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I have a huge number of book reviews written for the past month or so of books, but I doubt anyone wants a giant book-review-spam, so I'm parcelling them out in related bits. This is two fantasy novels taken from unusual points of view.
Except the Queen By Jane Yolen
Two faerie sisters wind up banished to the modern world after seeing something they shouldn't have seen. Excellent urban fantasy that'll appeal to people who enjoy Charles de Lint. Unlike much urban fantasy, which is often told from the point of view of a younger (and hotter, love-interest-cup-overfloweth) woman, the characters through whose eyes we see in Except the Queen are older women. Although I'd commented on the age thing before, I'd not much thought about how much of a difference that would make, but it really does add a different perspective and depth to the story.
Goblinquest By Jim C. Hines
Basically this novel is dungeons and dragons told from the point of view of one of the cannon-fodder goblins, but Jim Hines' excellent sense of humour and the absurd make this an amazingly fun tale, and one I'd be happy to recommend to many of my roleplaying friends. Or, you know, any fantasy fans, but the d&d set will find it especially apt. (Unlike the cover of the book... having looked up it up for this post, now, I have to say that I don't think it fits the feel of the book very well!) If you haven't read Jim Hines' retellings of princess stories, you should read those too. They do a similar turn-the-tale-on-its-head thing from a much more feminist perspective.
Except the Queen By Jane Yolen
Two faerie sisters wind up banished to the modern world after seeing something they shouldn't have seen. Excellent urban fantasy that'll appeal to people who enjoy Charles de Lint. Unlike much urban fantasy, which is often told from the point of view of a younger (and hotter, love-interest-cup-overfloweth) woman, the characters through whose eyes we see in Except the Queen are older women. Although I'd commented on the age thing before, I'd not much thought about how much of a difference that would make, but it really does add a different perspective and depth to the story.
Goblinquest By Jim C. Hines
Basically this novel is dungeons and dragons told from the point of view of one of the cannon-fodder goblins, but Jim Hines' excellent sense of humour and the absurd make this an amazingly fun tale, and one I'd be happy to recommend to many of my roleplaying friends. Or, you know, any fantasy fans, but the d&d set will find it especially apt. (Unlike the cover of the book... having looked up it up for this post, now, I have to say that I don't think it fits the feel of the book very well!) If you haven't read Jim Hines' retellings of princess stories, you should read those too. They do a similar turn-the-tale-on-its-head thing from a much more feminist perspective.