The Cipher

I really loved this book. Can't wait to read more books in this series. The characters were especially well written. Diana's very real depiction of addiction in a redeemable character was very impressive.

One of the best parts about cipher is that he magic is a little bit different then in other fantasy novels, which adds an interesting element for people who read a lot of fantasy. The characters are all flawed, but doing their best so that you really start to invest in the story. I eagerly await the next book in the series.

Lucy Trenton's special gift is the ability to sense magick, a useful trick in the town of Crosspointe, where enchanted sylveth can surge in with the tides, transforming and destroying every creature it touches. Lucy is a good, law-abiding citizen with one flaw: she collects true ciphers, magically cursed objects created centuries ago by a magician named Errol Cipher. Lucy must fight a sylveth tide, fight a cipher which has bonded to her arm, and deal with a blackmailer who knows her secret. And then things start to get really dangerous. Within the first few pages, you can tell Francis has serious worldbuilding skills. Crosspointe is a well-realized port city, full of the rich detail that most fantasies gloss over. And Lucy is a fun, stubbornly determined hero. It took a chapter or two to draw me in, but then I was hooked. No book is perfect, of course. I was a bit uncomfortable with the description of the Jutras, the savage empire that threatens Crosspointe. Basically, they come across as pure, irredeemable evil. They're merciless, their magic is savage and bloody, and they're all-around bad guys, to the point of appearing inhuman. The way the inhabitants of Crosspointe talk about the Jutras evoked some racially-tinged discomfort as I was reading. But it sounds like we'll be learning more about the Jutras and their empire in book two. The other thing that bugged me was the ending. Lucy is a strong, determined character. She spends most of the book fighting for what she believes and accepting the consequences. Those consequences catch up with her about 80% of the way through the book, but then she receives ... let's call it a gift. I don't want to spoil the ending, so I'm not going to say much more. It wasn't a deus ex machina, but that one part of the story felt too easy, especially compared with everything else she had fought for. Francis writes very honestly. Characters and relationships are flawed. Victory comes with a cost. Magic is powerful, but it's a raw, poorly understood power, one that's difficult to control. Nor is Lucy invulnerable to her own magic. When she creates fire, she too is burned. It's a wonderful example of the price of magic, and I cheered the writer even as I gritted my teeth at Lucy's pain. Overall, I'd strongly recommend the book, and I'm looking forward to The Black Ship.

So I already have much fan love for Diana Pharaoh Francis from her Path series so eagerly awaited her new series, The Cipher: A Novel of Crosspointe, to be released. I finished it last night and Ms. Francis still has much of my fan love. In fact, I declare here and now that Lucy Trenton is my favorite heroine. She is strong, confident and brave, but the kind of strong, confident and brave you get from knowing you have your family behind you, even if they drive you nuts. But she is also logical and willing to accept help. She knows her limitations. And rather than being a scathing skinny beauty, she is a real person with flaws and body weight!! That I loved. She calls herself 'plump' and I adore Diana for that. She is also not a sword swinging fighter, which makes her wits all the more important. (And no offense to any writers with sword swinging hot women, I love reading your books too!) As before, Ms. Francis has created a very real world. It took me a few pages to get in to the sailor slang that many characters use, but you quickly get the feel for it. The magic system is unique. Unlike many novels, it's perceived as taboo in some cases, but then large amounts are used in every day life. And you quickly get a feel for the city's system, government and general social climate of the town. Beautifully depicted. It was an excellent read and I cannot wait to read The Black Ship (planned title for the next book, I believe). The journey is exciting with many expected turns. I did not see many things coming.

Best book published this year!! Moving fast adventure, characters of wonderful depth and unexpected twists and turns - I cannot tell you in words how fabulous I thought this book was. I am so looking forward to The Black Ship that it cannot come into port soon enough - go out and get this book and read it. I read it in a day and now I have to go back and savor it.