naturally passive, she's forced by circumstance into becoming a woman who is able to act on her own behalf. Unique in the fantasy genre in that it refuses to compromise and fall into cliches. Politics are murky and there's no clear good or evil. True love doesn't always run smoothly. The heroine isn't exceptionally anything except real. One of Lee's best. (And even her worst is pretty darn impressive.)

This book weaves a magic spell drawing the reader into the uncertainty of the child trapped in a besieged city. I think the book's drifting structure reflects how Aradia lets Fate propel her. She eventually learns the danger of it as she tries to make sense of a chaotic world. A haunting story which enchants the reader. It's complexity is rewarding - don't let the sceptics put you off.

I cannot begin to describe how lovely and how beautifully written this is. I absolutely loved it. If you are familiar with this author, you will know that all her novels are imaginative and hauntingly beautiful; picture all these qualities in an adventure/romance that is epic in scope-- I believe this is one of her longest novels, and I enjoyed every minute of it. This is not for insensitive or shallow readers -- a simply lovely experience-- I've read parts of it many times over, just because the descriptive passages are so enjoyable. Bittersweet, haunting, uplifting, and beautiful -- I am always amazed at the apparent effortlessness and grace with which Ms. Lee writes for us --her inexhaustible imagination is a true delight, and something every reader should sample at least once, just to have the experience.