Emerald House Rising

Actually, all of those things (original, delightful, and complete) have been said by other reviewers, but they're the three qualities I admired the most. This book is lighthearted without being cutesy and saccharine as so many fantasies are, and yet it has some very serious, thoughtful issues and real characterization (magic, for example, is based on a system that's kind of like reading Virginia Woolf's theories about how certain qualities are rigidly set by society as masculine and feminine and how they have to interact to form complete individuals or artists) I don't agree that the writing of this book is like Patricia Wrede's, or Barbara Hambly's, or Anne McCaffrey's, or like the writing of anyone else in particular (well, okay, maybe Martha Wells at her best). Kerr shows a wonderful blend of wisdom, emotional maturity, and craftsmanship that I think deserves to stand on its own. I'm looking forward to buying and reading Wild Swans.

A story of government intrigue follows a young woman as she proceeds to save the kingdom and discover herself at the same time. Kerr creates a stuning new world as the background for this lovely book. This is a must read! You will hear more about this author!

The thing that attracted me most about the book was that it was compared to Patricia Wrede's writing. I have read Wrede since third grade (Dealing With Dragons) and enjoyed that and the other books I've read by her immensly. This book did not disappoint me. I am reading it as much as all my favorite books. This is a wonderful book that all ages can enjoy!

I absolutely LOVED this book. It is a perfect fantasy. All it lacks is a dragon or two to round it off, but I, not being the brillant author that Peg Kerr is, can't find a place to put them. You have wizards, magicains, tradesmen, Lords, Ladies, the wonderful mystery, suprizing detail, the art of the jeweler (I am a metalsmith, myself), and Magic in all of its facets. I look forward to more books like this one.Thank you for your time.

If you thought that you knew everything about magicians, wizards, or magic gemstones -- think again. In this tantalizing first novel by Peg Kerr, you will enjoy fantasy at its best will all of the magic, intrigue, and character complexity worthy of any reader's perusal. This one will be following quickly in the footsteps of McCaffrey and Eddings. Don't wait to find out. You will NOT be disappointed