- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Luna (Aug 1 2004)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0373802099
- ISBN-13: 978-0373802098
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13 x 2.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 272 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #699,497 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing, if little known book.,
By
This review is from: Staying Dead (Paperback)
I must say that when I picked this book up, I wasn't sure what I expected for an $8.50(CDN) cover price, I think I was just looking for a way to kill a few hot summer days... What I got was a lot more.
Ms. Gilman has come out of nowhere with a fascinating tale of magic and technology, interwoven so well that it's easy to slip into her world, and lose yourself in the book for a day. (And I did.) The characters are fleshed out nicely, even people you meet for a fleeting few pages come alive as you read about them, not to mention the depth she goes into with the character of Wren, told through quasi-flashback, and dialog. All in all, if you're looking for a way to kill some of those hot summer days, pick this one up... You'll be back for the next two, I promise.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Gr8 premise, poorly executed...strange,
By Saya "Kaijin" (Anjou, Quebec Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Staying Dead (Mass Market Paperback)
The idea was great, the premise was original, the sexual tension between the two protagonists, Wren (Genevieve) and Segrei was fantastic and realistic (as opposed to fantastical as in romance novels), but I almost couldn't get through the book for the way it was written. I was interested in the characters and the storyline itself, but reading it felt like a chore. When I read a fantasy novel over the summer, I don't want to be struggling to understand what I'm reading, I want it to flow and get lost in it. Instead I was re-reading things that didn't make sense the first time through, I found my mind wandering off on all kinds of tangents (like a list of chores to do around the house) when Laura's explainations dragged on and on.
Some parts I just zoomed by, but then every two pages or so, Ms. Gilman would explain things ad nauseum. I know she's created a whole world of technology and magic coexisting in present-day New York City and new characters, but sometimes, she'd get a couple sentences out before spuing into a two page explaination before continuing the story...it completely broke the flow of the story and I found myself getting bored or irriated by it all. This series has potential if she doesn't keep explaining things too much, too quickly. Rachel Caine of the Weather Warden series (amazing books) is a pro at revealing backstory without disrupting the flow of the novel. Ms. Gilman should take a lesson from Ms. Caine as how to mesh the two into a seamless fashion. I finished the book because I was intrigued by the mystery and romance, I have high hopes for Curse the Dark and Bring It On (the 2nd and 3rd of the series) so I am not discouraging anyone to purchase this, but IMO, it's certainly not the best written urban fantasy out there, but still entertaining. I do however highly recommend Kelley Armstrong, Kim Harrion, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Patricia Briggs, and Charlaine Harris for those interested in urban fantasy that is both entertaining and very well written.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.1 out of 5 stars (51 customer reviews) 139 of 154 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful romantic fantasy,
By Harriet Klausner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Staying Dead (Paperback)
In a world in which most people believe that magic doesn't exist, there remains a sub-culture of Talent thriving. These folks use their powers in a way that keeps them hidden from the unbelievers. Wren Valere is a Retriever, a talent who locates things that have been missing for people who do not want the police involved. She returns the missing object to its owner for a fee negotiated by her partner and agent Sergei Didier. Both Sergei and Wren are loners who make a very good team professionally and personally even though neither wants to admit their feelings for one another.
A cornerstone with a spell of protection has been stolen from the Fronts building and the owner wants to get it back. Wren and Sergei intend to retrieve it from the collector who hired a rogue mage to steal the spell. Before they can accomplish the deed, they also must deal with a ghost that was freed when the spell was stolen. If Sergei and Wren want to collect their fee, they have to stop the runaway spirit, who is intent on revenge Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton, Tanya Huff and Mercedes Lackey are going to love STAYING DEAD, a romantic fantasy that stirs the senses and creates a story that is both fulfilling and magical (no pun intended). Laura Anne Gilman makes the reader believe that magic exists and creatures of myth and legend inhabit the earth. It will be very hard to wait for the next Retriever's novel coming in the summer of 2005 because Laura Anne Gilman has cast quite a spell on readers. Harriet Klausner 119 of 135 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just Fabulous,
By Sean T. Carnathan - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Staying Dead (Paperback)
I bought this book after seeing the author speak at Worldcon in Boston. She and her partner in self promotion, Keith DeCandido, had a pretty amusing schtick going, so I figured I'd buy both their books.
Gilman has written a great book here. I actually didn't like the opening few pages and darn near put it down -- but I was reading it on a plane, so I soldiered on. I'm glad I did. Within a few more pages I was hooked, and it really gathered steam as it went. Wonderfully developed lead characters, with well done romantic subplot (a feature that rarely interests me in a book). I think what I like best about it is that it offers a fully formed vision of an alternate New York where magic works and demons wander the streets, complete with prejudice, fanaticism, greed, foolishness and all those other human traits. Promises to be the start of a series, so more good stuff to come. 41 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Meh...It's alright...,
By Rienne - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Staying Dead (Paperback)
The main beef other reviewers had with his book is that it didn't focus enough on the romantic relationship between the main characters. In my opinion the minimalist approach on the romance subplot was the best thing going for this book.
I REALLY dislike science fiction/fantasy books that have 90% of the book talking about the romantic relationship and 10% about the actual plot. If I wanted romance I'd read Harlequin, and since this book is in the SciFi/Fantasy section, I expect to get something along the lines of Sci/Fi Fantasy. My real problem with this book, is the writing style. The author tends to start at the end of a scene and work backwards. Once or twice I didn't mind, but for EVERY SINGLE SCENE?! That's a little much. BAsically, in one chapter Wren would be trying to figure out what's going on and then in the next scene she's taking a course of action and while she's on this course she's leaving snippets of information on how she came to this conclusion. I'm not explaining it very well, but it made the story choppy and slow. I just found it made the story go 1 step forward and then 2 steps back. The storyline was interesting, magic security block is stolen and it turns out that there is much more to this stone than Wren originally thought. Which is cool. I wish I could've learned a little more about what made Wren tick. I didn't feel like I truly got to know her in this book. I found Sergei a lot more interesting and I'm curious to see how his past will affect his new, "upstanding" life. But I don't know if I'm curious enough to buy the next book. |
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