Winterlands series by Barbara Hambly
Apr. 17th, 2019 05:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iariaDragonsbane
I really enjoyed it. It felt very old-fashioned classic fantasy. I liked the characters and the world-building.
+ I liked how self-aware Jenny was, how not like the stereotype of a dragon hunter Aversin was, the set up of this as a decaying world losing the knowledge and greatness of the past, how Jenny/John struggled with it in the north.
+ I loved everything with Morkeleb. Especially the fact that he basically fell in love with her because of their healing mind-meld, and how drawn she was to him in return. I was so pleased when she chose to leave with him at the end because I was expecting her to chose to stay human and with John. So it was a little disappointing that in the epilogue she realised that love and using magic is the most important part of magic and choosing to return to being human. I mean she could have at least waited to figure that out in the next book. A part of me is hoping Morkeleb will end up taking human form and showing up in the Winterlands.
+ During that final battle with Zyerne I could see how it would play out – Jenny falling from Morkeleb’s back, him caught in his fight with Zyrene and Jenny choosing to change into a dragon to survive the fall, and then the two of them together taking Zyrene down – so it was a little disappointing when it didn’t happen like that. That said I did like how it played out with John blowing up the Stone.
But yeah overall – good book.
Dragonshadow
Hmm. Not sure how I feel about this one. I think on the whole I liked it less. The downer of an ending was rather a bummer.
+ It would have been nice to have some hope, or more so than that lovely goodbye between Jenny and Morkeleb. Everything is in such a dark place in the end, even Jenny and John’s relationship cracked. The weight of the demons and what Jenny and Ian lived through under their possession, and everyone so separated. Poor, poor Ian. Everyone is so damaged at the end of this book. It was just really sad.
+ I loved everything with Morkeleb. The fact that he can change his size is delightful and that he now has a human form is wonderful. I wish the book had gone more into how it works that he gave up his magic and yet stills lives and is able to change shape.
+ I loved John’s entire journey seeking Morkeleb out and the fact that Morkeleb considers them friends now. I love Jenny/Morkeleb, and her longing for him in the beginning and their friendship. I wish it was more. The pieces are there. This book just confirmed that I definitely ship Jenny/Morkeleb/John.
+ I was sad and disappointed that both Yseult and Summer killed themselves when the demons were banished. It left a bitter taste in my mouth. Partially because of course the two girls killed themselves while the men (Ian and Bliaud) didn’t, but mostly because Yseult had such a horrible life, and a horrible possession and then died, and I wanted her to find some happiness and peace right from the beginning of the book.
I wanted Jenny to gather those possession survivors and bring them home with her, for them to gather each other close and comfort each other as only those with shared experiences can, and then use her knowledge, even without power, to teach. To create her own magic found-family safe haven. I just really really wanted this and instead – death, brokenness and despair. Meh.
+ Also with Summer surviving it could be great way to further tie into the Iceriders, to learn more about them and to bring them into the story.
+ I want to know more about the dragons. What they are and how they work.
+ I didn’t actually hate Jenny losing her magic and her bitterness over it. I think that could go in really interesting directions and want to read how it plays out. Where does she go from here? Does she get that magic back or perhaps something else to fill that void?
+ I loved that all the dragons survived. I was so sure that they were going to die so them saving each other and then at the end calling Jenny dragon-friend was great.
+ I loved that last demon take down by Jenny and Morkeleb at the underwater gate.
So I ended this book less enthusiastic to finish this series and the summary of the next doesn't get me any more so but at the same time I don't want to leave the characters at this point in the story. I requested the next two (final two?) books and hopefully things get more hopeful for the characters.
I really enjoyed it. It felt very old-fashioned classic fantasy. I liked the characters and the world-building.
+ I liked how self-aware Jenny was, how not like the stereotype of a dragon hunter Aversin was, the set up of this as a decaying world losing the knowledge and greatness of the past, how Jenny/John struggled with it in the north.
+ I loved everything with Morkeleb. Especially the fact that he basically fell in love with her because of their healing mind-meld, and how drawn she was to him in return. I was so pleased when she chose to leave with him at the end because I was expecting her to chose to stay human and with John. So it was a little disappointing that in the epilogue she realised that love and using magic is the most important part of magic and choosing to return to being human. I mean she could have at least waited to figure that out in the next book. A part of me is hoping Morkeleb will end up taking human form and showing up in the Winterlands.
+ During that final battle with Zyerne I could see how it would play out – Jenny falling from Morkeleb’s back, him caught in his fight with Zyrene and Jenny choosing to change into a dragon to survive the fall, and then the two of them together taking Zyrene down – so it was a little disappointing when it didn’t happen like that. That said I did like how it played out with John blowing up the Stone.
But yeah overall – good book.
Dragonshadow
Hmm. Not sure how I feel about this one. I think on the whole I liked it less. The downer of an ending was rather a bummer.
+ It would have been nice to have some hope, or more so than that lovely goodbye between Jenny and Morkeleb. Everything is in such a dark place in the end, even Jenny and John’s relationship cracked. The weight of the demons and what Jenny and Ian lived through under their possession, and everyone so separated. Poor, poor Ian. Everyone is so damaged at the end of this book. It was just really sad.
+ I loved everything with Morkeleb. The fact that he can change his size is delightful and that he now has a human form is wonderful. I wish the book had gone more into how it works that he gave up his magic and yet stills lives and is able to change shape.
+ I loved John’s entire journey seeking Morkeleb out and the fact that Morkeleb considers them friends now. I love Jenny/Morkeleb, and her longing for him in the beginning and their friendship. I wish it was more. The pieces are there. This book just confirmed that I definitely ship Jenny/Morkeleb/John.
+ I was sad and disappointed that both Yseult and Summer killed themselves when the demons were banished. It left a bitter taste in my mouth. Partially because of course the two girls killed themselves while the men (Ian and Bliaud) didn’t, but mostly because Yseult had such a horrible life, and a horrible possession and then died, and I wanted her to find some happiness and peace right from the beginning of the book.
I wanted Jenny to gather those possession survivors and bring them home with her, for them to gather each other close and comfort each other as only those with shared experiences can, and then use her knowledge, even without power, to teach. To create her own magic found-family safe haven. I just really really wanted this and instead – death, brokenness and despair. Meh.
+ Also with Summer surviving it could be great way to further tie into the Iceriders, to learn more about them and to bring them into the story.
+ I want to know more about the dragons. What they are and how they work.
+ I didn’t actually hate Jenny losing her magic and her bitterness over it. I think that could go in really interesting directions and want to read how it plays out. Where does she go from here? Does she get that magic back or perhaps something else to fill that void?
+ I loved that all the dragons survived. I was so sure that they were going to die so them saving each other and then at the end calling Jenny dragon-friend was great.
+ I loved that last demon take down by Jenny and Morkeleb at the underwater gate.
So I ended this book less enthusiastic to finish this series and the summary of the next doesn't get me any more so but at the same time I don't want to leave the characters at this point in the story. I requested the next two (final two?) books and hopefully things get more hopeful for the characters.
