By no accounts was this book perfect, but I'm willing to forgive a book a lot more if it makes me laugh. Right from the start the main character, Talyn, has a fantastic sense of humor that would have kept me interested in a much worse book. Talyn is a character I think most people can empathize with. She's straightforward, proud, and vivacious. Right from the first chapter I cared a lot for her, and I was emotionally invested in what happened to her.

More at: http://dragonldy.blogspot.com/2011/01/review-talyn-by-holly-lisle.html ( )

This is a gripping story of magic, war, love and betrayal.

The large island of Hyre is divided between the Tonks, a race of horse-breeders with a clan-based society, and the Eastils, a multi-ethnic monarchy with limited democracy. They have been at war for centuries, using both conventional and magical means. Talyn is a magically-talented soldier of the Tonks, dismayed to hear that a third race, the Feegash, are trying to encourage both sides to join peace talks. Under a particularly fierce attack, Talyn learns a vital clue to a covert Eastil mission that threatens all the leaders of her race.

What I thought was going to be a typical magic-and-battles epic rapidly changes direction: peace talks bring huge change to Tonk society and its relations with the outside world. The story shifts from the first-person viewpoint of Talyn to a third-person viewpoint primarily following Geir, the spy leading the mission Talyn uncovers. Both are full of determination to work for their country, each sure that it is the only right way and the other country is barbarian and wrong. The mysterious Feegash, and the peace they bring, change all the old certainties.

I could not put this book down, and stayed up late into the night finishing it. I loved the characterisation, both of individuals and of peoples and places. I loved that Talyn felt like a real person: likeable, heroic, but far from perfect. Most of all I loved the plot, unfolding in surprising ways.

http://rmc28.dreamwidth.org/412296.html ( )

I have mixed feelings about Talyn. There are things I loved about it and things I really didn't love. Firstly, I loved the setting of the novel; it's a new world that has a fascinating society. Basically there are two cultures of people that occupy land as neighbors who have been warring for over 300 years. One is a free-state democracy type society and the other is a monarchy. The novel explores their issues about racism and elitism between the two factions. Talyn is part of the democracy; they are called Tonks. The book follows her journey through some great adventure and romance (although the romance was a lot more underplayed than I initially expected).

The magic system created in this world is also fantastic. It's hard to describe. There's the View which people can enter where they have to power to protect and destroy, and this is used by the warring factions to attack each other constantly, but they are so close that it's basically a stalemate. They just continue to fight and have even made countless rules and regulations over the centuries that govern this war to the point it is ingrained in their daily lives as harvesting and raising a family.

Lives change when a third race, the Feegash, enter the picture as diplomats and set up a peace treaty between the Tonks and the Eastils. But it doesn't end there (of course), and they find that there's more going on than they think.

As for the things I didn't like, well, the book was not consistent in its intrigue. I found that the beginning was awesome, then it lulled, then it got awesome again, and then instead of creating a great climax, the book for some reason went on for another 200 pages, and then ended in the big confrontation in the last 20 pages. I really found myself wondering why it was taking so long. Some good things happened in those 200 pages but they were so spread out and were events that I couldn't figure out why they HAD to be there that I felt it was just becoming too contrived. There would be build-up to action and then the author would throw in pages of self-reflection and speculation that I think extremely slowed down the actual plot. This, for me, is what knocked the book down from great to good. ( )

I posted a more in depth entry on my blog (link: http://with-a-flower.blogspot.com/2010/01/lets-talk-about-sexok-lets-not.html), but here is part of it. I don't think I gave any spoilers...

Today I finished Talyn by Holly Lisle. Have you read it? Go now, find a copy, read, and tell me is it not splendid?! I came across this book on LibraryThing. The cover intrigued me (of course), but I read very little about its plot. I immediately went to PaperBackSwap and procured my copy. I didn’t read it right away (damn library books).

I’m not always good with summaries, but this wouldn’t be a good review without one (at least I’m told).

Talyn is a Shielder for the Confederacy taak Belytaak in Hyre. Her magical abilities and those of her fellow Shielders have helped wage war on the Republic of Eastil for the past 300 years. Suddenly outside people the Ba’Feegash are invoking and spreading peace throughout both sides of Hyre. Talyn finds herself having to play “nice” with the enemy, but are they the true enemy?

Holly Lisle, and this no exaggeration, has crafted one of the best fantasy novels I’ve ever read. Her attention to detail is amazing. She created not one country, but several with different cultures, languages, people, and intricate histories. I kept reading and reading nearly convinced that this was a people that had lived at some unknown point in my past. The characters leapt off the page, it was very easy to see and feel what they were going through. Many of Talyn’s thoughts I nodded my head wanting to walk up to someone and say, “Yes! Do you see?”. One such time being with the following quote from the book, I posted it on my Facebook even:

‘Guilt is a good friend, isn't it? It will stand at your back when every other friend has abandoned you, and in the face of all reason it will stay by your side, and even when you tell it, "I am moving on now," it will say, "I shall never leave you; never." If only I could find a lover as faithful as guilt.' - Talyn by Holly Lisle page 42 ( )

I think Holly out did herself on this one. I've read some of her other stuff and while they were entertaining - NONE of them sucked me in like this one did. I loved the female character in this book, found the world very realistic, and can't wait for the next one. I've read it three times to date. ( )