GoodDiana Smith is half elf, a world-walker, and a gifted metalsmith。 Happy with her life, she is surprised when an assassin tries to kill her, forcing her to go to the elven realm for answers。 There, she and her brother discover life threatening plots aimed at their family, while a war brews on the doorstep…This is a traditional fantasy story, and the riveting first book in a new series。 Diana is a force to be reckoned with, a powerful mage (though not nearly as powerful as a full blooded elf), GoodDiana Smith is half elf, a world-walker, and a gifted metalsmith。 Happy with her life, she is surprised when an assassin tries to kill her, forcing her to go to the elven realm for answers。 There, she and her brother discover life threatening plots aimed at their family, while a war brews on the doorstep…This is a traditional fantasy story, and the riveting first book in a new series。 Diana is a force to be reckoned with, a powerful mage (though not nearly as powerful as a full blooded elf), and the eldest of triplets- with a twin sister and brother。Her elven family is as ruthless as the old stories here make them out to be, their plots and actions complex and a little confusing (even for Diana)。The world building is elaborate, the people populating the book intriguing, and although there is no romance, the fact that it’s an action packed story with a convoluted plot will keep the reader entertained。A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining fantasy for fans of the genre。 。。。more
Heather,
Not like other booksThis book wasn't bad, no crazy typos and I guess I'd call it a fantasy/mystery? Honestly though I wouldn't have picked this out as being written by this author, I really enjoy BRs other series, this book while an ok read was just bland in comparison Not like other booksThis book wasn't bad, no crazy typos and I guess I'd call it a fantasy/mystery? Honestly though I wouldn't have picked this out as being written by this author, I really enjoy BRs other series, this book while an ok read was just bland in comparison 。。。more
Pamela Nash,
Family TiesThis story was different with all the political intrigue。 I liked the characters。 The story kept you guessing who was the bad guys。 I look forward to reading the next book in the series。
Dani,
Diane is a half-Elf who works out of the Crossroads - an enormous market at the center of the local multiverse。 Like her father, she is a Smith。 (She claims to be the best sword smith in the Crossroads, and we have no reason to doubt her。) Like her mother, she doesn't start trouble - but she does tend to finish it。 She is an engaging protagonist - competent, fun, occasionally funny。In this case, trouble comes visiting in the form of a would-be assassin。 In fact, it comes visiting a number of her Diane is a half-Elf who works out of the Crossroads - an enormous market at the center of the local multiverse。 Like her father, she is a Smith。 (She claims to be the best sword smith in the Crossroads, and we have no reason to doubt her。) Like her mother, she doesn't start trouble - but she does tend to finish it。 She is an engaging protagonist - competent, fun, occasionally funny。In this case, trouble comes visiting in the form of a would-be assassin。 In fact, it comes visiting a number of her relatives, and she travels to her mother's homeland to find out who has been reaching out。 (Turns out her mother renounced a throne, but at least some of her Elven relatives would like the line of succession to be uncluttered。)"Family Ties" is what you hope for in a good series starter。 It tells a mostly-self-contained story that introduces the series without being blatant about it。 。。。more
Sharon Lyman,
This is another interesting worldview。I love the author。 This is an okay series。 I recommend Rosie O'Grady, Magitek and Chameleon Assassin。 Hope you enjoy。 This is another interesting worldview。I love the author。 This is an okay series。 I recommend Rosie O'Grady, Magitek and Chameleon Assassin。 Hope you enjoy。 。。。more
Mara,
I’ve read quite a few books from Ms Kingsolver。 She’s not an author I root for, but until now I thought her books decent, if not necessarily good。 Family ties was utterly flat, boring, confusing with cardboard characters。 All of whom seemed pretty damn stupid。 As this is the first review, I’ll avoid the one star, but heck it’s really that and not much more。
Marsha,
Author’s Summary “When a man came into my shop and tried to kill me, it completely ruined my day。 Not only did I have to clean up the blood, but disposing his body made me late to meet my friends for drinks。 But a nagging little detail kept bugging me。 As he died, he said he was hired by my mother’s family—people I hadn’t seen for twenty years。 Then I discovered that assassins had made attempts on my brother and sister as well。 As much as I didn’t want to, I decided I should find out who wanted Author’s Summary “When a man came into my shop and tried to kill me, it completely ruined my day。 Not only did I have to clean up the blood, but disposing his body made me late to meet my friends for drinks。 But a nagging little detail kept bugging me。 As he died, he said he was hired by my mother’s family—people I hadn’t seen for twenty years。 Then I discovered that assassins had made attempts on my brother and sister as well。 As much as I didn’t want to, I decided I should find out who wanted us dead, and put a stop to it。 Talk about stepping out of the pan into the fire…” 。。。more