Sara Douglass

[Lysalis]

Hi Rosemary

I see that you already read the two first books of her new trilogy. Did you read Treshold and Beyond the Hanging Wall? As Douglass mentioned she would combine these worlds together with Tecendor in Darkglass mountain. I think that's a brilliant idea. And I bet the books are good, aren't they?

However, I still need to read Beyond the Hanging Wall before I start with Darkglass mountain.

 

[Rosemary]

Hi Rosemary

I see that you already read the two first books of her new trilogy. Did you read Treshold and Beyond the Hanging Wall? As Douglass mentioned she would combine these worlds together with Tecendor in Darkglass mountain. I think that's a brilliant idea. And I bet the books are good, aren't they?

However, I still need to read Beyond the Hanging Wall before I start with Darkglass mountain.

I read Threshold and Beyond The Hanging wall, but I was rather disappointed. After the action packed former trilogies these seemed quite a let down. Of course you might not find that at all, so do try them.

As to Darkglass Mountain, where she has combined them, I have found no problem with not having read those other books. For me it is as good as Axis and the Wayfarer Redemption, and am certainly looking forward to her next book out.

 

[elvet]

I read the Axis Trilogy a few years ago and liked it. It was good entertainment. I immediately started Wayfarer Redemption, but was disheartened at the beginning, reading about the petty fighting, etc. in the world that Axis worked so hard to preserve.
Anyhow, I put it away, and just started it yesterday. It's been long enough that the story is fresh again, focusing on the next generation. Thankfully, Douglass includes a glossary to refer to - it helps jog my memory of the events that happened 50 years before.
One thing I really like about this series is the connection with alien spaceships and that it seems that they might be from our time. I don't know yet, since I'm just at the beginning of Sinner, but the prologue suggested it.

I, too, was disappointed with The Hanging Wall. In fact, I really can't remember much about it, which speaks for itself.

 

[Lysalis]

I read Threshold and Beyond The Hanging wall, but I was rather disappointed. After the action packed former trilogies these seemed quite a let down. Of course you might not find that at all, so do try them.

I read Treshold during some holidays I spent in Croatia 2 or 3 years ago and I couldn't tear away from this book. I really enjoyed it and the characters Tirzah and Boaz. Fortunately it rained a lot during this time in Croatia I was just sad that it isn't a trilogy.
Will I meet Tirzah and Boaz again in Darkglass Mountain?

 

[elvet]

I finished the Wayfarer Redemtion books and quite liked the first 2. The last was a little too tidy for my tastes, but I needed a conclusion. Turns out that the story continues in the Serpent Bride, so I'm going to keep an eye on that series.
Sinner and Pilgrim were my favorite of the lot.

Spoiler

Drago's transformation was well done, and a nice twist.

 

[dekket]

Warning - Darkglass Mountain Trilogy Spoilers:

Originally posted by Lysalis:

Will I meet Tirzah and Boaz again in Darkglass Mountain?

Lysalis,
It is the decendent's of Tirzah and Boaz (~3000 years after the events of Threshold) that play the central roles in Darkglass Mountain, and you learn a lot more about Boaz's father.

 

[Kettricken]

I've found that it's either love it or hate it for Sara Douglass.

That's what I found out as well. On a Dutch forum people were extremely enthousiastic about the Axis saga, but for me it was quite disappointing. I thought the characters were ill-developed, one-dimensional and in general the book was not very well written. Characters suddenly had total control over some kind of magic power when needed, which is difficult to believe. Also, the story lacked originality which made it way too predictable for my taste.

 

[Clansman]

That's what I found out as well. On a Dutch forum people were extremely enthousiastic about the Axis saga, but for me it was quite disappointing. I thought the characters were ill-developed, one-dimensional and in general the book was not very well written. Characters suddenly had total control over some kind of magic power when needed, which is difficult to believe. Also, the story lacked originality which made it way too predictable for my taste.

Bang on, dead center. Sums up my feelings on this writer perfectly.

 

[NGH]

She's not the best fantasy author (she has errors in her writing, plot holes, flat characters (I don't want to give anything away so I won't do much about Axis other than an angry eye-twitch)), but then again it's hard to find someone that creates books that can enthrall legions of readers, but it's a great eye-opener to any fantasy newbie: the only way to go from her Wayfarer Redemption series is up. She doesn't sugar-coat anything and it's quite a refreshing read when compared to all the other cliche, predictable, and snore-worthy stories I've been reading.

The aforementioned series was one of the reasons I'm now an avid fan of the fantasy/sci-fi genre. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It will help build a foundation for your fantasy.

However, if you're already an avid fantasy reader, this series shouldn't be high on your to-do list.

 

[absolute]

Miles and miles better than goodkind. Good if you cannot handle hardcore, complicated fantasy. Worth reading, not worth buying. Check it out from the library.

If you liked goodkind, she is definitely a much better version. I like that her hero, Axis, is not the typical self righteous type. He can be a total jerk, and has anger issues.

Put simply, I liked the Wayfarer Redemption, so if you are looking for a book to read, go for it!

 

[Moggle]

If you like flat soap type storytelling and characters read the Wayfarer redemption.

 

[JagLover]

I've read the Axis trilogy, the wayfinder redemption and the serpent bride and find her average at best to be honest.

There is no real sense of depth to her worlds, you have the key characters and everything else is a generic faceless blur.

Someone called the books adult, well some very bad things happen to be sure, but that does not mean the characterisation, motivations and plot are at what I would call the adult end of the fantasy genre.

Fifty might be a bit harsh, but you could find at least twenty better writers in the fantasy genre