Feast of Souls

C.S. Friedman has a way of getting under the reader's skin, specializing in the relationship between the causes and the resultan effects of the interaction between people while masterfully developing a story, layer by layer, until the usually startling conclusion is revealed. Ms. Friedman has had both relative as well as major success in delivering the goods with prior efforts, and this first installment is quite promising, although it does have some familiar territory, and is somewhat similar in premise to "The Cold Fire" trilogy. Still, it took me only three days to finish the book, which my busy schedule means that I put off doing some other things in order to finish it, which is a significant development, since I rarely have the time to get involved with books in this fashion. Overall, it was very satisfying read that sets up the next installment quite well. Highly recommended, despite all the grumblings from other reviewers.

I read the book through in two sittings and I just loved it. I read an average of two or three books per week, and have been so disappointed in some of my favorite authors over the past several years because they seem to be writing the same story over and over. This is a new story that I will read again and am happy to have in my collection. Ms. Friedman's talent for illustrating the darker side of human emotion and the extent to which we will go for power is only a small part of this complex story and I look forward to reading the continuation of the series. Personally, I cheered at Kamala's victory over the brutes when she returned to her home town. I was angry at the first magister she met after she left her teacher and glad to see his fall. I was surprised at the way the actual meeting between Andovan and Kamala played out.... I had thought it would be different somehow. It came out better than I had imagined it in the pages leading up to it. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series. I have loaned my copy to my daughter (she's read it more than once already!) and I will buy a copy for my mom. I enjoyed reading this book better than any I've read for some time.

anyone who is a fan of Ms. Friedman knows she frequently deals with power and what happens to people who have it. This book gets further into the model she started with the Coldfire trilogy, delving into what people will do for power and how it changes them to make those decisions. Those of you who've read In Conquest Born will recognize a bit of Anzha lyu Mitethe in the main character of Kamala, but it isn't at all distracting. unlike Anzha, Kamala is not more powerful than the other Magisters, and her main strength is that people mostly assume she is not as powerful as she is. it's refreshing to see a character who starts off self-assured and arrogant learn more about her own limits, becoming more sympathetic as she goes along. also, in contrast to her own drivers, the men to whom she gravitates emotionally are not power-hungry at all and would prefer not to live their lives as slaves to what power demands. contrasted against a world very medieval in its character, this morality play leads you along in shades of grey. unlike what another reviewer said, it is not Kamala's horrible past that enables her to succeed where other women have failed. it is an essential drive to survive no matter what, which is reinforced by her witnessing a witch's death at a young age. this book is the first frame of what is to be a larger struggle, with many differing types of power wielded against a force that would reduce humanity to a dark age of barbarism. i'm excited for what the next two books will bring.

Bottom line: It's an extremely good story that will keep you up late at night, turning pages into the wee hours of the morning. The book is intense, gripping, and you'll be sucked in from the beginning. Other reasons I enjoyed it 1. It's not derivitive. Most of the stuff in the fantasy section isn't very creative - everyone's copying off of a previous hit trying to be the "next Harry Potter" or whatever. Feast of Souls is a novel in the true sense of the word and it's a pleasure to read something original. 2. It's up to C.S. Friedman's quality bar: no cookie cutter characters here. All her books are rich in new worlds and experiences. Like her previous series The Coldfire Trilogy, Feast of Souls has well developed characters that avoid the archetypes and one-dimensionality found in lesser works. I have no idea where the other reviewer is coming from regarding gender roles and battle of the sexes comments being poorly handled. Looking back over 4000 years of literature, gender equality is an anomoly and even today in the US prostitution, child exploitation, human trafficing, etc. all exist, and worldwide are growing problems. If anything, I found her willingness to tackle these issues in a realistic (as opposed to rose colored glasses) manner refreshing.

This was an enjoyable new offering from C S Friedman. I've read most of her books, going back to In Conquest Born. This might be her best work to date. The story is a compelling one. Without getting into any spoilers, the book deals with the heavy theme of: what price would you be willing to pay for power, and for immortality? And, assuming the answer is that there's some limit to the price you currently think you would pay, would that limit gradually dissolve as you got used to ultimate power and wielded it, and felt it? Is there a slippery slope at the end of which you would end up a monster without having intended to become one at the beginning of the journey? As usual, C S Friedman creates an inventive world, with rich detail, imaginative characterizations, and complex relationships. The characters are fascinating studies in the different personalities inhabiting a strange and compelling world of magic, conflict, and alliances. I recommend this book, particularly for existing C S Friedman fans, who will not be disappointed with this latest offering.