Enchantment [Paperback]

The story starts out following Ivan, born in Russia during the height of communism a ten-year-old Ivan stumbles upon a beautiful maiden sleeping frozen in time on a stone slab in the midst of an ancient forest in the heart of Russia.

Years later after Ivan and his parents have long since departed Russia and have raised their son in America. A grown up Ivan returns to Russia only to rediscover an unspoken promise made to the sleeping maiden to rescue her and marry her. Only Ivan's very much in love and engaged to another woman back home in America! Stumbling between a very ancient Russia held under the thumb of the mythical witch Baba Yaga and her ensnared god-husband a gigantic Bear the spirit of Russia. Ivan must become the right man to marry the sleeping Princess and ultimately battle Baba Yaga herself.

While no one can deny Card is a beautiful story teller, with a knack for decscription that neither weighs one down but also gives the reader the impression there are right there in the middle of Russia traversing with Ivan. Where Orson fails ultimately is characterization and giving us rather realistically drawn characters but also realistic in their unappeal.

Ivan often comes off as whiny, unsympathetic and bit of a push-over, it's unbelievable how Ivan lets others around him litterally push him from one adventure to the next without putting up a fight. A constant angsty "Me-against the world" teenaged battle isn't desired but some kind of character backbone is wished for by this reader. Ivan puts up some what of a fight when he learns that by simply stumbling upon the sleeping princess Katarina he unintentionally made a promise to her, but later simply grudgingly accepts his fate and rather sadly and promptly forgets his fiance back at home.

Whilst Card paints an excellent view of mideval Russia. Perhaps a bit better and clearer then a communist U.S.S.R and post comunist Russia. He fails to deliver any sympathy for the people of ancient Russia or the mighty princess that Ivan and everyone are supposed to be so enchanted by.

Katarina is probably what ruined the book upon this reader, she is once selfish, demanding, close-minded, horribly stubborn yet (as Card practically shoves upon us) a good ruler who cares for her all people and also (as he constantly shoves in our faces, even by Ivan) that's she's very very beautiful and innocent looking. So of course, because she's so beautiful we must instantly be enchanted by her. Her semi-spoiled behavior is understandable as she is a princess who is doated upon by her Father and her rather frustrating behavor and reaction to Ivan when he crosses over to Ancient Russia, as he comes from a time (and a place) very much removed from the fuedal era people around him. But this is where Card fails, he fails to "Show" on the part of Katarina, instead he tells. Instead of showing what a wonderful ruler she is or why we should truely support her throughout the novel he simply tells us. She is redeemed slightly when she travels to American with Ivan and starts to cool down on her constant critism of him but still fails to capture this readers attention or sympathy.

Baba Yaga and her husband however, though obviously the antagonists of the story are beautifully done. Despite Baba Yaga being painted as "EVIL EVIL EVIL", she manages to capture this readers interest and hold it throughout. Even after the end.

Other characters in this novel, like a cliched Hallmark movie have their own special "quirks" but lack some enderaing qualities that truely make them stick out in this readers mind. Even the news that *SPOILER* that Ivan's Uncle is in fact an ancient Russian god himself *SPOILER*. Failed to really endure him or his wife or the rest of his family onto this reader.

Whilest Card does a spelnded job bringing a new and fresh light to the old fairy tale Sleeping Beauty (This readers personal favorite). He fails on the part of creating enduring characters to really prop this book up to the Five stars it should deserve.

Since finding a truely good Sleeping Beauty retelling is hard to find, while this book sticks out better then some it's still not quite the best that it could be. This reader, herself was decidedly UN-enchanted by Enchantment.

~Jade Kith